Who Am I?
Who am I? That is one of the most important questions anyone can and must answer during his or her lifetime. It is a question answered from varied sources in many different ways. Unfortunately, many of those ways are untrue and can be harmful.
The man who shot United Health Care executive Brian Thompson acted as the avenger for all who did not receive help from health care insurance. That appears to be his answer to who he is. I cannot and do not know what caused his action. I do, however, know the kinds of answers which can do harm, and I do know the answer which has strengthened our nation in the past.
The first source for an answer is the self. It is important to have some self-confidence. However, the idea that your values can be whatever you want them to be is wrong. We live in a world with many people. When I drive my car, I must remember that the road is not mine. My definition of myself must include concern for others.
A second source is my “tribe” or family. That sounds right. We should receive knowledge of who we are from family, but what if the family’s ideas are evil? Some native American tribes considered it OK to kill members of other tribes. The Hatfields and McCoys became famous for their ongoing multi-generational feud.
Similar to finding your identity in the tribe or family is accepting a strong leader to define who you are. This is what happened with Hitler. This was combined with a strong belief that mankind was evolving into better and better capabilities and that removing those who were not as “evolved” would speed the process of evolutionary perfection.
One recent, perhaps well-meant but destructive, idea in our nation has been the use of what began in the 1930s as “Critical Theory” and became in the 1960s “Critical Race Theory”. Critical Theory opposed following an authoritarian leader but developed into a divisive theory in which every person found their self-value in their race. We see the result of this in today’s antisemitism. It is no longer the idea that Jewish people are not as evolved (Hitler), but the idea that they are in opposition to people with whom the antisemites identify. Identifying your “self” in terms of opposition to other races or nations divides you from others.
I am an American – a citizen of the United States of America. I am pleased and even proud to be an American. That, however, is not my prime identity. It is not my preeminent answer to the question, “Who am I?” Why not? It is not my prime answer because I know that other nations and their citizens are also of value. I enjoy learning about others. I enjoy meeting people from other nations. No, my answer to, Who am I?, is only partially answered by my nation, my state, my city, or even my family.
Where is my answer to be found? Where can we find a true and truly helpful answer?
The answer is one which was broadly accepted at the time of our national founding. It is a unifying answer which not only grants value to the individual but also sees value in others. The answer comes from God’s Word.
We are all creatures of the Almighty Creator of the universe. Our value comes from the value he has placed upon us. The value of others come from Him as well. He calls us to live together in accord with His Word and in love for our neighbors. Who am I? I am a creature serving the living God. Who are you?
Always remember:
Only one life ‘twil soon be past;
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
A U.S. Naval Academy graduate, Rev. Dave Dupee is former Headmaster of an International Boarding School and is currently pastoring Fellowship Presbyterian Church (PCA) here in Newport.
