Identity In The Lord Archives | Christian Learning & News

Tim Keller

The founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, Tim Keller, talked about God-given identity. In one of his sermons at Wheaton College, he emphasized that when people make something their identity, such as their career, body, or relationships, then those things could potentially crush them.

He then discussed the kind of identity that was “exclusionary.” He mentioned what C.S. Lewis said in his book, Mere Christianity. People were not proud of being rich; instead, they were proud of having more money than the next person. They weren’t proud of being smart, but they were proud of being smarter After that, he explained that “Any identity that is achieved rather than received has to be ‘excluding.’ In other words, you would feel better because these other people aren’t as good as you.”

Tim Keller Explains The Kind Of Identity That People Truly Need

wheatoncollege.(Screenshot). (2015). Our Identity, Retrieved February 20, 2024 from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ehw87PqTwKw

Identity in the Lord

Furthermore, he highlighted that people feel good about themselves by looking at others and trashing them. Eventually, he shared about the kind of identity that people truly need.

“You need somebody outside to come in and speak to you… This person, whoever it is, should not be someone who could ever let you down or disillusion you.”

Moreover, he discussed, “To know that God loves you. The Lord of the universe loves you. That would have to give you the most powerful basis for a stable identity possible.” Then, he added, “Is it based on your performance? ‘No.’ If it’s not based only on performance, it’s not only stable, but you don’t need to look down at your nose at everybody else around you.” In other words, he said that the exclusive aspect of people’s identity would go away the moment they receive the love of God.

Watch the full sermon here.

Header Image: wheatoncollege.(Screenshot). (2015). Our Identity, Retrieved February 20, 2024 from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ehw87PqTwKw

A man who grew up fearful, insecure, and rejected discovered his true identity when he encountered Jesus.

Insecure and Rejected

The creator of the popular “Shut Up, Devil!” mobile app, Kyle Winkler, shared his testimony with Patricia King on the Supernatural Life show. During his early years, he was so shy, insecure, and fearful. “I cried, and I cried until my mommy let me out of my first year in preschool,” he recalled. It didn’t get better in his elementary years. In fact, people thought that he had a reading problem because he would freeze up every time he was asked to read.

“I started to be the loner and the outcast because nobody wanted to be friends with the kid that didn’t talk,” he said. He didn’t have enough confidence to make friends. Because he was used to sitting alone, his feeling of rejection became deeper. It was a vicious cycle.

“I feel like the outcasts. I feel like nobody likes… all of those things turn into an identity of shame. That’s what it is,” he highlighted. Even if he didn’t speak hurtful words to himself out loud, he subconsciously believed that he was rejected.

Man Who Grew Up Insecure And Rejected Discovers His Identity In The Lord

GODTV (Screenshot). (2020). GODTV, Supernatural Life – 56 – Kyle Winkler. Retrieved November 29, 2023 from: https://www.god.tv/video/patricia-king-supernatural-life-56-kyle-winkler/zype

Discovering his identity in the Lord

His negative thoughts about his identity continued not until he was 16 years old when he encountered Jesus Christ. “I went to a religious elementary school, but I didn’t know Jesus as having power for my everyday life. I didn’t know him as a personal Savior,” he shared. In addition, he thought that Jesus was mad at him because of his mistakes.

But it all changed when he was invited to a Spirit-filled church. There, he learned about the power and presence of God. “They started to tell me… the power of the truth of God’s word, and that’s something that God has spoken to me since. He said,… ‘You need to begin to identify with your new identity,’” he testified.

Moreover, he reminded people to go into the scriptures and look at what God says about them. For him, it wasn’t an overnight process. Instead, it was an overtime process. The shame and rejection started breaking out the moment he learned who he is in the eyes of God.

Watch the full video here.

Reference | GOD TV

Header Image: GODTV (Screenshot). (2020). GODTV, Supernatural Life – 56 – Kyle Winkler. Retrieved November 29, 2023 from: https://www.god.tv/video/patricia-king-supernatural-life-56-kyle-winkler/zype