Knowing mankind has to have individual identifiers for every person, place and thing, he has instinctively created an almost impossibility to recognize things of a spiritual nature. Man cannot readily recognize things of a spiritual nature because he does not see, hear, touch, nor smell or taste a spirit. And, because he is so conditioned to having individual identifying character traits for all things and his desire to be identified in specific manners or associations, he has mistaken identities of how he is or desires to be. This he cannot tolerate.
If he is mistaken in his identity to feel a part of an organization, or feels others have mistaken his desired identity, perhaps he will steal another’s identity. We see this becoming more prevalent in our society; someone stealing another's personal identity. We call this identity theft. Many lawyers are advertising for people to hire them to protect them from identity theft.
An unstable person who feels inadequate in their identity might steal another’s because it might bring them personal gain. Scripture tells us the love of money is the root of all evil. (1 Tim. 6:10) Satan and society create a hardship on many people requiring the use of money to sustain the necessities of life. Poor persons get to a place where it is felt a necessity to take from the rich to support their families.
Others who have turned to evil find pleasure in stealing from a person more wealthy than they. It becomes a kick to see how much they can get away with.
1 John 2:15-16 says, 15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
These lusts tempt certain men to steal for a supposed gain of wealth, power and prestige in this life. A Christian, or one professing to be Christian, should be content with the place they are, the place which God has placed them except with hard work and effort to be better. A lust for more without effort to obtain righteously, is of the world, not of God.
Can identity theft happen in a religious realm? Sure it can.
When someone believes they can gain from an association with a certain religious group they might steal the identity of the name of that group to fit in and gain earthly wealth, power and prestige. Man wants prominence in association with those of which he desired to commune. Man desires to feel he is of value to someone. Man is a social being and wishes to belong and be loved. Also, man desires to fit into a certain class of people economically and socially. He does not always desire to do as everyone expects but just enough to fit in.
Illustration. I knew a man who was doing work for another who worshiped as a Mormon. Not believing in that denomination, he made fun of their belief. Poking fun at his employer, he asked him how many wives he had. Knowing the ability in their belief that they could be bigamists, this pleased him to belittle the Mormon. The Mormon replied, “I have only one wife, but we can have more than one.” Wanting to press the issue, the man asked why he did not have more than one wife. The Mormon replied that he was instructed to abide by the laws of the land and where he lived bigamy was illegal. If he lived where bigamy was legal, he might have more than one wife.
Seeing the man could not trip up the Mormon, he began to find out more about the Mormon belief. In his findings he found they are a group of prominent individuals collectively. There are doctors, lawyers, mayors and other dignitaries among their group. Each prominent member was of considerable wealth. They believe everyone should have things in common. Therefore, if any member has a need, the others meet that need, no charge.
This intrigued him in that financial assistance from the whole community of Mormons might benefit his life. He could improve his status and financial position by becoming a member of the Mormon religion. So he did.
The man took on the identity of a Mormon falsely under false pretenses. He stole the identity of Mormon to gain financially for himself.
Do men desire to obtain a place in a religious assembly for earthly gain? Is there any reference in scripture of such a man?
Acts 8:9-21. 9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: 10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. 11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries. 12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. 14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: 15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: 16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) 17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. 18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, 19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. 20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. 21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
Simon’s desire for earthly gain intrigued Simon. He desired the power of the Holy Spirit to continue his sorcery with greater deceit over his neighbors. He saw the stealing of an identity he did not have could increase his gain over those of whom he had already deceived. However, the Apostles rebuked him and he quickly saw the error of his ways.
Acts 8:22-24. Peter replies to Simon, 22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. 23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. 24 Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.
Simon saw his error, but too many do not or do not care because they have obtained their position in this life as they desire, without effort.
The temptation to obtain earthly gain easily can become overwhelming. What seems to be good people can become tempted to do evil and steal another identity.
With too many denominations of Christian assemblies, the probability of too many having taken and committed identity theft is great. Some want to be identified with Christ but they want to be known by man’s identifiers. They have stolen Christ’s identity but live by the standards of the world. Others desire what Jesus has and can offer without any effort to obtain the wealth of Heaven properly and full heartedly.
How do we know this? They live like the world throughout the week but act in a manner expected of them in assembly. They believe being in a Christian assembly will guarantee their place in Heaven.
“I am baptized into Christ. I am going to go to Heaven. Don’t you know, if you are not baptized, you cannot go to Heaven. I am baptized, therefore I am going to Heaven.” This is the attitude of so many in religious assemblies.
Illustration. A congregation of religious members was searching for a new preacher. When they hired one, they did not provide a house for the preacher and his family. After a few weeks, the new preacher spoke of wanting a house built for himself and requested if anyone knew of a contractor. One member was a contractor who offered to build a house for the preacher. They came to an agreement on the construction and the contractor began to build.
A few days into the build, someone asked the preacher how construction was going and who was the contractor. When they heard who was doing the construction, they told the preacher he might keep a close eye on the builder. He was not a very reputable builder; he was known to cut corners and practiced sub-standards with substandard materials. The preacher, knowing how to construct houses and understood structural loads and needed material sizes for every aspect of construction, kept an eye on the contractor. When he noticed any work under par, he did not say anything.
Finally the day came when the house was complete. The contractor gave the preacher the keys to his house. The preacher politely returned the keys and said, “You built the house for yourself. I now give it to you”. When the contractor questioned the preacher, the preacher told him of the many corners he had cut and the sub-standards he had performed in the construction. He also told him he had heard of his construction practices. Therefore, the house was his. He also reminded the contractor of Col. 3:17, 17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. Then he asked the contractor, “Would you let Jesus live in that house?”
The contractor did not know how to feel having been found out by a stranger. He had made his living from so many members of that congregation over the years. The contractor had taken the identity of Christian, yet did not live up to the name.
Jesus took on the name of God yet had reverence for the Father. He did not place himself above the Father. We, being heirs with Jesus to Heaven can become equals. However, we cannot place ourselves above him. Jesus, being God in the Flesh, did not place himself above the Father. Let us read Phil. 2:5-11. 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
We are to imitate Christ but not put ourselves above him. Jesus thought it not robbery to be equal with God. If we take upon ourselves the name Christian, we can become equal with Jesus but not above him. We are not to expect any more just because we have taken the identity of Christ. We are to be as he; of no reputation, taking the form of a servant as he; humbling ourselves as he; becoming obedient as he.
If we take on another identity, we must live by that identity, Christian. Paul so ordained. Eph. 4:1-3. 4 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Phil. 3:15-19. 15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. 16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. 17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. 18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
Col. 3:1-8. 3 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. 5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: 7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. 8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
If any man does not the things Christ has ordained, and he wants men to believe he is of Christ, he fools himself and has stolen the identity of Christ for earthly gain. In the passages we have now read, we can see the character of such a man. He does not walk in the way of Christ and has fooled himself believing a lie. When this happens enough, God will allow him to believe he is saved but he is not. The stolen identity will condemn a man who obtains it falsely.
With the error of man to mistaken an identity, both of others and of himself, and has stolen an identity he does not live up to but deceives others with, that man is not of the body of Christ. Like Simon, we hope such a man finds out his error before it is too late to repent.
How do we know if an identity one takes for themselves, such as Christian, is legitimate? John 13:34-35. 34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
Do you realize perhaps you have taken another’s identity, Christ’s identity, and are not living up to the standard God desires of His children? Are you practicing true love for the brethren and your fellow man? If you find you do not practice the love for thy neighbor, have you stolen Christ’s identity for personal gain; perhaps believing falsely you are saved? Request forgiveness like Simon and ask for the prayers of the church on your behalf.
