Dr. Tony Evans is known as a relevant expositor and is a pastor of pastors and a father in the faith.
Closed captions
Show Timecode
Dr. Tony Evans | Tony Evans - The Sin Of Elitism | July 27, 2025
- ...
- 00:00:00.633 --> 00:00:01.050
- Tony evans: i hope everybody in here becomes all you can be.
- 00:00:01.483 --> 00:00:04.286
- I hope that you all prosper.
- 00:00:04.420 --> 00:00:05.621
- But let's make one thing clear:
- 00:00:05.721 --> 00:00:06.255
- No matter how high you go, we will not be an elitist church
- 00:00:07.523 --> 00:00:11.393
- Where people who are not where you are,
- 00:00:11.393 --> 00:00:13.395
- Are still not welcome to all that makes us
- 00:00:13.395 --> 00:00:16.665
- What god has called the church to be.
- 00:00:16.665 --> 00:00:19.301
- The door is open to all who come
- 00:00:19.301 --> 00:00:21.770
- In the name of our lord jesus christ.
- 00:00:21.770 --> 00:00:24.373
- ♪♪♪
- 00:00:24.373 --> 00:00:30.979
- Tony: james, chapter 2, verses 1 through 13--
- 00:00:34.917 --> 00:00:39.421
- I'm talking today about the sin of elitism.
- 00:00:39.421 --> 00:00:43.358
- Now, what is elitism?
- 00:00:43.358 --> 00:00:46.395
- Elitism is an attitude of superiority
- 00:00:46.395 --> 00:00:52.501
- That lifts yourself or somebody else up
- 00:00:52.501 --> 00:00:57.806
- While demeaning people who you do not feel worthy
- 00:00:57.806 --> 00:01:05.247
- To be recognized, acknowledged, or treated equitably.
- 00:01:05.247 --> 00:01:11.353
- It is a mindset that uses illegitimate criteria
- 00:01:11.353 --> 00:01:18.861
- By which to judge people.
- 00:01:18.861 --> 00:01:22.364
- It judges people based on false conclusions
- 00:01:22.364 --> 00:01:27.903
- And ungodly perspectives, making some superior,
- 00:01:27.903 --> 00:01:35.144
- Treating others inferior.
- 00:01:35.144 --> 00:01:38.947
- Elitism comes in a lot of different shapes,
- 00:01:38.947 --> 00:01:42.251
- Sizes, and forms.
- 00:01:42.251 --> 00:01:45.954
- There is racial elitism.
- 00:01:45.954 --> 00:01:51.126
- We all know we've seen it in america,
- 00:01:51.126 --> 00:01:54.763
- In american slavery,
- 00:01:54.763 --> 00:01:57.366
- And what came to be known as manifest destiny:
- 00:01:57.366 --> 00:02:02.604
- That one group of people were recognized by god
- 00:02:02.604 --> 00:02:07.109
- To be superior,
- 00:02:07.109 --> 00:02:09.711
- And therefore it became legitimate
- 00:02:09.711 --> 00:02:11.547
- To hold another group of people hostage
- 00:02:11.547 --> 00:02:14.516
- In illegitimate slavery and to do it based on skin color
- 00:02:14.516 --> 00:02:21.089
- And to do it based on race.
- 00:02:21.089 --> 00:02:24.159
- In fact, laws would be passed:
- 00:02:24.159 --> 00:02:28.230
- That those folks brought from africa
- 00:02:28.230 --> 00:02:30.866
- Would not be even recognized as fully human
- 00:02:30.866 --> 00:02:34.136
- In many southern states
- 00:02:34.136 --> 00:02:36.138
- So that equality would not even have to be addressed
- 00:02:36.138 --> 00:02:40.943
- Man to man, human to human.
- 00:02:40.943 --> 00:02:44.813
- It was a biblical issue.
- 00:02:44.813 --> 00:02:47.649
- The jews called the samaritan dogs.
- 00:02:47.649 --> 00:02:49.851
- "they were beneath our feet
- 00:02:49.851 --> 00:02:51.853
- Because we were the chosen people."
- 00:02:51.853 --> 00:02:56.625
- It happened in numbers, chapter 12,
- 00:02:56.625 --> 00:03:00.462
- When moses married an ethiopian woman.
- 00:03:00.462 --> 00:03:03.065
- He married a black woman. it was an interracial marriage.
- 00:03:03.065 --> 00:03:06.535
- And miriam, his sister; and aaron, his brother,
- 00:03:06.535 --> 00:03:10.172
- Went off in condemnation.
- 00:03:10.172 --> 00:03:15.711
- "how can you marry her? don't you know who we are?
- 00:03:15.711 --> 00:03:19.715
- We're here. she's there."
- 00:03:19.715 --> 00:03:23.118
- It happened with peter in galatians, chapter 2,
- 00:03:23.118 --> 00:03:28.423
- When he disassociated with the gentiles
- 00:03:28.423 --> 00:03:32.160
- So as not to upset his jewish brethren
- 00:03:32.160 --> 00:03:35.697
- Who had shown up who viewed the gentiles as less-than.
- 00:03:35.697 --> 00:03:41.069
- Their philosophy was "we need to live with 'em in heaven,
- 00:03:41.069 --> 00:03:44.306
- But that don't mean we need to eat with 'em on earth."
- 00:03:44.306 --> 00:03:48.610
- Elitism produces segregation and inequity.
- 00:03:48.610 --> 00:03:56.618
- There is cultural elitism.
- 00:03:56.618 --> 00:04:01.089
- "i was raised on this side of town,
- 00:04:01.089 --> 00:04:03.058
- And you were raised on that side of town.
- 00:04:03.058 --> 00:04:05.460
- I was raised prim and proper.
- 00:04:05.460 --> 00:04:07.629
- You were raised sort of in the underclass.
- 00:04:07.629 --> 00:04:12.501
- And so because of how i was raised
- 00:04:12.501 --> 00:04:15.504
- And how you were not raised, i'm better than you.
- 00:04:15.504 --> 00:04:19.441
- My community, my culture, it's better than you
- 00:04:19.441 --> 00:04:22.611
- Because we're sophisticated, and you're not."
- 00:04:22.611 --> 00:04:29.318
- There is educational elitism.
- 00:04:29.318 --> 00:04:33.288
- "i've got a ba, an ma, a phd.
- 00:04:33.288 --> 00:04:36.325
- You've got a high school diploma.
- 00:04:36.325 --> 00:04:40.228
- We're not equal. i'm superior to you.
- 00:04:40.228 --> 00:04:43.231
- Look at the degree i have on my wall.
- 00:04:43.231 --> 00:04:46.134
- Where are your degrees?
- 00:04:46.134 --> 00:04:48.236
- I'm superior. you're inferior."
- 00:04:48.236 --> 00:04:53.008
- There's legalistic elitism.
- 00:04:53.008 --> 00:04:58.547
- In other words, "i have preferences,
- 00:04:58.547 --> 00:05:02.217
- And you have other preferences,
- 00:05:02.217 --> 00:05:04.319
- And my preferences are better than your preferences.
- 00:05:04.319 --> 00:05:07.155
- So i must be better than you 'cause i got my list,
- 00:05:07.155 --> 00:05:10.525
- And your list is shorter than my list.
- 00:05:10.525 --> 00:05:12.794
- So i must be more committed than you
- 00:05:12.794 --> 00:05:14.930
- 'cause i have more rules to follow
- 00:05:14.930 --> 00:05:16.498
- Than you're willing to follow."
- 00:05:16.498 --> 00:05:18.500
- Even though god said, "don't judge one another
- 00:05:18.500 --> 00:05:20.502
- Based on preferences," we do.
- 00:05:20.502 --> 00:05:26.241
- And then there is the elitism he discusses here in james 2:
- 00:05:26.241 --> 00:05:31.012
- Class elitism.
- 00:05:31.012 --> 00:05:33.148
- This is elitism that's based on dollars and cents.
- 00:05:33.148 --> 00:05:36.718
- It's a financial elitism.
- 00:05:36.718 --> 00:05:40.856
- "i have money. you don't.
- 00:05:40.856 --> 00:05:43.725
- I'm rich. you're poor.
- 00:05:43.725 --> 00:05:45.994
- So because my bank account is better
- 00:05:45.994 --> 00:05:47.529
- Than your bank account, i'm better than you."
- 00:05:47.529 --> 00:05:52.467
- So he paints a picture, in james 2, of two men
- 00:05:52.467 --> 00:05:56.505
- Who decide to go to church.
- 00:05:56.505 --> 00:06:00.308
- It says one man, in verse 2, is rich.
- 00:06:00.308 --> 00:06:04.179
- "it is clear if we can get this guy to join church,
- 00:06:04.179 --> 00:06:08.183
- Our offerings are gonna go up."
- 00:06:08.183 --> 00:06:12.320
- And so because first impressions imply that this man
- 00:06:12.320 --> 00:06:16.925
- Can do something for you, has some clout in the community,
- 00:06:16.925 --> 00:06:20.896
- Recognition, because he has money--
- 00:06:20.896 --> 00:06:24.566
- 'cause he's rich-- you give him a great seat.
- 00:06:24.566 --> 00:06:32.607
- You seat him up front.
- 00:06:32.607 --> 00:06:33.942
- You put him in a special place where the rich folks sit.
- 00:06:33.942 --> 00:06:41.683
- He says, "but now a second man comes to church.
- 00:06:41.683 --> 00:06:45.387
- And it is clear from looking at him, he's struggling."
- 00:06:45.387 --> 00:06:52.794
- This man is poor, not able to meet his needs.
- 00:06:52.794 --> 00:06:57.532
- We're not talking about a lazy person.
- 00:06:57.532 --> 00:07:00.135
- We're not talking about a sluggish.
- 00:07:00.135 --> 00:07:01.503
- He just says the man is poor.
- 00:07:01.503 --> 00:07:03.138
- He doesn--his clothes have come from goodwill.
- 00:07:03.138 --> 00:07:10.879
- His clothes let you know
- 00:07:10.879 --> 00:07:13.648
- "this guy doesn't have much going for him.
- 00:07:13.648 --> 00:07:16.251
- He can't help us.
- 00:07:16.251 --> 00:07:19.054
- When the offering plate is passed,
- 00:07:19.054 --> 00:07:21.256
- We're fortunate if he puts anything in it
- 00:07:21.256 --> 00:07:23.325
- Because it is clear this man can't benefit this ministry."
- 00:07:23.325 --> 00:07:30.432
- And he says, "when the ushers met them at the door,
- 00:07:30.432 --> 00:07:35.337
- They immediately made a value judgment."
- 00:07:35.337 --> 00:07:37.873
- Now, please notice the discussion
- 00:07:37.873 --> 00:07:41.843
- Is not about the rich man or the poor man.
- 00:07:41.843 --> 00:07:45.881
- The discussion is about the church members
- 00:07:45.881 --> 00:07:48.083
- Who seated 'em.
- 00:07:48.083 --> 00:07:50.218
- Please notice both the rich man and the poor man
- 00:07:50.218 --> 00:07:53.755
- Come to the same church.
- 00:07:53.755 --> 00:07:56.558
- They come to the same church. the church will let both in.
- 00:07:56.558 --> 00:08:00.896
- They just won't seat them in the same section.
- 00:08:00.896 --> 00:08:04.733
- The rich man is escorted to his place of honor.
- 00:08:04.733 --> 00:08:08.370
- The poor man is told to "stand over against the wall
- 00:08:08.370 --> 00:08:11.873
- Or sit on the floor
- 00:08:11.873 --> 00:08:14.409
- Because your external economic status
- 00:08:14.409 --> 00:08:18.980
- Will control how the church treats you."
- 00:08:18.980 --> 00:08:23.985
- That is elitism.
- 00:08:23.985 --> 00:08:26.621
- That is making some superior
- 00:08:26.621 --> 00:08:29.224
- By an external, illegitimate standard
- 00:08:29.224 --> 00:08:31.693
- And some inferior
- 00:08:31.693 --> 00:08:34.062
- Because they don't meet that proposed standard
- 00:08:34.062 --> 00:08:37.232
- Because they don't have the same economic base.
- 00:08:37.232 --> 00:08:42.404
- And james is an in-your-face apostle,
- 00:08:42.404 --> 00:08:44.472
- And he wants to deal with classism, culturalism,
- 00:08:44.472 --> 00:08:47.242
- Racism, and all the other "-isms"
- 00:08:47.242 --> 00:08:49.744
- That create a elite mentality.
- 00:08:49.744 --> 00:08:56.885
- Now, before we go on--
- 00:08:56.885 --> 00:08:58.219
- 'cause this is getting ready to get deeper--
- 00:08:58.219 --> 00:09:01.389
- God is not against the rich,
- 00:09:01.389 --> 00:09:04.225
- And he certainly is not against the poor.
- 00:09:04.225 --> 00:09:06.494
- He's defending the poor here.
- 00:09:06.494 --> 00:09:09.431
- He's not against you being productive,
- 00:09:09.431 --> 00:09:12.434
- But he's against the spirit operating in his church
- 00:09:12.434 --> 00:09:16.638
- Where people are made to illegitimately feel bigger
- 00:09:16.638 --> 00:09:20.008
- And better and badder than other folk
- 00:09:20.008 --> 00:09:23.345
- For illegitimate criteria.
- 00:09:23.345 --> 00:09:27.282
- He says, "how do you hold," verse 1,
- 00:09:27.282 --> 00:09:29.351
- "your faith in the lord jesus christ
- 00:09:29.351 --> 00:09:31.286
- With personal favoritism?"
- 00:09:31.286 --> 00:09:32.787
- "i love the lord, but i'm gonna make
- 00:09:32.787 --> 00:09:35.590
- Illegitimate distinctions among his children,
- 00:09:35.590 --> 00:09:39.361
- Whether based on race or class or culture."
- 00:09:39.361 --> 00:09:45.634
- Now, that leads him to discuss the miscalculation
- 00:09:45.634 --> 00:09:52.073
- That an elitist person has
- 00:09:52.073 --> 00:09:54.542
- Or that people who are treating people as elitists have.
- 00:09:54.542 --> 00:09:58.747
- Now, the bible does say, "give honor to whom honor is due."
- 00:09:58.747 --> 00:10:02.951
- So the bible does talk about respecting leaders,
- 00:10:02.951 --> 00:10:05.654
- Respecting authorities, respecting, you know, officials.
- 00:10:05.654 --> 00:10:09.290
- The bible does say to give honor.
- 00:10:09.290 --> 00:10:11.993
- But to give honor is not the same as being elite,
- 00:10:11.993 --> 00:10:15.997
- Because elite raises up and uses that to push down.
- 00:10:15.997 --> 00:10:22.804
- So he says, "you've been making illegitimate judges," verse 4.
- 00:10:22.804 --> 00:10:27.542
- And then he says, "listen, pay attention,
- 00:10:27.542 --> 00:10:30.512
- My beloved brethren"--
- 00:10:30.512 --> 00:10:31.846
- So these are christians doing this--
- 00:10:31.846 --> 00:10:35.116
- "did not god choose the poor of this world
- 00:10:35.116 --> 00:10:37.552
- To be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom
- 00:10:37.552 --> 00:10:40.722
- Which he promised to those who love him?"
- 00:10:40.722 --> 00:10:45.460
- He says, "to be an elitist is stupid, stupid."
- 00:10:45.460 --> 00:10:52.467
- He says, "you don't get it.
- 00:10:52.467 --> 00:10:55.003
- Did not god choose the poor to be rich in faith
- 00:10:55.003 --> 00:11:01.042
- And heirs of the kingdom?
- 00:11:01.042 --> 00:11:04.012
- So you just discriminated against somebody
- 00:11:04.012 --> 00:11:07.849
- Who god has a special relationship with."
- 00:11:07.849 --> 00:11:13.455
- 1 corinthians, chapter 1, verses 26 and 27, he--
- 00:11:13.455 --> 00:11:16.925
- Paul told the corinthians, "look out there among you.
- 00:11:16.925 --> 00:11:18.993
- Not many wise, not many mighty.
- 00:11:18.993 --> 00:11:21.696
- God has chosen the weak things of this world
- 00:11:21.696 --> 00:11:23.932
- To confound the wise and the mighty."
- 00:11:23.932 --> 00:11:27.202
- Okay, so let me explain something.
- 00:11:27.202 --> 00:11:32.373
- He says, "you have discriminated against
- 00:11:32.373 --> 00:11:36.344
- Somebody who god has made," number one, "rich in faith."
- 00:11:36.344 --> 00:11:47.188
- When you have money, you don't feel the need,
- 00:11:47.255 --> 00:11:56.598
- Naturally, for faith, 'cause you can pay cash.
- 00:11:56.598 --> 00:12:02.403
- [congregation laughing]
- 00:12:02.403 --> 00:12:04.405
- You got an expense allowance. you got--you're rolling.
- 00:12:04.405 --> 00:12:08.910
- You got it in the bank. you got a credit card limit.
- 00:12:08.910 --> 00:12:12.280
- And you don't have to trust god, 'cause you can pay for it.
- 00:12:12.280 --> 00:12:17.418
- Even though you may only be one check away
- 00:12:17.418 --> 00:12:19.254
- From change of status, right now you all right.
- 00:12:19.254 --> 00:12:24.793
- "and so i don't have to trust god for my food.
- 00:12:24.793 --> 00:12:27.462
- I got a freezer and that kind of stuff
- 00:12:27.462 --> 00:12:30.565
- 'cause i can pay for it."
- 00:12:30.565 --> 00:12:34.569
- However, there will be times in your life
- 00:12:34.569 --> 00:12:41.876
- When you will face issues you can't buy your way out of.
- 00:12:41.876 --> 00:12:45.613
- Congregation: amen.
- 00:12:45.613 --> 00:12:46.948
- [congregation applauding]
- 00:12:46.948 --> 00:12:48.283
- Tony: there will be times in your life
- 00:12:48.283 --> 00:12:51.152
- When you will face problems where your clout, popularity,
- 00:12:51.152 --> 00:12:55.790
- Folk you know, influence
- 00:12:55.790 --> 00:12:58.393
- Won't be able to resolve it for you.
- 00:12:58.393 --> 00:13:01.830
- You will face times in your life where if god doesn't intervene
- 00:13:01.830 --> 00:13:07.302
- In this situation, you are done.
- 00:13:07.302 --> 00:13:11.105
- You done.
- 00:13:11.105 --> 00:13:12.640
- You're gonna need the supernatural.
- 00:13:12.640 --> 00:13:16.244
- But the problem will be
- 00:13:16.244 --> 00:13:19.581
- Because you've never learned to live by faith,
- 00:13:19.581 --> 00:13:24.352
- You've never learned how to access heaven
- 00:13:24.352 --> 00:13:27.155
- When earth has fallen apart for you.
- 00:13:27.155 --> 00:13:31.192
- But god says there's a group of folk
- 00:13:31.192 --> 00:13:35.396
- Who not only have faith
- 00:13:35.396 --> 00:13:38.466
- But have a bank account full of it.
- 00:13:38.466 --> 00:13:41.236
- He calls it being rich in faith. how do you get rich in faith?
- 00:13:41.236 --> 00:13:48.309
- You get rich in faith by having to use it so much
- 00:13:48.309 --> 00:13:54.782
- That your bank account gets full with it.
- 00:13:54.782 --> 00:13:58.653
- And, see, the poor who love the lord, he says,
- 00:13:58.653 --> 00:14:03.091
- Have to exercise faith all the time.
- 00:14:03.091 --> 00:14:06.995
- They gotta trust god for their daily bread,
- 00:14:06.995 --> 00:14:09.464
- Not their yearly bread.
- 00:14:09.464 --> 00:14:12.367
- They gotta pray and ask god
- 00:14:12.367 --> 00:14:14.035
- To "help this car not to break down
- 00:14:14.035 --> 00:14:17.272
- On my way to work.
- 00:14:17.272 --> 00:14:18.606
- I, just, get me to-- i'm just trusting you."
- 00:14:18.606 --> 00:14:23.378
- They've gotta believe god just to make it another day
- 00:14:23.378 --> 00:14:28.549
- Because if god doesn't come through for 'em,
- 00:14:28.549 --> 00:14:31.119
- They don't know how they gonna eat,
- 00:14:31.119 --> 00:14:33.021
- How they gonna take care of their kids,
- 00:14:33.021 --> 00:14:35.223
- How they gonna make it.
- 00:14:35.223 --> 00:14:37.158
- And so by practice, because of life circumstances,
- 00:14:37.158 --> 00:14:42.397
- They become faith pros.
- 00:14:42.397 --> 00:14:46.734
- Now, here it is: when you are rich in something,
- 00:14:46.734 --> 00:14:50.505
- You have an abundance, remember?
- 00:14:50.505 --> 00:14:51.839
- The rich man has an abundance. he has an abundance of money.
- 00:14:51.839 --> 00:14:55.109
- The poor person does not have an abundance of money,
- 00:14:55.109 --> 00:14:59.047
- But they have something you can borrow.
- 00:14:59.047 --> 00:15:03.017
- See, if you're rich and i need something
- 00:15:03.017 --> 00:15:05.353
- And you're willing to share it,
- 00:15:05.353 --> 00:15:06.788
- Then i can come borrow some money from you.
- 00:15:06.788 --> 00:15:09.657
- But when you face something money can't fix,
- 00:15:09.657 --> 00:15:12.460
- You better know somebody who's got some faith you can borrow.
- 00:15:12.460 --> 00:15:16.798
- [congregation applauding]
- 00:15:16.798 --> 00:15:19.534
- He says the poor are rich in faith,
- 00:15:19.534 --> 00:15:23.404
- Which means you can borrow.
- 00:15:23.404 --> 00:15:25.073
- But if you don't know any
- 00:15:25.073 --> 00:15:27.775
- And you don't want to associate with any
- 00:15:27.775 --> 00:15:30.845
- Because you saditty--
- 00:15:30.845 --> 00:15:35.283
- You up here and they're down there--
- 00:15:35.283 --> 00:15:37.685
- When you reach your crisis,
- 00:15:37.685 --> 00:15:39.821
- You will have no one to borrow from
- 00:15:39.821 --> 00:15:41.923
- Who can get to god in ways you can't get to god,
- 00:15:41.923 --> 00:15:44.826
- 'cause you've never had to get to god at that level.
- 00:15:44.826 --> 00:15:47.929
- You better find some poor folk who love god
- 00:15:47.929 --> 00:15:50.331
- And who learned how to trust god every day, ongoing,
- 00:15:50.331 --> 00:15:54.135
- Day in and day ou--
- 00:15:54.135 --> 00:15:55.470
- You better know them, and you better welcome them.
- 00:15:55.470 --> 00:15:59.741
- That's why the bible says, "associate with the lowly," why?
- 00:15:59.741 --> 00:16:04.379
- Because god has endowed them with an ability to trust him
- 00:16:04.379 --> 00:16:08.516
- That a lot of people who have an abundance don't possess.
- 00:16:08.516 --> 00:16:12.487
- He says, "the reason why you should not be
- 00:16:12.487 --> 00:16:14.889
- An elitist and discriminatory
- 00:16:14.889 --> 00:16:16.524
- With personal favoritism and partiality
- 00:16:16.524 --> 00:16:19.360
- Is because the poor are heirs of the kingdom.
- 00:16:19.360 --> 00:16:23.197
- These are the poor who are rich in faith and who love god."
- 00:16:23.197 --> 00:16:26.067
- So it's not just economics.
- 00:16:26.067 --> 00:16:27.402
- They have a spiritual wealth to them.
- 00:16:27.402 --> 00:16:29.337
- He says, "they are heirs to the kingdom."
- 00:16:29.337 --> 00:16:33.808
- Okay, now pay attention here.
- 00:16:33.808 --> 00:16:37.211
- There are many poor who love god
- 00:16:37.211 --> 00:16:43.684
- Who god will never let out of poverty.
- 00:16:43.684 --> 00:16:46.988
- They will spend all of their lives
- 00:16:46.988 --> 00:16:49.457
- Eking out a living.
- 00:16:49.457 --> 00:16:53.394
- "the poor who are rich in faith and who love me,
- 00:16:53.394 --> 00:16:56.864
- I have made heirs to the kingdom,
- 00:16:56.864 --> 00:16:59.801
- Which means i have decided to hold back
- 00:16:59.801 --> 00:17:04.505
- On what i'm going to give them in time
- 00:17:04.505 --> 00:17:07.575
- And give it all to them in eternity.
- 00:17:07.575 --> 00:17:10.945
- When they enter the kingdom,
- 00:17:10.945 --> 00:17:13.314
- I have decided for those poor who are rich in faith to--
- 00:17:13.314 --> 00:17:17.251
- Hold on.
- 00:17:17.251 --> 00:17:18.586
- I'm not gonna let you get but so far.
- 00:17:18.586 --> 00:17:19.921
- You're never gonna become wealthy.
- 00:17:19.921 --> 00:17:21.322
- You're never gonna be-- okay, but i got something:
- 00:17:21.322 --> 00:17:24.225
- When you come to meet me and i read my will to you
- 00:17:24.225 --> 00:17:29.597
- And you see that, in the kingdom,
- 00:17:29.597 --> 00:17:31.632
- You gonna be mega-millionaires," okay?
- 00:17:31.632 --> 00:17:36.137
- So watch this: you better watch how you treat that poor brother
- 00:17:36.137 --> 00:17:44.512
- Or sister driving a raggedy car, living in a shanty,
- 00:17:44.512 --> 00:17:51.252
- Who doesn't have much to say,
- 00:17:51.252 --> 00:17:53.387
- Because when you enter the kingdom,
- 00:17:53.387 --> 00:17:55.490
- Tables will be turned...
- 00:17:55.490 --> 00:17:58.292
- God's gonna flip that thing over.
- 00:17:58.292 --> 00:18:01.629
- You may be living in highland park now.
- 00:18:01.629 --> 00:18:04.565
- You may be living in bent tree now.
- 00:18:04.565 --> 00:18:07.368
- They may be living in west dallas
- 00:18:07.368 --> 00:18:09.036
- Or south dallas now.
- 00:18:09.036 --> 00:18:11.139
- But if they love god and are rich in faith,
- 00:18:11.139 --> 00:18:14.742
- God--when they enter the kingdom--
- 00:18:14.742 --> 00:18:17.044
- Is gonna flip that role.
- 00:18:17.044 --> 00:18:18.946
- What is killing the church of jesus christ today
- 00:18:18.946 --> 00:18:22.016
- Is elitism, where people are illegitimately separated,
- 00:18:22.016 --> 00:18:27.021
- Segmented based on race, culture, class, education,
- 00:18:27.021 --> 00:18:31.159
- Or whatever form of elitism
- 00:18:31.159 --> 00:18:33.361
- That makes some higher and others lower
- 00:18:33.361 --> 00:18:37.732
- Based on illegitimate criteria.
- 00:18:37.732 --> 00:18:39.834
- I'm not talking about legitimate criteria,
- 00:18:39.834 --> 00:18:41.536
- Like a man who won't work;
- 00:18:41.536 --> 00:18:42.870
- Or legitimate criteria,
- 00:18:42.870 --> 00:18:44.205
- A person whose character is suspect;
- 00:18:44.205 --> 00:18:47.708
- But legitimate 'cause they're rich in faith.
- 00:18:47.708 --> 00:18:50.144
- They love the lord. these are legitimate poor.
- 00:18:50.144 --> 00:18:53.447
- So when you look at the past
- 00:18:53.447 --> 00:18:54.815
- And you see where god didn't deliver your grandmother
- 00:18:54.815 --> 00:18:57.752
- Or your grandfather,
- 00:18:57.752 --> 00:18:59.086
- You have to understand there is the rest of the story,
- 00:18:59.086 --> 00:19:03.658
- And that is heirs in the kingdom.
- 00:19:03.658 --> 00:19:07.528
- So if you're here today
- 00:19:07.528 --> 00:19:08.863
- And you feel like you're losing out on life
- 00:19:08.863 --> 00:19:11.065
- But you're rich in faith and you love the lord,
- 00:19:11.065 --> 00:19:13.801
- He's letting you eke by,
- 00:19:13.801 --> 00:19:15.369
- But he's never given you this surplus, this abundance
- 00:19:15.369 --> 00:19:18.406
- That rich have, then you got-- this is not the whole story.
- 00:19:18.406 --> 00:19:22.643
- There is another part of that story.
- 00:19:22.643 --> 00:19:25.913
- But i wanna say to those of you who are making it,
- 00:19:25.913 --> 00:19:27.982
- Those of us who are doing well, i want you to understand this:
- 00:19:27.982 --> 00:19:32.220
- You better hook up with somebody who can believe god
- 00:19:32.220 --> 00:19:35.256
- When all hell breaks loose in your life
- 00:19:35.256 --> 00:19:37.558
- And the doctor says you have cancer
- 00:19:37.558 --> 00:19:39.193
- And there's nothing else that they can do
- 00:19:39.193 --> 00:19:41.362
- Or there's a big collapse in your world.
- 00:19:41.362 --> 00:19:43.864
- You better hook up with somebody who can get god when you can't.
- 00:19:43.864 --> 00:19:49.937
- And that won't necessarily be the person with the degree.
- 00:19:49.937 --> 00:19:52.940
- That won't necessarily be the person living on the hill.
- 00:19:52.940 --> 00:19:55.376
- That won't necessarily be the person with the new car.
- 00:19:55.376 --> 00:19:57.979
- That won't necessarily be the person
- 00:19:57.979 --> 00:20:00.181
- Who's the power broker in the society.
- 00:20:00.181 --> 00:20:01.949
- That's somebody who knows what it's like
- 00:20:01.949 --> 00:20:03.985
- For god to come through at the last minute
- 00:20:03.985 --> 00:20:06.254
- So that they can have a meal on the table.
- 00:20:06.254 --> 00:20:08.422
- [congregation applauding]
- 00:20:08.422 --> 00:20:14.495
- Oh, but it gets deeper.
- 00:20:14.495 --> 00:20:22.870
- He says you've miscalculated. you've miscalculated.
- 00:20:22.870 --> 00:20:27.174
- You've let personal success block you
- 00:20:27.174 --> 00:20:29.377
- Seeing spiritual success.
- 00:20:29.377 --> 00:20:33.347
- He says it's the non-christian elite
- 00:20:33.347 --> 00:20:38.719
- That's dragging you into court.
- 00:20:38.719 --> 00:20:41.122
- That's what he says.
- 00:20:41.122 --> 00:20:42.456
- He says it's the non-christian elite
- 00:20:42.456 --> 00:20:49.964
- Who dishonor you, who oppress you, verse 6.
- 00:20:49.964 --> 00:20:56.103
- Look, folks.
- 00:20:56.103 --> 00:20:59.940
- The poor people aren't the one taking you to court
- 00:20:59.940 --> 00:21:01.876
- To stop talking about jesus.
- 00:21:01.876 --> 00:21:04.779
- It's them people that's graduated from college.
- 00:21:04.779 --> 00:21:07.748
- It's the folk with money.
- 00:21:07.748 --> 00:21:09.083
- It's them lawyers. it's them philosophy professors.
- 00:21:09.083 --> 00:21:11.485
- It's them college folk who are denying god.
- 00:21:11.485 --> 00:21:14.055
- You ain't gonna go to south dallas
- 00:21:14.055 --> 00:21:16.190
- And just run up on a whole bunch of atheists.
- 00:21:16.190 --> 00:21:18.826
- [congregation laughing, applauding]
- 00:21:18.826 --> 00:21:28.869
- You gotta go to college to become an atheist.
- 00:21:31.539 --> 00:21:34.942
- You gotta be educated into atheism.
- 00:21:34.942 --> 00:21:40.781
- You ain't gonna find that.
- 00:21:40.781 --> 00:21:42.249
- The rich were dragging the christians to court.
- 00:21:42.249 --> 00:21:45.219
- It's the unrighteous elite that are trying to kee--
- 00:21:45.219 --> 00:21:50.224
- Get prayer out of school.
- 00:21:50.224 --> 00:21:51.692
- It ain't poor folk trying to get prayer out of school
- 00:21:51.692 --> 00:21:53.794
- And prayer before football games cut off.
- 00:21:53.794 --> 00:21:56.163
- It's not the poor doing that.
- 00:21:56.163 --> 00:21:57.665
- He says it's the rich that are causing your faith
- 00:21:57.665 --> 00:22:00.568
- To be compromised, and you giving them
- 00:22:00.568 --> 00:22:03.838
- All the attention and the credit.
- 00:22:03.838 --> 00:22:06.941
- He says you miscalculated this thing.
- 00:22:06.941 --> 00:22:09.744
- He says, verse 7, "you blaspheme the fair name
- 00:22:09.744 --> 00:22:12.947
- By which you have been called."
- 00:22:12.947 --> 00:22:16.317
- It's blasphemy to be an elitist.
- 00:22:16.317 --> 00:22:20.154
- Blasphemy, that's the worst kind of sin.
- 00:22:20.154 --> 00:22:23.657
- He says, "if, however, you are fulfilling
- 00:22:23.657 --> 00:22:25.993
- The royal law of scripture--
- 00:22:25.993 --> 00:22:28.028
- 'you shall love your neighbor as yourself'--
- 00:22:28.028 --> 00:22:29.997
- You're doing well."
- 00:22:29.997 --> 00:22:31.332
- Well, isn't that second, "loving your neighbor"?
- 00:22:31.332 --> 00:22:35.603
- But notice what he called it: the royal law--not the law--
- 00:22:35.603 --> 00:22:41.809
- The royal law.
- 00:22:41.809 --> 00:22:43.411
- In other words, this is not a regular law.
- 00:22:43.411 --> 00:22:45.379
- This is a royal law, why?
- 00:22:45.379 --> 00:22:46.947
- Because it came directly from the king.
- 00:22:46.947 --> 00:22:49.150
- God and jesus both gave this law.
- 00:22:49.150 --> 00:22:54.155
- And it's royal because it rules all the other laws.
- 00:22:54.155 --> 00:22:57.792
- It's the king over all the other laws.
- 00:22:57.792 --> 00:22:59.627
- In other words, if you fulfill this law,
- 00:22:59.627 --> 00:23:02.897
- You will have taken care of all the other laws
- 00:23:02.897 --> 00:23:05.699
- Because when you love your neighbor
- 00:23:05.699 --> 00:23:07.368
- As you wish to be loved in return,
- 00:23:07.368 --> 00:23:09.603
- Your neighbor's gonna be treated right
- 00:23:09.603 --> 00:23:12.006
- Because you wanna treat you right
- 00:23:12.006 --> 00:23:13.607
- And you wanna be treated right.
- 00:23:13.607 --> 00:23:15.643
- So he said it's the royal law.
- 00:23:15.643 --> 00:23:17.578
- Even if you don't remember all the rules of god,
- 00:23:17.578 --> 00:23:19.313
- You remember this one,
- 00:23:19.313 --> 00:23:20.781
- And you'll catch everything else.
- 00:23:20.781 --> 00:23:23.984
- But he says, "if you don't remember this one--
- 00:23:23.984 --> 00:23:28.355
- Look at what it means."
- 00:23:28.355 --> 00:23:29.690
- Because he says, "when you show partiality,
- 00:23:29.690 --> 00:23:33.394
- You are committing a sin and convicted by the law
- 00:23:33.394 --> 00:23:35.796
- As a transgressor."
- 00:23:35.796 --> 00:23:37.131
- So elitism, discrimination, racism, culturalism, classism
- 00:23:37.131 --> 00:23:43.571
- Is a sin.
- 00:23:43.571 --> 00:23:44.905
- It's not a social problem. it's a sin.
- 00:23:44.905 --> 00:23:49.844
- Now, stay with me.
- 00:23:49.844 --> 00:23:51.612
- "for whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point
- 00:23:51.612 --> 00:23:55.549
- Is guilty of all.
- 00:23:55.549 --> 00:23:58.652
- He who said, 'do not commit adultery,'
- 00:23:58.652 --> 00:24:00.421
- Also said, 'do not commit murder.'
- 00:24:00.421 --> 00:24:02.189
- Now, if you do not commit adultery
- 00:24:02.189 --> 00:24:03.724
- But you do commit murder,
- 00:24:03.724 --> 00:24:05.292
- You become a transgressor of the law."
- 00:24:05.292 --> 00:24:07.561
- In other words, he's saying the law of god
- 00:24:07.561 --> 00:24:09.630
- Is interconnected.
- 00:24:09.630 --> 00:24:11.765
- Verse 12, "so speak and so act as those who are to be judged
- 00:24:11.765 --> 00:24:19.773
- By the law of liberty."
- 00:24:19.773 --> 00:24:23.143
- You all done just heard a conundrum.
- 00:24:23.143 --> 00:24:26.680
- He says, "law of liberty." so it's a law.
- 00:24:26.680 --> 00:24:32.186
- A law always gives you a restriction
- 00:24:32.186 --> 00:24:34.321
- 'cause a law is a rule you gotta abide by.
- 00:24:34.321 --> 00:24:36.724
- That means you can't break the law.
- 00:24:36.724 --> 00:24:38.058
- So there's a restriction in the law.
- 00:24:38.058 --> 00:24:41.028
- But he says it's a law of liberty.
- 00:24:41.028 --> 00:24:43.731
- Liberty means freedom.
- 00:24:43.731 --> 00:24:45.966
- So i got a rule that restricts me
- 00:24:45.966 --> 00:24:48.435
- That sets me free.
- 00:24:48.435 --> 00:24:51.405
- I got a law that's gonna limit me, 'cause it's a rule,
- 00:24:51.405 --> 00:24:55.776
- But it's a rule that's gonna release me.
- 00:24:55.776 --> 00:24:58.479
- Well, what kind of rule is this that's gonna restrict me
- 00:24:58.479 --> 00:25:01.849
- In order to release me?
- 00:25:01.849 --> 00:25:04.184
- Of course, the law he's talking about
- 00:25:04.184 --> 00:25:05.753
- Is the law he just mentioned:
- 00:25:05.753 --> 00:25:08.188
- That you shall love your neighbor as yourself.
- 00:25:08.188 --> 00:25:09.557
- That's the law from scripture.
- 00:25:09.557 --> 00:25:12.793
- He says, "if you get this thing right, by not being an elitist,
- 00:25:12.793 --> 00:25:19.733
- You will actually be keeping a law that god will use
- 00:25:19.733 --> 00:25:23.437
- To set you free."
- 00:25:23.437 --> 00:25:25.639
- If you will do this, god will do that.
- 00:25:25.639 --> 00:25:29.376
- If you're held hostage by something,
- 00:25:29.376 --> 00:25:31.545
- The way to get released
- 00:25:31.545 --> 00:25:33.380
- Is to release somebody else from the abuse
- 00:25:33.380 --> 00:25:36.283
- That illegitimately they are going through.
- 00:25:36.283 --> 00:25:38.953
- And when god sees you releasing them,
- 00:25:38.953 --> 00:25:41.055
- He'll be glad to release you.
- 00:25:41.055 --> 00:25:42.690
- So the way to get free is to be a freedom fighter.
- 00:25:42.690 --> 00:25:45.960
- The way to get free is to be a deliverer.
- 00:25:45.960 --> 00:25:48.629
- And when you are delivering somebody else
- 00:25:48.629 --> 00:25:50.998
- From abuse and mistreatment that's illegitimate,
- 00:25:50.998 --> 00:25:53.567
- God takes notice of that and says,
- 00:25:53.567 --> 00:25:55.169
- "well, i'mma release you
- 00:25:55.169 --> 00:25:56.503
- From whatever is holding you hostage."
- 00:25:56.503 --> 00:25:58.339
- So the law sets you free.
- 00:25:58.339 --> 00:26:01.208
- [congregation applauding]
- 00:26:01.208 --> 00:26:03.644
- And then he gives the bomb.
- 00:26:03.644 --> 00:26:10.851
- The bomb is verse 13. this is the bomb.
- 00:26:10.851 --> 00:26:15.055
- You've heard me quote it many times:
- 00:26:15.055 --> 00:26:16.624
- "for judgment will be merciless to the one who has shown
- 00:26:16.624 --> 00:26:20.527
- No mercy.
- 00:26:20.527 --> 00:26:25.299
- Mercy triumphs over judgment." i gotta read that one more time.
- 00:26:25.299 --> 00:26:29.370
- "for judgment will be merciless to the one who has shown
- 00:26:29.370 --> 00:26:33.907
- No mercy.
- 00:26:33.907 --> 00:26:35.876
- Mercy triumphs over judgment."
- 00:26:35.876 --> 00:26:41.582
- Mercy is being given,
- 00:26:41.582 --> 00:26:44.952
- Not being given what you deserve.
- 00:26:44.952 --> 00:26:49.623
- There are very few people in this house today
- 00:26:49.623 --> 00:26:52.726
- Who have not, are not, or will not need mercy,
- 00:26:52.726 --> 00:26:56.597
- And you are hoping god shows you mercy
- 00:26:56.597 --> 00:26:59.800
- In the here and now and, most certainly,
- 00:26:59.800 --> 00:27:02.269
- At the bema, the judgment seat of christ.
- 00:27:02.269 --> 00:27:04.772
- And what you will need today-- and you most certainly--
- 00:27:04.772 --> 00:27:08.275
- We all will need on that day--is mercy:
- 00:27:08.275 --> 00:27:11.912
- Him not giving us what we deserve,
- 00:27:11.912 --> 00:27:14.882
- Because he says, "on that day, if you showed mercy,
- 00:27:14.882 --> 00:27:19.386
- You will receive it."
- 00:27:19.386 --> 00:27:21.188
- So if i were you, i'd go looking for folk to show mercy to.
- 00:27:21.188 --> 00:27:21.188