Alison Hull spoke to Peter Maiden about the thrust of his latest book
Every Christian is sure of who they are – someone loved by God, a precious son or daughter.
And that fact overrides any other and provides a deep sense of security that cannot be shaken. Right? Actually, and sadly, no. Peter Maiden, former International Director of Operation Mobilisation, explores this issue the Rock in his new book, Building on (Monarch 2016).
Leaders with insecure identity
Called in to sort out disputes throughout Operation Mobilisation, it troubled him how often the issue of identity came up. He soon realised it affects the very foundation of who we are, what we do, and how we treat others.
As he says: ‘I witnessed a small number of Christian leaders, unsure of their identity in Christ, who became insecure leaders. This had a hugely negative impact. They often had younger people coming up alongside them, with great gifts. If they had worked with these younger people, their own leadership would have been enhanced – and a better outcome would have followed. But they couldn’t. Their identity and self-worth were based around their job and their job title. They saw any other potential leaders as a threat and rejected them. Often, I found, this was done subconsciously, but they could demean and undermine the younger leader. This was extremely destructive, especially in a team situation.’
Glory to God alone
So was he able to rescue the situation? It appears not, despite his best efforts to do so. ‘Leaders who behave like this are almost entirely unaware of their behaviour. They see themselves as serving leaders. But they are clearly deceived. This can come down to a failure to deal with our sinful nature, which wants glory for me. But the transformed leader’s desire must be for the glory of God alone. It is a daily challenge to say “No” to the suggestions of the sinful nature, and “Yes” to the call of the Holy Spirit.’
In fact, Peter thinks what is often at the root of a shaky sense of identity is a poor relationship with parents, which has not been addressed. ‘If you have had demanding parents who gave the sense that you were accepted on the basis of your performance, and not simply because you were their child, then this can be transferred to the way you see God. Yet he accepts us entirely on the basis of the work of his Son, not on our own performance. Leaders need to be aware if this is what is driving them – and often they are not.’
More general problem
Peter believes this issue of identity goes far beyond leaders – it is a problem for many Christians. For them, knowing that you are accepted by God on the basis of what Jesus has done, not on what you have done, is crucial. But it can be a stumbling block.
‘One of the examples I give in the book is of a Christian friend who long ago, before their conversion, committed a sin which they have never really been able to finally deal with. Theologically this person knows he is forgiven, but he still struggles to come to a communion service because he feels that he can never be worthy. There is no understanding that his acceptance by God is based entirely on the work of Jesus, and through that work, he has been adopted into God’s family. His relationship with God is performance-based, rather than covenant-based.’
Not our performance
Clearly, this is an absolutely fundamental issue that Peter Maiden wants to get across to all Christians, leaders or not. ‘The amazing truth is that, because of the work of Christ, God has covenanted, promised, to love us eternally, and that is not dependent on our performance. Yes, the fact of that wonderful grace and goodness should lead us to want to do all that we can, to please the God who has loved us so much. But the motive for doing so is completely transformed when we realise what our relationship with God is built upon.’
Covenant foundations
If a Christian realises that they are not properly convinced, in their heart of hearts, that God does love them, what can they do? Peter says: ‘We have to live on the basis of covenant, rather than performance, and this needs constant reinforcement – not least because the enemy constantly wants to undermine us in this area. That is why we so need the “means of grace” – and why communion is so important for me. To go to a communion service and to be reminded of the fact that I am loved by God to the extent that he gave his own Son to die for me – this is a constant encouragement. And being in constant communion with God, through prayer and his word, is also a constant reminder of the relationship I have with him, and the wonder of adoption into his family.’
And there is more we can do, he believes. ‘It is very important who you listen to. Are we going to listen to the lies of the enemy, saying we are worthless and useless? Or are we going to listen to the voice of God who says “I created you, I loved you, I gave my Son to die for you, I made you the unique individual you are”? The British say talking to yourself is the first sign of madness. However, in the Christian life, I often find it to be of great value. We must constantly remind ourselves of the truth and reject the lies. Sometimes I have to voice it out loud: “Satan, you’re a liar. God’s verdict on me is the very opposite of your accusations.” If I don’t learn to agree with God, I’m going to be constantly running the race of life looking back over my shoulders to some shameful incident which Satan seeks to use to destroy my identity and self-worth. ’
Personal experience
Peter understands the struggle from personal experience. While he says now ‘Knowing who I am in Christ gives me incredible peace and security’ yet he goes on to say ‘It hasn’t always been that way’, Born into a Christian family, he discovered, very early on, that he was smiled upon for certain behaviour.
‘Growing up, I soon recognised that, if I went to the services of this church without complaining, my parents were very happy, and the church leaders very pleased. This wasn’t difficult; I could count the ceiling tiles as well as the next child! I was learning early that if I performed well, if I did what was expected of me, I would be appreciated.’
And this carried on, he says: ‘In my early teens, I had my first contact with Operation Mobilisation. Prayer meetings were a feature of the movement; long ones! It was immediately evident that, if I attended these prayer meetings, especially if I stayed to the end, that was credit in the bank. Giving out tracts to everyone you met was another emphasis. So I went for it big time. I learned that acceptance was based on performance. If I did everything I was expected to do, and if possible a little more, then rewards would follow.’
Knowing we are loved
He says he was ‘an evangelical slave’ as a young man. But then he read Galatians 4.7, where Paul writes ‘You are no longer a slave, you’re a child.’ ‘Everything changed through that understanding. A slave gets up every morning, thinking what must I do today to please my Master? But a child gets up every day, knowing they are loved by their parents.
‘And because of that love, the child wants to live a life that pleases their parents. They set out to live that life, each day, on the basis of total acceptance. That is the vital difference.’
