WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:12.759 One of the things I love about Church of the Advent is that on any given Sunday we have a whole mix of people. 00:00:13.080 --> 00:00:19.580 We have a whole mix of people who come from a variety of backgrounds in terms of their faith 00:00:19.580 --> 00:00:24.339 and who are in a variety of places with regarding their faith. 00:00:24.400 --> 00:00:25.859 So we have some long-time believers. 00:00:26.019 --> 00:00:29.400 We have some people who are struggling in their faith trying to figure out what they believe. 00:00:29.399 --> 00:00:35.199 And every week, especially taking into account not only those here in person but those joining us online, 00:00:35.399 --> 00:00:39.899 we have people who wouldn't consider themselves to be Christians trying to figure out what they believe. 00:00:40.960 --> 00:00:42.159 And I love that about Advent. 00:00:42.239 --> 00:00:44.859 I'm interested to know what you would think about this. 00:00:45.339 --> 00:00:48.079 I just recently read a book called Being the Bad Guys. 00:00:49.079 --> 00:00:53.179 And one of the things that the author contends, makes a case for, 00:00:53.179 --> 00:01:00.380 is the changing perspective toward Christianity that has happened in recent history. 00:01:01.179 --> 00:01:09.299 A few generations ago, Christianity would have largely be seen as the good guy in Western society. 00:01:09.859 --> 00:01:12.460 So even if you weren't a Christian personally, 00:01:12.920 --> 00:01:18.799 most people on the street would have considered Christianity to be generally a good thing for society. 00:01:18.799 --> 00:01:21.899 It's the foundation for our social and moral order. 00:01:22.079 --> 00:01:27.239 It's the source of our values around human rights and dignity and justice and freedom. 00:01:27.539 --> 00:01:31.000 So most people would consider Christianity to be a good guy, right? 00:01:31.039 --> 00:01:34.060 Your grandfather's grandfather's grandfather's grandfather would probably think that way. 00:01:35.079 --> 00:01:38.439 Then Christianity started to become kind of one of the guys. 00:01:39.640 --> 00:01:42.879 It's one option among many, right? 00:01:42.879 --> 00:01:44.839 If Christianity works for you, great. 00:01:45.000 --> 00:01:47.819 I kind of think of it like cod liver oil, you know? 00:01:47.899 --> 00:01:51.640 Maybe it's like generally a healthy thing, but I don't like the idea of it. 00:01:51.679 --> 00:01:55.239 And so it's good for you, great, but I'm just not going to take any, you know? 00:01:55.979 --> 00:01:58.739 But since then, things have changed very rapidly. 00:01:58.859 --> 00:02:02.219 I think when we planted this church back in 2008, 00:02:02.219 --> 00:02:07.419 we were probably in the state of things where Christianity was seen as just one of the options. 00:02:08.379 --> 00:02:09.479 Things have changed. 00:02:09.479 --> 00:02:13.979 And this author contends that now Christianity is no longer the good guy. 00:02:14.119 --> 00:02:17.819 It's no longer one of the guys, but it's very clearly become the bad guy. 00:02:18.560 --> 00:02:23.599 The Christianity has sort of become the villain in the story of history. 00:02:24.539 --> 00:02:27.099 And part of this can be explained. 00:02:27.319 --> 00:02:32.819 Part of it's, I think, been driven by some of the massive public failures 00:02:32.819 --> 00:02:34.919 and blind spots of the church in history. 00:02:34.919 --> 00:02:40.619 So we think of the complicity of the church in things like slavery or Jim Crow. 00:02:40.819 --> 00:02:46.500 We think of the sex abuse scandals that have rocked the church in multiple denominations. 00:02:46.579 --> 00:02:49.879 And you think about those big, public, spectacular failures, 00:02:50.079 --> 00:02:52.379 and certainly that has driven this to some extent. 00:02:53.399 --> 00:02:58.679 But this author says that there's more going on there than those things. 00:02:58.680 --> 00:03:06.860 It used to be that when you would go and get a social work degree or a humanities degree, 00:03:07.420 --> 00:03:12.900 you would sort of be introduced into a particular strain of thought about Christianity in the church. 00:03:13.099 --> 00:03:17.500 But now these ideas that used to be in the academy have really become mainstream. 00:03:18.140 --> 00:03:22.780 It's now mainstream to see Christianity as a central source of oppression. 00:03:22.780 --> 00:03:28.740 That it's maybe the biggest obstacle to human freedom that there is. 00:03:29.500 --> 00:03:32.900 And so in order to liberate people, in order to politically liberate people, 00:03:32.900 --> 00:03:36.920 we need to liberate them from the stranglehold of Christianity. 00:03:37.199 --> 00:03:39.539 And I bring that up because I know just from conversations 00:03:39.539 --> 00:03:43.460 that there are probably people here who would more or less agree with that way of thinking. 00:03:44.319 --> 00:03:47.199 And so what I want to do this morning is to explore that. 00:03:47.199 --> 00:03:51.819 How and why has Christianity become the bad guy? 00:03:53.119 --> 00:03:55.179 And then how should Christians respond? 00:03:56.299 --> 00:03:59.199 And we're going to do this by looking at the story of Stephen, 00:03:59.399 --> 00:04:01.560 which we just read about in the book of Acts. 00:04:02.079 --> 00:04:06.459 Stephen is considered widely to be the first Christian martyr. 00:04:06.659 --> 00:04:08.179 And we're going to look at this story and we're going to ask, 00:04:08.579 --> 00:04:10.799 how and why has Christianity become the bad guy? 00:04:10.919 --> 00:04:12.560 And then how should Christians respond? 00:04:13.519 --> 00:04:14.099 Let's pray. 00:04:14.099 --> 00:04:17.779 Lord, we thank you for your word. 00:04:17.939 --> 00:04:27.920 And every week, I come to your word with my own hopes, fears, anxieties, agendas. 00:04:29.399 --> 00:04:32.399 And Lord, yet you always do your work through your word. 00:04:33.800 --> 00:04:35.379 And so I pray for that, Lord. 00:04:35.439 --> 00:04:37.159 I think that we all need to hear your word. 00:04:38.199 --> 00:04:40.240 And we need you to do your work through your word. 00:04:40.939 --> 00:04:44.079 And so I pray that my heart, that our hearts would be open to what you have to say 00:04:44.100 --> 00:04:44.860 to us this morning. 00:04:45.860 --> 00:04:49.920 And that as we delve into your written word and the power of your spirit, 00:04:50.040 --> 00:04:53.460 we would come face to face with the living word, Jesus Christ. 00:04:54.400 --> 00:04:56.760 It's in the hope and the power of his name that we pray. 00:04:57.160 --> 00:04:58.360 In your son's name, amen. 00:05:00.420 --> 00:05:03.240 So first of all, why is Christianity the bad guy? 00:05:03.320 --> 00:05:04.120 Some of you may agree. 00:05:04.260 --> 00:05:05.020 Some of you don't know. 00:05:05.140 --> 00:05:06.680 Some of you maybe strongly disagree. 00:05:07.080 --> 00:05:08.720 Why is Christianity the bad guy? 00:05:08.720 --> 00:05:17.060 It turns out that there have always been, in every age, people who opposed Christianity 00:05:17.060 --> 00:05:17.640 in the church. 00:05:18.980 --> 00:05:27.120 As we saw two weeks ago, Stephen is one of seven men who are chosen to oversee the care 00:05:27.120 --> 00:05:31.500 of widows and to work for justice and mercy in the church in Jerusalem. 00:05:31.500 --> 00:05:33.620 So that's his role in the church. 00:05:34.420 --> 00:05:38.180 And Stephen's ministry starts to have this profound impact. 00:05:39.399 --> 00:05:41.819 Stephen is a man of tremendous power and influence. 00:05:41.939 --> 00:05:44.860 So word starts to spread about Stephen's ministry. 00:05:45.259 --> 00:05:49.680 And Stephen gets the attention of the Jewish leaders who were already opposed to the Christian 00:05:49.680 --> 00:05:49.920 church. 00:05:50.000 --> 00:05:53.839 They're already looking for reasons to get rid of this community. 00:05:53.839 --> 00:05:58.479 And so some men from a local synagogue, or it may have been several synagogues, we're 00:05:58.479 --> 00:06:03.299 not quite sure, they come down to shut down Stephen's ministry. 00:06:03.979 --> 00:06:05.379 They're like, we've got to shut this guy up. 00:06:06.399 --> 00:06:08.099 And here's how this happens. 00:06:08.239 --> 00:06:10.019 First, they begin to debate with Stephen. 00:06:10.159 --> 00:06:11.359 Open theological debate. 00:06:12.259 --> 00:06:13.939 We see that in verse 9. 00:06:14.079 --> 00:06:15.120 That does not go well. 00:06:16.279 --> 00:06:18.199 Stephen is a very fierce debater. 00:06:19.059 --> 00:06:20.379 So they realize that's not going to work. 00:06:20.379 --> 00:06:24.500 So then they start an active smear campaign against Stephen. 00:06:24.600 --> 00:06:30.620 It says they secretly persuaded some men, presumably by bribery, to make false accusations. 00:06:30.819 --> 00:06:32.060 We see this in verse 11. 00:06:32.639 --> 00:06:36.680 We have heard Stephen speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against God. 00:06:37.399 --> 00:06:40.939 So in this way, they stir up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. 00:06:41.019 --> 00:06:42.159 We see that in verse 12. 00:06:42.860 --> 00:06:50.120 And so then in verses 12 and 13, after they have slandered Stephen, they finally seize 00:06:50.120 --> 00:06:52.300 him and they bring him before the Sanhedrin. 00:06:53.120 --> 00:06:56.139 And then they produce false witnesses to testify against him. 00:06:56.180 --> 00:06:57.100 So here's the progression. 00:06:57.879 --> 00:06:59.040 They debate against him. 00:06:59.699 --> 00:07:00.920 Then they slander him. 00:07:01.220 --> 00:07:04.620 And then they take legal action against him to silence him. 00:07:04.840 --> 00:07:09.100 And then finally, when all else fails, they murder him. 00:07:09.100 --> 00:07:17.640 So he asked, well, why would they be so opposed to this man who is caring for widows and orphans, 00:07:17.640 --> 00:07:23.740 who is doing the work of justice in ministry, who's literally caring for people who had no recourse, 00:07:23.840 --> 00:07:27.040 no other people to care for them in the Greco-Roman society? 00:07:27.200 --> 00:07:30.020 The church was taking these people in and providing for them. 00:07:30.060 --> 00:07:32.840 How could anybody be opposed to that kind of thing? 00:07:32.839 --> 00:07:33.839 Why? 00:07:33.839 --> 00:07:34.839 Why? 00:07:34.839 --> 00:07:41.719 Because the Christian community stood in direct opposition to the temple. 00:07:43.000 --> 00:07:48.439 The Christian community stood in direct opposition to the temple. 00:07:48.579 --> 00:07:57.199 For the Jewish cultural elites, even though they aimed at and claimed to worship God subtly and slowly, 00:07:57.199 --> 00:08:05.959 the temple had displaced God as the center of their worshiping life. 00:08:05.959 --> 00:08:11.579 So in order to have a relationship with God, you had to go through the temple. 00:08:11.699 --> 00:08:15.039 Because that is where, as it was believed, God dwells. 00:08:15.199 --> 00:08:17.560 If you want to talk to God, go to God's house. 00:08:18.860 --> 00:08:23.180 So, of course, whoever controls the temple has a lot of power. 00:08:23.180 --> 00:08:29.740 Because they get to decide who gets access to God and who doesn't. 00:08:30.639 --> 00:08:30.759 Right? 00:08:30.800 --> 00:08:34.060 So the temple had become more and more and more a source of identity, 00:08:34.460 --> 00:08:38.460 a source of influence for the Jewish cultural elites. 00:08:39.980 --> 00:08:42.399 But then you look at Stephen and the other Christians. 00:08:42.620 --> 00:08:43.580 They're not in the temple. 00:08:43.680 --> 00:08:47.220 They're in the temple courtyard, but they're not really depending on the temple. 00:08:47.460 --> 00:08:49.539 They're also worshiping God in their homes. 00:08:49.539 --> 00:08:56.279 Powerful healings and miracles are happening in people's homes, on the street. 00:08:57.379 --> 00:09:01.480 The temple used to be responsible for organizing care for the widows and the orphans. 00:09:01.620 --> 00:09:05.480 But now this Christian community has organized their own system of provision. 00:09:06.099 --> 00:09:08.779 It doesn't rely on the temple anymore. 00:09:09.620 --> 00:09:14.759 And all of this is communicating the same message loudly and clearly. 00:09:14.759 --> 00:09:17.799 The temple is no longer necessary. 00:09:17.799 --> 00:09:23.799 And as you look at what Stephen is saying in his speech all through chapter 7, 00:09:24.299 --> 00:09:26.740 God is not bound to a particular people group. 00:09:26.919 --> 00:09:29.439 He is not bound to a particular place, temple. 00:09:29.639 --> 00:09:33.620 He's not bound by geography like so many of the other ancient gods. 00:09:34.240 --> 00:09:39.339 God is fulfilling His promise, not dwelling in the temple made by human hands, 00:09:39.459 --> 00:09:41.779 but dwelling in the midst of His people. 00:09:42.979 --> 00:09:45.259 We hear that and we think, what a beautiful idea. 00:09:45.379 --> 00:09:46.059 Most of us do. 00:09:46.059 --> 00:09:51.059 They heard that as, the temple has been obviated. 00:09:51.739 --> 00:09:52.899 It's no longer necessary. 00:09:54.019 --> 00:09:58.099 That's a threat, an existential threat to our way of life. 00:10:00.219 --> 00:10:01.859 Here's how this connects to us. 00:10:02.879 --> 00:10:06.019 We can't probably connect with thinking of a temple that way. 00:10:06.019 --> 00:10:11.539 But every culture has something sacred at its center. 00:10:12.819 --> 00:10:17.360 Every culture, every society, sacred, religious, or secular, 00:10:17.980 --> 00:10:22.679 has some sacred temple at its center. 00:10:22.819 --> 00:10:27.100 Something that plays the role of God in people's hearts. 00:10:27.100 --> 00:10:31.560 And you say, well, how can I know what that is in my culture, in this society? 00:10:31.620 --> 00:10:34.320 How do we know what the sacred temple at the center is? 00:10:34.360 --> 00:10:35.720 And here's the easiest way to know. 00:10:36.740 --> 00:10:37.740 Ask this question. 00:10:39.100 --> 00:10:41.360 What am I not allowed to question or criticize? 00:10:44.540 --> 00:10:46.259 Whatever you're not allowed to question, 00:10:47.300 --> 00:10:49.120 whatever you're not allowed to criticize, 00:10:49.779 --> 00:10:51.399 in any given culture, 00:10:51.980 --> 00:10:54.360 chances are that is the sacred temple. 00:10:54.360 --> 00:10:55.840 Right? 00:10:55.940 --> 00:10:58.759 So Stephen is criticizing the temple 00:10:58.759 --> 00:11:00.860 by saying it's no longer necessary. 00:11:01.100 --> 00:11:02.240 How do the people respond? 00:11:02.399 --> 00:11:03.279 They're enraged. 00:11:03.379 --> 00:11:04.399 They cover their ears. 00:11:04.659 --> 00:11:05.779 They grind their teeth. 00:11:06.240 --> 00:11:07.620 They say, this is blasphemy. 00:11:09.440 --> 00:11:10.600 That's the sacred temple. 00:11:12.300 --> 00:11:13.800 In some families, 00:11:14.680 --> 00:11:17.740 everyone is expected to hold to the same political views. 00:11:19.060 --> 00:11:19.539 Right? 00:11:19.740 --> 00:11:22.000 Everybody's expected to vote the same way. 00:11:23.139 --> 00:11:24.259 You go to Thanksgiving, 00:11:24.360 --> 00:11:25.840 you know the conversation 00:11:25.840 --> 00:11:28.940 is going to go in a very particular political direction. 00:11:29.740 --> 00:11:31.379 Everybody knows who the good guys are. 00:11:32.100 --> 00:11:33.460 Everybody knows who the bad guys are. 00:11:33.820 --> 00:11:34.860 And you know, 00:11:35.300 --> 00:11:37.120 if you were to question that, 00:11:37.659 --> 00:11:39.680 if you were to vote the other way, 00:11:40.940 --> 00:11:41.500 blasphemy. 00:11:42.759 --> 00:11:44.759 It might permanently damage your relationships. 00:11:45.480 --> 00:11:47.440 I have relationships in my extended family 00:11:47.440 --> 00:11:48.800 that have been permanently damaged 00:11:48.800 --> 00:11:49.980 over this past year, 00:11:50.680 --> 00:11:51.659 over that very issue. 00:11:51.659 --> 00:11:53.419 You know, 00:11:53.459 --> 00:11:55.079 it's funny to think back 00:11:55.079 --> 00:11:56.600 during, 00:11:56.600 --> 00:11:59.759 during Trump's presidency 00:11:59.759 --> 00:12:00.559 when he was in office, 00:12:00.679 --> 00:12:01.679 I would find myself, 00:12:03.120 --> 00:12:04.240 at one point, 00:12:04.319 --> 00:12:05.459 I would be in a group of people 00:12:05.459 --> 00:12:06.919 and I would absolutely know 00:12:06.919 --> 00:12:10.019 if I say anything negative 00:12:10.019 --> 00:12:11.039 or critical 00:12:11.039 --> 00:12:12.479 about President Trump, 00:12:12.539 --> 00:12:13.919 that's going to be blasphemy in this group. 00:12:15.439 --> 00:12:16.019 And then, 00:12:16.139 --> 00:12:16.860 maybe the next week, 00:12:16.899 --> 00:12:18.459 I would find myself in another group of people 00:12:18.459 --> 00:12:19.399 and I knew, 00:12:19.599 --> 00:12:20.899 if I say anything positive 00:12:20.899 --> 00:12:22.740 about Trump's presidency, 00:12:23.079 --> 00:12:24.240 that's going to be blasphemy. 00:12:24.500 --> 00:12:24.759 Right? 00:12:24.759 --> 00:12:26.600 That's how polarizing he was 00:12:26.600 --> 00:12:27.840 as a president. 00:12:29.100 --> 00:12:29.460 And, 00:12:29.539 --> 00:12:32.559 this helps us answer the question 00:12:32.559 --> 00:12:34.799 from the beginning of the sermon, 00:12:35.679 --> 00:12:38.279 how has Christianity become the bad guy 00:12:38.279 --> 00:12:41.639 in popular imagination in our society? 00:12:42.639 --> 00:12:44.860 The reason is because Christianity 00:12:44.860 --> 00:12:47.419 is a form of blasphemy 00:12:47.419 --> 00:12:50.480 against the sacred temple in our culture. 00:12:50.480 --> 00:12:52.860 Over the last few centuries, 00:12:53.000 --> 00:12:53.899 we've seen the rise 00:12:53.899 --> 00:12:54.659 of something called 00:12:54.659 --> 00:12:56.820 expressive individualism. 00:12:57.580 --> 00:12:58.500 It is this idea 00:12:58.500 --> 00:12:59.779 at the very center of our culture, 00:13:00.680 --> 00:13:01.879 and I say the center of our culture 00:13:01.879 --> 00:13:04.060 meaning we are as affected by this as anybody. 00:13:04.220 --> 00:13:05.340 There is no us and them here. 00:13:05.580 --> 00:13:06.659 This is all of us 00:13:06.659 --> 00:13:07.720 who are swimming in this water. 00:13:08.940 --> 00:13:10.680 But expressive individualism says, 00:13:10.860 --> 00:13:13.860 my true self is who I am on the inside. 00:13:13.980 --> 00:13:15.519 It's who I feel I am. 00:13:16.720 --> 00:13:17.220 And it says, 00:13:17.379 --> 00:13:18.600 my freedom and my happiness 00:13:18.600 --> 00:13:19.960 depend on my ability 00:13:19.960 --> 00:13:22.580 to express that self to the world. 00:13:23.740 --> 00:13:26.420 And anything standing in the way of that, 00:13:26.500 --> 00:13:26.660 right, 00:13:26.860 --> 00:13:27.460 traditions, 00:13:27.780 --> 00:13:28.400 institutions, 00:13:28.820 --> 00:13:29.280 religions, 00:13:29.800 --> 00:13:30.820 sexual mores, 00:13:31.379 --> 00:13:33.840 represent a direct threat to my well-being, 00:13:33.940 --> 00:13:35.259 and they must be overthrown. 00:13:36.160 --> 00:13:37.639 And so that's the general sense 00:13:37.639 --> 00:13:40.879 that we all have in our culture. 00:13:41.560 --> 00:13:42.500 And so I would say 00:13:42.500 --> 00:13:44.340 one of the main sacred temples 00:13:44.340 --> 00:13:46.759 at the center of modern culture 00:13:46.759 --> 00:13:47.560 in our society 00:13:47.559 --> 00:13:50.179 is the temple of expressive individualism. 00:13:50.179 --> 00:13:53.979 So think about the relationship there, 00:13:54.039 --> 00:13:54.239 right? 00:13:54.299 --> 00:13:55.739 When Christianity says 00:13:55.739 --> 00:13:57.759 that your true identity 00:13:57.759 --> 00:14:00.239 is not found by looking within, 00:14:00.359 --> 00:14:02.079 but by looking outside of yourself 00:14:02.079 --> 00:14:04.059 to God and to the community of believers, 00:14:04.239 --> 00:14:05.759 that's a form of blasphemy. 00:14:05.759 --> 00:14:08.500 When Christianity says 00:14:08.500 --> 00:14:09.519 that your inner feelings 00:14:09.519 --> 00:14:10.939 are not always to be trusted, 00:14:11.720 --> 00:14:12.759 that your desires 00:14:12.759 --> 00:14:14.340 can easily enslave you, 00:14:14.360 --> 00:14:16.080 and so we need to cultivate virtues 00:14:16.080 --> 00:14:17.639 like self-control, 00:14:17.799 --> 00:14:19.340 that sounds like blasphemy 00:14:19.340 --> 00:14:22.500 to a culture of expressive individualism. 00:14:22.960 --> 00:14:24.379 When Christianity says 00:14:24.379 --> 00:14:26.580 that the human body is sacred, 00:14:26.740 --> 00:14:27.439 when human sexuality 00:14:27.439 --> 00:14:31.139 is layered with spiritual meaning, 00:14:31.299 --> 00:14:32.240 that's blasphemy. 00:14:32.240 --> 00:14:32.740 Right? 00:14:34.000 --> 00:14:36.360 So as long as expressive individualism 00:14:36.360 --> 00:14:37.759 is the sacred temple 00:14:37.759 --> 00:14:38.620 of this culture, 00:14:39.019 --> 00:14:40.500 Christianity will be seen 00:14:40.500 --> 00:14:41.159 as blasphemy. 00:14:41.259 --> 00:14:42.919 It will be the primary obstacle 00:14:42.919 --> 00:14:45.580 to that way of being human. 00:14:46.659 --> 00:14:47.980 And this is why 00:14:47.980 --> 00:14:49.980 Christianity is always going to be 00:14:49.980 --> 00:14:51.919 the bad guy in every society. 00:14:52.379 --> 00:14:53.500 Here's the point. 00:14:54.840 --> 00:14:56.519 Whenever and wherever 00:14:56.519 --> 00:14:57.720 Christian communities 00:14:57.720 --> 00:14:59.860 are publicly worshiping Jesus, 00:14:59.860 --> 00:15:02.940 they are committing blasphemy 00:15:02.940 --> 00:15:04.220 against the sacred temples 00:15:04.220 --> 00:15:04.919 of that culture. 00:15:05.840 --> 00:15:07.180 Whenever and wherever 00:15:07.180 --> 00:15:08.340 Christians are publicly 00:15:08.340 --> 00:15:09.240 worshiping Jesus, 00:15:09.460 --> 00:15:11.120 they are committing blasphemy 00:15:11.120 --> 00:15:13.039 against the sacred temples 00:15:13.039 --> 00:15:13.759 of that culture. 00:15:14.980 --> 00:15:16.680 So that begs the question, 00:15:16.800 --> 00:15:18.340 how should Christians respond 00:15:18.340 --> 00:15:20.080 if we know this? 00:15:21.759 --> 00:15:23.220 We have several options. 00:15:24.420 --> 00:15:25.740 Option number one, 00:15:26.960 --> 00:15:27.300 retreat. 00:15:27.299 --> 00:15:27.579 retreat. 00:15:29.120 --> 00:15:29.679 You know, 00:15:29.759 --> 00:15:30.240 Monty Python, 00:15:30.399 --> 00:15:30.859 run away. 00:15:33.000 --> 00:15:34.299 Keep your faith private. 00:15:35.759 --> 00:15:36.699 Move to a place 00:15:36.699 --> 00:15:37.939 where everyone around you 00:15:37.939 --> 00:15:39.719 thinks exactly the way you do. 00:15:42.159 --> 00:15:43.000 Take your kids 00:15:43.000 --> 00:15:43.879 out of public school. 00:15:45.759 --> 00:15:47.019 I admit this is a very 00:15:47.019 --> 00:15:48.719 tempting idea for me 00:15:48.719 --> 00:15:50.439 many times. 00:15:51.659 --> 00:15:52.679 But then I read this 00:15:52.679 --> 00:15:53.019 and I'm like, 00:15:53.079 --> 00:15:54.019 that's not what Stephen did. 00:15:54.019 --> 00:15:56.579 Stephen is boldly 00:15:56.579 --> 00:15:57.460 proclaiming truth 00:15:57.460 --> 00:15:58.279 to people who don't 00:15:58.279 --> 00:15:58.840 want to hear it. 00:15:59.559 --> 00:16:00.299 The believers 00:16:00.299 --> 00:16:01.059 are living there 00:16:01.059 --> 00:16:01.659 in the city 00:16:01.659 --> 00:16:02.860 in a midst of society 00:16:02.860 --> 00:16:03.720 that increasingly 00:16:03.720 --> 00:16:04.919 doesn't want them there. 00:16:05.980 --> 00:16:07.279 The poor want them there. 00:16:07.360 --> 00:16:08.379 The widows want them there. 00:16:08.840 --> 00:16:09.759 The ex-slaves 00:16:09.759 --> 00:16:10.439 want them there. 00:16:11.019 --> 00:16:11.720 The orphans 00:16:11.720 --> 00:16:12.360 want them there. 00:16:13.299 --> 00:16:14.100 But the elites 00:16:14.100 --> 00:16:14.899 don't want them there. 00:16:17.000 --> 00:16:17.840 They represent 00:16:17.840 --> 00:16:19.079 an alternative lifestyle 00:16:19.079 --> 00:16:20.179 that's not built 00:16:20.179 --> 00:16:20.960 around sex 00:16:20.960 --> 00:16:21.860 or money or power. 00:16:21.980 --> 00:16:23.199 It's built around Jesus. 00:16:24.019 --> 00:16:25.720 And around his grace 00:16:25.720 --> 00:16:26.220 and mercy. 00:16:27.460 --> 00:16:28.879 So they don't retreat. 00:16:30.199 --> 00:16:31.179 Another option? 00:16:32.360 --> 00:16:32.699 Rally. 00:16:34.220 --> 00:16:35.039 Rally around 00:16:35.039 --> 00:16:36.399 a strong political leader 00:16:36.399 --> 00:16:37.539 to take back the culture 00:16:37.539 --> 00:16:38.840 by force if necessary. 00:16:40.039 --> 00:16:40.579 Now listen, 00:16:40.659 --> 00:16:41.419 we certainly need 00:16:41.419 --> 00:16:42.259 Christians involved 00:16:42.259 --> 00:16:42.939 in politics. 00:16:43.079 --> 00:16:43.559 Absolutely. 00:16:43.759 --> 00:16:44.500 And many of you are. 00:16:45.360 --> 00:16:46.019 But I think there are 00:16:46.019 --> 00:16:46.539 a lot of Christians 00:16:46.539 --> 00:16:47.819 who put all of their hope 00:16:47.819 --> 00:16:48.500 in politics. 00:16:49.519 --> 00:16:50.399 If we can get 00:16:50.399 --> 00:16:51.139 political power 00:16:51.139 --> 00:16:51.879 then we'll be okay. 00:16:52.100 --> 00:16:52.799 That's not what 00:16:52.799 --> 00:16:53.360 Stephen did. 00:16:54.019 --> 00:16:55.659 Now don't get me wrong, 00:16:55.819 --> 00:16:56.579 the word power 00:16:56.579 --> 00:16:57.759 shows up many times 00:16:57.759 --> 00:16:58.480 in this passage 00:16:58.480 --> 00:16:59.399 but it's not talking 00:16:59.399 --> 00:17:00.340 about political power. 00:17:01.460 --> 00:17:01.960 Right? 00:17:02.079 --> 00:17:02.779 The Christians 00:17:02.779 --> 00:17:03.819 found themselves 00:17:03.819 --> 00:17:05.359 caught between 00:17:05.359 --> 00:17:06.559 two great sources 00:17:06.559 --> 00:17:07.559 of political power. 00:17:08.700 --> 00:17:09.619 There were the 00:17:09.619 --> 00:17:10.759 Jewish cultural elites, 00:17:11.440 --> 00:17:12.539 the leaders of the 00:17:12.539 --> 00:17:12.759 temple, 00:17:12.859 --> 00:17:13.460 the Sanhedrin, 00:17:14.039 --> 00:17:15.319 and then there was 00:17:15.319 --> 00:17:15.740 Rome. 00:17:16.639 --> 00:17:17.859 And both wanted 00:17:17.859 --> 00:17:18.759 your ultimate allegiance. 00:17:19.859 --> 00:17:20.559 The Christians 00:17:20.559 --> 00:17:22.139 had no political power. 00:17:22.240 --> 00:17:23.099 They had no influence. 00:17:23.099 --> 00:17:26.159 But what they did have 00:17:26.159 --> 00:17:26.919 was tremendous 00:17:26.919 --> 00:17:28.299 spiritual power. 00:17:29.099 --> 00:17:29.879 They were filled 00:17:29.879 --> 00:17:30.779 with the Holy Spirit. 00:17:31.039 --> 00:17:31.959 When Stephen spoke 00:17:31.959 --> 00:17:33.959 the power of his words 00:17:33.959 --> 00:17:34.879 was evident. 00:17:35.240 --> 00:17:35.919 This wasn't just 00:17:35.919 --> 00:17:36.599 good rhetoric. 00:17:36.759 --> 00:17:38.139 There was spiritual force 00:17:38.139 --> 00:17:39.419 to his language. 00:17:42.019 --> 00:17:43.000 So they didn't rally 00:17:43.000 --> 00:17:43.839 around political leader. 00:17:43.939 --> 00:17:44.659 They rallied around 00:17:44.659 --> 00:17:45.699 the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:17:47.299 --> 00:17:48.199 Third option, 00:17:49.519 --> 00:17:49.879 revise. 00:17:51.639 --> 00:17:52.639 Revise the faith. 00:17:52.639 --> 00:17:53.079 Revise the faith. 00:17:53.839 --> 00:17:54.659 Revise the parts 00:17:54.659 --> 00:17:55.299 of Christianity 00:17:55.299 --> 00:17:56.039 that don't fit 00:17:56.039 --> 00:17:56.919 with the current culture. 00:17:57.039 --> 00:17:57.839 Make sure that we're 00:17:57.839 --> 00:17:58.579 not saying or doing 00:17:58.579 --> 00:17:59.659 anything that could 00:17:59.659 --> 00:18:00.599 ever be conceived 00:18:00.599 --> 00:18:01.799 as blasphemy 00:18:01.799 --> 00:18:03.219 against the sacred temple. 00:18:03.459 --> 00:18:04.319 You see that in a lot 00:18:04.319 --> 00:18:05.039 of the more progressive 00:18:05.039 --> 00:18:05.459 churches. 00:18:05.779 --> 00:18:06.480 This is not what 00:18:06.480 --> 00:18:07.019 Stephen did. 00:18:07.959 --> 00:18:08.719 Stephen actually said 00:18:08.719 --> 00:18:09.199 the opposite. 00:18:10.179 --> 00:18:11.159 Instead of revising 00:18:11.159 --> 00:18:11.980 the culture to fit 00:18:11.980 --> 00:18:12.459 scripture, 00:18:13.500 --> 00:18:14.539 or the scripture 00:18:14.539 --> 00:18:15.179 to fit culture, 00:18:15.299 --> 00:18:15.919 Stephen said we need 00:18:15.919 --> 00:18:16.679 to revise the culture 00:18:16.679 --> 00:18:17.359 to fit scripture. 00:18:19.119 --> 00:18:19.559 Right? 00:18:19.599 --> 00:18:20.339 In chapter 7, 00:18:20.480 --> 00:18:21.919 Stephen's extended speech, 00:18:21.920 --> 00:18:22.440 and it's worth 00:18:22.440 --> 00:18:23.460 reading through this. 00:18:23.519 --> 00:18:24.320 It's a great source 00:18:24.320 --> 00:18:24.980 of theology. 00:18:26.580 --> 00:18:27.900 In his extended speech, 00:18:27.960 --> 00:18:29.019 he's going back again 00:18:29.019 --> 00:18:29.660 and again and again 00:18:29.660 --> 00:18:30.759 to the Old Testament. 00:18:31.100 --> 00:18:31.600 He's saying, 00:18:32.300 --> 00:18:32.620 you know, 00:18:32.740 --> 00:18:33.920 read this right here. 00:18:35.620 --> 00:18:36.539 And again and again 00:18:36.539 --> 00:18:36.759 and again, 00:18:36.800 --> 00:18:37.440 and he's pointing out 00:18:37.440 --> 00:18:37.980 ways that they have 00:18:37.980 --> 00:18:39.279 misinterpreted and thus 00:18:39.279 --> 00:18:41.160 misapplied scripture 00:18:41.160 --> 00:18:42.519 in their life. 00:18:43.220 --> 00:18:44.180 So he's not saying 00:18:44.180 --> 00:18:44.860 throw it out. 00:18:45.400 --> 00:18:45.960 He's saying, 00:18:46.160 --> 00:18:47.140 you need to read it 00:18:47.140 --> 00:18:47.700 more closely. 00:18:47.700 --> 00:18:49.380 And this is exactly 00:18:49.380 --> 00:18:50.340 what we see in the 00:18:50.340 --> 00:18:51.200 Protestant Reformation. 00:18:52.220 --> 00:18:52.380 Right? 00:18:52.480 --> 00:18:53.340 This is exactly what 00:18:53.340 --> 00:18:54.360 we see again and again 00:18:54.360 --> 00:18:55.059 and again throughout 00:18:55.059 --> 00:18:56.200 the history of the church. 00:18:56.519 --> 00:18:57.460 They need to constantly 00:18:57.460 --> 00:18:58.120 go back, 00:18:58.440 --> 00:18:59.480 look at what we believe, 00:18:59.740 --> 00:19:00.420 what we're doing, 00:19:00.680 --> 00:19:01.460 open this book, 00:19:01.519 --> 00:19:01.920 and say, 00:19:02.140 --> 00:19:03.840 are we sure that we are 00:19:03.840 --> 00:19:05.700 lining up with this? 00:19:06.480 --> 00:19:07.279 And if not, 00:19:07.340 --> 00:19:08.000 we need reform. 00:19:08.000 --> 00:19:13.339 So if these options 00:19:13.339 --> 00:19:15.500 don't fit with Stephen's 00:19:15.500 --> 00:19:16.019 example, 00:19:17.119 --> 00:19:17.259 you know, 00:19:17.299 --> 00:19:17.660 retreat, 00:19:17.980 --> 00:19:18.220 rally, 00:19:18.400 --> 00:19:18.819 revise, 00:19:19.220 --> 00:19:20.859 what does that leave us? 00:19:22.539 --> 00:19:23.759 Only other option, 00:19:25.240 --> 00:19:27.619 recover a theology of 00:19:27.619 --> 00:19:28.039 martyrdom. 00:19:30.799 --> 00:19:32.099 Stephen was the first 00:19:32.099 --> 00:19:32.480 martyr, 00:19:32.940 --> 00:19:34.200 and I believe as 00:19:34.200 --> 00:19:36.920 we enter this 00:19:36.920 --> 00:19:38.340 era that we are in 00:19:38.340 --> 00:19:38.860 as the church 00:19:38.860 --> 00:19:39.900 in the 21st century, 00:19:40.940 --> 00:19:41.680 there may be no 00:19:41.680 --> 00:19:42.900 better example for us 00:19:42.900 --> 00:19:43.759 to follow than the 00:19:43.759 --> 00:19:44.660 example of Stephen. 00:19:46.880 --> 00:19:48.180 And I want to just 00:19:48.180 --> 00:19:49.320 give you two aspects 00:19:49.320 --> 00:19:51.019 of Stephen's example 00:19:51.019 --> 00:19:51.640 that I think are 00:19:51.640 --> 00:19:52.320 particularly relevant 00:19:52.320 --> 00:19:52.880 for us. 00:19:54.680 --> 00:19:55.120 First, 00:19:55.220 --> 00:19:55.940 there's the example 00:19:55.940 --> 00:19:56.740 of Stephen's 00:19:56.740 --> 00:19:58.000 winsome witness. 00:19:58.820 --> 00:19:59.880 His winsome 00:19:59.880 --> 00:20:00.620 witness. 00:20:00.840 --> 00:20:01.740 He's described 00:20:01.740 --> 00:20:02.840 in verses 5 through 00:20:02.840 --> 00:20:04.180 8 as a man 00:20:04.180 --> 00:20:05.080 full of faith. 00:20:05.079 --> 00:20:06.399 Now, 00:20:06.460 --> 00:20:07.220 they all had faith, 00:20:07.339 --> 00:20:08.079 but he had the 00:20:08.079 --> 00:20:08.720 kind of faith that 00:20:08.720 --> 00:20:08.980 said, 00:20:09.319 --> 00:20:10.000 I'm going to risk it 00:20:10.000 --> 00:20:10.740 all for Jesus. 00:20:12.379 --> 00:20:12.819 Right? 00:20:12.859 --> 00:20:13.359 I'm risking 00:20:13.359 --> 00:20:14.279 everything 00:20:14.279 --> 00:20:16.199 believing that what 00:20:16.199 --> 00:20:17.299 Jesus has promised 00:20:17.299 --> 00:20:18.079 is true. 00:20:19.119 --> 00:20:20.000 He's described 00:20:20.000 --> 00:20:21.019 as a man who's 00:20:21.019 --> 00:20:21.879 full of the Holy 00:20:21.879 --> 00:20:22.299 Spirit. 00:20:24.679 --> 00:20:25.579 Full of the Holy 00:20:25.579 --> 00:20:25.919 Spirit. 00:20:27.839 --> 00:20:28.939 We all receive 00:20:28.939 --> 00:20:29.419 the Spirit 00:20:29.419 --> 00:20:30.199 when we're baptized, 00:20:30.759 --> 00:20:31.639 when we come to 00:20:31.639 --> 00:20:31.980 faith. 00:20:31.980 --> 00:20:32.039 faith. 00:20:33.319 --> 00:20:33.960 But the Bible 00:20:33.960 --> 00:20:34.740 also talks about 00:20:34.740 --> 00:20:35.220 a way of being 00:20:35.220 --> 00:20:36.039 filled with the 00:20:36.039 --> 00:20:36.299 Spirit, 00:20:36.420 --> 00:20:37.120 where God's Word 00:20:37.120 --> 00:20:37.900 just pours out 00:20:37.900 --> 00:20:38.480 of your mouth, 00:20:38.980 --> 00:20:39.740 where all you can 00:20:39.740 --> 00:20:40.360 think about is the 00:20:40.360 --> 00:20:40.640 kingdom, 00:20:40.960 --> 00:20:41.779 where you're passionate 00:20:41.779 --> 00:20:42.519 for the lost. 00:20:43.700 --> 00:20:44.360 He's full of the 00:20:44.360 --> 00:20:44.839 Holy Spirit. 00:20:46.019 --> 00:20:46.980 He's described in 00:20:46.980 --> 00:20:47.599 verse 8 as being 00:20:47.599 --> 00:20:48.700 full of God's grace. 00:20:50.200 --> 00:20:51.240 And commentators 00:20:51.240 --> 00:20:52.099 say the use of 00:20:52.099 --> 00:20:53.579 grace here actually 00:20:53.579 --> 00:20:54.799 is more akin to 00:20:54.799 --> 00:20:55.880 winsomeness. 00:20:56.360 --> 00:20:57.980 It's graciousness. 00:20:59.039 --> 00:20:59.440 Now, 00:20:59.480 --> 00:21:00.200 that's a point worth 00:21:00.200 --> 00:21:00.940 sitting on for a 00:21:00.940 --> 00:21:01.059 minute. 00:21:01.059 --> 00:21:01.639 There are a lot 00:21:01.639 --> 00:21:02.819 of bold Christian 00:21:02.819 --> 00:21:03.799 witnesses in the 00:21:03.799 --> 00:21:04.619 world who are 00:21:04.619 --> 00:21:05.819 anything but winsome. 00:21:06.740 --> 00:21:06.899 Right? 00:21:07.240 --> 00:21:08.480 They're smug. 00:21:08.659 --> 00:21:09.679 They're contemptuous 00:21:09.679 --> 00:21:10.339 of the surrounding 00:21:10.339 --> 00:21:10.859 culture. 00:21:11.279 --> 00:21:11.980 They're cynical. 00:21:12.419 --> 00:21:13.559 They're accusatory. 00:21:14.019 --> 00:21:15.099 I feel this tendency 00:21:15.099 --> 00:21:15.899 in my own heart 00:21:15.899 --> 00:21:16.419 sometimes. 00:21:17.940 --> 00:21:18.480 Right? 00:21:18.519 --> 00:21:19.299 They're bold, 00:21:19.440 --> 00:21:20.419 but they are smug 00:21:20.419 --> 00:21:21.079 and filled with 00:21:21.079 --> 00:21:21.500 contempt. 00:21:22.559 --> 00:21:23.579 And that kind 00:21:23.579 --> 00:21:24.200 of posture, 00:21:24.319 --> 00:21:25.259 that kind of tone 00:21:25.259 --> 00:21:26.639 runs completely 00:21:26.639 --> 00:21:27.359 against the 00:21:27.359 --> 00:21:27.720 gospel. 00:21:29.039 --> 00:21:29.579 You know, 00:21:29.619 --> 00:21:30.039 it's funny. 00:21:30.039 --> 00:21:31.119 The gospel is a lot 00:21:31.119 --> 00:21:31.920 like a song, 00:21:32.019 --> 00:21:32.299 you know, 00:21:32.720 --> 00:21:33.899 a really recognizable 00:21:33.899 --> 00:21:34.619 song like 00:21:34.619 --> 00:21:35.259 Happy Birthday. 00:21:36.500 --> 00:21:37.639 It has words 00:21:37.639 --> 00:21:38.500 and it has a melody. 00:21:39.759 --> 00:21:39.980 Right? 00:21:40.019 --> 00:21:40.539 And there was a long 00:21:40.539 --> 00:21:41.879 time where restaurants 00:21:41.879 --> 00:21:42.879 weren't allowed to sing 00:21:42.879 --> 00:21:43.779 the real Happy Birthday 00:21:43.779 --> 00:21:44.740 because of royalties. 00:21:45.200 --> 00:21:46.119 And so they would sing 00:21:46.119 --> 00:21:46.980 the words Happy Birthday 00:21:46.980 --> 00:21:48.079 to another song. 00:21:48.559 --> 00:21:49.480 And you would go in 00:21:49.480 --> 00:21:49.819 and it's like, 00:21:49.899 --> 00:21:50.200 yeah, 00:21:50.200 --> 00:21:52.099 it's the words Happy Birthday, 00:21:52.099 --> 00:21:53.099 but the way you're singing 00:21:53.099 --> 00:21:53.299 it, 00:21:53.359 --> 00:21:54.559 this isn't the right song. 00:21:54.659 --> 00:21:54.859 You know, 00:21:54.899 --> 00:21:56.119 it'd be kind of weird. 00:21:57.519 --> 00:21:58.959 That's a piddly little example, 00:21:59.159 --> 00:22:00.519 but apply that to the way 00:22:00.519 --> 00:22:01.319 we think about the gospel. 00:22:01.439 --> 00:22:03.159 The gospel has words. 00:22:04.899 --> 00:22:05.259 Right? 00:22:05.299 --> 00:22:06.000 There are truths 00:22:06.000 --> 00:22:06.740 that are proclaimed, 00:22:07.359 --> 00:22:08.459 but the gospel 00:22:08.459 --> 00:22:09.519 also has a melody. 00:22:11.279 --> 00:22:12.119 There's a melody 00:22:12.119 --> 00:22:12.740 to the gospel. 00:22:12.919 --> 00:22:13.899 There is a tone 00:22:13.899 --> 00:22:15.719 to the gospel. 00:22:16.720 --> 00:22:17.299 In other words, 00:22:17.440 --> 00:22:17.680 when you, 00:22:17.740 --> 00:22:18.220 when you, 00:22:18.299 --> 00:22:20.680 when you proclaim 00:22:20.680 --> 00:22:21.259 the gospel 00:22:21.259 --> 00:22:22.000 with a tone 00:22:22.000 --> 00:22:23.079 of smugness 00:22:23.079 --> 00:22:24.120 or contempt, 00:22:25.279 --> 00:22:26.380 you may have 00:22:26.380 --> 00:22:27.120 the right words, 00:22:27.980 --> 00:22:28.600 but you've got 00:22:28.600 --> 00:22:29.319 the wrong melody. 00:22:30.240 --> 00:22:30.819 You've got 00:22:30.819 --> 00:22:31.519 the wrong melody. 00:22:33.039 --> 00:22:34.380 Stephen is so immersed 00:22:34.380 --> 00:22:35.279 in God's grace 00:22:35.279 --> 00:22:36.319 that it makes him 00:22:36.319 --> 00:22:37.980 a gracious person. 00:22:38.160 --> 00:22:39.120 If you're immersed 00:22:39.120 --> 00:22:39.880 in God's grace, 00:22:39.960 --> 00:22:40.900 it means that you live 00:22:40.900 --> 00:22:42.400 your life fully aware 00:22:42.400 --> 00:22:43.059 of the fact that 00:22:43.059 --> 00:22:44.000 God owes you 00:22:44.000 --> 00:22:45.319 absolutely nothing. 00:22:46.660 --> 00:22:47.160 Right? 00:22:47.259 --> 00:22:48.160 The only reason 00:22:48.160 --> 00:22:48.880 that you're a Christian 00:22:48.880 --> 00:22:49.779 at all is because 00:22:49.779 --> 00:22:51.019 God chose to pour 00:22:51.019 --> 00:22:52.120 his grace and love 00:22:52.120 --> 00:22:52.860 into your life 00:22:52.860 --> 00:22:53.880 even though you 00:22:53.880 --> 00:22:54.700 didn't earn it, 00:22:54.900 --> 00:22:56.180 don't deserve it, 00:22:56.519 --> 00:22:57.600 could never repay it. 00:22:58.559 --> 00:22:59.839 And that changes 00:22:59.839 --> 00:23:01.019 the way you think 00:23:01.019 --> 00:23:01.839 about yourself 00:23:01.839 --> 00:23:02.579 and God 00:23:02.579 --> 00:23:03.440 and other people. 00:23:03.980 --> 00:23:05.220 It humbles you. 00:23:06.319 --> 00:23:06.880 Right? 00:23:06.920 --> 00:23:07.279 It makes you 00:23:07.279 --> 00:23:07.960 more charitable. 00:23:09.059 --> 00:23:09.620 Meaning, 00:23:09.839 --> 00:23:11.019 you assume the best 00:23:11.019 --> 00:23:12.039 about other people's 00:23:12.039 --> 00:23:12.500 motives, 00:23:12.700 --> 00:23:13.279 other people's 00:23:13.279 --> 00:23:13.779 intentions. 00:23:14.180 --> 00:23:14.779 You don't impute 00:23:14.779 --> 00:23:15.420 bad motives, 00:23:15.420 --> 00:23:16.340 you assume the best. 00:23:17.039 --> 00:23:17.840 You assume that most 00:23:17.840 --> 00:23:18.640 people are doing 00:23:18.640 --> 00:23:19.500 the best they can. 00:23:20.460 --> 00:23:21.420 You're very slow 00:23:21.420 --> 00:23:21.960 to criticize, 00:23:22.279 --> 00:23:23.060 very slow 00:23:23.060 --> 00:23:24.759 to make assumptions. 00:23:25.420 --> 00:23:26.039 It makes you 00:23:26.039 --> 00:23:26.860 more compassionate 00:23:26.860 --> 00:23:27.759 toward people 00:23:27.759 --> 00:23:28.620 who disagree with you 00:23:28.620 --> 00:23:29.039 because you think, 00:23:29.140 --> 00:23:29.680 man, I used to be 00:23:29.680 --> 00:23:30.580 right where you are 00:23:30.580 --> 00:23:31.440 and sometimes, 00:23:31.580 --> 00:23:31.800 you know, 00:23:31.860 --> 00:23:32.500 I still am. 00:23:33.779 --> 00:23:34.720 It's only because 00:23:34.720 --> 00:23:35.480 of God's grace 00:23:35.480 --> 00:23:38.100 that we don't see 00:23:38.100 --> 00:23:39.019 completely eye to eye 00:23:39.019 --> 00:23:39.480 on everything. 00:23:39.480 --> 00:23:39.559 God. 00:23:41.819 --> 00:23:43.099 So this is the example 00:23:43.099 --> 00:23:43.860 of Stephen's 00:23:43.860 --> 00:23:46.160 winsome witness. 00:23:46.279 --> 00:23:47.140 He is so immersed 00:23:47.140 --> 00:23:47.880 in God's grace 00:23:47.880 --> 00:23:48.539 that he has become 00:23:48.539 --> 00:23:49.620 a gracious person. 00:23:51.180 --> 00:23:52.059 But then there is 00:23:52.059 --> 00:23:53.400 the equally important 00:23:53.400 --> 00:23:54.180 example, 00:23:55.019 --> 00:23:55.519 and this is, 00:23:55.660 --> 00:23:55.799 I think, 00:23:55.860 --> 00:23:56.640 where we can often 00:23:56.640 --> 00:23:58.220 miss it, 00:23:58.900 --> 00:23:59.740 the example 00:23:59.740 --> 00:24:00.900 of his dying love. 00:24:01.640 --> 00:24:02.779 His dying love. 00:24:02.779 --> 00:24:04.980 In Stephen's day, 00:24:05.079 --> 00:24:05.420 there were, 00:24:06.019 --> 00:24:06.440 by the way, 00:24:06.500 --> 00:24:07.579 plenty of examples 00:24:07.579 --> 00:24:09.579 of people dying 00:24:09.579 --> 00:24:10.279 for their faith. 00:24:11.660 --> 00:24:12.680 During the Maccabean 00:24:12.680 --> 00:24:14.839 Revolt back in 167 B.C., 00:24:14.839 --> 00:24:15.539 so this would have been 00:24:15.539 --> 00:24:16.779 almost 200 years 00:24:16.779 --> 00:24:18.139 before Jesus. 00:24:19.879 --> 00:24:20.779 During the Maccabean 00:24:20.779 --> 00:24:21.079 Revolt, 00:24:21.160 --> 00:24:21.759 there was a well-known 00:24:21.759 --> 00:24:22.899 story of a family 00:24:22.899 --> 00:24:23.759 who, because of their 00:24:23.759 --> 00:24:24.039 faith, 00:24:24.099 --> 00:24:25.200 refused to eat pork. 00:24:26.160 --> 00:24:27.000 And so they were 00:24:27.000 --> 00:24:27.779 tortured and killed 00:24:27.779 --> 00:24:28.720 by Antiochus. 00:24:29.779 --> 00:24:31.019 And as they died, 00:24:31.059 --> 00:24:31.740 and this story was 00:24:31.740 --> 00:24:32.399 kind of legendary, 00:24:32.400 --> 00:24:33.180 I'm sure everybody 00:24:33.180 --> 00:24:33.880 knew about it in 00:24:33.880 --> 00:24:34.560 Jesus' day, 00:24:34.640 --> 00:24:35.400 in Stephen's day, 00:24:36.340 --> 00:24:37.460 as his family was 00:24:37.460 --> 00:24:38.320 killed for their faith, 00:24:38.560 --> 00:24:39.440 they cried out 00:24:39.440 --> 00:24:40.980 to Antiochus, 00:24:41.280 --> 00:24:42.620 you accursed fiend, 00:24:43.340 --> 00:24:44.300 just wait and see 00:24:44.300 --> 00:24:45.540 how God's great power 00:24:45.540 --> 00:24:46.540 will torment you 00:24:46.540 --> 00:24:47.680 and your descendants. 00:24:48.180 --> 00:24:49.000 You wretch, 00:24:49.380 --> 00:24:50.860 you vilest of men. 00:24:52.640 --> 00:24:53.680 If somebody was 00:24:53.680 --> 00:24:54.360 torturing me 00:24:54.360 --> 00:24:55.019 and killing me 00:24:55.019 --> 00:24:55.860 for not eating pork, 00:24:55.960 --> 00:24:56.560 I would probably 00:24:56.560 --> 00:24:57.840 respond in a similar way. 00:25:00.019 --> 00:25:01.000 But look at what 00:25:01.000 --> 00:25:01.620 Stephen does. 00:25:02.400 --> 00:25:02.640 Right? 00:25:02.759 --> 00:25:04.080 As the stones 00:25:04.080 --> 00:25:05.860 are slamming into 00:25:05.860 --> 00:25:06.840 and breaking 00:25:06.840 --> 00:25:08.140 Stephen's body, 00:25:08.340 --> 00:25:09.420 he cries out 00:25:09.420 --> 00:25:10.320 in a loud voice, 00:25:10.700 --> 00:25:10.960 Lord, 00:25:11.080 --> 00:25:11.980 do not hold this 00:25:11.980 --> 00:25:12.700 sin against them. 00:25:14.420 --> 00:25:15.160 And you say, 00:25:15.200 --> 00:25:15.300 well, 00:25:15.320 --> 00:25:16.120 how is that possible? 00:25:17.360 --> 00:25:18.120 How is it possible 00:25:18.120 --> 00:25:19.220 to love the very people 00:25:19.220 --> 00:25:19.720 who are, 00:25:20.180 --> 00:25:21.100 at that very moment, 00:25:21.220 --> 00:25:22.080 putting you to death? 00:25:22.079 --> 00:25:22.139 love? 00:25:26.139 --> 00:25:27.159 It's only possible 00:25:27.159 --> 00:25:27.859 because Stephen 00:25:27.859 --> 00:25:28.639 had encountered 00:25:28.639 --> 00:25:29.500 this kind of love 00:25:29.500 --> 00:25:29.960 before. 00:25:32.039 --> 00:25:32.939 Jesus Christ, 00:25:33.059 --> 00:25:33.939 as he hung dying 00:25:33.939 --> 00:25:34.659 on the cross, 00:25:35.599 --> 00:25:36.659 as the soldiers 00:25:36.659 --> 00:25:37.399 were literally 00:25:37.399 --> 00:25:38.359 dividing up 00:25:38.359 --> 00:25:39.199 his possessions 00:25:39.199 --> 00:25:41.379 in front of him, 00:25:41.839 --> 00:25:43.879 he cries out, 00:25:44.619 --> 00:25:44.919 Father, 00:25:45.059 --> 00:25:45.759 forgive them 00:25:45.759 --> 00:25:47.579 for they do not 00:25:47.579 --> 00:25:48.059 know what they're 00:25:48.059 --> 00:25:48.339 doing. 00:25:50.460 --> 00:25:52.079 And unlike Stephen, 00:25:52.539 --> 00:25:55.859 Jesus was truly 00:25:55.859 --> 00:25:56.240 innocent. 00:25:57.660 --> 00:25:58.500 Stephen had the 00:25:58.500 --> 00:25:59.319 face of an angel, 00:26:00.700 --> 00:26:02.400 he was as blameless 00:26:02.400 --> 00:26:03.400 probably as a human 00:26:03.400 --> 00:26:04.180 being could be, 00:26:04.619 --> 00:26:05.559 but he wasn't 00:26:05.559 --> 00:26:05.859 innocent. 00:26:07.119 --> 00:26:08.099 He wasn't free 00:26:08.099 --> 00:26:08.680 from sin, 00:26:10.259 --> 00:26:11.000 Jesus was. 00:26:11.000 --> 00:26:12.700 And yet, 00:26:12.779 --> 00:26:13.799 even in his death, 00:26:13.920 --> 00:26:14.839 Jesus is only 00:26:14.839 --> 00:26:16.039 thinking of those 00:26:16.039 --> 00:26:18.059 whom he loves. 00:26:18.480 --> 00:26:19.900 The very same 00:26:19.900 --> 00:26:20.720 people who had 00:26:20.720 --> 00:26:21.319 hung in there 00:26:21.319 --> 00:26:21.779 to die. 00:26:23.380 --> 00:26:24.759 And on the cross, 00:26:24.819 --> 00:26:25.559 we need to understand, 00:26:25.680 --> 00:26:26.440 we see a new 00:26:26.440 --> 00:26:27.519 kind of love 00:26:27.519 --> 00:26:28.759 entering the world. 00:26:29.700 --> 00:26:30.759 Not a sentimental 00:26:30.759 --> 00:26:31.460 love, 00:26:32.079 --> 00:26:33.400 not a virtuous 00:26:33.400 --> 00:26:34.039 love, 00:26:34.960 --> 00:26:36.259 a dying love. 00:26:37.220 --> 00:26:38.039 And it is that 00:26:38.039 --> 00:26:38.859 love that is now 00:26:38.859 --> 00:26:39.660 transforming 00:26:39.660 --> 00:26:41.259 this world. 00:26:41.400 --> 00:26:42.120 It's the love 00:26:42.120 --> 00:26:42.720 that sits at the 00:26:42.720 --> 00:26:43.380 very heart 00:26:43.380 --> 00:26:44.840 of what it means 00:26:44.840 --> 00:26:45.500 to be a follower 00:26:45.500 --> 00:26:46.040 of Jesus. 00:26:47.540 --> 00:26:48.300 So I just want to 00:26:48.300 --> 00:26:48.840 bring all this 00:26:48.840 --> 00:26:49.240 together. 00:26:51.680 --> 00:26:52.360 Christians are 00:26:52.360 --> 00:26:53.160 always going to 00:26:53.160 --> 00:26:54.080 be the bad guys 00:26:54.080 --> 00:26:57.160 because our 00:26:57.160 --> 00:26:58.040 worship of Jesus 00:26:58.040 --> 00:26:58.980 will always be 00:26:58.980 --> 00:27:00.259 seen as blasphemy 00:27:00.259 --> 00:27:01.420 against the sacred 00:27:01.420 --> 00:27:02.040 temples of the 00:27:02.040 --> 00:27:02.340 culture. 00:27:02.779 --> 00:27:03.519 It's always going 00:27:03.519 --> 00:27:04.060 to be that way. 00:27:04.480 --> 00:27:05.060 Sometimes it'll be 00:27:05.060 --> 00:27:05.340 better, 00:27:05.680 --> 00:27:06.279 sometimes it'll be 00:27:06.279 --> 00:27:06.600 worse. 00:27:07.060 --> 00:27:07.740 The times that it 00:27:07.740 --> 00:27:08.240 gets better 00:27:08.240 --> 00:27:09.799 are the times 00:27:09.799 --> 00:27:10.140 when we are 00:27:10.140 --> 00:27:10.839 probably not 00:27:10.839 --> 00:27:11.559 as clear 00:27:11.559 --> 00:27:12.680 on what those 00:27:12.680 --> 00:27:13.220 sacred temples 00:27:13.220 --> 00:27:13.620 are. 00:27:14.120 --> 00:27:14.720 And we're 00:27:14.720 --> 00:27:15.599 happily worshiping 00:27:15.599 --> 00:27:15.839 them, 00:27:16.339 --> 00:27:16.900 maybe without 00:27:16.900 --> 00:27:17.380 knowing it. 00:27:18.660 --> 00:27:19.420 That's always 00:27:19.420 --> 00:27:19.859 going to be 00:27:19.859 --> 00:27:20.140 true. 00:27:21.359 --> 00:27:21.839 And the second 00:27:21.839 --> 00:27:23.620 thing is that 00:27:23.620 --> 00:27:24.279 knowing this, 00:27:24.319 --> 00:27:24.799 I believe that 00:27:24.799 --> 00:27:25.380 we're called to 00:27:25.380 --> 00:27:26.299 follow Stephen's 00:27:26.299 --> 00:27:27.000 example and 00:27:27.000 --> 00:27:27.759 recover a 00:27:27.759 --> 00:27:29.160 theology of 00:27:29.160 --> 00:27:29.740 martyrdom, 00:27:29.819 --> 00:27:30.460 to have a 00:27:30.460 --> 00:27:31.279 winsome witness 00:27:31.279 --> 00:27:32.900 and when 00:27:32.900 --> 00:27:33.460 necessary, 00:27:33.620 --> 00:27:34.759 a dying love 00:27:34.759 --> 00:27:36.339 for the world 00:27:36.339 --> 00:27:36.759 and for the 00:27:36.759 --> 00:27:37.440 very people 00:27:37.440 --> 00:27:38.519 who oppose 00:27:38.519 --> 00:27:39.039 our way of 00:27:39.039 --> 00:27:39.400 life. 00:27:40.180 --> 00:27:40.799 And what this 00:27:40.799 --> 00:27:41.000 means, 00:27:41.119 --> 00:27:41.259 friends, 00:27:41.319 --> 00:27:41.660 is that we 00:27:41.660 --> 00:27:41.940 need to 00:27:41.940 --> 00:27:42.539 drastically 00:27:42.539 --> 00:27:43.619 redefine 00:27:43.619 --> 00:27:45.759 our view 00:27:45.759 --> 00:27:46.440 of success. 00:27:47.379 --> 00:27:47.839 Right? 00:27:48.000 --> 00:27:48.420 We need to 00:27:48.420 --> 00:27:49.339 completely rethink 00:27:49.339 --> 00:27:49.700 how we're 00:27:49.700 --> 00:27:50.539 defining success. 00:27:51.140 --> 00:27:52.200 Stephen speaks 00:27:52.200 --> 00:27:53.599 with unparalleled 00:27:53.599 --> 00:27:55.440 winsome wisdom 00:27:55.440 --> 00:27:56.519 and power. 00:27:58.339 --> 00:27:58.920 I mean, 00:27:58.960 --> 00:27:59.519 probably nobody 00:27:59.519 --> 00:27:59.940 could do a 00:27:59.940 --> 00:28:00.460 better job 00:28:00.460 --> 00:28:01.039 than Stephen 00:28:01.039 --> 00:28:02.480 at being 00:28:02.480 --> 00:28:02.940 winsome. 00:28:02.940 --> 00:28:04.720 and they 00:28:04.720 --> 00:28:05.200 stone him 00:28:05.200 --> 00:28:05.539 to death. 00:28:06.539 --> 00:28:07.180 So how do 00:28:07.180 --> 00:28:07.640 we define 00:28:07.640 --> 00:28:08.200 success? 00:28:10.799 --> 00:28:11.360 Here's how 00:28:11.360 --> 00:28:12.019 God defines 00:28:12.019 --> 00:28:12.600 success. 00:28:13.920 --> 00:28:14.559 They lay 00:28:14.559 --> 00:28:15.140 the garments 00:28:15.140 --> 00:28:16.500 at the feet 00:28:16.500 --> 00:28:16.880 of a man 00:28:16.880 --> 00:28:17.600 named Saul. 00:28:18.440 --> 00:28:18.880 We see a 00:28:18.880 --> 00:28:19.340 little reference 00:28:19.340 --> 00:28:19.700 at the end 00:28:19.700 --> 00:28:20.360 of our passage. 00:28:21.620 --> 00:28:22.220 It's only 00:28:22.220 --> 00:28:22.740 later in the 00:28:22.740 --> 00:28:23.299 book of Acts 00:28:23.299 --> 00:28:23.700 that we 00:28:23.700 --> 00:28:24.559 realize the 00:28:24.559 --> 00:28:25.320 impact of 00:28:25.320 --> 00:28:25.759 Stephen's 00:28:25.759 --> 00:28:26.420 death on 00:28:26.420 --> 00:28:27.220 Saul. 00:28:28.160 --> 00:28:28.700 And we 00:28:28.700 --> 00:28:29.220 realize that 00:28:29.220 --> 00:28:29.660 this event 00:28:29.660 --> 00:28:30.160 is probably 00:28:30.160 --> 00:28:30.860 a massive 00:28:30.860 --> 00:28:32.220 part of 00:28:32.220 --> 00:28:32.779 what ultimately 00:28:32.779 --> 00:28:33.460 led Saul 00:28:33.460 --> 00:28:33.839 to give 00:28:33.839 --> 00:28:34.180 his life 00:28:34.180 --> 00:28:34.660 to Jesus, 00:28:34.759 --> 00:28:35.079 a man 00:28:35.079 --> 00:28:35.519 who was 00:28:35.519 --> 00:28:36.539 viciously 00:28:36.539 --> 00:28:37.099 persecuting 00:28:37.099 --> 00:28:37.599 the church. 00:28:38.399 --> 00:28:38.920 It was 00:28:38.920 --> 00:28:39.519 the combination 00:28:39.519 --> 00:28:40.200 of Stephen's 00:28:40.200 --> 00:28:41.119 winsome witness 00:28:41.119 --> 00:28:42.399 but also 00:28:42.399 --> 00:28:42.960 his dying 00:28:42.960 --> 00:28:43.299 love, 00:28:43.420 --> 00:28:43.879 praying for 00:28:43.879 --> 00:28:44.660 his murderers. 00:28:45.920 --> 00:28:46.079 You know, 00:28:46.160 --> 00:28:46.960 later Paul 00:28:46.960 --> 00:28:47.500 talks about 00:28:47.500 --> 00:28:47.980 his conversion. 00:28:48.119 --> 00:28:48.440 He says at 00:28:48.440 --> 00:28:48.819 one point 00:28:48.819 --> 00:28:49.359 Jesus says 00:28:49.359 --> 00:28:49.619 to him, 00:28:49.660 --> 00:28:49.940 Paul, 00:28:50.119 --> 00:28:50.399 Paul, 00:28:50.539 --> 00:28:51.660 it's hard 00:28:51.660 --> 00:28:52.039 for you 00:28:52.039 --> 00:28:52.399 to kick 00:28:52.399 --> 00:28:52.940 against the 00:28:52.940 --> 00:28:53.500 goads. 00:28:53.779 --> 00:28:54.019 You know 00:28:54.019 --> 00:28:54.220 what a 00:28:54.220 --> 00:28:54.700 goad is? 00:28:54.759 --> 00:28:55.420 It's like 00:28:55.420 --> 00:28:56.039 a cattle 00:28:56.039 --> 00:28:56.559 prod. 00:28:57.940 --> 00:28:58.339 So don't 00:28:58.339 --> 00:28:58.799 think that 00:28:58.799 --> 00:28:59.339 his conversion 00:28:59.339 --> 00:28:59.859 happened all 00:28:59.859 --> 00:29:00.220 at once 00:29:00.220 --> 00:29:00.720 on that road 00:29:00.720 --> 00:29:01.440 to Damascus. 00:29:01.440 --> 00:29:03.680 something had 00:29:03.680 --> 00:29:04.500 been goading 00:29:04.500 --> 00:29:05.220 him toward 00:29:05.220 --> 00:29:05.880 Jesus. 00:29:07.220 --> 00:29:08.000 I have a 00:29:08.000 --> 00:29:08.500 hard time 00:29:08.500 --> 00:29:09.100 imagining it 00:29:09.100 --> 00:29:09.620 wasn't this 00:29:09.620 --> 00:29:10.680 moment right 00:29:10.680 --> 00:29:10.960 here. 00:29:11.900 --> 00:29:12.559 That's how 00:29:12.559 --> 00:29:13.299 God defines 00:29:13.299 --> 00:29:13.880 success. 00:29:13.880 --> 00:29:17.260 you know, 00:29:17.340 --> 00:29:18.280 in the 00:29:18.280 --> 00:29:18.780 series 00:29:18.780 --> 00:29:19.320 Band of 00:29:19.320 --> 00:29:19.740 Brothers, 00:29:20.340 --> 00:29:22.240 which I've 00:29:22.240 --> 00:29:22.880 always loved, 00:29:23.100 --> 00:29:23.480 it's about 00:29:23.480 --> 00:29:23.880 a company 00:29:23.880 --> 00:29:24.420 of soldiers 00:29:24.420 --> 00:29:24.800 in World 00:29:24.800 --> 00:29:25.220 War II 00:29:25.220 --> 00:29:27.160 and there's 00:29:27.160 --> 00:29:27.640 a soldier 00:29:27.640 --> 00:29:27.960 named 00:29:27.960 --> 00:29:28.560 Blythe 00:29:28.560 --> 00:29:30.360 and Blythe 00:29:30.360 --> 00:29:31.200 is filled 00:29:31.200 --> 00:29:31.720 with fear 00:29:31.720 --> 00:29:32.560 and there's 00:29:32.560 --> 00:29:33.020 a firefight 00:29:33.020 --> 00:29:33.560 that breaks 00:29:33.560 --> 00:29:34.120 out and 00:29:34.120 --> 00:29:35.380 Blythe hides 00:29:35.380 --> 00:29:36.140 in a foxhole 00:29:36.140 --> 00:29:37.000 or in a trench 00:29:37.000 --> 00:29:37.820 the entire time. 00:29:37.940 --> 00:29:38.660 He can't stick 00:29:38.660 --> 00:29:39.060 his head up, 00:29:39.100 --> 00:29:39.320 he just 00:29:39.320 --> 00:29:40.200 completely locks 00:29:40.200 --> 00:29:40.800 up with fear. 00:29:40.799 --> 00:29:43.119 And there's 00:29:43.119 --> 00:29:43.759 this other 00:29:43.759 --> 00:29:44.359 soldier, 00:29:44.700 --> 00:29:45.119 a guy named 00:29:45.119 --> 00:29:46.159 Sergeant Spears 00:29:46.159 --> 00:29:46.839 and Spears 00:29:46.839 --> 00:29:47.440 is this 00:29:47.440 --> 00:29:48.359 renowned 00:29:48.359 --> 00:29:49.259 fearless 00:29:49.259 --> 00:29:50.019 warrior. 00:29:50.200 --> 00:29:50.339 There's 00:29:50.339 --> 00:29:50.879 one point 00:29:50.879 --> 00:29:51.680 where they 00:29:51.680 --> 00:29:51.960 need to 00:29:51.960 --> 00:29:52.299 send a 00:29:52.299 --> 00:29:52.639 messenger 00:29:52.639 --> 00:29:53.339 across enemy 00:29:53.339 --> 00:29:54.000 lines and 00:29:54.000 --> 00:29:54.399 Spears 00:29:54.399 --> 00:29:55.579 runs across 00:29:55.579 --> 00:29:56.319 and people 00:29:56.319 --> 00:29:56.619 are so 00:29:56.619 --> 00:29:57.139 shocked 00:29:57.139 --> 00:29:57.519 that he's 00:29:57.519 --> 00:29:58.000 running in 00:29:58.000 --> 00:29:58.299 the open 00:29:58.299 --> 00:29:58.919 field that 00:29:58.919 --> 00:29:59.279 none of the 00:29:59.279 --> 00:29:59.519 enemies 00:29:59.519 --> 00:30:00.119 open fire 00:30:00.119 --> 00:30:00.399 on him. 00:30:00.419 --> 00:30:00.619 They're like 00:30:00.619 --> 00:30:01.039 this guy's 00:30:01.039 --> 00:30:01.559 insane. 00:30:02.059 --> 00:30:02.419 He runs 00:30:02.419 --> 00:30:02.700 across, 00:30:02.799 --> 00:30:03.119 he delivers 00:30:03.119 --> 00:30:03.500 the message 00:30:03.500 --> 00:30:03.980 and then he 00:30:03.980 --> 00:30:04.460 runs all 00:30:04.460 --> 00:30:04.680 the way 00:30:04.680 --> 00:30:05.079 back and 00:30:05.079 --> 00:30:05.680 the enemies 00:30:05.680 --> 00:30:06.039 look around 00:30:06.039 --> 00:30:06.639 like we 00:30:06.639 --> 00:30:07.019 gotta kill 00:30:07.019 --> 00:30:07.399 this guy 00:30:07.399 --> 00:30:07.579 and they 00:30:07.579 --> 00:30:07.859 all start 00:30:07.859 --> 00:30:08.220 shooting and 00:30:08.220 --> 00:30:08.460 he makes 00:30:08.460 --> 00:30:08.720 it back 00:30:08.720 --> 00:30:09.059 alive. 00:30:09.059 --> 00:30:09.519 And so 00:30:09.519 --> 00:30:09.960 he's just 00:30:09.960 --> 00:30:10.720 legendary 00:30:10.720 --> 00:30:11.480 as this 00:30:11.480 --> 00:30:11.940 fearless 00:30:11.940 --> 00:30:12.359 warrior. 00:30:12.639 --> 00:30:12.859 And so 00:30:12.859 --> 00:30:13.539 Blythe 00:30:13.539 --> 00:30:14.460 tearfully 00:30:14.460 --> 00:30:15.200 confesses 00:30:15.200 --> 00:30:15.379 his 00:30:15.379 --> 00:30:16.059 cowardice 00:30:16.059 --> 00:30:17.039 to Spears 00:30:17.039 --> 00:30:17.279 and he 00:30:17.279 --> 00:30:17.419 says, 00:30:17.539 --> 00:30:17.740 what's 00:30:17.740 --> 00:30:18.159 the secret? 00:30:18.299 --> 00:30:18.899 How are 00:30:18.899 --> 00:30:19.279 you not 00:30:19.279 --> 00:30:19.720 afraid? 00:30:20.779 --> 00:30:21.419 And here's 00:30:21.419 --> 00:30:21.799 what Spears 00:30:21.799 --> 00:30:22.240 says, 00:30:22.839 --> 00:30:26.019 the only 00:30:26.019 --> 00:30:26.500 hope you 00:30:26.500 --> 00:30:27.679 have is 00:30:27.679 --> 00:30:28.159 to accept 00:30:28.159 --> 00:30:28.559 the fact 00:30:28.559 --> 00:30:28.799 that you're 00:30:28.799 --> 00:30:29.039 already 00:30:29.039 --> 00:30:29.339 dead. 00:30:32.000 --> 00:30:32.819 The sooner 00:30:32.819 --> 00:30:33.379 you accept 00:30:33.379 --> 00:30:33.759 that, 00:30:34.440 --> 00:30:35.179 the sooner 00:30:35.179 --> 00:30:35.539 you'll be 00:30:35.539 --> 00:30:35.899 able to 00:30:35.899 --> 00:30:36.319 function 00:30:36.319 --> 00:30:37.279 as a 00:30:37.279 --> 00:30:37.859 soldier is 00:30:37.859 --> 00:30:38.419 supposed to 00:30:38.419 --> 00:30:38.779 function. 00:30:39.059 --> 00:30:41.200 accept the 00:30:41.200 --> 00:30:41.539 fact that 00:30:41.539 --> 00:30:41.679 you're 00:30:41.679 --> 00:30:42.019 already 00:30:42.019 --> 00:30:42.299 dead. 00:30:42.519 --> 00:30:43.139 I often 00:30:43.139 --> 00:30:43.679 think about 00:30:43.679 --> 00:30:44.220 this scene 00:30:44.220 --> 00:30:44.539 as I 00:30:44.539 --> 00:30:44.960 consider 00:30:44.960 --> 00:30:45.379 what it 00:30:45.379 --> 00:30:45.779 means to 00:30:45.779 --> 00:30:46.019 be a 00:30:46.019 --> 00:30:46.399 Christian 00:30:46.399 --> 00:30:47.480 in the 00:30:47.480 --> 00:30:47.960 world right 00:30:47.960 --> 00:30:48.279 now. 00:30:49.759 --> 00:30:50.460 Later today 00:30:50.460 --> 00:30:50.759 we're going to 00:30:50.759 --> 00:30:51.139 have some 00:30:51.139 --> 00:30:51.859 baptisms and 00:30:51.859 --> 00:30:52.259 we often 00:30:52.259 --> 00:30:52.659 think of 00:30:52.659 --> 00:30:53.399 baptism as 00:30:53.399 --> 00:30:53.799 a symbol 00:30:53.799 --> 00:30:54.279 of washing 00:30:54.279 --> 00:30:55.000 people clean, 00:30:55.299 --> 00:30:55.720 which it 00:30:55.720 --> 00:30:56.059 is. 00:30:56.720 --> 00:30:57.319 But even 00:30:57.319 --> 00:30:57.740 more than 00:30:57.740 --> 00:30:57.940 that, 00:30:58.019 --> 00:30:58.599 baptism is 00:30:58.599 --> 00:30:59.000 a symbol 00:30:59.000 --> 00:30:59.519 of death 00:30:59.519 --> 00:31:03.460 and hope 00:31:03.460 --> 00:31:04.059 of resurrection. 00:31:05.519 --> 00:31:06.179 Baptism is 00:31:06.179 --> 00:31:07.139 a way of 00:31:07.139 --> 00:31:07.659 us saying, 00:31:07.839 --> 00:31:08.279 like Paul 00:31:08.279 --> 00:31:08.779 says in 00:31:08.779 --> 00:31:09.259 places like 00:31:09.259 --> 00:31:09.960 Galatians 2, 00:31:10.960 --> 00:31:12.059 when I 00:31:12.059 --> 00:31:12.319 go into 00:31:12.319 --> 00:31:12.639 the water 00:31:12.639 --> 00:31:12.839 I'm 00:31:12.839 --> 00:31:13.200 dying. 00:31:18.240 --> 00:31:18.720 When I 00:31:18.720 --> 00:31:18.960 come out 00:31:18.960 --> 00:31:19.139 of that 00:31:19.139 --> 00:31:19.539 water it's 00:31:19.539 --> 00:31:19.879 no longer 00:31:19.879 --> 00:31:20.240 I who 00:31:20.240 --> 00:31:20.619 live but 00:31:20.619 --> 00:31:21.059 Christ who 00:31:21.059 --> 00:31:21.399 lives in 00:31:21.399 --> 00:31:21.680 me. 00:31:24.099 --> 00:31:24.619 To be 00:31:24.619 --> 00:31:25.379 baptized is 00:31:25.379 --> 00:31:25.779 to die 00:31:25.779 --> 00:31:26.079 to this 00:31:26.079 --> 00:31:26.440 world. 00:31:29.660 --> 00:31:30.160 How do you 00:31:30.160 --> 00:31:30.379 have the 00:31:30.379 --> 00:31:30.639 kind of 00:31:30.639 --> 00:31:31.160 courage to 00:31:31.160 --> 00:31:31.420 face 00:31:31.420 --> 00:31:31.920 martyrdom? 00:31:33.700 --> 00:31:34.240 Realize that 00:31:34.240 --> 00:31:34.740 you're already 00:31:34.740 --> 00:31:35.119 dead. 00:31:35.119 --> 00:31:35.179 God 00:31:35.179 --> 00:31:37.199 and put 00:31:37.199 --> 00:31:37.579 your hope 00:31:37.579 --> 00:31:37.779 in the 00:31:37.779 --> 00:31:38.219 promise that 00:31:38.219 --> 00:31:38.599 one day 00:31:38.599 --> 00:31:38.939 you're going 00:31:38.939 --> 00:31:39.159 to be 00:31:39.159 --> 00:31:39.559 resurrected 00:31:39.559 --> 00:31:40.059 just like 00:31:40.059 --> 00:31:40.399 Jesus. 00:31:42.559 --> 00:31:43.259 The most 00:31:43.259 --> 00:31:43.859 dangerous 00:31:43.859 --> 00:31:45.039 person on 00:31:45.039 --> 00:31:46.899 earth is 00:31:46.899 --> 00:31:47.359 the one who 00:31:47.359 --> 00:31:47.859 has reckoned 00:31:47.859 --> 00:31:48.199 with their 00:31:48.199 --> 00:31:48.739 own death. 00:31:50.419 --> 00:31:51.039 The most 00:31:51.039 --> 00:31:51.459 dangerous 00:31:51.459 --> 00:31:52.039 person on 00:31:52.039 --> 00:31:52.519 earth is 00:31:52.519 --> 00:31:52.899 the person 00:31:52.899 --> 00:31:53.259 who has 00:31:53.259 --> 00:31:53.759 reckoned 00:31:53.759 --> 00:31:55.259 with their 00:31:55.259 --> 00:31:55.799 own death. 00:31:55.919 --> 00:31:56.339 Let's pray. 00:31:57.459 --> 00:31:58.039 Lord, we 00:31:58.039 --> 00:31:58.579 thank you for 00:31:58.579 --> 00:31:59.039 your word 00:31:59.039 --> 00:32:01.240 and we 00:32:01.240 --> 00:32:01.759 thank you for 00:32:01.759 --> 00:32:02.220 the power of 00:32:02.220 --> 00:32:02.500 your Holy 00:32:02.500 --> 00:32:02.839 Spirit. 00:32:04.799 --> 00:32:05.460 We thank 00:32:05.460 --> 00:32:05.819 you for 00:32:05.819 --> 00:32:06.480 your son. 00:32:08.460 --> 00:32:09.139 We thank 00:32:09.139 --> 00:32:09.379 you that 00:32:09.379 --> 00:32:09.720 you're present 00:32:09.720 --> 00:32:10.220 with us. 00:32:12.299 --> 00:32:12.920 Let these 00:32:12.920 --> 00:32:13.519 be not mere 00:32:13.519 --> 00:32:14.119 ideas. 00:32:15.599 --> 00:32:16.259 Whatever is 00:32:16.259 --> 00:32:16.799 of you, we 00:32:16.799 --> 00:32:17.200 pray that you 00:32:17.200 --> 00:32:17.700 would impress 00:32:17.700 --> 00:32:18.259 these things 00:32:18.259 --> 00:32:18.619 into our 00:32:18.619 --> 00:32:18.940 hearts. 00:32:20.619 --> 00:32:21.379 We pray that 00:32:21.379 --> 00:32:21.779 we would be 00:32:21.779 --> 00:32:22.220 people of 00:32:22.220 --> 00:32:22.599 tremendous 00:32:22.599 --> 00:32:23.099 faith, 00:32:24.000 --> 00:32:24.519 filled with 00:32:24.519 --> 00:32:24.799 the Holy 00:32:24.799 --> 00:32:25.220 Spirit, 00:32:26.220 --> 00:32:26.619 gracious 00:32:26.619 --> 00:32:27.359 winsomeness, 00:32:27.819 --> 00:32:28.519 who are 00:32:28.519 --> 00:32:28.899 willing to 00:32:28.900 --> 00:32:29.180 lay down 00:32:29.180 --> 00:32:29.700 our lives, 00:32:29.759 --> 00:32:30.360 if necessary, 00:32:30.480 --> 00:32:31.040 for the sake 00:32:31.040 --> 00:32:31.500 of those 00:32:31.500 --> 00:32:31.860 whom you 00:32:31.860 --> 00:32:32.200 love. 00:32:33.400 --> 00:32:34.019 That they 00:32:34.019 --> 00:32:34.460 might one 00:32:34.460 --> 00:32:35.000 day come to 00:32:35.000 --> 00:32:35.380 know and 00:32:35.380 --> 00:32:35.840 love you, 00:32:36.800 --> 00:32:37.840 to find their 00:32:37.840 --> 00:32:38.440 home and 00:32:38.440 --> 00:32:39.220 their wholeness 00:32:39.220 --> 00:32:40.900 in your arms. 00:32:41.519 --> 00:32:42.300 We pray this 00:32:42.300 --> 00:32:42.940 in your son's 00:32:42.940 --> 00:32:43.519 name. 00:32:43.840 --> 00:32:44.080 Amen.