WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:12.519 All right, we got ready. 00:00:12.800 --> 00:00:15.179 I wore my New England dress boots this morning. 00:00:16.240 --> 00:00:19.100 If you haven't lived up here before, welcome to snow. 00:00:20.280 --> 00:00:22.179 It's a beautiful, beautiful thing. 00:00:22.179 --> 00:00:36.600 So I wonder what you would do this morning if you walked out and you saw one of your brothers and sisters backing out of their parking space, 00:00:37.780 --> 00:00:46.019 completely crush your back bumper, shattering the taillight, and drive off, leaving your bumper hanging, 00:00:46.020 --> 00:00:54.760 your side panel dented, and your car technically undrivable because of a broken taillight. 00:00:56.240 --> 00:00:57.500 How would you respond? 00:00:59.900 --> 00:01:03.440 This isn't normally what we would think about when we come to church this morning, 00:01:03.600 --> 00:01:09.420 but in the providence of God and in the writing of his scripture, this is what he leaves us with. 00:01:10.760 --> 00:01:13.040 Should we as Christians just forgive and forget? 00:01:13.040 --> 00:01:16.680 I, as a brother in Christ, I'm sure he didn't mean it. 00:01:17.780 --> 00:01:18.660 It's too bad. 00:01:20.120 --> 00:01:21.300 Just overlook it. 00:01:22.320 --> 00:01:30.800 Should we follow every bus in New Haven and go get Carter and get our rights and get him to pay us back? 00:01:32.540 --> 00:01:33.780 Do we call the police? 00:01:34.800 --> 00:01:35.960 File police report. 00:01:36.080 --> 00:01:37.060 Somebody hit my car. 00:01:39.140 --> 00:01:41.120 What if it's only scratch or a ding? 00:01:41.120 --> 00:01:43.500 Does that make a difference? 00:01:44.300 --> 00:01:45.640 What if it's undrivable? 00:01:48.200 --> 00:01:51.660 You know, we live in a culture where things like this happen every day. 00:01:54.180 --> 00:01:59.500 And in our culture, we respond almost always by wanting to protect our rights. 00:02:00.700 --> 00:02:02.680 We want to go get what is ours. 00:02:03.020 --> 00:02:04.620 Protect what is ours. 00:02:04.620 --> 00:02:06.900 Sue if you can. 00:02:08.020 --> 00:02:09.240 Sue if you need to. 00:02:10.039 --> 00:02:12.819 To make sure that no one takes advantage of you. 00:02:15.060 --> 00:02:17.700 My seminary professor, D.A. Carson, wrote this. 00:02:17.699 --> 00:02:27.019 We've entered an era of multiplying litigation in which punitive compensatory damages are ardently sought. 00:02:27.539 --> 00:02:34.579 Less out of a passion for dispassionate justice than out of our passionate greed. 00:02:35.319 --> 00:02:42.459 Out of vengeful pettiness that feeds on newly discovered forms of, quote unquote, victimization. 00:02:42.460 --> 00:02:47.360 That's a dense mouthful, isn't it? 00:02:47.400 --> 00:02:48.240 Let's unpack it. 00:02:48.480 --> 00:02:50.740 What he's saying is what drives our culture? 00:02:51.100 --> 00:02:52.159 We love to sue. 00:02:52.360 --> 00:02:52.719 Why? 00:02:53.340 --> 00:02:56.520 We don't just want to get the money back that we're owed. 00:02:56.900 --> 00:03:01.580 We want to punish the person who's made it inconvenient for us to do that. 00:03:02.080 --> 00:03:05.780 So we seek punitive compensatory damages. 00:03:06.680 --> 00:03:10.640 We want not just our money, but we want to punish the person who did it. 00:03:10.639 --> 00:03:12.099 And what drives us? 00:03:12.199 --> 00:03:19.699 Not a pure desire for justice in the world, but a passionate pursuit of greed. 00:03:21.619 --> 00:03:23.559 Passionate greediness covers us. 00:03:24.299 --> 00:03:27.439 And vengeful pettiness. 00:03:28.119 --> 00:03:30.019 You did this to me, I'm going to do that to you. 00:03:30.619 --> 00:03:32.719 I'm going to get you back for what you did to me. 00:03:32.719 --> 00:03:40.400 And a culture of victimization, which says, I'm the victim here, therefore, I am going 00:03:40.400 --> 00:03:46.900 to pursue every avenue to make sure that I get paid back for what I have suffered. 00:03:48.780 --> 00:03:50.759 It's so easy to feel this way. 00:03:51.979 --> 00:03:55.639 So easy to think, but it's my rights. 00:03:55.740 --> 00:03:56.680 It's my legal rights. 00:03:56.680 --> 00:03:57.840 It's my human rights. 00:03:57.939 --> 00:04:01.319 It's my created in God's image rights. 00:04:03.060 --> 00:04:04.500 I want to be the judge. 00:04:05.120 --> 00:04:06.840 I want to hold everyone accountable. 00:04:07.780 --> 00:04:10.520 I want to make sure that I don't lose in the process. 00:04:13.060 --> 00:04:18.720 Is this really how the gospel shapes us to respond to situations like this? 00:04:18.720 --> 00:04:24.340 Is the church to respond differently in these situations? 00:04:26.280 --> 00:04:29.680 What kind of a difference does it make that we know Jesus? 00:04:31.100 --> 00:04:34.960 Now, as we explore this, let me give you a couple of disclaimers. 00:04:35.060 --> 00:04:41.540 One is that there's no way that we can cover all of the contingencies that might come up. 00:04:42.780 --> 00:04:45.060 Life is way messier than case studies. 00:04:45.060 --> 00:04:49.759 And you may be sitting there this morning thinking, there is no other way. 00:04:49.819 --> 00:04:50.899 That seems really right. 00:04:53.860 --> 00:04:58.699 And when you start to hear me read the passage and you think, you want me to do that? 00:04:58.939 --> 00:05:05.139 You're going to have all of these yes buts ringing in your ears and rising up in your heart. 00:05:07.420 --> 00:05:10.500 Well, hang in there because hopefully we'll address some of those. 00:05:10.860 --> 00:05:11.980 This is where we're going to go. 00:05:12.240 --> 00:05:13.639 First, we're going to look at our passage. 00:05:13.639 --> 00:05:15.180 It's 1 Corinthians 6. 00:05:15.560 --> 00:05:17.459 I forgot to look up the page number again. 00:05:17.579 --> 00:05:18.479 It's in your bulletin. 00:05:18.599 --> 00:05:20.959 It's in, I don't know, 1,000 and something. 00:05:23.419 --> 00:05:24.339 9.54. 00:05:24.639 --> 00:05:25.039 Thank you. 00:05:25.099 --> 00:05:25.740 9.54. 00:05:26.159 --> 00:05:27.360 1 Corinthians 6. 00:05:27.459 --> 00:05:29.159 We're looking at the next passage. 00:05:29.339 --> 00:05:30.159 This is a series. 00:05:30.339 --> 00:05:31.319 Nick said it last week. 00:05:31.360 --> 00:05:32.060 Let me say it again. 00:05:32.379 --> 00:05:35.159 We wouldn't have picked this as a topical sermon, would we have? 00:05:35.379 --> 00:05:38.360 It's just the next passage as we go through this letter. 00:05:38.360 --> 00:05:43.220 And yet, we have so much to learn and God has so much to speak to us. 00:05:43.360 --> 00:05:45.520 And so, what a blessing it is for us. 00:05:45.720 --> 00:05:49.939 We're going to look at the passage first and just try to understand it in its own context. 00:05:49.980 --> 00:05:50.660 What does it say? 00:05:51.080 --> 00:05:52.400 And why does it say it? 00:05:52.500 --> 00:05:58.560 Secondly, we're going to express what I'm guessing are some of those yes buts that rise up in your heart. 00:05:58.980 --> 00:06:04.100 Some of the questions about these kinds of situations. 00:06:04.100 --> 00:06:09.840 Third, I'm going to look at two case studies to try to apply it in depth for you to think about it. 00:06:10.720 --> 00:06:12.939 What would this actually look like in practice? 00:06:13.660 --> 00:06:15.760 And fourth, we're going to look for the grounds. 00:06:16.020 --> 00:06:16.900 How is it? 00:06:17.040 --> 00:06:21.780 How is it that the gospel might actually help us do this? 00:06:22.480 --> 00:06:28.100 How might the gospel shape our thinking so that we could actually do what this passage tells us to? 00:06:28.100 --> 00:06:34.540 So, first, let's read together 1 Corinthians chapter 6 verses 1 through 8. 00:06:36.760 --> 00:06:47.439 When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? 00:06:48.500 --> 00:06:52.740 Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? 00:06:52.740 --> 00:07:00.639 And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? 00:07:01.660 --> 00:07:04.879 Do you not know that we are to judge angels? 00:07:05.620 --> 00:07:09.300 How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life? 00:07:10.639 --> 00:07:17.620 So, if you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church? 00:07:18.519 --> 00:07:20.879 I say this to your shame. 00:07:20.879 --> 00:07:28.079 Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers? 00:07:29.180 --> 00:07:32.180 But brother goes to law against brother. 00:07:32.680 --> 00:07:34.860 And that before unbelievers? 00:07:36.600 --> 00:07:41.579 To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. 00:07:42.500 --> 00:07:44.699 Why not rather suffer wrong? 00:07:45.439 --> 00:07:47.800 Why not rather be defrauded? 00:07:47.800 --> 00:07:56.420 But you yourselves wrong and defraud even your own brothers? 00:07:58.000 --> 00:07:58.879 Let's pray. 00:07:58.879 --> 00:08:05.600 Lord, we come to this passage this morning and we confess that it is hard. 00:08:06.620 --> 00:08:09.319 This is not how we typically think. 00:08:09.920 --> 00:08:11.819 And it's not how we typically act. 00:08:12.920 --> 00:08:17.779 God, I pray this morning that you would help us to understand your word. 00:08:18.339 --> 00:08:20.939 That your spirit would lead us to clarity. 00:08:20.939 --> 00:08:23.879 Clarity of what the truth is. 00:08:24.160 --> 00:08:29.779 And also, Lord, a clarity about who you are and why who you are makes a difference. 00:08:30.360 --> 00:08:32.179 How we live our everyday life. 00:08:34.120 --> 00:08:37.159 God, I pray for your help for me as I speak. 00:08:37.740 --> 00:08:39.639 That my words would be yours. 00:08:40.159 --> 00:08:43.659 That you would use them in all of our hearts for your glory. 00:08:44.200 --> 00:08:45.000 And for our good. 00:08:45.639 --> 00:08:47.220 We pray this in Jesus' name. 00:08:48.399 --> 00:08:48.700 Amen. 00:08:48.700 --> 00:08:48.820 Amen. 00:08:48.820 --> 00:08:48.879 Amen. 00:08:48.879 --> 00:08:48.899 Amen. 00:08:50.940 --> 00:08:51.140 Amen. 00:08:53.260 --> 00:08:59.080 Just to remind you, last week, Pastor Nick preached on chapter 5. 00:08:59.660 --> 00:09:05.000 And it talked about how within the church family, within the church body, 00:09:06.160 --> 00:09:11.300 pursuing the good of the whole, the good of each of us, 00:09:12.240 --> 00:09:16.720 in our happiness and our spiritual well-being is pursuing holiness. 00:09:16.720 --> 00:09:24.600 And that to pursue that holiness is in love to confront sin when it arises. 00:09:25.440 --> 00:09:34.300 And to even break judgment within the church against those who, in repeated, unrepentant sin, 00:09:35.440 --> 00:09:39.680 contradict their confession of being a follower of Christ. 00:09:39.679 --> 00:09:47.500 And so it ends, chapter 5 ends with, are we not to judge those within the church? 00:09:48.599 --> 00:09:49.379 We are. 00:09:49.459 --> 00:09:50.719 Are we to judge those outside? 00:09:50.939 --> 00:09:52.359 No, that's God's job. 00:09:52.699 --> 00:09:55.899 But within the church, we are to pursue this holiness together. 00:09:55.899 --> 00:10:01.899 Paul picks up this thread and he deals with a slightly different situation. 00:10:02.459 --> 00:10:04.120 But the theme is still judgment. 00:10:04.779 --> 00:10:08.500 And the context is still within the church family. 00:10:09.000 --> 00:10:12.240 Within those who have committed themselves to Christ. 00:10:12.240 --> 00:10:19.379 And interestingly, if you've noticed, even as I read this, this passage is not an argument. 00:10:20.399 --> 00:10:22.379 This passage is a rant. 00:10:22.960 --> 00:10:24.440 It is a diatribe. 00:10:24.860 --> 00:10:29.840 He just cannot believe what the Corinthian church is doing. 00:10:31.360 --> 00:10:35.139 And his explanation, he sort of says, you're doing this? 00:10:35.860 --> 00:10:36.860 How could that be? 00:10:37.680 --> 00:10:42.320 And then he gives a couple of reasons why his outrage is so deep. 00:10:42.899 --> 00:10:47.200 And so let's look at first what he's saying and then why he says it. 00:10:47.259 --> 00:10:48.200 What are the grounds in it? 00:10:48.460 --> 00:10:49.980 First, you see it in verse 1. 00:10:51.580 --> 00:10:57.019 He says, you're going to the law before the unrighteous instead of the saints. 00:10:57.440 --> 00:11:03.159 He's saying, when you have a dispute, you are taking them to the civil courts. 00:11:03.159 --> 00:11:06.500 Now, the civil courts in Corinth were a very public matter. 00:11:06.500 --> 00:11:11.379 It was actually a place of entertainment for the Corinthian community. 00:11:12.120 --> 00:11:15.019 Many people would gather for these spectacles. 00:11:15.559 --> 00:11:18.820 Think of, you know, the people's court on steroids. 00:11:19.480 --> 00:11:23.940 This is what the civil courts looked like. 00:11:24.700 --> 00:11:31.600 And Paul is saying, why are you taking a dispute with a brother in Christ or a sister in Christ 00:11:31.600 --> 00:11:34.720 in front of the public? 00:11:35.300 --> 00:11:36.840 Why are you doing that? 00:11:40.740 --> 00:11:44.980 Now, one of the things we need to define very early on, and this will become very important 00:11:44.980 --> 00:11:47.820 as we address some of the yes buts, right? 00:11:47.920 --> 00:11:48.759 Is what is the case? 00:11:48.920 --> 00:11:52.360 Look at how he describes what the problem is. 00:11:52.500 --> 00:11:54.320 Verse 1 says it's a grievance. 00:11:55.340 --> 00:11:58.139 Verse 2 says it's a trivial case. 00:11:58.139 --> 00:12:04.740 Verse 3 says it's matters pertaining just to this life. 00:12:05.480 --> 00:12:07.519 Verse 5 calls it a dispute. 00:12:08.100 --> 00:12:10.840 What is it that is being addressed here? 00:12:10.840 --> 00:12:18.300 It is important to see that this is not breaking a law. 00:12:18.500 --> 00:12:19.720 This is not assault. 00:12:19.860 --> 00:12:21.139 This is not violence. 00:12:21.420 --> 00:12:27.139 This is not high-handed, large malfeasance and corruption. 00:12:27.139 --> 00:12:30.279 These are smaller cases. 00:12:32.600 --> 00:12:38.199 These were what, in our legal system, would typically be called civil cases, where we're 00:12:38.199 --> 00:12:43.319 seeking damages or money to be paid back or resolving money that is owed. 00:12:43.419 --> 00:12:45.759 It tends to be oriented towards property. 00:12:45.759 --> 00:12:50.779 If you've ever seen Judge Judy, this is what she does. 00:12:51.439 --> 00:12:56.500 She offers legal arbitration for small claims court. 00:12:58.399 --> 00:13:02.960 And these are the issues that I think that Paul has in mind here. 00:13:03.439 --> 00:13:04.620 We'll come back to that. 00:13:04.980 --> 00:13:07.759 But let me just say that that's an important framework. 00:13:08.059 --> 00:13:09.919 These are the kinds of cases. 00:13:09.919 --> 00:13:17.639 And he's saying, why are you dragging this into the public forum for entertainment, for 00:13:17.639 --> 00:13:23.599 the shame of the church, as he says in verse 5, for the dishonoring of the name of Christ? 00:13:26.179 --> 00:13:29.620 He says, because there's another way to do this. 00:13:30.059 --> 00:13:32.240 There's another way to resolve this, right? 00:13:32.339 --> 00:13:33.539 Look at the end of verse 1. 00:13:34.139 --> 00:13:35.219 Dare he go? 00:13:36.439 --> 00:13:39.099 Does he dare go to the law before the unrighteous? 00:13:39.100 --> 00:13:41.399 Instead of the saints. 00:13:43.080 --> 00:13:48.200 And so his first reason, we see in verses 2 through 6, is because the saints, because 00:13:48.200 --> 00:13:54.399 of God's regenerate work in them, because of their knowledge, however imperfect, of the 00:13:54.399 --> 00:14:04.500 justice and righteousness of God and the nature of his kingdom, have a role eternally in God's 00:14:04.500 --> 00:14:07.259 creation to judge the world. 00:14:09.100 --> 00:14:16.800 This is probably built off of a, there's a tradition built from Daniel 7, 22. 00:14:17.399 --> 00:14:18.320 You don't have to go there. 00:14:18.320 --> 00:14:23.139 But where it seems that the saints will judge the world, will sit in judgment. 00:14:24.000 --> 00:14:31.320 You see in Matthew 19, 28, Jesus seems to indicate similarly that the church will sit in judgment 00:14:31.320 --> 00:14:33.320 of the world with Jesus. 00:14:33.320 --> 00:14:34.360 With Jesus. 00:14:34.360 --> 00:14:41.220 As Jesus is the ultimate one, who has the ultimate right, and who is the perfect judge, we will 00:14:41.220 --> 00:14:47.280 join with him in that future eschatological judgment, that judgment that is to come. 00:14:47.279 --> 00:14:56.679 He says if the church is going to participate in the future, judging not only even the world, but 00:14:56.679 --> 00:15:03.939 even the angels, the spiritual world, as well as the physical world, don't you think that 00:15:03.940 --> 00:15:15.080 the saints can resolve a little petty disagreement over stuff that's not going to last forever? 00:15:19.160 --> 00:15:22.340 He argues from the greater to the lesser. 00:15:22.340 --> 00:15:31.600 If the saints are going to do these great things, why do you not think they could do the lesser 00:15:31.600 --> 00:15:32.200 things? 00:15:33.620 --> 00:15:36.320 And why would you abandon that judgment? 00:15:37.940 --> 00:15:46.440 Take that judgment out of the church, a community where understanding of God's principles of justice 00:15:46.440 --> 00:15:54.800 and righteousness, of moral purity, and also of mercy and of grace, and how these things 00:15:54.800 --> 00:15:56.060 ought to work together. 00:15:57.720 --> 00:16:06.900 Why would you take them outside to a community that's going to have much less, only a common 00:16:06.900 --> 00:16:09.780 grace understanding of those principles? 00:16:09.779 --> 00:16:19.379 Those who don't know the God of the Bible struggle to understand how he can be both a God of justice 00:16:19.379 --> 00:16:20.419 and a God of grace. 00:16:21.779 --> 00:16:28.699 Struggle to know how his patience with the fallen world and his absolute moral purity and righteousness 00:16:28.699 --> 00:16:30.179 live together. 00:16:33.439 --> 00:16:37.240 Friends, we know within the church this God. 00:16:39.779 --> 00:16:45.740 Don't take it outside is what Paul is saying. 00:16:48.220 --> 00:16:51.079 So that's what we see in verses 2 through 6. 00:16:51.679 --> 00:16:55.220 And then in verses 7 and 8, he takes it another step further. 00:16:56.259 --> 00:17:01.839 Not only are we to resolve these disputes within the church because the saints are to judge the 00:17:01.839 --> 00:17:08.899 world, but also in verses 7 through 8 because, and this is hard to say, let alone for it to land 00:17:08.900 --> 00:17:10.700 in your hearts, but let me just say it. 00:17:11.140 --> 00:17:14.019 Because it is better to be wronged than to win. 00:17:16.060 --> 00:17:22.700 Paul says if you have these lawsuits publicly happening out there, you have already lost. 00:17:23.960 --> 00:17:28.000 You have already lost the honor of the Christian community. 00:17:28.120 --> 00:17:35.560 You have already lost because you have abandoned the places where you are most likely to find judgment 00:17:35.559 --> 00:17:38.139 that will be just and right. 00:17:39.759 --> 00:17:47.720 But you have already lost because when you do that, you have taken your brother and sister, 00:17:47.960 --> 00:17:51.579 one for whom Christ died, and you have made him an adversary. 00:17:51.579 --> 00:18:01.439 When you take it out into the civil court system, you are functionally and fundamentally making 00:18:01.439 --> 00:18:04.179 your brother or your sister an adversary. 00:18:04.180 --> 00:18:18.460 And Paul says, why not suffer being wronged instead of destroying the unity of the church and bringing 00:18:18.460 --> 00:18:23.860 public dishonor to the name of Christ by pursuing your rights? 00:18:23.859 --> 00:18:40.740 Paul says you are being motivated by self-protection and self-gain, and you are jeopardizing something 00:18:40.740 --> 00:18:46.919 precious for the sake of money and your own personal sense of rights. 00:18:48.240 --> 00:18:51.419 Now I know you're all saying, but, but, but, but, but, but, we'll get there. 00:18:51.420 --> 00:18:52.480 Please hang in there. 00:18:52.840 --> 00:18:54.500 Don't lose, don't let me lose you. 00:18:54.940 --> 00:18:58.560 But this is a striking command that Paul gives. 00:18:59.580 --> 00:19:01.560 Why not rather be wronged? 00:19:04.060 --> 00:19:08.759 That's what he's saying to the party who has lost in this civil case. 00:19:09.100 --> 00:19:12.960 And then in verse eight, he turns it on the other person and he says, but you're already 00:19:12.960 --> 00:19:14.039 wronging one another. 00:19:14.340 --> 00:19:16.300 You're already doing these things. 00:19:16.299 --> 00:19:21.980 He says, stop it. 00:19:22.619 --> 00:19:26.019 Even your own brothers, you are doing these things. 00:19:26.619 --> 00:19:29.240 And in doing so, you are destroying the church. 00:19:34.339 --> 00:19:35.899 So this is what Paul's saying. 00:19:36.619 --> 00:19:42.720 Paul's saying when we have these petty disputes, if someone backs into my car in the parking lot, 00:19:42.720 --> 00:19:51.079 I ought to resolve this first and foremost with my brother and sister in Christ within the church, 00:19:51.220 --> 00:19:59.299 in a way that the church, in a way that honors one another as fellow heirs of Christ, 00:19:59.460 --> 00:20:07.440 in a way that reflects the justice and mercy and love that are to characterize the church community. 00:20:07.440 --> 00:20:15.680 Rather than seeking to assert our rights or wanting to just win or make sure that we don't lose, 00:20:16.380 --> 00:20:21.279 we are to address this remarkably different. 00:20:23.539 --> 00:20:24.160 All right. 00:20:24.320 --> 00:20:24.840 Are we ready? 00:20:25.000 --> 00:20:26.860 Now we're there for the but, but, but. 00:20:27.299 --> 00:20:27.960 Here we go. 00:20:28.019 --> 00:20:31.860 Here are a couple of things that I'd like to be raising up in your heart as you hear this passage. 00:20:32.539 --> 00:20:35.740 First is, is the church really safe? 00:20:35.740 --> 00:20:38.519 Is the church really going to do this well? 00:20:40.519 --> 00:20:44.880 And look, the track record is not great. 00:20:46.460 --> 00:20:56.279 We know, I mean, let's be honest, we are in this church today partly because of the scandal of the Catholic church 00:20:56.279 --> 00:21:05.799 and its inability to deal internally with justice and righteousness to protect its parishioners. 00:21:06.839 --> 00:21:10.220 But lest you feel like I'm throwing stones at stained glass windows, 00:21:10.559 --> 00:21:14.359 if you went home and Googled the Southern Baptist Church 00:21:14.359 --> 00:21:20.559 and sexual assault, 00:21:21.319 --> 00:21:27.779 you would find that our own denomination has a pretty lousy track record in this case as well. 00:21:28.339 --> 00:21:37.119 There is quite a public record of ways in which our, broadly, our denomination has not dealt well with this. 00:21:37.119 --> 00:21:40.979 Let me just acknowledge that up front. 00:21:42.159 --> 00:21:52.579 But what Paul is arguing here is that if chapter 5 is actually working, chapter 6 makes sense. 00:21:53.659 --> 00:21:53.979 Okay? 00:21:53.980 --> 00:21:56.120 Is the church safe? 00:21:58.059 --> 00:21:59.599 I'm going to tell you, it's flawed. 00:22:00.339 --> 00:22:04.259 But, Nick stood up here last week and said to you, 00:22:04.620 --> 00:22:09.240 we are committed as a church to chapter 5 being what characterizes our church. 00:22:10.319 --> 00:22:11.839 And we may not do it perfectly, 00:22:12.039 --> 00:22:14.559 but we are committed to doing it and growing in it 00:22:14.559 --> 00:22:16.960 and doing it better and better and better. 00:22:16.960 --> 00:22:20.960 because we love holiness and because we want your happiness 00:22:20.960 --> 00:22:23.759 and because we want the honor of Christ. 00:22:24.299 --> 00:22:26.360 And so we're going to deal with our stuff 00:22:26.360 --> 00:22:28.980 internally 00:22:28.980 --> 00:22:32.059 as a church. 00:22:35.920 --> 00:22:37.840 And if that's true, 00:22:40.360 --> 00:22:43.620 then I want to ask you to at least have hope 00:22:43.619 --> 00:22:46.679 that chapter 6, 1 through 8, 00:22:46.759 --> 00:22:49.599 could be a real thing as well. 00:22:51.959 --> 00:22:54.739 Because trusting the ability 00:22:54.739 --> 00:22:56.539 and the judgment of the church 00:22:56.539 --> 00:22:59.399 to address sin and wrongdoing 00:22:59.399 --> 00:23:02.639 is a part of the picture 00:23:02.639 --> 00:23:04.079 of what Paul is painting here 00:23:04.079 --> 00:23:05.219 as a gospel community. 00:23:06.379 --> 00:23:08.319 It is absolutely essential. 00:23:10.239 --> 00:23:11.379 If I polled you, 00:23:11.380 --> 00:23:14.220 my guess is that over 50% of you 00:23:14.220 --> 00:23:15.540 would say, 00:23:15.880 --> 00:23:17.380 if I had a dispute, 00:23:17.520 --> 00:23:19.520 would you rather go to a civil judge 00:23:19.520 --> 00:23:20.860 or to the church elders 00:23:20.860 --> 00:23:21.780 to have it resolved? 00:23:21.980 --> 00:23:24.360 My guess is over 50% of you, 00:23:24.440 --> 00:23:25.560 your gut reaction would be, 00:23:25.700 --> 00:23:26.780 I wouldn't go to the church. 00:23:30.280 --> 00:23:32.220 I think that's just where we're at today. 00:23:34.300 --> 00:23:35.120 But friends, 00:23:35.440 --> 00:23:37.240 1 Corinthians 6 challenges us 00:23:37.240 --> 00:23:38.820 to rethink that. 00:23:41.380 --> 00:23:45.220 I know I haven't allayed 00:23:45.220 --> 00:23:46.040 all of your fears. 00:23:46.400 --> 00:23:47.800 We'll keep going with some of those 00:23:47.800 --> 00:23:48.600 in just a minute. 00:23:49.120 --> 00:23:49.540 The second, 00:23:49.740 --> 00:23:50.740 the second what about? 00:23:51.000 --> 00:23:51.740 What about people 00:23:51.740 --> 00:23:52.560 who aren't in church? 00:23:52.680 --> 00:23:53.800 What do I do if it's, 00:23:54.600 --> 00:23:55.680 I don't know who it was, 00:23:55.740 --> 00:23:57.380 some guy driving a frontier car. 00:23:57.520 --> 00:23:58.180 It didn't look like 00:23:58.180 --> 00:23:59.160 it was a member of our church. 00:23:59.220 --> 00:23:59.960 What do I do then? 00:24:00.280 --> 00:24:01.080 Well, you know what? 00:24:01.660 --> 00:24:03.740 Romans 13 and 1 Peter 2 00:24:03.740 --> 00:24:05.400 outlay the fact that God 00:24:05.400 --> 00:24:06.920 has given us a civil government 00:24:06.920 --> 00:24:09.200 in order to address, 00:24:09.519 --> 00:24:10.279 in an attempt, 00:24:10.519 --> 00:24:12.100 in a common grace way, 00:24:12.200 --> 00:24:13.160 those civil governments 00:24:13.160 --> 00:24:15.480 are meant to rule over our lives 00:24:15.480 --> 00:24:17.400 and to rule over our societies 00:24:17.400 --> 00:24:18.400 to bring justice 00:24:18.400 --> 00:24:20.759 and to provide care 00:24:20.759 --> 00:24:22.220 for the citizens of it. 00:24:23.200 --> 00:24:23.519 Right? 00:24:23.940 --> 00:24:25.680 To promote health 00:24:25.680 --> 00:24:27.120 and safety and peace 00:24:27.120 --> 00:24:28.580 and to punish wrongdoing. 00:24:28.779 --> 00:24:30.039 That seems to be the role 00:24:30.039 --> 00:24:30.900 of a civil government. 00:24:31.759 --> 00:24:32.400 And you know what? 00:24:32.400 --> 00:24:33.940 If it's someone outside the church, 00:24:34.320 --> 00:24:35.580 then we can engage 00:24:35.580 --> 00:24:37.460 in the civil government's role 00:24:37.460 --> 00:24:38.660 that it would have. 00:24:38.940 --> 00:24:40.460 So it's okay to do it there. 00:24:40.860 --> 00:24:42.340 Paul is not saying 00:24:42.340 --> 00:24:44.340 that we can't ever take someone 00:24:44.340 --> 00:24:45.960 to court for something like this. 00:24:46.640 --> 00:24:47.340 But he is saying 00:24:47.340 --> 00:24:48.519 that if we do it in the church, 00:24:48.680 --> 00:24:50.120 if it's someone in the church, 00:24:50.400 --> 00:24:51.220 we ought to have 00:24:51.220 --> 00:24:52.160 a different approach. 00:24:53.080 --> 00:24:53.380 Now, 00:24:54.000 --> 00:24:55.560 you'll see this play out 00:24:55.560 --> 00:24:55.940 in a little bit. 00:24:56.200 --> 00:24:57.440 We still need to check 00:24:57.440 --> 00:24:58.280 our own hearts. 00:24:59.300 --> 00:25:00.160 Because as a believer, 00:25:00.320 --> 00:25:01.700 I should never be driven 00:25:01.700 --> 00:25:02.240 by, 00:25:03.000 --> 00:25:05.120 what did Dr. Carson call it, 00:25:05.700 --> 00:25:07.059 vindictive pettiness, 00:25:07.980 --> 00:25:09.279 passionate greed, 00:25:10.259 --> 00:25:12.940 punitive compensatory rights. 00:25:15.019 --> 00:25:16.559 We should never be driven 00:25:16.559 --> 00:25:17.759 by those things. 00:25:18.080 --> 00:25:19.660 Even in our interactions 00:25:19.660 --> 00:25:21.559 with others outside the church. 00:25:22.960 --> 00:25:24.740 But if it is outside the church, 00:25:25.100 --> 00:25:25.960 the church can't, 00:25:26.400 --> 00:25:27.380 it has no authority 00:25:27.380 --> 00:25:28.840 to rule over this case. 00:25:29.259 --> 00:25:30.120 And so it's okay 00:25:30.119 --> 00:25:32.119 to address it 00:25:32.119 --> 00:25:32.959 appropriately 00:25:32.959 --> 00:25:34.119 in society. 00:25:35.779 --> 00:25:36.739 The third thing, 00:25:36.919 --> 00:25:38.039 this is the one I'm guessing, 00:25:38.819 --> 00:25:39.019 is 00:25:39.019 --> 00:25:41.000 ringing in your ears. 00:25:41.000 --> 00:25:42.399 What about cases 00:25:42.399 --> 00:25:43.339 that don't seem 00:25:43.339 --> 00:25:44.079 so trivial? 00:25:45.079 --> 00:25:45.439 All right? 00:25:45.500 --> 00:25:46.039 We're going to go 00:25:46.039 --> 00:25:47.139 right for the jugular 00:25:47.139 --> 00:25:48.699 because sexual abuse 00:25:48.699 --> 00:25:49.699 is one of the places 00:25:49.699 --> 00:25:51.119 where the church 00:25:51.119 --> 00:25:51.779 has failed 00:25:51.779 --> 00:25:53.000 so drastically 00:25:53.639 --> 00:25:55.379 and so dramatically. 00:25:55.380 --> 00:25:57.500 Okay? 00:25:58.960 --> 00:26:00.500 Let me help you understand 00:26:00.500 --> 00:26:01.440 how this passage 00:26:01.440 --> 00:26:02.420 relates to that. 00:26:03.140 --> 00:26:03.900 First of all, 00:26:03.940 --> 00:26:05.120 as I clarified earlier, 00:26:05.640 --> 00:26:06.400 this passage 00:26:06.400 --> 00:26:08.180 is about civil cases. 00:26:08.340 --> 00:26:09.660 It is not actually 00:26:09.660 --> 00:26:11.100 about criminal cases. 00:26:11.780 --> 00:26:12.820 That's a distinction 00:26:12.820 --> 00:26:13.980 in our legal system. 00:26:14.420 --> 00:26:15.140 There might be 00:26:15.140 --> 00:26:16.400 some gray areas. 00:26:16.500 --> 00:26:17.000 For those of you 00:26:17.000 --> 00:26:17.540 who are lawyers, 00:26:17.680 --> 00:26:18.340 you might be saying, 00:26:18.460 --> 00:26:18.760 well, 00:26:18.840 --> 00:26:19.600 what about this? 00:26:19.660 --> 00:26:20.160 What about that? 00:26:20.360 --> 00:26:21.640 We could talk through that. 00:26:21.640 --> 00:26:24.740 We could try to think through 00:26:24.740 --> 00:26:27.220 the contingencies of it. 00:26:27.440 --> 00:26:28.259 But broadly, 00:26:29.060 --> 00:26:30.560 if a crime is committed, 00:26:31.300 --> 00:26:32.500 that's not what 00:26:32.500 --> 00:26:33.740 Paul is addressing here. 00:26:35.080 --> 00:26:35.860 And in fact, 00:26:36.040 --> 00:26:37.100 if a crime is committed, 00:26:37.380 --> 00:26:38.700 we as a church 00:26:38.700 --> 00:26:39.320 are thankful 00:26:39.320 --> 00:26:40.500 that we have a government 00:26:40.500 --> 00:26:42.420 to oversee us 00:26:42.420 --> 00:26:43.300 and to rule us 00:26:43.300 --> 00:26:44.380 in those ways. 00:26:45.160 --> 00:26:45.660 And so, 00:26:46.440 --> 00:26:48.580 in a criminal case, 00:26:50.080 --> 00:26:50.759 breaking the law 00:26:50.759 --> 00:26:51.600 is still wrong. 00:26:52.580 --> 00:26:53.040 And there are 00:26:53.040 --> 00:26:54.360 appropriate consequences. 00:26:56.480 --> 00:26:57.480 Let's talk about 00:26:57.480 --> 00:26:58.240 sexual abuse 00:26:58.240 --> 00:26:59.680 as a breaking of the law 00:26:59.680 --> 00:27:01.840 and its place 00:27:01.840 --> 00:27:03.120 in the life 00:27:03.120 --> 00:27:03.780 of the church. 00:27:04.220 --> 00:27:05.160 And we have to deal 00:27:05.160 --> 00:27:05.900 with this directly 00:27:05.900 --> 00:27:06.940 because in the history 00:27:06.940 --> 00:27:07.500 of the church, 00:27:07.660 --> 00:27:09.340 it's a bad track record. 00:27:11.560 --> 00:27:12.440 Some of you 00:27:12.440 --> 00:27:13.220 this morning 00:27:13.220 --> 00:27:14.840 may be sitting here 00:27:14.840 --> 00:27:16.340 having experienced it 00:27:16.340 --> 00:27:18.060 being done badly. 00:27:18.960 --> 00:27:20.240 Whether you have been 00:27:20.240 --> 00:27:21.120 a victim of that, 00:27:21.640 --> 00:27:23.180 whether you have 00:27:23.180 --> 00:27:24.100 known others 00:27:24.100 --> 00:27:25.960 who have suffered that, 00:27:26.480 --> 00:27:27.220 whether you have 00:27:27.220 --> 00:27:28.040 seen churches 00:27:28.040 --> 00:27:28.980 implode 00:27:28.980 --> 00:27:29.980 over it 00:27:29.980 --> 00:27:31.300 being handled poorly. 00:27:31.299 --> 00:27:38.639 the public nature 00:27:38.639 --> 00:27:39.680 of the abuse scandal 00:27:39.680 --> 00:27:41.859 in our culture 00:27:41.859 --> 00:27:42.779 and in our country 00:27:42.779 --> 00:27:44.619 makes it necessary 00:27:44.619 --> 00:27:45.899 to do this. 00:27:47.180 --> 00:27:48.559 So let's talk about it. 00:27:49.399 --> 00:27:50.659 I want to allay your fears 00:27:50.659 --> 00:27:51.440 by addressing 00:27:51.440 --> 00:27:52.440 very directly 00:27:52.440 --> 00:27:53.460 what would happen. 00:27:53.819 --> 00:27:54.759 What would happen 00:27:54.759 --> 00:27:55.419 if there was 00:27:55.419 --> 00:27:56.200 an accusation 00:27:56.200 --> 00:27:57.759 of sexual assault 00:27:57.759 --> 00:28:00.039 abuse in our church? 00:28:02.539 --> 00:28:03.259 First of all, 00:28:03.339 --> 00:28:04.099 would we apply 00:28:04.099 --> 00:28:06.240 1 Corinthians 6, 00:28:06.299 --> 00:28:07.019 1 through 8 00:28:07.019 --> 00:28:07.640 to this? 00:28:09.180 --> 00:28:09.660 Basically, 00:28:09.960 --> 00:28:10.819 the answer is no. 00:28:11.500 --> 00:28:12.259 We don't think 00:28:12.259 --> 00:28:12.960 it applies 00:28:12.960 --> 00:28:13.759 directly. 00:28:14.759 --> 00:28:15.539 We don't think 00:28:15.539 --> 00:28:16.359 that it's addressing 00:28:16.359 --> 00:28:17.839 a similar situation. 00:28:18.920 --> 00:28:20.059 What would we do? 00:28:20.059 --> 00:28:22.519 Some of this 00:28:22.519 --> 00:28:23.279 comes straight 00:28:23.279 --> 00:28:24.480 from our sexual abuse 00:28:24.480 --> 00:28:25.440 policy that's 00:28:25.440 --> 00:28:26.359 publicly printed 00:28:26.359 --> 00:28:27.079 on our website. 00:28:27.220 --> 00:28:27.980 You can find it 00:28:27.980 --> 00:28:29.299 under Children's Ministry 00:28:29.299 --> 00:28:30.119 if you want to go 00:28:30.119 --> 00:28:31.139 see what it looks like. 00:28:32.899 --> 00:28:33.779 First of all, 00:28:33.839 --> 00:28:34.579 we secure 00:28:34.579 --> 00:28:35.279 the safety 00:28:35.279 --> 00:28:36.139 of the one 00:28:36.139 --> 00:28:37.200 who has 00:28:37.200 --> 00:28:38.319 allegedly 00:28:38.319 --> 00:28:39.399 been abused. 00:28:40.519 --> 00:28:41.039 Secondly, 00:28:41.279 --> 00:28:41.879 we remove 00:28:41.879 --> 00:28:42.639 the accused 00:28:42.639 --> 00:28:43.240 from any 00:28:43.240 --> 00:28:44.059 further opportunity 00:28:44.659 --> 00:28:46.079 to continue 00:28:46.079 --> 00:28:47.460 their abuse. 00:28:47.460 --> 00:28:49.940 and then 00:28:49.940 --> 00:28:50.360 we would call 00:28:50.360 --> 00:28:50.880 the police. 00:28:52.360 --> 00:28:53.620 Within 12 hours 00:28:53.620 --> 00:28:54.140 is what's 00:28:54.140 --> 00:28:55.220 in our standard. 00:28:56.319 --> 00:28:57.500 We would remove 00:28:57.500 --> 00:28:58.279 the accused 00:28:58.279 --> 00:28:58.900 from any 00:28:58.900 --> 00:28:59.519 further 00:28:59.519 --> 00:29:00.319 responsibility 00:29:00.319 --> 00:29:01.160 or role 00:29:01.160 --> 00:29:02.140 within our church 00:29:02.140 --> 00:29:03.000 that might 00:29:03.000 --> 00:29:03.660 give them 00:29:03.660 --> 00:29:04.740 access to 00:29:04.740 --> 00:29:06.059 or opportunity 00:29:06.059 --> 00:29:07.900 to do 00:29:07.900 --> 00:29:09.140 any other 00:29:09.140 --> 00:29:10.880 abuse. 00:29:13.740 --> 00:29:14.620 We would 00:29:14.620 --> 00:29:15.380 fully cooperate 00:29:15.380 --> 00:29:16.799 with the 00:29:16.799 --> 00:29:17.940 police investigation. 00:29:20.559 --> 00:29:21.519 We'd not only 00:29:21.519 --> 00:29:22.139 call them 00:29:22.139 --> 00:29:23.059 and invite them 00:29:23.059 --> 00:29:23.639 but we would 00:29:23.639 --> 00:29:23.980 seek 00:29:23.980 --> 00:29:25.119 to bring 00:29:25.119 --> 00:29:26.500 every fact 00:29:26.500 --> 00:29:27.539 to light 00:29:27.539 --> 00:29:28.519 for them 00:29:28.519 --> 00:29:29.419 so that 00:29:29.419 --> 00:29:30.259 they can do 00:29:30.259 --> 00:29:31.079 their role 00:29:31.079 --> 00:29:32.919 in investigating 00:29:32.919 --> 00:29:33.940 a criminal case. 00:29:34.740 --> 00:29:35.559 Why would we 00:29:35.559 --> 00:29:36.099 do this? 00:29:36.759 --> 00:29:37.000 Well, 00:29:37.079 --> 00:29:37.440 first, 00:29:37.579 --> 00:29:38.379 because it's 00:29:38.379 --> 00:29:38.980 not a trivial 00:29:38.980 --> 00:29:39.419 matter. 00:29:40.339 --> 00:29:40.639 Abuse 00:29:40.639 --> 00:29:41.119 destroys 00:29:41.119 --> 00:29:42.059 people's lives. 00:29:42.980 --> 00:29:43.419 It also 00:29:43.419 --> 00:29:43.960 destroys 00:29:43.960 --> 00:29:44.619 the integrity 00:29:44.619 --> 00:29:45.399 of our gospel 00:29:45.399 --> 00:29:45.980 community 00:29:45.980 --> 00:29:46.680 and the witness 00:29:46.680 --> 00:29:47.420 of the church. 00:29:48.539 --> 00:29:49.360 For us 00:29:49.360 --> 00:29:49.819 to do 00:29:49.819 --> 00:29:50.319 anything 00:29:50.319 --> 00:29:50.960 less 00:29:50.960 --> 00:29:51.819 than to 00:29:51.819 --> 00:29:52.259 bring it 00:29:52.259 --> 00:29:52.819 to light 00:29:52.819 --> 00:29:53.539 and to 00:29:53.539 --> 00:29:54.319 see it 00:29:54.319 --> 00:29:54.660 followed 00:29:54.660 --> 00:29:55.160 through 00:29:55.160 --> 00:29:57.360 would be 00:29:57.360 --> 00:29:57.799 to 00:29:57.799 --> 00:29:59.259 dishonor 00:29:59.259 --> 00:29:59.759 Christ 00:29:59.759 --> 00:30:00.339 more than 00:30:00.339 --> 00:30:00.660 it would 00:30:00.660 --> 00:30:01.000 be 00:30:01.000 --> 00:30:03.180 to 00:30:03.180 --> 00:30:03.860 misguidedly 00:30:03.860 --> 00:30:04.259 try to 00:30:04.259 --> 00:30:04.680 hide it. 00:30:04.680 --> 00:30:06.680 to 00:30:06.680 --> 00:30:07.180 do 00:30:07.180 --> 00:30:07.519 to 00:30:07.519 --> 00:30:07.680 do 00:30:07.680 --> 00:30:09.019 this. 00:30:09.019 --> 00:30:09.519 Because it 00:30:09.519 --> 00:30:09.920 is a 00:30:09.920 --> 00:30:10.440 crime 00:30:10.440 --> 00:30:11.519 and we 00:30:11.519 --> 00:30:11.740 would 00:30:11.740 --> 00:30:12.259 recognize 00:30:12.259 --> 00:30:13.160 that the 00:30:13.160 --> 00:30:13.600 government 00:30:13.600 --> 00:30:15.560 has a 00:30:15.560 --> 00:30:16.340 proper role 00:30:16.340 --> 00:30:17.279 in investigating 00:30:17.279 --> 00:30:18.000 the claim. 00:30:19.960 --> 00:30:20.560 Thirdly, 00:30:20.620 --> 00:30:20.940 we would 00:30:20.940 --> 00:30:21.500 see that 00:30:21.500 --> 00:30:22.820 the government's 00:30:22.820 --> 00:30:23.400 role in 00:30:23.400 --> 00:30:24.100 investigating 00:30:24.100 --> 00:30:24.880 this claim 00:30:24.880 --> 00:30:26.060 is a part 00:30:26.060 --> 00:30:26.620 of God's 00:30:26.620 --> 00:30:27.060 gracious 00:30:27.060 --> 00:30:27.660 work 00:30:27.660 --> 00:30:29.100 in this 00:30:29.100 --> 00:30:29.779 situation. 00:30:29.779 --> 00:30:29.899 situation. 00:30:31.500 --> 00:30:32.200 This is 00:30:32.200 --> 00:30:32.619 probably one 00:30:32.619 --> 00:30:33.000 of the places 00:30:33.000 --> 00:30:33.399 where it's 00:30:33.399 --> 00:30:33.960 hardest for 00:30:33.960 --> 00:30:34.339 us to 00:30:34.339 --> 00:30:34.960 understand. 00:30:36.059 --> 00:30:36.680 But what 00:30:36.680 --> 00:30:37.200 the police 00:30:37.200 --> 00:30:37.839 do is to 00:30:37.839 --> 00:30:38.180 try to 00:30:38.180 --> 00:30:38.700 establish 00:30:38.700 --> 00:30:39.359 the facts 00:30:39.359 --> 00:30:39.680 of the 00:30:39.680 --> 00:30:40.160 case 00:30:40.160 --> 00:30:41.619 so that 00:30:41.619 --> 00:30:42.440 they can 00:30:42.440 --> 00:30:42.839 determine 00:30:42.839 --> 00:30:43.379 whether the 00:30:43.379 --> 00:30:43.819 crime was 00:30:43.819 --> 00:30:44.299 actually 00:30:44.299 --> 00:30:44.740 committed 00:30:44.740 --> 00:30:45.940 and if it 00:30:45.940 --> 00:30:46.339 was, 00:30:46.460 --> 00:30:46.819 then there 00:30:46.819 --> 00:30:47.539 are appropriate 00:30:47.539 --> 00:30:48.379 consequences 00:30:48.379 --> 00:30:49.259 that are 00:30:49.259 --> 00:30:49.899 brought down. 00:30:51.039 --> 00:30:51.539 Now I know 00:30:51.539 --> 00:30:52.019 our justice 00:30:52.019 --> 00:30:52.680 system isn't 00:30:52.680 --> 00:30:53.139 perfect, 00:30:53.599 --> 00:30:54.379 but it's the 00:30:54.379 --> 00:30:54.859 only one we 00:30:54.859 --> 00:30:55.299 have. 00:30:58.339 --> 00:30:58.859 And so we 00:30:58.859 --> 00:30:59.419 would invite 00:30:59.419 --> 00:31:00.019 that and 00:31:00.019 --> 00:31:00.459 we would 00:31:00.459 --> 00:31:01.179 see their 00:31:01.179 --> 00:31:04.159 role in 00:31:04.159 --> 00:31:05.079 prosecuting 00:31:05.079 --> 00:31:05.979 an offender 00:31:05.979 --> 00:31:07.839 as God's 00:31:07.839 --> 00:31:08.259 gracious 00:31:08.259 --> 00:31:09.059 discipline 00:31:09.059 --> 00:31:10.000 upon, 00:31:10.399 --> 00:31:11.159 assuming the 00:31:11.159 --> 00:31:11.919 offender was 00:31:11.919 --> 00:31:12.479 a member of 00:31:12.479 --> 00:31:12.939 our church 00:31:12.939 --> 00:31:13.259 or a 00:31:13.259 --> 00:31:13.819 participant in 00:31:13.819 --> 00:31:14.399 our community, 00:31:14.679 --> 00:31:15.259 we would 00:31:15.259 --> 00:31:16.079 see the 00:31:16.079 --> 00:31:16.859 consequences 00:31:16.859 --> 00:31:18.240 of it as 00:31:18.240 --> 00:31:18.679 a part of 00:31:18.679 --> 00:31:19.019 God's 00:31:19.019 --> 00:31:19.519 gracious 00:31:19.519 --> 00:31:20.379 discipline in 00:31:20.379 --> 00:31:21.039 their lives. 00:31:22.619 --> 00:31:23.579 We would 00:31:23.579 --> 00:31:24.119 seek, 00:31:24.119 --> 00:31:25.479 for them 00:31:25.479 --> 00:31:26.559 to confess 00:31:26.559 --> 00:31:27.119 their sin 00:31:27.119 --> 00:31:27.599 fully. 00:31:28.619 --> 00:31:29.119 We would 00:31:29.119 --> 00:31:29.639 seek for 00:31:29.639 --> 00:31:31.519 them to 00:31:31.519 --> 00:31:32.979 know the 00:31:32.979 --> 00:31:34.099 forgiveness that 00:31:34.099 --> 00:31:35.000 is in Christ, 00:31:35.359 --> 00:31:35.939 that there is 00:31:35.939 --> 00:31:36.619 no sin that 00:31:36.619 --> 00:31:37.459 is unforgivable, 00:31:38.139 --> 00:31:38.879 but we would 00:31:38.879 --> 00:31:39.899 also see that 00:31:39.899 --> 00:31:41.039 the consequences 00:31:41.039 --> 00:31:42.019 of their sin 00:31:42.019 --> 00:31:43.639 are a part of 00:31:43.639 --> 00:31:44.339 God's gracious 00:31:44.339 --> 00:31:45.159 discipline in 00:31:45.159 --> 00:31:45.779 their lives. 00:31:47.099 --> 00:31:47.679 And so we 00:31:47.679 --> 00:31:48.399 might love 00:31:48.399 --> 00:31:49.059 them and seek 00:31:49.059 --> 00:31:49.739 their restoration 00:31:49.739 --> 00:31:51.179 and even 00:31:51.179 --> 00:31:52.019 forgive them, 00:31:52.539 --> 00:31:53.179 but we might 00:31:53.179 --> 00:31:53.919 also throw 00:31:53.920 --> 00:31:54.240 them in 00:31:54.240 --> 00:31:57.060 jail for 00:31:57.060 --> 00:31:57.660 their good. 00:31:58.860 --> 00:31:59.620 That's hard 00:31:59.620 --> 00:32:00.160 for us to 00:32:00.160 --> 00:32:00.500 swallow, 00:32:01.840 --> 00:32:02.440 but that's 00:32:02.440 --> 00:32:03.140 the policy. 00:32:04.480 --> 00:32:05.039 We as the 00:32:05.039 --> 00:32:05.500 elders would 00:32:05.500 --> 00:32:06.779 be committed 00:32:06.779 --> 00:32:07.880 to shepherd 00:32:07.880 --> 00:32:09.220 both the 00:32:09.220 --> 00:32:09.900 victim and 00:32:09.900 --> 00:32:10.640 the accused 00:32:10.640 --> 00:32:11.259 through the 00:32:11.259 --> 00:32:11.900 process. 00:32:13.600 --> 00:32:14.220 Here's what 00:32:14.220 --> 00:32:14.740 it says. 00:32:15.019 --> 00:32:15.440 This is the 00:32:15.440 --> 00:32:16.320 instructions to 00:32:16.320 --> 00:32:16.900 us as the 00:32:16.900 --> 00:32:17.220 elders. 00:32:17.720 --> 00:32:18.060 Do not 00:32:18.060 --> 00:32:18.800 prejudge the 00:32:18.800 --> 00:32:19.340 situation, 00:32:19.500 --> 00:32:19.960 but take the 00:32:19.960 --> 00:32:20.420 allegations 00:32:20.420 --> 00:32:21.080 seriously. 00:32:21.640 --> 00:32:22.140 Reach out to 00:32:22.140 --> 00:32:22.700 the victim and 00:32:22.700 --> 00:32:23.200 the victim's 00:32:23.200 --> 00:32:23.580 family. 00:32:23.740 --> 00:32:24.259 Showing care 00:32:24.259 --> 00:32:24.819 and support 00:32:24.819 --> 00:32:25.940 will help to 00:32:25.940 --> 00:32:26.740 prevent further 00:32:26.740 --> 00:32:27.140 hurt. 00:32:27.620 --> 00:32:28.380 Extend whatever 00:32:28.380 --> 00:32:29.500 pastoral resources 00:32:29.500 --> 00:32:30.160 are needed. 00:32:30.860 --> 00:32:31.559 Remember that the 00:32:31.559 --> 00:32:32.059 care and the 00:32:32.059 --> 00:32:32.680 safety of the 00:32:32.680 --> 00:32:34.059 victim is the 00:32:34.059 --> 00:32:35.100 first priority. 00:32:37.299 --> 00:32:37.759 Treat the 00:32:37.759 --> 00:32:38.940 accused as well 00:32:38.940 --> 00:32:39.680 with dignity 00:32:39.680 --> 00:32:41.259 and support. 00:32:41.259 --> 00:32:46.519 So that's how 00:32:46.519 --> 00:32:47.039 we would want 00:32:47.039 --> 00:32:47.519 to work it. 00:32:48.220 --> 00:32:48.819 That's the 00:32:48.819 --> 00:32:49.599 stance that the 00:32:49.599 --> 00:32:50.240 elders would want 00:32:50.240 --> 00:32:50.759 to take. 00:32:52.680 --> 00:32:53.500 We would let 00:32:53.500 --> 00:32:53.940 the civil 00:32:53.940 --> 00:32:55.460 court, the 00:32:55.460 --> 00:32:56.339 government, do 00:32:56.339 --> 00:32:57.160 their job. 00:32:59.279 --> 00:33:00.339 And as we 00:33:00.339 --> 00:33:02.000 come alongside 00:33:02.000 --> 00:33:04.240 the 00:33:04.240 --> 00:33:06.519 victim, we 00:33:06.519 --> 00:33:07.099 would want to 00:33:07.099 --> 00:33:07.819 bring comfort 00:33:07.819 --> 00:33:08.519 support and 00:33:08.519 --> 00:33:09.519 help and 00:33:09.519 --> 00:33:10.019 support. 00:33:10.839 --> 00:33:11.899 We want to 00:33:11.899 --> 00:33:12.839 rebuild in 00:33:12.839 --> 00:33:13.720 them a trust 00:33:13.720 --> 00:33:14.059 in the 00:33:14.059 --> 00:33:15.359 community and 00:33:15.359 --> 00:33:15.919 a sense of 00:33:15.919 --> 00:33:16.379 safety. 00:33:17.539 --> 00:33:18.039 We would 00:33:18.039 --> 00:33:18.720 pursue 00:33:18.720 --> 00:33:19.939 understanding 00:33:19.939 --> 00:33:21.500 the truth of 00:33:21.500 --> 00:33:22.279 what happened. 00:33:23.399 --> 00:33:23.899 And if 00:33:23.899 --> 00:33:25.679 necessary, we 00:33:25.679 --> 00:33:26.439 would pursue 00:33:26.439 --> 00:33:28.899 1 Corinthians 5, 00:33:29.059 --> 00:33:29.500 the church 00:33:29.500 --> 00:33:31.000 discipline of 00:33:31.000 --> 00:33:32.000 one in our 00:33:32.000 --> 00:33:32.839 midst who would 00:33:32.839 --> 00:33:33.619 do something 00:33:33.619 --> 00:33:34.319 against a 00:33:34.319 --> 00:33:34.799 brother or 00:33:34.799 --> 00:33:35.419 sister like 00:33:35.419 --> 00:33:35.839 that. 00:33:37.819 --> 00:33:41.919 that's what 00:33:41.919 --> 00:33:42.359 it would look 00:33:42.359 --> 00:33:42.700 like. 00:33:45.399 --> 00:33:46.339 I take time 00:33:46.339 --> 00:33:46.960 to address all 00:33:46.960 --> 00:33:48.279 this because I 00:33:48.279 --> 00:33:48.939 think it's one of 00:33:48.939 --> 00:33:49.819 the major reasons 00:33:49.819 --> 00:33:50.919 why we have 00:33:50.919 --> 00:33:51.740 such a hard time 00:33:51.740 --> 00:33:52.759 imagining that we 00:33:52.759 --> 00:33:53.500 would trust the 00:33:53.500 --> 00:33:54.419 church to judge 00:33:54.419 --> 00:33:55.379 anything well 00:33:55.379 --> 00:33:57.139 because we 00:33:57.139 --> 00:33:57.939 haven't done 00:33:57.939 --> 00:33:58.639 this well 00:33:58.639 --> 00:34:00.220 historically and 00:34:00.220 --> 00:34:00.639 publicly. 00:34:03.059 --> 00:34:04.480 I hope that my 00:34:04.480 --> 00:34:05.539 laying out of 00:34:05.539 --> 00:34:06.439 how we would do 00:34:06.439 --> 00:34:07.599 it, maybe 00:34:07.599 --> 00:34:08.099 some of you 00:34:08.099 --> 00:34:08.559 are shocked 00:34:08.559 --> 00:34:09.579 by it, maybe 00:34:09.579 --> 00:34:10.139 some of you 00:34:10.139 --> 00:34:10.739 are thinking 00:34:10.739 --> 00:34:11.659 well that's 00:34:11.659 --> 00:34:12.139 not very 00:34:12.139 --> 00:34:12.619 forgiving. 00:34:13.639 --> 00:34:14.219 Maybe some 00:34:14.219 --> 00:34:14.639 of you are 00:34:14.639 --> 00:34:16.759 thinking are 00:34:16.759 --> 00:34:17.079 you sure 00:34:17.079 --> 00:34:17.839 that's enough? 00:34:19.179 --> 00:34:19.839 We'd be glad 00:34:19.839 --> 00:34:20.519 to engage with 00:34:20.519 --> 00:34:21.059 you more if 00:34:21.059 --> 00:34:21.639 you need to, 00:34:22.380 --> 00:34:23.139 if you want to 00:34:23.139 --> 00:34:24.119 process that with 00:34:24.119 --> 00:34:24.699 us as the 00:34:24.699 --> 00:34:25.059 elders. 00:34:26.319 --> 00:34:27.239 But I hope 00:34:27.239 --> 00:34:28.259 that it 00:34:28.259 --> 00:34:29.940 restores or 00:34:29.940 --> 00:34:31.480 helps build in 00:34:31.480 --> 00:34:32.299 your heart and 00:34:32.299 --> 00:34:33.199 mind in some 00:34:33.199 --> 00:34:34.940 measure a sense 00:34:34.940 --> 00:34:35.960 of why we can 00:34:35.960 --> 00:34:36.500 do this, 00:34:36.960 --> 00:34:37.639 why we can 00:34:37.639 --> 00:34:38.300 trust the 00:34:38.300 --> 00:34:39.480 church to 00:34:39.480 --> 00:34:40.139 have judgment 00:34:40.139 --> 00:34:41.559 because this 00:34:41.559 --> 00:34:42.480 is how we 00:34:42.480 --> 00:34:42.940 would handle 00:34:42.940 --> 00:34:44.099 it if something 00:34:44.099 --> 00:34:44.639 like that 00:34:44.639 --> 00:34:45.059 happened. 00:34:48.500 --> 00:34:49.360 The church 00:34:49.360 --> 00:34:51.360 has far too 00:34:51.360 --> 00:34:52.420 often misapplied 00:34:52.420 --> 00:34:53.639 1 Corinthians 6 00:34:53.639 --> 00:34:55.139 in these kinds 00:34:55.139 --> 00:34:56.659 of cases in a 00:34:56.659 --> 00:34:57.539 way that has 00:34:57.539 --> 00:34:58.099 been very 00:34:58.099 --> 00:34:59.920 destructive and 00:34:59.920 --> 00:35:00.500 unhelpful. 00:35:00.500 --> 00:35:03.940 So how do we 00:35:03.940 --> 00:35:04.460 apply it? 00:35:05.159 --> 00:35:05.960 Let's transition. 00:35:06.099 --> 00:35:06.519 This is our 00:35:06.519 --> 00:35:07.059 third point. 00:35:07.519 --> 00:35:08.320 Two case studies 00:35:08.320 --> 00:35:08.900 I want to think 00:35:08.900 --> 00:35:10.000 about so that you 00:35:10.000 --> 00:35:11.000 can think through 00:35:11.000 --> 00:35:11.420 how do we 00:35:11.420 --> 00:35:12.179 actually do this? 00:35:12.579 --> 00:35:13.280 Case study number 00:35:13.280 --> 00:35:14.619 one, the case of 00:35:14.619 --> 00:35:16.019 the unpaid rent. 00:35:16.139 --> 00:35:16.880 I really wanted to 00:35:16.880 --> 00:35:17.659 wear a Judge Judy 00:35:17.659 --> 00:35:18.559 robe today so I 00:35:18.559 --> 00:35:19.239 could bang on the 00:35:19.239 --> 00:35:20.159 gavel and just have 00:35:20.159 --> 00:35:21.440 us step into the 00:35:21.440 --> 00:35:22.179 courtroom for a 00:35:22.179 --> 00:35:22.599 minute, right? 00:35:22.920 --> 00:35:23.800 How do we do 00:35:23.800 --> 00:35:24.239 this, right? 00:35:24.280 --> 00:35:24.800 You're the owner 00:35:24.800 --> 00:35:26.000 of a house that 00:35:26.000 --> 00:35:26.639 has an apartment 00:35:26.639 --> 00:35:27.300 in it that you 00:35:27.300 --> 00:35:27.840 rent out to 00:35:27.840 --> 00:35:28.340 someone else. 00:35:28.380 --> 00:35:29.139 You rent it to a 00:35:29.139 --> 00:35:30.420 Christian, you find 00:35:30.420 --> 00:35:31.500 out after six 00:35:31.500 --> 00:35:32.219 months that they 00:35:32.219 --> 00:35:32.920 are two months 00:35:32.920 --> 00:35:33.460 behind. 00:35:34.579 --> 00:35:35.619 You depend on 00:35:35.619 --> 00:35:36.960 that rental income 00:35:36.960 --> 00:35:38.019 to stay above water 00:35:38.019 --> 00:35:38.739 with your mortgage 00:35:38.739 --> 00:35:39.799 and tax payments 00:35:39.799 --> 00:35:40.779 in the long run so 00:35:40.779 --> 00:35:41.759 it's pretty important 00:35:41.759 --> 00:35:42.579 to have your money. 00:35:44.019 --> 00:35:45.159 How do you respond? 00:35:46.599 --> 00:35:47.480 Run it through the 00:35:47.480 --> 00:35:48.339 paradigm of this 00:35:48.339 --> 00:35:49.579 passage and the 00:35:49.579 --> 00:35:50.339 principles that we 00:35:50.339 --> 00:35:50.759 see here. 00:35:50.799 --> 00:35:51.639 How do we do this? 00:35:51.940 --> 00:35:52.980 First of all, what I 00:35:52.980 --> 00:35:54.000 want you to see is 00:35:54.000 --> 00:35:55.259 that the place it 00:35:55.259 --> 00:35:56.139 needs to start is 00:35:56.139 --> 00:35:56.980 our own heart. 00:35:58.019 --> 00:35:58.900 Are you annoyed? 00:35:59.139 --> 00:35:59.699 Are you impatient? 00:36:00.219 --> 00:36:00.839 Are you treating 00:36:00.839 --> 00:36:01.739 this fellow believer 00:36:01.739 --> 00:36:02.900 as a cash source 00:36:02.900 --> 00:36:04.319 rather than a person 00:36:04.319 --> 00:36:05.339 with a life and a 00:36:05.339 --> 00:36:05.619 soul? 00:36:06.699 --> 00:36:08.199 Are you peeved at 00:36:08.199 --> 00:36:09.039 them for other 00:36:09.039 --> 00:36:10.420 things and see 00:36:10.420 --> 00:36:11.159 background as an 00:36:11.159 --> 00:36:12.319 opportunity to evict 00:36:12.319 --> 00:36:13.119 them or to get 00:36:13.119 --> 00:36:14.639 vengeance on the 00:36:14.639 --> 00:36:15.239 ways that you've 00:36:15.239 --> 00:36:16.920 been slighted or 00:36:16.920 --> 00:36:18.039 dishonored in your 00:36:18.039 --> 00:36:19.179 working relationship 00:36:19.179 --> 00:36:19.719 with them? 00:36:21.019 --> 00:36:21.960 Are you really 00:36:21.960 --> 00:36:22.779 seeking biblical 00:36:22.779 --> 00:36:23.359 justice? 00:36:24.199 --> 00:36:24.619 Are you just 00:36:24.619 --> 00:36:25.440 trying to get your 00:36:25.440 --> 00:36:26.339 piece of the pie? 00:36:26.340 --> 00:36:29.640 How are you loving 00:36:29.640 --> 00:36:30.920 this fellow believer 00:36:30.920 --> 00:36:32.840 even as you are 00:36:32.840 --> 00:36:33.700 confronting them? 00:36:35.660 --> 00:36:37.100 So first, check your 00:36:37.100 --> 00:36:37.440 heart. 00:36:37.920 --> 00:36:38.740 But then secondly, 00:36:38.940 --> 00:36:39.800 address the issue. 00:36:40.360 --> 00:36:41.940 Go to them and say, 00:36:42.500 --> 00:36:45.320 brother, sister, two 00:36:45.320 --> 00:36:46.000 months behind. 00:36:46.880 --> 00:36:47.920 What's going on? 00:36:48.460 --> 00:36:49.660 How can we resolve 00:36:49.660 --> 00:36:50.100 this? 00:36:50.440 --> 00:36:51.500 I need the money. 00:36:52.120 --> 00:36:52.920 You need to follow 00:36:52.920 --> 00:36:53.400 through on your 00:36:53.400 --> 00:36:53.840 commitments. 00:36:53.840 --> 00:36:55.200 How do we do 00:36:55.200 --> 00:36:55.600 this? 00:36:56.000 --> 00:36:57.120 Let's try to solve 00:36:57.120 --> 00:36:57.500 this. 00:36:58.700 --> 00:36:59.760 Let's try to work 00:36:59.760 --> 00:37:00.300 together. 00:37:01.200 --> 00:37:02.059 Let's try to be 00:37:02.059 --> 00:37:02.640 creative. 00:37:03.800 --> 00:37:04.960 Let's address this as 00:37:04.960 --> 00:37:06.019 a relationship between 00:37:06.019 --> 00:37:06.820 two people who 00:37:06.820 --> 00:37:07.800 ultimately want the 00:37:07.800 --> 00:37:09.340 same thing because 00:37:09.340 --> 00:37:10.380 we're brothers and 00:37:10.380 --> 00:37:11.240 sisters in Christ. 00:37:12.620 --> 00:37:13.820 We don't want this, 00:37:14.700 --> 00:37:15.320 there to be an 00:37:15.320 --> 00:37:16.240 outstanding debt 00:37:16.240 --> 00:37:17.180 between us. 00:37:17.220 --> 00:37:18.160 So let's figure out 00:37:18.160 --> 00:37:19.120 how we can resolve 00:37:19.120 --> 00:37:19.380 it. 00:37:20.760 --> 00:37:21.519 Explore mutually 00:37:21.519 --> 00:37:22.640 beneficial solutions, 00:37:22.639 --> 00:37:23.460 think creatively, 00:37:23.639 --> 00:37:24.119 be sober. 00:37:25.279 --> 00:37:26.400 Now, in an ideal 00:37:26.400 --> 00:37:27.039 world, that would 00:37:27.039 --> 00:37:27.819 resolve everything, 00:37:27.900 --> 00:37:28.119 right? 00:37:28.299 --> 00:37:29.059 And then we'd be 00:37:29.059 --> 00:37:29.960 able to go home. 00:37:30.559 --> 00:37:31.799 But we know that 00:37:31.799 --> 00:37:32.639 that's not true. 00:37:33.759 --> 00:37:35.460 And so sometimes when 00:37:35.460 --> 00:37:36.579 we address this, if we 00:37:36.579 --> 00:37:38.000 get no response or if 00:37:38.000 --> 00:37:38.920 they're unwilling to 00:37:38.920 --> 00:37:40.239 pay, unwilling to 00:37:40.239 --> 00:37:41.139 acknowledge or just 00:37:41.139 --> 00:37:42.480 say, I can't pay it, 00:37:42.699 --> 00:37:43.079 sorry. 00:37:44.539 --> 00:37:45.699 It's not my problem 00:37:45.699 --> 00:37:46.219 anymore. 00:37:46.719 --> 00:37:47.199 Right? 00:37:47.199 --> 00:37:48.179 What do you do? 00:37:51.659 --> 00:37:52.779 1 Corinthians 6 is 00:37:52.779 --> 00:37:53.359 very clear. 00:37:54.659 --> 00:37:55.379 You involve the 00:37:55.379 --> 00:37:55.779 church. 00:37:56.719 --> 00:37:57.279 You involve the 00:37:57.279 --> 00:37:58.599 elders or other 00:37:58.599 --> 00:37:59.539 mature Christians. 00:38:00.179 --> 00:38:00.779 Maybe we have 00:38:00.779 --> 00:38:01.519 Christians in our 00:38:01.519 --> 00:38:02.219 midst who have 00:38:02.219 --> 00:38:04.019 mediatorial skills and 00:38:04.019 --> 00:38:05.619 gifting and training. 00:38:07.219 --> 00:38:09.119 Bring the church into 00:38:09.119 --> 00:38:10.339 it to resolve the 00:38:10.339 --> 00:38:10.859 dispute. 00:38:10.860 --> 00:38:10.960 church. 00:38:13.860 --> 00:38:15.180 If for some reason 00:38:15.180 --> 00:38:16.860 this local church isn't 00:38:17.640 --> 00:38:18.840 the right place to do 00:38:18.840 --> 00:38:20.400 it, there are some 00:38:20.400 --> 00:38:22.240 great national resources 00:38:22.240 --> 00:38:24.460 for you as a part of the 00:38:24.460 --> 00:38:25.840 broader body of Christ. 00:38:26.120 --> 00:38:26.900 The Christian Legal 00:38:26.900 --> 00:38:28.280 Society has a great 00:38:28.280 --> 00:38:30.039 website that gives some 00:38:30.039 --> 00:38:30.480 of these things. 00:38:30.579 --> 00:38:31.599 Look up mediation. 00:38:32.079 --> 00:38:32.780 The Christian Legal 00:38:32.780 --> 00:38:33.559 Society, there's some 00:38:33.559 --> 00:38:34.880 great resources there. 00:38:35.460 --> 00:38:36.460 There's a whole ministry 00:38:36.460 --> 00:38:37.160 out there called 00:38:37.160 --> 00:38:39.720 Peacemakers that has some 00:38:39.719 --> 00:38:41.000 really, really good 00:38:41.000 --> 00:38:41.699 things. 00:38:42.659 --> 00:38:43.039 Systems. 00:38:43.279 --> 00:38:44.839 They will even provide 00:38:44.839 --> 00:38:46.500 mediation in certain 00:38:46.500 --> 00:38:47.299 circumstances. 00:38:47.839 --> 00:38:49.279 Both of these can help 00:38:49.279 --> 00:38:50.619 you think through this 00:38:50.619 --> 00:38:52.480 with brothers and 00:38:52.480 --> 00:38:52.859 sisters. 00:38:53.219 --> 00:38:54.559 Not outside in the 00:38:54.559 --> 00:38:55.439 courts, but with 00:38:55.439 --> 00:38:56.399 brothers and sisters 00:38:56.399 --> 00:38:57.679 who can help you 00:38:57.679 --> 00:38:58.399 resolve it. 00:39:02.719 --> 00:39:05.819 But friends, don't 00:39:05.819 --> 00:39:07.039 take runoff to Judge 00:39:07.039 --> 00:39:09.500 Judy and get your 00:39:09.500 --> 00:39:10.480 five minutes of fame 00:39:10.480 --> 00:39:11.980 and $5,000 of 00:39:11.980 --> 00:39:12.880 rewards. 00:39:13.840 --> 00:39:14.519 Bring it to the 00:39:14.519 --> 00:39:14.900 church. 00:39:16.860 --> 00:39:17.880 Bring it to us. 00:39:18.059 --> 00:39:19.219 Let us walk with you 00:39:19.219 --> 00:39:21.239 through this process. 00:39:24.039 --> 00:39:25.400 Let us help you work 00:39:25.400 --> 00:39:26.780 through the dispute. 00:39:27.840 --> 00:39:28.400 And you know what? 00:39:28.460 --> 00:39:29.239 If there's not a 00:39:29.239 --> 00:39:30.460 successful resolution 00:39:30.460 --> 00:39:31.980 after all of that, 00:39:33.980 --> 00:39:35.139 there are a couple 00:39:35.139 --> 00:39:35.739 of things that might 00:39:35.739 --> 00:39:36.079 happen. 00:39:36.079 --> 00:39:38.639 One is that if the 00:39:38.639 --> 00:39:39.940 delinquent guy is just 00:39:39.940 --> 00:39:40.920 being irresponsible, 00:39:41.559 --> 00:39:42.819 the church might begin 00:39:42.819 --> 00:39:44.259 chapter five, 00:39:44.759 --> 00:39:45.559 church discipline, 00:39:45.840 --> 00:39:46.739 on a brother who's 00:39:46.739 --> 00:39:49.819 being ungodly in his 00:39:49.819 --> 00:39:51.480 behavior towards someone 00:39:51.480 --> 00:39:51.860 else. 00:39:52.420 --> 00:39:53.259 That's not right. 00:39:53.619 --> 00:39:55.639 If you steadfastly refuse 00:39:55.639 --> 00:39:56.940 to pay a debt that you 00:39:56.940 --> 00:39:58.019 promised you would pay 00:39:58.019 --> 00:39:58.900 within the church, 00:39:59.599 --> 00:40:00.840 that is not a good thing, 00:40:00.940 --> 00:40:01.659 brothers and sisters, 00:40:01.860 --> 00:40:04.539 and we would begin the 00:40:04.539 --> 00:40:05.099 process. 00:40:06.119 --> 00:40:07.099 That's part of what the 00:40:07.099 --> 00:40:07.880 elders would do. 00:40:08.579 --> 00:40:09.960 But for you, who are the 00:40:09.960 --> 00:40:12.019 offended party, you have a 00:40:12.019 --> 00:40:12.460 choice. 00:40:13.719 --> 00:40:14.900 This is where verse seven 00:40:14.900 --> 00:40:15.679 and eight come in. 00:40:16.559 --> 00:40:17.739 Are you willing to be 00:40:17.739 --> 00:40:18.259 defrauded? 00:40:19.340 --> 00:40:20.480 Are you willing to lose 00:40:20.480 --> 00:40:21.739 what is rightfully yours 00:40:21.739 --> 00:40:22.659 for the sake of the 00:40:22.659 --> 00:40:23.880 unity and the love of the 00:40:23.880 --> 00:40:24.179 body? 00:40:25.380 --> 00:40:26.659 Have you wrestled with 00:40:26.659 --> 00:40:27.539 that question honestly 00:40:28.179 --> 00:40:29.920 before the Lord? 00:40:29.920 --> 00:40:36.000 Lord, the New Testament 00:40:36.000 --> 00:40:37.780 is full of places where 00:40:37.780 --> 00:40:38.920 we are pointed to 00:40:38.920 --> 00:40:40.500 overlooking offenses, 00:40:41.320 --> 00:40:42.840 forbearing with one 00:40:42.840 --> 00:40:44.920 another, being patient 00:40:44.920 --> 00:40:46.519 with one another, 00:40:47.960 --> 00:40:49.820 allowing love to cover a 00:40:49.820 --> 00:40:50.980 multitude of sins. 00:40:51.940 --> 00:40:53.340 Now this is not the trump 00:40:53.340 --> 00:40:54.900 card that says there is no 00:40:54.900 --> 00:40:56.280 other way to deal with it, 00:40:56.280 --> 00:40:59.420 but this is the tenor and 00:40:59.420 --> 00:41:01.140 the tone of a Christian 00:41:01.140 --> 00:41:03.180 heart, of a gospel-shaped 00:41:03.180 --> 00:41:04.540 community as we try to 00:41:04.540 --> 00:41:06.320 address these kinds of 00:41:06.320 --> 00:41:07.540 disputes and conflicts. 00:41:12.140 --> 00:41:14.140 Don't run off to court to 00:41:14.140 --> 00:41:16.200 sue this person first, 00:41:17.040 --> 00:41:19.680 but pursue every means of 00:41:19.680 --> 00:41:21.400 reconciliation and 00:41:21.400 --> 00:41:23.160 resolution within the 00:41:23.160 --> 00:41:23.500 church. 00:41:23.500 --> 00:41:23.539 church. 00:41:24.300 --> 00:41:25.679 This is what God would 00:41:25.679 --> 00:41:26.500 want you to do. 00:41:31.539 --> 00:41:36.820 I wanted to take a few 00:41:36.820 --> 00:41:37.880 more minutes to think 00:41:37.880 --> 00:41:40.039 about a second case study, 00:41:41.000 --> 00:41:43.699 one that doesn't require 00:41:43.699 --> 00:41:46.260 money and one that might 00:41:46.260 --> 00:41:50.219 be slightly further afield 00:41:50.219 --> 00:41:52.119 from the direct application 00:41:52.119 --> 00:41:54.079 of this passage, but might 00:41:54.079 --> 00:41:56.179 be much closer to home in 00:41:56.179 --> 00:41:57.420 terms of how I think this 00:41:57.420 --> 00:41:59.279 goes in our own church 00:41:59.279 --> 00:42:01.480 community, what it might 00:42:01.480 --> 00:42:02.039 look like. 00:42:03.480 --> 00:42:05.359 It's not a monetary issue or 00:42:05.359 --> 00:42:07.139 a criminal issue, but it's a 00:42:07.139 --> 00:42:08.059 relational issue. 00:42:10.799 --> 00:42:11.980 Here's this case study. 00:42:13.139 --> 00:42:14.299 Two Christians have an 00:42:14.299 --> 00:42:15.719 argument with one another 00:42:15.719 --> 00:42:17.500 over comments that one made 00:42:17.500 --> 00:42:19.779 in public insinuating that 00:42:19.780 --> 00:42:21.860 the other had been an 00:42:21.860 --> 00:42:23.920 unfit and neglectful employee 00:42:23.920 --> 00:42:25.700 and had deserved their 00:42:25.700 --> 00:42:27.860 recent dismissal from their 00:42:27.860 --> 00:42:28.440 job. 00:42:29.780 --> 00:42:31.580 These comments happened in 00:42:31.580 --> 00:42:35.560 the context where the 00:42:35.560 --> 00:42:37.400 unemployed might potentially 00:42:37.400 --> 00:42:40.840 be employable by some of the 00:42:40.840 --> 00:42:42.160 others in the conversation. 00:42:42.159 --> 00:42:45.519 So the one who made the 00:42:45.519 --> 00:42:47.440 comments said, we weren't 00:42:47.440 --> 00:42:48.420 talking about you. 00:42:48.659 --> 00:42:49.940 We were talking about the 00:42:49.940 --> 00:42:51.299 principles of how you think 00:42:51.299 --> 00:42:52.639 about how you run your 00:42:52.639 --> 00:42:54.960 company, what you expect from 00:42:54.960 --> 00:42:55.619 your employees. 00:42:55.859 --> 00:42:58.399 It was hypothetical without any 00:42:58.399 --> 00:42:59.460 reference to a person. 00:43:00.940 --> 00:43:02.440 The Hurt Party, however, saw 00:43:02.440 --> 00:43:03.920 that every detail of the 00:43:03.920 --> 00:43:07.019 hypothetical applied to them. 00:43:07.960 --> 00:43:09.619 And it believed it to be a 00:43:09.619 --> 00:43:11.699 thinly veiled attack meant to 00:43:11.699 --> 00:43:13.259 keep the person from being 00:43:13.259 --> 00:43:13.739 employed. 00:43:15.599 --> 00:43:17.859 So, though the core issue is 00:43:17.859 --> 00:43:19.559 still relational, there are some 00:43:19.559 --> 00:43:22.219 material and very real things at 00:43:22.219 --> 00:43:23.839 stake in this conflict. 00:43:27.000 --> 00:43:28.380 How do you resolve that? 00:43:31.119 --> 00:43:33.500 First, check your heart. 00:43:33.500 --> 00:43:36.719 Why is it so painful and 00:43:36.719 --> 00:43:39.000 difficult to hear someone say 00:43:39.000 --> 00:43:40.420 something about you? 00:43:41.139 --> 00:43:42.000 Is it true? 00:43:43.400 --> 00:43:44.860 Are you ashamed of it? 00:43:48.940 --> 00:43:51.280 Secondly, is there a proud, 00:43:51.579 --> 00:43:55.940 defensive spirit in your heart? 00:43:56.940 --> 00:43:59.739 If you were to go after them and 00:43:59.739 --> 00:44:03.759 sue them for slander, loss of 00:44:03.759 --> 00:44:07.979 employment potential, would you 00:44:07.979 --> 00:44:09.699 do it really for justice or just 00:44:09.699 --> 00:44:11.819 because you're really mad because 00:44:11.819 --> 00:44:13.799 you feel so publicly humiliated, 00:44:14.679 --> 00:44:15.759 spoken poorly of? 00:44:17.439 --> 00:44:18.919 What do you seek to gain? 00:44:20.079 --> 00:44:21.939 What do you seek to gain from a 00:44:21.939 --> 00:44:22.779 suit like this? 00:44:23.500 --> 00:44:25.179 Are you going to actually get 00:44:25.179 --> 00:44:25.539 anywhere? 00:44:25.539 --> 00:44:29.259 You might be proven right, but 00:44:29.259 --> 00:44:30.119 are you really any more 00:44:30.119 --> 00:44:30.779 employable? 00:44:32.960 --> 00:44:35.279 Even the $5,000, is that going to 00:44:35.279 --> 00:44:39.199 actually assuage the hurt or 00:44:39.199 --> 00:44:40.679 address the core issues? 00:44:44.279 --> 00:44:46.320 Are you actually acting in love 00:44:46.320 --> 00:44:48.480 towards this brother or sister? 00:44:48.739 --> 00:44:50.360 Are you just protecting yourself and 00:44:50.360 --> 00:44:53.119 your reputation, trying so hard to 00:44:53.119 --> 00:44:54.079 pursue this publicly? 00:44:54.079 --> 00:44:57.159 So first, check your heart. 00:44:58.779 --> 00:45:00.199 Secondly, go to the person 00:45:00.199 --> 00:45:00.779 privately. 00:45:01.400 --> 00:45:03.619 Give them a chance to explain. 00:45:04.619 --> 00:45:06.679 Share with them how hurtful it was, 00:45:07.139 --> 00:45:08.980 how damaging you thought it could 00:45:08.980 --> 00:45:09.299 be. 00:45:09.900 --> 00:45:11.440 Give them a chance to honestly 00:45:11.440 --> 00:45:12.119 respond. 00:45:13.719 --> 00:45:15.519 Maybe they need to confess they're 00:45:15.519 --> 00:45:16.719 wrong if it was wrong. 00:45:19.619 --> 00:45:21.420 Maybe they didn't understand the 00:45:21.420 --> 00:45:23.460 consequences of their hypothetical 00:45:23.460 --> 00:45:24.139 words. 00:45:24.780 --> 00:45:26.579 Maybe there's a way they can address 00:45:26.579 --> 00:45:28.440 the potential harm that you see, 00:45:29.059 --> 00:45:30.960 even if they didn't do anything 00:45:30.960 --> 00:45:31.380 wrong. 00:45:32.320 --> 00:45:34.159 Seek for ways to resolve it 00:45:34.159 --> 00:45:36.980 relationally and lovingly. 00:45:39.119 --> 00:45:40.519 What if that doesn't work? 00:45:41.579 --> 00:45:42.960 This is where I think this passage 00:45:42.960 --> 00:45:43.840 can really help. 00:45:44.840 --> 00:45:46.720 Do you really think the church will 00:45:46.720 --> 00:45:48.220 help you at that moment? 00:45:48.219 --> 00:45:53.539 When Joe so-and-so totally threw me 00:45:53.539 --> 00:45:55.179 under a bus at the cocktail party, 00:45:55.679 --> 00:45:57.739 do I really think the church can 00:45:57.739 --> 00:45:58.179 help me? 00:46:01.539 --> 00:46:03.419 Do you really believe that those who 00:46:03.419 --> 00:46:05.259 will one day judge the world and the 00:46:05.259 --> 00:46:08.519 angels can help you work through this 00:46:08.519 --> 00:46:08.980 dispute? 00:46:08.980 --> 00:46:14.000 Paul says, take it to the church. 00:46:14.539 --> 00:46:16.219 Take it to the elders. 00:46:18.699 --> 00:46:21.840 Take it so that you have others with 00:46:21.840 --> 00:46:26.059 wisdom and grace and a commitment to 00:46:26.059 --> 00:46:30.260 righteousness and mercy who can help 00:46:30.260 --> 00:46:33.059 you, help mediate and help resolve this 00:46:33.059 --> 00:46:33.599 dispute. 00:46:33.599 --> 00:46:37.699 Judge Judy is not going to do that. 00:46:38.599 --> 00:46:39.839 Take it to the church. 00:46:42.719 --> 00:46:45.139 And again, friends, even if it's not 00:46:45.139 --> 00:46:47.699 satisfactorily resolved to your liking, 00:46:48.980 --> 00:46:51.339 will you be the offended party, be 00:46:51.339 --> 00:46:53.900 willing to bear the wrong rather than 00:46:53.900 --> 00:46:56.799 destroy the unity of the body? 00:46:58.940 --> 00:47:01.819 So often, in cases like this, there is 00:47:01.820 --> 00:47:05.240 neither confrontation nor mediation nor 00:47:05.240 --> 00:47:06.120 resolution. 00:47:08.120 --> 00:47:10.440 There is just cold distance, 00:47:12.980 --> 00:47:15.640 backbiting and unkind comments, 00:47:17.280 --> 00:47:20.800 awkward avoidance, and a crippling 00:47:20.800 --> 00:47:23.840 disunity of the body where brothers 00:47:23.840 --> 00:47:25.940 and sisters, though pretending to be 00:47:25.940 --> 00:47:29.100 together, in their hearts are not. 00:47:29.099 --> 00:47:35.179 Can you bear the cost? 00:47:37.920 --> 00:47:42.779 Can you bear the weight of being wronged 00:47:42.779 --> 00:47:43.440 and defrauded? 00:47:44.579 --> 00:47:48.179 Can you bear words spoken badly of you 00:47:48.179 --> 00:47:49.980 for the sake of Christ? 00:47:49.980 --> 00:47:55.119 For friends, this is where we go. 00:47:56.219 --> 00:48:00.679 This passage points us just in hints to 00:48:00.679 --> 00:48:01.699 the gospel solution. 00:48:01.820 --> 00:48:04.679 But remember what we've looked at in 1 Corinthians 00:48:04.679 --> 00:48:05.780 1 through 4. 00:48:06.920 --> 00:48:08.880 Do you remember how he says there is a way 00:48:08.880 --> 00:48:11.179 of the world which is about pride and about 00:48:11.179 --> 00:48:13.760 getting ahead and about stepping on other 00:48:13.760 --> 00:48:15.300 people to get there if you need to, 00:48:15.300 --> 00:48:19.320 exalting yourself and putting down those 00:48:19.320 --> 00:48:21.519 around you in the process. 00:48:22.580 --> 00:48:24.900 This arrogance and pride that does this. 00:48:25.340 --> 00:48:28.519 And Paul said, this is not the church, friends, 00:48:28.980 --> 00:48:33.180 because the church is led by a Savior who did not 00:48:33.180 --> 00:48:36.180 count equality with God something to be grasped. 00:48:37.640 --> 00:48:39.340 But he made himself nothing. 00:48:39.820 --> 00:48:42.880 He emptied himself and took on the form of a servant. 00:48:42.880 --> 00:48:48.260 He bore not only the physical beating 00:48:48.260 --> 00:48:51.559 and the physical pain of our sins, 00:48:51.860 --> 00:48:57.900 but Jesus also was accused of unrighteousness. 00:48:58.559 --> 00:49:00.519 He was called a blasphemer. 00:49:01.740 --> 00:49:05.860 He was wronged and defrauded in every way 00:49:05.860 --> 00:49:08.280 by the very people who should have seen him 00:49:08.280 --> 00:49:10.579 and acknowledged him and welcomed him 00:49:10.579 --> 00:49:11.460 and honored him. 00:49:11.460 --> 00:49:18.820 And he came from his father, 00:49:19.780 --> 00:49:22.139 who, as we read earlier in Deuteronomy, 00:49:23.019 --> 00:49:27.579 is a father who is not partial, 00:49:28.480 --> 00:49:31.280 takes no bribe, but who executes justice 00:49:31.280 --> 00:49:32.800 for the fatherless and the widow, 00:49:33.599 --> 00:49:36.800 who loves those who are vulnerable, 00:49:36.800 --> 00:49:41.700 those who might be taken advantage of by others. 00:49:42.780 --> 00:49:46.039 This God, who is a God of justice 00:49:46.039 --> 00:49:47.720 and a God of love, 00:49:48.200 --> 00:49:50.720 sent his son into the world, 00:49:51.080 --> 00:49:53.500 and this son humbled himself 00:49:53.500 --> 00:49:55.700 and was wronged for us. 00:49:55.699 --> 00:50:02.879 Friends, this is what ought to characterize his church. 00:50:05.319 --> 00:50:09.919 This is the one that we are called to serve, 00:50:10.059 --> 00:50:12.699 a God who loves enough to be wronged 00:50:12.699 --> 00:50:14.980 so that we might be made right. 00:50:14.980 --> 00:50:22.599 There was no self-protection in Jesus. 00:50:22.940 --> 00:50:24.920 There was no vindictive retribution. 00:50:25.820 --> 00:50:28.639 There was no passionate greed for his own gain. 00:50:29.519 --> 00:50:32.719 There was no playing the victim for his own benefit. 00:50:32.719 --> 00:50:37.699 He became a victim of one of the greatest injustices in the world 00:50:37.699 --> 00:50:40.899 for our redemption, for our salvation, 00:50:41.099 --> 00:50:43.459 to make us a people who will be holy. 00:50:44.619 --> 00:50:47.539 And he calls us to love our brothers and sisters 00:50:47.539 --> 00:50:51.059 with justice, 00:50:51.719 --> 00:50:54.219 with sacrificial mercy, 00:50:54.719 --> 00:50:56.899 for his glory. 00:50:56.900 --> 00:50:58.680 Let's pray. 00:51:03.900 --> 00:51:06.019 Oh, Lord, this is a hard passage. 00:51:07.320 --> 00:51:10.400 Lord, for it shakes us in our commitment 00:51:10.400 --> 00:51:13.260 to our own rights, 00:51:14.039 --> 00:51:15.180 to our own freedoms. 00:51:17.680 --> 00:51:20.860 Lord, it calls us to follow in the pattern of Christ 00:51:20.860 --> 00:51:25.720 who humbled himself and suffered for us. 00:51:26.900 --> 00:51:30.740 Lord, will you give us a vision of our church? 00:51:32.119 --> 00:51:34.639 Lord, that is truly a loving community 00:51:34.639 --> 00:51:37.519 where we pursue justice and holiness 00:51:37.519 --> 00:51:40.320 for our own happiness, 00:51:40.920 --> 00:51:42.079 for your glory, 00:51:43.380 --> 00:51:47.019 that pursues righteousness and mercy 00:51:47.019 --> 00:51:50.059 so that we might reflect 00:51:50.059 --> 00:51:53.200 the very core nature of the salvation 00:51:53.200 --> 00:51:54.599 that we have in Christ. 00:51:56.900 --> 00:52:00.400 Lord, help us, we pray. 00:52:01.480 --> 00:52:02.519 In Jesus' name. 00:52:03.360 --> 00:52:03.660 Amen.