As a kid, I “loved” Bruce Jenner.  I became aware of him in my late grade school years as he persevered and finally won an Olympic decathlon championship in the 1976 Olympics.  I distinctly remember watching on our “new/used” color TV as Jenner completed the 1500m.  Reflecting upon that time, I realize that we probably watched that broadcast live because the Olympics were in Montreal that year.  Eight years later, I would briefly compete as a college athlete on the same track team where Jenner got his start as a decathlete, the Graceland College “Yellowjackets” in Lamoni, IA.  While my personal collegiate track career was unremarkable, it was a bit of a rush to run on the same track and walk on the campus as Jenner had, whom I had watched and idolized as a youth.

So … what has my natural personal reaction been to Caitlyn Jenner?  To put it succinctly, I felt numb, let-down, and reflective.  Numb: because the world and its people are often so far from my “Christian comfortable” convictions.   Sometimes it’s easier to just stay numb.   Let-down: because on a basic level I had hoped for a different story from (Bruce) Caitlyn Jenner.  (Yes, I am aware it is inappropriate to expect public figures to behave in the way we would prefer, and yet this is my natural reaction.)  Reflective: because I must ask myself--how do I respond as a Christ-follower and Christian leader?  How do each of us respond who follow Jesus and who find our deepest and most meaningful identity “in Christ?”

It occurs to me that identity “in Christ” is key to what I would like to share.  But to get there, let’s back up a bit.  What is our identity outside of Christ?

“For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)

Our identity outside of Christ is lacking.  We find ourselves scrambling to get “within the glow,” at least some kind of glow, even if we have to create it ourselves.  We have sinned and are imperfect and impure.  Jesus refers to those outside of the kingdom as lost and the world as broken because of this “lost-ness.”   Yet even with this harsh and unrelenting identity outside of Christ, there is the basic nature of Jesus himself that speaks to this lost condition.  His promise and his mission is to seek those who seemingly “can’t or won’t” be found.

“While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  (Romans 5:8)

“The Son of Man (Jesus) came to seek and to save what was lost.” (Luke 19:10)

Our identity is found ultimately in the God who seeks and finds that which is lost.  (Be careful with judging “levels of lost-ness,” the Pharisees got tangled up here.)  So what is my identity now as one found in Christ? 

·       I have a name given me (Jesus) which is about hope, victory, life, and mercy.  

·       I confess truth that is revealed to me from God’s word rather than arrived at by my own wishes and shifting rationale

·       I live as one fully forgiven in my relationship to God, yet continuing to be shaped and refined in my Christian/human relationship in this world.

But, I must come back to loving “Caitlyn.”  Caitlyn Jenner is a public figure that virtually none of us know personally.  She is fodder for the ravenous need to opine, judge, and to defend.  Many blogs and articles have addressed this.  We need to reflect on the “Caitlyns” among us, those who are struggling for a meaningful identity, wondering who they are, grasping for significance, hoping for a brightly lit, yes, even glorious identity that will truly last.  Who are they?

They might well be a youth or adult struggling with gender confusion or a sense of being “misplaced.”  But look beyond, see more deeply to the other identity struggles beyond these.  Consider the mother whose children have grown and moved or the one long married who has been discarded by their spouse.  I think of a neighbor who has been out of work and casting about for meaningful employment.  Remember the parent who has suffered the pre-mature and sudden death of a child.  How about the newly graduated who cannot find work in the field in which they studied.  Consider those who struggle with alienation or worse from their family of origin because of faith and/or lifestyle choices. Then there are those who are suffering the end of long-term relationships or individuals surprised by the infidelity of their mate.  Are you tracking with me?  Perhaps you have a few examples of your own.

What do they need?

Identity that will last and confirmation from God’s word that there is within this identity eternal meaning.  Our baptism is our ultimate anchor point for our identity in Christ.  This is God’s promise regarding who we are rather than how we feel.  (You may be in a position to share these truths in a personal trusted way.)

Trusted friends who will walk alongside them loving consistently, fervently, and prayerfully.  These friends speak truth in love, refuse to abandon, and never cease to lead with prayer and acceptance of who they are as one beloved by the Father.

Communities that will absorb their struggles and see a higher purpose in who they are in Christ rather than on how they behave at any given moment.  (This will take strong leaders within those communities who are led by grace rather than judgment.) 

Forgiveness modeled to them so that they are not only the receivers of this love but also learn to extend this great gift to those who behave in a less than exemplary fashion.

In Conclusion

Surely there are many thoughts that I have missed.  Please feel free to add to these thoughts.  Join me in using this blog in the future to build up our people and our churches in responding with the words and actions of Christ to individual souls that are often not sure who they are.

Pastor Mike Lange – Director of CNH Mission Awareness and Expansion