Truths That Transform presented by Coral Ridge Ministries featuring Dr. Robert J. Pacienza, with sermon commentary from Dr. D. James Kennedy and Dr. Pacienza. Each program provides a compelling analysis of current moral and cultural controversies all from a biblical perspective.
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Truths That Transform | Rob Pacienza - The Blessing of Wisdom | March 31, 2025
- Americans voted for a new president in november,
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- Stopping illegal immigration was one of the driving issues.
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- But what about the need to show mercy?
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- Many christians are confused but we'll clear it up,
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- On the next truths that transform.
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- Welcome to truths that transform,
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- A production of coral ridge ministries, where we are
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- I'm pastor rob pacienza.
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- It's been said that wisdom is ‘applied truth,'
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- And i think we can all agree
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- Our culture could use a lot more of it.
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- But it's hard to apply wisdom
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- When we don't even know what the truth is.
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- Today, we're going to dive into what ‘truth applied' looks like
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- In the context of one of today's
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- Most heated debates illegal immigration.
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- We'll explore how wisdom can help us navigate
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- And evaluate these complex issues.
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- And we'll start by taking a look at where things stand now
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- In the early days of the trump administration,
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- When it comes to america's borders.
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- Here's our own david wright to fill us in.
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- Over the last four years, illegal crossings
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- At america's southern border reached an all-time high.
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- Along with it came huge levels of deadly drugs
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- Such as fentanyl, human sex trafficking,
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- And a spike in illegal migrant crime.
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- Tonight, along a roadway in southern mexico,
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- A seemingly endless stream of people
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- Making their way on foot towards the united states
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- Since president biden took office,
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- Nearly 10 million illegal immigrants
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- Have flooded into our nation.
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- 77,000 pounds of fentanyl confiscated at the border
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- Over that time, you don't know how much got through
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- A new department of homeland security report
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- Suggests the u.s. immigration and customs enforcement
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- Agency-ice cannot account for
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- Tens of thousands of unaccompanied minors,
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- The report from the dhs inspector general
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- Notes a number of issues effectively blaming ice
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- For loosing track of children who arrive alone at the border.
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- So what we've seen over the last three and a half to four years,
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- Particularly along the southern border, is a historic crisis,
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- A crisis of illegal aliens coming into the country
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- Illegally from a variety of different ways.
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- So over that almost four year period now you've seen about
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- 12 million, either illegal encounters or got-aways.
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- So, these are illegal encounters are folks that
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- The border patrol picks up, and then
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- The got-aways are folks that get past law enforcement
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- And pass the border patrol and into american communities.
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- And the impacts are actually far leading.
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- What does this do? what does illegal alien
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- Population do to your public health systems?
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- Your public safety systems, your education system,
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- So when you have 500,000 children or more that have
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- Come in over the last three and a half or four years,
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- They all go into the public education system.
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- English is not their first language.
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- So, what does that do to teacher resources?
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- You need more bilingual teachers.
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- And so, these are things that these education institutions
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- And systems haven't really planned for
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- Because you can't plan for illegal behavior, right?
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- Along with disrupting systems, illegal immigration
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- Poses a direct threat to american citizens
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- If we do not respect our laws, then we have chaos.
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- And that's exactly what our nation is facing right now
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- In the streets and the cities, in places like
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- New york where the stats show that a large percentage,
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- Actually the majority of crime taking place in new york city
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- Is courtesy of illegal immigration.
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- So there's a price we pay when we do not respect the law
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- So many people have been murdered,
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- So many women have been raped.
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- We cannot be silent.
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- We need to protect and make sure the law is enforced
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- And those who come here are properly vetted
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- To protect our wives, our children, and our families
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- I just met someone that i've known for many years who
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- Was head-on collision with an illegal alien who came across
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- The southern border at a hundred miles an hour.
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- And by god's a miracle grace, she survived.
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- She's walking around with a scooter today,
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- But she is joyful and she was not expected to live.
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- And that was because of chaos coming through our border
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- That ultimately almost took a person's life.
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- And unfortunately in other cases people have lost their lives.
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- I mean, look at the gangs and the fentanyl
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- That's been coming across the border.
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- Those are killing americans.
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- Look at the terrorists that we know are in this country
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- And they're ready to strike against america
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- And kill innocent people.
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- We have to secure our borders.
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- Chinese-produced fentanyl and other drugs
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- Have flooded our borer in recent years.
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- The new york times has reported that,
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- “drug overdoses now kill more than 100,000 americans
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- A year more than vehicle crash and gun deaths combined.”
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- Fentanyl's a big issue right now.
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- Obviously, it has been for some time.
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- And why is it a big issue?
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- Because the cartels are empowered,
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- They've been empowered over the last several years.
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- They're making more money and have more power than
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- They've ever had because of this human trafficking, right.
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- We got to remember,
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- When we talk about 10 million or 12 million illegal encounters,
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- Every one person pays the cartels between $10,000
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- And $50,000, right. every person pays them.
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- And so they have more money, which means to say they can
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- Smuggle more and more illegal narcotics, fentanyl across that
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- Border in amounts that we've never seen before.
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- And so the small amount that we're picking up
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- At ports of entry and elsewhere, and
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- We celebrate our encounters or our apprehensions of this drug,
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- We're catching 10% maybe. right?
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- So 90% or more are flowing through,
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- And this is it's not only because the cartels are powerful
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- It's because we are not demanding more from the
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- Government of mexico and from the communist party of china,
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- Which makes the precursors for fentanyl
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- That then get flowed to mexico
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- And then come across our southern border.
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- When it comes to the issues of child sex trafficking
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- Due to open borders, the numbers are appalling.
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- So, one of the least reported items
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- Of the crisis is the children.
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- The numbers of children that have come across that border,
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- So over 500,000 have been trafficked across that border.
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- These are unaccompanied what we call uacs,
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- Unaccompanied alien children.
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- These are people that have these are children
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- That have come over without their parent,
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- Without a guardian of any kind,
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- Have been trafficked by these cartels.
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- And so again, the cartels don't care about human life.
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- It's a commodity to them, and they deliver,
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- And then they'll go back across the river or across that border,
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- And so you've had 500,000 trafficked where they're at.
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- We don't know right because there are reports
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- Recently about the us government
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- Losing 330,000 of them in the immigration system.
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- They don't know where they're at, right
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- Which is just startling because they're probably with
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- Individuals that are furthering that trafficking,
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- Abusing them, or even worse,
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- Some of them are probably in good homes,
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- But we just don't know.
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- And so when you have an influx of children like we've seen,
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- You can't build the system.
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- You've overwhelmed the system, the system breaks down,
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- And now that's why there's
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- Hundreds of thousands that can't be accounted for.
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- Ironically, those who support open borders in america
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- Won't tell you that most nations around the world
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- Have clear and defined borders,
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- As well as strict immigration laws.
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- There's a big focus today on borders and sovereign borders.
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- Now it's interesting because we see
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- A lot of hypocritical views on this.
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- Because the very same people who are crying out about
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- How russia is violating the sovereign border of ukraine.
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- And i believe that they are, and i believe what they're doing
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- Is wrong just to clarify that, are the same people that
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- Are ignoring what's happening at our southern border.
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- Under the new trump administration,
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- Illegal border crossings have plummeted.
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- In fact, according to nbc - encounters along the border are
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- The lowest they have been since tracking began 25 years ago
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- But that doesn't undo the damage that has already been done.
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- What's happened in the last four years, that's not immigration,
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- That's not border security, that's straight up open borders.
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- That's what that was. that was an open invitation.
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- We need great leadership that now we see
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- This administration under donald trump and tom homan.
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- The new leadership is doing something about it.
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- Those levels have gone down,
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- But it still doesn't deal with
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- The multiplied millions that are already in the country.
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- And when you break the law,
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- There's a consequence to it, right?
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- Just like if you break the laws of gravity,
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- The laws of physics, there's a consequence.
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- If you break other laws, there's a consequence.
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- And in this situation, someone who's come in illegally,
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- There's a consequence to that and that is
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- You get put back where you came from.
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- And if you want to come to this country, fine,
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- Our arms are open,
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- But you have to go through the legal process.
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- But shouldn't christians be compassionate
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- And help all the refugees?
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- When you talk about a border situation,
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- Lots of times people try to condemn
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- And demonize and denigrate christians,
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- But god understands borders.
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- If you go back and you read in the bible,
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- When he cast adam and eve out of the garden of eden,
- 00:09:39.949 --> 00:09:42.652
- Ok, he didn't let him come back in.
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- As a matter of fact,
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- He put an angel there with a sword of fire.
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- He had his own border patrol and they were illegal
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- And they couldn't come back in.
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- So if you read through the bible,
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- You know he outlines the borders for israel.
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- So god understands the borders and boundaries,
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- But he also understands our heart and he is compassionate,
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- But we have to follow the law as well.
- 00:10:05.875 --> 00:10:08.844
- And so when people come out and try to guilt trip christians
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- And stand for the law, i mean, i don't understand that because
- 00:10:13.883 --> 00:10:18.454
- If you don't have the law, then you have lawlessness.
- 00:10:18.454 --> 00:10:21.290
- And when you have lawlessness, then that lends itself
- 00:10:21.290 --> 00:10:23.826
- Towards the devil who is there to steal, kill, and destroy,
- 00:10:23.826 --> 00:10:26.462
- And he is going about the world,
- 00:10:26.462 --> 00:10:27.763
- Prowling around and seeing who he can kill.
- 00:10:27.763 --> 00:10:31.000
- So i think it's important that christians stand up and say,
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- We are compassionate people, but we also honor the law
- 00:10:33.703 --> 00:10:37.506
- And we'll be more than happy to go and
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- Have mission trips to these countries and help those people.
- 00:10:39.575 --> 00:10:42.511
- But we have to protect our own people.
- 00:10:42.511 --> 00:10:45.047
- We have to protect our own sovereignty.
- 00:10:45.047 --> 00:10:46.482
- We have to protect our borders
- 00:10:46.482 --> 00:10:48.150
- Because we have a right to do so under the law.
- 00:10:48.150 --> 00:10:51.253
- I mean, even jesus said, render under caesar, what is caesars?
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- One of the big mistakes that christians
- 00:10:54.590 --> 00:10:56.659
- Sometimes make is that they want to apply
- 00:10:56.659 --> 00:10:59.361
- The ethics of the church to the state.
- 00:10:59.361 --> 00:11:03.032
- I heard a pastor saying i'm sure that he was compassionate
- 00:11:03.032 --> 00:11:07.203
- And meant well, when he said,
- 00:11:07.203 --> 00:11:08.738
- Of course we should invite people into america
- 00:11:08.738 --> 00:11:12.341
- And basically have open borders
- 00:11:12.341 --> 00:11:14.143
- Because after all the gospel is for everyone.
- 00:11:14.143 --> 00:11:18.114
- Yes, of course the gospel is for everyone,
- 00:11:18.114 --> 00:11:22.551
- But that's not the role of the state.
- 00:11:22.551 --> 00:11:24.453
- The role of the state is to keep order, to punish crime,
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- And to keep its citizens safe.
- 00:11:27.923 --> 00:11:31.327
- That's the role of the state.
- 00:11:31.327 --> 00:11:32.695
- It is important that the church welcome everyone.
- 00:11:32.695 --> 00:11:35.998
- That's the ministry of the church,
- 00:11:35.998 --> 00:11:38.134
- But that is not the ministry of the state.
- 00:11:38.134 --> 00:11:44.073
- There has been a lot of heat and not much light
- 00:11:45.174 --> 00:11:47.476
- Surrounding the issue of borders and immigration,
- 00:11:47.476 --> 00:11:50.379
- And much of it is because our culture lacks wisdom.
- 00:11:50.379 --> 00:11:53.816
- If, as voltaire said, “common sense is not so common,”
- 00:11:53.816 --> 00:11:58.154
- It's safe to say that true wisdom is even less common.
- 00:11:58.154 --> 00:12:01.690
- Yet we have a desperate need for it
- 00:12:01.690 --> 00:12:04.059
- In a complex world filled with noise.
- 00:12:04.059 --> 00:12:06.395
- We need people who are able to apply truth
- 00:12:06.395 --> 00:12:08.964
- To the problems we face.
- 00:12:08.964 --> 00:12:10.833
- That's why i recently shared a message on
- 00:12:10.833 --> 00:12:13.569
- “the blessing of wisdom”
- 00:12:13.569 --> 00:12:14.970
- With our congregation here at coral ridge.
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- This morning we're going to be talking about
- 00:12:18.440 --> 00:12:20.209
- The foundational truth of the blessing of wisdom.
- 00:12:20.209 --> 00:12:24.980
- That wisdom is a blessing,
- 00:12:24.980 --> 00:12:26.982
- And we're going to be reading from proverbs chapter 1 verse 7,
- 00:12:26.982 --> 00:12:30.286
- And then skipping ahead to select verses
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- From proverbs chapter 8.
- 00:12:32.788 --> 00:13:49.064
- And the grass withers and the flower fades.
- 00:13:50.099 --> 00:13:52.801
- But no, not the word of our lord; it stands forever. amen.
- 00:13:52.801 --> 00:13:55.938
- You may be seated
- 00:13:55.938 --> 00:14:01.543
- Better late than never.
- 00:14:02.177 --> 00:14:05.381
- Actions speak louder than words.
- 00:14:05.381 --> 00:14:10.486
- Absence makes the heart grow fonder,
- 00:14:10.486 --> 00:14:14.757
- Better safe than sorry,
- 00:14:14.757 --> 00:14:18.327
- And my personal favorite; you are what you eat.
- 00:14:18.327 --> 00:14:26.035
- Are any of these true?
- 00:14:26.035 --> 00:14:29.305
- How would we know?
- 00:14:29.305 --> 00:14:31.273
- You need wisdom?
- 00:14:31.273 --> 00:14:33.309
- You need wisdom not only to know
- 00:14:33.309 --> 00:14:35.277
- Are these proverbial sayings true?
- 00:14:35.277 --> 00:14:37.613
- You need wisdom for everything.
- 00:14:37.613 --> 00:14:41.717
- You and i need wisdom.
- 00:14:41.717 --> 00:14:44.687
- Thanks be to god. god gives us wisdom.
- 00:14:44.687 --> 00:14:48.157
- And the book of proverbs is a book of wisdom,
- 00:14:48.157 --> 00:14:51.427
- A book of wisdom from king solomon and other authors,
- 00:14:51.427 --> 00:14:54.997
- Other sages that offer wise counsel.
- 00:14:54.997 --> 00:14:59.234
- In one verse in chapter seven,
- 00:14:59.234 --> 00:15:02.071
- You can understand the entire book of proverbs,
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- Verse seven of chapter one.
- 00:15:05.741 --> 00:15:08.711
- We are told through scholars and through commentaries
- 00:15:08.711 --> 00:15:13.115
- That this is the whole theme, the whole motto,
- 00:15:13.115 --> 00:15:15.918
- The whole big idea of the book of proverbs, that wisdom
- 00:15:15.918 --> 00:15:20.189
- And knowledge is ultimately found by its original source,
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- Which is the fear of the lord.
- 00:15:26.061 --> 00:15:27.963
- The fear of the lord is
- 00:15:27.963 --> 00:15:29.198
- The beginning of all knowledge and wisdom.
- 00:15:29.198 --> 00:15:31.166
- The word fear in the bible means to acknowledge,
- 00:15:31.166 --> 00:15:34.203
- To believe and to stand in awe that god is the only true god,
- 00:15:34.203 --> 00:15:40.442
- That there are no other gods before him.
- 00:15:40.442 --> 00:15:43.545
- It's to stand in awe of him and to honor him
- 00:15:43.545 --> 00:15:46.048
- As the right king of all of the world.
- 00:15:46.048 --> 00:15:49.585
- That's what it means to fear god.
- 00:15:49.585 --> 00:15:51.520
- And so what solomon is saying is
- 00:15:51.520 --> 00:15:53.589
- You want to be wise and you want to have knowledge.
- 00:15:53.589 --> 00:15:57.393
- You first have to fear the lord
- 00:15:57.393 --> 00:15:59.928
- And the fear of the lord as the beginning of all knowledge
- 00:15:59.928 --> 00:16:02.998
- Simply doesn't mean the starting point and then you move on.
- 00:16:02.998 --> 00:16:06.435
- The beginning means it's the source, it's the root.
- 00:16:06.435 --> 00:16:10.606
- And the bible says here in proverbs one,
- 00:16:10.606 --> 00:16:13.208
- You are a fool if you do not fear the lord.
- 00:16:13.208 --> 00:16:19.715
- That is the fear of the lord, believing in him
- 00:16:19.715 --> 00:16:21.884
- And acknowledging him and surrendering your life to god
- 00:16:21.884 --> 00:16:25.888
- That actually gives you the wisdom that you desire
- 00:16:25.888 --> 00:16:29.058
- And the knowledge that you need.
- 00:16:29.058 --> 00:16:31.493
- If you skip ahead to the new testament
- 00:16:31.493 --> 00:16:34.463
- In colossians chapter 2 verse 3,
- 00:16:34.463 --> 00:16:37.466
- The apostle paul says this about jesus,
- 00:16:37.466 --> 00:16:41.070
- That in christ are hidden
- 00:16:41.070 --> 00:16:43.272
- All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
- 00:16:43.272 --> 00:16:46.208
- Paul is saying that wisdom is not just a what,
- 00:16:46.208 --> 00:16:49.411
- But wisdom is a who.
- 00:16:49.411 --> 00:16:50.846
- When jesus comes to earth, he says that
- 00:16:50.846 --> 00:16:53.549
- I am the way, i am the truth. i am the life.
- 00:16:53.549 --> 00:16:56.985
- And in matthew chapter 12,
- 00:16:56.985 --> 00:16:59.888
- He stands before the pharisees who consider him a fool.
- 00:16:59.888 --> 00:17:04.726
- And he says, one better than solomon is here.
- 00:17:04.726 --> 00:17:10.632
- Jesus says to the pharisees, speaking of solomon,
- 00:17:10.632 --> 00:17:14.303
- That solomon had the queen of sheba
- 00:17:14.303 --> 00:17:17.206
- Travel 1200 miles to seek the wisdom of solomon.
- 00:17:17.206 --> 00:17:20.709
- And she left amazed.
- 00:17:20.709 --> 00:17:23.946
- And i present wisdom better than solomon and you reject me.
- 00:17:23.946 --> 00:17:29.852
- And the reason that he is one
- 00:17:29.852 --> 00:17:33.689
- That offers wisdom better than solomon.
- 00:17:33.689 --> 00:17:36.091
- Solomon in light of a broke and sinful and evil world
- 00:17:36.091 --> 00:17:39.895
- Was only able to offer wise counsel.
- 00:17:39.895 --> 00:17:43.232
- But jesus, in light of a broken, sinful, and evil world
- 00:17:43.232 --> 00:17:47.469
- Is able to solve the problem of sin
- 00:17:47.469 --> 00:17:50.272
- And evil through his death and resurrection.
- 00:17:50.272 --> 00:17:54.576
- Solomon offers wise counsel, and jesus offers himself.
- 00:17:54.576 --> 00:17:59.348
- Truly in jesus a better than solomon has arrived.
- 00:17:59.348 --> 00:18:05.053
- And it would be on the cross that we would see this wisdom
- 00:18:05.053 --> 00:18:09.191
- Solving the problem of evil and corruption and sin
- 00:18:09.191 --> 00:18:13.428
- Once and for all,
- 00:18:13.428 --> 00:18:14.763
- That jesus on the cross became a fool for us.
- 00:18:14.763 --> 00:18:18.634
- And he took on our sin as a curse so that
- 00:18:18.634 --> 00:18:22.037
- We could experience the blessing in the favor of almighty god.
- 00:18:22.037 --> 00:18:25.641
- Jesus became a fool on the cross so that
- 00:18:25.641 --> 00:18:30.579
- We could forever experience god's wisdom.
- 00:18:30.579 --> 00:18:35.083
- And it's the rejection of this promise
- 00:18:35.083 --> 00:18:37.686
- And the rejection of this wisdom as it's found in
- 00:18:37.686 --> 00:18:39.821
- Jesus christ that leads to destruction and death.
- 00:18:39.821 --> 00:18:43.625
- In verse 36, it says,
- 00:18:43.625 --> 00:18:45.594
- Those who hate me and reject the promise of eternal life,
- 00:18:45.594 --> 00:18:50.232
- Love death, meaning they love,
- 00:18:50.232 --> 00:18:54.770
- They love to destroy themselves by trying to solve
- 00:18:54.770 --> 00:18:58.640
- The problems of life on their own,
- 00:18:58.640 --> 00:19:00.576
- But those that love life and love me will find it
- 00:19:00.576 --> 00:19:05.013
- And they will find life and find it more eternal,
- 00:19:05.013 --> 00:19:08.450
- And they will find the favor of god in the wisdom of god
- 00:19:08.450 --> 00:19:11.853
- Which is found in jesus christ.
- 00:19:11.853 --> 00:19:13.889
- And so my question to you this morning is will you take it?
- 00:19:13.889 --> 00:19:19.628
- Not only take the wisdom that is offered you,
- 00:19:19.628 --> 00:19:23.565
- But take jesus who is the perfection of that wisdom.
- 00:19:23.565 --> 00:19:27.669
- Would you take him and would you let go of the things
- 00:19:27.669 --> 00:19:30.672
- Of this world and would you grip onto jesus tightly
- 00:19:30.672 --> 00:19:34.276
- And find life and life to the full?
- 00:19:34.276 --> 00:19:36.912
- Would you receive him today?
- 00:19:36.912 --> 00:19:38.680
- You say, pastor, i don't know how to receive jesus.
- 00:19:38.680 --> 00:19:41.783
- Well, the first thing you have to do is
- 00:19:41.783 --> 00:19:43.518
- You have to admit you're a fool without him.
- 00:19:43.518 --> 00:19:46.488
- And after you admit that you're a fool without jesus,
- 00:19:46.488 --> 00:19:50.792
- Admit that you are in need of his salvation
- 00:19:50.792 --> 00:19:53.362
- And need of his grace.
- 00:19:53.362 --> 00:19:55.497
- And you know what the good news is?
- 00:19:55.497 --> 00:19:58.066
- God loves fools.
- 00:19:58.066 --> 00:20:00.068
- It says that he loves the foolish things of this world,
- 00:20:00.068 --> 00:20:04.473
- And he loves us in such a way that it shames the wise.
- 00:20:04.473 --> 00:20:09.077
- He takes the foolish things of this world
- 00:20:09.077 --> 00:20:11.980
- And transforms us with his wisdom
- 00:20:11.980 --> 00:20:15.183
- Which is displayed and demonstrated on the cross.
- 00:20:15.183 --> 00:20:20.455
- Believe in this wisdom, the wisdom of jesus and live.
- 00:20:20.455 --> 00:20:27.462
- Hi, i'm jennifer kennedy cassidy.
- 00:20:28.230 --> 00:20:30.499
- As dr. pacienza just shared,
- 00:20:30.499 --> 00:20:32.734
- The fear of the lord is the beginning of wisdom.
- 00:20:32.734 --> 00:20:36.038
- And the wisdom of jesus christ brings life.
- 00:20:36.038 --> 00:20:39.074
- Unfortunately, the world rejects wisdom
- 00:20:39.074 --> 00:20:42.377
- And substitutes its own foolishness.
- 00:20:42.377 --> 00:20:45.047
- A lack of godly, life-giving wisdom is plaguing our nation
- 00:20:45.047 --> 00:20:49.151
- And our world right now, and too often,
- 00:20:49.151 --> 00:20:52.154
- A confused church ends up contributing to the foolishness
- 00:20:52.154 --> 00:20:56.391
- Rather than providing godly wisdom.
- 00:20:56.391 --> 00:20:58.960
- One such issue is the debate on illegal immigration,
- 00:20:58.960 --> 00:21:02.631
- Where confused thinking from christians
- 00:21:02.631 --> 00:21:05.133
- Has led to division and acrimony.
- 00:21:05.133 --> 00:21:07.536
- Christians are often taught a simplistic view of compassion
- 00:21:07.536 --> 00:21:11.406
- That's used to manipulate them to the left.
- 00:21:11.406 --> 00:21:14.643
- That's why we want to share a vital booklet with you
- 00:21:14.643 --> 00:21:17.312
- To bring clarity on this key issue.
- 00:21:17.312 --> 00:21:19.648
- The booklet is called
- 00:21:19.648 --> 00:21:20.916
- Wise welcome: the bible on immigration,
- 00:21:20.916 --> 00:21:23.985
- By dr. james hoffmeier,
- 00:21:23.985 --> 00:21:26.054
- And we will be happy to send it to you as our thanks for
- 00:21:26.054 --> 00:21:28.690
- Your generous donation to the ongoing work of this ministry.
- 00:21:28.690 --> 00:21:32.327
- New testament scholar d.a. carson says,
- 00:21:32.327 --> 00:21:44.639
- Dr. hoffmeier investigates what the whole bible says
- 00:21:45.807 --> 00:21:49.644
- About immigration and national borders,
- 00:21:49.644 --> 00:21:51.913
- Rather than just a few proof texts that are commonly used.
- 00:21:51.913 --> 00:21:55.717
- And if you're able to give a generous donation
- 00:21:55.717 --> 00:21:57.853
- Of $60 or more, we'll send you that booklet plus the new book,
- 00:21:57.853 --> 00:22:01.757
- Toxic empathy: how progressives exploit christian compassion
- 00:22:01.757 --> 00:22:06.328
- By allie beth stuckey.
- 00:22:06.328 --> 00:22:08.363
- On issues like illegal immigration, progressives
- 00:22:08.363 --> 00:22:11.433
- Have leveraged a shallow understanding of empathy
- 00:22:11.433 --> 00:22:14.336
- To co-opt christians into their political agenda.
- 00:22:14.336 --> 00:22:17.639
- They bully christians into believing that
- 00:22:17.639 --> 00:22:20.175
- They must adopt progressive positions to be loving.
- 00:22:20.175 --> 00:22:23.412
- But the most important thing is for us to submit ourselves
- 00:22:23.412 --> 00:22:27.215
- To god's definitions of love, goodness, and justice,
- 00:22:27.215 --> 00:22:31.019
- Rather than the definitions of the secular world.
- 00:22:31.019 --> 00:22:33.955
- This book is written to help you do that.
- 00:22:33.955 --> 00:22:36.625
- Dr. al mohler says,
- 00:22:36.625 --> 00:22:43.598
- So make sure you order your copy today.
- 00:22:44.499 --> 00:22:46.768
- That's the timely booklet,
- 00:22:46.768 --> 00:22:48.403
- Wise welcome: the bible on immigration,
- 00:22:48.403 --> 00:22:51.039
- As thanks for your generous donation.
- 00:22:51.039 --> 00:22:53.341
- And the booklet plus the new bestseller,
- 00:22:53.341 --> 00:22:55.844
- Toxic empathy: how progressives exploit christian compassion
- 00:22:55.844 --> 00:22:59.948
- By allie beth stuckey
- 00:22:59.948 --> 00:23:01.716
- As thanks for your gift of $60 or more.
- 00:23:01.716 --> 00:23:04.619
- Your support allows us to produce and air
- 00:23:04.619 --> 00:23:07.656
- Bible-based television programming,
- 00:23:07.656 --> 00:23:09.658
- Podcasts, documentaries, and much more.
- 00:23:09.658 --> 00:23:12.594
- And it helps us expand our outreaches like
- 00:23:12.594 --> 00:23:18.700
- Proclaiming america's christian history.
- 00:23:19.668 --> 00:23:21.937
- So please, contact us right away with your generous gift.
- 00:23:21.937 --> 00:23:25.640
- Simply write to us at coral ridge ministries:
- 00:23:25.640 --> 00:23:32.781
- Or call toll free:
- 00:23:33.315 --> 00:23:38.119
- Or go online to: .
- 00:23:38.653 --> 00:23:43.692
- A lot of christians are confused about how to respond to
- 00:23:44.893 --> 00:23:48.096
- The issue of illegal immigration and america's borders.
- 00:23:48.096 --> 00:23:51.366
- And the main reason for this confusion
- 00:23:51.366 --> 00:23:53.468
- Is a misunderstanding of the different roles
- 00:23:53.468 --> 00:23:55.904
- That god has given to various institutions.
- 00:23:55.904 --> 00:23:58.640
- God has designed different,
- 00:23:58.640 --> 00:24:00.475
- Sometimes overlapping spheres of authority.
- 00:24:00.475 --> 00:24:03.178
- For example, a king or president leads the government,
- 00:24:03.178 --> 00:24:06.581
- A manager oversees an office, and a
- 00:24:06.581 --> 00:24:09.351
- Father leads the home and these roles should not be mixed up.
- 00:24:09.351 --> 00:24:13.221
- Understanding these roles is crucial,
- 00:24:13.221 --> 00:24:15.857
- And we run into trouble when we confuse them.
- 00:24:15.857 --> 00:24:18.593
- Take socialism, for example.
- 00:24:18.593 --> 00:24:20.929
- A lot of the harm it causes comes from the government
- 00:24:20.929 --> 00:24:24.199
- Trying to take on the roles of families and communities
- 00:24:24.199 --> 00:24:27.802
- Roles it just isn't equipped to handle.
- 00:24:27.802 --> 00:24:30.605
- These different areas of authority are also key
- 00:24:30.605 --> 00:24:33.909
- When it comes to understanding illegal immigration
- 00:24:33.909 --> 00:24:36.611
- And borders from a christian perspective.
- 00:24:36.611 --> 00:24:39.281
- God gave the government one primary purpose:
- 00:24:39.281 --> 00:24:42.384
- To achieve justice for the people
- 00:24:42.384 --> 00:24:44.452
- And communities under its care.
- 00:24:44.452 --> 00:24:46.555
- In romans 13, we're told that the government
- 00:24:46.555 --> 00:24:57.198
- The government's purpose isn't to show mercy.
- 00:24:58.199 --> 00:25:00.769
- Of course, it can and should show mercy when appropriate,
- 00:25:00.769 --> 00:25:04.039
- But its main job is to bring justice.
- 00:25:04.039 --> 00:25:07.042
- And this justice is meant for the people within its borders.
- 00:25:07.042 --> 00:25:10.579
- The government is not responsible for securing justice
- 00:25:10.579 --> 00:25:13.515
- For people in other countries, unless that situation
- 00:25:13.515 --> 00:25:16.484
- Directly affects our citizens like with a military alliance,
- 00:25:16.484 --> 00:25:20.555
- For example.
- 00:25:20.555 --> 00:25:21.690
- To do its job of securing justice for americans,
- 00:25:21.690 --> 00:25:24.726
- The government must control its borders.
- 00:25:24.726 --> 00:25:27.729
- This means having control over who enters
- 00:25:27.729 --> 00:25:30.198
- And who is denied entry into the country.
- 00:25:30.198 --> 00:25:33.101
- Managed immigration can be beneficial for both america
- 00:25:33.101 --> 00:25:37.172
- And those who want to come here.
- 00:25:37.172 --> 00:25:39.207
- But when immigration is uncontrolled, it brings harm,
- 00:25:39.207 --> 00:25:43.144
- Like threats to national security
- 00:25:43.144 --> 00:25:45.113
- And strain on public services that taxpayers fund.
- 00:25:45.113 --> 00:25:48.583
- It's possible to balance justice with mercy,
- 00:25:48.583 --> 00:25:51.753
- And that's a good goal to aim for.
- 00:25:51.753 --> 00:25:53.722
- We can enforce our border laws
- 00:25:53.722 --> 00:25:55.991
- While still providing legal ways for people to come.
- 00:25:55.991 --> 00:25:58.960
- Justice and mercy can walk together safely.
- 00:25:58.960 --> 00:26:02.564
- But not if justice is beaten down so severely
- 00:26:02.564 --> 00:26:05.867
- That it can no longer walk.
- 00:26:05.867 --> 00:26:07.535
- And in every case,
- 00:26:07.535 --> 00:26:08.870
- We need to keep these areas of authority separate.
- 00:26:08.870 --> 00:26:11.940
- God didn't create governments to love people or be merciful.
- 00:26:11.940 --> 00:26:15.410
- That's the role of families, churches, and communities.
- 00:26:15.410 --> 00:26:18.313
- He gave us governments to ensure justice
- 00:26:18.313 --> 00:26:20.782
- For the people under their care.
- 00:26:20.782 --> 00:26:23.284
- Coral ridge ministries is
- 00:26:23.918 --> 00:26:27.522
- If you're ever in south florida, we welcome you to join us for
- 00:26:28.823 --> 00:26:32.661
- Sunday morning worship here at coral ridge presbyterian church,
- 00:26:32.661 --> 00:26:36.364
- Or you can always join on livestream at:
- 00:26:36.364 --> 00:26:40.535
- We also want to invite you to connect with us
- 00:26:41.569 --> 00:26:43.571
- On social media at:
- 00:26:43.571 --> 00:26:46.708
- And check out our vast library of video resources at
- 00:26:47.876 --> 00:26:53.014
- I want to thank you for joining us,
- 00:26:53.915 --> 00:26:55.750
- And here's a look at the next truths that transform.
- 00:26:55.750 --> 00:26:58.520
- If one wants to decide that
- 00:26:59.287 --> 00:27:01.222
- The new testament is historically untrustworthy, then
- 00:27:01.222 --> 00:27:04.659
- One must be willing to become a complete historical agnostic.
- 00:27:04.659 --> 00:27:09.030
- That's next week
- 00:27:09.497 --> 00:27:13.702
- This has been a production of coral ridge ministries
- 00:27:14.869 --> 00:27:14.869