I use Google Reader a lot, and recently a “popular item” showed up on my reading list regarding how to resist the temptations of Satan. I poked into it just enough to get bored and start scrolling through the article until I saw this image:
Here’s an excerpt:
6. Christ is your identity
Christ is your identity. I don’t care what you’ve done, and I don’t care what has been done to you. Those things are horrible and we can deal with them in Redemption Groups, biblical counseling, community groups, friendship, and relationship, but here’s your identity. It’s not what has been done to you or what has been done by you, but it is what Christ has done for you. In the eyes of Christ, you are clean. You were forgiven. You were adopted. You were redeemed. You are beloved. You are, you are. And I know some of you, the guilt is deep, the sin is real, and life is a wreck. And Christ is good. And if you believe that your identity is transformed in Christ as an adoptive, loved, forgiven, regenerated, transformed, empowered, renewed, hopeful child of God, you will live differently.
I’d hope that without having to go into the truth or reality of religion that everyone reading this post can recognize the sheer memetic power of the idea above. This is what makes religious arguments so difficult and emotional; it is why it’s impolite to bring up religion (and politics). When we tell ourselves that an idea is who we are we cease to want (anyone) to think critically about it. Many have died because they dared question such ideas. I’m glad that happens less often nowadays.
One Comment
Hey ho,
Christianity has survived 2,000 years because of this heart message. People have paid billions of dollars for redemption and have gone on countless pilgrimages. It’s a human message and one can merely take out “Christ” and say anything in place of it. At the root of all people is that place that is called Christ, it’s real, and therefore the message is sticky.
I don’t argue the terminology. If I call that place “the inner self” and someone else calls it “Christ” it’s the same thing. Redemption is real. Most people need to be redeemed from outside, which doesn’t stick and has to be renewed again and again.
It’s a common evil to take a human thing and add in something to it that will benefit your group (bring it money or power) and take advantage of the “truth.” Don’t argue it, for then you argue against the truth of the reality.
hugs
me