Tony Evans
February 9, 2001
7:15 pm
Free at Last
Message Summary
Tony Evans began his message by comparing humans to elephants. He described how those massive beasts lose their sense of identity when trainers subdue them from very young ages by securing a small metal chain around one ankle. As time progresses, these animals never question their ability to break free, even though one tug could loosen their bonds. In a similar vein, Evans noted that several small spiritual chains are ensnaring many current Christians, disallowing them to experience their full identity in Christ.
Evans described these chains by focusing on Galatians 2, wherein the apostle Paul confronted his colleague Peter. While the latter had begun entering into dynamic relationships with Gentiles, he began to separate from that group when some strict Jews arrived on the scene. Feeling incredulous, Paul immediately confronted the wayward apostle, in effect saying, "When I saw that Peter was talking one thing and living another, he stood condemned."
However, Evans showed that Peter's problem reached far deeper than a mere external issue. Evans said, "Peter needed to straighten his theology to straighten his sociology...Peter had an identity crisis, and turned from being God's man to culture's man."
Returning to the chain illustration, Evans described how Peter never realized that he was dead. The key, he said, was in recognizing that "you're a dead man walking." Having died with Christ, a believer's identity becomes tied with his/her new spiritual birth. "I don't care how long Satan raised you, how many years Satan invested into your life," Evans cried, exhorting believers to live under their new name, not their old nature. The problem, he said, was that "what we are on the outside is more important than who we are on the inside." However, like popcorn, the reality of Christ inside us should radically burst through our external appearances, allowing us to break free from the chains.
Student Response
Who am I? That single question consumes the minds of philosophers and theologians. Why? Because identity reflects existence. It determines how I live, think and act. As a follower of Christ, I can choose my identity. I could retain my natural way of life, living autonomously and making choices for my own benefit. Or I could embrace my death with Christ, ceasing to exist individually, but allowing him control of my life. The former brings only hurt and addiction. However, the latter, while juxtaposed to the current cultural moral that self rules over all, provides the key to abundant living.
—Dale Harris, Junior, Pastoral Studies major