WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.700 Good afternoon to all of you. As I said at the beginning of the service, really glad to be here together. 00:00:05.339 --> 00:00:12.919 We had a fantastic members meeting this morning, got a lot accomplished, and set our sights for the year ahead. 00:00:13.000 --> 00:00:14.560 So very excited to report that. 00:00:15.120 --> 00:00:20.820 Now as we're gathered here this evening, we're going to spend some time looking at God's Word together as we do every week. 00:00:21.559 --> 00:00:27.740 Since Easter, we have been in a series looking at Paul's letter to the Colossians, which is in the New Testament. 00:00:27.739 --> 00:00:35.699 It's a letter that Paul wrote to a church not unlike ours, to a church of people that he's never met personally. 00:00:36.280 --> 00:00:41.399 One of his disciples, a man named Epaphras, planted the church, but Paul is writing this letter. 00:00:42.119 --> 00:00:48.659 And the theme of the letter, there's a number of themes, but the one that we're really tracing is this theme of life after the resurrection. 00:00:49.140 --> 00:00:52.159 In light of the resurrection of Jesus, how do we then live? 00:00:52.959 --> 00:00:56.719 And this is a premise that we've been working off for the past few weeks. 00:00:56.719 --> 00:01:09.200 The idea being, if the resurrection of Jesus didn't actually happen, in other words, if it's just a nice idea that we like to talk about or use as a metaphor, really there's no value in the Christian faith. 00:01:09.819 --> 00:01:14.060 And I would strongly encourage you as your pastor to abandon the Christian faith. 00:01:14.939 --> 00:01:16.060 There's emptiness. 00:01:16.439 --> 00:01:19.819 There's nothing but tradition and pomp and circumstance. 00:01:19.819 --> 00:01:32.459 If, however, the resurrection did happen, which I believe it actually happened, and many of you believe that it actually happened as well, and by that we mean that Jesus actually rose from death bodily, then that actually changes everything. 00:01:33.079 --> 00:01:36.519 And so that's the point of our series, is to ask, what does it change? 00:01:37.319 --> 00:01:41.199 And so today we're going to talk about our concept of human goodness. 00:01:41.200 --> 00:01:47.719 What does it mean to be a good person, and how does the resurrection impact our understanding of that? 00:01:47.780 --> 00:01:53.020 That's what Paul's starting to get into in Colossians chapter 2 as we come to verse 16. 00:01:54.140 --> 00:01:59.180 A lot of us think about this question because D.C. is full of people who want to be good people. 00:01:59.740 --> 00:02:04.140 You know, more and more every year I meet people who move to the city because they want to make a difference. 00:02:04.640 --> 00:02:06.240 Because they want to know that their life mattered. 00:02:06.340 --> 00:02:08.259 They want to leave the world better than they found it. 00:02:08.259 --> 00:02:11.299 So we're constantly asking, what does it mean to be a good person? 00:02:11.579 --> 00:02:18.519 And what we see here, Paul kind of gives us two platforms or foundations for living a good life. 00:02:19.219 --> 00:02:23.459 The first foundation is the foundation of our own goodness and our own virtue. 00:02:23.620 --> 00:02:28.000 It's finding ways to be and to announce to the world our own virtue. 00:02:28.899 --> 00:02:32.680 The other foundation for a good life is found entirely outside of us. 00:02:32.680 --> 00:02:39.300 It's found in the accomplishments of Jesus Christ, the victory of Jesus Christ on the cross. 00:02:40.379 --> 00:02:46.540 And so these alternatives we might think of as virtue signaling or the victory of God. 00:02:47.020 --> 00:02:48.659 And so that's what we're going to be talking about. 00:02:48.760 --> 00:02:52.080 Virtue signaling and the victory of God in Christ. 00:02:52.180 --> 00:02:54.500 Two platforms for a good life. 00:02:54.500 --> 00:02:58.960 The passage is Colossians 2, 16 to 23. 00:02:59.259 --> 00:03:02.599 Let's pray for God to help us as we dive into this word. 00:03:04.300 --> 00:03:11.400 Our Heavenly Father, we do recognize on this of all days, Trinity Sunday, that you've made the staggering promise. 00:03:12.280 --> 00:03:17.099 That you, Father, long ago promised to be a God who dwelt in the midst of your people. 00:03:17.099 --> 00:03:25.400 We never could have imagined that that would lead to the fulfilling of that promise in the form of the Son. 00:03:26.159 --> 00:03:28.959 Who came and became one of us and dwelt in our midst. 00:03:29.419 --> 00:03:34.079 And gave us, Lord, what ultimately became your written word. 00:03:35.000 --> 00:03:38.599 And then now, even as we are gathered, even though your Son ascended into the heavenly realm, 00:03:38.680 --> 00:03:41.819 we know that through the Holy Spirit, as we open this text, 00:03:42.180 --> 00:03:45.759 you can actually use this to reveal to us your living word. 00:03:45.759 --> 00:03:50.219 Jesus Christ, that we can actually encounter Him as we are gathered here together today. 00:03:50.699 --> 00:03:56.519 And so, O God who is three in one, we pray that you would fulfill that promise in us today through your word. 00:03:56.759 --> 00:03:57.879 By the power of your Spirit. 00:03:58.419 --> 00:03:59.939 In your Son's holy name. Amen. 00:04:01.759 --> 00:04:03.620 So, virtue signaling. 00:04:03.840 --> 00:04:06.439 This is happening in the church in Colossal. 00:04:06.479 --> 00:04:07.340 What's going on? 00:04:07.819 --> 00:04:09.799 Let me read the opening verse of this passage. 00:04:09.879 --> 00:04:10.539 Verse 16. 00:04:11.539 --> 00:04:14.199 Therefore, Paul says, so you know he's right in the middle of an argument, 00:04:14.199 --> 00:04:19.240 let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, 00:04:19.740 --> 00:04:23.099 or with regard to a festival, or a new moon, or a Sabbath. 00:04:23.319 --> 00:04:24.120 What's going on? 00:04:24.259 --> 00:04:25.979 Well, people are passing judgment. 00:04:26.399 --> 00:04:26.699 Why? 00:04:27.779 --> 00:04:30.980 Well, Paul's writing, as I said, to a young, vibrant church, 00:04:31.060 --> 00:04:33.939 full of people who are genuine converts. 00:04:34.219 --> 00:04:36.060 They believe in the grace of Jesus Christ. 00:04:36.240 --> 00:04:37.139 They've been baptized. 00:04:37.539 --> 00:04:39.039 They want to follow Jesus faithfully. 00:04:39.199 --> 00:04:40.259 Like many of you here. 00:04:40.259 --> 00:04:45.599 However, there are people in this community, false teachers and the like, 00:04:46.219 --> 00:04:51.939 who have begun encouraging a whole array of extra spiritual practices. 00:04:53.439 --> 00:04:53.879 Right? 00:04:53.959 --> 00:04:56.539 So that's what Paul is talking about with eating and drinking. 00:04:56.680 --> 00:04:58.139 There are certain things that you could eat. 00:04:58.240 --> 00:05:00.019 Certain things that you weren't supposed to eat. 00:05:00.159 --> 00:05:02.199 Certain times when you weren't supposed to eat anything. 00:05:02.480 --> 00:05:04.759 And then there were all of these festivals being tacked on. 00:05:04.759 --> 00:05:09.980 Some of these things they're taking from the Old Covenant, the Old Testament way. 00:05:10.360 --> 00:05:14.079 The pre-Jesus Jewish way of spirituality. 00:05:14.259 --> 00:05:17.459 And they're importing these into Christianity and saying we need to keep doing them. 00:05:17.980 --> 00:05:22.879 But other practices were being cherry-picked from paganism. 00:05:23.680 --> 00:05:23.819 Right? 00:05:23.959 --> 00:05:28.779 Things that looked good, that looked spiritual, that looked like beneficial to life. 00:05:28.860 --> 00:05:30.259 And so they would just bring these in. 00:05:30.279 --> 00:05:33.259 And they said all of these things are extra practices. 00:05:33.259 --> 00:05:36.500 And so you ask, well, what's the problem with that? 00:05:36.699 --> 00:05:38.899 Well, here's the real issue. 00:05:40.019 --> 00:05:43.259 Paul is not necessarily concerned with all of the practices themselves. 00:05:44.099 --> 00:05:48.300 Surely he would not be excited about the pagan practices and he would oppose those. 00:05:48.439 --> 00:05:51.060 But some of these are coming in from the Jewish tradition. 00:05:51.180 --> 00:05:54.159 And Christianity is fundamentally rooted in Judaism. 00:05:54.579 --> 00:05:57.159 And so some of these practices have continuing benefits. 00:05:57.560 --> 00:05:59.360 Practices like a weekly Sabbath. 00:05:59.899 --> 00:06:01.839 Practices like regular fasting. 00:06:02.159 --> 00:06:02.300 Right? 00:06:02.300 --> 00:06:03.939 Many of us do those things as well. 00:06:03.939 --> 00:06:08.579 So Paul is not condemning the practices themselves necessarily. 00:06:09.040 --> 00:06:11.960 His question is one of motive. 00:06:13.180 --> 00:06:15.180 Why are you doing these things? 00:06:15.800 --> 00:06:18.600 Why are you encouraging others to do them? 00:06:20.420 --> 00:06:23.120 Is it to draw closer to Christ? 00:06:23.480 --> 00:06:25.240 To hold fast to Christ? 00:06:25.240 --> 00:06:33.340 Or is it really about your desire to assert or advertise your spiritual superiority? 00:06:33.939 --> 00:06:37.600 And as we look at the verses, we see it's really a case of the latter. 00:06:37.939 --> 00:06:39.120 Verses 18 and 19. 00:06:39.300 --> 00:06:39.740 He says, 00:06:39.740 --> 00:06:53.040 So in other words, he's saying these people who are saying, 00:06:53.040 --> 00:07:05.500 So in other words, he's saying, 00:07:05.500 --> 00:07:06.000 You must fast. 00:07:06.000 --> 00:07:06.060 You must eat or drink these things. 00:07:06.180 --> 00:07:07.420 You must eat or drink these things. 00:07:07.740 --> 00:07:08.800 You must do this festival. 00:07:09.240 --> 00:07:14.259 These people, their real motive is to puff themselves up. 00:07:14.259 --> 00:07:15.980 And how are they doing that? 00:07:16.459 --> 00:07:18.539 By passing judgment on other people. 00:07:19.099 --> 00:07:25.339 They're puffing themselves up, asserting their own spiritual superiority at the expense of other people. 00:07:25.480 --> 00:07:26.800 Shame and judgment. 00:07:26.800 --> 00:07:32.220 And Jesus actually warns against this same thing in our gospel reading. 00:07:32.300 --> 00:07:33.340 Matthew chapter 6. 00:07:33.439 --> 00:07:33.900 Where he says, 00:07:34.139 --> 00:07:38.100 Listen, when you give to the needy, don't blow a trumpet. 00:07:39.560 --> 00:07:40.939 Gather a huge crowd. 00:07:41.460 --> 00:07:43.400 And then give your gift. 00:07:44.639 --> 00:07:45.000 He says, 00:07:45.040 --> 00:07:45.879 That's not the point. 00:07:47.540 --> 00:07:49.180 It's okay if nobody knows. 00:07:49.240 --> 00:07:50.379 This is between you and God. 00:07:50.439 --> 00:07:50.680 He says, 00:07:50.840 --> 00:07:55.500 When you go and pray, don't stand on a street corner and wax eloquent for hours, 00:07:55.500 --> 00:07:57.519 making sure everybody hears how pious you are. 00:07:57.560 --> 00:07:58.180 That's not the point. 00:07:58.339 --> 00:07:59.639 This is between you and God. 00:07:59.800 --> 00:08:00.420 Do it in secret. 00:08:01.860 --> 00:08:02.259 He's saying, 00:08:02.459 --> 00:08:04.899 Don't advertise your spiritual excellence. 00:08:05.639 --> 00:08:08.579 That directly undermines the heart of the gospel. 00:08:09.399 --> 00:08:12.800 So essentially what we're seeing here in Paul's warning and in Jesus, 00:08:12.800 --> 00:08:16.319 and Paul addresses this also in Romans 14, our other lesson, 00:08:16.579 --> 00:08:23.240 is we're seeing people who are engaging in what we might call the first century equivalent of virtue signaling. 00:08:23.759 --> 00:08:25.300 Now if you've ever heard this phrase, 00:08:25.500 --> 00:08:28.660 It's a term that's been popularized in recent years. 00:08:28.980 --> 00:08:32.299 Some might say virtue signaling has been very much overused. 00:08:33.019 --> 00:08:36.360 Honestly, when a term like that starts showing up in Christian sermons, 00:08:36.580 --> 00:08:38.720 it's a good sign that it's been overused. 00:08:39.639 --> 00:08:41.139 And so that's probably the case. 00:08:41.139 --> 00:08:43.919 We're probably at peak virtue signal right now in our culture. 00:08:44.200 --> 00:08:45.620 But I'll give you a technical definition. 00:08:45.620 --> 00:09:05.720 So broadly speaking, virtue signaling can really refer to anything. 00:09:05.720 --> 00:09:09.740 Anything that we say, anything that we do, anything that we imply. 00:09:10.879 --> 00:09:18.420 And the thing that makes it virtue signaling is when the primary motive is advertising our own moral excellence, 00:09:18.759 --> 00:09:22.920 our own rightness, our own goodness for other people to see, 00:09:23.100 --> 00:09:25.360 so that we will gain social standing. 00:09:25.360 --> 00:09:33.159 So again, I can identify with this group and be affirmed by them because of what I say, do, or imply. 00:09:34.159 --> 00:09:38.220 And the key is it usually involves shaming other people. 00:09:39.220 --> 00:09:42.680 So you take a position or you assert an opinion or a stance, 00:09:42.679 --> 00:09:47.079 and you by default shame a group that might not line up with that. 00:09:47.179 --> 00:09:49.000 So let me give you a benign example. 00:09:49.159 --> 00:09:51.839 Say you say, I hate SUVs. 00:09:53.039 --> 00:09:54.039 What's happening there? 00:09:54.699 --> 00:09:56.599 Well, it could be one of a couple of things. 00:09:56.719 --> 00:09:58.899 Either you really do hate SUVs. 00:09:59.759 --> 00:10:05.659 Maybe you had a bad childhood experience and you just have this antipathy toward four-wheel drive vehicles, 00:10:05.739 --> 00:10:07.519 and that's your thing, and that's totally fine. 00:10:08.299 --> 00:10:11.419 But it could also be a form of virtue signaling because what are you saying? 00:10:11.419 --> 00:10:17.799 By saying, I hate SUVs, first of all, anybody out there who owns an SUV or likes SUVs, 00:10:17.819 --> 00:10:20.620 you're automatically passing judgment on them, right? 00:10:21.360 --> 00:10:26.779 You're also asserting that you value caring for the environment. 00:10:26.899 --> 00:10:28.979 I hate SUVs because of their impact on the environment. 00:10:29.079 --> 00:10:31.399 Now, is there anything wrong with caring for the environment? 00:10:31.559 --> 00:10:32.559 No, quite the opposite. 00:10:32.719 --> 00:10:35.819 Christians should be very much on the front lines of environmental stewardship. 00:10:36.539 --> 00:10:40.339 But notice, you're not necessarily having to do anything. 00:10:41.419 --> 00:10:42.620 To help the environment. 00:10:42.759 --> 00:10:48.740 All you're doing is saying something that alerts all of the other environmentally conscious people out there 00:10:48.740 --> 00:10:52.179 that you care about the environment because you hate SUVs. 00:10:52.979 --> 00:10:57.759 And what you might be trying to really do is to gain the social points that come with that. 00:10:58.240 --> 00:11:00.819 And this is what we call virtue signaling. 00:11:00.820 --> 00:11:01.140 Right? 00:11:01.800 --> 00:11:06.820 And the thing is, the point I want to make now is that virtue signaling is everywhere. 00:11:07.660 --> 00:11:12.640 In every society, every, we see it in the first century, we see it in the 21st century. 00:11:12.920 --> 00:11:13.780 It's everywhere. 00:11:14.480 --> 00:11:17.960 And it's not limited by liberal or conservative or religious or irreligious. 00:11:18.300 --> 00:11:21.140 All of us engage in this behavior. 00:11:21.320 --> 00:11:22.900 So I want to give you a few examples of this. 00:11:22.899 --> 00:11:26.600 There are Christian ways of virtue signaling. 00:11:26.959 --> 00:11:29.079 If you've been in the church long enough, you've seen it. 00:11:29.159 --> 00:11:29.899 You've been around it. 00:11:30.319 --> 00:11:34.679 People who use or imply or talk in super spiritual ways. 00:11:34.699 --> 00:11:36.559 Like this kind of thing happens. 00:11:36.699 --> 00:11:42.100 There are Christian ways of signaling our virtue and putting our piety on display. 00:11:42.220 --> 00:11:47.159 But that's just a small subset or one example of how this happens. 00:11:47.159 --> 00:11:51.519 We can take just about anything and turn it into a virtue signal. 00:11:51.819 --> 00:11:52.519 Take food. 00:11:53.879 --> 00:11:57.279 Let's just think about our relationship with food for just a second. 00:11:57.839 --> 00:12:05.500 If you look at my Instagram feed and you look at some of the pictures that show up, they are nearly pornographic. 00:12:06.500 --> 00:12:13.879 But they're pictures of souffles and filet mignon and grilled vegetables for the love of God. 00:12:13.879 --> 00:12:18.259 Grilled vegetables, but shot in such a way that I feel ashamed looking at them. 00:12:18.419 --> 00:12:18.740 Why? 00:12:19.500 --> 00:12:22.600 Because we are, as a culture, worshippers of food. 00:12:23.279 --> 00:12:25.139 Our society, we worship food. 00:12:26.120 --> 00:12:30.039 And not surprisingly, we've become highly legalistic about our food. 00:12:30.120 --> 00:12:32.659 We are enormously legalistic. 00:12:33.659 --> 00:12:37.679 So I thought about doing the Whole30 diet last year. 00:12:38.519 --> 00:12:40.059 I didn't actually do it. 00:12:40.620 --> 00:12:42.080 But I thought about doing it. 00:12:42.080 --> 00:12:43.220 And you know what I realized? 00:12:43.220 --> 00:12:46.700 Is that all I have to do is tell people I'm thinking about doing it. 00:12:47.120 --> 00:12:48.399 I don't actually have to do it. 00:12:48.740 --> 00:12:51.279 But I just say, you know, I'm thinking about doing the Whole30. 00:12:51.800 --> 00:12:52.879 And people say, whoa. 00:12:53.779 --> 00:12:56.019 You know, you're hardcore. 00:12:56.399 --> 00:12:57.700 This guy's disciplined. 00:12:57.840 --> 00:12:59.019 This guy's really health conscious. 00:12:59.300 --> 00:13:00.160 I'm not disciplined. 00:13:00.240 --> 00:13:01.779 That's why I need to do the Whole30. 00:13:02.840 --> 00:13:06.940 But when I say that, I'm signaling to you that I'm the kind of person who thinks about that. 00:13:07.019 --> 00:13:08.740 And maybe I get some points from that. 00:13:08.759 --> 00:13:10.160 And I realize I don't actually have to do it. 00:13:10.159 --> 00:13:12.059 I just have to think about it. 00:13:12.079 --> 00:13:13.319 So I'm still thinking about it. 00:13:13.679 --> 00:13:15.000 I'm still thinking about it. 00:13:15.120 --> 00:13:16.240 But all the labels. 00:13:16.379 --> 00:13:17.480 Think about all of the labels. 00:13:17.639 --> 00:13:18.360 All natural. 00:13:18.740 --> 00:13:19.459 Non-GMO. 00:13:19.919 --> 00:13:20.360 Organic. 00:13:20.480 --> 00:13:20.959 Free range. 00:13:21.120 --> 00:13:21.679 Gluten free. 00:13:21.779 --> 00:13:22.500 All of these things. 00:13:22.740 --> 00:13:23.079 And listen. 00:13:23.240 --> 00:13:24.240 Again, let me make the point. 00:13:24.339 --> 00:13:25.519 These things do matter. 00:13:26.659 --> 00:13:29.559 But it also feels good to say these things. 00:13:30.639 --> 00:13:32.579 So is Paul condemning the things themselves? 00:13:32.759 --> 00:13:33.059 No. 00:13:33.379 --> 00:13:35.100 He's saying, what is your motive? 00:13:35.759 --> 00:13:37.800 Why are you bringing it up at that party? 00:13:38.340 --> 00:13:39.720 Why are you talking about it? 00:13:40.340 --> 00:13:42.180 What are you trying to get out of this experience? 00:13:43.379 --> 00:13:46.560 These things signal that you're a conscious eater. 00:13:47.340 --> 00:13:50.180 And that's a very high value in our culture right now. 00:13:50.180 --> 00:13:50.360 Right? 00:13:50.500 --> 00:13:52.680 You're thoughtful about what goes into your body. 00:13:53.240 --> 00:13:55.680 Now maybe you have all of these labels and apply them to yourself. 00:13:55.960 --> 00:13:56.120 Right? 00:13:56.240 --> 00:13:59.519 And maybe nobody will ever invite you to a dinner party again. 00:13:59.740 --> 00:14:00.420 But guess what? 00:14:00.720 --> 00:14:04.620 You get all of the social points for being a thoughtful eater. 00:14:04.620 --> 00:14:04.940 Right? 00:14:05.419 --> 00:14:06.940 Think about the parenting world. 00:14:08.440 --> 00:14:08.720 Listen. 00:14:09.560 --> 00:14:10.600 The parenting world. 00:14:11.639 --> 00:14:13.039 It's crazy land out there. 00:14:13.899 --> 00:14:15.399 The legalism is enormous. 00:14:15.740 --> 00:14:15.940 Right? 00:14:16.360 --> 00:14:17.399 Natural home birth. 00:14:17.539 --> 00:14:18.759 Breastfeeding for at least a year. 00:14:18.980 --> 00:14:21.480 Again, these things are probably good for kids. 00:14:21.539 --> 00:14:22.419 I think that they are. 00:14:23.580 --> 00:14:26.480 But they can easily become virtue signals. 00:14:26.940 --> 00:14:29.019 And there are competing philosophies. 00:14:29.460 --> 00:14:29.620 Right? 00:14:29.620 --> 00:14:31.919 You have your helicopter parents over here. 00:14:32.019 --> 00:14:34.799 And you have your attachment parents over here. 00:14:34.940 --> 00:14:38.139 And they each have their own full set of virtue signals. 00:14:38.779 --> 00:14:40.740 And ways of subtly shaming one another. 00:14:41.139 --> 00:14:42.419 For being bad parents. 00:14:43.120 --> 00:14:46.480 And do you know how much shame and stress parents feel? 00:14:47.460 --> 00:14:48.720 Because we have no idea. 00:14:49.259 --> 00:14:51.379 We're just trying to keep our kids alive. 00:14:51.379 --> 00:14:54.879 Most of us are just trying to keep our kids alive. 00:14:55.360 --> 00:14:57.019 And get five or six hours of sleep a night. 00:14:57.820 --> 00:14:59.700 That's like the best we can do. 00:15:00.299 --> 00:15:02.879 And then you got all these things out there making us feel bad. 00:15:03.460 --> 00:15:04.379 But it happens. 00:15:05.139 --> 00:15:08.399 Our news feeds are our perfect fodder for virtue signaling. 00:15:09.379 --> 00:15:12.659 Whatever the outrage du jour happens to be. 00:15:12.659 --> 00:15:18.719 There are always new causes and new issues that become fodder for virtue signaling. 00:15:19.240 --> 00:15:23.019 And the thing is, I don't know about you, but I feel the constant need to declare. 00:15:23.659 --> 00:15:26.199 You know, something happens that's major, some scandal. 00:15:27.059 --> 00:15:31.779 And we feel the pressure to declare through social media and for everybody to see. 00:15:32.079 --> 00:15:33.339 I'm for this. 00:15:33.679 --> 00:15:35.059 I'm against this. 00:15:35.480 --> 00:15:35.659 Right? 00:15:35.779 --> 00:15:37.139 I support this. 00:15:37.399 --> 00:15:39.059 I stand against this. 00:15:39.059 --> 00:15:47.000 There's very little time for biblical thoughtful reflection. 00:15:48.359 --> 00:15:55.719 Because by the time we fire off a post or share an article, the next issue is happening and demands a response. 00:15:55.959 --> 00:16:00.539 And we look out there and we feel like we have to say, this is what I think. 00:16:01.159 --> 00:16:04.059 I've had 15 minutes to think about it. 00:16:04.059 --> 00:16:11.219 And here's my holistic, well-rounded, thoughtful opinion on this, that, or the other outrage du jour. 00:16:12.000 --> 00:16:15.599 And we know that the only thing worse than saying something, maybe, is not saying anything. 00:16:16.219 --> 00:16:17.699 That that may be the worst thing of all. 00:16:18.119 --> 00:16:20.679 You are part of the group who is keeping silent on this issue. 00:16:20.779 --> 00:16:23.259 And we realize it's a shame or be shamed culture. 00:16:25.059 --> 00:16:26.099 Shame or be shamed. 00:16:26.100 --> 00:16:35.379 So instead of thoughtful cultural engagement, which is what Christians are called to, we often default into thoughtless clicktivism. 00:16:36.800 --> 00:16:37.320 Right? 00:16:37.399 --> 00:16:38.440 Just clicking away. 00:16:38.800 --> 00:16:41.420 For, against, for, against, for, against. 00:16:41.540 --> 00:16:43.779 Dodging that shame bullet as best we can. 00:16:44.899 --> 00:16:45.180 Right? 00:16:45.340 --> 00:16:47.159 I have to say a word about companies. 00:16:47.159 --> 00:16:55.500 Because these days, if you can tie your brand or your product to virtue, you can sell a bunch of whatever you're selling. 00:16:56.819 --> 00:16:58.539 So we've got to talk about Whole Foods. 00:16:59.159 --> 00:17:00.819 Now, again, I'm not knocking Whole Foods. 00:17:00.879 --> 00:17:01.639 I like Whole Foods. 00:17:01.699 --> 00:17:03.600 I like shopping at Whole Foods when I can afford it. 00:17:04.079 --> 00:17:05.500 Whole Foods is a great place. 00:17:06.019 --> 00:17:08.619 But listen, we've got to be honest about what's happening in that place. 00:17:09.159 --> 00:17:10.659 We've just got to be honest about it. 00:17:11.139 --> 00:17:11.379 Right? 00:17:11.380 --> 00:17:17.160 There's a sign in the window at Whole Foods that shows a mother with a little girl on her shoulders. 00:17:17.300 --> 00:17:17.880 Super cute. 00:17:18.000 --> 00:17:18.540 Super sweet. 00:17:19.440 --> 00:17:20.300 Here's what it says. 00:17:21.140 --> 00:17:21.960 Values matter. 00:17:23.140 --> 00:17:23.260 Right? 00:17:23.320 --> 00:17:23.420 Okay. 00:17:23.480 --> 00:17:24.620 So this is not a church. 00:17:25.400 --> 00:17:25.800 Right? 00:17:25.840 --> 00:17:27.020 This is a grocery store. 00:17:27.740 --> 00:17:27.880 Right? 00:17:27.900 --> 00:17:30.540 Now, some people don't are, do you know that? 00:17:30.600 --> 00:17:30.740 Right? 00:17:30.760 --> 00:17:31.600 It's not a church. 00:17:32.840 --> 00:17:34.140 It's a grocery store. 00:17:34.480 --> 00:17:39.700 But it goes on to say we are part of a growing consciousness that is bigger than food. 00:17:39.700 --> 00:17:42.200 One that champions what's good. 00:17:42.519 --> 00:17:43.819 And the greater good too. 00:17:45.000 --> 00:17:49.319 So you go into Whole Foods and you can buy your $6 asparagus water. 00:17:49.700 --> 00:17:51.680 But you're not just getting asparagus water. 00:17:52.279 --> 00:17:57.059 You're getting the ability to then advertise to the world that you are part of the greater good. 00:17:58.100 --> 00:17:59.440 How easy is that? 00:17:59.539 --> 00:18:00.779 You didn't have to do anything. 00:18:01.440 --> 00:18:01.640 Right? 00:18:02.500 --> 00:18:05.299 You get water with a stalk of asparagus in it. 00:18:06.000 --> 00:18:07.779 And you get to feel better about yourself. 00:18:07.779 --> 00:18:10.319 Who wouldn't want that for $6? 00:18:11.579 --> 00:18:12.059 Right? 00:18:12.200 --> 00:18:13.819 So think about Tom's shoes. 00:18:14.839 --> 00:18:16.339 I own a pair of Tom's shoes. 00:18:17.399 --> 00:18:20.240 My son Riley has like a little pair of Tom's shoes. 00:18:20.379 --> 00:18:20.940 Little slippers. 00:18:22.059 --> 00:18:23.339 Virtue signals for your feet. 00:18:24.200 --> 00:18:25.399 That's essentially what they are. 00:18:25.960 --> 00:18:27.160 Not knocking Tom's shoes. 00:18:28.839 --> 00:18:30.180 Virtue signals for your feet. 00:18:30.759 --> 00:18:34.240 By the way, you can also virtue signal by being against all of these things. 00:18:34.879 --> 00:18:36.220 So that's what I'm doing right now. 00:18:36.220 --> 00:18:40.299 Now, I'm virtue signaling to you by mocking Whole Foods and Tom's shoes. 00:18:40.420 --> 00:18:42.039 And that's a whole other side of it. 00:18:42.400 --> 00:18:44.259 Is that you can be for or you can be against. 00:18:44.400 --> 00:18:47.120 And you can virtue signal that you don't get into all that. 00:18:47.220 --> 00:18:47.339 Right? 00:18:47.420 --> 00:18:48.180 You're more enlightened. 00:18:48.279 --> 00:18:49.380 You're a better thinker. 00:18:49.900 --> 00:18:52.579 And you've got to understand there are layers and layers and layers of this. 00:18:53.039 --> 00:18:55.019 It's way too complicated to keep track. 00:18:55.140 --> 00:19:04.059 And at the end of the day, whatever virtues we choose to signal, chances are we are putting ourselves in danger of being shamed by other virtue signalers. 00:19:04.059 --> 00:19:06.159 You can't avoid it, in other words. 00:19:06.759 --> 00:19:07.759 It's shame or be shamed. 00:19:08.940 --> 00:19:09.720 Take yoga. 00:19:10.279 --> 00:19:12.440 Those of you who do yoga, you have it hard right now. 00:19:12.659 --> 00:19:12.919 Why? 00:19:13.359 --> 00:19:17.319 Well, because there's whole sets of virtues around doing yoga. 00:19:17.419 --> 00:19:17.559 Right? 00:19:17.599 --> 00:19:22.079 If you wear your mat and the yoga pants and all that, and you carry that around, people look at you and they say, 00:19:22.339 --> 00:19:24.700 they are both spiritual and health conscious. 00:19:24.899 --> 00:19:25.619 That's amazing. 00:19:25.740 --> 00:19:27.119 That's like a two for one right there. 00:19:27.639 --> 00:19:27.779 Right? 00:19:27.779 --> 00:19:31.539 Just for carrying your mat in your backpack, you get two sets of points. 00:19:31.700 --> 00:19:31.879 Right? 00:19:32.440 --> 00:19:33.859 So that's the good news about it. 00:19:34.000 --> 00:19:34.920 Here's the bad news. 00:19:35.019 --> 00:19:41.899 Did you know that a growing number of people are saying that Western white people who do yoga are practicing cultural appropriation? 00:19:42.799 --> 00:19:45.399 Now, they're signaling race consciousness there. 00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:47.339 So you have a choice to make. 00:19:47.680 --> 00:19:47.920 Okay? 00:19:47.920 --> 00:19:57.140 Either you gain the spiritual health conscious points, but you're culturally appropriating, or you give up yoga and give up those points, 00:19:57.400 --> 00:20:00.940 and you care more about race and respecting cultures. 00:20:01.259 --> 00:20:02.900 But you really can't have it all. 00:20:02.980 --> 00:20:03.980 You've got to make the choice. 00:20:04.820 --> 00:20:12.360 And this is happening again and again and again and again because there's constantly virtue and shame in this weird economy that we live in now, 00:20:12.820 --> 00:20:15.660 being passed from one group to another, and it's unavoidable. 00:20:15.660 --> 00:20:20.700 Last thing I'll say about this before we move on, I'm just as prone to this as anyone. 00:20:22.000 --> 00:20:29.740 Every single time I'm preaching and I say, well, I saw this article in the New York Times, or I was reading The Economist last week. 00:20:30.400 --> 00:20:30.519 Right? 00:20:30.560 --> 00:20:37.740 I could just have found the perfect article that perfectly illustrates this biblical point, or I could be virtue signaling. 00:20:38.440 --> 00:20:41.640 In other words, I could be saying, I'm the kind of person who reads this. 00:20:41.920 --> 00:20:43.880 I'm the kind of person who thinks about this. 00:20:43.880 --> 00:20:49.180 In fact, even using the term virtue signaling is virtue signaling. 00:20:49.840 --> 00:20:53.920 I'm the kind of person who knows terms like that and thinks about this kind of stuff. 00:20:54.020 --> 00:20:55.240 And in some circles, that's a virtue. 00:20:55.600 --> 00:20:55.760 Right? 00:20:56.380 --> 00:20:59.040 So it is happening all of the time. 00:20:59.680 --> 00:21:03.280 So the $64,000 question for us to consider is this. 00:21:03.660 --> 00:21:04.080 Why? 00:21:05.520 --> 00:21:06.900 Why are we doing this? 00:21:06.900 --> 00:21:10.300 Why this virtue and shame economy? 00:21:11.320 --> 00:21:12.880 Why is it so pervasive? 00:21:15.840 --> 00:21:18.160 And I think it shows us something about human nature. 00:21:20.740 --> 00:21:23.000 Here's something about human nature that we need to realize. 00:21:23.960 --> 00:21:26.240 We can completely get rid of religion. 00:21:26.240 --> 00:21:29.680 But we can never stop being religious. 00:21:31.799 --> 00:21:36.019 We can completely scrap the idea of sin and righteousness. 00:21:36.259 --> 00:21:37.160 How antiquated. 00:21:37.500 --> 00:21:38.140 How legalistic. 00:21:38.319 --> 00:21:39.220 How black and white. 00:21:39.519 --> 00:21:40.259 How moralistic. 00:21:40.339 --> 00:21:40.880 How judgmental. 00:21:41.039 --> 00:21:42.220 Let's get rid of all of that. 00:21:42.640 --> 00:21:43.279 Sin and righteousness. 00:21:43.420 --> 00:21:43.839 Out the door. 00:21:43.839 --> 00:21:47.919 But we cannot quench that desire in us. 00:21:48.879 --> 00:21:50.579 To know that we are righteous. 00:21:52.099 --> 00:21:53.500 Now you may not think of it as that. 00:21:54.559 --> 00:22:00.480 But don't you want to know deep down that at the end of the day, you're good enough? 00:22:02.679 --> 00:22:04.139 That you meet the standard? 00:22:05.199 --> 00:22:09.599 That there's somebody out there who looks at you and says, you did it. 00:22:10.619 --> 00:22:11.500 You're enough. 00:22:11.500 --> 00:22:14.079 You live a good life. 00:22:14.319 --> 00:22:15.339 You're a good person. 00:22:16.960 --> 00:22:20.619 There's this need in us to measure ourselves. 00:22:21.539 --> 00:22:23.900 And so we're hungry for standards. 00:22:24.160 --> 00:22:26.799 We're hungry for approval and affirmation. 00:22:26.960 --> 00:22:29.299 We're hungry for somebody to tell us, it's okay. 00:22:29.579 --> 00:22:30.519 You pass muster. 00:22:30.759 --> 00:22:31.400 You've done it. 00:22:31.539 --> 00:22:35.599 You've exceeded the standards. 00:22:35.720 --> 00:22:36.240 You're in. 00:22:37.619 --> 00:22:41.480 Another way of saying this is that we are trying to be our own savior. 00:22:41.500 --> 00:22:44.900 We're trying to be our own source of righteousness. 00:22:46.460 --> 00:22:52.259 And this is the root of what Paul calls in verse 23, all self-made religion. 00:22:52.720 --> 00:22:55.079 That's what self-made religion is. 00:22:55.200 --> 00:23:02.779 It's creating a system that I can then live into and live up to that will then tell me at the end of the day, you've done it. 00:23:02.880 --> 00:23:03.539 You're righteous. 00:23:04.160 --> 00:23:05.039 You've got it. 00:23:05.039 --> 00:23:15.159 So whether it's Hinduism or Whole Foods, whether it's political ideologies or parenting philosophies, we crave those measures. 00:23:15.160 --> 00:23:21.880 But Paul says in verse 23, these things may have the appearance of wisdom. 00:23:23.080 --> 00:23:23.320 Right? 00:23:23.620 --> 00:23:27.279 You think of the people who, you know, these things look like wisdom. 00:23:27.800 --> 00:23:29.040 They look like spirituality. 00:23:29.700 --> 00:23:31.820 They look like the right way to live. 00:23:32.360 --> 00:23:33.880 They look like things that matter. 00:23:33.880 --> 00:23:39.100 And yet Paul says at the end of the day, all self-made religion is empty. 00:23:39.220 --> 00:23:43.060 He says it's of no real value when it comes to real transformation. 00:23:44.980 --> 00:23:45.960 They're vain. 00:23:45.960 --> 00:23:58.579 And so Paul contrasts all of the virtue signaling that we do, all of the building up of standards, living up to the standards, and then heaping on the self-generated righteousness that comes from those standards. 00:23:58.700 --> 00:23:59.640 He says all of that. 00:24:01.120 --> 00:24:05.640 He contrasts that with the victory of God in Jesus Christ. 00:24:06.620 --> 00:24:07.720 Here's the alternative. 00:24:08.180 --> 00:24:11.779 Here's the other source of what you're looking for. 00:24:12.259 --> 00:24:13.920 The victory of God in Christ. 00:24:13.920 --> 00:24:20.279 So look at what Paul says about all of these spiritual practices that were happening in Colossians, verse 17. 00:24:20.460 --> 00:24:22.759 This is, I think, the core of understanding this passage. 00:24:23.460 --> 00:24:32.740 He says all of these practices, all that self-made religion, all that stuff, these are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. 00:24:32.980 --> 00:24:35.840 You have shadow and you have actual substance. 00:24:35.839 --> 00:24:45.299 A few hundred years before Paul was writing or before Jesus came, Plato wrote the allegory of the cave. 00:24:45.539 --> 00:24:46.639 And you may be familiar with this. 00:24:46.959 --> 00:24:48.000 A lot of us study it in school. 00:24:48.519 --> 00:24:57.319 Just to refresh you, the allegory of the cave is essentially about people who, for all their lives, have been chained in a dark underground cave. 00:24:57.319 --> 00:25:05.899 And all their lives, because of the way things are set up, they're only able to see shadows that are projected on the walls. 00:25:06.539 --> 00:25:09.139 So they see these shadows and that's all they've seen all their lives. 00:25:09.779 --> 00:25:19.359 And the tragedy is, at that point in their lives, these people could not possibly imagine that there are real things that are casting those shadows. 00:25:19.359 --> 00:25:21.759 In other words, all they see is the shadow. 00:25:22.059 --> 00:25:26.399 They don't see the substance, the actual things that are casting the shadows. 00:25:26.500 --> 00:25:35.519 And that's the tragic point of the allegory, is that human beings, Plato is saying, human beings see shadow and we think we're seeing substance. 00:25:36.699 --> 00:25:39.740 We look at shadows and we think that we're seeing the real thing. 00:25:39.819 --> 00:25:40.619 We're just seeing shadows. 00:25:41.639 --> 00:25:48.099 And I think Paul had that in mind when he was writing this letter to a largely Gentile audience in Colossae. 00:25:48.099 --> 00:25:50.419 I think this is what he was drawing from. 00:25:51.339 --> 00:25:59.379 You do all of these rituals and all of these practices and all of these fasts and all of these, observe all of these holy days and do all of these things. 00:25:59.539 --> 00:26:02.319 And you think that that's spiritually substantial. 00:26:02.500 --> 00:26:02.879 It's not. 00:26:02.959 --> 00:26:04.099 These are all shadows. 00:26:06.859 --> 00:26:08.919 All you're getting is the shadow of righteousness. 00:26:09.619 --> 00:26:11.379 You're getting the shadow of salvation. 00:26:11.639 --> 00:26:12.980 You're getting the shadow of grace. 00:26:13.179 --> 00:26:14.439 You're getting the shadow of forgiveness. 00:26:14.740 --> 00:26:16.399 You're getting the shadow of spiritual growth. 00:26:16.400 --> 00:26:18.640 You're getting the shadow of all of these things. 00:26:19.220 --> 00:26:22.019 But the real substance, he says, is Jesus Christ. 00:26:22.220 --> 00:26:25.259 He's the one casting the shadow into the world. 00:26:25.380 --> 00:26:26.759 Why do we even think about righteousness? 00:26:26.920 --> 00:26:27.840 Why do we even want it? 00:26:28.000 --> 00:26:29.259 Why do we even think about forgiveness? 00:26:29.420 --> 00:26:30.900 Why do these things even matter to us? 00:26:31.600 --> 00:26:33.800 Why are they built into other religions? 00:26:36.060 --> 00:26:38.420 Jesus is casting a shadow into the world. 00:26:39.820 --> 00:26:41.120 He is the substance. 00:26:41.119 --> 00:26:43.879 So what's Paul saying? 00:26:43.939 --> 00:26:45.039 Another way of thinking it is this. 00:26:45.500 --> 00:27:05.659 All of our religious longing, whether I am virtue signaling with my healthy practices and my diet and my wardrobe, or whether I'm engaging in ancient pagan moon rituals, whatever it is, all of this, in it we are only really truly deeply longing for Jesus Christ. 00:27:05.660 --> 00:27:09.200 Even if we don't know his name, that's what we're longing for. 00:27:10.279 --> 00:27:11.680 Because here's the point. 00:27:13.160 --> 00:27:21.080 Either we try to save ourselves, or we come to Jesus and accept the salvation that he offers. 00:27:21.079 --> 00:27:29.220 But I think if we're honest, apart from Jesus, we cannot stop trying to save ourselves. 00:27:29.339 --> 00:27:32.659 That's why we live in this bizarre shame virtue economy. 00:27:32.799 --> 00:27:34.119 We're trying to save ourselves. 00:27:35.799 --> 00:27:47.359 We're doing it through fasting and new moon festivals, meditation, law keeping, advocacy, attachment parenting, or championing non-GMO, locally sourced organic free-range baby food, whatever your thing is. 00:27:47.359 --> 00:27:50.039 We're trying to save ourselves. 00:27:50.119 --> 00:27:51.199 Paul says, give that up. 00:27:52.279 --> 00:27:57.240 Come to Jesus Christ to find the salvation that you need, but that you cannot be. 00:27:58.539 --> 00:28:08.559 Because coming to Jesus means admitting that all of this, all of the virtue signaling, all of the references, all the stuff that might impress you, that it's all bankrupt. 00:28:09.339 --> 00:28:10.740 That it's just shadows. 00:28:11.399 --> 00:28:14.379 That if you think that I'm a virtuous person, you're seeing shadows. 00:28:15.139 --> 00:28:17.219 There's no truth to it. 00:28:17.359 --> 00:28:20.199 The actual reality is that I'm completely bankrupt. 00:28:21.119 --> 00:28:25.019 The reason that I have to fake it is because I have no real virtue to put on display. 00:28:25.659 --> 00:28:27.919 That's why I have to make it about where I buy my groceries. 00:28:28.919 --> 00:28:32.059 Because there's nothing of any substance to show you. 00:28:32.919 --> 00:28:41.559 And when you come to Jesus and you begin to actually admit that to him, what you begin to realize is that the whole point of Christianity is becoming joined to Jesus. 00:28:41.559 --> 00:28:48.419 And what happens when you become joined with him is that all of that sin, all of that failure and shortcoming, all of that gets put onto him. 00:28:48.679 --> 00:28:52.319 And then it all gets put to death on the cross, past, present, and future. 00:28:52.319 --> 00:28:58.460 And in return, all of his true virtue becomes ours. 00:28:58.539 --> 00:28:59.299 Like an inheritance. 00:29:00.139 --> 00:29:01.539 It becomes ours. 00:29:02.659 --> 00:29:03.019 Right? 00:29:03.099 --> 00:29:05.539 That's why Paul says in verse 20, 00:29:05.539 --> 00:29:15.259 In other words, he's saying, 00:29:15.259 --> 00:29:22.960 Why, if all of your sin has been taken away and you've been given this unimaginable virtue of Jesus Christ, that's been poured into your life, 00:29:23.920 --> 00:29:27.299 Why in the world are you still scrabbling for scraps? 00:29:28.180 --> 00:29:32.019 Why are you submitting yourself to something that no longer applies to you? 00:29:32.019 --> 00:29:38.480 That's like somebody winning a billion dollars and then digging through their sofa for loose change. 00:29:39.599 --> 00:29:40.180 He says, 00:29:40.420 --> 00:29:41.759 That's lunacy. 00:29:42.639 --> 00:29:43.099 Why? 00:29:43.460 --> 00:29:44.619 Why are you doing it? 00:29:44.720 --> 00:29:45.879 Don't you realize what you have? 00:29:48.460 --> 00:29:49.940 So as we think about this, 00:29:50.940 --> 00:29:53.200 We're led to ask the so what question. 00:29:53.359 --> 00:29:53.799 So what? 00:29:53.859 --> 00:29:56.779 What does real spiritual growth then mean? 00:29:56.900 --> 00:29:58.720 How does real spiritual growth happen? 00:29:58.720 --> 00:30:02.100 The answer in verse 19, by holding fast to Christ. 00:30:02.900 --> 00:30:05.319 Not our own virtue, but his virtue. 00:30:06.220 --> 00:30:10.759 So in this context, that means this, that every day we have a choice. 00:30:12.019 --> 00:30:20.539 Either we base our sense of worth and excellence and goodness on ourselves, on our choices, on our stances, on our shopping habits. 00:30:22.180 --> 00:30:24.860 Or we base it on the virtue of Jesus Christ. 00:30:24.859 --> 00:30:31.439 We live lives either that signal our virtue, or we live lives that signal his virtue. 00:30:33.459 --> 00:30:37.379 Because it's not ultimately about where you shop or what your diet is. 00:30:37.899 --> 00:30:40.019 You can keep doing all of these things if you want. 00:30:41.699 --> 00:30:43.359 But here's the shift. 00:30:43.359 --> 00:30:51.339 When we eat, regardless of whether you went to Safeway or Giant or Whole Foods or wherever you got it, regardless of whether it is GMO or whatever, 00:30:52.539 --> 00:30:57.939 when we eat, focus less on how our food choices reflect our virtue, 00:30:58.459 --> 00:31:02.899 and focus more on how our food represents God's virtue of generosity. 00:31:03.899 --> 00:31:06.719 That he's the kind of God who provided it for us, right? 00:31:06.720 --> 00:31:11.339 When we have kids, focus less on the crazy world of parenting fads, 00:31:12.019 --> 00:31:14.700 and more on trusting God with the well-being of our children. 00:31:14.759 --> 00:31:16.539 Because you know what half of these fads really are? 00:31:17.319 --> 00:31:18.839 They're the illusion of control. 00:31:21.400 --> 00:31:25.680 Because you're terrified to realize that you have very little control over what happens to your kids. 00:31:26.880 --> 00:31:30.100 So we can either signal our own meaningless, vapid virtue, 00:31:30.099 --> 00:31:35.159 or we can work on trusting God, because his virtue is that he's trustworthy. 00:31:36.839 --> 00:31:37.099 Right? 00:31:37.159 --> 00:31:39.599 When we respond to cultural or political events, 00:31:39.659 --> 00:31:44.000 we should focus less on what responses will gain us the most social standing, 00:31:44.319 --> 00:31:47.059 and focus more on following Christ through his word, 00:31:47.139 --> 00:31:51.199 recognizing that sometimes that brings us into the path of being shamed. 00:31:52.459 --> 00:31:53.439 It did for him. 00:31:54.779 --> 00:31:57.199 And when we fear the shame or rejection of others, 00:31:57.199 --> 00:31:58.740 we need to hold fast to Jesus, 00:31:58.740 --> 00:32:00.480 who endured far worse, 00:32:00.980 --> 00:32:02.420 so that he could then say to us, 00:32:02.700 --> 00:32:03.960 for you all who are in me, 00:32:04.180 --> 00:32:05.200 he says this through Paul, 00:32:05.539 --> 00:32:08.299 there is no longer, therefore, any condemnation. 00:32:08.819 --> 00:32:10.980 There is no longer any real judgment. 00:32:11.920 --> 00:32:13.500 Only the shadows of judgment 00:32:13.500 --> 00:32:17.180 that might affect you for a brief time before eternity. 00:32:18.720 --> 00:32:20.599 So the more we hold fast to Christ, 00:32:20.859 --> 00:32:25.039 the less, I believe, we will feel the need to signal our virtue. 00:32:25.039 --> 00:32:27.599 Because you're building confidence in him, 00:32:27.599 --> 00:32:28.819 you need it less. 00:32:30.079 --> 00:32:31.279 So you keep doing what you're doing, 00:32:31.399 --> 00:32:32.679 but you don't have the same motives. 00:32:32.740 --> 00:32:33.480 It just doesn't matter. 00:32:33.959 --> 00:32:36.519 And I think, conversely, we don't fear shame as much. 00:32:36.599 --> 00:32:39.299 Oh, you want to make fun of me because I buy my groceries? 00:32:39.740 --> 00:32:40.559 Or how I raise my kids? 00:32:42.259 --> 00:32:42.639 Okay. 00:32:43.500 --> 00:32:44.179 Make fun of me. 00:32:46.139 --> 00:32:48.939 My security rests in a thing that is unshakable. 00:32:48.940 --> 00:32:51.820 And the more we have our security 00:32:51.820 --> 00:32:54.519 and our sense of worth and goodness rooted in the cross, 00:32:55.240 --> 00:32:56.860 you recognize what the cross is. 00:32:56.960 --> 00:32:59.480 The cross is actually the ultimate virtue signal. 00:33:00.380 --> 00:33:01.660 But unlike ours, 00:33:02.160 --> 00:33:04.740 which are empty and stupid and meaningless, 00:33:05.720 --> 00:33:07.600 the cross is actually a real signal. 00:33:07.920 --> 00:33:09.440 It's a signal to the entire world 00:33:09.440 --> 00:33:12.279 of the true, lasting, and eternal virtue 00:33:12.279 --> 00:33:14.619 of the kind of God 00:33:14.619 --> 00:33:16.299 who stopped at nothing 00:33:16.299 --> 00:33:17.859 and gave up everything 00:33:17.859 --> 00:33:19.940 so that we could belong to him 00:33:19.940 --> 00:33:22.379 and be free from shame and condemnation 00:33:22.379 --> 00:33:23.639 for all of eternity. 00:33:24.579 --> 00:33:25.240 Let's pray. 00:33:25.240 --> 00:33:26.240 Let's pray. 00:33:26.240 --> 00:33:27.240 Let's pray.