Identity Confusion

A while back I was at Culver's with some students and I saw something troubling.

Here is how the tale goes: While sitting with some students (which will remain nameless), one student essentially started making fun of another young man that walked in to Culver's. They didn't know each other but it seemed quite natural for them to make this exchange of ridicule and the responsive contempt.

The one kid came in with, let's just say, many accessories; some sort of hat, sunglasses, popped collar, ect... He was trying to be noticed and noticed is what he got. The other guy was simply giving a negative knee-jerk reaction to this guys attire.

In this quick little exchange there are two identity errors that were made.

The guy that walked in was desperate for someone to affirm his identity from without. He dressed to get noticed. He was probably hoping that someone might compliment his style and uniqueness. His appearance tells a tale about his soul.... it is screaming out, "look at me! I matter!"

The second student was getting his identity from within. He was offering up ridicule. He was essentially saying, "you are ridiculous and I am not. I am better than you." The message his soul is screaming out is, "I do matter and I can prove it! I am not like him!"

Both, let me repeat, both are suffering from identity confusion. Both young men need to find their identity not from without, or within, but from above.

If your identity is in Christ, then your outward appearance becomes significantly less important. You do not need others to affirm you. If your identity is in Christ, then you are less likely to judge others because you know that your acceptance is not on your performance but on His grace. What we need to keep us from striving after the world's approval is Christ. What we need to silence our judgement is Christ.

We need Him. In Him we find our all and it gives us the proper lens to see ourselves and others.