Secret Saints Remember: Identity As a Child of God

Many of us believe holiness comes from doing more, praying harder, serving longer, or proving ourselves worthy. We admire the saints and assume they were extraordinary because they accomplished extraordinary things.

But the Kingdom of God works differently.

Spiritual authority flows from identity before activity.

Before a secret saint does anything, they remember who they are. They remember their identity as a child of God.

Jesus Began with Identity

Before Jesus preached a sermon, healed the sick, or cast out a demon, His Father spoke these words over Him at His baptism:

"You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased." (Luke 3:22)

Jesus' public ministry began not with performance, but with identity, and the same is true for us.

Through Baptism, we are adopted into God's family. We are no longer orphans striving to earn God's approval. We are beloved sons and daughters who already belong.

"For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God... you have received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry, 'Abba! Father!'" (Romans 8:14–15)

Like Simba in the Lion King, before "working for God," He reminds us who we are.

Secret Saints Remember They Are Children of God

This is the defining characteristic of a Secret Saint. Their identity isn't found in success, influence, productivity, or recognition. It is found in the Father's love, and because they know they are beloved children of God, they begin to live like children.

They laugh.

They play.

They create.

They welcome strangers.

They share meals.

This childlike freedom isn't immature.

It's deeply spiritual.

Jesus told His disciples to receive the Kingdom like little children. Children trust their Father. They delight in His presence. They don't wake up wondering whether they've earned their place in the family. They simply belong.

My Journey of Remembering

I have a background in ministry. I did foreign missions in Ecuador for two years. Youth ministry at a bi-cultural parish for five, and I worked for Life Teen writing curriculum for five more. Ministry was always associated with work.

What changed me about the mission to Burning Man was an outlook on ministry that did not start with work. Our first priority was to make friends and have fun. It was child-like.

Through play, relationships had formed and soon enough the Gospel had been shared. Not from a talk from a stage, not from a three day retreat (which is a lot of work), but from presence.

Before Secret Saints act, they remember they belong to the family. From there, they invite others in.

That's how the Kingdom of God grows.

One beloved child at a time and it starts with us.