WWUTT 1230 Q&A Christians Responding, Attending Protests, Exorcisms Needed, Good Seminaries?

Christian Response to Cultural Chaos

Should we be attending these protests or even the riots and sharing the gospel? An unrelated question, are exorcisms still needed today? And what's better for growing your faith, a church or seminary?

The answer is when we understand the text.

This is When We Understand The Text, a daily Bible study in the Word of Christ. That in view of God's mercies, we may present ourselves as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Check out our website at www .utt .com. Here once again is Pastor Gabe.

Thank you, Becky. You're welcome. This is the Friday edition of the broadcast, and we take questions from the listeners. And this week I want it to be actual questions.

Well, you know, technicality. Last week we only got to one. We just get super chatty. And we use clips. Whenever we use clips, we don't answer as many questions. That's true. You know, I mean, as much as we try to be concise with the clips, it's still easy.

It takes up more time. Yeah.

It does. I'd still like to begin today with some scripture. Okay. So with everything that's going on, I've received questions on Facebook and on Twitter and on, oh, and on Parler. Oh, yeah. I forgot to mention that we're on Parler, too.

Well, yeah, you are. You're on Parler. I'm on Parler. Is what on Parler? No, I didn't start a what account. It's just Pastor Gabe. And apparently, this is according to Nate Pickowitz, but it's pronounced Par-lay.

Par-lay. Not Par-ler. Well, it depends on where you're at. Which is ridiculous.

Are you pirate? French, because I'm French. Or are you in your Parler?

If it was in your Parler, it would be spelled P-A-R-L-O-R. But it's spelled P-A-R-L-E-R. So it's not a Parler.

No. I was thinking it was a Parler, and that's how you spelled it.

Hence, with the E-R, it's Par-lay. Oh. But I'm not saying that. We're on Parler. So you can look us up. Pastor Gabe. Parler .com slash. Pastor Gabe. I haven't even looked how you find an account there.

But this is a, it's a more conservative, more free. Free as in speech.

Social media site. Yeah, free speech site. They won't put you in Twitter timeout. Right.

Or block you on Facebook. And the way that they do their censorship is they follow the same censorship rules that the FCC applies. To like television and movies and things like that. Got it. Therefore, it's a more conservative site.

It's a little more user friendly. It's going to be more friendly to conservatives and those who want free speech. Not those who are on the conservative side of things that Twitter keeps shutting down.

Right. I mean, there's horrible content on Twitter. But that stuff. I know. That stuff doesn't get. All over too. It's really, really bad. And Twitter just seems to be getting worse and worse. Yeah. There's a few of my friends that are, they're saying that they're going to be pulling the plug on Twitter altogether.

And maybe going entirely over to Parler. Yeah. So just.

I haven't quite figured out Parler. Just because it's enough different from the other social medias. I'm still kind of trying to balance everything right now with the Facebook, the Twitter. I'm more private on Facebook, though.

Parler, I can't figure out how to be private. So I'm just. Oh, yeah. It's going to all be public.

So I don't know. Well, on Parler, I've noticed that the interface on the phone is easier to use than the interface on the computer. But it's laid out a lot like Twitter. So if you like Twitter, you'll like Parler.

Yeah. That's really kind of the way that. But more character spaces. More characters. Yes. A thousand characters. Yeah. Whereas Twitter is 280. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Parler is a thousand. So you can look us up on Parler.

Anyway. So comments that I've been getting on Twitter, Parler, Facebook. And I guess that's it. I'm also on Instagram, but I haven't even checked my Instagram in a few weeks. And emails. And emails. Yes.

Romans 12 and a Christian Response to the World

What are some things as Christians that we can be doing presently? I'll even get some comments from folks saying, I live in a town where the kind of stuff that's going on right now. Black Lives Matter.

The riots. The protests. The kneeling and asking for forgiveness. On and on it goes. This kind of thing is not affecting us in our community. But is there something that I can be doing? Yeah. There's something that you can be doing.

You can come to Romans chapter 12 and follow these instructions for believers. Awesome. So let's begin by looking at Romans chapter 12. And I'm going to begin reading in verse nine here. I'm going to read the first through 13.

So about the first four or five verses here. Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil. Hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal.

Be fervent in spirit. Serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope. Be patient in tribulation. Be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints. And seek to show hospitality. What we're reading here is the way a Christian should respond to anything that happens in the world.

Whether you're talking about the kind of chaos that is occurring right now. And you see it being widespread throughout the western world. Not just the United States. But we're seeing videos come in from Great Britain and Canada.

All over. It's everywhere. Not just these things that are happening now. But even if something personally tragic happens in your life. Or a certain disruption happens in your community that doesn't affect most other people.

Or maybe something that is happening in your church. How should we as Christians react? We respond this way. And we need to be a thinking people. Especially as it says here to be patient in tribulation.

Because what we see in the scriptures regarding those who are foolish. Not acting in wisdom. But acting in foolishness. They're responding to stimuli. They're just flying off the handle. Or they're just dull.

And they don't react to it at all. This is what scripture says of a foolish response. Either reacting outrageously. Or feeling no sympathy toward anything that happens at all. Either one of those would be the foolish responses.

Our kids have been going through the Proverbs series that Paul Washer has been doing on YouTube. And this was Becky's idea. She decided, hey, these would be great devotionals for the kids. So he does about a 20 minute lesson.

It's about the same length as the Bible studies that I do daily on the broadcast. So the kids have been going. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Right. It's not every day of the week.

But three days a week. So the kids have been doing Proverbs. They've been in Chapter 1. And I watched a couple of them this past week with the kids. There was one in particular with Paul Washer in Proverbs 1.

Where he talked about this very thing. And I'm going to go ahead and play the clip from Paul Washer. Sure. So here he's talking about what Proverbs Chapter 1 says. And he's going to begin here reading Verse 22.

And how the foolish man responds. And how we as Christians need to be a thinking people. Seeking the knowledge of God and the wisdom of God.

But in 22. How long, O naive ones, will you love being simple -minded? And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing. And fools hate knowledge. Now, fool here. The idea is that of a non-thinker. You know, I used to do a little bit of scuba diving.

I used to. I really loved that. Basic and open water scuba diver and all that. And there were these plants. I forget what they were called. I think they were plants. Something. They were alive. And I remember a dive instructor taking me down.

And he said. Before we went down. He said. I'm going to show you something. That is so fast. You won't be able to believe it. And it was this little thing. I don't know what it was. It was a creature or a plant or whatever.

And you could stretch forth your finger. And you could touch it. And not only did it move. It moved so fast. That it literally disappeared. Before your eyes. Now, it did not have a complex brain system.

I can tell you that. It was stimuli response. You touch it. It moved. And I mean it moved quick. That's kind of this type of person. Not necessarily does he have much of a brain. Or is not using his brain very much.

He's just stimuli response. You say something that sets him off. And he's not going to think. He is just going to scream. And that's what a fool is. And we see that, don't we? I mean there are certain things that we could say.

I mean I could stand up in university and say. You know. I don't believe in. I don't believe in macro evolution. That species change from one species to another. I don't believe that at all. I believe that man was created by God.

And there was a literal Adam and Eve. I mean the moment I say that. A war is going to break out. I mean everything from laughter. To cussing. To everything else. And it's not because of thinking. It's stimuli response.

And that's what a fool is. A non-thinker. Another way of looking at it is an insensitive dullard. Now that's kind of an old word. But someone who's just dull. I mean it's like. You know you'll see it sometimes.

You know my wife will do this sometimes. When she's talking to the children. And they're not listening. And she'll go bing bing bing. It's like it's not going into your head. You see that. And we don't be that.

We don't want to be that way. But we can become that way. That's why we need to study. Primarily the scriptures. And be open for instruction.

I think you can relate to that last part. Giving instructions to the kids. And it's just not going in. It's just bouncing off of their heads. They have that like. Antique look in their eyes. They have no idea what you're saying.

But this is what we see happening in the world right now. Is people reacting to a stimuli response. They're not thinkers. And they're not even being trained to be thinkers. The public school system has not been educating our children to think.

They're just being educated to react. Especially with the multimedia or social media. Computer technological stuff that's in front of our faces all the time. And you see this video. And you're reacting to that tweet.

And you're responding to this picture on Instagram. And it's just one thing after the next. And you're just scrolling through and reacting to things. As they're put in front of your face. You're practicing.

Yeah. There was the thing on. Maybe they still do this online.

I don't know. But the hot or not. Where you would scroll through pictures. And you would click. It was either hot. Oh, I don't know if they do that or not. Yeah, I remember that.

I don't know if that was. I think that was a thing in college. It was even before Facebook. Yeah. You could just participate on hot or not. Anyway. It's like we're still doing that. We're still scrolling through one thing after the next.

And reacting to it. I like this. I don't like that. Yeah. And the stuff that's happening right now. Is a response to a video that played online. And everybody is losing their minds. Yeah. Taking a position.

And having this opinion and that opinion. And it's being spun off into these movements. That may be or may not be related. It's just people taking advantage of a situation. Yeah. And so, we have nothing but this chain reaction.

Of stimuli response. And this, as Christians, is not the way that we're supposed to be. We must be patient in tribulation. Constant in prayer. And even considering how. Verse 13 again. Romans 12, 13. How we can contribute to the needs of the saints.

And seek to show hospitality. Seeking to show hospitality means we actually go look for ways. That we can show kindness and generosity to each other. Yeah. Not just wait for something to come up and go, okay, well.

Well, as soon as the opportunity arises. Right. I'm going to act on it. Exactly. We should be. How often does that happen and you don't act? And you make an excuse as to why you can't act at this time.

Maybe next time.

Right. You know. Yeah, then the opportunity comes up and you don't do it. Right. And you have a reason why you didn't do it. So we need to seek the ways that we can show the love of Christ to one another.

Verse 14. Bless those. I'm going to keep going here. Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse them. That's not the way of our culture. Oh, no. That is very counter-cultural to be that way.

Rejoice with those who rejoice. Weep with those who weep. Now, that verse I've seen taken out of context a lot lately. Oh. With people saying all we need to be doing right now is rejoicing with those who rejoice and weeping with those who weep.

Yeah. Or they'll just do the weep part. Weeping with those who weep. But not teaching bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse them. Live in harmony with one another. Verse 16. Do not be haughty but associate with the lowly.

In other words, be friends with people who cannot give you anything in return. Right. You could not benefit personally by being friends with this group of people. That's what it means to associate with the lowly.

You're not just looking for people in your clique. You're not just looking for people who can prosper you or profit you or something like that. You are associating even with those who could not benefit you.

You would receive nothing in return from them. You have nothing to gain from your friendship with them. Although there is something gained. There is unity and maturity in the body of Christ. Yeah. Growing in character.

Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil. But give thought. There we go. That instruction to be a thinker. Give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you.

Live peaceably with everyone. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God. For it is written, vengeance is mine. I will repay, says the Lord. To the contrary, if your enemy is hungry, feed him.

If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. For by so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil. But overcome evil with good. So here are the instructions that we are told to follow.

And we do so in light of the mercies of God. As Becky had quoted, starting the program off from Romans 12. I appeal to you, therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God. To present your bodies as a living sacrifice.

Holy and acceptable, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind. So that by testing, you may discern what is the will of God. What is good and acceptable and perfect.

And this is in light of the mercies of God. Which, of course, the mercies of God are the gifts that we receive by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Justification. Forgiveness of our sins. The promise of eternal life.

The hope of glory. The sanctification that we are in. Being transformed and growing in holiness. And maturing and being made more like Christ. All of these blessings and these benefits that we get from faith in Jesus.

In view of these things, this is how we should be. So maybe in understanding how you should be responding to what's going on in the world. Take a good big helping of Romans chapter 12 first. Yes. And read about what we are called to as Christians in Christ.

In the way that we should live. So let's get to some of these questions here. And once again, the email address, when we understand the text. All spelled out. All one word. At gmail .com. This first one is from Timothy in Florida.

Hey, Pastor Gabe. Thank you, brother, for your ministry. I'm learning and so thankful for you sticking with scripture. Even during this time of racial tension and just all the other craziness that's going on.

Many blessings to you and to your family. Aw, thanks. Thank you for the encouraging word. This next one has to do with the riots and stuff that's going on. And the person asked that I keep them anonymous.

Dear Pastor Gabe and Becky. Thank you for your ministry. Your faithfulness to God's word. And your solid tweets. I'm glad in the midst of all the craziness on Twitter. That my tweets have been a blessing to you as well.

I live in Southern California where there has been a lot of protests and rioting. One of my friends asked me if I wanted to go down to a scheduled protest. To pray over people and offer hugs. I think there is a more effective and biblical way to preach the gospel than that.

But I have been thinking about going. Not that I have made a decision yet. But it has caused me to think about our role as Christians during mass protests and lawlessness. Not necessarily the same thing.

God is the only one who can and does change hearts. And ultimately save people from God's justice in the end. Is it okay? Or should ambassadors of Jesus be going to these protests and preaching repentance to the people there?

How can believers be actively engaging the lost with the gospel? And not just on social media during this time. Some things to consider. And then he has a list here. Police have been working overtime and are tired and frustrated.

The physical danger of potential riots and or anarchists intermixed with the crowd. Being perceived as supporting potential riots and lawlessness. And therefore as part of the problem rather than the solution.

We are still under lockdown. Even though the government is very inconsistent with its application of the lockdown. That is an understatement. I would love to know what you think. Grace and peace. So first of all going back up here.

Would it be okay for you to go to a protest and be sharing the gospel? If you're sure that the protest that you're going to is not going to break out in a riot. Then sure it would be fine. But if you're there at the protest sharing the gospel and it does turn into a riot.

Get out of there fast. No joke. I don't think that a Christian has any responsibility to be in that environment. Attempting to preach the gospel to people who are acting like wild animals.

And that be throwing your pearls before swine. Yeah, exactly.

So Jesus says in Matthew 7 6 do not cast your pearls before swine. For they're just going to trample on them and then turn and attack you. So by the command of Christ, we know that this group this mob acting fanatically.

Is not going to listen to what it is that you have to say. They're wanton lawbreakers. They are thieves. They are destructive. They are sinful and they will face the judgment of God. And they are a huge mob.

Yeah, and they're violent. People have died. There are people who have gotten away with this kind of violence and won't get caught. Because people are running around with face masks. And everybody's all right with that because of the COVID -19 pandemic.

I know it all seems like all of this stuff has been orchestrated. But whether or not you believe in such conspiracies. The fact is that Satan has definitely worked his way to bring these things about.

Into the chaotic manner that they are in. So if anything ever starts to get that radical. The people are not going to listen to you. Don't stick around trying to preach the gospel. If you're just hanging out there and police do show up and start making arrests.

You could be arrested. And wrongly accused. Even though you were only there to maybe try to calm people down. And keep things from getting worse. Nothing's going to calm them down. Especially a couple of people out there attempting to share the gospel.

So stay away from anybody that's rioting and looting. If you get some of those people. And I know this is the case. This has to be something that occurs in these places where there's rioting and looting.

You're going to have an instance where the next day or the day after that. Somebody that's participated in some sort of mob riot. Is going to have an attack of conscience. And they're going to be thinking about what they did.

And they are reflecting upon themselves. I don't think this was right. And it's not going to accomplish the thing that we wanted to accomplish. Unless what we were trying to accomplish was just random chaos.

Right. And when you encounter a person like that. Who's beginning to question the meaning and the purpose of all of this. Then you have an opportunity with a person's attack of conscience. To give them the law.

You've broken the law of God. And then to resolve that with the gospel. Now I saw a clip from Todd Freel recently that was really, really good. He was sharing. When are they not good? I'm sure. But he was sharing the law with a young man.

And he was agreeing with Todd that he was a sinner. And if he were to stand in front of God today for judgment. He would probably go to hell. But Todd did not give him the gospel there. And when he broke away from the clip.

He said now why did I not give him the gospel? And Todd said because in that situation what was best for that young man. And he could assess the situation better than I could. You know watching the video clip.

But he said in that situation what was best for that young man. Was to think about what it was that I said. Until he actually came to a conviction of his sin. Because he was giving the right answers when Todd was asking the questions.

But was he truly sorry and repentant? Exactly.

He was giving the right answers. But was it really getting into his heart? Right.

And there's a difference. Yeah definitely. There's a difference between oh I'm sorry and oh I'm really sorry. Right.

And more than just acting. You certainly don't want to give a person the impression that if I just say these words. Right. Oh my goodness no. Because that's the whole problem with the altar call. And the repeat after me prayer.

Yeah. It's like you're reciting a magic incantation. If I just say these words boom I'm automatically getting into heaven. Right. And God has to let me in because I prayed the prayer.

Well I'm saved. I was baptized like 15 years ago. And I mean who needs to go to church? Right. Yeah. Like that doesn't save you.

So Todd in this situation knowing what this young man needed was to hear how he was guilty. And to think about that until he felt guilty. Right. Until he understood his own guilt before God. And then he would be ready to hear the gospel.

And when you're attempting to minister to those persons who are beginning to question some of these things. Is this right? There's got to be more to life than this. You know maybe even asking something that philosophical.

Right. That's where you will have the opportunity to share with a person what you have done is sin. And you will be judged for it. But if you feel guilty over this Christ is a savior. And let me introduce you to him.

And then take him through the gospel. Through the scriptures. Understanding that Christ has died on the cross for our sins. Risen again from the dead. Whoever is in Christ is a new creation. Yeah. The old is passed away and the new has come.

So turn from your sin and sin no more. And walk in the righteousness of Christ. But by faith in him you're clothed in his righteousness. And the guilt that you have before God is atoned for in the precious blood of Christ.

This is where you're going to have the opportunity to share the gospel with some of these individuals. Out at the riot or out at the protest may not be all that effective. Now I'm not going to discourage you from going to a protest and handing out tracks.

Or maybe you want to stand and read the word of God. That would be perfectly fine. But the people are out there. Hugs might be a little awkward. Yeah, don't do that. During COVID. Yeah. And there's going to be some people that would not be friendly to that.

So if you're going to offend people, offend them with the gospel. Yes. Not because you want to give them a hug. Let me phrase that a little bit better. Let God offend them with the gospel. There you go.

Don't be a jerk about, you know, the way that you proclaim the gospel to them. And in wisdom, talk to some other people. Don't go by yourself. I think it would be wise to go with somebody else. Talk to your pastor.

Ask him to pray for you. Ask for any counsel or guidance that he might give you. But make him aware. Make somebody else aware of what you and a friend are doing. So that if something does happen. Yeah.

Now you've got somebody that would be able to vouch for you. And be able to say, no, they told me they were going down to this protest. And they said they were going to share the gospel. And then it just turned into a riot.

But these guys, they weren't part of that. They were trying to do something else. Right. That would be a good safety. It's always a good idea to have somebody who is aware of what it is that you're going to go do.

Even if you're just heading down to the park to hand out tracks.

See, I think about that guy who was off the coast of that tribe that hasn't had any interaction. Oh, yeah. I know. Yeah. And he didn't have, I mean, he wasn't associated with anybody. But he was supposedly there to share the gospel.

And then he ended up dying. Yeah.

He was killed by that tribe. Yeah. So there was a little island with a tribe that was very isolated from the rest of the world. And many other missionaries had tried to go to that people and not been able to communicate with them.

And so this young man was doing it by himself. He was just doing it. And it really was unwise. And anyway, a lot of people have kind of shared their opinion. Not to bring that up. Yeah, right.

But just saying that, I mean, if you have to have an example as to why you need that safety net, that's a prime example. Have that safety net.

Have somebody knowing what you're doing and where you're doing it. And hold you accountable.

Yes. You know, make sure that you don't get into a bickering session while you're there. Because things can get heated very easily. Absolutely. Don't quarrel.

Don't quarrel. Yeah. You're just there to convict others of sin and bring them the gospel of Christ if they will listen to it. So as Anonymous goes on here and mentioned some things to consider, police have been working overtime and are tired and frustrated.

Don't forget to share the gospel with police. I know that they need to kind of pay attention to what's going on. So you don't want to be distracting. Yeah. But they need prayer, too. Man, I just I hate hearing from people saying, don't pray for police officers.

We're not praying for police officers right now. We're praying for Black Lives Matter. People say that. Oh, yeah. I'm in a hole over here. I listened to Judah Smith say it in a clip from him just I think it was last week.

So he was. Who's he? Oh, yeah. He's the pastor of that church. Ohm. Oh, OK. Remember, I made fun of the church. Ohm name. Yeah. And it was through his church. Ohm thing. OK. That he was delivering some sort of message about Black Lives Matter.

I've got the clip. I've got it recorded. I'll probably. Yeah. Let me play it for you right here. Here you go. Great. You asked. So here we go.

I did not ask. For Caucasian Christians in this country, history proves it true to insist that all lives matter, to insist that though a people group has every right to protest 400 years of oppression.

We would like to add that we should also pray for business owners and police officers. We don't need to say that anymore, my brothers and sisters. We don't need to say that anymore. For where there is pain, Jesus is there the most.

So I'll say it again. All lives do not matter. Until Black Lives Matter.

It's not complicated. Just think about the absurd logic in that. That is absurd. Where is that biblically? Don't pray for anyone else. And you can't care about anyone else's life until Black Lives Matter.

That is ridiculous. And I'm sorry I triggered everybody with that clip, but Becky in particular. I think I took the wind right out of your sails. I am fuming. What did we just read in Romans chapter 12?

It doesn't reflect what Judah Smith was teaching at all. Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse them. So even if you could say, I don't believe it's real. But even if you could say that America's police radically oppress African Americans.

The statistics don't support it. But let's say that that cultural narrative that's going on right now is true. Biblically, you should still be blessing them and do not curse them. And Jesus said in Matthew chapter 5 that you are to love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

So here you have a pastor who is encouraging people to do the opposite of what Jesus said toward those whom they believe are persecuting them, even though that's not the reality. That's absolutely nonsense.

And this is coming from the biggest pulpits in America. Judah Smith is not the only one. I heard, oh, what's that guy at Hillsong? I don't know. Hillsong, New York. He's the one that with Oprah had denied that Jesus was the way, the truth, and the life.

I can't remember his name now. Anyway, it's escaping me. I've mentioned it before, but somehow his name isn't coming to me at the present. Oh, you've got it? Hang on. It's coming up. Carl Lentz. Carl Lentz.

Yep, it's him. Yep. He's the guy. So he said it too. You had to Google it just so you know. He's he's talked about it also. And I've heard it from guys even within the Southern Baptist Convention about the importance of black lives matter.

Don't say all lives matter because we all believe all lives matter. But right now, black lives matter. This is this is a ridiculous narrative. That's why it's dominating absolutely everything. And you're saying we can't focus on anything else.

Not even cops who lose their lives or business owners who lose their business in this senseless rioting and looting until we get this right. Even though you can't even you can't tell us what the end game is.

Yeah. When do we get to the point where black lives matter? Like where does that end? It doesn't. Nope. There's no conclusion to this. There's no grace in this. There's no forgiveness in this. No. What are the sins that we're asking to be forgiven of?

They're all based on assumption. They're not based on fact. They're not sins that I've committed. I'm not going to apologize for sins that I haven't done. We are cheapening grace and we are cheapening a right understanding of homardiology, which is the study of sin.

We are weakening these things so that no one really has a true understanding of your sins and your responsibility to what you have done.

I mean, are they coming out with this like from the perspective of like Christians mainly? Are they coming at this from the perspective of, you know, because Adam sinned, everybody of his seed has sinned, you know, is born a sinner.

So, therefore, we do have to pay reparations for ancestors. I mean, if that's the case, we might as well ask for forgiveness for all of our sins. Everybody should be asking for forgiveness for all of our sins.

Clear back to Adam.

Well, Ezekiel 18 says that if your father had committed iniquity, but you don't repeat the sins of your father, you don't pay the sins of your father. There you go, people. That's where you can go and find that passage.

Where is that? Ezekiel chapter 18. There you go. I did a what video on reparations where I talked about that. So, if you look up, if you go to YouTube and you type in WWUTT and then the name of any topic, you'll find the video on that.