“Finding identity in Christ” has become a cliche term that doesn’t hold much meaning. I wrote this up for lay-counselor training tonight, but I feel this could be beneficial for others as well. This wouldn’t be for casual conversation, but in-depth spiritual work. Feel free to use and tweak anything you like. You could go even through these with just yourself as a helpful exercise.

Helping others find identity in the Gospel 

What is the search for identity?

1. Looking for a sense of meaning and purpose.
2. Trying to find acceptance in the eyes of others and self.
3. Things/places/circumstances/opinions/attributes that makes an individual feel more valuable or less valuable.

Discovering someone’s perceived source of identity:

1.       Keep track of things/places/circumstances/opinions/attributes that mean a great deal to an individual and could be a source of regular preoccupation and anxiety for them. Look for what makes the person feel fulfilled, and what makes them feel less valuable. This is a process, not a quick conversation.

1.      Keep an eye out for
   1.     Personal works, achievements, or attributes
   2.     Spiritual markers or qualifiers
   3.     Culturally praiseworthy statuses and accomplishments
   4.     Sin and personal failures
   5.     Ask questions, such as:
      1.       What does this mean to you?
      2.       How would you be affected is this was gone?
      3.       Why is this so important to you?
      4.       If you sense the thing in question is the individual’s perceived source of value and meaning, clarify by asking a question like: “Do you feel your sense of value is wrapped up in this?” or “Do you ever feel more valuable or less valuable because of this?” or “Do you feel you wouldn’t be important because of this?” or “Do you feel you wouldn’t be who you are because of this?”
      5.     Listen to their response while reflecting and empathizing. This means a great deal to the person and might be the first time they have really processed it.

The Gospel

Colossians 2:8-15 (author’s translation) ⁸ See that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy which is empty deceit, according to the tradition of man, according to the basic principles of the world and not according to Christ. ⁹ For in him dwells all the fullness of God bodily, ¹⁰ and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.¹¹ In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of flesh, in the circumcision of Christ ¹² having been buried with him in baptism, in which also you were raised through faith in the powerful work of God who raised him from the dead. ¹³ And you the ones that were dead in your trespasses and uncircumcision of your flesh, he made you alive with him, having forgiven us all trespasses, ¹⁴ obliterating the records of debt that are adversarial to us, and he took it away, nailing it to the cross. ¹⁵ He is the one who disarmed the rulers and authorities, made a spectacle of them, triumphing over them in him.

There are two competing views:

1. The  traditions of man and the principles of the world
   1. A hollow, deceptive, deceitful philosophy (8)
   2. The teaching that fullness and fulfillment was found somewhere other than in Christ (specific heresy being addressed in Colossians)
   3. The Gospel of Jesus Christ
      1. Identity is not found in human works, achievements, or attributes. (11)
      2. Identity is not found in spiritual qualifiers. (11)
      3. Identity is not found in culturally recognized accomplishments. (11)
      4. Identity is not found in sin. The record of sin is destroyed, and the accuser is shamed. (13-14)
      5. Christ has the value of God, and His death and resurrection for you proves your value. (9-12)

Help them ask the hard questions.

1. What personal works of mine do I hold onto and try to find my identity in? What accomplishments or attributes do I try to define myself with? How would I view myself if those weren’t there?
2. What spiritual qualifiers do I rehearse in my head? What do I want others to recognize about me? What would it mean to me if people found those utterly irrelevant?
3. Are there cultural markers which I constantly compare myself to, hoping to measure up? Do I see myself as more valuable or less valuable because of my conclusions?
4.  Do I look deep in myself, and see my sin? Do I let that tell me who I am?

Moving toward the Gospel.

1. What counterfeit truth about my identity am I buying into? What is the truth of the Gospel?
2. How does this counterfeit truth affect my emotional life? What difference could the Gospel make?
3. How does this counterfeit truth control my daily living? How would the Gospel help me live differently?