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Allen Jackson NOW | Allen Jackson: June 4, 2025 | Allen Jackson Now | June 4, 2025
- We have a new pope,
- 00:00:03.195 --> 00:00:04.296
- And i want to spend some time talking about that.
- 00:00:04.296 --> 00:00:07.432
- I stepped in a bit of a hole around that on easter weekend.
- 00:00:07.432 --> 00:00:10.635
- I'll tell you about that in a minute.
- 00:00:10.635 --> 00:00:11.837
- But a couple of things that have been a little more current
- 00:00:11.837 --> 00:00:14.106
- That i just want to comment on before i get into this,
- 00:00:14.106 --> 00:00:16.241
- Because i'm afraid i'll lose my my train of thought.
- 00:00:16.241 --> 00:00:19.244
- We continue to have this national discussion,
- 00:00:19.244 --> 00:00:24.049
- Around illegal immigrants.
- 00:00:24.616 --> 00:00:27.552
- And now the judiciary is involved.
- 00:00:27.552 --> 00:00:29.354
- And it's ultimately, i think, going to get
- 00:00:29.354 --> 00:00:31.056
- Pushed to the supreme court.
- 00:00:31.056 --> 00:00:32.324
- And there seems to be a lot of confusion in the
- 00:00:32.324 --> 00:00:34.926
- In the christian community about how to process this,
- 00:00:34.926 --> 00:00:36.995
- Where compassion falls and where is kindness, and
- 00:00:36.995 --> 00:00:40.165
- Should we be upholding the law,
- 00:00:40.165 --> 00:00:41.900
- Or should we be extending a hand of welcome?
- 00:00:41.900 --> 00:00:44.202
- And what about
- 00:00:44.202 --> 00:00:45.437
- What the bible says about aliens and being kind to them? and,
- 00:00:45.437 --> 00:00:48.340
- A couple of things on that, that i think just
- 00:00:49.274 --> 00:00:51.109
- I keep kind of revisiting this because we have
- 00:00:51.109 --> 00:00:53.211
- Seems to have difficulty in holding a position or an idea
- 00:00:53.211 --> 00:00:58.150
- That the simple version of this is that
- 00:00:58.150 --> 00:01:01.853
- If you entered our country without concern for due process,
- 00:01:01.853 --> 00:01:06.258
- If you purposefully avoided due process,
- 00:01:06.258 --> 00:01:08.560
- We have a legal immigration system in place,
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- And we've had some
- 00:01:11.663 --> 00:01:12.731
- 20 million people in our country choosing to bypass
- 00:01:12.731 --> 00:01:16.334
- The the due process of the illegal immigration system.
- 00:01:16.334 --> 00:01:20.438
- Well, if you come into the country
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- With no concern for due process, then it seems to me
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- There should not be concern for due process
- 00:01:26.778 --> 00:01:29.047
- When you're asked to leave the country.
- 00:01:29.047 --> 00:01:32.083
- That's just logic to me.
- 00:01:32.083 --> 00:01:34.519
- And in fact, these demands that these judges are making
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- And a number of elected officials and other voices,
- 00:01:38.523 --> 00:01:41.359
- Including some within the church,
- 00:01:41.359 --> 00:01:43.495
- The people who came here illegally avoiding due process,
- 00:01:44.596 --> 00:01:47.666
- Should be given due process before they're deported,
- 00:01:47.666 --> 00:01:50.268
- Because it could be disruptive to their lives.
- 00:01:50.268 --> 00:01:52.904
- Well, one we're ignoring the disruption
- 00:01:52.904 --> 00:01:54.773
- To the lives of the citizens who were here
- 00:01:54.773 --> 00:01:57.642
- By those who avoided the system and entering the country.
- 00:01:57.642 --> 00:02:00.645
- But it's roughly analogous to me.
- 00:02:00.645 --> 00:02:02.447
- If we robbed a bank
- 00:02:02.447 --> 00:02:04.649
- And we were told that we needed to return the money,
- 00:02:04.649 --> 00:02:07.619
- But the only way they would accept
- 00:02:07.619 --> 00:02:08.887
- It is if we filled out a deposit slip.
- 00:02:08.887 --> 00:02:11.790
- You know, if i avoided the due process
- 00:02:11.790 --> 00:02:13.725
- In making the withdrawal,
- 00:02:13.725 --> 00:02:15.627
- I don't think it makes any sense to think i'm going to behave
- 00:02:15.627 --> 00:02:18.563
- By the due process in returning it. so,
- 00:02:18.563 --> 00:02:21.933
- I think, you know, and the other piece
- 00:02:22.767 --> 00:02:24.336
- That the christians, i guess, weigh in on is
- 00:02:24.336 --> 00:02:26.238
- What about our responsibility to aliens?
- 00:02:26.238 --> 00:02:28.473
- Well, you know, those biblical mandates
- 00:02:28.473 --> 00:02:31.810
- To treat the foreigner amongst us with dignity?
- 00:02:31.810 --> 00:02:35.614
- The the
- 00:02:35.847 --> 00:02:37.082
- Way i understand it was directed more on an individual basis.
- 00:02:37.082 --> 00:02:39.184
- If you find someone amongst you that is not from your tribe,
- 00:02:39.184 --> 00:02:43.788
- That you would treat them with a certain,
- 00:02:43.788 --> 00:02:46.791
- Decorum, a certain dignity and respect
- 00:02:46.791 --> 00:02:49.227
- For them, even though they were different.
- 00:02:49.227 --> 00:02:52.297
- The bible gives
- 00:02:52.297 --> 00:02:53.465
- A very different response to when there's an invasion,
- 00:02:53.465 --> 00:02:56.301
- You know, some large number of people
- 00:02:57.135 --> 00:02:59.704
- From another nation pouring into the country,
- 00:02:59.704 --> 00:03:02.240
- Typically to pillage, to take the crops, to benefit
- 00:03:02.240 --> 00:03:05.944
- From the labor of the, the, the inhabitants of the land
- 00:03:05.944 --> 00:03:09.881
- When they didn't make the sacrifices themselves.
- 00:03:09.881 --> 00:03:12.584
- The bible does not tell us
- 00:03:12.584 --> 00:03:14.786
- That those invading groups should be treated
- 00:03:14.786 --> 00:03:17.389
- With that same dignity and respect.
- 00:03:17.389 --> 00:03:19.157
- In fact, they are treated in a much more,
- 00:03:19.157 --> 00:03:22.093
- Aggressive way. so
- 00:03:22.093 --> 00:03:23.662
- The way that biblical language has been used
- 00:03:24.562 --> 00:03:26.464
- Is really peeled out of context and i think unhelpful.
- 00:03:26.464 --> 00:03:29.267
- The simple version on
- 00:03:29.267 --> 00:03:30.302
- This is if you avoid due process when you come in.
- 00:03:30.302 --> 00:03:33.338
- I don't think you should
- 00:03:33.338 --> 00:03:34.372
- Expect due process when you're asked to leave.
- 00:03:34.372 --> 00:03:37.075
- And i think what the judges are doing,
- 00:03:37.075 --> 00:03:38.576
- If the judges didn't
- 00:03:38.576 --> 00:03:39.277
- Get involved when 20 minute
- 00:03:39.277 --> 00:03:40.512
- Million people were invading the country,
- 00:03:40.512 --> 00:03:43.048
- Then i'm not really interested in their voice today.
- 00:03:43.048 --> 00:03:45.317
- They didn't stand up for our rights
- 00:03:45.317 --> 00:03:46.885
- As citizens when we could have used the protection.
- 00:03:46.885 --> 00:03:50.221
- So i don't understand their concern
- 00:03:51.022 --> 00:03:54.359
- In the way it's being expressed right now.
- 00:03:54.359 --> 00:03:56.895
- I have kind of an awareness in me.
- 00:03:56.895 --> 00:03:58.730
- I don't revelation seems too strong, but,
- 00:03:58.730 --> 00:04:02.067
- It's pretty new to me.
- 00:04:02.534 --> 00:04:03.735
- President trump has been in the spotlight
- 00:04:03.735 --> 00:04:06.071
- And had a leadership voice
- 00:04:06.071 --> 00:04:07.138
- In our nation now for about a decade,
- 00:04:07.138 --> 00:04:09.708
- And i understand he's relatively new to this second term, but
- 00:04:09.708 --> 00:04:13.411
- The end is in sight and a third term is not realistic.
- 00:04:13.411 --> 00:04:17.315
- He's already acknowledged that himself.
- 00:04:17.315 --> 00:04:19.284
- So at this point, i think we can say that mr.
- 00:04:20.251 --> 00:04:22.654
- President trump is going to do what president trump does.
- 00:04:22.654 --> 00:04:25.256
- And we've got a lot of clarity on that. i'm grateful for that.
- 00:04:25.256 --> 00:04:27.859
- I think he's stood up for some liberties and freedoms.
- 00:04:27.859 --> 00:04:29.861
- He's told more truth than most of the pastors.
- 00:04:29.861 --> 00:04:32.530
- I know.
- 00:04:32.530 --> 00:04:33.331
- He's willing to talk about marriage
- 00:04:33.331 --> 00:04:34.366
- Between a man and a woman. i mean
- 00:04:34.366 --> 00:04:35.934
- Things that we should have been saying from the pulpit.
- 00:04:35.934 --> 00:04:39.070
- But i can see the point where mr.
- 00:04:39.070 --> 00:04:40.638
- Trump is going to step off the leadership stage.
- 00:04:40.638 --> 00:04:44.042
- And at this point, i kind of have begun to feel that.
- 00:04:44.042 --> 00:04:48.380
- And at that point of transition,
- 00:04:49.013 --> 00:04:51.916
- We're going to have to accept responsibility for the outcomes.
- 00:04:51.916 --> 00:04:54.452
- For a decade now, we've kind of stood behind
- 00:04:54.452 --> 00:04:56.688
- This person who was leading and saying that the media
- 00:04:56.688 --> 00:04:59.724
- Was not telling us the truth, and we cringed.
- 00:04:59.724 --> 00:05:01.693
- And lo and behold, the media wasn't telling us the truth.
- 00:05:01.693 --> 00:05:04.329
- And he's going to step off that stage.
- 00:05:05.163 --> 00:05:06.865
- And if we're going to maintain
- 00:05:06.865 --> 00:05:08.333
- Any of the gains that he has sacrificed for,
- 00:05:08.333 --> 00:05:11.436
- We're going to have to make the sacrifices.
- 00:05:11.436 --> 00:05:14.406
- He's been shot in the face.
- 00:05:14.406 --> 00:05:16.708
- He's born in enormous stress.
- 00:05:16.708 --> 00:05:18.710
- He's been drugged before judges and courts.
- 00:05:18.710 --> 00:05:20.912
- He's been accused of everything almost imaginable.
- 00:05:20.912 --> 00:05:23.815
- He's been been impeached a couple of times.
- 00:05:23.815 --> 00:05:26.618
- He's been broadly hated.
- 00:05:26.618 --> 00:05:28.086
- He's been rejected by people who had been his friends.
- 00:05:28.086 --> 00:05:31.523
- They had been welcomed into elite circles of hollywood and
- 00:05:31.523 --> 00:05:35.560
- The ideologues in that northeastern corridor.
- 00:05:36.428 --> 00:05:38.930
- He was celebrated in most of those circles.
- 00:05:38.930 --> 00:05:41.032
- And because he stood up for the common people and the values
- 00:05:41.032 --> 00:05:45.737
- That those biblical values that we have supported,
- 00:05:45.737 --> 00:05:48.840
- He's been vilified.
- 00:05:48.840 --> 00:05:50.708
- And he is just
- 00:05:50.708 --> 00:05:51.876
- He will finish this term and it's going to be left to us.
- 00:05:51.876 --> 00:05:55.814
- And the question is, are we going to be willing
- 00:05:55.814 --> 00:05:57.415
- To make any sacrifices?
- 00:05:57.415 --> 00:05:59.217
- Or do we imagine that
- 00:05:59.717 --> 00:06:00.919
- President trump is just there to make our lives better,
- 00:06:00.919 --> 00:06:02.720
- To make eggs cheaper and gas cheaper?
- 00:06:02.720 --> 00:06:04.589
- And perhaps he, you know, he's going to make jobs
- 00:06:04.589 --> 00:06:08.026
- More plentiful, and we're going to return energy
- 00:06:08.026 --> 00:06:10.562
- To america, to energy dominance and manufacturing to america.
- 00:06:10.562 --> 00:06:15.467
- Well, i'm i'm telling you that from a
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- From a christian standpoint,
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- From a biblical world standpoint,
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- If we are not willing to make sacrifices for the sake
- 00:06:20.572 --> 00:06:24.075
- Of what we believe, we will not maintain
- 00:06:24.075 --> 00:06:27.245
- Any gains that president trump is sacrificing for today.
- 00:06:27.245 --> 00:06:30.682
- It's up to us.
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- You know,
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- The story is told of benjamin franklin having completed
- 00:06:33.885 --> 00:06:36.955
- The work on the constitution.
- 00:06:37.589 --> 00:06:39.224
- He stepped out of independence hall in philadelphia.
- 00:06:39.224 --> 00:06:41.259
- A woman on the street
- 00:06:41.259 --> 00:06:42.227
- Said, doctor franklin, what have you given us?
- 00:06:42.227 --> 00:06:44.696
- And his answer to her was a
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- Republic, madam, if you can keep it.
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- And i think that would be my message today.
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- I think
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- President trump and, you know, we're watching the cabinet
- 00:06:54.138 --> 00:06:56.241
- That he's pulled together in washington.
- 00:06:56.241 --> 00:06:57.742
- It's it's such a dramatic contrast
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- With the cabinet from the president's
- 00:07:00.945 --> 00:07:02.514
- Previous administration,
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- With president biden
- 00:07:03.781 --> 00:07:05.116
- And this current cabinet that the president has put together.
- 00:07:05.116 --> 00:07:07.585
- They're actually working on the issues of our nation
- 00:07:07.585 --> 00:07:09.787
- For the betterment of the american people.
- 00:07:09.787 --> 00:07:12.423
- It's a very stark contrast of what we had before.
- 00:07:12.423 --> 00:07:15.860
- And so the question on the table, and it's
- 00:07:16.728 --> 00:07:18.997
- Not the question for today, but it's the question
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- That's immediately in front of us.
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- Are we going to be willing to do what's necessary
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- To see that our children have better schools,
- 00:07:27.505 --> 00:07:29.440
- That the school boards in our communities
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- Tell the truth, you know, are we going to bring fiscal
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- Integrity back to the cities in which we live, to our homes?
- 00:07:34.212 --> 00:07:37.215
- I mean,
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- Are we going to make the sacrifices
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- For that biblical worldview to actually fill our culture again?
- 00:07:39.584 --> 00:07:42.787
- And the answer doesn't have to be immediately apparent today,
- 00:07:43.922 --> 00:07:47.992
- But it's a question i think we have to begin to ask.
- 00:07:47.992 --> 00:07:57.008
- But it's a question i think we have to begin to ask.
- 00:07:57.008 --> 00:08:00.840
- But i want to take a minute and talk about our new pope,
- 00:08:01.975 --> 00:08:03.977
- His role,
- 00:08:03.977 --> 00:08:04.611
- The impact
- 00:08:04.611 --> 00:08:05.445
- I think you can have in our world,
- 00:08:05.445 --> 00:08:06.279
- Why it matters to us as christians.
- 00:08:06.279 --> 00:08:08.815
- We have a hard time with some of these conversations.
- 00:08:08.815 --> 00:08:12.552
- Whoever leads the roman catholic church has a
- 00:08:12.552 --> 00:08:14.854
- Significant office.
- 00:08:14.854 --> 00:08:16.122
- There's more than 1.4 billion roman catholics in the world,
- 00:08:16.122 --> 00:08:21.227
- A great deal of diversity within that.
- 00:08:21.227 --> 00:08:23.330
- To talk about the catholics being homogenous,
- 00:08:23.330 --> 00:08:25.665
- That they all believe the same thing.
- 00:08:25.665 --> 00:08:27.100
- They all practice their faith the same way.
- 00:08:27.100 --> 00:08:29.502
- They all act the same way, is as comical as imagining
- 00:08:29.502 --> 00:08:34.240
- That all the baptist
- 00:08:34.240 --> 00:08:35.108
- Or the same, or all the methodist
- 00:08:35.108 --> 00:08:36.443
- Or the same, or all the lutherans
- 00:08:36.443 --> 00:08:37.944
- Are the same, or all the pentecostals are the same.
- 00:08:37.944 --> 00:08:40.914
- There is tremendous diversity within any one of those groups
- 00:08:40.914 --> 00:08:44.351
- That you pick up.
- 00:08:44.351 --> 00:08:46.219
- Nevertheless, there's
- 00:08:46.720 --> 00:08:47.587
- 1.4 billion roman catholics,
- 00:08:47.587 --> 00:08:50.957
- And that's an enormous amount of influence,
- 00:08:50.957 --> 00:08:54.594
- More than most nation states have in our world.
- 00:08:54.594 --> 00:08:57.530
- And so whoever's leading that church has a great impact
- 00:08:57.530 --> 00:09:00.533
- On our world.
- 00:09:00.533 --> 00:09:03.903
- My opinion i won't spend a lot of time with with data today.
- 00:09:03.903 --> 00:09:06.706
- We can do that another time if it's helpful.
- 00:09:06.706 --> 00:09:08.875
- In a lot of time, the people who are selected to
- 00:09:08.875 --> 00:09:11.645
- To lead the roman catholic church,
- 00:09:11.645 --> 00:09:13.380
- Their leadership emerges a bit. it's a whole new role for them.
- 00:09:13.380 --> 00:09:16.016
- It's a
- 00:09:16.016 --> 00:09:17.384
- And we don't fully know who they are
- 00:09:17.384 --> 00:09:19.185
- And what they will do
- 00:09:19.185 --> 00:09:20.286
- And what their platforms will be and how they'll act.
- 00:09:20.286 --> 00:09:22.188
- So i'm willing to extend some hope and to pray.
- 00:09:22.188 --> 00:09:25.725
- I am praying that the new pope, leo
- 00:09:25.725 --> 00:09:28.728
- The 14th, will lead with a fear of god
- 00:09:28.728 --> 00:09:32.565
- And a strong biblical worldview, and he will honor
- 00:09:32.565 --> 00:09:35.268
- The fundamental tenets of scripture.
- 00:09:35.268 --> 00:09:37.037
- I mean, all of those will be wonderful things.
- 00:09:37.037 --> 00:09:39.539
- I want to see if i can help
- 00:09:40.140 --> 00:09:41.207
- Bring a little clarity to this discussion of,
- 00:09:41.207 --> 00:09:44.678
- Traditions, denominations, how
- 00:09:45.278 --> 00:09:47.080
- We understand our faith.
- 00:09:47.080 --> 00:09:50.216
- One, i think it's like it's easy
- 00:09:50.216 --> 00:09:51.818
- In many evangelical circles to be angry at catholics.
- 00:09:51.818 --> 00:09:55.055
- And you can you can pick the label, pick
- 00:09:55.922 --> 00:09:57.590
- The tradition, the denomination you belong to
- 00:09:57.590 --> 00:10:00.694
- On a on a weekend.
- 00:10:00.694 --> 00:10:01.761
- When you gather in your church building,
- 00:10:01.761 --> 00:10:03.530
- You tend to be rather homogenous.
- 00:10:03.530 --> 00:10:05.265
- The people that are
- 00:10:05.265 --> 00:10:06.466
- There tend to imagine they stand underneath that umbrella,
- 00:10:06.466 --> 00:10:09.202
- And it's easy to have a leadership role there
- 00:10:09.202 --> 00:10:10.937
- And stand up and rail against
- 00:10:10.937 --> 00:10:12.439
- Whoever is not a part of your group,
- 00:10:12.439 --> 00:10:14.941
- Because it unifies the audience.
- 00:10:14.941 --> 00:10:16.576
- You have.
- 00:10:16.576 --> 00:10:18.778
- So it's easy to stand up and say you're against catholics
- 00:10:18.778 --> 00:10:21.915
- And point to the failures of the roman catholics.
- 00:10:21.915 --> 00:10:25.185
- Or you can if you're baptist, you point to another group
- 00:10:25.185 --> 00:10:28.555
- And you're you're unhappy with them
- 00:10:28.555 --> 00:10:31.224
- Because it unifies your audience.
- 00:10:31.224 --> 00:10:33.927
- If you talk more about biblical values
- 00:10:33.927 --> 00:10:35.895
- And our adherence to biblical principles like,
- 00:10:35.895 --> 00:10:40.266
- Marriage is between a man and a woman
- 00:10:41.067 --> 00:10:43.636
- Or the sanctity of human life, and why
- 00:10:43.636 --> 00:10:46.840
- Abortion is a breach of our trust as christ followers
- 00:10:46.840 --> 00:10:50.910
- And not an acceptable option or fidelity in marriage.
- 00:10:50.910 --> 00:10:54.681
- We've talked about those things.
- 00:10:54.681 --> 00:10:55.882
- We all understand that the groups before us
- 00:10:55.882 --> 00:10:57.717
- Are not nearly as unified in their behavior,
- 00:10:57.717 --> 00:11:00.386
- And they're far more divisive topics.
- 00:11:00.386 --> 00:11:03.423
- And so we would typically and there are exceptions,
- 00:11:03.423 --> 00:11:07.427
- But it's easier to, to, to galvanize
- 00:11:07.427 --> 00:11:10.096
- A group being opposed to a group who wears a different label
- 00:11:10.096 --> 00:11:13.800
- Than actually grappling with the behavior
- 00:11:13.800 --> 00:11:16.102
- And the outcomes of our lives, because that's a much, much,
- 00:11:16.102 --> 00:11:19.105
- Much more difficult conversation to have.
- 00:11:19.105 --> 00:11:22.275
- Because life's difficult,
- 00:11:22.275 --> 00:11:23.810
- There are some issues we cannot disagree
- 00:11:23.810 --> 00:11:25.645
- On, and it'll still be christianity
- 00:11:25.645 --> 00:11:27.313
- If jesus is not the incarnate son of god,
- 00:11:28.148 --> 00:11:31.518
- If he wasn't born of a virgin, if he didn't die on a cross
- 00:11:31.518 --> 00:11:35.054
- Physically, if he wasn't raised to life
- 00:11:35.054 --> 00:11:37.423
- Again physically, it's not christianity.
- 00:11:37.423 --> 00:11:40.460
- So i can't negotiate those things away.
- 00:11:40.460 --> 00:11:44.097
- I don't do, i haven't i have no room in those things.
- 00:11:44.097 --> 00:11:46.966
- So to disagree on those,
- 00:11:46.966 --> 00:11:49.135
- We have to stay after the discussion
- 00:11:49.135 --> 00:11:50.804
- And stay engaged enough until we sort that out,
- 00:11:50.804 --> 00:11:53.273
- Because it will exclude one of us
- 00:11:53.273 --> 00:11:55.575
- From the kingdom of god, as i understand it.
- 00:11:55.575 --> 00:11:58.444
- So i would encourage you not to bring division and great
- 00:11:58.444 --> 00:12:01.981
- Anger and angst around issues that are nonexclusive.
- 00:12:01.981 --> 00:12:05.885
- In all of those issues, we can show a great deal of love
- 00:12:06.953 --> 00:12:09.556
- And grace and mercy,
- 00:12:09.556 --> 00:12:11.090
- Or that rolls into contemporary culture a bit.
- 00:12:11.090 --> 00:12:14.093
- Is there are some moral practices in our bible
- 00:12:14.093 --> 00:12:16.663
- That we are told we cannot practice
- 00:12:16.663 --> 00:12:19.232
- And still be a part of the kingdom of god.
- 00:12:19.232 --> 00:12:22.035
- We can
- 00:12:22.235 --> 00:12:23.269
- Struggle with sin, we can be challenged by sin,
- 00:12:23.269 --> 00:12:26.206
- But we can't choose the practice of sin
- 00:12:26.206 --> 00:12:29.843
- And still be included in the kingdom of god.
- 00:12:29.843 --> 00:12:33.980
- There are sorts.
- 00:12:34.380 --> 00:12:35.114
- There are sexual sins.
- 00:12:35.114 --> 00:12:36.382
- You cannot practice adultery.
- 00:12:36.382 --> 00:12:38.451
- You cannot be a habitual adulterer
- 00:12:38.451 --> 00:12:41.688
- Breaking the covenant of marriage,
- 00:12:42.455 --> 00:12:45.258
- And do that as a matter of habit.
- 00:12:45.258 --> 00:12:47.660
- And imagine you be welcomed into the kingdom of god.
- 00:12:47.660 --> 00:12:50.830
- We have to repent.
- 00:12:51.264 --> 00:12:52.665
- Repentance means we change how we think about something.
- 00:12:52.665 --> 00:12:55.235
- I used to think this was okay. i no longer do.
- 00:12:55.235 --> 00:12:57.537
- I have repented
- 00:12:57.537 --> 00:12:58.905
- And we change our behavior that used to describe my practice,
- 00:12:58.905 --> 00:13:02.075
- But i no longer practice that behavior.
- 00:13:02.075 --> 00:13:05.311
- So if you engage in repentance, you can be forgiven.
- 00:13:05.311 --> 00:13:09.048
- So you may have been a serial
- 00:13:09.048 --> 00:13:11.351
- Adulterer, but you can't practice adultery
- 00:13:11.351 --> 00:13:15.088
- And participate in the kingdom of god.
- 00:13:15.088 --> 00:13:17.557
- The bible says the same thing about fornication
- 00:13:17.557 --> 00:13:20.393
- Sex prior to marriage.
- 00:13:20.393 --> 00:13:21.828
- You can't practice fornication
- 00:13:21.828 --> 00:13:24.397
- And imagine you can participate in the kingdom of god.
- 00:13:24.397 --> 00:13:27.767
- It may have been a part of your practice, but we have
- 00:13:27.767 --> 00:13:30.904
- To repent.
- 00:13:30.904 --> 00:13:32.405
- But there's so there's a difference
- 00:13:33.172 --> 00:13:35.041
- In doctrinal perspectives that we can disagree on.
- 00:13:35.041 --> 00:13:38.711
- And behavioral perspectives.
- 00:13:38.711 --> 00:13:40.380
- Those behavioral perspectives
- 00:13:40.380 --> 00:13:42.348
- Transcend the groups we belong to.
- 00:13:42.348 --> 00:13:45.551
- You know, all the immoral people don't belong
- 00:13:45.551 --> 00:13:48.187
- In one denomination or tradition.
- 00:13:48.187 --> 00:13:51.958
- And there's been so much confusion
- 00:13:51.958 --> 00:13:53.960
- In the christian faith.
- 00:13:53.960 --> 00:13:55.395
- Mostly, i think, because you don't think about it that much.
- 00:13:55.395 --> 00:13:58.665
- You know,
- 00:13:58.665 --> 00:13:59.933
- We just go to the church that we go to and we like the music,
- 00:13:59.933 --> 00:14:01.200
- And the preacher is pretty good, and it's convenient.
- 00:14:01.200 --> 00:14:03.102
- And the parking's not bad.
- 00:14:03.102 --> 00:14:04.270
- And they got a good nursery.
- 00:14:04.270 --> 00:14:05.605
- So that's where i go to church.
- 00:14:05.605 --> 00:14:08.274
- Or maybe we just believe what our parents told us
- 00:14:08.274 --> 00:14:10.576
- We believed, or we joined some group, or we
- 00:14:10.576 --> 00:14:13.313
- Our girlfriend went to that church or whatever,
- 00:14:13.313 --> 00:14:16.883
- And it requires a little bit more thought and a
- 00:14:16.883 --> 00:14:19.752
- Bit more perspective.
- 00:14:19.752 --> 00:14:28.011
- Bit more perspective.
- 00:14:28.011 --> 00:14:32.467
- We will be
- 00:14:32.767 --> 00:14:34.836
- Much better suited to stand in a season of deception.
- 00:14:34.836 --> 00:14:38.740
- If we will take just a little time
- 00:14:39.474 --> 00:14:41.076
- To think about what we believe and how we fit into the body
- 00:14:41.076 --> 00:14:44.980
- Of christ,
- 00:14:44.980 --> 00:14:46.247
- How we understand truth, what establishes those truths?
- 00:14:46.247 --> 00:14:49.451
- You know, i often say to people,
- 00:14:50.085 --> 00:14:51.319
- Don't don't believe just what i believe. get your bible out.
- 00:14:51.319 --> 00:14:53.722
- You've heard me.
- 00:14:53.722 --> 00:14:54.422
- I think many times encouraged
- 00:14:54.422 --> 00:14:56.057
- You to read your bible in a systematic, progressive way.
- 00:14:56.057 --> 00:14:59.327
- Beginning to end.
- 00:14:59.761 --> 00:15:00.628
- You get to know the character of god.
- 00:15:00.628 --> 00:15:02.897
- You get to know how god deals with people.
- 00:15:02.897 --> 00:15:05.000
- You get to know how god deals with nations
- 00:15:05.000 --> 00:15:08.069
- Of all of those things are a part of the narrative,
- 00:15:08.069 --> 00:15:10.138
- And that helps prepare you to sort out what's
- 00:15:10.138 --> 00:15:13.141
- True and what's false.
- 00:15:13.141 --> 00:15:15.243
- What i
- 00:15:15.443 --> 00:15:16.511
- Can tell you that i'm certain is in front of us
- 00:15:16.511 --> 00:15:18.847
- Is increasing deception, increasing expressions
- 00:15:18.847 --> 00:15:23.018
- Of the false asserting itself to be true.
- 00:15:23.885 --> 00:15:27.022
- That's the nature of deception.
- 00:15:27.022 --> 00:15:29.157
- And the best protection that you and i have is one.
- 00:15:29.157 --> 00:15:31.760
- Knowing the word of god
- 00:15:31.760 --> 00:15:33.428
- To learning to recognize the direction
- 00:15:33.428 --> 00:15:35.864
- Or the prompting of the holy spirit.
- 00:15:35.864 --> 00:15:37.432
- That doesn't make you weird.
- 00:15:37.432 --> 00:15:39.768
- It means you can recognize
- 00:15:39.768 --> 00:15:42.137
- The authentic spirit of god
- 00:15:42.137 --> 00:15:45.306
- And that that cannot be determined by label
- 00:15:45.306 --> 00:15:48.576
- Or architecture or accent
- 00:15:48.576 --> 00:15:51.346
- Or style of worship.
- 00:15:51.346 --> 00:15:54.682
- That's determined
- 00:15:54.682 --> 00:15:55.850
- By another set of factors.
- 00:15:55.850 --> 00:16:04.010
- By another set of factors.
- 00:16:04.010 --> 00:16:07.364
- If i have to put a bow around this, and i do pretty quickly,
- 00:16:08.532 --> 00:16:12.102
- You know, it would be, first of all, pray as we have
- 00:16:12.102 --> 00:16:14.337
- A new pope being installed, whatever his past may have been,
- 00:16:14.337 --> 00:16:18.675
- That he will lead at this point in the roman catholic church
- 00:16:18.675 --> 00:16:22.979
- With the fear of god, with a reverence for scripture.
- 00:16:22.979 --> 00:16:26.483
- And he will lead in a biblical way.
- 00:16:27.217 --> 00:16:30.353
- In the same
- 00:16:30.687 --> 00:16:31.688
- Way, when we have a president elected here,
- 00:16:31.688 --> 00:16:34.391
- Whether it's a party you have liked or a party you don't like,
- 00:16:34.391 --> 00:16:37.828
- We're told to pray for those in authority in our prayers.
- 00:16:37.828 --> 00:16:41.064
- They will lead with the fear of god
- 00:16:41.064 --> 00:16:43.266
- Implementing an agenda that reflects
- 00:16:43.266 --> 00:16:44.968
- A biblical worldview and biblical values.
- 00:16:44.968 --> 00:16:48.004
- You know, some of you, i have no doubt,
- 00:16:48.805 --> 00:16:50.307
- Have been coached pretty extensively
- 00:16:50.307 --> 00:16:53.710
- Against the weaknesses of roman catholicism, catholicism.
- 00:16:53.710 --> 00:16:57.013
- And they have some practices that i don't think i can support
- 00:16:57.013 --> 00:16:59.850
- Biblically without any question.
- 00:16:59.850 --> 00:17:01.318
- I'm not going to pray to the so you can pray to the saints.
- 00:17:01.318 --> 00:17:02.953
- They won't hear you.
- 00:17:02.953 --> 00:17:05.021
- You know, they have given an exalted place
- 00:17:05.021 --> 00:17:06.756
- To mary is the mother of jesus. that i think is,
- 00:17:06.756 --> 00:17:09.526
- Stretches the boundaries of what scripture presents to us.
- 00:17:10.660 --> 00:17:13.029
- So i'm not trying to endorse roman catholicism
- 00:17:13.029 --> 00:17:15.832
- In every aspect of their practice of faith,
- 00:17:15.832 --> 00:17:19.202
- But i can take most of the protestant denominations
- 00:17:19.202 --> 00:17:22.973
- And find aspects of their practice
- 00:17:22.973 --> 00:17:25.142
- That would give me pause as well.
- 00:17:25.142 --> 00:17:28.111
- Again, within under the roman catholic umbrella,
- 00:17:28.111 --> 00:17:30.814
- I am quite confident.
- 00:17:30.814 --> 00:17:31.982
- I have had many friends who are very faithful,
- 00:17:31.982 --> 00:17:35.685
- Faithful believers in jesus of nazareth.
- 00:17:35.685 --> 00:17:40.657
- And i have people
- 00:17:41.091 --> 00:17:42.025
- Who attend the church that i lead today
- 00:17:42.025 --> 00:17:45.262
- That i'm not certain are prepared for eternity.
- 00:17:45.262 --> 00:17:48.198
- So sitting in church doesn't mean whichever church it is
- 00:17:48.198 --> 00:17:51.468
- That you still don't have the need
- 00:17:52.235 --> 00:17:54.738
- For that personal relationship with jesus.
- 00:17:54.738 --> 00:17:56.873
- And then to begin to implement the expression
- 00:17:56.873 --> 00:18:00.177
- Of yielding your life to the authority of god.
- 00:18:00.177 --> 00:18:02.546
- That is the essence of what it means
- 00:18:02.546 --> 00:18:04.648
- To be a christ follower, and then to grow up in our faith.
- 00:18:04.648 --> 00:18:08.051
- What i can tell you
- 00:18:08.518 --> 00:18:09.519
- Is a great change taking place in our world.
- 00:18:09.519 --> 00:18:13.156
- We have a new pope, so we've got a new voice.
- 00:18:13.156 --> 00:18:14.891
- In the roman catholic church.
- 00:18:14.891 --> 00:18:16.826
- We have president trump, who's addressing this enormous push
- 00:18:16.826 --> 00:18:20.130
- That we've had for several decades towards globalism.
- 00:18:20.130 --> 00:18:23.400
- We're overlaying that with this invasion
- 00:18:24.267 --> 00:18:26.536
- In our own nation from people from the nations of the world.
- 00:18:26.536 --> 00:18:28.972
- They're not just from mexico or even south america.
- 00:18:28.972 --> 00:18:31.241
- They've come from the nations of the world.
- 00:18:31.241 --> 00:18:34.311
- We're trying to sort out whether we're going to
- 00:18:35.245 --> 00:18:37.847
- To continue to assert for the united states
- 00:18:37.847 --> 00:18:41.751
- Whether we should have the privilege
- 00:18:41.751 --> 00:18:43.320
- Of being a sovereign nation, or we're going to outsource
- 00:18:43.320 --> 00:18:46.790
- The things that have made us strong.
- 00:18:46.790 --> 00:18:50.227
- I see what president trump is doing.
- 00:18:50.227 --> 00:18:52.229
- I support a great deal of it.
- 00:18:52.229 --> 00:18:55.131
- But at the end of the day, if it's sustainable,
- 00:18:55.131 --> 00:18:57.100
- It will be because the people sustain it.
- 00:18:57.100 --> 00:18:59.436
- So here's my invitation to you.
- 00:19:00.070 --> 00:19:01.504
- Look, let's take seriously
- 00:19:01.504 --> 00:19:02.739
- That biblical mandate and pray for those in authority over us.
- 00:19:02.739 --> 00:19:05.942
- And so you say, well, the pope has no authority over me, okay.
- 00:19:07.110 --> 00:19:09.246
- He doesn't,
- 00:19:09.246 --> 00:19:10.447
- But the pope has a great deal of authority in the world.
- 00:19:10.447 --> 00:19:13.116
- You know, some people are saying
- 00:19:13.116 --> 00:19:14.084
- President trump's not their president.
- 00:19:14.084 --> 00:19:15.518
- He may not be, but he has a great deal
- 00:19:15.518 --> 00:19:16.886
- Of authority in this nation.
- 00:19:16.886 --> 00:19:18.989
- And if you're a christ follower,
- 00:19:18.989 --> 00:19:20.190
- You should be praying that he will lead and
- 00:19:20.190 --> 00:19:23.260
- And make decisions that reflect a fear of god
- 00:19:23.260 --> 00:19:25.629
- And a biblical worldview.
- 00:19:25.629 --> 00:19:27.797
- I prayed that for president biden, and i prayed that for.
- 00:19:27.797 --> 00:19:31.568
- I mean, i pray that for all of the expressions
- 00:19:31.568 --> 00:19:33.503
- Of authority over our lives.
- 00:19:33.503 --> 00:19:36.339
- But i would encourage, you
- 00:19:36.906 --> 00:19:38.308
- Know, no longer just to say, identify
- 00:19:38.308 --> 00:19:40.677
- Your faith based on the group that you belong to.
- 00:19:40.677 --> 00:19:43.680
- There's no longer enough consistency within those groups
- 00:19:43.680 --> 00:19:46.116
- In the community where i live,
- 00:19:46.116 --> 00:19:48.118
- There are expressions of mainline
- 00:19:48.118 --> 00:19:49.919
- American evangelical denominations
- 00:19:49.919 --> 00:19:52.055
- That are denying the authority
- 00:19:52.055 --> 00:19:53.290
- Of scripture as a part of their public expression of faith,
- 00:19:53.290 --> 00:19:56.426
- So they can't be considered legitimate
- 00:19:57.260 --> 00:19:59.562
- Expressions of the church.
- 00:19:59.562 --> 00:20:00.664
- You can't deny the authority of scripture
- 00:20:00.664 --> 00:20:03.033
- And say you're orthodox.
- 00:20:03.033 --> 00:20:04.334
- Those things don't go together, not angry about it.
- 00:20:04.334 --> 00:20:07.270
- I don't want you to be belligerent about it.
- 00:20:07.270 --> 00:20:09.339
- I would not stay, you know, in a worshiping community of people
- 00:20:09.339 --> 00:20:13.310
- That denied the divinity of jesus,
- 00:20:13.310 --> 00:20:16.079
- The uniqueness of jesus,
- 00:20:16.079 --> 00:20:17.514
- The necessity of the redemptive work
- 00:20:17.514 --> 00:20:19.182
- Of jesus, the authority of scripture denied,
- 00:20:19.182 --> 00:20:22.419
- Though those moral boundaries that we're given in scripture.
- 00:20:22.419 --> 00:20:25.588
- You can't reject those fundamental principles
- 00:20:25.588 --> 00:20:28.224
- And then think you have peace with god.
- 00:20:28.224 --> 00:20:30.994
- And if we're going to
- 00:20:31.494 --> 00:20:32.429
- Flourish in the season that's ahead of us,
- 00:20:32.429 --> 00:20:34.297
- Then i think there's a lot more disruptions coming.
- 00:20:34.297 --> 00:20:37.033
- We're going to need to know we have peace with god.
- 00:20:37.033 --> 00:20:37.033
