WEBVTT 00:00:00.200 --> 00:00:01.960 Well, good evening to all of you. 00:00:02.359 --> 00:00:03.700 Glad to be together again. 00:00:03.800 --> 00:00:04.919 Hope you all had a good holiday. 00:00:05.040 --> 00:00:05.960 I hope you're staying warm. 00:00:07.299 --> 00:00:12.259 We are starting a new series in this event this Sunday. 00:00:12.439 --> 00:00:13.679 We're celebrating Epiphany. 00:00:13.820 --> 00:00:16.219 Actually, that day was Friday. 00:00:17.140 --> 00:00:23.640 The revealing of the true nature of Jesus, particularly to these magi, these wise men. 00:00:24.199 --> 00:00:28.179 And we're beginning a series looking at that passage tonight. 00:00:28.179 --> 00:00:31.079 And I was thinking about how to prepare for this this week. 00:00:31.179 --> 00:00:38.140 And as I meditated on this and thought about all that it means, it actually took me back to thinking about when I first met my wife. 00:00:39.039 --> 00:00:43.460 And I met Laura all the way back in 1999. 00:00:43.859 --> 00:00:44.859 That's when we started dating. 00:00:44.939 --> 00:00:46.179 That may seem like ancient history. 00:00:46.719 --> 00:00:50.500 But we met, we started dating, and things progressed pretty well. 00:00:50.859 --> 00:00:55.079 And then at some point we turned a corner and took a really big step, I think, in relationships. 00:00:55.079 --> 00:00:57.840 And that is that I went home to meet her family. 00:00:58.839 --> 00:01:02.179 And again, this is 99, so this is before Facebook. 00:01:02.380 --> 00:01:03.880 You can't Facebook stalk people. 00:01:04.180 --> 00:01:05.159 And so we went home. 00:01:05.579 --> 00:01:10.500 And we did a kind of a ritual that is very common when this sort of thing happens. 00:01:10.560 --> 00:01:12.359 And that is we get home, I meet everybody. 00:01:12.680 --> 00:01:14.780 And then they go to the cabinet, and they open the cabinet up. 00:01:14.980 --> 00:01:16.939 They grab the family photo albums. 00:01:17.760 --> 00:01:20.420 And they bring them out, and they plunk them down on the coffee table. 00:01:20.500 --> 00:01:24.519 They sit me down on the couch, and they say, well, we are going to show you some pictures of Laura. 00:01:24.519 --> 00:01:28.379 And they open it up, and they start to show me all of these great pictures. 00:01:28.619 --> 00:01:35.179 You know, there's the requisite photo of Laura as a baby with a bowl of spaghetti on her head, right, where she's using it as makeup. 00:01:35.180 --> 00:01:46.200 And then there's one from middle school, actually, where Laura is wearing her grandmother's blazer from the 70s, complete with thick shoulder pads. 00:01:46.200 --> 00:01:51.640 And she has this ruby red lipstick on, and she actually went to school dressed that way. 00:01:52.320 --> 00:01:55.219 And so we get to see all of these photos. 00:01:55.900 --> 00:02:01.400 And the reason that we do this is pretty obvious, I think. 00:02:01.859 --> 00:02:06.900 You know, they're looking at me, and they're saying, you met our beloved Laura, but you met her when she was an adult. 00:02:06.900 --> 00:02:14.280 And you obviously love her and care about her, but you don't really know her because you didn't know her all those years that she was a kid. 00:02:14.659 --> 00:02:19.439 And so they pull the snapshots out to show you this is what she was like at 2. 00:02:19.540 --> 00:02:21.300 This is what she was like at 12. 00:02:21.420 --> 00:02:23.180 This is what she was like at 16. 00:02:23.319 --> 00:02:31.879 And you begin to get a fuller, deeper, more comprehensive understanding of who that person is by looking at those snapshots. 00:02:31.879 --> 00:02:44.099 And in the same way, all of us who come to know Jesus Christ encounter him as he is an adult in his earthly ministry, in his continuing ministry. 00:02:44.180 --> 00:02:46.479 And in our minds, we think of him as an adult. 00:02:47.859 --> 00:02:56.599 But the gospel writers, when they wrote the account of Jesus' life and ministry, they included snapshots of his childhood. 00:02:57.000 --> 00:02:57.699 Not many. 00:02:57.699 --> 00:03:01.919 But they essentially, I believe, are doing it for the same reason. 00:03:03.239 --> 00:03:04.359 You've come to know Jesus. 00:03:04.560 --> 00:03:08.099 You've come to be curious about him or perhaps even to believe in him. 00:03:08.799 --> 00:03:17.159 But you really need to see these snapshots from his childhood in order to more fully understand who he is and why he has come. 00:03:17.560 --> 00:03:19.560 And so that's our series for the next four weeks. 00:03:19.659 --> 00:03:23.139 We're going to be looking at these snapshots from the childhood of Jesus. 00:03:23.139 --> 00:03:33.399 And asking of each passage or each snapshot, how does this help us more fully understand who Jesus is, why he's come, what it means to know him. 00:03:33.659 --> 00:03:38.979 So tonight we're looking at this epiphany passage, Matthew chapter 2, the visit of the Magi. 00:03:39.319 --> 00:03:45.219 A couple of years ago here, we looked at the whole passage and all of the details and tried to explain everything that was going on. 00:03:45.579 --> 00:03:47.599 Tonight we're just going to look at the first three verses. 00:03:49.060 --> 00:03:51.619 And we're going to focus on this and what it says to us. 00:03:51.620 --> 00:03:55.980 So what I want to do is do a little walkthrough of the passage just to give us a little context. 00:03:56.599 --> 00:04:00.860 And then I believe this passage has something to say to non-Christians. 00:04:01.480 --> 00:04:04.219 And I think that it also has something to say to Christians. 00:04:04.460 --> 00:04:08.099 So walkthrough, something for non-Christians, something for Christians. 00:04:08.240 --> 00:04:08.620 Let's pray. 00:04:12.140 --> 00:04:18.740 Our Heavenly Father, we thank you for this word, epiphany, and all that it means, Lord. 00:04:18.740 --> 00:04:27.980 But at the core of it, we know that it means that there must be an act of divine revelation for us to see clearly and truly who Jesus is. 00:04:28.600 --> 00:04:31.379 And we know that that's something that can very well happen tonight. 00:04:31.500 --> 00:04:32.300 It's why we're here. 00:04:32.420 --> 00:04:33.819 It's why we open your written word. 00:04:33.900 --> 00:04:40.400 Because we believe that through your written word, you actually open the eyes of our hearts to see the truth of who Jesus Christ is. 00:04:40.399 --> 00:04:46.259 And so we pray that that would happen, Lord, for those of us who know him, that we would be reminded afresh. 00:04:46.339 --> 00:04:52.060 For those of us who don't, that perhaps for the first time we would come to recognize the truth of who he is. 00:04:52.279 --> 00:04:53.919 Lord, we pray this in your son's holy name. 00:04:54.099 --> 00:04:54.279 Amen. 00:04:55.939 --> 00:04:58.419 So Matthew chapter 2, verses 1 through 3. 00:04:58.500 --> 00:05:03.379 Just want to start with a little walkthrough and just give you a little context about what's going on here. 00:05:03.639 --> 00:05:05.120 The passage opens, verse 1. 00:05:05.120 --> 00:05:11.720 Now, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king. 00:05:12.819 --> 00:05:15.079 Okay, so he's giving us a little time and place here. 00:05:16.340 --> 00:05:19.600 Hope you notice that it says, after the birth of Jesus. 00:05:20.360 --> 00:05:23.360 Often we think of the Magi visiting on the night of his birth. 00:05:23.500 --> 00:05:24.019 Not true. 00:05:24.100 --> 00:05:27.980 It actually happened months after, maybe even a year or two after. 00:05:28.620 --> 00:05:32.939 So probably Jesus was more likely a toddler by the time they got there. 00:05:32.939 --> 00:05:36.620 And then it mentions that this happens in the time of Herod the king. 00:05:37.639 --> 00:05:38.620 It's kind of funny there. 00:05:38.800 --> 00:05:43.360 And people in the day this was written would have known that that was a bit ironic because Herod was not a king. 00:05:43.939 --> 00:05:46.620 He was a Rome-sanctioned ruler of the region. 00:05:46.660 --> 00:05:47.560 But he was not a king. 00:05:47.680 --> 00:05:50.079 But everybody knew he very much wanted to be king. 00:05:50.819 --> 00:05:52.959 So there's almost a little sarcasm going on here. 00:05:53.980 --> 00:05:55.540 Herod, the guy who thought he was king. 00:05:55.540 --> 00:05:58.700 And Herod was very cruel and very paranoid. 00:05:58.840 --> 00:06:03.960 At one point even put some of his own family members to death in order to hold on to his power. 00:06:05.400 --> 00:06:07.340 And so that's the kind of leader he is. 00:06:07.420 --> 00:06:13.580 And also, we also know from history that Herod ruled and then he died in 4 BC. 00:06:14.980 --> 00:06:16.300 So think about the passage. 00:06:16.500 --> 00:06:17.040 Do the math. 00:06:17.140 --> 00:06:18.580 What does that mean about the birth of Jesus? 00:06:18.579 --> 00:06:27.819 If Herod was alive when Jesus was born and Herod died in 4 BC, well, our calendars are off. 00:06:29.279 --> 00:06:33.159 I mean, most scholars think that Jesus was born sometime between 4 and 6 BC. 00:06:33.479 --> 00:06:34.639 So a little off there. 00:06:34.719 --> 00:06:35.259 But that's okay. 00:06:36.779 --> 00:06:38.120 So moving on, it says, 00:06:38.120 --> 00:06:52.259 I love the song, We Three Kings. 00:06:52.360 --> 00:06:54.800 We sing it during the Advent and Christmas season. 00:06:55.040 --> 00:06:57.579 But they were not kings. 00:06:58.220 --> 00:07:00.160 Nor were there three of them. 00:07:00.240 --> 00:07:01.340 Probably many more. 00:07:01.980 --> 00:07:06.340 There's a tradition that developed later in the history of the church that they were kings. 00:07:06.339 --> 00:07:07.519 That there were three. 00:07:07.959 --> 00:07:08.659 Not in fact true. 00:07:08.719 --> 00:07:09.799 But it makes a great song. 00:07:10.099 --> 00:07:10.879 We still sing it. 00:07:11.419 --> 00:07:13.419 But they were something called magi. 00:07:13.519 --> 00:07:15.179 They were probably very politically powerful. 00:07:15.560 --> 00:07:16.560 Very highly educated. 00:07:16.699 --> 00:07:17.219 Very wealthy. 00:07:17.519 --> 00:07:18.579 But they weren't kings. 00:07:20.439 --> 00:07:25.599 And it's probably more accurate to say that they're pagan astrologers. 00:07:26.359 --> 00:07:29.219 Or religious scientists. 00:07:29.959 --> 00:07:31.359 We'll come back to that in a little while. 00:07:32.519 --> 00:07:34.779 And it's obvious that they're not Jewish. 00:07:34.779 --> 00:07:36.099 They're from the East. 00:07:36.100 --> 00:07:39.160 But they're very familiar with the Old Testament scriptures. 00:07:39.320 --> 00:07:42.700 In fact, seemingly more familiar than many of the Jewish leaders. 00:07:42.840 --> 00:07:45.720 And so that raises the question, how could that possibly be? 00:07:46.460 --> 00:07:47.780 And the answer is simply this. 00:07:47.860 --> 00:07:49.500 That when it says they are from the East. 00:07:50.360 --> 00:07:53.140 That's referring to the area that was formerly known as Babylon. 00:07:54.180 --> 00:07:55.400 Babylon is the East. 00:07:56.439 --> 00:07:57.820 And if you know anything about Babylon. 00:07:57.939 --> 00:07:59.879 Or you remember the series that we did in the fall. 00:07:59.879 --> 00:08:03.839 Well, 600 years before Jesus. 00:08:05.040 --> 00:08:08.659 The nation of Israel had been taken into Babylonian captivity. 00:08:08.899 --> 00:08:14.139 And so people were being enculturated and assimilated in Babylon. 00:08:14.500 --> 00:08:16.620 Jews were being assimilated into Babylon. 00:08:16.620 --> 00:08:23.920 But also Babylon was sort of absorbing a lot of Jewish culture. 00:08:24.659 --> 00:08:25.740 There was an exchange happening. 00:08:25.740 --> 00:08:27.319 If you were here for the series on Daniel. 00:08:27.639 --> 00:08:30.319 You remember that Daniel was actually brought into Babylon. 00:08:30.720 --> 00:08:32.519 And trained to be a Magi. 00:08:33.860 --> 00:08:35.539 So that was the education that he got. 00:08:35.899 --> 00:08:37.360 Divination and astrology. 00:08:37.700 --> 00:08:39.259 And reading animal entrails. 00:08:39.360 --> 00:08:40.720 And various sort of signs. 00:08:40.919 --> 00:08:41.940 And all of those things. 00:08:42.299 --> 00:08:43.360 Daniel learned all of that. 00:08:43.399 --> 00:08:45.299 That's the training that a Magi receives. 00:08:45.299 --> 00:08:47.839 So through the exile. 00:08:48.939 --> 00:08:52.319 The Babylonian tradition had become infused with the Jewish tradition. 00:08:52.500 --> 00:08:54.159 And so the Magi of Jesus' day. 00:08:55.279 --> 00:08:57.199 Probably had the Jewish scriptures. 00:08:57.759 --> 00:09:00.099 Right alongside their other sacred texts. 00:09:00.279 --> 00:09:01.559 They were very familiar with them. 00:09:02.939 --> 00:09:04.579 And through their study of scripture. 00:09:05.039 --> 00:09:07.159 And their observations of the world around them. 00:09:07.259 --> 00:09:08.819 They had begun to put two and two together. 00:09:09.219 --> 00:09:12.379 They had come to believe that God's promised Messiah King. 00:09:12.519 --> 00:09:13.819 Was about to be born. 00:09:13.820 --> 00:09:16.740 And so they were desperate to figure out who he was. 00:09:16.879 --> 00:09:18.100 And where this was happening. 00:09:19.300 --> 00:09:20.780 So then in verse 3 it says. 00:09:21.160 --> 00:09:22.620 When Herod the king heard this. 00:09:22.800 --> 00:09:23.760 He was troubled. 00:09:24.820 --> 00:09:27.240 That doesn't just mean kind of mildly annoyed. 00:09:27.360 --> 00:09:29.620 It means he was deeply, deeply disturbed. 00:09:30.580 --> 00:09:32.060 And all Jerusalem with him. 00:09:33.760 --> 00:09:35.360 And I want you to look at this. 00:09:35.440 --> 00:09:38.000 There are essentially two opposite reactions here. 00:09:38.080 --> 00:09:40.080 Given for the birth of Jesus. 00:09:40.220 --> 00:09:41.560 You have the wise men who come. 00:09:41.600 --> 00:09:42.620 And they want to worship him. 00:09:42.620 --> 00:09:45.320 And then you have Herod. 00:09:45.679 --> 00:09:50.139 Who because he wants to hold on to his own throne. 00:09:51.320 --> 00:09:53.039 Begins plotting to kill him. 00:09:53.600 --> 00:09:55.120 We'll look at that passage in a couple of weeks. 00:09:56.080 --> 00:09:59.840 It's interesting to see the polarizing impact of the birth of Jesus. 00:09:59.960 --> 00:10:01.500 Before he's ever uttered a word. 00:10:02.039 --> 00:10:02.240 Right? 00:10:03.139 --> 00:10:05.019 It reminds me of that C.S. Lewis quote. 00:10:05.139 --> 00:10:07.399 That says something along the lines of. 00:10:07.399 --> 00:10:10.899 Either Christianity is true. 00:10:11.100 --> 00:10:13.620 And therefore it is of infinite importance. 00:10:15.019 --> 00:10:16.340 Or it is not true. 00:10:16.459 --> 00:10:17.939 And therefore of no importance. 00:10:18.939 --> 00:10:21.679 But the one option that is not left open to us. 00:10:22.039 --> 00:10:24.860 Is that it is of moderate importance. 00:10:25.459 --> 00:10:25.879 Right? 00:10:25.959 --> 00:10:27.019 You either crown him. 00:10:27.240 --> 00:10:28.379 Or you kill him. 00:10:28.720 --> 00:10:31.480 But there's no middle ground allowed. 00:10:31.480 --> 00:10:35.980 Because of the very claims that are made about Jesus Christ. 00:10:36.100 --> 00:10:38.240 So we see that polarity even here. 00:10:39.300 --> 00:10:41.740 So this is the snapshot of the Magi. 00:10:41.860 --> 00:10:42.360 You can imagine. 00:10:42.500 --> 00:10:44.320 Picture of the Magi. 00:10:44.399 --> 00:10:47.639 Just as they're arriving to greet the toddler Jesus in his home. 00:10:47.720 --> 00:10:48.300 And so we ask. 00:10:48.460 --> 00:10:50.379 What does this have to say to us? 00:10:50.399 --> 00:10:54.100 And I think that it actually addresses both non-Christians and Christians. 00:10:54.100 --> 00:10:56.279 In overlapping but distinct ways. 00:10:57.000 --> 00:10:59.300 First we'll talk to the non-Christians. 00:10:59.379 --> 00:11:00.860 And I recognize that's a broad category. 00:11:01.060 --> 00:11:01.159 Right? 00:11:01.240 --> 00:11:05.240 So some of us may be ardently non-spiritual. 00:11:05.540 --> 00:11:07.320 And not interested in this at all. 00:11:07.399 --> 00:11:10.259 Some of us may be following a different faith. 00:11:10.500 --> 00:11:11.899 Very, very passionately. 00:11:12.180 --> 00:11:14.360 Some of you may be considering yourselves seekers. 00:11:14.519 --> 00:11:15.600 Or not sure what you believe. 00:11:15.879 --> 00:11:16.360 Agnostic. 00:11:16.480 --> 00:11:17.600 I know that it's a broad term. 00:11:18.600 --> 00:11:21.220 To those of you who are wondering. 00:11:21.460 --> 00:11:22.180 Who are seeking. 00:11:22.360 --> 00:11:23.560 Who are asking questions. 00:11:23.559 --> 00:11:29.119 I would humbly suggest that the Magi are actually a good example to follow. 00:11:29.639 --> 00:11:36.059 I think they actually offer us a good example of what it looks like to seek in an honest way. 00:11:36.639 --> 00:11:42.519 So I want to point out a couple of things about the Magi and the way they go about seeking Jesus. 00:11:42.879 --> 00:11:45.199 The first thing that's pretty obvious from the story is. 00:11:46.199 --> 00:11:49.859 These are people who want to know truth. 00:11:50.539 --> 00:11:53.059 Not their version of truth. 00:11:53.559 --> 00:11:56.819 They're interested in finding out what is true. 00:11:57.179 --> 00:12:00.979 Regardless of whether it aligns with their preconceptions. 00:12:02.000 --> 00:12:05.479 Now, the reason I think that's important to point out is because these days. 00:12:05.959 --> 00:12:08.559 It seems that more and more and more we live in a culture. 00:12:09.119 --> 00:12:13.919 Where people knowingly prefer their version of truth. 00:12:13.919 --> 00:12:16.459 Or the truth that they would prefer to believe. 00:12:16.459 --> 00:12:21.120 Over what may in fact be true objectively speaking. 00:12:21.679 --> 00:12:21.839 Right? 00:12:21.939 --> 00:12:30.519 So you may know that the Oxford Dictionary named as its 2016 word of the year post-truth. 00:12:30.519 --> 00:12:34.399 They think that that really summarizes the year. 00:12:34.579 --> 00:12:36.720 I mean, think about the fake news phenomenon. 00:12:37.139 --> 00:12:37.340 Right? 00:12:37.699 --> 00:12:44.899 Think about the polling data that shows the incredible misinformation that's out there. 00:12:44.980 --> 00:12:51.179 But what's most interesting is that people, even when they realize that their information is fake. 00:12:51.259 --> 00:12:53.639 Or maybe based on spurious data. 00:12:53.899 --> 00:12:55.039 Or none at all. 00:12:55.039 --> 00:12:57.240 They don't actually care. 00:12:58.559 --> 00:12:59.779 They don't actually care. 00:13:00.679 --> 00:13:04.439 And so post-truth doesn't mean that we're post any concept of truth. 00:13:04.519 --> 00:13:10.599 But what it means is we're post-believing that objective truth is as important as preferred truth. 00:13:11.379 --> 00:13:17.019 That we would actually prefer to believe in the world that we would like to think exists. 00:13:17.019 --> 00:13:18.980 Rather than the one that does. 00:13:18.980 --> 00:13:25.259 But these magi are uniquely willing to get outside the echo chamber. 00:13:25.980 --> 00:13:28.360 To sort of leave their comfort zone. 00:13:28.960 --> 00:13:31.759 Because they're desperate to know what is true. 00:13:31.940 --> 00:13:32.720 What is real. 00:13:33.000 --> 00:13:34.500 Regardless of the implications. 00:13:34.899 --> 00:13:37.399 Regardless of whether it will be convenient for them. 00:13:38.860 --> 00:13:40.500 They're very courageous, I think. 00:13:40.580 --> 00:13:41.279 And very humble. 00:13:42.139 --> 00:13:42.899 To do this. 00:13:43.360 --> 00:13:44.800 So the second thing I want to point out. 00:13:44.879 --> 00:13:45.480 That's the first thing. 00:13:45.539 --> 00:13:46.460 The second thing is this. 00:13:46.460 --> 00:13:51.540 Is they don't make the artificial distinction between faith and science. 00:13:52.040 --> 00:13:53.240 That we often see today. 00:13:54.100 --> 00:13:56.100 They don't make that artificial distinction. 00:13:56.360 --> 00:13:57.600 And I think it's worth pointing that out. 00:13:58.360 --> 00:14:02.100 Because these men are the scientists of the day. 00:14:02.200 --> 00:14:04.840 They are some of the most highly educated people in the world. 00:14:04.840 --> 00:14:07.660 And yet they're also very thoroughly religious. 00:14:08.420 --> 00:14:11.340 And what you see them doing here in the passage is very important. 00:14:12.320 --> 00:14:13.920 They are relying on the one hand. 00:14:14.019 --> 00:14:16.420 They're relying on their observations of the world. 00:14:17.460 --> 00:14:19.040 They're relying on what they see. 00:14:19.180 --> 00:14:21.780 They're relying on their faculties of reason. 00:14:22.560 --> 00:14:23.840 To understand the world. 00:14:24.460 --> 00:14:25.800 And at the same time. 00:14:25.960 --> 00:14:28.700 They're relying on not just observation. 00:14:29.000 --> 00:14:29.840 But revelation. 00:14:30.920 --> 00:14:33.139 So they have all of these sacred texts. 00:14:33.360 --> 00:14:34.780 And they're looking at the world. 00:14:34.960 --> 00:14:36.300 And then they're going to their texts. 00:14:36.460 --> 00:14:36.900 And reading. 00:14:37.100 --> 00:14:38.019 And they're looking at the world. 00:14:38.080 --> 00:14:40.240 And they're trying to see how they line up. 00:14:40.860 --> 00:14:42.220 How they interact with one another. 00:14:42.220 --> 00:14:44.300 Now at one point. 00:14:44.379 --> 00:14:47.120 The Jewish texts were probably just alongside all the rest. 00:14:48.040 --> 00:14:48.940 But over time. 00:14:49.060 --> 00:14:50.560 You can imagine that at some point. 00:14:50.879 --> 00:14:51.860 The Jewish texts. 00:14:52.019 --> 00:14:52.700 The Old Testament. 00:14:53.080 --> 00:14:55.940 Began to make a little more sense. 00:14:56.139 --> 00:14:57.360 Of what they were seeing. 00:14:57.680 --> 00:14:58.660 Than the other texts. 00:14:58.700 --> 00:15:01.180 It began to explain what they were observing. 00:15:01.440 --> 00:15:03.460 More and more and more effectively. 00:15:03.720 --> 00:15:03.920 Right? 00:15:03.919 --> 00:15:05.759 And it's the same experience I have. 00:15:05.879 --> 00:15:06.939 When I try to figure out. 00:15:07.240 --> 00:15:08.259 Why am I so selfish? 00:15:10.579 --> 00:15:10.979 Why? 00:15:11.979 --> 00:15:14.620 Why do I constantly lose my temper with my kids? 00:15:16.199 --> 00:15:16.679 You know? 00:15:16.740 --> 00:15:18.979 Why am I so unbelievably impatient? 00:15:20.419 --> 00:15:22.299 And I look at what counselors have to say. 00:15:22.360 --> 00:15:24.079 And I look at what various religions have to say. 00:15:24.120 --> 00:15:25.500 And philosophies about all of that. 00:15:25.919 --> 00:15:28.199 And then I come across the concept. 00:15:28.419 --> 00:15:29.240 Of sin. 00:15:29.699 --> 00:15:30.379 And idolatry. 00:15:30.379 --> 00:15:33.019 And I say. 00:15:33.100 --> 00:15:33.460 Oh yeah. 00:15:36.759 --> 00:15:37.439 That's true. 00:15:39.620 --> 00:15:41.179 And I connect with it on a level. 00:15:41.279 --> 00:15:42.279 That nothing else. 00:15:43.120 --> 00:15:43.600 Offers. 00:15:43.840 --> 00:15:44.600 And I begin to realize. 00:15:44.759 --> 00:15:45.620 This is a text. 00:15:45.899 --> 00:15:47.620 That can explain me. 00:15:47.740 --> 00:15:48.159 To me. 00:15:49.700 --> 00:15:51.399 And it begins to take on. 00:15:51.759 --> 00:15:52.620 More authority. 00:15:52.820 --> 00:15:53.960 And that's I think. 00:15:54.440 --> 00:15:56.019 Some of what's going on with them. 00:15:56.100 --> 00:15:56.940 They begin to see. 00:15:57.080 --> 00:15:58.559 What's happening in the world. 00:15:58.700 --> 00:15:59.659 And what's happening with the. 00:15:59.659 --> 00:16:01.579 These myths of a coming Messiah. 00:16:01.860 --> 00:16:03.120 And they begin to look at the stars. 00:16:03.360 --> 00:16:04.699 And then they begin to look at this text. 00:16:04.939 --> 00:16:06.299 And it begins to jump off the page. 00:16:06.500 --> 00:16:07.120 This is true. 00:16:07.159 --> 00:16:07.559 And it's real. 00:16:07.639 --> 00:16:08.740 And it's happening right now. 00:16:10.360 --> 00:16:11.419 And so they want to come. 00:16:11.480 --> 00:16:12.699 And they want to figure out. 00:16:12.860 --> 00:16:14.100 What this is pointing to. 00:16:15.259 --> 00:16:16.360 And I think it's worth it. 00:16:16.480 --> 00:16:17.399 Worth pointing this out. 00:16:17.439 --> 00:16:18.079 Because these days. 00:16:18.379 --> 00:16:20.199 Many people make an artificial distinction. 00:16:20.339 --> 00:16:21.559 Between faith and science. 00:16:22.199 --> 00:16:23.419 And this really assumes. 00:16:23.579 --> 00:16:24.539 That faith and reason. 00:16:24.659 --> 00:16:25.480 Are separate things. 00:16:25.559 --> 00:16:25.699 You know. 00:16:25.740 --> 00:16:26.559 There are faith people. 00:16:26.559 --> 00:16:28.019 And there are reason people. 00:16:28.019 --> 00:16:29.579 But what we need to realize. 00:16:29.579 --> 00:16:31.039 Is they're actually counterparts. 00:16:31.340 --> 00:16:31.480 Right. 00:16:31.759 --> 00:16:33.439 They're sides of the same coin. 00:16:33.939 --> 00:16:34.699 Faith and reason. 00:16:35.179 --> 00:16:35.879 Need each other. 00:16:36.720 --> 00:16:37.139 Right. 00:16:37.220 --> 00:16:38.059 So for believers. 00:16:38.259 --> 00:16:39.179 So for people of faith. 00:16:39.299 --> 00:16:40.860 We need to be able to understand. 00:16:40.939 --> 00:16:41.480 And articulate. 00:16:41.480 --> 00:16:42.840 The reasons. 00:16:43.720 --> 00:16:44.799 Behind our faith. 00:16:45.679 --> 00:16:45.899 Right. 00:16:45.939 --> 00:16:47.819 That Christianity is not a blind leap. 00:16:47.819 --> 00:16:48.960 That you take in the dark. 00:16:49.759 --> 00:16:50.240 Right. 00:16:50.299 --> 00:16:53.059 That Christians are looking at the extraordinary amount of evidence. 00:16:53.259 --> 00:16:53.939 For Jesus. 00:16:54.100 --> 00:16:54.939 And for his resurrection. 00:16:54.940 --> 00:16:57.000 And they're trying to put those things together. 00:16:57.000 --> 00:16:58.180 And draw conclusions. 00:16:58.460 --> 00:16:59.880 Based on available evidence. 00:17:01.080 --> 00:17:01.520 Right. 00:17:01.660 --> 00:17:02.820 And many of us believe. 00:17:03.000 --> 00:17:05.100 That the only way to make sense of all the evidence. 00:17:05.259 --> 00:17:08.360 Is to recognize that Jesus is who he says he is. 00:17:08.519 --> 00:17:09.240 The Christ. 00:17:09.500 --> 00:17:09.700 Right. 00:17:11.019 --> 00:17:13.600 That we need to be able to understand the reasons behind our faith. 00:17:13.680 --> 00:17:14.360 But likewise. 00:17:15.519 --> 00:17:16.420 People who are saying. 00:17:16.620 --> 00:17:17.620 Well I believe in reason. 00:17:17.779 --> 00:17:18.400 And I don't believe in. 00:17:18.960 --> 00:17:20.660 People who are devoted to reason. 00:17:20.779 --> 00:17:21.920 Need to be able to admit. 00:17:22.220 --> 00:17:23.519 The faith behind their reason. 00:17:23.519 --> 00:17:23.920 Right. 00:17:25.180 --> 00:17:26.420 That there are reasons behind faith. 00:17:26.480 --> 00:17:28.259 But there is also faith behind reason. 00:17:29.160 --> 00:17:29.299 You know. 00:17:29.400 --> 00:17:30.920 I was talking to a guy not too long ago. 00:17:31.039 --> 00:17:32.000 Who right out of the gate. 00:17:32.099 --> 00:17:32.680 Just let me know. 00:17:32.720 --> 00:17:33.879 Once he found out I was a pastor. 00:17:34.119 --> 00:17:34.539 Let me know. 00:17:34.579 --> 00:17:35.000 Just by the way. 00:17:35.019 --> 00:17:35.440 I'm an atheist. 00:17:36.460 --> 00:17:36.779 You know. 00:17:36.799 --> 00:17:38.519 I don't know what they think I'm going to do. 00:17:38.720 --> 00:17:38.960 You know. 00:17:39.019 --> 00:17:39.299 When they. 00:17:39.759 --> 00:17:40.139 You know. 00:17:40.220 --> 00:17:41.079 But it's just so you know. 00:17:41.160 --> 00:17:42.059 Like don't touch me. 00:17:42.180 --> 00:17:42.579 So I had to. 00:17:42.639 --> 00:17:43.599 I wasn't planning on it. 00:17:44.119 --> 00:17:44.400 But. 00:17:44.400 --> 00:17:44.460 But. 00:17:45.200 --> 00:17:47.539 But then he begins to lay out the reasons why. 00:17:47.839 --> 00:17:47.879 And. 00:17:47.980 --> 00:17:48.200 And. 00:17:48.619 --> 00:17:49.400 And very quickly. 00:17:49.519 --> 00:17:50.799 We get to the whole concept of miracles. 00:17:50.940 --> 00:17:51.139 And he says. 00:17:51.200 --> 00:17:51.400 I mean. 00:17:51.480 --> 00:17:52.079 Everybody knows. 00:17:52.079 --> 00:17:53.259 None of that stuff actually happens. 00:17:53.319 --> 00:17:55.179 And any halfway intelligent person knows. 00:17:55.259 --> 00:17:56.259 That these things are not real. 00:17:56.599 --> 00:17:56.759 You know. 00:17:56.859 --> 00:17:57.199 And. 00:17:57.319 --> 00:17:57.500 You know. 00:17:57.500 --> 00:17:58.679 Things like the virgin birth. 00:17:58.980 --> 00:17:59.279 You know. 00:17:59.559 --> 00:18:01.159 A pregnancy doesn't just happen. 00:18:01.839 --> 00:18:02.059 You know. 00:18:02.059 --> 00:18:03.079 That doesn't just happen. 00:18:03.980 --> 00:18:05.480 But that very same guy. 00:18:06.000 --> 00:18:07.159 If you were to ask him. 00:18:07.199 --> 00:18:07.319 Well. 00:18:07.359 --> 00:18:09.079 How did the universe come into being? 00:18:10.679 --> 00:18:11.619 You know what he would say? 00:18:12.720 --> 00:18:13.619 It just happened. 00:18:14.740 --> 00:18:15.099 You know. 00:18:15.119 --> 00:18:17.119 It reminds me of this quote by Glenn Scrivener. 00:18:17.220 --> 00:18:17.500 He says. 00:18:17.919 --> 00:18:20.159 Christians believe in the virgin birth of Jesus. 00:18:20.160 --> 00:18:20.240 Christians. 00:18:21.040 --> 00:18:23.200 Materialists believe in the virgin birth of the cosmos. 00:18:24.240 --> 00:18:24.940 Choose your miracle. 00:18:25.920 --> 00:18:26.140 You know. 00:18:26.200 --> 00:18:26.480 And really. 00:18:26.620 --> 00:18:27.300 I think that that's true. 00:18:27.400 --> 00:18:28.200 At some point. 00:18:28.360 --> 00:18:30.580 Faith plays into whatever worldview. 00:18:30.680 --> 00:18:32.259 The most ardent materialist. 00:18:32.480 --> 00:18:33.180 At some point. 00:18:33.259 --> 00:18:34.320 You dig down far enough. 00:18:35.120 --> 00:18:37.580 There are faith assumptions that are not provable. 00:18:38.160 --> 00:18:39.420 That you simply take. 00:18:39.940 --> 00:18:40.640 By faith. 00:18:41.460 --> 00:18:43.240 So the conflict is not actually. 00:18:43.400 --> 00:18:44.160 Between belief. 00:18:45.000 --> 00:18:45.980 And unbelief. 00:18:46.080 --> 00:18:46.940 There are not believers. 00:18:46.940 --> 00:18:47.900 And unbelievers. 00:18:47.900 --> 00:18:48.720 We are in fact. 00:18:48.960 --> 00:18:49.920 All believers. 00:18:51.259 --> 00:18:51.860 The question is. 00:18:51.980 --> 00:18:53.240 What is the object of your belief? 00:18:53.380 --> 00:18:54.440 The object of your faith? 00:18:55.160 --> 00:18:56.220 And so what you see in the Magi. 00:18:56.320 --> 00:18:57.920 There are people who are interested in what's true. 00:18:58.180 --> 00:18:58.880 No matter what. 00:18:59.380 --> 00:19:01.720 And they're willing to rely on both observation. 00:19:01.720 --> 00:19:02.880 From the natural world. 00:19:03.040 --> 00:19:03.860 And revelation. 00:19:04.440 --> 00:19:05.000 Through scripture. 00:19:05.620 --> 00:19:06.280 To find it. 00:19:06.420 --> 00:19:06.560 So. 00:19:06.900 --> 00:19:09.200 Something for those of us who are seeking. 00:19:09.940 --> 00:19:11.000 Now I want to move to. 00:19:11.140 --> 00:19:13.240 What does this have to say to those of us who are Christians? 00:19:13.240 --> 00:19:13.400 Christians. 00:19:14.460 --> 00:19:15.559 And I just want to again. 00:19:15.660 --> 00:19:16.480 Look at the Magi. 00:19:17.180 --> 00:19:18.500 And I want to point this out. 00:19:18.599 --> 00:19:19.460 The Magi are. 00:19:19.880 --> 00:19:20.779 As I said before. 00:19:21.140 --> 00:19:22.960 Some of the most highly educated people. 00:19:23.559 --> 00:19:24.500 Probably in the world. 00:19:25.420 --> 00:19:28.000 They are of a completely different ethnic. 00:19:28.259 --> 00:19:28.839 And cultural. 00:19:29.019 --> 00:19:30.059 And religious background. 00:19:31.400 --> 00:19:32.120 And yet. 00:19:32.279 --> 00:19:34.440 They are desperately searching for Jesus. 00:19:36.200 --> 00:19:37.500 They're not of the same culture. 00:19:37.620 --> 00:19:39.019 They have a totally different religious background. 00:19:39.180 --> 00:19:39.500 Culture. 00:19:39.579 --> 00:19:39.960 All that. 00:19:40.180 --> 00:19:42.539 But they are desperately searching for Jesus. 00:19:42.539 --> 00:19:44.139 You know how long they had to travel. 00:19:44.460 --> 00:19:45.119 To get there. 00:19:46.139 --> 00:19:48.619 This isn't just like going to northern Virginia. 00:19:50.079 --> 00:19:53.059 Probably somewhere in the neighborhood of 900 miles. 00:19:53.960 --> 00:19:55.200 900 miles. 00:19:55.460 --> 00:19:56.819 That would have taken months. 00:19:56.920 --> 00:19:57.319 And months. 00:19:57.420 --> 00:19:57.879 And months. 00:19:57.960 --> 00:19:59.000 Over dangerous. 00:19:59.940 --> 00:20:00.299 Rough. 00:20:01.299 --> 00:20:01.819 Unpredictable. 00:20:02.379 --> 00:20:02.819 Terrain. 00:20:03.639 --> 00:20:04.559 900 miles. 00:20:05.240 --> 00:20:06.139 They're that hungry. 00:20:06.740 --> 00:20:08.299 And the reason it's worth pointing this out. 00:20:08.379 --> 00:20:09.399 Is in the same way. 00:20:09.399 --> 00:20:10.139 I think that. 00:20:10.339 --> 00:20:12.460 That there are people all around us. 00:20:12.539 --> 00:20:14.319 From all different backgrounds. 00:20:14.539 --> 00:20:14.980 Cultures. 00:20:15.159 --> 00:20:15.639 Ethnicities. 00:20:15.819 --> 00:20:16.339 Religions. 00:20:17.079 --> 00:20:18.119 All different backgrounds. 00:20:18.879 --> 00:20:20.579 And you don't have to go elsewhere. 00:20:20.720 --> 00:20:21.039 To find. 00:20:21.240 --> 00:20:21.599 You know. 00:20:21.659 --> 00:20:22.819 You live in a place like D.C. 00:20:22.819 --> 00:20:24.659 We're surrounded by people from everywhere. 00:20:25.940 --> 00:20:27.659 And we're surrounded by people. 00:20:27.659 --> 00:20:29.920 Who are desperately hungry for Jesus. 00:20:31.559 --> 00:20:32.619 They're searching. 00:20:33.279 --> 00:20:34.639 If you told them. 00:20:34.759 --> 00:20:36.639 That you would definitely encounter Jesus. 00:20:36.819 --> 00:20:38.240 If you travel 900 miles. 00:20:38.460 --> 00:20:39.279 They'd say sign me up. 00:20:39.279 --> 00:20:39.899 And they'd start walking. 00:20:40.740 --> 00:20:41.820 There are people who are hungry. 00:20:42.940 --> 00:20:44.259 Now why is this something. 00:20:44.259 --> 00:20:46.160 That we need to point out to Christians. 00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:48.880 Why am I not saying this to seekers. 00:20:50.300 --> 00:20:51.720 Well the main reason is this. 00:20:54.060 --> 00:20:56.540 I think that the idea of sharing our faith. 00:20:58.220 --> 00:21:00.580 Makes us incredibly uncomfortable. 00:21:01.580 --> 00:21:03.160 I think it makes us squirm. 00:21:03.720 --> 00:21:05.420 Like very few things. 00:21:05.820 --> 00:21:06.720 Make us squirm. 00:21:06.720 --> 00:21:09.380 I think that we're uncomfortable with the whole idea. 00:21:10.019 --> 00:21:10.200 You know. 00:21:10.279 --> 00:21:11.400 And as Christians. 00:21:11.660 --> 00:21:12.059 It's just. 00:21:12.360 --> 00:21:12.519 You know. 00:21:12.600 --> 00:21:14.079 When issues of faith come up. 00:21:14.180 --> 00:21:15.660 That you get that pit in your stomach. 00:21:15.779 --> 00:21:16.240 And you just say. 00:21:16.360 --> 00:21:17.120 Oh no. 00:21:17.380 --> 00:21:18.860 And you just don't want to talk about it. 00:21:18.860 --> 00:21:20.579 And I think that there are a lot of reasons for that. 00:21:21.420 --> 00:21:22.700 I think that we have. 00:21:22.980 --> 00:21:25.660 There are bad examples of evangelism. 00:21:25.799 --> 00:21:27.539 And proselytizing out there. 00:21:27.539 --> 00:21:27.839 Right. 00:21:28.140 --> 00:21:28.400 I mean. 00:21:29.360 --> 00:21:31.279 There are examples of coercion. 00:21:31.440 --> 00:21:32.220 And bait and switch. 00:21:32.360 --> 00:21:32.980 And manipulation. 00:21:32.980 --> 00:21:34.360 And all of these things. 00:21:34.640 --> 00:21:35.740 That maybe we've seen firsthand. 00:21:36.279 --> 00:21:36.400 Now. 00:21:36.559 --> 00:21:38.440 I remember when I was in middle school. 00:21:38.559 --> 00:21:39.360 And I had a friend. 00:21:39.860 --> 00:21:41.339 And this friend and his family. 00:21:41.460 --> 00:21:43.000 Invited me to come see a play. 00:21:43.799 --> 00:21:44.259 And oh. 00:21:44.319 --> 00:21:44.720 By the way. 00:21:44.779 --> 00:21:44.900 Yeah. 00:21:44.920 --> 00:21:46.059 The play's at our church. 00:21:46.599 --> 00:21:47.079 I said. 00:21:47.140 --> 00:21:47.380 Okay. 00:21:47.539 --> 00:21:48.460 And I go along. 00:21:48.500 --> 00:21:49.039 And we get there. 00:21:49.079 --> 00:21:51.279 And it's this play about this family. 00:21:51.380 --> 00:21:52.740 Driving along on the road. 00:21:53.079 --> 00:21:54.620 And they're talking. 00:21:54.880 --> 00:21:56.819 And there's like the one family member. 00:21:56.819 --> 00:21:57.720 The one kid. 00:21:58.079 --> 00:21:59.079 Who doesn't really. 00:21:59.360 --> 00:22:00.839 He's not sure what he thinks about Jesus. 00:22:00.839 --> 00:22:02.379 And the other people of the family are like. 00:22:02.419 --> 00:22:02.799 Come on. 00:22:02.879 --> 00:22:03.339 You know. 00:22:03.359 --> 00:22:04.079 Don't you know. 00:22:04.179 --> 00:22:04.559 And all this. 00:22:04.720 --> 00:22:05.259 And he's like. 00:22:05.299 --> 00:22:06.559 I just don't know if I believe in him. 00:22:06.699 --> 00:22:06.980 And then. 00:22:07.319 --> 00:22:08.819 And they have a huge wreck. 00:22:09.099 --> 00:22:09.319 Right. 00:22:10.599 --> 00:22:10.899 You know. 00:22:11.000 --> 00:22:11.699 Curtain drop. 00:22:11.919 --> 00:22:12.240 Intermission. 00:22:12.959 --> 00:22:13.240 Right. 00:22:13.579 --> 00:22:14.459 Change the set. 00:22:15.059 --> 00:22:15.720 Come back. 00:22:15.799 --> 00:22:16.359 Lights up. 00:22:16.559 --> 00:22:16.759 You know. 00:22:17.139 --> 00:22:18.199 Hellfire and clouds. 00:22:18.399 --> 00:22:18.619 Right. 00:22:19.039 --> 00:22:21.399 And all of the family is in the clouds. 00:22:21.439 --> 00:22:22.599 Except for the one kid. 00:22:23.019 --> 00:22:24.299 And he's in the hellfire. 00:22:24.539 --> 00:22:25.699 And he's yelling off. 00:22:25.759 --> 00:22:26.240 And help. 00:22:26.439 --> 00:22:27.359 And rescue me. 00:22:27.459 --> 00:22:27.779 And you know. 00:22:27.779 --> 00:22:28.399 The family's like. 00:22:28.459 --> 00:22:28.819 You really. 00:22:28.919 --> 00:22:30.179 You should have accepted Jesus. 00:22:30.180 --> 00:22:31.220 When you had the chance. 00:22:31.340 --> 00:22:31.560 You know. 00:22:32.880 --> 00:22:33.680 And then. 00:22:33.820 --> 00:22:34.200 You know. 00:22:34.320 --> 00:22:34.640 And then. 00:22:34.759 --> 00:22:35.600 To make matters worse. 00:22:35.720 --> 00:22:36.740 The play ends. 00:22:36.860 --> 00:22:37.299 And then I'm like. 00:22:37.360 --> 00:22:37.580 Oh. 00:22:37.680 --> 00:22:38.259 Thank goodness. 00:22:38.400 --> 00:22:38.620 You know. 00:22:38.740 --> 00:22:39.680 For refreshments. 00:22:39.820 --> 00:22:40.019 You know. 00:22:40.080 --> 00:22:41.500 And no refreshments. 00:22:41.700 --> 00:22:41.860 You know. 00:22:41.900 --> 00:22:42.160 I guess. 00:22:42.840 --> 00:22:43.200 Churches. 00:22:43.279 --> 00:22:44.660 We can't afford refreshments. 00:22:44.740 --> 00:22:44.900 So. 00:22:45.240 --> 00:22:47.200 They just sent us into this little room. 00:22:47.299 --> 00:22:47.539 You know. 00:22:47.660 --> 00:22:47.980 But. 00:22:48.120 --> 00:22:49.240 We can't afford refreshments. 00:22:49.299 --> 00:22:51.560 But we can afford to print out lots of little cards. 00:22:51.960 --> 00:22:53.519 That you write your name and address on. 00:22:53.560 --> 00:22:55.060 If you want to make a decision for Jesus. 00:22:55.360 --> 00:22:55.640 Right. 00:22:55.880 --> 00:22:57.640 And this made a huge impression on me. 00:22:58.019 --> 00:22:59.840 I don't think it was the one that they were aiming for. 00:22:59.839 --> 00:23:01.240 But it made a huge impression on me. 00:23:01.740 --> 00:23:04.079 And there are these kinds of approaches out there. 00:23:04.119 --> 00:23:05.399 But I think that if we're honest. 00:23:05.779 --> 00:23:09.939 If we're really honest about why we are so uncomfortable with the idea of sharing our faith. 00:23:10.299 --> 00:23:12.019 It's much simpler than that. 00:23:12.159 --> 00:23:14.939 It's simply that we're terrified of rejection. 00:23:14.940 --> 00:23:18.059 I think we're terrified of being rejected. 00:23:19.360 --> 00:23:24.420 And it's true that we live in a culture where sharing your faith has a bad rap. 00:23:24.840 --> 00:23:25.019 You know. 00:23:25.580 --> 00:23:30.340 The Barna Group did a study where they asked Americans their opinion about this sort of thing. 00:23:30.400 --> 00:23:31.000 And they said well. 00:23:31.539 --> 00:23:37.580 They came back and they reported that if you're the kind of person who tries to convert other people to your faith. 00:23:37.880 --> 00:23:41.980 That 60% of Americans would now consider you to be a religious extremist. 00:23:41.980 --> 00:23:42.579 Right. 00:23:43.839 --> 00:23:47.500 So the culture has shifted a little bit on this issue. 00:23:47.620 --> 00:23:47.819 Right. 00:23:48.059 --> 00:23:52.660 So the truth is if you begin to talk about issues of faith you may get rejected a time or two. 00:23:52.759 --> 00:23:56.579 There may be a couple of people out there who say oh man you're an extremist. 00:23:56.579 --> 00:23:59.579 But I guess I would say so what? 00:24:01.259 --> 00:24:03.460 You know you go through rejection a few times. 00:24:04.559 --> 00:24:07.579 And you realize that you're still here. 00:24:08.279 --> 00:24:10.119 You know you're not a smoking hole in the ground. 00:24:10.279 --> 00:24:11.179 You survived. 00:24:11.839 --> 00:24:12.039 Right. 00:24:12.199 --> 00:24:13.019 You're intact. 00:24:13.919 --> 00:24:16.799 And you realize it's not as bad as we think that it is. 00:24:17.099 --> 00:24:18.539 It's not as bad as we make it out to be. 00:24:18.539 --> 00:24:26.379 But more to the point we need to understand that while our culture is in certain ways very much against proselytizing. 00:24:27.379 --> 00:24:35.839 In the same token we also live in a culture that very highly values knowing and understanding and sharing our personal stories. 00:24:36.700 --> 00:24:37.740 Our personal narratives. 00:24:38.319 --> 00:24:38.420 Right. 00:24:38.460 --> 00:24:39.500 The journey that we've been on. 00:24:39.619 --> 00:24:41.779 What we believe about the ultimate questions. 00:24:41.940 --> 00:24:43.000 People really want to know. 00:24:43.099 --> 00:24:43.720 They're curious. 00:24:43.720 --> 00:24:51.380 And I don't know if in my personal experience lots of people who don't know what I do for a living don't know that I'm a pastor. 00:24:51.740 --> 00:24:57.559 Nevertheless I'm finding constantly that people are talking about these kinds of questions in my life. 00:24:57.640 --> 00:25:04.720 I mean I went to pick up my son from a class and one of the other moms who was picking the son up were just standing there waiting for our kids to get out. 00:25:05.140 --> 00:25:09.900 And the mom says you know with my boys the topic of death came up the other day. 00:25:09.900 --> 00:25:11.059 They had an uncle who died. 00:25:11.059 --> 00:25:13.700 And they started asking me mom what happens when we die. 00:25:13.759 --> 00:25:14.779 And I didn't know what to tell them. 00:25:15.019 --> 00:25:15.960 What do you think happens? 00:25:18.679 --> 00:25:21.319 You know and I'm like on my iPhone I'm like I'm sorry what? 00:25:23.200 --> 00:25:26.000 This kind of thing happens all the time if you have the eyes and the ears. 00:25:26.139 --> 00:25:27.339 It is happening all the time. 00:25:27.419 --> 00:25:28.519 People are curious. 00:25:28.700 --> 00:25:29.059 They're hungry. 00:25:29.179 --> 00:25:29.579 They're thirsty. 00:25:30.000 --> 00:25:30.919 People don't know. 00:25:31.139 --> 00:25:32.940 They're dying to know. 00:25:33.679 --> 00:25:34.399 What happens? 00:25:34.440 --> 00:25:35.740 And they want somebody to talk to. 00:25:35.740 --> 00:25:38.779 And there's no space in our culture to have those conversations. 00:25:38.779 --> 00:25:41.019 Right. 00:25:41.099 --> 00:25:41.940 So let me ask you this. 00:25:42.039 --> 00:25:56.799 If you have friends or co-workers who with whom you're not willing to be honest about the most centrally important aspect of your identity. 00:25:56.799 --> 00:25:59.759 That is your relationship with Jesus Christ. 00:26:00.319 --> 00:26:03.559 Then what kind of relationship is that ultimately? 00:26:04.559 --> 00:26:07.240 You know is it a real relationship at all? 00:26:07.240 --> 00:26:08.620 Is it of any value? 00:26:09.120 --> 00:26:09.319 You know. 00:26:09.759 --> 00:26:11.839 I mean the fact is some people may reject you. 00:26:12.480 --> 00:26:13.420 But what's the alternative? 00:26:14.299 --> 00:26:17.000 You just sort of create this false self. 00:26:17.440 --> 00:26:18.900 And you kind of put it out there. 00:26:19.019 --> 00:26:20.599 And you just hope that it will get accepted. 00:26:21.039 --> 00:26:23.740 But then when it gets accepted is that even a real relationship? 00:26:27.440 --> 00:26:32.319 This culture deeply values sharing our stories. 00:26:32.380 --> 00:26:33.420 Not in a coercive way. 00:26:33.480 --> 00:26:34.339 Not in a manipulative way. 00:26:34.339 --> 00:26:36.240 But simply saying listen I've thought about this. 00:26:36.299 --> 00:26:36.980 I've read about this. 00:26:37.199 --> 00:26:38.259 I've talked to a lot of people about this. 00:26:38.459 --> 00:26:39.399 And this is what I think. 00:26:40.059 --> 00:26:41.240 This is what I believe about God. 00:26:41.339 --> 00:26:42.399 This is what I believe about the world. 00:26:44.939 --> 00:26:45.879 People are open. 00:26:46.459 --> 00:26:48.139 They're way more open than we think. 00:26:51.139 --> 00:26:52.699 So someone says okay well. 00:26:53.459 --> 00:26:55.000 Okay I can see that happening in our culture. 00:26:55.079 --> 00:26:56.679 But the thing that really chaps my hide. 00:26:56.680 --> 00:27:00.140 Is when people go to other cultures. 00:27:00.140 --> 00:27:02.779 And impose this religion on other people. 00:27:02.920 --> 00:27:04.400 That's the thing that drives me crazy. 00:27:04.640 --> 00:27:08.519 Because we all know that that's just another form of cultural imperialism. 00:27:09.160 --> 00:27:09.539 Right. 00:27:09.580 --> 00:27:10.000 And again. 00:27:11.440 --> 00:27:13.200 To some extent that has happened. 00:27:13.320 --> 00:27:13.420 Right. 00:27:13.480 --> 00:27:16.680 People have been cultural imperialists in the name of Jesus. 00:27:16.799 --> 00:27:17.380 That has happened. 00:27:17.380 --> 00:27:25.300 But I would humbly suggest that the much greater threat of cultural imperialism does not come from Christianity. 00:27:26.060 --> 00:27:27.460 It comes from secularism. 00:27:28.560 --> 00:27:32.200 That that's where real cultural imperialism is happening all the time. 00:27:33.060 --> 00:27:35.000 And there's a guy named Laman Sana. 00:27:35.560 --> 00:27:36.680 If you're familiar with Tim Keller. 00:27:36.780 --> 00:27:37.720 He talks about him a lot. 00:27:37.820 --> 00:27:41.120 And he wrote a book about this very topic. 00:27:41.260 --> 00:27:44.740 His book is called Whose Religion is Christianity? 00:27:44.740 --> 00:27:47.400 And this is a man who teaches at Yale. 00:27:47.620 --> 00:27:48.940 And he's also an African. 00:27:49.140 --> 00:27:50.180 He's a Gambian. 00:27:50.779 --> 00:27:53.559 And so in this book Whose Religion is Christianity? 00:27:53.799 --> 00:27:59.640 He makes the argument that Christianity is actually more open to cultural difference than any other religion. 00:28:00.620 --> 00:28:01.579 And he says this. 00:28:02.620 --> 00:28:04.039 He says to be African. 00:28:04.859 --> 00:28:05.759 Here's his argument. 00:28:06.079 --> 00:28:08.779 To be African is to believe in the supernatural. 00:28:10.620 --> 00:28:10.839 Right. 00:28:11.680 --> 00:28:13.460 Essential to my Africanness. 00:28:13.460 --> 00:28:16.380 Is that I believe that there are good spirits and bad spirits. 00:28:16.480 --> 00:28:17.420 And the problem is. 00:28:17.920 --> 00:28:19.680 How do you deal with the evil spirits? 00:28:19.759 --> 00:28:22.600 And so you have lots of fear and enormous amounts of superstition. 00:28:22.779 --> 00:28:24.740 About how to deal with the spiritual world. 00:28:25.620 --> 00:28:26.700 And so he says. 00:28:26.860 --> 00:28:28.500 If I send an African. 00:28:28.840 --> 00:28:32.539 Off to Harvard or Yale or Princeton or Oxford or Cambridge. 00:28:33.480 --> 00:28:34.579 They're going to get there. 00:28:34.660 --> 00:28:35.600 And they're going to be told. 00:28:36.740 --> 00:28:38.240 Well none of that is real. 00:28:38.240 --> 00:28:40.740 All of this actually has a scientific explanation. 00:28:40.740 --> 00:28:41.140 Right. 00:28:42.480 --> 00:28:43.000 And he says. 00:28:43.200 --> 00:28:44.099 By contrast. 00:28:44.480 --> 00:28:47.539 Christianity actually respects my Africanness. 00:28:47.960 --> 00:28:50.059 Because it lets me stay African. 00:28:50.440 --> 00:28:51.160 Because it says. 00:28:51.559 --> 00:28:51.839 Yes. 00:28:51.940 --> 00:28:53.059 There are evil spirits. 00:28:53.740 --> 00:28:54.579 Because Christianity says. 00:28:54.700 --> 00:28:54.880 Yes. 00:28:54.940 --> 00:28:56.319 There is a spiritual world. 00:28:56.940 --> 00:28:58.200 But here's the good news. 00:28:59.259 --> 00:29:02.059 Jesus Christ has overcome the evil spirits. 00:29:02.440 --> 00:29:04.400 So you no longer have to be afraid. 00:29:04.400 --> 00:29:06.519 So he says. 00:29:06.720 --> 00:29:08.240 That Africans recognize. 00:29:09.120 --> 00:29:13.019 That Christianity actually renews their Africanness. 00:29:14.000 --> 00:29:14.700 He says. 00:29:14.800 --> 00:29:15.259 In the end. 00:29:15.500 --> 00:29:18.040 Christianity doesn't make me more European. 00:29:18.259 --> 00:29:19.759 It makes me more African. 00:29:21.840 --> 00:29:22.060 Right. 00:29:22.200 --> 00:29:22.420 So. 00:29:23.900 --> 00:29:25.740 Africans recognize. 00:29:27.040 --> 00:29:28.580 That here's the choice. 00:29:28.680 --> 00:29:29.060 They say. 00:29:29.180 --> 00:29:30.600 If I become a secularist. 00:29:30.600 --> 00:29:31.440 According to Sana. 00:29:31.440 --> 00:29:33.019 If I become a secularist. 00:29:33.240 --> 00:29:34.680 I have to stop being African. 00:29:35.640 --> 00:29:37.259 But if I become a Christian. 00:29:37.820 --> 00:29:40.160 I actually become more African. 00:29:41.420 --> 00:29:43.059 And I think that one of the reasons. 00:29:43.240 --> 00:29:45.080 We have the story of the Magi. 00:29:45.180 --> 00:29:45.759 In the Bible. 00:29:46.259 --> 00:29:47.120 Is to show us. 00:29:47.480 --> 00:29:48.460 Right from the start. 00:29:48.559 --> 00:29:49.580 Of Jesus's life. 00:29:50.299 --> 00:29:51.920 That the gospel was never meant. 00:29:51.980 --> 00:29:52.759 To be confined. 00:29:52.960 --> 00:29:53.880 To one culture. 00:29:54.220 --> 00:29:55.240 Or one people group. 00:29:55.400 --> 00:29:56.380 Or one ethnicity. 00:29:56.539 --> 00:29:57.200 It was never meant. 00:29:57.240 --> 00:29:58.059 To be confined. 00:29:58.460 --> 00:29:59.299 In that way. 00:29:59.940 --> 00:30:00.360 Right. 00:30:00.359 --> 00:30:01.779 If you know anything about wine. 00:30:02.500 --> 00:30:03.799 You know that there's a concept. 00:30:03.799 --> 00:30:04.619 In the wine world. 00:30:04.959 --> 00:30:05.319 Called. 00:30:05.479 --> 00:30:06.859 And forgive my horrible French. 00:30:07.199 --> 00:30:07.679 Terroir. 00:30:08.799 --> 00:30:09.759 And terroir. 00:30:09.759 --> 00:30:10.359 Is the. 00:30:10.439 --> 00:30:11.399 Is the quality. 00:30:11.659 --> 00:30:12.539 That wine gets. 00:30:12.759 --> 00:30:13.459 From the place. 00:30:13.579 --> 00:30:14.240 Where it is planted. 00:30:14.339 --> 00:30:15.299 So you can take the same. 00:30:15.839 --> 00:30:16.240 Grape. 00:30:16.419 --> 00:30:17.439 And you can plant it. 00:30:17.519 --> 00:30:17.859 Here. 00:30:18.179 --> 00:30:18.979 And here. 00:30:19.359 --> 00:30:20.179 And here. 00:30:20.500 --> 00:30:21.099 And here. 00:30:21.399 --> 00:30:22.639 And at the end of the day. 00:30:22.719 --> 00:30:24.219 When you drink that wine. 00:30:24.379 --> 00:30:25.279 You're going to actually have. 00:30:25.500 --> 00:30:27.319 Four different wines. 00:30:27.959 --> 00:30:29.159 All from the same grape. 00:30:29.319 --> 00:30:29.599 Why? 00:30:29.599 --> 00:30:30.919 Because those wines. 00:30:30.919 --> 00:30:31.579 Take on. 00:30:31.859 --> 00:30:32.559 All of the. 00:30:32.759 --> 00:30:34.019 Unique characteristics. 00:30:34.500 --> 00:30:35.219 Of the place. 00:30:35.500 --> 00:30:36.439 Where they've been planted. 00:30:36.579 --> 00:30:37.519 And in the same way. 00:30:37.679 --> 00:30:38.639 We don't just have. 00:30:38.759 --> 00:30:39.779 American Christianity. 00:30:41.699 --> 00:30:42.179 Right. 00:30:42.319 --> 00:30:43.259 That's one wine. 00:30:43.659 --> 00:30:43.879 Right. 00:30:44.480 --> 00:30:44.959 But we have. 00:30:45.059 --> 00:30:46.059 Chinese Christianity. 00:30:46.199 --> 00:30:46.500 With a. 00:30:46.559 --> 00:30:47.219 A distinct. 00:30:47.439 --> 00:30:48.879 Chinese quality to it. 00:30:49.199 --> 00:30:49.359 Right. 00:30:49.399 --> 00:30:50.259 We have African. 00:30:50.719 --> 00:30:51.219 Christianity. 00:30:51.379 --> 00:30:51.959 We have Arab. 00:30:52.439 --> 00:30:52.839 Christianity. 00:30:53.039 --> 00:30:53.759 And there is a distinct. 00:30:54.519 --> 00:30:55.000 Africanness. 00:30:55.559 --> 00:30:56.339 To the African. 00:30:56.459 --> 00:30:56.939 Christianity. 00:30:56.939 --> 00:30:57.439 That is. 00:30:57.440 --> 00:30:58.500 Not like American. 00:30:58.500 --> 00:30:58.940 Christianity. 00:30:59.680 --> 00:31:00.840 And so on and so forth. 00:31:00.840 --> 00:31:01.580 All around the world. 00:31:01.700 --> 00:31:01.920 And yet. 00:31:02.000 --> 00:31:02.779 They all share. 00:31:02.920 --> 00:31:04.019 In the same vine. 00:31:05.160 --> 00:31:06.340 Of Jesus Christ. 00:31:07.100 --> 00:31:07.759 And that. 00:31:07.900 --> 00:31:08.299 I believe. 00:31:08.400 --> 00:31:08.980 The Magi. 00:31:09.160 --> 00:31:09.779 Show us. 00:31:09.860 --> 00:31:10.840 That that was the intention. 00:31:11.100 --> 00:31:12.100 From the beginning. 00:31:12.100 --> 00:31:13.259 When Paul talks in Ephesians. 00:31:13.259 --> 00:31:14.340 About the mystery. 00:31:14.340 --> 00:31:15.240 That is to be revealed. 00:31:15.440 --> 00:31:16.620 That's what he's talking about. 00:31:17.420 --> 00:31:18.940 It was never just meant for you. 00:31:18.940 --> 00:31:22.100 So in the same way. 00:31:23.539 --> 00:31:26.019 I think as we look at the story of the Magi. 00:31:26.880 --> 00:31:28.620 What this shows us who are Christians. 00:31:29.100 --> 00:31:31.500 Is the fact that Jesus came for everyone. 00:31:32.000 --> 00:31:34.539 Which means no one has the corner on the market. 00:31:34.759 --> 00:31:35.539 Of Christianity. 00:31:36.019 --> 00:31:36.559 And in fact. 00:31:36.740 --> 00:31:39.779 Everyone should have equal access to it. 00:31:42.000 --> 00:31:44.340 I think the reason that we need to meditate on this. 00:31:44.400 --> 00:31:46.299 And come back to this reality again and again. 00:31:46.299 --> 00:31:49.720 Is that all too often Christians today. 00:31:50.119 --> 00:31:50.980 Especially I think. 00:31:51.079 --> 00:31:51.980 If we could just be honest. 00:31:52.119 --> 00:31:53.960 In our kind of generation. 00:31:54.159 --> 00:31:55.379 In our sort of demographic. 00:31:55.899 --> 00:31:57.299 It's very common to say. 00:31:57.619 --> 00:31:58.740 In places like D.C. 00:31:59.339 --> 00:32:02.259 Let's put the whole truth and doctrine thing aside. 00:32:02.659 --> 00:32:03.579 What we really need to do. 00:32:03.659 --> 00:32:04.779 Is roll up our sleeves. 00:32:05.359 --> 00:32:06.639 And we need to do good work. 00:32:07.299 --> 00:32:08.579 And that's what really matters. 00:32:08.960 --> 00:32:10.519 Good tangible work make a difference. 00:32:11.759 --> 00:32:13.039 Now I want to say this to that. 00:32:13.079 --> 00:32:14.659 And I think this is what this story shows us. 00:32:14.659 --> 00:32:16.079 That good work is important. 00:32:16.299 --> 00:32:17.180 And it matters. 00:32:17.299 --> 00:32:18.359 And we cannot neglect it. 00:32:19.180 --> 00:32:21.180 But ultimately this shows us. 00:32:21.960 --> 00:32:24.299 That the world doesn't need us. 00:32:25.680 --> 00:32:27.379 The world doesn't need us. 00:32:28.079 --> 00:32:31.099 The world needs Christ in us. 00:32:33.000 --> 00:32:35.440 The world needs Christ in us. 00:32:36.819 --> 00:32:37.259 Right. 00:32:37.359 --> 00:32:39.240 So if you're a modern day magi. 00:32:39.240 --> 00:32:40.240 And you're searching. 00:32:40.240 --> 00:32:41.099 And you're searching. 00:32:41.240 --> 00:32:41.740 And you're seeking. 00:32:41.920 --> 00:32:43.759 I hope that this is encouraging to you. 00:32:45.019 --> 00:32:47.599 I hope that it inspires you to continue searching. 00:32:47.859 --> 00:32:50.660 Particularly when it comes to Jesus Christ. 00:32:51.539 --> 00:32:53.220 That you'll look at the available evidence. 00:32:53.500 --> 00:32:54.900 That you'll talk to the people who know him. 00:32:54.940 --> 00:32:55.279 And love him. 00:32:55.319 --> 00:32:55.839 And follow him. 00:32:56.279 --> 00:32:57.980 And ask them to share their stories. 00:32:57.980 --> 00:33:00.519 For those of us who are Christians. 00:33:01.640 --> 00:33:03.460 I hope that this reminds us. 00:33:04.420 --> 00:33:07.620 That Jesus is still out there to be found. 00:33:08.259 --> 00:33:11.440 But he's no longer meant to be found in a manger. 00:33:12.440 --> 00:33:16.440 That he's in fact meant to be found in the lives of Christians. 00:33:16.440 --> 00:33:22.940 So we are the means through which epiphany happens. 00:33:23.420 --> 00:33:24.900 And will continue to happen. 00:33:25.360 --> 00:33:26.420 Until he comes again. 00:33:27.380 --> 00:33:28.080 Let's pray.