Most of us think about financial hardship when we hear the term “identity theft”.  If you have ever talked with someone that has been the victim of this then you know it is very sad and difficult. However, there is another form of identity theft that is spiritual and unfortunately growing more common. This spiritual form of identity theft involves a post Christian culture and the enemy convincing people they are something other than a child of God and loved by Him.

Each of us was created by God for relationship with him. He weaved each of us in our mother’s womb.  We are treasured creations that he has blessed with unique talents, interests and passions. God is never glorified by those that reject this or minimize their significance. God is glorified when we fully step into our design as his image-bearers.

Unfortunately, the enemy and a culture of hyper-individualism is encouraging people to reject this and live outside God’s design and love for them. The nature of our on-demand and impatient world encourages restless hearts to just do something and “be you”.  Alan Noble recently wrote that the fundamental assumption of modern life is:

“You are your own, and you belong to yourself.” And if we believe this concept “then it’s up to us to forge our identities and to make our lives significant. But while that may sound empowering, it turns out to be a crushing responsibility—one that never actually delivers on its promise of a free and fulfilled life, but instead leaves us burned out, depressed, anxious, and alone.”

The sad reality is we see this approach resulting in heartbreaking social trends like rising depression, growing suicide rates and the record levels of anxiety.  The result is more and more people are confused about their identity. In fact, our society is having a collective identity crisis. This leads to people increasingly asking questions like:

• What am I supposed to be doing?
• Does my life matter?
• What gives my life significance?
• Who am I?
• Where am I going?

Rather than asking God and consulting his roadmap for life, the spirit of our current culture is to ignore God and to reject the Bible. Too many have bought into the false narrative of thinking God made a mistake, does not care, and they know better.  And then the enemy comes into those times to further deceive and discourage.  In fact, one of Satan’s oldest ploys is to have us question God and how He made us.

Our challenge is clear. We must help people recognize the truth of being a child of God. Whether it is our faith, career, or gender we only find peace in trusting God.  That trust comes from believing God does not make mistakes.

This truth allows us to see feelings, desires and disappointments in the light of biblical truth in a fractured world. When that happens, we find the place where peace, purpose and true identity are found.

Jesus is the answer to spiritual identity theft. He made us with intentionality and a purpose. It is in this truth that we start to experience the transformative power of Christ.  Our peace, hope and joy in life come from believing a good and loving God desires those things for us and we don’t need to become someone else to encounter those things.