I have not forgotten the science teacher in Bendigo Tech who with a vacuum pump removed the air from inside a metal drum, which then crumpled as the air pressure inside the drum became unequal to the air pressure outside it.
Most of us have days when we forget who and what we are in Christ and momentarily revert to who we were BC. The apostle Peter’s given name was Simon (“reed”) so Jesus renamed him Peter (“rock”). But when some troublesome Jewish traditionalists arrived in Antioch from Jerusalem Peter “withdrew and separated himself” from the Gentile converts, “fearing” criticism from those who believed that all new converts Gentile as well as Jew — must be circumcised. Peter yielded to their peer pressure and crumpled.
But the apostle Paul — never one to compromise — confronted him “face to face”! The answer, my friend, is not and never was “blowin’ in the wind” (as the hippies used to sing). As for Christian leaders it sure isn’t found in blowing every which way “with” the wind!
After receiving a verbal blast from Paul, the wavering apostle’s “Simon the Reed” moment ended right there and then, and he became “Peter the Rock” again!
Bottom Line: Never lose sight of your “new creation” identity and under pressure revert to your old one. Instead, look legalists in the eye and in the manner of army sergeants say: “You’re out of order — get back in line and smarten up!”