During my time away I had an opportunity to review some materials that I plan to use with the elders and staff. A curriculum called How People Change, based on a book by the same title. A quote and a comment:
Often in our blindness to our gospel identity in Christ, we take on our problems as identities. While serious sin, divorce, depression, and single parenthood are significant human experiences, they ARE NOT our identities. So there is no room for defining yourself as:
“I’m divorced.” “I’m guilty of _________.” “I’m a single parent.”
Those things don’t define us! We are Christians who happen to –fill in the blank— but first and foremost we are defined by belonging to Jesus… so: “I’m a Christian who struggles with depression.” “I’m a Christian who sinned heinously.”
Reminding me of the great promise of Scripture: "I will be your God and you will be my people."
