My Core Identity

While attending a seminar this weekend on Social Justice, the initial question was asked, "Who Am I?"  How it was introduced made me think.

Imagine yourself at a party and someone walks up to you and begins a conversation.  In the course of that conversation introductions occur.  How would you introduce yourself?  Think about it for a moment ... how would you introduce yourself?

Most of us would start with our name.  The rest of the information we share about ourselves depends on a number of factors.  Am I in a safe environment (trusting who I am with)?  Is the party attached to personal friends, family, work, spouse's work, church event, or in public with a mix of acquaintances/strangers?  Taking all of this into account the things that came to my mind first were: titles held, work related stuff.  When getting comfortable with the conversation things like family related info, church ministries, and other leisure activities start to come out.  Yet these things and relationships are NOT my "core identity".  They are important as they have formed me in the way I see the world around me and influences the way I respond to it.  These traits can also enslave me or lure me away from recognizing/embracing my "core identity".

My "core identity" is Christian.  What does that mean?  It means that I acknowledge that I am a created being.  "God created man in his image; in the divine image he created him; male and female he created them." (Gn 1:27 NAB)  I am created by God, for God.  "...thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, and formed you, O Israel:  Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name: you are mine." (Is 43:1 NAB)  My parents had me baptized shortly after birth.  "Joseph, you have become a new creation, and clothed yourself in Christ" (Baptismal Rite) "So we are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us." (2Cor 5:20)  So I'm committed and consecrated to a God who promised, "...I will be their God, and they shall be my people." (Jer 31:33, Ez 37:27, 2Cor 6:16, Heb 8:10)

My "core identity" thus demands of me to be what God has created and sanctified me to be, "LOVE".  To be His ambassador/disciple I must love all my brothers and sisters created by God, be the image of mercy, compassion, invitation, peace, forgiveness, hope, and presence.  What a tall order, thank God I believe in a loving God who approaches us first and calls us back each time we fall short of living our "core identity".