Know Your Identity

Introduction

Welcome to Reach, intro our time, upcoming series (Countercultural & Reasonable Faith)

Tonight — Countercultural // Counterculture Movement of the ‘60’s and ‘70’s // interesting how many things are just typical in our day (jeans/musical festivals/weed + sexual liberation/anti-racism) // they were dissatisfied with the establishment’s status quo

How should Christians live when the culture’s status quo is unacceptable? In other words…How do we live as people of the Kingdom in a culture that’s hostile towards the King?

Should be pretty obvious that our culture can be hostile to wholehearted, orthodox Christianity. People like half-way committed “Christians” because then you can still be materialistic, sleep around, cheat through school, gossip, etc. without making them uncomfortable. And people like liberal Christianity because you then they can affirm all their beliefs without challenging any of them.

Daniel speaks to this

Explanation

Read Daniel 1, explaining context as we go

Notice the progression from 1) the desecration of the temple (v. 1-2) —> 2) the changing of the names (v. 6-7) —> 3)the temptation to assimilate (v. 8-10)

The culture you live in has disregarded what’s holy.

Depending on how we respond, this can be a good thing.

We get in trouble when we try to get non-Christians to act like Christians (e.g. post-war America, Christendom Europe)

Instead of trying to become the power brokers (LA 10 commandments in schools), we need to learn how to live when we’re not

The goal is not to maintain cultural power but to know your identity when that power is gone. On the other hand, the goal is not to live in a Christian bubble, but to live Christian on a battleground.

The reason it can be good when culture disregards what’s holy is because it reminds us that this world is not our home and that we’re in a spiritual battle.

Sometimes the most sincere expressions of faith come during the most severe expressions of persecution.

Embrace the battle you’re a part of. (I don’t want to be a campus minister at a Christian college).

If you don’t embrace the fact that you’re in a spiritual battle, you’ll either give into the fight or never win any people over.

The culture you live in is trying to redefine your identity.

You’ve gotta realize that something typically precedes the temptation to blend in with those around you. 1) Downplaying holiness and 2) Redefining who you are.

Just like Nebuchadnezzar changed their names, the enemy wants to redefine who you are. He says…

how you look = who you are (so dress accordingly, hit the gym, etc)

what you own = who you are (so if you don’t drive a new Bronco, work hard now so you can make $ and be somebody one day)

who you know = who you are (so if you didn’t do Greek life then hate on folks for buying friends but go ahead and sell yourself out to make some yourself)

what you know = who you are (so you better claw your way to the top, join every honor society, panic about getting that internship)

Who are you letting tell you who you are?

It’s not enough for you to get 2 hours of truth and let the enemy speak for the other 166 (through Netflix, Spotify, TikTok, your roommate, lab partner, etc). That’s why building your life on God’s Word is so important.

You will never rise to the call of Christ if you don’t know who you are in Christ.

Exhortation

Know your identity!

Evangelistic offer to receive a new name, family, and eternity

Know who you are in Christ. Let the voice of Scripture be louder than the the voice of the enemy and live out of your identity in Christ.