How Do We Root Our Identity in Christ? with Jonah McElhaney

Have you ever caught yourself identifying more with your church group than with Christ? Did you experience an identity crisis after transitioning out of a high-control church or movement?
In our final podcast episode of Not Ashamed Season #1, we dive into the topic of untangling group identity and learning to place our identity in Christ first and foremost.
Our guest is Jonah McElhaney, author of There's No Such Thing As Dragons: Examining The Theology of The United Pentecostal Church. Jonah spent fourteen years in the UPCI and was involved in ministry for eleven of those years. It was only by studying Scripture and the grace of God that he came to see the error in many of their doctrines. He shares part of his testimony on this month's episode; you can find more in his book, as well as his blog: jonahmce.wixsi...
Also on the panel this episode are Bethany, Andrew, and Natalie. Thank you for joining us as we rebuild theology in light of God's grace, love, and the true meaning of holiness!
Other Resources:
Christianity without the Cross: A History of Salvation in Oneness Pentecostalism by Thomas Fudge
www.amazon.com...
Directory of Resource for Apostolics
bereanholiness...
Idolized Identity: bereanholiness...
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes..." -Romans 1:16
Find more at: BereanHoliness...

[@GigiRocks1969]

Your comment on the fear of losing your family(spouse and/or children and beyond,) kept me in the UPCI much longer than I wanted to be there. Such a hard place to be. My family is still all in and it's still difficult; but I wouldn't change knowing the true Gospel and the deep love that Christ has for me (& OTHER CHRISTIANS!). There's no turning back now.
Thank you for your ministry and your heart for others. Blessings.

[@DanyelleOdom]

Before we left the UPCI I remember so many times thinking that I just didn't feel like myself. I often felt like I didn't even know who I was anymore but I would write those feelings off with thoughts like, "well I guess the Lord has changed me so much and now I'm who He wants me to be and I guess this is who I'm supposed to be," but I could never completely shake that feeling. I also remember coming home after a ladies conference about 10 years prior to us leaving, feeling like God was challenging me to look deeper into His Word. There were two questions looming in my heart, that I truly believe were from the Lord, were; "are you really in love with me or are you in love with them (the church)? Do you have a relationship with me or do you have a relationship with them (again the church)? As I truly pondered those questions, I remember just weeping because I realized in that moment that I hadn't fallen in love with Him but rather had fallen in love with the church and I didn't have a relationship with Him but rather I had a relationship with them. I really started questioning so many things at that point and I truly believe those realizations began to change everything for me. That set me on a journey to find a real relationship with Him!
Shortly before we left the church I remember having a conversation with my husband and telling him, "I just want to be me. I ultimately want to be who the Lord has called me to be but He created me to be me and I want to feel like myself again." I wanted so badly to just be accepted for me once again and not who everyone expected me to be. The disentangling from that identity and finding your true self is a major challenge but it's so worth it!
Thank you all for helping me understand why I didn't feel like myself! You all brought out so many good points that were like lightbulbs going off in my head. I appreciate the work you all are doing. We love the podcast and tune in for every single one!