WEBVTT 00:00:00.740 --> 00:00:02.780 All right, good morning. 00:00:04.860 --> 00:00:09.160 Today, as we continue our preaching series in the book of 1 Peter, we come to a passage 00:00:09.160 --> 00:00:16.179 where Peter gives instruction to Christian slaves on how they are to live as Christians 00:00:16.179 --> 00:00:18.100 under unjust masters. 00:00:18.940 --> 00:00:23.820 The passage surfaces important issues for our church to look at with clear eyes and 00:00:23.820 --> 00:00:29.839 humble hearts, issues of slavery and freedom, issues of suffering and injustice, of power 00:00:29.839 --> 00:00:36.000 and authority, and it shows us how Peter points us to the gospel in the midst of these discussions. 00:00:37.380 --> 00:00:38.899 This is not an easy topic. 00:00:39.179 --> 00:00:42.600 I was talking with Katie last night, and she gave me permission to share her comment. 00:00:42.719 --> 00:00:47.100 She said, wow, must be pretty controversial to be worse than telling Americans to submit 00:00:47.100 --> 00:00:47.740 to the government. 00:00:48.039 --> 00:00:50.219 If you were here last week, that's what we preached on. 00:00:50.659 --> 00:00:54.100 That was meant to be funny, lighten the load a little bit. 00:00:54.379 --> 00:00:55.359 Okay, here we go. 00:00:55.359 --> 00:01:02.019 So, I have two things to say as we begin this. 00:01:03.200 --> 00:01:12.700 One, I want to acknowledge I'm a white male who has been born in a world and in a life 00:01:12.700 --> 00:01:16.939 where I have not been the recipient of any hatred or discrimination because of the color 00:01:16.939 --> 00:01:17.620 of my skin. 00:01:18.079 --> 00:01:21.960 And I have enjoyed material blessings and advantage that others have not had. 00:01:21.959 --> 00:01:27.639 And so, I come to you this morning in some ways feeling deeply unqualified to preach about 00:01:27.639 --> 00:01:29.519 the topic of suffering and slavery. 00:01:31.359 --> 00:01:36.579 Secondly, I want to acknowledge that we as a church are affiliated with the Southern Baptist 00:01:36.579 --> 00:01:40.599 Church, have been for the entire history of this church. 00:01:41.280 --> 00:01:46.359 The Southern Baptist denomination was founded in the 1850s by men who were slave owners and 00:01:46.359 --> 00:01:50.139 who defended as Christians the institution of slavery. 00:01:50.140 --> 00:01:58.180 And the history of the SBC is that since its beginning, it has accommodated or promoted racism 00:01:58.180 --> 00:01:59.500 in many ways. 00:02:00.500 --> 00:02:06.319 While there has been recently a recognition of and statements of repentance from this sin, 00:02:07.060 --> 00:02:09.159 this history still has effects in our present. 00:02:10.039 --> 00:02:12.719 I want to humbly acknowledge that this morning. 00:02:13.960 --> 00:02:18.379 So, how do we approach a text like this given these things? 00:02:18.379 --> 00:02:27.599 Well, with humble hearts, with repentant hearts, with a recognition of unworthiness, but also 00:02:27.599 --> 00:02:28.060 a hope. 00:02:28.560 --> 00:02:36.240 A hope that as we have always done here at Trinity, as we come to the Bible, as we come to see 00:02:36.240 --> 00:02:43.780 what God's Word has to say to us, that with compassion and courage, with humility and conviction, 00:02:43.780 --> 00:02:49.319 that God might use me to direct you to the truth of God's Word this morning. 00:02:52.199 --> 00:02:53.360 With that, let's pray. 00:02:53.360 --> 00:03:01.660 God, our Father, the Father of every family on earth, and Jesus, our Savior, who came to 00:03:01.660 --> 00:03:06.760 redeem sinners from every tongue and tribe and nation, have mercy on us this morning. 00:03:07.780 --> 00:03:10.580 May we sit under your Word this morning with humility. 00:03:11.540 --> 00:03:12.660 May you open our ears. 00:03:13.700 --> 00:03:14.820 You give us a soft heart. 00:03:14.819 --> 00:03:19.879 And may you, by your Spirit, show us your truth this morning. 00:03:21.239 --> 00:03:24.199 Lord, call us to a life that reflects that truth. 00:03:25.079 --> 00:03:26.919 We pray these things in Jesus' name. 00:03:28.159 --> 00:03:28.479 Amen. 00:03:29.519 --> 00:03:31.479 So, with that, we're going to go ahead and read the passage. 00:03:31.680 --> 00:03:33.379 We're in 1 Peter chapter 2. 00:03:33.479 --> 00:03:38.560 That's page 954 in your Pew Bible, if you're reading along in the Pew Bible. 00:03:38.560 --> 00:03:43.659 1 Peter chapter 2, starting in verse 18, is where we're going to start this morning. 00:03:44.939 --> 00:03:50.000 So, let's read the passage, and then we're going to dive in with what we're going to talk 00:03:50.000 --> 00:03:50.659 about this morning. 00:03:51.180 --> 00:03:52.740 So, let's read this together. 00:03:53.659 --> 00:03:57.939 Servants, which could be also translated slaves. 00:03:58.080 --> 00:04:00.240 The ESV often uses bond servant. 00:04:01.620 --> 00:04:07.400 Be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle, but also to 00:04:07.400 --> 00:04:08.020 the unjust. 00:04:08.560 --> 00:04:13.300 For this is a gracious thing, when mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering 00:04:13.300 --> 00:04:14.000 unjustly. 00:04:14.879 --> 00:04:18.860 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? 00:04:20.000 --> 00:04:24.300 But if, when you do good and suffer for it, you endure? 00:04:24.840 --> 00:04:27.100 This is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 00:04:28.000 --> 00:04:34.120 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example 00:04:34.120 --> 00:04:36.199 so that you might follow in his steps. 00:04:36.199 --> 00:04:38.379 He committed no sin. 00:04:38.939 --> 00:04:41.039 Neither was deceit found in his mouth. 00:04:41.360 --> 00:04:44.120 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return. 00:04:44.219 --> 00:04:50.839 When he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges 00:04:50.839 --> 00:04:51.500 justly. 00:04:51.500 --> 00:04:56.959 He himself bore our sin in his body on the tree. 00:04:56.959 --> 00:05:26.959 00:05:26.959 --> 00:05:32.079 need to address some issues. There are broader issues that may affect how we think about and how 00:05:32.079 --> 00:05:37.680 we come to this text. So as with last week, this week's sermon is going to be slightly more topical. 00:05:38.039 --> 00:05:42.659 We're going to get to the text, but as opposed to last week, we're going to have the text at the end 00:05:42.659 --> 00:05:48.560 of our message. We're going to try to clear our way so that we can think clearly about what this 00:05:48.560 --> 00:05:54.179 passage says by talking about some of the bigger issues that probably are raising in your mind as 00:05:54.180 --> 00:05:59.660 they do in mine as I read this. So we're going to spend a few minutes talking about things we don't 00:05:59.660 --> 00:06:04.740 usually talk about. We're going to be talking about slavery and race in the United States, 00:06:05.079 --> 00:06:09.519 and we're going to be talking about slavery and race in the Bible, and then we're going to come 00:06:09.519 --> 00:06:15.600 back to this passage and seek to address it. So that's where we're going. Hang in there, 00:06:15.699 --> 00:06:20.980 buckle your seatbelts, as I've told you a couple times. Here we go. First of all, we need to 00:06:20.980 --> 00:06:26.920 recognize that the issue of slavery in U.S. history is a particularly fraught and difficult 00:06:26.920 --> 00:06:32.420 one. And I recognize because of our church, not all of you are U.S. citizens or come from the U.S., 00:06:32.420 --> 00:06:38.040 and this is foreign to you. This is outside of your experience. But we need to be able to speak 00:06:38.040 --> 00:06:45.960 the truth about these things. And I am not an expert here by any means. But we need to acknowledge 00:06:45.959 --> 00:06:51.560 these things publicly because often they have been hidden or they have been diminished and made small. 00:06:52.060 --> 00:06:57.399 And I also want to say this is also not the whole history of the American country, but this is a 00:06:57.399 --> 00:07:03.939 particular history of how slavery has been a part of it. So let's look at that together. In 1819, the 00:07:03.939 --> 00:07:11.959 first ships that brought slaves from Africa arrived in the United States. The nature of slavery in America 00:07:11.959 --> 00:07:19.659 has been race-based chattel slavery. Race-based, that is, Africans, because of their black skin, 00:07:19.919 --> 00:07:26.819 were taken from Africa and brought over here. And then them and their descendants were held as slaves. 00:07:27.079 --> 00:07:31.219 And they were chattel slaves, which means that they were property of their owners. They were not 00:07:31.219 --> 00:07:39.859 treated as people. They were treated as commodities. In 1776, America became a nation. And yet, even during 00:07:39.860 --> 00:07:44.879 that time, many founding fathers were slave owners. Some of them were even Christian slave owners. 00:07:45.540 --> 00:07:51.920 And slavery continued to be supported by the law and grew increasingly as central to the economy of 00:07:51.920 --> 00:08:01.100 our nation, particularly in the South. This led to, ultimately, a crisis in 1861. The Civil War was fought 00:08:01.100 --> 00:08:10.320 primarily, although not exclusively, over the issue of slavery. In 1863, President Lincoln passed the 00:08:10.320 --> 00:08:17.080 Emancipation Proclamation, freeing all slaves. And in 1865, the 13th Amendment was added to the Constitution. 00:08:18.120 --> 00:08:26.439 And yet, even when the legal support of slavery ended, during the period that followed Reconstruction, 00:08:26.439 --> 00:08:34.860 the establishment of principles in our country, whereby Jim Crow laws that supported a separate but 00:08:34.860 --> 00:08:43.740 equal legal standing in our society continued for the next 100 years. The Civil Rights Movement in 00:08:43.740 --> 00:08:52.820 1954 to 1968, led by Martin Luther King and others, sought to address this in a new way. The Civil Rights 00:08:52.820 --> 00:09:01.660 Act was passed in 1865, seeking to abolish those separate but equal laws and creating a platform for 00:09:01.660 --> 00:09:12.760 legal equality in new ways. And yet, the problems of race relations and racism continue in our world. 00:09:14.360 --> 00:09:21.280 Hasn't taken a lot to see this in the last five years, whether it be the death of George Floyd at the 00:09:21.279 --> 00:09:29.500 hands of police, whether it be sociological studies that show the ongoing ways in which racial profiling 00:09:29.500 --> 00:09:41.279 and disparity of application of law continues to be an issue. Now, I say this, and I want to 00:09:41.279 --> 00:09:46.120 acknowledge something else that's really important here. The conversation of race in America has 00:09:46.120 --> 00:09:52.379 primarily been on the axis of black and white. But there are a lot of other axes upon which people 00:09:52.379 --> 00:10:01.080 have discriminated against others from Asian, from Latin American, and Native American backgrounds. 00:10:01.259 --> 00:10:06.659 So we want to recognize this isn't just this, but this has been the primary narrative, one of the primary 00:10:06.659 --> 00:10:12.019 forces in American society that we need to focus on and we need to recognize. 00:10:12.019 --> 00:10:17.759 We need to see that this has been a part of our American society for a long time. 00:10:19.579 --> 00:10:25.240 And lest you think that I'm sitting here saying, what a terrible society we live in, thank God that the church 00:10:25.240 --> 00:10:35.220 is different. It's not. The history of defending, or at least accepting, or being passive in the face of slavery, 00:10:35.220 --> 00:10:42.300 has been a hallmark of the American church since the beginning. In early days, slaves were often forbidden 00:10:42.300 --> 00:10:52.740 to attend church. They were not allowed to by their masters. This created a clandestine black church that 00:10:52.740 --> 00:10:58.639 slaves would meet in secret hiding places in the middle of the night, and created a culture that 00:10:58.639 --> 00:11:06.960 developed a black church tradition with spirituals and hymns. And we need to recognize that many 00:11:06.960 --> 00:11:13.819 theologians and slave owners use the very passage that we are looking at this morning to defend the 00:11:13.819 --> 00:11:19.840 institution of slavery, preaching that their slaves were bound to obey them based on this passage. 00:11:21.799 --> 00:11:27.700 Furthermore, many, even abolitionist Christians, that is, those who fought against the institution of 00:11:27.700 --> 00:11:33.740 slavery, say in the 1850s and 1860s, did not actually support an integrated church. 00:11:35.480 --> 00:11:42.700 Northern churches did not welcome blacks into their white churches in the Civil War and post-Civil War era. 00:11:43.780 --> 00:11:50.020 If you haven't read Martin Luther King Jr.'s letter, famous letter, the letter from a Birmingham jail, 00:11:50.020 --> 00:11:57.379 you ought to read it. He laments the lack of support for civil rights among 00:11:57.379 --> 00:12:05.779 white pastors. And while there have been counter examples along the way, and this is not the whole story of the church, 00:12:06.820 --> 00:12:13.159 this is broadly and predominantly the reality and the history. 00:12:14.500 --> 00:12:21.960 And so we come to our present moment today. And friends, I was heartbroken as I spent time exploring and reading 00:12:21.960 --> 00:12:32.300 and thinking, preparing for this sermon, as I heard some of my black brothers and sisters express the pain 00:12:32.300 --> 00:12:34.700 and the frustration 00:12:34.700 --> 00:12:37.920 that they feel 00:12:37.920 --> 00:12:39.300 even today, 00:12:40.180 --> 00:12:44.160 even within the church, even with people that I know and trust and respect, 00:12:44.159 --> 00:12:50.919 seeing them torn apart because of these issues that continue to feel unaddressed. 00:12:51.919 --> 00:12:55.860 Tensions and divisions and factionalism are growing in it. 00:12:57.860 --> 00:13:06.740 And my fear is that this issue will tear us apart as a church if we don't grow in how we respond to it. 00:13:06.740 --> 00:13:17.840 We have to recognize this history because it shapes our presuppositions and our values and the questions that we bring as we come to a text like this. 00:13:18.299 --> 00:13:19.440 And this is normal. 00:13:20.320 --> 00:13:23.340 Everyone brings their cultural perspective to a text. 00:13:23.580 --> 00:13:28.799 Everyone brings questions that are going to come out of how they have lived and what they've experienced. 00:13:28.799 --> 00:13:33.299 We need to be honest about our past. 00:13:33.419 --> 00:13:36.620 We need to recognize the reality about our present 00:13:36.620 --> 00:13:38.839 and see how it might affect us. 00:13:39.099 --> 00:13:41.179 And then we need to go and listen to one another 00:13:41.179 --> 00:13:43.919 who come from different perspectives and different backgrounds. 00:13:44.879 --> 00:13:50.959 Not because any perspective has a privilege or more right perspective, 00:13:51.159 --> 00:13:54.959 but so that we might refine one another in our understanding of the Bible. 00:13:54.960 --> 00:13:59.840 So we might listen to one another so that we can ultimately get closer 00:13:59.840 --> 00:14:03.320 to a clear understanding of the truth of God's Word. 00:14:06.820 --> 00:14:09.700 So if that's the backdrop of our cultural moment, 00:14:10.060 --> 00:14:15.800 let's then look at the Bible broadly to see what does it say about slavery and race. 00:14:17.500 --> 00:14:18.879 I'm going to start with race. 00:14:19.620 --> 00:14:20.740 We're going to go fast. 00:14:21.360 --> 00:14:23.759 Daniel's going to try to keep up and put some slides up 00:14:23.759 --> 00:14:25.639 so you can see some texts. 00:14:26.279 --> 00:14:28.039 This is going to be kind of like last week. 00:14:28.840 --> 00:14:30.080 We're going to go through it quickly. 00:14:30.240 --> 00:14:33.700 First of all, principle, the dignity and worth of every human life 00:14:33.700 --> 00:14:36.360 is affirmed as being made in God's image. 00:14:36.480 --> 00:14:40.439 So Genesis 1, 27 says God created man in his image. 00:14:40.539 --> 00:14:43.039 In the image of God, he created them, male and female. 00:14:43.379 --> 00:14:44.539 He created them. 00:14:46.720 --> 00:14:49.559 And every human being is descended from Adam and Eve. 00:14:49.559 --> 00:14:53.039 And all of us have this image of God. 00:14:53.779 --> 00:14:57.779 And so we see even after the fall and after the flood and the judgment on the Word, 00:14:58.219 --> 00:15:01.819 in God's interaction with Noah in Genesis 9, 6, 00:15:02.259 --> 00:15:03.699 God reminds Noah this, 00:15:03.759 --> 00:15:05.539 whoever sheds the blood of man, 00:15:05.679 --> 00:15:07.839 by man shall his blood be shed, 00:15:08.079 --> 00:15:10.339 for God made man in his own image. 00:15:10.839 --> 00:15:12.579 He reaffirmed this principle. 00:15:12.580 --> 00:15:15.840 But then we see in the Bible storyline, 00:15:16.340 --> 00:15:17.180 the second principle, 00:15:17.360 --> 00:15:21.600 which is that we live in a world where division over race and culture is a part of the fall. 00:15:22.120 --> 00:15:23.360 In Genesis 11, 00:15:23.759 --> 00:15:27.660 the Tower of Babel talks about how God scattered the people 00:15:27.660 --> 00:15:32.500 and diversified them in their race and in their culture. 00:15:33.460 --> 00:15:36.280 And the racial part there is not exceedingly clear, 00:15:36.279 --> 00:15:38.639 but what it seems is that from there, 00:15:38.759 --> 00:15:40.159 from a unified humanity, 00:15:40.159 --> 00:15:41.879 there's then a diaspora, 00:15:42.139 --> 00:15:45.919 which then creates this mosaic of human cultures. 00:15:46.120 --> 00:15:49.439 Every tribe and tongue and nation is the language the Bible uses for it. 00:15:50.039 --> 00:15:50.319 Right? 00:15:51.899 --> 00:15:57.179 We often read the Bible through the lens of the culture we've come from, 00:15:57.240 --> 00:15:58.220 through a monoculture. 00:15:58.539 --> 00:16:01.720 We need to recognize there's this diversity of culture 00:16:01.720 --> 00:16:07.399 that God allowed to happen and in fact meant to happen 00:16:07.399 --> 00:16:10.460 because as we keep going, 00:16:10.560 --> 00:16:15.000 we see that God's redemptive purpose has been for all people, 00:16:15.360 --> 00:16:15.980 always. 00:16:17.000 --> 00:16:19.120 As we shift from the Old Testament to the New Testament, 00:16:19.259 --> 00:16:20.519 we see that in the Old Testament, 00:16:20.660 --> 00:16:23.259 there were certain people who were brought into the nation of Israel. 00:16:23.560 --> 00:16:25.379 But as we get to the New Testament church, 00:16:25.379 --> 00:16:28.720 the New Testament church becomes a transnational reality 00:16:28.720 --> 00:16:33.500 of people not based on anything except for a single criteria, 00:16:34.139 --> 00:16:35.680 faith in Jesus Christ. 00:16:37.100 --> 00:16:38.259 And in Acts 2, 00:16:38.360 --> 00:16:39.480 we see the day of Pentecost, 00:16:39.580 --> 00:16:41.519 the Holy Spirit poured out on people 00:16:41.519 --> 00:16:44.820 from at least nine different nationalities and ethnicities, 00:16:45.200 --> 00:16:46.360 spoke different languages, 00:16:46.700 --> 00:16:49.120 and God called them to faith in Christ that day. 00:16:50.019 --> 00:16:51.759 And so we see the principle laid out 00:16:51.759 --> 00:16:56.060 in a place like Galatians chapter 3 verse 28, 00:16:56.059 --> 00:16:59.639 for as many of you were baptized into Christ, 00:16:59.719 --> 00:17:00.679 have put on Christ, 00:17:00.759 --> 00:17:02.659 there is neither Jew nor Greek, 00:17:03.359 --> 00:17:05.059 neither slave nor free. 00:17:05.559 --> 00:17:07.399 There is no male nor female, 00:17:07.799 --> 00:17:10.659 for you are all one in Christ. 00:17:12.379 --> 00:17:13.799 And in Ephesians 2, 00:17:14.220 --> 00:17:16.440 Paul even breaks this down even more. 00:17:16.500 --> 00:17:18.940 He's talking about the division between Jew and Gentile, 00:17:19.019 --> 00:17:21.319 which was a racial and religious division. 00:17:21.759 --> 00:17:22.639 And he says this, 00:17:22.640 --> 00:17:25.660 for he Christ himself is our peace, 00:17:25.700 --> 00:17:27.120 who has made us both one 00:17:27.120 --> 00:17:29.160 and has broken down in his flesh 00:17:29.160 --> 00:17:31.560 the dividing wall of hostility 00:17:31.560 --> 00:17:33.840 by abolishing the law of commandments 00:17:33.840 --> 00:17:35.080 expressed in ordinances 00:17:35.080 --> 00:17:37.160 that he might create in himself 00:17:37.160 --> 00:17:40.060 one new man in the place of two, 00:17:40.700 --> 00:17:41.900 so making peace 00:17:41.900 --> 00:17:44.280 and might reconcile us both to God 00:17:44.280 --> 00:17:45.880 in one body through the cross, 00:17:46.060 --> 00:17:48.500 thereby killing the hostility. 00:17:48.500 --> 00:17:50.119 And friends, 00:17:50.240 --> 00:17:54.019 all of this is headed towards a future glory 00:17:54.019 --> 00:17:56.880 that we see in the book of Revelation, 00:17:57.099 --> 00:17:59.279 chapter 7 verses 9 and 10, 00:18:00.420 --> 00:18:03.880 where the apostle John talks about this vision 00:18:03.880 --> 00:18:05.299 of the throne room of heaven. 00:18:06.039 --> 00:18:06.539 He says this, 00:18:06.599 --> 00:18:08.079 after this I looked and behold, 00:18:08.779 --> 00:18:12.019 a great multitude that no one could number, 00:18:12.460 --> 00:18:13.880 from every nation, 00:18:14.279 --> 00:18:16.940 from all tribes and peoples and languages, 00:18:16.940 --> 00:18:18.980 standing before the throne 00:18:18.980 --> 00:18:20.820 and before the lamb, 00:18:21.000 --> 00:18:22.340 clothed in white robes 00:18:22.340 --> 00:18:24.039 with palm branches in their hands 00:18:24.039 --> 00:18:26.340 and crying out with a loud voice, 00:18:27.019 --> 00:18:29.220 salvation belongs to our God 00:18:29.220 --> 00:18:30.880 who sits on the throne 00:18:30.880 --> 00:18:32.580 and to the lamb. 00:18:34.759 --> 00:18:35.580 So friends, 00:18:35.680 --> 00:18:38.059 this is the sweep of God's perspective 00:18:38.059 --> 00:18:39.940 that even as God created 00:18:39.940 --> 00:18:42.160 the diversity of peoples in the world, 00:18:42.519 --> 00:18:44.039 including racial diversity, 00:18:44.039 --> 00:18:47.019 his desire is to bring people together 00:18:47.019 --> 00:18:48.980 through the person of Christ 00:18:48.980 --> 00:18:51.299 so that there might be a unity of worship 00:18:51.299 --> 00:18:54.119 with this amazing diversity 00:18:54.119 --> 00:18:57.259 that gives greater glory to Christ, 00:18:58.559 --> 00:19:00.839 that gives greater glory to God. 00:19:01.379 --> 00:19:01.879 And this is the, 00:19:02.099 --> 00:19:05.420 so if this is the purpose that God has, 00:19:05.639 --> 00:19:08.319 for us to treat others differently 00:19:08.319 --> 00:19:10.139 based on race 00:19:10.140 --> 00:19:12.560 or on the privilege of my own race 00:19:12.560 --> 00:19:13.560 and culture 00:19:13.560 --> 00:19:18.100 denies God's creative and saving purposes. 00:19:20.040 --> 00:19:23.300 To the extent that the church has done this, 00:19:24.500 --> 00:19:28.080 to the extent that the church has been racist, 00:19:28.660 --> 00:19:30.080 we must repent of it. 00:19:30.700 --> 00:19:32.020 We must call it wrong. 00:19:32.759 --> 00:19:34.200 We must say there's no excuse. 00:19:35.060 --> 00:19:36.320 We must find a way forward. 00:19:36.319 --> 00:19:38.919 The Bible calls us to forsake it 00:19:38.919 --> 00:19:42.439 and to celebrate racial diversity 00:19:42.439 --> 00:19:43.539 in the body of Christ 00:19:43.539 --> 00:19:45.919 as an expression of God's glory. 00:19:48.079 --> 00:19:50.159 So if that's what the Bible says about slavery, 00:19:50.639 --> 00:19:51.139 or race, 00:19:51.240 --> 00:19:53.779 then what does the Bible say about slavery? 00:19:54.939 --> 00:19:56.579 Well, slavery in the Bible 00:19:56.579 --> 00:19:58.519 is referred to in a wide range. 00:19:58.619 --> 00:19:59.359 I'm really thankful. 00:20:00.099 --> 00:20:03.779 We have an early Christianity scholar, 00:20:03.939 --> 00:20:05.220 Tom, who's on our eldership. 00:20:05.220 --> 00:20:06.799 He gave me some great help in this, 00:20:07.279 --> 00:20:08.100 thinking through this. 00:20:08.500 --> 00:20:10.460 There was a lot of different kinds of slavery 00:20:10.460 --> 00:20:11.960 that were expressed in the Bible. 00:20:12.120 --> 00:20:14.660 Some of it was similar to what we talked about 00:20:14.660 --> 00:20:15.500 in American slavery, 00:20:15.680 --> 00:20:16.839 race-based chattel slavery. 00:20:17.100 --> 00:20:18.839 But there were also indentured servants. 00:20:19.120 --> 00:20:21.279 There were prisoners of war who became slaves. 00:20:21.660 --> 00:20:24.360 There were household servants, right? 00:20:24.440 --> 00:20:26.200 And it was a wide range of people. 00:20:26.600 --> 00:20:28.380 The Old Testament law seems, 00:20:28.660 --> 00:20:29.839 in the law in particular, 00:20:30.000 --> 00:20:32.720 seems to address mostly indentured servanthood 00:20:32.720 --> 00:20:34.500 or household servants, 00:20:34.500 --> 00:20:37.640 rather than the more harsh forms. 00:20:38.100 --> 00:20:41.860 But it doesn't mean that it was true freedom. 00:20:42.039 --> 00:20:42.960 It was still slavery. 00:20:43.180 --> 00:20:44.640 There was real issues there. 00:20:45.620 --> 00:20:46.940 In the New Testament, 00:20:47.259 --> 00:20:48.920 we're now under Roman law, 00:20:49.059 --> 00:20:51.019 and we see that there's a Roman slavery 00:20:51.019 --> 00:20:53.500 that was pretty hard. 00:20:54.279 --> 00:20:56.180 Often slaves were the spoils of war. 00:20:56.319 --> 00:20:57.579 They were the result of kidnapping. 00:20:57.579 --> 00:20:59.939 Some were born into slavery. 00:21:00.839 --> 00:21:02.939 And there was a provision or a way 00:21:02.939 --> 00:21:04.419 that people could sell themselves. 00:21:04.519 --> 00:21:05.819 This is indentured servanthood. 00:21:05.980 --> 00:21:07.220 Sell themselves into slavery. 00:21:07.579 --> 00:21:09.199 And there was some opportunity 00:21:09.199 --> 00:21:10.980 to buy yourself out of slavery, 00:21:11.119 --> 00:21:12.679 particularly if that was the case. 00:21:14.439 --> 00:21:15.980 So first century slavery, 00:21:16.139 --> 00:21:18.039 though typically not race-based, 00:21:18.759 --> 00:21:22.220 was still pretty brutal. 00:21:22.619 --> 00:21:25.480 As one New Testament scholar says, 00:21:25.480 --> 00:21:28.039 ancient slavery was not more humane 00:21:28.039 --> 00:21:29.539 than modern slavery. 00:21:30.779 --> 00:21:32.860 So we don't want to make a huge distinction, 00:21:33.019 --> 00:21:33.839 but we do want to say, 00:21:33.980 --> 00:21:35.019 let's think a little bit 00:21:35.019 --> 00:21:36.700 with a little bit of nuance about it. 00:21:37.440 --> 00:21:38.900 So what does the Bible say 00:21:38.900 --> 00:21:40.360 about slavery as an institution? 00:21:40.980 --> 00:21:42.480 There are places where the slavery 00:21:42.480 --> 00:21:43.920 is referred to as an institution. 00:21:44.120 --> 00:21:45.360 So in Exodus 20, 00:21:45.460 --> 00:21:46.660 in the Ten Commandments, 00:21:46.700 --> 00:21:47.819 it talks about households. 00:21:48.259 --> 00:21:49.980 It talks about you and your children 00:21:49.980 --> 00:21:52.740 and your servants or slaves. 00:21:54.539 --> 00:21:57.099 We see this as well in the New Testament 00:21:57.099 --> 00:21:59.660 in these what are called household codes. 00:21:59.980 --> 00:22:01.539 First Peter 2 is one of them. 00:22:01.860 --> 00:22:04.640 We also see them in Colossians 3, 00:22:05.039 --> 00:22:06.680 22 through 4, 1, 00:22:06.759 --> 00:22:09.539 and Ephesians 6, 5 through 9, 00:22:09.660 --> 00:22:11.839 where it refers to the relationship 00:22:11.839 --> 00:22:14.200 between slaves and masters. 00:22:14.200 --> 00:22:19.279 Now while these are references 00:22:19.279 --> 00:22:20.680 to the institution, 00:22:21.080 --> 00:22:24.140 there is not a strong support of 00:22:24.140 --> 00:22:27.059 or command to be involved in this. 00:22:27.700 --> 00:22:28.500 And in fact, 00:22:28.720 --> 00:22:30.539 the overwhelming pattern of the Bible 00:22:30.539 --> 00:22:32.299 runs the other direction. 00:22:32.440 --> 00:22:34.000 It runs away from slavery. 00:22:34.940 --> 00:22:37.779 And so even as in Exodus, 00:22:38.000 --> 00:22:40.059 God reveals himself in the Ten Commandments 00:22:40.059 --> 00:22:43.039 and explains and refers to slavery, 00:22:43.039 --> 00:22:44.500 he starts with this, 00:22:44.619 --> 00:22:46.279 Exodus 20, verse 2. 00:22:46.799 --> 00:22:48.359 I am the Lord your God 00:22:48.359 --> 00:22:50.379 who brought you out of the land of Egypt, 00:22:50.879 --> 00:22:53.139 out of the house of slavery. 00:22:54.259 --> 00:22:57.139 And the Exodus is this monumental theme 00:22:57.139 --> 00:22:57.980 in the Old Testament. 00:22:58.180 --> 00:23:00.619 This was the greatest work of God's redemption 00:23:00.619 --> 00:23:02.960 to free people from slavery. 00:23:04.940 --> 00:23:06.599 And we see other places 00:23:06.599 --> 00:23:07.940 in the Old Testament law, 00:23:08.059 --> 00:23:08.960 in the Old Testament, 00:23:09.119 --> 00:23:10.680 where we have senses of this. 00:23:10.680 --> 00:23:13.740 So Deuteronomy 25, 15 and 16 00:23:13.740 --> 00:23:17.200 says that if an escaped slave comes to you, 00:23:17.279 --> 00:23:18.640 don't turn him back to your master. 00:23:19.000 --> 00:23:20.420 Let him live freely with you. 00:23:20.759 --> 00:23:24.200 So we see in Leviticus 25, 50 and following 00:23:24.200 --> 00:23:27.180 that there's this pattern of jubilee freedom 00:23:27.180 --> 00:23:30.560 where people weren't going to be slaves forever, 00:23:30.700 --> 00:23:32.060 that within the kingdom of God, 00:23:32.140 --> 00:23:33.580 they were meant to be set free 00:23:33.580 --> 00:23:34.900 during the jubilee, 00:23:35.000 --> 00:23:36.160 which almost never happened. 00:23:36.340 --> 00:23:37.259 No, it never happened 00:23:37.259 --> 00:23:38.880 in the Old Testament time. 00:23:38.880 --> 00:23:41.900 Isaiah 61, 00:23:42.600 --> 00:23:44.100 a vision of a future playing, 00:23:44.180 --> 00:23:45.280 a servant who will come, 00:23:46.440 --> 00:23:48.180 who will bring good news to the poor 00:23:48.180 --> 00:23:50.500 and declare freedom for the captives 00:23:50.500 --> 00:23:54.060 to break the rod of the oppressor. 00:23:56.840 --> 00:23:58.500 And then we come to the New Testament. 00:23:59.540 --> 00:24:00.560 We come to a passage, 00:24:01.260 --> 00:24:02.960 maybe most clearly, 00:24:03.160 --> 00:24:05.400 1 Corinthians 7, 21 through 24, 00:24:05.400 --> 00:24:09.380 where Paul is talking to the Corinthian church. 00:24:09.500 --> 00:24:13.220 It's thinking about how they live 00:24:13.220 --> 00:24:14.560 in lots of different ways. 00:24:14.920 --> 00:24:16.160 And he says this, 00:24:16.240 --> 00:24:17.900 were you a slave when called? 00:24:18.100 --> 00:24:19.500 Don't be concerned about it. 00:24:19.700 --> 00:24:22.240 But if you can gain your freedom, 00:24:22.940 --> 00:24:24.860 avail yourself of the opportunity. 00:24:25.700 --> 00:24:27.980 For he who was called in the Lord 00:24:27.980 --> 00:24:31.280 as a slave is a freed man of the Lord. 00:24:31.279 --> 00:24:34.200 Likewise, he who is free when called 00:24:34.200 --> 00:24:36.599 is a slave of Christ. 00:24:37.299 --> 00:24:39.299 I've retranslated the ESV 00:24:39.299 --> 00:24:41.160 to put slave rather than bond servant 00:24:41.160 --> 00:24:43.599 just so you all know what the word is. 00:24:44.180 --> 00:24:46.619 You were bought with a price. 00:24:46.779 --> 00:24:48.619 Do not become slaves of men. 00:24:49.680 --> 00:24:50.220 So brothers, 00:24:50.440 --> 00:24:53.660 in whatever condition each was called, 00:24:54.519 --> 00:24:57.119 let him there remain with God. 00:24:57.119 --> 00:25:00.139 Now, some people read this text 00:25:00.139 --> 00:25:00.539 and they think, 00:25:00.639 --> 00:25:02.659 well, Paul's saying you should stay. 00:25:02.899 --> 00:25:03.579 But he doesn't. 00:25:03.639 --> 00:25:05.859 He says generally the principle is stay. 00:25:05.939 --> 00:25:06.919 If you're single, stay single. 00:25:07.139 --> 00:25:08.339 If you're married, stay married. 00:25:08.539 --> 00:25:09.500 But if you're a slave 00:25:09.500 --> 00:25:10.979 and you can get your freedom, take it. 00:25:14.779 --> 00:25:16.379 And then we have the book of Philemon, 00:25:16.599 --> 00:25:18.979 which probably isn't on your top 10 books 00:25:18.979 --> 00:25:20.519 of Bible books. 00:25:20.819 --> 00:25:22.339 But the whole story is that 00:25:22.339 --> 00:25:24.619 Paul is returning a slave 00:25:24.619 --> 00:25:26.119 who'd run away to his master. 00:25:26.119 --> 00:25:28.419 So Onesimus is returning to his master 00:25:28.419 --> 00:25:29.319 with this letter. 00:25:31.179 --> 00:25:35.659 And Paul encourages Philemon, the master, 00:25:35.799 --> 00:25:37.019 receive Onesimus, 00:25:37.339 --> 00:25:38.659 as he says in verse 16, 00:25:38.759 --> 00:25:40.339 no longer as a slave, 00:25:40.639 --> 00:25:41.859 but more than a slave, 00:25:41.959 --> 00:25:43.379 as a beloved brother. 00:25:45.119 --> 00:25:46.899 So with all of these patterns, 00:25:47.000 --> 00:25:49.099 we see this strong pattern 00:25:49.099 --> 00:25:50.799 of moving away from slavery, 00:25:51.119 --> 00:25:52.119 that slavery is antithetical 00:25:52.659 --> 00:25:54.000 to the gospel 00:25:54.000 --> 00:25:55.659 and to the path of redemption 00:25:55.660 --> 00:25:57.380 that God is doing in the world. 00:26:00.040 --> 00:26:00.940 And yet, 00:26:01.140 --> 00:26:02.140 we also need to see, 00:26:02.180 --> 00:26:03.980 and we saw this in 1 Corinthians 7, 00:26:04.720 --> 00:26:05.440 that Jesus 00:26:05.440 --> 00:26:06.700 and Paul 00:26:06.700 --> 00:26:07.700 and Peter 00:26:07.700 --> 00:26:09.380 all call themselves 00:26:09.380 --> 00:26:09.960 slaves. 00:26:10.759 --> 00:26:11.779 Slaves of God. 00:26:14.279 --> 00:26:15.720 So we need to recognize 00:26:15.720 --> 00:26:17.040 this is the big picture 00:26:17.040 --> 00:26:18.620 of what the Bible says. 00:26:18.680 --> 00:26:19.680 So what does it mean? 00:26:19.680 --> 00:26:21.700 A few final thoughts 00:26:21.700 --> 00:26:23.680 as we think about this. 00:26:24.000 --> 00:26:25.480 So what this means broadly is 00:26:25.480 --> 00:26:27.640 there is a strong biblical place 00:26:27.640 --> 00:26:30.960 for us to seek to overturn slavery, 00:26:30.960 --> 00:26:33.900 to bring societal transformation 00:26:33.900 --> 00:26:35.860 such that slavery does not happen, 00:26:37.240 --> 00:26:39.900 such that racism and racial inequality 00:26:39.900 --> 00:26:40.799 does not happen. 00:26:40.799 --> 00:26:41.900 These are good things 00:26:41.900 --> 00:26:42.759 that are consistent 00:26:42.759 --> 00:26:44.740 with the overall picture of Scripture. 00:26:44.740 --> 00:26:47.359 and we're thankful 00:26:47.359 --> 00:26:48.599 for large pictures. 00:26:48.720 --> 00:26:49.259 If you don't know 00:26:49.259 --> 00:26:50.400 the work of John Perkins, 00:26:50.460 --> 00:26:51.920 you should read about John Perkins 00:26:51.920 --> 00:26:53.180 and the work that he has done. 00:26:55.259 --> 00:26:55.740 Locally, 00:26:55.960 --> 00:26:57.259 some of you I know 00:26:57.259 --> 00:26:58.460 have been involved in this. 00:26:59.039 --> 00:27:00.480 There are places like Borden House. 00:27:02.359 --> 00:27:03.220 Some of you 00:27:03.220 --> 00:27:05.019 have engaged in foster parenting 00:27:05.019 --> 00:27:07.180 for the sake of overturning 00:27:07.180 --> 00:27:08.160 some of these structures 00:27:08.160 --> 00:27:09.559 and coming alongside of it. 00:27:09.559 --> 00:27:13.839 Bridges of Hope 00:27:13.839 --> 00:27:16.759 seeks to bring churches together 00:27:16.759 --> 00:27:19.039 across what would normally be divides. 00:27:23.119 --> 00:27:24.859 As we think about these things 00:27:24.859 --> 00:27:26.279 and as we think about engagement, 00:27:26.740 --> 00:27:28.419 we need to be careful 00:27:28.419 --> 00:27:30.319 to be gracious for one another. 00:27:30.480 --> 00:27:31.539 Not to demand 00:27:31.539 --> 00:27:32.679 that this is the way 00:27:32.679 --> 00:27:33.639 you must respond 00:27:33.639 --> 00:27:34.779 or this is the way 00:27:34.779 --> 00:27:35.619 you must respond 00:27:35.619 --> 00:27:37.339 to a particular situation 00:27:37.339 --> 00:27:38.460 or a particular thing 00:27:38.460 --> 00:27:39.600 or this is the way 00:27:39.600 --> 00:27:40.480 that all Christians 00:27:40.480 --> 00:27:42.340 ought to be active 00:27:42.340 --> 00:27:44.160 in this pattern. 00:27:46.680 --> 00:27:47.980 There are various means 00:27:47.980 --> 00:27:49.100 and some are more public 00:27:49.100 --> 00:27:50.240 and some are less so. 00:27:51.600 --> 00:27:52.480 And what we need to do 00:27:52.480 --> 00:27:53.440 is to be gracious 00:27:53.440 --> 00:27:54.380 and encouraging 00:27:54.380 --> 00:27:55.279 to one another 00:27:55.279 --> 00:27:56.900 rather than critical 00:27:56.900 --> 00:27:58.299 and divisive 00:27:58.299 --> 00:27:59.799 about how we go about 00:27:59.799 --> 00:28:01.480 being a part of what God 00:28:01.480 --> 00:28:02.680 wants to do in this world. 00:28:04.620 --> 00:28:05.680 Racial reconciliation, 00:28:06.120 --> 00:28:06.539 I believe, 00:28:06.680 --> 00:28:08.039 is a necessary part 00:28:08.039 --> 00:28:09.539 of the gospel 00:28:09.539 --> 00:28:10.700 because of what it says 00:28:10.700 --> 00:28:11.680 in Ephesians 2. 00:28:12.099 --> 00:28:14.099 That God has made one person 00:28:14.099 --> 00:28:15.799 and we need to work 00:28:15.799 --> 00:28:17.180 towards reconciliation 00:28:17.180 --> 00:28:19.500 as we have opportunity to. 00:28:19.940 --> 00:28:21.180 We need to pursue this 00:28:21.180 --> 00:28:22.099 and there's a lot 00:28:22.099 --> 00:28:22.859 to be said there. 00:28:23.019 --> 00:28:23.899 That's a different sermon 00:28:23.899 --> 00:28:25.240 for a different day. 00:28:26.920 --> 00:28:28.019 But I hope you see 00:28:28.019 --> 00:28:29.200 that the biblical pattern, 00:28:29.639 --> 00:28:30.579 there's strong support 00:28:30.579 --> 00:28:32.279 for us to be engaged with it. 00:28:32.279 --> 00:28:34.879 But just as we saw 00:28:34.879 --> 00:28:36.240 with politics last week, 00:28:36.299 --> 00:28:37.319 with government last week, 00:28:37.519 --> 00:28:39.319 as we see the biblical picture, 00:28:39.420 --> 00:28:40.960 it embraces two different principles. 00:28:41.160 --> 00:28:42.399 One is we work 00:28:42.399 --> 00:28:43.740 to transform our society 00:28:43.740 --> 00:28:44.619 that we live in 00:28:44.619 --> 00:28:45.940 towards righteousness. 00:28:46.139 --> 00:28:47.319 But the second one is 00:28:47.319 --> 00:28:48.639 how do we live 00:28:48.639 --> 00:28:49.740 with Christian character 00:28:49.740 --> 00:28:51.460 in a fallen world 00:28:51.460 --> 00:28:53.980 under fallen authorities? 00:28:53.980 --> 00:28:56.460 And both of these things 00:28:56.460 --> 00:28:57.120 are in play. 00:28:57.740 --> 00:28:58.519 And right now, 00:28:58.640 --> 00:29:00.039 our cultural wave 00:29:00.039 --> 00:29:01.120 and our cultural moment 00:29:01.120 --> 00:29:02.400 is very strongly 00:29:02.400 --> 00:29:03.039 on the second. 00:29:03.360 --> 00:29:04.680 We want to fight for justice. 00:29:04.839 --> 00:29:05.400 We want to see 00:29:05.400 --> 00:29:06.299 the world changed. 00:29:06.720 --> 00:29:07.220 And amen, 00:29:07.480 --> 00:29:08.519 may God do it. 00:29:09.000 --> 00:29:10.880 May God change this world 00:29:10.880 --> 00:29:11.980 to be a better one. 00:29:15.120 --> 00:29:16.599 But in 1 Peter 2, 00:29:17.140 --> 00:29:18.720 he addresses more of the first. 00:29:18.720 --> 00:29:20.579 How is it that we live 00:29:20.579 --> 00:29:24.059 with Christian character 00:29:24.059 --> 00:29:25.360 even when we face 00:29:25.360 --> 00:29:26.440 unjust suffering? 00:29:28.640 --> 00:29:29.799 He addresses people 00:29:29.799 --> 00:29:31.819 within the institution of slavery. 00:29:32.240 --> 00:29:33.319 He's speaking to those 00:29:33.319 --> 00:29:33.640 that he knows. 00:29:33.779 --> 00:29:34.720 And he knows this 00:29:34.720 --> 00:29:36.000 because he himself, 00:29:37.180 --> 00:29:37.539 right, 00:29:37.779 --> 00:29:39.559 he understands 00:29:39.559 --> 00:29:41.100 what it's like 00:29:41.100 --> 00:29:42.279 to live under authority 00:29:42.279 --> 00:29:43.259 of others. 00:29:44.100 --> 00:29:45.200 Though it's not clear 00:29:45.200 --> 00:29:45.819 that he was ever 00:29:45.819 --> 00:29:46.839 actually a slave, 00:29:46.960 --> 00:29:47.700 he understands 00:29:47.700 --> 00:29:48.620 and knows what it's like 00:29:48.619 --> 00:29:49.919 to be a slave of Christ. 00:29:52.479 --> 00:29:53.899 And he writes to people 00:29:53.899 --> 00:29:55.439 who he's called already 00:29:55.439 --> 00:29:57.019 sojourners 00:29:57.019 --> 00:29:58.079 and exiles. 00:29:59.000 --> 00:29:59.799 And he's calling them 00:29:59.799 --> 00:30:00.500 to figure out 00:30:00.500 --> 00:30:01.579 how can they live 00:30:01.579 --> 00:30:02.779 distinctly as Christians 00:30:02.779 --> 00:30:03.959 in their context. 00:30:05.679 --> 00:30:06.479 Peter has, 00:30:06.759 --> 00:30:06.859 therefore, 00:30:07.019 --> 00:30:07.479 two points. 00:30:07.579 --> 00:30:09.119 Let's finally close 00:30:09.119 --> 00:30:10.299 by looking at our text 00:30:10.299 --> 00:30:11.500 and seeing what it has 00:30:11.500 --> 00:30:12.319 to say to us 00:30:12.319 --> 00:30:12.799 this morning. 00:30:14.579 --> 00:30:15.959 1 Peter 2, 00:30:16.479 --> 00:30:17.259 verse 18. 00:30:17.259 --> 00:30:18.720 Verse 18 through 20. 00:30:19.720 --> 00:30:21.000 The message is very clear. 00:30:21.779 --> 00:30:22.879 Submit to your masters 00:30:22.879 --> 00:30:24.599 even if you suffer 00:30:24.599 --> 00:30:25.539 unjustly 00:30:25.539 --> 00:30:26.720 for doing right. 00:30:27.720 --> 00:30:28.440 Peter says 00:30:28.440 --> 00:30:28.879 you're supposed 00:30:28.879 --> 00:30:29.799 to serve them 00:30:29.799 --> 00:30:30.819 even if they're, 00:30:31.220 --> 00:30:32.519 what's the word he uses 00:30:32.519 --> 00:30:33.460 in verse 18? 00:30:34.039 --> 00:30:35.240 Also to the unjust. 00:30:35.359 --> 00:30:35.960 It's a great word. 00:30:36.079 --> 00:30:36.960 It's scolioi. 00:30:37.119 --> 00:30:37.920 Like scoliosis, 00:30:38.099 --> 00:30:38.259 you know, 00:30:38.299 --> 00:30:39.259 you have like a curved, 00:30:39.500 --> 00:30:40.220 a bent spine. 00:30:40.539 --> 00:30:41.420 He's saying these people 00:30:41.420 --> 00:30:42.539 have bent morals. 00:30:42.660 --> 00:30:43.720 They have bent character. 00:30:43.720 --> 00:30:45.319 And you are called 00:30:45.319 --> 00:30:46.360 to submit to them 00:30:46.360 --> 00:30:48.740 even when they are like that. 00:30:49.180 --> 00:30:49.920 How are we supposed 00:30:49.920 --> 00:30:50.380 to do that? 00:30:50.420 --> 00:30:51.059 He says you're supposed 00:30:51.059 --> 00:30:52.140 to do it respectfully, 00:30:52.559 --> 00:30:53.680 not coweringly, 00:30:54.000 --> 00:30:55.279 not belligerently, 00:30:55.440 --> 00:30:56.279 but with dignity. 00:30:57.200 --> 00:30:57.880 You're also supposed 00:30:57.880 --> 00:30:59.460 to do it mindful of God, 00:30:59.600 --> 00:31:01.660 not because they intrinsically 00:31:01.660 --> 00:31:03.299 deserve your submission 00:31:03.299 --> 00:31:04.400 because of their character 00:31:04.400 --> 00:31:04.860 or goodness. 00:31:05.240 --> 00:31:05.519 Clearly, 00:31:05.640 --> 00:31:06.380 that's not true. 00:31:06.559 --> 00:31:07.500 But because you are 00:31:07.500 --> 00:31:08.559 mindful of God 00:31:08.559 --> 00:31:10.140 who is the ultimate master 00:31:10.140 --> 00:31:11.580 and who is the ultimate Lord 00:31:11.580 --> 00:31:12.560 over all of us, 00:31:12.800 --> 00:31:14.600 because of him you submit. 00:31:16.380 --> 00:31:18.140 And recognize that this includes 00:31:18.140 --> 00:31:19.360 enduring sorrow. 00:31:20.600 --> 00:31:21.540 That word includes 00:31:21.540 --> 00:31:22.740 both emotional pain, 00:31:23.020 --> 00:31:23.780 physical pain, 00:31:24.220 --> 00:31:24.580 grief, 00:31:24.920 --> 00:31:25.600 and trouble. 00:31:28.500 --> 00:31:29.360 But Peter says, 00:31:30.100 --> 00:31:32.160 to do this is grace 00:31:32.160 --> 00:31:33.560 in the sight of God 00:31:33.560 --> 00:31:35.660 when you endure these sorrows. 00:31:36.540 --> 00:31:38.280 God looks upon this 00:31:38.279 --> 00:31:39.799 and he's pleased 00:31:39.799 --> 00:31:41.359 with the way 00:31:41.359 --> 00:31:42.779 that you bear up 00:31:42.779 --> 00:31:44.779 under unjust suffering. 00:31:45.879 --> 00:31:47.539 When you look to God 00:31:47.539 --> 00:31:49.960 and you seek his praise 00:31:49.960 --> 00:31:51.899 and when you depend 00:31:51.899 --> 00:31:53.059 on his grace 00:31:53.059 --> 00:31:55.079 as being greater 00:31:55.079 --> 00:31:56.079 than the evil 00:31:56.079 --> 00:31:56.940 that you are enduring 00:31:56.940 --> 00:31:57.799 in this moment. 00:32:00.299 --> 00:32:01.440 Why did Peter 00:32:01.440 --> 00:32:02.299 give this command? 00:32:03.079 --> 00:32:03.379 Well, 00:32:03.420 --> 00:32:03.879 in the flow 00:32:03.879 --> 00:32:04.500 of the context 00:32:04.500 --> 00:32:05.019 of the book, 00:32:05.119 --> 00:32:06.019 he gave it because 00:32:06.019 --> 00:32:06.960 his concern 00:32:06.960 --> 00:32:08.259 was for Christian witness. 00:32:08.279 --> 00:32:09.500 How would Christians 00:32:09.500 --> 00:32:11.599 respond even to injustice? 00:32:12.019 --> 00:32:13.240 If they sinned, 00:32:13.420 --> 00:32:14.660 if they did evil 00:32:14.660 --> 00:32:16.039 in response to injustice, 00:32:16.259 --> 00:32:16.879 then what credit 00:32:16.879 --> 00:32:17.619 do they have 00:32:17.619 --> 00:32:18.960 when they get punished 00:32:18.960 --> 00:32:19.440 for it? 00:32:19.519 --> 00:32:20.000 None. 00:32:22.579 --> 00:32:23.460 But he says, 00:32:23.599 --> 00:32:24.299 if you, 00:32:25.460 --> 00:32:27.220 for doing good, 00:32:27.579 --> 00:32:29.279 suffer unjustly, 00:32:30.079 --> 00:32:31.099 this is grace. 00:32:32.359 --> 00:32:33.000 Peter is looking 00:32:33.000 --> 00:32:33.759 into our hearts 00:32:33.759 --> 00:32:34.599 and he knows, 00:32:34.859 --> 00:32:35.839 he knows that 00:32:35.839 --> 00:32:36.439 in our hearts 00:32:36.439 --> 00:32:38.359 when we suffer injustice, 00:32:38.799 --> 00:32:40.059 our greatest 00:32:40.059 --> 00:32:41.859 and our most human response 00:32:41.859 --> 00:32:43.299 is to strike out 00:32:43.299 --> 00:32:44.019 in return 00:32:44.019 --> 00:32:46.439 and to sin 00:32:46.439 --> 00:32:47.019 in word 00:32:47.019 --> 00:32:47.659 and deed 00:32:47.659 --> 00:32:48.779 in an attitude 00:32:48.779 --> 00:32:49.599 of bitterness, 00:32:50.480 --> 00:32:50.839 rage, 00:32:50.980 --> 00:32:51.720 and spite. 00:32:54.220 --> 00:32:54.899 I'm going to say 00:32:54.899 --> 00:32:55.419 one thing 00:32:55.419 --> 00:32:56.039 really briefly. 00:32:56.279 --> 00:32:57.439 This does not mean 00:32:57.439 --> 00:32:58.179 that if you're 00:32:58.179 --> 00:32:59.199 in an abusive marriage, 00:32:59.259 --> 00:33:00.480 you must stay in that. 00:33:00.939 --> 00:33:01.539 Nick's going to deal 00:33:01.539 --> 00:33:02.299 with that next week, 00:33:02.299 --> 00:33:03.359 so I'm just going 00:33:03.359 --> 00:33:04.399 to put that in place. 00:33:04.799 --> 00:33:05.159 However, 00:33:06.359 --> 00:33:07.039 Peter's looking 00:33:07.039 --> 00:33:07.659 into our hearts 00:33:07.659 --> 00:33:08.319 and he knows 00:33:08.319 --> 00:33:10.099 how difficult it is 00:33:10.099 --> 00:33:11.539 for us to follow 00:33:11.539 --> 00:33:12.279 in the words 00:33:12.279 --> 00:33:14.139 of Jesus 00:33:14.139 --> 00:33:15.440 to turn the other cheek 00:33:15.440 --> 00:33:18.240 when we suffer unjustly. 00:33:19.399 --> 00:33:20.519 Martin Luther King 00:33:20.519 --> 00:33:21.200 in his sermon 00:33:21.200 --> 00:33:21.680 on love, 00:33:21.799 --> 00:33:22.019 law, 00:33:22.079 --> 00:33:23.240 and civil disobedience 00:33:23.240 --> 00:33:24.759 wrote this. 00:33:25.759 --> 00:33:26.700 Three ways 00:33:26.700 --> 00:33:27.559 that oppressed people 00:33:27.559 --> 00:33:28.159 have generally 00:33:28.159 --> 00:33:30.299 dealt with their oppression. 00:33:30.299 --> 00:33:31.000 One way 00:33:31.000 --> 00:33:31.740 is the method 00:33:31.740 --> 00:33:32.819 of acquiescence, 00:33:33.519 --> 00:33:34.019 the method 00:33:34.019 --> 00:33:34.720 of surrender. 00:33:34.980 --> 00:33:35.399 That is, 00:33:35.519 --> 00:33:36.899 individuals will somehow 00:33:36.899 --> 00:33:37.960 adjust themselves 00:33:37.960 --> 00:33:38.759 to the oppression, 00:33:38.960 --> 00:33:39.799 they adjust themselves 00:33:39.799 --> 00:33:40.759 to the discrimination, 00:33:41.299 --> 00:33:42.139 to segregation, 00:33:42.299 --> 00:33:42.879 or colonialism, 00:33:43.139 --> 00:33:43.940 or what have you. 00:33:44.279 --> 00:33:45.139 The other method 00:33:45.139 --> 00:33:45.940 that has been used 00:33:45.940 --> 00:33:46.460 in history 00:33:46.460 --> 00:33:47.599 is that of rising up 00:33:47.599 --> 00:33:48.720 against the oppressor 00:33:48.720 --> 00:33:50.240 with corroding hatred 00:33:50.240 --> 00:33:51.659 and physical violence. 00:33:52.839 --> 00:33:53.399 Now, of course, 00:33:53.480 --> 00:33:55.500 we know about this method 00:33:55.500 --> 00:33:56.740 in Western civilization 00:33:56.740 --> 00:33:58.079 because, in a sense, 00:33:58.139 --> 00:33:59.099 it has been the hallmark 00:33:59.099 --> 00:33:59.980 of its grandeur. 00:34:00.299 --> 00:34:02.159 And the inseparable twin 00:34:02.159 --> 00:34:03.839 of Western materialism. 00:34:04.539 --> 00:34:06.119 But there is another way, 00:34:06.480 --> 00:34:06.779 namely, 00:34:07.099 --> 00:34:07.559 the way 00:34:07.559 --> 00:34:09.440 of nonviolent resistance. 00:34:12.300 --> 00:34:13.519 Martin Luther King 00:34:13.519 --> 00:34:14.360 saw clearly 00:34:14.360 --> 00:34:15.500 how easy it is 00:34:15.500 --> 00:34:16.320 for our hearts 00:34:16.320 --> 00:34:17.159 to be turned 00:34:17.159 --> 00:34:17.779 and twisted 00:34:17.779 --> 00:34:20.659 either into accepting evil 00:34:20.659 --> 00:34:24.320 or rising up 00:34:24.320 --> 00:34:24.800 in bitterness 00:34:24.800 --> 00:34:25.920 and anger against it. 00:34:25.940 --> 00:34:26.279 And he says, 00:34:26.380 --> 00:34:27.619 there is a third way. 00:34:27.980 --> 00:34:28.920 There is a third way 00:34:28.920 --> 00:34:29.740 to respond 00:34:29.740 --> 00:34:32.500 which is right 00:34:32.500 --> 00:34:33.099 and good. 00:34:37.159 --> 00:34:38.240 When you think 00:34:38.240 --> 00:34:39.039 about this, 00:34:39.599 --> 00:34:41.860 suffering unjustly, 00:34:41.940 --> 00:34:43.559 how does your heart run? 00:34:43.559 --> 00:34:46.320 does it run 00:34:46.320 --> 00:34:46.960 to despair 00:34:46.960 --> 00:34:48.739 and slavish self-abandonment? 00:34:49.039 --> 00:34:49.599 Do you seek 00:34:49.599 --> 00:34:50.440 desperately 00:34:50.440 --> 00:34:51.179 to please 00:34:51.179 --> 00:34:51.599 the one 00:34:51.599 --> 00:34:53.039 who's oppressing you 00:34:53.039 --> 00:34:53.759 so that you might 00:34:53.759 --> 00:34:55.299 somehow 00:34:55.299 --> 00:34:56.940 appease them 00:34:56.940 --> 00:34:57.599 so that they will 00:34:57.599 --> 00:34:58.179 no longer 00:34:58.179 --> 00:35:00.519 cause you suffering? 00:35:01.480 --> 00:35:02.239 Do you allow 00:35:02.239 --> 00:35:03.019 anger, bitterness, 00:35:03.259 --> 00:35:03.779 and rage 00:35:03.779 --> 00:35:05.039 and desire 00:35:05.039 --> 00:35:06.019 for retaliation 00:35:06.019 --> 00:35:06.679 and revenge 00:35:06.679 --> 00:35:08.199 to consume your heart? 00:35:08.199 --> 00:35:13.659 Peter knows 00:35:13.659 --> 00:35:14.319 this is the way 00:35:14.319 --> 00:35:14.799 we are 00:35:14.799 --> 00:35:16.500 and yet he calls 00:35:16.500 --> 00:35:17.519 us to something else. 00:35:18.359 --> 00:35:19.159 He calls us 00:35:19.159 --> 00:35:19.779 to follow 00:35:19.779 --> 00:35:20.819 in this pathway 00:35:20.819 --> 00:35:22.859 of submitting 00:35:22.859 --> 00:35:24.279 and I would say 00:35:24.279 --> 00:35:24.980 in love 00:35:24.980 --> 00:35:26.679 reading lots 00:35:26.679 --> 00:35:27.559 of Martin Luther King 00:35:27.559 --> 00:35:28.159 this week. 00:35:29.439 --> 00:35:30.419 One of the things 00:35:30.419 --> 00:35:31.000 that he saw 00:35:31.000 --> 00:35:31.599 so clearly 00:35:31.599 --> 00:35:32.099 was that 00:35:32.099 --> 00:35:33.559 the desire 00:35:33.559 --> 00:35:34.339 to love 00:35:34.339 --> 00:35:34.899 in the midst 00:35:34.899 --> 00:35:35.599 of suffering 00:35:35.599 --> 00:35:37.339 is one of the hardest 00:35:37.339 --> 00:35:38.380 but one of the most 00:35:38.380 --> 00:35:39.079 Christian things 00:35:39.079 --> 00:35:39.880 that we can do 00:35:39.880 --> 00:35:41.679 and how do we know that? 00:35:42.279 --> 00:35:43.679 Because it's following 00:35:43.679 --> 00:35:44.360 in the footsteps 00:35:44.360 --> 00:35:45.299 of Jesus. 00:35:47.039 --> 00:35:48.299 We're not creating 00:35:48.299 --> 00:35:49.119 a new path. 00:35:49.440 --> 00:35:50.039 This third way 00:35:50.039 --> 00:35:50.719 is not new. 00:35:50.819 --> 00:35:51.099 In fact, 00:35:51.159 --> 00:35:52.079 it's very old. 00:35:52.480 --> 00:35:53.299 It's the paradigm 00:35:53.299 --> 00:35:54.339 that Jesus gave us 00:35:54.339 --> 00:35:55.460 and this is the last part. 00:35:56.059 --> 00:35:57.079 This is the second half 00:35:57.079 --> 00:35:57.960 of what this passage 00:35:57.960 --> 00:35:59.000 tells us this morning. 00:36:00.159 --> 00:36:01.099 We are to do this 00:36:01.099 --> 00:36:01.799 as we follow 00:36:01.799 --> 00:36:03.159 the example of Christ 00:36:03.159 --> 00:36:03.839 who suffered 00:36:03.839 --> 00:36:04.960 for us. 00:36:05.599 --> 00:36:06.440 Peter begins 00:36:06.440 --> 00:36:06.839 by saying 00:36:06.839 --> 00:36:07.279 to this 00:36:07.279 --> 00:36:08.299 you've been called. 00:36:09.440 --> 00:36:09.799 You, 00:36:10.440 --> 00:36:11.079 slaves, 00:36:11.360 --> 00:36:12.239 have been called 00:36:12.239 --> 00:36:13.159 to follow 00:36:13.159 --> 00:36:13.900 in the footsteps 00:36:13.900 --> 00:36:14.679 of Christ. 00:36:15.480 --> 00:36:16.239 That actually 00:36:16.239 --> 00:36:16.679 gave them 00:36:16.679 --> 00:36:17.380 great dignity 00:36:17.380 --> 00:36:18.039 and worth 00:36:18.039 --> 00:36:18.880 in their culture. 00:36:19.639 --> 00:36:20.500 Peter saw them 00:36:20.500 --> 00:36:21.599 as being important 00:36:21.599 --> 00:36:23.519 members of God's kingdom. 00:36:26.719 --> 00:36:27.819 But as he's calling 00:36:27.819 --> 00:36:28.319 them to this 00:36:28.319 --> 00:36:28.719 he's saying 00:36:28.719 --> 00:36:29.420 unjust suffering 00:36:29.420 --> 00:36:30.299 is not a mistake 00:36:30.299 --> 00:36:31.500 in God's kingdom 00:36:31.500 --> 00:36:33.420 for even as Jesus 00:36:33.420 --> 00:36:34.900 said in John 15, 8 00:36:34.900 --> 00:36:35.480 if the world 00:36:35.480 --> 00:36:36.180 hates you 00:36:36.180 --> 00:36:36.840 know that it 00:36:36.840 --> 00:36:37.500 has hated me 00:36:37.500 --> 00:36:38.680 before it hates you. 00:36:42.460 --> 00:36:43.360 Peter says 00:36:43.360 --> 00:36:44.240 to this 00:36:44.240 --> 00:36:45.340 God has called 00:36:45.340 --> 00:36:45.900 you to be 00:36:45.900 --> 00:36:46.559 his 00:36:46.559 --> 00:36:47.700 in following 00:36:47.700 --> 00:36:48.360 in the footsteps 00:36:48.360 --> 00:36:49.139 of Jesus. 00:36:50.240 --> 00:36:50.920 Following his 00:36:50.920 --> 00:36:51.519 example 00:36:51.519 --> 00:36:52.900 in verses 22 00:36:52.900 --> 00:36:53.440 and 23 00:36:53.440 --> 00:36:54.280 what was Jesus' 00:36:54.519 --> 00:36:54.900 example? 00:36:55.740 --> 00:36:56.480 These are a bunch 00:36:56.480 --> 00:36:57.079 of images 00:36:57.079 --> 00:36:57.900 that are translated 00:36:58.539 --> 00:36:59.400 and kind of 00:36:59.400 --> 00:37:00.260 jumbled a little bit 00:37:00.260 --> 00:37:01.360 from Isaiah 53 00:37:01.360 --> 00:37:02.300 that we read 00:37:02.300 --> 00:37:03.440 earlier in a passage 00:37:03.440 --> 00:37:07.500 he did it 00:37:07.500 --> 00:37:08.240 without sin. 00:37:09.200 --> 00:37:09.820 He did not 00:37:09.820 --> 00:37:10.360 revile 00:37:10.360 --> 00:37:11.340 he did not 00:37:11.340 --> 00:37:11.780 threaten 00:37:11.780 --> 00:37:12.640 he did not 00:37:12.640 --> 00:37:13.220 take it into 00:37:13.220 --> 00:37:14.019 his own hands 00:37:14.019 --> 00:37:14.680 to condemn 00:37:14.680 --> 00:37:16.019 or retaliate 00:37:16.019 --> 00:37:17.039 or bring justice 00:37:17.039 --> 00:37:18.420 but instead 00:37:18.420 --> 00:37:19.960 as it says 00:37:19.960 --> 00:37:20.940 in verse 23 00:37:20.940 --> 00:37:22.360 he entrusted 00:37:22.360 --> 00:37:23.160 himself 00:37:23.160 --> 00:37:24.680 he entrusted 00:37:24.680 --> 00:37:25.400 himself to 00:37:25.400 --> 00:37:26.099 God who 00:37:26.099 --> 00:37:26.700 judges 00:37:26.700 --> 00:37:27.640 justly. 00:37:27.639 --> 00:37:29.500 Peter's already 00:37:29.500 --> 00:37:30.179 reminded 00:37:30.179 --> 00:37:31.519 his audience 00:37:31.519 --> 00:37:32.259 that this is 00:37:32.259 --> 00:37:32.960 what we need 00:37:32.960 --> 00:37:33.659 to remember 00:37:33.659 --> 00:37:34.480 that we have 00:37:34.480 --> 00:37:35.099 a father 00:37:35.099 --> 00:37:35.639 in heaven 00:37:35.639 --> 00:37:36.179 who is the 00:37:36.179 --> 00:37:36.639 God who 00:37:36.639 --> 00:37:37.179 judges 00:37:37.179 --> 00:37:37.819 justly 00:37:37.819 --> 00:37:38.659 the world 00:37:38.659 --> 00:37:39.359 on earth 00:37:39.359 --> 00:37:42.079 and this is 00:37:42.079 --> 00:37:42.599 where final 00:37:42.599 --> 00:37:43.539 justice comes 00:37:43.539 --> 00:37:44.339 in the midst 00:37:44.339 --> 00:37:44.859 of suffering 00:37:44.859 --> 00:37:45.440 and trial 00:37:45.440 --> 00:37:46.559 by trusting 00:37:46.559 --> 00:37:47.019 the one 00:37:47.019 --> 00:37:47.539 who will 00:37:47.539 --> 00:37:48.079 ultimately 00:37:48.079 --> 00:37:48.539 bring 00:37:48.539 --> 00:37:49.859 all judgment. 00:37:50.519 --> 00:37:51.099 This is the 00:37:51.099 --> 00:37:51.440 example 00:37:51.440 --> 00:37:52.159 par excellence 00:37:52.159 --> 00:37:53.159 look to 00:37:53.159 --> 00:37:53.719 Jesus 00:37:53.719 --> 00:37:57.819 Pastor Micah 00:37:57.819 --> 00:37:58.480 Edmondson 00:37:58.480 --> 00:37:58.939 of the 00:37:58.939 --> 00:37:59.699 Koinonia Church 00:37:59.699 --> 00:38:00.299 in Nashville 00:38:00.299 --> 00:38:00.859 Tennessee 00:38:00.859 --> 00:38:02.480 wrote this 00:38:02.480 --> 00:38:03.459 about Jesus 00:38:03.459 --> 00:38:04.579 there was 00:38:04.579 --> 00:38:05.019 no greater 00:38:05.019 --> 00:38:05.679 atrocity 00:38:05.679 --> 00:38:06.219 in all 00:38:06.219 --> 00:38:06.799 the world 00:38:06.799 --> 00:38:07.500 than when 00:38:07.500 --> 00:38:08.379 Jesus Christ 00:38:08.379 --> 00:38:09.279 the innocent 00:38:09.279 --> 00:38:09.899 righteous 00:38:09.899 --> 00:38:10.579 perfect 00:38:10.579 --> 00:38:11.559 sinless 00:38:11.559 --> 00:38:12.119 light of 00:38:12.119 --> 00:38:12.639 the world 00:38:12.639 --> 00:38:13.480 who only 00:38:13.480 --> 00:38:14.199 spoke truth 00:38:14.199 --> 00:38:14.839 and always 00:38:14.839 --> 00:38:15.639 loved people 00:38:15.639 --> 00:38:17.299 was set up 00:38:17.299 --> 00:38:18.259 falsely 00:38:18.259 --> 00:38:18.859 accused 00:38:18.859 --> 00:38:19.799 tried 00:38:19.799 --> 00:38:20.599 in a sham 00:38:20.599 --> 00:38:21.059 trial 00:38:21.059 --> 00:38:21.719 and tortured 00:38:21.719 --> 00:38:22.819 his death 00:38:22.819 --> 00:38:23.559 on the cross 00:38:23.559 --> 00:38:24.360 was a lynching 00:38:24.360 --> 00:38:25.420 and God 00:38:25.420 --> 00:38:26.239 allowed it 00:38:26.239 --> 00:38:28.559 and Jesus 00:38:28.559 --> 00:38:28.860 Christ 00:38:28.860 --> 00:38:29.360 trusted 00:38:29.360 --> 00:38:30.679 that through 00:38:30.679 --> 00:38:31.360 his choice 00:38:31.360 --> 00:38:32.099 to lay down 00:38:32.099 --> 00:38:32.779 his life 00:38:32.779 --> 00:38:34.099 God would 00:38:34.099 --> 00:38:34.739 bring about 00:38:34.739 --> 00:38:35.519 redemptive 00:38:35.519 --> 00:38:36.000 good 00:38:36.000 --> 00:38:37.139 whenever 00:38:37.139 --> 00:38:37.679 Jesus 00:38:37.679 --> 00:38:38.539 talked about 00:38:38.539 --> 00:38:38.980 his coming 00:38:38.980 --> 00:38:39.320 death 00:38:39.320 --> 00:38:40.019 he also 00:38:40.019 --> 00:38:40.799 always 00:38:40.799 --> 00:38:41.559 talked about 00:38:41.559 --> 00:38:42.739 his resurrection 00:38:42.739 --> 00:38:44.279 he is the 00:38:44.279 --> 00:38:45.139 ultimate example 00:38:45.139 --> 00:38:45.880 of how God 00:38:45.880 --> 00:38:46.440 is able to 00:38:46.440 --> 00:38:47.079 bring about 00:38:47.079 --> 00:38:48.179 redemptive 00:38:48.179 --> 00:38:48.500 good 00:38:48.500 --> 00:38:49.759 through 00:38:49.759 --> 00:38:50.299 engagement 00:38:50.299 --> 00:38:50.659 with 00:38:50.659 --> 00:38:51.639 unearned 00:38:51.639 --> 00:38:52.320 suffering 00:38:52.320 --> 00:38:55.500 friends 00:38:55.500 --> 00:38:56.240 this is the 00:38:56.240 --> 00:38:56.820 good news 00:38:56.820 --> 00:38:57.240 of the 00:38:57.240 --> 00:38:57.620 gospel 00:38:57.620 --> 00:39:00.120 that Christ 00:39:00.120 --> 00:39:01.140 took upon 00:39:01.140 --> 00:39:02.440 himself 00:39:02.440 --> 00:39:03.740 our sin 00:39:03.740 --> 00:39:05.420 he unjustly 00:39:05.420 --> 00:39:05.940 suffered 00:39:05.940 --> 00:39:06.820 the punishment 00:39:06.820 --> 00:39:07.360 of God 00:39:07.360 --> 00:39:08.220 against our 00:39:08.220 --> 00:39:08.640 sin 00:39:08.640 --> 00:39:09.480 as he hung 00:39:09.480 --> 00:39:10.160 on the cross 00:39:10.160 --> 00:39:11.460 for us 00:39:11.460 --> 00:39:12.740 this is his 00:39:12.740 --> 00:39:13.360 substitution 00:39:13.360 --> 00:39:14.320 for us 00:39:14.320 --> 00:39:15.320 his atoning 00:39:15.320 --> 00:39:16.019 of God's 00:39:16.019 --> 00:39:16.320 wrath 00:39:16.320 --> 00:39:17.200 against sin 00:39:17.200 --> 00:39:18.100 and Jesus 00:39:18.100 --> 00:39:18.760 did this 00:39:18.760 --> 00:39:19.360 so that we 00:39:19.360 --> 00:39:20.120 might have 00:39:20.119 --> 00:39:20.859 healing 00:39:20.859 --> 00:39:21.880 so that we 00:39:21.880 --> 00:39:23.440 who wandered 00:39:23.440 --> 00:39:23.960 away 00:39:23.960 --> 00:39:24.699 from God 00:39:24.699 --> 00:39:25.039 might be 00:39:25.039 --> 00:39:25.759 brought back 00:39:25.759 --> 00:39:26.299 into his 00:39:26.299 --> 00:39:26.799 household 00:39:26.799 --> 00:39:27.639 and be 00:39:27.639 --> 00:39:28.119 called 00:39:28.119 --> 00:39:29.279 his people 00:39:29.279 --> 00:39:30.219 and he 00:39:30.219 --> 00:39:30.659 is the one 00:39:30.659 --> 00:39:31.159 who is the 00:39:31.159 --> 00:39:31.500 shepherd 00:39:31.500 --> 00:39:31.980 and the 00:39:31.980 --> 00:39:32.679 overseer 00:39:32.679 --> 00:39:33.500 of our 00:39:33.500 --> 00:39:34.139 souls 00:39:34.139 --> 00:39:37.359 and as 00:39:37.359 --> 00:39:38.199 God 00:39:38.199 --> 00:39:39.019 redeems 00:39:39.019 --> 00:39:39.460 us 00:39:39.460 --> 00:39:40.539 in this 00:39:40.539 --> 00:39:40.980 work of 00:39:40.980 --> 00:39:41.339 Christ 00:39:41.339 --> 00:39:42.159 through this 00:39:42.159 --> 00:39:42.579 work of 00:39:42.579 --> 00:39:43.159 unjust 00:39:43.159 --> 00:39:43.739 suffering 00:39:43.739 --> 00:39:44.679 he calls 00:39:44.679 --> 00:39:45.279 us then 00:39:45.279 --> 00:39:46.019 to die 00:39:46.019 --> 00:39:46.460 to sin 00:39:46.460 --> 00:39:46.779 and to 00:39:46.779 --> 00:39:47.279 live for 00:39:47.279 --> 00:39:47.799 righteousness 00:39:47.800 --> 00:39:49.360 so that we 00:39:49.360 --> 00:39:49.880 might know 00:39:49.880 --> 00:39:50.640 the power 00:39:50.640 --> 00:39:51.920 of forgiveness 00:39:51.920 --> 00:39:52.420 in our 00:39:52.420 --> 00:39:52.980 own lives 00:39:52.980 --> 00:39:53.320 so that we 00:39:53.320 --> 00:39:54.060 might forgive 00:39:54.060 --> 00:39:54.580 those who 00:39:54.580 --> 00:39:55.220 sin against 00:39:55.220 --> 00:39:55.500 us 00:39:55.500 --> 00:39:56.480 so that we 00:39:56.480 --> 00:39:56.980 might have 00:39:56.980 --> 00:39:57.760 the refining 00:39:57.760 --> 00:39:58.320 power of 00:39:58.320 --> 00:39:58.640 the Holy 00:39:58.640 --> 00:39:59.080 Spirit 00:39:59.080 --> 00:40:00.039 to burn 00:40:00.039 --> 00:40:00.480 out the 00:40:00.480 --> 00:40:00.960 sin that 00:40:00.960 --> 00:40:01.519 resides in 00:40:01.519 --> 00:40:02.039 our heart 00:40:02.039 --> 00:40:03.380 so that we 00:40:03.380 --> 00:40:03.960 might love 00:40:03.960 --> 00:40:04.480 one another 00:40:04.480 --> 00:40:05.019 purely 00:40:05.019 --> 00:40:08.320 Jesus died 00:40:08.320 --> 00:40:08.740 for our 00:40:08.740 --> 00:40:09.300 sins so that 00:40:09.300 --> 00:40:09.900 we might have 00:40:09.900 --> 00:40:10.360 in us a 00:40:10.360 --> 00:40:11.460 new life 00:40:11.460 --> 00:40:12.760 with enabling 00:40:12.760 --> 00:40:13.380 power 00:40:13.380 --> 00:40:15.240 to persevere 00:40:15.240 --> 00:40:15.980 and endure 00:40:15.980 --> 00:40:17.060 even unjust 00:40:17.060 --> 00:40:17.620 suffering 00:40:17.619 --> 00:40:20.079 for the 00:40:20.079 --> 00:40:20.440 sake of 00:40:20.440 --> 00:40:20.960 Christ 00:40:20.960 --> 00:40:26.199 as I've 00:40:26.199 --> 00:40:26.559 thought about 00:40:26.559 --> 00:40:26.819 how to 00:40:26.819 --> 00:40:27.380 apply this 00:40:27.380 --> 00:40:27.819 to our 00:40:27.819 --> 00:40:28.239 church 00:40:28.239 --> 00:40:29.539 I've 00:40:29.539 --> 00:40:29.779 thought a 00:40:29.779 --> 00:40:30.139 lot about 00:40:30.139 --> 00:40:30.460 how the 00:40:30.460 --> 00:40:31.159 black church 00:40:31.159 --> 00:40:32.599 in America 00:40:32.599 --> 00:40:33.079 in the last 00:40:33.079 --> 00:40:34.000 300 years 00:40:34.000 --> 00:40:35.299 has responded 00:40:35.299 --> 00:40:35.859 to unjust 00:40:35.859 --> 00:40:36.359 suffering 00:40:36.359 --> 00:40:41.420 Martin Luther 00:40:41.420 --> 00:40:41.839 King 00:40:41.839 --> 00:40:43.019 wrote this 00:40:43.019 --> 00:40:43.920 in 1960 00:40:43.920 --> 00:40:44.940 my personal 00:40:44.940 --> 00:40:45.519 trials have 00:40:45.519 --> 00:40:46.059 taught me 00:40:46.059 --> 00:40:47.279 the value 00:40:47.280 --> 00:40:48.019 of unmerited 00:40:48.019 --> 00:40:48.540 suffering 00:40:48.540 --> 00:40:50.140 as my 00:40:50.140 --> 00:40:50.600 sufferings 00:40:50.600 --> 00:40:51.000 have mounted 00:40:51.000 --> 00:40:51.460 I soon 00:40:51.460 --> 00:40:52.100 realized that 00:40:52.100 --> 00:40:52.380 there were 00:40:52.380 --> 00:40:52.800 two ways 00:40:52.800 --> 00:40:53.060 I could 00:40:53.060 --> 00:40:53.560 respond to 00:40:53.560 --> 00:40:54.280 my situation 00:40:54.280 --> 00:40:55.140 either react 00:40:55.140 --> 00:40:55.600 with bitterness 00:40:55.600 --> 00:40:56.300 or to seek 00:40:56.300 --> 00:40:57.120 to transform 00:40:57.120 --> 00:40:57.720 the suffering 00:40:57.720 --> 00:40:58.300 into a 00:40:58.300 --> 00:40:59.120 creative force 00:40:59.120 --> 00:41:00.100 I have 00:41:00.100 --> 00:41:00.980 decided to 00:41:00.980 --> 00:41:01.500 follow the 00:41:01.500 --> 00:41:02.300 latter course 00:41:02.300 --> 00:41:03.940 recognizing the 00:41:03.940 --> 00:41:04.560 necessity 00:41:04.560 --> 00:41:05.560 for suffering 00:41:05.560 --> 00:41:06.240 I have tried 00:41:06.240 --> 00:41:06.800 to make it 00:41:06.800 --> 00:41:07.740 a virtue 00:41:07.740 --> 00:41:09.340 if only to 00:41:09.340 --> 00:41:09.960 save myself 00:41:09.960 --> 00:41:10.540 from bitterness 00:41:10.539 --> 00:41:11.539 I have 00:41:11.539 --> 00:41:12.340 attempted to 00:41:12.340 --> 00:41:13.400 see my 00:41:13.400 --> 00:41:13.800 personal 00:41:13.800 --> 00:41:14.380 ordeals 00:41:14.380 --> 00:41:14.840 as an 00:41:14.840 --> 00:41:15.860 opportunity 00:41:15.860 --> 00:41:16.860 to transform 00:41:16.860 --> 00:41:17.539 myself 00:41:17.539 --> 00:41:19.099 and heal 00:41:19.099 --> 00:41:19.599 the people 00:41:19.599 --> 00:41:20.360 involved in 00:41:20.360 --> 00:41:20.940 their tragic 00:41:20.940 --> 00:41:21.719 situations 00:41:21.719 --> 00:41:23.599 I have 00:41:23.599 --> 00:41:24.179 lived these 00:41:24.179 --> 00:41:24.679 past few 00:41:24.679 --> 00:41:25.099 years with 00:41:25.099 --> 00:41:25.679 the conviction 00:41:25.679 --> 00:41:27.139 that unearned 00:41:27.139 --> 00:41:28.099 suffering is 00:41:28.099 --> 00:41:28.840 redemptive 00:41:28.840 --> 00:41:31.360 friends this is 00:41:31.360 --> 00:41:31.960 what I have 00:41:31.960 --> 00:41:32.639 seen as I've 00:41:32.639 --> 00:41:33.539 talked and read 00:41:33.539 --> 00:41:34.079 in the past 00:41:34.079 --> 00:41:36.420 we who are not 00:41:36.420 --> 00:41:36.980 a part of the 00:41:36.980 --> 00:41:37.619 black church and 00:41:37.619 --> 00:41:38.279 don't have this 00:41:38.280 --> 00:41:39.180 history have so 00:41:39.180 --> 00:41:39.860 much to learn 00:41:39.860 --> 00:41:40.220 from our 00:41:40.220 --> 00:41:40.760 brothers and 00:41:40.760 --> 00:41:41.760 sisters about 00:41:41.760 --> 00:41:42.660 how to endure 00:41:42.660 --> 00:41:44.240 how to persevere 00:41:44.240 --> 00:41:45.980 in hope through 00:41:45.980 --> 00:41:46.980 centuries of 00:41:46.980 --> 00:41:47.920 subjugation and 00:41:47.920 --> 00:41:48.940 discrimination and 00:41:48.940 --> 00:41:50.780 injustice not 00:41:50.780 --> 00:41:51.540 forsaking their 00:41:51.540 --> 00:41:53.380 hope in God or 00:41:53.380 --> 00:41:54.220 their inheritance in 00:41:54.220 --> 00:41:56.820 the kingdom but 00:41:56.820 --> 00:41:57.600 with that also 00:41:57.600 --> 00:41:58.440 having the ability 00:41:58.440 --> 00:41:59.160 to work for 00:41:59.160 --> 00:42:00.019 change to see 00:42:00.019 --> 00:42:01.260 injustice and to 00:42:01.260 --> 00:42:02.040 confront it and 00:42:02.040 --> 00:42:03.019 to work in 00:42:03.019 --> 00:42:04.120 godly ways for 00:42:04.120 --> 00:42:05.000 transformation 00:42:05.000 --> 00:42:08.480 to not only 00:42:08.480 --> 00:42:09.039 change their 00:42:09.039 --> 00:42:10.039 society for the 00:42:10.039 --> 00:42:10.920 better but even 00:42:10.920 --> 00:42:11.940 to redeem the 00:42:11.940 --> 00:42:12.719 souls of those 00:42:12.719 --> 00:42:13.420 who are trapped 00:42:13.420 --> 00:42:14.219 in sins of 00:42:14.219 --> 00:42:15.920 racism and 00:42:15.920 --> 00:42:16.380 prejudice 00:42:16.380 --> 00:42:20.760 and friends 00:42:20.760 --> 00:42:21.960 what I see is 00:42:21.960 --> 00:42:22.340 that if we 00:42:22.340 --> 00:42:23.280 can't have both 00:42:23.280 --> 00:42:24.179 of those things 00:42:24.179 --> 00:42:25.219 the ultimate 00:42:25.219 --> 00:42:26.000 hope of God 00:42:26.000 --> 00:42:26.940 and the work 00:42:26.940 --> 00:42:28.179 now we will 00:42:28.179 --> 00:42:29.019 lose our faith 00:42:29.019 --> 00:42:30.860 because we will 00:42:30.860 --> 00:42:31.900 see that the 00:42:31.900 --> 00:42:32.719 injustice of the 00:42:32.719 --> 00:42:33.139 world is 00:42:33.139 --> 00:42:34.460 unbearable and 00:42:34.460 --> 00:42:34.940 we will either 00:42:34.940 --> 00:42:35.960 try to enforce 00:42:35.960 --> 00:42:37.019 it through other 00:42:37.019 --> 00:42:38.320 means or we 00:42:38.320 --> 00:42:39.280 will despair of 00:42:39.280 --> 00:42:39.840 it and we will 00:42:39.840 --> 00:42:40.639 lose the hope of 00:42:40.639 --> 00:42:41.139 the gospel 00:42:41.139 --> 00:42:45.780 and look 00:42:45.780 --> 00:42:48.300 the day is 00:42:48.300 --> 00:42:50.179 coming when 00:42:50.179 --> 00:42:50.900 all Christians 00:42:50.900 --> 00:42:52.019 will suffer 00:42:52.019 --> 00:42:52.740 unjustly 00:42:52.740 --> 00:42:56.500 we will find 00:42:56.500 --> 00:42:57.260 ourselves in 00:42:57.260 --> 00:42:58.659 positions where 00:42:58.659 --> 00:42:59.260 those who have 00:42:59.260 --> 00:43:00.519 authority over us 00:43:00.519 --> 00:43:02.059 will treat us 00:43:02.059 --> 00:43:03.280 unjustly because of 00:43:03.280 --> 00:43:03.900 our faith in 00:43:03.900 --> 00:43:05.320 Christ as our 00:43:05.320 --> 00:43:06.119 culture moves 00:43:06.119 --> 00:43:07.960 further away from 00:43:07.960 --> 00:43:09.680 some overlay of 00:43:09.680 --> 00:43:10.960 Christian values and 00:43:10.960 --> 00:43:13.360 morals as the 00:43:13.360 --> 00:43:14.579 church becomes more 00:43:14.579 --> 00:43:15.720 distinct from the 00:43:15.720 --> 00:43:16.700 culture we live in 00:43:16.700 --> 00:43:17.780 we will suffer 00:43:17.780 --> 00:43:19.500 unjustly and we 00:43:19.500 --> 00:43:20.420 need to be prepared 00:43:20.420 --> 00:43:21.420 for that and we 00:43:21.420 --> 00:43:22.220 need to learn from 00:43:22.220 --> 00:43:22.880 our brothers and 00:43:22.880 --> 00:43:24.740 sisters how they 00:43:24.740 --> 00:43:26.079 have walked in 00:43:26.079 --> 00:43:26.780 fellowship with 00:43:26.780 --> 00:43:28.559 Christ so that we 00:43:28.559 --> 00:43:29.220 may know the 00:43:29.220 --> 00:43:30.460 strength and power 00:43:30.460 --> 00:43:31.500 that they have had 00:43:31.500 --> 00:43:33.059 so that together we 00:43:33.059 --> 00:43:34.460 might work walk with 00:43:34.460 --> 00:43:36.139 them through what is 00:43:36.139 --> 00:43:36.679 to come 00:43:36.679 --> 00:43:40.119 God's purpose for us 00:43:40.119 --> 00:43:41.820 is that we may know 00:43:41.820 --> 00:43:42.679 the fellowship of 00:43:42.679 --> 00:43:44.039 Christ and his 00:43:44.039 --> 00:43:44.679 sufferings 00:43:44.679 --> 00:43:47.780 even being even 00:43:47.780 --> 00:43:49.460 dying with him so 00:43:49.460 --> 00:43:50.139 that we might be 00:43:50.139 --> 00:43:51.340 raised with him to 00:43:51.340 --> 00:43:51.960 new life 00:43:51.960 --> 00:43:54.820 for God's glory for 00:43:54.820 --> 00:43:56.920 our good and for the 00:43:56.920 --> 00:43:58.179 salvation of others in 00:43:58.179 --> 00:44:01.960 the world let's 00:44:01.960 --> 00:44:04.440 pray Lord we thank 00:44:04.440 --> 00:44:05.960 you for this word 00:44:05.960 --> 00:44:09.019 and we pray that you 00:44:09.019 --> 00:44:11.819 would help us to 00:44:11.819 --> 00:44:14.739 receive it to hear 00:44:14.739 --> 00:44:18.000 it and respond to it 00:44:18.000 --> 00:44:18.919 as you would call us 00:44:18.919 --> 00:44:21.699 to we pray this in 00:44:21.699 --> 00:44:24.059 Jesus name amen 00:44:24.059 --> 00:44:29.940 an amen 00:44:29.940 --> 00:44:30.519 you 00:44:30.519 --> 00:44:36.779 in 00:44:36.779 --> 00:44:38.779 you 00:44:38.779 --> 00:44:40.679 you 00:44:40.679 --> 00:44:40.739 you 00:44:40.739 --> 00:44:40.840 you 00:44:40.840 --> 00:44:49.759 you 00:44:49.759 --> 00:44:53.239 you