Child of God

Identity and the Illusion of Self-Sufficiency

By Samantha Shrock

How do you introduce yourself? What first comes to mind? 

Socially, we’re conditioned to lead with what we do–professional titles, credentials, and markers that signal competence. I’m a nurse. I’m an accountant. Even personal identifiers often come to mind when we think of who we are: I’m athletic. I’m artistic. 

While much of the world prioritizes collectivism–identity by association to family and community–our Western culture prioritizes individualism. Identity by personal achievement precedes identity by association. While we often introduce ourselves with “me”-centric language, Eastern collectivism prioritizes heritage or group affiliation.¹ 

The autonomous nature of our Western culture breeds healthy competition that inspires ambition. But it may also be quietly undermining the biblical Christian walk. 

In our achieving society, we welcome vehicles of collaboration–networking and mentorship–as frameworks of community that structure and advance us. Surfacely, this resembles scriptural design for believers to thrive in community. Fundamentally, these constructs of guidance often prioritize the betterment of self over relational and communal impact.² Personal improvement is not inherently unbiblical; we are called to become more like Christ by letting him sanctify us. However, where biblical and cultural lines blur between virtue and vice, confidence can become misplaced in ourselves. 

In this mindset, deferring control to a superior being is outlandish. It’s not just countercultural–it’s counterintuitive. When agency and autonomy are ingrained not only as virtues, but as means of survival, the biblical invitation to surrender isn’t just daunting–it’s disorienting. When control equates to success, surrender threatens the autonomy we deem essential to keep every thread of our lives meticulously woven. Control becomes a compulsion to maintain–the force upon which every major and minor outcome is contingent. The byproducts of control–insecurity of indecision or pride of assertion–are both fueled by a core fear: if I surrender to the Lord, the life I am working to achieve will unravel. 

That’s a valid fear. It might unravel. 

Individualism prides identity on this control. But what if the very control we equate with success is depriving us of the very peace that reveals our purpose? 

There is a striking irony. While the Western world is predominantly Christian, Eastern religions commonly integrate the biblical blueprint of community into their cultures.³ Identity that exceeds oneself is the freedom in which Christ invites us to walk; however, collectivist cultures arguably model Christ’s teachings more transparently than “Christian” culture itself. 

Many religions–Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, even non-Messiac Judaism–emphasize virtue and nobility as qualifiers of salvation.⁴ In these cases, personal fate hinges on the faithfulness of man. The accountability therein reveals a commonality that unites other religions: you must do good to be good. It’s a simple, straightforward formula that computes in the human mind. At its core, this formula relies on the same self-sufficiency promoted by Western individualism. As such, Eastern collectivism often functions as virtuous means to a redeemed end. 

As followers of Christ, we are commissioned to do good–but we know that we are justified and cleansed only by his blood. Though Eastern collectivism emulates biblical law by promoting identity that exceeds oneself, Christ teaches the reciprocal of the ‘do good, be good’ philosophy: we are righteous not to become good, but because He is good. When we’re born again as children of God, we are freed from slavery to sin by the power of Christ living in us. We are freed from the reliance on our own strength and understanding–the burdens of control that were never ours to bear. We are justified by grace and sanctified through faith–the faith that takes Christ’s yoke upon us so that we can learn from him. Christ invites us to transcend the exhausting parameters of self-sufficiency, instead resting in the promise that his grace is sufficient. 

Our eternal identity–the only one we take with us when we leave this earth–refines to one label: child of God. Our identity is by association to Christ. Our accolades, ambitions, achievements, and accomplishments in this life are reflections of his goodness. They are testaments to His faithfulness and His glory. When we live in such a way that His honor is rightfully credited to every source of good produced in and through us, we are embracing an identity that exceeds self. Gradually, the compulsion of control that once governed our thoughts, motives, and actions is surrendered and replaced by a posture of peace. We strive to become more like Christ, but the striving to be enough ceases. Because we know that he is enough–and he is all we need. 

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  1. Collectivism | Research Starters | EBSCO Research. EBSCO. Published 2024. https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/psychology/collectivism
  2. Smith T, Spooner M. Constellations of Support: A Community Development Model. Winter. 2021;40(2). doi:https://doi.org/10.3998/tia.505
  3. Nakissa A. Comparing Moralities in the Abrahamic and Indic Religions Using Cognitive Science: Kindness, Peace, and Love versus Justice, Violence, and Hate. Religions. 2023;14(2):203. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/rel14020203
  4. Khvoinytska-Pereima K. Soteriology Across Spiritual, Religious and Philosophical Traditions: A Comparative Analysis. Філософія. 2024;20(97). doi:10.32782/hst-2024-20-97-23