I just finished up a Zoom call with a classroom full of high school students in Minnesota. As I looked at them on the screen, I was reminded of just how change-filled their young adolescent lives are as they look for answers to some of life’s most basic questions, including the question that reveals just how locked-in they are to the process of identity formation: “Who am I?”
My task was to talk to them this morning about the power of culture to form and even de-form us away from the people God intends us to be. We talked about the power of culture to map out life for us, along with the need to develop and hone the skills of applying biblical wisdom in the process of cultural discernment. We zeroed in the identity question as in today’s world, the culture is throwing all kinds of distorted and life-damaging ideas and directions at them about who they are and who they need to be.
As parents, youth workers, pastors, teachers, grandparents and all others who desire to lead kids into being followers of Jesus Christ, we have the great privilege and responsibility to tell the truth about identity in the midst of a cultural sea of identity lies. But where do we start? What are the identity lies the culture is telling? And, what is the identity truth that must be told?
Recently, Jonathan Holmes released a book that answers these questions in very practical ways. Grounded in Grace: Helping Kids Build Their Identity in Christ might be the best youth-related book I read this year. I’m serious about that. It’s good. And parents of younger kids. . . you would do yourself and your kids a huge favor by reading this book.
I had a conversation with Jonathan Holmes about the book on the latest episode of our Youth Culture Matters podcast. Please listen in if you would. . .