Jesus and Identity, Part 1

 "We shouldn't need to talk about race.  Race is a man-made concept to keep us divided and our identity is in Jesus!"

I've heard this line so many times throughout my life and spent many years accepting it as truth.  Granted, for the first 18 years of my life, I rarely perceived the effects of racial division around me- and not because they weren't present. But I didn't know anyone who would be okay with Jim Crow laws or racial hate crimes, so it didn't seem pertinent to keep discussing race or any other forms of "identity"- in fact, it felt borderline idolatrous to talk about other forms of identity because, as a Christian, my identity was supposed to be in Jesus. 

But what does it mean to have "Identity in Jesus?"  Is Jesus some sort of "generic model" sans any other form of identity?  

In Jesus' time on earth, He pointed people to His Father in Heaven.  He demonstrated a level of compassion and integrity that His followers should strive for.  He lived a sinless life and became the sacrifice for the sins of humanity, making a way for us to be reconciled onto God, and He defeated death when He rose from the grave.  He proclaimed Himself to be the Son of God (Luke 22:70) and the only way to God the Father (John 14:6).  His identity above all else- His purpose- was to bring glory to His Father and to reconcile humanity with God (while He was fully God Himself- but I don't know how far into seminary I'll have to get to be able to explain the Trinity!).

But, Jesus' primary identity didn't erase His earthly identities.  He was male.  He was Jewish, both in faith and heritage, living under Roman rule.  He was a refugee early in His life, and He was likely from a lower socioeconomic background. He was a tradesman.  

God could have come to Earth in any form He chose, and He chose the form of a human.  In Evangelical Christianity, we are quick to celebrate that God became one of us and walked among us, but we can forget that He embraced earthly forms of identity.  Nothing could take the place of His primary identity or purpose, but the earthly forms of identity were still there and were still a part of His ministry.  

"Okay, but He was in human form.  He also got sick, tired, injured- things that only happen because we are in a fallen world.  None of those things will matter in Heaven, right?"

    "After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:
'Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.'”

(Revelation 7:8-10)

The effects of sin and brokenness will not be present in Heaven- but different languages, cultures, and ethnicities will all be plainly visible, worshiping around God's throne.  

Discussions about race, ethnicity, gender and cultural background all matter because they are part of God's design.   Yes, sin and brokenness have caused us to turn these things into something that divides us, but that doesn't negate whatever God's original purposes were in creating a diverse, multi-cultural world. 

As a public school teacher and as a follower of Jesus, I have found myself caught between the push for public education to be more equitable (and to carry said equity into the rest of society) and resistance from fellow Evangelicals who fear that diversity and inclusion comes with hidden political agendas that will further divide us- and, I'm among the first to agree that the political approach to many issues only further divides people and creates greater oppression in the long run.  

But, my aim in enrolling in seminary was to go beyond man-made politics; I wanted to go deeper into the ultimate source of truth and understand the approach that God would have me take to a world that is still affected by racism, xenophobia, and other sinful conditions of our hearts. And (although this is terrifying!) I wanted to understand what wrong attitudes and mindsets I may be harboring in my own heart and mind, even though political voices on one side or another may be urging me to embrace it.  In public service and in ministry, I have seen the effects of oppression tied to race, home language, gender, etc, and I know it breaks God’s heart and therefore, it should break mine, too.  

So, what role does God want me to play in reconciling His beautifully diverse creation unto Him?  That’s what I’m looking to understand.