HAVE YOU HEARD ANYONE CLAIM THAT THE BIBLE TEACHES OPEN BORDERS
AND GOVERNMENTAL COMPASSION AND CHARITY?
MANY MAKE THAT CHARGE AS THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION
CRACKS DOWN ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION.
BUT WE’LL UNCOVER THE TRUTH,
ON TODAY’S TRUTHS THAT TRANSFORM.
WELCOME TO TRUTHS THAT TRANSFORM,
A PRODUCTION OF CORAL RIDGE MINISTRIES, WHERE WE ARE
I’M PASTOR ROB PACIENZA.
THERE HAVE BEEN FEW MORE VOLATILE POLITICAL ISSUES
IN RECENT YEARS THAN IMMIGRATION AND THE BORDER.
THE DEBATE HAS OFTEN LEFT CHRISTIANS CONFUSED,
FEELING THAT THEIR CHRISTIAN COMMITMENT
TO COMPASSION CONFLICTS WITH
THE GOVERNMENT’S DUTY TO MAINTAIN LAW AND ORDER.
BUT THAT CONFUSION IS LARGELY THE RESULT OF
MISUNDERSTANDINGS ABOUT LOVE AND COMPASSION THAT
HAVE BEEN SMUGGLED INTO THE CONVERSATION BY PROGRESSIVES.
ON TODAY’S PROGRAM, WE’LL SEE HOW THAT’S HAPPENED,
AND WHAT THE BIBLE ACTUALLY HAS TO SAY ABOUT IT.
WE BEGIN WITH ALEX KOCMAN,
WHO IS THE HOST OF THE MISSIONS PODCAST.
HE JOINED OUR OWN JOHN RABE TO EXAMINE THE LEFT’S CLAIMS
ABOUT IMMIGRATION AND COMPASSION.
WE ARE PLEASED TO BE JOINED ON TRUTHS THAT TRANSFORM
BY ALEX KOCMAN WHO IS THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS
FOR THE ASSOCIATION OF BAPTISTS FOR WORLD EVANGELISM.
ALEX, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US
ON TRUTHS THAT TRANSFORM.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
IT SEEMS THAT ISSUES OF MISSIONS AND ISSUES OF IMMIGRATION
ARE EXTREMELY CLOSELY RELATED AND YOU,
WITH YOUR MISSIONS FOCUS,
HAVE GIVEN THIS A LOT OF THOUGHT.
IS THAT TRUE AND HOW SO THAT IMMIGRATION ISSUES
AND MISSIONS’ ISSUES ARE CLOSELY RELATED?
THEY’RE VERY TIGHTLY RELATED AND ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT WAS INSTILLED IN ME AS I WAS BEGINNING TO STUDY A
CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY OF MISSIONS AND LOVING THE NATIONS
IT BECAME APPARENT TO ME THAT IF
I’M GOING TO LOVE THE NATIONS WELL,
I NEED TO LEARN TO LOVE MY NATION WELL.
AND WE REALLY CAN’T, AS MUCH AS WE’D LIKE TO,
AND IT CAN BE UNCOMFORTABLE TO COMBINE THE TWO,
BUT ALL OF THESE ISSUES RELATE TO EACH OTHER.
WE HAVE TO MAKE RIGHT DISTINCTIONS, RIGHT CATEGORY,
DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE MISSIONARY,
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE CHURCH,
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE GOVERNMENT,
THE STATE, THE CIVIL MAGISTRATE, AND UNDERSTAND,
WHAT ARE THE DUTIES THAT PERTAIN TO EACH STATION, AS WELL.
SO, RIGHT NOW, AT A TIME WHEN WE SEE
THE NATIONS CERTAINLY COMING INTO THE US.
THERE ARE PARTICULAR DUTIES WITH THE GOSPEL THAT WE HAVE AND
THERE’S ALSO THINGS THAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT IN
MAINSTREAM MEDIA AND ACROSS THE CULTURAL CONVERSATION ABOUT,
“OK, WHAT DO WE DO WITH OUR NATIONAL IDENTITY,”
AS A RESULT OF THAT.
THOSE ARE REALLY IMPORTANT ISSUES
AND LET’S DELVE INTO SOME OF THE SPECIFICS OF THAT, ALEX,
BECAUSE I THINK WHAT’S HAPPENED IS A LOT OF
CHRISTIANS ARE CAUGHT A LITTLE BIT IN A MISUNDERSTANDING
THAT FRANKLY, MANY PEOPLE HAVE PREYED UPON.
AND THAT MISUNDERSTANDING IS WE, OF COURSE,
ARE CALLED TO CARRY THE GOSPEL TO THE WORLD,
WE ARE CALLED, OF COURSE, TO LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR,
WE ARE CALLED TO SHOW, YOU KNOW,
GRACE AND HOSPITALITY TO THE SOJOURNER,
AND SO FORTH, AND THAT HAS BEEN USED AS A LEVER TO TELL
CHRISTIANS, “YOU HAVE TO SUPPORT ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION,”
AND IF YOU WANT STRONG BORDERS
OR IF YOU WANT ANYTHING LESS THAN OPEN IMMIGRATION,
“YOU ARE FAILING TO OBEY CHRIST.”
I THINK A LOT OF CHRISTIANS, SORT OF,
FEEL THAT TENSION, THEY, MAYBE, KNOW THERE IS SOMETHING
WRONG WITH THAT BUT NOT QUITE WHAT IT IS.
HOW DO WE PARSE THROUGH THAT ISSUE?
YEAH, THE QUESTION ITSELF,
I LOVE THE WAY THAT YOU FRAMED IT BECAUSE,
SO OFTEN, WE, AS CHRISTIANS ARE BOUND BY OUR EMPATHY,
OUR COMPASSION, AND IT CAN BE EASY FOR BAD ACTORS
TO EMOTIONALLY MANIPULATE CHRISTIANS.
WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR
AND TO LOVE OTHER GROUPS OUTSIDE OF OURSELVES
AND SO THAT’S REALLY WHERE THE LEVERAGE TENDS TO COME UPON US.
BUT I WAS JUST SPEAKING TO A MISSIONARY
SERVING IN NORTH AFRICA AMONG MUSLIMS
AND HE REACHED OUT WITH AT QUESTION,
HE SAID I’M STRUGGLING EVEN IN LIGHT OF RECENT COMMENTS
THAT VICE PRESIDENT VANCE HAS MADE ABOUT THE ORDER OF LOVES
HE SAYS I’M STRUGGLING TO UNDERSTAND
HOW A CHRISTIAN SHOULD LOVE HIS OWN COUNTRY
HE SAYS ESSENTIALLY BECAUSE I’M A MISSIONARY
I’VE SEEN THIS GO THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION.
WE NEED TO LOVE THE WHOLE WORLD AND HE SORT OF COMES INTO ME
WITH THIS QUESTION I RESPONDED TO WITH SIMPLY
THE NUMBER ONE AS A MISSIONARY
YOU’RE DECIDING I’M GOING TO LOVE ANOTHER NATION.
SO LOVE OF NATION IS A THING,
IT'S A CATEGORY THAT'S ESSENTIAL.
BUT NUMBER TWO IS THAT I'M VERY CONCERNED THAT
THE MODERN AESTHETIC OF MULTICULTURALISM,
MULTICULTURALISM RATHER THE IDEA OF OPEN BORDERS,
OF OPEN SOCIETIES, OF DIVERSITY BEING OUR STRENGTH
AND REALLY THIS ENTIRE LIBERAL PERSPECTIVE
THAT HAS BEEN EMBRACED BROADLY BY THE CULTURE
ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE,
NOT JUST LIBERAL IN A POLITICAL SENSE,
BUT IN THE BROADEST SENSE POSSIBLE.
BUT THIS VISION OF MULTICULTURALISM,
GLOBALISM THAT WE'VE ALL ADOPTED
IS COUNTERFEIT TO THE BIBLICAL VISION.
THERE IS A BIBLICAL VISION FOR EVERY NATION AND PEOPLE
AND TRIBE AND CULTURE GATHERED AROUND THE THRONE OF THE LAMB.
AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS THROUGH MISSIONS IS THAT WE'RE TO GO OUT
AND GET THOSE NATIONS AND THOSE PEOPLE GROUPS.
BUT INSTEAD I THINK WHAT WE'VE DONE
IS WE'VE ADOPTED A GOVERNMENT DRIVEN,
POLICY DRIVEN ALTERNATIVE TO THAT
THAT LACKS THE GOSPEL POWER AND THE BIBLICAL IMPETUS BEHIND IT.
SO I'M VERY CONCERNED THAT WE RETURN TO THE BIBLICAL MODEL
OF THE MISSIONARY PERSPECTIVE RATHER THAN
A DERACINATED GOVERNMENT LED VERSION OF THE SAME THING.
SO LET’S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT J.D. VANCE’S RECENT COMMENTS
WITH FOX NEWS WHERE HE TALKED ABOUT THE ORDER OF LOVES
AS WE'VE CALLED IT OR THE ORDO AMORIS.
THIS IS AN ANCIENT CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE,
I THINK IT ALSO HAS A BIBLICAL BASIS
AND YET MANY PEOPLE REACTED TO IT
IN A SURPRISED WAY INCLUDING EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANS.
TELL US ABOUT WHAT JD VANCE WAS TALKING ABOUT.
IS IT TRUE? IS IT BIBLICAL??
IT'S TRUE BOTH IN CHURCH HISTORY
AND IN THE BIBLICAL RECORD AS WELL.
YOU CAN GO TO AUGUSTINE, YOU CAN GO TO THOMAS AQUINAS,
YOU CAN GO TO MORE MODERN WRITERS
AND THINKERS LIKE CS LEWIS
AND SEE THIS IDEA OF AN ORDER OF LOVES,
WHICH DOESN'T NECESSARILY ALWAYS
RESULT IN A STRICT PECKING ORDER,
BUT IT DOES MEAN THAT WE LOVE
EACH OBJECT THAT WE'RE CALLED TO LOVE IN THE RIGHT WAY,
IN THE WAY THAT ACCORDS WITH ITS NATURE BECAUSE OF WHO GOD IS.
WE ARE TO LOVE HIM ABOVE ALL ELSE.
BUT BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT THE LORD HAS ASSIGNED TO EACH OF US
FAMILY MEMBERS, A HOUSEHOLD, A NEIGHBORHOOD, A COMMUNITY,
A LOCAL CHURCH, THERE ARE PARTICULAR DUTIES THAT
GO WITH LOVING EACH OF THOSE WITHIN
OUR SPHERE OF INFLUENCE THAT I CAN'T NECESSARILY LOVE
SOMEONE WHO'S SO FAR OUTSIDE OF MY SPHERE OF INFLUENCE
IN THE SAME WAY SOMEBODY THAT'LL NEVER MEET
AND NEVER INTERACT WITH ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD.
BUT IT'S ALSO A BIBLICAL CONCEPT AS WELL.
YOU LOOK AT GALATIANS CHAPTER 6, PAUL SAYS, DO GOOD TO ALL,
BUT ESPECIALLY TO THOSE WHO ARE OF THE HOUSEHOLD OF FAITH.
THERE'S AN IDEA THAT,
AND WE SAY THIS COLLOQUIALLY
CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME, BUT IT REALLY DOES.
WE'RE CALLED TO MAKE DISCIPLES OF THE NATIONS.
WELL, THAT STARTS WITH TEACHING MY CHILDREN AND THAT STARTS WITH
SHARING THE GOSPEL WITH MY FAMILY AND MY NEIGHBORS.
AND YES, IT DOES EXTEND TO LOVING THE NATIONS AND SHARING
THE GOSPEL WITH THOSE THAT ARE UNREACHED AND FAR OFF.
BUT IT'S NEVER TO THE NEGLECT OF THOSE FIRST RESPONSIBILITIES
THAT WE HAVE TO THOSE THE LORD HAS PLACED NEAR AND DEAR TO US.
THE POLITICAL CONVERSATION RIGHT NOW IS, WELL,
WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THIS AMERICA FIRST POLICY?
AND SOMEBODY REACHED OUT TO ME RECENTLY
WITH CONCERNS OVER THAT VERY PHRASE,
BUT I HAVE A HARD TIME SEEING HOW SOMEBODY WHO
IS GIVEN THE STEWARDSHIP OF GOVERNING A NATION
CAN HAVE ANY OTHER POLICY BUT THAT NATION FIRST,
THAT'S THE DUTY THAT THEY'VE BEEN CALLED TO UNDERTAKE.
AMERICA'S LEADERS PUTTING AMERICA FIRST,
RUSSIA'S LEADERS PUTTING RUSSIA FIRST,
THE UK'S LEADERS PUTTING THE UK FIRST,
AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.
AND THAT'S THE DUTY THAT MAKES SENSE IN LIGHT OF
WHAT THE CIVIL MAGISTRATE IS CALLED TO DO.
FOR US AS CHRISTIANS, AS INDIVIDUAL BELIEVERS
WE'RE GIVEN THIS MODEL OF SCRIPTURE
TO LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, SOUL, AND MIND
AND STRENGTH FIRST TO LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.
AND HOW DO I LOVE MY NEIGHBOR? HOW DO I LOVE HUMANITY?
WELL, I LOVE THEM IN PARTICULAR WAYS
BECAUSE I'M LIMITED BY TIME AND SPACE.
I LOVE MY FAMILY, I LOVE MY NEIGHBORHOOD, MY CHURCH,
AND AS THE LORD WOULD GIVE OPPORTUNITY AND WOULD CALL,
I AM TO LOVE THOSE THAT ARE FAR OFF THE WIDOW,
THE SOJOURNER, AND EVEN THE UNREACHED PEOPLE GROUP.
BUT I HAVE TO BE REALISTIC ABOUT MY CAPACITY
AND I NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT AS I LOVE THEM,
I'M LOVING THEM WELL AND
I'M NOT LOVING THEM TO THE EXCLUSION
OF MY IMMEDIATE DUTIES TO THOSE AROUND ME.
IT SEEMS THAT A LOT OF SHENANIGANS
GO ON UNDERNEATH MISATTRIBUTING,
WHAT THE BIBLE IS TELLING US TO DO,
WHAT THE BIBLE IS TELLING THE GOVERNMENT TO DO,
WHAT THE BIBLE IS TELLING THE CHURCH TO DO.
THE FACT THAT JESUS MAKES A COMMAND TO HIS DISCIPLES
DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN THAT THE STATE IS SUPPOSED TO
OPERATE ACCORDING TO THE SAME STANDARDS.
WHEN JESUS SAYS, LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR,
A STATE IS NOT GOOD AT LOVING
AND THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY THE JOB OF A STATE.
WHAT IS THE WAY THAT WE SORT OF PARSE THAT OUT
AND HOW HAS MIXING THOSE THINGS UP BEEN USED TO
SMUGGLE IN ALL SORTS OF LEFTIST THINKING?
AND JOHN, I LOVE THE QUESTION BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING
THAT CHRISTIANS HAVE DONE THROUGHOUT THE AGES.
THEY'VE DISTINGUISHED BETWEEN THE DUTIES TO AN INDIVIDUAL,
THE WAY THAT A STATE ACTOR WOULD APPLY THE COMMANDS OF CHRIST,
THE COMMANDS OF SCRIPTURE.
AND THOSE THINGS AREN'T ALWAYS IDENTICAL.
I CAN TURN THE OTHER CHEEK,
BUT THE CIVIL MAGISTRATE IS NOT CALLED TO TURN THE OTHER CHEEK.
THEY'RE CALLED TO BEAR THE SWORD OF JUSTICE.
ROMANS 13 TELLS US THAT THE GOVERNMENT EXISTS
TO PUNISH EVIL DOERS AND TO REWARD THE GOOD.
AND SO FOR US, WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IS
THERE ARE PARTICULAR COMMANDS IN SCRIPTURE THAT DO PERTAIN
TO GOVERNMENTS AND STATES AND RULERS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
WE'RE REMINDED NOT TO MOVE THE LANDMARK,
THE BOUNDARY MARKER THAT YOUR FATHERS HAVE SET UP.
SO BORDERS, PROPERTY LINES, THOSE THINGS MATTER TO GOD.
THAT'S A PART OF HOW HE'S ORDERED THE WORLD AND THE
STEWARDSHIP THAT HE'S GIVEN TO THE STATE.
IN ROMANS 13, AND 1ST PETER, WE READ THAT WE ARE TO SUBMIT
TO GOVERNMENTS AND LAWS SO FAR AS THEY DON'T
CONTRADICT THE LAW OF GOD,
WHICH MEANS THAT CHRISTIANS CAN'T BE COMPLICIT IN
THE LAW BREAKING THAT DOES HAPPEN WITH,
FOR INSTANCE, SOMETHING LIKE ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION.
NOW FOR INDIVIDUAL BELIEVERS AS WELL AND FOR THE CHURCH,
THERE IS A MANDATE TO MAKE DISCIPLES
OF ALL NATIONS TO DISCIPLE THE NATIONS.
THE GOSPEL HAS TO GO TO EVERY ETHNICITY, EVERY PEOPLE GROUP,
EVERY LANGUAGE, AND EVERY GEOPOLITICAL COUNTRY AS WELL.
BUT IT'S INTERESTING TO ME AT LEAST
THAT IN ORDER FOR THAT TO HAPPEN,
THAT MEANS THERE HAVE TO BE NATIONS,
THERE HAVE TO BE COUNTRIES.
THE DISTINCTIONS MATTER AND THE DISTINCTIONS AREN'T ERASED
AT THE END OF THE BOOK IN REVELATION
WHERE THEY'RE ALL GATHERED AROUND THE THRONE,
THE DISTINCTIONS REMAIN.
EACH NATION AS SUCH IS RENDERING WORSHIP
TO GOD IN THE END OF THE AGE.
AND SO WHAT THAT TELLS ME IS THAT
THOSE DISTINCTIONS DO MATTER.
AND IF WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DISCIPLE EACH NATION,
THAT MEANS THAT EACH NATION IS DISTINCT,
HAS ITS OWN IDENTITY,
AND WE SHOULD CHERISH THAT AND RECOGNIZE THE GRACE OF GOD
IN THAT RATHER THAN SEEKING TO ERASE DISTINCTIONS,
ERASE DIFFERENTIATIONS, ERASE BORDERS EVEN,
AND BELONGED TO SORT OF A GLOBAL COMMUNITY.
I LOOK AT THE TOWER OF BABEL AND I SEE HOW THAT WENT LAST TIME.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT IT WENT PARTICULARLY WELL,
BUT I THINK THAT IF WE
ARE HONORING THE PEOPLE AND PLACES
THAT GOD HAS PROVIDENTIALLY BROUGHT ABOUT IN TIME AND SPACE,
AND IF WE HAVE HEALTHY CHURCHES
THAT ARE SUBMITTING THE GOVERNMENT
BUT ARE ALSO WILLING TO GO AND SEND PEOPLE TO DISCIPLE
EACH OF THESE DISTINCT NATIONS AND PEOPLE GROUPS,
I THINK THAT'S THE RIGHT WAY OF APPROACHING THESE ISSUES.
ALEX KOCMAN, THESE ARE TREMENDOUS INSIGHTS,
CAREFUL DISTINCTIONS, WHICH ARE SOMETHING THAT ARE BADLY NEEDED
IN TODAY'S CHURCH AND IN EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANITY.
THANKS FOR JOINING US ON TRUTHS THAT TRANSFORM.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
WHEN DISCUSSING HOT-BUTTON CULTURAL ISSUES
LIKE ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION,
IT’S VITALLY IMPORTANT TO KEEP DEFINITIONS IN MIND,
AND MAKE SURE WE ARE DEFINING THINGS BIBLICALLY.
IT’S THROUGH FALSE, MANMADE DEFINITIONS OF THINGS
LIKE LOVE, COMPASSION, TOLERANCE, AND GENEROSITY
THAT MARXIST ASSUMPTIONS HAVE INFILTRATED SO MUCH OF LIFE
-INCLUDING IN THE CHURCH.
MY FRIEND AND MENTOR, DR. D. JAMES KENNEDY
SAW THIS BEFORE NEARLY ANYONE.
HE SHOWS US HOW THE LEFT HAS MISUSED THE BIBLE
AND HOW WE CAN READ IT CORRECTLY,
IN HIS MESSAGE, “DOES THE BIBLE TEACH SOCIALISM.”
LET US ANSWER THE QUESTION: DOES THE BIBLE TEACH SOCIALISM?
NOW WHENEVER YOU HEAR PEOPLE MAKE THAT CLAIM
THEY INVARIABLY WILL APPEAL TO ONE PASSAGE
AND THAT IS THE PASSAGE FROM ACTS,
THE 4TH AND 5TH CHAPTER DEALING WITH ANANIAS AND BARNABAS.
BARNABAS, YOU RECALL, SOLD A PIECE OF LAND
AND BROUGHT AND GAVE IT TO THE APOSTLES.
AND THEN ANANIAS AND HIS WIFE SOLD A PIECE OF LAND,
EMULATING THEM BUT KEPT BACK A PART OF THE PRICE.
AND BROUGHT ONLY A PORTION OF IT AND LIED ABOUT IT.
BUT THEY SAY THAT THIS PASSAGE CONTAINS WITHIN IT
ALL THE BASIC PRINCIPLES OF SOCIALISM.
WELL I WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT TO YOU AS A THESIS THIS MORNING
THAT NOT ONLY DOES THIS PASSAGE NOT TEACH
THE PRINCIPLES OF SOCIALISM,
BUT IT COUNTERMANDS ALL THE VARIOUS TENETS BASIC FUNDAMENTAL
TENETS OF SOCIALISM AND IS AN UNPARALLELED BROADSIDE
AGAINST THE SOCIALIST SHIP OF STATE.
I DO NOT SEE HOW ONE COULD HAVE A MORE EXPLICIT REPUDIATION
OF SOCIALISM THAN THAT FOUND IN THIS VERY PASSAGE.
SO, WE WILL GO RIGHT TO THE CITADEL OF THAT PASSAGE
WHICH THE PROPONENTS OF SOCIALISM CLAIM
TO HAVE FOUND IN THE BIBLE
WHICH TEACHES SOCIALISM TO SEE IF INDEED IT DOES,
OR IF IT TEACHES, AS I PROPOSE,
THE VERY OPPOSITE OF SOCIALISM ITS ANTITHESIS.
WELL THE BASIC CONCEPT OF SOCIALISM IS
EITHER THAT THE STATE OWNS OR CONTROLS
THE PROPERTY OR THE MEANS OF PRODUCTION.
THAT IS THAT SOCIALISM BASICALLY DENIES
THE CONCEPT OF PRIVATE PROPERTY.
WELL, WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?
IN THE DECALOGUE ALONE THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
I THINK WE HAVE THE REPUDIATION OF THIS.
THE COMMANDMENT, “THOU SHALT NOT STEAL”,
AS VIRTUALLY EVERY THEOLOGIAN
FOR TWENTY CENTURIES HAS DECLARED,
IS A DIVINE GUARANTEE OF PRIVATE PROPERTY.
I CANNOT STEAL SOMETHING FROM YOU IF YOU DO NOT OWN IT.
FURTHERMORE, IN THE DECALOGUE, WE HAVE THE COMMAND,
“THOU SHALT NOT COVET THY NEIGHBOR’S HOUSE
OR ANYTHING THAT IS THY NEIGHBOR’S”.
AGAIN, A CLEAR TEACHING OF PRIVATE PROPERTY.
BUT LET US COME TO THIS PASSAGE THAT WE HAVE BEFORE US.
IS PRIVATE PROPERTY REPUDIATED OR IS IT TAUGHT?
NOTICE WHAT PETER SAID TO ANANIAS:
“WHILES THIS PROPERTY REMAINED, THIS LAND REMAINED,
WAS IT NOT THINE OWN?”
IT IS DIFFICULT FOR ME TO IMAGINE
ANY CLEARER STATEMENT OF THE OWNERSHIP OF PROPERTY THAN THAT!
“WHILES IT REMAINED.
BEFORE YOU SOLD IT WAS IT NOT YOUR OWN?
DID YOU NOT OWN IT?
COULD YOU NOT DO WITH IT WHATEVER YOU WILL?
AND EVEN AFTER YOU SOLD IT, WAS NOT THE MONEY YOUR OWN?”
SO WE SEE THAT THE BIBLE CLEARLY TEACHES
THE RIGHT OF PRIVATE PROPERTY, BECAUSE
GOD HAS GIVEN THE WHOLE WORLD UNTO MANKIND AS A STEWARDSHIP,
WHICH IS HIS TO USE AND FOR WHICH HE IS RESPONSIBLE TO GOD.
SECONDLY, WE NOTE THAT THIS ACTION WAS VOLUNTARY.
THEY DID NOT HAVE TO SELL THEIR PROPERTY.
THERE WAS NO COMMANDMENT TO SELL IT.
THERE WAS NO COMMANDMENT TO GIVE THE FUNDS AWAY.
IT WAS VOLUNTEERISM.
NOW, I CANNOT IMAGINE ANYTHING THAT MILITATES MORE STRONGLY
AGAINST MODERN CONCEPTS OF SOCIALISM THAN VOLUNTARISM.
I HAVE NOT THE SLIGHTEST OBJECTION TO ANY GROUP OF PEOPLE
ANYWHERE WHO WANT TO GET TOGETHER AND VOLUNTARILY ENGAGE
IN ANY FORM OF SOCIALISM IF THEY CARE TO DO.
IT IS THE FACT OF ENFORCEMENT;
IT IS THE FACT OF COERCION THAT LIES AT THE VERY HEART
OF EVERY SOCIALISTIC SCHEME IN MODERN CENTURIES.
THIRDLY, AND I DON’T KNOW WHICH OF THESE PRINCIPLES INDEED
MILITATES MORE MIGHTILY AGAINST MODERN CONCEPTS OF SOCIALISM.
THE MONEY, THEY SOLD THE PROPERTY
AND THEY BROUGHT THE MONEY AND LAID IT
AT THE FEET OF PONTIUS PILATE?
WAS THAT CORRECT?
THEY LAID IT AT THE FEET OF CAESAR?
IS THAT CORRECT?
THEY BROUGHT IT TO THE LOCAL TAX COLLECTOR?
NO! WHAT DOES IT SAY?
IT SAYS IT A NUMBER OF TIMES.
“THEY LAID IT AT THE APOSTLES’ FEET”
NOW I CAN THINK OF NOTHING MORE PERFECTLY DESIGNED
TO GIVE KARL MARX APOPLEXY THAN THE IDEA
THAT PEOPLE SHOULD SELL ALL THEIR PROPERTY
AND BRING THE MONEY AND GIVE IT TO THE CHURCH.
IF THERE IS ANYTHING WHICH IS ANTITHETICAL
TO THE WHOLE SPIRIT OF MODERN SOCIALISM,
IT IS PRECISELY THAT.
AND YET, PEOPLE HAVE THE INCREDIBLE TEMERITY TO SAY
THAT THIS PASSAGE TEACHES MODERN STATE SOCIALISM.
NOTHING, INDEED, COULD BE
FARTHER FROM THE TRUTH THAN THAT.
NO, THE BIBLE DOES NOT TEACH SOCIALISM!
THE ADVERSE EFFECTS OF IT, IN THE LONG HAUL, ARE INCALCULABLE.
WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES IS FREEDOM
AND RESPONSIBILITY AND WORK, AND
WE ARE JETTISONING ALL OF THESE IN THE SOCIALISTIC STATE.
THE SPIRITUAL EFFECTS WILL BE THE WORST IN THE END.
YOU KNOW, PEOPLE GET THINGS COMPLETELY TURNED UPSIDE DOWN.
PEOPLE HAVE LOST THE BIBLICAL CONCEPTS
OF WORKING TO EARN OUR DAILY BREAD, MANY HAVE.
AND YET THEY HAVE ALSO OBTAINED THE ERRONEOUS CONCEPT THAT
SOMEHOW THEY CAN GET ETERNAL LIFE BY WORKING.
YET, THE BIBLE TEACHES THAT WE ARE TO
WORK FOR THE THINGS OF THIS LIFE,
BUT THAT WE COULD NEVER EARN ETERNAL LIFE.
THAT, AND THAT ALONE, IS FREE!
THE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD
BECAUSE HE ALONE HAD ENOUGH TO PAY FOR IT ALL.
AND THAT, MY FRIENDS, IS FREE!
THERE MAY BE NO FREE LUNCH IN THIS WORLD,
BUT THANK GOD THAT THE MARRIAGE FEAST OF THE LAMB IS FREE
AND PAID FOR BY CHRIST
AT AN INCREDIBLE COST ON THE CROSS AT CALVARY
AND IS OFFERED TO ALL THOSE WHO WILL PLACE
THEIR TRUST IN HIM AND RECEIVE HIM INTO THEIR HEART
AS SAVIOR AND LORD SO THAT THEY MAY HEAR
THE WORD OF GOD SAYING,
“WELL DONE, THOU GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT.”
HI, I’M JENNIFER KENNEDY CASSIDY.
MY FATHER’S CLARITY ON SOCIALISM CAME AT A TIME WHEN MANY
CHRISTIANS MISTAKENLY BELIEVED THAT THE BIBLE COMMANDED IT.
COMMUNISM WAS ON THE MARCH IN THE WORLD,
AND IT PRESENTED A GRAVE THREAT BUT TOO MANY
CHRISTIANS DIDN’T KNOW HOW TO DEFEND AGAINST IT WITH TRUTH.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS TOO OFTEN
THE LEFT TAKES JESUS OUT OF CONTEXT AND
USES HIM TO PROMOTE THEIR POSITION
AND CHRISTIANS WHO LACK A TRULY BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW
ARE SLOW TO RESPOND.
MOST RECENTLY THIS HAS HAPPENED ON THE ISSUE OF ILLEGAL
IMMIGRATION AND NATIONAL BORDERS.
THE LEFT CLAIMS THAT JESUS REQUIRES OPEN BORDERS
AND DILUTED NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY.
THEY’RE WRONG-BUT DO YOU KNOW HOW TO REFUTE THEM?
FIND OUT THE FULL TRUTH IN THE TIMELY AND HELPFUL BOOKLET,
WISE WELCOME: THE BIBLE ON IMMIGRATION.
ERIC METAXAS SAYS,
YOU’VE HEARD THE DISTORTIONS ENDLESSLY REPEATED IN THE MEDIA
AND EVEN FROM SOME CHRISTIAN LEADERS.
NOW FIND OUT THE TRUTH ABOUT WHAT SCRIPTURE HAS TO SAY ABOUT
REALLY MEAN AND MUCH MORE.
WE’LL SEND IT TO YOU AS OUR THANKS FOR YOUR
GENEROUS DONATION TO THE ONGOING WORK OF THIS MINISTRY.
AND IF YOU’RE ABLE TO GIVE A GENEROUS DONATION OF $60 OR
MORE, WE’LL SEND YOU THE BOOKLET PLUS THE PROVOCATIVE NEW BOOK,
TOXIC EMPATHY: HOW PROGRESSIVES EXPLOIT CHRISTIAN COMPASSION
BY ALLIE BETH STUCKEY.
DISCOVER HOW EMPATHY IS BEING WEAPONIZED
TO GUILT YOU INTO DOING WHAT THE LEFT WANTS YOU TO DO,
OFTEN THROUGH THE USE OF CHRISTIAN-SOUNDING LANGUAGE.
BECAUSE OF BIBLICAL IGNORANCE, TOO MANY CHRISTIANS HAVE LET THE
SECULAR WORLD RE-DEFINE CONCEPTS LIKE
“LOVE,” “COMPASSION,” AND “JUSTICE”
AND HIJACK THEIR CONSCIENCE INTO SUPPORT
FOR UNBIBLICAL IDEAS IN THE NAME OF CHRIST.
ALISA CHILDERS SAYS,
SO CONTACT US RIGHT AWAY.
AS THANKS FOR YOUR GENEROUS DONATION, WE’LL SEND YOU THE
URGENT BOOKLET, WISE WELCOME: THE BIBLE ON IMMIGRATION.
AND IF YOU’RE ABLE TO GIVE A GENEROUS DONATION OF $60 OR
MORE, WE’LL SEND YOU THE BOOKLET PLUS ALLIE BETH STUCKEY’S
NEW HARDCOVER BOOK, TOXIC EMPATHY:
HOW PROGRESSIVES EXPLOIT CHRISTIAN COMPASSION.
DON’T BE MANIPULATED BY SO-CALLED
PROGRESSIVES ANY LONGER.
BE EQUIPPED TO UNDERSTAND AND RESPOND BIBLICALLY
TO THESE KEY CULTURAL ISSUES.
SIMPLY WRITE TO US AT CORAL RIDGE MINISTRIES:
OR CALL TOLL FREE:
OR GO ONLINE TO:
NOT LONG AGO, VICE PRESIDENT J.D. VANCE ADDRESSED
THE ISSUE OF U.S. FOREIGN AID AND IMMIGRATION THIS WAY.
THERE’S THIS OLD SCHOOL
AND I THINK IT’S A VERY CHRISTIAN CONCEPT, BY THE WAY
THAT YOU LOVE YOUR FAMILY AND THEN YOU LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR
AND THEN YOU LOVE YOUR COMMUNITY
AND THEN YOU LOVE YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS AND YOUR OWN COUNTRY,
AND THEN AFTER THAT YOU CAN FOCUS AND PRIORITIZE
THE REST OF THE WORLD.
A LOT OF THE FAR LEFT HAS COMPLETELY INVERTED THAT.”
VICE PRESIDENT VANCE’S COMMENTS MADE SOME COMMOTION.
BUT VANCE WAS ACTUALLY CITING WHAT CHRISTIAN THEOLOGIANS
HAVE CALLED THE ORDO AMORIS, OR THE ORDERING OF LOVES,
AND IT’S AN ANCIENT CHRISTIAN CONCEPT
THAT GOES BACK TO AT LEAST ST. AUGUSTINE.
IT’S ACTUALLY RATHER OBVIOUS, AND IT’S STRIKING HOW MANY
CHRISTIANS HAVE BEEN TAUGHT TO DENY IT BECAUSE
THEY MISUNDERSTAND WHAT THE BIBLE ACTUALLY TEACHES.
THE QUESTION REALLY COMES DOWN TO OBLIGATION.
DO I HAVE MORE OF AN OBLIGATION,
BASED IN LOVE, TO FEED MY OWN CHILD
THAN TO FEED SOMEONE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD?
SOME CHRISTIANS WILL SHALLOWLY SAY “NO.”
BUT THE BIBLE TEACHES OTHERWISE.
IN FACT, THE APOSTLE PAUL WRITES,
OF COURSE, PAUL DOES NOT MEAN THAT OUR CARE FOR
OUR FAMILIES SHOULD EXCLUDE HELP FOR OTHERS TOO.
HE COMMENDS US TO BE SACRIFICIALLY CHARITABLE,
AS DOES JESUS.
BUT SINCE NONE OF US HAS INFINITE RESOURCES,
IT’S DESIGNED TO START AT HOME, WITH THOSE MOST PROXIMATE TO US.
NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU CLAIM TO CARE
ABOUT PEOPLE THOUSANDS OF MILES AWAY
IF YOU DON’T PROVIDE FOR YOUR OWN HOUSEHOLD,
YOU ARE, PAUL SAYS, WORSE THAN AN UNBELIEVER.
J.D. VANCE WAS EXACTLY RIGHT ABOUT HOW THE LEFT INVERTS THIS
-AND DANGEROUSLY SO.
THE LATE HUMORIST P.J. O'ROURKE ONCE WROTE,
“EVERYONE WANTS TO SAVE THE EARTH,
BUT NOBODY WANTS TO HELP MOM DO THE DISHES.”
IN OTHER WORDS, THE THING THAT’S RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU
ACTUALLY REQUIRES PERSONAL EFFORT,
WHEREAS BENEVOLENT FEELINGS FOR THOSE YOU CAN’T SEE
CAN MAKE US FEEL GOOD WITHOUT COSTING MUCH REAL ENERGY.
IN FACT, THE LEFT LIKES TO EXPRESS THEIR BENEVOLENCE
WITH YOUR MONEY, COSTING THEM NOTHING.
THE ORDER OF LOVES SAYS THAT OUR OBLIGATIONS
ARE MORE CONCRETE TO THOSE CLOSEST TO US,
AND THEN WORKING OUTWARD FROM THERE.
IT’S EASY TO LOVE SOMEONE YOU NEVER SEE.
IT’S MUCH HARDER TO LOVE THOSE
YOU HAVE TO LIVE AROUND AND AMONG AND EVERY DAY.
THE IMPLICATIONS OF A PROPER DOCTRINE OF
THE PROPER ORDER OF LOVES
AND HOW ALL OF THIS APPLIES TO US PERSONALLY,
AS WELL AS THE STRUCTURING OF NATIONS,
IS WORTH PONDERING AND DISCUSSING.
BUT LET’S ALSO NOTE HOW REFRESHING IT IS,
AFTER A VICE PRESIDENT WHO
WORKED HARD TO TRY TO SEND PRO-LIFERS TO PRISON,
WE NOW HAVE A VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
WHO EXPLICITLY ADVOCATES A CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW
AND CAN ARTICULATE IT.
CORAL RIDGE MINISTRIES IS
IF YOU’RE EVER IN SOUTH FLORIDA,
WE WELCOME YOU TO JOIN US FOR SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP HERE AT
CORAL RIDGE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH,
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THE MAJORITY OF CRIME TAKING PLACE IN NEW YORK CITY
IS COURTESY OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION.
THAT'S NEXT WEEK
THIS HAS BEEN A PRODUCTION OF CORAL RIDGE MINISTRIES