Secular Influences vs. Identity in Christ Research Paper

As I’ve been doing my project, I’ve found that there are so many influences that impact our identity, and not only spiritual influences, but also secular influences. Teens tend to define themselves by things that influence them, their achievements, grades, sports performance, and even friendships, and these can all pressure them to succeed and end up tying their own worth to their accomplishments. Even when they reach the standards they were working toward, it doesn’t last; their satisfaction is so short-lived that the initial feeling of fulfillment quickly dissipates, leaving them empty. (Vogel). In Ephesians 2:8-10 (NIV), it says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” This shows us that we are already saved, and it wasn’t by our own doing. “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” When it says we are God’s handiwork, it means we are His masterpiece, we’re wonderfully and beautifully made, worthy in Him. That everything has already been prepared in advance by the Lord. Even though secular influences such as performance, peer pressure, and social media can distort teens' self-perception, grounding their identity in Christ provides a long-lasting, secure foundation that goes beyond the standards we set for ourselves.

Our friendships and the people around us play a huge role in shaping who we are. We constantly feel pressured to fit in or to share the have the same values and act as others do, even when those don’t align with our beliefs and standards. This ends up making us feel anxious or even confused about who they truly are behind the influences. We are even reminded in the Word that if you “Walk with the wise and become wise; for a companion of fools suffers harm.” (Proverbs 13:20 NIV). This shows the importance of the friends we choose and those who align with our values. When we are founded in Christ, we experience greater confidence in handling the pressures we face, and we can better recognize the importance of relationships and realize that we should see one another as God sees us.

I never truly realized how much social media can affect our identity, especially how it shapes teens' self-image. We are constantly exposed to content and media that encourage us to compare ourselves with one another, leaving us insecure. Research shows that more time spent on social media is linked to high levels of anxiety and depression. Especially approval with likes and followers, which can then become how we view our self-worth instead of focusing on their faith or even character. We are told through the Bible that we are wonderfully, beautifully, fearfully made, such in Psalm 139:14 (NIV)“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made: Your works are wonderful,” This is a great reminder that our identity should be rooted in His design and His love for us. We can then embrace our purpose, our confidence in Him, and the value of each person that cannot be found in anyone or anywhere else.

Some people believe that secular pressures, the drive for academic success, and social factors motivate teens to achieve their full potential. Yes, motivation could be beneficial when our worth is tied to accomplishments or even others' approval. But it contradicts the security we can find in Him. Having a faith-centered perspective can help us pursue excellence without being held to worldly standards.

Nowadays, these secular influences and pressures, expectations, and social media distort teens' self-understanding when they tie their self-worth to things that aren’t lasting. So when we ground our identity in Him, we are given a lasting, always firm foundation. We are told that we are His handiwork and His masterpiece. This is where we can be secure in Christ, find meaning behind everything, and even endurance. As we focus solely on God’s truth rather than these worldly standards, teens can navigate the consequences we face together.