A Solution to Identity Theft and Identity Crisis
by Mark Parsec(351)
Blogz
We have all heard shocking accounts about people who have had their identities stolen by criminals for financial gain. These villains steal names, addresses, dates of birth, social security numbers and even bank account and credit card information. One night you go to bed feeling safe and secure only to wake up the next morning and discover that you are thousands of dollars in debt for purchases of cars, motor homes and real estate that you know nothing about.
Most everyone is familiar with identity theft when it affects their financial security. Yet, there are other forms of identity theft that are just as real and certainly just as damaging if not more destructive to the individual.
All too often our identities are determined by other people. We don’t decide who we are… they decide who we are. Manipulative friends and family members often try to convince us that there is something “wrong” with us if we don’t do things THEIR way. They will pressure us to make choices that we otherwise would not make. They sometimes entice us to compromise our morals by threatening to withold their affection or by promising us their favor… if ONLY we will do things their way. Instead of standing our ground we seem to forget who we are… we forget our obligations, we forget our responsibilities, we forget our promises and we “sell out”.
The Bible gives us an example of such a case in Genesis 25:29-34…
29 Now Jacob cooked a stew; and Esau came in from the field, and he was weary. 30 And Esau said to Jacob, “Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am weary.” Therefore his name was called Edom.
31 But Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright as of this day.”
32 And Esau said, “Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to me?”
33 Then Jacob said, “Swear to me as of this day.”
So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. 34 And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.
31 But Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright as of this day.”
32 And Esau said, “Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to me?”
33 Then Jacob said, “Swear to me as of this day.”
So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. 34 And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.
Sometimes people allow their identities to be stripped away from them as easily as Esau sold his birthright to his brother Jacob for a bowl of stew and piece of bread. Esau thought he got a real meal deal, but his brother, Jacob, knew he got a steal of a deal. Esau had forgotten who he was. He was so hungry nothing else mattered, not even his inheritance as the eldest son. Esau had lost his identity.
Besides family and friends there are others who ruthlessly endeavor to steal our identities. Yet among them none are perhaps more cunning and influential than television advertisers. They are masters of persuasion and always trying to convince you that you can find a new identity… if you will only buy their product. Yes, my friends, you can be smarter, stronger, sexier, more successful and even younger… if you will only purchase their products. Of course Visa, MasterCard and American Express are accepted… but if you order NOW you can get two… two for the price of one.
But, the point that I am trying to make is that they would try to convince us that YOU are not a whole person until you get their latest marketing gimmick. You are somehow less than, stupider, weaker, uglier and an old washed up has-been if you don’t adjust your identity to accommodate their promotions. And, the sad fact of the matter is that all too often people believe them! This is easily evidenced by the large number of consumers in our society who have gone into debt while searching for their identities.
He says, “I can’t be a “real” man until I get a new truck.” She says, “I can’t be a “real” woman until I get plastic surgery.” And everywhere children are telling their parents that ALL the children are laughing at them because they don’t have the latest clothes, or bikes, or electronic gadgets.
All throughout our society people are losing their identities. Everywhere you look, people’s identities are being stolen by unscrupulous scoundrels who are manipulating others like so many puppets on strings to do their own bidding, for their own gain. As a result, people are forgetting who they are. People throughout our great country have lost their identities.
We live in a society where many people feel lost. We live in a nation where many believe that they simply don’t fit in. We live in a world where many people are searching for a sense of belonging to someone or something… We live in a time where many people are experiencing an identity crisis!
The identity crisis that so many people are experiencing in our world today is nothing new. In fact, it began in the garden of Eden when Adam and Eve partook of the forbidden fruit. They were told by God that if they ate of the fruit they would die, but they ate it anyway. Why? If we look carefully at the Scriptures regarding this event we discover the identity crisis…
Genesis 3:4-6 (NASB)
4The serpent said to the woman, "You surely will not die!
5"For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
6When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.
The old devil had succeeded in stealing Adam and Eve’s identity. One moment they walked naked without shame before God. The next minute they were running for cover in the trees. The great enticement that the devil flaunted was that they would become like God. They just couldn’t be happy the way that God had created them. They just had to have something more. They just had to be smarter, more powerful. Their identities were in crisis. Little did they know that their decision on that fateful day would plunge all of humanity into an identity crisis that has lasted throughout history.
The situation was no different when Jesus walked the earth. In Mark 6:34 we are told…
And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things.
God’s chosen people, the Israelites, had lost their identity, they were like lost sheep without a shepherd. So, what was Jesus’ solution? He showed them that He was the Good Shepherd. He taught them. He taught them to love one another, to forgive one another and to serve one another. He taught them that they were loved by God, that they were important to God, that they could become the light of the world. He taught them that he who is greatest in the Kingdom was to be the servant of all.
Jesus taught people that their identity wasn’t to be found with jobs, or riches, or material things, or power… but with God. Jesus taught that people could discover their true value and identity by establishing a relationship with God by following Him.
But then He was crucified. The old devil thought that if He could take away the Light of the world… that he could keep people in darkness about their identities. Imagine the despair of the disciples. Imagine His followers’ grief and confusion. Imagine their identity crises as they struggled with how they were going to live without Jesus. They struggled with His identity. They struggled with their identity.
That is why it is important to remember that when Jesus rose from the grave He proved His identity for all eternity. Not only did He prove His identity as the Son of God He sealed our identity. We were to be New Creations, the Children of God, Kings and Priests and Ambassadors for the Risen Savior. We were to receive Power from on High, that the things Christ did we would do also… and greater things than these!
And yet, although we know these things, the devil continues with his old tricks. He still uses the very same approach he has always used. He strives to have us doubt our identities in Christ, and burden us with fear and confusion. He still tries through principalities and powers and by all his sinister ways to steal our identity.
And just as individuals may have their identities stolen, so too families and even churches may have their identities stolen.
The church in America is going through an identity crisis. Who are we? Where are we going? Are we traditional? Are we contemporary? We are a people from every walk of life, diverse nationalities, rich and poor, young and old, male and female, married, single, engaged, divorced or widowed. We have professionals, laborers, students addicts, musicians and retired people. We have people that like classical music, others like country music, others like rock and roll… and yet others like rhythm and blues, others jazz, and yet others like rap or hip-hop.
With all of this diversity how are we to know who we are?
Regarding this the Apostle Paul, in Galatians 3:26-28 said,
26 For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. 28 There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.
We are ALL children of God through Christ. We are ALL one. Our God is not a God of confusion but of peace and He has assembled each one of us here for His own purpose and glory. It is our unity in our diversity that brings glory to God.
Who are we? We are the Children of God and heirs to the resurrection trough Christ Jesus. We need to remember that our identity is secure in Jesus Christ.
Article submitted Sunday, April 11, 2010 & read 331 times.
Leave Your Comments:
» left by Anonymous (150 days 18 hours ago.)
And this is our only identity which is "secure" - love this time of the year when we can really zero in on who paid the price for us - even the flowers and bulbs go from dead to ALIVE and resurrected (would not like living in the southern hemisphere) Thanks Mark! MarijoRespond to this comment
» left by Mark Parsec(351)
Hi Marijo,
It's all about love! Thanks for your comments. How have you been?
Mark
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» left by Herdeep Mann (150 days 18 hours ago.)
Hi Mark yet another thought provoking article,i myself was the victim of internet fraud a while ago,from people in Nigeria,keep up the good work.
Respond to this comment
» left by Mark Parsec(351)
Hi Herdeep,
Sorry to hear about your brush with the Nigerians. We must be extra careful because of the criminal elements online. Thanks for your comments!
Mark
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» left by Jose Condemarin (150 days 10 hours ago.)
Mark,As I read the article, it brought to my mind our trip to Puerto Rico. Beautiful country. but I had a bad experience.But what I got out of your article is this:
- We need to remember that we are son and Daughter of God the Father.
- We need to know who we are and what we doing here in earth.
- Satan has the power to tempt us, but we have the power to crush his head, by having Faith in our believes in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Thank you Great article.Respond to this comment
» left by Mark Parsec(351)
Hi Jose,
Good summary of the points. I especially enjoyed you bringing up the crushing of Satan's head. Victory in Jesus!
God bless you,
Mark
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