If you're like me, identity theft comes to mind when it happens to someone you know and while you stand over the shredder destroying your daily collection of credit card offers. Since credit scores are the ultimate endorsement for loans, insurance rates, job applications, and so much more today, it pays to take very good care of your identity. I take reasonable precautions, listen to the advice of experts (come hear Jan Whitney on May 11 on Hwy 10 or June 8 downtown for some such advice on protecting yourself), and remind myself that I'm much more likely to harm myself through misplacing my own debit card than through giving out too much personal information. Between my debit card and my cell phone, I'm almost always looking for something valuable that I'm certain is lost forever but is probably in the pocket of what I wore yesterday.
There's another identity theft that we battle every day, but it's much harder to see. We have news, television shows, movies, magazines, music, and a million different influences telling us who we should be, what we should look like, and how we should think. Marketers promise us that we'll be thinner, prettier, smarter, have more time, more money, less stress, and just be plain happy with whatever it is that they're selling that minute. Finding what is real and true can be a challenge.
As people who are called to be salt and light in this world (Matthew 5:13-15), it's critical that we know who we are. If we follow Christ, we aren't a part of this world anymore. Ephesians 1:13-14 says, "And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession-to the praise of his glory." Now we are God's possession, marked with His seal. As we work here, becoming more like Christ daily, we're supposed to be different.
And like light, we're supposed to stand out from the crowd. In John 13:34-35, Jesus says, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." It seems so simple. To be Christ-like to a watching world, all we have to do is love one another. And honestly, in this world, I think loving one another is just about the highest calling and biggest challenge you can issue. This world is set up to drive us apart, to make us jealous, envious, fearful, and cynical. Love feels unnatural. In fact, it's supernatural and it's a part of that becoming-Christ-like journey that we're all on.
So how do we do it? How do we hold on to our purpose? How do we work in the world but not become confused and part of the world? In Phillipians 4:8, Paul has some great advice: "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things." We have the tools. We have the Holy Spirit in us as a guide, we have Jesus and his teachings, we have fellowship with other believers. We have what it takes to be successful. We just have to be aware of what's going on around us. Protecting your credit card and Social Security information takes some vigilance. So does maintaining your identity as a follower of Christ in this world. Be on guard against the world's message and never forget who you are in Christ.
Cheryl
P.S. The next Marketplace Connection event is a great opportunity to learn how to protect yourself against identity theft and to spend time with other Christian women. Join us May 11 at FamilyLife (or June 8 downtown) for a free, brown-bag lunch meeting.
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