Guest Speaker: Roger Nix

“Authenticity doesn’t just come when you’re honest before God. It comes when you’re honest before others as well.” This statement was made by Roger Nix, pastor of Believer’s Church, when he spoke to the interns this past Thursday.

For his discussion he decided to relay the importance of authenticity and openness before others. He centered on two verses; one being 1 John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us.” The second one was James 5:16 – “Confess your sins to one another and pray for each other so that you may be healed”. Notice that the first one states if you confess to God, he will forgive you. The second verse however tells us that we must confess our sins before other people to actually be healed. This is so important to understand! It’s when we open up to others that our healing begins. There is power in confession! The value of community and openness in that community is priceless. I believe that this is what the beginning of the church was centered around.

Changing directions Pastor Nix began expressing how crucial it is to know who we are; furthermore, who we are in Christ. “Ask yourself who you are and how that connects with what you do,” Pastor Nix said. He then shared a list of lies that attack our identity that I believe are very important to recognize.

4 lies that attack your identity:

1.     You are what you do or “the fear of performance”. We have to realize that we have been justified through faith.

2.     The approval track. You are what others think of you or the fear of rejection. God’s embrace negates this. He offers the gift of reconciliation.

3.     The blame game or you are what others have done to you. Victim mentality and the fear of punishment. Jesus paid the price for the punishment of our sin.

4. The shame game. The lie of shame. You are what you are and you can’t change that. Heb. 4:16 – “Let us therefore come boldly to throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Approach God with the confidence you have in Christ.

Remember who you are in Christ. Without our identities we are just nomads wandering from one place to another. Recognize who your community is and open up to those you trust the most. There is strength in community.