Episode Transcript
[00:00:01] You're listening to a live recording from Westside Church in Bend, Oregon. Thanks for joining us.
[00:00:07] This was the central tension in the early church, this divide between Jews and Gentiles.
[00:00:13] If you look through most of the New Testament, in almost all of Paul's letters, at some point he's going to address this tension that exists in these early churches.
[00:00:23] And in these early churches, there was this raging debate around if Gentiles should have to convert to Judaism before they could become Christians.
[00:00:33] And that came with a surgery which was not pleasant for those Gentiles.
[00:00:39] And so there was also this dietary restrictions for the Greeks among the people that believed in Jesus. They're looking at all these restrictions and rules and cultural things that they say that doesn't track with what I understand is the way forward.
[00:00:58] But they had this debate, should the Gentiles have to convert in order to become Christians? And there was a lot of argument around this. And it would have been easier. Listen to this. It would have been easier in those early churches to separate and have Jewish Christian churches and Gentile Christian churches.
[00:01:16] And in fact, both groups may have been happier having separate churches to attend.
[00:01:24] And Paul would have none of it.
[00:01:27] Paul would have none of it. And I would imagine there were those who would wish that Paul would write in his letters and say, you know what? This is a fierce debate, and I don't think we're going to get resolution on it. And so you know what? I'm going to assign this Greek person to lead the Greek church and this Jewish believer to lead the Jewish church, and then everybody will be fine.
[00:01:47] Instead, he reminds us that a great personal cost, the sacrifice of his life. Jesus came to bring people who were far apart altogether.
[00:01:59] This was the heart of Jesus. In fact, in other portions of his letters, he would say, this is the mystery that was always from the beginning, that is now revealed in Christ, that the Gentiles are in on this, too. And Paul would tell us, you know what? Skip the surgery. Let's just all get along and find that Jesus is for all of us.
[00:02:20] And I think oftentimes we are asking of those on the outside to come along in ways that Jesus would say, come on, open up your doors and allow people to experience my presence and my life. And I will do the work of transformation. But you have a job to do in opening your arms and creating the space by which many might come to know me.
[00:02:44] This is our calling as a church in these divisive times when we set aside our differences to belong to each other and to God. We Become a powerful witness to the work of the cross.
[00:03:00] This non anxious presence, even through ideological, socioeconomic, racial and ethnic diversity, we become conduits of God's peace and a scale model view of what the kingdom of heaven looks like when it comes to earth.
[00:03:18] We're called to carry his peace. And how do we do this? How do we get along?
[00:03:23] How do we lay down our passionate opinions long enough to experience restoration of relationship? There's a story in Genesis that ends in Genesis, chapter 33, about these two twin brothers, Jacob and Esau.
[00:03:41] They are the children of Isaac and Rebekah.
[00:03:44] And even from their earliest days after they were born, they're at each other's throats, they're in conflict.
[00:03:54] In those days, the birthright that would go to the eldest child, the eldest boy in the family, was a big deal. It represented the father's blessing. It represented the rights to basically be the heir to the family.
[00:04:09] And so as they get older and their father is getting along in age and will soon die, Jacob the younger hatches this plan with his mother to steal his older brother's birthright. So if you've heard the story, Esau, the older brother, who is a hunter, is out in the fields and he comes home hungry. And Jacob lures him to give up his birthright for a bowl of stew. And if you've ever been hungry, you know how this is probably pretty realistic, okay, like, you get hangry, right? I'll do anything for that food. And so Esau gives up his birthright to Jacob.
[00:04:53] Jacob takes the blessing that is intended for Esau. And it so enrages his brother Esau that Esau swears that after the death of their father Isaac, that he's going to kill Jacob.
[00:05:05] And so Jacob's mother says, you know what? You better get out of here. Esau's going to kill you. And so for many, many years, Jacob goes away and he works for his uncle, avoiding and trying to avoid the wrath of his brother Esau.
[00:05:21] As time goes on, God speaks to Jacob and he says, jacob, you need to go back home.
[00:05:29] And Jacob's thinking, but that's where Esau is.
[00:05:33] But he hears the voice of God. And so Jacob gathers all his many, you know, herds, and he's become rich now. So he gathers his family and all their stuff, and they begin to make the long journey home.
[00:05:46] And as they're headed home, they approach Esau's company.
[00:05:52] And there is Esau's 400 strong fighting men in the path ahead of them. And so Jacob says, you know, What I'm going to do, I'm going to send him a gift. That's a good idea. So he gathers a bunch of herds and flocks, and he sends those on to Esau. And then Jacob hides out in the back of his whole procession.
[00:06:14] And as they get closer, they see these fighting men, and they're trying to butter up Esau with these gifts.
[00:06:22] And then finally, Esau and Jacob encounter each other.
[00:06:27] And in Genesis 33. 4, it says, then Esau ran to meet him, and he embraced him. He threw his arms around his neck, and he kissed him, and they both wept.
[00:06:39] This moment that Jacob fears will be conflict actually turns into reconciliation.
[00:06:47] And then Esau says this. He says, what are all these herds and flocks I just passed on my way to greet you? And Jacob said, well, that's for you.
[00:06:56] And he says, jacob, I don't need your stuff. I've got plenty. I just want relationship again.
[00:07:03] And then this is what Jacob says in response. Genesis 33, verse 4. Sorry. Genesis 33:10. Jacob responds and says, for to see your face is like seeing the face of God now that you have received me favorably. And I probably, like Esau would say, whoa, bro, chill out, okay? It's going to be okay. This is not the face of God, but I understand you're emotional right now, but what a picture of a surprise reconciliation. What a picture of expecting the worst. And actually, God has been at work setting the groundwork for a restoration of relationship. And here's what I want to tell us today is that oftentimes we build up in our minds a conflict, that if we would actually engage again in a relationship, we would find that God has been laying the groundwork for restoration of that relationship, reconciliation of what we thought was hopelessly broken and irreparably damaged. That God has been laying groundwork for that relationship to come back together. Why? Because he holds all things in his hand, and it is his business to fix that which is broken and to perfectly place that which has been dislocated. It says in Colossians, chapter one.
[00:08:23] And so I feel the challenge today. I don't think of myself as a grudge holder, but I can be petty.
[00:08:30] Anybody sitting next to someone who can be petty, no, don't raise your hand.
[00:08:34] Raise your hand. Don't do that. You can get in trouble.
[00:08:41] I can be selectively.
[00:08:44] Just keep that person at a distance. Keep that relationship at a distance.
[00:08:50] And the work of the cross says that he's bringing all things together.
[00:08:55] And so we have this challenge to be the conduits of God's peace. This non anxious presence in every relationship that allows the cross to be so vividly displayed through our lives and our relationships that where things have gone wrong, where things have been broken, God calls us back into relationship.
[00:09:17] Three things to consider if we want to become a community where peace wins over division.
[00:09:26] Number one, make the first move.
[00:09:28] You know, somebody's got to do it.
[00:09:31] Somebody's got to take the first step in restoration and forgiveness.
[00:09:37] Oftentimes we are always waiting for someone else to make the first move.
[00:09:43] But I think the gospel calls us to be those that say, I haven't heard from this person, I don't know what it's going to be, but I'm going back to that relationship, I'm going back home. And by the way, if you were in a place where a relationship has not been safe, where there's been abuse, or I am not encouraging getting away from healthy boundaries.
[00:10:06] What I am talking about today is a gospel work where we lay down divisions and pettiness to proceed in the direction of peace. Okay, I would never encourage anyone to step back into a place where they're experiencing harm and hurt.
[00:10:25] But we have a responsibility, especially in those circumstances as a community, to surround those who are vulnerable. Amen.
[00:10:33] Secondly, prioritize peace.
[00:10:37] Interact with someone you disagree with while assuming good intent on their behalf.
[00:10:44] Pray for understanding. This is not a cop out. By the way, seeking peace in relationships is not a cop out. It is the gospel work. I think sometimes we think it's weak, you know, to say we're sorry. It's weak to express forgiveness to someone who has harmed us. We think it's stronger to stand our ground and yell down at the person who did us wrong. But can I tell you the strongest thing you can do is to operate in the method and the work of Jesus, who turned the other cheek, went the extra mile, looked down on those who were harming him in real time, said, father, forgive them, they don't know what they're doing. And he gave up his life sacrificially for those who could not reciprocate that kind of love to him. And I want to express to you today that prioritizing peace in relationships is not a weak or passive move. It is the active gospel work.
[00:11:40] And then finally this. Remember who holds everything together.
[00:11:45] Remember who holds everything together.
[00:11:47] God is sovereign.
[00:11:50] And if we trust him as Paul did, we trust him more than the outcome of elections. Whether we're happy or we're sad about those outcomes.
[00:12:00] If we believe that God holds All things together. It means we believe that long after we are gone, long after the structures that keep our society running today, long after those have gone, that the gospel will still exist. I always think about the first century and you have this Roman Empire that's is the known world effectively. And Paul is writing to these churches and he's trying to help them keep perspective, that one day the empire will fall. One day these social hierarchies and structures will change. And even then, people will still be worshiping Jesus. If you will model what the Prince of Peace came to create, which is a new kind of community and the coming of heaven to earth.
[00:12:45] And so oftentimes we have such a short, you know, our lifetime kind of view on things, and God is saying, come on, there is a bigger picture here, that one day all empires will fall and mine will not, that the word of the Lord will stand forever. And so we anchor ourselves to the one who holds everything together.
[00:13:07] And so I'm not overly excited about the outcome of an election. I'm not overly disappointed about the outcome of election. Why? Because I want to tether my soul and my future and my family's future to the Rock of Ages.
[00:13:22] Come on.
[00:13:24] He's my shepherd. He was my shepherd before I knew how this was gonna go. And he's my shepherd today. And because he is, I'm not gonna want, I'm not gonna be discontent, I'm not gonna be afraid of what the future may hold. Because why? Because I'm anchored in my soul to what Hebrews actually calls the anchor of our soul. That is Christ, who has gone beyond the veil and invited us into the presence of an almighty God who is sovereign over everything.
[00:13:53] Wow.
[00:13:56] This perspective begins to change everything. When we. When we understand that Christ is the one who holds everything together. When our anxiety wants to rise up, man, he holds it all together. When we don't know how we're going to make it to tomorrow, he holds it all together. When our relationships and our marriage is on the rocks, he holds it all together. When life feels like it's falling apart, he holds it all together.
[00:14:24] As we've been putting prayers on this wall over the last couple weeks, after Sunday, I'll go and I'll read the cards that you all have posted and wow, it's really heartbreaking to hear the situations that so many are facing in this congregation.
[00:14:50] Stories on there and prayers for the breaking of addictions, the restoration of relationships with kids, for healing, for desperate prognosis, for a feeling of belonging that just has not been Present a feeling of loneliness and isolation, People crying out that God would somehow break through in these situations. And it's both heartbreaking, but it also gives me hope. Because if there's one place to go with the cry of the heart that sounds like that, it's to a place of prayer.
[00:15:29] It's to the one who holds all things in his hand. We used to have this song when I was a kid. We'd sing in Sunday school, He's got the whole world in his hands. Remember that song?
[00:15:40] He's got you and me, brother. He got you and me, sister. Got little tiny babies.
[00:15:48] It would just go on and on and on ad nauseam.
[00:15:54] But, man, there's some truth in there that when it feels like things have fallen apart, when it feels like we don't know how we're going to make it, we don't know if we're going to survive this. But we go to a place of prayer and we go before the one who holds everything together in his hands. And we say, God, I don't know how the circumstance will change, but I want to anchor myself to you.
[00:16:18] There's power in that.
[00:16:22] And the mystery of the gospel is that as we're doing that, we turn and to our left and to our right, there's people and they disagree with us. And maybe we used to be fighting with them. And they're right beside us, praying those same prayers, arm in arm, community together. Because Jesus has done something to bring people who are far apart together. Amen.
[00:16:51] So today, if you have what you hoped for in your life, if life is good and the outlook is positive, I want to encourage you again, hope in Christ today.
[00:17:07] Hope in Christ, the One who holds all things together. And for those today who feel despair or discouragement or isolation, I want to encourage you today. You can hope in Christ that that is a worthy place to put your hope.
[00:17:26] Would you bow your heads with me, Lord Jesus? So many from different places, different understanding, different backgrounds, all coming together today in this place, watching online today.
[00:17:48] And we all have needs, Lord. We all have things that we need you to step in.
[00:17:54] Circumstances and situations that are difficult.
[00:17:59] Questions about the future, uncertainty about tomorrow.
[00:18:04] And so Lord Jesus unified altogether. We invite the presence of Jesus.
[00:18:11] We invite your Holy Spirit to come into this place, even as you did in Acts chapter two, when they were all together in one place in unity, that the Holy Spirit came lo. We invite your Holy Spirit to come now in this place.
[00:18:24] For those facing sickness and disease, Lord, we pray, would your healing power come and touch and heal for those praying for a loved one who's trapped in addiction. Lord, would your power and your freedom seek after and search out that young man, that young woman, that friend, that father, that mother, that grandparent who's trapped? Lord Jesus, would you come close to the brokenhearted today? Those who are mourning lost today, Lord, would you like you did at the grave of your friend Lazarus, would you weep with them? Would you be close to them? Or would you remind us all that you are the resurrection and the life?
[00:19:09] Holy Spirit, we welcome your work today even as we come in this place as one church unified under the name that is above every other name. And it's in that name I pray today in Jesus name. Amen.
[00:19:29] We're going to step into our time of communion as we do after every service, and especially today, I'm reminded I'm going to read this again, the new living translation out of Colossians 1.
[00:19:41] For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ. And through him, God reconciled everything to himself. Today, as we remember Christ's work on the cross, I think oftentimes we frame it mostly in terms of personal forgiveness for personal sins. And while that is core to what Jesus accomplished on the cross, it is only partial because the big picture that Paul tells us about in Colossians is that Christ went to the cross to reconcile all things to himself and to each other.
[00:20:14] And so in a moment, as we go to these communion tables, I want to encourage us that we are remembering and receiving the body and the blood of Christ represented in this cracker and this juice.
[00:20:24] Not only to say, God, forgive me for my sins, but we are praying the prayer, God, let your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Reconcile all things, heal all that's broken. Fix everything that's been missing and dislocated in our world.
