A Matter of Identity (Third-Tier Midrash)

*Note: This is a midrash-adjacent post based on the Bible as a whole, not from any specific section of Scripture.

Identity is something that you inherently understand about yourself against a myriad of different factors, the salient of which is a self-determined construct of who you are as a person.

But we need to take great care and firm steps to ensure our identity is not found in anything other than our worth as image bearers of God’s nature in Christ.

My name is Bryan Rivera-Rivera. That is my nomenclature. My parents gave it to me. But it is not my identity.

My identity is my worth and value in walking the path of Christ, and how others see Christ in me. Even how I see the world through Him.

C.S. Lewis once famously compared Christianity to the sun.

“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.”

― C.S. Lewis

As a writer, I often feel like I understand how to craft identities for people who do not exist. But who they are is found in the depths of their being, not what they do for a living or what they like.

Those are traits of the concept of identity, but not the core. To use the previous quote as an example, a character in a novel may be jaded by something, choosing to see all things through that wound or experience, much in the same way C.S. Lewis saw everything else through the lens of faith.

I am not a man who sees my value in what others think of me. Nor am I a man who sees the value of others by what they do or choose to identify with. I view other humans as image bearers of God, who are dearly loved by the Creator, that have gone astray en masse from the consequences of sin in this world.

I am not saying that I view everyone as a sinner. What I am saying is that God loves the people in this world despite their rejection.

If people reject me, I don’t mind it one iota. People rejected Christ, and He was perfect in morality and His treatment of others, even through His justified and righteous anger.

It saddens me when the world doesn’t realize the obvious Architect of the Universe. Everything in this universe depends on everything else.

The universe is God’s fingerprint of who He is as a deity. It shows us part of His identity.

The central black hole of the Milky Way keeps the core stars bound in such a way that the rest of the galaxy’s gravity stays in balance. This, in turn, leads the sun to stay in its orbit, which allows the Earth to flourish with life.

The Milky Way’s identity is a barred-spiral galaxy with the purpose of keeping humanity alive. It has a function and design to it, but the ultimate purpose it serves is the core of its identity in this universe. That unique trait, holding the Earth, sets it apart from all other galaxies.

Jesus came in the likeness of humanity, so we hold a special place in this cosmos as God’s image bearers. We might not be the only species in the universe—pending ultimate proof of life out there—but we are the race He inhabited flesh with.

We need to see ourselves as valuable, not out of arrogance, but out of God’s gracious love.

We are not what we do for a living. We are not who we spend our time with. We might be people who start sentences with we four times in a row, but that sort of imperfection gives us some character to add to our identities.

When I see a musician, that is what they do to share their gift with the world. But is that the totality of someone else’s experiences? Hardly.

That is what the world experiences in some capacity, but their identity as a child of God (whether or not known) is what truly matters.

Another person might see the hand of God at work through them sharing that gift with others.

Part of my identity as myself is that I have a thing for musicians. That’s part of what makes me, well, me. Thus, I use them as examples often.

We all have our gifts. Some of us share those gifts with the world and let God do the increasing as part of our core identity.

My values and beliefs live in the core concepts of Christianity (well, biblical Christianity, and not modern Christian churches most times.)

My mark in this world is as unique as a fingerprint. Setting me apart for the good works that Jesus decided I should walk in so long ago.

In embracing the unique aspects of myself, I accept my identity in Christ and who He created me to be.

Whosoever lives with the Holy Spirit as they walk in the commandments also has this identity in Christ, better known in the Bible as the House of Israel.

The church and Israel are distinct in some ways, but share identity-defining traits in other ways.

Most believers, if they’re honest with the text, realize the Body of Christ as a whole is the fulfillment of Genesis 49’s promise that Ephraim would be the fullness of the nations.

Israel and the church are one (echad) in purpose and in unity when we identify with Christ.

Also, I understand some people identify with certain traits about themselves and can make that the core of their being.

I think that’s also valid.

Who am I to judge another person’s experience that I might know nothing about (saying this as a straight man who allies with biblical versions of the community I’m referring to)?

But our ultimate fulfillment and identity needs to be found in Christ first.

Embracing how He made you in the womb is one way to love God and love others. There’s only one of you, and you cannot be replicated.

But stay careful, not tying your worth to a number, a title, or how others perceive you negatively.

Sometimes we work super hard on things, and it might not be apparent to others who think things are easy or that it means nothing. What is golden work to us might be wasted effort to someone who doesn’t have that taste or understanding of what goes into things.

People don’t always see the difficulties, the starting over—the sweat it takes to get things accomplished.

But as long as you don’t tie your identity to those things, you’ll come out of the crucible just fine.

Yahweh created us to stand out by knowing our core identity was planned long ago.

The number of hairs on your head, your eye color, your voice—and even your interests—were given to you as a gift.

Don’t waste time being someone that you are not meant to be, or that you just are not.

Labeling yourself based on the input of others is also not fully embracing God’s designed identity within you.

Learn to see your own value and the way He sees you.

Righteous people who live humble lives (and I mean pride here) and accept His plan for their ultimate good are the most fulfilled.

Choose your identity.

Because your identity has already chosen you. (Think about that for a second and read it a few times.)
Shalom.