In Part I, we established that knowing the creator informs us about the creation, and the first step our culture takes in its attempt to change our identities is to deny the existence of that Creator. If the culture can convince people that they are here by an accident, that they were not created a specific way for a specific reason, then identity can be whatever anyone wants. What follows is identity confusion as the culture tries to rename the people living in it. We not only see this in our own culture but throughout history, perhaps none more clearly than in the siege of Jerusalem by Babylonia in 605 B.C.

“During the third year of King Jehoiakim’s reign in Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.” (Daniel 1:1) 

Once Jerusalem was besieged, the king ordered the seizure of the young men from Judah’s royal and noble families; they were to be trained for three years in the language and literature of Babylon to potentially become advisors in his royal court (verses 3-5). The king took them from the culture they were raised in and indoctrinated them into the Babylonian culture, something they figured out only took three years to do. Parents often observe that after sending their kids away to college, they come back with all sorts of new ideas that are much different than those they were raised in. The Babylonians figured out the amount of time it takes to indoctrinate someone into new beliefs and ways of thinking long before colleges and universities existed. What happens after indoctrination, after a culture pulls people away from God, new names and identities are given.

“Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were four of the young men chosen, all from the tribe of Judah. The chief of staff renamed them with these Babylonian names: Daniel was called Belteshazzar, Hananiah was called Shadrach, Mishael was called Meshach, and Azariah was called Abednego.” (Daniel 1:6-7)

These four Jewish men didn’t go to court and sign a legal document to make a simple name change—these changes were an attempt to remove God from their identity and force the false gods of the new culture on them. The name Hananiah means, “Yahweh has been gracious,” but Shadrach means, “The command of Aku.” Aku was the moon god worshipped in Babylonian culture. Mishael means, “Who is like God?” Meshach means, “Who is like Aku?” Azariah means, “Yahweh has helped,” while Abednego means, “The servant of Nebo,” another Babylonian god.

Daniel’s name change was a twofold attack. The name Daniel means, “God is my judge,” while Belteshazzar was a name with a female connotation, meaning “lady, protect the king or Bel.” This was a reference to the mythological wife of the Babylonian god, Bel. Not only is there an identity attack in Daniel’s name change but there’s also gender confusion. This is a term we’ve been hearing in own our culture; as the culture moves away from God, it then seeks to rename its people, and with that comes confusion. An example of this is the gender option when someone signs up for a Facebook account. As it stands right now, there are 71 gender options that people can choose from on Facebook. Our culture also tries to legislate its attacks on identity. In 2013, a landmark case in Colorado allowed for a six-year-old boy who identified as a girl to use the girl’s restroom at his elementary school. This was the first ruling of its kind in the United States. In 2016, there was a boom in these cases across the country in schools, restaurants, and places of work. You can go into whatever restroom you want in most places now, not based on your genetics, just on how you feel or “identify.”

Finally, the culture tries to normalize the new identities it creates. Our culture does this through television shows and movies, particularly in media aimed at the younger generation. Who did the Babylonian king ask for right after Jerusalem was conquered? The young men. The Babylonians knew if they got them while they’re young, the indoctrination would be that much easier and it would be more likely to spread to proceeding generations. Our culture knows this too. If kids grow up thinking these identities the culture has created are normal, then the indoctrination can spread easier, faster, and for generations; kids may even want to take on one of the identities they see in their favorite shows and movies.

We are living through the natural consequences of a culture that tries to remove God, and as we navigate this confused culture that constantly attacks our identities, we must cling to who God says we are.

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” (Ephesians 2:10)

“But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12)

“Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.” (Galatians 4:7)

“So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1:27)

In one verse, it is repeated three times that God created them, even specifically stating that He made them male and female. God knew our identities would be under attack and this world would try to remove the truth that He created us, and He wanted the truth to be very clear.

When you shift away from the One who created and maintains order, then you are left with disorder. As pastor Kyle Idleman once put it, “If you have taken on a name/identity that God hasn’t given you, you will live a life God doesn’t have for you.” Cling to who God says you are: His masterpiece; made in His image, either male or female; loved and given the right to be children of God. Speak these truths into the lives of your children who are in the middle of this identity attack by our culture. As we hold on to the identity God has given us, we can live the life God has for us.

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

—Redeemed