A NEW IDENTITY The Reverend R. Charles Grant, D.Min. Bon Air Presbyterian Church - Richmond, Virginia The Third Sunday in Easter April 29, 2001 Texts: John 21:1-19 Acts 9:1-20 Personality tests/inventories have been around since antiquity, but they have never been more popular. The father of medicine, Hippocrates, wrote of 4 temperaments: sanguine, choleric, phlegmatic, and melancholic. In the Enneagram system there are nine personality types: achiever, helper, succeeder, individualist, observer, guardian, dreamer, confronter, and preservationist. The tried and true Myers- Briggs Personality Type Inventory allows you to place yourself in one of sixteen particular personality types. The theories for these inventories vary, but they all share two common goals: to find your key to more successful living, working, loving, and being; and to empower you to discover and affirm your own particular IDENTITY. We encounter a variety of personality types in the Bible, and in the long history of God's revelation. Moses was a visionary leader, good for the long haul. David was a Renaissance man, gifted intellectually and athletically, he could also write poetry and play the lyre. The Bathsheba incident reveals he also had a wandering eye. The prophet Jeremiah was known for his sorrowful love for his people. Amos lived with a zeal for justice. Isaiah was visionary, reaching for an ever expanding and glorious kingdom of God. Peter was a hothead. Judas was a practical, if misguided man. John, Jesus' best friend, must have been sensitive and loyal. Paul launched into things with single minded and hardheaded devotion. We find all varieties of personalities in the biblical story. Jesus was not into gimmicks, and never heard of psychology. He didn't care too much for personality types or personality theory. What Jesus was concerned with was IDENTITY. Not so much with what your identity IS. But what your NEW identity MIGHT YET BE. Becoming and being a Christian results in a distinctive identity as a child of God and a disciple of Jesus. Consider our story of Paul s conversion: Paul went from being identified as a major PERSECUTOR of Christians, to becoming the GREAT CHRISTIAN MISSONARY to the Gentiles. His change in identity from Judaism to Christian faith was symbolized by his name change from the Hebrew SAUL to the Greek name PAUL. I think finding our identities as Christians today is HARDER than it was for the earliest followers of Jesus. Most of THEM made a very conscious and conspicuous choice to become Christians. WE, on the other hand, are born and reared in a "Christian environment". Probably even in a church. Becoming and being a Christian didn t require a conspicuous decision at all. Consequently, a firm Christian identity can be quite elusive. Most people ASSUME you are a Christian - unless you say otherwise even if you are not actively involved in a church. Which means establishing a NEW and REAL Christian identity can be very difficult. Paul discovered this the day after his conversion. Not everyone in the Christian community welcomed Paul with open arms when he professed his faith in Christ. And throughout his ministry, whenever he tried to change his mind on a matter, someone from the back row was likely to pipe up, "but that's not what you said last time." 1
It seems whenever a prophetic word of God is delivered, it is generally met with all sorts of opposition and "ifs, ands, and buts... This was the history of the prophets. A man like Isaiah or Jeremiah would come to a new identity as God's messenger, only to be rejected or imprisoned the first time he opened his mouth. I call it the "Emperor's new clothes reaction". No one likes to be told, "You are a fool! Don't you know, the emperor isn't wearing any clothes?" Believers and non-believers alike don't take to being "PREACHED (to)". They feel threatened by a person who says, "God has spoken to me in a new way, and I think we need to do THIS, instead of the way we have always done things... Establishing a new Christian identity can be very difficult. And the same holds true for trying to establish ANY KIND of new identity. People resist change in other people. If you commit a crime, long after you have "paid your debt to society" you are still an "excon". If you have been UNsuccessful in business, and then become successful, persons whisper, "Do you think he really did that on his own?" If you are an alcoholic, how long do you have to be in recovery before people say, "He's an alcoholic, you know." There are plenty of people eager to sabotage efforts at forging a new identity. I have read that Jane Fonda has recently become a Christian much to the disdain of her estranged husband, Ted Turner. In a family, if one of the members begins to change, to manage his anxiety or problems better, to take on a healthier or stronger identity in the family, what do you think happens? Invariably, one person s CHANGE in identity provokes RESISTANCE to that change in others. Jesus encountered such resistance throughout his life. The gospels even have stories of the conflict between his parents' expectations and his own needs to be in the temple. As a roving, independent rabbi, Jesus taught new teachings and called for new faith. And most of the people, especially the power brokers, found his new identity THREATENING. So, whenever he preached, he was met with nit picking, criticism, resistance, outright attacks, and finally, death. It is difficult to keep on an even keel when others oppose you and resist changes in your life. It is easy to question one's own new identity. Even Jesus struggled with his OWN sense of identity, who he was and what he was called to do. That agony in the garden on Maundy Thursday was real. Jesus was facing his own identity conflict. Living with a new identity is not easy. When Martin Luther gained a new identity rooted in the faith of the reformation, a price was put on his head. When Abraham Lincoln insisted his identity and the identity of the nation lay with preserving and reconciling the union, he became a lightning rod for a storm of hatred. When Mahatma Gandhi lived out his identity as a man committed to non-violent change and love for all, he was imprisoned by the British and despised by many in his own country. And when a farmer from south Georgia announced that his identity as President of the United States did not negate his identity as a Baptist Sunday School teacher, he was ridiculed unmercifully. Maintaining your identity and establishing a new identity - a Christian identity or any kind - is neither easy nor without pain. Nor does a new identity come quickly. An old identity has to be shed so that a new identity can take shape and be built. Last year s movie Remember the Titans is an example of how a new identity is forged. It is the story of TC Williams High School, and its first year or racial integration. New football coach Herman Boone inherits two teams one white and one black and given the challenge of building a single, unified football team in racially charged 1971. How does he do it? He breaks down the players current 2
identities as white and black players, leading at times forcing the players to face their racial prejudices. Through hard work, risk taking, and commitment to their task, the young men gain a new identity as one unified football team. A new identity as a member of a unified team. That is what is SUPPOSED to happen through Christian faith. In becoming a Christian one acquires a new identity. By becoming fully knowledgeable and immersed in Christian faith, the new identity gains sharper relief. A Christian should live out his Christian identity day in and day out. And then, when the crises of life come and hard decisions have to be made, the Christian is fully empowered and prepared to act, and act decisively out of her Christian identity. Such an identity does not come quickly. Jesus spent three years with his team of disciples and when the first big crisis came, they all ran away. Even JESUS could not work miracles overnight! And we do not acquire our identities as Christians OVERNIGHT EITHER. Not through a childhood of Church School and Vacation Bible School. Not through a few confirmation classes as a youth. Not through irregular participation in worship or occasional participation in the life of the church. A Christian identity is forged through a LIFE LONG immersion in the faith, in worship, in the scriptures, in service, in prayer. And WHAT IS OUR NEW IDENTITY AS CHRISTIANS? One answer is found in our gospel lesson for today, a scene I call the "last breakfast". After the crucifixion, the disciples return to their fishing. But they are not the same. This is clear when the risen Christ appears to them, for they respond to him IMMEDIATELY. They see him with new eyes. They go and do what he commands. They begin the work that results in the founding of the church on the festival of Pentecost. The process that led to the founding of THIS church. The process that brought you and me to faith. After that last breakfast with his disciples, the risen Christ asks Peter: "Do you love me?" Peter answers "Yes, Lord." Jesus replies, "Then feed my sheep." Three times Jesus asks, three times Peter answers, and three times Jesus commands, "feed my sheep." What is our identity? It is nothing more and nothing less than feeding the sheep. Doing the work of the shepherd. Feeding the hungry. Nurturing the immature of body and soul. Healing the sick. Comforting the grieving. Showing kindness to strangers. Defending the oppressed. Righting human wrong with God's justice. Assuming the best in and for all of God s children. Feeding the sheep. You have heard God's word. You have been given a new identity as the people of God chosen to serve Christ. Now, go forth and ACT on that identity. Go, and feed the sheep. AMEN. 3
John 21:1-19 1 After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. 2 Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. 3 Simon Peter said to them, I am going fishing. They said to him, We will go with you. They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. 4 Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus said to them, Children, you have no fish, have you? They answered him, No. 6 He said to them, Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some. So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. 7 That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, It is the Lord! When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea. 8 But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off. 9 When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, Bring some of the fish that you have just caught. 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, Come and have breakfast. Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, Who are you? because they knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead. 15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon son of John, do you love me more than these? He said to him, Yes, Lord; you know that I love you. Jesus said to him, Feed my lambs. 16 A second time he said to him, Simon son of John, do you love me? He said to him, Yes, Lord; you know that I love you. Jesus said to him, Tend my sheep. 17 He said to him the third time, Simon son of John, do you love me? Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, Do you love me? And he said to him, Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you. Jesus said to him, Feed my sheep 19 After this he said to him, Follow me. 4
Acts 9:1-20 1 Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? 5 He asked, Who are you, Lord? The reply came, I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do. 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one. 8 Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 For three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank. 10 Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias. He answered, Here I am, Lord. 11 The Lord said to him, Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul. At this moment he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight. 13 But Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem; 14 and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who invoke your name. 15 But the Lord said to him, Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel; 16 I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name. 17 So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul and said, Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was restored. Then he got up and was baptized, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength. For several days he was with the disciples in Damascus, 20 and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, He is the Son of God. 21 All who heard him were amazed and said, Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem among those who invoked this name? And has he not come here for the purpose of bringing them bound before the chief priests? 22 Saul became increasingly more powerful and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Messiah. 5