I Identify as a Christian

Who am I?

Our lives are stories in motion. What does that make us? The characters!

Character development is a huge part of the process when authors and screenwriters come up with stories. They give their characters backstories, describe their personalities, establish their traits and quirks, even decide what their motives are–they give them an identity. Ideally, this character's identity will improve the plot in some way. They might help set the tone, provide comedy relief, move the story forward, and/or produce interesting conflict.

Another interesting thing to keep in mind is that all characters are either dynamic or static. Dynamic characters change as the story progresses. For example, they might start as horribly rude, but by the end of the story recognize that being horribly rude is not very cool, and change their ways. That's what makes them dynamic characters. Static characters are characters that don't change at all from the start of the story to the end.

So, if I'm a character, what's my identity? What do I offer to the story? And am I a dynamic character or a static character?

I want my eyes to be so set on Christ (Colossians 3:2) and the things of His kingdom that everything else is garbage compared to Him (Philippians 3:8), and He consumes every part of my identity. When people think of Paul, they usually don't think "Oh, that tentmaker guy!" I mean, he did make tents, but that's not what he's known for. People usually don't think, "Oh yeah, Jesus! What a great carpenter." I want to be known for being a "little Christ" (Christian) through and through. It's my identity, it's who I am, it drives my personality, it dominates every choice I make. It. Is. Me.

So what I should bring to the story is more glory to God. I was made by Him--for Him. If I really believe this it should consume my life.

And of course I shouldn't be a static character. As my story progresses, I need to change and grow into His likeness (Ephesians 4:15), not be complacent or stagnant. I've got lots of work to do!

If I can identify as whatever I want, I want to identify as a Christian.

⁶ yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him. – 1 Corinthians 8:6 (NASB1995)

Author: Timothy Bemenderfer (08/21/2023)