Discovering identity

Wherein lies our identity? To grasp the teaching of 1 Corinthians 12 – 13 we need to recognise:

We are not first and foremost individuals. Nothing in this passage validates the narcissistic quest of ‘discovering our personal gifts’. Truth is, we are often blinded by the powers and principalities that rip our families and communities apart. Even as Christians, we make the mistake of lauding people who gain profile and notoriety. But God sees our significance collectively. Individually, we are grains of salt. We are defined by being part of the bigger unit. Relationships of love, forgiveness, humbling ourselves and service are what are to define us as people who are part of something bigger than ourselves.

To grasp this as Biblical truth is immensely difficult and a huge challenge for people who belong to a western culture and context. It involves deep repentance. A turning out from introspection. And it has implications:

* Faith is not an end in itself. It is a means to an end. What matters is that we are transformed more into the image of the God who is Love. Faith challenges and changes us, as we look with hope to what we are becoming on this transformational journey.

* Christian faith is not belief about Jesus Christ. Christian faith is positive participation in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. It is journey we enter into, through the portal of the Cross. A transformational journey that will continue throughout our life here on earth.

* Faith is an expression of desire that brings us to the place where we begin to open to the Spirit of God and find Him at work within our lives, releasing us into the ministry of the Jesus Christ whom we now find identify in. This is true identity discovered.