Bonjour!

By birth, I’m Choctaw, Irish, Scottish and Spanish, but evidence abounds that I might also be French. I have déjà vu’s, and I like hors d’oeuvres, chicken cordon bleu and French toast / fries / vanilla ice cream. And even though I am prone to faux paus, I still have that savoir faire common to men with red hair and freckles, and the je ne sais quoi of a receding hairline. Not only that, I have actually been to Paris (or pah-ree), although I didn’t make it out of the airport. You might question my French pedigree but to you I say c'est la vie, or que sera sera.

In reality, claiming a French heritage, adapting its customs, enjoying its food and employing its lingo, does not make someone French. Unless born in or raised in France, any traits of a French identity would be only manufactured, not organic. One can wear the clothes, speak the language, know the history, and embrace the values of France and still not be a Frenchman.

In today’s culture, many claim that a new distinction, designation or reality can be immediately endowed by simply “identifying” as that new thing. There are limits however, even to those who believe that a biologically-born male can be made a woman by simply identifying as a woman, do not believe that a white man can become a black man by identifying as one, or vice versa. In a bizarre sense, modern

Americans have replaced the God who endowed us with the inalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness with the god of self who can endow oneself with a new gender and identity.

In the world of faith, many people believe that by simply identifying themselves as Christians, they become so. But Christianity is an organic rebirth, initiated by God, enacted by the Holy Spirit, and activated by faith. It is not a new identity one can assume by one’s own will, but a new identity that comes upon one by the will of God.

This truth is what John declared in his gospel, “As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” (1:12-13)

American churches are full of people who have chosen Christianity because of its supposed positives benefits, without having been born of the Spirit. They sing the songs, recite the cliches, attend the services, and espouse the values all while remaining unconverted. In country vernacular, they have put the cart before the horse. In Romans 10:17 Paul wrote that faith comes by hearing the Word of God. In the context of that letter, hearing meant submit to, surrender to and trust in, and the Word of God referred to the gospel.

Apart from trusting in the finished work of Christ for our salvation by professing Him as Lord we can say Au Revoir to any hope of being a Christian.

Colossians 2:6

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,

1 John 2:6
He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.