And just like that, he wasn’t. He thought he was, but then it was proved that he wasn’t, and now he isn’t sure who he is.

Thomas King is an award-winning writer and academic. The author of several best-selling novels, including, The Inconvenient Indian and Indians on Vacation.

Ever since the 82 year old author was a young child, he had been told that he was part Cherokee. An identity King proudly, if mistakenly, embraced.

However, the Tribal Alliance Against Frauds—a whistle-blowing organization committed to exposing false Indigenous claims—states that there is no evidence that King, his parents, or his grandparents had any Cherokee heritage. Oops.

“I’m still reeling,” King wrote after hearing the findings of the TAAF.

Over the past few years, we have heard about a number of high-profile artists, politicians, and academics who claimed Indigenous roots, only to have those claims refuted. They are often referred to as “pretendians” by the Indigenous community.

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus said that not everyone who claims to be a Christian actually has a relationship with Him.

The consequences of claiming a cultural identity that isn’t ours may be social or legal, but the consequences of claiming a spiritual identity that isn’t ours can be eternal.

Have a great week and remember: To see what is possible, you’ll have to attempt the impossible.