This year our church is using the book Core 52 as a personal study to help us strengthen our knowledge of the Bible and grow our faith together. As part of my faith journey, I will be writing my thoughts and insights here.

Week 2: Our true identity

• Key verses: Genesis 1:26-27
• Created for community
• Community and social media
• Circles of friendship
• Parting thoughts

Key verses

Genesis 1:26-27 (NLT)

Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.” So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

Created for community

Last week I talked about the mystery of the Trinity in creation. I want to look more closely on how this means we are created for community because we are created in the image of God.

I was really inspired with what Dr. Moore said in this week’s essay.

Our radical individualism is a denial of our identity. God created us to be in community and for community. Without the circles God placed us in, we’d have a shrunken view of self and a self-absorbed view of our purpose and place.

Our true identity includes an innate sense of community. I am going to expand on this thought in two areas that impact me. I hope they help you as well.

Community and social media

I know there is a diverse range of opinions about the effects and value of social media. First, we need to recognize the appeal and pull of social media reflects our need for community and recognition because we are created in God’s image. Take a moment and think about that! I’m not saying that social media is all good. But it is not all bad either.

I am not going to dive into the pros and cons of social media, instead, I want to share what it means to me. I primarily use Facebook for personal use. I find the interaction is better. Why do I care? I am mostly stuck at home due to ALS. I really enjoy seeing what my friends are doing and can engage with them easily. I also can interact with others about ALS, spiritual, and other life topics. I make an intentional choice not to comment on things that I would not talk about in front of a group.

In this way, I find Facebook gives me some community fulfillment. It is like hanging out with people or participating in large group events. However, this doesn’t fulfill that need for closer, more intimate interaction.

Circles of friendship

Jesus, God himself, demonstrated the concept and need of circles of friendship.

His inner circle was John, Peter, and James. John was called the one who Jesus loved. I get impression that he was the one who Jesus had intimate conversations with. The group was rounded out with the loud and quiet one, Peter and James respectively. Who’s in your inner circle? Who really knows you? Are you investing in these relationships? Whether you have one or five in your inner circle, take the time to keep close.

There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother. – Proverbs 18:24 (NLT)

His close friends were the rest of the twelve disciples. This is the group of friends you experience life with. Sheila and I have friends that have experienced life with us like this. We camped together, and attended our kids’ weddings, and helped each other move. They “circled the wagons” when I was diagnosed with ALS. Who can you count on to step up when you need them? Can you be counted on?

Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our action. – 1 John 3:18 (NLT)

Then we see other friends like Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. There were many more people in this group. We have and are friends with many people in this circle. Be careful not to only have friends at this level. We all need close friends to fully share life with each other.

Finally, acquaintances make the outer circle. We are friendly, but not really friends.

Parting thoughts

Our need for friendship, companionship, and intimacy are clear reflections of God’s image in us. We were not created to be alone. “Our true identity is found in community, not in individualism.” (Moore, Mark E.. Core 52.)