WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.019 the day since Martin Luther King Jr. stood in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC 00:00:08.019 --> 00:00:13.900 and delivered what is regarded as one of the top five speeches of the 20th century at least in the 00:00:13.900 --> 00:00:20.059 English speaking world it is the I have a dream speech many people have heard just at least a 00:00:20.059 --> 00:00:24.039 smidgen of it which is probably the bit that I'm going to quote now there's a speech that went on 00:00:24.039 --> 00:00:31.019 for about 17 minutes but in that speech he said I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up 00:00:31.019 --> 00:00:38.200 and live out the true meaning of its creed that we hold these truths to be self-evident that all men 00:00:38.200 --> 00:00:45.340 are created equal I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves 00:00:45.340 --> 00:00:51.820 and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood 00:00:51.820 --> 00:00:57.500 I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi a state sweltering with a heat of 00:00:57.500 --> 00:01:04.620 injustice sweltering with a heat of oppression will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice 00:01:04.620 --> 00:01:11.140 I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be 00:01:11.140 --> 00:01:18.620 judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character I have a dream it's a dream that 00:01:18.620 --> 00:01:26.900 he unfortunately didn't see come to reality at one minute past six in the evening on April the 4th 1968 00:01:26.900 --> 00:01:34.600 a shot rang out as King stood outside room 306 on the second floor balcony of the Lorraine motel 00:01:34.600 --> 00:01:41.980 in Memphis Tennessee the bullet struck him in the side of the face he died an hour and four minutes 00:01:41.980 --> 00:01:49.219 later at seven five minutes past seven p.m. according to one of his biographers a taylor branch 00:01:49.219 --> 00:01:58.460 king's autopsy revealed that though he was only 49 years old sorry 39 years old he had the heart of a 00:01:58.460 --> 00:02:06.939 60 year old which branch attributed to the stress of 13 years leading the civil rights movement in the 00:02:06.939 --> 00:02:16.079 united states the fight for freedom and justice and equality for african americans cost martin luther king 00:02:16.079 --> 00:02:27.680 his health and his life he articulated and symbolized a great dream of racial harmony and social justice 00:02:27.680 --> 00:02:36.240 and it's a dream as we've been seeing in the last four weeks it's a dream that aligns with god's purposes 00:02:36.240 --> 00:02:45.960 for this world it's a dream that i believe uh must start with christians and must start with the 00:02:45.960 --> 00:02:53.760 church the local church and it and it ought to start here at st paul's the biblical vision that we've been 00:02:53.760 --> 00:03:00.600 engaging with um in this fifth week now is much bigger than how black and white people relate to one 00:03:00.599 --> 00:03:08.759 another in the united states and i'm pretty sure king knew that one of the ways um to understand the 00:03:08.759 --> 00:03:17.259 issue and understand god's purposes in the issue um is to look at the end and to see how god's been 00:03:17.259 --> 00:03:23.120 driving in that direction and that's what we're doing today we're arriving at the end in the book of 00:03:23.120 --> 00:03:33.120 revelation to see where god is taking history and so if this is where god's taking history that means 00:03:33.120 --> 00:03:38.740 this is what history is about it means it's what st paul's is about it's what chatswood is about it's 00:03:38.740 --> 00:03:44.800 about what australia is about it's about what the nations are all about and so you can learn your reason 00:03:44.800 --> 00:03:52.140 for being by looking at the goal of god in history where's he taking it all 00:03:52.140 --> 00:03:58.820 now we're going to go there in a moment we're going to go to the end of all things but let me 00:03:58.820 --> 00:04:04.320 just recap the trajectory we've been heading over the last four weeks and how each bit comes together 00:04:04.320 --> 00:04:10.620 to get to that ultimate end we saw in the first week genesis chapter one that god created adam and eve 00:04:10.620 --> 00:04:18.699 in his image and what flowed from there was that every person born of adam and eve which is every 00:04:18.699 --> 00:04:27.560 person uh also carries the image of god which has massive implications of how you treat another 00:04:27.560 --> 00:04:35.480 individual um there is solidarity in our image even though we are all individually unique 00:04:35.480 --> 00:04:42.420 but as there is solidarity in image so we saw in the second week solidarity in sin 00:04:42.420 --> 00:04:51.819 as adam sinned in rejecting god what we saw from that is that all of humanity is tainted by sin 00:04:51.819 --> 00:05:00.819 as a result our natural bias is towards sin it's part of our nature and one of the big consequences 00:05:00.819 --> 00:05:10.079 of that is genesis chapter 11 where god judges all people where he scatters them and confuses their 00:05:10.079 --> 00:05:14.740 language so that they will not work together again in order to storm the heavens and depose god 00:05:14.740 --> 00:05:25.279 but god doesn't just act in judgment he also has the plan to reverse it all and genesis chapter 12 00:05:25.279 --> 00:05:31.279 is the turning point in the bible it's the hinge where god starts his plan of redemption 00:05:31.279 --> 00:05:40.039 um it is his beginning and he begins with a promise to an insignificant bloke called abraham 00:05:40.039 --> 00:05:49.159 and he says to abraham that all peoples on earth will be blessed through him and we saw in the third week 00:05:49.160 --> 00:05:58.160 how this plan is worked out through all of history and finds its culmination in the death and resurrection of jesus 00:05:58.160 --> 00:06:02.540 and this is how galatians 3 puts it 00:06:02.540 --> 00:06:10.660 you are all sons of god through faith in christ jesus for all of you who are baptized into christ have clothed yourselves with christ 00:06:10.660 --> 00:06:18.879 there is neither jew nor greek slave nor free male nor female for you're all one in christ jesus 00:06:18.879 --> 00:06:28.079 if you belong to christ then you are abraham's seed so if you put your trust in jesus it means 00:06:28.079 --> 00:06:35.000 that you are an inheritor of the promise that god made to abraham back in genesis chapter 12 00:06:35.000 --> 00:06:42.180 and as a result of that reconciling work where god pulls people to himself through jesus 00:06:42.180 --> 00:06:54.519 jesus calls his disciples to go and share this message of reconciliation to the world that they too may be partakers of it 00:06:54.519 --> 00:07:01.500 but he tells them to wait for the holy spirit to come who will pull them together and empower them as his people 00:07:01.500 --> 00:07:05.620 and the holy spirit comes on the day of pentecost it was just read out to us just then 00:07:05.620 --> 00:07:16.819 and in the coming of the holy spirit what you see there is a symbolic reversal of the tower of babel 00:07:16.819 --> 00:07:25.300 as god comes and dwells with his people by his spirit and gathers his people to himself 00:07:25.300 --> 00:07:32.780 people are gathered and even on that day in the day of pentecost language is not a barrier 00:07:32.779 --> 00:07:40.599 as all these people of diverse languages hear god's plan of redemption through jesus christ 00:07:40.599 --> 00:07:44.899 the one who shed his blood to unite all bloodlines 00:07:44.899 --> 00:07:51.819 jesus is the one who brings unity and harmony from all the division and diversity 00:07:51.819 --> 00:08:00.479 and you see it there at the end of chapter two of acts where this new community is formed and born 00:08:00.480 --> 00:08:06.280 and people together in unity and harmony of all their differences together in unity and harmony 00:08:06.280 --> 00:08:09.259 sharing with one another and caring for one another 00:08:09.259 --> 00:08:19.580 what is symbolic in acts chapter two is reality in revelation 00:08:19.580 --> 00:08:28.620 in chapter five verse nine of revelation we get a picture of chapter five of the heavenly realms 00:08:28.620 --> 00:08:35.139 and in verse nine john tells us why jesus is worthy to open the book of the end of history 00:08:35.139 --> 00:08:42.899 so that things unfold according to the plan of god jesus is worthy because of how his death 00:08:42.899 --> 00:08:49.639 relates to all races and tribes and peoples and languages of the world it says you are worthy to take 00:08:49.639 --> 00:08:55.539 the scroll and to opens its seals because you were slain and with your blood you purchase men 00:08:55.539 --> 00:09:02.659 for god from every tribe and language and people and nation you have made them to be a kingdom and 00:09:02.659 --> 00:09:12.179 priests to serve our god and they will reign on the earth and so the reason that jesus has the right to 00:09:12.179 --> 00:09:20.899 open the book of history is that by his death he has ransomed people for god that is for the glory of god 00:09:20.899 --> 00:09:27.179 and the worship of god and the worship of god from every tribe and language and people and nation 00:09:27.179 --> 00:09:30.459 that was god's design 00:09:30.459 --> 00:09:38.959 in the death of jesus to ransom some from every kind of race and language and make them one kingdom 00:09:38.959 --> 00:09:40.639 one kingdom 00:09:40.639 --> 00:09:49.659 they would have one king that is they would all live with jesus as their supreme treasure and lord 00:09:49.659 --> 00:09:55.740 jesus is the one who would unite them 00:09:55.740 --> 00:10:04.839 and they would be priests that is they would be full-time worshipers jesus died to ransom 00:10:04.839 --> 00:10:13.179 subjects for the king and worshipers for the king from all languages and races and nations and peoples 00:10:13.179 --> 00:10:21.979 and so the consummation of god's plan for human history includes the reversal of all the judgmental 00:10:21.979 --> 00:10:25.359 aspects of genesis 3 to 11 00:10:25.359 --> 00:10:28.879 the curse is removed 00:10:28.879 --> 00:10:36.620 they return to enjoy fellowship with god the scattered ones once separated from god and separated from each 00:10:36.620 --> 00:10:40.379 other and now brought together under the reign of jesus 00:10:40.379 --> 00:10:44.320 and finding god's blessing 00:10:44.320 --> 00:10:47.039 as he promised to abraham 00:10:47.039 --> 00:10:51.600 and we see the vision fulfilled in verses 11 00:10:51.600 --> 00:10:55.500 sorry 13 to 14 of revelation 5 00:10:55.500 --> 00:10:58.100 then i heard every creature in heaven 00:10:58.100 --> 00:10:59.480 and on earth 00:10:59.480 --> 00:11:00.940 and under the earth 00:11:00.940 --> 00:11:01.759 and on the sea 00:11:01.759 --> 00:11:02.639 and all that is in them 00:11:02.639 --> 00:11:03.019 singing 00:11:03.019 --> 00:11:05.600 to him who sits on the throne 00:11:05.600 --> 00:11:07.000 and to the lamb 00:11:07.000 --> 00:11:08.480 be praise and honor 00:11:08.480 --> 00:11:10.159 and glory and power 00:11:10.159 --> 00:11:11.019 forever and ever 00:11:11.019 --> 00:11:13.340 and the four living creatures said 00:11:13.340 --> 00:11:13.840 amen 00:11:13.840 --> 00:11:15.840 and the elders fell down 00:11:15.840 --> 00:11:16.720 and worshipped 00:11:16.720 --> 00:11:19.019 see the 00:11:19.019 --> 00:11:21.320 picture of the end of all things 00:11:21.320 --> 00:11:23.700 it is all things 00:11:23.700 --> 00:11:25.440 worshipping the king 00:11:25.440 --> 00:11:27.920 that's the trajectory 00:11:27.920 --> 00:11:29.920 of human history 00:11:29.920 --> 00:11:33.800 that's the trajectory of all created things 00:11:33.800 --> 00:11:34.940 it's what 00:11:35.460 --> 00:11:36.780 we were created for 00:11:36.780 --> 00:11:38.540 it's what this world was created for 00:11:38.540 --> 00:11:40.280 it's what history is about 00:11:40.280 --> 00:11:41.820 it's what the nations are about 00:11:41.820 --> 00:11:43.440 it's what the races are all about 00:11:43.440 --> 00:11:45.240 it's what the languages are all about 00:11:45.240 --> 00:11:46.640 it's what St Paul's is all about 00:11:46.640 --> 00:11:48.380 it's what my life is meant to be all about 00:11:48.380 --> 00:11:49.920 it's what your life 00:11:49.920 --> 00:11:51.860 is meant to be all about 00:11:51.860 --> 00:11:55.360 that is the end of all thing 00:11:55.360 --> 00:12:00.600 all things gathering around the throne praising their king. 00:12:03.240 --> 00:12:10.700 And so it is inconceivable that we should believe that this is the goal of God in history 00:12:10.700 --> 00:12:14.000 and the aim of the death of his son 00:12:14.000 --> 00:12:20.019 and not care about racial harmony in this city and in this church. 00:12:20.019 --> 00:12:33.220 It is critical that we today visualize the body of Christ and the people of God correctly. 00:12:34.659 --> 00:12:42.460 Christians who gather around the throne of God are going to rub shoulders with people of all races. 00:12:42.460 --> 00:12:52.740 God's intention for his people is to be multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, multi-lingual, multi-generational 00:12:52.740 --> 00:12:56.900 but all united in their fellowship and their worship of God. 00:13:01.400 --> 00:13:07.420 How easy it is for us to think that God is just like me. 00:13:07.419 --> 00:13:14.339 Just type in Google at some point and come up with images of Jesus 00:13:14.339 --> 00:13:20.719 and have a look at how often we make Jesus in our image. 00:13:21.379 --> 00:13:22.399 There's a black Jesus. 00:13:23.539 --> 00:13:26.799 There's a white Jesus who... 00:13:26.799 --> 00:13:27.979 I mean, Jesus was white, wasn't he? 00:13:29.099 --> 00:13:33.039 I mean, when you see all the pictures of Jesus, he's got these beautiful blonde curly hair. 00:13:33.759 --> 00:13:35.019 He's got blue eyes. 00:13:35.019 --> 00:13:38.299 He looks more handsome than me, for sure. 00:13:39.659 --> 00:13:41.220 And then there's Asian Jesus. 00:13:41.299 --> 00:13:42.179 And I looked at Asian Jesus. 00:13:42.259 --> 00:13:43.379 Well, Jesus wasn't Asian. 00:13:44.279 --> 00:13:45.539 I mean, he was white, wasn't he? 00:13:46.139 --> 00:13:47.679 And then there's cool Jesus. 00:13:48.059 --> 00:13:49.159 There's hip Jesus. 00:13:49.360 --> 00:13:50.679 There's all sorts of different Jesus. 00:13:51.059 --> 00:13:54.079 We think God is just like us. 00:13:54.079 --> 00:14:01.819 And yet the picture revelation is that the whole diversity of God's people 00:14:01.819 --> 00:14:04.779 is going to be more astounding than we realized. 00:14:05.019 --> 00:14:09.980 And I'm pretty confident that Anglican worship won't be necessarily front and center. 00:14:11.699 --> 00:14:13.100 Pretty confident of that too. 00:14:13.100 --> 00:14:23.220 My contention here is that we need to work towards that ideal if that is our future together. 00:14:24.320 --> 00:14:29.100 It's unfortunate, however, that our worldly associations and identities... 00:14:29.100 --> 00:14:35.980 It's unfortunate when we allow those things to determine the composition of our churches. 00:14:37.540 --> 00:14:40.460 Here's a quote from American theologian Michael Horton. 00:14:41.019 --> 00:14:41.480 He said, 00:14:41.480 --> 00:15:03.019 South African theologians have pointed out that this principle in mission work laid the groundwork for apartheid. 00:15:03.019 --> 00:15:10.399 Now that racial segregation is less explicitly deployed as a church growth strategy, 00:15:10.879 --> 00:15:16.600 we carve up Christ's body into socioeconomic and generational segments. 00:15:17.360 --> 00:15:25.279 Some churches use demographic marketing to appeal to different music styles with country western or rock or jazz services. 00:15:25.279 --> 00:15:37.139 I read recently of a growing movement of cowboy churches where preachers deliver brief talks from their horses to other riders in their saddles 00:15:37.139 --> 00:15:40.419 and they all depart with the song Happy Trails. 00:15:40.419 --> 00:15:46.959 It's what's called the homogenous unit principle. 00:15:48.199 --> 00:15:51.079 People like to be with people who are like them. 00:15:52.779 --> 00:15:58.719 It's a principle that's propagated by the church growth movement in the 1990s. 00:15:59.360 --> 00:16:05.099 It has led to churches planting or churches being planted to target specific demographics, 00:16:05.879 --> 00:16:09.000 particular segregations of people, 00:16:09.000 --> 00:16:16.899 and for churches putting up congregations for individual purposes. 00:16:17.179 --> 00:16:25.860 We segregate people based on traditional service or a family service or an Australian-born Chinese service or a youth service. 00:16:27.139 --> 00:16:33.360 It is the standard practice of church life on the North Shore of Sydney. 00:16:33.360 --> 00:16:40.360 It's the standard practice for church life in Sydney Diocese, the Anglican Church of Sydney Diocese. 00:16:41.980 --> 00:16:43.500 It's how we operate. 00:16:43.639 --> 00:16:45.580 It's how most of my ministry life has been. 00:16:47.039 --> 00:16:51.100 It was St. Paul's up until a few years ago. 00:16:51.680 --> 00:16:52.800 We'll get to that in a little while. 00:16:52.799 --> 00:16:59.740 But this is not the picture that you see in Revelation chapter 5. 00:16:59.740 --> 00:17:04.900 Now, I understand that not all churches will be multicultural. 00:17:05.420 --> 00:17:08.980 It's hard to have a multicultural church if you're living in a monocultural context. 00:17:09.640 --> 00:17:13.740 But that's not the context of St. Paul's. 00:17:13.740 --> 00:17:25.599 And so we have to labor hard to see God's ultimate intention lived out now as much as possible in this church. 00:17:26.160 --> 00:17:31.819 God's intention for us is to be multi-ethnic, multicultural, multilingual, multi-generational, 00:17:32.019 --> 00:17:35.819 but united in our fellowship and our worship of God. 00:17:35.819 --> 00:17:44.579 And that intention will cost us corporately and it will cost us individually. 00:17:46.299 --> 00:17:49.639 It will cost us because, as I read recently, 00:17:49.879 --> 00:17:54.179 evangelical Christians have a strong in-group identity 00:17:54.179 --> 00:17:59.039 that gives us a sense of distinctiveness from the rest of the world. 00:17:59.220 --> 00:18:02.379 That is, we like to see how we are different from everyone else. 00:18:02.380 --> 00:18:10.380 The negative of this is this in-group mentality has led ultimately, I think implicitly, 00:18:11.040 --> 00:18:14.640 to the degradation of other people not as part of that group. 00:18:14.860 --> 00:18:15.820 We are the elite. 00:18:16.280 --> 00:18:17.340 Everyone else is not. 00:18:19.620 --> 00:18:24.480 And while the evangelical church historically has led the charge 00:18:24.480 --> 00:18:29.660 in pursuing racial justice on a society level, 00:18:29.660 --> 00:18:36.360 it appears that it does not trickle down into interpersonal behavior on a local church level. 00:18:38.279 --> 00:18:42.420 We fight the battle out there in Canberra, 00:18:42.660 --> 00:18:44.960 but not here in the local church level. 00:18:47.040 --> 00:18:50.560 And again, I think it's an implicit racism rather than explicit. 00:18:50.559 --> 00:18:54.759 An extensive research project in the United States 00:18:54.759 --> 00:18:59.000 discovered that mainline Protestant churches, that's what we are, 00:18:59.940 --> 00:19:02.899 were less welcoming to racial minorities 00:19:02.899 --> 00:19:08.500 due to the implicit belief that they wouldn't fit into their congregations. 00:19:09.679 --> 00:19:11.200 And one reason for that 00:19:11.200 --> 00:19:15.059 is that mainline Protestant churches, like St. Paul's, 00:19:15.059 --> 00:19:21.500 use liturgies, music, and readings historically rooted in European culture, 00:19:21.759 --> 00:19:24.799 which is incredibly wordy. 00:19:26.679 --> 00:19:29.940 And so because of our way of doing church, which is culturally formed, 00:19:30.359 --> 00:19:35.079 it's less likely to appeal to people who are not part of that culture. 00:19:35.079 --> 00:19:42.779 In fact, studies have found that expressive contemporary worship styles 00:19:42.779 --> 00:19:46.299 are most effective for transcending racial boundaries. 00:19:48.879 --> 00:19:51.579 And this possibly may be, at least potentially, 00:19:52.279 --> 00:19:54.019 one question we should be asking ourselves, 00:19:54.480 --> 00:19:56.019 of Sydney Anglian churches, 00:19:56.159 --> 00:20:00.500 why we struggle to build multicultural churches, 00:20:01.039 --> 00:20:02.859 even though we really want to. 00:20:02.859 --> 00:20:05.219 We really struggle with it. 00:20:08.159 --> 00:20:10.939 Now, one of the changes we made here at St. Paul's 00:20:10.939 --> 00:20:13.079 in our corporate worship 00:20:13.079 --> 00:20:17.579 is to move away from the homogenous unit principle, 00:20:18.099 --> 00:20:21.079 which divides us based on age and stage of life 00:20:21.079 --> 00:20:23.119 or ethnicity or tradition or whatever it is. 00:20:24.240 --> 00:20:26.519 We've started doing that since 2011. 00:20:27.019 --> 00:20:30.599 We did not advertise our services based on personal preference. 00:20:30.599 --> 00:20:33.619 Our services are advertised based on language only. 00:20:35.179 --> 00:20:37.539 It's the only church I know of the North Shore doing that. 00:20:38.259 --> 00:20:39.199 Language only. 00:20:39.539 --> 00:20:42.959 It's the only distinction that I can see in the Bible. 00:20:43.539 --> 00:20:46.879 The only thing that should cause difference between us. 00:20:47.819 --> 00:20:51.399 Now, that change has cost us dearly since 2011, 00:20:51.599 --> 00:20:52.759 as I expected it would, 00:20:53.099 --> 00:20:54.199 but I'm committed to it. 00:20:54.200 --> 00:20:57.059 And I'm really pleased as I look around, 00:20:57.160 --> 00:21:00.980 particularly at our English congregations today, 00:21:01.240 --> 00:21:05.460 and I see a much higher level of ethnic diversity 00:21:05.460 --> 00:21:07.120 than what we had four years ago. 00:21:09.759 --> 00:21:11.940 Because God's intention for this church 00:21:11.940 --> 00:21:13.779 is for his people to be multi-ethnic, 00:21:14.160 --> 00:21:17.059 multicultural, multilingual, multi-generational. 00:21:17.279 --> 00:21:19.360 The reason I say that is because that's exactly 00:21:19.360 --> 00:21:20.640 what Chatswood is, 00:21:20.720 --> 00:21:21.759 and that is our mission field. 00:21:21.759 --> 00:21:23.579 That's our place. 00:21:23.680 --> 00:21:24.200 That's our context. 00:21:24.319 --> 00:21:25.099 That's where we exist. 00:21:26.000 --> 00:21:28.400 And that's why we have a mission statement of our church 00:21:28.400 --> 00:21:31.700 that says that we exist to know Jesus, 00:21:31.859 --> 00:21:32.720 to treasure Jesus, 00:21:32.819 --> 00:21:34.500 to represent Jesus for God's glory 00:21:34.500 --> 00:21:36.980 and the joy of all people. 00:21:39.099 --> 00:21:41.900 And we have core values like treasuring Jesus together. 00:21:42.559 --> 00:21:44.079 It states that we're committed to things 00:21:44.079 --> 00:21:46.619 like welcoming people from every background. 00:21:47.200 --> 00:21:49.379 We are committed to openness towards new people 00:21:49.379 --> 00:21:50.640 and the avoidance of clickiness. 00:21:50.640 --> 00:21:53.600 We are open to purging our lives of sin 00:21:53.600 --> 00:21:54.720 that causes division 00:21:54.720 --> 00:21:57.980 and pursuing increasing visible, authentic, 00:21:58.140 --> 00:21:59.780 and practical ways of loving each other. 00:22:01.140 --> 00:22:03.280 My point is that we must treasure Jesus 00:22:03.280 --> 00:22:06.280 above every other association that we have in life. 00:22:07.320 --> 00:22:09.400 The gospel is what this world needs. 00:22:09.680 --> 00:22:12.020 The gospel achieves unity 00:22:12.020 --> 00:22:14.060 where unity is not possible. 00:22:14.540 --> 00:22:15.920 The gospel is the power of God 00:22:15.920 --> 00:22:18.020 that breaks down the dividing wall of hostility 00:22:18.019 --> 00:22:20.200 between Israelis and Palestinians 00:22:20.200 --> 00:22:21.619 and Russians and Poles 00:22:21.619 --> 00:22:24.059 and Jews and Nazis 00:22:24.059 --> 00:22:26.000 and white and blacks 00:22:26.000 --> 00:22:26.960 and male and female 00:22:26.960 --> 00:22:29.299 and the Asian and Cantonese and Mandarin. 00:22:31.799 --> 00:22:33.980 The gospel is a power that breaks down all those walls. 00:22:35.160 --> 00:22:39.139 It breaks through every wall that this world puts up. 00:22:39.140 --> 00:22:42.100 And so that means that in the gospel, 00:22:42.100 --> 00:22:47.100 the church has a resource like no other resource 00:22:47.620 --> 00:22:51.100 for spanning cultural and generational divides. 00:22:51.460 --> 00:22:54.140 No institution, including the United Nations, 00:22:54.600 --> 00:22:58.740 no organization, no entity or group on the planet 00:22:58.740 --> 00:23:03.420 has more power to turn cultural and generational tension 00:23:03.420 --> 00:23:05.920 into cultural and generational harmony. 00:23:05.920 --> 00:23:12.400 Jesus himself is building his church 00:23:12.400 --> 00:23:14.539 and Jesus himself, therefore, 00:23:14.759 --> 00:23:18.519 is the great meeting place for his people. 00:23:20.800 --> 00:23:24.279 And particularly people who would naturally be at odds with one another. 00:23:24.279 --> 00:23:29.160 The end of ethnic pride 00:23:29.160 --> 00:23:32.539 and the pursuit of racial harmony 00:23:32.539 --> 00:23:36.259 cost God the death of his son for us. 00:23:37.480 --> 00:23:38.700 It's a high price. 00:23:39.680 --> 00:23:41.539 It cost Martin Luther his health, 00:23:42.660 --> 00:23:44.359 Martin Luther King Jr., 00:23:44.359 --> 00:23:47.259 cost him his health and his life. 00:23:47.899 --> 00:23:49.539 And we've got to expect 00:23:49.539 --> 00:23:51.960 that for us to pursue this, 00:23:51.960 --> 00:23:54.319 it will cost us dearly as well. 00:23:55.920 --> 00:23:57.380 When our Redeemer 00:23:57.380 --> 00:23:59.500 and our great Reconciler 00:23:59.500 --> 00:24:00.620 and his gospel 00:24:00.620 --> 00:24:04.840 are what we hold as first importance, 00:24:05.880 --> 00:24:07.400 then we are empowered 00:24:07.400 --> 00:24:11.039 to listen to those who have different perspectives, 00:24:11.640 --> 00:24:14.900 to evaluate fairly and change as we need, 00:24:15.539 --> 00:24:18.579 and to be proactive in reaching across lines 00:24:18.579 --> 00:24:21.859 that traditionally cause divisions amongst us. 00:24:23.399 --> 00:24:28.859 The cross causes us to take Jesus-like initiative 00:24:28.859 --> 00:24:33.759 to foster relationships with people who are not in our group. 00:24:35.099 --> 00:24:37.199 And when Jesus is our greatest treasure, 00:24:37.279 --> 00:24:38.919 and we say that he is here at St. Paul's, 00:24:39.279 --> 00:24:41.439 we see that our lifelong preferences 00:24:41.439 --> 00:24:44.299 are not our ultimate hope. 00:24:44.299 --> 00:24:48.000 It means that we can actually become eager 00:24:48.000 --> 00:24:49.399 to have them changed 00:24:49.399 --> 00:24:52.859 if it means that there are less barriers 00:24:52.859 --> 00:24:55.619 to others embracing Jesus 00:24:55.619 --> 00:24:57.019 and living out the gospel. 00:24:58.220 --> 00:24:59.759 When Jesus is of first importance, 00:24:59.879 --> 00:25:02.220 we see that the power for real change 00:25:02.220 --> 00:25:04.200 and real church building 00:25:04.200 --> 00:25:05.960 is in fact Jesus. 00:25:06.480 --> 00:25:07.940 It's not in our tradition. 00:25:07.940 --> 00:25:10.620 It is in spirit-strengthened message 00:25:10.620 --> 00:25:11.700 of Christ crucified 00:25:11.700 --> 00:25:13.400 and risen for sinners. 00:25:15.980 --> 00:25:18.200 You see, when the cross is our salvation 00:25:18.200 --> 00:25:21.140 and our daily strength, 00:25:21.700 --> 00:25:24.680 we're eager to crucify our pride 00:25:24.680 --> 00:25:27.420 and our love for self 00:25:27.420 --> 00:25:29.660 and for our type 00:25:29.660 --> 00:25:31.500 and our comfort 00:25:31.500 --> 00:25:33.400 and our way 00:25:33.400 --> 00:25:36.100 and take the extra steps 00:25:36.100 --> 00:25:38.680 to reach across generations 00:25:38.680 --> 00:25:39.620 and cultures 00:25:39.620 --> 00:25:40.960 with kindness, 00:25:41.400 --> 00:25:42.259 with grace 00:25:42.259 --> 00:25:44.940 and always with a listening ear. 00:25:49.560 --> 00:25:51.180 I think that little bit 00:25:51.180 --> 00:25:53.759 is so important for us to grasp. 00:25:56.040 --> 00:25:58.560 You see, unlike Martin Luther King, 00:25:58.559 --> 00:26:02.099 I have been part of the dominant group 00:26:02.099 --> 00:26:03.740 all of my life. 00:26:06.700 --> 00:26:07.759 I'm, in fact, 00:26:07.839 --> 00:26:08.480 part of the group 00:26:08.480 --> 00:26:09.639 that's the oppressor, 00:26:09.859 --> 00:26:10.919 not the oppressed. 00:26:12.919 --> 00:26:14.619 I've never felt 00:26:14.619 --> 00:26:18.259 the sting of racial vilification, 00:26:19.159 --> 00:26:19.460 ever. 00:26:23.039 --> 00:26:24.700 And what that's meant for me 00:26:24.700 --> 00:26:25.740 is most of my life 00:26:25.740 --> 00:26:27.059 as I never felt it 00:26:27.059 --> 00:26:28.460 and I've never seen 00:26:28.460 --> 00:26:29.019 the need 00:26:29.019 --> 00:26:29.980 or the urgency 00:26:29.980 --> 00:26:32.059 of this issue of racism. 00:26:35.799 --> 00:26:36.919 I've always assumed 00:26:36.919 --> 00:26:38.899 that while I might be 00:26:38.899 --> 00:26:39.859 a little bit racist, 00:26:40.440 --> 00:26:41.839 it's only a little bit racist. 00:26:42.179 --> 00:26:43.700 I'm not a white supremacist after all. 00:26:43.779 --> 00:26:45.500 I don't have, you know, 00:26:46.440 --> 00:26:47.639 skinhead or anything. 00:26:47.799 --> 00:26:49.339 I'm not one of those guys. 00:26:51.779 --> 00:26:53.539 And so my racism 00:26:53.539 --> 00:26:55.019 is excusable. 00:26:57.059 --> 00:27:01.220 It's taken a while for me 00:27:01.220 --> 00:27:02.319 to listen 00:27:02.319 --> 00:27:05.579 and to try and understand 00:27:05.579 --> 00:27:06.480 what it would be 00:27:06.480 --> 00:27:08.059 to be oppressed. 00:27:11.659 --> 00:27:12.859 And to help me, 00:27:13.460 --> 00:27:14.819 I read a letter 00:27:14.819 --> 00:27:16.519 that Martin Luther King wrote. 00:27:18.099 --> 00:27:19.220 He wrote this letter 00:27:19.220 --> 00:27:20.519 to some white clergy 00:27:20.519 --> 00:27:21.980 that, 00:27:22.859 --> 00:27:24.039 and I think it might help us 00:27:24.039 --> 00:27:24.639 to see, 00:27:25.519 --> 00:27:26.759 to have the shoe 00:27:26.759 --> 00:27:27.579 on the other foot, 00:27:27.759 --> 00:27:28.899 what it feels like, 00:27:29.099 --> 00:27:29.680 the sting 00:27:29.680 --> 00:27:31.299 of racial vilification. 00:27:32.359 --> 00:27:34.440 In April 1963, 00:27:34.720 --> 00:27:35.480 King was arrested 00:27:35.480 --> 00:27:37.980 in Birmingham, Alabama 00:27:37.980 --> 00:27:40.139 for a non-violent protest 00:27:40.139 --> 00:27:41.200 against racism. 00:27:41.200 --> 00:27:43.340 And the local newspaper 00:27:43.340 --> 00:27:45.180 published a letter 00:27:45.180 --> 00:27:45.600 from, 00:27:45.860 --> 00:27:47.200 excuse me, 00:27:48.019 --> 00:27:48.480 a letter 00:27:48.480 --> 00:27:49.740 from eight 00:27:49.740 --> 00:27:50.840 white 00:27:50.840 --> 00:27:53.039 Christian and Jewish 00:27:53.039 --> 00:27:53.660 clergymen 00:27:53.660 --> 00:27:54.519 of Alabama 00:27:54.519 --> 00:27:56.340 criticizing King 00:27:56.340 --> 00:27:57.460 for his demonstration. 00:27:58.519 --> 00:27:59.400 And the white 00:27:59.400 --> 00:27:59.960 clergyman 00:27:59.960 --> 00:28:01.019 had all said 00:28:01.019 --> 00:28:02.019 he should be 00:28:02.019 --> 00:28:02.680 more patient, 00:28:03.039 --> 00:28:03.960 he should wait, 00:28:04.200 --> 00:28:05.279 he shouldn't demonstrate. 00:28:06.019 --> 00:28:07.140 And in response, 00:28:07.380 --> 00:28:07.759 King 00:28:07.759 --> 00:28:08.740 wrote 00:28:08.740 --> 00:28:10.400 what has become 00:28:10.400 --> 00:28:11.160 known as 00:28:11.160 --> 00:28:11.579 the letter 00:28:11.579 --> 00:28:12.120 from Birmingham 00:28:12.120 --> 00:28:12.579 Jail. 00:28:13.839 --> 00:28:14.720 And he wrote 00:28:14.720 --> 00:28:15.140 this. 00:28:18.180 --> 00:28:19.480 Perhaps it is easy 00:28:19.480 --> 00:28:20.120 for those 00:28:20.120 --> 00:28:20.880 who have never felt 00:28:20.880 --> 00:28:21.880 the stinging darts 00:28:21.880 --> 00:28:22.559 of segregation 00:28:22.559 --> 00:28:23.420 to say, 00:28:23.940 --> 00:28:24.200 wait. 00:28:26.120 --> 00:28:27.059 But when you have 00:28:27.059 --> 00:28:28.039 seen vicious mobs 00:28:28.039 --> 00:28:28.839 lynch your mothers 00:28:28.839 --> 00:28:30.039 and fathers at will 00:28:30.039 --> 00:28:31.200 and drown your sisters 00:28:31.200 --> 00:28:32.259 and brothers at whim, 00:28:33.460 --> 00:28:34.240 and when you've seen 00:28:34.240 --> 00:28:35.460 hate-filled policemen 00:28:35.460 --> 00:28:36.059 curse, 00:28:36.759 --> 00:28:37.019 kick, 00:28:37.599 --> 00:28:38.420 and even kill 00:28:38.420 --> 00:28:39.779 your black 00:28:39.779 --> 00:28:40.920 brothers and sisters, 00:28:41.720 --> 00:28:42.660 and when you see 00:28:42.660 --> 00:28:43.759 the vast majority 00:28:43.759 --> 00:28:45.500 of your 20 million 00:28:45.500 --> 00:28:46.660 Negro brothers 00:28:46.660 --> 00:28:48.140 smothering 00:28:48.140 --> 00:28:49.440 in an airtight 00:28:49.440 --> 00:28:50.519 cage of poverty 00:28:50.519 --> 00:28:51.700 in the midst 00:28:51.700 --> 00:28:52.580 of an affluent 00:28:52.580 --> 00:28:53.279 society, 00:28:54.340 --> 00:28:54.960 and when you 00:28:54.960 --> 00:28:55.759 suddenly find 00:28:55.759 --> 00:28:56.279 your tongue 00:28:56.279 --> 00:28:56.880 twisted 00:28:56.880 --> 00:28:58.800 and your speech 00:28:58.800 --> 00:28:59.720 stammering, 00:29:00.220 --> 00:29:00.860 as you seek 00:29:00.860 --> 00:29:01.500 to explain 00:29:01.500 --> 00:29:02.480 to your six-year-old 00:29:02.480 --> 00:29:02.840 daughter 00:29:02.840 --> 00:29:04.240 why she can't 00:29:04.240 --> 00:29:04.820 go to that 00:29:04.820 --> 00:29:05.680 public amusement 00:29:05.680 --> 00:29:06.880 park which has 00:29:06.880 --> 00:29:07.800 just been advertised 00:29:07.799 --> 00:29:08.859 on television, 00:29:09.700 --> 00:29:10.740 and see tears 00:29:10.740 --> 00:29:11.559 welling up in her 00:29:11.559 --> 00:29:12.259 eyes when she 00:29:12.259 --> 00:29:12.759 told that 00:29:12.759 --> 00:29:13.460 Funtown 00:29:13.460 --> 00:29:14.659 is closed 00:29:14.659 --> 00:29:15.220 to coloured 00:29:15.220 --> 00:29:15.740 children, 00:29:16.740 --> 00:29:18.220 and see ominous 00:29:18.220 --> 00:29:19.019 clouds of 00:29:19.019 --> 00:29:20.279 inferiority 00:29:20.279 --> 00:29:21.859 beginning to 00:29:21.859 --> 00:29:22.680 form in her 00:29:22.680 --> 00:29:23.299 little mental 00:29:23.299 --> 00:29:24.000 sky, 00:29:24.779 --> 00:29:25.759 and see her 00:29:25.759 --> 00:29:26.619 beginning to 00:29:26.619 --> 00:29:27.500 distort her 00:29:27.500 --> 00:29:28.180 personality 00:29:28.180 --> 00:29:29.519 by developing 00:29:29.519 --> 00:29:30.460 an unconscious 00:29:30.460 --> 00:29:31.200 bitterness 00:29:31.200 --> 00:29:32.139 towards white 00:29:32.139 --> 00:29:32.599 people, 00:29:32.599 --> 00:29:32.659 people, 00:29:33.539 --> 00:29:34.159 and when you 00:29:34.159 --> 00:29:34.480 have to 00:29:34.480 --> 00:29:35.099 concoct an 00:29:35.099 --> 00:29:35.679 answer for 00:29:35.679 --> 00:29:37.019 your five-year-old 00:29:37.019 --> 00:29:37.859 son who is 00:29:37.859 --> 00:29:38.480 asking, 00:29:39.299 --> 00:29:39.480 Daddy, 00:29:39.679 --> 00:29:40.539 why do white 00:29:40.539 --> 00:29:41.519 people always 00:29:41.519 --> 00:29:42.240 treat coloured 00:29:42.240 --> 00:29:42.879 people so 00:29:42.879 --> 00:29:43.339 mean? 00:29:44.919 --> 00:29:45.579 And when you 00:29:45.579 --> 00:29:46.519 take a cross-country 00:29:46.519 --> 00:29:47.579 drive and find it 00:29:47.579 --> 00:29:48.599 necessary to sleep 00:29:48.599 --> 00:29:49.839 night after night 00:29:49.839 --> 00:29:50.559 in the uncomfortable 00:29:50.559 --> 00:29:51.819 corners of your 00:29:51.819 --> 00:29:52.799 automobile because 00:29:52.799 --> 00:29:54.459 no motel will 00:29:54.459 --> 00:29:55.179 accept you, 00:29:56.179 --> 00:29:56.799 and when you are 00:29:56.799 --> 00:29:58.079 humiliated day in 00:29:58.079 --> 00:29:58.919 and day out by 00:29:58.919 --> 00:30:00.079 nagging signs which 00:30:00.079 --> 00:30:01.699 read white and 00:30:01.700 --> 00:30:02.059 coloured, 00:30:03.360 --> 00:30:03.860 and when your 00:30:03.860 --> 00:30:04.960 first name becomes 00:30:04.960 --> 00:30:05.319 nigger, 00:30:06.080 --> 00:30:07.080 your middle name 00:30:07.080 --> 00:30:08.080 becomes boy no 00:30:08.080 --> 00:30:08.640 matter how old 00:30:08.640 --> 00:30:09.100 you are, 00:30:09.640 --> 00:30:10.340 and your last 00:30:10.340 --> 00:30:11.000 name becomes 00:30:11.000 --> 00:30:11.500 John, 00:30:11.660 --> 00:30:12.480 and your wife 00:30:12.480 --> 00:30:13.640 and mother are 00:30:13.640 --> 00:30:14.580 never given the 00:30:14.580 --> 00:30:15.580 respected titles 00:30:15.580 --> 00:30:16.240 of missus, 00:30:17.039 --> 00:30:17.680 and when you are 00:30:17.680 --> 00:30:18.539 harried all day 00:30:18.539 --> 00:30:19.240 and haunted by 00:30:19.240 --> 00:30:20.340 night by the 00:30:20.340 --> 00:30:20.880 fact that you're 00:30:20.880 --> 00:30:21.360 a negro, 00:30:21.980 --> 00:30:23.080 living constantly 00:30:23.080 --> 00:30:24.319 at tiptoe stance, 00:30:24.440 --> 00:30:25.420 never quite knowing 00:30:25.420 --> 00:30:26.519 what to expect 00:30:26.519 --> 00:30:26.900 next, 00:30:26.980 --> 00:30:27.640 and are plagued 00:30:27.640 --> 00:30:28.960 with inner fears 00:30:28.960 --> 00:30:29.460 and outer 00:30:29.460 --> 00:30:30.120 resentments, 00:30:30.299 --> 00:30:30.960 and when you are 00:30:30.960 --> 00:30:32.039 forever fighting a 00:30:32.039 --> 00:30:33.220 degenerating sense 00:30:33.220 --> 00:30:34.240 of nobodiness, 00:30:35.140 --> 00:30:35.759 then you will 00:30:35.759 --> 00:30:36.660 understand why we 00:30:36.660 --> 00:30:37.440 find it difficult 00:30:37.440 --> 00:30:38.140 to wait. 00:30:39.000 --> 00:30:39.680 There comes a 00:30:39.680 --> 00:30:41.079 time when the 00:30:41.079 --> 00:30:41.940 cup of endurance 00:30:41.940 --> 00:30:42.880 runs over, 00:30:43.720 --> 00:30:44.720 and men are no 00:30:44.720 --> 00:30:45.759 longer willing to 00:30:45.759 --> 00:30:48.340 be plunged into 00:30:48.340 --> 00:30:49.680 the abyss of 00:30:49.680 --> 00:30:50.299 despair. 00:30:51.220 --> 00:30:51.720 I hope, 00:30:52.000 --> 00:30:52.279 sirs, 00:30:52.480 --> 00:30:53.680 that you can 00:30:53.680 --> 00:30:54.720 understand our 00:30:54.720 --> 00:30:55.940 legitimate and 00:30:55.940 --> 00:30:56.779 unavoidable 00:30:56.779 --> 00:30:57.940 impatience. 00:30:57.940 --> 00:31:01.620 if you're 00:31:01.620 --> 00:31:02.039 white, 00:31:02.940 --> 00:31:03.480 let that 00:31:03.480 --> 00:31:03.960 sit. 00:31:07.900 --> 00:31:08.700 Just let it 00:31:08.700 --> 00:31:08.920 sit. 00:31:16.580 --> 00:31:17.580 The first time I 00:31:17.580 --> 00:31:18.140 read that, 00:31:18.539 --> 00:31:19.460 I just burst 00:31:19.460 --> 00:31:20.180 into tears, 00:31:20.620 --> 00:31:21.340 and I 00:31:21.340 --> 00:31:22.120 realized 00:31:22.120 --> 00:31:23.620 that 00:31:23.620 --> 00:31:25.320 my racism 00:31:25.320 --> 00:31:26.279 mattered. 00:31:26.279 --> 00:31:30.339 it mattered 00:31:30.339 --> 00:31:30.859 deeply. 00:31:36.180 --> 00:31:36.700 Now, 00:31:36.799 --> 00:31:37.500 as far as I 00:31:37.500 --> 00:31:38.019 can tell, 00:31:39.359 --> 00:31:40.359 we don't have 00:31:40.359 --> 00:31:41.200 that level of 00:31:41.200 --> 00:31:42.019 blatant 00:31:42.019 --> 00:31:43.119 segregation here 00:31:43.119 --> 00:31:43.460 at St. 00:31:43.519 --> 00:31:44.119 Paul's. 00:31:48.319 --> 00:31:49.119 What I've 00:31:49.119 --> 00:31:49.619 become more 00:31:49.619 --> 00:31:50.740 aware of is 00:31:50.740 --> 00:31:51.399 the implicit 00:31:51.399 --> 00:31:52.759 racial biases 00:31:52.759 --> 00:31:53.480 that we 00:31:53.480 --> 00:31:53.940 have. 00:31:53.940 --> 00:31:56.480 these are 00:31:56.480 --> 00:31:57.220 the stereotypes 00:31:57.220 --> 00:31:58.180 and attitudes 00:31:58.180 --> 00:31:59.039 that affect 00:31:59.039 --> 00:31:59.500 how we 00:31:59.500 --> 00:32:00.559 unconsciously 00:32:00.559 --> 00:32:02.080 think about 00:32:02.080 --> 00:32:02.600 and act 00:32:02.600 --> 00:32:03.180 towards someone 00:32:03.180 --> 00:32:03.539 who is 00:32:03.539 --> 00:32:04.059 different from 00:32:04.059 --> 00:32:04.440 us. 00:32:05.840 --> 00:32:06.559 These will 00:32:06.559 --> 00:32:07.180 lead us to 00:32:07.180 --> 00:32:07.779 treat someone 00:32:07.779 --> 00:32:08.340 differently 00:32:08.340 --> 00:32:09.400 without us 00:32:09.400 --> 00:32:10.559 even realizing 00:32:10.559 --> 00:32:11.100 that that's 00:32:11.100 --> 00:32:11.519 what we're 00:32:11.519 --> 00:32:11.860 doing. 00:32:13.200 --> 00:32:13.460 And so 00:32:13.460 --> 00:32:13.940 while very 00:32:13.940 --> 00:32:14.660 few of us 00:32:14.660 --> 00:32:15.279 would say 00:32:15.279 --> 00:32:15.660 that we 00:32:15.660 --> 00:32:16.519 are racist, 00:32:18.720 --> 00:32:19.400 discriminatory 00:32:19.400 --> 00:32:20.480 behavior persists 00:32:20.480 --> 00:32:22.580 almost everywhere. 00:32:23.940 --> 00:32:26.480 more often 00:32:26.480 --> 00:32:26.799 than not, 00:32:26.840 --> 00:32:27.259 I can't 00:32:27.259 --> 00:32:27.660 see it in 00:32:27.660 --> 00:32:28.100 myself. 00:32:29.160 --> 00:32:29.880 I need 00:32:29.880 --> 00:32:30.480 others to 00:32:30.480 --> 00:32:30.860 help me 00:32:30.860 --> 00:32:31.360 see it. 00:32:33.860 --> 00:32:34.500 And when 00:32:34.500 --> 00:32:35.140 the cross 00:32:35.140 --> 00:32:36.620 is our 00:32:36.620 --> 00:32:37.620 daily salvation 00:32:37.620 --> 00:32:38.160 and our 00:32:38.160 --> 00:32:39.000 daily strength, 00:32:39.539 --> 00:32:40.720 we are 00:32:40.720 --> 00:32:41.320 eager to 00:32:41.320 --> 00:32:42.320 crucify our 00:32:42.320 --> 00:32:43.820 pride and 00:32:43.820 --> 00:32:44.460 our love for 00:32:44.460 --> 00:32:45.080 self and 00:32:45.080 --> 00:32:45.519 our own 00:32:45.519 --> 00:32:46.160 type and 00:32:46.160 --> 00:32:46.519 our own 00:32:46.519 --> 00:32:47.120 comfort and 00:32:47.120 --> 00:32:47.460 our own 00:32:47.460 --> 00:32:48.700 way and 00:32:48.700 --> 00:32:49.220 take those 00:32:49.220 --> 00:32:50.320 extra steps 00:32:50.319 --> 00:32:51.519 to reach 00:32:51.519 --> 00:32:52.439 across 00:32:52.439 --> 00:32:53.720 generations 00:32:53.720 --> 00:32:54.480 and cultures 00:32:54.480 --> 00:32:55.179 with kindness 00:32:55.179 --> 00:32:55.939 and grace 00:32:55.939 --> 00:32:57.019 and with a 00:32:57.019 --> 00:32:57.779 listening ear, 00:32:58.480 --> 00:32:59.460 I need to 00:32:59.460 --> 00:33:00.079 hear from 00:33:00.079 --> 00:33:01.200 you how 00:33:01.200 --> 00:33:02.659 it feels. 00:33:05.839 --> 00:33:06.839 Because I 00:33:06.839 --> 00:33:07.359 don't feel 00:33:07.359 --> 00:33:07.559 it. 00:33:12.039 --> 00:33:12.759 Martin 00:33:12.759 --> 00:33:13.460 Luther King's 00:33:13.460 --> 00:33:14.059 dream was a 00:33:14.059 --> 00:33:14.679 beautiful one, 00:33:15.439 --> 00:33:16.779 but it was a 00:33:16.779 --> 00:33:17.679 partial one. 00:33:17.680 --> 00:33:19.740 God has 00:33:19.740 --> 00:33:20.220 the ultimate 00:33:20.220 --> 00:33:20.900 dream and 00:33:20.900 --> 00:33:21.259 the ultimate 00:33:21.259 --> 00:33:21.799 purpose for 00:33:21.799 --> 00:33:22.420 all nations 00:33:22.420 --> 00:33:22.820 and all 00:33:22.820 --> 00:33:23.420 languages and 00:33:23.420 --> 00:33:23.840 races, 00:33:24.360 --> 00:33:25.039 that is to 00:33:25.039 --> 00:33:27.019 unite together 00:33:27.019 --> 00:33:28.180 to display the 00:33:28.180 --> 00:33:28.880 majesty of 00:33:28.880 --> 00:33:29.279 Christ. 00:33:30.320 --> 00:33:31.000 And that's 00:33:31.000 --> 00:33:31.539 our passion. 00:33:32.380 --> 00:33:33.019 And I would 00:33:33.019 --> 00:33:33.940 call you to 00:33:33.940 --> 00:33:34.640 dream your 00:33:34.640 --> 00:33:35.980 own personal 00:33:35.980 --> 00:33:36.460 dream, 00:33:37.100 --> 00:33:37.900 your corporate 00:33:37.900 --> 00:33:38.820 dream for this 00:33:38.820 --> 00:33:39.660 church and a 00:33:39.660 --> 00:33:40.940 city-wide dream 00:33:40.940 --> 00:33:41.880 and finally, 00:33:42.039 --> 00:33:42.360 ultimately, 00:33:42.500 --> 00:33:42.980 a kingdom 00:33:42.980 --> 00:33:43.519 dream, 00:33:43.900 --> 00:33:44.700 and to pray 00:33:44.700 --> 00:33:45.560 and to act 00:33:45.560 --> 00:33:46.259 by God's 00:33:46.259 --> 00:33:47.060 grace to make 00:33:47.059 --> 00:33:47.859 it a reality. 00:33:49.460 --> 00:33:50.099 The cross 00:33:50.099 --> 00:33:51.000 of Christ 00:33:51.000 --> 00:33:52.759 creates a 00:33:52.759 --> 00:33:56.460 cross-cultural 00:33:56.460 --> 00:33:59.359 and cross-generational 00:33:59.359 --> 00:33:59.919 community. 00:34:01.559 --> 00:34:01.960 And at 00:34:01.960 --> 00:34:02.759 St. Paul's, 00:34:03.220 --> 00:34:04.079 we call that 00:34:04.079 --> 00:34:04.839 treasuring Jesus 00:34:04.839 --> 00:34:05.299 together. 00:34:06.579 --> 00:34:06.859 Amen.