When asked to describe themselves, students typically tell you what they do.

“I’m an athlete.”

“I’m editor-in-chief of the yearbook.”

“I’m a straight-A student.”

The problem is when students define who they are based on what they do, their identity is only temporary.

Consider this: What happens to the athlete whose knee injury keeps him off the football team? What happens to the straight-A student after she gets her first B? In the absence of the activities that always have defined them, what gives students their identities, value and worth?

In the church, we say it’s Jesus who gives people their identities. If that’s true, why do our youth group kids define themselves according to what they do in the group?

“I’m a worship leader.”

“I’m an actor on the drama team.”

“I’m a greeter.”

Maybe these answers shouldn’t surprise us. We youth workers often define our students according to what they do and how often they attend our programs. What’s more, these answers mimic our own. Think about how you respond when someone asks you who you are.

“I’m a youth pastor.”

This tendency to identify ourselves based on what we do is no less problematic for us than it is for our students. Identities based on what we do always fall short of reflecting who we truly are. If we define ourselves according to what we do at church, such identities are inherently unhealthy. They link our value and worth to our ability to fulfill a certain role, teaching us that one’s value and worth must be earned.

From What to Whose
In reality, our true value and worth come not from what we do, but from the One to whom we belong.

Our true identity comes from Christ, the One who never changes, the One who is the beginning and end. This identity in Christ is freely given and endures, regardless of what we do or do not do. As a result of this identity, we are children of God, saints and members of the royal priesthood. We are loved, free, holy, forgiven and new.

Our identity in Christ is so powerful that it can influence every aspect of our lives, including what we do; but it’s important to keep the priority in mind (whose before what) or we easily can fall into the trap of basing our identity on what we do.

This process of identity formation is so important that helping students embrace and understand their identity in Christ is one of our primary responsibilities as youth workers. If you don’t believe me, think about how Jesus intentionally helped Peter and John embrace their true identities.

Despite Peter’s colossal and frequent failures, Jesus reminded him that his past was forgiven and renamed him “the rock.” This name gave Peter a tangible reminder that his true identity came not from his failures or successes but from his relationship with the source of all life and strength.

Rather than allow John’s competitiveness or his intolerance of others to define him, Jesus continually reminded him that he was fiercely loved until he believed it enough to call himself “the one Jesus loved.”

In the same way, we must help students embrace and understand their identity in Christ. To do this, stop defining students in terms of what they do.

Instead of only recognizing the kids who come to your programs, pay attention to those who don’t. Take those kids out for coffee and get to know them. Show them love and care, even if they never set foot in your youth room.

Rather than send students a note of encouragement only when they succeed, do the same when they fail. When the straight-A student gets a B or the worship leader forgets the song lyrics, affirm he and she are still valuable and loved. Then keep telling them this until they, as did John, actually believe this truth.

This much is clear: Students are and always will be beloved children of God. Nothing they ever do will matter more.

As youth workers, nothing we teach students will matter more.