In the book of Exodus in the Bible, God said, 'I am.'
I guess he knew who he was and what he was about. In the North of Ireland most Protestants struggle with their identity. Are we Irish? Northern Irish? British? Ulster Scots?
We will achieve little in our lives, in our churches or economies unless we know who we really are and feel at home with it. How can we sell a product if we don't believe in it? How can we sell our country for tourism or investment if we are uneasy with who we are? If we are created in God's image surely we should be addressing these things in the church for the good of society and culture so that we can reflect a true knowledge of who we are.
Too often the church defines itself by who or what we are not. 'Come ye out from among them,' simply means we are not like them. Could it be said of many churches and Christians, 'I am not, therefore I am.'?
This is not an identity, this is a negative reaction to the world around us. It is this very process that has left us culturally disconnected from society.
Too often the church defines itself by who or what we are not. 'Come ye out from among them,' simply means we are not like them. Could it be said of many churches and Christians, 'I am not, therefore I am.'?
This is not an identity, this is a negative reaction to the world around us. It is this very process that has left us culturally disconnected from society.
How can the church address this problem?
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