What do you think the average person in this country who is not a Christian would say if they were asked,
describe your opinion of a Christian?
How would you describe Christians?
Now think about it.
We're talking about the average person in this world, in this country, who is not a believer.
They don't go to church.
How would they describe Christians?
Now I want you to think for a moment, there's a lot of people who do not know Christians.
And here in the South we may think, well everybody, even non-believers, even atheists know a lot of Christians.
Everyone does not.
Many people live and function in circles of unbelievers.
So what they know about Christians is what they hear, what they read, what they see from a distance maybe.
Well according to Tom Rainer, the former president of the Southern Baptist Convention's Lifeway Christian Resources and Lifeway Research.
His research teams found this response of non-Christians when asked, what do you think about Christians?
Rainer and his team summarized it like this.
Christians are against more things than they are for.
All the responses that they got, they described it this way.
Christians are against more things than they are for.
That's how unbelievers think.
Now Rainer quotes one unbeliever in how they responded to the survey.
Look at it.
It just seems to me Christians are mad at the world and mad at each other.
They are so negative.
They seem unhappy.
I have no desire to be like them and stay upset all the time.
Now that's just an opinion.
What somebody thinks.
Let's go a step further.
How do you think most non-Christians would describe Christians right now
as they observe our attitudes, words and actions during this year's election?
What do or would unbelievers around here say about our church?
Now when I say our church, that's us.
What would they say about me if they've heard me preach over the past three months?
And then what would they say about you if they've had a few conversations with you
about what's going on right now?
About the political landscape.
Now hold that thought.
Hold that for a moment.
I want to switch gears and ask another question.
If you could use only three words to describe how the Lord
wants people to view us as Christians,
what would those three words be?
Now just think.
What would Jesus or how would Jesus want people to describe us, His followers?
And let's use three words.
In terms of our character, our speech, the way we interact with them.
Well I think a strong case can be made from the life and teaching of Jesus for these three words.
Love, grace, and truth.
Now I am positive, absolutely sure that love is at the top of the list
because that's what Jesus actually said in John chapter 13.
Look at this.
This is how Jesus wants us to be known.
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another.
Just as I have loved you, you also are loved one another.
By this all people will know that you are my disciples
if you have love for one another.
No doubt is there.
Our Lord and Savior has called us to be known
for demonstrating love
really in everything that we do
but especially for one another.
I think that applies to
our discussions of issues.
The way that we present our views
defend our views
politically even.
Now you might scratch your head
think for a moment
you can't do that.
You can't discuss politics.
You can't discuss the issues of today
with an attitude of love.
Well
it's hard.
I agree.
But it's not
impossible
when you understand
biblical love
Jesus did it.
He perfectly demonstrated
the qualities of grace and truth
throughout his life
here on earth
as John tells us
in the first chapter of his gospel.
If you would turn to John chapter 1
because we're going to look there this morning
and as you're turning
I want to point out some things.
Over the past three months
we in these studies
on Sunday morning
we have looked at some of the most
controversial issues
of our day
from a biblical perspective.
I did a series
calling
Thinking Biblically
and we tried to think
biblically about
a lot of different
issues
hot button issues
of today.
I began
back in July
emphasizing how we need
to support
law enforcement.
God
has ordained
that government
Romans chapter 13
keep order
that
the government
punish
evildoers
wrongdoers
reward
good behavior.
We talked about how
law enforcement officers
they enforce that law.
They're the ones
actually on the ground
government agents
so to speak
to keep us safe
to punish
wrongdoers
lawbreakers
even to reward
those who do
what's right.
Well we looked at that
in light of all
that's going on
today.
We looked next
at a biblical view
of race
hot button issue
isn't it?
Well we looked at some
of the things the Bible
teaches about race.
Then we looked at the
evils of socialism
over about three weeks
how that is not
a system
that God
approves.
It's not how God
designed for people
to take care of
themselves and their
families.
We've also looked over
these past three months
at such issues
as the sinfulness
of homosexual
behavior.
How same-sex marriage
violates God's
design for marriage.
and how
transgenderism
is just not
real.
It's not how God
created people.
He created people
male and female.
Now
I tried to
address each of those
issues from a
biblical perspective
and I
make no
apologies
for any of those
messages.
I
affirm
each one.
As I prepared
this message
I thought about
saying
I support
every word
I said
but I
probably said
some words
I know
I let some
come out
that I wish
I could have
taken back
the words
but I
make no
apologies
for those
messages
and everything
we looked at
in scripture
it is true
it is right.
I affirm
each one.
I am glad
that they're
available online
for anyone
to see.
now
I know
that 90
something
percent
of this
church
believe
with me
what the
Bible
teaches
on these
issues
but I
also
know
that while
I was
excited
even zealous
at times
in preaching
on the truth
of God's word
about these
issues
I need
to be
equally
zealous
in preaching
it
in a loving
and a
gracious
way
because that's
what Jesus
did
I mean
he was
firm
hard
at times
called a
hypocrite
a hypocrite
but Jesus
that's the
loving thing
when you
point out
error
and evildoers
it's wrong
it's not
an act
of love
to let
it go
to pretend
something
does not
exist
Jesus
demonstrated
a perfect
balance
of love
grace
and truth
throughout
his life
throughout
his teaching
I want you
to see
where it
begins
or where
the description
begins
in John
chapter 4
and what I
want us to
do this
morning
is to see
what we
can learn
about
being the
Lord's
faithful
representatives
witnesses
in today's
culture
and doing
it
both
graciously
as well
as truthfully
John
1 14
and the
word became
flesh
and dwelt
among us
and we
have seen
his glory
glory
as of the
only son
from the
father
full of
grace
and truth
John
bore
witness
about him
and cried
out
this is
John
the Baptist
this was
he of
whom
I said
he who
comes
after me
ranks
before me
because he
was before
me
for from
his fullness
we have
all received
grace upon
grace
for the law
was given
through Moses
grace and
truth
came through
Jesus
let's think
together
what is
grace and
truth
that Jesus
demonstrated
that we're
to follow
suit with
let's look
at grace
first
outside the
New Testament
this word
in the first
century
this word
for grace
referred to
something that
caused
joy
it was used
to describe
something that
was attractive
in a person
something that
brought pleasure
to others
it could be a
simple thing
somebody's
gracious
their smile
brought joy
their
willing to
help
their
word of
wisdom
word of
comfort
just
whatever
outside the
New Testament
this word
grace
when John
was writing
it was used
to describe
something that
was just good
and positive
attractive
in another
person
he came
to have
the idea
of
a favor
or a
kindness
that was
done to
another
person
when New
Testament
scholar
Leon Morris
says that
this idea
is included
in the New
Testament
word
grace
but the
New Testament
emphasis
a different
aspect of
the word
undeserved
favor
more
specifically
the undeserved
favor of
God
you
are
aware
know
when you
talk about
grace
from the
Bible's
perspective
you're usually
talking about
God's
undeserved
favor
well when
scripture says
that Jesus
was full
of grace
it means
it does
mean that
he had a
winsome
personality
he was
kind
and loving
he demonstrated
such grace
to people
who did
not deserve
it
Jesus'
greatest
demonstration
of grace
though
is seen
in his
death
on the
cross
to save
undeserving
sinners
like you
and me
that's
also
the
father's
greatest
demonstration
of
grace
he sent
Jesus
into this
world
as
the
scripture
says
in
Romans
5
while
we
were
still
sinners
Christ
died
for us
so
Jesus
was full
of
grace
but
he
was
also
full
of
truth
look
at the
word
truth
we
usually
think
of that
simply
it's
the
opposite
of
faults
remember
those
true
faults
tests
in
school
well
that's
how
the
word
is
used
in
the
Bible
at
times
but
the
word
is
broader
in
the
Bible
the
word
truth
in
the
Bible
is
sometimes
translated
faithful
reliable
trustworthy
God
a lot
of times
is
referred
to
as
a
God
who
is
reliable
he's
faithful
he's
trustworthy
talking
about
he's
true
well
Jesus
described
God's
word
as
truth
in
John
chapter
17
John
17
is
Jesus
prayer
and
Jesus
in the
course
of
praying
said
your
word
talking
to
the
father
your
word
is
truth
that
should
give
us
confidence
when we
read
the
Bible
whenever
you
read
it
whenever
we
look
at
this
passage
this
morning
that
is
God's
faithful
reliable
and
trustworthy
word
now
get back
to
Jesus
when
the
scripture
says
that
Jesus
was
full
of
truth
it
means
that
he
embodied
he
demonstrated
and he
taught
the
reliable
faithful
trustworthy
truth
of
God
Jesus
was
always
full
of
both
grace
and
truth
he
balanced
them
both
in the
way that
he lived
the way
he interacted
with people
and in
things
that
he
taught
now
as
Christians
we are
followers
of
Jesus
he
is the
one
we are
to
become
like
God's
working
in us
to enable
us to
become
like
him
we
need
to
learn
to
balance
grace
and
truth
just
like
he
did
we
need
to
learn
to
balance
it
today
so
number
two
how
can
we
be
people
of
grace
and
truth
first
thing
I want
to
understand
is
we
cannot
on
our
own
we
will
struggle
and
everyone
in
this
room
you
have
a
tendency
to
be
more
the
person
of
truth
or
more
the
person
of
grace
but
the
idea
is
we
need
to
be
both
just
as
Jesus
was
both
by
the
power
of
the
Spirit
of
God
who
lives
within
us
we
can
develop
more
balance
if
you're
struggling
with
grace
by
God's
grace
help
enablement
you can
become
more
gracious
you can
learn to
speak the
truth in
love
so to
speak
but in
order for
that to
happen
we've got
first of
all right
now start
by admitting
admitting where
we are out
of balance
some of
us
in this
room
we are
more
focused
on
truth
to
the
neglect
of
grace
some
of us
know
this
very
well
some
of
us
maybe
don't
even
worry
about
it
because
we
think
truth
is
so
much
more
important
some
of
us
we
like
to
emphasize
and
talk
about
the
issues
of
this
that
I've
been
looking
at
the
last
three
months
some
of
us
like
to
really
emphasize
the
sinfulness
of
same
sex
marriage
we
like
to
really
major
on
what's
wrong
in
this
country
in
other
people's
lives
and
just
really
hammer
it
home
with
no
thought
of
grace
of
mercy
of
showing
love
to
those
who
disagree
that
can
make
us
come
across
as
harsh
as
angry
that
can
cause
some
people
to
think
we
hate
the
sinner
just
like
we
hate
the
sin
a
commitment
to
truth
with
no
grace
turns
people
against
the
Christian
faith
it's
not
enough
just
to
be
right
just
to
believe
right
think
right
speak
right
condemn
what's
wrong
that
can
turn
a lot
of
people
off
as
Tom
Rainer's
research
pointed
out
that
can
turn
a lot
of
people
just
close
the
door
to
their
even
thinking
about
becoming
a follower
of
Jesus
now
in
this
room
there
are
other
people
who
are
more
focused
on
grace
to
the
neglect
of
truth
some
people
in
this
room
live
in
fear
of
offending
someone
else
they
never
want
to
ruffle
anybody's
feathers
and so
in their
attempt
to never
offend
they
avoid
the truth
some
people
only focus
on being
gracious
and no
matter what
they're not
going to take
a stand
they're not
going to
speak
up
there
are
times
when
in
trying
to be
gracious
trying
to never
cause
controversy
trying
to never
rock the
boat
there are
times
that
our
silence
can
make
people
think
we
disagree
with
the
truth
we
won't
stand
on
the
truth
that
misrepresents
what it
means to
be a
Christian
no
one
can
follow
Jesus
without
embracing
the
truth
of God's
word
and the
gospel
message
itself
is
offensive
Paul
talks
about
that
in
great
length
in
1 Corinthians
the
first
chapter
only
in
chapter
2
the
gospel
message
that
we
are
sinners
and
can't
save
ourselves
and the
only source
of salvation
is
Jesus
who died
on a
cross
and arose
from the
grave
Paul
said
that's
foolishness
to
pagans
the
gospel
is
offensive
the
truth
of the
word
of
God
in
many
ways
is
offensive
to
today's
culture
so
what I
want us
to see
is
you
cannot
ignore
the
truth
try to
distance
yourself
from
what the
Bible
says
is
clearly
right
and
wrong
and be
a
faithful
follower
of
Jesus
but
at the
same
time
now
we're
talking
about
balance
we've
got to
be
people
of
grace
and
truth
just
as
an
airplane
needs
two
wings
to
fly
Christians
and
churches
need
the
two
wings
of
grace
and
truth
in
order
for
the
gospel
to
fly
as
God
intends
for it
to
right
now
we
in this
room
we need
to ask
God
to help
us
to be
both
a
person
of
grace
and
a
person
of
truth
here's
a
thought
on how
to do
that
we need
to learn
to look
at
people
as
Jesus
did
Jesus
looked
at
people
with
love
compassion
with
mercy
we need
to understand
that no
one is
beyond
God's
ability
to
save
to
change
to
forgive
no
one is
beyond
God's
ability
to
make
a
child
of
God
grace
so
we
can't
just
write
people
off
and
that
applies
to
people
in
any
kind
of
sinful
lifestyle
no
one is
beyond
the
reach
of
God's
grace
you know
many
people
like
the
hymn
amazing
grace
for a
lot
of
people
it's
their
favorite
one
of
the
hymns
that
more
people
know
than
any
other
probably
well
if
we
really
believe
what
we
sing
when
we
sing
it
if
we
really
believe
we
need
to
act
like
it
we
need
to
never
write
anybody
off
think
no
one
can
be
touched
by
God
changed
by
God
and
made
a
Christian
in
fact
we
need
to
be
channels
of
God's
grace
and
God's
mercy
for
people
you know
many
times
God
works
through
our
witness
our
example
our
words
our
encouragement
maybe
even
our
confrontation
so we
need to
be people
who
to be
gracious
we need
to look
at
people
as
Jesus
did
through
these
eyes
of
grace
and
mercy
number
two
we need
to look
at
life
as
Jesus
did
according
to the
truth
of
God's
word
we need
to
understand
that no
one
is
exempt
from
living
life
the way
God
describes
it
in
his
word
every
human
being
on the
face
of
the
earth
is
going
to
stand
before
God
on
judgment
day
and
they're
going
to
give
an
accounting
of
their
life
and
God's
going
to
evaluate
it
based
on
the
truth
of
his
word
the
moral
principles
ethical
principles
of
his
word
everybody's
going
to be
evaluated
according
to
their
relationship
with
Jesus
but
the
Bible
says
much
about
we're
going
to
be
evaluated
according
to
how
we've
lived
and
the
standard
is
revealed
in
God's
word
now
what I
want to
ask you
to do
this
morning
admit
where
you
are
on
this
continuum
of
grace
and
truth
I
want to
ask
you
to
make
a
commitment
with
God's
help
to
become
a more
balanced
person
and be
both
gracious
and
truthful
let's
just be
more
specific
now
some
in this
room
need to
focus
more
on
being
a
person
of
grace
I'm
in
that
category
I
know
that
a lot
of you
in that
category
you know
that
we have
a tendency
sometimes
to focus
so much
on
the truth
on what
we know
is right
that we
just
we're not
gracious
about it
here's
a thing
we need
to realize
we can
be
right
about a
lot of
things
but because
we emphasize
the truth
in such
a harsh
unloving
kind of
way
we don't
have the
effect on
people that
we want
to have
we don't
help people
come along
and embrace
the truth
not because
of what
we believe
but the
way we
express
it
the way
we don't
listen to
other
people
the way
we don't
try to
be gracious
in maybe
convincing
them
and that
may be
the case
in your
home
or where
you work
your friends
at school
truth is
sometimes
we can
turn people
against
the truth
because of
our lack
of grace
our lack
of mercy
our lack
of love
I want to
challenge you
if this is
your problem
you're all
about the
truth
you're all
about what's
right
to the
neglect of
grace
focus more
on being
gracious
ask God
to help
you to
see it
ask God
to help
you see
how you
turn
people
off
not
because of
the truth
but the
way you
portray
or speak
about the
truth
and keep
in mind
that grace
is undeserved
you don't
wait until
somebody
deserves it
to show
them this
kind of
grace
you give
it while
they're still
undeserving
just like
God
shows it
to us
now
some
people
in this
room
you need
to become
more committed
to the
truth
think about
it
are you so
gracious
that you
don't ever
want to
rock the
boat
in any
situation
are you
reluctant
to ever
take a
stand
on a
controversial
issue
because you're
afraid of
offending
someone
do the
people you
work with
people you
go to
school with
people you
associate
with
do they
not know
where you
stand on
the issues
of today
because you'll
never speak
up
you'll never
let it be
known
because you
just can't
stand
controversy
you're afraid
of potential
conflict
I want to
encourage you
believe
God's
word
and don't
be ashamed
to believe
it
to talk
about it
to live
it
when the
Bible is
clear
and I
want to
emphasize
this
when the
Bible is
clear
about
something
being
morally
right
or wrong
you can't
be afraid
to embrace
that
you can't
be afraid
somebody's
going to
find out
about that
you've got
to learn
to believe
the truth
take a
stand on
the truth
and when
needed
speak that
truth in
love as
Paul tells
us to
God's goal
for every
Christian
is that we
become like
Jesus
demonstrating a
balance
grace and
truth
God will
use us
as people
of both
grace and
truth
to be
effective
witnesses
for him
to be
effective
representatives
of him
everywhere we
go in
life
this way
God will
use a
church
that is
full of
grace and
truth
to impact
a community
if you
are a
Christian
I want you
to ask the
Lord right
now to
help you
develop
this balance
of grace
and truth
in your
attitude
that's where
it begins
in your
heart
within you
and then
in your
words
the way
you talk
about people
the way
you talk
about issues
the way
you debate
and there's
nothing wrong
with the
debating
there's
nothing wrong
with discussions
there's nothing
wrong with
having
discussions
where the
other person
disagrees
with you
that is
actually
healthy
it used
to be a
part of
the political
process
in our
country
to have
civil
debate
to speak
and listen
and you
didn't have
to agree
but you
heard
facts
you heard
reality
not little
sound bites
designed
to cut
people down
or to
avoid
serious
discussions
as is
the case
today
we
me
all of
us
we need
to ask
God
to help
us develop
this balance
and I want
to encourage
you in
this politically
hostile
time
don't compromise
the truth
don't be
afraid of
it
don't run
from it
but at the
same time
don't beat
people over
the head
with it
don't cut
people with
it
speak the
truth in
love
be
gracious
allow
people to
agree to
disagree
if you're
not a
Christian
I want
to encourage
you this
morning to
come to
Christ
now
admit
your need
of a
Savior
admit
your sin
and repent
of it
turn from
it
put your
trust in
Jesus
that his
death on
the cross
was for
you
commit
your life
to him
commit
your life
to being
a person
of grace
and truth
like him
with the
help that
he'll give
you
I want
to stress
it again
it is only
with God's
help
that we
can live
as people
of grace
and truth
both
so right
now
listen to
the Lord
Lord
because he's
speaking to
just about
everybody in
this room
I need to
be more
a person
who will
stand for
the truth
or I
need to
be a person
who will
speak the
truth
and love
more
I need
to be
more
gracious
in the
way that
I live
out
and talk
about
the truth
so listen
to the
Lord
now
ask him
to help
you
and respond
to him
in whatever
it is he's
calling you
to do
would you
pray with
me
Father
help us
right now
to hear
you
to listen
carefully
help us
to see
dear God
that it's
not enough
just to
believe and
stand for
the truth
of your
word
we need
to do
it the
right
way
Lord help
me as
pastor of
this church
not to
speak the
truth
in anger
and frustration
help us
as a
church
not to
speak of
the truth
promote
and defend
the truth
in ungracious
unloving
kinds of
ways
Lord help
every individual
in this
room
to not
misinterpret
boldness
for the
truth of
your
word
with
anger
bad
attitudes
hateful
spirits
as they
discuss
and
defend
the
faith
Lord I
pray for
people in
this room
who
who are
gracious
but
afraid
to
offend
when it
comes to
standing
upon
your
word
help them
dear God
to know
that silence
while
is great
on many
occasions
it's not
always
good
it's not
always
healthy
help them
to know
dear God
while they
should never
seek
controversy
sometimes
being faithful
to the
truth
is
controversial
even
costly
Lord you
know where
each of
us
needs
work
to achieve
this
balance
Lord we
know we'll
struggle with
it till
we die
or Jesus
comes back
but help us
not to
accept
just totally
focusing on
either
extreme
help us
to desire
right now
and then put
forth the
effort day
by day
situation
by situation
to be
both
people of
grace
and truth
just like
Jesus
and let's
just in
attitude of
prayer listen
to the
Lord and
respond to
him
do what
he's calling
you to do
right now
make that
kind of
commitment
go to
God
kind of