John William Eddins, Jr. was Professor of Theology. The chapel begins with a Bible verse, sharing of prayer requests, and a prayer (0:00-3:20). A responsive reading from Psalm 95:1-7 is then read together (3:27-4:30). Dr. Eddins introduces his message “On the Freedom Not to Be God” from Genesis 2:15-25 (4:37-7:12). He emphasizes that people often feel they need to be God, while the truth is they are freed not to be God, but to be free with God (7:15-10:15). Dr. Eddins notes that when people sin, they free themselves from God and then take on the responsibility to be their own inadequate gods (10:15-14:50). He presents Jesus as the answer to have freedom not to be God and instead gain freedom for and with God (14:51-20:15). Chapel is closed in prayer (20:15-20:36).
The audio was transferred from audio cassette. Dr. William P. Clemmons speaks for the entirety of the recording. Dr. Clemmons' source text was Ezekiel 37:15-28. Clemmons shares that the hard work of the church and seminaries is to imagine and forge a new future against insurmountable odds and world problems like racial diversity and other issues. He notes that God renews His people by giving them a vision of Himself. God alone is enough. He encourages the students to distinguish dreams from illusions and seek to be a faithful people of God.
