1 00:00:05,206 --> 00:00:07,670 This is a good one for a certain reason 2 00:00:07,670 --> 00:00:09,998 that I want to try to draw out here. 3 00:00:09,998 --> 00:00:12,506 "I have a guy at my job..." 4 00:00:12,506 --> 00:00:16,579 This is coming from Ty. 5 00:00:16,579 --> 00:00:17,934 "I have a guy at my job 6 00:00:17,934 --> 00:00:20,348 who claimed to be a Christian..." 7 00:00:20,348 --> 00:00:23,095 past tense. 8 00:00:23,095 --> 00:00:25,169 I don't know that he's stopped claiming 9 00:00:25,169 --> 00:00:26,883 to be a Christian. 10 00:00:26,883 --> 00:00:28,364 "I believed him at first 11 00:00:28,364 --> 00:00:30,839 and accepted him as a brother. 12 00:00:30,839 --> 00:00:34,530 I started to see who he really was. 13 00:00:34,530 --> 00:00:37,604 After months, I rebuked him. 14 00:00:37,604 --> 00:00:40,912 His language and actions got worse. 15 00:00:40,912 --> 00:00:42,442 I voiced to him I didn't believe 16 00:00:42,442 --> 00:00:46,892 he was born again." 17 00:00:46,892 --> 00:00:49,422 (incomplete thought) 18 00:00:49,422 --> 00:00:53,311 And he references 1 Corinthians 5 19 00:00:53,311 --> 00:00:59,366 concerning avoiding people. 20 00:00:59,366 --> 00:01:02,509 "Even after this, he continues to try 21 00:01:02,509 --> 00:01:04,607 to converse with me." 22 00:01:04,607 --> 00:01:07,407 So basically, he's taking a 1 Corinthians 5 position 23 00:01:07,407 --> 00:01:10,776 with this guy not to associate with him. 24 00:01:10,776 --> 00:01:15,459 "How do you handle or avoid such a person?" 25 00:01:15,459 --> 00:01:20,381 Now the question I want to ask everybody is this: 26 00:01:20,381 --> 00:01:24,371 Does Matthew 18 - 27 00:01:24,371 --> 00:01:26,052 where if somebody sins against me, 28 00:01:26,052 --> 00:01:26,977 I should go to him; 29 00:01:26,977 --> 00:01:28,290 and if they don't hear me, 30 00:01:28,290 --> 00:01:29,739 I should take two or three; 31 00:01:29,739 --> 00:01:30,967 if they don't hear me, 32 00:01:30,967 --> 00:01:32,792 I should take it before the church; 33 00:01:32,792 --> 00:01:34,279 if they don't hear us, 34 00:01:34,279 --> 00:01:39,460 we treat them like a tax collector; 35 00:01:39,460 --> 00:01:43,018 and then 1 Corinthians 36 00:01:43,018 --> 00:01:46,308 where you have somebody that sins - 37 00:01:46,308 --> 00:01:48,220 it's more overt; it's more public - 38 00:01:48,220 --> 00:01:50,000 it doesn't need to be dealt with 39 00:01:50,000 --> 00:01:52,298 in more of a concealed, 40 00:01:52,298 --> 00:01:54,217 slowly-evolving fashion. 41 00:01:54,217 --> 00:01:56,649 It's so public 42 00:01:56,649 --> 00:02:00,021 that you put the person out of the church immediately. 43 00:02:00,021 --> 00:02:02,601 Here's my question. 44 00:02:02,601 --> 00:02:04,766 I recognize his question is 45 00:02:04,766 --> 00:02:07,061 how do you avoid a person 46 00:02:07,061 --> 00:02:08,401 that you work with? 47 00:02:08,401 --> 00:02:11,147 We can get to that in a moment. 48 00:02:11,147 --> 00:02:15,184 But the question I would ask is this: 49 00:02:15,184 --> 00:02:20,817 Should we even use Matthew 18 50 00:02:20,817 --> 00:02:25,422 and 1 Corinthians 5 in the workplace? 51 00:02:25,422 --> 00:02:28,715 Is that for the church? 52 00:02:28,715 --> 00:02:30,975 And life in the church? 53 00:02:30,975 --> 00:02:35,128 Should we carry that over to the workplace? 54 00:02:35,128 --> 00:02:41,403 Should we carry that over to school? 55 00:02:41,403 --> 00:02:43,998 Should we carry that over to the family? 56 00:02:43,998 --> 00:02:47,032 Should we carry that over to 57 00:02:47,032 --> 00:02:49,558 like the women's Grace House? 58 00:02:49,558 --> 00:02:51,227 Should we do that? 59 00:02:51,227 --> 00:02:57,400 Is that proper? 60 00:02:57,400 --> 00:02:59,864 What do you think? 61 00:02:59,864 --> 00:03:00,833 (from the room) 62 00:03:00,833 --> 00:03:02,896 What's his brother? 63 00:03:02,896 --> 00:03:08,973 Probably somebody who is a professing Christian? 64 00:03:08,973 --> 00:03:13,633 (unintelligible) 65 00:03:13,633 --> 00:03:18,176 Tim: Okay, so if we think about Matthew 18, 66 00:03:18,176 --> 00:03:20,645 it says specifically, 67 00:03:20,645 --> 00:03:24,027 "if a brother sins against you..." 68 00:03:24,027 --> 00:03:26,276 Then what's the whole point? 69 00:03:26,276 --> 00:03:28,411 Trying to gain your brother. 70 00:03:28,411 --> 00:03:29,524 Specifically - brother. 71 00:03:29,524 --> 00:03:34,444 In 1 Corinthians 5, the idea is 72 00:03:34,444 --> 00:03:37,236 anybody who calls himself a brother. 73 00:03:37,236 --> 00:03:41,584 So, what do you think? 74 00:03:41,584 --> 00:03:45,328 Here's the question I would ask. 75 00:03:45,328 --> 00:03:54,231 Okay, we are on the fringes of the Bible belt. 76 00:03:54,231 --> 00:03:56,635 If every single person 77 00:03:56,635 --> 00:04:01,816 who claimed to be a Christian, 78 00:04:01,816 --> 00:04:03,284 but didn't live like one, 79 00:04:03,284 --> 00:04:06,516 if we automatically disassociate ourselves - 80 00:04:06,516 --> 00:04:10,022 outside of the church - 81 00:04:10,022 --> 00:04:13,628 Look, if you go to your workplace, you go to your school, 82 00:04:13,628 --> 00:04:15,121 you go to the HEB you shop at, 83 00:04:15,121 --> 00:04:16,864 and you just start asking people: 84 00:04:16,864 --> 00:04:18,046 "Are you a Christian?" 85 00:04:18,046 --> 00:04:20,329 And then you start asking them about their life, 86 00:04:20,329 --> 00:04:24,163 do you know what you're going to find? 99.9% of the time, 87 00:04:24,163 --> 00:04:28,503 their life does not measure up 88 00:04:28,503 --> 00:04:31,823 to true biblical Christianity. 89 00:04:31,823 --> 00:04:34,320 And if you take those principles 90 00:04:34,320 --> 00:04:35,675 and you apply them, 91 00:04:35,675 --> 00:04:38,794 especially in a country like ours, 92 00:04:38,794 --> 00:04:40,405 you know what you're going to do? 93 00:04:40,405 --> 00:04:42,197 You're going to end up disassociating 94 00:04:42,197 --> 00:04:43,664 with all manner of people 95 00:04:43,664 --> 00:04:47,249 that you ought to be evangelizing. 96 00:04:47,249 --> 00:04:50,504 So I think we need to be careful, 97 00:04:50,504 --> 00:04:56,178 because I don't think we want to fall into that. 98 00:04:56,178 --> 00:04:59,237 Here's one thing to think about. 99 00:04:59,237 --> 00:05:04,821 The church that we're in - 100 00:05:04,821 --> 00:05:07,201 I'll tell you this, we have an expectation 101 00:05:07,201 --> 00:05:10,297 that people that are within the walls of our church 102 00:05:10,297 --> 00:05:13,297 actually are people who have been 103 00:05:13,297 --> 00:05:15,866 exposed to the truth, 104 00:05:15,866 --> 00:05:18,433 and actually do have some idea 105 00:05:18,433 --> 00:05:20,344 about what it is to be a Christian, 106 00:05:20,344 --> 00:05:23,338 to be a brother or a sister in the Lord. 107 00:05:23,338 --> 00:05:26,933 There is massive ignorance out there. 108 00:05:26,933 --> 00:05:28,304 Now, I know this country 109 00:05:28,304 --> 00:05:29,518 is becoming burned over, 110 00:05:29,518 --> 00:05:33,853 and I know atheism (incomplete thought). 111 00:05:33,853 --> 00:05:37,026 But if you ask people if they're Christians, 112 00:05:37,026 --> 00:05:38,579 what do you think? 113 00:05:38,579 --> 00:05:41,317 What do you think if you walked up and down these streets, 114 00:05:41,317 --> 00:05:44,027 and you just started asking people one after another, 115 00:05:44,027 --> 00:05:45,299 "are you Christians?" 116 00:05:45,299 --> 00:05:47,330 What do you think a percentage would be 117 00:05:47,330 --> 00:05:51,400 that would say yes? 118 00:05:51,400 --> 00:05:53,079 Pretty high. 119 00:05:53,079 --> 00:05:54,640 Those are exactly the people 120 00:05:54,640 --> 00:05:56,727 that we should be being lights to. 121 00:05:56,727 --> 00:05:58,059 Those are exactly the people 122 00:05:58,059 --> 00:06:00,279 that what we want to do 123 00:06:00,279 --> 00:06:02,300 is we want to seek to help 124 00:06:02,300 --> 00:06:03,705 bring those people 125 00:06:03,705 --> 00:06:06,021 out of their ignorance 126 00:06:06,021 --> 00:06:09,426 and out of their darkness. 127 00:06:09,426 --> 00:06:11,420 Here's the thing, 128 00:06:11,420 --> 00:06:13,906 the picture of Matthew 18 129 00:06:13,906 --> 00:06:17,596 is kind of like of two brothers 130 00:06:17,596 --> 00:06:19,247 who are close, 131 00:06:19,247 --> 00:06:21,754 in a church, 132 00:06:21,754 --> 00:06:23,084 and we lose a brother, 133 00:06:23,084 --> 00:06:24,610 because isn't that what we're trying to do? 134 00:06:24,610 --> 00:06:26,393 Gain our brother? 135 00:06:26,393 --> 00:06:27,628 How do you lose him? 136 00:06:27,628 --> 00:06:30,132 Well, because there's sin between the two of you. 137 00:06:30,132 --> 00:06:32,938 But the idea is you've got two people that are close 138 00:06:32,938 --> 00:06:37,276 and they're together in the same church, 139 00:06:37,276 --> 00:06:38,697 and they've sinned, 140 00:06:38,697 --> 00:06:40,563 and they're seeking reconciliation. 141 00:06:40,563 --> 00:06:42,370 If you think about the emphasis 142 00:06:42,370 --> 00:06:45,085 there in 1 Corinthians 5, 143 00:06:45,085 --> 00:06:47,039 we don't want the leaven. 144 00:06:47,039 --> 00:06:49,818 We don't want the leaven in the church. 145 00:06:49,818 --> 00:06:52,110 But you see, the truth is, 146 00:06:52,110 --> 00:06:53,663 the guy at work - 147 00:06:53,663 --> 00:06:56,058 we're not allowing him in the church. 148 00:06:56,058 --> 00:06:59,307 See, there's a whole difference here. 149 00:06:59,307 --> 00:07:01,818 It's not like the guy that you work with 150 00:07:01,818 --> 00:07:05,057 shows up and wants to talk to James and myself 151 00:07:05,057 --> 00:07:08,494 and he's wanting to join the church. 152 00:07:08,494 --> 00:07:10,019 That's not what's happening. 153 00:07:10,019 --> 00:07:12,012 It's not like we let him into the church 154 00:07:12,012 --> 00:07:13,730 and now this has happened. 155 00:07:13,730 --> 00:07:17,875 These are people that are outside. 156 00:07:17,875 --> 00:07:19,009 And the thing is, 157 00:07:19,009 --> 00:07:22,817 yes, you could say, 158 00:07:22,817 --> 00:07:24,590 you know what? 159 00:07:24,590 --> 00:07:26,521 Leaven. 160 00:07:26,521 --> 00:07:28,710 That's influence. 161 00:07:28,710 --> 00:07:32,912 You could say that somebody 162 00:07:32,912 --> 00:07:35,342 is having an influence on you 163 00:07:35,342 --> 00:07:36,341 that's not good 164 00:07:36,341 --> 00:07:37,932 and you need to avoid them. 165 00:07:37,932 --> 00:07:40,227 But see, I would say that's true 166 00:07:40,227 --> 00:07:42,674 saved or lost. 167 00:07:42,674 --> 00:07:44,174 I mean, when I first got saved, 168 00:07:44,174 --> 00:07:45,429 I thought I could hang out 169 00:07:45,429 --> 00:07:46,497 with my lost buddies 170 00:07:46,497 --> 00:07:52,053 and I really did want to evangelize them. 171 00:07:52,053 --> 00:07:54,181 But you know where I was evangelizing them? 172 00:07:54,181 --> 00:07:55,845 In the bars. 173 00:07:55,845 --> 00:07:58,058 You look at that now and you'd laugh. 174 00:07:58,058 --> 00:08:00,544 But coming out of the lifestyle that I came out of, 175 00:08:00,544 --> 00:08:02,081 that wasn't laughable. 176 00:08:02,081 --> 00:08:04,689 I mean, that's what we did all the time. 177 00:08:04,689 --> 00:08:08,176 And that's where my friends were. 178 00:08:08,176 --> 00:08:10,355 And I wanted to tell them the truth. 179 00:08:10,355 --> 00:08:12,034 And I would say before the Lord, 180 00:08:12,034 --> 00:08:16,064 Lord, I'm only going to have two beers tonight. 181 00:08:16,064 --> 00:08:18,050 And I'd have four. 182 00:08:18,050 --> 00:08:19,859 Well, as much as I drank back then, 183 00:08:19,859 --> 00:08:21,361 that didn't get me drunk, 184 00:08:21,361 --> 00:08:23,324 but you know what? I didn't keep my word. 185 00:08:23,324 --> 00:08:26,203 So I'd come home grieved. 186 00:08:26,203 --> 00:08:27,786 And that happened enough times 187 00:08:27,786 --> 00:08:30,819 where I thought, you know what? 188 00:08:30,819 --> 00:08:32,436 I've talked to these guys 189 00:08:32,436 --> 00:08:34,727 and I'm not being a good influence on them. 190 00:08:34,727 --> 00:08:36,915 They're being a bad one on me. 191 00:08:36,915 --> 00:08:39,829 And I'd recognize I'm not capable 192 00:08:39,829 --> 00:08:43,436 of doing this anymore. 193 00:08:43,436 --> 00:08:45,742 But I think that's a big question to ask. 194 00:08:45,742 --> 00:08:48,614 Because that seems to be the issue - 195 00:08:48,614 --> 00:08:49,751 leaven. 196 00:08:49,751 --> 00:08:51,690 It seems to be the issue. 197 00:08:51,690 --> 00:08:58,181 (incomplete thought) 198 00:08:58,181 --> 00:09:04,071 And I think we need to ask that. 199 00:09:04,071 --> 00:09:08,727 Is there a place to do what he did? 200 00:09:08,727 --> 00:09:10,320 You've got somebody telling you 201 00:09:10,320 --> 00:09:11,634 they're a Christian, 202 00:09:11,634 --> 00:09:14,292 and you're looking, watching their life 203 00:09:14,292 --> 00:09:16,521 and it doesn't seem to be very Christian - 204 00:09:16,521 --> 00:09:19,774 to say, "I don't think you're born again"? 205 00:09:19,774 --> 00:09:23,233 Do we have a right to judge people like that? 206 00:09:23,233 --> 00:09:26,272 Yeah, you better believe we do. 207 00:09:26,272 --> 00:09:29,438 Scripture says that we do. 208 00:09:29,438 --> 00:09:30,775 Let me ask you this. 209 00:09:30,775 --> 00:09:33,932 Where does it say that we do? 210 00:09:33,932 --> 00:09:36,531 Where is there judgment shown in Scripture? 211 00:09:36,531 --> 00:09:37,302 (from the room) 212 00:09:37,302 --> 00:09:39,732 Judge a tree by its fruit. 213 00:09:39,732 --> 00:09:41,343 Tim: That's one place. 214 00:09:41,343 --> 00:09:46,524 Can anybody think of anywhere else? 215 00:09:46,524 --> 00:09:48,021 Or even where Scripture 216 00:09:48,021 --> 00:09:49,990 just dogmatically makes a statement 217 00:09:49,990 --> 00:09:51,156 about somebody? 218 00:09:51,156 --> 00:09:53,245 Now, we might say, that's God's Word 219 00:09:53,245 --> 00:09:55,315 and God has the right to make a statement, 220 00:09:55,315 --> 00:09:59,166 but I mean, the truth is 221 00:09:59,166 --> 00:10:00,942 sometimes it's God's men - 222 00:10:00,942 --> 00:10:02,427 yes, they're under inspiration, 223 00:10:02,427 --> 00:10:04,722 but they're making observations about the church 224 00:10:04,722 --> 00:10:07,951 and they're dogmatically making statements, 225 00:10:07,951 --> 00:10:10,704 such as... anybody think of any? 226 00:10:10,704 --> 00:10:11,705 (from the room) 227 00:10:11,705 --> 00:10:14,331 They told Simon, "your heart is not right before God." 228 00:10:14,331 --> 00:10:16,512 Tim: See, there's a situation right there. 229 00:10:16,512 --> 00:10:18,604 You've got Peter and he comes face-to-face 230 00:10:18,604 --> 00:10:20,738 with a guy who Scripture says 231 00:10:20,738 --> 00:10:22,646 believed and was baptized 232 00:10:22,646 --> 00:10:24,577 under Phillip's preaching. 233 00:10:24,577 --> 00:10:26,878 And Peter comes along and says, 234 00:10:26,878 --> 00:10:28,927 "You're going to perish." 235 00:10:28,927 --> 00:10:30,103 (from the room) 236 00:10:30,103 --> 00:10:31,778 He even said "your heart." 237 00:10:31,778 --> 00:10:34,448 It's like he judges the heart right there. 238 00:10:34,448 --> 00:10:36,348 Tim: Right. 239 00:10:36,348 --> 00:10:38,644 Can you think of anywhere else? 240 00:10:38,644 --> 00:10:39,623 (from the room) 241 00:10:39,623 --> 00:10:41,903 I'm thinking in the sense of Paul 242 00:10:41,903 --> 00:10:43,579 when he went to Galatia. 243 00:10:43,579 --> 00:10:47,911 There were these professing Judaizers. 244 00:10:47,911 --> 00:10:50,089 Tim: Yeah, there's these guys preaching 245 00:10:50,089 --> 00:10:54,118 error to the Galatians, and he's says 246 00:10:54,118 --> 00:10:57,943 some of the strongest things he ever says. 247 00:10:57,943 --> 00:10:59,668 They're talking about circumcision 248 00:10:59,668 --> 00:11:04,017 and he's saying some - 249 00:11:04,017 --> 00:11:05,184 in the vernacular, 250 00:11:05,184 --> 00:11:11,140 it was pretty rough language. 251 00:11:11,140 --> 00:11:12,669 You have John. 252 00:11:12,669 --> 00:11:14,257 He says they went out from us 253 00:11:14,257 --> 00:11:15,769 and they weren't of us. 254 00:11:15,769 --> 00:11:17,254 And he can make that judgment. 255 00:11:17,254 --> 00:11:18,748 He says if they were of us, 256 00:11:18,748 --> 00:11:20,656 they would not have gone out from us. 257 00:11:20,656 --> 00:11:22,199 And you know the reality is, 258 00:11:22,199 --> 00:11:26,010 very, very seldom does anybody 259 00:11:26,010 --> 00:11:28,480 leave our church who's genuine 260 00:11:28,480 --> 00:11:30,211 and goes off to another church. 261 00:11:30,211 --> 00:11:32,841 I mean, they leave because they don't like the church, 262 00:11:32,841 --> 00:11:35,558 they don't like the teaching, they don't like something. 263 00:11:35,558 --> 00:11:37,945 I'm not talking about a transfer or something. 264 00:11:37,945 --> 00:11:41,127 But they leave because they don't like something and they go off. 265 00:11:41,127 --> 00:11:44,724 Very seldom are they legitimate Christians. 266 00:11:44,724 --> 00:11:48,313 Most of the time, that reality is true. 267 00:11:48,313 --> 00:11:50,656 They went out from us because they weren't of us. 268 00:11:50,656 --> 00:11:54,578 You know, we can think of Matt. 269 00:11:54,578 --> 00:11:57,833 He left. 270 00:11:57,833 --> 00:11:59,761 At first, you hope the best, 271 00:11:59,761 --> 00:12:01,265 but as time goes on, 272 00:12:01,265 --> 00:12:05,209 he says he's not saved. 273 00:12:05,209 --> 00:12:07,479 That's what happens. 274 00:12:07,479 --> 00:12:10,054 But Scripture talks this way. 275 00:12:10,054 --> 00:12:12,663 Scripture talks about people that make shipwreck. 276 00:12:12,663 --> 00:12:14,307 Scripture talks about people 277 00:12:14,307 --> 00:12:17,178 who are not genuine. 278 00:12:17,178 --> 00:12:18,994 Scripture talks about false brethren. 279 00:12:18,994 --> 00:12:21,163 Scripture talks about those 280 00:12:21,163 --> 00:12:23,481 who are tares. 281 00:12:23,481 --> 00:12:26,629 It talks that way. 282 00:12:26,629 --> 00:12:30,268 And as far as us making judgments concerning it, 283 00:12:30,268 --> 00:12:32,349 I mean, look, there's oftentimes 284 00:12:32,349 --> 00:12:35,719 that the writers of Scripture are charitable. 285 00:12:35,719 --> 00:12:37,089 They're kind. 286 00:12:37,089 --> 00:12:39,341 I mean, Paul could look at the Corinthians, 287 00:12:39,341 --> 00:12:41,951 but he still said you need to examine yourselves 288 00:12:41,951 --> 00:12:43,816 whether you're in the faith. 289 00:12:43,816 --> 00:12:45,278 Why? Because some of them 290 00:12:45,278 --> 00:12:46,814 were demonstrating lifestyles 291 00:12:46,814 --> 00:12:53,347 that were questionable at best. 292 00:12:53,347 --> 00:12:54,201 (from the room) 293 00:12:54,201 --> 00:12:55,542 I have a question for you. 294 00:12:55,542 --> 00:12:57,206 Do you think there's a difference 295 00:12:57,206 --> 00:12:59,436 between somebody who if you were to ask him 296 00:12:59,443 --> 00:13:01,950 would he call himself a Christian, 297 00:13:01,950 --> 00:13:04,179 but in a workplace wouldn't say that they are. 298 00:13:04,179 --> 00:13:06,773 They don't tell other people about their Christianity, 299 00:13:06,773 --> 00:13:08,351 versus someone who is very open 300 00:13:08,351 --> 00:13:10,665 about being a Christian and yet their lives 301 00:13:10,665 --> 00:13:12,857 don't reflect that? 302 00:13:12,857 --> 00:13:16,410 Tim: Well, I think the big deal with that 303 00:13:16,410 --> 00:13:19,056 is they dishonor Christ. 304 00:13:19,056 --> 00:13:21,790 They dishonor the name of Christianity. 305 00:13:21,790 --> 00:13:25,562 (incomplete thought) 306 00:13:25,562 --> 00:13:28,046 If you've got a genuine Christian in the workplace, 307 00:13:28,046 --> 00:13:29,457 and then you've got somebody 308 00:13:29,457 --> 00:13:30,734 who's a false Christian, 309 00:13:30,734 --> 00:13:33,423 and maybe they're even more vocal 310 00:13:33,423 --> 00:13:37,024 about telling people they're a Christian. 311 00:13:37,024 --> 00:13:39,636 I'll tell you this, 312 00:13:39,636 --> 00:13:44,161 we're just focusing down 313 00:13:44,161 --> 00:13:46,188 and narrowing down to the workplace. 314 00:13:46,188 --> 00:13:48,251 But the reality is the world out here 315 00:13:48,251 --> 00:13:49,979 is exactly like that. 316 00:13:49,979 --> 00:13:52,405 And the thing is 317 00:13:52,405 --> 00:13:56,209 that yeah, the world loves to say, 318 00:13:56,209 --> 00:13:58,829 "Aha! You're just like me." 319 00:13:58,829 --> 00:14:00,344 But you know what gets them? 320 00:14:00,344 --> 00:14:03,829 It's the guy over there that isn't like them. 321 00:14:03,829 --> 00:14:05,110 And you can go around 322 00:14:05,110 --> 00:14:07,353 finding all the counterfeit dollars all day - 323 00:14:07,353 --> 00:14:10,899 don't you have a counterfeit dollar in there? 324 00:14:10,899 --> 00:14:12,595 That's a true one. 325 00:14:12,595 --> 00:14:15,203 See, you can have a bunch of counterfeit money, 326 00:14:15,203 --> 00:14:17,594 but it doesn't negate the real one. 327 00:14:17,594 --> 00:14:19,865 And that's the problem. 328 00:14:19,865 --> 00:14:20,812 You know what? 329 00:14:20,812 --> 00:14:23,260 You go in a workplace, you go in a school, 330 00:14:23,260 --> 00:14:25,463 you go wherever you go, 331 00:14:25,463 --> 00:14:28,840 if you act the part of the real Christian, 332 00:14:28,840 --> 00:14:30,838 and you walk in the fear of God, 333 00:14:30,838 --> 00:14:31,886 and you're honest 334 00:14:31,886 --> 00:14:34,103 and you show integrity, 335 00:14:34,103 --> 00:14:36,004 you'll stand out. 336 00:14:36,004 --> 00:14:38,481 People see it. 337 00:14:38,481 --> 00:14:40,440 And they know. 338 00:14:40,440 --> 00:14:41,336 And they can mock 339 00:14:41,336 --> 00:14:42,946 and they can carry on 340 00:14:42,946 --> 00:14:46,421 about the false guy, 341 00:14:46,421 --> 00:14:50,817 but you are a thorn in their side, 342 00:14:50,817 --> 00:14:52,119 because they don't like it. 343 00:14:52,119 --> 00:14:53,855 Because it condemns them. 344 00:14:53,855 --> 00:14:54,838 That's the reality. 345 00:14:54,838 --> 00:14:56,672 It condemns them. 346 00:14:56,672 --> 00:14:58,931 When I got saved, 347 00:14:58,931 --> 00:15:02,521 my friends had to come up with explanations for it. 348 00:15:02,521 --> 00:15:07,520 Well, you know what they say. 349 00:15:07,520 --> 00:15:10,619 "This isn't going to last long." 350 00:15:10,619 --> 00:15:13,070 "He'll get over this." 351 00:15:13,070 --> 00:15:14,511 It's always something. 352 00:15:14,511 --> 00:15:16,704 (incomplete thought) 353 00:15:16,704 --> 00:15:19,420 The last time I was up there - 354 00:15:19,420 --> 00:15:21,644 one of the last times - 355 00:15:21,644 --> 00:15:26,028 and I had a group of the guys gathered around, 356 00:15:26,028 --> 00:15:30,807 I said uh huh... it's been 20 years, 357 00:15:30,807 --> 00:15:33,772 and I'm still following Christ. 358 00:15:33,772 --> 00:15:36,860 And they threw all their theories out. 359 00:15:36,860 --> 00:15:39,499 And I got to preach to them 360 00:15:39,499 --> 00:15:41,495 about being born again. 361 00:15:41,495 --> 00:15:45,832 And the thing is it's like 362 00:15:45,832 --> 00:15:48,358 they've got to come up with some kind of explanation. 363 00:15:48,358 --> 00:15:51,951 Because they know - 364 00:15:51,951 --> 00:15:55,128 they know something happened to me. 365 00:15:55,128 --> 00:15:57,632 And if you can't explain that away, 366 00:15:57,632 --> 00:16:01,630 (incomplete thought) 367 00:16:01,630 --> 00:16:03,660 Well, I think I'm okay, 368 00:16:03,660 --> 00:16:06,102 but something happened to him, 369 00:16:06,102 --> 00:16:08,784 and it didn't happen to me. 370 00:16:08,784 --> 00:16:14,533 And if that's the real thing, I'm in trouble. 371 00:16:14,533 --> 00:16:15,532 (from the room) 372 00:16:15,532 --> 00:16:17,230 Brother, I had a text 373 00:16:17,230 --> 00:16:19,408 if you don't mind if I share it. 374 00:16:19,408 --> 00:16:21,021 It's 2 John 9, it says, 375 00:16:21,021 --> 00:16:22,851 "Everyone who goes on ahead 376 00:16:22,851 --> 00:16:25,113 and does not abide in the teaching of Christ 377 00:16:25,113 --> 00:16:26,335 does not have God. 378 00:16:26,335 --> 00:16:27,874 Whoever abides in the teaching 379 00:16:27,874 --> 00:16:29,459 has both the Father and the Son. 380 00:16:29,459 --> 00:16:30,717 If anyone comes to you 381 00:16:30,717 --> 00:16:32,302 and does not bring this teaching, 382 00:16:32,302 --> 00:16:33,986 do not receive him into your house 383 00:16:33,986 --> 00:16:35,285 or give him any greeting. 384 00:16:35,285 --> 00:16:37,471 For whoever greets him takes part 385 00:16:37,471 --> 00:16:40,215 in his wicked works." 386 00:16:40,215 --> 00:16:42,177 That might be more so teaching, 387 00:16:42,177 --> 00:16:45,022 (unintelligible) 388 00:16:45,022 --> 00:16:46,952 Tim: Well, that definitely is teaching. 389 00:16:46,952 --> 00:16:48,869 They're going on ahead. 390 00:16:48,869 --> 00:16:52,187 What they're doing is they're leaving behind 391 00:16:52,187 --> 00:16:54,437 this deposit of faith 392 00:16:54,437 --> 00:16:56,737 that's once been delivered 393 00:16:56,737 --> 00:16:58,362 to the people of God. 394 00:16:58,362 --> 00:17:00,353 And they're moving beyond that. 395 00:17:00,353 --> 00:17:02,776 You don't want to be innovative. 396 00:17:02,776 --> 00:17:05,141 This is the same truth that has been 397 00:17:05,141 --> 00:17:07,011 believed for 2,000 years 398 00:17:07,011 --> 00:17:11,891 and handed down. 399 00:17:11,891 --> 00:17:14,414 What I would say there 400 00:17:14,414 --> 00:17:20,065 is obviously that is the kind of thing 401 00:17:20,065 --> 00:17:25,847 where what you want to be sensitive to 402 00:17:25,847 --> 00:17:32,951 is somehow encouraging them 403 00:17:32,951 --> 00:17:36,656 or applauding them, 404 00:17:36,656 --> 00:17:39,846 somehow sanctioning what they're doing. 405 00:17:39,846 --> 00:17:41,657 If a Jehovah's Witness or a Mormon 406 00:17:41,657 --> 00:17:42,559 comes to my door, 407 00:17:42,559 --> 00:17:45,814 I will not shake their hand. 408 00:17:45,814 --> 00:17:52,974 But, if I had a flat tire and a guy pulled over 409 00:17:52,974 --> 00:17:54,892 and I became aware he was a Mormon, 410 00:17:54,892 --> 00:17:56,486 and he helped me fix the tire, 411 00:17:56,486 --> 00:17:58,413 and he wasn't there preaching at me 412 00:17:58,413 --> 00:18:00,657 about his false doctrine, 413 00:18:00,657 --> 00:18:02,933 I would shake his hand when I was done. 414 00:18:02,933 --> 00:18:04,866 Why? Because I'm not encouraging 415 00:18:04,866 --> 00:18:07,113 his false teaching. 416 00:18:07,113 --> 00:18:08,820 I think that's the issue there. 417 00:18:08,820 --> 00:18:11,663 I don't think it means 418 00:18:11,663 --> 00:18:14,679 that if you find out somebody's a Catholic, 419 00:18:14,679 --> 00:18:16,010 well, "oh, that's heresy! 420 00:18:16,010 --> 00:18:17,847 That's damnable! 421 00:18:17,847 --> 00:18:19,109 Mary worship! 422 00:18:19,109 --> 00:18:21,708 They believe in works. 423 00:18:21,708 --> 00:18:23,777 I can't shake your hand." 424 00:18:23,777 --> 00:18:27,303 I don't think that that's 425 00:18:27,303 --> 00:18:29,070 what's being called for there, 426 00:18:29,070 --> 00:18:30,596 but I think it's got to do with 427 00:18:30,596 --> 00:18:34,109 directly endorsing or encouraging their preaching. 428 00:18:34,109 --> 00:18:35,894 And when they're at your door 429 00:18:35,894 --> 00:18:38,977 wanting to speak it, 430 00:18:38,977 --> 00:18:41,899 assuming the best - 431 00:18:41,899 --> 00:18:43,684 just two days ago, 432 00:18:43,684 --> 00:18:45,338 a preacher showed up at the door. 433 00:18:45,338 --> 00:18:46,378 I saw this guy. 434 00:18:46,378 --> 00:18:47,376 It was strange - 435 00:18:47,376 --> 00:18:49,577 my office is out here on the front. 436 00:18:49,577 --> 00:18:51,169 And I'm looking out the window 437 00:18:51,169 --> 00:18:52,759 and a guy - 438 00:18:52,759 --> 00:18:56,845 now this field over here is contained. 439 00:18:56,845 --> 00:18:58,805 It's got fences all the way around it. 440 00:18:58,805 --> 00:19:01,813 So you don't come out of the middle of that field 441 00:19:01,813 --> 00:19:03,668 unless you purposely went out there. 442 00:19:03,668 --> 00:19:06,444 And there's a hill and there's trees out there. 443 00:19:06,444 --> 00:19:08,228 And I'm looking and a guy comes out 444 00:19:08,228 --> 00:19:10,571 from underneath the trees. 445 00:19:10,571 --> 00:19:11,979 What's this guy doing? 446 00:19:11,979 --> 00:19:13,978 And then he's making a bee line 447 00:19:13,978 --> 00:19:15,595 straight towards my front door. 448 00:19:15,595 --> 00:19:17,275 So I'm watching him, watching him. 449 00:19:17,275 --> 00:19:19,600 I thought yeah, this guy's coming to the door. 450 00:19:19,600 --> 00:19:22,102 So I run down and he's a preacher. 451 00:19:22,102 --> 00:19:24,393 And he was wanting to invite me to his church 452 00:19:24,393 --> 00:19:26,647 and I didn't ask him, 453 00:19:26,647 --> 00:19:29,736 what were you doing under the trees? 454 00:19:29,736 --> 00:19:32,445 But I told him we have a burden for the East side, 455 00:19:32,445 --> 00:19:34,016 and we go door-to-door 456 00:19:34,016 --> 00:19:36,308 and I got him one of the shocking DVD's 457 00:19:36,308 --> 00:19:38,664 and put it in his hand. 458 00:19:38,664 --> 00:19:40,312 I think I shook his hand. 459 00:19:40,312 --> 00:19:42,569 I don't know what he teaches. 460 00:19:42,569 --> 00:19:44,317 And we didn't really get into it. 461 00:19:44,317 --> 00:19:47,241 But I think there's a place for us to be kind. 462 00:19:47,241 --> 00:19:50,455 I don't think that the place of the Christian 463 00:19:50,455 --> 00:19:57,771 (incomplete thought) 464 00:19:57,771 --> 00:19:59,526 I don't think it's the place 465 00:19:59,526 --> 00:20:01,032 to come across to the world 466 00:20:01,032 --> 00:20:05,295 like we're sour, dour, mean. 467 00:20:05,295 --> 00:20:08,283 But, if somebody's dishonoring Christ 468 00:20:08,283 --> 00:20:10,235 and teaching another gospel, 469 00:20:10,235 --> 00:20:11,391 don't endorse it. 470 00:20:11,391 --> 00:20:14,228 Don't shake their hands. 471 00:20:14,228 --> 00:20:17,557 There's a place just to speak to them 472 00:20:17,557 --> 00:20:19,425 like Paul spoke 473 00:20:19,425 --> 00:20:21,433 because they're damning souls. 474 00:20:21,433 --> 00:20:24,327 You smile and shake the hand of the Mormon, 475 00:20:24,327 --> 00:20:25,923 what they are trying to do 476 00:20:25,923 --> 00:20:28,701 is take your neighbors to the pit with them. 477 00:20:28,701 --> 00:20:30,191 They don't believe that, 478 00:20:30,191 --> 00:20:36,463 but that's exactly what it is. 479 00:20:36,463 --> 00:20:38,080 So I would just say this, 480 00:20:38,080 --> 00:20:41,758 look, Christians, we live in the land 481 00:20:41,758 --> 00:20:44,698 of false professions galore. 482 00:20:44,698 --> 00:20:47,189 We need to be light in those situations. 483 00:20:47,189 --> 00:20:50,926 And I would not cut off association with people 484 00:20:50,926 --> 00:20:53,764 because somebody's got a false profession, 485 00:20:53,764 --> 00:20:56,608 you being real may be the very thing 486 00:20:56,608 --> 00:21:00,840 that God will use to open their eyes. 487 00:21:00,840 --> 00:21:02,975 And you being mean to them 488 00:21:02,975 --> 00:21:07,530 is not what does it. 489 00:21:07,530 --> 00:21:09,320 I mean, you think about it. 490 00:21:09,320 --> 00:21:10,674 You think about Jesus 491 00:21:10,674 --> 00:21:13,779 and His interaction with like a Pharisee. 492 00:21:13,779 --> 00:21:16,184 He'd go eat at their house. 493 00:21:16,184 --> 00:21:17,611 What was that saying? 494 00:21:17,611 --> 00:21:19,100 Did he know that they held 495 00:21:19,100 --> 00:21:21,151 to some kind of Judaistic error? 496 00:21:21,151 --> 00:21:22,611 Of course He did. 497 00:21:22,611 --> 00:21:25,245 Did He know they were lost? Yes. 498 00:21:25,245 --> 00:21:27,995 And He would even in His conversations with them, 499 00:21:27,995 --> 00:21:30,146 after they called Him out, 500 00:21:30,146 --> 00:21:32,344 said He had a devil, called Him a Samaritan, 501 00:21:32,344 --> 00:21:33,553 He was still saying, 502 00:21:33,553 --> 00:21:35,783 "I say these things that you might be saved." 503 00:21:35,783 --> 00:21:37,534 He's still showing a kindness 504 00:21:37,534 --> 00:21:38,914 and a compassion to them. 505 00:21:38,914 --> 00:21:40,654 He wouldn't endorse their teaching. 506 00:21:40,654 --> 00:21:43,055 Paul wouldn't endorse their teaching.