Identity (part 1)

For as long as I can remember, world cultures have been fascinating to me. Born into a family of mixed heritage, I have the privilege of seeing life in different ways to others. I did not always see it this way, but this has increasingly been something I treasure.

Currently, there is a shift taking place in British society. Within the culture we now live in, people are embracing a whole range of experiences which would not have been the norm in the not so distant past. In some ways this ability to bring a fusion between world cultures enriches society. At the same time, I wonder if sometimes the ‘pick and mix’ culture we live in can potentially create difficulty too?

Defining the word ‘identity’ appears to be a confusing task. For example, the Collins(1) dictionary provides a definition that states that identity is ‘who you are’. That definition seems really vague, particularly if we are in ‘pick and mix’ land. In fact, if I am honest, the definition lacks any definition at all. When you think about it, how would you answer the following questions:

* Who are you?

* When you consider defining yourself, what led to that conclusion? (i.e. what was your ‘moral compass’?)

Someone might define themselves by doing so on ethnic terms, but even trying to make sense of that is really very confusing. When NHS seek to identify my ethnicity, the offering they provide for me is Indian and ‘white’. Being ‘white’ is not an ethnicity. Skin colour does not define ethnicity, rather it is the force of melanin within the skin. Further, those of caucasian origin come from various parts of the world, each with varying biological, spiritual, historical and other such make-up - one's 'colour' seems to be a confusing way to gain identity. Sometimes, what appears defining can lead to a bewildering complexity, raising more questions than answers.

What seeks to define us can be life defining.

Several years ago, I was doing some substitute teaching in a primary school. Unsurprisingly, the children were testing their boundaries on that day! During the lunch break, a knock on the door came. My visitor was an eight year old class member who quickly made an apology to me saying that he was very sorry for disturbing the class. (I am always delighted when someone tries to make a mends!) He went on to tell me that he knew he was very naughty and that he had around 30 bad points which were informing his parents of how ‘bad’ he was. I was saddened by what he was carrying around with him; he was after all only around seven years old.

Now, I have no doubt that people of any age can be challenging, but I wonder what the outcome of a label is? When labels are applied, it is important to consider the outcome of what is being identified. Referring back to the definition of identity used at the start, my young class member appeared to have an identity telling him he was a ‘bad boy’. It was easy to see that this was leading him into a cycle of fulfilling the expectations which were given to him. An identity can therefore have serious impacts. Certainly, when we look at gang culture(2) in the UK and beyond, the impact of choosing a certain identity has life and death consequences. Whilst an extreme example, might it be that other identities through which individuals identify themselves, have the similar impacts?

A positive identity has the power to enable security, it provides a context for belonging, and it also offers a sense of purpose too. Someone’s identity both informs others about who someone is, but most importantly, it helps the person identified understand who they are.

A healthy identity will help reduce confusion.

It will bring clarity into one’s mind about who they are, and whether they should choose a lifestyle aligned with their values. It might be said that an identity can lead to a greater sense of inner peace.

Reading about some of the wild events recorded in the Bible can potentially lead readers to imagining that everything was okay for those that encountered God; nothing could be further from the truth. The heroes of Scripture were not celebrities with bodyguards or big salaries. Some faced personal crises of faith, endured life-threatening circumstances, overcame personal flaws, dealt with anxieties, fears and personal inadequacies(3). At times the people that they lived among threatened them, many were either killed or threatened with death just for their faith in God.

Identity was no less important for those that pursued God in Scripture than it is for us today. The understanding they had both of who they were and importantly who God was, informed what they did and what they overcame. For those that were able to engage with life, becoming the people they were born to be, what and whom they were looking at to inform them mattered. It was these things that informed them that they could overcome adversity.

Before we continue to think further about this subject, which will be done in the next post, I wonder if I might ask:

* Does it ever feel like you are being defined by external forces, situations or labels which you would rather were not on you?

* When you think of the labels you either wear, or indeed the labels you give others, are they life giving or life limiting?

Root this now

1. Journal your reflections on this piece. If relevant and resonating with you, consider the questions raised in the article.

2. Consider creating a mindmap (aka. Brainstorm or Thought shower (depending on the weather!)), where you can identify some of your own influences. As you identify them, consider further, would you consider these as beneficial influences or not?

3. In 1 Samuel 17, we read the story of David and Goliath. Read it, noting the influences which either tried or were forming his identity. Think, what take aways could you apply to your situation?

References

1. Collins (2019). ‘Identity’. Found at: https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/identity. Accessed February 2024

2. Leverso, J. and O’Neill, K.K. (2021) Youth Gangs and Victimization: AN Investigation of the Impact of Gang Dynamics of Experiences of Victimization. DOI:10.1080.01639265.2021.1963644

3. Various references could help here but a few include Hebrews 11, 2 Corinthians 1 and 4, Exodus 1-3.