{"id":1164,"date":"2010-02-23T10:26:30","date_gmt":"2010-02-23T16:26:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.loveisanorientation.com\/?p=1164"},"modified":"2012-12-17T00:51:56","modified_gmt":"2012-12-17T06:51:56","slug":"my-sermon-from-feb-14th","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/loveisanorientation\/2010\/02\/my-sermon-from-feb-14th\/","title":{"rendered":"My Sermon from Feb 14th"},"content":{"rendered":"<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\">\n<html><head><meta http-equiv=\"content-type\" content=\"text\/html; charset=utf-8\"><meta http-equiv=\"content-type\" content=\"text\/html; charset=utf-8\"><\/head><body><p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.lasallestreetchurch.org\/audio\/\" class=\" decorated-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Here is the audio from my sermon on February 14th at the historic LaSalle St Church in Chicago<\/a>. I hope it is a blessing to you all.<\/p>\n<p>Also, I thought it would be fun to include my notes as well, just in case you wanted to follow along and\/or see what I included or didn\u2019t include in the sermon. Here they are:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><em>LaSalle St. Church\u2014Your Enemies will Love You<\/em><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">Key Notes from Sermon<\/span>:<\/p>\n<p>I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Intro:<\/p>\n<p>1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 This is the last week of your current series on sexuality.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 a.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 As I\u2019ve been listening along on-line I know that the line in the sand has been distinctly drawn by each of the guest preachers;<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 b.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Some of you agreed with them and a more conservative understanding of Scripture, and I know some of you didn\u2019t\u2026<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 i.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 So much so that last week Pastor Laura intently focused on the sacredness of digging deep in to the fidelity of what it means to be\u00a0in this church community.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 c.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I want to honor the journey you all are on, and build upon last week by\u00a0talking about the <em>Wholistic Understanding of Kingdom in Relation to Our\u00a0Enemies <\/em><\/p>\n<p>2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Professor of mine in seminary always said:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re going to spend eternity together anyways\u2014we might as well start learning how to get along now!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 a.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The beauty of LaSalle St Church are the extreme cultural, political, social and in some cases theological differences that together create this community.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 b.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Unique b\/c outside of these walls, the person sitting next to you in many\u00a0cases could be labeled your \u2018enemy\u2019.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 i.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 When it comes to such intense topics as sexuality, celibacy, gay marriage; each of those differences are magnified that much more.<\/p>\n<p>II.1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Before I start digging further into the passage in Jonah we read, I want to provide a framework for our engagement with that text:<\/p>\n<p>Proverbs 16:7\u2014<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen a person\u2019s ways are pleasing to the Lord, they make even their enemies live at peace with them\u201d<\/p>\n<p>2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Let me make this more personal:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf my ways are pleasing to the Lord, even my enemies will live at peace with me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 a.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I don\u2019t know if there is a more ridiculous request in all of Scripture\u2014I mean they\u2019re called ENEMIES for a reason!<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 i.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 What is an enemy? Def: one that is antagonistic to another<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Someone you might not like; you probably don\u2019t agree with;<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ii.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u2018the enemy\u2019 in most cases is the embodiment of things opposite\u00a0 than yourself and your beliefs<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 b.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Read verse again!: \u00a0I\u2019ll tell you what this verse is <strong>NOT saying<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYou just live at peace with your enemy and that\u2019s good enough\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Nope\u2014it\u2019s saying that you live in such a way that your enemies will RECIPRICALLY live at peace with you<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 c.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 It\u2019s much easier to look at an \u2018enemy\u2019 as someone outside of our own church community,<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 But what happens when these perceived enemies fall within our walls?<\/p>\n<p>3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I was reading a story about famous British preacher Charles Spurgeon and\u00a0leader of the Salvation Army, Bramwell Booth<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 a.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Spurgeon notably said that he smoked cigars \u201cto the honor and glory of God\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 b.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Booth took offense to this and publicly wrote that Spurgeon\u2019s reasoning was \u201ca flippant and irreligious apology that encouraged the youth to use tobacco.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 i.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 And yet, God blessed both Spurgeon and the Salv Army in\u00a0remarkable ways\u2014Proving God blesses ppl we disagree with!<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 c.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 15<sup>th<\/sup> Chapter of Acts we see the same thing: God even uses break-ups:<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 i.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Paul vs. Barnabas: Both still had a key role in the early church doing the Lord\u2019s work<\/p>\n<p>4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Disagreements don\u2019t mean we have to fully align; sure doesn\u2019t mean there won\u2019t be critics.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 a.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Sure, it\u2019s easy to talk about; easy to intellectualize. But it\u2019s the hardest thing you\u2019ll have to do\u2014pursue your enemy such that <em>they<\/em> will live at peace <em>with you<\/em>!<\/p>\n<p><strong>For the rest of the time I want to talk about what this pursuit looks like.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I was on the phone w\/civil rights leader Dr. John Perkins two days ago and he said to me:<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <strong>\u201cKeep going in your work because you\u2019ll shut the critics up in love.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 b.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 What kind of love?<\/p>\n<p>5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1 Tim 4, Paul instructing Timothy how to be a solid leader for our faith:<\/p>\n<p>Verse 15: \u201cTake pains in these instructions; be absorbed in them, so that your progress may be evident to all.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 a.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 In church these days progress has b\/c a relative\/ambiguous term\u2026<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 b.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Progress\u2014in Greek literally means \u201ca pioneer advancing into new territory\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <strong>i.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 You can track it\u2014not just change\/behavior modification, it\u2019s<\/strong><strong>\u00a0carving a totally new path<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 b.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 My definition of love: Tangible and measureable expressions of\u00a0unconditional..<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 c.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 What is more of a \u201cpioneer in our faith advancing into new territory\u201d than\u00a0tangibly loving our enemies\u2014the ppl most unlike us\u2014such that they will live at peace with us?<\/p>\n<p>Challenge:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Is your <strong>life and your love permeating\/progressing so much<\/strong> that even your enemies recognize and revere it?!<\/p>\n<p>-What does it mean to relentlessly love your enemy despite:<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 -social norms<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 -cultural norms<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 -political norms<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 -religious norms.<\/p>\n<p>**Carve a new path so unique to our culture\u2014that they <strong>can\u2019t see you anymore<\/strong> b\/c they just see Christ in you; and they are at peace with that, and you.<\/p>\n<p>III.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Jonah<\/p>\n<p>1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Lord gave word to Jonah to warn the Ninevites of their immanent destruction if\u00a0they didn\u2019t repent.<\/p>\n<p>-This was a big deal b\/c Nineveh was the famous capitol of the dominate Assyrian Empire\/also the center of worship for Fertility Goddess\u2014Ishtar\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 a.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Jonah didn\u2019t want to give the Ninevites a second chance so he dashed for Tarshish\u2014storm came, swallowed by the whale and coincidentally dumped out at Nineveh<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 b.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Read 3:4-5<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Read 3:10 \u2026 Good news right? Not from Jonah\u2019s perspective<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Read 4:1-3<\/p>\n<p>2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Jonah forgot a wholistic understanding of Kingdom in relation to Enemies because he didn\u2019t understand how God continually legitimizes and dignifies humanity.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 a.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Jonah was bitter at his enemies that he already decided they deserved\u00a0judgment.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 b.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He was angry at God for God\u2019s relentless pursuit of His children in authentic love.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 c.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Instead of humbly standing in awe engaging in God\u2019s best journey for the Ninevites, Jonah disengaged and decided to sit and pout.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 -so much so that he wanted his life taken from him!<\/p>\n<p>3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Too often in today\u2019s culture the Church takes the easy way out<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 i.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Deciding to pout; point the finger; cast judgment and disengage <strong>b\/c we\u00a0don\u2019t see any way to peaceful resolution with other of God\u2019s children<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ii.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 But that\u2019s the point of faith\u2014<em>we\u2019re not supposed to see a way to resolution<\/em>; <strong>we are to actively pursue those most unlike us to show Christ\u2019s life in love.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Tupac Shakur:<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ll probably, be punished for hard living; But I\u2019m praying Father please forgive me; Cause we\u2019re all going to die; we bleed through similar veins;<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019re all going to die; we bleed through similar veins \u2013<\/p>\n<p>You, me, your family, your neighbor\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026your enemy\u2014we bleed through the same veins God created in each of us.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 a.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Not respecting a person created by God is not revering the Almighty himself.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>-So if you are fighting for the legalization of gay marriage; how are you then dignifying those people trying to uphold marriage as one man and one woman?<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 a.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Are you dignifying them? Or are you just pouting that they\u2019re bigots?<\/p>\n<p>-What if you believe that same-sex sexual behavior is a sin; how is your relentless love permeating outward to those who don\u2019t?<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 a.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Or are you just sitting back not doing anything because you are convinced there is no resolution unless that other group fully agrees with you?<\/p>\n<p>5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The greatest lesson that Jonah offers; and the greatest question for us today<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 a.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 How authentic am I being with my enemies?\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 i.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Jonah showed us just how inauthentic he truly was with his\u2026<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 b.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 What about you?\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 It\u2019s time to finally start corporately showing \u201cprogress\u201d\u2014<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBeing a pioneer in our faith advancing into new territory\u201d\u2014a territory that demands an authentic love for those who by all means are to be considered our enemies.<\/p>\n<p>**But the truth is, we really know what our actual enemy is\u2014<\/p>\n<p><strong>It\u2019s our own fear that God will indeed do a miracle with the one group of people we had already written off.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>And when God does\u2014how are you going to respond?<\/p>\n<p>Like Jonah?<\/p>\n<p>Or through living your life so pleasing to the Lord that even our enemies will live at peace with us?<\/p>\n<p>Thank you very much. Much love.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.themarinfoundation.org\" class=\" decorated-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">www.themarinfoundation.org<\/a><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Here is the audio from my sermon on February 14th at the historic LaSalle St Church in Chicago. I hope it is a blessing to you all. Also, I thought it would be fun to include my notes as well, just in case you wanted to follow along and\/or see what I included or didn\u2019t [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1306,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[136],"tags":[167,166],"class_list":["post-1164","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-speaking","tag-church","tag-sermon"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>My Sermon from Feb 14th<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Here is the audio from my sermon on February 14th at the historic LaSalle St Church in Chicago. I hope it is a blessing to you all. Also, I thought it\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/loveisanorientation\/2010\/02\/my-sermon-from-feb-14th\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"My Sermon from Feb 14th\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Here is the audio from my sermon on February 14th at the historic LaSalle St Church in Chicago. I hope it is a blessing to you all. Also, I thought it\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/loveisanorientation\/2010\/02\/my-sermon-from-feb-14th\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Love is an Orientation\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2010-02-23T16:26:30+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2012-12-17T06:51:56+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Andrew Marin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Andrew Marin\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/loveisanorientation\/2010\/02\/my-sermon-from-feb-14th\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/loveisanorientation\/2010\/02\/my-sermon-from-feb-14th\/\",\"name\":\"My Sermon from Feb 14th\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/loveisanorientation\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2010-02-23T16:26:30+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2012-12-17T06:51:56+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/loveisanorientation\/#\/schema\/person\/f0ea2c5dcf314688ae571cb498de383f\"},\"description\":\"Here is the audio from my sermon on February 14th at the historic LaSalle St Church in Chicago. I hope it is a blessing to you all. Also, I thought it\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/loveisanorientation\/2010\/02\/my-sermon-from-feb-14th\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/loveisanorientation\/2010\/02\/my-sermon-from-feb-14th\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/loveisanorientation\/2010\/02\/my-sermon-from-feb-14th\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/loveisanorientation\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"My Sermon from Feb 14th\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/loveisanorientation\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/loveisanorientation\/\",\"name\":\"Love is an Orientation\",\"description\":\"Exploring the active engagement of bridging opposing worldviews\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/loveisanorientation\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/loveisanorientation\/#\/schema\/person\/f0ea2c5dcf314688ae571cb498de383f\",\"name\":\"Andrew Marin\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/loveisanorientation\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/1fd31eb40136f158f531a79dad9c4ffd?s=96&d=mm&r=pg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/1fd31eb40136f158f531a79dad9c4ffd?s=96&d=mm&r=pg\",\"caption\":\"Andrew Marin\"},\"description\":\"Andrew Marin is President and Founder of The Marin Foundation (www.themarinfoundation.org). He is the award winning author of two books and a DVD curriculum, and his new book Us Versus Us: The Untold Story of Religion &amp; the LGBT Community, will release June 2016. Since 2010 Andrew has been asked by the United Nations to advise their various agencies on issues of bridging opposing worldviews, civic engagement, and Christian involvement in reconciliation. He is currently based St. Andrews, Scotland where he is researching and teaching at the University of St. Andrews, earning his PhD in Divinity. His research focuses on the theology and praxis of social reconciliation between victims and their perpetrators. Andrew is married to Brenda, and you can find him elsewhere on Twitter (@Andrew_Marin), Facebook (AndrewMarin01), and Instagram (@andrewmarin1).\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/loveisanorientation\/author\/loveisanorientation\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"My Sermon from Feb 14th","description":"Here is the audio from my sermon on February 14th at the historic LaSalle St Church in Chicago. I hope it is a blessing to you all. Also, I thought it","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/loveisanorientation\/2010\/02\/my-sermon-from-feb-14th\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"My Sermon from Feb 14th","og_description":"Here is the audio from my sermon on February 14th at the historic LaSalle St Church in Chicago. I hope it is a blessing to you all. Also, I thought it","og_url":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/loveisanorientation\/2010\/02\/my-sermon-from-feb-14th\/","og_site_name":"Love is an Orientation","article_published_time":"2010-02-23T16:26:30+00:00","article_modified_time":"2012-12-17T06:51:56+00:00","author":"Andrew Marin","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Andrew Marin","Est. reading time":"7 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/loveisanorientation\/2010\/02\/my-sermon-from-feb-14th\/","url":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/loveisanorientation\/2010\/02\/my-sermon-from-feb-14th\/","name":"My Sermon from Feb 14th","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/loveisanorientation\/#website"},"datePublished":"2010-02-23T16:26:30+00:00","dateModified":"2012-12-17T06:51:56+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/loveisanorientation\/#\/schema\/person\/f0ea2c5dcf314688ae571cb498de383f"},"description":"Here is the audio from my sermon on February 14th at the historic LaSalle St Church in Chicago. I hope it is a blessing to you all. Also, I thought it","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/loveisanorientation\/2010\/02\/my-sermon-from-feb-14th\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/loveisanorientation\/2010\/02\/my-sermon-from-feb-14th\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/loveisanorientation\/2010\/02\/my-sermon-from-feb-14th\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/loveisanorientation\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"My Sermon from Feb 14th"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/loveisanorientation\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/loveisanorientation\/","name":"Love is an Orientation","description":"Exploring the active engagement of bridging opposing worldviews","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/loveisanorientation\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/loveisanorientation\/#\/schema\/person\/f0ea2c5dcf314688ae571cb498de383f","name":"Andrew Marin","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/loveisanorientation\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/1fd31eb40136f158f531a79dad9c4ffd?s=96&d=mm&r=pg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/1fd31eb40136f158f531a79dad9c4ffd?s=96&d=mm&r=pg","caption":"Andrew Marin"},"description":"Andrew Marin is President and Founder of The Marin Foundation (www.themarinfoundation.org). He is the award winning author of two books and a DVD curriculum, and his new book Us Versus Us: The Untold Story of Religion &amp; the LGBT Community, will release June 2016. Since 2010 Andrew has been asked by the United Nations to advise their various agencies on issues of bridging opposing worldviews, civic engagement, and Christian involvement in reconciliation. He is currently based St. Andrews, Scotland where he is researching and teaching at the University of St. Andrews, earning his PhD in Divinity. His research focuses on the theology and praxis of social reconciliation between victims and their perpetrators. Andrew is married to Brenda, and you can find him elsewhere on Twitter (@Andrew_Marin), Facebook (AndrewMarin01), and Instagram (@andrewmarin1).","url":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/loveisanorientation\/author\/loveisanorientation\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/loveisanorientation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1164","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/loveisanorientation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/loveisanorientation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/loveisanorientation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1306"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/loveisanorientation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1164"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/loveisanorientation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1164\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/loveisanorientation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1164"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/loveisanorientation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1164"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/loveisanorientation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1164"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}