The Secret to Happiness
- John Beeson
- Sep 9, 2022
- 4 min read
Substitute Identities: Free//Servant
SUBSTITUTE IDENTITIES: FREE AND SERVANT
Story of me at Glorietta. “Johnny.”
The power of having a group as a teenager. Jocks. Geeks.
Popular kids. Punks. Artists. Hipsters. Danger of latching
onto anyone who will accept you.
How will you ever be happy? Content in your own skin?
The world tells us we will be happy once we and others
accept who we are. And who are we? Our sexuality, our
profession, being a dad or mom, being a spouse. We are
free to choose who we are, and our identity can then be
anchored on that choice.
We will only find happiness and peace when we set the true
north of our life in our identity with Christ. Who you are in
Christ is unchangeable and nonnegotiable.
Sermon series: 8 substitute identities that masquerade as
true identities.
2 Corinthians 5:16-17: you are a new creation!
The first substitute identity: freedom. Our world tells us
that a core part of our identity is that we are free. We are
free to choose who we are. As children, we are told that we
can be whatever we want to be.
Story of first day of high school. The goodness of freedom.
There is something beautiful in that encouragement. Many
of us had our identities formed with this sense of
unbounded possibilities. There is nothing we couldn’t do if
we put our minds to it. As Americans, we value our
autonomy and push back against those who deign to try to
restrict our freedom.
In Christ, though, we learn that our freedom comes through
our relationship to Christ: specifically, our enslavement to
Christ. We are called by the Servant to be his servants.
John 8:31-36: The Pharisees: “We already have freedom!
We don’t need your freedom!” Jesus: “You aren’t free.”
Jesus ignores the cultural farce (Egypt, Babylon, Assyria,
Rome!) and goes straight for the spiritual. You aren’t free,
you are slaves. Who are you? Disciples. Sons. The house is
freedom.
The danger with freedom is what it is used for. Freedom for
freedom’s sake is a master. Freedom for my own sake is a
problem because I’m a sinner.
In becoming Christ’s we sacrifice our freedom. We squirm
when God calls us to be his servants, but being slaves of the
King gives us purpose and value. The freedom we have in
Christ is for the sake of others. When we understand who
we are serving and why we are serving him, our service is
transformed. We have a role in the grandest enterprise in
the history of the universe: the Kingdom of God!
6/6/2021
Substitute Identities: Free//Servant
Follower after follower of Jesus, when naming their
credentials mentions their servanthood as part of their
identity. Paul does so in Romans 1:1: “Paul, a servant[a] of
Christ Jesus,” and Phil 1:1 “Paul, a servant[a] of Christ Jesus,”
and Titus 1:1: “Paul, a servant[a] of God…”. James does so in
James 1:1: “James, a servant[a] of God and of the Lord Jesus
Christ.” Peter does so in 2 Peter 1:1: “Simeon[a] Peter, a
servant[b] and apostle of Jesus Christ.” Jude does so in Jude
1:1: “Jude, a servant[a] of Jesus Christ…”
We introduce with honorifics: NY Times best seller! CEO!
President! Influencer!
We demand our freedoms and then we demand others
cater to us. Jesus transforms his disciples into those who
give up their freedoms. They do so because of Jesus. Jesus
gave up his freedoms for our sake. Phil 2:7. Jesus is a
servant.
The question, then, is, what are we servants for?
John 13:14-17: wash feet because I wash feet. Servant of
the servant. Matthew 23:11: The greatest among you shall
be your servant.
When Paul writes the church at Corinth, he is struggling
with a church that doesn’t trust him. There are those who
trust him, but they trust him as a figurehead. Their eyes are
set on the flesh.
1 Cor 3:4-9: God’s work matters, not ours. 1 Cor 4:1.
Paul takes it a step further. He makes himself a servant to
those he serves. 1 Cor 9:19.
Ps 84:10: For a day in your courts is better
than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
When you become a slave you experience Christ’s freedom.
True freedom.
John 8:31-32
Those in jail who had lived free until they were confined to
a 6’x 8’ cell and then they experienced true freedom.
We experience true freedom in Christ and as we step into
our identity as servants of Christ.
How do we step into this?
1) Give yourself to Christ.
Jesus gave himself as a lamb to the slaughter.
2) Release your demands.
Release what you demand. Delight in losing an
argument.
3) Serve: we are contributors, not consumers.
6/6/2021
Substitute Identities: Free//Servant
a. Serving siblings, serving kids, foster care,
Gospel Rescue. Day Camp service.
6/6/2021
How will you ever be happy? Content in your own skin?
The world tells us we will be happy once we and others accept who we are. And who are we? Our sexuality, our profession, being a dad or mom, being a spouse. We are free to choose who we are, and our identity can then be anchored on that choice.
We will only find happiness and peace when we set the true north of our life in our identity with Christ. Who you are in Christ is unchangeable and nonnegotiable.