IDENTITY CRISIS

I Was Just Thinking About - - - 

A question that has been pondered by philosophers and other thinkers throughout the ages is: “Who am I?” One of the earlier philosophers who raised the question was Plato (427-347 BC). A statement he wrote in The Republic sums up his thinking: “Society can never grow into a reality or see the light of day, and there will be no end to the troubles of states…of humanity itself, till philosophers are kings in this world, or till those we now call kings and rulers really and truly become philosophers, and political power and philosophy thus come into the same hands, while the many natures now content to follow either to the exclusion of the other are forcibly debarred from doing so. This is what I have hesitated to say so long, knowing what a paradox it would sound; for it is not easy to see that there is no other road to happiness, either for society or the individual….When the mind's eye rests on objects illuminated by truth and reality, it understands and comprehends them, and functions intelligently; but when it turns to the twilight world of change and decay, it can only form opinions, its vision is confused and its beliefs shifting, and it seems to lack intelligence.”

We live in an age where social media dominates. There are those who communicate via Twitter, Snapchat, LinkedIn, Instagram or Facebook. The question becomes one of reality check and the true identity. To whom is one communicating? What is true and accurate? Is one’s reality based upon  representations made in social media? Has this become an acceptable substitute for interpersonal communication and relationships? At first blush, people will be disbelieving that on Facebook, identity deception or misrepresentation occurs. It is alleged that “Facebook worked with its Network of Support, a group of leading LGBT advocacy organizations in order to select the 56 new gender identity options. Aside from identity, you can now also choose the pronouns Facebook uses when referring to you—male, female or neutral (they/their). You can see the 56 that have been identified so far—(they’re only accessible via an autocomplete drop-down menu within Facebook) by going to:  http://readwrite.com/2014/02/13/facebook-provides-50-new-gender-identity-options.

Does this matter for those choosing to utilize social media for sharing family picture updates or some other matters of interest with friends? It should not. For the many who are professing Christians, the range of religious entries is mind-boggling. The views shared that are supposedly based upon the Bible are similar to an Alphabet Soup potpourri. On pages dominated by “ministers”, one can find too many disparaging or belittling comments. There are those who try to dominate a discussion with their authoritarian manner. Some groups now have Administrators who attempt to screen what will be allowed as a post. They want to maintain a spirit of civil discourse (and this is among those identified as Ministers or Church Officers). 

What should be reality and true for the Biblical Christian whether communicating orally or writing, as well as in a faith and life walk and practice? At the very least, it should be in the words written as a Hymn by James M. Gray in 1905: “Naught have I gotten but what I received; Grace hath bestowed it since I have believed; Boasting excluded, pride I abase; I’m only a sinner, saved by grace!”  We would also do well to identify with the testimony and witness of the Apostle Paul that is summarized in I Timothy 1:12-17, “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, that He considered me faithful and appointed me to service. I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent man…And the grace of our Lord overflowed to me, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. This is a trustworthy saying, worthy of full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst. But for this very reason I was shown mercy, so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display His perfect patience, as an example to those who would believe in Him for eternal life.” Consider these things with me.