Creekside Church, Sunday, October 30, 2022
Life Is a Battle Between Good People and Evil People!?
Locations & Times
Creekside Church
660 Conservation Dr, Waterloo, ON N2J 3Z4, Canada
Sunday 9:00 AM
Sunday 10:30 AM
Creekside Church Kitchener
1356 Weber St E, Kitchener, ON N2A 1C4, Canada
Sunday 10:00 AM
Creekside Church Online
Sunday 9:00 AM
Sunday 10:30 AM
Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, Not in God's Name
"There is the moral dualism that sees good and evil as instincts within us between which we must choose. But there is also what I will call pathological dualism that sees humanity itself as radically . . . divided into the unimpeachably good and the irredeemably bad. You are either one or the other."
Myth #3 - The Untruth of Us Versus Them: Life Is a Battle Between Good People and Evil People
Cancel Culture
Cultural Climate is one of harnessing tribalism into a super power.
---
Jesus is no stranger to tribalism
Luke 9
51 As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. 52 And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; 53 but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. 54 When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” 55 But Jesus turned and rebuked them. 56 Then he and his disciples went to another village.
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Jesus presents an alternative way…life in the kingdom of God
Matthew 5:38-42
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’[h] 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
Jesus is teaching a 3rd Way
•Disarming without mirroring
•Generally we think of two options – passivity or revenge
•3rd way creates the possibility that your aggressor may repent
•Allow them the opportunity to join the kingdom of which you have demonstrated to them
•That they may rethink their strategy in light of your strategy for living
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Matthew 5:43-48
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[i] and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
A new heart, a new kind of love
• passivity = indifference, they continue on, just wait till they get theirs!
• revenge = vicious cycle, is really about your love for yourself, your pride
• If you love only those who love you how are you any different, remember I called you to be salt and light, to be different
• I'm calling you to will the good of another even when they are your enemy
• The way that my people will overcome their enemies, is by loving them
"Gods goal is not revenge but restoration. That is the difference between God and me." - Donald Miller
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Application Questions:
Ask what do you believe?
• Do you have the faith it takes to believe that some will change/repent
• Do you lack the faith it takes to turn the other cheek, to give your coat, to go the extra mile
• Do you believe that God still changes people?
• Do you believe that love is a stronger power than hate?
Willing to be Vulnerable?
• Can you assume the other person knows something you don’t?
• Willing to learn
• Dallas Willard - "We can be vulnerable because we know that in the end we are simply invulnerable." - (We are anti-fragile!)
Will you accept the call to creativity?
• Creativity from a place of love
• Requires us to let go of revenge, any sense of self, it’s about seeing the other person in their position and figuring out how to invite them to an alternative
• What is the move that isn't revenge, that isn't complete passivity, but that creates space for redemption?
• Desmond Tutu - "I don't give way to no gorillas"... "Ah yes, but I do."
• How can I educate them creatively?
• President of uncomfortable learning
https://www.ted.com/talks/zachary_r_wood_why_it_s_worth_listening_to_people_you_disagree_with
---
Jesus embodies this third way.
The cross as a brilliant, unexpected, creative demonstration.
"Let me show how while you were still my enemies, still lost in sin, I chose to open up a way so that you could repent, turn, become my sons and daughters."
"There is the moral dualism that sees good and evil as instincts within us between which we must choose. But there is also what I will call pathological dualism that sees humanity itself as radically . . . divided into the unimpeachably good and the irredeemably bad. You are either one or the other."
Myth #3 - The Untruth of Us Versus Them: Life Is a Battle Between Good People and Evil People
Cancel Culture
Cultural Climate is one of harnessing tribalism into a super power.
---
Jesus is no stranger to tribalism
Luke 9
51 As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. 52 And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; 53 but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. 54 When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” 55 But Jesus turned and rebuked them. 56 Then he and his disciples went to another village.
---
Jesus presents an alternative way…life in the kingdom of God
Matthew 5:38-42
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’[h] 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
Jesus is teaching a 3rd Way
•Disarming without mirroring
•Generally we think of two options – passivity or revenge
•3rd way creates the possibility that your aggressor may repent
•Allow them the opportunity to join the kingdom of which you have demonstrated to them
•That they may rethink their strategy in light of your strategy for living
---
Matthew 5:43-48
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[i] and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
A new heart, a new kind of love
• passivity = indifference, they continue on, just wait till they get theirs!
• revenge = vicious cycle, is really about your love for yourself, your pride
• If you love only those who love you how are you any different, remember I called you to be salt and light, to be different
• I'm calling you to will the good of another even when they are your enemy
• The way that my people will overcome their enemies, is by loving them
"Gods goal is not revenge but restoration. That is the difference between God and me." - Donald Miller
---
Application Questions:
Ask what do you believe?
• Do you have the faith it takes to believe that some will change/repent
• Do you lack the faith it takes to turn the other cheek, to give your coat, to go the extra mile
• Do you believe that God still changes people?
• Do you believe that love is a stronger power than hate?
Willing to be Vulnerable?
• Can you assume the other person knows something you don’t?
• Willing to learn
• Dallas Willard - "We can be vulnerable because we know that in the end we are simply invulnerable." - (We are anti-fragile!)
Will you accept the call to creativity?
• Creativity from a place of love
• Requires us to let go of revenge, any sense of self, it’s about seeing the other person in their position and figuring out how to invite them to an alternative
• What is the move that isn't revenge, that isn't complete passivity, but that creates space for redemption?
• Desmond Tutu - "I don't give way to no gorillas"... "Ah yes, but I do."
• How can I educate them creatively?
• President of uncomfortable learning
https://www.ted.com/talks/zachary_r_wood_why_it_s_worth_listening_to_people_you_disagree_with
---
Jesus embodies this third way.
The cross as a brilliant, unexpected, creative demonstration.
"Let me show how while you were still my enemies, still lost in sin, I chose to open up a way so that you could repent, turn, become my sons and daughters."