Are we Suffering from an Identity Crisis in the Church?
Am Service March 1st 2009
Matthew 16:13-20
Introduction
Are you unsure of your role in life? Do you feel like you don’t know the real you? If you answer yes to these questions, you may be experiencing what is known as an identity crisis. Theorist Erik Erikson coined the term “identity crisis” and believed that it was one of the most important conflicts people face in development. According to Erikson, an identity crisis is a time of intensive analysis and exploration of different ways of looking at oneself.
Researchers have found that those who have made a strong commitment to an identity tend to be happier and healthier than those who have not.
Those with a status of identity confusion tend to feel out of place in the world and don’t pursue a sense of identity.
The question for today is, is the Church today suffering from an identity crisis. Do we really know who we are as the people of God? Do you know why you’re here today? Do you know who you are? If I were to ask you, "Are you a Christian?", I have no doubt that you’d answer Yes. You see, this would be the expected answer. But then I ask, "Why are you here?", and I’d probably get a variety of answers.
The simplest answer would be “because this is my church,” but let me tell you, this is not the proper answer. This is not your Church. We have so much dissatisfaction among members of the Church today because we have an Identity Crisis. We have forgotten who we are in Christ. You see, this isn’t your Church, but each and every one of you is the church. If you are dissatisfied with the church, then in reality you are truly suffering from an identity crisis, because it reveals that you are the one with the problem because you Christian are the church.
Matthew 16 is a critical turning point in the ministry of Jesus Christ. By this time he has been preaching for many months. He is well-known to the nation of Israel. His fame has spread far and wide. The common people have embraced him. They have seen his miracles and heard his teaching. And the word has spread from village to village, "Have you heard about this man Jesus?" Along the dusty roads of Galilee men discussed him and wondered who he really was.
When we come to Matthew 16 it is clear that Jesus has now been rejected by his own people. His fate is sealed. The shadow of the cross looms overhead. And even though the common people heard him gladly, they did not know who he was. They liked him – but did not worship him. To them he was a great teacher and a great miracle-worker, nothing more.
So Jesus, in the midst of growing opposition and surrounded by crowds of people who liked him but did not understand him asked two questions to his disciples in order to get them to understand fully who he is, and who they are in Him, so that they will not suffer from an identity crisis, and I pray today after hearing Jesus words we would no longer suffer from an identity crisis.
Read Scriptures: Matthew 16:13-20
I. The World’s Views about Jesus
Vs. 13-14 “When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
It was here on this dusty road where the first Gallup poll was taken. Jesus already knew the answer to the question that he would pose. He wanted his disciples to acknowledge what other people were saying. So they gave him the four most popular answers about who Jesus is.
Some say John the Baptist (that was Herod’s answer)
Others say Elijah (that was very popular because the Jews expected Elijah to return)
Still others, Jeremiah (he was the greatest of the later prophets)
One of the Prophets (that is, he was a spokesman for God)
The world has its own view of Jesus, Jesus is still misunderstood by unbelievers today. The world puts Jesus side by side with other religious figures. They put Jesus side by side with Muhammad, they put Jesus side by side with Confucius, they put Jesus side by side with Joseph Smith (the founder of the Mormon Church), all of these men died and are dead, Jesus has no equal, He is God in the flesh, no man can stand along side Jesus.
The Bible says, “at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of the Father”.
Muhammad had to bow to Jesus when he died, Confucius had to bow to Jesus when he died, and Joseph Smith had to bow to Jesus when he died. Every non believer will bow and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. In order for us to properly understand our identity we must understand that the world has its own view of Jesus.
II. The Church’s view about Jesus
Vs. 15-16 “But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
What was the Apostle Peter saying in his confession about Jesus? Peter was saying that Jesus is the anointed One. You are the One that all the Old Testament scriptures had predicted would come. Let me tell what Peter was saying:
He is the saving seed of Genesis.
He is the sacrifice of Exodus.
He is the Lamb of Leviticus.
He is the star of Numbers.
He is the promised prophet of Deuteronomy.
Jesus is everything that the Old Testament said the Messiah would be.
Jesus is on the Throne of the Universe. "You are the Son of the Living God."
Jesus is not a mere man- You are the Son of the Living God.
If we take the names of Jesus as listed in the bible, as who Jesus is to the church then we would never suffer from an identity crisis.
He is ELOHIM -- Transcendent, Mighty and Strong.
He is EL SHADDAI - All Sufficient.
He is JEHOVAH-JIREH -- The Lord our Provider.
He is JEHOVAH-ROPHE -- The Lord who heals.
He is JEHOVAH-NISSI -- The Lord our Banner.
He is JEHOVAH-SHALOM –The Lord our Peace
He is JEHOVAH-M’KADDESH -- The Lord who Sanctifies.
He is JEHOVAH-TSIDKENU -- The Lord our Righteous.
Who do you believe Jesus is? What is your personal confession about the Lord Jesus? Peter said it well, he is the Christ, the son of the Living God, listen Church, this is who is to us, no longer to we have to walk around defeated, we serve an all triumphant savior. Listen, it really doesn’t matter what the world thinks about Jesus, what matters is what I know about Jesus.
III. The Reality of Jesus
Vs. 16 “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
The reality is, weather or not the world understands Him, weather or not I accept Him, he is still the Christ, He is still the son of the living God. He still God.
The reality of Jesus is found in John 1:1-14 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning.
3Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.
6There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. 7He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. 8He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.
10He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13children born not of natural descent,[c] nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
14The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
Jesus was in the beginning when the world was created, Jesus is God, he came in the flesh in order to be our Savior, to provide something for us that we could never earn, we could never obtain on our own, that is righteousness before God. The Reality of Jesus is that he is the only way to heaven, through Him is the only way to have a right standing with God. It is true weather we accept it or not.
Conclusion
Are you suffering from an identity crisis, do you know who you are in Christ, do you know whose you are. It is more important to understand whose you are, if you don’t know for sure that you are God’s possession by Jesus Christ, there is no middle ground, Jesus said if you are not for Him, then you are against Him. Come to Jesus today, and make sure whose you are.
(Thanks sermoncentral contributor, Preacher’s outline and sermon bible)
