Article by site founder, Connie Rice.
Why are we seeing such a rise in people who are confused about their identity? It’s shocking to a lot of people and is tragic to us all, but is it really a surprise with biblical literacy in America at its lowest in 250 years? Those who study the Bible recognize that there is an epic spiritual battle going on for people’s souls and the identity crisis of our present day is yet another method being used by Satan to cause confusion, doubt, anxiety, and depression. At the same time, it draws people farther from their Creator and the truth found in Scripture that can reveal God’s love for them. Jesus Himself warns us about the devil and calls him “a liar and the father of it”, “the enemy”, “the evil one”, and “the prince of this world”.
“Jesus said to them, ‘If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it’.”
Jesus’ words in John 8:42-44
God wants that none should perish and is the Author of life. He is not the author of confusion, but His adversary uses confusion in addition to a number of other things to keep people from knowing God. Satan also uses temptations adapted to each person’s weaknesses and sinful tendencies, casts doubt on the truth of the Bible and/or God’s goodness, uses addictions of all kinds, deceives people into thinking they are doing good when they are actually working against God, divides people along racial, economic, political, religious and/or other lines. Once we grasp this reality, we can gain discernment through Scripture, but even then can be caught off guard because we all have a sinful nature that is self-focused and prideful. When we surrender our lives to Jesus Christ, we receive not only eternal life in heaven, but also the Holy Spirit who gives us the power to turn from our sinful desires and helps us to focus on God and the needs of others. This gives us a sense of purpose.
“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”
2 Peter 3:9
“If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.”
John 14:15-17
We will also understand that there are only two sexes – male and female. God made this clear in Genesis and Jesus affirmed it in the New Testament.
“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth’.”
Genesis 1:27-28
“And He answered and said to them, Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let not man separate.”
Matthew 19:4b-6
God has already proved His love for us and has gone to great lengths to provide a way of salvation for us because everyone falls short of His glory. He made Himself evident to all of mankind by His Creation. More and more things are being revealed that support the biblical account. Recent discoveries in DNA research, geology, biology, astronomy, archaeology, etc. allow anyone who wants answers to find them. This website offers a multitude of resource links in numerous areas for anyone who wants to learn more. John Piper says this about seeking God:
“The great obstacle to seeking the Lord is pride. ‘In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him’ (Psalm 10:4). Therefore, humility is essential to seeking the Lord. The great promise to those who seek the Lord is that he will be found. ‘If you seek him, he will be found by you’ (1 Chronicles 28:9). And when he is found, there is great reward. ‘Whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him” (Hebrews 11:6). God himself is our greatest reward. And when we have him, we have everything. Therefore, “Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!’” (Psalm 105:4).
John Piper quote from article, “What Does It Mean to Seek the Lord?”
Before Western civilization was brought on by the spread of Christianity and knowledge of the Bible, cultures tended to be more tribal or pagan in nature, with various groups warring with others. God chose the nation of Israel thousands of years ago to be set apart from everyone else and live in obedience to Him so they could be blessed and other nations would see His favor upon them and seek Him too. Unfortunately, there were cycles of disobedience with God’s people. They would turn from Him leading to God’s judgment to the people then crying out for His mercy to God then bringing deliverance causing the people to rejoice, and then to the people disobeying again, “doing what was right in their own eyes”, with the cycle repeating over and over again. Our present culture seems to be doing the same.
“Tom Holland, author of Dominion: How the Christian Revolution Remade the World, believed in his youth that Christianity had ushered in an age of superstition and that the Enlightenment revived classical values. But when he studied Christianity’s effects on Western civilization, he discovered that the self-giving example of Christ and the Christian ethic that respects all human life as made in God’s image are the real foundations of all those values we cherish. Elsewhere, Holland writes, ‘[Christianity] is the principal reason why, by and large, most of us who live in post-Christian societies still take for granted that it is nobler to suffer than to inflict suffering. It is why we generally assume that every human life is of equal value’.”
From article, “Western Civilization Still Needs a Christian Foundation” by Sharon James for The Gospel Coalition
God promised a Savior (Messiah) to His chosen people, but when most of them did not recognize or receive Him (Jesus Christ), God opened up salvation to the gentiles (the rest of mankind). Those outside of the Jewish faith who seek the Lord and receive this amazing gift are adopted into God’s family – I am so thankful for that! Since that time, the world has been in what is called the church age.
“Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it!” And when he had said these words, the Jews departed and had a great dispute among themselves.”
Paul’s words to the Jews in Acts 28:28-29Throughout the church age, those who have received the gift of salvation through believing and following Jesus Christ have found love, acceptance, peace, and truth. Through their sanctification process, they become more like Christ and grow in their concern for their fellow man. This is when we saw the increase in care for widows and children, the creation of hospitals and orphanages, and the courage of people who stood up for making the Bible accessible to the masses, even to the point of death. Education was emphasized, especially in early America, when multiple universities were founded to make sure young people would be prepared to live out God’s calling on their lives and be equipped to share the gospel. Most people have no idea that American Ivy League colleges and universities were founded with this purpose and some were even founded and/or funded by clergy (scroll down this site’s “Historical Quotes” page).
“We stand in the shadow of the Bible today as opposed to in the pages of the Bible. I think that the biblical illiteracy comes as a direct result of a failure to recognize that the DNA of western civilization comes from a biblical worldview.”
Quote by Hank Hanegraaff
May all who struggle with their identity choose to seek the Lord with all their heart, mind, strength, and soul. Jesus died for every person, but waits to be invited into our lives because He won’t force Himself on anyone. The Christian life is not easy because the enemy does not want us to find salvation. When we do, instead of being God’s enemy, we become his enemy. He will try to still use deception, doubt, discouragement, etc. to keep us down, but we will now have the Holy Spirit and God’s Word to show us our true identity and enable us to live a victorious life of purpose while experiencing His amazing love, mercy, grace, faithfulness, kindness, patience, gentleness, as well as have a future filled with hope.
“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
2 Corinthians 5:21
“ But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.”
1 Peter 2:9-10© Constance Rice 2025
Eyes2C 