One of the most important – and often overlooked – questions for a Christian is this: Who am I first?
In today’s world, identity comes from many directions. We are shaped by our nationality, our culture, our background, our politics, and our personal experiences. We say we are Americans. We identify with a subgroup, such as being an African American, Mexican American, or an immigrant from any number of countries. We say we are a Democrat, Republican, or Independent. We are Southerners or Northerners. I am of the Hurd family.
These various influences are not insignificant. They help form our perspectives, values, and sense of belonging. But for the follower of Christ, there is a deeper and more defining identity that must take priority over these and all others.
The apostle Peter writes, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession” (1 Peter 2:9–11). Notice the language. Peter does not simply describe Christians as individuals with faith. He describes them collectively as citizens of a distinct people – a holy nation. This identity is not symbolic only; it is foundational.
At the same time, Paul reminds us in Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” This is not merely a spiritual idea – it is an identity statement. The old self, shaped primarily by earthly affiliations, is no longer the defining center. A new identity has taken its place – one rooted in Christ Himself. Yet this is where many Christians experience an identity crisis.
We live in a world that constantly calls on us to identify ourselves in other ways first, often divisively. We are encouraged to see ourselves primarily through the lens of our nation, our political convictions, or our cultural group. These identities can become deeply ingrained and overly valued, often without us realizing it. Over time, they begin to shape (reshape, misshape) not only how we see the world, but how we respond to it.
The problem arises when these identities begin to compete with – or even override – our identity as citizens of God’s kingdom. When that happens, our loyalties become divided. And identity always determines loyalty. If a person sees themselves primarily as a citizen of an earthly nation, their thinking, emotions, and actions will be shaped accordingly. If they identify first with a political perspective, that framework will guide how they interpret events and interact with others. Too often, these sub-identities cause divisions between us in the Body of Christ. But when a person understands that their primary identity is found in Christ, something changes. Their allegiance shifts. Their perspective widens. Their behavior begins to reflect a different kingdom.
Peter describes believers as “foreigners and exiles” in this world (1 Peter 2:11). That language is important. It does not mean Christians withdraw from society or disengage from the world around them. Rather, it means they recognize that their ultimate citizenship lies elsewhere. They live here, but they belong elsewhere. This understanding brings clarity in identity, purpose, and loyalty.
A kingdom citizen can love their earthly country without making it ultimate or an idol. They can engage in culture without being defined or driven by it. They can hold sincere convictions without allowing those convictions to divide them from others in Christ. Why? Because their identity is not anchored in temporary systems, places, or peoples – it is rooted in an eternal kingdom.
This gospel-focused perspective also changes how we treat one another. When earthly identities become primary, division is almost inevitable. Differences in background, politics, or culture become lines of separation. But when our identity in Christ is primary, those same differences lose their power to divide. We begin to see one another not as representatives of competing and disparate groups, but rather as fellow citizens of the same kingdom, with the same purpose. In Christ, our old distinctions no longer define us in the same way. Our identity is no longer built on what once separated us, but on the One who unites us.
All of this does not erase, nor diminish, our uniqueness; instead, it reorders our priorities. So, the question becomes: Who are you first? Are you first defined by your nationality? Your political views? Your cultural background? Or are you first and foremost a citizen of the kingdom of God? This is not a theoretical question. The answer to the question shapes how you respond to conflict, how you speak about others, how you hold them in your heart and mind, how you make decisions, and where your deepest loyalties lie.
When our kingdom identity is primary, we are enabled to live with greater humility, greater unity, and greater clarity. We are less reactive, less divided, and more grounded. We are able to engage with the world without being consumed by it. Why? Because we know who we are. When our identity is settled and clear, our loyalty follows naturally and of course. And when loyalty is rightly established and directed, behavior aligns.
For the Christian, the answer must remain clear: Above and before anything else, we are citizens of the kingdom of God.
