WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.520 Father, we're going to look at a part of your word that most Christians don't read or think about. 00:00:06.339 --> 00:00:11.980 And so we ask very much for your help, that the Holy Spirit would help us to understand 00:00:11.980 --> 00:00:17.199 why such an odd passage of scripture is in the Bible, why you would put it there. 00:00:17.440 --> 00:00:21.039 And Father, we ask that you would bring your word close to our heart. 00:00:21.219 --> 00:00:26.039 Make us disciples of Jesus who are gripped by the gospel, learning to live for your glory. 00:00:26.240 --> 00:00:28.600 And we ask this in Jesus' name. Amen. 00:00:28.600 --> 00:00:34.700 Amen. You know, friends, it's a very interesting time, obviously, unprecedented. 00:00:35.219 --> 00:00:36.880 These are all like cliches. 00:00:38.100 --> 00:00:42.859 You know, one of the things that it's really, it'd be really interesting as we get to talk about this, 00:00:42.939 --> 00:00:44.359 maybe when the pandemic's all over. 00:00:44.880 --> 00:00:50.299 But as many of you know, there's sort of like a, there was almost a pandemic of loneliness 00:00:50.299 --> 00:00:58.540 in much of Canadian society, even before this pandemic has, at least the way it's being dealt with right now, 00:00:58.600 --> 00:01:00.020 calling for social isolation. 00:01:00.020 --> 00:01:06.120 And I, you know, I think about it a little bit for people who already struggle with loneliness and isolation, 00:01:06.820 --> 00:01:12.640 people who already are struggling with broken relationships and maybe being estranged from their family 00:01:12.640 --> 00:01:15.079 or having no family at all. 00:01:15.640 --> 00:01:23.280 To add on top of all of that, this call for social isolation, it must be very hard for many people, 00:01:23.359 --> 00:01:29.060 including many of you who are listening to this, just on top of the normal stress that comes from this. 00:01:29.060 --> 00:01:33.840 And on top of that, you know, many of us in Canada struggle with trust. 00:01:34.659 --> 00:01:41.579 You know, we've been hurt in relationships with our parents or with bosses or institutions that were supposed to help us 00:01:41.579 --> 00:01:45.480 or that we believed in at one point in time and they've let us down. 00:01:45.740 --> 00:01:51.700 And so here we have a situation where a pandemic comes into us as a culture, 00:01:51.780 --> 00:01:55.719 into people like you and me who already maybe struggle with isolation, 00:01:55.719 --> 00:02:00.560 already maybe struggle with loneliness, already maybe struggle with being alienated from others 00:02:00.560 --> 00:02:05.519 and already struggle in some cases with trust, trust of other people, trust of institutions. 00:02:07.120 --> 00:02:10.039 We're going to look at it really, as you might have heard in the prayer, 00:02:10.159 --> 00:02:12.340 we're looking at a very odd biblical text today. 00:02:13.039 --> 00:02:17.680 For those of you who aren't familiar with the Bible or maybe you're very young Christians 00:02:17.680 --> 00:02:20.400 or maybe you're just curious about what Christians would say, 00:02:20.400 --> 00:02:25.000 so you're listening in on this, sort of as almost like doing anthropological research 00:02:25.000 --> 00:02:27.580 on some strange and exotic tribe. 00:02:29.099 --> 00:02:33.780 This is a text that we're going to be looking at that Christians rarely read 00:02:33.780 --> 00:02:37.860 and they rarely, you rarely have sermons on this. 00:02:37.939 --> 00:02:40.580 The text we're looking at this week and the text we're looking at next week. 00:02:41.680 --> 00:02:46.520 We're looking at it not because we are odd, although maybe many of us are, 00:02:46.520 --> 00:02:51.180 but one of the things that we do at Church of the Messiah is we preach through books of the Bible. 00:02:51.800 --> 00:02:56.300 The Bible, Judges, was written as a book and we study it as a book. 00:02:56.400 --> 00:02:58.219 We begin at the beginning and go right through to the end. 00:02:59.020 --> 00:03:01.620 And one of the good things about that is it forces us to look at things 00:03:01.620 --> 00:03:04.420 that maybe we wouldn't otherwise look at and address topics 00:03:04.420 --> 00:03:06.719 that maybe I wouldn't have the courage to address. 00:03:07.700 --> 00:03:09.680 But that's why we're going to be looking at it. 00:03:09.680 --> 00:03:10.939 So it's an odd story. 00:03:10.939 --> 00:03:16.939 And one of the things which is especially odd about it is that... 00:03:17.939 --> 00:03:20.919 Well, here, I'll back up a little bit. 00:03:21.960 --> 00:03:25.319 The book of Judges, we're going to be looking at chapter 17 and 18. 00:03:25.960 --> 00:03:29.500 And it takes place, it's written about this time period 00:03:29.500 --> 00:03:32.919 after Moses has taken the people of Israel out of Egypt. 00:03:33.599 --> 00:03:37.240 And because of their sin, they wander in the wilderness. 00:03:37.240 --> 00:03:41.360 And now they've come to the edge of the promised land and Moses dies. 00:03:41.540 --> 00:03:44.520 And Joshua is the one who gets them into the promised land. 00:03:45.040 --> 00:03:47.040 And then Joshua dies. 00:03:47.740 --> 00:03:50.400 And the book of Judges takes place... 00:03:50.400 --> 00:03:53.260 It looks at what happens between the death of Joshua 00:03:53.260 --> 00:03:56.060 and the Israelites entering the promised land. 00:03:56.060 --> 00:03:57.060 And when you have... 00:03:57.740 --> 00:04:01.960 Many of you would have heard of the first kings of Israel, Saul, but especially David. 00:04:01.960 --> 00:04:06.659 And this time period, really, between the rise of Saul and then David, 00:04:06.760 --> 00:04:11.000 the very first kings in Israel, and coming into the promised land, 00:04:11.080 --> 00:04:14.180 that's what's being described here in the book of Judges. 00:04:15.040 --> 00:04:21.400 And one of the problems about this text is that for Christians, 00:04:22.579 --> 00:04:25.000 like there's nothing good that happens in this story. 00:04:25.000 --> 00:04:31.439 Everything in this story is bad from a Christian point of view. 00:04:32.360 --> 00:04:34.839 And to look at this text, there's an extra complication 00:04:34.839 --> 00:04:39.660 because what the Bible is describing as bad 00:04:39.660 --> 00:04:42.819 is what Canadians think of as good. 00:04:43.759 --> 00:04:46.399 So that causes a problem as well for us. 00:04:46.740 --> 00:04:49.220 And so I'm going to talk about all of those things, 00:04:49.300 --> 00:04:51.300 see how we navigate. 00:04:51.959 --> 00:04:53.240 But having said all of that, 00:04:53.240 --> 00:04:55.319 remember I said I began by talking about relationships. 00:04:56.019 --> 00:04:57.280 And once we sort of get through 00:04:57.280 --> 00:05:01.240 why it is that Christians, the Bible describes these things as bad 00:05:01.240 --> 00:05:03.620 that Canadian society describes as good, 00:05:03.639 --> 00:05:05.379 it actually opens a door to talk about 00:05:05.379 --> 00:05:08.019 the importance of personal relationships 00:05:08.019 --> 00:05:10.040 and social isolation and trust. 00:05:10.319 --> 00:05:12.900 And actually the story is a very, very profound 00:05:12.900 --> 00:05:16.340 and wise insight into things like this. 00:05:16.699 --> 00:05:17.560 So let's begin. 00:05:17.780 --> 00:05:19.519 It's Judges chapter 17. 00:05:20.460 --> 00:05:22.680 And we're not going to be able to read all of it. 00:05:22.680 --> 00:05:24.120 Some of it, I'll just tell you the story. 00:05:24.220 --> 00:05:24.920 Some of it we'll read, 00:05:24.980 --> 00:05:28.240 but we'll begin at Judges chapter 17, verse 1. 00:05:28.879 --> 00:05:31.579 There was a man of the hill country of Ephraim, 00:05:31.699 --> 00:05:32.900 whose name was Micah. 00:05:33.720 --> 00:05:35.040 And he said to his mother, 00:05:35.759 --> 00:05:38.639 the 1100 pieces of silver that were taken from you, 00:05:38.860 --> 00:05:40.379 about which you uttered a curse, 00:05:40.960 --> 00:05:44.079 and also spoke it in my ears. 00:05:44.139 --> 00:05:47.399 In other words, he personally heard his mom utter a curse 00:05:47.399 --> 00:05:51.339 on whoever stole her 1100 pieces of silver. 00:05:54.299 --> 00:05:57.099 Behold, the silver is with me, 00:05:57.620 --> 00:05:58.620 her son says. 00:05:58.819 --> 00:05:59.500 I took it. 00:06:00.299 --> 00:06:01.259 And his mother said, 00:06:01.620 --> 00:06:03.659 blessed be my son by the Lord, 00:06:03.739 --> 00:06:05.000 which is a very odd response. 00:06:05.060 --> 00:06:06.060 So just sort of pause there 00:06:06.060 --> 00:06:07.339 before we read the next little bit. 00:06:07.859 --> 00:06:10.599 So if you're a bit unfamiliar with the Bible, 00:06:11.219 --> 00:06:13.139 Jewish people, if you have Jewish friends, 00:06:13.139 --> 00:06:15.279 they're not part of a tribe. 00:06:16.339 --> 00:06:19.039 But originally, the Jewish people 00:06:19.039 --> 00:06:20.379 all would have been able to say 00:06:20.379 --> 00:06:22.719 which one of 12 tribes they were part of. 00:06:23.240 --> 00:06:25.500 So Ephraim is one of those tribes. 00:06:25.620 --> 00:06:27.620 So we're talking about a Jewish person here. 00:06:28.319 --> 00:06:30.879 And what Micah does is he steals 00:06:30.879 --> 00:06:33.219 1100 pieces of silver from his mom. 00:06:34.079 --> 00:06:36.039 I don't know what that would be like in today's dollars. 00:06:36.120 --> 00:06:37.699 That might be like stealing $20 million. 00:06:38.180 --> 00:06:40.519 That's like a lot of money, $10 million. 00:06:40.959 --> 00:06:42.139 It's a pile of money. 00:06:43.139 --> 00:06:44.839 So Micah's rich. 00:06:45.060 --> 00:06:46.120 His mom is rich. 00:06:46.339 --> 00:06:47.539 He rips off his mom. 00:06:48.199 --> 00:06:50.659 And I don't know what you think about curses. 00:06:50.800 --> 00:06:52.159 And I'm not going to get into a little bit of a, 00:06:52.199 --> 00:06:54.659 I'm not going to get into a discussion about curses. 00:06:55.099 --> 00:06:56.899 But Micah believes in curses. 00:06:57.199 --> 00:06:59.599 And what motivates him to give the money back 00:06:59.599 --> 00:07:01.599 is that his mom has pronounced a curse 00:07:01.599 --> 00:07:03.399 on whoever stole the money. 00:07:04.079 --> 00:07:05.919 And Micah believes in curses. 00:07:06.139 --> 00:07:07.360 He gets very, very worried. 00:07:07.659 --> 00:07:10.079 And so this is what, how the story opens. 00:07:10.079 --> 00:07:14.519 He says to his mom that he's, he's stolen the mom. 00:07:14.859 --> 00:07:17.579 And that little bit about the Lord bless, et cetera, et cetera. 00:07:17.579 --> 00:07:23.279 It's the mom revoking the curse and asking for a blessing 00:07:23.279 --> 00:07:24.599 because it's her son. 00:07:24.600 --> 00:07:26.340 And I guess she has the money back. 00:07:26.980 --> 00:07:28.500 So what happens next? 00:07:29.360 --> 00:07:31.240 Well, here's where things get interesting. 00:07:31.840 --> 00:07:32.400 Verse three. 00:07:33.160 --> 00:07:34.920 And he restored, that's Micah, 00:07:35.020 --> 00:07:37.600 restored the 1100 pieces of silver to his mother. 00:07:37.660 --> 00:07:38.439 And his mother said, 00:07:38.439 --> 00:07:42.139 I dedicate the silver to the Lord from my hand for my son 00:07:42.139 --> 00:07:44.719 to make a carved image and a metal image. 00:07:45.219 --> 00:07:47.800 Now, therefore, I will restore it to you. 00:07:48.600 --> 00:07:50.699 So when he restored the money to his mother, 00:07:51.240 --> 00:07:54.579 his mother took 200 pieces of silver 00:07:54.579 --> 00:07:56.019 and gave it to the silversmith 00:07:56.019 --> 00:07:59.139 who made it into a carved image and a metal image. 00:07:59.819 --> 00:08:01.939 And it was in the house of Micah. 00:08:01.939 --> 00:08:04.540 And the man Micah had a shrine 00:08:04.540 --> 00:08:07.920 and he made an ephod and household gods 00:08:07.920 --> 00:08:11.779 and ordained one of his sons who became his priest. 00:08:12.120 --> 00:08:13.600 Now we'll just sort of pause there. 00:08:15.180 --> 00:08:18.360 So what's going on right here? 00:08:20.040 --> 00:08:21.420 I'll be right up front about it. 00:08:21.439 --> 00:08:22.579 So what he's actually, 00:08:22.680 --> 00:08:24.839 what the mom has done is the mom has said, 00:08:24.920 --> 00:08:27.920 I want you to make some gods, idols, gods. 00:08:27.920 --> 00:08:31.939 In a sense, they wouldn't have thought of them as idols. 00:08:32.080 --> 00:08:33.500 They would have thought of them as gods. 00:08:34.279 --> 00:08:36.120 And we think of them as idols, 00:08:36.259 --> 00:08:37.700 but they would have thought of them as gods. 00:08:38.480 --> 00:08:41.340 And even though she says that she worships the Lord, 00:08:41.440 --> 00:08:44.820 the God of Israel, the God of Christians as well, 00:08:45.340 --> 00:08:46.300 the fact of the matter is, 00:08:46.320 --> 00:08:49.960 is that she might worship some version of that God, 00:08:50.060 --> 00:08:51.740 but she has gods of her own, 00:08:51.879 --> 00:08:53.680 which she finds far more meaningful. 00:08:54.500 --> 00:08:56.180 And these gods of her own 00:08:56.179 --> 00:08:57.939 that she finds far more meaningful 00:08:57.939 --> 00:08:59.879 because she's a very spiritual person. 00:09:00.079 --> 00:09:03.299 She wants to have them represented 00:09:03.299 --> 00:09:05.339 and present, so to speak, in her life 00:09:05.339 --> 00:09:07.259 in such a way that she can give herself 00:09:07.259 --> 00:09:12.120 and get meaning in these gods of her own choosing. 00:09:12.399 --> 00:09:13.120 Like in a sense, 00:09:13.239 --> 00:09:16.000 you could say it's a curated spirituality. 00:09:16.239 --> 00:09:18.039 It's a bespoke spirituality. 00:09:18.659 --> 00:09:21.399 So here we begin to see actually part of the problem. 00:09:22.079 --> 00:09:23.620 If you think about it for a second, 00:09:23.799 --> 00:09:25.120 and for some of you listening, 00:09:25.120 --> 00:09:26.899 you can see a little bit of a problem here. 00:09:26.940 --> 00:09:28.659 In Canada, there's sort of two groups. 00:09:29.860 --> 00:09:32.600 In Canada, there's one group that sort of says, 00:09:32.740 --> 00:09:36.060 in fact, likes having a type of bespoke spirituality, 00:09:36.200 --> 00:09:37.740 a type of curated spirituality, 00:09:37.740 --> 00:09:40.500 where you take bits and pieces of things 00:09:40.500 --> 00:09:41.360 which are meaningful, 00:09:41.480 --> 00:09:43.460 and maybe it's something from Miles Davis, 00:09:43.620 --> 00:09:44.659 something from Hinduism, 00:09:44.779 --> 00:09:45.659 something from Buddhism, 00:09:45.879 --> 00:09:46.919 something from Judaism, 00:09:47.399 --> 00:09:48.480 something from the Kabbalah, 00:09:48.960 --> 00:09:50.740 and you curate it, 00:09:50.759 --> 00:09:51.919 you put it together in such a way 00:09:51.919 --> 00:09:53.479 that is very, very meaningful to you, 00:09:53.519 --> 00:09:55.659 and you would say that you're a very spiritual person. 00:09:55.839 --> 00:09:57.620 And in Canada, there's many, many people 00:09:57.620 --> 00:09:59.899 who would understand themselves in this particular way. 00:10:00.519 --> 00:10:01.939 And then, of course, in Canada, 00:10:01.939 --> 00:10:03.339 there's a large number of people 00:10:03.339 --> 00:10:04.899 who think that that's just bunk, 00:10:05.339 --> 00:10:06.379 that it's just ridiculous, 00:10:07.199 --> 00:10:09.279 that you shouldn't bother with such things. 00:10:09.339 --> 00:10:11.240 And by and large, in Canada, 00:10:11.379 --> 00:10:13.339 both groups more or less get along. 00:10:13.340 --> 00:10:16.440 They just let each other live their own life. 00:10:17.540 --> 00:10:20.100 And so here's part of the problem. 00:10:21.019 --> 00:10:22.200 The part of the problem is 00:10:22.200 --> 00:10:24.460 that if you read this whole story 00:10:24.460 --> 00:10:25.840 from the biblical point of view, 00:10:25.920 --> 00:10:27.879 what the mom and the son are doing is wrong. 00:10:29.220 --> 00:10:31.820 It's not just sort of like the way 00:10:31.820 --> 00:10:35.320 a secular, more atheistic person 00:10:35.320 --> 00:10:38.100 who hears about your love of crystals 00:10:38.100 --> 00:10:39.680 might sort of roll their eyes 00:10:39.680 --> 00:10:40.840 or something like that. 00:10:40.840 --> 00:10:43.180 But, you know, then you're going to live and let live. 00:10:43.300 --> 00:10:44.200 You just do what you do, 00:10:44.240 --> 00:10:45.040 and I'll do what I'll do, 00:10:45.100 --> 00:10:46.180 and we'll get along fine. 00:10:46.800 --> 00:10:48.600 The Bible actually views that as wrong, 00:10:48.740 --> 00:10:51.259 that it's like a very serious type of mistake. 00:10:51.399 --> 00:10:53.740 And so it's actually describing as wrong 00:10:53.740 --> 00:10:57.940 what a large number of Canadians think is good. 00:10:59.540 --> 00:11:03.639 So this idea of the mom with her different gods 00:11:03.639 --> 00:11:06.019 and her bespoke spirituality, 00:11:06.300 --> 00:11:07.960 her curated spirituality, 00:11:07.960 --> 00:11:09.440 from the biblical point of view, 00:11:09.440 --> 00:11:10.160 this is wrong. 00:11:10.840 --> 00:11:14.600 Now, that's a bit of a problem, 00:11:14.680 --> 00:11:16.120 and I'm going to address it in a moment, 00:11:16.259 --> 00:11:18.660 but it gets even worse in the next bit, 00:11:18.740 --> 00:11:20.340 because at least with this bit, 00:11:20.399 --> 00:11:23.340 it might sound as if the Bible is taking the side 00:11:23.340 --> 00:11:26.560 of those more secular friends of ours in Canada 00:11:26.560 --> 00:11:28.740 who sort of will roll their eyes at this. 00:11:29.240 --> 00:11:31.580 But in fact, the very next thing that the Bible says 00:11:31.580 --> 00:11:32.820 shows that there's a problem 00:11:32.820 --> 00:11:36.200 not just between the Bible and the Christian faith 00:11:36.200 --> 00:11:40.920 and people who like their curated spirituality, 00:11:40.920 --> 00:11:44.100 but also for the people who roll their eyes 00:11:44.100 --> 00:11:44.720 and are secular, 00:11:44.720 --> 00:11:46.940 because here's what the very next bit says. 00:11:48.100 --> 00:11:49.140 And this is, by the way, 00:11:49.180 --> 00:11:51.200 how you understand that the Bible is actually, 00:11:51.280 --> 00:11:53.040 this whole story is describing 00:11:53.040 --> 00:11:56.060 something that the Bible thinks is wrong. 00:11:56.059 --> 00:11:58.919 In fact, in terms of the book of Judges, 00:11:59.019 --> 00:12:00.539 what's happening right here is this. 00:12:00.939 --> 00:12:02.759 The way the book of Judges is structured 00:12:02.759 --> 00:12:05.399 is you have sort of two introductions. 00:12:05.639 --> 00:12:08.179 It sort of gives you a 10,000 feet in the air, 00:12:08.919 --> 00:12:12.000 biblical slash Christian understanding 00:12:12.000 --> 00:12:13.459 of what you're about to read 00:12:13.459 --> 00:12:14.539 in the rest of the book. 00:12:14.539 --> 00:12:19.759 And then from chapter three on to last week, 00:12:19.819 --> 00:12:22.699 we have the story of 12 different judges who, 00:12:23.459 --> 00:12:25.439 judges is a good word, 00:12:25.559 --> 00:12:27.759 but it really means a type of deliverer 00:12:27.759 --> 00:12:30.179 that God raises up to deliver people 00:12:30.179 --> 00:12:31.360 when they get into trouble. 00:12:32.059 --> 00:12:34.439 And what we're gonna see in this story and next story 00:12:34.439 --> 00:12:36.659 is it's as if we have two case studies 00:12:36.659 --> 00:12:38.959 of what life was like in Israel 00:12:38.959 --> 00:12:41.959 that they needed to be delivered from. 00:12:42.399 --> 00:12:44.480 They needed to be saved from. 00:12:45.519 --> 00:12:47.819 So here you can very well imagine 00:12:47.819 --> 00:12:51.279 some of you who like bespoke, 00:12:51.659 --> 00:12:54.039 curated spiritualities, 00:12:54.139 --> 00:12:55.919 I've now been a bit offensive to you. 00:12:56.000 --> 00:12:58.099 So I just ask that you grant me a little bit of mercy 00:12:58.099 --> 00:13:00.779 as we just talk about this a little bit more 00:13:00.779 --> 00:13:01.839 to at least try to maybe, 00:13:02.259 --> 00:13:03.480 yeah, just give me a little bit of mercy, 00:13:03.599 --> 00:13:04.379 a little bit of time. 00:13:06.179 --> 00:13:09.879 But this next bit in terms of describing 00:13:09.879 --> 00:13:11.759 what's wrong with what just happened 00:13:11.759 --> 00:13:13.219 and wrong in general, 00:13:13.620 --> 00:13:14.279 well, listen to it. 00:13:14.279 --> 00:13:16.100 It's chapter 17, verse 6. 00:13:17.559 --> 00:13:19.839 In those days, there was no king in Israel. 00:13:20.240 --> 00:13:22.000 That's not a big deal for most of us. 00:13:22.699 --> 00:13:24.539 Most Canadians aren't monarchists. 00:13:25.579 --> 00:13:26.899 But here's the thing. 00:13:27.899 --> 00:13:30.740 Everyone did what was right in his own eyes. 00:13:30.740 --> 00:13:34.460 Everyone did what was right in his own eyes. 00:13:35.019 --> 00:13:37.000 Now, here's another big problem. 00:13:37.159 --> 00:13:38.279 You see, for Canadians, 00:13:39.039 --> 00:13:40.519 that's a good thing. 00:13:41.899 --> 00:13:45.220 Like whether you believe in a type of bespoke, 00:13:45.419 --> 00:13:46.539 curated spirituality, 00:13:46.940 --> 00:13:49.220 or whether you believe that you're going to follow 00:13:49.220 --> 00:13:51.779 one of the more historic other faiths 00:13:51.779 --> 00:13:53.639 of Buddhism or Hinduism or Islam, 00:13:54.019 --> 00:13:56.820 or whether you think the whole thing is bunk, 00:13:56.820 --> 00:13:58.440 for most Canadians, 00:13:58.440 --> 00:14:01.240 other than probably those people who follow Islam, 00:14:01.700 --> 00:14:02.879 for most Canadians, 00:14:03.300 --> 00:14:06.240 this idea that everyone did what was right 00:14:06.240 --> 00:14:07.160 in their own eyes, 00:14:07.240 --> 00:14:08.680 that's actually like a good thing. 00:14:09.480 --> 00:14:11.260 Whether you, you know, 00:14:11.620 --> 00:14:12.680 are spiritual, 00:14:12.879 --> 00:14:14.840 or whether you're just like Jack Daniels 00:14:14.840 --> 00:14:15.660 in NFL football, 00:14:15.840 --> 00:14:16.060 like, 00:14:16.420 --> 00:14:18.020 doing right in your own eyes 00:14:18.019 --> 00:14:19.579 is what makes Canada great. 00:14:19.980 --> 00:14:20.419 And Canada, 00:14:20.620 --> 00:14:21.899 the world needs more of Canada. 00:14:22.039 --> 00:14:22.179 I mean, 00:14:22.179 --> 00:14:23.059 that's one of the things 00:14:23.059 --> 00:14:24.220 that they used to say on the buses 00:14:24.220 --> 00:14:25.480 and other types of slogans. 00:14:25.899 --> 00:14:26.279 And here, 00:14:26.379 --> 00:14:28.240 the Bible is using it as a short form 00:14:28.240 --> 00:14:29.799 to describe what's wrong. 00:14:31.319 --> 00:14:31.720 Now, 00:14:31.980 --> 00:14:34.319 I'm going to just highlight 00:14:34.319 --> 00:14:35.399 what happens next. 00:14:35.840 --> 00:14:36.899 What happens next 00:14:36.899 --> 00:14:38.299 is just the mom 00:14:38.299 --> 00:14:39.519 at the personal level 00:14:39.519 --> 00:14:40.159 and the, 00:14:40.279 --> 00:14:41.259 and Micah 00:14:41.259 --> 00:14:42.279 at the personal level 00:14:42.279 --> 00:14:43.360 just acting out 00:14:43.360 --> 00:14:44.399 what it means 00:14:44.399 --> 00:14:45.439 to have a bespoke, 00:14:45.879 --> 00:14:46.980 curated spirituality. 00:14:46.980 --> 00:14:47.800 And they, 00:14:47.800 --> 00:14:49.659 they set up their shrine 00:14:49.659 --> 00:14:50.960 and they set up their gods. 00:14:50.960 --> 00:14:51.560 And then they, 00:14:51.779 --> 00:14:52.399 after they, 00:14:52.440 --> 00:14:54.440 they find that there's a better person 00:14:54.440 --> 00:14:55.220 to sort of act 00:14:55.220 --> 00:14:56.759 as their spiritual advisor, 00:14:56.759 --> 00:14:57.539 their guru, 00:14:57.700 --> 00:14:58.420 their priest. 00:14:58.800 --> 00:15:01.180 And they hire him on 00:15:01.180 --> 00:15:03.139 just as people hire on coaches 00:15:03.139 --> 00:15:05.200 or hire on, 00:15:05.200 --> 00:15:05.680 you know, 00:15:05.720 --> 00:15:07.000 relationships with spirits, 00:15:07.120 --> 00:15:08.600 get financial relationships 00:15:08.600 --> 00:15:09.759 with spiritual masters. 00:15:09.759 --> 00:15:10.539 And that's what happens 00:15:10.539 --> 00:15:11.399 in the rest of the story. 00:15:11.779 --> 00:15:12.879 And then what happens 00:15:12.879 --> 00:15:13.940 in chapter 18 00:15:13.940 --> 00:15:15.860 is that this whole thing 00:15:15.860 --> 00:15:16.500 is described, 00:15:16.500 --> 00:15:17.679 it sort of moves up a level 00:15:17.679 --> 00:15:18.700 beyond the individual 00:15:18.700 --> 00:15:19.820 to the corporate level. 00:15:19.860 --> 00:15:20.600 And that's what happens 00:15:20.600 --> 00:15:21.500 in chapter 18 00:15:21.500 --> 00:15:23.220 in terms of 00:15:23.220 --> 00:15:24.799 there's a whole tribe now, 00:15:24.860 --> 00:15:26.139 which also wants to have 00:15:26.139 --> 00:15:28.000 a type of bespoke spirituality, 00:15:28.159 --> 00:15:29.480 a curated spirituality. 00:15:30.399 --> 00:15:32.259 And at the same time, 00:15:32.259 --> 00:15:33.419 they're trying to sort of 00:15:33.419 --> 00:15:34.340 just make a way 00:15:34.340 --> 00:15:34.899 for themselves, 00:15:35.039 --> 00:15:36.220 make themselves prosperous, 00:15:36.360 --> 00:15:36.779 all very, 00:15:36.860 --> 00:15:37.519 very Canadian, 00:15:37.720 --> 00:15:38.519 all sounds very, 00:15:38.620 --> 00:15:39.059 very good. 00:15:39.059 --> 00:15:40.200 And they're looking 00:15:40.200 --> 00:15:41.539 for a land to settle in. 00:15:41.759 --> 00:15:43.139 And the parts of the story 00:15:43.139 --> 00:15:44.519 which aren't very good, 00:15:44.519 --> 00:15:45.919 which we'll talk about 00:15:45.919 --> 00:15:46.500 a little bit more 00:15:46.500 --> 00:15:47.000 in a moment, 00:15:47.199 --> 00:15:48.500 are as part of that, 00:15:48.639 --> 00:15:48.779 they, 00:15:50.500 --> 00:15:51.699 and this happens, 00:15:51.799 --> 00:15:51.899 right, 00:15:51.980 --> 00:15:53.279 they steal 00:15:53.279 --> 00:15:55.360 the shrine 00:15:55.360 --> 00:15:56.019 and the gods 00:15:56.019 --> 00:15:57.819 of Micah 00:15:57.819 --> 00:15:58.919 and they steal 00:15:58.919 --> 00:15:59.519 the priest 00:15:59.519 --> 00:16:00.879 and they bring him along 00:16:00.879 --> 00:16:02.000 so that he can be 00:16:02.000 --> 00:16:02.860 the priest 00:16:02.860 --> 00:16:03.919 and these can be the gods 00:16:03.919 --> 00:16:05.519 for an entire tribe. 00:16:06.220 --> 00:16:07.439 And then there's some land 00:16:07.439 --> 00:16:08.559 that they really like 00:16:08.559 --> 00:16:10.419 and there's an area 00:16:10.419 --> 00:16:11.379 that they really like 00:16:11.379 --> 00:16:14.339 and they ask the advice 00:16:14.339 --> 00:16:15.339 of their gods 00:16:15.339 --> 00:16:17.939 through this curated priest, 00:16:18.039 --> 00:16:19.039 the priest that they've chosen 00:16:19.039 --> 00:16:19.679 for themselves, 00:16:19.839 --> 00:16:20.839 their spiritual father, 00:16:21.000 --> 00:16:21.439 their guru, 00:16:21.599 --> 00:16:22.619 their spiritual master 00:16:22.619 --> 00:16:23.939 and he gives them 00:16:23.939 --> 00:16:25.000 an ambiguous answer 00:16:25.000 --> 00:16:26.179 that basically says 00:16:26.179 --> 00:16:26.779 they should go ahead 00:16:26.779 --> 00:16:27.399 and do this 00:16:27.399 --> 00:16:28.979 and they go ahead 00:16:28.979 --> 00:16:29.459 and do it 00:16:29.459 --> 00:16:32.299 and they steal the priests, 00:16:32.419 --> 00:16:33.279 they steal the gods, 00:16:33.359 --> 00:16:34.399 they steal the spirituality, 00:16:34.519 --> 00:16:35.339 they make it their own, 00:16:35.419 --> 00:16:36.519 it's all still bespoke, 00:16:36.639 --> 00:16:36.939 isn't it? 00:16:36.959 --> 00:16:37.919 Although they stole it 00:16:37.919 --> 00:16:39.599 and they then go 00:16:39.599 --> 00:16:40.899 and they attack a land 00:16:40.899 --> 00:16:41.939 and they kill people 00:16:41.939 --> 00:16:43.079 and they steal the land 00:16:43.079 --> 00:16:43.919 and they make it their own 00:16:43.919 --> 00:16:44.639 and that's what 00:16:44.639 --> 00:16:46.699 chapter 17 and 18 00:16:46.699 --> 00:16:48.079 is all about. 00:16:49.039 --> 00:16:50.479 So how do we sort of 00:16:50.479 --> 00:16:51.099 talk about it 00:16:51.099 --> 00:16:51.740 and how do we 00:16:51.740 --> 00:16:53.159 understand 00:16:53.159 --> 00:16:54.479 what's just happened? 00:16:54.599 --> 00:16:55.659 So just to put it 00:16:55.659 --> 00:16:56.479 very bluntly 00:16:56.479 --> 00:16:58.459 for those of you 00:16:58.459 --> 00:16:59.259 who are listening in 00:16:59.259 --> 00:17:00.079 and trying to think 00:17:00.079 --> 00:17:00.899 how on earth is, 00:17:01.399 --> 00:17:01.919 what is George 00:17:01.919 --> 00:17:03.480 going to ever possibly say 00:17:03.480 --> 00:17:05.139 about such an outrageous story 00:17:05.139 --> 00:17:07.019 is the first problem 00:17:07.019 --> 00:17:07.500 is this, 00:17:07.500 --> 00:17:09.619 is many Canadians 00:17:09.619 --> 00:17:10.180 would say 00:17:10.180 --> 00:17:13.500 how dare God, 00:17:14.400 --> 00:17:15.859 at least you George, 00:17:16.559 --> 00:17:17.559 tell people 00:17:17.559 --> 00:17:18.680 how to worship? 00:17:19.039 --> 00:17:19.799 Like how dare you? 00:17:20.579 --> 00:17:21.359 Like what gives you 00:17:21.359 --> 00:17:21.759 the right 00:17:21.759 --> 00:17:22.900 to say something 00:17:22.900 --> 00:17:23.799 like that to people? 00:17:24.640 --> 00:17:26.259 And then the second thing 00:17:26.259 --> 00:17:27.599 which is even more important 00:17:27.599 --> 00:17:28.200 because 00:17:28.200 --> 00:17:29.920 you know 00:17:29.920 --> 00:17:31.259 even the secular people 00:17:31.259 --> 00:17:32.240 who roll their eyes 00:17:32.240 --> 00:17:33.140 when somebody talks 00:17:33.140 --> 00:17:33.980 about their crystals 00:17:33.980 --> 00:17:36.220 or their tarot cards 00:17:36.220 --> 00:17:37.799 or their yoga 00:17:37.799 --> 00:17:38.940 and the secular person 00:17:38.940 --> 00:17:39.680 rolls their eyes 00:17:39.680 --> 00:17:40.539 but even they 00:17:40.539 --> 00:17:41.799 probably would be 00:17:41.799 --> 00:17:42.339 a bit bothered 00:17:42.339 --> 00:17:43.059 that I'm actually 00:17:43.059 --> 00:17:43.900 telling them 00:17:43.900 --> 00:17:44.880 how to worship. 00:17:45.660 --> 00:17:46.920 And then the second thing 00:17:46.920 --> 00:17:47.779 is how dare 00:17:47.779 --> 00:17:49.039 God, 00:17:49.160 --> 00:17:49.720 the Bible, 00:17:49.940 --> 00:17:50.799 tell us how to live? 00:17:51.460 --> 00:17:52.319 Like how dare God 00:17:52.319 --> 00:17:52.740 do that? 00:17:53.759 --> 00:17:54.599 Here's what Christians 00:17:54.599 --> 00:17:55.140 would say 00:17:55.140 --> 00:17:56.480 what's going on 00:17:56.480 --> 00:17:57.059 in the stories. 00:17:57.859 --> 00:17:58.599 There used to be 00:17:58.599 --> 00:17:59.639 somebody in my 00:17:59.639 --> 00:18:00.819 immediate circle 00:18:00.819 --> 00:18:01.460 of friends 00:18:01.460 --> 00:18:02.079 family 00:18:02.079 --> 00:18:03.139 who had a daughter 00:18:03.139 --> 00:18:04.159 who had an imaginary 00:18:04.159 --> 00:18:04.759 friend. 00:18:05.179 --> 00:18:05.940 Very true. 00:18:06.639 --> 00:18:07.519 I can't remember now 00:18:07.519 --> 00:18:08.539 if it was a year or two 00:18:08.539 --> 00:18:09.259 that lasted. 00:18:09.460 --> 00:18:10.399 They were quite young 00:18:10.399 --> 00:18:11.279 but they were quite 00:18:11.279 --> 00:18:12.460 old enough to speak 00:18:12.460 --> 00:18:12.919 and they were 00:18:12.919 --> 00:18:13.200 a very, 00:18:13.339 --> 00:18:14.539 very articulate child 00:18:14.539 --> 00:18:16.000 and I'm not going to 00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:17.039 tell what the imaginary 00:18:17.039 --> 00:18:18.039 friend's name was 00:18:18.039 --> 00:18:18.740 or anything like that 00:18:18.740 --> 00:18:19.799 but this was somebody 00:18:19.799 --> 00:18:20.859 very, very well known 00:18:20.859 --> 00:18:22.059 to me and to our family 00:18:22.059 --> 00:18:23.059 and they had an imaginary 00:18:23.059 --> 00:18:23.980 friend which lasted 00:18:23.980 --> 00:18:24.779 for several years. 00:18:24.779 --> 00:18:27.099 This person would tell us 00:18:27.099 --> 00:18:27.980 about the things they did 00:18:27.980 --> 00:18:28.740 with their imaginary 00:18:28.740 --> 00:18:30.220 friend and where the 00:18:30.220 --> 00:18:31.420 imaginary friend lived 00:18:31.420 --> 00:18:32.139 and where they went to 00:18:32.139 --> 00:18:32.779 school and what they 00:18:32.779 --> 00:18:33.440 studied together. 00:18:34.180 --> 00:18:34.899 Now this would be 00:18:34.899 --> 00:18:35.519 pretty sad. 00:18:35.599 --> 00:18:37.079 It was sort of odd, 00:18:38.059 --> 00:18:39.879 endearing and odd 00:18:39.879 --> 00:18:42.240 and they were just young 00:18:42.240 --> 00:18:44.180 and everybody who knew 00:18:44.180 --> 00:18:46.039 and loved this young 00:18:46.039 --> 00:18:46.660 child, 00:18:46.779 --> 00:18:47.399 this child, 00:18:47.599 --> 00:18:48.700 hoped that they would 00:18:48.700 --> 00:18:49.339 grow out of it 00:18:49.339 --> 00:18:50.099 and they did 00:18:50.099 --> 00:18:51.420 and she's a spectacular 00:18:51.420 --> 00:18:52.619 young woman today. 00:18:52.619 --> 00:18:54.799 Just as sane 00:18:54.799 --> 00:18:56.159 as any of you 00:18:56.159 --> 00:18:57.039 or just as sane 00:18:57.039 --> 00:18:57.379 as me 00:18:57.379 --> 00:18:58.419 and she'd probably say 00:18:58.419 --> 00:18:59.199 she's more sane 00:18:59.199 --> 00:18:59.879 than me but that's 00:18:59.879 --> 00:19:00.699 a whole other story 00:19:00.699 --> 00:19:02.899 but she grew out of it 00:19:02.899 --> 00:19:03.379 but it would have been 00:19:03.379 --> 00:19:04.059 pretty sad 00:19:04.059 --> 00:19:06.939 if it continued on. 00:19:06.939 --> 00:19:08.739 Like if she continued 00:19:08.739 --> 00:19:10.099 to talk and act 00:19:10.099 --> 00:19:10.659 as if she had 00:19:10.659 --> 00:19:11.879 an imaginary friend 00:19:11.879 --> 00:19:13.539 and everybody wouldn't 00:19:13.539 --> 00:19:14.439 think it was endearing. 00:19:14.619 --> 00:19:15.239 They'd think there was 00:19:15.239 --> 00:19:16.459 something seriously 00:19:16.459 --> 00:19:18.119 wrong with this person 00:19:18.119 --> 00:19:19.619 and it would endanger 00:19:19.619 --> 00:19:20.859 this person 00:19:20.859 --> 00:19:21.719 from having real 00:19:21.719 --> 00:19:22.339 relationships 00:19:22.339 --> 00:19:23.479 with real people. 00:19:24.500 --> 00:19:25.579 So just to be 00:19:25.579 --> 00:19:26.439 completely and utterly 00:19:26.439 --> 00:19:27.039 clear, 00:19:28.359 --> 00:19:29.899 at the very heart 00:19:29.899 --> 00:19:30.559 of this text 00:19:30.559 --> 00:19:31.199 and the very heart 00:19:31.199 --> 00:19:32.259 of this Christian claim, 00:19:32.839 --> 00:19:33.439 the very heart 00:19:33.439 --> 00:19:34.359 of my belief 00:19:34.359 --> 00:19:36.619 as a Christian, 00:19:36.819 --> 00:19:37.500 as a follower 00:19:37.500 --> 00:19:38.099 of Jesus, 00:19:38.719 --> 00:19:39.579 is that there is 00:19:39.579 --> 00:19:40.599 a God that does exist 00:19:40.599 --> 00:19:41.239 who's real. 00:19:42.119 --> 00:19:42.799 In fact, 00:19:43.919 --> 00:19:45.619 he's in a sense 00:19:45.619 --> 00:19:46.859 the most real thing 00:19:46.859 --> 00:19:49.159 in existence 00:19:49.159 --> 00:19:50.139 compared, 00:19:50.379 --> 00:19:51.039 I only have, 00:19:51.119 --> 00:19:51.659 I'm real, 00:19:52.000 --> 00:19:52.659 you're real 00:19:52.659 --> 00:19:54.899 but whatever reality 00:19:54.899 --> 00:19:55.579 you have 00:19:55.579 --> 00:19:56.639 and I have 00:19:56.639 --> 00:19:57.299 only comes 00:19:57.299 --> 00:19:57.959 because this, 00:19:58.599 --> 00:19:58.919 in a sense, 00:19:59.019 --> 00:20:00.239 more deeply real, 00:20:01.199 --> 00:20:02.919 eternally real God 00:20:02.919 --> 00:20:04.839 has created you and me 00:20:04.839 --> 00:20:06.639 and sustains you and me. 00:20:07.239 --> 00:20:07.879 Our reality, 00:20:08.019 --> 00:20:08.439 in a sense, 00:20:08.759 --> 00:20:09.779 comes from him, 00:20:09.879 --> 00:20:10.919 is derived from him 00:20:10.919 --> 00:20:13.919 but he has real reality. 00:20:14.179 --> 00:20:15.219 This God has, 00:20:15.220 --> 00:20:16.319 he's real 00:20:16.319 --> 00:20:18.519 and so that's 00:20:18.519 --> 00:20:19.880 what's behind this text 00:20:19.880 --> 00:20:20.880 and so if you think 00:20:20.880 --> 00:20:21.380 about it to, 00:20:21.779 --> 00:20:22.279 in a sense, 00:20:22.559 --> 00:20:24.000 if you understand that 00:20:24.000 --> 00:20:25.299 then what you can understand 00:20:25.299 --> 00:20:25.759 is to, 00:20:25.900 --> 00:20:26.799 for those Canadians, 00:20:27.680 --> 00:20:28.500 those of us 00:20:28.500 --> 00:20:30.420 who understand 00:20:30.420 --> 00:20:31.140 and value 00:20:31.140 --> 00:20:31.940 a bespoke, 00:20:32.180 --> 00:20:33.059 curated type 00:20:33.059 --> 00:20:33.860 of spirituality, 00:20:34.519 --> 00:20:35.079 well it would be 00:20:35.079 --> 00:20:36.059 a little bit like this. 00:20:36.539 --> 00:20:37.819 My wife is real, 00:20:37.980 --> 00:20:39.000 she's not on camera, 00:20:39.180 --> 00:20:40.339 some of you know my wife 00:20:40.339 --> 00:20:41.160 but she's real 00:20:41.160 --> 00:20:43.620 and you can't just say 00:20:43.620 --> 00:20:44.600 anything you want 00:20:44.599 --> 00:20:45.519 about my wife. 00:20:46.419 --> 00:20:47.779 Like because she's real, 00:20:48.480 --> 00:20:49.619 some things are true 00:20:49.619 --> 00:20:50.139 about her 00:20:50.139 --> 00:20:51.399 and some things are false. 00:20:51.659 --> 00:20:52.359 Some things are, 00:20:53.119 --> 00:20:54.139 you might think of them 00:20:54.139 --> 00:20:55.000 as a compliment 00:20:55.000 --> 00:20:56.379 but they're actually offensive. 00:20:56.759 --> 00:20:57.299 Some of you 00:20:57.299 --> 00:20:57.939 have heard the story, 00:20:58.299 --> 00:20:59.399 if I ever write a book 00:20:59.399 --> 00:21:00.000 on marriage, 00:21:00.159 --> 00:21:00.619 it'll be, 00:21:01.019 --> 00:21:03.119 it'll be something 00:21:03.119 --> 00:21:03.519 to the effect, 00:21:03.599 --> 00:21:04.599 the subtitle will be 00:21:04.599 --> 00:21:06.259 all of the dumb wrong things 00:21:06.259 --> 00:21:07.059 that I've ever said 00:21:07.059 --> 00:21:08.099 that I want to share with you 00:21:08.099 --> 00:21:08.980 so you don't say them 00:21:08.980 --> 00:21:09.659 or something like that. 00:21:09.660 --> 00:21:10.300 I remember once 00:21:10.300 --> 00:21:11.180 I said to my wife 00:21:11.180 --> 00:21:13.380 that she was aging beautifully. 00:21:16.500 --> 00:21:17.500 I'm really dumb. 00:21:17.840 --> 00:21:18.700 I actually meant it 00:21:18.700 --> 00:21:19.400 as a compliment 00:21:19.400 --> 00:21:20.779 and I was actually 00:21:20.779 --> 00:21:21.620 taken aback 00:21:21.620 --> 00:21:23.380 when she didn't, 00:21:23.960 --> 00:21:24.759 she wasn't happy 00:21:24.759 --> 00:21:26.000 with that particular compliment 00:21:26.000 --> 00:21:26.600 but you get what 00:21:26.600 --> 00:21:27.220 I'm talking about, 00:21:27.279 --> 00:21:27.580 don't you? 00:21:28.040 --> 00:21:28.540 Is that, 00:21:28.880 --> 00:21:29.519 in a sense, 00:21:29.720 --> 00:21:30.620 if there really is 00:21:30.620 --> 00:21:31.400 a real God, 00:21:31.820 --> 00:21:33.320 then if you have 00:21:33.320 --> 00:21:34.800 a bespoke spirituality 00:21:34.800 --> 00:21:36.400 or a curated spirituality 00:21:36.400 --> 00:21:37.420 and you say things 00:21:37.420 --> 00:21:38.220 about this God, 00:21:38.720 --> 00:21:39.360 they're either just 00:21:39.360 --> 00:21:40.680 wildly wrong 00:21:40.680 --> 00:21:44.000 or just wildly wrong 00:21:44.000 --> 00:21:44.400 in a way 00:21:44.400 --> 00:21:45.259 which is offensive 00:21:45.259 --> 00:21:47.000 to some person 00:21:47.000 --> 00:21:47.779 who's real, 00:21:48.539 --> 00:21:49.080 you'll see that 00:21:49.080 --> 00:21:49.720 there's going to be, 00:21:49.900 --> 00:21:50.900 then this text 00:21:50.900 --> 00:21:51.860 can be talking about 00:21:51.860 --> 00:21:54.740 how these different ways, 00:21:54.960 --> 00:21:55.640 because what goes on 00:21:55.640 --> 00:21:56.620 in the rest of the story 00:21:56.620 --> 00:21:58.460 is you can't just set up 00:21:58.460 --> 00:21:59.360 anybody that you want 00:21:59.360 --> 00:22:00.200 to be your priest 00:22:00.200 --> 00:22:00.880 because God 00:22:00.880 --> 00:22:01.940 has determined a way, 00:22:02.000 --> 00:22:02.820 has revealed a way 00:22:02.820 --> 00:22:04.220 to have priests 00:22:04.220 --> 00:22:05.920 and you can't just say 00:22:05.920 --> 00:22:07.120 whatever you want to do 00:22:07.119 --> 00:22:08.159 is how you worship him 00:22:08.159 --> 00:22:08.819 because God 00:22:08.819 --> 00:22:09.899 has revealed who he is 00:22:09.899 --> 00:22:10.759 and what his character 00:22:10.759 --> 00:22:11.879 and nature is like 00:22:11.879 --> 00:22:13.579 and how that fits 00:22:13.579 --> 00:22:14.899 with our character 00:22:14.899 --> 00:22:15.839 and our nature 00:22:15.839 --> 00:22:17.239 and in a sense 00:22:17.239 --> 00:22:18.099 then how we can 00:22:18.099 --> 00:22:18.639 worship him 00:22:18.639 --> 00:22:19.799 in a way which fits 00:22:19.799 --> 00:22:20.899 at a very deep level 00:22:20.899 --> 00:22:22.019 with who an individual 00:22:22.019 --> 00:22:23.399 was made to be, 00:22:23.500 --> 00:22:24.179 is made to be 00:22:24.179 --> 00:22:25.139 and what God is like 00:22:25.139 --> 00:22:25.979 and so you just can't 00:22:25.979 --> 00:22:26.539 on one hand 00:22:26.539 --> 00:22:27.259 be spiritual 00:22:27.259 --> 00:22:28.479 and just say 00:22:28.479 --> 00:22:29.179 whatever you want 00:22:29.179 --> 00:22:29.719 if there actually 00:22:29.719 --> 00:22:30.639 is a real God. 00:22:32.279 --> 00:22:33.879 And to our secular friends, 00:22:34.000 --> 00:22:34.379 it's this, 00:22:34.899 --> 00:22:36.039 if one of the things 00:22:36.039 --> 00:22:36.279 which, 00:22:36.440 --> 00:22:38.619 and she's completely right, 00:22:39.579 --> 00:22:40.299 if sometime, 00:22:40.500 --> 00:22:41.819 if I'm at a church thing 00:22:41.819 --> 00:22:43.639 with a lot of church things 00:22:43.639 --> 00:22:44.599 or people that I know 00:22:44.599 --> 00:22:45.240 or, you know, 00:22:45.259 --> 00:22:45.980 another congregation 00:22:45.980 --> 00:22:46.559 or something 00:22:46.559 --> 00:22:47.839 and Louise is with me 00:22:47.839 --> 00:22:49.440 and people say hi to me 00:22:49.440 --> 00:22:50.619 and talk to me 00:22:50.619 --> 00:22:51.859 and ignore her, 00:22:52.899 --> 00:22:53.180 well, 00:22:53.279 --> 00:22:54.299 that bothers her 00:22:54.299 --> 00:22:56.019 and when I tell you that, 00:22:56.099 --> 00:22:57.079 every single one of you 00:22:57.079 --> 00:22:57.500 would agree 00:22:57.500 --> 00:22:58.259 that it's right 00:22:58.259 --> 00:22:59.700 for her to be bothered 00:22:59.700 --> 00:23:02.000 because she's right there 00:23:02.000 --> 00:23:03.279 and she's being ignored 00:23:03.279 --> 00:23:05.759 and so in a sense 00:23:05.759 --> 00:23:07.740 to our secular Canadian friends 00:23:07.740 --> 00:23:09.019 we say there really is a God 00:23:09.019 --> 00:23:10.160 who really does exist 00:23:10.160 --> 00:23:12.440 and to act as if 00:23:12.440 --> 00:23:13.579 he doesn't exist 00:23:13.579 --> 00:23:14.660 is to ignore him 00:23:14.660 --> 00:23:15.420 and is to in fact 00:23:15.420 --> 00:23:16.279 have a type of very, 00:23:16.399 --> 00:23:18.700 very fatal type of mistake. 00:23:20.319 --> 00:23:20.460 But, 00:23:21.359 --> 00:23:22.519 and that's sort of then how 00:23:22.519 --> 00:23:23.680 we'd say 00:23:23.680 --> 00:23:24.519 that this text 00:23:24.519 --> 00:23:25.440 for Christians 00:23:25.440 --> 00:23:26.119 is a warning 00:23:26.119 --> 00:23:26.779 about how 00:23:26.779 --> 00:23:27.920 you just can't sort of 00:23:27.920 --> 00:23:29.700 take bits and pieces 00:23:29.700 --> 00:23:30.460 of the Bible 00:23:30.460 --> 00:23:31.819 because the Bible 00:23:31.819 --> 00:23:32.420 is the way 00:23:32.420 --> 00:23:33.480 Christians believe 00:23:33.480 --> 00:23:34.740 that God has revealed 00:23:34.740 --> 00:23:37.079 truth about what it means 00:23:37.079 --> 00:23:37.600 to be human 00:23:37.600 --> 00:23:38.559 and truth about himself. 00:23:38.759 --> 00:23:39.940 You can't just pick and choose 00:23:39.940 --> 00:23:41.539 or go in other directions 00:23:41.539 --> 00:23:44.160 because of the reality of God 00:23:44.160 --> 00:23:46.799 and our need to learn from him 00:23:46.799 --> 00:23:49.460 how he is. 00:23:49.880 --> 00:23:50.720 And it's the same then 00:23:50.720 --> 00:23:51.400 with the morality. 00:23:51.740 --> 00:23:52.940 I talked about this more 00:23:52.940 --> 00:23:53.680 a couple of weeks ago. 00:23:53.720 --> 00:23:54.360 I just want to give you 00:23:54.360 --> 00:23:55.660 a different type of analogy. 00:23:57.319 --> 00:23:58.440 One of the problems 00:23:58.440 --> 00:24:00.259 with the right and wrong 00:24:00.259 --> 00:24:02.019 is this, 00:24:02.240 --> 00:24:02.460 that 00:24:02.460 --> 00:24:05.400 in the story 00:24:05.400 --> 00:24:06.619 what happens 00:24:06.619 --> 00:24:07.319 with the 00:24:07.319 --> 00:24:09.500 self-made gods, 00:24:09.619 --> 00:24:11.000 the curated spirituality, 00:24:12.200 --> 00:24:12.720 is 00:24:12.720 --> 00:24:14.079 because 00:24:14.079 --> 00:24:15.299 we've chosen 00:24:15.299 --> 00:24:16.480 this type of spirituality, 00:24:16.660 --> 00:24:17.180 they've chosen 00:24:17.180 --> 00:24:18.039 this spirituality 00:24:18.039 --> 00:24:19.039 for themselves, 00:24:19.180 --> 00:24:19.700 it ends up, 00:24:20.359 --> 00:24:20.599 well, 00:24:20.680 --> 00:24:21.640 it ends up just sort of 00:24:21.640 --> 00:24:22.640 never checking 00:24:22.640 --> 00:24:24.119 the selfishness 00:24:24.119 --> 00:24:24.799 of people 00:24:24.799 --> 00:24:27.259 and it never 00:24:27.259 --> 00:24:28.720 pushes back 00:24:28.720 --> 00:24:32.400 it doesn't, 00:24:33.299 --> 00:24:36.420 it ends up just in the story. 00:24:36.519 --> 00:24:36.940 If you go back 00:24:36.940 --> 00:24:38.180 and you read chapter 18, 00:24:38.600 --> 00:24:39.000 it just, 00:24:39.200 --> 00:24:39.579 in a sense, 00:24:39.680 --> 00:24:40.319 the spirituality 00:24:40.319 --> 00:24:41.960 ends up enabling evil. 00:24:42.079 --> 00:24:42.700 And I'm not saying 00:24:42.700 --> 00:24:43.400 that every Canadian 00:24:43.400 --> 00:24:44.880 who has a bespoke spirituality 00:24:44.880 --> 00:24:45.900 enables evil, 00:24:46.400 --> 00:24:47.799 but we can all sort of 00:24:47.799 --> 00:24:48.940 understand a little bit 00:24:48.940 --> 00:24:50.259 that if you choose 00:24:50.259 --> 00:24:51.900 a type of spiritual path 00:24:51.900 --> 00:24:52.839 yourself, 00:24:52.839 --> 00:24:54.779 the great danger 00:24:54.779 --> 00:24:55.419 could be 00:24:55.419 --> 00:24:55.959 that it 00:24:55.959 --> 00:24:57.119 feeds into 00:24:57.119 --> 00:24:57.939 selfishness 00:24:57.939 --> 00:24:59.079 and self-centeredness 00:24:59.079 --> 00:24:59.959 and won't act 00:24:59.959 --> 00:25:00.679 as a check 00:25:00.679 --> 00:25:02.319 on some of the things 00:25:02.319 --> 00:25:03.159 that any individual 00:25:03.159 --> 00:25:03.779 will do 00:25:03.779 --> 00:25:04.559 that's wrong. 00:25:05.699 --> 00:25:06.319 And I'll give you 00:25:06.319 --> 00:25:06.959 a bit of an illustration 00:25:06.959 --> 00:25:07.519 once again 00:25:07.519 --> 00:25:09.119 thinking about my wife. 00:25:10.039 --> 00:25:11.500 If you knew my wife, 00:25:11.539 --> 00:25:12.000 you'd know that 00:25:12.000 --> 00:25:12.679 there's many things 00:25:12.679 --> 00:25:13.079 about her 00:25:13.079 --> 00:25:13.779 that are good 00:25:13.779 --> 00:25:15.240 and beautiful. 00:25:15.240 --> 00:25:18.359 And that means 00:25:18.359 --> 00:25:19.519 that if you want 00:25:19.519 --> 00:25:20.460 to get into 00:25:20.460 --> 00:25:21.259 a relationship 00:25:21.259 --> 00:25:22.240 with my wife 00:25:22.240 --> 00:25:23.440 as a friend, 00:25:24.279 --> 00:25:26.420 there's certain types 00:25:26.420 --> 00:25:26.880 of things 00:25:26.880 --> 00:25:27.740 that fit, 00:25:28.799 --> 00:25:30.180 that work, 00:25:30.640 --> 00:25:31.519 that fit 00:25:31.519 --> 00:25:32.920 with knowing 00:25:32.920 --> 00:25:33.839 the parts of her 00:25:33.839 --> 00:25:34.240 that are good 00:25:34.240 --> 00:25:34.759 and beautiful. 00:25:35.120 --> 00:25:36.200 They just fit. 00:25:36.339 --> 00:25:37.799 There's ways of talking, 00:25:37.940 --> 00:25:39.000 there's ways of behaving 00:25:39.000 --> 00:25:40.099 that fit. 00:25:40.480 --> 00:25:41.279 And this is then 00:25:41.279 --> 00:25:42.220 just amplified, 00:25:42.359 --> 00:25:42.620 you see, 00:25:42.720 --> 00:25:43.640 because from the Christian 00:25:43.640 --> 00:25:44.220 point of view, 00:25:44.279 --> 00:25:44.920 not only is there 00:25:44.920 --> 00:25:45.500 a real God 00:25:45.500 --> 00:25:46.560 that really exists, 00:25:47.160 --> 00:25:48.180 but this real God 00:25:48.180 --> 00:25:49.120 that really exists 00:25:49.120 --> 00:25:50.100 is also the one 00:25:50.100 --> 00:25:51.440 who's created all things. 00:25:52.140 --> 00:25:53.060 It's not that he's 00:25:53.060 --> 00:25:54.360 self-centered or peevish. 00:25:55.140 --> 00:25:56.060 A couple of years ago, 00:25:56.200 --> 00:25:58.000 I was in a coffee shop 00:25:58.000 --> 00:25:59.680 and there was a chapters 00:25:59.680 --> 00:26:01.840 connected to the coffee shop 00:26:01.840 --> 00:26:02.640 or an indigo books, 00:26:02.740 --> 00:26:03.200 whatever it is 00:26:03.200 --> 00:26:04.220 that they called it back then. 00:26:04.259 --> 00:26:04.800 I can't remember. 00:26:04.880 --> 00:26:05.740 It wasn't that long ago. 00:26:06.300 --> 00:26:08.019 And there was a very hairy, 00:26:08.200 --> 00:26:09.100 distracted mom, 00:26:09.240 --> 00:26:10.460 obviously just hoping 00:26:10.460 --> 00:26:12.160 that if she gave her kid 00:26:12.160 --> 00:26:14.180 a cookie and a juice box 00:26:14.180 --> 00:26:15.480 and she could have a coffee 00:26:15.480 --> 00:26:16.259 and you could just see 00:26:16.259 --> 00:26:17.180 when she sat down 00:26:17.180 --> 00:26:17.500 and you'd go, 00:26:18.000 --> 00:26:19.660 she's just really looking forward 00:26:19.660 --> 00:26:20.620 to having this coffee. 00:26:21.200 --> 00:26:22.200 And she was really hoping 00:26:22.200 --> 00:26:22.620 that she, 00:26:22.799 --> 00:26:23.620 with the juice box 00:26:23.620 --> 00:26:24.560 or the hot chocolate 00:26:24.560 --> 00:26:25.400 and the coffee, 00:26:25.600 --> 00:26:26.440 that her child 00:26:26.440 --> 00:26:27.140 would be quiet 00:26:27.140 --> 00:26:28.480 for a couple of minutes 00:26:28.480 --> 00:26:29.360 just so she could 00:26:29.360 --> 00:26:30.000 sort of, you know, 00:26:30.000 --> 00:26:30.840 focus and have 00:26:30.840 --> 00:26:31.799 some adult time. 00:26:32.440 --> 00:26:33.060 Many of us 00:26:33.060 --> 00:26:33.620 who've had kids, 00:26:33.660 --> 00:26:33.980 we all know 00:26:33.980 --> 00:26:34.700 what that's like. 00:26:35.240 --> 00:26:36.080 But the kid 00:26:36.080 --> 00:26:36.820 very quickly 00:26:36.820 --> 00:26:37.480 got restless 00:26:37.480 --> 00:26:38.900 and the mom 00:26:38.900 --> 00:26:39.500 happened to be sitting 00:26:39.500 --> 00:26:40.339 right very close 00:26:40.339 --> 00:26:40.900 to where the books 00:26:40.900 --> 00:26:41.759 and the cards were 00:26:41.759 --> 00:26:43.599 and the kid kept getting up 00:26:43.599 --> 00:26:44.700 and grabbing a card 00:26:44.700 --> 00:26:45.860 and grabbing this 00:26:45.860 --> 00:26:46.740 and grabbing that 00:26:46.740 --> 00:26:47.220 and the mom, 00:26:47.720 --> 00:26:48.759 mom would get upset with her 00:26:48.759 --> 00:26:49.599 and this is what the mom 00:26:49.599 --> 00:26:51.079 every time said to her. 00:26:52.039 --> 00:26:53.140 She didn't say, 00:26:53.299 --> 00:26:54.279 don't touch that, 00:26:54.339 --> 00:26:54.880 it's not yours, 00:26:54.980 --> 00:26:55.559 don't touch that, 00:26:55.599 --> 00:26:56.059 it's wrong. 00:26:56.299 --> 00:26:57.000 She said, 00:26:57.120 --> 00:26:58.220 don't do that, 00:26:58.299 --> 00:26:59.839 you're making me unhappy. 00:27:01.720 --> 00:27:02.920 Now that's a terrible 00:27:02.920 --> 00:27:03.759 moral lesson. 00:27:04.140 --> 00:27:05.099 But that's not 00:27:05.099 --> 00:27:06.039 what God is like. 00:27:06.039 --> 00:27:07.099 It's not as if God, 00:27:07.259 --> 00:27:07.799 the God, 00:27:07.940 --> 00:27:08.720 the real God 00:27:08.720 --> 00:27:09.720 who really does exist, 00:27:09.839 --> 00:27:11.559 if there really is a God 00:27:11.559 --> 00:27:12.599 that really does exist 00:27:12.599 --> 00:27:13.440 that's at all 00:27:13.440 --> 00:27:15.220 described by the Bible, 00:27:15.279 --> 00:27:16.399 it's not as if he just 00:27:16.399 --> 00:27:18.039 has this peevishness 00:27:18.039 --> 00:27:19.139 that you're doing things 00:27:19.139 --> 00:27:20.240 that make me unhappy. 00:27:21.940 --> 00:27:23.180 It's in fact that 00:27:23.180 --> 00:27:25.680 the God who does exist, 00:27:26.440 --> 00:27:27.399 and by the way, 00:27:27.460 --> 00:27:28.379 the God who does exist 00:27:28.379 --> 00:27:29.099 is good 00:27:29.099 --> 00:27:30.779 and he's made things 00:27:30.779 --> 00:27:32.240 out of his goodness 00:27:32.240 --> 00:27:33.420 and out of his love 00:27:33.420 --> 00:27:34.759 and there's in a sense 00:27:34.759 --> 00:27:36.019 a type of a fittedness 00:27:36.019 --> 00:27:37.579 to many things, 00:27:37.639 --> 00:27:38.299 not for everything, 00:27:38.480 --> 00:27:39.900 but for some very important 00:27:39.900 --> 00:27:41.240 and significant things. 00:27:42.259 --> 00:27:43.139 And so it is 00:27:43.139 --> 00:27:44.139 that if to know 00:27:44.139 --> 00:27:45.160 somebody like Louise, 00:27:45.519 --> 00:27:47.000 the good and beautiful parts 00:27:47.000 --> 00:27:47.920 and the wise parts 00:27:47.920 --> 00:27:48.359 of Louise, 00:27:48.539 --> 00:27:49.379 if there's certain ways 00:27:49.379 --> 00:27:50.339 of talking, 00:27:50.599 --> 00:27:50.940 behaving, 00:27:51.039 --> 00:27:51.619 and being 00:27:51.619 --> 00:27:53.000 that just fit 00:27:53.000 --> 00:27:53.779 with that, 00:27:53.879 --> 00:27:54.680 to know her 00:27:54.680 --> 00:27:55.379 in a good way, 00:27:55.460 --> 00:27:56.460 to have her know you 00:27:56.460 --> 00:27:57.299 in a good way 00:27:57.299 --> 00:27:58.440 as friend 00:27:58.440 --> 00:27:59.920 or as child 00:27:59.920 --> 00:28:01.119 or as son-in-law 00:28:01.119 --> 00:28:02.039 or daughter-in-law 00:28:02.039 --> 00:28:03.000 or grandchild 00:28:03.000 --> 00:28:03.519 or whatever, 00:28:03.680 --> 00:28:04.299 or in my case 00:28:04.299 --> 00:28:05.619 as husband, 00:28:06.240 --> 00:28:07.339 then how much more 00:28:07.339 --> 00:28:08.240 it is with God, 00:28:08.559 --> 00:28:09.079 you see, 00:28:09.880 --> 00:28:11.900 that there's a fittedness 00:28:11.900 --> 00:28:12.539 to things, 00:28:12.779 --> 00:28:13.559 a rightness 00:28:13.559 --> 00:28:14.400 to things 00:28:14.400 --> 00:28:16.539 that's not connected 00:28:16.539 --> 00:28:17.880 to God being peevish 00:28:17.880 --> 00:28:18.480 or just saying, 00:28:18.880 --> 00:28:20.140 you're making me unhappy. 00:28:21.460 --> 00:28:22.480 And so that's why 00:28:22.480 --> 00:28:22.980 it is that 00:28:22.980 --> 00:28:24.140 in this particular text, 00:28:24.200 --> 00:28:24.980 these two things 00:28:24.980 --> 00:28:26.359 that the Bible says 00:28:26.359 --> 00:28:27.039 that people have 00:28:27.039 --> 00:28:28.279 to be saved from 00:28:28.279 --> 00:28:32.019 all foundationally 00:28:32.019 --> 00:28:33.539 go around this idea 00:28:33.539 --> 00:28:34.299 that there really 00:28:34.299 --> 00:28:34.940 is a God 00:28:34.940 --> 00:28:35.779 who does exist, 00:28:35.899 --> 00:28:36.740 who's real. 00:28:37.579 --> 00:28:38.220 And that if, 00:28:38.259 --> 00:28:39.319 if somebody like me 00:28:39.319 --> 00:28:39.839 is real 00:28:39.839 --> 00:28:41.019 or my wife is real 00:28:41.019 --> 00:28:41.619 and there's things 00:28:41.619 --> 00:28:42.519 you could say about me 00:28:42.519 --> 00:28:43.819 that would be just untrue 00:28:43.819 --> 00:28:45.059 and that would be unkind 00:28:45.059 --> 00:28:45.759 and would be, 00:28:46.359 --> 00:28:47.440 I would be right 00:28:47.440 --> 00:28:48.240 to be mad 00:28:48.240 --> 00:28:50.019 if anybody's heard 00:28:50.019 --> 00:28:50.980 you say certain things 00:28:50.980 --> 00:28:51.440 about me, 00:28:51.539 --> 00:28:52.000 they'd all say, 00:28:52.059 --> 00:28:52.759 no, George is right 00:28:52.759 --> 00:28:53.319 to be mad. 00:28:53.420 --> 00:28:55.039 Then if God has that 00:28:55.039 --> 00:28:56.519 even greater reality 00:28:56.519 --> 00:28:57.660 and an even greater, 00:28:57.660 --> 00:28:58.420 in a sense, 00:28:59.320 --> 00:29:00.019 is-ness, 00:29:00.460 --> 00:29:01.100 identity, 00:29:01.480 --> 00:29:01.880 edges, 00:29:02.860 --> 00:29:03.200 then, 00:29:04.320 --> 00:29:04.880 well then this, 00:29:04.920 --> 00:29:05.800 this biblical text 00:29:05.800 --> 00:29:06.840 actually starts to make 00:29:06.840 --> 00:29:08.200 an awful lot of sense. 00:29:09.259 --> 00:29:09.580 Now, 00:29:09.759 --> 00:29:10.500 here's the thing 00:29:10.500 --> 00:29:13.000 about the God 00:29:13.000 --> 00:29:13.640 that's described 00:29:13.640 --> 00:29:14.279 in the Bible 00:29:14.279 --> 00:29:15.019 and this is, 00:29:15.140 --> 00:29:15.420 by the way, 00:29:15.519 --> 00:29:15.900 once again, 00:29:15.960 --> 00:29:16.360 getting back 00:29:16.360 --> 00:29:17.460 to the personal relationships 00:29:17.460 --> 00:29:17.960 which we're going 00:29:17.960 --> 00:29:18.580 to end up with 00:29:18.580 --> 00:29:19.740 because I'm starting 00:29:19.740 --> 00:29:20.660 to move towards 00:29:20.660 --> 00:29:21.640 wrapping this all up. 00:29:22.420 --> 00:29:23.880 But what Christians believe 00:29:23.880 --> 00:29:25.279 and we only believe this 00:29:25.279 --> 00:29:26.540 because God has told us 00:29:26.540 --> 00:29:27.560 and he has told us this 00:29:27.559 --> 00:29:28.440 not because we have 00:29:28.440 --> 00:29:29.579 some private knowledge 00:29:29.579 --> 00:29:30.720 but because God has 00:29:30.720 --> 00:29:32.159 made it known publicly 00:29:32.159 --> 00:29:33.019 through his word 00:29:33.019 --> 00:29:34.619 and I'm going to get to 00:29:34.619 --> 00:29:34.960 in a moment 00:29:34.960 --> 00:29:35.759 why we would believe 00:29:35.759 --> 00:29:36.379 anything at all 00:29:36.379 --> 00:29:36.879 in his word 00:29:36.879 --> 00:29:37.460 but the God 00:29:37.460 --> 00:29:38.259 who's revealed 00:29:38.259 --> 00:29:39.419 that actually exists 00:29:39.419 --> 00:29:41.179 is God in Trinity. 00:29:41.440 --> 00:29:42.099 It's the Father 00:29:42.099 --> 00:29:43.059 from all eternity. 00:29:43.279 --> 00:29:43.700 Before there was 00:29:43.700 --> 00:29:44.440 anything created 00:29:44.440 --> 00:29:45.000 that there was 00:29:45.000 --> 00:29:45.500 the Father 00:29:45.500 --> 00:29:45.940 and the Son 00:29:45.940 --> 00:29:46.720 and the Holy Spirit, 00:29:47.259 --> 00:29:47.980 three persons, 00:29:48.139 --> 00:29:48.639 one God 00:29:48.639 --> 00:29:49.500 and from all eternity 00:29:49.500 --> 00:29:50.559 the Father loved the Son. 00:29:50.679 --> 00:29:51.319 From all eternity 00:29:51.319 --> 00:29:52.679 the Father revealed himself 00:29:52.679 --> 00:29:53.359 to the Son 00:29:53.359 --> 00:29:54.740 and from all eternity 00:29:54.740 --> 00:29:56.099 the Son loved the Father 00:29:56.099 --> 00:29:57.139 and revealed himself 00:29:57.139 --> 00:29:58.599 and the Father 00:29:58.599 --> 00:29:59.240 was in a sense 00:29:59.240 --> 00:30:00.359 good towards the Son 00:30:00.359 --> 00:30:00.740 and the Son 00:30:00.740 --> 00:30:01.979 was good towards the Father 00:30:01.979 --> 00:30:02.859 and the Holy Spirit 00:30:02.859 --> 00:30:03.759 is both in a sense 00:30:03.759 --> 00:30:04.459 that movement 00:30:04.459 --> 00:30:05.339 between the Father 00:30:05.339 --> 00:30:05.919 and the Son 00:30:05.919 --> 00:30:08.500 and is himself a person 00:30:08.500 --> 00:30:09.919 that is himself revealing 00:30:09.919 --> 00:30:10.839 and is good 00:30:10.839 --> 00:30:11.559 and is loving 00:30:11.559 --> 00:30:14.039 and so that God 00:30:14.039 --> 00:30:15.019 didn't need to create 00:30:15.019 --> 00:30:16.159 because he was lonely. 00:30:16.399 --> 00:30:17.339 God didn't have to 00:30:17.339 --> 00:30:18.459 sort of create 00:30:18.459 --> 00:30:19.579 so when he actually 00:30:19.579 --> 00:30:20.240 created something 00:30:20.240 --> 00:30:21.079 he could be good. 00:30:21.079 --> 00:30:22.799 God isn't self-centered. 00:30:23.019 --> 00:30:24.579 God in his very nature 00:30:24.579 --> 00:30:25.559 the triune God 00:30:25.559 --> 00:30:27.619 is a fullness of love 00:30:27.619 --> 00:30:28.839 a fullness of goodness 00:30:28.839 --> 00:30:30.599 and is a person 00:30:30.599 --> 00:30:31.740 and reveals himself 00:30:31.740 --> 00:30:34.299 and so he made human beings 00:30:34.299 --> 00:30:35.879 to communicate 00:30:35.879 --> 00:30:38.039 to be together. 00:30:38.179 --> 00:30:39.139 He made us social. 00:30:39.379 --> 00:30:40.899 He made us to know others 00:30:40.899 --> 00:30:42.419 and to be known by others 00:30:42.419 --> 00:30:44.079 just as he created us 00:30:44.079 --> 00:30:44.980 to know God 00:30:44.980 --> 00:30:46.559 and to be known by God. 00:30:48.059 --> 00:30:49.099 And so some of you might say 00:30:49.099 --> 00:30:49.699 well George okay 00:30:49.699 --> 00:30:50.759 like how do you know that? 00:30:50.759 --> 00:30:51.599 Well here's the thing. 00:30:52.400 --> 00:30:53.500 Christianity I think 00:30:53.500 --> 00:30:54.879 is unique amongst all 00:30:54.879 --> 00:30:56.500 the bespoke spiritualities 00:30:56.500 --> 00:30:57.039 of the world 00:30:57.039 --> 00:30:58.619 and amongst all the religions 00:30:58.619 --> 00:30:59.619 and spiritualities 00:30:59.619 --> 00:31:00.019 of the world. 00:31:00.180 --> 00:31:01.460 Only the Christian faith 00:31:01.460 --> 00:31:03.319 lays down the gauntlet 00:31:03.319 --> 00:31:06.339 and it's put in a very succinct way 00:31:06.339 --> 00:31:08.259 in 1 Corinthians chapter 15 00:31:08.259 --> 00:31:09.559 verses 19 and 20. 00:31:09.660 --> 00:31:10.440 The whole chapter 00:31:10.440 --> 00:31:11.440 of 1 Corinthians 15 00:31:11.440 --> 00:31:12.480 would be very good to read 00:31:12.480 --> 00:31:14.180 and here's what Paul says 00:31:14.180 --> 00:31:15.119 and Paul is writing 00:31:15.119 --> 00:31:16.759 Paul is a convert 00:31:16.759 --> 00:31:17.879 to the Christian faith. 00:31:18.500 --> 00:31:19.879 He's seen the risen Jesus. 00:31:19.880 --> 00:31:21.460 He's writing to a group 00:31:21.460 --> 00:31:23.400 of people about 17 years 00:31:23.400 --> 00:31:24.440 18 years after 00:31:24.440 --> 00:31:25.340 the death and resurrection 00:31:25.340 --> 00:31:25.840 of Jesus 00:31:25.840 --> 00:31:26.660 or 20 years after 00:31:26.660 --> 00:31:27.580 the death and resurrection 00:31:27.580 --> 00:31:28.200 of Jesus 00:31:28.200 --> 00:31:30.140 and they've become Christians 00:31:30.140 --> 00:31:31.420 and he says this 00:31:31.420 --> 00:31:32.760 in verse 19 and 20. 00:31:33.300 --> 00:31:33.940 If in Christ 00:31:33.940 --> 00:31:34.620 we have hope 00:31:34.620 --> 00:31:35.660 in this life only 00:31:35.660 --> 00:31:37.120 we of all people 00:31:37.120 --> 00:31:38.940 are most to be pitied. 00:31:39.540 --> 00:31:40.420 Earlier he says 00:31:40.420 --> 00:31:41.100 in verse 17 00:31:41.100 --> 00:31:42.620 if Christ has not been raised 00:31:42.620 --> 00:31:44.040 your faith is futile 00:31:44.040 --> 00:31:45.580 and you are still 00:31:45.580 --> 00:31:46.700 in your sins. 00:31:47.040 --> 00:31:47.760 And in verse 20 00:31:47.759 --> 00:31:48.680 but in fact Christ 00:31:48.680 --> 00:31:49.579 has been raised 00:31:49.579 --> 00:31:50.160 from the dead 00:31:50.160 --> 00:31:51.319 the first fruits 00:31:51.319 --> 00:31:52.200 of those 00:31:52.200 --> 00:31:53.339 who have fallen asleep. 00:31:53.640 --> 00:31:54.180 And then it goes on 00:31:54.180 --> 00:31:54.700 and talks about 00:31:54.700 --> 00:31:55.539 the great benefits 00:31:55.539 --> 00:31:56.160 we have 00:31:56.160 --> 00:31:56.799 from knowing 00:31:56.799 --> 00:31:57.799 who Jesus is. 00:31:58.339 --> 00:31:58.819 And you see 00:31:58.819 --> 00:32:01.079 what the Bible says 00:32:01.079 --> 00:32:01.599 what 00:32:01.599 --> 00:32:02.940 not the Bible says 00:32:02.940 --> 00:32:03.160 what 00:32:03.160 --> 00:32:04.740 the great proof 00:32:04.740 --> 00:32:05.720 of the Christian faith 00:32:05.720 --> 00:32:06.599 is that Jesus 00:32:06.599 --> 00:32:07.379 really lived 00:32:07.379 --> 00:32:07.779 that's 00:32:07.779 --> 00:32:08.980 nobody 00:32:08.980 --> 00:32:10.400 doubts that nowadays 00:32:10.400 --> 00:32:11.519 no serious scholar 00:32:11.519 --> 00:32:12.740 doubts that Jesus lived 00:32:12.740 --> 00:32:14.059 and that Jesus really died 00:32:14.059 --> 00:32:14.519 that he died 00:32:14.519 --> 00:32:15.400 by crucifixion. 00:32:15.400 --> 00:32:17.340 Even the most skeptical scholars 00:32:17.340 --> 00:32:18.540 accept that Jesus died 00:32:18.540 --> 00:32:19.560 by crucifixion. 00:32:20.360 --> 00:32:22.759 And even the most skeptical scholars 00:32:22.759 --> 00:32:23.400 acknowledge 00:32:23.400 --> 00:32:25.780 that they've never found the body 00:32:25.780 --> 00:32:27.060 and that the grave was empty 00:32:27.060 --> 00:32:29.320 and even the most skeptical scholars 00:32:29.320 --> 00:32:30.019 will acknowledge 00:32:30.019 --> 00:32:31.759 that many many people will die 00:32:31.759 --> 00:32:33.600 because of ideological reasons 00:32:33.600 --> 00:32:35.160 that many many people will die 00:32:35.160 --> 00:32:36.700 because they believe in Marxism 00:32:36.700 --> 00:32:37.620 and they'll give their life 00:32:37.620 --> 00:32:38.360 for Marxism 00:32:38.360 --> 00:32:40.100 or for some other type 00:32:40.100 --> 00:32:41.420 of secular philosophy 00:32:41.420 --> 00:32:42.140 or ideology 00:32:42.140 --> 00:32:44.140 but the thing which is so amazing 00:32:44.140 --> 00:32:45.220 about the Christian faith 00:32:45.220 --> 00:32:46.020 is that people 00:32:46.020 --> 00:32:47.020 died 00:32:47.020 --> 00:32:48.759 because they made 00:32:48.759 --> 00:32:49.400 the claim 00:32:49.400 --> 00:32:51.060 that something was true 00:32:51.060 --> 00:32:52.360 that it happened 00:32:52.360 --> 00:32:53.880 that Jesus 00:32:53.880 --> 00:32:54.820 had risen 00:32:54.820 --> 00:32:55.780 from the dead. 00:32:57.020 --> 00:32:58.080 That's why the grave 00:32:58.080 --> 00:32:58.600 was empty 00:32:58.600 --> 00:33:00.340 and that's why 00:33:00.340 --> 00:33:01.240 the Christian faith 00:33:01.240 --> 00:33:02.060 exploded 00:33:02.060 --> 00:33:03.980 in Jerusalem 00:33:03.980 --> 00:33:06.640 because he prophesied 00:33:06.640 --> 00:33:07.380 that he would die 00:33:07.380 --> 00:33:08.400 he said that his death 00:33:08.400 --> 00:33:08.940 and resurrection 00:33:08.940 --> 00:33:10.180 would vindicate who he is 00:33:10.180 --> 00:33:11.320 and what his message is 00:33:11.320 --> 00:33:13.300 and it is because of Jesus 00:33:13.299 --> 00:33:14.559 Jesus believed the Bible 00:33:14.559 --> 00:33:15.500 so I believe the Bible 00:33:15.500 --> 00:33:17.000 Jesus revealed what God is like 00:33:17.000 --> 00:33:18.119 and that's why I believe it 00:33:18.119 --> 00:33:19.279 but it so fits 00:33:19.279 --> 00:33:20.079 and it's so true 00:33:20.079 --> 00:33:21.200 I challenge you 00:33:21.200 --> 00:33:22.159 if you want to know more about it 00:33:22.159 --> 00:33:23.720 you can look up 00:33:23.720 --> 00:33:24.639 Mike Lacona 00:33:24.639 --> 00:33:25.740 and Gary Habermas 00:33:25.740 --> 00:33:26.399 and their case 00:33:26.399 --> 00:33:27.119 for the resurrection 00:33:27.119 --> 00:33:28.440 there's many books 00:33:28.440 --> 00:33:29.720 that outline why it is 00:33:29.720 --> 00:33:31.480 that it's very likely true 00:33:31.480 --> 00:33:32.819 that God 00:33:32.819 --> 00:33:34.039 that Jesus 00:33:34.039 --> 00:33:34.980 is God 00:33:34.980 --> 00:33:35.839 the Son of God 00:33:35.839 --> 00:33:38.059 that he rose from the dead 00:33:38.059 --> 00:33:38.659 and it's really 00:33:38.659 --> 00:33:39.759 really spectacular 00:33:39.759 --> 00:33:41.099 here's the wonderful 00:33:41.099 --> 00:33:41.939 good news 00:33:41.939 --> 00:33:43.439 is that God 00:33:43.439 --> 00:33:44.699 the same thing 00:33:44.699 --> 00:33:46.259 that God does 00:33:46.259 --> 00:33:48.279 to authenticate 00:33:48.279 --> 00:33:49.279 that he's real 00:33:49.279 --> 00:33:51.439 the same evidence 00:33:51.439 --> 00:33:52.359 that he provides 00:33:52.359 --> 00:33:53.179 to indicate 00:33:53.179 --> 00:33:55.059 that he is real 00:33:55.059 --> 00:33:56.779 and he wants to know you 00:33:56.779 --> 00:33:58.659 and be known by you 00:33:58.659 --> 00:34:00.419 is the same thing 00:34:00.419 --> 00:34:01.399 that God does 00:34:01.399 --> 00:34:03.000 to deliver us 00:34:03.000 --> 00:34:04.019 and to make us right 00:34:04.019 --> 00:34:04.459 with him 00:34:04.459 --> 00:34:06.559 the same 00:34:06.559 --> 00:34:07.659 it's not as if 00:34:07.659 --> 00:34:08.719 you have to go to one thing 00:34:08.719 --> 00:34:09.579 to sort of understand 00:34:09.579 --> 00:34:10.279 why God exists 00:34:10.279 --> 00:34:11.099 and another thing 00:34:11.099 --> 00:34:11.739 to understand 00:34:11.739 --> 00:34:12.239 how it is 00:34:12.239 --> 00:34:12.799 that he wants to have 00:34:12.799 --> 00:34:13.860 a relationship with you 00:34:13.860 --> 00:34:15.519 and will make you right 00:34:15.519 --> 00:34:15.900 with him 00:34:15.900 --> 00:34:16.819 the same thing 00:34:16.819 --> 00:34:17.880 that will make you right 00:34:17.880 --> 00:34:18.519 with God 00:34:18.519 --> 00:34:19.960 because I can't make myself 00:34:19.960 --> 00:34:20.539 right with God 00:34:20.539 --> 00:34:21.039 by myself 00:34:21.039 --> 00:34:22.500 I'm alienated from God 00:34:22.500 --> 00:34:23.860 as are you 00:34:23.860 --> 00:34:24.900 I need a savior 00:34:24.900 --> 00:34:25.759 just as you do 00:34:25.759 --> 00:34:26.480 and the same thing 00:34:26.480 --> 00:34:27.179 that saves us 00:34:27.179 --> 00:34:27.900 is the same thing 00:34:27.900 --> 00:34:28.559 that reveals 00:34:28.559 --> 00:34:29.360 the reality 00:34:29.360 --> 00:34:30.440 of the true 00:34:30.440 --> 00:34:31.699 and living God 00:34:31.699 --> 00:34:34.759 and so it is 00:34:34.759 --> 00:34:35.599 that we get out of 00:34:35.599 --> 00:34:36.500 that what we can get 00:34:36.500 --> 00:34:37.059 out of this 00:34:37.059 --> 00:34:38.579 is that God 00:34:38.579 --> 00:34:39.380 isn't just sort of 00:34:39.380 --> 00:34:40.179 an absent God 00:34:40.179 --> 00:34:40.980 who's all love 00:34:40.980 --> 00:34:41.719 and doesn't care 00:34:41.719 --> 00:34:42.440 about the mess 00:34:42.440 --> 00:34:42.980 that you're in 00:34:42.980 --> 00:34:43.539 doesn't care 00:34:43.539 --> 00:34:44.219 about the sense 00:34:44.219 --> 00:34:44.880 of shame 00:34:44.880 --> 00:34:46.219 or the sense 00:34:46.219 --> 00:34:47.219 of lostness 00:34:47.219 --> 00:34:48.119 or alienation 00:34:48.119 --> 00:34:49.039 that you might have 00:34:49.039 --> 00:34:50.900 he's come to save you 00:34:50.900 --> 00:34:53.079 he's come to save you 00:34:53.079 --> 00:34:54.940 because he desires 00:34:54.940 --> 00:34:55.980 to be known 00:34:55.980 --> 00:34:57.380 by ordinary people 00:34:57.380 --> 00:34:58.279 like you and me 00:34:58.279 --> 00:35:01.679 and the God 00:35:01.679 --> 00:35:03.139 who is the source 00:35:03.139 --> 00:35:03.619 of love 00:35:03.619 --> 00:35:04.679 the source of goodness 00:35:04.679 --> 00:35:06.179 the source of relationship 00:35:06.179 --> 00:35:07.739 the source of beauty 00:35:07.739 --> 00:35:08.759 the source of goodness 00:35:08.759 --> 00:35:09.940 the source of mercy 00:35:09.940 --> 00:35:12.859 is the same God 00:35:12.859 --> 00:35:13.699 that's created you 00:35:13.699 --> 00:35:15.000 and wants to know you 00:35:15.000 --> 00:35:16.059 and has redeemed you 00:35:16.059 --> 00:35:19.919 and he held nothing back 00:35:19.919 --> 00:35:21.079 in redeeming you 00:35:21.079 --> 00:35:21.679 in the death 00:35:21.679 --> 00:35:23.139 the life and death 00:35:23.139 --> 00:35:23.699 and resurrection 00:35:23.699 --> 00:35:24.519 of his son 00:35:24.519 --> 00:35:26.659 and so he calls you 00:35:26.659 --> 00:35:27.379 into relationship 00:35:27.379 --> 00:35:28.079 with himself 00:35:28.079 --> 00:35:29.419 and he is completely 00:35:29.419 --> 00:35:31.199 and utterly trustworthy 00:35:31.199 --> 00:35:33.779 and as he moves 00:35:33.779 --> 00:35:34.399 more deeply 00:35:34.400 --> 00:35:35.500 into your life 00:35:35.500 --> 00:35:36.260 as the gospel 00:35:36.260 --> 00:35:37.019 grips you 00:35:37.019 --> 00:35:39.619 you can start 00:35:39.619 --> 00:35:39.960 to learn 00:35:39.960 --> 00:35:40.820 to trust him more 00:35:40.820 --> 00:35:42.440 and here's the other 00:35:42.440 --> 00:35:43.200 wonderful thing 00:35:43.200 --> 00:35:43.900 just as I wrap 00:35:43.900 --> 00:35:44.579 the sermon up 00:35:44.579 --> 00:35:45.460 is he doesn't call you 00:35:45.460 --> 00:35:46.039 just to walk 00:35:46.039 --> 00:35:46.800 by yourself 00:35:46.800 --> 00:35:47.680 but he calls you 00:35:47.680 --> 00:35:48.840 to walk with him 00:35:48.840 --> 00:35:49.960 with others 00:35:49.960 --> 00:35:51.880 that he calls us 00:35:51.880 --> 00:35:52.720 to be together 00:35:52.720 --> 00:35:54.559 as his people 00:35:54.559 --> 00:35:56.139 in a sense 00:35:56.139 --> 00:35:56.840 not only does he 00:35:56.840 --> 00:35:57.420 restore us 00:35:57.420 --> 00:35:58.019 to relationship 00:35:58.019 --> 00:35:58.680 with himself 00:35:58.680 --> 00:35:59.860 he begins to restore us 00:35:59.860 --> 00:36:00.820 with me 00:36:00.820 --> 00:36:02.340 to a proper relationship 00:36:02.340 --> 00:36:03.140 with myself 00:36:03.140 --> 00:36:04.760 he begins to restore me 00:36:04.760 --> 00:36:06.019 to a proper relationship 00:36:06.019 --> 00:36:06.720 with each other 00:36:06.720 --> 00:36:07.900 as he calls us 00:36:07.900 --> 00:36:08.600 to know Jesus 00:36:08.600 --> 00:36:09.460 to follow Jesus 00:36:09.460 --> 00:36:11.100 and we never walk 00:36:11.100 --> 00:36:11.960 with Jesus alone 00:36:11.960 --> 00:36:12.880 we walk with Jesus 00:36:12.880 --> 00:36:13.460 in the company 00:36:13.460 --> 00:36:14.039 of other people 00:36:14.039 --> 00:36:14.740 hopefully a good 00:36:14.740 --> 00:36:15.519 local church 00:36:15.519 --> 00:36:16.920 and so I just want 00:36:16.920 --> 00:36:17.840 to encourage you 00:36:17.840 --> 00:36:18.840 to consider Jesus 00:36:18.840 --> 00:36:21.280 and I want to encourage you 00:36:21.280 --> 00:36:22.220 if you're a Christian 00:36:22.220 --> 00:36:23.260 and you're not connected 00:36:23.260 --> 00:36:24.420 to a good local church 00:36:24.420 --> 00:36:25.900 to pray and ask the Lord 00:36:25.900 --> 00:36:26.640 to direct you 00:36:26.640 --> 00:36:28.000 to a good local church 00:36:28.000 --> 00:36:28.539 where the Bible 00:36:28.539 --> 00:36:29.039 is preached 00:36:29.039 --> 00:36:29.660 and the gospel 00:36:29.660 --> 00:36:30.340 is proclaimed 00:36:30.340 --> 00:36:31.700 where you will know 00:36:31.700 --> 00:36:32.900 that Jesus loves you 00:36:32.900 --> 00:36:33.920 that everything 00:36:33.920 --> 00:36:35.100 that needed to be done 00:36:35.100 --> 00:36:35.960 to make you right 00:36:35.960 --> 00:36:36.380 with him 00:36:36.380 --> 00:36:37.079 was dealt with 00:36:37.079 --> 00:36:38.000 by him 00:36:38.000 --> 00:36:39.920 and all you need to do 00:36:39.920 --> 00:36:40.620 is receive it 00:36:40.620 --> 00:36:41.240 by faith 00:36:41.240 --> 00:36:42.120 and as the gospel 00:36:42.120 --> 00:36:42.840 grips you 00:36:42.840 --> 00:36:43.960 it will grip you 00:36:43.960 --> 00:36:45.640 to a new relationship 00:36:45.640 --> 00:36:46.140 with God 00:36:46.140 --> 00:36:46.920 a new relationship 00:36:46.920 --> 00:36:47.600 with yourself 00:36:47.600 --> 00:36:48.519 and a new relationship 00:36:48.519 --> 00:36:49.059 with others 00:36:49.059 --> 00:36:49.960 and a new relationship 00:36:49.960 --> 00:36:50.700 with society 00:36:50.700 --> 00:36:51.300 and culture 00:36:51.300 --> 00:36:53.039 to seek to not only 00:36:53.039 --> 00:36:53.800 share Jesus 00:36:53.800 --> 00:36:55.039 but to act in such a way 00:36:55.039 --> 00:36:56.039 that the city is blessed 00:36:56.039 --> 00:36:57.180 let's bow our heads 00:36:57.180 --> 00:36:57.579 in prayer 00:36:57.579 --> 00:36:58.960 Father we ask 00:36:58.960 --> 00:37:00.079 that you draw us 00:37:00.079 --> 00:37:00.659 to Jesus 00:37:00.659 --> 00:37:01.539 to help us 00:37:01.539 --> 00:37:02.240 to be gripped 00:37:02.240 --> 00:37:03.059 by the gospel 00:37:03.059 --> 00:37:04.340 and if there are any here 00:37:04.340 --> 00:37:05.220 who have not yet known 00:37:05.220 --> 00:37:06.519 Jesus as Savior and Lord 00:37:06.519 --> 00:37:07.199 that they will come 00:37:07.199 --> 00:37:08.099 to a saving faith 00:37:08.099 --> 00:37:08.579 in Jesus 00:37:08.579 --> 00:37:09.579 in Jesus name 00:37:09.579 --> 00:37:10.039 Amen