Posted on: 10th September 2024

"The knowledge of God and that of ourselves are connected. Without knowledge of  self, there is no knowledge of God. Without knowledge of God, there is no  knowledge of self.” – John Calvin

There are many different definitions of “identity”, and interestingly, they are quite varied. The Cambridge dictionary offered this one:

"the fact of being, or feeling that you are, a particular type of person… the qualities that make a person, organisation, etc. different from others.”

The Bible tells us that we should pay attention to our feelings, and take time to examine them. Proverbs 29:11 says “A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back”, which is undoubtedly both true and challenging!  

My own observation is that feelings are less about who we are, and more about how we respond to other people and events. These responses can be different daily  according to all sorts of factors – physical, emotional and spiritual – so basing an identity on feelings alone could lead to personal confusion and low confidence, or  alternatively unrealistic certainty and over-confidence.  

As Christians, we find our identity rooted in God. “Imago Dei” – made in God’s  image, as in Genesis 1 – is an invitation to explore who we are as we learn about who God is. Examining our feelings provides us with an opportunity to pray into difficult or exciting situations; and learning about God through reading Scripture and perhaps theological writings enables us to declare His truth and build a deep-rooted, long-lasting foundation rather than feeling like sands are shifting beneath our feet.  

I am not an angry person, just because I experience anger. I am not an unlucky  person, just because bad things happen to me. I am a living being, ever-growing and  changing, and if I let Him, God can use me to not only show me who He is, but to show others too.  

At Leeds Sanctuary, we find The Enneagram to be a really insightful tool for understanding ourselves and those around us better, and we would love to invite you to our Book Club which launches at the end of September. Find out more and sign up on our website: www.leedssanctuary.org.uk/events

By Emily Smith, Leeds Sanctuary