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Writer's picturePeter Haycock

God knows who you are


The starting point for being a Christian is who you are now. Paul talks about our status in life and tells us not to worry too much about changing it (in his first letter to the Corinthians, chapter 7, verses 17 - 40). We don't have to be anything in particular or special in the world to be important to God. He chose us before the beginning of time (Ephesians, chapter 1, verse 4). Paul writes that if we are married we should stay that way, although if married to an unbeliever and he or she wants a divorce then we should let them go. If we are single, then it's fine to stay like that, although getting married is good as well. Anyone who was a slave should work out their Christian life in their current situation, but it's good to obtain freedom if possible. His point is that we need to live as Jesus tells us now, as we are. If we then end up changing status, then that is fine and we should continue living as Christians in our new lifestyle, but our changed situation in itself doesn't make us any better or worse as disciples of Christ.


Sometimes when reading this passage we can get the feeling, "O dear, that means that I should put up with my lot in life and not try to better myself." However, this and other passages discussing similar issues, are not talking about that. God is indeed interested more in who we are and how we are living than what status we have in society, but social reform is a very Christian concern and many Christians have rightly been involved with the improvement of conditions in the workplace, the education of children, the equality of women, the abolition of the slave trade and so on. Jesus told us to treat others as we would want them to treat us, so the enhancement of life for others is an obvious outworking of that.

If, though, you are a woman who is not being treated equally to the men around you, if you are from an ethnic minority that is disadvantaged because of discrimination by society or institutions, if you have a disability and your skills are being overlooked because people can't see past physical or mental differences, if it has been drummed into you that you are less important or less significant than others by your family, friends or school, or if you are feeling cornered by the knock-on effects of positive discrimination, God loves you as you are, wants you to come to him as you are and surrender your life to him, wants to use you in his Kingdom and is eager for you to play your role in his Church - now.


Whoever you are and whatever your situation, God's heart is for you.

If you fit none of the descriptions above, then the same applies: God loves you, wants you to come to Him and live your life with him - now. You might be a middle-class, white, heterosexual, middle-aged, British man or woman, living in middle England, perhaps with a generally successful and peaceful life; neither the difficulties of deprivation nor the comforts of affluence make us of less interest to our Heavenly Father. “I know the plans that I have for you,” He said, “plans to prosper you, not harm you – to give you a hope and a future.” (Jeremiah chapter 29, verse 11) That was spoken to a nation going through a hard time and about to experience worse, not to people living at ease. God’s heart is for everyone, always.


Of course, if you are able to improve your situation, then that's great as well. If you can't then you can still live an amazing Christian life; if you can, then you can continue to live that amazing life once your circumstances have changed. God is for you now and has an incredible life ready for you today.

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