I’m a black man raised in a black family, in a black neighborhood. Growing up I lived a normal black life. But I also had another life. You see, each weekday morning I left my black life and rode the school bus to the other side of the city to attend a predominately white school, with mostly white teachers, in a white neighborhood. I spent half my life living a black experience, and half in a predominately white world.
As a result, I’ve always had some minor identity issues. At any time I could fit in with both groups but I’ve never felt completely attached to one more than the other. Then, I met Jesus. He gave me an identity that is greater than the two I was living. He made me a Christian.
For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:27, 28 NKJV)
I have literally “put on Christ”. He covers every area of my life. He gives me my identity. I’m not black or white, Jew or Gentile, slave or free; I’m a Christian. Christian is my true identity more than my background, more than any group affiliations, more than my career choices, and more than my cultural preferences. I’m a Christian who just happens to be black. I’m a Christian who just happens to have a white education. That’s how I see myself.
How do you define your identity?