As a foreigner living in a "strange land" I (along with my children) often feel like we're a showpiece on display for people's musings. Often it's just as entertaining for us as it is for them, as we hear a confused dialogue take place about whether or not they think we are in fact foreigners or if we're locals. Even tonight as I stood outside the domestic airport in Addis Ababa, a lady standing next to me asked me if she could borrow my phone. When she realized I was a foreigner, she profusely apologized. She didn't need to apologize! I have always taken it as a compliment when people think I'm Ethiopian for two reasons: 1) because Ethiopian women are simply one of the most beautiful people groups on the planet! 2) it reminds me that God created me for this place.
But in saying that, this in fact is my dilemma... My identity crises. While people like to make statements about me as they take stock of my outward appearance; those statements aren't always necessarily true. As much as I love it when people say I look Ethiopian, I am not Ethiopian. As much as people like to tell me I look like I'm in my 20's, I am not (thankfully) in my 20's!
Growing up half Samoan, half Greek, living in both Australia and New Zealand, I quickly learnt that being a "half caste" meant you never fit into one culture. You never really belong to one race. I joined the Samoan group in High School and was told I didn't sit right. I can't say I'm "Samoan" because many Samoans have labeled me as "palagi" - meaning I'm white. To the Greek side, our color clearly distinguished us from the rest of our cousins and disqualified us from fitting into the Greek mold. To my European side I am brown, to my Island side, I am white. So where do I fit then?!
My friend and favorite Ethiopian Gospel singer, Dawit Getachew reminds us that "I am what the word of God says I am." When our culture tries to dictate who we are, or who we are not; when our surroundings try to put us in a box and label us as one thing; when we feel like we will never belong in one group or be able to proudly support one "team", we belong to a greater "Team".
As believers, we actually belong to the winning team. We are "new creations in Christ Jesus, the old is gone and the new has come." In Him, there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, (young or old even!) We are all equal and we all carry a new identity in Christ. This is what the word of God reminds us of.
Knowing this identity is foundational to how we live life itself. Everyone is on a search for the meaning of life. Not just in general but personally- to know and to be what we were created to be. If we know WHO we are, then we can know how we are meant to live.
When I gave my life to Jesus almost 19 years ago, my new creation culture took precedence over my old cultures. While some parts of culture can be a beautiful display of Gods creativity, other parts of it can be detrimental to the health (in mind, body and development) of the people who cling so tightly to it.
If we believe only what our society, and the culture that undergirds that society, says about who we are then we will miss out the truth. Cultures dictate what success, beauty and acceptable behavior looks like. They are defining value and worth through biases and hierarchical structures. They tell us if we're important enough (maybe because of gender or family affiliation), whether we're worthy or not (by deciding who can participate in decision making processes); whether we are young or old enough (as each culture treats its young and elders with different levels of respect); whether we are educated enough (as certain cultures place educational achievements as its most valuable possession). Each value that is held in high regard by our culture is carried from generation to generation by a message and a messenger. It's used to let people know where they fit and how they need to behave accordingly. It causes people to feel either inferior or superior- neither being good for anybody. I've been on both ends of that scale...and I've learnt that it's temporary.
We don't need to live for temporary pleasures or pain. We also don't need to be dictated by what society or culture has told us, is telling us, will tell us. If we always do what we've always done, we'll always get what we've always got right? So it's time for change. Change in how we see ourselves, how we define ourselves and then how we behave accordingly.
We adapt to a Kingdom culture when we receive Jesus. He is our example of how to live Kingdom lives. He was so counter cultural He offended people, but He didn't care for the praises or acceptance of people but only the glory of God. We can feel like we are "half casts" when we receive Christ. That we have to straddle two cultures and maybe don't belong to either- but the Bible says we are in the world but not of it. We no longer live, but Christ lives in us. We are more like the foreigner living in the strange land- we look like the locals but we will actually never BE them. We are living for Eternity and not for the land we are temporarily in. That's what Jesus culture should be about. And what a beautiful culture it is and what a powerful identity we adopt.
This new identity that is established in us comes as we become children of God and heirs to His throne.
John 1:12-13
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Romans 8:16-17
The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ...
There's a new birth that takes place, a new culture we are born into and a new identity we take on. We are so much more valuable now than we ever were before and if we fail to understand that then we will never experience the abundant life Jesus came to give us.
So who am I now? The message Kingdom culture invites me to believe was passed on through Jesus. He tells me:
But in saying that, this in fact is my dilemma... My identity crises. While people like to make statements about me as they take stock of my outward appearance; those statements aren't always necessarily true. As much as I love it when people say I look Ethiopian, I am not Ethiopian. As much as people like to tell me I look like I'm in my 20's, I am not (thankfully) in my 20's!
Growing up half Samoan, half Greek, living in both Australia and New Zealand, I quickly learnt that being a "half caste" meant you never fit into one culture. You never really belong to one race. I joined the Samoan group in High School and was told I didn't sit right. I can't say I'm "Samoan" because many Samoans have labeled me as "palagi" - meaning I'm white. To the Greek side, our color clearly distinguished us from the rest of our cousins and disqualified us from fitting into the Greek mold. To my European side I am brown, to my Island side, I am white. So where do I fit then?!
My friend and favorite Ethiopian Gospel singer, Dawit Getachew reminds us that "I am what the word of God says I am." When our culture tries to dictate who we are, or who we are not; when our surroundings try to put us in a box and label us as one thing; when we feel like we will never belong in one group or be able to proudly support one "team", we belong to a greater "Team".
As believers, we actually belong to the winning team. We are "new creations in Christ Jesus, the old is gone and the new has come." In Him, there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, (young or old even!) We are all equal and we all carry a new identity in Christ. This is what the word of God reminds us of.
Knowing this identity is foundational to how we live life itself. Everyone is on a search for the meaning of life. Not just in general but personally- to know and to be what we were created to be. If we know WHO we are, then we can know how we are meant to live.
When I gave my life to Jesus almost 19 years ago, my new creation culture took precedence over my old cultures. While some parts of culture can be a beautiful display of Gods creativity, other parts of it can be detrimental to the health (in mind, body and development) of the people who cling so tightly to it.
If we believe only what our society, and the culture that undergirds that society, says about who we are then we will miss out the truth. Cultures dictate what success, beauty and acceptable behavior looks like. They are defining value and worth through biases and hierarchical structures. They tell us if we're important enough (maybe because of gender or family affiliation), whether we're worthy or not (by deciding who can participate in decision making processes); whether we are young or old enough (as each culture treats its young and elders with different levels of respect); whether we are educated enough (as certain cultures place educational achievements as its most valuable possession). Each value that is held in high regard by our culture is carried from generation to generation by a message and a messenger. It's used to let people know where they fit and how they need to behave accordingly. It causes people to feel either inferior or superior- neither being good for anybody. I've been on both ends of that scale...and I've learnt that it's temporary.
We don't need to live for temporary pleasures or pain. We also don't need to be dictated by what society or culture has told us, is telling us, will tell us. If we always do what we've always done, we'll always get what we've always got right? So it's time for change. Change in how we see ourselves, how we define ourselves and then how we behave accordingly.
We adapt to a Kingdom culture when we receive Jesus. He is our example of how to live Kingdom lives. He was so counter cultural He offended people, but He didn't care for the praises or acceptance of people but only the glory of God. We can feel like we are "half casts" when we receive Christ. That we have to straddle two cultures and maybe don't belong to either- but the Bible says we are in the world but not of it. We no longer live, but Christ lives in us. We are more like the foreigner living in the strange land- we look like the locals but we will actually never BE them. We are living for Eternity and not for the land we are temporarily in. That's what Jesus culture should be about. And what a beautiful culture it is and what a powerful identity we adopt.
This new identity that is established in us comes as we become children of God and heirs to His throne.
John 1:12-13
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Romans 8:16-17
The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ...
There's a new birth that takes place, a new culture we are born into and a new identity we take on. We are so much more valuable now than we ever were before and if we fail to understand that then we will never experience the abundant life Jesus came to give us.
So who am I now? The message Kingdom culture invites me to believe was passed on through Jesus. He tells me:
I am His child.
I am His beloved. I am Royal.
I am blessed. I am desired. I am a victor.
I am worthy to be seated in high places.
I am chosen. I am beautiful. I am loved. I am responsible.
I am so much more ...
We need daily reminders of these truths. A good way to remember this is to wear it! So right now I'm in the process of printing these truths on t-shirts. Then there will be more clothing and accessory lines to come. Keep an eye on this space! Know who you ARE in Him. Know what culture you need to adhere to...the Bible describes in sentences that often start like this..
The Kingdom of Heaven is like...
Be blessed!
