How to find your identity in a confused culture

We are surrounded by a culture that tells us that we can find our identity in aspects of our experience, such as our sexuality, race, or gender. But our identity, as followers of Jesus, must be informed, and transformed, by Christ – we must learn to understand our identity in the light of this bigger story.

If I asked, ‘Who are you?’, you would probably answer by telling me your name. You might also tell me your job, hobbies or background. But our identity is much more than any of those things. Questions about our identity get to the heart of how our sense of self has been shaped and continues to change throughout our lives.

Humans have long thought about what makes us us – how our identities are formed. Many psychologists are now exploring how the complexities of a person’s identity might be best understood as narrative – a weaving together of past, present and future experiences into a coherent life-story.

Scripture and culture

In my work with Moorlands College, I am privileged to journey alongside students as they develop their understanding of Scripture and how to relate to culture. Theological study can often be unsettling, particularly as we encounter alternative views, recognise our shortcomings, and ask challenging questions about our beliefs. But theological study is also an opportunity to reflect more deeply on who we are, explore how we fit into the bigger story of Scripture, and walk further along the paths that God has called us to.

In Deuteronomy, we find the Israelites camped on the plains of Moab opposite Jericho, paused on the threshold of the Promised Land. Here Moses reminds the Israelites of their story – of how God had brought them out of slavery in Egypt, of the covenant God was making, and of the promise they were about to enter.

Moses is not just telling the Israelites a potted history of their nation. He is developing their shared sense of identity as the covenant people of God by retelling their story. This story will be central to the Israelites for generations, the key to understanding the law and commandments (Deut.6:20-25). Likewise, the Psalms retell the history of Israel (e.g. Ps.66), reminding the Israelites of their story and identity as God’s people.

In his great prayer for the Ephesians (3:14-21), Paul recognises that ‘every family’ finds their place in God. We all find our ultimate origin story leads back to God’s creation. Like the Israelites, we need to know where we’ve come from to know who we are or where we’re going. We need to be ‘rooted and established’ in the bigger story, the good news of God’s love.

Living the bigger story

Our identity is shaped by the culture and communities that we belong to. Our challenge as followers of Jesus is to make sense of who we are in the light of the Biblical story of redemption and not the latest cultural trends. Retelling and engaging with the Biblical narrative provides a framework for us to discover our part in the story and offers us an invitation to be transformed by God’s story.

In a society that rejects meta-narratives, one central role of the Bible College is to help students engage with Scripture and find their place in its story. Theological study helps students to recognise the bigger story by delving deeper into the Biblical narrative and allowing the message of salvation and restoration to reshape our response to the world around us.

As we are transformed by God’s story, we need to learn to share our stories. As co-pilgrims on this journey of faith, by sharing our story, our testimony, we strengthen both our own spiritual formation and the formation of others. This identity formed by the larger story is also crucial for evangelism – not that we are the perfect example of being a Christian – but that we begin to invite others into a better, life-giving story – the story of God’s redemption.