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I’m going to invite you this morning to Acts chapter four is where we’re at together today, Acts chapter four. And, you know, sharing so much here in the beginning, I realized I cut into my time a little bit. So I want to I want to do this somewhat quickly, but I, I as we look at this chapter, I think this is a very foundational chapter for us to explore as God’s people and what it means for us to live in light of Christ through a a broken world, right? We we walk in a world that we realize man as followers of Jesus. You know, I might live under a earthly government or or king or rulership in some ways, but at the same time, I serve a greater king and a greater kingdom. And sometimes the things of this world conflict with the ultimate king that I honor, who is Christ. And so how do I navigate that? That’s really what Acts chapter four is about as we look at this together. And I can’t think of a more critical time in our culture to probably explore a chapter like this than the way things have been trending in our culture today. As you think about what the book of Acts has been up until this point, as we studied it together, the first three chapters, we see God’s people moving in an incredible way through the culture, the gospel making a tremendous impact. Thousands of people coming to know Christ.
You know, as Peter shared just two messages up to this point and his first message, 3000 come to know Christ. We’re going to see today that his second message recorded in Acts 5000 people come to know the Christ. The church is making a tremendous impact. And so when we look at the book of Acts, we recognize this is this is after the the death, burial, resurrection and ascension of Jesus. And we’re reading the first 30 years of the history of the church and how the Spirit of God’s empowered the people of God to accomplish the will of God. And then here we are today as a as a people, knowing that God’s Spirit still works in God’s people to make a difference in this world, and that where God has you is not an accident, that God’s got you in a place to make a difference in how you live for him. So how do we do that? And especially in light of adversity. So here’s here’s the church for the first three chapters, seeing incredible things take place. If you remember chapter three we looked at together last week Peter and John go to the temple. They see a man who’s been lame since birth, sitting outside or sitting outside of the temple next to the beautiful gate. And they tell him, we don’t have any money to give you, but what we do have in the name of Jesus rise up and walk.
And the man’s miraculously healed. He runs to the temple telling everybody what’s taking place. People are amazed by this. They begin to gather. They listen to Peter and John talk about the Lord. It’s an incredible movement where where great things are happening. And now all of a sudden there comes a clash with culture. And what do you do in light of that? And the same thing is true for us today. As followers of Jesus serving a greater king and a greater kingdom, it’s not always going to align with earthly kings and earthly kingdoms and what people might want us to bow down to. And so what do we do with that? Right. And the disciples, they they cared about people, and they wanted to show that care with for people. But but they also wanted to care without compromise because they saw the significance of of what Jesus has done and their stand in him. And so the same question for us as we look at this passage today, it’s what we’re going to talk about. How do we care without compromise? We want to care for people around us. I think one of the most God honoring things that we could do is, is to to to show respect and dignity to the people around us, because everyone is made in the image of God. And if we love God, it’s going to be demonstrated in the way we care for people.
But not everybody’s going to going to agree with what we do as God’s people. So how do we we care as God’s people without compromising who we are in the Lord? And even in our culture today? There’s this push that in order to respect me or honor me, you have to affirm everything that I do and say and just say as a believer. That’s that’s just not true, right? Because sometimes what people say and do is absolutely nuts. That’s right. And so there is a foundation to who we are that’s critical to hold on to. And it’s not only to understand the importance of why we hold on to it, but also to recognize the way you hold on to it is also important to the Lord that you can be right, but you can also be absolutely obnoxious in the way that you do it. And so when we look at a passage like this, I want us to know we’re not just simply hijacking Jesus to to promote our own agenda. Right. We’re we’re wanting to just honor Christ the way that we’re called to honor Christ in this world, recognizing that that kingdoms of this world or people of this world might try to enforce upon me something that contradicts who I am in light of who Christ is. In fact, the Bible reminds you of that. And Romans chapter 12, verse one, it encourages you don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Right, so I’m going to live in this world that’s going to try to shape me in its mold, Hold, but I’m called to be something altogether different in light of who Jesus is. So how do I walk wisely in a world knowing that that’s what I’m going to experience? There’s going to be adversity in Christ. And so here in Acts chapter three, things have been going well, well for them. And all of a sudden now they’ve met this tension point in their culture, specifically among some leaders. And the question for the church is how are they going to respond in light of that and the way they choose to respond here, it becomes, for us, a model to consider our own response to the culture in which we find ourselves. In fact, rather than belabor it any longer, let me just show you in Acts chapter four, verse one, it says this. And as they were speaking to the people talking about Peter and John, the disciples sharing the message of Christ, the priests and the captains of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them. Look at this. Greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead, and they arrested them and put them into custody until the next day, for it was already Evening. Now, I want you to know, in terms of these individuals that are that are coming against the disciples, these are the really the the more elite, well-to-do people in the society.
At the time, the Sadducees were a people group that were considered the wealthy people group. And during the first century they were really the liberal theological people among the Jewish people. They really held to Judaism more about in terms of culture, not so much in theology. And they agreed that the Jewish people should align more with Greek culture. So they’re very liberal in how they interact with Jewish people and and them being Jewish people themselves. Now they’re putting the pressure on the disciples to conform. And I want you to see in verse two you’ll see this repeated verse two, verse 14, verse 16, verse 18. It’ll go on throughout the passage that their interest isn’t necessarily in what’s true. In fact, I would say their interest isn’t in what’s true at all. Their interest, rather, is what the disciples are saying doesn’t fit their narrative that makes them comfortable and what they want to do as people. Because what’s most important to them is, well, themselves. And since they’re the rulers of their own life, when someone comes against them and conflicts with what they’re saying in a way that makes them uncomfortable, well, they and their power, their position of power, want to try to force other people to conform to what it is they want, because that’s what makes them comfortable. So so the debate for them isn’t really about what’s true.
The debate for them is how how are they going to get these individuals to align with what they want? Because, well, that’s what’s most important to them. And I would say it’s the same for us today as we walk as followers of Jesus in this world. The debate with this world, though they may claim I’m, you know, I’m just following truth. It’s really not about the truth. The evidence of Jesus is so rich in our history that that the truth of who he is is easy to discover. So I would argue, as much as people want to make it about truth, it’s it’s not about truth. They might hide behind that facade, but that’s not what the debate is really about. It’s about what I want to do. Because what’s most important to me is, well, what I want because I’m king of my own life. And this is what the Sadducees are doing. Now, most people have no idea who the Sadducees are, so the easiest way to remember them is they are Sadducees, right? And that felt so cheesy. It was painful to say out loud, but maybe you’ll remember it because of that. But they’re there theologically liberal individuals among that culture. And they’re they’re putting the pressure on the disciples. And here’s, here’s one of the things they reject. They reject the idea of an afterlife. They reject the idea of the resurrection. And you see that in verse two, and because of that, they’re putting pressure on the disciples to stop saying it.
Stop talking about this. Now, let me just say how the disciples respond here in what they say and how they compose Impose themselves is very important not only for the first century, but also for us today. And learning how we are to respond. The disciples in this moment, they could have come to the Sadducees, who are these leaders in their first century, and they could have been like, are we upset you? Oh, we’re so sorry. Right? Because what’s most important to me in my life is how you feel. And because your feelings are more important than anything. We’ll just reject what it is that we think in order to bow to your feelings. Right? They could have. They could have walked some kind of road like that. And I know I say that somewhat facetiously, but but I want you to see the significance of this, because every day in your life you could face death by a thousand cuts from a world that wants to try to conform you. But but there needs to be a greater resolute to who you are and recognizing what the world might want to do to you. And part of the reason is, well, what you stand for actually offends me. So I need you to bow down to what it is that I think, or what it is that I feel.
And and in so doing, can I just tell you the temptation for us as God’s people is we completely lose the power of who we are. In fact, when you read the very next verse from a very pragmatic stand, could you even imagine this next verse? It says this, but many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about 5000. Could you imagine, just from a practical standpoint, if the disciples just looked at the Sadducees and thought, well, since you are a leader, you know, and you have this great tout influence in our culture, I guess we’ll just do what you want. You must be right, you know, since you’re in charge, right? If they had said something like that, just even from a practical standpoint, how many thousands of people would not have heard the gospel? How many thousands of people’s lives would not be transformed? And guys, it’s the same for you today. There is power in but one name. And there is one name who truly transforms your life in a good way and a God honoring way. And for us to balk at the perfection of that name is to to rip the heart out of what the church is about. It’s to make us all together something different. And it loses the power of what we do as people. And so this is this is something as we look at the early church, we say, man, I’m so thankful they didn’t compromise.
And even for us, as we consider our own position in this world where God has me, it’s no accident and I want to see a difference made in the lives of people now. Let me, let me just say, even if, even if no one came to know Christ in this moment, the idea of just compromising in truth at the end of the day, as God’s people, more than anything, what I want to do is I recognize, man, not everyone’s going to agree with me. That’s okay. And the reason that’s that’s okay is, is because no matter what, I’m going to be okay. And the reason I know I’m going to be okay is because I’m confident in who I am because of who he is. And so it’s not just simply about, well, practically, people come to know the Lord or or just necessarily the outworkings of those things. It’s about the end of the day. As a follower of Jesus, I want to walk in my, my, my life in a way of integrity so that when I lay my head down, at the end of the day, I have no regrets in who I am and what I’m about. And so this is the pressure the disciples are are facing. And they they walk in this way and a way that becomes a model for us where we can say, man, I’m so thankful.
I’m so thankful. They didn’t balk at the message for which liberates people in Christ. And the same for us. Like church, the world’s going to pressure you. What are you going to do? What are you going to be about? What’s going to define what guides you? Is it going to be a life of just people pleasing? Is it going to be a life that just bows to whatever whims culture wants to go to in the moment? Is there something deeper that defines who you are? How do I how do I care without compromising? And let me give you point number one in your notes and we’ll move forward here. But number one is this. We just we need to recognize this. A clash with culture is certain a class clash. Excuse me? A clash with culture is certain. And verse 5 to 7, you see this? It says on the next day, the rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, and the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John and Alexander. So these are all part of the Sadducees line. The the Sadducees ruled the high priest position or the priestly line. And then it says, and all who were of the high priestly family. And look at this verse seven. And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired by what power or by what name did you do this? And you understand the tone of this question. What the what’s being asked of the disciples? They’re really asking.
And when it talks about power, who’s authority? Who do you think you are? By what authority are you doing this? Don’t you know who we are? Don’t you know the position we carry in society? Don’t you know what we stand for? Who do you think you are by doing something usurps what we stand for. You know, we’re supposed to be the ones that are educating people in a religious sense. We’re from the priestly line. Who do you think you are? It becomes this. This position of authority in their lives. Right? And so they’re they’re coming against sort of in this way, against the disciples and questioning them based on that authority. I get asked that question, and sometimes I could tell you, I could really tell you. When I get asked the question, I almost always get asked that question. Every time we do baptisms at a church. Someone, someone wants to know when we do our baptisms, by what authority are you doing what you’re doing right? And can I just tell you if you ever get asked that question, easiest answer is to say Matthew 2818. Jesus says it like this. In Matthew 2818, all authority in heaven and earth has been given unto me. Verse 19 therefore go into the world and make disciples of all nations. The authority that I’ve been given is greater than any earthly authority. It comes from Christ. And so it’s important for me to know that I’m going to have a clash in my culture.
And it’s not because I’m seeking conflict. That’s not our goal. Our goal is not to seek conflict for the sake of conflict. That’s not what the Bible calls us to as God’s people. Romans 12 verse 18 tells us, seek peace with all people as much as it depends on you. Meaning when the disciples went to to the temple that day, that that that man was healed outside of the beautiful gate. They didn’t wake up that morning and say, Peter didn’t say to John, hey, John got this crazy dream last night. Let’s go be obnoxious. How can we tick off the Sadducees? John, can you think of anything? Let’s do that. Right. That’s not. That wasn’t their pursuit. What they thought of is. Man, how can we today honor God and bless people around us? What is it the Lord might put in front of us today? That we could just walk faithfully with Jesus and the things God has before us? That was really what was on the heart of the disciples. And look, there is this temptation in every human being on the planet that when someone offends me, we’re going round robin in this tit for tat. Like if you you upset me, that justifies then how I get to respond to you. But that’s not the biblical call. That’s not what God says to us as his people in the way that we conduct ourselves in this world.
And so if I were just to say, all right, you have the Sadducees in the first century, and we would look at that and be like, okay, that’s that’s not a problem for me. Like, bring me a Sadducees. Like, I’m not going to I’m not going to be worried about that. Right? But but in our culture today, what does it look like? Well, I would say maybe maybe two, two bigger thoughts that tries to govern what we do would be like humanistic secularism or maybe naturalism, which says there is no ultimate truth. Or maybe on the other end we could say it’s spiritualism or New Ageism that just tries to say everything is true. And what’s interesting in either one of those views, they kind of have the same foundation, whether whether you want to proclaim everything as true or you want to say nothing is true. Really, the foundation that drives all of that is me. What I feel, what I think. You know, what it is that I ultimately want. Because at the end of the day, that’s what matters. But from a biblical worldview, We say things like, well, if God gave you feelings and feelings can be a great thing, but they’re a terrible God. And the reason for that is there are lots of things you feel in life that sometimes you don’t respond in. And then about five minutes later you’re like, man, I am sure happy I did not react out of my feelings because if that’s what was going to dictate who I was in that moment, I would have had a lot of regrets.
See, as Christians, we say there is an absolute foundation of who we are, and it’s rooted in Jesus. And so, you know, the the Sadducees are coming to the disciples and saying, by what authority? Not because they’re really interested in what the disciples have to say. They’re more saying, I’m trying to force you to get you to do what I want. But the disciples do a great thing here, and that they respond. They share with the the leaders what it is that that has, has made them who they are. And they they really give this, this truth claim. Now, in giving this truth claim, I want you to know that the only other position, really, in light of that, when you’re trying to say there there is no truth or everything’s true. What happens in a culture like that if you just bow down to it, that what determines what’s right or wrong within that culture is might, might makes right. Whoever screams the loudest, the longest wins. Right. But in Christianity, that’s not who defines what. Who we are. We’re not just chasing after the wind wondering, oh, what are people saying today? I wonder, wonder what the truth is today. I wonder what will be true tomorrow.
Like we know. We know the foundation of who we are. And the disciples share that. So let me give you point number two and we’ll read it. Point number two is this let God’s Word be your backbone. Let God’s Word be your backbone. And it’s to say this that we’re not wondering what is true. We already know who is true, and Jesus doesn’t need us to defend him. Charles Spurgeon said it like this the gospel is like a lion. Iron. It does not need to be defended. You just have to let it out of the cage. What we’re saying. As Christians, we walk in this world. We’re not walking in a way to intentionally offend people. We realize the gospel in and of itself is offensive, but we want that to be the only offense people trip over. In fact, sometimes I say we just want to make it. We want to make it hard for people to hate us. But we’re not about making our focus about pleasing people. We want to ultimately honor God because in his name there is power. And so this is what the disciples do, they said. Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead by him.
This man is standing before you. Well, this Jesus is the stone that the builders rejected by you. The excuse me, rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. I love this. The Sadducees saying, you know what? You know what offends us? The resurrection. You know what the disciples say. You know what changes you. Resurrection. And so they didn’t compromise on that stand. They they shared it. And can I just can we just take a moment and just recognize that what they’re sharing is important? And also the way that they’re sharing it, they’re not they’re not afraid to share it. And they’re also not thumbing their nose at the Sadducees when they’re sharing it. They’re sharing it because it’s it’s the same for us. We’re not trying to leverage who we are in Jesus, as if to speak down to other people. That’s not. That’s not who Christ is. That’s not who God’s people are. That’s not who we’re about. But at the same time, we realize if there’s going to be transformation in anyone’s life, if there’s going to be transformation in a culture, we can’t compromise who we are. And so it becomes critical in knowing there’s going to be a clash with culture, that we solidify who we are in Christ, knowing those days are coming. We let God’s truth be our backbone.
And so the disciples, they they move forward in this way. And for us, it’s it’s important for us to just consider how they’re doing this. And it tells you. Then in verse 12, I think verse 12 to 14 are really the most profound verses in this entire chapter. It says this, and there’s salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men, by which you must be saved. Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men. They were astonished and they recognized that they had been with Jesus. But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. The evidence was right there in front of them. Right? But but I love the way it’s describing the disciples here in this moment. As they’re taking the stand, they’re making it crystal clear who Jesus is and why Jesus matters. In verse 12. There is no rescue apart from him. And so for me to deny that would be to deny the foundation of who I am in Christ, and to rob you of the opportunity of finding grace in Jesus. And it says that they come with this boldness, right? They’ve they’ve found this foundation in their identity in the Lord. And, guys, it’s the same for all of us today. We should know who we are because we know who he is.
And therefore, knowing our life is secure in him and even in the challenges of this world, it doesn’t rock us because our bedrock is much deeper than the temporal struggles of this life. And so they move forward with boldness. Now, let me just say this with boldness. If we’re not careful as believers, sometimes it can be perceived as arrogance. And our job is to not look so bold that we’re arrogant by saying bold. What they’re saying, I want us to know is not is not a people that are just being confrontational, to be confrontational. This is not a people that are being obnoxious, to be obnoxious. This is just a people who know who they are because they know who God is, and they’ve found their identity in him, and therefore they’re moving forward in this truth claim. Now, one of the things that makes Christianity unique from all other religions in this world is, is that when it when it comes to our truth claim, like in Christianity. The rest of religions will tell you you got to strive in order to make God happy. You got to strive in order to make God happy. The thing that makes Christianity so liberating is that we see the striving, but it’s not in us. It’s in God towards us that God pursued us with his life even in our sin. He gave his life for us that we could be liberated in him. It’s what makes our message unique than any other message in this world.
While the rest of religions tell us you got to work hard to reach up to God, or you’re never you’re never going to do enough without that continual striving. We look. We look at the rest of the world and say, Jesus has already done enough. And he’s he’s given his life for me, and he’s paid in full. I mean, that’s what Jesus declared on the cross. And so the motivation of my life is, is not about trying to earn his favor, but living in light of it. I get to walk in joy. That is, God has given his life for me. I get the joy of giving my life for him. And so my motivation isn’t guilt and shame. It’s not despair, but it’s hope and love and mercy and joy, all because of what Jesus has done. Now, when you look at different religions in the world, Different people do different things with a passion behind what they do. Like when I think about the events of nine over 11, they genuinely believed what they were doing and it led them to fly planes into the side of a building. They lived for an ideology. But but can I tell you, in Christianity, the motive of our heart isn’t built off an ideology. It’s built off this truth claim that a dead man was walking and the disciples couldn’t deny it. That’s what they’re saying to these Sadducees in this moment.
Our our claim is this there’s power in the name of Jesus. And the reason we know that is because you tried to kill him, but he was resurrected from the grave. The resurrection of Jesus is a truth claim. The foundation of the church is built upon the identity of Jesus and more specifically, the resurrection of Christ. If that’s not true, Jesus should not be believed. But if it is true, It gives us the foundation for everything that we’re to do. And if we compromise on that, we’re rejecting the power through where we find our own identity as God’s people. So let the Word of God be your backbone. Number three is this expect pressure to compromise. Expect pressure to compromise. And you see this in verse 15. But when they were commanded, they commanded them to leave the council. They conferred with one another, saying, what shall we do with these men for that? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. But in order that it may not spread any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name. So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. It’s interesting. You see, in verse 16 they’re saying, well, it’s true what happened, but we don’t care about the truth.
But but it’s reminding us what what’s governing the life of the Sadducees? Well, you see, there’s this, this foundation to what they want to hold to, which is the idea that there is no afterlife. And then in verse 17, they’re there really? Or verse, excuse me, into verse 16 and 17, they’re really worried about what the people are going to say, right. Their popularity. What’s the group want? I mean, might makes right. And we want to make the people happy. So what is it? What is it the people desire. And so that’s what they’re conforming their life to. They’re just chasing their tails after everything that culture might have for them, rather than just acknowledging the truth. And so they get the disciples together and they pressure them. Now, in the first century, there was no separation between church and state, right? There was this group of individuals referred to as the Sanhedrin that governed Israel. And the Sanhedrin was made up of two people groups. It was made up of the Sadducees, the theologically liberal group, and it was made up of the Pharisees the, the theological legalists of the day. And those two groups came together to form the Sanhedrin to rule over the Jewish people. And so that’s the authority, this this combination of religion and state together. Now, in our culture, we like to say things like there’s a separation of church and state. And if you don’t know where that comes from, let me just tell you, Thomas Jefferson wrote about that in a letter, and we’ve just kind of parroting it since.
But the idea of Thomas Jefferson’s statement was, was not to keep religion out of the state, but to keep the state out of religion, to let the church continue to govern people in terms of morality and understanding who God was. And and for us to walk in light of that. That was the intention. But here comes the here comes the trouble within our culture today, that it’s becoming more and more popular for the government to speak as if it is our religion. And now it’s conflicting with the worldview of Christians. And there’s there’s a pressure to to lead God’s people to conform. But let me just remind you the power of what you believe is in Jesus. So I ask the question, well, why does government exist? And we just look at this from a biblical perspective. The Bible tells you government exists for a few reasons. It’s one instituted by God. Therefore you’re called to honor. That’s point one. This is in your notes, by the way. Government exists to restrain evil and punish wrong, to promote justice, to provide peace. Protect and serve people and recognize its limits under God. And that while it has an authority, it’s ultimately under a greater authority. And Jesus really helped us, put us put this into perspective for all of us. And in the gospel of Mark, chapter 12, that’s what’s quoted here.
You find this same story quoted in Luke and the Gospel of Matthew. But there comes a time Jesus acknowledging where government doesn’t always align with the Lord. So what do you do? And at the end of the day, as God’s people, we recognize we serve a greater king not because we want to be intentionally offensive to people, not because we want to be rude to people. But at the end of the day, we honor a greater king and kingdom. And so Jesus once asked the question about taxation. He came to Jesus and said, Jesus, Caesar wants our money. What do we do with that? And Jesus took a coin and he said, whose image is on this? And they responded, Caesar’s. And Jesus said this in Mark 12 verse 17, Jesus said, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God. And they marveled at him. And here’s what Jesus was saying. Whose image is on the coin? Well, government. Therefore, government owns the coins. He can determine what happens with those coins. But whose image is on you? The Lord’s. And because of God’s image on you that determines who you are greater than any authority in this world, you have a greater king. And to reject him is to reject who you are as a person made in his image. And so it becomes critical for us to acknowledge the greatness of who God is, which is what the disciples do.
It says, But Peter and John answered them, whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge. For we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard. And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them because of the people. For all were praising God for what had happened, for the for the men of of on whom that sign of healing was performed was more than 40 years old. Here they are again, not wanting to punish them because, well, their concern was the people determining the Sadducees, determining who they were. So let me give you point number four, and I need to wind this down. But number four is this settle now that Jesus is worth it, settle now that Jesus is worth it. This is saying in your life, determine in your heart right now what’s going to govern who you are and the decisions you make Before the world ever presses you, before a moment causes you to compromise, determine the kind of person that you’re going to be and the way that you walk in this world. What’s going to guide you as you move forward? And the disciples share that. They’re saying to to the Sadducees, you know, you got to decide what you’re going to be about.
But as for us, we’re going to be people of integrity in the way that we move forward in, in our lives. It’s not only important for you and the honesty of who you are as an individual, but also for the sake of others. Dietrich Bonhoeffer has this quote he’s famous for. It’s it’s actually can’t be historically found to be attributed to him, but he’s often quoted as the one who said this. But he says silence in the face of evil is itself evil. God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak, and not to act is to act. Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a pastor during World War Two, and he found that during atrocities that were taking place under Nazi Germany, that when the church had an opportunity to raise its voice against injustice, they chose rather to be silent. And Dietrich Bonhoeffer is reminding people not speaking is still evil. In fact, let me just say it like this. If as a church you choose not to speak, get this, darkness will not be silent. There’s only one thing that truly transforms, and it’s Jesus. And until our hearts are willing to bow down to Jesus, there is no true transformation or hope for eternity. Which is why it’s so critical to determine the kind of people you want to be. This is why, in the midst of our culture, when we realize our culture is going to say things are not always going to get it right, I could say things like this.
Like culture might have a stand on humanity and what we can do and the choices we can make, but we say as a church man, everyone’s made in the image of God. And so because of that, we’re we don’t have a right to to kill people Poor, unborn or born. We have no right to kill people in our culture today. There’s other things propagated, right? The idea of abortion is propagated in a culture where that’s promoted, like I even recognize in a morning like this, people may have believed that bought into that. And our hope is not to attack people, not to malign people, but to say Jesus created you for so much more. And there’s forgiveness in that. And Christ has a better future for your life than what the world might say. Or in our culture today, there might be ways that our culture wants us to think in terms of sex and sexuality. But we again can say God is the creator of sex and sexuality, and he’s created us intentionally in him. And therefore there’s a way to honor God and sex and sexuality that belongs to him. Yes, there’s pleasure in it, but ultimately that pleasure is to be found as we surrender ourselves to him through it, and then through that, we we find the way in which God desires to to navigate that in terms of, of gender, whether male, or female in terms of pornography, prostitution, heterosexuality, homosexuality, bestiality, and whatever else you want to throw in there.
And we don’t have to make apology for it. We just simply teach it because it’s it’s true, it’s right. Or even in terms of civil servants, like in the last few years, our culture lost its mind over that. But to not honor people is disrespectful to who who they are, in light of who God is and dishonoring to what it is that we believe is God’s people. Recognizing the significance of who we are in Christ is paramount to how we live our lives. Part of the way we show our love to people is seen in our uncompromising position in Christ. I need to close with this, but I will just say, over the last couple of years, especially here in Utah, I have noticed a significant influx in the amount of people coming to churches in general. But even here at ABC, because I think people recognize there is something broken in our culture, there is something that needs to change in our culture. And I would say that’s even come to a pinnacle recently with the events that happened at UVU where Charlie Kirk was murdered. You know, I have never in my life had so many people walk through the door and say, I’m here because of Charlie Kirk. And sometimes I’ll have people come to the door and say, such and such a person invited me, or I’m here because of this person.
But we’ve had multiple people come through our door to say, you know, I’m here because of Charlie Kirk, and can I just tell you, if you’re here because of that, I’m happy you’re here because of Charlie Kirk. And I hope you stay because of Jesus. That’s what transforms your life.
And there was a story. And here’s the end. Here’s a story of a guy walking along the beach. And it was right after a storm, and he noticed all these starfish scattered throughout the beach, and he was worried for them. So he runs out to the beach and he starts to throw them back in the ocean. And all of a sudden a cynical man just goes running by him and says, buddy, you can’t save all these starfish. Of which the man looked back at him and he picked up another starfish and threw it in the ocean. He said, but I made a difference for that one. Guys, can I tell you we’re not looking at ABC and saying, you guys need to go save the world. We’ve already got a savior. It’s not us. But God does have you in a place to make a difference. Can’t make a difference for everybody, but you can’t make a difference for someone. That does not happen if you compromise on who you are in Jesus. But if you solidify your life in Christ, God can use it in a powerful way.