The title of my video today is, digital ID – good or bad? Is There has been a surge of discussion about digital ID in the UK. Supporters say it will streamline checks and reduce illegal working. Critics warn it risks centralising control, tracking ordinary citizens, and creating new forms of exclusion. In this post, I summarise the main arguments, share what many are saying online, and offer a Christian perspective with New Testament scriptures that keep our identity and freedom rooted in Christ.
What Is Being Proposed?
Recent government announcements describe a digital identity credential that could be used for “Right to Work” checks and potentially other services over time. The pitch is simple: faster verification, less paperwork, and fewer forged documents. The concern is equally simple: once identity is digitised and tightly integrated across systems, it can be used to control rather than simply to confirm.
Why Some People Support Digital ID
- Efficiency: Quicker checks for employers and service providers.
- Fraud reduction: Harder to use forged documents.
- Convenience: A single credential instead of repeated paper processes.
Why Others Are Concerned
- Centralised control: A single digital key can be used to gate access to work, services, or finance.
- Function creep: Systems built for one purpose often expand into others.
- Exclusion: Not everyone has a smartphone or stable internet, and errors can wrongly lock people out.
- Security risks: Any central identity system becomes a high-value target for attacks and misuse.
Keir Starmer’s advisers have stitched him up again, he’s walked straight into it.
A MILLION signatures in just a few hours !
Massive mistake by Labour, as since Covid, people have woke up to Government overreach and control. pic.twitter.com/dTf9VfgCeH
— Adam Brooks AKA EssexPR 🇬🇧 (@EssexPR) September 26, 2025
A Christian Perspective: Identity and Freedom
As Christians, we evaluate every cultural moment through the lens of Scripture. Whatever happens in politics or policy, our core identity and freedom are found in Christ, not in any state system.
- Identity in Christ: Galatians 2:20; 2 Corinthians 5:17
- Heavenly citizenship: Philippians 3:20
- True freedom: John 8:36
These truths help us engage soberly and wisely. We can voice legitimate concerns about control and coercion while maintaining confidence that our ultimate security is in the Lord.
Discernment and Obedience
Scripture calls us to discernment and right obedience:
- Discernment: Matthew 24:4; 1 John 4:1
- Ordered obedience with limits: Romans 13:1 balanced with Acts 5:29
Christians can honour governing authorities while recognising that obedience to God comes first. That balance matters when technologies carry the potential to regulate daily life in unprecedented ways.
Where This Might Be Heading
History shows that ID systems often expand over time. Many worry that a credential for employment could, in future, govern access to benefits, banking, travel, or even basic transactions. While we should avoid fear, we should also avoid naivety. Thoughtful safeguards, robust opt-outs, and strong privacy protections are essential if such systems are pursued at all.
New Testament Scriptures (NKJV)
Here are the verses referenced in the video for reflection and prayer:
- Galatians 2:20 — “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
- Philippians 3:20 — “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”
- 2 Corinthians 5:17 — “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
- John 8:36 — “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”
- Matthew 24:4 — “And Jesus answered and said to them: ‘Take heed that no one deceives you.’”
- 1 John 4:1 — “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
- Romans 13:1 — “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.”
- Acts 5:29 — “But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: ‘We ought to obey God rather than men.’”
A Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus, give us wisdom and discernment in these days. Help us to stand for truth and freedom, to love our neighbours, and to live as citizens of heaven while we serve faithfully on earth. Keep our eyes fixed on You. Amen.
Related Posts on A Countryman’s View
- The Cost of Speaking Truth in Britain Today
- We Have Free Speech in the UK — Or Do We?
- Is This the Face of Evil?
Final Thoughts
Debates about digital ID are not only about technology; they are about what it means to be free, accountable, and wise. Wherever you stand, keep your heart anchored in Christ, your mind alert, and your voice gracious. If this post was helpful, please share it and join the conversation below.
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