"Who am I?" This might be one of the most important questions you could ask yourself. What is my chief identity that defines the rest of my life? If I found my name in Webster's Dictionary, what definition would it have beside my name?

This is a tough question because we have multiple identities that define who we are. Sometimes my identities complement one another like being a husband and a father. However, sometimes they can compete with one another. Sometimes a secondary role in my life can compete with what should be primary to the question: "Who am I?"

The question we must ask ourselves: "What is my true identity?"

Below I want to do my best to think through my identity as Lance Parrott. I have many different roles in life and many times they can compete for my love, my focus, and my time. I want to first talk about false identities that all too often define us. 

False Identity #1 -  "I am a UK Fan!" 

This goes for every sport and every team. Sports should get the least amount of devotion in your life. It doesn't matter how long you have been a fan. Or if your family has always had season tickets. Or if your great-grandfather wrote the record book at that school. As a Christian, you can cheer for a team without being defined by a team. 

False Identity #2 - "I am a Republican or a Democrat"

We live in a world of identity politics. For some people, next Tuesday's Election Day is the most important day of the next four years. However, as Christians, we have to see politics in light of eternity. We are captivated by King Jesus, not any politician. We are orchestrating our lives around an eternal kingdom, not living for the United States. 

False Identity #3 - "I am a Parrott" 

We can love our earthly families deeply without letting them define us. Many of our families might be large. Many of us have rich histories. Yet, even if your great, great grandfather was Abraham Lincoln, it's more important that your older brother is Jesus Christ. I am closer to a believer bought by the blood of Jesus in Uganda than a blood relative with whom I share the same name. 

False Identity #4 - "I am a Pastor" 

My calling as one of the pastors of Christ Fellowship Church is one of the greatest joys of my life. I take this calling seriously and I love our church dearly. Yet, even my call as a pastor cannot be my primary identity. If I make it my primary identity, I will find myself doing more for Jesus than actually abiding in Jesus. This is true of any profession. We must be Christians first before we are police officers, teachers, doctors, or factory workers. 

False Identity #5 - "I am White" 

When our world is so divided these days, it would be easy to gravitate towards people like us. It would be easy to even define ourselves by the color of our skin. Yet, the Bible teaches that there is one race with many beautiful ethnicities. And our ethnicity was never meant to be the sole of our identity. I am a Christian first, not a caucasian. You are a Christian first, not an African-American. In the midst of racial tensions, the church should be moving towards those who are united together in Christ more than those united by our ethnicity alone.

False Identity #6 - "I am a Husband and a Father" 

These roles are the sweetest joys of my life. There is nothing that compares to the blessings of being Rebecca's husband and to be called "Daddy!" when I walk in the door. But even these can never be my primary identity. I am a Christian before I am a father or a husband. And I will be a Christian for all eternity, when death do us part and I am united to Christ forever and the family of God.

My True Identity - "I'm a Christian"

There is nothing that defines my life as being a follower of Jesus. Jesus shapes what I do. Jesus drives what I love. He captivates my attention. Jesus is my life. 

This is what Paul tells the church of Galatia: "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20)

I am "hidden in Christ" and this by necessity unites me to everyone else who is "hidden in Christ." That's why I didn't include "I am a member of Christ Fellowship Church" as a false identity above because who I am "in Christ" includes living together with others who are "in Christ."

So in a world where everyone is searching for the answer to the question, "Who am I?" All Christians should be able to point to Jesus Christ and say "There's my identity! It's hidden in my Savior Jesus!"