"Who Do You Think You Are?" and Les Miserables

Mark Dricsoll's new book, Who Do You Think You Are? hits shelves today and as one of a select team (thanks Mars Hill!) I got an early review copy to check out.  I also went with my wonderful wife to see the new (and fantastic!) Les Miserables last night.  Both are dedicated to the same issue: identity.

I would say the issue our world struggles with more than any other, is identity.  The suicide rate among 24-34 year olds is huge, in part because of missing identity or misguided identity.  To combat that, Driscoll unpacks Ephesians, Paul's magnum opus of identity, in his new book.  The entire theme of Ephesians, is "in Christ."  In fact, our lives, if not grounded on the fact leaves us asking the titular question, "Who do I think I am?"

As I began to read, I was grabbed rather swiftly by the passion and depth of the pages (and the use of quoting from Fight Club, Memento, etc.).  The key contention is this: we can either find our identity in Christ or base it in an idol (anything other than God).  Defining idols through an acronym, he outlines other options for finding our identity (and their flawed, failing crisis inducing problems)- items, duties, others, longings, and sufferings.  When we base who we are on any of those we are exchanging the Creator's image for something else He made.  Instead, we can find out who we really are and live life based on the simple truth: God made us in his image and that needs to be who we base ourselves on- Christ in us, the hope of glory.  The purpose and  plan laid out in the pages following sums up simply:

many who lose their individual identity idol simply choose another one, rather than turning to Jesus Christ. Consequently, they repeat the entire painful process over and over in their lives. Such people go from one addiction and compulsion to another, one religious commitment to another, and one relationship to another, continually seeking the answer to the question, “Who am I?” Meanwhile, they never find the only true answer to their identity crisis—Jesus.
The rest of this book is dedicated to helping you discover the power and joy that is found only in an identity founded and sustained in and by Jesus. My prayer is that you’ll find the answer to “Who am I?” in Christ, who is the I AM.

If there is one thing in life I am passionate about, it's people finding out who they really are in Christ.  In fact, after last night's date night, it became even clearer for me that that is the key issue today.  In Les Miserables, Jean Valjean is  faced with multiple dilemmas as he moves on from convict to man bought for God, all involving identity and character. The first is leaving behind his past to strike out for good after being saved from a return trip to jail and being given a lot of money worth of silver and a new identity- "bought for God."  Valjean sings- "Jean Valjean is no more, a new story must begin!"  And so it does- he starts a factory and helps a lot of ladies to have work and money for their families until Javert shows up.  Then another moment of identity crisis hits Valjeaan: does he tell who he was and lose his comfort and chance to help or let an innocent man take his place?  The question is worked out thoroughly in a song, aptly titled, "Who Am I?" where Valjean decides he must live true to who he is now and confess his true identity instead of allowing a lie to "damn" him.  He then moves on and adopts another identity- father and provider.  In the end, all of these identities are wrapped up in who He is in God.  He lives to give people a chance and to help all as best he can, as he was helped and made to be- a mirror of Christ's love for us.  A moving and great example of true identity lending purpose and clarity only as it sits "in Christ."

So the question I ask, is who do you think you are?  Are you stuck in an identity crisis, basing your worth and identity on something that will (or has!) let you down?  Or do you base your worth and identity on who you were created as?  I hope that latter, because if we find our worth and identity in the imago dei (image of God) we know that our life is about reflecting Christ.  I pray you find your identity as someone who is "in Christ" and reflect that identity to all those you encounter so they literally see Christ in and through you...

And btw, I received a free copy of Who Do You Think You Are? in exchange for an honest review, nothing more.  The forthcoming review isn't paid or otherwise, but my thoughts on a book that addresses the root cause of the hidden epidemic (suicide- read up on that at Relevant Magazine) in the millenial generation...