Handling Disunity on the Sidewalk (Part 1)

WEBVTT 1 00:00:02.000 --> 00:00:07.870 I Am Yours, I am yours, I am yours and me, Lord. 2 00:00:08.310 --> 00:00:12.390 I welcome to the Gospel Center pro life podcast. This is part one 3 00:00:12.429 --> 00:00:16.230 of a two part episode about this unity on the sidewalk at the abortion center. 4 00:00:16.469 --> 00:00:19.309 This is a really important subject, so stay with us for this episode 5 00:00:19.429 --> 00:00:29.059 and for next week's episode. God bless Lord. I felt show passish touch 6 00:00:29.539 --> 00:00:41.329 your heart. Use Welcome to the Gospel Center pro life podcast. Guys, 7 00:00:41.369 --> 00:00:45.770 we appreciate you joining us. We appreciate you guys listening to these podcasts and 8 00:00:46.649 --> 00:00:52.240 appreciate sharing these podcasts. Appreciate that you guys share these podcasts and they're really 9 00:00:52.280 --> 00:00:56.920 designed focused on encouraging people who are on the sidewalks out their abortion center. 10 00:00:57.600 --> 00:01:00.960 But the hope is that they'll reach people who are maybe doing ministry and a 11 00:01:02.000 --> 00:01:04.629 pregnancy center, people who are maybe praying about doing ministry on the sidewalk, 12 00:01:06.069 --> 00:01:08.950 whatever context you're involved in, speaking for those who can't speak for themselves, 13 00:01:08.950 --> 00:01:14.150 speaking for the preborn. We won't encourage you guys, but this podcast is 14 00:01:14.269 --> 00:01:18.430 going to be particularly focused on those who are on the sidewalk and it's going 15 00:01:18.430 --> 00:01:22.780 to be talking about unity. Now these principles apply. I would say to 16 00:01:23.379 --> 00:01:27.299 any ministry that you're involved in, there's always the potential for DIS unity with 17 00:01:27.420 --> 00:01:30.620 people. Any relationship on usly, Oh yeah, not even ministry, any 18 00:01:30.859 --> 00:01:34.890 human relationship there sideways the potential for disunity. Well, I mean I was 19 00:01:34.969 --> 00:01:41.090 just having a conference session with one of my sons last night about some disunity 20 00:01:41.250 --> 00:01:45.370 within our family at little contention between him and his brother. So disunity is 21 00:01:45.450 --> 00:01:48.560 a reality. It is that we all have to deal with, but especially 22 00:01:48.599 --> 00:01:53.480 in ministry, and I would say in particular ministry on the sidewalk at an 23 00:01:53.480 --> 00:01:59.959 abortion center because, like we say, the abortion issue is the devil's pride 24 00:01:59.959 --> 00:02:02.030 and joy right, and when we come against that, the devil is going 25 00:02:02.069 --> 00:02:07.349 to try to do everything he can to divide and conquer and to distract us, 26 00:02:07.389 --> 00:02:10.469 to get us focused on other things rather than what's going on inside of 27 00:02:10.550 --> 00:02:14.789 that place. And so we've got to be real cautious, we've got to 28 00:02:14.870 --> 00:02:17.259 be real. I mean we should not be ignorant of Satan's devices. I 29 00:02:17.379 --> 00:02:22.340 got to be really cute into what the devil does in bringing this unity out 30 00:02:22.379 --> 00:02:24.419 there. So we're going to talk about this unity, we're going to talk 31 00:02:24.419 --> 00:02:30.050 about how we can strive for unity out there and you know, just kind 32 00:02:30.090 --> 00:02:32.090 of set the stage and many of you guys know if you're at an abortion 33 00:02:32.169 --> 00:02:38.090 center, you guys are involved in ministry out there and you see there's different 34 00:02:38.129 --> 00:02:44.289 groups, right, there's Catholic groups, there's Protestant groups, there's pro abortion 35 00:02:44.400 --> 00:02:46.919 people, for sure, we're certainly not unified with them, but there can 36 00:02:46.960 --> 00:02:51.400 be different Protestant groups that are out there. They could end and there can 37 00:02:51.439 --> 00:02:53.639 be some contention. And listen, over the years, I've been doing this 38 00:02:53.759 --> 00:02:57.120 for like fifteen years, I've seen a lot of contention, I've seen a 39 00:02:57.199 --> 00:03:00.710 lot of disunity and I seen a lot of things that don't honor the Lord 40 00:03:01.310 --> 00:03:05.069 as it pertains to Ministry at an abortion center. So we're going to talk 41 00:03:05.069 --> 00:03:08.789 about that stuff and hopefully encourage you guys and give you some of our experiences 42 00:03:09.469 --> 00:03:13.259 and some of the principles that the Lord has shown to us. And so 43 00:03:13.340 --> 00:03:16.620 let's jump into it. Yeah, and you're on a public sidewalk if you're 44 00:03:16.620 --> 00:03:21.139 in front of an abortion center, and so you can't just say go home, 45 00:03:21.500 --> 00:03:23.259 you're not as good as we are. Yeah, we know that's always 46 00:03:23.300 --> 00:03:28.370 true. Yeah, but we still can't say all right, we're kitting so 47 00:03:29.530 --> 00:03:34.810 so our way of doing things we can't enforce right with other groups that are 48 00:03:34.849 --> 00:03:38.169 out there, and I think it's one of the biggest issues that we have 49 00:03:39.090 --> 00:03:43.840 heard from new missionaries. Yeah, there's all this division, there's obvious this 50 00:03:44.000 --> 00:03:50.879 unity, and it never really promotes the goals of the mission, yeah, 51 00:03:50.919 --> 00:03:54.520 or of the ministries. So it's definitely something worth talking about. Yeah, 52 00:03:54.599 --> 00:04:00.669 figuring out is their biblical help and in how to deal with this issue, 53 00:04:00.750 --> 00:04:04.669 and fortunately there is. There is, there's a lot of biblical principles things 54 00:04:04.830 --> 00:04:10.419 and there's some one story in particular, which you have here in this wonderful 55 00:04:10.460 --> 00:04:13.340 article that you put together, that you wrote, like you often do, 56 00:04:14.379 --> 00:04:16.139 and you guys know, the story of Paul and Barnabas. Yeah, how 57 00:04:16.259 --> 00:04:20.100 things went there. Yeah, probably one of the most famous examples biblically of 58 00:04:20.660 --> 00:04:27.129 disunity between two Godly and yeah, right, yeah, absolutely. So let's 59 00:04:27.129 --> 00:04:30.129 jump into that story again. We kind of set the the stage for you 60 00:04:30.250 --> 00:04:32.370 guys and kind of just what we're talking about. In particular. We're talking 61 00:04:32.449 --> 00:04:39.680 about different pro life groups and let's talk in particular about groups who are maybe 62 00:04:39.759 --> 00:04:44.199 theologically aligned with one another, because there is again, there's Catholic groups out 63 00:04:44.240 --> 00:04:50.000 there and there's obviously theological differences between us and the Catholic groups, but there's 64 00:04:50.279 --> 00:04:55.350 groups that are of the same theological stripe, so to speak, or at 65 00:04:55.350 --> 00:04:58.870 least, you know, Evangelical or Gospel Centered. And yet there can still 66 00:04:58.870 --> 00:05:01.310 be some contention. That certainly was the case with Paul and Barnabas, right. 67 00:05:01.709 --> 00:05:05.670 They were proclaimers of the gospel of Jesus. Yeah, and and yet 68 00:05:05.709 --> 00:05:11.899 there was some contention there. Yeah, I know, just like, as 69 00:05:11.980 --> 00:05:15.620 far as you know, you got the Arminian and the calvinist. There can 70 00:05:15.660 --> 00:05:18.300 be some contention there and people. I've seen people and listen, I've fallen 71 00:05:18.740 --> 00:05:24.410 pray to this myself and arguing theology out there on the sidewalk. So I'll 72 00:05:24.449 --> 00:05:28.370 just say right away one of the principles is keep the main thing, the 73 00:05:28.490 --> 00:05:32.170 main thing. Right. Yeah, that's focused Ed, maybe focused on want 74 00:05:32.209 --> 00:05:36.279 while you're out there, on what's actually happening in front of you. We 75 00:05:36.399 --> 00:05:42.079 can listen. I'm a theology Geek. I Love Talking Theology. I'm pretty 76 00:05:42.079 --> 00:05:46.600 well versed in theology, I guess, to some degree, but there's a 77 00:05:46.680 --> 00:05:49.589 time and a place for it. Yeah, and out there on the sidewalk 78 00:05:49.629 --> 00:05:53.790 where they're murdering babies inside of that building. To me is not the time 79 00:05:53.870 --> 00:05:56.750 of the place for it. It's more to put that right out there. 80 00:05:57.230 --> 00:06:00.589 But let's jump into this story. If we can real quick with Paul and 81 00:06:00.629 --> 00:06:01.910 Barcauls, I think it would be good, and then it at the end 82 00:06:01.990 --> 00:06:05.060 of the article and at the end of our podcast we're kind of going to 83 00:06:05.220 --> 00:06:12.060 discuss what the takeaway from that article. Yeah, or from that that passage 84 00:06:12.100 --> 00:06:15.620 of scripture. But I think it's a really good passage for us to begin 85 00:06:15.939 --> 00:06:21.370 because it really sets the stage for what disunity can look like. Yeah, 86 00:06:21.490 --> 00:06:26.449 yeah, yeah, I agree. And so this is a acts, Chapter 87 00:06:26.569 --> 00:06:30.610 Fifteen, and start in verse thirty six, and I've got the new King 88 00:06:30.649 --> 00:06:33.600 James Bible here it says. Then, after some days, Paul said to 89 00:06:33.720 --> 00:06:38.759 Barnabas, let us now go back to visit our brethren in every city where 90 00:06:38.800 --> 00:06:41.480 we have preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing. 91 00:06:41.879 --> 00:06:45.279 So he's he's telling Barnabas, Hey, man, let's go back and check 92 00:06:45.360 --> 00:06:48.069 on those people that got saved and those churches that were established, where the 93 00:06:48.350 --> 00:06:53.509 and noble goal. Yeah, absolutely, okay. Now, Barnabas was determined 94 00:06:53.550 --> 00:06:56.829 to take with him John John called Mark. So this is the guy, 95 00:06:56.870 --> 00:07:00.149 apparently, that wrote the gospel of Mark Actually. But Paul insisted that they 96 00:07:00.189 --> 00:07:03.860 should not take with him the one who had departed from them and Panphilia and 97 00:07:04.699 --> 00:07:08.379 had not gone with them to the work. So he's like, we shouldn't 98 00:07:08.379 --> 00:07:10.860 take this guy with us. He had deserted them once. He let it 99 00:07:11.060 --> 00:07:13.939 yeah, let them down. Yeah, and so Paul was like, man, 100 00:07:13.980 --> 00:07:16.529 I don't want this guy with us because he deserted US last time. 101 00:07:16.569 --> 00:07:20.689 He's might do it again again. A valid Y, absolutely okay. And 102 00:07:20.769 --> 00:07:26.250 then the contention became so sharp. So there's contention there that they parted from 103 00:07:26.290 --> 00:07:30.360 one another. And so Barnabas took mark and sell to Cyprus, but Paul 104 00:07:30.480 --> 00:07:33.600 chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God, 105 00:07:33.759 --> 00:07:40.160 and he went through Syria and Cecilia strengthening the churches. So there was 106 00:07:40.240 --> 00:07:43.560 some contentions, okay, and there's and and even yet division. They went 107 00:07:43.639 --> 00:07:47.029 their separate ways and and my version says there were wrote of such a sharp 108 00:07:47.230 --> 00:07:51.910 disagreement. I think years was two different words. But but so they're there 109 00:07:53.029 --> 00:07:59.259 was certainly discord contention between these two godly men. Yeah, with with one 110 00:07:59.379 --> 00:08:03.019 purpose there. Their purpose was that the Gospel would go forth. Right. 111 00:08:03.220 --> 00:08:07.100 Absolutely, they had very they had sharp disagreement, about which I mean these 112 00:08:07.139 --> 00:08:09.779 were not two men that were stuck on kind of building their own kingdom, 113 00:08:09.779 --> 00:08:13.250 right, you know, they were building the Kingdom of God. Yeah, 114 00:08:13.290 --> 00:08:16.970 and yet there were still some contention there. And so, yeah, both 115 00:08:16.050 --> 00:08:20.290 of these men, I would say without a doubt, had pure motives. 116 00:08:20.610 --> 00:08:22.410 Yeah, they wanted to do the right thing, they wanted to bring glory 117 00:08:22.490 --> 00:08:26.199 to the name of Jesus, right, but there was some contention, especially 118 00:08:26.240 --> 00:08:30.240 over mark, in allowing mark, John Mark, to be a part of 119 00:08:30.519 --> 00:08:35.519 the party there. And so these guys part ways and, like I said, 120 00:08:35.960 --> 00:08:39.840 in this version, verse thirty nine, it says then the contention became 121 00:08:39.960 --> 00:08:43.029 so sharp. There was, you know, the Bible kind of holies, 122 00:08:43.110 --> 00:08:46.190 this sharp contention. This is not just a lighthearted little bit of a tussle 123 00:08:46.190 --> 00:08:50.230 or whatever like that, right, this was a sharp contention that and and 124 00:08:50.269 --> 00:08:54.389 we're not going to yet go into what happened as result of that contention. 125 00:08:54.429 --> 00:08:56.299 We're going to save that for the end. But there's just because there's so 126 00:08:56.379 --> 00:09:00.259 many valuable lessons in that. But the first thing, I think, is 127 00:09:00.340 --> 00:09:03.139 just to take heart. If you are facing contention on the sidewalk. I 128 00:09:03.259 --> 00:09:07.779 think we all shrink away from that and say we got to solve but we 129 00:09:07.820 --> 00:09:11.210 got to get rid of it, and maybe there is a reason for it 130 00:09:11.330 --> 00:09:13.769 being there, and that's I think what we want to do is kind of 131 00:09:13.850 --> 00:09:22.690 delve into the sources and the issues around that contention. That maybe can help 132 00:09:22.809 --> 00:09:28.519 us to be better ministry out there. Yeah, so I think it's in 133 00:09:28.600 --> 00:09:33.440 all cases, it is always best kind of identify your terms. So identify. 134 00:09:33.879 --> 00:09:41.870 The first thing when you're facing contention is to identify the main factors that 135 00:09:41.909 --> 00:09:48.269 are causing this disunity. Yeah, and that's important. I think often our 136 00:09:48.309 --> 00:09:52.580 first responses I'm right and they're wrong. Right, and that's that's what's us. 137 00:09:52.899 --> 00:09:56.379 Yeah, there's contenting because they're in the wrong. That's right, and 138 00:09:56.500 --> 00:10:01.539 it seems like Paul may have been taken that that perspective. It does, 139 00:10:01.899 --> 00:10:03.460 and so we're going to say we're going to first of all point out I 140 00:10:05.139 --> 00:10:09.210 came up with seven that I have personally seen that I believe or the causes 141 00:10:09.570 --> 00:10:16.649 of contention. Yeah, and the first one is territorial tendency. Yes, 142 00:10:16.690 --> 00:10:18.690 yeah, you know what I mean by that. I know exactly what you 143 00:10:18.769 --> 00:10:22.440 mean by that, and you know, even myself experience that because I've been 144 00:10:22.480 --> 00:10:26.759 out here at the latrobe abortion center myself for fifteen years. Yeah, it's, 145 00:10:26.799 --> 00:10:31.200 I feel like side exactly. I mean I feel like that sometime they 146 00:10:31.320 --> 00:10:37.669 when somebody knew comes along. I'm kind of territorial actually, and not because 147 00:10:37.110 --> 00:10:41.269 it's my ministry or the sidewalk belongs to me or anything like that, but 148 00:10:41.470 --> 00:10:45.629 because I've seen some people come along and create problems. Yeah, and so 149 00:10:45.669 --> 00:10:50.259 I understand that territorial tendency. However, I have to remind myself that it 150 00:10:50.379 --> 00:10:54.179 is a public sidewalk and it doesn't belong to me. Right. And one 151 00:10:54.259 --> 00:10:58.179 thing that I've shared with you, I thought was a pretty cool phrase that 152 00:10:58.299 --> 00:11:01.779 the Lord dropped into my heart, is don't try to control things of which 153 00:11:01.820 --> 00:11:05.809 you have no control, or you'll find yourself responsible for things of which you're 154 00:11:05.809 --> 00:11:09.009 not responsible. Right. So if I try to control that sidewalk, right, 155 00:11:09.090 --> 00:11:11.809 and I have really no control, as much as I want to pretend 156 00:11:11.850 --> 00:11:13.370 to have control over that song, I really have no control because it is 157 00:11:13.409 --> 00:11:16.409 a public sidewalk. Yeah, but if I start trying to manage people that 158 00:11:16.490 --> 00:11:20.279 are not under my charge. I'm not talking about people who are volunteers of 159 00:11:20.399 --> 00:11:24.440 love life or anything like that, because I certainly do have at least some 160 00:11:24.519 --> 00:11:26.919 authority over that. But people just come along. If I try to manage 161 00:11:26.919 --> 00:11:31.759 that, I'll find myself just trying to herd cats or something. I'll find 162 00:11:31.799 --> 00:11:35.509 myself responsible because if I'm managing people are trying to oversee people that I'm not 163 00:11:35.909 --> 00:11:39.470 in charge of and they start doing things that are just completely off the rails, 164 00:11:39.909 --> 00:11:43.750 then I've got to give an account for that. Right and kind of 165 00:11:43.870 --> 00:11:46.659 on the flip side, this has happened to me before where I am territorial. 166 00:11:46.860 --> 00:11:50.379 It's like, okay, well, I know what we do is effective, 167 00:11:50.539 --> 00:11:56.100 and so you people get in line and listen, and I have been 168 00:11:56.139 --> 00:12:01.809 humbled by them doing something so well and so right that that you know, 169 00:12:01.649 --> 00:12:09.370 you see a baby saved. And so that territorial nature can work against you 170 00:12:09.730 --> 00:12:13.929 and and dampening the spirit of people who really are called by God. Yeah, 171 00:12:15.009 --> 00:12:18.480 subsolutely there. Yeah, so that's first of all, can identify and 172 00:12:18.679 --> 00:12:22.799 be aware. Are you being territorial, or maybe is are you the new 173 00:12:22.919 --> 00:12:28.039 person and it's the group that you're coming alongside? Being territorial? It's just 174 00:12:28.200 --> 00:12:33.149 good. First as a basis to understand. If that's the case. Okay, 175 00:12:33.230 --> 00:12:39.669 the second one and insistence that one approach is superior. Yeah, none 176 00:12:39.669 --> 00:12:45.340 of us do that. Well, I do feel like we've done podcast about, 177 00:12:45.779 --> 00:12:50.019 not bragging but just honoring what the Lord has done. We've learned a 178 00:12:50.139 --> 00:12:56.340 lot. We've learned what is effective. We've learned some pretty effective and well 179 00:12:56.460 --> 00:13:01.009 balanced methods to reaching abortion minded MOMS at an abortion sir. I think we 180 00:13:01.090 --> 00:13:05.009 have a very good balance of grace and truth. We don't compromise the Gospel, 181 00:13:05.049 --> 00:13:09.929 but we're not just out there just yelling at people and calling a murderers 182 00:13:09.970 --> 00:13:13.039 or whatever, although we don't back away from saying that abortion is murdered. 183 00:13:13.120 --> 00:13:15.960 We certainly are more than willing to say that. Yeah, but I think 184 00:13:16.000 --> 00:13:18.519 we have a good balance and I think, like you said here, I 185 00:13:18.759 --> 00:13:24.480 think personally that our approach is superior. But again, I have to remember 186 00:13:24.039 --> 00:13:28.149 that's from my perspective, right, right. If I would think that only 187 00:13:28.230 --> 00:13:33.429 my approach is superior, only my approach is effective, then I'd really get 188 00:13:33.470 --> 00:13:35.389 into an area of pride and that's something to have to let the Lord keep 189 00:13:35.429 --> 00:13:39.750 me save me from. Really is getting into pride, because God can use 190 00:13:39.750 --> 00:13:43.220 all kinds of people. There's no like perfect method. And now I will 191 00:13:43.299 --> 00:13:50.100 qualify that to say that God's method, the biblical method, is the best. 192 00:13:50.500 --> 00:13:54.899 Right. And so we need to get the methods that we employ from 193 00:13:54.980 --> 00:14:00.649 the scriptures. But even from the scriptures there's different method is, different perspectives 194 00:14:00.730 --> 00:14:03.970 to come from. Right. I will say, though, it all needs 195 00:14:03.009 --> 00:14:07.169 to be censored in the Gospel. Yeah, it does. And the other 196 00:14:07.289 --> 00:14:09.919 thing, though, we if there's this an insistence that your approach is superior. 197 00:14:11.000 --> 00:14:13.919 That's very off putting. Yeah, to to other grips. It instantly 198 00:14:13.039 --> 00:14:20.159 puts someone's hackles up if they're sensing in in any of US pride as opposed 199 00:14:20.159 --> 00:14:26.789 to a true desire to to just have a unified goal in reaching the the 200 00:14:26.870 --> 00:14:31.950 unborn. So so the third one, and I'm very important, do you 201 00:14:33.110 --> 00:14:39.379 have differing goals out there? Yeah, and so the the the one thing 202 00:14:39.419 --> 00:14:43.179 I thought of right away was the evangelistic approach versus the prophetic approach. Both 203 00:14:43.259 --> 00:14:48.740 God the groups that maybe are theologically in the same place, but their goal 204 00:14:48.980 --> 00:14:54.690 out there is different, right. Yeah, so can you kind of expect? 205 00:14:56.049 --> 00:14:58.210 Yeah, so, and that's I guess I kind of laid that out 206 00:14:58.370 --> 00:15:03.889 in times past in some of our trainings. Just thinking this thing through and 207 00:15:03.009 --> 00:15:07.320 just from observation, I see really two different ministries that take place out an 208 00:15:07.320 --> 00:15:11.639 abortion center. I see the Prophetic Ministry, which is just the way I 209 00:15:11.720 --> 00:15:16.360 say it is. We're called to deliver God's mail, right, we're called 210 00:15:16.440 --> 00:15:20.519 to deliver the truth. Yeah, the prophetic kind of angle just delivers the 211 00:15:20.600 --> 00:15:22.029 mail, puts it on your doorstep, could care less whether or not you 212 00:15:22.110 --> 00:15:26.549 open it, and that's valid. That's delivering the mail. It's bringing the 213 00:15:26.590 --> 00:15:30.669 truth, bringing the reality that abortion is murder, that God loves these babies, 214 00:15:30.750 --> 00:15:33.269 that he has a good plan for these children. But the prophet just 215 00:15:33.350 --> 00:15:37.659 kind of delivers the mail. Yeah, where as the evangelist, I look 216 00:15:37.659 --> 00:15:41.500 at Philip, the evangelists, and was it acts chapter eight where he meets 217 00:15:41.500 --> 00:15:46.419 the Ethiopian Eunuch, you know that story, and he perceives that this guy's 218 00:15:46.500 --> 00:15:50.970 reading from Isaiah and he walks alongside and so, like the male's delivered, 219 00:15:52.090 --> 00:15:54.570 he's actually walking alongside and trying to help this man open the mail. So 220 00:15:54.690 --> 00:15:58.769 it's like evangelist separately and read it probably and understand what's being said. Yeah, 221 00:15:58.929 --> 00:16:03.970 and so that's kind of the role of a sidewalk counselor. Yeah, 222 00:16:03.169 --> 00:16:08.559 now, I don't say that to like invalidate either ministry. I don't. 223 00:16:10.279 --> 00:16:14.240 Maybe maybe I do have more of a tendency toward the prophetic ministry, toward 224 00:16:14.320 --> 00:16:18.080 the in your face and just just coming at it and who cares, what 225 00:16:18.240 --> 00:16:19.149 are the you know whether I'm not. You deliver the man and see. 226 00:16:19.149 --> 00:16:22.629 It's be my natural tenanty. But personally, what I've seen and when I 227 00:16:22.710 --> 00:16:27.029 believe to be the most effective is the evangelistic type of ministry where I'm actually 228 00:16:27.389 --> 00:16:30.590 trying to take time, get a mom to come over and talk to me, 229 00:16:30.789 --> 00:16:33.899 do a oneonone conversation with her or with a dad and really open the 230 00:16:33.940 --> 00:16:37.019 mail and see what God's plan is for her and for her baby. But 231 00:16:37.100 --> 00:16:41.220 again, I'm not invalidating the Prophetic Ministry. I've seen it be very effective. 232 00:16:41.220 --> 00:16:45.500 I've seen baby safe. I mean probably hundreds, maybe thousands of babies 233 00:16:45.539 --> 00:16:51.490 that have been saved because there's somebody on the sidewalk with that prophetic angle that's 234 00:16:51.610 --> 00:16:55.330 just preaching the Gospel, just preaching the truth about what abortion is and what 235 00:16:55.450 --> 00:16:57.610 it does and God's love for these MOMS are for their babies and I've seen 236 00:16:57.649 --> 00:17:00.840 baby safe from yeah, so I don't invalidate you the ones, but I 237 00:17:00.960 --> 00:17:06.440 do think that we need to understand that there are different modes and types of 238 00:17:06.519 --> 00:17:10.720 ministry that are biblically valid that take place in front of an abortion center, 239 00:17:10.759 --> 00:17:14.240 and so finding out truly, I think asking questions of that other group. 240 00:17:14.359 --> 00:17:17.509 What are your goals? Be Very direct. What are your goals out here, 241 00:17:17.589 --> 00:17:22.269 because you probably will hear the prophetic voice give a different goal than the 242 00:17:22.390 --> 00:17:30.339 evangelistic voice. Yeah, so I think it's really important to delineate what the 243 00:17:30.380 --> 00:17:33.099 goals are different groups that are out there. All Right, here's here's one 244 00:17:33.140 --> 00:17:37.220 that really it's an issue of the it has to be dealt with. Yeah, 245 00:17:37.819 --> 00:17:44.059 and that's faulty or differing theology. Now, different theology? Of course, 246 00:17:44.220 --> 00:17:48.890 we would not be out there proclaiming the theology we proclaim unless we believed 247 00:17:48.890 --> 00:17:52.009 it was true. Yeah, and so if someone comes with the different theology, 248 00:17:52.490 --> 00:17:56.410 that would be of concern for US absolute, but even of greater concern 249 00:17:56.849 --> 00:18:04.240 would be if you here just out right faulty or twisting of truth. Yeah. 250 00:18:04.279 --> 00:18:10.160 Yeah, and you personally said I was going to share some some personal 251 00:18:10.200 --> 00:18:15.069 experiences there there is a time to divide or disunify. In one sense. 252 00:18:15.069 --> 00:18:18.869 I still do think, though, like we're I'm not a Catholic. I 253 00:18:18.990 --> 00:18:23.910 have some some deep problems with Catholic theology, but I still am not going 254 00:18:23.910 --> 00:18:26.940 to stand on the sidewalk in front of the abortion center and argue with the 255 00:18:27.019 --> 00:18:32.099 Catholics, because it's not a good look if we're trying to convey to a 256 00:18:32.220 --> 00:18:36.900 mother that we have help available to help calm the chaos and confusion in her 257 00:18:36.980 --> 00:18:41.299 life and yet we're on the sidewalk putting forth an air of chaos and confusion. 258 00:18:41.690 --> 00:18:47.450 It's not helpful. Right now. I've had conversations with with Catholics on 259 00:18:47.569 --> 00:18:51.369 the sidewalk about theology and all that, but always make sure there I'm not 260 00:18:51.769 --> 00:18:56.359 getting some contentious argument. I have good relationship with them. I certainly can 261 00:18:56.519 --> 00:19:00.240 respect the Catholic Church's commitment to be out there on the sidewalk. Yep, 262 00:19:00.400 --> 00:19:03.640 to be faithful out there. I mean in the reality to the Catholic Church 263 00:19:03.920 --> 00:19:07.880 has put the Evangelical Church or Protestant Church to shame. Yes, as far 264 00:19:07.880 --> 00:19:11.589 as the issue of abortion and dealing with that issue. So that's that's that's 265 00:19:11.710 --> 00:19:15.470 one thing. So but even even, maybe even a step further than that, 266 00:19:17.230 --> 00:19:21.269 because we're not necessarily unified with the Catholics in the sense that we're in 267 00:19:21.309 --> 00:19:23.819 the same ministry or whatever. There can still be a sense of unity where 268 00:19:23.819 --> 00:19:26.740 there's not content. But there has come a point. I don't know. 269 00:19:26.819 --> 00:19:32.420 At one point we had a group of family of Mormons that came out on 270 00:19:32.539 --> 00:19:36.980 the sidewalk, okay, and if you know anything about Mormon theology, it 271 00:19:37.539 --> 00:19:44.049 is abhorrent. It is ridiculously abhorrent and not in line with the scripture at 272 00:19:44.089 --> 00:19:48.769 all from beginning to end. And there did come a point where I had 273 00:19:48.849 --> 00:19:51.970 to be contentious and I had to tell him, listen, you're you're not 274 00:19:52.089 --> 00:19:56.599 welcome to come out here and try to have any air of connection with us 275 00:19:56.640 --> 00:20:00.720 right because I don't want to put forth any kind of approval of that, 276 00:20:00.839 --> 00:20:03.079 that false theology and some of the things that can be conveyed to that. 277 00:20:03.559 --> 00:20:10.390 But even in that situation I didn't do it loudly and obnoxiously. I addressed 278 00:20:10.430 --> 00:20:14.430 it in a oneonone sort of scenario. And so, like you said, 279 00:20:14.670 --> 00:20:17.430 the theological issues, they need to be addressed, yeah, but there's a 280 00:20:17.470 --> 00:20:19.390 gracious way to address them. So that we're not putting forth an air of 281 00:20:19.589 --> 00:20:25.460 disunity, because the reality is, from the view of a mom going into 282 00:20:25.460 --> 00:20:29.500 an abortion center and she looks out on that sidewalk, she sees one group. 283 00:20:29.700 --> 00:20:33.019 She didn't see to do three different groups. You didn't see Protestants and 284 00:20:33.140 --> 00:20:36.970 Catholics and this group in that group. She sees us all as one group. 285 00:20:37.009 --> 00:20:40.450 Right, and even though it's not true, we have to understand from 286 00:20:40.490 --> 00:20:45.569 that perspective and we have to act based on what's what's being put forth right, 287 00:20:45.609 --> 00:20:48.049 and that certainly can work against us. For example, our approach I 288 00:20:48.130 --> 00:20:53.799 would call gentle. Yeah, and truthful, but but gentle. And we 289 00:20:55.160 --> 00:21:00.720 have other groups that have come out that are much more aggressive and we don't 290 00:21:00.880 --> 00:21:07.829 really want to be lumped in with them because we feel it it keeps people 291 00:21:07.950 --> 00:21:11.670 from coming and talking to us. So it's I'm not saying this is not 292 00:21:11.750 --> 00:21:17.029 a difficult issue to deal with. It is, but I think the first 293 00:21:17.029 --> 00:21:19.740 step in dealing with it is figure out. So what's the cause of that 294 00:21:21.339 --> 00:21:26.299 disunity and if it's faulty or different theology, that's a big it can become 295 00:21:26.339 --> 00:21:30.819 a major issue and it's good to understand that. That's what's causing the division 296 00:21:30.819 --> 00:21:34.890 out there. Okay, here's when the differing motivations and I listed as some 297 00:21:36.089 --> 00:21:38.130 specifics, just off the top of my head, of different motivations for why 298 00:21:38.210 --> 00:21:41.730 people out there. Some people are out there because they are in a pro 299 00:21:41.849 --> 00:21:45.210 life ministry and they need a good story for fundraising. Yes, seriously, 300 00:21:45.250 --> 00:21:48.440 I mean we've seen that, so we know that that happens. Some are 301 00:21:48.519 --> 00:21:53.759 out there because they know that those people are lost and their primary motivation is 302 00:21:55.240 --> 00:21:59.720 save those souls. Yeah, bring Jesus Christ and the such of salvation to 303 00:21:59.799 --> 00:22:03.029 them. Some are out there because they really did their primary motivation is there 304 00:22:03.069 --> 00:22:07.190 are babies that are dying by the dozens or more every day and we are 305 00:22:07.309 --> 00:22:11.349 called to do something about that. Yeah, so they're out there to deal 306 00:22:11.390 --> 00:22:15.380 with that. Some are out there that are truly seeking favor with God. 307 00:22:15.539 --> 00:22:21.460 They're out there because they think if they do this good work they're earning their 308 00:22:21.500 --> 00:22:23.339 way to heaven. Some are out there out of guilt, yeah, with 309 00:22:23.539 --> 00:22:30.289 pasted abortions or whatever. So the motivation that brings people out there can sometimes 310 00:22:30.569 --> 00:22:37.289 cause division because their methods are sometimes at odds. But if their motivation is 311 00:22:37.410 --> 00:22:44.089 one that is suspect, that can immediately cause nition. Yeah, yeah, 312 00:22:44.089 --> 00:22:48.079 I've seen people over the years who come out because maybe they've had an abortion 313 00:22:48.160 --> 00:22:52.400 in their past and they want to save the women that are going into the 314 00:22:52.440 --> 00:22:56.799 abortion center from the destruction that was wrought in their life, and I understand 315 00:22:56.839 --> 00:22:59.950 that right. But they might come, and this is what I've seen a 316 00:22:59.990 --> 00:23:03.109 lot of times, people that are motivated by that. They will come in 317 00:23:03.309 --> 00:23:07.109 kind of an angle where these poor innocent women are victims of their circumstances and 318 00:23:07.309 --> 00:23:11.190 I need to come and save them and I know how because I've been there 319 00:23:11.230 --> 00:23:15.180 and done that. Right, and it's really if you bully it, bull 320 00:23:15.299 --> 00:23:18.099 it down. It's a selfish motivation. Yeah, we always say our primary 321 00:23:18.180 --> 00:23:22.220 motivation must be a love for God. Now, should we love people and 322 00:23:22.259 --> 00:23:26.779 should we want to save them from the destruction that we've been involved and yeah, 323 00:23:26.779 --> 00:23:30.049 absolutely, but that desire should flow out of a love for God first, 324 00:23:30.369 --> 00:23:33.490 because if it's a love for people first and want to rescue these poor 325 00:23:33.569 --> 00:23:36.609 innocent people, I mean one of the things is you're going to find out 326 00:23:36.650 --> 00:23:40.210 real quick these women are not poor, innocent victims of circumstances. We did 327 00:23:40.250 --> 00:23:45.000 a whole podcast about that some months ago. Yeah, many of these very 328 00:23:45.039 --> 00:23:48.440 dissolutioned and dishearten. Yeah, if you think that they're just wounded victimson, 329 00:23:48.640 --> 00:23:52.559 you just need to just provide the right banding. Yeah, and you can 330 00:23:52.599 --> 00:23:55.750 make them well. All they need is is you to come and rescue and 331 00:23:55.829 --> 00:24:00.390 save them. The fact is that these women, for many of them, 332 00:24:00.470 --> 00:24:03.190 are not victims but victimizers of their children. Now, certainly, like our 333 00:24:03.230 --> 00:24:07.470 podcast said, about victims, there are some that come that are victims and 334 00:24:07.509 --> 00:24:11.099 ultimately all of us are victims of believing the lives of the devil and of 335 00:24:11.180 --> 00:24:14.859 our own sin. Yeah, but I say that to say that if our 336 00:24:14.940 --> 00:24:17.700 motivation is we're going to come and we're going to save the world through our 337 00:24:17.819 --> 00:24:21.859 awesome approach or whatever, it's just a wrong motivation. We've got to be 338 00:24:21.980 --> 00:24:26.329 motivated by love for God first, and so differing motivations can cause conflict. 339 00:24:26.329 --> 00:24:29.369 Yeah, now, we're not saying and we're not going to solve all of 340 00:24:29.450 --> 00:24:30.930 this in this podcast. We're not saying we have the solutions for all of 341 00:24:32.009 --> 00:24:34.089 the these things, even though we're we are going to be talking about solutions. 342 00:24:34.210 --> 00:24:37.049 Yeah, but we need to be aware of these things so that we 343 00:24:37.089 --> 00:24:40.680 can bring these things before the Lord as those who are going to try to 344 00:24:40.720 --> 00:24:44.119 minister effectively out there. We want to be aware of what are some of 345 00:24:44.200 --> 00:24:47.680 the issues of contention, some of the things that can bring this unity out 346 00:24:47.680 --> 00:24:51.000 there. Yeah, and wrong motives can be that and we have to judge 347 00:24:51.039 --> 00:24:53.150 the motives their own heart. Right, Bible says if we judge ourselves, 348 00:24:53.269 --> 00:24:56.910 will not be judged of God. The first finger need to be needs to 349 00:24:56.950 --> 00:24:59.990 be pointed at us make sure our motive is pure. Yeah, they we're 350 00:24:59.990 --> 00:25:03.190 out out there out of a love for God first, and then out of 351 00:25:03.230 --> 00:25:07.109 that flows a love for our neighbor and we kind of lay out a progression, 352 00:25:07.180 --> 00:25:10.099 not that some people are more valuable than others, but the way we 353 00:25:10.259 --> 00:25:12.380 think of it's okay, we're out there for God first, then the babies 354 00:25:12.740 --> 00:25:17.299 and then the moms and then the dad's and then the workers, and so 355 00:25:17.380 --> 00:25:19.420 we have this kind of progression and amount it helps us to keep our focus 356 00:25:19.579 --> 00:25:22.410 where it needs to be. Right, right. Yeah, so definitely. 357 00:25:22.529 --> 00:25:27.250 And when you're examining motivation, check your own motivation first. That's really valuable. 358 00:25:27.369 --> 00:25:33.490 Yeah, because you can expose your own motivation being off. If it's 359 00:25:33.569 --> 00:25:37.839 off, you need to correct yourself first, for you try and correct everybody 360 00:25:37.880 --> 00:25:41.200 else's innovation. So we've been accused of kind of the the latter point that 361 00:25:41.279 --> 00:25:44.880 you made here. Yeah, the we're out there to seek favor with God. 362 00:25:44.920 --> 00:25:48.359 We're out there to whatever, earn points with God or whatever. Such 363 00:25:48.440 --> 00:25:51.430 good Christians. Yeah, proven it, or we want to try to make 364 00:25:51.470 --> 00:25:53.750 ourselves better Christian or whatever. You know. Yeah, get more points with 365 00:25:53.869 --> 00:25:57.549 God, Brownie points or whatever. Yeah, and that's just not true. 366 00:25:57.549 --> 00:26:02.950 Yeah, I already have favor with God, like, I'm already in. 367 00:26:03.349 --> 00:26:07.500 I don't have to get in to Christ, I'm already in. Right, 368 00:26:07.700 --> 00:26:11.779 I'm out there serving. I love him and show my love for him through 369 00:26:11.140 --> 00:26:15.099 the works that I do, because he first loved me and it's an outflow 370 00:26:15.099 --> 00:26:18.369 and that should be our motive, our motive to be a pure motive in 371 00:26:18.410 --> 00:26:22.410 the sight of God, should be one of I love him, but because 372 00:26:22.410 --> 00:26:25.170 he first loved me, right, and I'm out here just to display his 373 00:26:25.329 --> 00:26:26.569 love, the love that he's shown to me, to these MOMS, to 374 00:26:26.690 --> 00:26:33.279 these babies. Yeah, yeah, okay, pride or lack of love for 375 00:26:33.400 --> 00:26:37.519 others. Yes, Christ loves US GOES RIGHT INTO WIT. What. Yeah, 376 00:26:37.559 --> 00:26:42.400 we're you were just saying that Christ loved US first. And if we're 377 00:26:42.440 --> 00:26:49.309 out there because we think we're so wonderful, which pride, arrogance, well, 378 00:26:49.990 --> 00:26:59.589 that's not reflecting what Christ would have us do. Yeah. But if, 379 00:26:59.990 --> 00:27:03.380 if lack of love for others as Christ has loved us, can make 380 00:27:03.420 --> 00:27:10.299 us look at others that are out there as lesser beings, and that can 381 00:27:10.380 --> 00:27:14.900 be very that can create disunity. If if we start named calling other groups 382 00:27:14.940 --> 00:27:19.730 or start labeling other groups, has just worse. Yeah, in any way 383 00:27:21.450 --> 00:27:25.130 that can cause disunity because they're going to perceive that you're going to know that 384 00:27:25.210 --> 00:27:27.769 that's how we feel about them. Yeah, whether we outright say it or 385 00:27:27.849 --> 00:27:33.599 not. So, so be careful to check our own pride. Yeah, 386 00:27:33.640 --> 00:27:37.440 and are we loving others out there as Christ loves them? That's that's, 387 00:27:37.480 --> 00:27:41.119 I think, a critical point. Is there anything you want to add with 388 00:27:41.319 --> 00:27:45.190 no? No, okay. The the next one, I think, is 389 00:27:45.190 --> 00:27:47.950 one of the most important. Okay, because I think it's it's one of 390 00:27:47.990 --> 00:27:56.630 the hardest sometimes to truly discern. Is it truly disunity or is it diversity 391 00:27:56.109 --> 00:28:00.980 of spiritual calling and gifts? Yeah, and I think we'll go back later 392 00:28:02.099 --> 00:28:07.019 to that Paul and Barnabas passage, because I think that might be an example 393 00:28:07.220 --> 00:28:14.210 of not true disunity but diversity. Yeah, and diversity is good. Yeah, 394 00:28:14.289 --> 00:28:18.529 absolutely critic and it kind of hearkens back to that whole idea that there 395 00:28:18.569 --> 00:28:22.170 are two kinds of ministries that take place and we don't want to think just 396 00:28:22.569 --> 00:28:27.440 because our ministry is what we're involved in and anything else is invalid. We 397 00:28:27.920 --> 00:28:32.839 have to understand there are diverse gifts in the body of Christ and we even 398 00:28:32.880 --> 00:28:37.559 see that within our sidewalk counselors. I mean we train them right, we've 399 00:28:37.599 --> 00:28:41.789 trained them, we've trained them all that have come through, but there's some 400 00:28:41.109 --> 00:28:45.069 that are more gifted in they've taken certain areas of the training and applot it 401 00:28:45.470 --> 00:28:49.710 more than others have. And so, for example, you might have people 402 00:28:49.829 --> 00:28:55.190 in their diversity, that are more likely to be effective in calling out to 403 00:28:55.309 --> 00:28:56.940 the MOMS going in and others who are more likely to be effective in a 404 00:28:57.019 --> 00:29:00.660 one on one conversation. And that's just a little picture of diversity. Had 405 00:29:00.740 --> 00:29:06.940 One of her more shy, quiet, very reserved sidebalt counselors, brand new, 406 00:29:07.019 --> 00:29:08.940 she suddenly been out there I think three times. I believe she gave 407 00:29:10.049 --> 00:29:14.410 out between ten to twenty pieces of literature yesterday. I mean that's unheard. 408 00:29:14.809 --> 00:29:19.609 Wow. So that's an example of someone who unexpectedly has this gift that is 409 00:29:21.210 --> 00:29:25.920 amazing and and different from most of most of us out there. Yeah, 410 00:29:26.440 --> 00:29:30.880 so, so right, very important. Is it truly dis disunity or is 411 00:29:30.920 --> 00:29:36.920 it diversity of calling and gifts? Okay, so, once you've identified the 412 00:29:37.039 --> 00:29:44.430 main factors that might cause disunity, secondly you want to identify the effects of 413 00:29:44.589 --> 00:29:48.549 disunity. And what I'm what I mean by that is if you have groups 414 00:29:48.829 --> 00:29:52.660 that are out on a sidewalk day after day and you know they've they've got 415 00:29:53.259 --> 00:30:03.660 zeal, passion, commitment and and so are they are they aware of maybe 416 00:30:03.900 --> 00:30:11.450 how the disunity that maybe they are partially responsible for causing? Are they aware 417 00:30:11.490 --> 00:30:17.769 that that has a negative impact and if those negative impacts could be delineated, 418 00:30:17.849 --> 00:30:23.200 might that in and of itself help to remove some of that apparent and and 419 00:30:25.240 --> 00:30:30.839 or maybe most the most egregious disunity? So number one. One of the 420 00:30:30.880 --> 00:30:34.750 effects of disunity. We see it all the time. Abortion minded women will 421 00:30:34.789 --> 00:30:40.990 not listen or approach in the face of the chaos and the mixed messages, 422 00:30:41.710 --> 00:30:44.990 which is I mean seriously, and that's kind of the point I was making 423 00:30:45.069 --> 00:30:48.789 earlier that they've got chaos going on in their lives. If we've got it 424 00:30:48.910 --> 00:30:52.380 on the sidewalk, we got nothing to offer them. Right. So that's 425 00:30:52.380 --> 00:30:56.180 why we need to examine the ministry that we're involved in make sure we try 426 00:30:56.220 --> 00:31:00.180 to minimize this unity as much as possible, that we're not a part of 427 00:31:00.259 --> 00:31:03.259 the problem, but we want to be a part of the solution. Hopefully 428 00:31:03.460 --> 00:31:06.250 what we're doing in this podcast will help you guys with that. Yeah, 429 00:31:06.410 --> 00:31:10.410 yeah, okay. Secondly, went abortion minded women. Do not you mention 430 00:31:10.569 --> 00:31:15.130 this earlier. do not differentiate the groups, but identify all those supporting life 431 00:31:15.170 --> 00:31:18.279 as a monolithic group, one group, and they will brand us, usually 432 00:31:18.680 --> 00:31:26.559 with the least flattering aspect of that PROLELA. Absolutely the and that becomes the 433 00:31:26.160 --> 00:31:33.150 mantra of the whole pro choice group then, is we're all the nasty, 434 00:31:33.349 --> 00:31:38.269 lowest common denominator, really, instead of looking at the positive. Yeah, 435 00:31:38.390 --> 00:31:44.549 the group. That's a very bad effect. Yeah, is of disunity. 436 00:31:45.150 --> 00:31:48.380 They they're looking at us and they just see a sidewalk of pro life people. 437 00:31:48.460 --> 00:31:53.259 They don't they don't see the different groups. Yeah, I fewer interactions. 438 00:31:53.500 --> 00:31:56.299 Have you noticed that? Oh yeah, when there's chaos and disunity. 439 00:31:56.819 --> 00:32:00.529 Yeah, I mean it's the again, that same dynamic that they see chaos. 440 00:32:00.849 --> 00:32:05.049 They've got chaos. What do we have to offer them? Right, 441 00:32:05.289 --> 00:32:07.849 but chaos. That's why we must strive for unity as much as we can. 442 00:32:08.009 --> 00:32:14.049 We're not pretending that the unity is always going to be achieved and the 443 00:32:14.130 --> 00:32:16.680 disunity is going to be squashed by just applying some of the principles of the 444 00:32:16.759 --> 00:32:21.680 Bible. It's a constant battle that we need to have. But there's a 445 00:32:21.759 --> 00:32:24.319 good reason that we need to strive for unity. Is Because, ultimately, 446 00:32:24.359 --> 00:32:30.230 I beyond just have a more interactions. We want to see Jesus glorify. 447 00:32:30.430 --> 00:32:34.309 That's the ultimate goal, right. Yeah, fewer baby saved? Yeah, 448 00:32:34.509 --> 00:32:37.509 if you've got that that if you have fewer interactions and all likelihood you're going 449 00:32:37.509 --> 00:32:42.549 to probably see if you were, fewer baby saved. Yeah, justification in 450 00:32:42.589 --> 00:32:45.940 the pro choice caricature of pro life people. Yeah, that they feel justified 451 00:32:46.019 --> 00:32:50.700 then and saying all the awful things about it's because they see it in one 452 00:32:50.940 --> 00:32:54.380 person may be out there and that's used to brand all of us. So 453 00:32:55.180 --> 00:33:00.970 the misery and loss of willing volunteers. Yeah, disunity is hard on the 454 00:33:01.089 --> 00:33:07.289 soul. You're out there doing your best and right next to you is someone 455 00:33:07.329 --> 00:33:12.920 who you know is ruining all the good you're doing. That can be very 456 00:33:13.039 --> 00:33:16.759 wearying because it's such a hard you're fighting a battle already. There's already the 457 00:33:16.799 --> 00:33:22.160 spiritual battle with the the women and the demonic forces, and then to be 458 00:33:22.319 --> 00:33:29.069 battling your your own supposed supporter right next to you, is is really difficult 459 00:33:29.109 --> 00:33:31.309 to be discouraged. People will give up? Yeah, some people will leave 460 00:33:31.349 --> 00:33:37.670 because of that. Churches. We all need church support out there. And 461 00:33:37.509 --> 00:33:42.380 does the church want to come out and support if they come out and view 462 00:33:42.460 --> 00:33:47.460 us, they come out and watch and all they see is bickering and to 463 00:33:49.299 --> 00:33:54.099 disparate groups buying for that woman's attention, and some in ways that are really 464 00:33:54.700 --> 00:34:00.529 not at all biblical or or are not honoring to God. Are we going 465 00:34:00.529 --> 00:34:02.569 to get church support? Yeah, well, we I think we knew. 466 00:34:02.569 --> 00:34:09.039 The answer to that is no. Right. So church support is very important 467 00:34:09.440 --> 00:34:14.000 and we're not talking about financial support. We're talking about the backing of pastors 468 00:34:14.039 --> 00:34:19.119 because we want more volunteers out there. Right. Well, those volunteers are 469 00:34:19.159 --> 00:34:22.280 typically going to come from local churches. I mean, for us, we 470 00:34:22.400 --> 00:34:23.869 only allow people to volunteer if they're a part of a local church, right, 471 00:34:23.909 --> 00:34:30.190 because that itself shows someone who's willing to be in unity with others. 472 00:34:30.230 --> 00:34:34.030 Yeah, proverbs eighteen one speaks of this very thing. It says a man 473 00:34:34.110 --> 00:34:39.219 that isolates himself rages against sound judgment and seeks his own and so people need 474 00:34:39.260 --> 00:34:43.099 to be a part of a local church. We want volunteers that come from 475 00:34:43.139 --> 00:34:49.099 local churches and pastors come out and observe just complete chaos and disunity in listen, 476 00:34:49.179 --> 00:34:52.010 chaos is a direct result of disunity. Now they're on the sidewalk in 477 00:34:52.090 --> 00:34:58.329 most other areas of life and ministry, we're not going to get these pastors 478 00:34:58.369 --> 00:35:00.969 on board. I mean, ultimately what we want is the church to rise 479 00:35:01.010 --> 00:35:07.000 up in these cities, to see really not just sidewalk missionaries but church is 480 00:35:07.159 --> 00:35:14.440 activated and coming out and pray in and offering them their resources. And what 481 00:35:14.639 --> 00:35:17.159 we say is we want these women to stop running to the abortion clinic and 482 00:35:17.239 --> 00:35:21.949 start running to the local church. That's how it should be. But we 483 00:35:22.030 --> 00:35:25.670 can't get a pastor's hard and get him engaged in engaging his conferention a congregation 484 00:35:25.829 --> 00:35:30.550 out there if there's this unity on the sidewalk. It's really difficult. And 485 00:35:30.710 --> 00:35:35.070 what the news people are going to show when they come with their cameras and 486 00:35:35.349 --> 00:35:42.179 be you know, and their recordings. If there's a lack of unity on 487 00:35:42.219 --> 00:35:45.219 the sidewalk, they're going to go to that, they're going to be showcasing 488 00:35:45.619 --> 00:35:51.329 that and that becomes them the public, which is the last point of decreased 489 00:35:51.369 --> 00:35:54.449 public support. That becomes the image that is presented to the public. Yeah, 490 00:35:54.889 --> 00:35:58.570 because the news people are out there. We see them all a time, 491 00:35:58.650 --> 00:36:02.610 right. Oh, yeah, and they will pick up on the kind 492 00:36:02.610 --> 00:36:07.440 of the most colorful thing that they see out there and oftentimes that's some point 493 00:36:07.519 --> 00:36:15.639 of contention or someone that is a caricature of what a pro life ministry should 494 00:36:15.639 --> 00:36:20.230 be. Yeah. So, so those are kind of the negative effects and 495 00:36:20.230 --> 00:36:22.989 I think sometimes, if they're pointed out, that can help, that can 496 00:36:22.070 --> 00:36:27.869 help slute, help groups that are truly truly their goal is for the right 497 00:36:28.190 --> 00:36:30.869 purpose, in the right motivation, if they know that the disunity that that 498 00:36:31.309 --> 00:36:36.099 they are a part of is is making it less likely that they're going to 499 00:36:36.219 --> 00:36:42.099 meet their important goal and maybe they will decide to drop that disunity, that 500 00:36:42.300 --> 00:36:45.539 those disagreements and and try to reach them are unified approach. Yeah, does 501 00:36:45.579 --> 00:36:50.809 the Bible Talk About Unity? Yeah, absolutely it does. It does all 502 00:36:50.889 --> 00:36:52.610 through the scripture. We see it does, and we we picked up for 503 00:36:53.210 --> 00:36:58.809 there's plenty more, but the first ones is efficients, for okay, versus 504 00:36:58.969 --> 00:37:01.760 one through six. Yeah, so you will good and yeah, cool. 505 00:37:02.880 --> 00:37:08.920 Ephesians, for wonders, is one through six. All right. Therefore, 506 00:37:09.719 --> 00:37:15.119 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, Beseech you to walk worthy of 507 00:37:15.199 --> 00:37:19.590 the calling with which you are called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with 508 00:37:19.710 --> 00:37:22.750 long suffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity 509 00:37:22.829 --> 00:37:27.630 of the spirit, in the bond of peace. There's one body and one 510 00:37:27.750 --> 00:37:30.860 spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling, one 511 00:37:30.980 --> 00:37:34.780 Lord, when faith, when baptism, one God and father of all, 512 00:37:34.820 --> 00:37:37.300 who is above all and through you all, in in you, all. 513 00:37:37.340 --> 00:37:45.889 Amen. We actually remember memorize that scripture as a family because of the disunity, 514 00:37:45.050 --> 00:37:47.889 the potential for DIS unity. I mean, wherever you put a group 515 00:37:47.889 --> 00:37:54.010 of human beings you're going to have potential disunity. And so we memorize the 516 00:37:54.769 --> 00:38:00.400 part in verse three endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit and the bond 517 00:38:00.480 --> 00:38:04.840 of peace. And notice the word endeavoring. Endeavoring that is not easy towards 518 00:38:04.920 --> 00:38:08.280 it's we're really working. Mine says eager, my I. I actually don't 519 00:38:08.280 --> 00:38:13.190 know which translation I use, but it but eager to maintain the unity of 520 00:38:13.309 --> 00:38:19.590 the spirit. Again, there's this intentional eagerness to promote unity and and the 521 00:38:19.670 --> 00:38:23.269 bond of peace. So these are worthy callings that God has has called us 522 00:38:23.349 --> 00:38:30.099 to one body. All right. The next one is John Seventeen, verse 523 00:38:30.300 --> 00:38:34.619 twenty one. Yeah, this verse actually is a verse that we use within 524 00:38:34.739 --> 00:38:39.860 love life as one of our motivations, right, of getting churches involved and 525 00:38:40.300 --> 00:38:46.210 and ultimately, what will say is unity is evangelism, and this is where 526 00:38:46.210 --> 00:38:50.289 Jesus talks about that they might be one, as you and I are one, 527 00:38:51.050 --> 00:38:54.050 so that the world will believe that you sent me. So we want 528 00:38:54.090 --> 00:38:59.280 the world to believe, won't people to embrace that Jesus is the Messiah, 529 00:38:59.320 --> 00:39:01.360 that he's the Lord right and they need to put their trust in him. 530 00:39:01.360 --> 00:39:07.079 And part of that unity, or part of the motivation of unity, is 531 00:39:07.159 --> 00:39:08.800 so that the world will believe, like if they see a divided church, 532 00:39:08.840 --> 00:39:12.989 and that's one of the things that you, if you talk to godless people, 533 00:39:13.190 --> 00:39:15.230 started to atheist. One of the things they'll point to. Is it 534 00:39:15.829 --> 00:39:20.550 true? Christians argue all the time about certain points of doctor and all that, 535 00:39:20.630 --> 00:39:23.110 and other they music or whatever and the right. Sometimes they're right. 536 00:39:23.150 --> 00:39:30.059 Yeah, yeah, and you know, there are reasons to honestly argue. 537 00:39:30.539 --> 00:39:35.139 But have conversations about theology. We certainly should. Theology is important. Like 538 00:39:35.179 --> 00:39:37.099 I said, I'm a theology Geek and I study theology and it's important. 539 00:39:38.010 --> 00:39:45.889 But are peripheral issues that we have denominations and things over should not divide us 540 00:39:45.889 --> 00:39:49.530 in such a way that we can't really unify around something that is so close 541 00:39:49.610 --> 00:39:53.400 to the heart of God like the killing of the unborn. Hey, it 542 00:39:53.559 --> 00:39:57.960 really should not be that we're disunified in that way, is a matter of 543 00:39:57.960 --> 00:40:00.400 fact. One of the things that I think is really awesome that we've seen 544 00:40:00.440 --> 00:40:07.789 here in Charlotte is we've seen a hundred and seventy plus churches rally here at 545 00:40:07.829 --> 00:40:13.989 the abortion center. And we're talking PRESBYTERIANS, we're talking methodist, baptist, 546 00:40:13.989 --> 00:40:19.349 pentecostals, nondenominational and anything in between, right and these pastors standing next to 547 00:40:19.349 --> 00:40:22.059 a pastor that they never, never otherwise would have be fellowship with. But 548 00:40:22.260 --> 00:40:25.739 really are unified around that which is very close to the heart of God, 549 00:40:27.179 --> 00:40:30.940 which is the innocent, these babies that are that are killed. And so 550 00:40:31.179 --> 00:40:37.929 unity in that scripture is evangelism, it's showing forth the glory of Jesus, 551 00:40:37.969 --> 00:40:43.329 and that's why we should endeavor or strive to maintain unity. Yes, the 552 00:40:43.369 --> 00:40:46.889 Bible says. Yeah. So it's a great rallying cry for for the love 553 00:40:47.010 --> 00:40:52.639 life churches and members and missionaries. So how about this one? First, 554 00:40:52.719 --> 00:40:58.159 Corinthians, one, okay, versus ten to twelve. Now I plead with 555 00:40:58.239 --> 00:41:00.960 you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you 556 00:41:00.199 --> 00:41:05.389 all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you, that 557 00:41:05.510 --> 00:41:08.150 you be perfectly joined together in the same mind, with the same judgment, 558 00:41:08.949 --> 00:41:12.989 for it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those 559 00:41:13.030 --> 00:41:15.750 of chloe's house, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say 560 00:41:16.070 --> 00:41:20.980 that each of you says, I'm of Paul, I'm of Apolos, I'm 561 00:41:21.059 --> 00:41:24.099 of CEPISTS, I'm of Christ. Is Christ divided? Was Paul Crucified for 562 00:41:24.179 --> 00:41:27.820 you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul? I think, God, 563 00:41:27.860 --> 00:41:31.260 that I baptize none of you except Christmas and Gaius, lest any should 564 00:41:31.300 --> 00:41:34.650 say that I baptize them in my own name. And he gives on to 565 00:41:34.730 --> 00:41:37.929 talk about right, he baptized a few, but the point is that I'm 566 00:41:38.010 --> 00:41:42.369 not the one that saved you. Yeah, Paul saying, I listen, 567 00:41:42.610 --> 00:41:45.570 you guys are saved by Jesus. Why are you divided? And you know, 568 00:41:45.650 --> 00:41:51.880 we do have these divisions in denominations because of different theological points. We're 569 00:41:51.920 --> 00:41:55.599 not pretending to solve that in this podcast. Those have to be acknowledged, 570 00:41:57.159 --> 00:42:00.320 but there is a point in which we need to strive for unity even in 571 00:42:00.519 --> 00:42:04.150 spite of those differences that we hold. That's what he says, but that 572 00:42:04.429 --> 00:42:07.110 you be united in the same mind and the same judgment, and that's in 573 00:42:07.230 --> 00:42:13.429 the root issues of the truth of the Gospel. Be United. And so 574 00:42:13.670 --> 00:42:17.460 again that that message, that unity, is very critical if we are going 575 00:42:17.579 --> 00:42:22.500 to promote Jesus. Yeah, we're going to promote the truth of WHO Jesus 576 00:42:22.659 --> 00:42:24.059 is in the Gospel. Yeah, okay, and the last one that I 577 00:42:24.179 --> 00:42:29.619 have here is ecclesiastes twelve, and I have that right here. Do you 578 00:42:29.659 --> 00:42:32.050 want need to read it? And though a man might prevail against one who 579 00:42:32.050 --> 00:42:38.090 is alone to will withstand him. A threefold cord is not quickly broken. 580 00:42:38.889 --> 00:42:45.719 So that's the positive truth of when there are three united, even to where 581 00:42:45.800 --> 00:42:50.159 two or more ye gathered, absolutely there, I among them. So unity 582 00:42:50.280 --> 00:42:55.480 is powerful, yes, and and obviously biblical. So does the Bible Guide 583 00:42:55.519 --> 00:43:00.670 us in addressing disunity? And it does. Yeah, absolutely. Thank you 584 00:43:00.710 --> 00:43:05.349 for listening to the Gospel Center per life podcast this week. This is actually 585 00:43:05.349 --> 00:43:07.710 going to be a two part episode. This is part one and we'll take 586 00:43:07.750 --> 00:43:15.500 up next week with part two, so stay tuned. Give me our love 587 00:43:15.699 --> 00:43:28.969 for love, give me our love for gratitude. I know it will cost 588 00:43:29.090 --> 00:43:37.090 me my love. Nothing's too precious in some you