Scams and identity theft have reached epidemic levels, and we are constantly receiving warnings from banks, Social Security, credit cards, etc. to be careful about opening emails, giving out any identifying information, or giving money to possible scammers. I have been the victim of a number of identity theft scams over the last five years.

During Covid, two different people tried to use my identity to get unemployment, one from Colorado. I have had to close a number of debit cards over the years that have been used fraudulently and dispute purchases. My Facebook account has been hacked a couple times, and I’ve received messages that my Social Security number and email have shown up numerous times on the dark web.

This is all very disconcerting and anxiety-producing. It steals our peace of mind, and then steals our time when we have to deal with it. There’s the initial reporting of fraud, the canceling of cards and changing our numbers on automatic withdrawals. There are disputes to deal with, and putting watches on accounts. I finally just put a freeze on any new accounts being opened using my identity.

I thought about that just as there is physical identity theft, there is also spiritual identity theft that we need to be aware of. Just as an unknown person tries to steal our identity and use it to commit fraudulent acts, in a spiritual sense Satan tries to steal our true identity, who we are in Christ. Both are based on lies.

Just as we need to go through a process to deal with physical identity theft, so there is a process to deal with the spiritual counterpart. We have to report identity theft to the proper authorities so it can be taken care of. When Satan tries to steal our identity, we need to tell God about it and go to His word to combat the lies and find truth to overcome them. Our minds must be renewed by the truth of God’s word in order for us to know who we truly are in Christ.

I Peter 2: 9 tells us our true identity in Christ, that we are God’s special possessions and chosen treasures, set apart for Him, called out of darkness into His light.

What is an example of spiritual identity theft? Some may feel that they will never be good enough to receive God’s love and forgiveness. They feel their past sins were too great and they are just too bad to be saved. Ask the apostle Paul about that. He tells us in I Timothy 1:15-16 that if Jesus could save him, the worst of all sinners, He can save anyone.

 Some are unsure of their salvation, depending on how they feel from day to day. Some scriptures that can speak the truth of assurance are Romans 10:9, Ephesians 2:8, I John 4:15 and 5:13, which plainly show that if we believe in Jesus, we can know that we have eternal life. 

One of the biggest fraudulent statements that the enemy of our souls uses is that all roads lead to God. This is not true. Jesus tells us in John 14:6, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” We can be assured of our true identity in Christ as we read, believe and stand on God’s word of truth.

Hope Ministries is a Christian counseling center, and we are here to help. If you would like to speak confidentially with someone, give us a call at 845-482-5300.