Sometimes as global workers we lose our identity. We’re assigned the task of being culturally sensitive to our host culture, learning the ways, customs, and languages of our new home, the place and people to whom we’ve been called to minister. Yet, we have to remain culturally relevant to our supporters in our home culture so as not to lose them along the way. Over time, things get muddled and our brains get tired. It’s hard to remember which culture is which and how to do anything “normal” anymore. 

Thankfully we are not called to be one culture or the other but to simply follow Christ. When cultures collide or we feel our identity slipping away, let us remember that our old self has died and been crucified with Christ, and Jesus lives in us. We now live by faith in the One who loves us and died for us. Our faith defines us and sanctifies us into the living image of Christ. He is our identity. 

So how are we sanctified to be like Christ? Just as a language teacher would implore students to mimic her pronunciation or a neighbor would show someone how to cook in an unfamiliar oven, we learn to follow Jesus by reading the Bible for ourselves and absorbing its teachings with and through other faithful, wise, godly people. We must fill our minds and hearts with the things that are important to the Father. We must study who God is so the Holy Spirit can mold us into the image of Christ. In this way, no matter where we live, what language we speak, or how we cook our food, we can do all of these things in a Christ-like manner, bringing glory to God.  

And when we feel lost in the culture we find ourselves in, we can rest in the comfort that our Savior knows how we feel (John 8:23, 18:36) and even prayed for us in this struggle (John 17:14-21). The One in whom we identify can truly identify with us!