In this post-truth world where facts, truth, justice, injustice are all manipulated through sinister people with dark agendas and amplified without vetting across social media and mass media, there is something to think about: What defines you? Are you defined by an issue, such as abortion, traditional marriage, social justice, or economics? Are you defined by political parties? Are you defined by your favorite sports team or league? Are you defined by your job or profession? When you look in the mirror, who do you see? Do you see what you do each day to make a living? Do you see an elephant or a donkey? Do you see stars and bars or stars and stripes? What exactly do you see? What defines you?
Whatever defines you is where your influence will be. If you are defined by politics, your passion will be imbedded in the political issues and candidates. If you are defined by your job, your passion will center around the plusses and minuses of what goes on in your workplace. If you are defined by stars and bars, your attitude and actions will reflect how you interpret the Confederacy. If you are defined by your favorite sports team, your enthusiasm for certain players and certain athletic contests may well be evident in your behavior, what you wear, even with whom you associate. Some people say “we are what we eat.” We also could make the case that “we are by which we are defined.” You will exercise influence over what defines you, because that is where your passion is found.
2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” Verse 20 says, “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead be you reconciled to God.” Ephesians 4:22-24 says, “That you put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that you put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” When you are baptized in Christ, you are a new person, reconciled to God himself. Then are you not to be defined in Christ.
If then you are defined in Christ, where do your passions lie? Because where your passions lie, also there will be your influence. If you look in the mirror and see a person defined in Christ, your influence will reflect that definition. Herein is where much of the “Church” has gotten off track. It is not about the issues or self-improvement or the politics or the team, it is about our mission as Christians. As Romans 12:21 says, “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” Christ gave us the Great Commission to make disciples. Part of the reason society is fighting over worldly issues, deceiving, accusing, and labeling, may be because we as Christians do no understand what defines us, and our influence is thereby misplaced. Otherwise the world in which we live, our society, would reflect our influence. Think about it.
