NIL - Name, Image & Likeness - 1 of 3

NIL which stands for - Name, Image & Likeness - is all the rage in college athletics right now. It is a new ruling that allows college athletes to receive money for their stardom. There are some good things about it but, like so many things in this world, it is completely out of control. That is another topic for another day.

Name, Image & Likeness “NIL” is also a spiritual issue for each of us to consider. Christian NIL is the version that deals with the core of who we are as people. For the next three weeks I want to dive into this very relevant topic.

Name. We were all named as newborns. In some cultures, names were given because they had specific meanings. In our culture, we are typically given a name either because we are being named after someone or the parents just happen a like a certain name. Our names don’t define our identity, they merely identify us as individuals.

Identity is something that we all have to work out for ourselves. What do we want our identity to be? How do others see our identity? People try many things - consciously and sub-consciously. Some get their identity from their favorite school. For example, they claim to be a Clemson man (keeping things neutral, ha.) Or maybe one’s identity comes through their career or a hobby like golf. Identities are created out of our passions. What are we most passionate about?

There is certainly nothing wrong with enjoying our school, hobbies and career, but we can’t allow these things to define our identity. None of these false identities travel well with all of the varied roles that we have in life - sons/daughters, husbands/wives, workers/students, parents etc… It would be absurd to try connect one of of the false identities to these roles. A Clemson husband or a golfer Dad doesn’t give appropriate identity to the role. It would even diminish the role in many cases.

As followers of Christ, we have been given a name - Christians. We all take on this same name as part of our walk with the Lord. The name gives is an identity. It identifies us with Christ both publicly and privately. As our core identity, it travels with us in every role throughout our lives - Christian son/daughter, Christian husband/wife, Christian worker/student, Christian parent.

A Christian identity travels very well. Unlike the other aforementioned identities, it also enhances every role we find ourselves in. It creates a stable, unchanging and consistent identity that doesn’t rise and fall on worldly achievements or performance. If Christ is our ultimate passion, then our identity is always rooted in him.

It’s a lot of pressure to try to build and sustain an identity on our own. When the performance of those identities don’t go well, we are crushed under the weight of the collapse. That is why there is so much despair in our culture - apart from Christ. An identity in Christ is received not achieved. What a relief!

Stay hungry,

Big E

Matt. 5:6