Monday, May 10
Chapter 2-Spiritual Identity
WANTED: Respondents. I am writing a book on Ancient-Future Spirituality and desire to interact with Leaders of the church. This is a summary of the second chapter. I want to know what you think about this. Do you have an illustration? A difference of opinion? If I quote you, I will give full credit, so include your position, church, and location. Thanks. Your input will make this a stronger book.
Spiritual Identity
When someone asks "What is your identity?" most of us immediately think of our name, our associations, our vocation, and our geographical location. If you were to ask me this question, I would immediately answer, "I'm Bob Webber, professor at Northern Seminary, this is my wife and family, and I live in Wheaton, IL." These few facts tell you a lot about me. But is there more?
The "more" has to do with our spiritual identity. A spiritual identity is not something we create, but a reality given at baptism (faith is implied).
The water of baptism itself is an important aspect of our identity. Water reveals the creative activity of God to bring forth something new. Consider the creation of the new in the waters of creation.
Water is also a passage rite, as in the case of Noah. The waters of baptism reveal the creation of a new identity with Jesus Christ, a passage rite from an identity with the first Adam to the second Adam.
Through Jesus we find a new identity in the community of the Triune God. Because personhood is "being in community," this new relationship invites us to find our true humanity in communion with God and our fellow human beings.
In short, spiritual identity is not a "thing of our own choosing." It is not a psychological experience of "getting in touch with the inner self" (a New Age concept). It is instead a union with Jesus Christ (see Rom. 6), signified by baptism and thus through Jesus a mystical union with the Triune God.
Response? Write me at: rwebber@northern.seminary.edu
Bob Webber
Myers Professor of Ministry
Director of M.A. in Worship and Spirituality
Northern Seminary—www.seminary.edu
(See Northern's M.A. in Worship and Spirituality and D.Min. in Worship by clicking on the website.)
