Latest / Journey Elgin / After the Message 10/19/26-Summing up "We are in the End Game Now" Series-Part 1

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After the Message 10/19/26-Summing up "We are in the End Game Now" Series-Part 1 · Journey Elgin

• riverside phillip journey church of e: Hey, good to see you today. My name's Philip Thomas, pastor of Journey Church here in Elgin. This is Tom Burns with his ministry redeemed idiot. And we are actually here for our After the Message podcast. We've been doing this for a while. we're getting getting back going. Tom was a you know, a couple miles away a across an ocean, and maybe in more than one ocean. you know, there's there's a f few few few to to hop over to get get there, but he's back with us, and so we are Kind of the point of the after the message is just kind of looking at what we talked about on Sunday and and and just kind of reflecting a little bit on it. hopefully it's it's something that is beneficial. I one of our points of doing this is I think it's important for for us as Christians to every day be intentional about our walk with Christ, right? you know, whether you know, some people will do that in the morning and just read a little bit of scripture. That's a good way. There are multiple ways to do it, but we need to be intentional. And so we're just hoping this is another tool for for you to to further your relationship with Christ. so today we're gonna kind of do a a big picture. if you've been following along for the last, well, it we counted as like 15 weeks or something ridiculous. we I I started this series called we're in the end game now. and It and I kinda knew where I wanted to go with it and then it kind of morphed over time. But I'm looking at it all the messages. They actually there's there is kind of a progression to it. You know? so we're just gonna kinda sum up this series. So so let's start with the the name of it, right? And is that we're in the end game now. I usually don't I I spend very little time on any kind of titles on messages or series or anything. But this one it kinda came to me that I was like, you know, it's kind of provocative, right? It it hopefully gets people interested. so what do you think about the just the whole title of we're in the end game now? I liked it. 'cause I think 'cause you you're you're talking a lot about end time things, things we're going through now, and you even bring up things with revelation, but you're not tying it into the concept where the end times now, like we're in the tribulation. Yeah. I think it really like a the end of a football game or you know, you kinda get into the end of the game, the game's not over yet. Right. You know, and so I think is I think your titling was good. It doesn't suggest something weird or try the ribul the the tribulations here and the rapture's gonna happen next week and all that other stuff. So but I think at least it's very open and very generic in a way like you 'cause you talk you talk a lot about the things that are happening today and how it kinda is leading to things that are not so good, but I I think the title was good. You didn't create that And times. Yes, yeah. And that's the we we we are we try to to walk a a fine line and be wise in how we're doing it, right? you know, because you here's the reality is you you can actually preach the scripture and technically never apply it to what's going on in the world today, right? And you can still teach some really good stuff, right? We can teach some good theology, we can learn a lot about We can teach a lot about who Christ is, how he desires for us to live. That that's all good and we need to have that. However, I I feel one of the things that the church in general has lacked is that practical application of, no, let's look at what's going on in the world today. How do we view it through a biblical worldview? and and And that's that's kind of what I'm trying to do here with trying to make sense of the world because the world has drastically changed, especially in our culture, over the last fifteen years. I mean, y you can just go y whether it's political, cultural, you know, through Hollywood, you know, a pop culture mindset. They are radically different beliefs from just fifteen, twenty years ago. Yep. and and so it's like, okay, how do we make sense of this from a biblical perspective? Right. and so that and and I was using a pop culture reference, the end game is actually the Avengers, right? If you're Marvel cinematic, you know, with Iron Man and and all of those, right? So like there's the a scene that I can't even remember who it is 'cause I I'm not a complete geek, but I'm I'm close, right? But he's the wizard guy and and and he's he's actually seeing all the different ways this is gonna work out, right? And so the the guy is Thanos is the villain and he's basically he he's eliminating half of the population in all the universe, right? in order to save the universe, right? Kind of he's a you know, super villain, he thinks he's he's he's a a climate guy, right? is kind of the way I I look at it. Okay. But that's what he was wanting to do, right? And and he actually achieves it. because the the wizard guy and I'm going completely blank. People anybody watching this is yelling at me, especially if Wes is watching. But he he can see all of these potential outcomes and there's only one that actually works, right? Where they're gonna be able to defeat the the evil villain. And he says, We're in the end game now, right? And so there's still a lot to happen, right? The there's still a lot of battle to to go in order to achieve success. but the end game has begun. And and so I I fully believe that is that the end game actually began when Christ came out of the tomb, right? There's still a lot of battle to happen. And and we've seen throughout history how the church has grown and has battled pagan beliefs, has battled demonic influence, right? and and we're still in that battle, but we're clearly much closer to the end now than we were at that point, right? Just just just obviously. Absolutely, yeah, yeah. So so that that's kind of where. How how is that possible? Captain America, dude? Like Captain America, he inspired the troops in World War One or World War Two and stuff. You're in are yes, yes. Not really, but in this guy a real guy. I guess I never talked to him. It's a shame because Superman. Yeah, no, no, no, no. No, this th that's that's a different superhero group. This is you know, that's that's D C comics. We're talking about Marvel comics. See the difference? my gosh. There there's people yelling at you right now. So what Batman, Robin, Superman or Those are those are D C and Marvel is endgame. Yeah. So you gotta get it get it straight here. See You didn't know we were gonna have a pop culture conversation here, right? I just thought they were all just comics. no. And they're not even comical. It's a good point, right? There's a lot of death and destruction in these comics. All right, all right, all right. Back back on. So so that that kind of set the premise, right? And and then I went to kind of just just trying to to figure out what's going on. And and so I I I talked about you know and I had a s a sermon titled Are the Old Gods Back, right? And and kind of looking at the influence of of the old gods, especially in the the Old Testament. It specifically mentions like Molech, Asherah, Asherah, right, and Baal, right? Those were gods back then, right? And and when the people of of Israel started following those gods, calamity came. I know it's it's hard because I I've wrestled with this, but I believe that the the inspiration behind those gods is kind of a demonic spirit, if if you will, right? A demon whether it's an influence or or or whatever. Well I think those same influences, we're seeing a rise today. Right? So in a sense, it's the same influences of those gods. We don't use the the names of them, but we're seeing that today. Does that does that make sense? man, yeah. When you said definit there's no way you can't say it's demonic. Well, I guess somebody could, but when you are burning your babies in a bowl, a brazen bowl. Yes. So you can have better crops the next year. That's what Molak was. Yeah. And that literally was happening. This is historical. And that did happen. Yeah. Just south of Jerusalem. They were still burning babies in this this pit that actually comes from the word we get the word hell from. But that was still even happening even after Christ time. Yes. And I'm like, that has got to be demonic. Nobody burns their babies. Yeah. No but I need better I need more corn here. Yeah. And and here's the the tough part, and I I get it, is that we we're civilized now, right? Quotes civilized. and so we've sanitized all of that. You know, we live in a culture because we are do have now two thousand years of Christian influence, we s hear something like that and we're repulsed. The the the most the most godless person you can imagine in this country would be repulsed by that, right? Because you're like, why would you ever do something like that? However, how many babies that would have been babies have n not been born because we've chosen to end their life, right? Through through abortion. And I and I, you know, again, we can we can talk about abortion. We we need to have understanding of what brings someone to make that decision and we need to to do all we can as a society to to help people not feel like they have to get to that decision, right? So we can have all that, but it when it comes down to it, abortion is the the sacrificing of a of a baby for whatever reason. That's that's a benefit to to to the mom and the to right. And and so the influence, while it's not as grotesque as burning a child, I think that same spiritual influence that would lead to people being okay with that is the same spiritual influence that leads people to be perfectly okay with abortion. I agree. if we when you say not as grotesque, now I'm I'm not a big social media person believing everything I see, but I have seen some of these YouTube videos of what it looks like when they abort a child. And it's not like it's they put a injection up there, the baby dies, they gently move it out. Especially the later you get. Yeah. It's it's that's pretty grotesque. I mean that's that's my opinion. Yeah. The way they accept it up and do the things. It is. I and you're right too that, you know, just like we talked about Malek and and and the burning of the babies in the bull back then, they did it for a reason. They didn't cause they what they didn't do 'cause they hated the baby. Right. is like how can I the benefit you get from it, like I use the the the thing of crops. Yeah. You know, that 'cause that's how you made money. You need a good crop so you can sell, you can eat. So that was a as an example, you could burn your baby that to Malek, like, hey, I want to need good crops next year or whatever. Well the mother of that child today is doing the same concept is like, well, if I'm pregnant, then I may not be able to date. I may lose my job. Mm-hmm. and that that's a real thing. You know, I mean if you're an employer, you know, you're looking at People gonna be employed all the time, every day, week after week of months after months. Like, okay, she's gonna probably gonna need like six weeks, eight weeks off plus her pregnancy, then she's gonna miss work because a babysitter doesn't show up. I mean, from an employer standpoint, it it's it's the I understand the mother's point of view is like, I'm gonna lose money, it's gonna be harder to live. I get it, but they're using it for their benefit. Or, okay, after the baby's born, like, man. I gotta get him to school, I gotta do all these things. I still wanna live my good life, have fun. I understand the concept of where that comes from, but it is for a benefit. Yeah. I'm gonna have to sacrifice or let this thing go, kill it, so that my life is better. Just much like back then, my life will be better if I burn my baby in a bowl. Yeah. and I I'm not I wouldn't suggest that they're that the mother's trying to be demonic, going, No, no, no, Malek or Satan, please, I'm gonna kill this thing for you. It's it it's a personal benefit. And that's that it's good that 'cause I and I try to share this. One of the reasons I think and as a church we've we've struggled with this because now we live in a a culture that it is accepted, and you know, and and then goodness, it has become political, right? And so everybody always gets in their camps. But I I believe that these old gods, these spiritual things have been working to deceive, right? And we're gonna get into that. Well, I think we have been deceived to making it sound like abortion is just it's just a simple thing, right? It's just a medical thing. All right. Well, there are a lot of women who have been deceived, who have made those decisions and I believe are hurting inside. Guess what? God wants you to be made whole again. And the only way is not to just expand abortion care, right? So try to convince society that there's nothing wrong with it. No, it's actually repentance. And it's coming before God and saying, I I was deceived. I I failed, as all of us have in different ways, right? And and and then you can actually receive full redemption and healing, right? And and then you can know that, no, that that baby, that God God has that baby. It's it's gonna be okay. But for you here in this world for for a woman to be healed from that, it has to come from Christ. And and we can't just pretend that, no, it's fine, just just do it. It's just a medical procedure. Right. That I believe is part of the deception of the old gods. Yeah. Right. And so y you know, then there's a couple of other old gods 'cause sometimes we get on abortion and we get stuck on that. Well, Baal was was all about power. Wealth, right? So sacrifices to to Baal. you mentioned the bull. That was a connected with Baal. what what in our in our financial center of our country is Wall Street, right? What is literally on the on the street is a huge bronze bull, right? Now now it's because it's a bull market or a bear market, right? So a bull market is when the market is strong. It's a financial thing. And a bear market is when the you know it's it's not as good. So that's why they put I don't think the people who put that there were like, ooh, this is the symbol of Jalal. However, it's it is interesting those connections, right? And d do we worship the market here in our country? Yeah, we do. Right? Yeah, that's why Islam decided to take the Twin Towers out. It no that it it was i yes, because what they wanted to hit was the two t the twin towers, those are our financial center, right? The Pentagon, which is our military center, and either the Capitol or the White House, I've kinda heard government. But but but our government, right? And and so yes, though we have to be careful of worshiping finances, worshiping money. What is the root of all evil? the love of money, right? We and and that makes sense that there's going to be those spiritual forces, if you will, that are pushing us that direction. Exactly. and then the last one was a sh a shara, right? That's a very sexual god goddess, right? You know, we're we're not gonna go down all of this, but d I I don't think anyone can say you are are we Are we sexually confused in our country? I would say one hundred percent, right? Like w we've we've we've moved well in some people's mind, we've we've moved from a real prudish society, right? If you go back to the you know eighteen hundreds, you know, women you can't even show your ankles and all of this stuff. We've which was probably too far that direction, right? We've moved from from that to now. Let let your freak flag fly, right? Do whatever. Well, I don't I don't think that's a good thing. And and if you look at how that goddess was worshipped, it was very sexual. There was homosexuality involved. There was actually transgender type stuff involved, right? So none of this is new that we're seeing. Right. We're just seeing a rise of it in in our specific culture. Exactly. Right. All right. Anything else on the old you kind of that old gods coming back? I know this is can be a hard concept to for people to to grasp, but I think it's important to try to kind of understand. Wait, d these are the things that Christianity pushed out. And now because we are moving away from Christ as a culture in many ways, it doesn't mean every person, but just generally speaking, well. What's gonna fill that sp space? Well, it's the old gods are returning. And they just look a little bit different. We call the same way, but the principles behind them are one hundred percent there. No, I agree. And it's you know, I mean I know people probably listening or hearing will probably try to picture these things in their heads, like these literal god things. And they're non existent. it's what they're worshiping that ideology behind what they represent. Yes. So and that's why I mean you're using the term gods, that's that's perfect, but it's not like women that are having abortions are out there are worshipping Mullock. That's not that's not the concept behind it. But the idolatry or the ideology behind it and the killing of the of the of the of the babies, if you will, is still the same concept, just has a different face to it. We just call it something different. That's right. And I think before we start this, you you taught me something I didn't know. that how It can be the same thing but look different or has have a different name. Cause we were talking about like Woodrow Wilson. You were talking about that whole thing and then and this isn't like a a a spiteful thing out on political. I'm not making this political, but like you mentioned, originally those the Democrats on that side there were they were considered progressive. They call themselves progressives. And then that wasn't working out too well, so they changed their terminology to now it's Coming back to being progressive again. But it's the same thing since Woodrow Wilson. Yeah. So kind of the same thing here. It it it's still the same thing, just with a different name. Yes. But but what's happening physically is still happening regardless. Right. No, that's exactly. So it so I hope that that kind of makes sense. So so I I think it's important for us to start understanding where we are in twenty twenty six to to in order to make sense of the world. Right. And so Because it doesn't make sense. Right. And and and so the next next Can I say something like that? Yeah. Because you on the beginning what you did say, so the set the making sense. You're making sense of the world and and and whew. So we kind of talked about this. The thing of making sense of the world is that that concept there, that's why you bring the biblical world kind of thing up. And you mentioned at the very beginning about how pastors or other churches kind of like there's some issues going on. And every culture, every religion, every country does look at the world as being messed up. Yes. Everyone does. No one disagrees with that. No one's going, well maybe if you're living in Aruba or something and it's like the I think your your point is very needs to be understood that that how to Try to understand this. There was someone who kind of pointed out and wrote it down like this is what it's going to look like someday. Yes. And you're bringing that up. It's not from a political point of view. That that actually that's why the Bible actually it helps validate it. Yes. Because how can things that are written two, three, four thousand years ago be actually coming to fruition today? And this wasn't Nostradamus, this was just God slash Christ. Here's how it's gonna be, be prepared for it. And you're bringing that out. And we all agree that the world is messed up. Yeah. And it's hard to understand. Yeah. that's why everybody hates each other and all the countries fight. And everybody wants the money. I go, we got to be in power because who knows what's next. Yeah. No, that's that's you know, and and understanding, and I I think having that b whenever I say biblical worldview, that's that's what we're trying to look through that lens of of understanding and and and recognizing, wow. the the the things that the Bible said were going to happen, I I can see how they're going to happen. And and we kind of especially yesterday really got into that a little bit more specifically. And this isn't to scare us, it's to prepare us and to to be able to make sense of what's going on so that we can do our job, which is to point people to the light. Who is the light? Jesus Christ. Right, exactly. That that's really all all it is, but trying to be very intentional about applying our biblical world view to what's going on. And that I think that's so important because let's just talk it in the global the global picture of the world, you can ask any country, any religion, any whatever you want, the why, and all they're gonna do is point fingers at someone else. Yes. You know Iran thinks the world screwed up because of the US or Russia. And I mean everybody points a finger some At something. And the funny thing is, they're all correct. Right. So literally everything is screwed up because every country and every political leader and everything that's going on is causing these problems. But there's no specific answer as to why. Yeah. Well, that's the point you come across the biblical view. It's actually giving the answer, not just pointing fingers, it's like, here's why, guys, I'm telling you, beware, be prepared. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah, because ultimately it's all because of sin. It's because of our fallenness. It's because we are we are all capable of being idolaters, right? And putting our trust in something other than Jesus Christ. And and what we're seeing in our country today is we put trust in all kinds of different things. Maybe we put trust in our political leadership, maybe we put trust in our how our country was was set up and and and we should be engaged in all of that stuff. We should be. But our trust and who we worship has to be Jesus Christ. Right. And he has the scriptures lay out that, hey, in this world you're going to have trouble. Right? Because of because of sinfulness, but he is going to return and he's going to make it make all of this you know, make it right again. and that's we need to know how best to engage the world. So we need to know what's going on. And that and that kind of leads right into the next message I went through, Jeremiah twenty nine, right? For I know the plans for you, plans to prosper you, not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Right. We love that verse, right? Which it's great verse. How however you look at the context, the people are in exile. They're not even they've been ripped from their homes and then they've been told what some were trying to tell them, hey. Don't worry, you're gonna come back. God's gonna rescue you, right? and God was like, Jeremiah, tell them, poor Jeremiah, talk about a bad gig, right? It's like just just tell them how wrong they are all the time, right? And Jeremiah's like, all right. And and so guys like, no, they're stuck there now. They had plenty of warning, they didn't turn back to me. This is the consequence, right? And and so it's it's really it's a powerful message because that verse is in context of the people being in exile and before it God tells them, Hey, you you need to gr grow your family. You need to participate in in your the world that you're in, which was not a godly world. It was an extremely pagan world. And God is telling them, No, plant roots, grow Grow crops, engage in the government there, right? For the good. Bring bring good into where you are. And then he says, I know the plans I have for you. So his plan was for them to prosper and to do what was right, even though they were in a culture that was godless. Well, we're kind of in that spot, right? Our our culture sadly is moving and and there's lots of measures that you can use to to prove this out. We are becoming less godly, right? And and so we're kind of in that place now. And and I think it's important for us to recognize we we can't just stick our head in the sand and just hope that it all changes. No, we need to start prospering. We need to start sharing the the true message of of Christ to help this culture as much as possible. even though you know, it sometimes it's it doesn't look too hopeful, right? Does that does that make sense? Is that do do you think that's where we are? No, we are. And I think what we can see in this country where it's very profound because pretty much probably everybody in this country, I mean I can't speak for every single Loving Soul, because we have some really weird people out there, bad people. But and I mean that in an extreme way, is that everybody in in this culture, well, pretty much around the world for the most part, you believe in family. You know, blood relatives, mommy, daddy, son, daughter, grandma, grandpa, all those things. But and it wasn't very many years ago that was a pretty much of a strength of this country. But now, because of simple thing called politics, it's now dividing and creating families are being divided. Divided. Yes. and you know, different things happen to different people in different families. I mean, it goes as far as suicide. You know, is it and it it's allowing something pol politics and politicians and leaders to influence it such an extreme way that we'll hate somebody in our family. It's our blood that either we've raised or has raised us or we lived our lives with brother or sister, it doesn't matter. That has got to be kind of a cue where you sit back and go, What's that? What the heck? Why am I so engaged in politics to the point that allow it to divide me from someone in my family? and I'm I'll be honest. I mean, I used to pay I allowed politics to really kind of influence me in a feeling toward people. and it still does to an extent, but I'm not gonna let it separate me from people I care about. I mean, I'll just it's it's not that important, you know. we can have conversations. Yeah. But that that shows our culture's definitely gone in a weird way when we let humans by election become almost godlike. Well and follow these people. And if you don't, then that other person's they don't use we don't use the word demonic, yeah, but is evil or wrong. It's like they're both still wrong in many ways, but don't let it destroy the family and the love that we're supposed to have for each other that we used to have in this country. And that and that's one of the things that we and we'll talk about. is just the different ideologies that we need to be aware of, you know, things like that that we're seeing play out in our culture. And and because if you remove God, right, something will take that place. Something always will be worshipped. And and as we've kind of moved God off to the side and and you know, kind of viewed it as, no, this is just more personal. Well, many people have now replaced that with a different type of God. And government easily steps into that role. Right. And then so if if that becomes essentially your God, you are going to hate people who disagree with you. Right? Because because you think you're worshiping the one true, true God through this government, right? And so people who don't, they are the enemy. Right. And and so all of a sudden you start looking at someone who disagrees with you on something very minor as the enemy. And and I believe all of this is part of you know, the the plan of, you know, I if you will, Satan's plan, right? That that kind of moving us away from from God is to to get us focused on other things. Yeah. And and that's what we're seeing. And so that Jeremiah 29 is kind of saying, hey, keep your focus on me. I'm not going to take you out of this mess, but you're gonna have to choose to live for me where you are. And that's We need to recognize we're in a different culture. We're in a different place. And it's not just gonna get magically fixed and and go back to whatever your view of normal was. That's not gonna happen. So now we have to choose, you know what? I'm gonna understand this culture. I'm gonna try to bring a biblical worldview into it and I'm gonna share, you know, share Christ in this culture. even though it's not a culture I want to be in anymore. Right. Right. And and and that, you know, that that's kind of the the foundation of this whole series is is recognizing that's where we are. And so that next message went into deception and how many scriptures there are throughout all of Old Testament and New Testament about being where aware of those who are trying to deceive. Right. And and And I I think, you know, what does that mean? What does it mean to deceive? I think it's anything that tries to to pull us away from our focus on Christ and Christ alone. Mm-hmm. Right? So so so deception can can have many, many faces, but it's but it that's ultimately what it's trying to do, is to pull us away from Christ or start start changing who Christ really is. Right? But but what are I mean, what what are the deceptions that you see out? What do you think just in a cultural thing? I mean that's a a broad broad wow question. I mean are you well we look at this from like the biblical standpoint? Well what do you want from this we go deep down this rabbit all man we could. So here here's H here's a subtle one. Okay. Here's something subtle. So you know the the passage that where Jesus says, here are the greatest commands, right? Love God and then love others, right? Right. And then that even becomes kind of a bumper sticker, right? well there's the order of that is very important. We first love Christ. We love him and and we see the world through the way that he has taught us to see the world, right? Which it lays out here are the things that are right, here are wrong, here's how you live in response to Christ, right? Right. If you elevate love others above loving Christ, then you you quit speaking truth to people because it makes them feel bad. And you become the And it this is a very s very fine line, right? But if all of a sudden we don't stand up for what is right and and and and I think that's why we're where we are today, whenever a kid comes and says, You know what, I think I'm a different gender. And rather than standing up and saying, No, wait, God created you to be a male or a female, what's going on that makes you think differently. Let me try to help you through that. we have decided, I think, by elevating to love others, we're like, is that what would make you happy? Well, you know what, I'm supposed to love you. So I'm going to be supportive of you, making this major change because that that's what's going to make you happy. And we've kind of defined love as just, you know, supporting people and affirming people in in whatever they want to do, right? Right. That's that's a subtle deception that all of a sudden look at I mean we're we're confused on everything now. And you see it even within churches, right? So so those are the deceptions I think that are the most dangerous. I agree. And I think we're twenty six. Was that gone? When did you say anyway, about a year ago. Can't remember. But you actually taught on this a little bit. And I think actually a lot of it. I think the word love is not fully understood what love is. And and you had a teaching, and I think where we we confuse love, we confuse it with empathy. And empathy doesn't necessarily the same thing as love. No. And that mess I'm now I'm I'm I'll let you elaborate on that because that's that's the point. What the things you're describing is just being empathetic to someone's feelings. As opposed to projecting love of what they need and what is right. Yes. Yeah. No, I think that and and it's we should have empathy for people. Right. But empathy is understanding how someone got to where they are. It's it's it's understanding relating to that. Yes, but we don't allow that to override what is true. Right. We as as people who follow Christ. We should desire for people to to recognize who they are in Christ, right? And and that sometimes that means there's behaviors that are not godly. They do not follow what Christ has laid out for us. And it doesn't mean we're mean about it. It doesn't mean that we don't accept people. We accept people for who they are as being created in the image of God, right? But it is ridiculous to think that we can affirm clearly ungodly behavior and think that that's going to be better for people. Right. It's not. And and if you truly love someone, you want what is best for them. Right. Right? But but we live in a world where truth doesn't matter anymore. It doesn't. you know, in that is as as we, but most of right now as you talk and you've even preached on that aspect, and as we're discussing right now, we're one side of even the church. Yes. and I say that because it it I feel no. The church in general, a lot of it and a lot of them has really turned to a very empathetic ear, an empathetic eye. And they've kind of kind of messed up that word love. And so as you're speaking this, people go, No, no, no. Empathy and love's the same thing because this church over here, they do this, this, this, and this. So we're following that. So it looks like on the outside it's something godly or something correct in that empathetic context, but that's not actually true because it's not what Christ actually defined or what love actually is. Yeah. So So citizens, people of this culture can actually look to the church and get support biblically as they think it's biblical, going, I'm demonstrating love. so you want to be a little girl. Yeah. Yeah, okay. Well, let me get you a dress. We'll go talk about operations, get you injections and shots and hormones and all this stuff because I feel what you're saying. Yes. And there's churches out there, a lot of the churches kind of like empathizing that, making that empathetic, and you as a parent. Be empathetic to the feelings. It's not about feelings, it's about that truth. So it makes it tough when you're saying this, people shouldn't go, hold on, no, no, the Bible says this because someone else said this. Yeah. And that's not speaking the truth. And and and you know, and and I mean, you know, you look at like Jesus, how he treated the woman at the well, right? And and she is living a s very sinful life, right? And and we can be empathetic, and Jesus was, right? He He knew all of that stuff. And yet he was extremely kind to her. He welcomed her. He opened up the conversation, right? And and and she never she didn't fully tell him all the the bad stuff that she had done, right? Right. And and so but what does what does Jesus do? He offers her you know, true water, right? The and and and at the end of that. you know, she's just amazed because he tells her, Yeah, hey, I know how bad you are. Right? I know you're you're you're not living the life that I created you to live. Right. Right. so he says, What? Go and sin no more. Right? So there was an expectation that she changed her life because she has now been introduced to Jesus Christ and she's recognized who he is. And that her identity is rooted in him. So therefore, her li her actions will change, right? We we need to to present the gospel in that way. Yes. But our culture has made it to where if we do that, if we if we even have an expectation that, hey, you your life needs to change, well, you're not very loving to me, right? So so we're caught in a tough place and churches it's it's tough to do this because I mean we have had people come that that dressed completely different. They were welcome to come to church here. but whenever we kind of said, No, you you can't come to the women's Christmas party right because there is a distinction between men and women. Right. Right. Well, they quit coming, right? That was not our intention. I d wasn't doing that. It wasn't hateful speech. But no, we are we are going to stand up for what is what is right. And and the transgender thing is just the most obvious, right? Right. issue on this where we see what's happening in the world. And I but I think it's just it's been a a long train of deceptions, right? Exactly. That have led us to this this point. and it and it is It is so, so challenging. And and we're we're gonna do this one in two parts. So so I wanna end on this this was about the sixth message. So I talked about the old gods coming back. I talked about how we need to recognize where we are, right? just like in Jeremiah, that we are no longer in the culture that we thought we were. We we are in a more pagan society, right? And and so we need to understand that. we need to be be careful of all the deception that is out there and stand up for what is true. And and then I started looking at Joshua and where Joshua talks about being strong and courageous, right? Because what is he having to do? He's gonna be bringing the people into the promised land, right? They are going to be entering into full pagan territory, right? And and and it's not going to be easy. and and you know, sometimes we kind of look at it as, well, God just opened the door for them. He, you know, h helped them to walk across the Jordan River. He did all these amazing things with the walls of Jericho. And God did. God God was behind all of that. But guess what? People were dying in that process. yeah. Right? It it was not gonna be easy. And and they tried to do some things on their own and they they lost, right? and And I think those words that that God gave to to Joshua, I think it's like three or four times just there in the first chapter of Joshua being strong and courageous. Right. man, we need we need that more than ever in order to truly engage in the world, right? what what just any of your thoughts on on the the comparison there of Joshua going into the the promised land, you know, facing something very uncertain. Do you see the comparison between that and where we are today? yeah, definitely. And it it's probably harder for those that are truly trying to f follow Christ in this society and not just like blend in with the crowd, but actually be a voice. And and that vo and the thing is that voice is not a voice of hate or or or Like being arrogant. The voice is one of caring and love. The understands, like, hey, there's something better for us beyond this. And those people, they want you to find that. And which poses the question I'm just going to throw this guy. I know why it just hit me in the head just now. To anybody listening and anybody out there, why do you hate Jesus? Yeah. I mean, because all it is is like follow Jesus. Why do you hate him? What what what's what's the bad side to Christ? I don't I I mean, why do you hate him? Because that's all they're trying to do is teach you about this guy. And I'm I'll say guy, I'll try to keep even in a human point. Yes, he came here and he showed love and he did all these things and he was crucified. Okay, even if you don't believe he rose from the dead, okay, fine. Why do you hate this guy? Because there's nothing even historically this guy was a bad guy. You know, so and he taught a lot of great things. And even Islam itself that doesn't believe that Christ. Is God or that he rose from the dead and all that. I mean, they even recognize that Christ was a great guy. They don't hate Christ. They love him. They think he was a good dude. So why do you hate Christ? When someone's teaching you these things on just to have more of a Christ life, and the thing is, it's not to be judgmental. It's not what is. It's actually about the expression of love. But then on the flip side, also like there is something coming. And then you started this thing off. Look at the world we're living in today. You You I I cannot fathom in any way, shape, or form, forget the Bible for a second, that somehow this world is gonna flip in a better way. Yeah. It's only progressively gotten worse throughout history. And it's keeping it. Just watch the news. That something there's gotta be a point, a a point, not I'm not talking about the movie, but a point break. Yeah. A break that this breaks and something terrible's gotta happen. So that's what people are trying to and you're trying to and I'm trying to and and those that are in the world are trying to express that they're getting hated on, like be prepared. Look, and there is this guy named Christ that does love you. And yes, he is God. So why do you hate him? And why can't you just take the moment and go, what is the truth behind this this the this Christ guy? He's not hurting you. And it's and it's the it's the full truth of understanding the full truth of who he is. And and that's the one of the challenges is is I think we do have a lot of people who think they are believing in in Jesus and they love they enjoy the loving side of Jesus, right? Just just care for people, don't be judgmental, all of this. But there is also the other side of Jesus. right? the that he is going to come back and he is going to hold people to account. And there is a separation, right? you know, one of the big deceptions that I I think is out there is that that all all roads lead to the same God, that that all you know, all of this, you know, I mean there's even a lot of within Christian theology of moving away from the concept of hell or a separation from God. I I think that's very dangerous, right? Because the thing that people ultimately don't like about Christ is that He is the only way, right? And and that That comes across as very exclusive, right? Even though it's open to everyone. and and what we are entering into a time where living the life that that Christ has called us to live is completely countercultural and puts a target on you because you you do stand up against some of the cultural things like No, we don't need to be teaching our children that they can be multiple genders. No, we don't need to be teaching the these things, right? And that all of a sudden that's going against the culture. And and for us in our in in the United States, this is it is starting to get harder to to hold on to those true biblical principles. And one of the ways that sometimes we handle this is we just we focus inward. We just focus on our church group. we just we stay in the circles that still agree with us, right? and then some even go a step further and just kind of put their head in the sand to what's really going on around around us. I think God has called us to do what Joshua did, right? To actually go into the the the the pagan culture and to to stand up for what is right. But in order to do that we have to be strong, right? What is strength? We have to know what is true, right? To stand for what is true. I think that's kind of what the being strong in this situation. It's not that we need to have the best weapons or anything like that, right? Right. It's no, we need to be strong, know who we follow, know who is the truth, and be willing to stand up for that truth. But then that's great. But if you're not willing to live that out, if you're not willing to share that, even when it's uncomfortable. It doesn't really do much good, right? So we have to be courageous. We have to be have enough courage to stand for what is true even when the culture around us is denying it. And and I I think that's where we are. We're in the end game now, where there has been a time for in our culture, you didn't really have to be all that strong or courageous to live a Christian life, right? No, yeah, yeah. Sure, go ahead. That's no no problem. It doesn't affect me, right? We are an individualistic society, so you do you, and I I'll do me, right? Well, now that's starting to change and and truly standing up for what is true, what is right, j just like we've we've hit on topics of abortion, we've hit on topics of transgenderism, of sexual ethics, of finances, right? The world our culture is going the wrong direction on those things. Right. And so so it's it's making it much more of a distinction when you try to stand up for what is is right. And so we need to be strong and courageous, because it's it's not getting any easier. And it it's not going to, right? It's it's only going to get more difficult. But the reality is is the darker it gets, the brighter the light of Christ also gets. And and he has called us to be that light until he comes again. which he he will. He will come again and he will make this right. But until that point, we need to be strong. We need to be courageous so that we can share that light in in the the craziness of the world that we're in. So well let's let's stop there. It's about fifty minutes, so yeah. That's not not too bad. I I again I hope really a lot of this we're talking about big picture stuff here. We know that. I just want to get you thinking, th just recognizing what's going on in the culture around you. Ask God for wisdom, for him to guide you, to lead you, so that you can bring that light into the dark world. Let's do the job that Christ has called us to do. Let's be the church. Right? And until he he comes comes back. We we need to be t telling people about the redemption that is found only in Christ. So you can find this on YouTube, Journey Church of Elgin YouTube page. we have a an app, just search for Journey Elgin Church. That app is so easy. It it it yeah, cause really and and we have an after the message you know media page and you can go and and find this. or I think it even shows the latest thing that we update. So, you know, it's just right there. hope that that's beneficial. We'll have part two of this, that'll probably drop later this week. but hey, go and be the light that Christ has called you to be. Thanks for joining us. Yeah. Mm.