Identity In A Time Of Self-Fabrication | Faith + State

In a world where everyone is busy redefining themselves, have we forgotten who defines us?

Summary
In this Faith + State conversation, Vince Miller and his son-in-law, Representative Elliott Engen, tackle one of the most pressing cultural crises of our time—identity. They expose how politics and ideology have turned identity into a battlefield of self-fabrication and division, contrasting it with God’s unchanging design revealed in Scripture. Together they call believers to find their true identity not in feelings, movements, or ideologies—but in Christ alone.

Chapter Timestamps
0:00 - Opening banter and intro
0:50 - The political manipulation of identity
2:10 - How identity politics divides and conquers
4:45 - The rise of fabricated identities in culture
7:10 - The gender debate: God’s design vs. man’s redefinition
9:45 - Loving people without compromising biblical truth
11:30 - Why all identities must be surrendered to Christ
13:40 - The confusion and consequences of self-made identities
16:30 - How believers can respond with conviction and compassion
18:30 - Why the church must address identity and gender directly
25:45 - Finding clarity and purpose through Scripture
28:00 - Final call: Live out your God-given identity

Reflection & Small Group Discussion Questions
1. Why do you think identity has become such a central issue in today’s culture?
2. How do you see “self-fabricated” identities being promoted in schools, media, and politics?
3. What does Scripture say about where our identity truly comes from (see Genesis 1:27, Ephesians 1:3-7)?
4. Why is it hard for people to accept God’s definition of gender and purpose?
5. How can Christians show compassion without compromising biblical truth?
6. What does it mean to “lay down your identity” to receive Christ’s identity?
7. How does the world’s definition of love differ from God’s definition?
8. What practical steps can parents and grandparents take to help younger generations understand identity in Christ?
9. How should the church respond to cultural ideologies that oppose biblical truth?
10. What part of your own identity do you need to surrender to God today?