CHRISTIAN IDENTITY THEFT
If anything steams me, it’s identity theft. Minds and consciences numbed with meth cannot fathom the hurt they have invoked. Reputations and good credit earned through years of fastidious living can be tarnished with one swipe of plastic. To me, identity theft should receive far heavier retribution from the law than is presently the case. Possessions are covered by insurance. What covers a lost reputation?
But wait. How does God feel about those who represent His name, but not His character? To be a Christian in name only … is that another form of identity theft? Is it possible there are many in every religion, Christians, Jews, Buddhists and yes, even in the Islamic culture, that while taking the name, smear the reputation of that religion by their actions and attitudes? The Islamic fundamentalist who hates unbelievers and the Christian leader who cheats on his wife may not be far different. They follow the same course as the identity thieves we all despise.
How about us? If taking the name “Christian” is a matter of the heart, and not just an outward label, where do we fit into the picture? Are we guilty of identity theft, too?
December 31st, 2006 at 12:47 pm
Good post. I’ve preached for years that to take the name “Christian” and continue to act in un-Christlike ways is tantamount to breaking the Third Commandment — “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.” Now your post makes it clear that it is also a violation of the Eighth Commandment as well.
January 30th, 2007 at 3:47 pm
Loren and the writer of “Christian Identy Theft,” have it “spot on,” as some cultures would say it.
Many years ago, in the 60’s to be more exact, I, as Loren did, started preaching that when we take the name of “Christian” and do not submit to the discipline that the name implies we have submitted to, is in fact taking the name of God in vain, or without any care as to it’s meaning.
In a set of Bible studies that I wrote to use in the classes I held to teach others how to give Bible studies, this was one of the specific points I made. I used the illustration of a woman who gives up her name and “takes the name” of her husband as a sign that they are now husband and wife and that she has pledged to: “love, honor and obey.” (The deleting of the last part of that trio has done nothing to strengthen the home nor the church.)
So, I give a hearty AMEN to this concept. For when we tell others that we are a Christian, we are in fact telling them that Jesus is the supreme authority in our lives. If in fact we allow anything else, even our own opinions to hold a higher level of authority, we are taking God’s name in vain.
There is much talk about “finishing the work,” “fulfilling the gospel commission.” Yet, central to the Gospel commission is the charge to: “Make disciples.” That charge is the same as telling us to: “bring those we study with under discipline to Jesus.” For a “disciple” is one who has wilingly submitted to the discipline of a chosen master. One is not a disciple who refuses to do what the one they claim as their master tells them to do.
Over and over during my years in giving Bible studies, people would from time to time come up with a statement similar to one more recently made to me. The party, and the issue is not important so it will not be identified, when challenged to follow God’s clearly revealed will responded with: “Unless God allows me to _________ I will not serve Him.”
Supposedly, that was perceived to be a response what would hold off the claims God was making on this person’s life. In fact it would have been hilariously funny except that it was so serious. The person claimed/s to be a Seventh-day Adventist Christian. Yet they were very unwilling to submit to the discipline God asks us to submit to. Something that any true member of His family will gladly do. So, in fact, their statment merely revealed that they did not want to serve God at all. For just when did the one who serves tell the one they claim to serve what they will or will not do?
Far too many have lost sight of this fact in our “free society.” A couple of times in the book of Judges an idea is repeated. It goes something like this. “There was no king in Israel, so every man did what was right in his own eyes.”
Another similar statment is found in the writings of Ellen White. In speaking of the story where Elijah on Mt. Carmel called for those who would stand for God to make their allegiance known, she says:
“The people answer him not a word. Not one in that vast assembly dare reveal loyalty to Jehovah. Like a dark cloud, deception and blindness had overspread Israel. Not all at once had this fatal apostasy closed about them, but gradually, as from time to time they had failed to heed the words of warning and reproof that the Lord sent them. Each departure from rightdoing, each refusal to repent, had deepened their guilt and driven them farther from Heaven. And now, in this crisis, they persisted in refusing to take their stand for God. {PK 147.3}
“The Lord abhors indifference and disloyalty in a time of crisis in His work. . . . .. All through the ages, God has had moral heroes, and He has them now–those who, like Joseph and Elijah and Daniel, are not ashamed to acknowledge themselves His peculiar people. His special blessing accompanies the labors of men of action, men who will not be swerved from the straight line of duty, but who with divine energy will inquire, “Who is on the Lord’s side?” (Exodus 32:26), men who will not stop merely with the inquiry, but who will demand that those who choose to identify themselves with the people of God shall step forward and reveal unmistakably their allegiance to the King of kings and Lord of lords. Such men make their wills and plans subordinate to the law of God. For love of Him they count not their lives dear unto themselves. Their work is to catch the light from the Word and let it shine forth to the world in clear, steady rays. Fidelity to God is their motto.” {PK 148.1}
Just one more story. After a meeting one evening, I was talking to an old friend of mine. A topic came up and information from God’s word was being shared. A pastor walking by, apparently overheard part of the discussion, for he turned and in positive tones informed us that what we were reading in God’s word was not true. Well, my friend if what God says isn’t true, just what can we trust? In fact, all that was being revealed was the extreme biases of this person.
Yes, Loren, failing to submit to God’s instructions, then labeling one’s self as a “Christian,” is in fact breaking the commandment as well as taking the Lord’s name in vain, or without attaching any meaning to it.
Maranatha
Ray Phillips