Participants: Pr. Dwight K. Nelson
Series Code: NP
Program Code: NP151003A
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00:24 Join us as we sing breathe.
00:29 This is the air I breathe 00:38 This is the air I breathe 00:45 Your holy presence 00:52 Living in me 00:57 Living in me 01:01 This is my daily bread. 01:04 This is my daily bread 01:13 This is my daily bread 01:19 Your very word 01:26 Spoken 01:30 To me 01:35 And I 01:42 I'm desperate for you 01:51 And I 01:58 I'm lost without you 02:07 This is the air I breathe 02:11 This is the air 02:13 I breathe 02:16 This is the air I breathe 02:23 Your holy presence 02:26 Your holy presence 02:33 Living in me 02:39 This is my daily bread 02:44 This is my daily bread 02:48 Lord, I'm hungry for You 02:52 This is my daily bread 02:56 Your very word 03:03 Spoken to me 03:06 Spoken 03:09 To me 03:13 And I 03:20 I'm desperate for you 03:27 And I 03:36 I'm lost without you 03:43 And I 03:50 I'm desperate for you 03:57 I want you to sing this as a prayer and I. 04:00 And I 04:05 I'm lost without you 04:13 And I 04:21 I'm desperate for you 04:30 And I 04:37 I'm lost without you 04:44 I'm lost without you 04:52 I'm lost without you 05:01 So yesterday I was on Facebook as... 05:06 I'm a lot. 05:08 And I came across 05:09 this beautiful, beautiful video. 05:12 It was this video of this family. 05:15 Now this family has been going through something's 05:17 it was a husband and a wife 05:19 and they've been trying so long to have a child. 05:22 They tried four times, four miscarriages, 05:26 and the fifth time a stillborn baby. 05:29 So recently the wife was having trouble losing weight 05:33 she felt, so she went to the doctor. 05:36 And then the doctor gave her the greatest news ever 05:38 he said, "You're pregnant, you're five months along." 05:43 So she was so happy with this news 05:45 but she didn't let the husband know 05:47 so she started dropping little hints. 05:50 She put a whole bag of bread in the oven 05:53 so let him know that there is a bun in the oven. 05:56 And he sat there... 05:58 And going through the oven and she was recording him 06:02 and he goes to the oven and starts to piece it together 06:05 and you see the moment where it hits him. 06:08 And he starts to ask, "You're pregnant? 06:11 You're pregnant?" 06:12 And she says, "Yes, 06:14 I'm actually five months along." 06:16 And I tried to pretend that I didn't cry 06:19 but it just brought tears to my eyes 06:20 because you could tell the exact moment 06:23 where He writes there something in this world 06:25 that He can never not love. 06:27 No matter what happens, 06:29 He could never not love this person, 06:32 his life was changed forever. 06:33 And I started to think of how good God is, 06:36 and where He says in the Bible that 06:37 before He formed us in our mother's womb, 06:39 before time, He loved us. 06:42 And this God is one who knows all of our thoughts. 06:45 He knew from the beginning, our sins, 06:47 all of our evil things within us, 06:49 He knew this but still, before He formed us, 06:52 He loved us, 06:55 and yet still He loves us. 06:57 He sent His Son down for us, the sinners, the unclean, 07:03 the mar in this world in His creation, 07:05 the thing that went wrong, 07:07 and He still loves us. 07:10 So I wanted you to think about that right now, 07:12 as we sing our next song, 07:14 "How deep the Father's love for us," 07:15 that no matter what He will continue to love you. 07:19 No matter what your faults, He will continue to love you, 07:22 and I just want you to worship Him to the end. 07:24 So please come forward as we sing 07:25 "How deep the Father's love for us." 07:36 How deep the Father's love for us 07:42 How vast beyond all measure 07:47 That He should give His only Son 07:53 To make a wretch His treasure 07:59 How great the pain of searing loss 08:05 The Father turns His face away 08:11 As wounds which mar the chosen One 08:17 Bring many sons to glory. 08:24 Please come forward for prayer tonight. 08:36 Behold the Man. 08:38 Behold the Man upon a cross 08:44 My sin upon His shoulders 08:50 Ashamed I hear my mocking voice 08:56 Call out among the scoffers 09:01 It was my sin that held Him there 09:07 Until it was accomplished 09:13 His dying breath has brought me life 09:18 I know that it is finished 09:24 How many of you are happy that God sent His only Son 09:27 to just end, the end, to say, 09:30 "It is finished, to give us a chance at eternal life? 09:39 I will not boast in anything 09:44 No gifts, no power, no wisdom 09:50 But I will boast in Jesus Christ 09:57 His death and resurrection 10:02 Why should I gain from His reward? 10:08 I cannot give an answer 10:15 But this I know with all my heart 10:21 His wounds have paid my ransom. 10:25 Why should I gain? 10:27 Why should I gain from His reward? 10:33 I cannot give an answer 10:39 But this I know 10:40 But this I know with all my heart 10:47 His wounds have paid 10:50 My ransom. 10:59 Well, good morning, boys and girls, 11:01 nice to see you on this... 11:02 Is this is the first Sabbath of October already? 11:06 Glad, you made it. 11:07 So I'm reading the newspaper a few days ago 11:10 and I read the story. 11:12 I said, "Are you serious?" 11:16 This story is about arachnophobia. 11:19 If you don't know what it means, 11:20 don't worry about it. 11:22 You'll figure it out by the time we get to it. 11:23 All right? 11:25 Happened in Syracuse, Indiana that's not too far south of us. 11:28 Mother gets in the car, Angela Kip, 35 years old, 11:32 little Junior 9 years old in the backseat. 11:35 Let's go to school. 11:36 How many times have you done this, 11:38 gotten in the car with mummy or daddy? 11:40 That's what happened to him today, 11:42 mother starts the car up. 11:43 She begins to drive 11:45 when all of a sudden she feels something 11:48 'cause this is like a couple of weeks ago 11:50 and so she probably didn't have sleeves on. 11:53 She felt something on her shoulder 11:58 and it wasn't just on her shoulder 12:00 but she could tell it's moving. 12:04 It's moving up her shoulder. 12:07 Well, this is very unusual, 12:09 I wonder what this might be and so she turns around to see. 12:16 When she... 12:17 Let's just see the picture please. 12:21 All right, that's not the real one 12:23 but that's just to get the arachnophobia people go on. 12:26 All right? 12:28 So little itsy-bitsy, teeny-weeny spider is going up, 12:33 and it's going up her shoulder, and she does not like spiders, 12:39 and the next thing she does is she screams. 12:45 Little Junior in the back goes, 12:47 "Mother, please." 12:48 She screams and then she has to do something 12:52 and she is driving down the road, 12:54 she says, "I'm out of here." 12:55 She opens the door and jumps out. 12:59 True, she did. 13:02 The car is still driving down the road 13:04 and nine-year old Junior is in the backseat, 13:07 he says, "I got to do something." 13:08 And he crawls up over the seat. 13:10 He'd seen mother do this, he gets in the driver side 13:13 and he puts his foot down on that pedal, 13:15 but he didn't hit the break, he hit the accelerator... 13:21 Oh, and boom. 13:24 He hit something without mother in the car. 13:28 Let's see the car first. 13:30 Whoa! 13:32 And let's see what he hit. 13:35 A school bus. 13:38 Now the good news is 13:39 Junior had just little minor injuries and nobody, 13:42 no child on the bus was injured but whoa! 13:46 You know, when I read that story. 13:48 I said, you know, you know what? 13:50 Sometimes you just got to get out. 13:54 You just got to get out. 13:55 You may be traveling, you may be sitting, 13:57 you may be with people, you may be all alone 14:00 but sometimes you just have to get out, get away. 14:04 Sometimes Satan sends his spider of temptation 14:08 and he is crawling up towards our heart 14:10 that temptation is sometimes... 14:13 Sometimes, you just have to get out. 14:18 Oh, I tell you what, I don't what, I don't want. 14:22 You know what? 14:24 I don't want to ever forget that, 14:25 if the spider of temptation comes, 14:28 I have a Savior who can go just like this, "Gone." 14:34 Those are the times oh may Jesus help us. 14:38 Remember, Jesus help me now, that's the prayer and boom! 14:41 The spider of temptation is gone. 14:44 How many agree for that Jesus 14:46 can handle any spider in the world? 14:48 Hallelujah. 14:49 And how many want to say with the other hand, 14:51 Jesus, remind me, 14:53 if sometimes I had to get out just remind me, 14:55 let me hear You speaking. 14:59 Who would like to thank Jesus 15:00 for being that kind of a Savior? 15:02 And just saying, please, young lady. 15:04 Just saying, please Jesus, always be my Savior. 15:08 You come here, sissy. 15:09 What's your name? Kyra. 15:11 Kyra, let's fold our hands and close our eyes, 15:14 as Kyra thanks Jesus. 15:16 Kyra? 15:17 Thank you for giving us the food 15:21 and thank You for our mom and dad. 15:25 And thank You for... 15:33 Amen. 15:35 Thank you, Kyra, for that prayer. 15:37 And as you go quietly 15:38 and reverently back to your seats, 15:39 you can say that thank you, Jesus. 15:41 Thank you. 15:42 Thank you for being the Savior 15:44 that can handle any spider that comes my way. 15:47 God bless you. Happy Sabbath to you. 16:08 There is a redeemer 16:14 Jesus, God's own Son 16:21 Precious Lamb of God, Messiah 16:27 Holy One 16:34 Jesus my redeemer 16:40 Name above all names 16:47 Precious Lamb of God, Messiah 16:53 Oh, for sinners slain 17:00 Thank you oh my Father 17:06 For giving us Your Son 17:13 And leaving Your Spirit 17:18 'Til the work on Earth is done 17:28 When I stand in Glory 17:34 I will see His face 17:40 And there I'll serve my King forever 17:47 In that Holy Place 17:54 Thank you oh my Father 18:00 For giving us Your Son 18:06 And leaving Your Spirit 18:11 'Til the work on Earth 18:16 Is done 18:20 There is a redeemer 18:27 Jesus, God's own Son 18:34 Precious Lamb of God, Messiah 18:41 Holy One 18:48 Thank you oh my Father 18:55 For giving us Your Son 19:01 And leaving Your Spirit 19:07 'Til the work on Earth 19:11 Is done 19:16 Precious Lamb of God 19:21 Messiah 19:24 Holy 19:30 One. 19:42 Amen. 19:54 August 6, 1945, 19:56 bathed in the deadly glow of a single atomic bomb 19:58 over Hiroshima, Japan, 20:00 the world find itself assured into the atomic age. 20:03 Four years later deep behind the Iron Curtain, 20:05 the Soviet Union conducts their first test of an atomic weapon, 20:08 sparking in arms raise the like of which 20:11 the world has never seen. 20:13 Apprehensive scientists 20:14 and intellectuals debate the ominous fate of the planet. 20:17 Three days before his death on April 18, 1955, 20:20 American scientist Albert Einstein 20:22 joins British philosopher Bertrand Russell 20:24 in signing the Russell-Einstein Manifesto. 20:27 The prospect for the human race is somber beyond all precedent. 20:30 Mankind are faced with a clear-cut alternative: 20:33 either we shall all perish, or we shall have to acquire 20:35 some slight degree of common sense. 20:38 Soon after in the village of Pugwash, Nova Scotia, 20:41 22 scientists including 10 Nobel laureates 20:44 gathered to ponder how to avert 20:46 the Cold War's threat of nuclear obliteration 20:49 and forge a plan of global peace. 20:51 And half a century later the quest still goes on. 20:54 Call it The Pugwash Factor 20:56 because if those who know do not act, 20:58 the planet is doomed. 21:04 I want to thank the producers by the way, 21:06 Jonathan LaPointe and his team. 21:08 This is the last piece 21:09 in this little mini series Pugwash Factor, 21:10 they did a great job with that clip, didn't they? 21:13 They just did a fine job, I'm so proud of them. 21:18 I recognize 21:21 that this morning subject 21:23 is gonna be painful for some of us who are here. 21:28 Simply because we cannot discuss 21:31 same sex marriage, 21:35 and not tap into the deep turmoil 21:40 and painful struggle 21:42 that is in the heart of the gay, 21:48 or the lesbian. 21:52 Our subject this morning, I really need you to hear this. 21:54 Our subject this morning is not, 21:57 does God love gays and lesbians? 21:59 But of course He does, He loves all His children. 22:02 Moreover, and I need you to hear this as well. 22:04 Moreover God, according to Holy Scripture is intensely, 22:09 intensely focused with deep compassion on those 22:14 who have been marginalized by society, 22:19 or pushed to the edge, and alienated by the church. 22:26 Once you put a human face to it, 22:30 an acquaintance, 22:32 a colleague, a neighbor, a roommate, a classmate, 22:36 once you put a face to it, 22:41 then those strong opinions are suddenly tempered, 22:47 aren't they? 22:49 Now you have somebody 22:52 that represents your deepest convictions. 22:57 You say, "What are you saying?" 22:58 Are you suggesting pastor, the truth is no longer truth? 23:02 I did not say that at all and you know I didn't. 23:07 But one should put the face of Jesus 23:10 on their struggle. 23:13 Truth becomes much more formidable 23:14 than we first thought 23:20 because the face of Jesus... 23:21 And by the way He is the one who said, "I, I'm the truth." 23:25 Isn't that right? I'm the truth. 23:27 Once you put the face of Jesus on it, 23:31 then truth comes garb with an uncomfortable... 23:36 Let him who is without sin cast the first stone proviso. 23:42 Suddenly, we all stand under divine judgment 23:46 and in the words of the disciples, 23:47 "Who then can stand." 23:49 But in the words of the gospel 23:50 "Whosoever believes in Him should not perish, 23:54 but have ever lasting life." 23:56 And so recognizing the Supreme Court's decision 23:59 regarding same sex marriage is gonna stir up 24:01 some uncomfortable 24:02 and painful emotions inside of us. 24:05 Let's quickly put the face of Jesus on our conversation. 24:08 Open your Bible with me please to Matthew 19. 24:12 Matthew 19 and while you're finding Matthew 19, 24:14 may I remind us all that on June 26, 24:17 the Supreme Court of the United States, 24:19 a deeply divided court by the way five to four, 24:22 handed down the greatly anticipated decision 24:25 entitled Obergefell v. Hodges. 24:29 I've read Justice Anthony Kennedy's 24:31 defense of the majority decision. 24:35 Here is the summation of the argument, 24:36 their argument. 24:38 I put his words on the screen for you. 24:39 "No union is more profound than marriage, 24:42 for it embodies the highest ideals of love, 24:46 fidelity, devotion, sacrifice, and family. 24:50 In forming a marital union 24:52 two people become something greater than they once were. 24:56 As some of the petitioners in these cases demonstrate, 24:59 marriage embodies a love that may endure even past death. 25:02 It would misunderstand these..." 25:05 And I'm inserting the words "same sex" 25:07 because they have been 25:08 the focus of this entire decision. 25:12 "It would misunderstand these same sex men and women 25:15 to say they disrespect the idea of marriage. 25:18 Their plea is that they do respect it, 25:21 respect it so deeply 25:22 that they seek to find its fulfillment for themselves. 25:25 Their hope is not to be condemned 25:28 to live in loneliness, 25:29 excluded from 25:31 one of civilization's older institutions. 25:33 They ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law. 25:35 The Constitution grants them that right. 25:38 The judgment of the Court of Appeals 25:40 for the Sixth Circuit is reserved." 25:42 It had said, "Same sex laws forbidding same sex can stand." 25:47 The Supreme Court in that 25:48 one sentence reverses that decision. 25:51 "It is so ordered." 25:54 And the decision is published. 25:58 With this order, state laws forbidding same sex 26:01 were thus struck down. 26:05 And same sex marriage is now a protected fundamental right, 26:09 as Justice Anthony Kennedy kept repeating, 26:12 "Fundamental right in this land". 26:17 We know where the Supreme Court stands. 26:20 You already knew before you came. 26:23 Let's go to Jesus now, open your Bible to Matthew 19, 26:25 you maybe already found it, 26:27 let's pick it up right here in verse 3. 26:30 I'm in the NIV, 26:32 you have your Bible, let's go. 26:34 Matthew 19:3, "Some Pharisees came to Jesus to test him. 26:38 And they asked, 26:39 "Is it lawful for a man 26:41 to divorce his wife for any and every reason?" 26:46 Jesus replied, "Haven't you read, 26:48 that at the beginning 26:50 the Creator made them male and female..." 26:53 I hit the pause button right there. 26:54 Jesus says, "Listen, didn't you read the creation account?" 26:59 In fact, he pulls a line straight out of Genesis 1, 27:01 let's put it on the screen, 27:02 "So God created mankind in his own image, 27:05 in the image of God he created them, 27:07 male and female he created them." 27:09 Don't you know? Look it. 27:11 "Haven't you read 27:12 that the divine complementarity of the trinity, 27:15 let us make man, 27:17 was shaped into the human race from the beginning? 27:20 The same complementarity even as the trinity 27:22 compliments one another, 27:24 even so the human race is to compliment each other. 27:27 Haven't you read 27:30 that God did not make the male in the beginning 27:33 nor did He make them female in the beginning, 27:37 but because of that complementarity, 27:38 that differentness 27:40 that is still an unlikeness just like the trinity, 27:42 the human race was designed 27:44 and created to be in the image of God male and female." 27:51 Verse 4 again, "'Haven't you read,' 27:54 Jesus replied, 27:55 'that at the beginning the Creator 'made them 27:57 male and female. 27:59 Now verse 5, and said, quoting the creator, 28:01 'For this reason a man 28:03 will leave his father and mother 28:05 and be united to his wife, 28:06 and the two will become one flesh'?" 28:09 The two did not become male, the two did not become female. 28:13 The complementarity of male and female are joined together 28:16 in the institution of marriage 28:18 into the very unity or oneness of the trinity. 28:22 "Haven't you read the story?" 28:26 Verse 6, 28:27 "So they are no longer two, but one flesh. 28:33 Therefore what God has joined together, 28:36 let no one separate." 28:38 And with that last line, 28:40 Jesus steps out of the creation narrative, 28:45 being the incarnate creator 28:48 Jesus adds a line to His own wedding homily, 28:53 He just quoted it, 28:54 "A man shall leave his father and his mother..." 28:57 And as the old King James says, 28:58 "And shall cleave to his wife 29:01 and the two shall become one flesh." 29:06 Oh, and by the way adding to my homily, 29:09 what God has put together, 29:12 let no one take asunder. 29:16 No man, no court. 29:22 Now you say, look it, look it. 29:27 For a court to presume you're wondering, 29:31 for a court to presume... 29:34 It was able to rewrite 29:35 the divine definition of marriage, 29:36 no matter how supreme that court would be. 29:39 Would be in the words of C. S. Lewis 29:41 patronizing nonsense, wouldn't it? 29:45 And on the decision of five to four to rewrite it 29:48 but hold on, hold on. 29:49 Let's not misunderstand the court. 29:52 The court is not claiming to overrule God. 29:57 It is not the Supreme Court's place to at all, 30:01 they recognize that, 30:02 rather Justice Kennedy's 30:04 written defense of the majority opinion 30:06 was based on the premise 30:08 that marriage is a fundamental human right 30:11 that cannot be denied to petitioners 30:14 who mutually seek its benefits, that's his point. 30:21 But I must admit, however... 30:24 As I've kind of brooded over this. 30:27 It was eye opening for me, 30:31 reading Kennedy, is how many times 30:34 he cited public opinion. 30:38 In one place he calls it this shift in public attitudes 30:41 as all of that is part of the rationale 30:44 for their decision for same sex marriage. 30:47 And it made me think... 30:49 Wait a minute. 30:50 "If the secular court 30:52 can rewrite the definition of God's gift of marriage 30:54 to the human race in the garden, 30:56 what could prevent them from one day 30:59 rewriting God's other gift to humanity in the garden 31:02 namely the Seventh-day Sabbath. 31:05 If the court can appeal to a shift 31:08 in public attitude this time, 31:11 could they not appeal to a shift 31:13 in public attitude the next time, 31:16 but of course. 31:17 And when six of the nine justices 31:19 are members of the church 31:20 they claims, "It has already overturned the Bible Sabbath." 31:27 I'm just saying you can get there from here. 31:32 Now Jesus is saying, 31:35 "What God has joined together in the beginning, 31:38 no man is to separate." 31:40 So here's the question, where does a church stand, 31:41 our church? 31:43 Let me put it on the screen for you. 31:44 Seventh-day Adventist Church has an official statement 31:46 on marriage, these are the words... 31:48 by the way these quotations, 31:49 every quotation here is in your bulletin, 31:51 in that study guide, nothing to fill in, 31:53 just take the quotations home. 31:54 All right, Here we go. 31:55 Seventh-day Adventist Church, 31:57 "Marriage was divinely established in Eden 31:58 and affirmed by Jesus Christ 32:00 to be both monogamous and heterosexual, 32:02 a lifelong union of loving companionship 32:05 between a man and a woman. 32:07 In the culmination of His creative activity, 32:09 God fashioned humankind as male and female 32:11 in His own image 32:12 and He instituted marriage, 32:14 a covenant-based union of the two genders 32:17 physically, emotionally, and spiritually 32:19 spoken of in Scripture as 'one flesh.'" 32:25 Coincidentally, just yesterday 32:29 after months of prayerful study and research, 32:33 the theological seminar right here on campus 32:35 voted a document entitled 32:37 biblical view on homosexual practice 32:39 and pastoral care, 32:41 that includes this definition of marriage, 32:44 theological seminary. 32:45 Some of our professors are sitting right here. 32:47 Put it on the screen please. 32:49 Here is their statement, 32:51 "A marriage between a man and a woman 32:53 is the Edenic model for all time. 32:56 This unique heterosexual marital form 32:59 involving the sexual union of a man and a woman 33:02 constitutes the divine paradigm, 33:04 the 'Creation order,' 33:05 for humanity from the beginning. 33:07 This paradigm means 33:09 that marriage cannot consist of the sexual union 33:11 between a man and another man or a woman and another woman. 33:16 This creation pattern of marriage 33:17 between a man and a woman 33:19 remains the norm throughout Scripture." 33:23 It's for that reason that when the Supreme Court 33:25 rendered this decision, 33:26 the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventist 33:29 released this statement... 33:30 I promise this is the last one, put it on the screen. 33:33 North American Division, 33:34 "The Seventh-day Adventist church 33:35 acknowledges the U.S. Supreme Court's decision 33:37 on Friday June 26, 33:39 legalizing same-sex marriage across the United States. 33:43 Even with the Supreme Court's decision, 33:45 the Adventist Church maintains its fundamental belief 33:48 that marriage was divinely established in Eden 33:51 and affirmed by Jesus to be a lifelong union 33:55 between a man and a woman. 33:57 While the church respects the opinions of those 33:59 who may differ, 34:01 it will continue to teach 34:02 and promote its biblically based belief of marriage 34:05 between a man and a woman. 34:07 The Seventh-day Adventist Church believes that 34:09 all people, regardless of race, gender, and sexual orientation, 34:13 are God's children 34:15 and should be treated with civility, compassion, 34:18 and Christ-like love." 34:21 I was kind of proud of my church 34:22 for publicly going on record that way. 34:27 Jesus Himself... 34:28 You have to admit at least here in Matthew 19 34:30 takes a rather unequivocal stance, 34:32 wouldn't you say? 34:34 Look at verse 4 again, this is... 34:35 Get a run at this next verse. 34:37 Verse 4, "Haven't you read," Jesus replied, 34:39 "that at the beginning the Creator 'made them 34:41 male and female,' and said, 34:43 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother 34:45 and be united to his wife, 34:47 and the two will become one flesh." 34:50 So verse 6, Jesus goes on, 34:52 "They are no longer two, but one flesh. 34:55 Therefore what God has joined together, 34:58 let no one separate." 35:00 Now the story goes on, 35:02 the Pharisees are ready, we'll put it on the screen. 35:04 Verse 7, "'Why then,' the Pharisees asked, 35:06 'did Moses command that a man give his wife 35:09 a certificate of divorce and send her away?" 35:12 Jesus replied, 35:14 'Moses permitted you to divorce your wives 35:17 because your hearts were hard. 35:20 But it was not this way from the beginning. 35:22 I tell you, verse 9, 35:23 that anyone who divorce his wife, 35:26 except for sexual immorality, 35:28 and marries another woman commits adultery.'" 35:32 Wow, how do we get 35:34 from heterosexual marriage to adultery? 35:36 What's going on here? 35:38 Jesus being Jesus, an equal opportunity, 35:41 afflicter of the comfortable. 35:47 Let him who is without sin. 35:50 Go ahead, you cast the first stone. 35:55 Russell Moore 35:57 wrote an op-ed piece for the Washington Post the day 35:59 that the Supreme Court's decision 36:01 was released to the public. 36:03 I've read it several times 36:05 and I want to tell you something, 36:06 it has an optimistic spirit to it 36:08 and I get so blessed 36:10 and I've given you the link, so you can check it out later. 36:12 Let me tell you who Russell Moore is. 36:13 He's president of the Ethics 36:15 and Religious Liberty Commission 36:16 of the Southern Baptist Convention. 36:19 Without quoting him extensively, 36:20 I don't want to do that. 36:21 Let me just run by you 36:23 seven reasons for optimism, okay. 36:24 I'm just gonna fly these by, this is Russell Moore, 36:26 you can read the entire op-ed piece. 36:28 Reason number one, the church should not panic. 36:32 He says, hey, listen guys, the Supreme Court is powerful, 36:35 but it's not powerful enough to put Jesus back in the grave. 36:39 Oh, that's good. 36:41 Number two, 36:42 the gospel doesn't need family values to flourish. 36:46 It flourished under Paul's preaching 36:48 with Ephesus, and Corinth, and Rome. 36:51 And, oh, my, they hugely rewrote the divine idea 36:55 for marriage but it is okay, the gospel can still flourish. 36:58 Number three, the church needs to articulate 37:01 what we believe about marriage. 37:03 Marriage is a symbol of the union with Christ 37:06 and His earth children, it's beautiful. 37:11 Number four. 37:12 Now I'm gonna let Him give number four 37:15 and not try to summon up, 37:16 I'll put it on the screen for you. 37:17 This is number four, 37:19 "We Christians must embody a gospel marriage culture. 37:23 We have done a poor job of that in the past. 37:26 Too many of our marriages have been ravaged by divorce." 37:34 Here is this church, 37:36 the collective church in the United States of America 37:39 vocally vociferous 37:41 in its condemnation of homosexual sin. 37:44 And all the while the church is harboring within there 37:47 with the strange silence, 37:51 the heterosexual sin of divorce at the drop of a hat. 37:58 I think the word for that is hypocrisy. 38:03 Russell Moore goes on, 38:05 "Too often we've neglected church discipline 38:08 in the cases of those 38:09 who have unrepentantly destroyed their marriages." 38:13 Just collective silence. 38:15 Now we keep reading here, 38:17 "Permanent, stable marriages with families 38:19 with both a mother and a father 38:21 may well make us seem freakish in 21st-century culture. 38:25 We should not fear that. I love this now. 38:28 We believe stranger things than that. 38:30 We believe that a previously dead man is alive, 38:31 and will show up 38:33 in the Eastern skies on a horse. 38:38 I'm so proud of Washington Post for letting him publish this. 38:42 He's just saying, guys, 38:44 this is not the end of the world yet. 38:46 Follow me, keep reading, 38:48 "We also believe that the gospel 38:49 can forgive sinners like us 38:52 and make us sons and daughters. 38:54 Let's embrace the sort of freakishness that saves." 38:58 Yeah, it's good. 39:00 Number five he says you want to be optimistic 39:02 if you write about marriage, 39:03 people will be disappointed in getting what they want. 39:07 Just you wait. 39:09 Number six, 39:10 "We must stand with conviction and with kindness, 39:12 with truth, and with grace." 39:14 Russell's words on the screen. 39:15 Russell Moore, "We must hold our views 39:17 and love those who hate us for them. 39:20 We must not only speak Christian truths, 39:22 we must speak with a Christian accent." 39:25 Oh, I like that. 39:28 "We must say what Jesus has revealed, 39:30 and we must say those things the way Jesus does with mercy 39:33 and with an invitation to live." 39:35 And finally number seven, 39:37 we need to be on the wrong side of history. 39:41 His words again, 39:42 "This is not time for fear or outrage or politicizing. 39:46 We see that we are strangers and exiles in American culture. 39:50 We are on the wrong side of history, 39:52 just like we started. 39:54 We should have been all along." 39:59 So where does Jesus stand? 40:03 Verse 10, 40:06 "The disciples said to Jesus, 'Oh, you have raised a bar 40:09 on divorce so high, Lord Jesus.'" 40:12 "The disciples said to Jesus, 'If this is the situation, 40:15 verse 10, between a husband and wife, 40:16 it is better not to marry.'" 40:19 We just won't get married. 40:21 Jesus shoots back verse 11, "Jesus replied, 40:25 'Not everyone can accept this word, 40:27 but only those to whom it has been given. 40:30 For there are eunuchs who were born that way, 40:34 and there are eunuchs 40:35 who have been made eunuchs by others 40:38 and there are those who choose to live like eunuchs 40:41 for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. 40:44 The one who can accept this should accept it.'" 40:50 Can you believe it? 40:51 I mean, Jesus starts out defining marriage 40:53 in creation language as a union between a man and a woman, 40:56 then He gets to divorce 40:57 and it's very high bar for divorce. 41:00 And now He's talking about eunuchs. 41:03 What is up with this? 41:06 But actually 41:08 what Jesus has just said about eunuchs is profound 41:12 for a nation that by its own Supreme Court 41:15 has been assured 41:19 into a collective conversation, 41:22 what Jesus has just said about eunuchs. 41:25 I have a friend 41:28 who self identified 41:31 just a few months ago as transgender. 41:37 And as I've listened to his, 41:40 now her story of a struggle that began in early childhood 41:46 and has dogged her life well into adulthood, 41:49 she shared with me 41:52 the testimony of trusting God through it all. 41:57 In fact, she is the one who drew my attention 41:59 to these words of Jesus, words, 42:01 that for her offer such quite salves to her soul. 42:07 I mean, you think about what Jesus just said. 42:10 According to Him you can be born 42:12 outside the norm of heterosexual orientation, 42:17 and it's okay. 42:19 That would be someone born unique 42:21 according to him as well, 42:23 you can be lead by someone 42:24 outside the norm of heterosexual orientation 42:27 through abuse, through rape, through initiation, 42:30 somebody led you out, that's okay. 42:35 And number three according to Jesus, 42:37 you can choose to live your life 42:39 outside the norm of heterosexual orientation, 42:42 which as Jesus describes it is the choice to honor God 42:47 and live as a eunuch, 42:49 meaning one who chooses not to act out 42:51 his or her orientation and sexuality 42:54 outside the divine parameters of marriage 42:57 between a man and a woman. 42:59 Jesus is clearly talking about celibacy. 43:05 My friends, Steven Payne loaned me a book by Justin Lee, 43:08 title of the book, Torn: 43:10 Rescuing the Gospel 43:11 from the Gays-vs. -Christians Debate. 43:13 Listen to Justin's struggle, 43:15 I put his words you have them as well, 43:17 put it on the screen. 43:18 Justin writing, I've talked to many single Christians, 43:23 this is campus with thousands of single Christians, 43:26 just a nature of education. 43:28 "I've talked to many single Christians 43:30 who find the church a challenging place 43:32 to be at times. 43:33 But for single gay..." 43:35 Now that's his emphasis, "For single gay Christians, 43:38 there are even bigger hurdles. 43:40 A 45-year old single straight woman 43:42 may feel overlooked or misunderstood at her church, 43:45 but she doesn't have to worry about being condemned 43:47 for being straight. 43:49 Single gay Christians 43:50 face the difficulties of singleness 43:52 alongside potential condemnation 43:55 for their orientation. 43:57 And while all single people face challenges in our culture, 44:00 the challenges faced by people who are single by choice 44:04 or because they haven't yet found the right person 44:07 are different from the challenges faced 44:09 by those who eagerly desire companionship 44:12 but believe God requires celibacy 44:18 even if they should fall in love in the future." 44:23 Ladies and gentlemen, come on, 44:26 there are those among us 44:27 who self identify as gay or lesbian, 44:30 who follow Jesus with all their heart, 44:32 but struggle with the celibacy that they recognize 44:34 He is calling them to embrace. 44:38 It can be a desperate struggle 44:43 as you're about to find in an email, 44:45 I'm gonna read to you. 44:48 It can be a desperate struggle which is why... 44:52 Now come on, come on, which is why the church, 44:54 the community of Jesus 44:57 must be as a New Testament calls us 44:59 the household of God, the family of God. 45:04 The church must be a place of refuge, a place of safety, 45:08 a place of healing for sinners, heterosexual and homosexual. 45:14 The church must be a place of compassionate, 45:16 confidentiality, 45:20 where social media is not entered 45:22 into its strategy to love all. 45:27 You got that? 45:30 It must be a place where authenticity is valued 45:33 and where accountability is understood. 45:38 The church, 45:39 the 20-page document 45:41 that the seminary just voted yesterday, 45:43 this biblical study and statement 45:45 on homosexuality reserves 45:47 its last six pages 45:49 for a pastoral appeal to the church. 45:55 And I've pulled from those six these lines. 45:59 On the screen, "While being faithful 46:01 to biblical teaching about homosexuality, 46:04 we must also seek earnestly to understand 46:07 and empathize with the struggles 46:09 and challenges that face those 46:11 who struggle with sexual immorality... 46:15 All persons, including practicing homosexuals, 46:19 should be made to feel welcome to attend our churches..." 46:22 Hold up, hit the pause button right there 46:24 that's not the complete sentence, 46:26 but I need you to get the first half of the sentence. 46:30 "All persons, including practicing homosexuals, 46:33 should be made 46:37 to feel welcome to attend our churches." 46:42 As John just said a moment ago, 46:44 if the church can't be that place, 46:47 where do you go?" 46:50 Now the sentence goes on, 46:52 "While non-practicing gay persons 46:57 should be welcomed into membership 46:59 and church office." 47:01 It doesn't matter how you identify yourself, 47:04 you are welcome in membership and in leadership, 47:07 that's what they're saying. 47:10 "All should receive spiritual care 47:12 from the church." 47:13 I love Galatians 6. 47:14 "Bear one another's burdens 47:16 and so fulfilled the law of Christ. 47:18 Love your neighbor as yourself," 47:20 that's the church. 47:21 "All should receive spiritual care 47:23 from the church. 47:24 We stand against any antipathy or hostility toward homosexuals 47:28 as well as any cultural biases 47:30 that fuel a lack of Christ-like love for them... 47:33 We strongly affirm that homosexual persons 47:37 have a place in the Seventh-day Adventist Church." 47:40 Amen. 47:42 And to that I say, we say, amen. 47:53 So after writing this sermon, I get an email from a student. 48:02 I asked his permission, when I wrote him back. 48:05 Can I share this? 48:07 He said, "You may." 48:09 Not gonna share all of it, few lines, Pastor Nelson, 48:14 "Ever since I saw the topic for this week's sermon at PMC 48:17 there is something going on my heart. 48:19 There is something I feel I should at least tell you 48:21 even though I have no idea 48:22 which direction you're gonna go with the sermon 48:24 or if you'll even read this by then. 48:26 For my whole life, 48:27 I have struggled in dealing with sexuality. 48:32 I very much believe that God's words says 48:33 that marriage is to be between a man and a woman. 48:36 I very much believe that God has called us 48:38 to surrender every part of our lives to Him, 48:40 including our sexuality. 48:42 The problem that weighs on my heart though 48:44 is that whenever the church talks about sexuality, 48:47 it rarely goes beyond this. 48:49 I hear sermons about how we need 48:50 to stay strong in scripture, 48:52 in spite of what society does, 48:53 and if the church needs to do the loving thing 48:55 and call sin by its right name. 48:57 I wish that the church would be quick to listen 49:01 and slow to speak. 49:04 Whenever a person opens about their sexuality, 49:07 I wish people would know that they don't have the right, 49:10 they don't have to jump right into the topic of sin, 49:12 chances are there is a lot of pain 49:14 in their story. 49:16 It seems that people have the impression of telling them 49:18 about overcoming sin is like the cure all. 49:21 There is definitely a need for talking about it 49:23 when we go against God, 49:24 we heard ourselves and other people 49:26 but may be, just may be 49:28 most of that pain has come not from their sins, 49:30 but from the church. 49:32 Maybe what they desperately need to hear 49:33 before anything else 49:35 is not how same sex, sex is sin, 49:37 but how Jesus can heal their shattered heart. 49:43 I wish the church would realize and acknowledge 49:45 how bad it has been. 49:48 And not try to justify to water down 49:50 the church's failures as if they're minimum. 49:53 It would be kind of crazy if the church 49:54 even apologize for its failure in this area, 49:58 and in the email I did. 50:01 I also wish the church would realize 50:03 that one of the greatest things they can possibly give someone 50:06 is a safe place to open up. 50:08 I spend most of my entire life terrified 50:11 of ever telling anyone and as a result, 50:13 I dealt with this by myself. 50:17 I finally got so tired of crying myself to sleep 50:21 and all the shame 50:22 that I finally open up to someone 50:24 having even a few people to open up 50:25 to is meant so much 50:27 and it is almost impossible to overestimate 50:30 the importance and value of it. 50:32 Just hearing someone tell me 50:34 that I am not disgusting has meant so much to me. 50:38 I was no longer by myself." 50:45 One more line, 50:47 "One thing that would help in creating a safe place 50:50 to open up is for people in the church to listen first, 50:54 just staying quiet, 50:55 and listening to a person story is so valuable." 50:59 And then he quotes Ministry of Healing, 51:01 page 143 and he puts it right here, 51:03 "Christ's method alone 51:05 will give true success in reaching the people. 51:07 The Savior mingled with men and women as one 51:09 who desired their good. 51:10 He showed His sympathy for them, 51:12 He ministered to their needs, and He won their confidence. 51:14 Then He bade them, 'Follow Me.'" 51:16 "Applying this would be like 51:18 people in the church mingling with those 51:20 who are LGBTQ, listening to their stories, 51:23 loving them intensely, 51:25 and fighting for them to be treated with dignity, 51:27 helping them to know 51:29 that they will be their front regardless. 51:31 And then finally talk about Jesus words, ''Follow me''. 51:36 There are many things 51:38 that weigh on my heart in this area 51:39 although it would be hard to write it all down. 51:42 I felt that it, I at least needed to say this. 51:46 You know what? 51:49 He doesn't need to say anymore, does he? 51:52 Church. Church. 52:02 The same Jesus, 52:05 who spoke these words in Matthew 19, 52:07 is the one who speaking of mingling, 52:11 hung around at well one hot noon day, 52:15 just hoping she'd come and she did. 52:18 This woman who had five men, and the one she is with now, 52:21 sex but no marriage. 52:27 As he comes up to that well, "You're a Jew, 52:29 I'm a Samaritan, you're talking to me? 52:31 I mean, please." 52:33 But Jesus sees in that broken heart 52:36 that has been desperately trying to quench her thirst 52:41 that she has gone to the wrong well. 52:46 And Jesus, 52:48 in a moment of gentle compassion 52:51 turns that woman into a grace dispenser 52:54 for the rest of her life. 53:00 Philip Yancey tells the story about him 53:04 and Henri Nouwen the great writer. 53:06 They were actually talking about the woman at the well. 53:11 I want to read to you 53:13 just these lines from that moment. 53:16 That scene of Jesus and the Samaritan woman 53:17 came up During a day, 53:19 I spent with the author Henri Nouwen, 53:20 a great author by the way, 53:22 a psychologist, pastor, and dead. 53:27 The time I spent with him in his home in Toronto. 53:30 Now, here we go, he had just returned 53:32 from San Francisco, 53:34 where he spent a week in an AIDS clinic, 53:36 visiting patients who in the days 53:37 before antiretroviral drugs faced a certain 53:41 and agonizing death. 53:43 Now I told Yancey, "Look, I'm a pastor 53:46 and it's part of my job I listen to people stories, 53:49 and so I went up and down the ward asking the patients, 53:51 most of them young men if they wanted to talk. 53:56 Now it went on to say 53:57 that his prayers changed after that week. 54:00 How could a man of prayer is changed after that week? 54:02 Listen, as he listen to accounts of promiscuity 54:06 and addiction and self-destructive behavior, 54:10 now when I heard hints of a thirst for love 54:13 that had never been quenched. 54:17 From then on he prayed 54:20 and I'm gonna put his prayer on the screen for you, 54:22 you have it in your study guide, 54:23 you take it home. 54:25 Here is his prayer, 54:26 "God, help me to see others not as many enemies 54:31 or as ungodly but rather as thirsty people. 54:35 And give me the courage and compassion 54:37 to offer your Living Water, 54:39 which alone quenches deep thirst." 54:46 That's a powerful prayer, isn't it? 54:48 How to respond to the Supreme Court's 54:51 same sex decision? 54:52 Here is how, pray the prayer, 54:56 live the life, follow Jesus. 55:01 And I say to that, we can all say, amen. 55:06 Let's pray. 55:07 Oh, God, forgive us, 55:11 forgive the church, 55:14 so boisterous 55:18 in identifying the sins of this nation 55:23 but throttled 55:25 with a strange silence regarding our own sins. 55:29 Forgive us, oh, God, 55:32 and give us the heart of this same Jesus, please. 55:39 And may the church in this country 55:42 and the church on this campus 55:46 turn a new page 55:49 and walk in the footsteps of our compassionate master, 55:54 we pray in His name, amen. 56:23 I am Thine, O Lord, 56:26 I have heard Thy voice 56:29 And it told Thy love to me 56:34 But I long to rise in the arms of faith 56:40 And be closer drawn to Thee 56:45 Draw me nearer, nearer, blessed Lord 56:50 To the cross where Thou hast died 56:56 Draw me nearer, nearer, 57:00 Blessed Lord 57:04 To Thy precious 57:07 Bleeding side 57:14 And now may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, 57:18 and the love of God, 57:19 and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit 57:23 be with you all. 57:25 Amen. 57:28 I wanted to take an extra moment 57:30 to let you know how grateful I am you joined us today. 57:32 I hear from viewers and listeners like 57:34 you all across this nation and literally around the world, 57:37 and I'm thankful, 57:39 because it's through the generosity 57:40 of the members of this congregation 57:41 and people like you, 57:43 that we're able to bring you this program. 57:44 So if what we shared today has touched your heart, 57:47 I like to invite you to become a financial partner with us. 57:49 Just give us a call. 57:50 Toll free number 877, 57:52 the two words HIS-WILL, 57:54 877-HIS-WILL, 57:55 or if you'd rather 57:57 go to our website www.pmchurch.tv. 58:01 Either way, 58:02 your generosity will bless a new generation in cyberspace 58:05 all over this planet, so thank you. 58:08 Thank you very much for your partnership. |
Revised 2024-04-22