I call “A Jesus Centered Community of Scripture, Faith, and Grace” our “identity statement” at University Lutheran. In organizational parlance, there are mission statements galore, but this isn’t really a “mission statement” because rather than telling us “what we do” it tells us who we are.
Because of our baptisms, the biggest part of our “who” is “Jesus”. We are baptized into His Name, we are made to be His own to the degree that we are called by the same Name. The folk rock group, the Avett Brothers, have a great lyric that says “Always remember there was nothing worth sharing like the love that let us share our name.” Jesus sharing His Name with us in our baptisms shows us that kind of uniting love.
Together as a congregation, we find our center in that Name into which we have been baptized into. We are centered on Jesus, on His identity which brings us together – not only because we are all “interested” in Jesus. It goes beyond that. Our identities are unified in His.
I have a friend who legally changed his name as an adult to match that of the adoptive father who raised him after his biological dad walked out. Bill decided that he wanted his identity to be shaped and formed by the identity and character of this man who meant so much to him. To remind himself of that love, he changed his name.
Remind yourself today that your identity is now centered on Someone who showed you a love that let you share His Name.