Fight in the Shade
Two guys figuring out how to honor God in marriage, fatherhood, work, play, and every other time and place we find ourselves. Be prepared for random quotes from movies, plenty of shots at our brokenness, laughter, 80s references, and attempts to discover the Holy in all of life.
Fight in the Shade
Sermon on the Mount 2 E89
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MURDER! ANGER! Jesus offers no distinction and begins the call to the believer to examine their hearts more closely.
The Sermon on the Mount continues to be one of the most significant teachings of Jesus. This episode takes on the first teaching of Jesus that expands the understanding of the Law of Moses.
Stay in the Fight!
All right, fight in the shade. Today is March 30th. I don't know what day this podcast will air on. It'll be out within a week. So it'll be in April. April of 2026. Can you believe it? That's nuts, man. It's it it's kind of flying by. I don't know. Dude, I don't know how it works in your world, but but usually the spring drags for us. Like the fall goes fall is like blitz, and the spring's just like, oh man. But this spring, I think it's been the fastest that I ever remember on campus. Uh and I've we may have talked about this last week. I don't know. It has something to do with the ice storm and just missing a bunch of days in there. It's kind of been all weird. But that made things slower or faster for you? It made things faster. I mean, it it was awesome and slowed down during the storm, obviously.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I I had that experience, yeah.
SPEAKER_00But but since then, it's like we're on like rapid fire, and like I think they have like after this week, there's like three and a half weeks left of school. Right. Because next week is spring break and that doesn't count. So there's three and a half weeks left until finals when we get back from that. So that's wild to me.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. Uh it so it's holy week. Uh obviously that's that's part of uh the the time right now. Um I was talking to Chris McLean on the way over here. Uh it's a pastor friend of ours, shout out Chris, and um he's over in the woodlands and uh just asking about Holy Week. And he was asking me about mine, and I was like, I feel uh a little behind in some of the finishing touches for for services and stuff this week because of exactly what you're talking about. It's flown by, you know, the and and it's just been um changes in staff and then the ice storm, and I took some more personal time because I turned 50 and went some traveling and all that kind of stuff, and it's like, oh yeah, wait a minute. Holy week's here. There's services. So you have graduation and all that coming up within weeks, and and I've got this, and so anyways, yeah, it it's been a crazy, crazy spring. Yeah, yeah. I mean, we don't and we didn't sit down until March again to do this. I know. We've been hanging out for retreat ministry and making plans and other things, but to actually hit the little red button that says record, we haven't done that.
SPEAKER_00So true. So that's why this has been an exceptionally fast spring for fighting the shade. Since it's only gonna be like four weeks long, so that's wild. Man, you said something. I was I can't remember what what you said now. It was made me made me think. I hate when that happens. I didn't want to be rude and interrupt you, so I I let it go, you know. So I don't know what you're talking about. Planning certain holy weeks. Oh, McLean. I was done. It was a dumb comment about where McLean works because he's at I've never thought about this before, but he's at the Woodlands and in Lord of the Rings uh Legolas of the Woodland Realm. Of the Woodland Realm. I think that's how you should say it from now on. Chris of the Woodland Realm. I I may do that, I may adopt that. Oh man.
SPEAKER_01Hey, was it is that Orlando Bloom? He plays Legolas, right? Is that him in Blackhawk Down? Oh gosh, that's been a that's been a long time. Not lately. So Strucker, um, I forget his rank, I think he was a sergeant at the time, um, who's in the movie, he drives the Humvee column. He he he became a chaplain, and now he does speaking engagements. And so he spoke at an event, a prayer, a prayer event down in South Louisiana that my daughter was at. Yeah. And and so it it just made her want to watch the movie. And she's sure. She came home and she's like, Hey, do y'all know the movie Blackhawk Down? And Cordy's like, uh, your dad's down to watch that anytime you want. And so she and I watched it, and the rest of the family's like, We're out, we're you know, peace out. But she and I watched it, and she's like, This is so bad. I was like, Yeah, but this is the movie version, it was a lot worse, you know. Uh, anyways, I'm watching the guy. It I I think it's Orlando Bloom. He shows up, he's the new guy. And I I guess I could Google it in a second.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I think it's the answer's right there in front of you. Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_01He's the new guy who shows up. Um Well, there's a lot of dudes in that movie. Oh, oh, it's it's it's I I think Jamie from uh Lord of the Rings, not Lord of the Rings, um Oh, Game of Thrones. Game of Thrones is in there. Is he in there too? Wow. I think he's in there. Yeah, I think he plays it. I'm like, oh, wait a minute. Now I look at him and I think, is that a young version of Jamie Lannister? You know, nuts. Uh let me look this up real quick. But the young guy who shows up, who who's like the first one uh who dies. I was like, that looks like um because what what year is that movie?
SPEAKER_00Like Oakland. 93, yeah. 93 is that movie?
SPEAKER_01But no. That's when it happened. Yeah, no, that's when it happened. I'm sorry. 2001. Sorry. Yeah, it happened in 93, yeah. Sorry. Uh it is him. Let's see. Legolus or Jamie? Oh, well, hold on. I don't I got the whole cast pulled up now. Tom Hardy's in there. Orlando Bloom, yeah. Yeah. Todd Black. Yeah, uh, let's see. Um Nicolaj Coster Waldo plays Gordon. He plays one of the D-boys, the the Delta Force guys. Yeah. Yeah. There you go. Yeah, Jamie Langster. The the Kingslayer. Kingslayer. Anyways. Anyways. Um yeah, that's crazy. That's crazy. But I'm I'm watching it. Like, oh wow, he's in that, he's in that. Yeah, and you you didn't at the time, they just weren't the big names.
SPEAKER_00But yeah, because that was like I guess that was like at launching point for Orlando Bloom because 01 was the first Lord of the Rings movie as well. Because they were like 01, 02, 03. Came out. And they came out in December. Which they made them. They made them all at once. Right. They made them the was it it took how many years?
SPEAKER_01I don't know. I can't remember.
SPEAKER_00Nine? I just know that 01 was the first one.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. So so the by the time it came out, they were already made. Right? Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. Yeah. So so by the time the first one came out, the other two were already made, yes.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, so it's like no one knows how big he's gonna be. Right. That's crazy.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. And then Pirates of the Caribbean was I think like a little bit after that, like probably uh it might have been before Lord of the Rings was over, but it could have been maybe 04, somewhere in there. I I can't remember when Pirates came out, but you know, he was of course that was No one knew. Will Turner. And then then he then after that he was incredible, you know. So anyway. Actually, I don't know. Was he incredible? I'm not really sure what else he was in after this. Orlando Bloom. I know he had some movies. He's a cool guy, I no offense, but I just can't think of anything else he was in. Great. You just lost us in the lesson. I know. Fight in the shade hates Orlando Bloom. I'm out. He was in that Kingdom of Heaven movie. He was like the main guy in that big uh crusades type deal. Yes, yeah, good reference. Wow, look at you. I don't I've only seen that like that.
SPEAKER_01That's such an interesting time in Christianity. Sure. Like I don't know much about it. I know the Crusades, and we kind of, you know, oh the Crusades. Right. Uh a bunch of, you know, a bunch of uh rich Europeans going to Rob Robin Hood. Rob yeah, all that stuff, right?
SPEAKER_00Kevin, Kevin Costner.
SPEAKER_01The Prince of Thieves. The Moors. You know, didn't w wouldn't that what um Morgan Freeman, right? Morgan Freeman. He played the Moor.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_01But it's it's such an interesting time. Christian. Christian. Christian. Um in in the development of like Christianity, Islam. Yeah. That that whole that whole back and forth has been going on a long time. That's wild to think. Um in Jerusalem used to have a king, you know, King Baldwin. Yeah, I you're right. I I I don't know. I I it's not it's way outside of our normal purview, but but that may be that maybe Oh, you're saying we should should dig deep there? Maybe a deep I don't know.
SPEAKER_00I mean maybe some of the stories would be That's interesting. And I haven't thought about that phase of Christian history uh in in a while. So it's just interesting to me to think of that that happening and then how people kind of want to sort of try to do that sometimes now, you know, and it's like I don't know. Yeah, yeah. It didn't work out too well the last time. So I I don't know. Uh it's interesting, especially when you're talking in light of um murder and what you do in your heart. What a great segue. Holy cow. Let's talk about murder. So Jesus has some stuff to say about what would be in our heart to even cause us to commit murder. Sermon on the mounts. And so chapter five of Matthew 21 through 26, that's the text we're gonna bounce around in today. So you have heard it, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, do not murder, which basically is the reference to the Ten Commandments. And anyone who murders will be subject to judgment. But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, Rakha, if you have the fancy Bible, or you fool, uh if you're just a regular old Joe like us, is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says you fool will be in danger of the fire of hell. Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar, and remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother, then come and offer your gift. Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny, shekel, quadrant, whatever measurement your d your your particular translation has there.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. Yeah. Um crypto. Crypto, your last Bitcoin, Dogecoin.
SPEAKER_00Um it's interesting. I know that we talked earlier, and like I'm all about this verse 25, settle matters quickly, but I didn't I didn't even think about the second sentence of that. It says, do it like settle matters quickly with your adversaries, taking you to court. And then that next sentence, do it while you are still with him on the way. Yeah. Isn't that kind of a funny scene to think that you're walking side by side down the through the streets uh there and on your way to the judge. I'm gonna tell on you. No, I'm gonna tell on you. No, I'm gonna tell on you. Right, right, right. It's like you're marching to the principal's office as fast as you can, uh trying to beat each other there. You know, no, this is what he did.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, if I can tell first, then that makes me right. Yeah, right.
SPEAKER_00He took my lunch.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. I filed the charges first. I must be right. I must be right, yes. I still Although, although, well, I don't know, that's too childish.
SPEAKER_00Is anything too childish for this podcast? I don't know. So so the big picture of this, like obviously gonna say whoever smelt the delta. Oh, yeah, there we are. Childish. That was childish. Right there. Too much.
SPEAKER_01Right there. Um First hand to cackle late day.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, guilty dog bar first, and all that kind of stuff, right? Um squeaky oil gets the wheel. Um is that it? I don't know, but Drake Drake Holmes and I had a good conversation about that squeaky wheel thing the other day, but that's a totally different part of Drake Holmes. The uh New Testament uh talk about. But so but I I think it about this one though, like obviously you and me and and most everybody who listens to this podcast, like murder is not necessarily one of the things we struggle with. I mean, not trying to make light of anyone who's been involved in any kind of a difficult situation like that. That's right. But all the same, that's not an everyday occurrence for for most of us.
SPEAKER_01It's a it's way on of like the the list of things I have to worry about today, committing murder is not one of them.
SPEAKER_00Not one of them, right? And so we all look at the Ten Commandments and go, hey, do not murder. Boom. Some of these are gimme's. I got that. That's that's a layup, Jesus. I got I got I got you on that. All right. Now this whole this whole covet I might have a problem with honoring my father and mother, yeah, you know. Oh, sometimes okay, yeah. But but murder, we're good, man. I mean I'm at least at 10% on this thing, you know. For sure. For sure I've got participation points, you know. And so Stealing, does that a does that does that a cross over to jokes?
SPEAKER_01Boy, sorry. Get in some trouble there, right? Um, but murder, I I agree with you. It's it's uh on the face, it's not a big deal.
SPEAKER_00And I think probably for Jesus, that's that's also it was the same for those people too. Like they mean your average your average uh Israelite didn't go around committing murder all day, especially in Jesus' day.
SPEAKER_01I don't think people by and large have changed. Right. Uh they they want to provide for their families, enjoy the fruits of their labor, you know, pass a good time, as we say in the South, you know, and and watch a little football on the weekends. Watch a little football on the weekends, yeah. Exactly. So so I'm sure that was the same, you know, with respect to whatever their traditions were in Israel. Yeah. Two thousand years ago, five thousand years ago, yeah, you know, that that part of humanity hadn't changed. So most people are not out there murdering each other.
SPEAKER_00They could they could all mostly agree that murder was wrong. Yes. And so Jesus obviously, as the fulfillment of the law, not the one to abolish the law, but the one to fulfill the law, comes in and says, Yeah, okay, you think you're good here, but I'm gonna tell you something different. I'm gonna tell you that even if something's going on in your heart that would lead you to have an angry thought, yeah, like that navigates itself into the same ballpark as this what drives a person to commit murder.
SPEAKER_01Can I can I tell you the um the so sometimes your translations maybe go, oh, that's so good. And then sometimes mine's like, Oh, that's way better. Uh verse 21, it says, You have heard, what did yours say? You've heard it said, or something like that.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, you've heard it, you've heard that it was said to the people long ago.
SPEAKER_01To the people long ago. Okay, so mine says, You have heard that the ancients were told. That just sounds cool. The ancients were told. You know, Jesus is calling up some stuff from way back when he's talking about ancients. Oh yeah. And and this is foundational stuff. Which which obviously, as we look at the the whole of the Bible, uh you when you get to the Ten Commandments, that's that's in the grand scheme of things, pretty close to the beginning. You know, it's it's uh the ancients were told, though. I I just I I I like the um the the sort of the seriousness that kind of comes along with that. You shall not murder. Yeah. And whoever commits murder shall be answerable to the court is the way mine said. But uh uh so then he goes and he he says, Yeah, but but I gotta tell you guys, it even if you get angry with your brother, you're answerable. And so the the the whole I would imagine the whole I've got 10% at least going for me, that all of a sudden people are like, wait a minute, I gotta go back to the drawing board here.
SPEAKER_00Back to zero. Back to zero. Yeah, because that hits us all. Yeah. I mean, everyone can say, just like most everyone can say, I'm not gonna murder anybody, almost everyone can say, Yeah, I've been pretty darn angry with uh this person and I've and I've acted on it in certain ways. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Well whether that's to outright say something to someone, yeah. Aggressive aggressive, you know, or passive aggressive, or yeah. Um or or or even just to to like stew on it.
SPEAKER_00That's it. Yeah, to hold the yeah, hold the anger in your heart, right? Because because you you could go with I mean uh this is a Tommy Tommy Johnson uh commandment or whatever, you know, if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all, right? Right. Well, I mean that is good advice, right? But still, if you're holding something in here if you just say it inside, yeah. There's not a whole lot in Jesus' world, it's like you you still said it. Yeah, and you got problems, right? Because you're not letting something go, you're letting something fester, you're letting something get the better of you, and you're you these thoughts that can take you away from the kingdom. And I think that's that's the thing that we don't understand is the time that we spend internally so guilty of angry of angry about something is is time wasted for the kingdom of God.
SPEAKER_01Processing conflict and and um potential scenarios that haven't happened out of because of our worries and our fears. How much time do we waste having arguments that that never come to pass? Sure, yeah. We're we're prepared to argue, we're prepared to, you know, to be attacked or whatever, and it never comes to pass. Right. And we've wasted you know, kingdom time, precious time, time you don't get back, energy you don't you don't get to you know up do over. I didn't I didn't use it, so I want to turn it back in and get more time. No, it didn't work that way.
SPEAKER_00Right, right. And some of those times that you're that you're internalizing all that when if you would have just said something and and got it over with quick, yeah, like not said something in anger, but went, okay, wait, this is what I think, this is what it made me feel, but let me just go ahead and cut to the chase here with whoever I'm mad at and let's let's get past this. You know, I think about this like me and Shauna on me more than her for sure, but but sometimes like if I get upset about something and I don't go ahead and get it out there, then yeah, I'm wasting time because I'm thinking, man, she just won't even listen to me, you know, you know, and just stupidity when I could have just said, Hey, this is what I was thinking when you said that. Just help me work through this. Right. You know, and not every time. We definitely shouldn't say whatever comes to our mind, you know, when we get mad about something, because we probably could be blowing something.
SPEAKER_01Jordan, just don't lie. Yeah. Just don't if you don't do just don't lie, you know. And I'm like, well, wait a minute, Jordan. Sometimes I need to say, no, that doesn't make you look at Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Well, I just think that that we don't yeah, you have to you have to guard it a little bit. Right, right. There's like a there's like an amount of time where it's okay to let it in there, let it stay in there, but but at some point it becomes too long. Well, and it's a problem.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, absolutely. And I think one of the other things that that's really hard in the in this this passage is I think there's there's a difference between the temptation, like like something happens and you're like, oh, I really want to, like, I can't, and then you're like, you know, I process it, I move on.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_01That there's a temptation to do something there, to to be angry, to, to, disparage somebody, even if it's in your heart, right? But so that I don't think that's the same thing as when you when you really like God, Alan's such an idiot. I can't believe he did that. You know, I'm so freaking just done with it, you know. Yeah. Okay, then then you've moved past, well, I've been tempted to do something, I've actually I've actually experienced it, felt it, thought it, whatever. And and I think that's the point Jesus gets to. He's like, hey guys, you what's in your heart matters. Because that is this, he doesn't use this language, but that that's sort of the that's the GPS uh of your life right there, you know, and and as your heart kind of points and goes, you know, uh it it matters. And so if you're allowing sin, evil, uh uh anger, what are the other words I'm looking for? Contempt, you know. You're all over it. Yeah, fear, any of that stuff to to reside in your heart. You're not allowing room for love, mercy, grace, you know, uh hope, any of those things. You're you're crowding that stuff out.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, exactly. And I think about this too. Like because you're letting that in your heart, and like we said, you're wasting kingdom time and stuff, but you're also, yeah, exactly. You just said it right. You're you're you're not allowing for love and and peace and joy and those things to to take root and and to blossom and to pour out of you. And and think about it too. Like, we're so we do think a lot about forgiveness. Like, if I s if I wrong you, I I know I'm gonna. to ask your forgiveness or whatever eventually at some point. But when we just have stuff inside, I don't know how often we I don't know how often we even ask God for forgiveness for an angry thought. You know, you know if I if I if I blew up and made a fool of myself, well then, you know, okay, all right, I got to forgive me. But if I'm over there stewing and it's just me, do I repent of that? Yeah, and and so see how and then we know what we know what unforgiveness blocks, right? If we hold that in in if if we don't if we're not forgiven, then then how can we forgive somebody else?
SPEAKER_01I've had a lot of uh windshield repentance. I'm in the car and idiot. They could have made that turn. Now we're here for another light cycle. And then I go and I'm like I'm sorry Lord that was uh and nobody else is in the car but I'm just like audibly I'm sorry Lord that that was not kind. I'm sure they have a lot on their mind. I'm sure they need to look at their phone right now. No seriously though. It was probably a really important uh text there there are times where I'm like oh okay really Sean what are you in a hurry for?
SPEAKER_00Yeah you know it could have been a sale or you know some kind of you know new new download blah blah blah whatever. Well but I was thinking when you said windshield repentance though what I was thinking about is so and you can tell me if this is true for you or not but sometimes when I'm in the truck and I don't have the radio on at all like this real podcast or whatever and then I'm staring at the windshield it's not a mirror but it's like a it's another it's something like a window into my soul a little bit where I can look and go, okay, what am I holding on to Yeah well that quiet time is really important.
SPEAKER_01I I will get in sometimes and and the r the the radio be off. I don't listen to the radio like you probably I don't listen to it a lot um a lot like you do. I I'm listening to podcasts where I'm streaming music.
SPEAKER_00Yeah.
SPEAKER_01And sometimes it's off and I'm like I'm not turning it on. Oh no I'm that way a lot too yeah I'm just not I'm not gonna turn it on I like one I don't want to have to thumb through and find the right song I don't know what I want to listen to you know but but two I'm like I need I need to I need to listen. Yeah Sean Ryan's got another idiot on here I don't want to listen to that guy again but but I need to listen right and and probably I need to to take account of some of my actions and thoughts and things like that and get right. You know because because that getting right piece that's a part of this passage that you read um verse 23 Jesus is saying look if you do have a problem well don't don't go to the altar and leave your offering there and do all that no no don't come with with sin in your heart and and praises for God on your lips. That's me not that's an interpretation of what he's saying you know or a praise of God in your hands you know leave set that down and go get your heart right with your with your brother. Yeah but and because he he wants he wants us to make a an honest like like good lord what's going on out there's you may not be able to hear that but like doors are going and people are laughing and it's it's wild outside the studio today. But Jesus wants us to make this you know this this presentation of not just what we have in our hands but like the content of our heart needs to be right as well.
SPEAKER_00Yeah and that depending on how how literal and how far you take that passage right there the the whole deal about I mean like so am I am I at church and I'm oh yeah I love you Lord peace be with you yeah and all that stuff but then I'm holding on to all this other bull crap like what's really going on there and and oftentimes I think we fake it and we just you know it's so funny like here in the in the south too like how we just well I'm just gonna go to church anyway and but there's no there's no even connection to the fact that you've got this massive stuff going on in your life and you're sitting here not obeying Jesus. The the the words couldn't be more read in the Bible about that and and so we're just not listening at all to what he's saying.
SPEAKER_01I I've always found it interesting um i in the movies and you know television shows and that when you have like mafia gang members that kind of thing and they have church they go to church oh right and there is sort of this semblance and respect for for God yet then they go out and they whack somebody or they sell drugs or they steal a truckload of something or whatever and it's like how how are those two things living within the same person and you know and and and that's a little bit of uh I think a mirror into the self-righteousness of of humanity to say or of the of the church to say yeah I mean you know what are we doing? Yeah yeah but now now granted they're unrepentant I think it as it's displayed often I I don't know the the content of the heart of the characters and all these you know whatever but the only hope I could say is is that those of us who are in the church and trying to live right are at least repentant of our sin. But there's still the possibility that there's those of us out there who are doing you know not stealing or murdering or selling drugs or whatever those really horrible things but we're still in danger of the fires of hell. We're still in danger of the fires of hell because we've not been reconciled in our heart with the wrongs that we've done. Maybe we've got ill will towards somebody in our family. Yeah or somebody's done business with legitimate business. Yeah to rose over yeah somebody that uh uh voted that the carpet color in the sanctuary be green instead of red I don't know I mean they're playing with the rock and roll guitars again there you go here you go yeah oh my goodness to do missions there's plenty of people right here need to know about Jesus plenty of people right here and washdall perish right yeah there are there are plenty of people on your row at church probably too maybe even in your own seat it's not either or people it's both hands but anyways but all of those things like we're not reconciled and and yet we bring our offering to the Lord. Yes that's messed up you know and and and Jesus is like hey guys you you might want to you might want to straighten that out.
SPEAKER_00Yeah what does that look like for you to first go and reconcile with your brother and I just think you obviously you can't you can't make someone forgive you but you can do everything on your part you can do everything on your end to come clean and to confess. Yours is not to determine the outcome.
SPEAKER_01Right. Your yours is to to to take to do what's right in your mind.
SPEAKER_00I mean lay things on the altar is like laying it down there. You know lay lay your life down lay lay your deeds down lay it all down before Christ and before your your adversary or your brother or whoever it may be.
SPEAKER_01And and there's a there's a strong reference to the courts and judges depending on your your uh translation here my mine has that in there especially verse 25 and you brought up a really good one uh in our prep time uh come to good terms with your accuser or adversary I think yours says quickly. Quickly quickly don't don't waste time doing it. Yeah what what Okay so I I have some idea what are some of the drawbacks you think of of not moving quickly?
SPEAKER_00Well what are the dangers? Yeah well you you've already hinted at I think the biggest one is that is that it festers um within us and and and then we so then there's this internal thing that goes on that that begins to take over. Um and then the other thing that I think is very interesting with that is that you we already said this one too you you waste kingdom time in in doing that. And then and then the thing I think we don't think about man is like okay if there's if this adversary thing if this is if there's something really going on there like something that not just something that you think you did wrong but you know there's a wrong there and you know there's feelings on the other side of the coin too then by not making the move to go settle it you're also displacing this person from God. You're you're interfering with their faith. You're interfering with what's going on between them and God like if you're not doing your part to come it's got to be this it'd be great if everybody just came to the middle right away but it doesn't work like that.
SPEAKER_01No it doesn't it doesn't for fear of rejection for fear of of having to swallow some pride all the you know the list goes on and on. And and you know obviously um we we celebrate you're a big ripple guy but but what you're describing there is like the ripple effect of of the fact that that our witness has an effect on other people. Yeah it's the negative of it the negative the negative effect and and and you think well I'm not witnessing well yeah that is a witness that is a form of witness right and if you proclaim to be a a follower of Jesus uh if you proclaim to be a believer in the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob right and you follow Jesus then you have a witness. It's either one that you've intentionally uh groomed and and prepared and grown a story that you intentionally live out for his glory or it's one that you've haphazardly live out and and it's it's not it's not poorly or it's poorly executed. But you still have a witness. People still see you and say oh Alan follows Jesus he either follows him well and intentionally or he's just sort of like does whatever he wants and he's really a poor follower. Well that may be no no no don't don't put yourself down.
SPEAKER_00But but what I would say too is and how many times do you think this has happened in in your life right you may go like well I'm fine I don't I don't have any problem with something it's all I'm all good. It's his problem you know whatever and you may sucks to suck. Yeah but so so yeah maybe you have worked it out and maybe you are at peace with whatever it is and you and God are good and you don't have hold any ill will over here but if he has something against you then if you don't make an effort now it's not all on you. That's right but but I do think if you don't make an effort you're you're holding that person back from their reconciliation we've got like we can be a stumbling block in that sense like if you know someone has something against you.
SPEAKER_01You may not know and there's nothing you can do about it, right? Right. But if I know somebody's mad at me and I really feel justified in my actions.
SPEAKER_00Yeah.
SPEAKER_01And maybe you are a hundred percent correct right it doesn't hurt to say hey look I I think you're still upset with me do we need to talk about it.
SPEAKER_00Yeah like what can I do here? Yeah. I mean even if even if you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you're 100% in the right which of course usually we are right but uh can I suggest that you don't apologize by saying I'm sorry you're feeling that way I'm sorry you feel that way I'm sorry you inaccurately understand the situation. I'm sorry that you have misunderstood that's right. Sorry you're wrong. Don't don't apologize that way. Don't do it that way you be use tact, right? But I do think that's something we don't think about is that is that what we withhold sometimes prevents other people. Because we'll we'll stew and I'm just gonna deal with it my way or whatever. Well that's fine, right? I mean it's not good. It's actually not fine but you you're not just you're not just putting yourself in jeopardy in that situation.
SPEAKER_01You're also putting this other person in jeopardy and and let me yeah let me on that note it's not it's not incorrect to say well that's really their issue they should come to me. It's not incorrect to say that no however do you do you want to be right or do you want to be righteous? Yeah and I think I think that's a a lot of us are are so focused on being right that we miss being righteous.
SPEAKER_00Yeah and and what what wins more points in the kingdom right?
SPEAKER_01And and that's it. So it's not about your pride, it's not about your integrity or your reputation it's like like Jesus I mean I that's why I love the story of um one of the reasons I love the story in Luke 15 of of the the prodigal father you know and the sons is um he he doesn't let pride and he sees his son who he thought was dead and he runs to him you know and all the history of that is like uh that was not a dignified response. Men of that age and of that of that of that culture didn't run.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_01You know and the whole um you know they have to lift their robe to show their ankles and all that all this kind of you know cultural stuff that we don't necessarily see uh in a in America in the 21st century. Well it was still in the 21st century.
SPEAKER_00I get confused I'm not sure we're in the twenties.
SPEAKER_01Yeah it's somewhere in there. Um but but like God God for the sake of of the loss coming back to him he's undignified in that at least in my interpretation.
SPEAKER_00Well no that's good because the cross was undignified. Yeah and that shows us how how we are to respond.
SPEAKER_01Yeah right yeah got Jesus Jesus I mean he he could have said hey guys you you're the ones with the problem you need to come find me.
SPEAKER_00Yeah he didn't he came and found us well your example of the prodigal son because that is how we feel lots of times we feel like we we we often see ourselves as not with God. With God I think we all pretty much get it you know we're we're the prodigal son but but I think with with other people though we we think we're the older brother or or or we think we're the father. Oh the f oh yeah we want to make ourselves the hero well that we just think that we we're the ones who have been wronged and that's all we focus on and and then we yeah that and we don't handle it the way God handles it when someone takes our stuff when someone takes a huge dump on all the love that we've shown them and all that kind of stuff. Like we don't we we we don't handle it the way God does, right? Oh my God, what an image. Yeah but I mean that's that's what that's how we feel about it. Like you just you just backed it up and dumped it on me. What am I supposed to do? You know we don't handle it the way the the way the father in that story does because you're right it's it's not a it's not a dignified situation and he he sprints toward his son and and the son is obviously dirty you know he was when when he was in the other country he was with the pigs. Yeah he's dirty and and he's smelly he's dirty and he's done his family dirty that's right in particular the father he is uh unclean spiritually physically all of it yeah and even him going and asking for his inheritance it's a crazy insult to the dad that's what I'm saying it's like saying hey I I wish you were dead essentially because you're not supposed to get it until he dies yeah and so to go ask for it while he's still alive says I don't give two shekes about your life I just want my money and then so not only is he completely disrespectful uh to the father then the same thing he jumps straight over the older brother and and says no I want mine and I and I want it now and everybody else would look at that and the people who heard Jesus tell the story probably were looking at each other going what the heck man this guy is as low as they come I can't believe anyone would ever act like this and yet we find ourselves in that guy's scenario but I do think we find ourselves oftentimes as the brother or the father but we don't as the father in particular and we don't respond the way God does. No no we're not we're not God I get it but that story is to teach us how to be like Christ as well. Yeah it's not just about hey that we can go to the Father I mean that is kind of a driving home point but if we're supposed to be like Christ if we're supposed to look like God open up your arms yeah we have to we have to wrap your robe around somebody who who's been lost yeah put a ring on their finger right all the things that signify that they don't belong to the world they belong to to the kingdom.
SPEAKER_01Mm-hmm that's what the father does.
SPEAKER_00No matter how pig penny they've been right yeah yeah yeah and I think it's so if is as this one finishes up like so it settle things quickly with your adversary who's taking you to court um do it while you're still with him along the way which I think is funny we've already talked about that but but then the last one I tell you the truth you will not get out because you you might end up in prison is what he says. Basically it could go it could go bad for you. Right. And then you won't get out until you've paid the very last penny. So that's a I think that's a double meaning right I think so there's there's an eternal look there that says hey you're you're Jesus has always got those layers. You're you're gonna yeah you are going to ruin your eternity by holding on to this is good practical advice but it's also hey pay attention. Yeah yeah so so don't end up being distant from God forever in this situation because that's what's gonna happen if you or that's what can happen if you hold on to this because you have guilt in the situation as well. So like even if I totally even if you totally wrong me and I'm totally in the right and I never forgive you then I'm guilty of of not forgiving you, right? And so the judge will find me guilty in that scenario.
SPEAKER_01Yeah let's go I mean we're we're jumping it's Matthew six right but uh yeah we get in the Lord's prayer you know yeah forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those it's not like it meh and we'll think about forgiving. No no as we forgive those who trespass against us.
SPEAKER_00Yeah so so there's that there's that massive eternal thing and and I don't want to skip over that like that's huge. The way we handle our relationships I do believe can impact our eternity because it's it's it totally gets in there with our understanding of who God is and our relationship with him if I can't forgive somebody else. I mean that's a massive problem right but it's also ridiculous to think about it like you could spend the rest of your life like chipping away at this anger that you're holding on to somebody about and you're never going to finish and you'll you'll spend every last amount of energy holding on to this thing that will suck the life right out of you. And people do that all the time they'll just stay so bitter and so angry I'm never forgiving him I'm never forgiving her I hate her I hate her I hate her and like man that's just gonna all that hate's gonna burn you up the red the red Don quote right I mean keeps me warm. Yeah yeah exactly like it's it's going to kill you and it'll take every last penny every last bit of resources it'll just suck you dry right on that man. And I just think that's a terrible way to live and Jesus is saying you don't want to live that way now and you sure don't want to live that way forever. You can't live that way. And it's it's not real life you're not really living in that sense but but I'm saying you don't want to do that.
SPEAKER_01Yeah because you can't live that way in the kingdom. Yeah there's no room for that in the kingdom.
SPEAKER_00I just think about those people who just who just hate and hate and hate and hate and that's all they can never get off of it right I hate this I hate this I hate this. Even if you're complaining about the same dumb stuff all the time you know that person can be so annoying right is it's like this this this guy in the single single dating engaged married book he he uses this analogy of you're a fountain or you're a drain and I know we've talked about this before. Yeah but like if you think about it like that like that's we all have that potential and that capability within us and so are you a fountain of life or are you a drain? Are you sucking life out of people? And I think when you hold on to this bitterness and you hold on to this anger you are the worst kind of drain ever you're a drain on it really becomes a drain on all your other relationships because you won't let this thing go with this person.
SPEAKER_01Like how many families are in shambles right now because of that absolutely and and the the the remedy is to humble yourself go make right go go make go make peace and find a a solution that actually represents some sort of justice. Something something that's you know reasonable and and you may not get everything you want and they may not get everything they want but at least you'll have peace because holding on to this I gotta be a hundred percent right that's not always righteous.
SPEAKER_00Yeah and and and the longer you wait on this this is why Jesus said do it quickly the long the longer you wait the worse those things usually get the more scars that build up like scar tissue all that kind of stuff the more the more the relationship atrophies.
SPEAKER_01Yeah yeah that's the other part. Yeah it the scar tissue atrophy whatever you want whatever metaphor you want to throw in there the more it becomes uh less viable you know because now there's a distance there's a space between us there there's uh there's this weird past in history that we allow to grow and it's hard to overcome that.
SPEAKER_00Yeah if you go off of the the the the water analogy still like it's like you're building like if you're building a dam right up here and then so then you're putting all these rocks and all this stuff in between you and this person and then out over here it just becomes this barren wasteland and there's nothing good there. And you're cutting off life and you're preventing things from growing and moving through and there's just so much that yeah I get I think about that a lot with with people that I know and and relationships and stuff and man am I what if what am I holding on to here that I need To let go of. What am I? How can this be better? I'm handling this situation, by the way, I'm feeling right here. It's interesting you bring that up.
SPEAKER_01I I mentioned to you that our meeting time earlier, Cooper and I were hiking up in Arkansas, and I told you about that Smith uh Smith Creek Reserve or Preserve. I can't remember. Whichever. Jam jelly. Yeah, preserve sounds like a jam or jelly. I think it's reserve. We went up there and and we were playing in the creek building a dam, right? And some places. And other places we opened it up. And you know what was the place we opened up? It wasn't rocks. It was leaves. And and you know, as you talked about that, you know, the rocks are something we do deliberately. You know, we stack the rocks in some places to kind of change the flow of the water. And then we moved leaves. And I just thought about those leaves. Those things kind of fell in there one at a time. That's a great, that's a great analogy for what what I think what Jesus is talking about here is you allow these things to build on one another. I you might not even do it intentionally, but you allowed it to sit there. You didn't address it right away, and so now there's another layer and another layer, and all of a sudden the water's not moving. The water of life, right? Yeah, there's no flow there. There's no flow and it's stagnant, and you know, you got mosquitoes and bugs, and well, and that's what Jesus is is talking about.
SPEAKER_00That like there can be water, but it can be dead water. That's right. And Jesus says, like, he's a fountain of water welling up into your eternal life. And so there is a difference in how we handle these things, and it matters. Do it quickly. Yeah, and do it quickly. And so that's what I would say. Like, if there's stuff in your life, you're probably not planning on murdering anybody tonight, but if there's stuff in your heart and anger towards someone in your family, if you got beats someone at work, yeah, handle it, man. And and and I know this is hard to do. I know these are like it's easy for us to sit behind microphones in a recording session and tell you you need to settle matters quickly, but there's no other way around it. Jesus says the same thing, and and so whatever step you can to maybe you can't pull all the rocks off the dam right away, but can you go move one? Right. You know, can you take a step toward reconciliation and and be it be at a prayerful step and and continue to move your heart because that's what we're talking about, is changing the attitude of your heart. And I think once you begin to do that, regardless of of how the other person responds, then that's going to allow you to become more and more like Christ the more you turn your heart over to him and allow that to soften and allow allow his grace to flow through you outward to uh not only not only to bring you healing, but then outward to the other party as well. Right on, right on. That's good.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, because it it it's just it's too important not to. Yeah, don't hesitate. Yeah, don't hesitate. Um Jesus, you know, he he wants us to be in this relationship, and and the relationship cannot uh have integrity and it and it cannot go forward unless there's uh a clear heart, you know, and and these um in how we feel about one another and how we treat one another. So good stuff, man.
SPEAKER_00Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose.
SPEAKER_01Is that what you're saying? Oh, I I was thinking that when you yeah, yeah. Ring 'em up, baby. Ring 'em up. Yeah. Friday night lights, wasn't it? Audios, boys. Stay in the fight.
