Obviously, a Christian take on identity theft is that it is evil, vile, wrong, and totally unacceptable. I have personally experienced the sting of identity theft a few months ago when I discovered that someone was using my credit card number and making purchases in a foreign country. I remember not only feeling violated and outraged but also totally helpless to do anything about it. I knew that the perpetrators would never be caught and that the authorities had no time to mess with such ‘small’ cases.

 

   There are companies now promising complete protection against identity theft. They claim that they are so sure of their ability to stop the illegal use of one’s name and personal information that they will back up their claims with a million dollar guarantee. A million dollar guarantee! That is more money than I make in an ENTIRE MONTH!

 

 But identity theft is more than an issue of money; it is about one’s good name. The Bible says, “A good name is to be chosen above great riches and loving favor above silver or gold.” (Proverbs 22:1)

 

   Identity is an amazing topic from a Biblical perspective. Each of us has a number of identities or roles that we operate in on a daily basis. A person may be a Father, a brother, a husband, an employee, a mentor, a troop leader, a friend and any number of other things, which are all part of our perceived identity. I call these various components ‘surface identities’. These define us in certain ways and are very useful in helping us structure and organize our lives and also help us to interact with other individuals according to their surface identities as well.

 

   In the Bible, the Apostle Paul was very adept at recognizing and utilizing these identity components and able to use them as tools according to the need or circumstance of the moment. He was fluent in Hebrew, Greek and Latin (at least) and although he was a Jew, of the tribe of Benjamin, he was also a Roman citizen of Tarsus. He had been a student under the great teacher, Gamaliel and had a long list of credentials that gave him access and open doors in a wide variety of circles.

 

   When it was useful, he was Roman. When it was expedient to be a Jew, he was a Jew. He knew how to flow in and out of his roles and not be pinned down by them. They were tools in his toolbox and not REALLY who he was. Paul learned that his life was not defined by the surface identity components but instead; he focused on his ‘CORE’ identity.

 

   Our society is so absolutely infatuated with surface identity that a relative few of us have ever really stopped to consider where our core identity lies. To some, their core identity is that they are ‘American’ first and foremost. Others identify themselves by their sexual orientation first and foremost as the answer to who they are. Some see their key identity as their occupation or family name or school of graduation. Others try to be a little ‘deeper’ and identify themselves as ‘part of humanity’ or a ‘piece of the cosmic whole’.

 

   The Bible teaches us that when God created mankind, He created us in His own image. Mankind was to be a reflection of God’s own nature. When mankind fell from grace and entered into sin by declaring independence from God, that nature was corrupted. There is a certain amount the residual image of God still lingering in fallen mankind, but it is only a glimpse of the glory of God in its pure wholeness.

 

   When God looks at mankind, He sees two and only two possible core identities available for us. He sees those who are still ‘cut off’ and those who are ‘grafted back in’. He sees His primary identity as the creator, the source and sustainer of life- the ‘tree’ as it were. He sees us as branches- either in the tree or severed off. All other aspects of our life flow from this ‘point of contact’ as we either relate to God or do not relate to God.

 

   The greatest identity theft of all is not about credit cards and money. It is when we believe the lies of the devil and exchange our identity as the creation of God, created in His image to reflect His glory, to take on the identity of mere animals driven by our own impulses and instincts.

 

    How is THIS for a core identity, “To those who have received Him (Jesus) to those who have believed His name (Jesus-savior, deliverer, restorer), He has given the power (right) to become the children of God.” (John 1:12) This is THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE core identity. As a follower of Christ, this is what you should simply be. If someone were to ask you what your core identity is you should simply reply, “I am a Child of God.” If they ask, how do you know this? You reply, because God says so! His word has declared it to be so and God is not a liar! I have believed Him. I have received Him as my Lord and my savior. I have accepted His free gift. He died on the cross to pay for MY sins. I was cut off and was living for myself but now I live for Him. I was a cut off branch, but now I am grafted back in. We cannot BECOME something if we already were that thing.

 

   Jesus called Himself many things. He called himself- The Good Shepherd, the Light of the World, The Bread of Life and many other things. He had many roles and many aspects to His mission on earth but His primary- Core identity was, the Son of God.

 

   Jesus called His followers many things- Salt of the Earth, Disciples, Lights in the darkness, Sheep among many others. All of these various roles and functions of the believer are true and good but they are supported by and are merely overflows from our primary identity as ‘Children of God’. This is a function of relationship and not of activities.

 

   If you do not have a valid biblical basis for calling yourself a Child of God, you are the victim of the ultimate identity theft. You have allowed yourself to miss out on the greatest of all gifts, to be brought into God’s very own family and called one of His own dear children. Read the promise again, “To those who have received Him, to those who have believed on His name, He has given the power to BECOME a child of God.”

 

   The identity thief in this case has deliberately blinded your eyes from seeing the identity you CAN have! You should be absolutely outraged! This is a promise meant for YOU to claim. It is a life YOU can live! You can’t by this name. You cannot steal this name. You cannot be a member of this family by claiming that you are a good person or that your good outweighs you bad. There is only one way into this family- it is by blood relationship. If you claim any other basis for being in God’s family- you are an imposter! You have received the gift of the blood of Christ applied to your life on His account or you are still outside the family of God.

 

   It is amazing to me how we can be so upset and outraged by the crime of identity theft as it pertains to our money and credit but care nothing about the greatest identity theft crime of all. What will you do? Will you come to the Lord by faith and receive His free gift? Will you BECOME a Child of God? I hope so, if not YOU are the identity thief yourself as you eternally rip yourself off!

 

 

 

Father God, I know I am a sinner. I have lived my life for myself and my own purposes. I want to live with you as my Lord, my savior, my own Heavenly Father. I want to be a child of yours. I want to live for you and your purposes. Forgive me for being content to be cut off from you. I turn away from my desire to be independent from you and wish to be totally dependent on you. I thank you for the blood of Jesus on the cross on my behalf. I receive your gift. I ask that I be considered part of your family as was purchased by that precious blood. I thank you that Christ rose from the dead, so that I too, may live by the power of His resurrection, both in this world and that which is to come. When I depart from this earth, please take me to live with your forever in heaven. I pray in Jesus name (not according to my own merit or what I have done) Amen (may it be so)

 

Pray something along these lines- mean it in your heart- claim the promise and tell someone what you have done. Get a bible and start reading it. Get into a good church and plug in. There are many good tips on this web-site to help you live successfully as a child of God. Welcome to the family!