WEBVTT 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:02.319 Welcome to the Awakening Church podcast. 00:00:02.479 --> 00:00:07.040 We pray this message encourages you and provides the hope and light of Jesus Christ. 00:00:07.200 --> 00:00:08.640 Thanks for tuning in. 00:00:19.120 --> 00:00:39.759 Today we are kicking off a brand new series called Controversial Jesus, in which we're we're actually diving into incredibly important conversations that often create great debate or at least disagreement among even well intended followers of Jesus. 00:00:39.920 --> 00:00:44.320 And what we want to do is just simply go to the scriptures and go in our theme. 00:00:44.479 --> 00:00:46.880 What would Jesus say on this? 00:00:47.119 --> 00:00:52.880 And how do we understand following Jesus today in the world that we find ourselves in? 00:00:52.960 --> 00:00:56.479 And so today we're going to be looking at Jesus and politics. 00:00:57.520 --> 00:00:58.320 I know. 00:01:00.960 --> 00:01:07.519 The thing that, you know, really ruined your last family, you know, right? 00:01:08.239 --> 00:01:17.200 Like everything was going great until uncle or aunt or mom or dad or brother or sister. 00:01:17.599 --> 00:01:30.239 And isn't that interesting, especially I've watched recently, but this has been for a long time, that friendships have been divided over this, family has been divided over this, coworkers have been divided over this. 00:01:30.400 --> 00:01:38.079 And often you either sh begin just a shouting match or you just retreat in silence. 00:01:39.200 --> 00:01:47.599 And so we want to really wrestle with this together as we live in a deeply polarized world. 00:01:47.760 --> 00:01:57.840 I remember a study that showed that in the 1950s, if you asked parents the question, who do you not want your kid to come home with? 00:01:57.920 --> 00:02:05.200 And the answer was racially motivated, deeply tragic reality of our world. 00:02:05.439 --> 00:02:07.519 Today it's politically. 00:02:08.080 --> 00:02:13.759 It has to do with red or blue, progressive or conservative, Democratic or Republican. 00:02:14.319 --> 00:02:20.560 And so let's turn to the scriptures and what does Jesus have to say? 00:02:20.719 --> 00:02:24.960 And to guide our time, I want just three questions for us to wrestle with. 00:02:25.280 --> 00:02:28.000 The first one is was Jesus political? 00:02:28.719 --> 00:02:36.319 We don't often think of him politically, and when you look at the followers of Jesus, you go, like, it's hard to know. 00:02:36.479 --> 00:02:42.159 Some are very apolitical and some are deeply political and everywhere in between. 00:02:42.319 --> 00:02:45.520 Was Jesus himself actually political? 00:02:45.680 --> 00:02:50.639 And then after we answer that, are Jesus' followers to be engaged politically? 00:02:50.800 --> 00:02:58.159 Like, like, are we actually supposed to be involved in this political arena that we see and find ourselves in? 00:02:58.319 --> 00:03:08.960 And if so, if the answer is in some ways yes, how are followers of Jesus to be engaged politically in this incredibly divisive times? 00:03:09.199 --> 00:03:11.120 So let's begin with the first question. 00:03:11.280 --> 00:03:14.159 Are it was Jesus political? 00:03:14.400 --> 00:03:21.919 And to help us answer that first, I want to just give you the religious political landscape of Jesus' day. 00:03:22.240 --> 00:03:29.919 Now, what's important to remember is that in the ancient day there was not a separation of church and state. 00:03:30.159 --> 00:03:33.280 We naturally do that because of our cultural background. 00:03:33.439 --> 00:03:41.039 But but all empires and nations and cities, religion and spirituality was meshed. 00:03:41.520 --> 00:03:43.120 Rome was no different. 00:03:43.360 --> 00:03:49.039 In fact, you had the worship of Caesar that was implemented all across the Roman Empire. 00:03:49.199 --> 00:04:14.719 And when we think about the religious landscape and the political landscape, if you're somewhat familiar with the ancient world, you go, of course, the Roman Empire, and they were in power and Jerusalem and specifically the people of Israel were subjugated under the rule of Rome, and they had these puppet kingdoms set up all around their empire. 00:04:14.960 --> 00:04:30.879 But the thing that I think we can overlook sometimes is realizing when we're hearing some of these spiritual leaders that both for not just Rome, but Judaism, politics, and religion was enmeshed. 00:04:31.199 --> 00:04:33.519 And so you had the Pharisees. 00:04:33.839 --> 00:04:47.439 And if you think about the Pharisees, their goal was to reinstate the Israel back into being the superpower, the kingdom of God, and they believed that a pure Israel was going to bring that about. 00:04:47.519 --> 00:04:52.160 And so they were very focused on rules and regulation. 00:04:52.720 --> 00:04:56.560 Today we would call them the Conservative Party in their day. 00:04:56.720 --> 00:05:01.680 And then you had the Sadducees, and the Sadducees said, Well, how do we have power? 00:05:02.079 --> 00:05:05.920 We're not getting rid of Rome, so let's start to work with Rome. 00:05:06.079 --> 00:05:18.240 And one way to remember between the Sadducees and the Pharisees, and this is cheesy, but the Sadducees didn't believe in the resurrection of the dead, and so they are sad, you see. 00:05:18.959 --> 00:05:20.319 I told you it was corny. 00:05:20.480 --> 00:05:21.839 I told you it was corny. 00:05:23.120 --> 00:05:32.240 And and if in our day we would call them maybe the liberal party, the progressive party of, you know, we're how do we advance with Rome? 00:05:32.480 --> 00:05:38.160 But both of these parties made up what was known as the Great Sanhedrin, the Jewish Supreme Court. 00:05:38.240 --> 00:05:45.839 This would be the court, the very court, uh that would eventually uh sentence Jesus to death. 00:05:46.000 --> 00:05:50.800 Uh then there were two other parties we don't talk enough about or a lot about. 00:05:50.959 --> 00:05:53.040 The Essenes, they were the separatists. 00:05:53.199 --> 00:05:56.639 They said, you know what, we're gonna take our ball and go home. 00:05:56.720 --> 00:06:05.759 Uh and so we're gonna separate from society, we're not gonna engage, we're gonna create our own communities that are gonna do our own thing. 00:06:05.839 --> 00:06:07.600 It's a holy huddle. 00:06:07.839 --> 00:06:15.199 And then the zealots, and the zealots were these extremists that are looking at, okay, how do we begin to take power back? 00:06:16.000 --> 00:06:26.399 And uh, if uh if it means um terrorist activity, if it means overthrowing the government and coup, we're all in of that. 00:06:26.720 --> 00:06:31.519 Now, all of these parties, all four of these, had this idea of a messiah. 00:06:31.759 --> 00:06:42.879 And all of them are looking and hoping for this messiah to come in some way that had been long awaited, uh long prophesied to restore Israel. 00:06:43.040 --> 00:06:46.959 And Messiah, the word literally means anointed one. 00:06:47.360 --> 00:06:52.800 In their minds, it's a savior, a liberator, Israel's final king. 00:06:53.040 --> 00:06:59.920 And so when we read Christ, it's just simply the Greek translation of Messiah, the Hebrew word. 00:07:00.079 --> 00:07:04.959 So Christ and Messiah are the exact same words that mean the same thing: anointed one. 00:07:05.360 --> 00:07:12.720 And and that was in their day a deeply, deeply political word. 00:07:14.079 --> 00:07:17.920 We so often look at it as just simply a spiritual word. 00:07:18.079 --> 00:07:22.079 This was a deeply political word of a king who would come. 00:07:22.319 --> 00:07:28.000 In fact, uh, this happened in John chapter 6 after the feeding of the 5,000. 00:07:28.160 --> 00:07:35.600 Jesus notes this, perceiving then that they were about to come and take him now by force and make him king. 00:07:36.000 --> 00:07:40.480 That was on the hearts of the people when Jesus showed up on the scene. 00:07:40.639 --> 00:07:43.759 We long for a Messiah to be our king. 00:07:44.000 --> 00:07:48.160 Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself. 00:07:48.399 --> 00:07:50.720 And the question was Jesus political? 00:07:50.879 --> 00:08:01.360 And if I can just encourage you to listen to a sermon that's not mine, um, Tim Keller, actually, I didn't know he titled this before studying for this, has a title, Jesus and Politics. 00:08:01.439 --> 00:08:02.560 It's really good. 00:08:02.879 --> 00:08:07.920 Um and his answer is Jesus was intentionally ambiguous. 00:08:08.639 --> 00:08:09.839 Yes and no. 00:08:10.399 --> 00:08:12.079 Yes, politically, no. 00:08:12.480 --> 00:08:24.560 He would never give a straight answer because the messiahship of what he brought was a kingdom not of this world, not brought about by the ways of this world. 00:08:25.439 --> 00:08:27.439 And so, was Jesus political? 00:08:27.600 --> 00:08:30.959 I'm gonna still Tim Keller, yes and no. 00:08:32.159 --> 00:08:42.320 And then the question then for us, then, is how are followers of Jesus then to engage, or are Jesus followers to engage politically? 00:08:42.559 --> 00:08:46.399 And where I want to draw our attention to is the Sermon on the Mount. 00:08:46.559 --> 00:08:51.840 And we're actually gonna spend the next six weeks studying this teachings of Jesus. 00:08:52.000 --> 00:08:54.320 We spent the summer through the Beatitudes. 00:08:54.480 --> 00:08:56.879 Jesus talks about who's actually blessed. 00:08:57.039 --> 00:08:58.080 It's amazing. 00:08:58.320 --> 00:09:00.080 Like you already are blessed. 00:09:00.159 --> 00:09:01.279 That's the kingdom ethic. 00:09:01.360 --> 00:09:05.039 It's not somehow you get to be blessed, it's like you already are blessed. 00:09:05.200 --> 00:09:07.120 Live into who you already are. 00:09:07.279 --> 00:09:08.480 That's the Beatitudes. 00:09:08.639 --> 00:09:13.600 And he says, Blessed are the poor, blessed are the pure in heart, blessed are the persecuted. 00:09:13.919 --> 00:09:24.720 Upside down from the political realm, blessed are the powerful, blessed are those in position, blessed are those, you know, who can make things happen and are affluent. 00:09:24.879 --> 00:09:31.919 And the Sermon on the Mount is Jesus' manifesto of how citizens of the kingdom of heaven are to live on earth. 00:09:32.159 --> 00:09:40.399 You want to know what Jesus is calling us to be today as the church on some of the biggest issues, subjects, and arenas? 00:09:41.120 --> 00:09:44.559 Let's go back to his teaching on the Sermon on the Mount. 00:09:44.720 --> 00:09:49.120 If you have your Bible, would you open up to Matthew chapter 5, verse 17? 00:09:49.360 --> 00:09:51.919 Matthew chapter 5, verse 17. 00:09:52.240 --> 00:09:55.679 Just directly right after the Sermon on the Mount. 00:09:55.759 --> 00:09:57.600 In fact, I want to do something with you. 00:09:57.759 --> 00:10:01.279 Um, different traditions have done this through the ages. 00:10:01.919 --> 00:10:06.320 Um and we we have more of a casual tradition. 00:10:06.480 --> 00:10:10.639 And I the reading of scripture, often the church stood in honor of it. 00:10:10.879 --> 00:10:14.159 And could we just read this all together at the same time? 00:10:14.480 --> 00:10:16.080 And then we'll continue on. 00:10:16.240 --> 00:10:18.720 Would you mind standing up with me through this? 00:10:19.679 --> 00:10:22.320 It's on the screen behind me. 00:10:24.960 --> 00:10:35.679 It says, You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? 00:10:35.919 --> 00:10:42.559 It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. 00:10:43.360 --> 00:10:45.919 You are the light of the world. 00:10:46.159 --> 00:10:53.840 A town built on a hill cannot be hidden, neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. 00:10:54.000 --> 00:10:59.440 Instead, they put it on the stand, and it gives life to everyone in the house. 00:10:59.600 --> 00:11:08.799 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they see your good deeds, and glorify your Father in heaven. 00:11:09.759 --> 00:11:14.960 Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. 00:11:15.279 --> 00:11:19.200 I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them. 00:11:19.519 --> 00:11:33.919 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the law until everything is accomplished. 00:11:34.240 --> 00:11:45.039 Therefore, anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. 00:11:45.279 --> 00:11:51.840 But whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 00:11:52.159 --> 00:12:01.759 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not answer. 00:12:02.720 --> 00:12:03.919 This is the word of God. 00:12:04.080 --> 00:12:05.279 You may be seated. 00:12:06.720 --> 00:12:10.000 Are Jesus followers to be engaged politically? 00:12:10.240 --> 00:12:11.600 And if so, how? 00:12:12.080 --> 00:12:13.840 I want to answer the first question. 00:12:14.000 --> 00:12:16.159 Are Jesus followers to be engaged politically? 00:12:16.320 --> 00:12:17.440 We read it right there. 00:12:17.600 --> 00:12:20.879 You're the salt of the earth, you are the light of the world, the you are. 00:12:21.840 --> 00:12:25.759 Jesus ordained you for world service. 00:12:26.559 --> 00:12:32.879 He didn't just ordain, think about this, he didn't just ordain pastors and priests and missionaries. 00:12:33.279 --> 00:12:36.799 Imagine, remember, who were his disciples at this moment? 00:12:38.240 --> 00:12:40.480 Unschooled ordinary fishermen. 00:12:40.639 --> 00:12:47.360 That's why when they stood before the Sanhedrin after Jesus, they were astonished. 00:12:48.159 --> 00:12:58.240 Because they noted that they had been with Jesus and these unschooled ordinary fishermen who were able to stand up in that arena. 00:12:58.720 --> 00:13:01.840 You have been ordained for world service. 00:13:02.000 --> 00:13:04.960 I just want you to notice and break this down. 00:13:05.279 --> 00:13:09.600 You are the very salt and light of the world. 00:13:10.080 --> 00:13:12.799 If you are taking notes, just write that down. 00:13:12.960 --> 00:13:16.480 I want you to notice first that the you here is plural. 00:13:16.799 --> 00:13:20.000 Y'all, if you're from a different part of the country. 00:13:21.120 --> 00:13:21.840 Y'all. 00:13:22.480 --> 00:13:35.039 And that strikes to us because we live in such an individualistic society and world, and it's all about my autonomy, and it's about the communal nature of the call of all of us. 00:13:35.360 --> 00:13:37.840 That we all are called together. 00:13:38.000 --> 00:13:41.759 That's what the body, the church, this is what we are to be about. 00:13:42.080 --> 00:13:43.600 Then it says, you are. 00:13:44.480 --> 00:13:51.200 Not ought to, should be, could be, but you presently are. 00:13:51.360 --> 00:13:58.399 I love how uh one theologian says it that Jesus blesses us with his high view of us. 00:13:58.960 --> 00:14:03.200 Like when he looks at you and says, You are the salt and you are the light. 00:14:03.360 --> 00:14:05.440 He blesses you with his high view. 00:14:05.519 --> 00:14:09.519 And then notice the definite article, the salt. 00:14:10.080 --> 00:14:12.559 It's actually emphatic in the Greek. 00:14:13.279 --> 00:14:15.679 The salt of the earth, the light. 00:14:15.840 --> 00:14:19.679 Not a light and not a salt, but definitively. 00:14:20.000 --> 00:14:25.039 Jesus says, You have use to this world. 00:14:26.000 --> 00:14:27.519 What does salt and light do? 00:14:27.679 --> 00:14:31.120 Well, salt flavors and preserves and purifies. 00:14:31.360 --> 00:14:35.120 Light reveals and grows and brings life. 00:14:36.559 --> 00:14:37.919 Now notice this. 00:14:38.159 --> 00:14:42.080 I think this is the larger point underneath what Jesus is saying. 00:14:42.399 --> 00:14:46.240 Salt and light do not exist for itself. 00:14:47.679 --> 00:14:49.440 Salt is for food. 00:14:50.240 --> 00:14:51.840 You add salt to it. 00:14:52.240 --> 00:14:55.759 Disciples, followers of Jesus, are for this world. 00:14:56.159 --> 00:14:58.480 And think about the expanse of nature. 00:14:58.960 --> 00:15:03.600 The call has no boundaries to the world. 00:15:04.000 --> 00:15:13.120 He's making these comments in an obscure part of Palestine in a region of Galilee on a hill. 00:15:15.360 --> 00:15:17.840 Twelve disciples, several hundred followers. 00:15:21.759 --> 00:15:26.480 In a way, a way part of the Roman Empire. 00:15:27.519 --> 00:15:34.879 And it doesn't stop him from expanding their vision and their scope for the entire world. 00:15:37.039 --> 00:15:42.159 You are created, and I am created, to be of use for this world. 00:15:42.320 --> 00:15:48.240 And the question then is how can we be salt and light if we have no contact with society? 00:15:49.039 --> 00:15:56.480 How can we be salt and light if we if we're not actually engaged in the world around us, in the society around us? 00:15:57.279 --> 00:16:04.799 To go back to Tim Keller, he's an author, pastor was recently passed away, incredible theologian. 00:16:05.440 --> 00:16:06.480 He wrote this. 00:16:06.720 --> 00:16:09.120 It was an article in the New York Times. 00:16:09.360 --> 00:16:13.039 He was a pastor in downtown Manhattan for years and years and years. 00:16:13.200 --> 00:16:19.519 He said, Christians cannot pretend that they transcend politics and simply preach the gospel. 00:16:19.759 --> 00:16:26.639 Those who avoid all political discussions and engagement are essentially casting a vote for the social status quo. 00:16:27.039 --> 00:16:38.240 American churches in the early 19th century that did not speak out against slavery because that was what we would now call getting political, were actually supporting slavery by doing so. 00:16:38.480 --> 00:16:42.960 To not be political is to be political. 00:16:44.639 --> 00:16:50.720 You, by the way, friend, Jesus has ordained you for world service. 00:16:51.679 --> 00:16:54.799 We are to be salt and light in our society. 00:16:55.039 --> 00:17:05.039 Now he closes this with an interesting phrase, salt and light, and then he says this in the same way, let your light so shine before others, what? 00:17:05.200 --> 00:17:08.000 That they may see your help me out. 00:17:08.640 --> 00:17:09.839 Good deeds. 00:17:10.880 --> 00:17:16.160 Like the good works and deeds of your life and our life of the church. 00:17:16.480 --> 00:17:21.039 The world is actually supposed to see those, our actions and what we're doing. 00:17:21.119 --> 00:17:22.480 And what do they do? 00:17:23.039 --> 00:17:25.039 They glorify the Father in heaven. 00:17:25.279 --> 00:17:26.480 Now here's what's interesting. 00:17:26.640 --> 00:17:31.119 That Greek word good, there is not just good in content, there's a word for that. 00:17:31.279 --> 00:17:32.880 It's the Greek word kalos. 00:17:33.359 --> 00:17:39.279 And it literally means uh pertaining to being attractive in outward appearance. 00:17:39.599 --> 00:17:40.640 Beautiful. 00:17:40.960 --> 00:17:44.799 Your attractive, beautiful works. 00:17:45.519 --> 00:17:53.440 Meaning, how we do what we do is just as important as what we do. 00:17:54.480 --> 00:18:02.400 How we hold things and the way we go about it is just as important to what we do. 00:18:02.720 --> 00:18:11.599 In fact, one commentator wrote this: thus, the way commands are done is almost as important as the simple fact that they are done. 00:18:12.079 --> 00:18:24.319 Like the way we do things, the way we step on and into society, the way we engage the needs of our world, the way we show up, the way we talk, all of those are just as important as what we do. 00:18:25.039 --> 00:18:29.440 And we gotta hold both of those in attention. 00:18:30.079 --> 00:18:31.680 Was Jesus political? 00:18:32.000 --> 00:18:33.039 Yes and no. 00:18:33.599 --> 00:18:36.319 Are followers in Jesus to be politically engaged? 00:18:36.400 --> 00:18:38.960 Well, we're to be salt and light in our society. 00:18:39.200 --> 00:18:44.400 And politics is an important framework of how we bring about good to our neighbor. 00:18:44.480 --> 00:18:47.200 And so, yes, in some ways we have to be. 00:18:47.440 --> 00:18:51.599 Well, how are followers of Jesus then to engage politically? 00:18:52.000 --> 00:18:55.519 I want you to give you just three more observations from the text. 00:18:55.759 --> 00:18:58.720 First, give Jesus your ultimate allegiance. 00:18:59.039 --> 00:19:01.359 First, give Jesus your ultimate allegiance. 00:19:01.519 --> 00:19:04.319 I want us to remember this, okay, friends. 00:19:04.640 --> 00:19:07.039 Jesus ordained you for world service. 00:19:07.200 --> 00:19:09.359 Now give him your ultimate allegiance. 00:19:09.440 --> 00:19:13.920 He wrote, Do not think I've come to abolish the law or the prophets and the way he was living life. 00:19:14.160 --> 00:19:17.920 He was, you know, eaten with tax collectors and sinners. 00:19:18.079 --> 00:19:23.200 He was healing on the Sabbath, and the teachers of the law are like, you're an anarchist. 00:19:23.680 --> 00:19:24.000 No. 00:19:24.880 --> 00:19:29.440 In fact, I didn't come to abolish it, I came to fulfill it. 00:19:29.839 --> 00:19:37.440 Jesus came and lived the perfect requirement, fulfilling all 613 laws of the Hebrew scripture. 00:19:37.759 --> 00:19:40.400 And he is the fulfillment of the Torah. 00:19:40.480 --> 00:19:44.400 The word Torah is uh where we get the word law here. 00:19:45.359 --> 00:19:57.279 And that word actually means to point or direct, meaning it's pointing to someone, and there's this messianic hope, this someone who would come and restore and bring restoration and freedom in life. 00:19:57.359 --> 00:20:03.039 And he says, I am that fulfillment of everything that the scriptures have written about. 00:20:03.200 --> 00:20:04.160 I'm here. 00:20:05.039 --> 00:20:07.759 The long-awaited one is here. 00:20:09.440 --> 00:20:24.240 Would you give Jesus your ultimate allegiance, not political party, ideology, or just how we feel about things in the moment, or what's culturally relevant? 00:20:24.480 --> 00:20:31.279 And he write, uh he's a theologian, historian, says this. 00:20:31.519 --> 00:20:33.839 We want a religious leader, not a king. 00:20:34.079 --> 00:20:36.960 We want someone to save our souls, not rule our world. 00:20:37.119 --> 00:20:46.720 Or if we want a king, someone to take charge of our world, what we want is someone to implement the policies we already embrace, just as Jesus' contemporaries did. 00:20:46.880 --> 00:20:53.359 But if Christians don't get Jesus right, what chance is there that other people much bother with him? 00:20:55.039 --> 00:21:27.599 There's this moment where Jesus is being confronted by some religious leaders in this area of like, how do you navigate the tension of an oppressive Roman rule and being, you know, like a faithful Jewish person, a leader. 00:21:27.839 --> 00:21:35.519 And so they brought to him, like, you know, this question, should we pay our taxes? 00:21:37.279 --> 00:21:41.440 And then Jesus does something brilliant, and he says this, he says, Bring to me a denare. 00:21:42.079 --> 00:21:45.200 He says, Whose image is on the denare? 00:21:46.079 --> 00:21:46.960 Caesar's. 00:21:47.119 --> 00:21:49.440 And this line, you're probably familiar with it. 00:21:49.599 --> 00:21:55.759 He says, So give back to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to what God and to God what is God's. 00:21:56.079 --> 00:21:59.599 Now, here's what's so uh brilliant about this and what Jesus is saying. 00:22:00.319 --> 00:22:04.640 The image stamped on that coin is Caesar's, and so you give it back to him. 00:22:04.880 --> 00:22:10.240 The image stamped on every single human being on the planet is the image of God. 00:22:10.480 --> 00:22:19.759 And so you never give ultimate allegiance to any authority outside of God, of like, my image is your image, and so I'm gonna give back to God what is yours. 00:22:20.079 --> 00:22:21.680 I am yours. 00:22:23.200 --> 00:22:26.720 And so, give to Jesus ultimate allegiance. 00:22:26.799 --> 00:22:28.240 Just a few thoughts here. 00:22:28.559 --> 00:22:31.359 America, by the way, is not the promised land. 00:22:33.119 --> 00:22:35.759 This goes for both conservative and progressive. 00:22:35.920 --> 00:22:40.240 It's not like we're one day going to have a utopian society if we can just get it right. 00:22:41.119 --> 00:22:45.359 More education, more technology, less religion. 00:22:45.599 --> 00:22:46.960 That's the answer. 00:22:47.519 --> 00:22:51.519 And it's not the promised land if somehow we get back to something. 00:22:53.279 --> 00:22:57.039 By the way, Jesus is not aligned with a political party. 00:22:57.200 --> 00:23:01.039 There is no single Christian policy or party, period. 00:23:02.400 --> 00:23:04.240 Jesus is not a Democrat. 00:23:04.480 --> 00:23:06.079 Jesus is not a Republican. 00:23:06.240 --> 00:23:07.519 He's not an independent. 00:23:07.680 --> 00:23:08.799 He's not a Green Party. 00:23:09.039 --> 00:23:10.640 Whatever party you are. 00:23:11.599 --> 00:23:16.400 Both have things that are deeply true and deeply flawed. 00:23:17.279 --> 00:23:38.640 In fact, when you study, and as we will, we'll study the life of Jesus, the teachings of Jesus, there's times where as the church we should sound deeply liberal when it comes to racial justice, caring for the poor, and deeply conservative when it comes to sexual ethic and sanctity of life. 00:23:38.880 --> 00:23:42.720 It doesn't land neatly in any camp. 00:23:44.880 --> 00:23:51.119 And friends, the return of Jesus, not the return of American values, is our hope. 00:23:53.200 --> 00:24:00.480 If we want to step in and engage politically, first we got to give Jesus our ultimate allegiance. 00:24:00.799 --> 00:24:03.440 You alone have the say. 00:24:04.319 --> 00:24:08.160 Secondly, develop a gospel worldview. 00:24:08.400 --> 00:24:13.839 A worldview is simply this the lens by which you see and understand navigate life. 00:24:15.200 --> 00:24:16.880 I had a joke, I'll save it. 00:24:17.119 --> 00:24:18.240 Ask me later. 00:24:42.079 --> 00:24:48.079 There was this conversation in their day because I said earlier, there's 613 laws. 00:24:48.160 --> 00:24:50.960 And then there was this uh idea of the Mishnah. 00:24:51.119 --> 00:25:00.640 This was how do we then expand on that and make sure we're following all of this to put it in, you know, if we were to put it in a book today, it filled up about 800 pages. 00:25:00.720 --> 00:25:06.799 It's just scribes writing down their ideas of how to interpret to live out those laws. 00:25:06.960 --> 00:25:14.240 And then on top of that was a Talmud of like commentary on the writings of the scribes on the law. 00:25:14.480 --> 00:25:27.039 Now, here's what's interesting Jesus discarded the teaching of man, all those hanging and the laws, it was so minute and the minutiae and all of that. 00:25:27.680 --> 00:25:30.319 And he elevated the word of God. 00:25:31.680 --> 00:25:44.559 And in that conversation, there, because it was just overloaded for them, the rabbis would have this conversation between the light and the heavy, the important commands and the not important commands. 00:25:44.720 --> 00:25:46.160 Which one do you really have to ask? 00:25:46.240 --> 00:25:50.559 That's why when Jesus asked, which is the greatest command, that was a conversation they had a lot. 00:25:51.039 --> 00:25:53.279 Which one do they all fall under? 00:25:53.839 --> 00:26:01.519 And here he's saying, the light and the heavy, when it comes to God's word, not the extra biblical stuff, not the traditions of man. 00:26:01.680 --> 00:26:05.519 When it comes to God's word, his word is authoritative. 00:26:08.640 --> 00:26:11.759 I like how uh Ted Turner said this. 00:26:13.599 --> 00:26:20.000 He said, Today, uh most people are not driven by a well-understood, articulate, philosophical worldview. 00:26:20.319 --> 00:26:32.960 More typically, people express their life philosophy in what we'd call street philosophy, which is held intuitively, unexamined, but that powerfully captures the gist of one's perspective on reality. 00:26:33.440 --> 00:26:40.799 And friends, we have to be people of God's word and people who are saying, our master is Jesus and we're going to follow his way. 00:26:40.960 --> 00:26:50.079 And so we have to understand and begin to say, you get the final say, and develop a gospel world view. 00:26:50.480 --> 00:26:59.279 If we believe what you like in the Bible, you don't really believe the Bible, you believe in yourself. 00:26:59.599 --> 00:27:04.160 If you just believe what you like in the Bible, well, I like this, but I don't like that. 00:27:05.119 --> 00:27:08.160 I like this part, but I don't know. 00:27:08.799 --> 00:27:12.079 You don't actually believe in the Bible or in Jesus' words. 00:27:12.240 --> 00:27:15.200 Let's just let's just take everything else, just Jesus' word. 00:27:16.480 --> 00:27:18.160 You believe in yourself. 00:27:18.799 --> 00:27:20.319 Yeah, there's a great book. 00:27:20.400 --> 00:27:24.160 If you I I highly encourage this, it's called Compassion and Conviction. 00:27:24.240 --> 00:27:29.440 It's one of the best books on how we as Jesus followers are to engage politically. 00:27:29.599 --> 00:27:31.839 Um I'm not asking you to agree with it. 00:27:32.000 --> 00:27:33.200 Just wrestle with it. 00:27:33.440 --> 00:27:36.640 Written by three people, they started the An group. 00:27:37.920 --> 00:27:46.559 Uh Justin Gibbonet, Michael Ware, Chris Butler, they are part of Obama's administration, deeply committed followers of Jesus. 00:27:46.880 --> 00:27:57.519 Um African American pastor, African-American lawyer, and then Michael Ware served intricately in the uh Obama campaign. 00:27:57.759 --> 00:28:01.839 Notice what they say about this whole idea of worldviews. 00:28:02.000 --> 00:28:12.799 They say we allow ourselves to be indoctrinated by political, academic, and pulp cultural leaders and to surrender our convictions to avoid disassociation and criticism. 00:28:13.039 --> 00:28:24.960 In many cases, our perspective has been thoroughly shaped or even discipled by world ideologies that we mistake are flawed ideological positions for Christian positions. 00:28:26.160 --> 00:28:30.559 Right, left, Republican, Democrat, all the same. 00:28:30.880 --> 00:28:34.000 The question isn't, am I a disciple? 00:28:34.400 --> 00:28:39.599 The question is who or what am I a disciple of? 00:28:40.160 --> 00:28:41.920 Am I a disciple of Jesus? 00:28:42.160 --> 00:28:43.440 Am I following in his way? 00:28:43.599 --> 00:28:48.960 Am I like really seeing what he said and going, okay, Jesus, you have the final say. 00:28:49.599 --> 00:28:54.400 How you say and see life is the way for life. 00:28:54.559 --> 00:29:01.920 I mean, he said it this way: I am the way, the truth, the life. 00:29:04.559 --> 00:29:08.720 Either he's right or he's wrong. 00:29:09.039 --> 00:29:10.799 There's no in-between. 00:29:11.119 --> 00:29:20.160 Either he is the way, he is truth, and so his understanding and the way he defines reality is reality. 00:29:20.799 --> 00:29:23.920 He is ultimate life, or he's a liar. 00:29:24.799 --> 00:29:30.400 But there cannot be any middle way, and we often take the middle way. 00:29:33.440 --> 00:29:35.599 And here's just where I land. 00:29:36.240 --> 00:29:47.039 Anyone who can predict their death and resurrection and then pull it off, I'm gonna take their word on just about everything else. 00:29:48.400 --> 00:29:48.720 Okay? 00:29:51.200 --> 00:29:56.880 May we be a church that elevates biblical truths over political views. 00:29:57.839 --> 00:29:58.480 Finally. 00:29:59.200 --> 00:29:59.519 Okay. 00:30:00.079 --> 00:30:01.119 Was Jesus political? 00:30:01.279 --> 00:30:06.160 Yes and no, because he's about bringing this kingdom of heaven to earth. 00:30:07.440 --> 00:30:09.680 Are Jesus followers to engage politically? 00:30:09.759 --> 00:30:13.759 Well, we're called to be the salt and light of the world. 00:30:14.559 --> 00:30:16.000 Well, how do we engage? 00:30:16.240 --> 00:30:26.240 Give Jesus our ultimate allegiance, develop a gospel worldview, and then finally, may we practice the subversive ways of the kingdom of heaven. 00:30:26.480 --> 00:30:28.880 Practice the subversive ways of the kingdom of heaven. 00:30:29.039 --> 00:30:32.319 You notice that Jesus said, put into practice and teach. 00:30:32.400 --> 00:30:35.039 By the way, I think the order mattered to Jesus. 00:30:35.359 --> 00:30:38.319 We often teach, but don't practice in the church. 00:30:38.799 --> 00:30:40.880 Practice and teach. 00:30:41.279 --> 00:30:46.000 Scott Saul has also wrote a great book on this called Jesus Outside the Lines in it. 00:30:46.079 --> 00:30:54.000 He says, because Christianity always flourishes most by uh as a life-giving minority, not as a powerful majority. 00:30:54.160 --> 00:31:05.599 It is through subversive countercultural acts of love, justice, and service for the common good that Christianity has always gained the most ground. 00:31:06.720 --> 00:31:16.880 Jesus started a revolution not by powering up, but by laying down his power and loving his enemies. 00:31:17.279 --> 00:31:21.440 So let me give you three subversive ways to practice the kingdom of heaven. 00:31:21.759 --> 00:31:23.039 Jesus-y things. 00:31:23.279 --> 00:31:25.519 Because we want to be a Jesus-y people, yeah? 00:31:25.759 --> 00:31:26.960 I know I've given you a lot. 00:31:27.039 --> 00:31:27.920 You're hung in with me. 00:31:28.000 --> 00:31:29.200 You're doing fantastic. 00:31:29.440 --> 00:31:30.400 This is too important. 00:31:30.559 --> 00:31:32.160 We have to think well, friends. 00:31:32.400 --> 00:31:32.720 Okay? 00:31:32.880 --> 00:31:34.559 We want to be a Jesus-y people. 00:31:34.720 --> 00:31:36.240 We want to do Jesus-y things. 00:31:36.400 --> 00:31:38.400 We want our lives shaped by him. 00:31:39.680 --> 00:31:42.960 I've never said Jesus-y so many times either. 00:31:44.079 --> 00:31:47.920 The first one, I got three as we land the plane. 00:31:48.079 --> 00:31:48.960 Humility. 00:31:49.680 --> 00:31:56.640 By the way, humility was not a character attribute that was highly esteemed. 00:31:56.799 --> 00:32:00.559 In fact, it was looked down on in the Roman Empire. 00:32:00.880 --> 00:32:06.400 Jesus brought this unique feature to the world as something we say is valuable. 00:32:07.839 --> 00:32:12.240 Later on in the Sermon on the Mount, he says this: Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 00:32:12.480 --> 00:32:13.839 Ouch and true. 00:32:14.079 --> 00:32:19.279 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use it, it will be measured to you. 00:32:19.599 --> 00:32:20.480 Warning. 00:32:20.799 --> 00:32:24.880 And by the way, should inform all of our social media posts. 00:32:25.759 --> 00:32:27.039 Verse 3. 00:32:27.759 --> 00:32:34.880 Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 00:32:36.160 --> 00:32:38.079 Humility, church. 00:32:40.720 --> 00:32:50.079 So often we want to power up to prove our rights, show why somebody's wrong and we're right. 00:32:50.559 --> 00:32:53.039 Why we have the better, whatever. 00:32:56.720 --> 00:33:00.799 It's so easy to see the wrongs of everyone else, isn't it? 00:33:01.759 --> 00:33:07.599 It's so easy to call it out and it's so hard to look inward. 00:33:09.519 --> 00:33:10.960 Why do you look at the speck? 00:33:11.039 --> 00:33:13.039 Why do we look at the speck? 00:33:15.279 --> 00:33:25.920 Just sitting with this, reminded of how we, the church, have fallen failed at this so many times. 00:33:27.680 --> 00:33:34.240 Think around the area of racism, the nation's original sin, the demonic institution of slavery. 00:33:34.400 --> 00:33:34.720 Dr. 00:33:34.880 --> 00:33:39.839 King once quoted, Sunday, the most segregated hour in America. 00:33:41.680 --> 00:33:49.039 Oh, it should never have been, and yet today, white pastors like myself aren't speaking out enough. 00:33:51.920 --> 00:33:57.039 In the white church, we've all too often been complacent and as a result complicit. 00:33:59.279 --> 00:34:20.159 I was really proud of an institution this week that came out, and if you want to see the article in Christianity today, Wheaton is actually started by uh abolitionists that were integral in uh even uh giving Abraham Lincoln advice on uh bringing freedom. 00:34:22.480 --> 00:34:31.679 And they just released a 122-page report repenting and lamenting of the racism within. 00:34:33.679 --> 00:34:45.199 Of how it could start out one way and then acknowledge that it had been a place that those people of color were not welcome. 00:34:45.280 --> 00:34:48.079 In fact, at times it was actively hostile. 00:34:48.639 --> 00:35:02.079 And it they wrote, our goal is to remind our readers and ourselves of ease and ourselves uh of how easily our fallen world can shape each of us into its mold. 00:35:03.519 --> 00:35:16.239 Where we just gotta have the humility and look instead of outside of all the stuff that's going wrong and why the world's going to hell in a handbasket and all this sort of stuff, and just go, this is the area where we're broken. 00:35:16.719 --> 00:35:25.440 And we've lost our credibility to an outside world because we're shouting matches but not dealing and hearing and responding like Jesus. 00:35:27.039 --> 00:35:37.360 If you want more reading in this area, some great books, Reading While Black, Esau McCaulay, Insider, Outsider, Brian Lauritz, The Color of Compromise by Jamar Tearsby. 00:35:37.519 --> 00:35:39.920 It was great resources. 00:35:40.079 --> 00:35:43.519 The first practice of subversion, humility. 00:35:43.760 --> 00:35:45.920 The second, discernment. 00:35:46.239 --> 00:35:47.119 Discernment. 00:35:47.599 --> 00:35:50.480 Jesus said, I'm sending you out like sheep among wolves. 00:35:50.559 --> 00:35:54.079 Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. 00:35:54.320 --> 00:35:55.360 Discernment. 00:35:55.679 --> 00:36:01.360 Messaging, by the way, has always been the enemy's primary tactic and powerful tool. 00:36:01.599 --> 00:36:05.440 Back in the garden, he said, you know, did God really say? 00:36:05.920 --> 00:36:08.960 And always trying to twist words? 00:36:11.840 --> 00:36:14.480 He did it with Jesus in the wilderness. 00:36:15.039 --> 00:36:18.400 And the goal is to engage or enrage. 00:36:18.719 --> 00:36:22.000 May we be well informed and don't fall for the rhetoric. 00:36:22.079 --> 00:36:24.400 I wish I had time to dive more into this. 00:36:24.880 --> 00:36:29.760 But Christians, we get so, like we hear one thing and react. 00:36:29.840 --> 00:36:43.440 As followers of Jesus, we should be the most well informed on issues and dive deeply to understand what's really going on, not be okay with the oversimplified, the vague, and understand what's happening. 00:36:43.599 --> 00:36:47.039 How do we communicate in a winsome and wise way? 00:36:47.599 --> 00:36:50.880 Discernment, humility, discernment, and then finally love. 00:36:51.599 --> 00:36:52.400 Finally, love. 00:36:52.480 --> 00:36:53.679 We'll leave you here. 00:36:54.079 --> 00:36:59.440 Teacher, which is the greatest commandment, which is the heavy commandment. 00:36:59.840 --> 00:37:04.000 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind. 00:37:04.559 --> 00:37:06.400 This is the first and greatest commandment. 00:37:06.480 --> 00:37:08.320 And then this next phrase, this is amazing. 00:37:08.480 --> 00:37:09.280 Don't miss this. 00:37:09.440 --> 00:37:15.280 And the second is like it, and the way it's constructed, it means it's inseparable from the first. 00:37:16.880 --> 00:37:23.920 Jesus is saying, you cannot love God and then not be loving to the others around you. 00:37:25.440 --> 00:37:30.079 Somehow we've separated those two, and I can love God, but I don't love others. 00:37:30.559 --> 00:37:32.719 I'm good here, but I'm not here. 00:37:33.920 --> 00:37:37.119 And the second is like it: love your neighbor as yourself. 00:37:37.360 --> 00:37:42.079 All the law and the prophets hang on these two commands. 00:37:42.320 --> 00:37:49.519 What matters more to us, that we successfully put others in their place, or that we're known to love well. 00:37:50.239 --> 00:38:00.239 The early followers of Jesus were made up of predominantly poor, slaves, lots of women who didn't have rights. 00:38:01.119 --> 00:38:07.599 They were a marginalized, mistreated group because Jesus ministered and lifted up the marginalized and mistreated. 00:38:08.639 --> 00:38:30.079 Rodney Stark wrote a great book, The Rise of Christianity, as a sociologist, trying to discover how did this like ragtag group, a handful of followers who have a crucified master somehow survive, let him survive, eventually topple the Roman government. 00:38:31.920 --> 00:38:33.119 His answer. 00:38:46.880 --> 00:38:59.280 And so when sickness came and plagues came as they often did, and everyone fleed to the countryside to get away and left family members on their own just to save their own life. 00:38:59.519 --> 00:39:07.280 Christians moved in to serve and care, often at the cost of their own life. 00:39:08.800 --> 00:39:20.320 Tertullian, one of the ancient church fathers, says this it's our care of the helpless, our practice of loving kindness that brands us in the eyes of our opponents. 00:39:22.559 --> 00:39:25.840 I pray that's our brand once again. 00:39:27.039 --> 00:39:30.480 May that be true of this church. 00:39:30.880 --> 00:39:33.840 As last week we talked of being in the house of mercy. 00:39:34.800 --> 00:39:41.119 I want to close just with a time of where we're going to pray. 00:39:44.960 --> 00:39:54.159 Yesterday, if you're not on this, I mentioned it at our leadership advance, Lectio 365 is a great app, morning prayer, evening prayer. 00:39:54.800 --> 00:39:56.559 This was, I love this. 00:39:56.719 --> 00:39:58.480 I love how God works, right? 00:39:59.360 --> 00:40:03.679 This was their morning prayer yesterday. 00:40:04.559 --> 00:40:14.000 And so would you sit back, close your eyes if you're comfortable, and let me lead you into a time of reflection. 00:40:25.760 --> 00:40:32.559 Today I'm reflecting on Paul's advice to Timothy about the powerful people he should remember to pray for. 00:40:33.039 --> 00:40:35.199 First Timothy 2, 1 through 4. 00:40:35.360 --> 00:40:49.840 First of all, then I urge the supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be made for all people, for kings, and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 00:40:50.079 --> 00:40:51.039 This is good. 00:40:51.440 --> 00:40:59.760 And this is pleasing in the sight of God, our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 00:41:00.639 --> 00:41:02.719 Who do I regularly pray for? 00:41:03.199 --> 00:41:03.920 Family? 00:41:04.239 --> 00:41:05.199 Certain friends? 00:41:05.760 --> 00:41:08.800 Maybe someone who's going through a particularly tough time? 00:41:09.679 --> 00:41:13.599 Thinking about it, my prayer list is populated by people I know and love. 00:41:13.920 --> 00:41:20.400 But Paul encourages me to include not only intimate acquaintances, but the influential too. 00:41:20.800 --> 00:41:28.400 I wonder, do I judge or criticize politicians and those in powerful positions more often than I pray for them? 00:41:31.920 --> 00:41:33.920 So would you pause and pray? 00:41:34.960 --> 00:41:41.280 As I think about the leaders of different political parties in my nation, I notice my feelings towards them. 00:41:41.440 --> 00:41:43.679 So just go ahead and notice your feelings. 00:41:51.199 --> 00:42:02.800 Lord God, whatever I may think about their political positions, I lay aside my personal feelings and ask you to show me your heart for these men and women. 00:42:13.760 --> 00:42:16.320 Paul urges me to pray for these leaders. 00:42:16.639 --> 00:42:22.880 So I ask you, Holy Spirit, to bring to mind a particular politician who thinks differently from me. 00:42:23.039 --> 00:42:27.440 And give me one specific way I can intercede for their good. 00:42:28.559 --> 00:42:30.800 We hope you are blessed by this message. 00:42:30.960 --> 00:42:35.440 Please subscribe to our podcast for access to every episode as they're uploaded. 00:42:35.599 --> 00:42:37.679 And hey, we'd love to connect with you. 00:42:37.840 --> 00:42:43.760 Take a next step by filling out our virtual connection card at awakeningchurch.com slash card.