WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.800
 Well, as Jeff said at the beginning of the service,

00:00:04.400 --> 00:00:06.560
 good morning, welcome, especially if you're new.

00:00:07.219 --> 00:00:09.019
 My name's Tommy, I'm the rector here,

00:00:09.259 --> 00:00:12.040
 and if we haven't met and you're visiting,

00:00:12.980 --> 00:00:15.480
 I'll be hanging around after the church service.

00:00:15.720 --> 00:00:17.440
 I'll be up front for a little while,

00:00:17.519 --> 00:00:19.260
 and I really hope we get a chance to meet.

00:00:20.740 --> 00:00:24.100
 Before we have this baptism that we're excited about,

00:00:24.160 --> 00:00:25.120
 we're gonna spend a little time

00:00:25.120 --> 00:00:27.379
 looking at God's word together.

00:00:27.379 --> 00:00:30.640
 A couple of scholars at Vanderbilt

00:00:30.640 --> 00:00:34.320
 have developed something called the Unity Index,

00:00:34.979 --> 00:00:39.399
 and it's a way of measuring how divided our society is,

00:00:39.439 --> 00:00:42.399
 how polarized we are,

00:00:42.619 --> 00:00:44.039
 and their question was,

00:00:44.120 --> 00:00:45.820
 is it getting better or is it getting worse?

00:00:46.079 --> 00:00:47.620
 What would you think they discovered?

00:00:49.500 --> 00:00:51.219
 Yeah, things are getting worse.

00:00:51.340 --> 00:00:53.960
 Over the last 40 years,

00:00:55.140 --> 00:00:57.219
 we've become increasingly divided,

00:00:57.380 --> 00:00:58.640
 as a society,

00:00:59.120 --> 00:01:01.780
 and perhaps more so than we've ever been.

00:01:02.800 --> 00:01:06.520
 And there's a reason why you got that answer correct.

00:01:06.659 --> 00:01:08.200
 I think that we probably know that.

00:01:08.260 --> 00:01:09.840
 I think we've probably experienced it.

00:01:10.460 --> 00:01:12.400
 How many of us have lost friends

00:01:12.400 --> 00:01:14.060
 over the last few years?

00:01:15.240 --> 00:01:16.879
 Yeah, how many of us have maybe

00:01:16.879 --> 00:01:19.599
 lost friends over disagreements

00:01:19.599 --> 00:01:23.299
 about politics or culture or society?

00:01:24.259 --> 00:01:26.259
 Maybe you have people that you used to talk to

00:01:26.259 --> 00:01:27.640
 and then you just don't talk to them anymore.

00:01:28.859 --> 00:01:31.560
 How many of us have family members

00:01:31.560 --> 00:01:33.000
 that we avoid?

00:01:33.000 --> 00:01:34.239
 You don't have to raise your hand for that one.

00:01:34.239 --> 00:01:37.379
 That we avoid talking to

00:01:37.379 --> 00:01:40.819
 because we're afraid certain topics might come up.

00:01:40.979 --> 00:01:43.439
 How many are dreading Thanksgiving this year?

00:01:43.939 --> 00:01:44.859
 In particular,

00:01:45.780 --> 00:01:47.379
 it being an election year and all.

00:01:48.399 --> 00:01:49.619
 Sitting around that table

00:01:49.619 --> 00:01:51.299
 might be pretty interesting.

00:01:51.299 --> 00:01:53.859
 And so I don't have to tell you

00:01:53.859 --> 00:01:56.099
 that we live in a highly pluralistic society.

00:01:56.340 --> 00:01:59.500
 And the question that confronts us all the time is this.

00:01:59.780 --> 00:02:02.239
 How can people who have massive differences

00:02:02.239 --> 00:02:06.359
 when it comes to beliefs and values and lifestyle

00:02:06.359 --> 00:02:08.680
 live together in society?

00:02:08.680 --> 00:02:13.680
 When people are distressed

00:02:13.680 --> 00:02:15.900
 or even offended

00:02:15.900 --> 00:02:18.300
 by one another's beliefs and values,

00:02:18.560 --> 00:02:22.219
 are relationships even possible or not?

00:02:24.020 --> 00:02:25.520
 What we're going to see this morning

00:02:25.520 --> 00:02:26.640
 is that the gospel

00:02:26.640 --> 00:02:30.780
 has the power to transform every aspect of life,

00:02:31.260 --> 00:02:34.580
 including the way we treat

00:02:34.580 --> 00:02:36.439
 those with whom we disagree.

00:02:36.439 --> 00:02:38.979
 Time's up.

00:02:40.120 --> 00:02:41.620
 The way we treat

00:02:41.620 --> 00:02:43.060
 those with whom we disagree.

00:02:44.680 --> 00:02:47.379
 And I would actually go a step further

00:02:47.379 --> 00:02:49.199
 and say I think this is

00:02:49.199 --> 00:02:50.879
 maybe one of the biggest

00:02:50.879 --> 00:02:53.719
 or greatest tests

00:02:53.719 --> 00:02:55.139
 of any belief system,

00:02:55.300 --> 00:02:56.280
 sacred or religious.

00:02:57.060 --> 00:02:59.039
 How does your belief system

00:02:59.039 --> 00:03:00.419
 lead you to treat those

00:03:00.419 --> 00:03:01.259
 with whom you disagree?

00:03:02.780 --> 00:03:04.379
 The gospel has the power

00:03:04.379 --> 00:03:05.860
 to transform this

00:03:05.860 --> 00:03:07.560
 in the human heart.

00:03:08.160 --> 00:03:09.920
 And Paul gets into this issue

00:03:09.920 --> 00:03:11.620
 in 1 Corinthians chapter 8.

00:03:11.880 --> 00:03:13.040
 And actually this is part

00:03:13.040 --> 00:03:14.320
 of a larger argument

00:03:14.320 --> 00:03:17.240
 that goes through chapter 11 verse 1.

00:03:17.420 --> 00:03:19.700
 And then he picks this same issue up

00:03:19.700 --> 00:03:21.020
 in other places

00:03:21.020 --> 00:03:23.200
 such as Romans chapter 14.

00:03:23.700 --> 00:03:25.220
 So we're going to primarily focus

00:03:25.220 --> 00:03:26.300
 on the lectionary reading

00:03:26.300 --> 00:03:27.580
 which is 1 Corinthians 8.

00:03:27.720 --> 00:03:28.960
 But I'm going to be drawing

00:03:28.960 --> 00:03:30.260
 from these other places

00:03:30.260 --> 00:03:31.820
 because it's a larger argument.

00:03:32.120 --> 00:03:32.960
 And you really need to see

00:03:32.960 --> 00:03:33.640
 the whole argument

00:03:33.639 --> 00:03:34.799
 to understand the beauty

00:03:34.799 --> 00:03:36.599
 of what we're about to discuss.

00:03:37.299 --> 00:03:38.419
 First we're going to clarify

00:03:38.419 --> 00:03:39.839
 what Paul is not saying.

00:03:40.799 --> 00:03:41.759
 And then we're going to look

00:03:41.759 --> 00:03:43.139
 at what he is saying

00:03:43.139 --> 00:03:45.159
 and what makes such a thing possible.

00:03:45.279 --> 00:03:46.279
 Let's pray.

00:03:48.579 --> 00:03:49.479
 Our Heavenly Father,

00:03:49.559 --> 00:03:50.319
 we thank you

00:03:50.319 --> 00:03:51.519
 that your word

00:03:51.519 --> 00:03:53.379
 is not a dead word

00:03:53.379 --> 00:03:54.419
 nor is it

00:03:54.419 --> 00:03:56.519
 merely the product

00:03:56.519 --> 00:03:58.639
 of human ingenuity

00:03:58.639 --> 00:03:59.579
 or creativity

00:03:59.579 --> 00:04:01.239
 that this is a living

00:04:01.239 --> 00:04:02.779
 and active word

00:04:02.779 --> 00:04:04.159
 and that as we

00:04:04.159 --> 00:04:06.259
 gather together

00:04:06.259 --> 00:04:07.099
 in your name

00:04:07.099 --> 00:04:08.279
 you speak.

00:04:09.619 --> 00:04:10.699
 Speak to us

00:04:10.699 --> 00:04:12.399
 and through the power

00:04:12.399 --> 00:04:13.239
 of your Holy Spirit

00:04:13.239 --> 00:04:14.219
 make us receptive

00:04:14.219 --> 00:04:14.879
 to your word.

00:04:15.699 --> 00:04:16.319
 We pray this

00:04:16.319 --> 00:04:17.419
 in Jesus' holy name.

00:04:17.560 --> 00:04:17.800
 Amen.

00:04:19.099 --> 00:04:19.979
 So first of all

00:04:19.979 --> 00:04:20.439
 let me give you

00:04:20.439 --> 00:04:21.459
 a little context

00:04:21.459 --> 00:04:22.680
 of what's going on

00:04:22.680 --> 00:04:23.579
 and why Paul feels

00:04:23.579 --> 00:04:24.579
 the need to address this.

00:04:24.860 --> 00:04:25.639
 He gets into this

00:04:25.639 --> 00:04:26.180
 because there's

00:04:26.180 --> 00:04:27.040
 major disagreement

00:04:27.040 --> 00:04:27.740
 in the church

00:04:27.740 --> 00:04:29.019
 over food

00:04:29.019 --> 00:04:30.280
 that has been sacrificed

00:04:30.280 --> 00:04:31.300
 or dedicated

00:04:31.300 --> 00:04:33.660
 to a pagan deity.

00:04:34.199 --> 00:04:35.540
 In order to participate

00:04:35.540 --> 00:04:36.620
 in public life

00:04:36.620 --> 00:04:37.160
 in Corinth

00:04:37.160 --> 00:04:38.939
 it was almost impossible

00:04:38.939 --> 00:04:40.540
 to avoid

00:04:40.540 --> 00:04:42.420
 food that had been

00:04:42.420 --> 00:04:43.319
 dedicated

00:04:43.319 --> 00:04:44.259
 or sacrificed

00:04:44.259 --> 00:04:46.439
 to some pagan god.

00:04:46.879 --> 00:04:47.519
 So virtually

00:04:47.519 --> 00:04:48.560
 all the meat

00:04:48.560 --> 00:04:49.840
 sold in the meat market

00:04:49.840 --> 00:04:51.360
 had come out

00:04:51.360 --> 00:04:52.920
 of the temple sacrifices.

00:04:53.480 --> 00:04:54.160
 When people

00:04:54.160 --> 00:04:54.980
 would invite you

00:04:54.980 --> 00:04:55.899
 over for dinner

00:04:55.899 --> 00:04:56.719
 you could be

00:04:56.719 --> 00:04:58.739
 almost assured

00:04:58.739 --> 00:04:59.659
 that there would be

00:04:59.659 --> 00:05:00.439
 food that had been

00:05:00.439 --> 00:05:01.379
 dedicated to

00:05:01.379 --> 00:05:02.739
 a deity.

00:05:02.899 --> 00:05:03.620
 If it hadn't been

00:05:03.620 --> 00:05:05.060
 a part of a temple sacrifice

00:05:05.060 --> 00:05:06.419
 it could very well be

00:05:06.419 --> 00:05:07.259
 that your neighbors

00:05:07.259 --> 00:05:08.399
 if your pagan neighbors

00:05:08.399 --> 00:05:09.319
 invited you over

00:05:09.319 --> 00:05:09.799
 for dinner

00:05:09.799 --> 00:05:10.899
 that they would

00:05:10.899 --> 00:05:11.939
 offer a blessing

00:05:11.939 --> 00:05:13.019
 and dedicate

00:05:13.019 --> 00:05:13.799
 that food

00:05:13.799 --> 00:05:15.779
 to their pagan deity

00:05:15.779 --> 00:05:16.679
 before you ate.

00:05:16.899 --> 00:05:17.959
 At civic meetings

00:05:17.959 --> 00:05:18.679
 there would usually

00:05:18.679 --> 00:05:20.039
 be food of some kind

00:05:20.039 --> 00:05:20.699
 and whoever was

00:05:20.699 --> 00:05:21.879
 presiding over the meeting

00:05:21.879 --> 00:05:23.000
 would often bless

00:05:23.000 --> 00:05:24.179
 or dedicate that food

00:05:24.180 --> 00:05:26.019
 to a pagan god

00:05:26.019 --> 00:05:26.579
 or goddess

00:05:26.579 --> 00:05:27.759
 as a part

00:05:27.759 --> 00:05:28.680
 of the ceremony.

00:05:29.079 --> 00:05:29.360
 And so

00:05:29.360 --> 00:05:30.959
 there are Christians

00:05:30.959 --> 00:05:32.240
 living in this society

00:05:32.240 --> 00:05:33.639
 and so they're reacting

00:05:33.639 --> 00:05:34.420
 different ways.

00:05:34.579 --> 00:05:35.420
 Some Christians

00:05:35.420 --> 00:05:35.900
 are saying

00:05:35.900 --> 00:05:36.500
 hey listen

00:05:36.500 --> 00:05:37.639
 it's just food

00:05:37.639 --> 00:05:38.920
 it's just meat.

00:05:39.460 --> 00:05:39.639
 You know

00:05:39.639 --> 00:05:40.680
 it went on sale

00:05:40.680 --> 00:05:41.220
 in the market

00:05:41.220 --> 00:05:41.980
 I bought it

00:05:41.980 --> 00:05:42.560
 I don't care

00:05:42.560 --> 00:05:43.379
 where it came from

00:05:43.379 --> 00:05:45.199
 and it's just food.

00:05:45.860 --> 00:05:45.980
 Right?

00:05:46.100 --> 00:05:47.280
 And other Christians

00:05:47.280 --> 00:05:48.899
 are very very

00:05:48.899 --> 00:05:50.360
 scandalized by this.

00:05:50.500 --> 00:05:51.259
 They refuse

00:05:51.259 --> 00:05:52.819
 to touch this food

00:05:52.819 --> 00:05:53.379
 they refuse

00:05:53.379 --> 00:05:54.039
 to get near it

00:05:54.039 --> 00:05:55.219
 they're very scrupulous

00:05:55.219 --> 00:05:57.620
 about making sure

00:05:57.620 --> 00:05:58.360
 that the food

00:05:58.360 --> 00:05:59.839
 is spiritually clean

00:05:59.839 --> 00:06:00.879
 before they eat it

00:06:00.879 --> 00:06:01.819
 because they're afraid

00:06:01.819 --> 00:06:02.800
 of being defiled

00:06:02.800 --> 00:06:04.620
 and there's this sense

00:06:04.620 --> 00:06:05.620
 that the Christians

00:06:05.620 --> 00:06:06.920
 who do eat meat

00:06:06.920 --> 00:06:08.459
 must not be serious

00:06:08.459 --> 00:06:09.339
 about their faith

00:06:09.339 --> 00:06:11.099
 and they might even

00:06:11.099 --> 00:06:12.219
 be tainted by it.

00:06:13.259 --> 00:06:14.199
 So there was a lot

00:06:14.199 --> 00:06:15.159
 of argument happening

00:06:15.159 --> 00:06:15.620
 in the church

00:06:15.620 --> 00:06:16.480
 over what to do.

00:06:17.360 --> 00:06:18.099
 And the question is

00:06:18.099 --> 00:06:19.279
 how can these Christians

00:06:19.279 --> 00:06:20.219
 who disagree

00:06:20.219 --> 00:06:22.119
 over a pretty important issue

00:06:22.119 --> 00:06:24.039
 go to church together?

00:06:24.919 --> 00:06:25.359
 Right?

00:06:25.399 --> 00:06:26.399
 How do these Christians

00:06:26.399 --> 00:06:27.179
 eat together?

00:06:27.759 --> 00:06:28.699
 What do you bring

00:06:28.699 --> 00:06:29.779
 to the potluck meal

00:06:29.779 --> 00:06:31.179
 when you have

00:06:31.179 --> 00:06:32.459
 these major disagreements

00:06:32.459 --> 00:06:33.419
 and somebody

00:06:33.419 --> 00:06:34.679
 might be scandalized?

00:06:36.059 --> 00:06:37.079
 So here's what

00:06:37.079 --> 00:06:38.259
 Paul does not say.

00:06:38.959 --> 00:06:39.099
 Okay.

00:06:39.719 --> 00:06:41.079
 Paul does not say

00:06:41.079 --> 00:06:42.359
 well listen

00:06:42.359 --> 00:06:44.159
 all truth

00:06:44.159 --> 00:06:45.799
 is relative

00:06:45.799 --> 00:06:47.099
 and all that matters

00:06:47.099 --> 00:06:48.039
 is that you live

00:06:48.039 --> 00:06:48.779
 your truth.

00:06:49.279 --> 00:06:50.899
 Whatever you feel

00:06:50.899 --> 00:06:51.459
 is right

00:06:51.459 --> 00:06:52.519
 you do you

00:06:52.519 --> 00:06:54.279
 let them do them

00:06:54.279 --> 00:06:55.539
 and then we can

00:06:55.539 --> 00:06:56.239
 all get along.

00:06:56.879 --> 00:06:57.619
 That's not what

00:06:57.619 --> 00:06:58.359
 Paul says.

00:06:58.459 --> 00:06:59.500
 In the postmodern world

00:06:59.500 --> 00:07:00.519
 a lot of people think

00:07:00.519 --> 00:07:01.379
 that's the way

00:07:01.379 --> 00:07:01.899
 to overcome

00:07:01.899 --> 00:07:03.239
 these kinds of divisions.

00:07:04.059 --> 00:07:04.919
 If we could just

00:07:04.919 --> 00:07:05.799
 all agree

00:07:05.799 --> 00:07:06.859
 that there really

00:07:06.859 --> 00:07:07.719
 isn't any

00:07:07.719 --> 00:07:08.919
 objective truth

00:07:08.919 --> 00:07:10.939
 that all truth

00:07:10.939 --> 00:07:11.419
 is relative

00:07:11.419 --> 00:07:12.439
 and that even

00:07:12.439 --> 00:07:12.919
 if there is

00:07:12.919 --> 00:07:13.619
 an objective truth

00:07:13.619 --> 00:07:14.039
 it would be

00:07:14.039 --> 00:07:14.799
 so impossible

00:07:14.799 --> 00:07:15.359
 to know it

00:07:15.359 --> 00:07:16.519
 that it would be

00:07:16.519 --> 00:07:17.319
 better for society

00:07:17.319 --> 00:07:18.239
 if we all just

00:07:18.239 --> 00:07:19.199
 live with the idea

00:07:19.199 --> 00:07:19.939
 that your truth

00:07:19.939 --> 00:07:20.500
 is your truth

00:07:20.500 --> 00:07:21.099
 and your truth

00:07:21.099 --> 00:07:21.659
 is your truth

00:07:21.659 --> 00:07:22.500
 and my truth

00:07:22.500 --> 00:07:23.139
 is my truth

00:07:23.139 --> 00:07:24.139
 and then we can

00:07:24.139 --> 00:07:24.979
 all get along.

00:07:26.740 --> 00:07:27.180
 But of course

00:07:27.180 --> 00:07:27.740
 that does start

00:07:27.740 --> 00:07:28.599
 to fall apart

00:07:28.599 --> 00:07:29.019
 a bit.

00:07:29.159 --> 00:07:29.699
 If you push

00:07:29.699 --> 00:07:30.599
 the logic

00:07:30.599 --> 00:07:31.519
 you begin to realize

00:07:31.519 --> 00:07:32.699
 well that is itself

00:07:32.699 --> 00:07:33.500
 kind of an absolute

00:07:33.500 --> 00:07:34.300
 truth right?

00:07:35.300 --> 00:07:35.539
 You know

00:07:35.539 --> 00:07:36.480
 the one

00:07:36.480 --> 00:07:37.620
 absolute truth

00:07:37.620 --> 00:07:38.419
 that's allowed

00:07:38.419 --> 00:07:39.000
 to exist

00:07:39.000 --> 00:07:39.659
 is the truth

00:07:39.659 --> 00:07:40.199
 that there is

00:07:40.199 --> 00:07:40.899
 no absolute

00:07:40.899 --> 00:07:41.919
 truth.

00:07:43.039 --> 00:07:43.699
 It doesn't really

00:07:43.699 --> 00:07:44.180
 work.

00:07:44.180 --> 00:07:46.860
 Paul clearly

00:07:46.860 --> 00:07:47.400
 believes

00:07:47.400 --> 00:07:48.000
 that there is

00:07:48.000 --> 00:07:48.459
 an objective

00:07:48.459 --> 00:07:49.300
 truth

00:07:49.300 --> 00:07:50.540
 and Paul

00:07:50.540 --> 00:07:51.400
 believes that

00:07:51.400 --> 00:07:52.519
 it is possible

00:07:52.519 --> 00:07:53.259
 to know

00:07:53.259 --> 00:07:54.019
 and ascertain

00:07:54.019 --> 00:07:55.439
 things that are

00:07:55.439 --> 00:07:56.220
 more true

00:07:56.220 --> 00:07:57.980
 or less true

00:07:57.980 --> 00:07:59.280
 according to that

00:07:59.280 --> 00:08:00.399
 continuum right?

00:08:00.500 --> 00:08:01.019
 So it's what we

00:08:01.019 --> 00:08:01.500
 would call a

00:08:01.500 --> 00:08:02.720
 correspondence theory

00:08:02.720 --> 00:08:03.180
 of truth.

00:08:03.399 --> 00:08:03.939
 There is an

00:08:03.939 --> 00:08:04.699
 objective truth

00:08:04.699 --> 00:08:06.340
 there is an

00:08:06.340 --> 00:08:07.360
 objective reality

00:08:07.360 --> 00:08:09.180
 and what we

00:08:09.180 --> 00:08:10.019
 believe either

00:08:10.019 --> 00:08:11.180
 corresponds more

00:08:11.180 --> 00:08:11.879
 or less

00:08:11.879 --> 00:08:12.460
 with that

00:08:12.460 --> 00:08:13.480
 objective reality.

00:08:13.480 --> 00:08:14.220
 So he believes

00:08:14.220 --> 00:08:14.879
 there is a truth

00:08:14.879 --> 00:08:15.400
 and to some

00:08:15.400 --> 00:08:15.980
 extent it is

00:08:15.980 --> 00:08:16.400
 knowable.

00:08:17.300 --> 00:08:17.720
 And in this

00:08:17.720 --> 00:08:18.460
 particular case

00:08:18.460 --> 00:08:18.840
 he says

00:08:18.840 --> 00:08:19.920
 listen in this

00:08:19.920 --> 00:08:20.640
 particular case

00:08:20.640 --> 00:08:21.580
 it is totally

00:08:21.580 --> 00:08:22.879
 okay if you

00:08:22.879 --> 00:08:23.300
 want to eat

00:08:23.300 --> 00:08:23.700
 that meat.

00:08:24.580 --> 00:08:25.040
 If you want

00:08:25.040 --> 00:08:25.360
 to go to the

00:08:25.360 --> 00:08:25.900
 market and you

00:08:25.900 --> 00:08:26.200
 want to buy

00:08:26.200 --> 00:08:26.600
 that meat

00:08:26.600 --> 00:08:26.960
 and you want

00:08:26.960 --> 00:08:27.280
 to eat it

00:08:27.280 --> 00:08:27.660
 if somebody

00:08:27.660 --> 00:08:28.220
 invites you

00:08:28.220 --> 00:08:28.620
 over to their

00:08:28.620 --> 00:08:30.160
 home it's

00:08:30.160 --> 00:08:30.879
 okay to eat

00:08:30.879 --> 00:08:31.280
 the food.

00:08:31.400 --> 00:08:31.920
 And he lays

00:08:31.920 --> 00:08:32.480
 out his argument

00:08:32.480 --> 00:08:33.139
 in verses 4

00:08:33.139 --> 00:08:33.580
 through 6.

00:08:33.639 --> 00:08:34.120
 He says listen

00:08:34.120 --> 00:08:34.940
 we know that

00:08:34.940 --> 00:08:35.500
 idols don't

00:08:35.500 --> 00:08:36.320
 actually exist.

00:08:37.379 --> 00:08:38.080
 We know that

00:08:38.080 --> 00:08:38.639
 human beings

00:08:38.639 --> 00:08:39.300
 have created

00:08:39.300 --> 00:08:39.960
 them that they've

00:08:39.960 --> 00:08:40.639
 imbued them

00:08:40.639 --> 00:08:41.200
 with spiritual

00:08:41.200 --> 00:08:41.960
 significance but

00:08:41.960 --> 00:08:42.200
 they don't

00:08:42.200 --> 00:08:42.759
 actually exist.

00:08:42.899 --> 00:08:43.300
 We know that

00:08:43.299 --> 00:08:43.639
 there's only

00:08:43.639 --> 00:08:44.319
 one God.

00:08:45.919 --> 00:08:46.500
 Now in other

00:08:46.500 --> 00:08:47.279
 places he says

00:08:47.279 --> 00:08:48.399
 there's a danger

00:08:48.399 --> 00:08:49.079
 in idol worship

00:08:49.079 --> 00:08:49.899
 of corresponding

00:08:49.899 --> 00:08:51.000
 of relating

00:08:51.000 --> 00:08:51.659
 to demons.

00:08:53.359 --> 00:08:54.159
 But that's a

00:08:54.159 --> 00:08:54.359
 different,

00:08:54.500 --> 00:08:55.259
 that's a related

00:08:55.259 --> 00:08:55.839
 but distinct

00:08:55.839 --> 00:08:56.199
 issue.

00:08:56.839 --> 00:08:57.439
 He says we

00:08:57.439 --> 00:08:58.759
 know that

00:08:58.759 --> 00:08:59.659
 idols themselves

00:08:59.659 --> 00:09:00.319
 don't actually

00:09:00.319 --> 00:09:00.620
 exist.

00:09:00.740 --> 00:09:01.079
 There's only

00:09:01.079 --> 00:09:02.259
 one true God

00:09:02.259 --> 00:09:02.839
 and he made

00:09:02.839 --> 00:09:03.679
 everything including

00:09:03.679 --> 00:09:04.259
 that food on

00:09:04.259 --> 00:09:04.839
 the table so

00:09:04.839 --> 00:09:06.599
 eat it and

00:09:06.599 --> 00:09:07.299
 you'll be fine.

00:09:08.319 --> 00:09:08.779
 And he says

00:09:08.779 --> 00:09:09.179
 in verse 8

00:09:09.179 --> 00:09:09.779
 you know what

00:09:09.779 --> 00:09:10.859
 you eat is not

00:09:10.859 --> 00:09:11.479
 ultimately going

00:09:11.479 --> 00:09:12.279
 to have an impact

00:09:12.279 --> 00:09:13.059
 on your

00:09:13.059 --> 00:09:13.699
 relationship with

00:09:13.699 --> 00:09:14.000
 God.

00:09:14.159 --> 00:09:14.779
 Eating certain

00:09:14.779 --> 00:09:15.299
 foods is not

00:09:15.299 --> 00:09:15.559
 going to bring

00:09:15.559 --> 00:09:16.100
 you closer to

00:09:16.100 --> 00:09:16.279
 God.

00:09:16.500 --> 00:09:17.199
 You might feel

00:09:17.199 --> 00:09:17.959
 like it does

00:09:17.959 --> 00:09:18.459
 if it's really

00:09:18.459 --> 00:09:19.379
 good food but

00:09:19.379 --> 00:09:20.699
 it's not going

00:09:20.699 --> 00:09:21.199
 to ultimately

00:09:21.199 --> 00:09:22.699
 result in a

00:09:22.699 --> 00:09:23.319
 better relationship.

00:09:24.059 --> 00:09:24.579
 And eating other

00:09:24.579 --> 00:09:25.179
 foods is not going

00:09:25.179 --> 00:09:25.559
 to push you

00:09:25.559 --> 00:09:26.220
 further away from

00:09:26.220 --> 00:09:26.379
 God.

00:09:26.419 --> 00:09:26.860
 That's not what

00:09:26.860 --> 00:09:27.439
 this is about.

00:09:28.839 --> 00:09:29.659
 So Paul's saying

00:09:29.659 --> 00:09:30.620
 there is a correct

00:09:30.620 --> 00:09:31.279
 way of thinking

00:09:31.279 --> 00:09:32.039
 about this issue

00:09:32.039 --> 00:09:35.439
 but not all

00:09:35.439 --> 00:09:36.539
 Christians see it.

00:09:36.539 --> 00:09:38.559
 and there's a

00:09:38.559 --> 00:09:39.319
 significant number

00:09:39.319 --> 00:09:39.799
 of Christians

00:09:39.799 --> 00:09:41.679
 who are very

00:09:41.679 --> 00:09:44.120
 scandalized by

00:09:44.120 --> 00:09:44.559
 this.

00:09:45.299 --> 00:09:45.819
 And he says

00:09:45.819 --> 00:09:46.259
 you know those

00:09:46.259 --> 00:09:47.099
 Christians who are

00:09:47.099 --> 00:09:48.099
 refusing to eat

00:09:48.099 --> 00:09:48.639
 the meat the

00:09:48.639 --> 00:09:49.299
 issue is that they

00:09:49.299 --> 00:09:49.779
 have a weak

00:09:49.779 --> 00:09:50.319
 conscience.

00:09:51.659 --> 00:09:52.299
 Now normally

00:09:52.299 --> 00:09:52.899
 what we think of

00:09:52.899 --> 00:09:53.319
 as a weak

00:09:53.319 --> 00:09:54.839
 conscience is the

00:09:54.839 --> 00:09:55.599
 opposite of what

00:09:55.599 --> 00:09:56.559
 Paul actually says.

00:09:56.799 --> 00:09:57.839
 The way Paul

00:09:57.839 --> 00:09:58.679
 defines weak

00:09:58.679 --> 00:10:00.120
 conscience is he

00:10:00.120 --> 00:10:01.039
 says your conscience

00:10:01.039 --> 00:10:02.740
 is too weak to

00:10:02.740 --> 00:10:04.120
 protect you from

00:10:04.120 --> 00:10:05.459
 unnecessary guilt

00:10:05.460 --> 00:10:06.240
 and superstition.

00:10:07.480 --> 00:10:07.680
 Isn't that

00:10:07.680 --> 00:10:07.900
 interesting?

00:10:08.019 --> 00:10:08.560
 So we would think

00:10:08.560 --> 00:10:09.080
 of it normally as

00:10:09.080 --> 00:10:09.500
 the opposite.

00:10:09.680 --> 00:10:10.379
 A weak conscience

00:10:10.379 --> 00:10:11.280
 is a person who's

00:10:11.280 --> 00:10:12.320
 sort of licentious

00:10:12.320 --> 00:10:12.680
 you know.

00:10:12.960 --> 00:10:13.660
 But Paul's saying

00:10:13.660 --> 00:10:14.019
 no no no.

00:10:14.440 --> 00:10:15.320
 These people have a

00:10:15.320 --> 00:10:16.120
 weak conscience

00:10:16.120 --> 00:10:17.519
 because it can't

00:10:17.519 --> 00:10:18.879
 protect them against

00:10:18.879 --> 00:10:20.500
 superstitious guilt

00:10:20.500 --> 00:10:21.220
 and anxiety.

00:10:22.400 --> 00:10:23.160
 So these are people

00:10:23.160 --> 00:10:24.340
 who are the weak

00:10:24.340 --> 00:10:25.660
 Christians are likely

00:10:25.660 --> 00:10:26.620
 people who are not

00:10:26.620 --> 00:10:27.639
 as well theologically

00:10:27.639 --> 00:10:28.160
 informed.

00:10:29.500 --> 00:10:31.120
 They tend to be

00:10:31.120 --> 00:10:32.220
 more superstitious

00:10:32.220 --> 00:10:33.300
 as a result of that.

00:10:33.299 --> 00:10:35.779
 These are probably

00:10:35.779 --> 00:10:36.899
 people who like to

00:10:36.899 --> 00:10:37.859
 have things very

00:10:37.859 --> 00:10:38.599
 black and white.

00:10:39.419 --> 00:10:40.899
 They really want

00:10:40.899 --> 00:10:42.000
 there to be a rule

00:10:42.000 --> 00:10:42.959
 for everything.

00:10:43.879 --> 00:10:44.959
 They want somebody

00:10:44.959 --> 00:10:46.219
 to tell them exactly

00:10:46.219 --> 00:10:47.139
 what to do and not

00:10:47.139 --> 00:10:48.500
 to in every situation

00:10:48.500 --> 00:10:50.279
 which helps them feel

00:10:50.279 --> 00:10:51.459
 more in control.

00:10:52.159 --> 00:10:52.879
 Maybe these are people

00:10:52.879 --> 00:10:54.120
 that tend to overthink

00:10:54.120 --> 00:10:55.679
 to overanalyze.

00:10:56.919 --> 00:10:57.299
 Right?

00:10:57.379 --> 00:10:57.979
 These are the weak

00:10:57.979 --> 00:10:58.439
 Christians.

00:10:59.179 --> 00:11:00.399
 And Paul contrasts

00:11:00.399 --> 00:11:01.859
 those with the strong

00:11:01.859 --> 00:11:02.419
 Christians.

00:11:02.419 --> 00:11:03.459
 people who have

00:11:03.459 --> 00:11:04.979
 a strong conscience.

00:11:06.299 --> 00:11:07.479
 The reason they're able

00:11:07.479 --> 00:11:08.299
 to eat the meat

00:11:08.299 --> 00:11:09.439
 is because the conscience

00:11:09.439 --> 00:11:10.399
 is strong enough

00:11:10.399 --> 00:11:11.899
 to resist the unnecessary

00:11:11.899 --> 00:11:13.539
 guilt and superstition.

00:11:14.139 --> 00:11:14.939
 Now sometimes guilt

00:11:14.939 --> 00:11:15.699
 is unnecessary.

00:11:16.539 --> 00:11:16.899
 But sometimes

00:11:16.899 --> 00:11:17.419
 I'm sorry

00:11:17.419 --> 00:11:18.099
 sometimes guilt

00:11:18.099 --> 00:11:18.939
 is necessary.

00:11:19.519 --> 00:11:20.819
 It could be a good thing.

00:11:21.219 --> 00:11:21.939
 But in this case

00:11:21.939 --> 00:11:22.479
 it's not.

00:11:23.579 --> 00:11:24.259
 And so Paul says

00:11:24.259 --> 00:11:24.879
 these are the people

00:11:24.879 --> 00:11:25.399
 who are probably

00:11:25.399 --> 00:11:26.179
 more likely to be

00:11:26.179 --> 00:11:27.199
 theologically informed.

00:11:27.779 --> 00:11:28.759
 They don't need

00:11:28.759 --> 00:11:29.679
 all the rules

00:11:29.679 --> 00:11:30.779
 spelled out.

00:11:30.779 --> 00:11:32.459
 They have good instincts

00:11:32.459 --> 00:11:33.720
 about what faithfulness

00:11:33.720 --> 00:11:34.319
 looks like.

00:11:35.480 --> 00:11:36.279
 Very important

00:11:36.279 --> 00:11:36.939
 they probably have

00:11:36.939 --> 00:11:38.220
 a much higher tolerance

00:11:38.220 --> 00:11:39.399
 for ambiguity.

00:11:40.620 --> 00:11:41.419
 Some people have

00:11:41.419 --> 00:11:42.379
 a really hard time

00:11:42.379 --> 00:11:43.299
 tolerating ambiguity.

00:11:44.939 --> 00:11:45.959
 The strong Christians

00:11:45.959 --> 00:11:46.779
 probably have a much

00:11:46.779 --> 00:11:47.519
 higher tolerance

00:11:47.519 --> 00:11:48.100
 for ambiguity

00:11:48.100 --> 00:11:49.019
 meaning situations

00:11:49.019 --> 00:11:49.879
 that are very gray

00:11:49.879 --> 00:11:50.679
 and unclear.

00:11:50.679 --> 00:11:54.239
 And in Romans chapter 14

00:11:54.239 --> 00:11:55.120
 Paul actually

00:11:55.120 --> 00:11:57.659
 clearly identifies himself

00:11:57.659 --> 00:12:00.959
 as among the strong.

00:12:01.779 --> 00:12:02.679
 He basically says

00:12:02.679 --> 00:12:03.679
 these are the people

00:12:03.679 --> 00:12:04.959
 this is how I live.

00:12:05.439 --> 00:12:05.599
 Right?

00:12:05.939 --> 00:12:06.699
 And presumably

00:12:06.699 --> 00:12:07.559
 he hopes

00:12:07.559 --> 00:12:08.219
 that everyone

00:12:08.219 --> 00:12:09.299
 is going to grow

00:12:09.299 --> 00:12:10.379
 and get there eventually.

00:12:10.599 --> 00:12:11.799
 The desire would be

00:12:11.799 --> 00:12:12.659
 that the weak Christians

00:12:12.659 --> 00:12:13.219
 eventually

00:12:13.219 --> 00:12:14.359
 become more

00:12:14.359 --> 00:12:15.279
 theologically informed

00:12:15.279 --> 00:12:16.359
 more able to tolerate

00:12:16.359 --> 00:12:16.899
 ambiguity

00:12:16.899 --> 00:12:18.979
 less prone to superstition

00:12:18.980 --> 00:12:20.519
 and that they all

00:12:20.519 --> 00:12:21.580
 become strong eventually.

00:12:22.820 --> 00:12:23.860
 So in situations

00:12:23.860 --> 00:12:24.340
 like this

00:12:24.340 --> 00:12:25.300
 there is an objective

00:12:25.300 --> 00:12:25.940
 truth out there.

00:12:26.039 --> 00:12:26.740
 Paul is not saying

00:12:26.740 --> 00:12:27.460
 you do you

00:12:27.460 --> 00:12:28.620
 all truth is relative.

00:12:28.720 --> 00:12:29.080
 He's saying

00:12:29.080 --> 00:12:30.800
 there's a way

00:12:30.800 --> 00:12:31.700
 of thinking about this

00:12:31.700 --> 00:12:33.120
 that has a greater

00:12:33.120 --> 00:12:33.920
 correspondence

00:12:33.920 --> 00:12:35.180
 to what we believe

00:12:35.180 --> 00:12:35.820
 theologically.

00:12:36.420 --> 00:12:36.960
 However

00:12:36.960 --> 00:12:38.259
 not all Christians

00:12:38.259 --> 00:12:39.100
 are there yet.

00:12:39.180 --> 00:12:39.620
 They don't all

00:12:39.620 --> 00:12:40.740
 understand that yet.

00:12:41.279 --> 00:12:42.220
 Everybody is kind of

00:12:42.220 --> 00:12:43.000
 at a different place

00:12:43.000 --> 00:12:43.879
 on their journey

00:12:43.879 --> 00:12:44.639
 of maturity.

00:12:44.639 --> 00:12:47.539
 what this means

00:12:47.539 --> 00:12:48.259
 is that we can't

00:12:48.259 --> 00:12:49.039
 just in a situation

00:12:49.039 --> 00:12:49.439
 like this

00:12:49.439 --> 00:12:50.080
 just pretend like

00:12:50.080 --> 00:12:50.899
 everybody's truth

00:12:50.899 --> 00:12:51.699
 is equally valid.

00:12:52.799 --> 00:12:53.939
 Some people's

00:12:53.939 --> 00:12:55.019
 beliefs and stances

00:12:55.019 --> 00:12:56.039
 have a greater

00:12:56.039 --> 00:12:56.819
 correspondence

00:12:56.819 --> 00:12:57.919
 to what is true.

00:12:59.039 --> 00:13:00.399
 But the question is

00:13:00.399 --> 00:13:02.039
 how do we relate

00:13:02.039 --> 00:13:04.319
 across those lines

00:13:04.319 --> 00:13:04.980
 of disagreement

00:13:04.980 --> 00:13:06.519
 when people are

00:13:06.519 --> 00:13:07.460
 at different places

00:13:07.460 --> 00:13:08.580
 in that journey?

00:13:08.700 --> 00:13:09.480
 How do you relate

00:13:09.480 --> 00:13:10.059
 to people

00:13:10.059 --> 00:13:10.759
 when there is

00:13:10.759 --> 00:13:12.019
 strong disagreement?

00:13:12.019 --> 00:13:15.279
 think about

00:13:15.279 --> 00:13:16.179
 the conversations

00:13:16.179 --> 00:13:17.419
 that you have had

00:13:17.419 --> 00:13:18.579
 around theology

00:13:18.579 --> 00:13:21.259
 or social issues

00:13:21.259 --> 00:13:23.019
 or politics.

00:13:24.500 --> 00:13:25.319
 Think about people

00:13:25.319 --> 00:13:25.840
 in your life

00:13:25.840 --> 00:13:26.399
 who may

00:13:26.399 --> 00:13:27.980
 send you quotes

00:13:27.980 --> 00:13:29.659
 or send you articles

00:13:29.659 --> 00:13:32.579
 or in other ways

00:13:32.579 --> 00:13:33.259
 sort of convey

00:13:33.259 --> 00:13:33.980
 that they think

00:13:33.980 --> 00:13:35.139
 that you're way off base

00:13:35.139 --> 00:13:36.600
 in what you think

00:13:36.600 --> 00:13:37.579
 or what you believe

00:13:37.579 --> 00:13:38.779
 or what you value.

00:13:39.919 --> 00:13:41.279
 It's very tempting

00:13:41.279 --> 00:13:42.459
 when somebody's doing that

00:13:42.459 --> 00:13:44.000
 to just cut them

00:13:44.000 --> 00:13:44.679
 out of your life.

00:13:45.600 --> 00:13:46.600
 I mean it's very tempting

00:13:46.600 --> 00:13:47.259
 just to start

00:13:47.259 --> 00:13:48.759
 to wall your life off

00:13:48.759 --> 00:13:50.399
 and only relate

00:13:50.399 --> 00:13:50.759
 to people

00:13:50.759 --> 00:13:51.459
 with whom you know

00:13:51.459 --> 00:13:51.980
 you're going to have

00:13:51.980 --> 00:13:53.000
 very little conflict

00:13:53.000 --> 00:13:53.879
 around these issues.

00:13:54.120 --> 00:13:55.120
 Very understandable

00:13:55.120 --> 00:13:56.100
 why that would be tempting.

00:13:57.419 --> 00:13:58.399
 Here's what Paul says.

00:14:00.220 --> 00:14:01.339
 Here's what Paul says.

00:14:02.779 --> 00:14:04.199
 Notice that he aims

00:14:04.199 --> 00:14:04.980
 his correction

00:14:04.980 --> 00:14:06.879
 not at the weak Christians.

00:14:06.879 --> 00:14:06.960
 Christians.

00:14:07.879 --> 00:14:09.500
 The force of this

00:14:09.500 --> 00:14:10.360
 is aimed

00:14:10.360 --> 00:14:11.460
 at the strong Christians.

00:14:12.519 --> 00:14:13.100
 So he says

00:14:13.100 --> 00:14:13.460
 you know

00:14:13.460 --> 00:14:14.340
 you guys are correct

00:14:14.340 --> 00:14:15.100
 but

00:14:15.100 --> 00:14:21.139
 evidence of a changed heart

00:14:21.139 --> 00:14:22.500
 is found in two things

00:14:22.500 --> 00:14:24.620
 according to Paul.

00:14:24.720 --> 00:14:25.240
 Number one

00:14:25.240 --> 00:14:28.000
 the way we hold

00:14:28.000 --> 00:14:28.659
 our convictions.

00:14:29.960 --> 00:14:31.259
 The way we hold

00:14:31.259 --> 00:14:31.919
 our convictions.

00:14:32.120 --> 00:14:32.919
 What do I mean by that?

00:14:33.299 --> 00:14:34.220
 Chapter 8 verse 1

00:14:34.220 --> 00:14:34.600
 he says

00:14:34.600 --> 00:14:36.279
 now concerning food

00:14:36.279 --> 00:14:37.139
 offered to idols

00:14:37.139 --> 00:14:38.440
 we know that

00:14:38.440 --> 00:14:39.220
 all of us

00:14:39.220 --> 00:14:40.180
 possess knowledge

00:14:40.180 --> 00:14:42.740
 and then he says

00:14:42.740 --> 00:14:43.779
 but this knowledge

00:14:43.779 --> 00:14:44.460
 puffs up.

00:14:46.019 --> 00:14:47.000
 What's he saying?

00:14:48.680 --> 00:14:50.379
 The sin of pride

00:14:50.379 --> 00:14:51.920
 is always there

00:14:51.920 --> 00:14:54.500
 and it is always lurking

00:14:54.500 --> 00:14:56.320
 just under the surface

00:14:56.320 --> 00:14:58.019
 and what Paul is saying

00:14:58.019 --> 00:14:58.320
 is this

00:14:58.320 --> 00:14:59.100
 you can have

00:14:59.100 --> 00:15:00.320
 the right theology

00:15:00.320 --> 00:15:01.320
 you can be

00:15:01.320 --> 00:15:02.220
 theologically solid

00:15:02.220 --> 00:15:05.879
 and you can be

00:15:05.879 --> 00:15:07.139
 technically correct

00:15:07.139 --> 00:15:08.340
 in what you believe

00:15:08.340 --> 00:15:11.200
 but just under the surface

00:15:11.200 --> 00:15:12.500
 that pride

00:15:12.500 --> 00:15:14.259
 is simmering away

00:15:14.259 --> 00:15:17.379
 and in your correct theology

00:15:17.379 --> 00:15:19.320
 you can start to feel

00:15:19.320 --> 00:15:20.680
 pretty good about yourself

00:15:20.680 --> 00:15:22.840
 and you can start to feel

00:15:22.840 --> 00:15:23.879
 pretty smug

00:15:23.879 --> 00:15:26.899
 and you see this

00:15:26.899 --> 00:15:27.440
 all the time

00:15:27.440 --> 00:15:28.620
 especially online

00:15:28.620 --> 00:15:29.320
 you know

00:15:29.320 --> 00:15:30.820
 think about your theological beliefs

00:15:30.820 --> 00:15:32.100
 or your political beliefs

00:15:32.100 --> 00:15:32.820
 or your beliefs

00:15:32.820 --> 00:15:33.940
 about various issues

00:15:33.940 --> 00:15:35.840
 people with solid views

00:15:35.840 --> 00:15:36.879
 I see this all the time

00:15:36.879 --> 00:15:37.740
 people you know

00:15:37.740 --> 00:15:38.740
 who I rely on

00:15:38.740 --> 00:15:39.360
 who I look to

00:15:39.360 --> 00:15:40.100
 I say this person

00:15:40.100 --> 00:15:41.460
 has really solid thinking

00:15:41.460 --> 00:15:42.600
 on these issues

00:15:42.600 --> 00:15:42.980
 and yet

00:15:42.980 --> 00:15:44.340
 you see them online

00:15:44.340 --> 00:15:45.220
 like on Twitter

00:15:45.220 --> 00:15:46.080
 or X

00:15:46.080 --> 00:15:47.640
 whatever it's called now

00:15:47.640 --> 00:15:49.120
 treating their opponents

00:15:49.120 --> 00:15:49.940
 with contempt

00:15:49.940 --> 00:15:51.480
 right

00:15:51.480 --> 00:15:52.680
 with smug

00:15:52.680 --> 00:15:53.760
 condescending

00:15:53.760 --> 00:15:55.400
 belittling comments

00:15:55.400 --> 00:15:57.160
 going back and forth

00:15:57.159 --> 00:15:59.199
 and you ask

00:15:59.199 --> 00:15:59.679
 how could

00:15:59.679 --> 00:16:00.360
 this person

00:16:00.360 --> 00:16:01.419
 be so solid

00:16:01.419 --> 00:16:01.839
 and yet

00:16:01.839 --> 00:16:02.939
 there's such

00:16:02.939 --> 00:16:04.579
 smug

00:16:04.579 --> 00:16:05.259
 contempt

00:16:05.259 --> 00:16:06.179
 in the way

00:16:06.179 --> 00:16:07.299
 they talk to people

00:16:07.299 --> 00:16:09.679
 do you ever see this

00:16:09.679 --> 00:16:10.319
 in yourself

00:16:10.319 --> 00:16:12.919
 right

00:16:12.919 --> 00:16:14.019
 you ever read

00:16:14.019 --> 00:16:15.100
 or hear somebody

00:16:15.100 --> 00:16:15.759
 say something

00:16:15.759 --> 00:16:17.639
 and your first response

00:16:17.639 --> 00:16:18.899
 is to roll your eyes

00:16:18.899 --> 00:16:20.500
 you know

00:16:20.500 --> 00:16:21.379
 rolling your eyes

00:16:21.379 --> 00:16:22.600
 is a sign of contempt

00:16:22.600 --> 00:16:26.200
 you can't believe

00:16:26.200 --> 00:16:27.080
 anybody would be

00:16:27.080 --> 00:16:27.899
 so stupid

00:16:27.899 --> 00:16:29.379
 or so misguided

00:16:29.379 --> 00:16:30.460
 you know

00:16:30.460 --> 00:16:30.940
 as somebody

00:16:30.940 --> 00:16:31.820
 who I find myself

00:16:31.820 --> 00:16:32.960
 in lots of conversations

00:16:32.960 --> 00:16:33.899
 about theology

00:16:33.899 --> 00:16:34.540
 and culture

00:16:34.540 --> 00:16:36.000
 I constantly

00:16:36.000 --> 00:16:36.940
 feel this

00:16:36.940 --> 00:16:37.540
 in myself

00:16:37.540 --> 00:16:41.159
 that is knowledge

00:16:41.159 --> 00:16:42.139
 puffing us up

00:16:42.139 --> 00:16:44.480
 that is that pride

00:16:44.480 --> 00:16:45.460
 simmering up

00:16:45.460 --> 00:16:46.180
 bubbling up

00:16:46.180 --> 00:16:46.899
 to the surface

00:16:46.899 --> 00:16:47.860
 filling us

00:16:47.860 --> 00:16:48.440
 with hot

00:16:48.440 --> 00:16:50.560
 hot air

00:16:50.560 --> 00:16:52.540
 and so the question is

00:16:52.539 --> 00:16:53.539
 what do we do about it

00:16:53.539 --> 00:16:54.500
 and Paul goes on to say

00:16:54.500 --> 00:16:55.299
 in verse 2

00:16:55.299 --> 00:16:56.959
 if anyone imagines

00:16:56.959 --> 00:16:58.120
 that he knows something

00:16:58.120 --> 00:16:58.480
 in other words

00:16:58.480 --> 00:16:59.519
 if you think of yourself

00:16:59.519 --> 00:17:00.039
 as a person

00:17:00.039 --> 00:17:01.419
 with a good read on things

00:17:01.419 --> 00:17:02.240
 and you think of yourself

00:17:02.240 --> 00:17:02.639
 as a person

00:17:02.639 --> 00:17:04.039
 who knows a lot

00:17:04.039 --> 00:17:04.339
 right

00:17:04.339 --> 00:17:05.579
 about the situation

00:17:05.579 --> 00:17:06.159
 if anyone

00:17:06.159 --> 00:17:06.740
 you know

00:17:06.740 --> 00:17:08.079
 if there's an expert

00:17:08.079 --> 00:17:08.740
 on this issue

00:17:08.740 --> 00:17:09.759
 I'm probably it

00:17:09.759 --> 00:17:10.440
 and I probably have

00:17:10.440 --> 00:17:11.420
 a better understanding

00:17:11.420 --> 00:17:12.440
 than anybody else

00:17:12.440 --> 00:17:13.359
 on this issue

00:17:13.359 --> 00:17:14.159
 and why can't everybody

00:17:14.159 --> 00:17:14.680
 agree with me

00:17:14.680 --> 00:17:15.119
 he says

00:17:15.119 --> 00:17:16.339
 if you're that kind of person

00:17:16.339 --> 00:17:16.759
 listen

00:17:16.759 --> 00:17:18.799
 he says

00:17:18.799 --> 00:17:19.480
 if anyone imagines

00:17:19.480 --> 00:17:20.099
 that he knows something

00:17:20.099 --> 00:17:21.440
 he does not yet know

00:17:21.440 --> 00:17:22.500
 as he ought to know

00:17:22.500 --> 00:17:23.599
 in other words

00:17:23.599 --> 00:17:24.519
 if you think you know

00:17:24.519 --> 00:17:25.680
 everything about a given topic

00:17:25.680 --> 00:17:26.579
 chances are

00:17:26.579 --> 00:17:28.759
 that's evidence

00:17:28.759 --> 00:17:29.759
 that you know very little

00:17:29.759 --> 00:17:32.099
 right

00:17:32.099 --> 00:17:32.500
 if you think

00:17:32.500 --> 00:17:33.240
 that your perspective

00:17:33.240 --> 00:17:34.059
 is the only one

00:17:34.059 --> 00:17:34.559
 that's reasonable

00:17:34.559 --> 00:17:35.160
 that's evidence

00:17:35.160 --> 00:17:37.140
 that you don't actually

00:17:37.140 --> 00:17:38.319
 know what you're talking about

00:17:38.319 --> 00:17:40.259
 in other words

00:17:40.259 --> 00:17:40.920
 this is a call

00:17:40.920 --> 00:17:42.519
 to be intellectually humble

00:17:42.519 --> 00:17:45.200
 evidence of a changed heart

00:17:45.200 --> 00:17:46.000
 is that you are

00:17:46.000 --> 00:17:47.299
 intellectually humble

00:17:47.299 --> 00:17:48.279
 people who have had

00:17:48.279 --> 00:17:49.359
 their hearts changed

00:17:49.359 --> 00:17:50.200
 by the gospel

00:17:50.200 --> 00:17:52.000
 this quality emerges

00:17:52.000 --> 00:17:52.819
 you know

00:17:52.819 --> 00:17:54.279
 a person who talks

00:17:54.279 --> 00:17:55.359
 about this difference

00:17:55.359 --> 00:17:56.779
 in how we hold knowledge

00:17:56.779 --> 00:17:59.039
 is the great philosopher

00:17:59.039 --> 00:17:59.680
 Charles Taylor

00:17:59.680 --> 00:18:00.460
 he says

00:18:00.460 --> 00:18:01.299
 there are two ways

00:18:01.299 --> 00:18:01.920
 that people tend

00:18:01.920 --> 00:18:02.960
 to hold their views

00:18:02.960 --> 00:18:05.259
 the first group

00:18:05.259 --> 00:18:07.640
 assumes their view

00:18:07.640 --> 00:18:09.579
 is the only plausible view

00:18:09.579 --> 00:18:11.440
 right

00:18:11.440 --> 00:18:12.319
 they assume

00:18:12.319 --> 00:18:13.119
 that what they think

00:18:13.119 --> 00:18:15.200
 is the only reasonable way

00:18:15.200 --> 00:18:15.579
 to think

00:18:15.579 --> 00:18:16.859
 and they cannot imagine

00:18:16.859 --> 00:18:18.779
 any reasonable person

00:18:18.779 --> 00:18:20.160
 holding any other view

00:18:20.160 --> 00:18:20.779
 than their view

00:18:20.779 --> 00:18:23.059
 and this group

00:18:23.059 --> 00:18:23.759
 the first group

00:18:23.759 --> 00:18:24.539
 he says

00:18:24.539 --> 00:18:24.839
 you can

00:18:24.839 --> 00:18:25.660
 here's what is interesting

00:18:25.660 --> 00:18:26.279
 he says

00:18:26.279 --> 00:18:27.420
 you can find this

00:18:27.420 --> 00:18:28.099
 on the right

00:18:28.099 --> 00:18:28.759
 and the left

00:18:28.759 --> 00:18:30.379
 you can find it

00:18:30.379 --> 00:18:31.160
 on both sides

00:18:31.160 --> 00:18:32.700
 of any issue

00:18:32.700 --> 00:18:33.599
 so

00:18:33.599 --> 00:18:35.259
 a fundamentalist

00:18:35.259 --> 00:18:36.139
 from the Bible Belt

00:18:36.139 --> 00:18:36.899
 might say

00:18:36.899 --> 00:18:38.539
 there is a God

00:18:38.539 --> 00:18:39.079
 and anybody

00:18:39.079 --> 00:18:40.039
 who doesn't think so

00:18:40.039 --> 00:18:40.960
 is a moron

00:18:40.960 --> 00:18:43.980
 but then you go

00:18:43.980 --> 00:18:45.019
 into the secular academy

00:18:45.019 --> 00:18:45.519
 and you find

00:18:45.519 --> 00:18:46.359
 a secular academic

00:18:46.359 --> 00:18:48.139
 there is no God

00:18:48.139 --> 00:18:48.759
 and anybody

00:18:48.759 --> 00:18:49.720
 who thinks there is

00:18:49.720 --> 00:18:50.579
 is a moron

00:18:50.579 --> 00:18:53.059
 and Taylor would say

00:18:53.059 --> 00:18:54.019
 you know

00:18:54.019 --> 00:18:54.839
 they're on different

00:18:54.839 --> 00:18:55.819
 sides of the issue

00:18:55.819 --> 00:18:57.900
 but down deep

00:18:57.900 --> 00:18:59.519
 they're exactly the same

00:18:59.519 --> 00:19:00.839
 they're both

00:19:00.839 --> 00:19:01.960
 holding their views

00:19:01.960 --> 00:19:02.920
 in the same way

00:19:02.920 --> 00:19:04.640
 mine is the only

00:19:04.640 --> 00:19:05.400
 reasonable way

00:19:05.400 --> 00:19:05.759
 to think

00:19:05.759 --> 00:19:06.160
 and anybody

00:19:06.160 --> 00:19:06.839
 who disagrees

00:19:06.839 --> 00:19:07.940
 is clearly an idiot

00:19:07.940 --> 00:19:10.400
 that's the first group

00:19:10.400 --> 00:19:13.259
 here's the second group

00:19:13.259 --> 00:19:14.379
 Taylor says

00:19:14.380 --> 00:19:16.240
 the second group

00:19:16.240 --> 00:19:18.700
 is intellectually humble

00:19:18.700 --> 00:19:21.000
 so they hold on

00:19:21.000 --> 00:19:21.480
 to their view

00:19:21.480 --> 00:19:21.900
 and they

00:19:21.900 --> 00:19:22.140
 they

00:19:22.140 --> 00:19:22.520
 they

00:19:22.520 --> 00:19:23.020
 they

00:19:23.020 --> 00:19:23.720
 they

00:19:23.720 --> 00:19:24.440
 they believe

00:19:24.440 --> 00:19:25.660
 what they believe

00:19:25.660 --> 00:19:27.140
 but they also understand

00:19:27.140 --> 00:19:27.940
 that their view

00:19:27.940 --> 00:19:29.220
 is one view

00:19:29.220 --> 00:19:30.480
 it's a point of view

00:19:30.480 --> 00:19:31.940
 and they are open

00:19:31.940 --> 00:19:32.640
 to the possibility

00:19:32.640 --> 00:19:33.720
 that other points

00:19:33.720 --> 00:19:34.180
 of view

00:19:34.180 --> 00:19:36.380
 are understandable

00:19:36.380 --> 00:19:38.220
 that they

00:19:38.220 --> 00:19:39.320
 they might also

00:19:39.320 --> 00:19:40.000
 be plausible

00:19:40.000 --> 00:19:41.300
 there are people

00:19:41.300 --> 00:19:41.740
 who understand

00:19:41.740 --> 00:19:41.960
 you know

00:19:41.960 --> 00:19:42.560
 I've arrived

00:19:42.560 --> 00:19:43.460
 at my set of convictions

00:19:43.460 --> 00:19:44.400
 but I understand

00:19:44.400 --> 00:19:45.920
 how a person

00:19:45.920 --> 00:19:46.660
 coming from a different

00:19:46.660 --> 00:19:47.079
 perspective

00:19:47.079 --> 00:19:47.559
 might

00:19:47.559 --> 00:19:49.620
 might arrive

00:19:49.620 --> 00:19:50.460
 at a different place

00:19:50.460 --> 00:19:51.039
 that doesn't mean

00:19:51.039 --> 00:19:51.579
 they agree

00:19:51.579 --> 00:19:52.519
 it doesn't mean

00:19:52.519 --> 00:19:52.840
 they're saying

00:19:52.840 --> 00:19:53.360
 it's true

00:19:53.360 --> 00:19:54.779
 but it means

00:19:54.779 --> 00:19:55.440
 they can understand

00:19:55.440 --> 00:19:55.960
 how somebody

00:19:55.960 --> 00:19:56.620
 would get there

00:19:56.620 --> 00:19:58.559
 so you can hold

00:19:58.559 --> 00:19:59.779
 strong convictions

00:19:59.779 --> 00:20:00.579
 but you remain

00:20:00.579 --> 00:20:01.700
 open to the possibility

00:20:01.700 --> 00:20:03.299
 that there are things

00:20:03.299 --> 00:20:04.039
 maybe that you

00:20:04.039 --> 00:20:04.700
 don't know

00:20:04.700 --> 00:20:06.039
 or that there might

00:20:06.039 --> 00:20:06.880
 be certain aspects

00:20:06.880 --> 00:20:07.400
 of this

00:20:07.400 --> 00:20:08.720
 that you are wrong on

00:20:08.720 --> 00:20:11.460
 now a person

00:20:11.460 --> 00:20:12.400
 who has had their heart

00:20:12.400 --> 00:20:13.440
 changed by the gospel

00:20:13.440 --> 00:20:15.460
 holds their views

00:20:15.460 --> 00:20:16.640
 with intellectual

00:20:16.640 --> 00:20:17.380
 humility

00:20:17.380 --> 00:20:18.140
 it doesn't mean

00:20:18.140 --> 00:20:19.100
 they lack conviction

00:20:19.100 --> 00:20:19.840
 and this is a big

00:20:19.840 --> 00:20:21.019
 misunderstanding here

00:20:21.019 --> 00:20:22.240
 because we say

00:20:22.240 --> 00:20:22.799
 well does that mean

00:20:22.799 --> 00:20:23.820
 that they're weak sauce

00:20:23.820 --> 00:20:25.059
 right

00:20:25.059 --> 00:20:25.500
 that they don't

00:20:25.500 --> 00:20:26.080
 they don't really

00:20:26.080 --> 00:20:26.900
 have any convictions

00:20:26.900 --> 00:20:28.180
 absolutely not

00:20:28.180 --> 00:20:29.240
 right

00:20:29.240 --> 00:20:29.860
 a person

00:20:29.860 --> 00:20:30.279
 with a

00:20:30.279 --> 00:20:31.180
 who's intellectually

00:20:31.180 --> 00:20:31.640
 humble

00:20:31.640 --> 00:20:33.680
 can hold very

00:20:33.680 --> 00:20:34.480
 strongly to their

00:20:34.480 --> 00:20:34.900
 convictions

00:20:34.900 --> 00:20:35.460
 they might be

00:20:35.460 --> 00:20:36.240
 willing to die

00:20:36.240 --> 00:20:37.120
 for their convictions

00:20:37.120 --> 00:20:38.519
 under the right

00:20:38.519 --> 00:20:39.160
 circumstances

00:20:39.160 --> 00:20:40.960
 but they also

00:20:40.960 --> 00:20:41.680
 understand

00:20:41.680 --> 00:20:42.340
 the danger

00:20:42.340 --> 00:20:43.060
 of pride

00:20:43.060 --> 00:20:45.140
 they understand

00:20:45.140 --> 00:20:45.779
 what it's like

00:20:45.779 --> 00:20:46.300
 to wrestle

00:20:46.300 --> 00:20:47.019
 with sin

00:20:47.019 --> 00:20:49.200
 and they understand

00:20:49.200 --> 00:20:50.100
 the limits

00:20:50.100 --> 00:20:51.220
 of their ability

00:20:51.220 --> 00:20:52.100
 to understand

00:20:52.100 --> 00:20:53.120
 every angle

00:20:53.120 --> 00:20:53.720
 of the issue

00:20:53.720 --> 00:20:54.420
 because they are

00:20:54.420 --> 00:20:55.420
 human beings

00:20:55.420 --> 00:20:56.300
 and they understand

00:20:56.300 --> 00:20:57.300
 that no human

00:20:57.300 --> 00:20:57.820
 is capable

00:20:57.820 --> 00:20:58.320
 of knowing

00:20:58.320 --> 00:20:59.259
 everything

00:20:59.259 --> 00:21:00.580
 and these days

00:21:00.580 --> 00:21:01.320
 honestly much

00:21:01.320 --> 00:21:02.360
 of what we do know

00:21:02.360 --> 00:21:03.680
 especially in the realm

00:21:03.680 --> 00:21:04.140
 of culture

00:21:04.140 --> 00:21:04.779
 and politics

00:21:04.779 --> 00:21:06.240
 is skewed

00:21:06.240 --> 00:21:07.700
 by the algorithms

00:21:07.700 --> 00:21:09.200
 that literally

00:21:09.200 --> 00:21:10.680
 decide the content

00:21:10.680 --> 00:21:11.579
 that we consume

00:21:11.579 --> 00:21:12.519
 and so there's a certain

00:21:12.519 --> 00:21:13.319
 amount of humility

00:21:13.319 --> 00:21:13.940
 to understanding

00:21:13.940 --> 00:21:15.139
 I live within

00:21:15.139 --> 00:21:16.740
 a bit of an echo chamber

00:21:16.740 --> 00:21:18.660
 within a point of view

00:21:18.660 --> 00:21:19.599
 that is reinforced

00:21:19.599 --> 00:21:21.279
 but that's not

00:21:21.279 --> 00:21:22.559
 everybody's experience

00:21:22.559 --> 00:21:25.279
 so evidence

00:21:25.279 --> 00:21:26.000
 of a changed heart

00:21:26.000 --> 00:21:26.700
 is down number one

00:21:26.700 --> 00:21:27.660
 in the way we hold

00:21:27.660 --> 00:21:28.319
 our convictions

00:21:28.319 --> 00:21:29.660
 I believe this

00:21:29.660 --> 00:21:30.619
 and I would die for it

00:21:30.619 --> 00:21:31.220
 and I believe that it

00:21:31.220 --> 00:21:32.099
 corresponds to truth

00:21:32.099 --> 00:21:32.859
 but I understand

00:21:32.859 --> 00:21:33.779
 how and why

00:21:33.779 --> 00:21:34.599
 you might disagree

00:21:34.599 --> 00:21:37.659
 number two

00:21:37.659 --> 00:21:40.500
 the way we receive

00:21:40.500 --> 00:21:41.619
 those who disagree

00:21:41.619 --> 00:21:42.919
 not just the way

00:21:42.919 --> 00:21:43.740
 I hold my convictions

00:21:43.740 --> 00:21:44.879
 but the way we receive

00:21:44.879 --> 00:21:47.099
 those who disagree

00:21:47.099 --> 00:21:48.679
 this is truly breathtaking

00:21:48.679 --> 00:21:51.199
 verses 7 to 13

00:21:51.199 --> 00:21:54.319
 even though the strong

00:21:54.319 --> 00:21:55.059
 Christians are

00:21:55.059 --> 00:21:56.419
 theologically correct

00:21:56.419 --> 00:21:58.319
 even though Christians

00:21:58.319 --> 00:21:59.059
 according to Paul

00:21:59.059 --> 00:21:59.899
 have a right to eat

00:21:59.899 --> 00:22:00.779
 wherever they want

00:22:00.779 --> 00:22:02.339
 to eat whatever they want

00:22:02.339 --> 00:22:03.379
 they are completely

00:22:03.379 --> 00:22:04.299
 and totally free

00:22:04.299 --> 00:22:06.940
 Paul's primary concern

00:22:06.940 --> 00:22:08.180
 is the well-being

00:22:08.180 --> 00:22:09.099
 of the weak

00:22:09.099 --> 00:22:10.379
 brother and sister

00:22:10.379 --> 00:22:13.799
 if one of these

00:22:13.799 --> 00:22:14.759
 weak Christians

00:22:14.759 --> 00:22:16.279
 sees other Christians

00:22:16.279 --> 00:22:17.059
 eating food

00:22:17.059 --> 00:22:18.059
 sacrificed to idols

00:22:18.059 --> 00:22:18.619
 if they're walking

00:22:18.619 --> 00:22:19.220
 through the market

00:22:19.220 --> 00:22:19.859
 and they look up

00:22:19.859 --> 00:22:20.539
 and they see

00:22:20.539 --> 00:22:21.440
 in a temple courtyard

00:22:21.440 --> 00:22:22.859
 they see Christians

00:22:22.859 --> 00:22:24.299
 eating in that temple

00:22:24.299 --> 00:22:24.759
 courtyard

00:22:24.759 --> 00:22:25.980
 with non-Christians

00:22:25.980 --> 00:22:26.519
 and they know

00:22:26.519 --> 00:22:27.039
 that that food

00:22:27.039 --> 00:22:27.700
 was just sacrificed

00:22:27.700 --> 00:22:28.500
 and they see that

00:22:28.500 --> 00:22:28.799
 happening

00:22:28.799 --> 00:22:29.319
 they're going to be

00:22:29.319 --> 00:22:30.639
 deeply scandalized

00:22:30.639 --> 00:22:31.220
 by it

00:22:31.220 --> 00:22:33.139
 and they might

00:22:33.139 --> 00:22:34.200
 stumble in their

00:22:34.200 --> 00:22:34.859
 own faith

00:22:34.859 --> 00:22:35.299
 they might

00:22:35.299 --> 00:22:36.099
 they might then

00:22:36.099 --> 00:22:36.759
 go to the temple

00:22:36.759 --> 00:22:37.519
 the next day

00:22:37.519 --> 00:22:38.599
 and eat the same food

00:22:38.599 --> 00:22:39.220
 but they think

00:22:39.220 --> 00:22:39.740
 that they're actually

00:22:39.740 --> 00:22:40.759
 worshipping that idol

00:22:40.759 --> 00:22:41.379
 and that could lead

00:22:41.379 --> 00:22:42.139
 to spiritually

00:22:42.139 --> 00:22:43.599
 disastrous consequences

00:22:43.599 --> 00:22:46.519
 and so Paul says

00:22:46.519 --> 00:22:47.579
 the strong Christians

00:22:47.579 --> 00:22:48.480
 need to be guided

00:22:48.480 --> 00:22:49.579
 by this overarching

00:22:49.579 --> 00:22:50.659
 question

00:22:50.659 --> 00:22:52.139
 what is the impact

00:22:52.139 --> 00:22:53.539
 of my behavior

00:22:53.539 --> 00:22:54.659
 on my brothers

00:22:54.659 --> 00:22:55.220
 and sisters

00:22:55.220 --> 00:22:58.380
 what I choose

00:22:58.380 --> 00:22:58.900
 to do

00:22:58.900 --> 00:23:00.100
 with my body

00:23:00.100 --> 00:23:00.779
 what I choose

00:23:00.779 --> 00:23:01.079
 to do

00:23:01.079 --> 00:23:01.860
 with my time

00:23:01.860 --> 00:23:02.360
 what I choose

00:23:02.360 --> 00:23:02.600
 to do

00:23:02.600 --> 00:23:03.259
 with my money

00:23:03.259 --> 00:23:04.440
 what is the impact

00:23:04.440 --> 00:23:05.000
 of that

00:23:05.000 --> 00:23:06.100
 on the people

00:23:06.100 --> 00:23:06.660
 around me

00:23:06.660 --> 00:23:07.720
 including the people

00:23:07.720 --> 00:23:08.620
 I disagree with

00:23:08.620 --> 00:23:11.000
 right

00:23:11.000 --> 00:23:12.019
 and Paul says

00:23:12.019 --> 00:23:12.579
 if you ever

00:23:12.579 --> 00:23:13.360
 find yourself

00:23:13.360 --> 00:23:14.019
 in a situation

00:23:14.019 --> 00:23:15.380
 where your choice

00:23:15.380 --> 00:23:16.400
 to eat that meat

00:23:16.400 --> 00:23:17.920
 may in any way

00:23:17.920 --> 00:23:19.079
 scandalize

00:23:19.079 --> 00:23:19.960
 we brothers

00:23:19.960 --> 00:23:20.519
 and sisters

00:23:20.519 --> 00:23:21.839
 don't do it

00:23:21.839 --> 00:23:23.380
 verse 13

00:23:23.380 --> 00:23:23.720
 he says

00:23:23.720 --> 00:23:24.100
 therefore

00:23:24.099 --> 00:23:25.299
 if food makes

00:23:25.299 --> 00:23:26.319
 my brother stumble

00:23:26.319 --> 00:23:27.579
 I will never

00:23:27.579 --> 00:23:28.339
 eat meat

00:23:28.339 --> 00:23:30.159
 lest I make

00:23:30.159 --> 00:23:31.079
 my brother stumble

00:23:31.079 --> 00:23:32.699
 I mean

00:23:32.699 --> 00:23:34.439
 that is amazing

00:23:34.439 --> 00:23:36.539
 when you consider

00:23:36.539 --> 00:23:37.879
 how countercultural

00:23:37.879 --> 00:23:39.219
 that view is

00:23:39.219 --> 00:23:41.359
 so people

00:23:41.359 --> 00:23:42.339
 in our culture

00:23:42.339 --> 00:23:44.099
 right

00:23:44.099 --> 00:23:45.299
 we're all about

00:23:45.299 --> 00:23:46.639
 demanding our rights

00:23:46.639 --> 00:23:48.039
 right

00:23:48.039 --> 00:23:48.740
 we are taught

00:23:48.740 --> 00:23:49.639
 and we are encouraged

00:23:49.639 --> 00:23:50.959
 to insist

00:23:50.959 --> 00:23:52.139
 on our rights

00:23:52.139 --> 00:23:53.539
 our constitutional rights

00:23:53.539 --> 00:23:54.740
 our civil rights

00:23:54.740 --> 00:23:56.019
 human rights

00:23:56.019 --> 00:23:56.680
 our rights

00:23:56.680 --> 00:23:57.460
 as Christians

00:23:57.460 --> 00:23:59.779
 our rights

00:23:59.779 --> 00:24:00.440
 as Christians

00:24:00.440 --> 00:24:01.279
 right

00:24:01.279 --> 00:24:02.059
 those of us here

00:24:02.059 --> 00:24:03.359
 who are Christians

00:24:03.359 --> 00:24:05.399
 I would say

00:24:05.399 --> 00:24:06.779
 Christians

00:24:06.779 --> 00:24:07.799
 are as loud

00:24:07.799 --> 00:24:08.920
 and as insistent

00:24:08.920 --> 00:24:09.440
 about this

00:24:09.440 --> 00:24:10.200
 as anyone

00:24:10.200 --> 00:24:10.779
 out there

00:24:10.779 --> 00:24:13.139
 but what's

00:24:13.139 --> 00:24:13.879
 the motivation

00:24:13.879 --> 00:24:14.779
 behind all

00:24:14.779 --> 00:24:15.680
 of the clamoring

00:24:15.680 --> 00:24:16.680
 for our rights

00:24:16.680 --> 00:24:17.879
 what is the motivation

00:24:17.879 --> 00:24:19.259
 behind the marches

00:24:19.259 --> 00:24:20.599
 what is the motivation

00:24:20.599 --> 00:24:22.240
 behind the political

00:24:22.240 --> 00:24:23.079
 alliances

00:24:23.079 --> 00:24:26.019
 is it insecurity

00:24:26.019 --> 00:24:27.019
 at no longer

00:24:27.019 --> 00:24:27.959
 being the majority

00:24:27.959 --> 00:24:30.599
 is it a fear

00:24:30.599 --> 00:24:32.119
 of irrelevance

00:24:32.119 --> 00:24:35.799
 is it wounded pride

00:24:35.799 --> 00:24:38.839
 is it a fear

00:24:38.839 --> 00:24:40.819
 of losing

00:24:40.819 --> 00:24:42.279
 maybe some of the freedoms

00:24:42.279 --> 00:24:44.000
 that we have enjoyed

00:24:44.000 --> 00:24:46.119
 as long as we can remember

00:24:46.119 --> 00:24:47.819
 you know

00:24:47.819 --> 00:24:48.619
 the New Testament

00:24:48.619 --> 00:24:49.099
 scholar

00:24:49.099 --> 00:24:49.699
 N.T. Wright

00:24:49.699 --> 00:24:50.299
 says this

00:24:50.299 --> 00:24:50.879
 and by the way

00:24:50.879 --> 00:24:51.939
 he would fully affirm

00:24:51.939 --> 00:24:52.759
 the value

00:24:52.759 --> 00:24:53.839
 the importance

00:24:53.839 --> 00:24:55.259
 of rights

00:24:55.259 --> 00:24:56.099
 he would say

00:24:56.099 --> 00:24:57.079
 that these are things

00:24:57.079 --> 00:24:57.759
 that we need to be

00:24:57.759 --> 00:24:58.559
 grateful for

00:24:58.559 --> 00:24:59.279
 but here's also

00:24:59.279 --> 00:24:59.899
 what he says

00:24:59.899 --> 00:25:02.579
 insisting on one's rights

00:25:02.579 --> 00:25:04.019
 even insisting

00:25:04.019 --> 00:25:04.799
 on one's rights

00:25:04.799 --> 00:25:05.479
 as a Christian

00:25:05.479 --> 00:25:06.739
 is a sign

00:25:06.739 --> 00:25:07.979
 that something else

00:25:07.979 --> 00:25:09.179
 other than the true God

00:25:09.179 --> 00:25:10.219
 is being worshipped

00:25:10.219 --> 00:25:12.259
 saying

00:25:12.259 --> 00:25:13.000
 when that is your

00:25:13.000 --> 00:25:14.099
 sole focus

00:25:14.099 --> 00:25:15.659
 what is really

00:25:15.659 --> 00:25:16.879
 motivating you

00:25:16.879 --> 00:25:18.819
 a heart

00:25:18.819 --> 00:25:19.579
 that has truly

00:25:19.579 --> 00:25:20.299
 been transformed

00:25:20.299 --> 00:25:21.059
 by the gospel

00:25:21.059 --> 00:25:21.759
 is motivated

00:25:21.759 --> 00:25:22.859
 not by fear

00:25:22.859 --> 00:25:25.259
 not by insecurity

00:25:25.259 --> 00:25:26.639
 not by pride

00:25:26.639 --> 00:25:28.679
 but by sacrificial love

00:25:28.679 --> 00:25:31.379
 so when it comes

00:25:31.379 --> 00:25:32.339
 to our rights

00:25:32.339 --> 00:25:33.599
 we should be

00:25:33.599 --> 00:25:34.659
 thankful for them

00:25:34.659 --> 00:25:35.679
 we should praise

00:25:35.679 --> 00:25:36.599
 God for them

00:25:36.599 --> 00:25:37.500
 we should hope

00:25:37.500 --> 00:25:38.559
 to exercise them

00:25:38.559 --> 00:25:39.099
 freely

00:25:39.099 --> 00:25:39.819
 as often

00:25:39.819 --> 00:25:40.539
 as we can

00:25:40.539 --> 00:25:41.379
 but

00:25:41.379 --> 00:25:42.699
 we should always

00:25:42.700 --> 00:25:43.400
 ask

00:25:43.400 --> 00:25:44.480
 what the impact

00:25:44.480 --> 00:25:45.340
 of our free

00:25:45.340 --> 00:25:46.480
 exercise of rights

00:25:46.480 --> 00:25:47.019
 has

00:25:47.019 --> 00:25:47.940
 on the people

00:25:47.940 --> 00:25:48.860
 around us

00:25:48.860 --> 00:25:50.259
 and Paul says

00:25:50.259 --> 00:25:51.319
 if there's a chance

00:25:51.319 --> 00:25:52.860
 that we may do harm

00:25:52.860 --> 00:25:53.960
 we should be ready

00:25:53.960 --> 00:25:54.819
 to relinquish

00:25:54.819 --> 00:25:55.340
 our rights

00:25:55.340 --> 00:25:56.240
 immediately

00:25:56.240 --> 00:25:57.200
 out of love

00:25:57.200 --> 00:25:57.880
 for others

00:25:57.880 --> 00:26:01.380
 there was a recent

00:26:01.380 --> 00:26:02.440
 there's lots of examples

00:26:02.440 --> 00:26:03.240
 we could give of this

00:26:03.240 --> 00:26:04.059
 there was one recent

00:26:04.059 --> 00:26:04.900
 example of this

00:26:04.900 --> 00:26:05.920
 that came in the early

00:26:05.920 --> 00:26:06.880
 days of the

00:26:06.880 --> 00:26:07.660
 COVID pandemic

00:26:07.660 --> 00:26:09.779
 we were learning

00:26:09.779 --> 00:26:10.400
 more and more

00:26:10.400 --> 00:26:11.259
 about the virus

00:26:11.259 --> 00:26:12.400
 staying up late

00:26:12.400 --> 00:26:12.720
 at night

00:26:12.720 --> 00:26:13.480
 reading as much

00:26:13.480 --> 00:26:14.119
 as we possibly

00:26:14.119 --> 00:26:14.500
 could

00:26:14.500 --> 00:26:15.759
 there was a fear

00:26:15.759 --> 00:26:16.819
 that large public

00:26:16.819 --> 00:26:17.759
 gatherings could

00:26:17.759 --> 00:26:19.319
 accelerate the spread

00:26:19.319 --> 00:26:19.819
 of COVID

00:26:19.819 --> 00:26:21.359
 the word that people

00:26:21.359 --> 00:26:22.180
 used was the

00:26:22.180 --> 00:26:23.119
 super spreader

00:26:23.119 --> 00:26:23.640
 events

00:26:23.640 --> 00:26:26.500
 and because of that

00:26:26.500 --> 00:26:27.359
 they said that

00:26:27.359 --> 00:26:28.839
 big public gatherings

00:26:28.839 --> 00:26:30.160
 would put the more

00:26:30.160 --> 00:26:31.099
 vulnerable members

00:26:31.099 --> 00:26:31.759
 of society

00:26:31.759 --> 00:26:33.259
 the immunocompromised

00:26:33.259 --> 00:26:33.799
 the elderly

00:26:33.799 --> 00:26:35.359
 at greater risk

00:26:35.359 --> 00:26:36.720
 and therefore

00:26:36.720 --> 00:26:37.740
 local authorities

00:26:37.740 --> 00:26:38.519
 said churches

00:26:38.519 --> 00:26:39.619
 should temporarily

00:26:39.619 --> 00:26:40.759
 stop gathering

00:26:40.759 --> 00:26:41.919
 in person

00:26:41.919 --> 00:26:43.000
 until the transmission

00:26:43.000 --> 00:26:44.019
 rates go down

00:26:44.019 --> 00:26:44.619
 right

00:26:44.619 --> 00:26:46.439
 and Christians

00:26:46.439 --> 00:26:47.279
 were up in arms

00:26:47.279 --> 00:26:47.919
 about this

00:26:47.919 --> 00:26:49.639
 because we have a

00:26:49.639 --> 00:26:51.119
 right to gather

00:26:51.119 --> 00:26:51.699
 for worship

00:26:51.699 --> 00:26:52.699
 and the government

00:26:52.699 --> 00:26:53.479
 has no right

00:26:53.479 --> 00:26:54.259
 to tell us

00:26:54.259 --> 00:26:55.179
 that we can't do that

00:26:55.179 --> 00:26:56.279
 it's a fundamental

00:26:56.279 --> 00:26:58.019
 right in our society

00:26:58.019 --> 00:27:00.879
 and because of passages

00:27:00.879 --> 00:27:01.719
 like this

00:27:01.719 --> 00:27:04.719
 we chose as a church

00:27:04.719 --> 00:27:05.599
 to stop meeting

00:27:05.599 --> 00:27:06.159
 in person

00:27:06.160 --> 00:27:07.640
 as hard

00:27:07.640 --> 00:27:08.460
 as it was

00:27:08.460 --> 00:27:10.180
 not out of fear

00:27:10.180 --> 00:27:10.840
 of COVID

00:27:10.840 --> 00:27:12.779
 not out of fealty

00:27:12.779 --> 00:27:15.019
 to local governments

00:27:15.019 --> 00:27:16.019
 but because we looked

00:27:16.019 --> 00:27:16.480
 at passages

00:27:16.480 --> 00:27:17.140
 like this

00:27:17.140 --> 00:27:19.240
 and we decided

00:27:19.240 --> 00:27:20.120
 to temporarily

00:27:20.120 --> 00:27:21.720
 relinquish our right

00:27:21.720 --> 00:27:23.140
 to meet in person

00:27:23.140 --> 00:27:24.640
 in order to demonstrate

00:27:24.640 --> 00:27:25.259
 our love

00:27:25.259 --> 00:27:25.860
 and concern

00:27:25.860 --> 00:27:26.980
 for the broader

00:27:26.980 --> 00:27:27.560
 community

00:27:27.560 --> 00:27:30.840
 and it doesn't mean

00:27:30.840 --> 00:27:31.620
 that we don't

00:27:31.620 --> 00:27:32.940
 think that that right

00:27:32.940 --> 00:27:33.460
 is important

00:27:33.460 --> 00:27:34.220
 and it doesn't mean

00:27:34.220 --> 00:27:34.860
 that under certain

00:27:34.859 --> 00:27:35.519
 circumstances

00:27:35.519 --> 00:27:36.279
 we wouldn't fight

00:27:36.279 --> 00:27:36.899
 for that right

00:27:36.899 --> 00:27:37.879
 but in this case

00:27:37.879 --> 00:27:39.479
 we allow this ethic

00:27:39.479 --> 00:27:40.299
 from places like

00:27:40.299 --> 00:27:41.179
 1 Corinthians 8

00:27:41.179 --> 00:27:43.159
 to govern

00:27:43.159 --> 00:27:44.699
 our conduct

00:27:44.699 --> 00:27:45.419
 and I would say

00:27:45.419 --> 00:27:46.179
 if you're hearing this

00:27:46.179 --> 00:27:46.859
 and you disagree

00:27:46.859 --> 00:27:48.139
 I can point you

00:27:48.139 --> 00:27:48.740
 to a sermon

00:27:48.740 --> 00:27:49.740
 about how to interact

00:27:49.740 --> 00:27:50.259
 with people

00:27:50.259 --> 00:27:51.379
 you disagree with

00:27:51.379 --> 00:27:52.699
 and you can listen

00:27:52.699 --> 00:27:53.119
 to it

00:27:53.119 --> 00:27:56.439
 but it was a very

00:27:56.439 --> 00:27:56.899
 hard issue

00:27:56.899 --> 00:27:57.299
 it was a very

00:27:57.299 --> 00:27:57.919
 gray issue

00:27:57.919 --> 00:27:58.839
 I mean I understood

00:27:58.839 --> 00:27:59.579
 both sides

00:27:59.579 --> 00:28:01.679
 but at the time

00:28:01.679 --> 00:28:02.359
 we decided

00:28:02.359 --> 00:28:03.559
 this is the kind

00:28:03.559 --> 00:28:03.919
 of thing

00:28:03.919 --> 00:28:04.299
 that Paul

00:28:04.299 --> 00:28:04.879
 would call us

00:28:04.879 --> 00:28:05.259
 to do

00:28:05.259 --> 00:28:06.299
 and if you follow

00:28:06.299 --> 00:28:07.039
 Paul's argument

00:28:07.039 --> 00:28:07.679
 through the end

00:28:07.679 --> 00:28:08.579
 of chapter 10

00:28:08.579 --> 00:28:09.940
 where it picks up

00:28:09.940 --> 00:28:11.139
 and then Romans

00:28:11.139 --> 00:28:11.919
 chapter 14

00:28:11.919 --> 00:28:13.119
 we actually see

00:28:13.119 --> 00:28:13.539
 that we're called

00:28:13.539 --> 00:28:14.279
 to go even further

00:28:14.279 --> 00:28:14.819
 than this

00:28:14.819 --> 00:28:16.879
 not only should

00:28:16.879 --> 00:28:17.720
 I have a willingness

00:28:17.720 --> 00:28:18.460
 at times

00:28:18.460 --> 00:28:19.220
 to relinquish

00:28:19.220 --> 00:28:19.899
 my rights

00:28:19.899 --> 00:28:22.220
 for the well-being

00:28:22.220 --> 00:28:22.779
 of my brothers

00:28:22.779 --> 00:28:23.339
 and sisters

00:28:23.339 --> 00:28:24.559
 with whom I disagree

00:28:24.559 --> 00:28:26.859
 but Paul calls us

00:28:26.859 --> 00:28:27.379
 to go much

00:28:27.379 --> 00:28:28.099
 much much further

00:28:28.099 --> 00:28:29.639
 in Romans chapter 14

00:28:29.639 --> 00:28:30.779
 because see

00:28:30.779 --> 00:28:31.519
 these days

00:28:31.519 --> 00:28:32.779
 it is very common

00:28:32.779 --> 00:28:33.480
 for people to say

00:28:33.480 --> 00:28:33.799
 this

00:28:33.799 --> 00:28:34.319
 when it comes

00:28:34.319 --> 00:28:34.839
 to disagreement

00:28:34.839 --> 00:28:35.440
 people will say

00:28:35.440 --> 00:28:35.799
 this

00:28:35.799 --> 00:28:38.480
 agree with me

00:28:38.480 --> 00:28:39.559
 and then I might

00:28:39.559 --> 00:28:40.160
 accept you

00:28:40.160 --> 00:28:43.579
 but unless we disagree

00:28:43.579 --> 00:28:44.319
 I don't think

00:28:44.319 --> 00:28:44.839
 that we can be

00:28:44.839 --> 00:28:45.460
 in relationship

00:28:45.460 --> 00:28:46.980
 and so

00:28:46.980 --> 00:28:47.480
 I don't know

00:28:47.480 --> 00:28:47.920
 if you've noticed

00:28:47.920 --> 00:28:48.359
 this but a lot

00:28:48.359 --> 00:28:48.579
 of times

00:28:48.579 --> 00:28:49.279
 I find myself

00:28:49.279 --> 00:28:49.940
 in conversations

00:28:49.940 --> 00:28:50.660
 where the first

00:28:50.660 --> 00:28:51.879
 few comments

00:28:51.879 --> 00:28:52.460
 or questions

00:28:52.460 --> 00:28:53.680
 people are kind

00:28:53.680 --> 00:28:54.039
 of feeling

00:28:54.039 --> 00:28:54.720
 each other out

00:28:54.720 --> 00:28:56.000
 they're kind

00:28:56.000 --> 00:28:56.400
 of making

00:28:56.400 --> 00:28:57.299
 little references

00:28:57.299 --> 00:28:58.019
 and they're seeing

00:28:58.019 --> 00:28:58.879
 how you respond

00:28:58.879 --> 00:28:59.599
 and what they're

00:28:59.599 --> 00:29:00.019
 trying to do

00:29:00.019 --> 00:29:00.859
 is to sort you

00:29:00.859 --> 00:29:02.439
 and I do the same

00:29:02.439 --> 00:29:02.659
 thing

00:29:02.659 --> 00:29:02.939
 we're trying

00:29:02.939 --> 00:29:03.339
 to sort

00:29:03.339 --> 00:29:03.759
 each other

00:29:03.759 --> 00:29:04.339
 to figure out

00:29:04.339 --> 00:29:05.259
 is there a chance

00:29:05.259 --> 00:29:06.019
 that we agree

00:29:06.019 --> 00:29:07.000
 on the issues

00:29:07.000 --> 00:29:07.779
 that we see

00:29:07.779 --> 00:29:08.139
 the world

00:29:08.139 --> 00:29:08.919
 in the same way

00:29:08.919 --> 00:29:09.359
 or not

00:29:09.359 --> 00:29:10.659
 and many times

00:29:10.659 --> 00:29:11.179
 when people

00:29:11.179 --> 00:29:11.939
 start to get a sense

00:29:11.939 --> 00:29:12.839
 that I don't think

00:29:12.839 --> 00:29:13.379
 that we're coming

00:29:13.379 --> 00:29:14.099
 from the same place

00:29:14.099 --> 00:29:14.639
 there's kind

00:29:14.639 --> 00:29:15.119
 of a polite

00:29:15.119 --> 00:29:15.659
 distancing

00:29:15.659 --> 00:29:16.699
 where I'm not

00:29:16.699 --> 00:29:17.059
 going to talk

00:29:17.059 --> 00:29:17.559
 to that person

00:29:17.559 --> 00:29:17.919
 anymore

00:29:17.919 --> 00:29:19.519
 and it happens

00:29:19.519 --> 00:29:20.119
 all the time

00:29:20.119 --> 00:29:21.419
 because we have

00:29:21.419 --> 00:29:21.819
 the sense

00:29:21.819 --> 00:29:22.299
 that unless

00:29:22.299 --> 00:29:22.959
 we have a kind

00:29:22.959 --> 00:29:23.519
 of agreement

00:29:23.519 --> 00:29:24.599
 around the basics

00:29:24.599 --> 00:29:25.799
 I'm not sure

00:29:25.799 --> 00:29:26.139
 we can be

00:29:26.139 --> 00:29:26.719
 in relationship

00:29:26.719 --> 00:29:28.619
 Romans 14

00:29:28.619 --> 00:29:29.539
 says the opposite

00:29:29.539 --> 00:29:30.859
 it says

00:29:30.859 --> 00:29:31.279
 that when we

00:29:31.279 --> 00:29:31.940
 encounter someone

00:29:31.940 --> 00:29:32.539
 with whom we

00:29:32.539 --> 00:29:33.519
 strongly disagree

00:29:33.519 --> 00:29:36.079
 before we try

00:29:36.079 --> 00:29:36.819
 to correct them

00:29:36.819 --> 00:29:38.819
 before we try

00:29:38.819 --> 00:29:39.859
 to argue with them

00:29:39.859 --> 00:29:40.559
 Paul says

00:29:40.559 --> 00:29:41.759
 the first thing

00:29:41.759 --> 00:29:42.420
 that you should do

00:29:42.420 --> 00:29:44.220
 is to welcome them

00:29:44.220 --> 00:29:46.119
 and the word

00:29:46.119 --> 00:29:46.500
 in Greek

00:29:46.500 --> 00:29:47.180
 means much

00:29:47.180 --> 00:29:47.659
 much more

00:29:47.659 --> 00:29:48.119
 than just

00:29:48.119 --> 00:29:49.379
 you're welcome

00:29:49.379 --> 00:29:50.539
 to sit at my table

00:29:50.539 --> 00:29:52.139
 or you're welcome

00:29:52.139 --> 00:29:53.279
 to interact with me

00:29:53.279 --> 00:29:54.960
 John Stott writes

00:29:54.960 --> 00:29:56.860
 this means more

00:29:56.860 --> 00:29:58.059
 than to accept

00:29:58.059 --> 00:29:59.079
 people in the sense

00:29:59.079 --> 00:30:00.140
 of acquiescing

00:30:00.140 --> 00:30:01.620
 in their existence

00:30:01.620 --> 00:30:03.220
 or even in their

00:30:03.220 --> 00:30:04.100
 right to belong

00:30:04.100 --> 00:30:05.420
 it means more

00:30:05.420 --> 00:30:06.500
 even than to receive

00:30:06.500 --> 00:30:07.100
 or accept

00:30:07.100 --> 00:30:08.240
 in one's society

00:30:08.240 --> 00:30:09.620
 or into one's home

00:30:09.620 --> 00:30:10.840
 or circle of acquaintances

00:30:10.840 --> 00:30:11.240
 here's what

00:30:11.240 --> 00:30:12.019
 he goes further

00:30:12.019 --> 00:30:12.579
 than all of that

00:30:12.579 --> 00:30:13.140
 this isn't just

00:30:13.140 --> 00:30:14.180
 yeah you can come

00:30:14.180 --> 00:30:14.779
 you can be a part

00:30:14.779 --> 00:30:15.220
 of the group

00:30:15.220 --> 00:30:16.319
 you can be among

00:30:16.319 --> 00:30:17.680
 my kind of acquaintances

00:30:17.680 --> 00:30:18.380
 he says no no

00:30:18.380 --> 00:30:19.940
 it means to welcome

00:30:19.940 --> 00:30:21.180
 into one's fellowship

00:30:21.180 --> 00:30:22.920
 and into one's heart

00:30:22.920 --> 00:30:24.940
 it implies the warmth

00:30:24.940 --> 00:30:26.000
 and the kindness

00:30:26.000 --> 00:30:28.240
 of genuine love

00:30:28.240 --> 00:30:31.140
 I welcome you in

00:30:31.140 --> 00:30:31.960
 with warmth

00:30:31.960 --> 00:30:32.660
 and kindness

00:30:32.660 --> 00:30:33.940
 and genuine love

00:30:33.940 --> 00:30:35.840
 and then maybe

00:30:35.840 --> 00:30:36.420
 down the road

00:30:36.420 --> 00:30:37.360
 we start to sort out

00:30:37.360 --> 00:30:37.920
 where we agree

00:30:37.920 --> 00:30:38.360
 and disagree

00:30:38.360 --> 00:30:40.600
 it's a completely

00:30:40.600 --> 00:30:41.480
 different posture

00:30:41.480 --> 00:30:42.800
 and just take a moment

00:30:42.800 --> 00:30:43.480
 and imagine

00:30:43.480 --> 00:30:44.660
 how different

00:30:44.660 --> 00:30:46.100
 would our society be

00:30:46.100 --> 00:30:47.560
 if Christians

00:30:47.560 --> 00:30:48.460
 just Christians

00:30:48.460 --> 00:30:51.100
 regularly responded

00:30:51.100 --> 00:30:51.620
 this way

00:30:51.620 --> 00:30:52.220
 to people

00:30:52.220 --> 00:30:53.000
 who disagree

00:30:53.000 --> 00:30:53.600
 with us

00:30:53.600 --> 00:30:54.860
 not only within

00:30:54.860 --> 00:30:55.799
 Christian circles

00:30:55.799 --> 00:30:57.460
 but in the broader

00:30:57.460 --> 00:30:57.880
 society

00:30:57.880 --> 00:30:58.480
 it doesn't mean

00:30:58.480 --> 00:31:00.240
 we have soupy

00:31:00.240 --> 00:31:00.720
 convictions

00:31:00.720 --> 00:31:02.500
 but it means

00:31:02.500 --> 00:31:03.100
 the posture

00:31:03.100 --> 00:31:03.660
 is one of

00:31:03.660 --> 00:31:05.420
 open warm embrace

00:31:05.420 --> 00:31:06.140
 first

00:31:06.140 --> 00:31:08.220
 there are plenty

00:31:08.220 --> 00:31:08.640
 of places

00:31:08.640 --> 00:31:09.299
 where Paul

00:31:09.299 --> 00:31:10.660
 highlights

00:31:10.660 --> 00:31:11.319
 the importance

00:31:11.319 --> 00:31:12.299
 of correct theology

00:31:12.299 --> 00:31:13.380
 and working through

00:31:13.380 --> 00:31:14.100
 and making sure

00:31:14.100 --> 00:31:14.940
 to correct people

00:31:14.940 --> 00:31:16.539
 who are led astray

00:31:16.539 --> 00:31:17.039
 right

00:31:17.039 --> 00:31:18.500
 absolutely

00:31:18.500 --> 00:31:19.299
 right

00:31:19.299 --> 00:31:21.500
 but the ethic

00:31:21.500 --> 00:31:21.919
 says

00:31:21.919 --> 00:31:23.000
 the first thing

00:31:23.000 --> 00:31:23.599
 that you do

00:31:23.599 --> 00:31:24.279
 the posture

00:31:24.279 --> 00:31:24.819
 is

00:31:24.819 --> 00:31:26.859
 foregrounds

00:31:26.859 --> 00:31:28.359
 love

00:31:28.359 --> 00:31:29.059
 welcome

00:31:29.059 --> 00:31:29.919
 embrace

00:31:29.919 --> 00:31:32.559
 and in that context

00:31:32.559 --> 00:31:34.019
 differences can be

00:31:34.019 --> 00:31:34.559
 explored

00:31:34.559 --> 00:31:35.960
 imagine how different

00:31:35.960 --> 00:31:36.519
 it would go

00:31:36.519 --> 00:31:37.379
 at your Thanksgiving

00:31:37.379 --> 00:31:37.940
 table

00:31:37.940 --> 00:31:39.960
 if this were the

00:31:39.960 --> 00:31:40.319
 ethic

00:31:40.319 --> 00:31:42.480
 this Paul says

00:31:42.480 --> 00:31:43.119
 is evidence

00:31:43.119 --> 00:31:43.659
 of a heart

00:31:43.659 --> 00:31:44.099
 that has been

00:31:44.099 --> 00:31:45.000
 transformed by the

00:31:45.000 --> 00:31:45.339
 gospel

00:31:45.339 --> 00:31:47.679
 and we read this

00:31:47.679 --> 00:31:48.240
 and quite frankly

00:31:48.240 --> 00:31:49.099
 I think it raises

00:31:49.099 --> 00:31:49.539
 a question

00:31:49.539 --> 00:31:50.839
 how is such a thing

00:31:50.839 --> 00:31:51.699
 even possible

00:31:51.699 --> 00:31:53.179
 how could anyone

00:31:53.179 --> 00:31:54.399
 be expected

00:31:54.399 --> 00:31:55.819
 to be willing

00:31:55.819 --> 00:31:56.699
 to relinquish

00:31:56.699 --> 00:31:57.399
 their rights

00:31:57.399 --> 00:31:59.159
 or to welcome

00:31:59.159 --> 00:31:59.839
 and embrace

00:31:59.839 --> 00:32:00.740
 their enemies

00:32:00.740 --> 00:32:01.339
 with such

00:32:01.339 --> 00:32:02.919
 extravagant love

00:32:02.919 --> 00:32:04.679
 and the key

00:32:04.679 --> 00:32:05.559
 to the whole argument

00:32:05.559 --> 00:32:06.399
 is found in Romans

00:32:06.399 --> 00:32:07.139
 chapter 15

00:32:07.139 --> 00:32:07.679
 verse 7

00:32:07.679 --> 00:32:09.399
 where he says

00:32:09.399 --> 00:32:10.419
 welcome others

00:32:10.419 --> 00:32:12.379
 as Christ

00:32:12.379 --> 00:32:13.459
 has welcomed

00:32:13.459 --> 00:32:14.240
 you

00:32:14.240 --> 00:32:16.519
 why should we

00:32:16.519 --> 00:32:17.019
 be willing

00:32:17.019 --> 00:32:17.759
 to relinquish

00:32:17.759 --> 00:32:18.299
 our rights

00:32:18.299 --> 00:32:19.299
 to love people

00:32:19.299 --> 00:32:19.900
 who disagree

00:32:19.900 --> 00:32:20.539
 with us

00:32:20.539 --> 00:32:22.120
 because once

00:32:22.120 --> 00:32:23.799
 we stood

00:32:23.799 --> 00:32:24.460
 condemned

00:32:24.460 --> 00:32:25.180
 as enemies

00:32:25.180 --> 00:32:25.900
 of God

00:32:25.900 --> 00:32:27.000
 in our sin

00:32:27.000 --> 00:32:28.640
 and yet Jesus

00:32:28.640 --> 00:32:29.460
 the eternal

00:32:29.460 --> 00:32:30.299
 son of God

00:32:30.299 --> 00:32:31.380
 who had all

00:32:31.380 --> 00:32:32.180
 of the rights

00:32:32.180 --> 00:32:33.220
 who had all

00:32:33.220 --> 00:32:33.799
 of the glory

00:32:33.799 --> 00:32:34.299
 and all

00:32:34.299 --> 00:32:34.960
 of the power

00:32:34.960 --> 00:32:36.120
 relinquished

00:32:36.120 --> 00:32:37.339
 all of that

00:32:37.339 --> 00:32:38.460
 gave up

00:32:38.460 --> 00:32:39.359
 all of his

00:32:39.359 --> 00:32:39.839
 rights

00:32:39.839 --> 00:32:40.980
 to come

00:32:40.980 --> 00:32:41.779
 and to die

00:32:41.779 --> 00:32:42.839
 the death

00:32:42.839 --> 00:32:43.420
 of a common

00:32:43.420 --> 00:32:43.960
 criminal

00:32:43.960 --> 00:32:45.000
 out of love

00:32:45.000 --> 00:32:45.600
 for us

00:32:45.600 --> 00:32:46.720
 why should

00:32:46.720 --> 00:32:47.440
 I relinquish

00:32:47.440 --> 00:32:47.900
 my rights

00:32:47.900 --> 00:32:48.380
 because he

00:32:48.380 --> 00:32:48.940
 relinquished

00:32:48.940 --> 00:32:49.460
 his rights

00:32:49.460 --> 00:32:50.019
 for me

00:32:50.019 --> 00:32:50.720
 right

00:32:50.720 --> 00:32:51.380
 why should

00:32:51.380 --> 00:32:51.819
 we enter

00:32:51.819 --> 00:32:52.640
 into the world

00:32:52.640 --> 00:32:53.940
 and embrace

00:32:53.940 --> 00:32:54.460
 people who

00:32:54.460 --> 00:32:55.380
 disagree with us

00:32:55.380 --> 00:32:56.120
 because this

00:32:56.120 --> 00:32:56.519
 is what it

00:32:56.519 --> 00:32:57.000
 means to

00:32:57.000 --> 00:32:57.740
 welcome

00:32:57.740 --> 00:32:58.259
 this is what

00:32:58.259 --> 00:32:58.460
 John

00:32:58.460 --> 00:32:59.160
 this is what

00:32:59.160 --> 00:32:59.500
 it means

00:32:59.500 --> 00:33:00.259
 to welcome

00:33:00.259 --> 00:33:00.660
 others

00:33:00.660 --> 00:33:00.840
 right

00:33:00.840 --> 00:33:01.259
 you encounter

00:33:01.259 --> 00:33:01.539
 somebody

00:33:01.539 --> 00:33:01.920
 you disagree

00:33:01.920 --> 00:33:02.079
 with

00:33:02.079 --> 00:33:02.319
 what does

00:33:02.319 --> 00:33:02.539
 it mean

00:33:02.539 --> 00:33:02.880
 to love

00:33:02.880 --> 00:33:03.299
 and embrace

00:33:03.299 --> 00:33:03.500
 them

00:33:03.500 --> 00:33:03.960
 well

00:33:03.960 --> 00:33:04.660
 you enter

00:33:04.660 --> 00:33:05.220
 intellectually

00:33:05.220 --> 00:33:05.660
 into their

00:33:05.660 --> 00:33:05.980
 world

00:33:05.980 --> 00:33:08.019
 you work

00:33:08.019 --> 00:33:08.539
 to try to

00:33:08.539 --> 00:33:09.140
 understand

00:33:09.140 --> 00:33:10.019
 and sympathize

00:33:10.019 --> 00:33:10.400
 with their

00:33:10.400 --> 00:33:10.900
 viewpoint

00:33:13.960 --> 00:33:14.420
 their point

00:33:14.420 --> 00:33:14.819
 of view

00:33:14.819 --> 00:33:15.660
 right

00:33:15.660 --> 00:33:16.259
 a fundamental

00:33:16.259 --> 00:33:16.720
 rule of

00:33:16.720 --> 00:33:17.180
 debate is

00:33:17.180 --> 00:33:17.799
 you should

00:33:17.799 --> 00:33:18.279
 be able

00:33:18.279 --> 00:33:19.220
 to articulate

00:33:19.220 --> 00:33:20.880
 you should

00:33:20.880 --> 00:33:21.200
 be able

00:33:21.200 --> 00:33:21.799
 to articulate

00:33:21.799 --> 00:33:22.680
 the point

00:33:22.680 --> 00:33:23.019
 of view

00:33:23.019 --> 00:33:23.420
 of your

00:33:23.420 --> 00:33:23.840
 opponent

00:33:23.840 --> 00:33:24.759
 better than

00:33:24.759 --> 00:33:25.240
 they can

00:33:25.240 --> 00:33:27.180
 and you

00:33:27.180 --> 00:33:27.460
 should be

00:33:27.460 --> 00:33:27.779
 able to do

00:33:27.779 --> 00:33:28.360
 that before

00:33:28.360 --> 00:33:29.100
 you respond

00:33:29.100 --> 00:33:30.700
 so what I

00:33:30.700 --> 00:33:31.039
 hear you

00:33:31.039 --> 00:33:31.799
 saying is

00:33:31.799 --> 00:33:32.620
 and you

00:33:32.620 --> 00:33:32.960
 should do

00:33:32.960 --> 00:33:33.799
 when you

00:33:33.799 --> 00:33:34.360
 get done

00:33:34.360 --> 00:33:34.799
 they should

00:33:34.799 --> 00:33:35.039
 look at you

00:33:35.039 --> 00:33:35.259
 and be like

00:33:35.259 --> 00:33:35.579
 wow

00:33:35.579 --> 00:33:36.799
 that yes

00:33:36.799 --> 00:33:37.799
 that's exactly

00:33:37.799 --> 00:33:38.059
 what I

00:33:38.059 --> 00:33:38.640
 I couldn't

00:33:38.640 --> 00:33:38.900
 have said it

00:33:38.900 --> 00:33:39.440
 better myself

00:33:39.440 --> 00:33:40.880
 right

00:33:40.880 --> 00:33:41.519
 that's what

00:33:41.519 --> 00:33:41.779
 it means

00:33:41.779 --> 00:33:42.259
 to welcome

00:33:42.259 --> 00:33:42.840
 and to embrace

00:33:42.840 --> 00:33:43.220
 you enter

00:33:43.220 --> 00:33:43.559
 fully

00:33:43.559 --> 00:33:43.820
 and you

00:33:43.820 --> 00:33:44.340
 understand

00:33:44.340 --> 00:33:44.640
 their

00:33:44.640 --> 00:33:45.120
 perspective

00:33:45.120 --> 00:33:47.240
 you love

00:33:47.240 --> 00:33:47.700
 them as a

00:33:47.700 --> 00:33:47.940
 friend

00:33:47.940 --> 00:33:48.440
 even though

00:33:48.440 --> 00:33:49.059
 you disagree

00:33:49.059 --> 00:33:50.340
 Paul says

00:33:50.340 --> 00:33:51.340
 why should

00:33:51.340 --> 00:33:52.000
 we be willing

00:33:52.000 --> 00:33:52.620
 to do that

00:33:52.620 --> 00:33:53.120
 for the sake

00:33:53.120 --> 00:33:53.480
 of somebody

00:33:53.480 --> 00:33:53.740
 else

00:33:53.740 --> 00:33:54.500
 because that's

00:33:54.500 --> 00:33:55.059
 exactly what

00:33:55.059 --> 00:33:55.640
 Jesus Christ

00:33:55.640 --> 00:33:55.980
 did

00:33:55.980 --> 00:33:58.259
 the eternal

00:33:58.259 --> 00:33:58.840
 son of God

00:33:58.840 --> 00:33:59.480
 takes on

00:33:59.480 --> 00:34:00.140
 flesh

00:34:00.140 --> 00:34:01.160
 he enters

00:34:01.160 --> 00:34:01.660
 into our

00:34:01.660 --> 00:34:01.840
 world

00:34:01.840 --> 00:34:02.400
 he becomes

00:34:02.400 --> 00:34:03.240
 in every

00:34:03.240 --> 00:34:03.740
 way

00:34:03.740 --> 00:34:04.539
 exactly

00:34:04.539 --> 00:34:05.160
 like us

00:34:05.160 --> 00:34:05.620
 he takes

00:34:05.620 --> 00:34:06.160
 on our

00:34:06.160 --> 00:34:06.539
 weakness

00:34:06.539 --> 00:34:08.480
 he experiences

00:34:08.480 --> 00:34:09.159
 the human

00:34:09.159 --> 00:34:09.679
 condition

00:34:09.679 --> 00:34:10.559
 from the

00:34:10.559 --> 00:34:11.039
 inside

00:34:11.039 --> 00:34:11.739
 right

00:34:11.739 --> 00:34:13.440
 in every

00:34:13.440 --> 00:34:13.659
 way

00:34:13.659 --> 00:34:13.940
 he is

00:34:13.940 --> 00:34:14.219
 tempted

00:34:14.219 --> 00:34:14.659
 as we

00:34:14.659 --> 00:34:14.960
 are

00:34:14.960 --> 00:34:15.719
 and yet

00:34:15.719 --> 00:34:16.039
 without

00:34:16.039 --> 00:34:16.399
 sin

00:34:16.399 --> 00:34:17.639
 why does

00:34:17.639 --> 00:34:18.119
 he become

00:34:18.119 --> 00:34:18.519
 in every

00:34:18.519 --> 00:34:18.659
 way

00:34:18.659 --> 00:34:19.259
 like us

00:34:19.259 --> 00:34:21.139
 so that

00:34:21.139 --> 00:34:21.579
 one day

00:34:21.579 --> 00:34:22.079
 we might

00:34:22.079 --> 00:34:22.519
 become

00:34:22.519 --> 00:34:23.019
 in every

00:34:23.019 --> 00:34:23.239
 way

00:34:23.239 --> 00:34:23.899
 like him

00:34:23.899 --> 00:34:26.219
 and when

00:34:26.219 --> 00:34:26.859
 that truth

00:34:26.859 --> 00:34:27.139
 when the

00:34:27.139 --> 00:34:27.420
 truth of

00:34:27.420 --> 00:34:27.819
 the gospel

00:34:27.819 --> 00:34:28.599
 is driven

00:34:28.599 --> 00:34:29.159
 into your

00:34:29.159 --> 00:34:29.500
 heart

00:34:29.500 --> 00:34:30.480
 when you

00:34:30.480 --> 00:34:31.099
 recognize

00:34:31.099 --> 00:34:31.819
 that you

00:34:31.819 --> 00:34:32.159
 are the

00:34:32.159 --> 00:34:32.559
 one who

00:34:32.559 --> 00:34:32.940
 deserved

00:34:32.940 --> 00:34:33.299
 to be

00:34:33.299 --> 00:34:33.799
 cut off

00:34:33.799 --> 00:34:35.399
 and yet

00:34:35.399 --> 00:34:36.139
 Jesus Christ

00:34:36.139 --> 00:34:36.639
 was willing

00:34:36.639 --> 00:34:37.319
 to relinquish

00:34:37.319 --> 00:34:37.920
 his rights

00:34:37.920 --> 00:34:38.759
 and enter

00:34:38.760 --> 00:34:39.340
 into your

00:34:39.340 --> 00:34:39.820
 world

00:34:39.820 --> 00:34:40.740
 and welcome

00:34:40.740 --> 00:34:41.080
 you

00:34:41.080 --> 00:34:41.800
 and embrace

00:34:41.800 --> 00:34:42.080
 you

00:34:42.080 --> 00:34:43.180
 that fundamentally

00:34:43.180 --> 00:34:43.900
 transforms

00:34:43.900 --> 00:34:44.420
 the way you

00:34:44.420 --> 00:34:45.060
 see those

00:34:45.060 --> 00:34:46.220
 with whom

00:34:46.220 --> 00:34:46.940
 you disagree

00:34:46.940 --> 00:34:48.000
 and you

00:34:48.000 --> 00:34:48.920
 cannot help

00:34:48.920 --> 00:34:49.460
 but love

00:34:49.460 --> 00:34:50.060
 them as

00:34:50.060 --> 00:34:50.720
 Jesus has

00:34:50.720 --> 00:34:51.220
 loved you

00:34:51.220 --> 00:34:53.180
 let's pray

00:34:53.180 --> 00:34:55.960
 Lord we thank

00:34:55.960 --> 00:34:56.520
 you for your

00:34:56.520 --> 00:34:57.220
 word and we

00:34:57.220 --> 00:34:57.800
 thank you for

00:34:57.800 --> 00:34:58.300
 the gospel

00:34:58.300 --> 00:34:59.260
 and we thank

00:34:59.260 --> 00:34:59.720
 you that you're

00:34:59.720 --> 00:35:00.380
 a God who

00:35:00.380 --> 00:35:01.840
 doesn't sit

00:35:01.840 --> 00:35:03.080
 sternly and

00:35:03.080 --> 00:35:03.660
 distantly

00:35:03.660 --> 00:35:05.040
 away waiting

00:35:05.040 --> 00:35:05.580
 for us to get

00:35:05.580 --> 00:35:05.920
 our act

00:35:05.920 --> 00:35:06.280
 together

00:35:06.280 --> 00:35:07.340
 you're not

00:35:07.340 --> 00:35:07.800
 a God

00:35:07.800 --> 00:35:10.019
 who confronts

00:35:10.019 --> 00:35:11.120
 us with

00:35:11.120 --> 00:35:11.780
 all of the

00:35:11.780 --> 00:35:12.360
 ways that we

00:35:12.360 --> 00:35:12.980
 have fallen

00:35:12.980 --> 00:35:13.560
 short and

00:35:13.560 --> 00:35:14.220
 then leaves

00:35:14.220 --> 00:35:14.920
 us there

00:35:14.920 --> 00:35:16.260
 to wallow

00:35:16.260 --> 00:35:17.480
 hopelessly

00:35:17.480 --> 00:35:18.780
 but you're a

00:35:18.780 --> 00:35:19.460
 God who

00:35:19.460 --> 00:35:21.500
 cares about

00:35:21.500 --> 00:35:21.980
 holiness

00:35:21.980 --> 00:35:23.280
 above all

00:35:23.280 --> 00:35:23.720
 else

00:35:23.720 --> 00:35:25.019
 you care about

00:35:25.019 --> 00:35:25.780
 our holiness

00:35:25.780 --> 00:35:26.660
 above all

00:35:26.660 --> 00:35:27.100
 else

00:35:27.100 --> 00:35:28.300
 and yet you

00:35:28.300 --> 00:35:28.720
 are willing

00:35:28.720 --> 00:35:30.000
 to set

00:35:30.000 --> 00:35:30.680
 aside your

00:35:30.680 --> 00:35:31.300
 rights and

00:35:31.300 --> 00:35:31.920
 your power

00:35:31.920 --> 00:35:32.460
 and your

00:35:32.460 --> 00:35:33.180
 glory and

00:35:33.179 --> 00:35:33.859
 enter into

00:35:33.859 --> 00:35:34.619
 our space

00:35:34.619 --> 00:35:36.460
 to embrace

00:35:36.460 --> 00:35:37.199
 us while we

00:35:37.199 --> 00:35:37.879
 were still

00:35:37.879 --> 00:35:38.339
 sinners

00:35:38.339 --> 00:35:40.099
 Lord to

00:35:40.099 --> 00:35:40.839
 renew us

00:35:40.839 --> 00:35:41.179
 from the

00:35:41.179 --> 00:35:41.919
 inside out

00:35:41.919 --> 00:35:43.039
 Lord we

00:35:43.039 --> 00:35:43.639
 pray that

00:35:43.639 --> 00:35:44.500
 this would

00:35:44.500 --> 00:35:45.179
 govern

00:35:45.179 --> 00:35:45.579
 that this

00:35:45.579 --> 00:35:46.339
 would transform

00:35:46.339 --> 00:35:47.079
 the way we

00:35:47.079 --> 00:35:47.799
 see ourselves

00:35:47.799 --> 00:35:48.159
 that it

00:35:48.159 --> 00:35:48.919
 would transform

00:35:48.919 --> 00:35:49.719
 the way we

00:35:49.719 --> 00:35:50.319
 see people

00:35:50.319 --> 00:35:51.059
 across those

00:35:51.059 --> 00:35:51.539
 lines of

00:35:51.539 --> 00:35:51.940
 difference

00:35:51.940 --> 00:35:52.919
 that it

00:35:52.919 --> 00:35:53.259
 would give

00:35:53.259 --> 00:35:53.879
 us a new

00:35:53.879 --> 00:35:54.219
 set of

00:35:54.219 --> 00:35:54.779
 priorities

00:35:54.779 --> 00:35:56.000
 that it

00:35:56.000 --> 00:35:56.679
 would reorient

00:35:56.679 --> 00:35:57.339
 our hearts

00:35:57.339 --> 00:35:58.399
 to a posture

00:35:58.399 --> 00:35:59.039
 of sacrificial

00:35:59.039 --> 00:35:59.460
 love

00:35:59.460 --> 00:36:00.859
 we pray this

00:36:00.859 --> 00:36:01.579
 that we might

00:36:01.579 --> 00:36:02.239
 be as a

00:36:02.239 --> 00:36:02.779
 community

00:36:02.780 --> 00:36:03.740
 Lord a

00:36:03.740 --> 00:36:04.260
 beacon of

00:36:04.260 --> 00:36:05.200
 hope and

00:36:05.200 --> 00:36:06.080
 peace building

00:36:06.080 --> 00:36:07.380
 and reconciliation

00:36:07.380 --> 00:36:09.160
 in this city

00:36:09.160 --> 00:36:10.400
 that we might

00:36:10.400 --> 00:36:10.820
 bring you

00:36:10.820 --> 00:36:11.200
 glory

00:36:11.200 --> 00:36:12.019
 we pray this

00:36:12.019 --> 00:36:12.540
 in your son's

00:36:12.540 --> 00:36:13.080
 holy name

00:36:13.080 --> 00:36:13.580
 amen