So, you’re a Christian.
Okay, that’s great, but so what?
What’s the point?
Why do we call ourselves “Christians”?
What does being a “Christian” even entail?
Sadly, not a lot of us know.
A study done by Lifeway showed that “51% of U.S. teens claim to be Christian, yet only 8% display the beliefs and habits of a committed Christian; 46% of Christian teens never read the Bible; and 58% of Christian teens believe they don’t have a responsibility to share their faith” (Beeson, 2021).
This is not what Jesus died for.
You see, when we claim Jesus to be our Lord and our Savior, we undergo an identity change. Paul states in 2 Corinthians 5:17 that “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold the new has come” (ESV). It’s not just about being a “better person” or “cussing less”. It’s about starting a completely new life that reflects Jesus and allowing the Spirit to work in our hearts to make us more like Him.
So, now we’re a new creation. What does that actually mean? What are we supposed to do with that?
As new creations, we are given a task and a mission rooted in who Jesus has made us.
This brings us to the passage we’ve built our ministry on: Matthew 5:14-16.
In the context of this passage, Jesus is explaining what His kingdom looks like and how those who live in it ought to live, as a reflection of Him. After explaining some of these characteristics, He shifts His attention to reminding His followers of who they are.
He says, “you are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (ESV).
In such a short passage, Jesus communicates the identity we have in/because of Him, what we ought to do with it, and what our new goal is.
We’ve chosen to study this passage and illustrate the Christian identity through our hand-crafted clothing to encourage you to explore and embrace your identity as the light of the world.
Be sure to check out each our pieces in COLLECTION 001: IDENTITY to see how they are designed to help you walk in your identity as a Christian, and follow along as we continue to learn how to step into our identity and live in a way that reflects Jesus!
You are the light of the world.
You are the anomaly.