Identity Theft

Identity Theft

By Allen Edge

Main Entry: identity theft

Function: noun: the illegal use of someone else's personal information (as a Social Security number) in order to obtain money or credit

Imagine that someone has taken your identity. Imagine that this person or persons are going here and there, entering into contracts, relationships, and making appearances identifying themselves as you. Imagine that these persons have been doing this for thousands of years. Imagine that the representation of these persons has been less than admirable, and in some instances, down right criminal. As a result of this, you (as you have been identified ) now have enemies and unspeakable crimes to humanity to answer for.

To make matters worse, imagine that you are not aware of these perpetrations and that when you identify yourself as you, people react to you based upon the relationship and actions of the persons who took your identity and used it as their own. What a frightening scenario. No matter how much you protest and proclaim your innocence or try to testify of your goodness and benefit to humanity, those who have been affected by or heard of the atrocities visited upon mankind by the persons who stole your identity will only identify the real you as these identity thieves. It’s like one of those nightmares that you just can’t wake up from.

This is the position that true believers and followers of Jesus Christ find themselves in today. The identity and reputation of Jesus Christ and His church have been marred and perverted for so long that even those who confess Jesus as their Lord have a hard time identifying Him and therefore themselves.

What can be done to reclaim the true identity of Jesus Christ and His Church? 

Victims of identity theft in the natural are told to provide irrefutable documentation to verify their identity. Items such as birth certificates with an authentic government seal, passports, finger print and dental records are frequently used to establish an identity. Sometimes the testimony of others intimately related to an individual over an extended period of time is used. Behavioral characteristics are also used. For example, if you see a person who you know has an incurable fear of heights, skydiving, barring a miraculous cure, it is a good chance that that person is not the same person you know. That person is an imposter. The Christian Faith has been the victim of “Identity Theft” and imposters have sullied the reputation of Jesus and His followers.

Actions Speak

There are identifying tools that can be used to identify a true believer in Jesus Christ. We have the written word of God that attest to the identity of those who believe in Jesus Christ and follow Him. It is written: “Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him.” (1^st John 2:9-11) 

Any one who claims to be a Christian and is a racist is not a Christian. That person is an imposter…period. Any church that intentionally recruits and/or excludes people based upon ethnic identity is not the church of Jesus Christ. They are imposters. Yeah, I said it and I dare anyone to refute my statement. I don’t care how much good they do in the community. It is written: ^“Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'”. (Matthew 7:22-23) Jesus Christ is unequivocal about loyalty to Him and His Way. It is written: ^“He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.” (Matthew 12:30)

Anyone who claims to be a Christian and is anti-Semitic is not only an imposter, but stupid. Jesus is Jewish. Hello!? He is referred to as “The Son of David”. King David was Jewish. His Jewish lineage is traced down through 42 generations. See Matthew and Luke. It is also written: ^“You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Galatians 3:26-29)  Abraham was the father of the Hebrew people.

I have often heard people bring up the Spanish Inquisition as a reason for being against Christianity. During the Spanish Inquisition, Jews were tortured, put to death, and exiled from Spain because they refused to acknowledge Jesus as Messiah. The church that perpetrated this crime against humanity was not the church of Jesus Christ, but the church of Satan. They were imposters. If it hates like Satan and acts like Satan, it is Satan. God has never advocated torture and murder as an evangelistic tool. It is written: ^“This is what the LORD says:"The people who survive the sword will find favor in the desert; I will come to give rest to Israel.” The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying:"I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness. I will build you up again and you will be rebuilt, O Virgin Israel. Again you will take up your tambourines and go out to dance with the joyful.” (Jeremiah 31:2-4) 

 Be careful people. God has an everlasting covenant with Israel. It is written: "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." (Genesis 12:2-3) Those who come against God’s chosen come against God, Himself.

The Spirit of The Antichrist

There are various faiths, denominations, and organizations that claim to be Christian, but do not recognize Jesus as the Son of God. Anyone who claims to be a Christian and denies the Divinity of Jesus Christ is not a Christian. That person is an imposter. It is written: “But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth. I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth. Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist—he denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.” (1^st John 2:20-23) 

 There are those who are charismatic and have impressive oratory skills. They will teach and acknowledge the teaching of Jesus Christ, but not His Lordship. The arrogance of humans today and their rebellious nature make them ripe for such teaching. As the old saying goes, “Everybody wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die.” I find this mind set particularly evident in the USA. The “get rich quick” mentality and the abhorrence of delayed gratification have not only caused a spiritual void, but it has also had a negative affect on our nation as a whole. You must die to self and be born again to be a true Christian. It is written: “If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.” (Romans 6:5-7)

There is no other way to God except through Jesus Christ. It is written: ^“Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) Anyone who teaches that there is another way is an imposter. It is written: “As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, nobody in the regions of Achaia will stop this boasting of mine. Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do! And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.” (2nd Corinthians 11:10-15) 

 It is also written: “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.” (Colossians 2:10-12)

By their fruit you will recognize them.

Finally, actions speak volumes. Regardless of how eloquent the speaker or how seemingly logical the teaching may seem, nothing can ring more truthful than a person’s actions and lifestyle. Any good parent will admit that their children listen to the lifestyle of their parent more than their parent’s words. Anyone who talks Christian, but lives according to the paradigm of this worldly system is an imposter. It is written: “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.” (Matthew 7:15-20) It is also written: “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.” (James 3:9-12)

The most effective way to undo the damage of identity theft perpetrated against the real Church of Jesus Christ is to walk out our faith as well as preach it. I picked up an old saying when I used to work in the Post Office. “I can show you better than I can tell you.” I pray that the Holy Spirit convict me and guide me into a lifestyle that will make me a walking epistle. Selah.

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Allen D. Edge is an actor, comedian, professional speaker, performance coach, ordained minister, and author of The Levite Today, The Levite Today uncovers the power of the arts in biblical communications in the past and the present. Allen blogs regularly at his blog site, http://tepinc.blogspot.com/ 

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