In what decade should you have been born? What color are you? What model car are you? What superhero are you?
Which Downton Abbey character are you?
Which Rock band are you?
Which state should have been your birthplace?
Which superhero are you?
What age are you really?
What kind of girl scout cookie am I?
Which of Jesus' disciples am I?
Which Dallas' character am I?
Are you creative or analytical? Find out in five seconds
Which of 16 personality types are you?
Are you right brained or left brained?
It seems that everyone is getting in on the game to find out who they are and what that information tells them about their personality. Why? Well its harmless fun, or is it?
Today, posted on facebook, I saw an article that talked about one's "birth number". By adding up the numbers in your birthday, you could find out about your personality. The article said, "Your birth date describes who we are, what we are good at and what our
inborn abilities are. It also points to what we have to learn and the
challenges we are facing." Of course, this is just part of the caption below the photo shared on facebook. Its almost impossible to track down the original source of the information.
However, a quick search on Google reveals some truth behind the birth number practice. The birth number is part of the practice of numerology that is defined by Webster as "the study of the occult significance of numbers. " Its not a good idea for Christians to practice the occult in any capacity, so it stands to reason that we should avoid even what appears to be harmless practices of reading about our personality from our birth number. Be careful what you participate in on facebook as it is very tempting to want to be part of the latest craze.
As for all of these quizzes about who we should have been; these are also not a good idea. They have swept facebook but their increasing popularity and use as a "fun" tool does not change their bottom line nature and how they show humanity's complete lack of completeness without Jesus. Scripture clearly tells us to stay away from all sorts of fortune-telling. The Bible tells us that we were made for the exact time and season in which we were placed, therefore we do not need to take a quiz to tell us what decade, or year or town we were meant to be in, as we are in the very one God meant for us. (See Acts 17:26-28) To look for anything different is rebellion in that one is telling God that He doesn't know what He's talking about. And Scripture says rebellion is like the sin of witchcraft.
It appears many are starting to get led astray by simple things on social media? Wouldn't it be just like the enemy of our souls to use a world-wide phenomenon that everyone loves such as facebook to plant little thoughts of discontent with who we are in order to keep us from living in that place God has for us and from growing in Him into the person He's planned for us to become? Friends, lets be diligent to watch over our own souls and not be led astray. Also, let's not participate in leading anyone else astray. Perhaps you are not easily swayed and your taking these quizzes and sharing them online is all in fun, but what about someone you influence who is not as strong and ends up going deeper into things of the occult? Let's not lead others astray, even unintentionally. Search the scripture on our responsibility in this matter.
As for wanting to know things about yourself, again, just turn to Scripture.
So, who am I?
I am a sinner saved by Grace. (Rom 3:23)
“No one is righteous—not even one. No one is truly wise; no one is
seeking God. All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does
good, not a single one.” ... For everyone has sinned; we all fall short
of God’s glorious standard."
I deserve death. (Rom 6:23)
"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord."
I am so loved by God that He sent His son to die in my place. (Romans 5:8)
"But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners."
I am saved and have eternal life through Jesus Christ. (Romans 10:9-10,13)
"If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your
heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is
by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is
by confessing with your mouth that you are saved ... For “Everyone who
calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
I have peace with God. (Romans 5:1)
"Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith,
we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done
for us."
I am not condemned. (Romans 8:1)
"So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus."
I can never be separated from God's love. (Romans 8:28-29)
"And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love.
Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears
for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can
separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth
below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us
from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord."
I am created in the image of God. (Genesis 1:27)
I am His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works that He prepared for me beforehand. (Ephesians 2:10)
I am the temple of God and the Spirit of God dwells in me. (1 Corinthians 3:16)
I have been given spiritual gifts from the Lord. (1 Corinthians 12:1-11)
I am an integral part of the body of Christ. (1 Corinthians 12:12-30)
I am an God's child and His heir. (Galatians 4)
I am loved of God. (John 3:16)
I have a purpose. (Mattew 28:19-20)
I have no need of surveys, tests, numerology, birth numbers, fortunes, quizzes to know who I am in Christ. I also really have no need of them to know my faults, as I already know them more than I wish. I can ask my friends if I want to know more about how I deal with a certain issue as they know me more than a random test ever will. As for when I should be born, its the year I was born, because God saw fit to put me in that year.
Let's not be so quickly pulled in.
Blessings!
(All Scripture is from the New Living Translation. See http://christianity.about.com/od/conversion/qt/romansroad.htm for more details on how to receive God's gift of Salvation. I welcome comments.)
