Who are you?

"Who are you?"

It sounds like a simple question requiring a simple answer, but it really isn't. For example, if someone asked me, "Who are you?" I might answer, "Neil Anderson."

"No thats your name. Who are you?"

"Oh, I'm a student at OCC."

"No, thats what you do. Who are you?"

"I'm an American."

"No, thats where you live."

"I'm an evangelical."

"Thats your denominational preference."


I could say that i'm 5' tall and around 97 lbs. My physical dimensions and appearance, however, aren't me either.


"Who am I" is far more than what you see on the outside. Pauls said, "We recognize no man according to the flesh" (2 Cor. 5:16). Maybe the Early Church didn't, but generally, we do. We tend to identify ourselves and each other primarily by what we look like (tall, short, stocky, slender) or what we do (plumber, carpenter, nurse, engineer, clerk). Furthermore, when we Christians are asked to identify ourselves in relation to our faith, we usually talk about our doctrinal position (Protestant, evangelical, calvinist, charismatic), our denomination preference (Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist, Independant) or our role in the church (Sunday School teacher, choir member, deacon, usher).

IS WHO YOU ARE DETERMINED BY WHAT YOU DO, OR IS WHAT YOU DO DETERMINED BY WHO YOU ARE?

I believe the latter to be true. I believe that hope for growth, meaning, and fulfillment as a Christian is based on understanding who you are -- specifically, your identity in Christ as a CHILD OF GOD. Your understanding of who God is and who you are in relationship to Him is the critical foundation for your belief system and your behavior patterns as a Christian.

I am beginning this journey today, September 7th 2010. Pray for me...