Beyond Identity: Finding Your Self in the Image and Character of God [Paperback]

Dick Keyes (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 2003

There can be very few people at the end of the twentieth century who have not at some time asked the question 'Who am I?' or set out to 'find themselves'.

Contrary to modern cults of narcissistic self-love or disillusioned self-hate, the solution that emerges from Keyes' insightful biblical analysis challenges men and women to find their worth in the family of God.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Wipf & Stock Publishers (February 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592441505
• ISBN-13: 978-1592441501
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #651,703 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Deep waters, May 30, 2001

By 

Kean Salzer (Kula, Hawaii USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Beyond Identity: Finding Your Self in the Image and Character of God (Biblical Classics Library) (Paperback)

Dick Keyes (pronounced Kai's) was one of several guest speakers at a conference I attended outside of Vancouver in the summer of 2000. After attending each speaker's initial lecture I was convinced that Dick Keyes was the wisest man on earth. Now that I've finished reading his book, Beyond Identity, I am convinced of it. Mr. Keyes' ability to wrestle with apparetly every element of the deep things of the human experience and then write his observations with such clarity and genuine help is amazing. It is like being lost in the jungle of the inner mind and discovering a genuinely lovable guide who walks you out quickly, and takes the time to make sure you're learning the way in case you travel back without him someday.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Have your identity examined, January 31, 2005

By 

Pushin' Fifty (St Louis, MO) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beyond Identity: Finding Your Self in the Image and Character of God (Paperback)

We live in a world filled with people hoping, to a greater or lesser extent, to "discover themselves". The great majority are unsuccessful in this quest, stooping to identity models that lay far below what is proper for humans and failing to include the existence and activity of God. Keyes addresses this quest for identity, and after presenting a survey of inadequate identity models, turns to the nature of personal identity formed by Christ's redemption for an extended look.

Keyes' thesis is that life in Christ, lived in the restorative environment of His redemption, is the milieu in which one can find an enduring and satisfying identity. Beyond Identity does an effective job of sketching just how this redeemed identity looks, and how it far outshines the feeble alternatives. The book is divided broadly into three parts: an exploration of the identity problem-of how a "human being needs to feel that he exists in terms of something", then a brief examination of non-Christian (and insufficient) appropriations of identity, and finally, in what constitutes the bulk of the book, a depiction of human identity as part of Christian existence.

Keyes' reasoning is explicitly and unapologetically Christian from the outset, courteous toward other viewpoints, but in no way ambitious to proselytize his hearers as he goes, or even keep them alongside the reasoning. This approach proves quite refreshing: he is able to distill his propositions and enjoy freedom in saying what he wants. Unbelievers are welcome to come along for the ride, but the book is directed to Christians, and so proves most useful to them.

Regarding non-Christian models for describing one's identity, Keyes includes all that we see around us in friends and neighbors: I am what I own, I am who likes me, I am my work, I am my heroes, and so on. This section proves a satisfying read, Keyes depictions are accurate, and these models show themselves as hopelessly inadequate and impoverished under his scrutiny. They fail to acknowledge man's fall from God, and can thereby never hope to address what is really missing from the broken identity: God's approval and satisfaction.

Since a sturdy identity model can only arise from man's creator, the key to restoration and a right self-view is to conform one's understanding to what God declares is true of all who trust in Christ. One therefore "finds oneself" by turning to Christ and joining yourself to Him.

The weakness in Beyond Identity is simply that it runs too long. Keyes excellent reflection runs the first 130 pages or so and nicely establishes his thesis, readying the reader for a similarly thoughtful remedy. But he proceeds thereafter into a disappointing set of "oughts" and "shoulds", describing our obligation to resist anger, to repair our marriages, to be reconciled to difficult people, and so on. These are all fine goals, but the Christian's practical dilemma (and spiritual conflict) is always the same: how do I accomplish this ethical goal through my worship for Christ? The difficulty is not what should I do, but how can I do it? Successful moral reform can only arise from the worship that springs from union with Christ, which union is grasped by faith.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Freedom in finding your identity, March 2, 2006

By 

Keith Feisel (Taos, New Mexico United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Beyond Identity: Finding Your Self in the Image and Character of God (Paperback)

Having read the other reviews, I felt compelled to respond. I spent some time with Dick Keyes at the L'Bri House in Worchester, MA in the 80s. The book had not yet been published, but the thoughts were there, and I was able to listen to his lectures/teachings on this series and then interact with him along with the other students there, over tea or after a meal around the dinner table.

These were precious times, and I am sure he would invite any reading his book to continue the discussion...

I was most impressed with his treatment of Colossians, and our identity in Christ. I had/have a tendency to beat myself up b/c of my shortcomings and sin (past and present). His commentary on our identity was liberating for me, realizing that I indeed could never earn God's favor, and that He was not in fact asking me to try.

If you find yourself being pulled toward legalism, and yet you feel more like the tax-gatherer in Luke 18.9-14, than the Pharisee who was "praying to himself," then this book will be of benefit to you.

Yes, it does have a tendency to be more theoretical than practical, but I sense that that has more to do with the personality of the writer than his degree, or lack thereof, of wisdom. The assumption is that the application will be made after careful contemplation, as was the case with me...