Rob Pacienza - Citizens of the City of God

February 10, 2025 | S25:E6

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 - Citizens of the City of God | February 10, 2025
  • Should christians be political, or should they be spiritual?
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  • It's a question that many have asked in recent decades
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  • But it's a false dilemma.
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  • Should christians be spiritual? yes.
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  • Should christians be political? yes!
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  • Find out more, on today's 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 hard to believe here in 2025,
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  • But there was a time into the 20th century
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  • When the only interaction you might have with
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  • The federal government on a regular basis
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  • Was through the post office.
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  • After the federal income tax was established in 1913
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  • And the government began to grow to fit its income,
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  • We began to look to washington d.c. for more and more.
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  • Now the doings of the federal government are almost entirely
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  • What we pay attention to.
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  • With government so much larger and more powerful,
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  • It's never been more important to raise up christian statesmen.
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  • A bit later in today's program, we'll see how you and i
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  • Should live as christians in this current cultural moment.
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  • And we begin with a trip to the seat of power
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  • In washington d.c., where our
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  • D. james kennedy center for christian statesmanship,
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  • Based on capitol hill, is encouraging and
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  • Mentoring the future william wilberforce's and
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  • Abraham kuyper's that our nation needs.
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  • Here's david wright with more.
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  • Founded in 1995,
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  • The d. james kennedy center for christian statesmanship
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  • Has impacted thousands of lives by bringing a gospel witness,
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  • Christian discipleship, and a vision for
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  • Christian statesmanship to leaders in washington d.c.
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  • The d. james kennedy center for christian statesmanship
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  • Is working to make a difference.
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  • The d. james kennedy center for christian statesmanship
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  • Has been the product of a visionary leader in
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  • D. james kennedy himself, who understood that
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  • In order for the body of christ in america,
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  • To serve the purposes of our god
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  • And execute in the great commission,
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  • We needed to have a light
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  • In the capital city, washington, dc.
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  • And so the fruit that has been born from that ministry has been
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  • An indelible impact on our society's fabric,
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  • On our social fabric and on people like me understanding
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  • How we need to combine our commitment to christ
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  • And our commitment to civic engagement
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  • There are a lot of christian statesmen
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  • That have come through this country,
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  • And i'm very thankful for that.
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  • The problem that we have right now is
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  • Outside forces who are applying direct pressure
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  • To the christian community and suppressing voices,
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  • It's difficult for members and staff
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  • To kind of poke their heads up and say,
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  • Well, i'm part of that group.
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  • There's a lot of threats.
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  • And i think that that is the reason why.
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  • One of the biggest reasons why existing here being present,
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  • Someone else to say, we're with you on this.
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  • We're walking with you.
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  • The center's executive director, william russell,
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  • Has a wealth of experience working on capitol hill,
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  • Working for both the legislative and the executive branch.
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  • And that looked like first joining
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  • Senator thad cochrane's office as an intern.
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  • He was a congressman from mississippi,
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  • The senior senator for mississippi.
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  • So he came with a lot of established,
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  • A lot of established reputation, a lot of connections,
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  • And i used that to catapult myself into a role
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  • With congressman allen nunley
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  • In the first district of mississippi on the house side.
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  • So it's nice to have that balance of both the house and
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  • The senate to understand how both of these chambers work
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  • And to understand the kind of different dynamics,
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  • Not just with the members and themselves,
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  • But the staffers being able to work with them on a daily basis
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  • And understand their train of thought.
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  • I started my work with donald trump
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  • In 2016 from february, 2016.
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  • I was traveling ahead of him, setting up the rallies,
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  • A lot of operational work around the structure of the campaign.
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  • I did that through 2016.
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  • He won and after he took office in january of 2017
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  • I went as the trip director,
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  • To a lot of places around the world.
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  • So anytime that he would leave the white house,
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  • I was standing right beside him
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  • As the who, what, where, when, why guy
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  • Being able to feed him any information that he needed.
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  • And that's where that relationship with the president
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  • Really, really began to take root
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  • This year, ccs will celebrate its 30th anniversary
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  • As a ministry serving our nations leaders on capitol hill.
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  • You think about the 30 year legacy
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  • Of the center for christian statesmanship.
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  • And as many people have often told me,
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  • If we needed ccs in 1995,
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  • How much more do we need it now in the 21st century?
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  • So grateful for its legacy,
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  • Grateful for the work that has been done
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  • And excited to see what god has in store
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  • For this new season of ministry as we continue to be light
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  • In modern day rome and raising up the next generation
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  • Of christian statesmen for the sake of the kingdom.
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  • Ccs's responsibility here is to fight back
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  • Against the cultural marxism and against those
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  • Who want to see christianity die out,
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  • Who want to remove biblical principles from our daily lives,
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  • Whether it be removing in god we trust
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  • Or not pledging our allegiance to the american flag
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  • Because one nation under god is offensive.
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  • To men being in women's sports,
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  • To the religious freedom that we're talking about,
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  • The ability to pray in a public space,
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  • That's what ccs is at the end of the day.
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  • Each year, the center confers an annual award
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  • The distinguished christian statesman award
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  • Upon a man or woman who has set themselves apart
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  • In the political arena through outstanding
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  • Service as a christian statesman.
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  • God cares about government because god cares about people
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  • And god cares about how people are treated,
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  • Justice in the society.
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  • And we see it throughout scripture.
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  • How important is it to have
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  • The d. james kennedy center for christian statesmanship?
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  • Incredibly important.
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  • You have to have an organization based on biblical principles,
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  • Whose goal is to share the gospel
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  • And help equip leaders with the word of god.
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  • Being a christian means that
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  • You have embraced jesus christ as your lord and savior,
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  • That you believe that jesus christ is
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  • The lord of your life and all of life.
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  • A statesman is someone who operates
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  • Not according to partisan politics,
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  • But according to principles and values.
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  • So when you combine those two words together,
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  • A christian statesman,
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  • It's somebody that understands how the lordship of christ
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  • Influences our virtues, our values, particularly when it
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  • Comes to policymaking and how we operate in the public square.
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  • In 2024, the center honored senator josh hawley
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  • With their distinguished christian statesman award
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  • So when i think of josh hawley, i think of somebody who
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  • Pledges his first allegiance to christ and his kingdom
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  • And then understands that his role as a statesman
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  • Is a sacred calling that as a senator,
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  • He is thinking about public policy.
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  • He's thinking about the virtues and values of our nation
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  • Through the lens of god's infallible word.
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  • His devotion to his family is incredible.
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  • To watch the kind of sacrifices that he would make
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  • From a professional front
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  • To ensure that his family is taken care of,
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  • That's a man that has the priorities in order,
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  • That is a mark of a christian statesman.
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  • Not to mention the fact that he has famously talked
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  • About the rights that we receive from god.
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  • Well, where are those rights laid out?
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  • They're given to us through the bible.
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  • The center will continue to train and equip present and
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  • Future political leaders with a biblical worldview in order
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  • To maintain a strong christian presence in washington d.c.
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  • When you have a presence of leaders
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  • That realize that america is special,
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  • That we have in america,
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  • The individual right to conscience,
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  • Rights from a creator, individual choice,
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  • These are freedoms that america has, they need to be passed on
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  • And the center for christian statesmanship teaches this
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  • And acts as a positive influence in
  • 00:09:11.621 --> 00:09:14.991
  • The most powerful city on the planet, washington, dc.
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  • It is such an incredible time to make an investment and
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  • To partner with the center for christian statesmanship in
  • 00:09:22.632 --> 00:09:25.801
  • Washington dc if we want to see transformation in this nation,
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  • We need to be sending men and women of god
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  • Who love the righteousness of god
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  • And understand how that applies to public policy.
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  • So, we desire men and women that would partner with us,
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  • Men and women that understand that
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  • Righteousness exalts a nation,
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  • That we need righteousness being proclaimed in the public square.
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  • And that public policy needs to reflect
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  • The righteousness as god defines it.
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  • That we are rejecting evil and understanding that
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  • The soul of the nation is what hangs in the balance
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  • As christians, we are called to be
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  • Salt and light in our culture.
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  • While it's possible to get swallowed up by the worries
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  • Of the world and be too focused on temporal matters,
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  • It's also possible to be negligent in our calling
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  • By ignoring them altogether.
  • 00:10:18.621 --> 00:10:20.923
  • We don't need more christians retreating
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  • Behind the safety of the four walls of the church.
  • 00:10:23.426 --> 00:10:26.829
  • We need christians with the courage
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  • To stand for their biblical convictions
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  • As representatives of king jesus christ.
  • 00:10:31.634 --> 00:10:34.370
  • An outstanding example is the biblical figure daniel.
  • 00:10:34.370 --> 00:10:38.541
  • The pagan king nebuchadnezzar besieged jerusalem,
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  • And drafted daniel into his service.
  • 00:10:42.244 --> 00:10:44.680
  • But daniel would not compromise god's word
  • 00:10:44.680 --> 00:10:47.817
  • In order to maintain favor with the king.
  • 00:10:47.817 --> 00:10:50.519
  • I recently shared more about him in a message with
  • 00:10:50.519 --> 00:10:54.223
  • Our congregation here at coral ridge presbyterian church to
  • 00:10:54.223 --> 00:10:57.693
  • Help us understand how to live as christians in a secular age.
  • 00:10:57.693 --> 00:11:02.031
  • The message is entitled, “citizens in the city of god.”
  • 00:11:02.031 --> 00:11:05.935
  • Daniel 1 gives us a blueprint and a template,
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  • A handbook for what it looks like for christians
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  • Who find themselves in a culture whose values have shifted
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  • A church in captivity.
  • 00:11:21.250 --> 00:11:24.587
  • Now, what i mean by a church in captivity
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  • Is that we exist in what some would call a post-christian era.
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  • What does that mean?
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  • That means we live in a society that no longer sees
  • 00:11:35.164 --> 00:11:39.235
  • The judeo-christian worldview as the predominant worldview.
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  • Worldviews that are guided more by a secular ideology
  • 00:11:43.939 --> 00:11:49.145
  • Are governing and informing our culture and our society.
  • 00:11:49.145 --> 00:11:56.152
  • And so, we find ourselves in the 21st century trying to live out
  • 00:11:56.152 --> 00:12:02.191
  • Our virtues and our values and our worldview
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  • As it's informed by the word of god
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  • In a society that is predominantly hostile
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  • To our worldview and particularly hostile
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  • To our understanding of the sanctity of human life.
  • 00:12:15.838 --> 00:12:20.910
  • And so what do we do?
  • 00:12:20.910 --> 00:12:22.545
  • What do we do in such a culture?
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  • Thanks be to god, in daniel 1, we are given a template,
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  • A blueprint of what it looks like to live
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  • Faithfully in a culture that opposes us
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  • I briefly just want to divide daniel 1 into two sections:
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  • 1. the spirit of babylon,
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  • And 2. the response and the mission of god's people.
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  • First, the spirit of babylon.
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  • Now, i don't think that there is a real physical babylon.
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  • That territory is modern day iraq but make no mistake,
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  • The spirit of babylon is alive and well.
  • 00:13:05.621 --> 00:13:11.393
  • Babylon in the bible is more than just a physical territory.
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  • It has symbolically always stood from the old testament to
  • 00:13:15.998 --> 00:13:20.736
  • The new testament all the way through revelation
  • 00:13:20.736 --> 00:13:23.639
  • Symbolic as the kingdom of unrighteousness,
  • 00:13:23.639 --> 00:13:28.010
  • Opposed to the kingdom of righteousness.
  • 00:13:28.010 --> 00:13:30.679
  • Babylon has figuratively stood as the city of man
  • 00:13:30.679 --> 00:13:35.718
  • In opposition to the city of god.
  • 00:13:35.718 --> 00:13:37.786
  • So as i said make no mistake
  • 00:13:37.786 --> 00:13:39.889
  • That the spirit of babylon in our nation is alive and well.
  • 00:13:39.889 --> 00:13:45.961
  • What are the characteristics of the spirit of babylon that
  • 00:13:45.961 --> 00:13:49.999
  • We can see continuing in our day here in daniel chapter 1?
  • 00:13:49.999 --> 00:13:55.271
  • Well, the first marker, the characteristic of the
  • 00:13:55.271 --> 00:13:57.840
  • Spirit of babylon is to deconstruct vocabulary,
  • 00:13:57.840 --> 00:14:02.778
  • Deconstruct vocabulary to give words new meaning.
  • 00:14:02.778 --> 00:14:08.450
  • We see that in verse 3 and 4 of daniel chapter 1.
  • 00:14:08.450 --> 00:14:12.288
  • It says that the babylonians took youth from the kingdom
  • 00:14:12.288 --> 00:14:17.526
  • Of israel and from the nobility and brought them in,
  • 00:14:17.526 --> 00:14:22.965
  • It says to reeducate them.
  • 00:14:22.965 --> 00:14:25.668
  • With what?
  • 00:14:25.668 --> 00:14:27.636
  • The literature and the language of the chaldeans,
  • 00:14:27.636 --> 00:14:30.339
  • The literature and the language of the chaldeans was
  • 00:14:30.339 --> 00:14:32.207
  • The literature and the language of the babylonians.
  • 00:14:32.207 --> 00:14:35.110
  • You see the purpose of reeducation and deconstructing
  • 00:14:35.110 --> 00:14:39.381
  • Their vocabulary in daniel 1 was not to teach them about babylon,
  • 00:14:39.381 --> 00:14:44.119
  • But it was to teach them how to be like a babylonian,
  • 00:14:44.119 --> 00:14:47.089
  • To reject the virtues and the values of yahweh
  • 00:14:47.089 --> 00:14:49.725
  • And to embrace the virtues and the values of babylon.
  • 00:14:49.725 --> 00:14:55.631
  • It says in daniel 1 that they did it in three years.
  • 00:14:55.631 --> 00:14:58.901
  • In america, we do it in four.
  • 00:14:58.901 --> 00:15:01.904
  • We raise up our children with a biblical worldview,
  • 00:15:01.904 --> 00:15:05.140
  • With the language of yahweh,
  • 00:15:05.140 --> 00:15:07.343
  • And then we send them off to college.
  • 00:15:07.343 --> 00:15:10.980
  • And unfortunately, so many of our colleges in this country
  • 00:15:10.980 --> 00:15:14.950
  • Spend four years systematically deconstructing their vocabulary,
  • 00:15:14.950 --> 00:15:21.323
  • Deconstructing the literature and the language
  • 00:15:21.323 --> 00:15:24.426
  • That your children were raised with,
  • 00:15:24.426 --> 00:15:27.296
  • And they replace it with the literature
  • 00:15:27.296 --> 00:15:30.099
  • And the language of the babylonians.
  • 00:15:30.099 --> 00:15:33.469
  • But not only do we see the deconstruction of vocabulary
  • 00:15:33.469 --> 00:15:36.338
  • Through indoctrination in daniel chapter 1
  • 00:15:36.338 --> 00:15:39.241
  • But we also see the spirit of babylon in redefining identity.
  • 00:15:39.241 --> 00:15:43.946
  • In verse 6, we are introduced to these four young men,
  • 00:15:43.946 --> 00:15:49.852
  • Daniel, hananiah, mishael, and azariah,
  • 00:15:49.852 --> 00:15:52.921
  • Who we're told are from the tribe of judah.
  • 00:15:52.921 --> 00:15:55.758
  • And all four of these young men have names that identify them
  • 00:15:55.758 --> 00:16:00.229
  • As children of yahweh so that they would understand
  • 00:16:00.229 --> 00:16:05.134
  • That their identity is not found in what they do
  • 00:16:05.134 --> 00:16:09.338
  • But their identity is found
  • 00:16:09.338 --> 00:16:10.773
  • In who they are as image bearers of the most high god,
  • 00:16:10.773 --> 00:16:16.578
  • That they would understand that their identity is grounded
  • 00:16:16.578 --> 00:16:19.415
  • And rooted in the creator god.
  • 00:16:19.415 --> 00:16:22.951
  • But we're told in verse 7 that they're given new names,
  • 00:16:22.951 --> 00:16:27.623
  • That the government comes in and says, no longer
  • 00:16:27.623 --> 00:16:31.493
  • Will you be identified by your names that come from yahweh,
  • 00:16:31.493 --> 00:16:35.998
  • But instead we will give you names like
  • 00:16:35.998 --> 00:16:37.766
  • Belteshazzar, and shadrach, and meshach and abednego,
  • 00:16:37.766 --> 00:16:43.038
  • Which were all names that referred to the babylonian gods.
  • 00:16:43.038 --> 00:16:47.309
  • Can you imagine what happens to a culture when god no longer
  • 00:16:47.309 --> 00:16:53.348
  • Defines identity but the government does?
  • 00:16:53.348 --> 00:16:57.953
  • What kind of culture exists when the government defines identity
  • 00:16:57.953 --> 00:17:03.759
  • And no longer god defining identity?
  • 00:17:03.759 --> 00:17:08.730
  • Complete and moral chaos.
  • 00:17:08.730 --> 00:17:12.768
  • But this is what happens in this culture,
  • 00:17:12.768 --> 00:17:16.772
  • Redefining their identity so that they would be
  • 00:17:16.772 --> 00:17:19.875
  • Defined as children of the babylonian gods
  • 00:17:19.875 --> 00:17:24.012
  • And no longer children of yahweh.
  • 00:17:24.012 --> 00:17:27.015
  • And this is an as assault on god and on his word
  • 00:17:27.015 --> 00:17:32.588
  • Because we are told in his word that only god
  • 00:17:32.588 --> 00:17:35.891
  • Has the right to define our identity.
  • 00:17:35.891 --> 00:17:38.460
  • We're told in the opening pages of scripture
  • 00:17:38.460 --> 00:17:40.529
  • In genesis chapter 1 verse 27,
  • 00:17:40.529 --> 00:17:51.473
  • This is called the imago dei,
  • 00:17:52.207 --> 00:17:54.676
  • The doctrine of the image of god,
  • 00:17:54.676 --> 00:17:57.079
  • Which has served as the foundational doctrine
  • 00:17:57.079 --> 00:18:00.015
  • For understanding where our identity comes from,
  • 00:18:00.015 --> 00:18:03.986
  • That the world does not define us,
  • 00:18:03.986 --> 00:18:06.455
  • That we're not defined by what we do or by what we don't do.
  • 00:18:06.455 --> 00:18:09.992
  • But god alone has the right to define us.
  • 00:18:09.992 --> 00:18:12.728
  • What is the mission of god's people
  • 00:18:12.728 --> 00:18:14.830
  • In a culture of opposition?
  • 00:18:14.830 --> 00:18:17.266
  • What is the mission of god's people
  • 00:18:17.266 --> 00:18:19.067
  • Concerning the sanctity of human life?
  • 00:18:19.067 --> 00:18:21.670
  • Look at verse 8.
  • 00:18:21.670 --> 00:18:23.639
  • But daniel, but daniel in the face of opposition,
  • 00:18:23.639 --> 00:18:28.110
  • But daniel in a culture and a society
  • 00:18:28.110 --> 00:18:31.213
  • That did not value life, that redefined identity,
  • 00:18:31.213 --> 00:18:37.019
  • That reconstructed identity,
  • 00:18:37.019 --> 00:18:39.054
  • But daniel resolved that he would
  • 00:18:39.054 --> 00:18:42.291
  • Not be defiled with the king's food,
  • 00:18:42.291 --> 00:18:44.626
  • That he would not be defiled with what the king drank.
  • 00:18:44.626 --> 00:18:49.131
  • Daniel was a man that was set apart. why?
  • 00:18:49.131 --> 00:18:52.634
  • Because he was grounded and informed by the word of god and
  • 00:18:52.634 --> 00:18:56.138
  • Had such a firm foundation that in the face of opposition,
  • 00:18:56.138 --> 00:19:00.008
  • He was unshakable.
  • 00:19:00.008 --> 00:19:02.678
  • This is what it means to be faithful
  • 00:19:02.678 --> 00:19:04.513
  • In the midst of opposition.
  • 00:19:04.513 --> 00:19:06.415
  • And my question for you this morning,
  • 00:19:06.415 --> 00:19:08.116
  • What are we doing as a church in the 21st century
  • 00:19:08.116 --> 00:19:11.787
  • To raise up modern day daniel's and
  • 00:19:11.787 --> 00:19:15.123
  • In the face of cultural opposition they might stand.
  • 00:19:15.123 --> 00:19:20.162
  • Will we turn the blind eye to violence
  • 00:19:20.162 --> 00:19:22.664
  • Because we value our convenience even more?
  • 00:19:22.664 --> 00:19:25.133
  • Or will we be the people that god has called us to be
  • 00:19:25.133 --> 00:19:28.370
  • Defending the cause for those who cannot defend themselves?
  • 00:19:28.370 --> 00:19:34.676
  • Hi, i'm jennifer kennedy cassidy.
  • 00:19:35.444 --> 00:19:37.746
  • Dr. pacienza's question is an important one.
  • 00:19:37.746 --> 00:19:41.283
  • He has put himself and this ministry behind the commitment
  • 00:19:41.283 --> 00:19:44.586
  • To raise up modern daniel's in an unbelieving culture.
  • 00:19:44.586 --> 00:19:48.223
  • One key way we do that, continuing the vision
  • 00:19:48.223 --> 00:19:51.226
  • Established by my father, is through
  • 00:19:51.226 --> 00:19:55.764
  • Based on capitol hill.
  • 00:19:56.365 --> 00:19:58.033
  • As you saw a little earlier in this program,
  • 00:19:58.033 --> 00:20:00.402
  • That ministry, which is headed by
  • 00:20:00.402 --> 00:20:02.638
  • Former trump presidential adviser william russell,
  • 00:20:02.638 --> 00:20:05.574
  • Is discipling members of congress and their staffs
  • 00:20:05.574 --> 00:20:08.477
  • In the gospel and the biblical worldview.
  • 00:20:08.477 --> 00:20:11.046
  • Just recently, the center for christian statesmanship
  • 00:20:11.046 --> 00:20:13.815
  • Presented missouri senator josh hawley
  • 00:20:13.815 --> 00:20:16.184
  • With the distinguished christian statesman award.
  • 00:20:16.184 --> 00:20:18.920
  • And if you're able to give a generous donation of $40 or more
  • 00:20:18.920 --> 00:20:22.524
  • To help us continue that vital work,
  • 00:20:22.524 --> 00:20:24.826
  • As well as our television, radio, and digital outreaches,
  • 00:20:24.826 --> 00:20:28.196
  • Among many other initiatives,
  • 00:20:28.196 --> 00:20:29.798
  • We'll send you our brand-new, exclusive dvd program,
  • 00:20:29.798 --> 00:20:33.535
  • How dare we be quiet?
  • 00:20:33.535 --> 00:20:35.437
  • This video features the awards ceremony
  • 00:20:35.437 --> 00:20:38.006
  • And an enlightening and encouraging interview,
  • 00:20:38.006 --> 00:20:40.509
  • From that presentation,
  • 00:20:40.509 --> 00:20:42.344
  • Between dr. rob pacienza and senator hawley.
  • 00:20:42.344 --> 00:20:45.213
  • As you know, senator hawley has been a fiery and confrontational
  • 00:20:45.213 --> 00:20:48.984
  • Advocate for commonsense, conservative, christian
  • 00:20:48.984 --> 00:20:52.454
  • Principles who is boldly living out his christian faith
  • 00:20:52.454 --> 00:20:55.457
  • In the united states senate.
  • 00:20:55.457 --> 00:20:57.159
  • Hear from him as well as from historian stephen mansfield,
  • 00:20:57.159 --> 00:21:00.696
  • Plus other special features in this special dvd program.
  • 00:21:00.696 --> 00:21:04.633
  • Also included as thanks for your donation,
  • 00:21:04.633 --> 00:21:07.703
  • We'll include my father's eye-opening booklet,
  • 00:21:07.703 --> 00:21:10.405
  • What they believed:
  • 00:21:10.405 --> 00:21:11.940
  • The faith of washington, jefferson, and lincoln.
  • 00:21:11.940 --> 00:21:14.943
  • If we're going to make america great again,
  • 00:21:14.943 --> 00:21:17.479
  • We'll need to recapture that truths it was founded upon.
  • 00:21:17.479 --> 00:21:21.650
  • Those who want to remake america in their own secular image
  • 00:21:21.650 --> 00:21:24.953
  • Have distorted the truth about these great men
  • 00:21:24.953 --> 00:21:27.689
  • And the principles by which they governed america.
  • 00:21:27.689 --> 00:21:30.492
  • But my father was a dedicated student of the true history,
  • 00:21:30.492 --> 00:21:34.129
  • And he shares it here in this vital booklet.
  • 00:21:34.129 --> 00:21:37.799
  • With your help,
  • 00:21:37.799 --> 00:21:39.034
  • We will continue to share biblical truth on these issues
  • 00:21:39.034 --> 00:21:41.436
  • That are so vital at this point in american history.
  • 00:21:41.436 --> 00:21:44.706
  • Please, consider giving a generous gift today so that
  • 00:21:44.706 --> 00:21:48.076
  • The heritage left to us by men like george washington
  • 00:21:48.076 --> 00:21:51.113
  • Will still be there for your children and grandchildren.
  • 00:21:51.113 --> 00:21:54.082
  • We'll send you the dvd program
  • 00:21:54.082 --> 00:21:56.017
  • How dare we be quiet?
  • 00:21:56.017 --> 00:21:57.619
  • Featuring senator josh hawley, plus the important booklet,
  • 00:21:57.619 --> 00:22:00.989
  • What they believed:
  • 00:22:00.989 --> 00:22:02.424
  • The faith of washington, jefferson, and lincoln,
  • 00:22:02.424 --> 00:22:04.559
  • By dr. d. james kennedy,
  • 00:22:04.559 --> 00:22:06.361
  • As thanks for your generous gift of $40 or more.
  • 00:22:06.361 --> 00:22:09.798
  • Or we'll send you just the booklet
  • 00:22:09.798 --> 00:22:11.533
  • As thanks for your generous donation.
  • 00:22:11.533 --> 00:22:13.769
  • One of our dear partners, robert from edinburg, texas,
  • 00:22:13.769 --> 00:22:17.606
  • Writes to us,
  • 00:22:17.606 --> 00:22:21.676
  • We appreciate that robert
  • 00:22:22.310 --> 00:22:24.112
  • And all that we do is enabled by the
  • 00:22:24.112 --> 00:22:26.348
  • Grace of god and generous supporters like you.
  • 00:22:26.348 --> 00:22:28.984
  • Simply write to us at coral ridge ministries:
  • 00:22:28.984 --> 00:22:36.158
  • Or call toll free:
  • 00:22:36.691 --> 00:22:41.496
  • Or go online to:
  • 00:22:41.963 --> 00:22:47.302
  • There are many who believe that civil government
  • 00:22:48.403 --> 00:22:50.605
  • Should not be the concern of the christian.
  • 00:22:50.605 --> 00:22:53.074
  • More than one well-beloved bible teacher has claimed that
  • 00:22:53.074 --> 00:22:56.745
  • The political realm is a waste of time,
  • 00:22:56.745 --> 00:22:59.014
  • And that it's a distraction from the spiritual things
  • 00:22:59.014 --> 00:23:01.950
  • A christian should be truly concerned about.
  • 00:23:01.950 --> 00:23:04.152
  • Among many of these influential teachers
  • 00:23:04.152 --> 00:23:06.555
  • There's a naïve idea about the american revolution.
  • 00:23:06.555 --> 00:23:10.058
  • In this view, the bible says
  • 00:23:10.058 --> 00:23:12.427
  • We are to be submissive to the authorities,
  • 00:23:12.427 --> 00:23:14.796
  • And thus the war for independence
  • 00:23:14.796 --> 00:23:16.698
  • Was illegitimate and unbiblical.
  • 00:23:16.698 --> 00:23:19.367
  • And the fact that many christians have been
  • 00:23:19.367 --> 00:23:21.536
  • At a loss to answer that criticism goes a long way
  • 00:23:21.536 --> 00:23:24.973
  • Toward explaining our current cultural problems.
  • 00:23:24.973 --> 00:23:27.809
  • The bible does not only tell us to be submissive to authorities.
  • 00:23:27.809 --> 00:23:31.580
  • It also lays out the role of government,
  • 00:23:31.580 --> 00:23:33.882
  • Such as in romans 13.
  • 00:23:33.882 --> 00:23:36.351
  • In the medieval and early-modern era,
  • 00:23:36.351 --> 00:23:38.587
  • They believed in what was called “the divine right of kings".
  • 00:23:38.587 --> 00:23:42.824
  • The king is the king, god put him there,
  • 00:23:42.824 --> 00:23:45.894
  • And you have nothing to say about it.
  • 00:23:45.894 --> 00:23:48.096
  • Many monarchs used that understanding
  • 00:23:48.096 --> 00:23:50.365
  • To carry out tyranny over their people.
  • 00:23:50.365 --> 00:23:53.401
  • The protestant reformers recaptured a more fully
  • 00:23:53.401 --> 00:23:57.105
  • Biblical doctrine of the civil government.
  • 00:23:57.105 --> 00:23:59.741
  • In the book of first kings, king ahab decides that
  • 00:23:59.741 --> 00:24:03.678
  • He wants to take the vineyard belonging to naboth.
  • 00:24:03.678 --> 00:24:06.948
  • So, should naboth simply obey the authority?
  • 00:24:06.948 --> 00:24:10.085
  • No, because the king has no authority to steal his land.
  • 00:24:10.085 --> 00:24:14.890
  • So naboth refuses, and ahab has him killed
  • 00:24:14.890 --> 00:24:18.827
  • And takes away the land.
  • 00:24:18.827 --> 00:24:20.629
  • The lord brings condemnation to king ahab and his family
  • 00:24:20.629 --> 00:24:24.533
  • Because of this act of governmental theft and murder.
  • 00:24:24.533 --> 00:24:27.702
  • The fact that ahab was the king didn't give him
  • 00:24:27.702 --> 00:24:30.906
  • The authority to do whatever he wanted.
  • 00:24:30.906 --> 00:24:33.041
  • The protestant reformers sought to harmonize everything
  • 00:24:33.041 --> 00:24:36.011
  • The bible says about our relationship to government,
  • 00:24:36.011 --> 00:24:38.713
  • Rather than just grabbing a couple of selective proof-texts.
  • 00:24:38.713 --> 00:24:42.884
  • When a king is violating his own nation's constitution and
  • 00:24:42.884 --> 00:24:46.888
  • Refusing to carry out his lawful duties to his people,
  • 00:24:46.888 --> 00:24:50.392
  • Is his authority still legitimate?
  • 00:24:50.392 --> 00:24:52.694
  • That was exactly the question faced by the colonial americans.
  • 00:24:52.694 --> 00:24:56.631
  • The ranks of the men who opposed the king and eventually gave us
  • 00:24:56.631 --> 00:25:00.535
  • The american constitution were filled with christian statesmen.
  • 00:25:00.535 --> 00:25:04.906
  • George washington, patrick henry, john witherspoon,
  • 00:25:04.906 --> 00:25:08.777
  • James madison, john jay, samuel adams,
  • 00:25:08.777 --> 00:25:11.413
  • And dozens more devout bible readers and church-goers.
  • 00:25:11.413 --> 00:25:15.650
  • Others, like john adams, thomas jefferson, and benjamin franklin
  • 00:25:15.650 --> 00:25:19.654
  • Were not entirely orthodox in their beliefs,
  • 00:25:19.654 --> 00:25:22.390
  • But still operated from a christian framework
  • 00:25:22.390 --> 00:25:25.427
  • And looked to the bible to judge their cause.
  • 00:25:25.427 --> 00:25:28.363
  • In fact, the american position was so identifiable with
  • 00:25:28.363 --> 00:25:32.901
  • The colonial churches that king george the third referred
  • 00:25:32.901 --> 00:25:36.371
  • To the war as “a presbyterian rebellion.”
  • 00:25:36.371 --> 00:25:39.374
  • The great protestant tradition has always recognized
  • 00:25:39.374 --> 00:25:42.510
  • That god created and governs this world.
  • 00:25:42.510 --> 00:25:45.747
  • And though the world has fallen into the curse of sin and death,
  • 00:25:45.747 --> 00:25:48.984
  • Christians are channels of god's activity here on earth,
  • 00:25:48.984 --> 00:25:52.621
  • And while we must wait for the future return of christ
  • 00:25:52.621 --> 00:25:55.624
  • For the final removal of evil and death,
  • 00:25:55.624 --> 00:25:58.560
  • We exhibit the kingdom of god
  • 00:25:58.560 --> 00:26:00.695
  • When we bring about justice and flourishing
  • 00:26:00.695 --> 00:26:03.164
  • And goodness and health and shalom here and now.
  • 00:26:03.164 --> 00:26:07.602
  • The need of our day is not christians
  • 00:26:07.602 --> 00:26:10.672
  • Who ignore the current world.
  • 00:26:10.672 --> 00:26:12.173
  • The need of our day is true christian statesmen who say,
  • 00:26:12.173 --> 00:26:16.044
  • As the lord prayed,
  • 00:26:16.044 --> 00:26:17.412
  • “thy kingdom come, thy will be done,
  • 00:26:17.412 --> 00:26:19.981
  • On earth as it is in heaven.”
  • 00:26:19.981 --> 00:26:22.183
  • Coral ridge ministries is
  • 00:26:22.183 --> 00:26:26.988
  • If you're ever in south florida,
  • 00:26:27.722 --> 00:26:29.524
  • We welcome you to join us for worship sunday mornings here at
  • 00:26:29.524 --> 00:26:33.061
  • Coral ridge presbyterian church,
  • 00:26:33.061 --> 00:26:34.929
  • Or you can always join us via livestream at:
  • 00:26:34.929 --> 00:26:39.567
  • We'd love for you to connect
  • 00:26:40.268 --> 00:26:41.870
  • With us on social media at:
  • 00:26:41.870 --> 00:26:45.173
  • And check out our vast library of video resources at:
  • 00:26:46.341 --> 00:26:51.980
  • Thank you so much for joining us,
  • 00:26:52.814 --> 00:26:54.516
  • And here's a look at the next truths that transform.
  • 00:26:54.516 --> 00:26:57.185
  • I think that the center for christian statesmanship
  • 00:26:58.353 --> 00:27:00.588
  • Is more needed than ever,
  • 00:27:00.588 --> 00:27:02.157
  • Part of it because of our eternal work,
  • 00:27:02.157 --> 00:27:04.159
  • But also because in this moment there is a hunger,
  • 00:27:04.159 --> 00:27:07.062
  • An exhaustion and a desperation for final truth.
  • 00:27:07.062 --> 00:27:11.132
  • That's next week
  • 00:27:11.599 --> 00:27:15.670
  • This has been a production of coral ridge ministries
  • 00:27:16.838 --> 00:27:16.838