What the World Needs Now - Humble Bridge-Builders, Part 1

How can we stop the hate and the violence we see happening across America and across the world? We see it in homes, we see it on the streets, we see it in the media.

What's Jesus' answer to this hate and violence? Stay with me. That's today on Living on the Edge. Welcome to this Edition of Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram. Chip's our Bible teacher on this international discipleship program, and I'm Dave Drury.

We're in Chip's new series called What the World Needs Now. And as we continue, let me ask you, who are the most influential speakers these days? Politicians? Movie stars?

Sports heroes? I mean, who speaks and people really listen? You know, when you get into scripture, there's passage after passage that goes something like, large crowds follow Jesus. The crowds were amazed. Well, the fact is, at the time, Jesus was a rock star. Masses of people followed him everywhere. Not only did he do miracles, but they hung on his every word. Well, what does that have to do with today? We're about to hear what Jesus had to say in a time of great hurt, tension, and political strife.

Here's Chip with part one of his message, What the World Needs Now, His Humbled Bridge Builders, from Matthew chapter five. I'm going to ask you to do something a little bit different. The mind is a very, very powerful tool, and you actually have the ability to begin thinking thoughts that will bring pictures of people that you love to your mind. But I want you to visualize the people that matter the most to you.

It could be a best friend, a mate, your kids, your parents. I want you to listen. Every single one of them has this heart beating. It's more than just pumping blood and nutriments. It's the sign of life. When the children were little, they were nestled up close to moms and dads, and that's what they heard. When you embrace deeply or often in the middle of the night, when you wake up, if you're married, you can actually hear the heartbeat of the one next to you.

I want you to think of some of the best and warmest times you've ever had, how important these people are. Boom! Heartbeat stopped. There's an explosion in a mall, and everyone that was in your mind was in that mall, and they're gone. For others, the car went left to center. It was a drunk driver on a suspended license. Everyone was in that car or minivan, and they're gone. For some, it's two military personnel walking up, knocking on the front door, and telling you that your son or daughter or husband or wife or uncle was killed in Afghanistan. Now, I want you to pause.

I'm not trying to mess with your mind. I want you to think right now, how would you feel? As honest and as raw as you can, how would you feel? Where would your emotions be?

What's happening deep inside of you? In fact, that was true. You can now open your eyes, because every 22 minutes in America, someone is stabbed or shot or strangled or bludgeoned to death. By the time kids are in 6th grade, they've witnessed 8,000 murders, 100,000 acts of violence, and we just came out of the century, the 20th century, that was the bloodiest and most violent in all of human history.

125 million people slaughtered, whether it's the Holocaust or 60 million with Stalin or Idi Amin or the Killing Fields or Bosnia or Sudan or the unborn babies. Here's what I want you to get. I want you to remember that feeling.

If you can't, remember the feeling of what it actually would be like. Some of you have been there. Some of you have lost people. I want you to know that whatever you feel, as horrendous as that is, God, one trillion, million, zillion times, infinitely feels that more with every single life that's lost, because He created them and He died for them and He loved them. The most precious commodity in all the earth is not money, it's not fame, it's not wealth, it's not property. God says the most precious commodity is life.

It's when a heart starts to beat. And when a life is cut short, when destruction of life happens, it brings a level of sadness and actually anger to God. And Jesus is going to talk about that to us. And unless you can remember the feeling that you just had, you will not understand at all what He's gonna say.

With that, open your notes with me. We're in Matthew chapter five. And in Matthew chapter five, Jesus has been teaching about a new way of living. And we remember there was the Beatitudes, characteristics of a true follower in this new kingdom of walking with Him. He says, do not think that I came to abolish the law, verse 17. I've not come to abolish it, but to fulfill it. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota or a dot will pass from the law until it's accomplished.

Application. Therefore, whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, here's our key verse, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and the Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. And the scribes and the Pharisees, in terms of external righteousness, were off the chart.

And I put the little chart here for you. He's going to now take six specific topics that are at the core of religious life in Israel. Murder, adultery, divorce, oaths, retribution. And what he's gonna do, he's gonna say that you've heard it said, but I say to you. And he's always, he's gonna first look at this is how it's been interpreted. This is the current understanding from the scribes and the Pharisees, external activities, religiosity. But I say to you, the fact of that is absolutely true, but I'm gonna probe underneath of it. And I want you to understand the spirit behind the law of God's intent. And so on the left side, you have heard it said it's about external righteousness.

Jesus will say it's internal. It's about doing. Jesus will say there's doing that it must flow from being. It's all about duty, which leads to guilt. He goes no, it's about devotion and relationship.

It's not about performance. It's not about, it's about grace. It's not about the letter of the law. It's about the spirit of the law. And then he's going to matter of factly say it's not about all this stuff you have in your head. There's a lot of people that have it in their head.

It's what's in your heart. Now if you turn the page in our time today, I want to talk about topic number one. And topic number one, he's going to take those parallel things and what he's going to do is say, okay, you've heard it said, but I say to you, and topic number one is the sixth commandment. And the sixth commandment is thou shall not kill, literally. Now you need to understand there's seven different words in Hebrew for kill. This word does not mean an accidental death. This isn't the killing of an animal. This isn't the execution of a prisoner.

This isn't someone dying in a just war. Literally it's two words. The sixth commandment is only two words.

Literally it's this. No murder. No murder. It's the intentional infliction of the taking of a human life, prohibited by God. And so the current interpretation, you've heard it said to the people long ago, do not murder and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment. The Old Testament law was very clear.

In that season, in that period, you take a life, you lose your life. If it was accidental, there were other laws, but this is very, very clear. In fact, the prohibition is no murder by, jot these two words, violent hands.

It was a world of tremendous violence. And God is going to prohibit killing people. No murder by violent hands. And I say that because when Jesus says, yes, of course that's true, he's going to probe behind. So whatever brings a person to when they would ever do that anyway. And what's in a person's heart?

What's the root cause that a person would ever get to the point that they would actually kill another human being? So let's look at Jesus' authoritative interpretation. But I tell you, anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, Rocca, literally, is answer to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, you fool, we get our word moron, it's moros, will be in danger of the fire of hell. Now get your pen out because you need to jot a few things.

You need to see the parallel. Circle the word anger, and then put a line under subject to judgment. Circle the word who says, and put a line under to the Sanhedrin, and then circle the word you fool, and put a line under danger of the fire of hell. Jesus is going to say that if you are angry with your brother, you would be liable in the civil court. He's going to say if you would go beyond anger and you would say things that would kill or poison or demean or dismiss, literally assassinate their soul or their spirit, you would be culpable to the Sanhedrin, the Jewish kind of Supreme Court.

And if you would say moron, if you would use words and abuse and contempt that would destroy their soul, malicious gossip, tear them down. He said, you're in danger of the fire of hell. It's one of the strongest passages in the entire New Testament. Luke 6 45 gives a little insight. It's the parallel passage of the Sermon on the Mount, and in it Jesus says the good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good. The evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth what is evil. For the mouth speaks from that which fills the heart. And so what Jesus is saying is when you have anger, and by the way there's a couple different words in the New Testament for anger. This isn't the just righteous anger that you see where Jesus is flipping over the tables.

This is a very interesting word. It's for smoldering anger, bitterness, resentment, revenge. You've been wronged. You've been hurt. It's an anger that you nurse. It's an anger down deep in your soul of resentment or bitterness towards somebody else. He says when you have that emotion down in there, you are guilty of murder.

He said if it goes beyond that and you go beyond that until you begin to say things, you label a child. You're stupid. You're a dummy.

You're a lousy worker. What's wrong with you? That's the dumbest idea ever. You're assassinating their personhood. When you get to the point where you attack their character, when we say you're a fool, that's the biblical idea here is you're empty-headed. You're a moron.

In fact, your name, your family, your personhood isn't worth anything. It's contempt. Jesus says, in essence, yes, prohibition of murder by violent hands, but Jesus would say prohibition by angry hearts and prohibition by lethal lips.

These are really, really strong words. I don't know about you, but I would say that if someone asked me casually, Chip, have you ever broken the sixth command? You know, thou shall not murder. I mean, David was a murderer. Paul was a murderer.

Moses was a murderer. I mean, there's hope after committing murder, but most of us in this room, I'm going to go out on a limb and say, we haven't killed anybody. And so I read that, and my natural reaction is, I'm good. You good? I'm good. And Jesus would say, no, you're not.

In fact, I jotted down my paraphrase of what he was really saying and what he really means. Three prohibitions. If I intentionally and physically kill someone, I am a murderer and libel of the judicial system and the consequences. Jesus would say, if I have internal attitudes of anger and bitterness and resentment and hate and feelings of enmity in my heart towards one, I am as guilty before God as the actual act, and God will bring divine judgment for that unresolved hatred in my heart. If I have feelings of anger and bitterness that come to the point where I express them in words that dismiss people, belittle people, criticize another person, and murder their spirit and their soul, I'll be held accountable to even a higher standard, and God will bring divine judgment upon my life. And finally, if my anger and resentment leads to expressions of contempt that demoralize and abuse and damage and literally warp people's lives for their future, I'm as guilty as being liable to go to hell. Now, what I would say, I'm going to guess there's not a non-murderer in the room. There's not a person probably walking on the earth that is not violated the sixth commandment the way Jesus expresses it. You know, I think there's sometimes Jesus is so clear and so cutting and we all fail so miserably that we just say, well, I do that and you do that.

Let's just give everybody a pass. And did you ever think, did you ever think why there's so many people with addictions? Did you ever think why there's so many people that have dysfunctional families? I mean, death is not always, death is separation, death is destruction, death is ruining life. You know how many families are just, I mean, totally messed up because of unresolved anger in people's hearts, resentment, how many couples have drifted apart just living in the same family, how many divorces are at the heart of unresolved anger and bitterness and resentment, how many grudges have divided families so you don't visit each other on Thanksgiving, you don't talk to those people, how many people that when the thought of your ex-mate or an ex-boss or a supervisor comes to your mind, you can't figure out why your stomach turns into knots.

How many times you found yourself over coffee or in a chat room or on the phone talking about someone else in derogatory, negative ways, passing on untested information. It's murder. It's murder.

It destroys. You are guilty. You will be judged. I got a rock here somewhere in my pocket.

I wonder what I did with it. This rock represents people I've murdered. And what you'll recognize is that you are as much of a murderer and I'm as much of a murderer as David or Paul or Moses. And most of them have done it with our lips and we've done it with our heart and there is only one hope and it's the hope that we can come and that the body of Christ, His death on the cross paid for our sin and His blood was shed for us and He has given us mercy and He has forgiven us and we've got what we don't deserve. If Jesus, if every one of the commands has this level of probing underneath of it and the Spirit of God went all the way through this room, all the way around and we were to seeing what's going on inside, I will tell you the cross will become very precious and you'll be so deeply grateful that you'll walk out of this room forgiven and cleansed and anything you've ever said, anything you've ever thought, any assassination with your lips, be clean. Chip's going to be back in a minute with his application, but just a quick reminder, this message, Humble Bridge Builders, is from Chip's series What the World Needs Now. He's in Matthew Chapter 5 reminding us of Jesus' specific instructions during a time of deep hurt, turmoil and political strife, a time all too familiar for us today, but what better comfort and encouragement than to hear from our Lord the priorities and counsel uppermost on His mind for the people hearing Him firsthand then and now for us. It's our sincere hope that you'll share this message with a friend, a family member, on social media, anywhere you can communicate with others who need wisdom and the Lord's guidance during these distressing days. To access free MP3s and series discounts, go to livingontheedge.org.

App listeners just tap share. Chip, in the series you taught just prior to this one, you taught on spiritual warfare. There are several things in that one that really seem to apply to this series. Remember those first couple of principles you shared about spiritual warfare? Could you give us a little review?

Absolutely Dave. Principle number one is that there is an invisible world that is just as real as the visible world. And the second principle is that we're involved in a spiritual battle between good and evil, between God and Satan, that plays out in our real life and relationships today. And so as we see these things happening around the world, we need to understand there's two things happening. There's real issues between people, but there is an invisible battle, angelic forces that are waging war, seeking to influence the minds and the hearts of people toward division, toward hate, toward murder. And what we need to understand as followers of Christ is when and how do we recognize spiritual warfare?

What do we do when it comes? And make sure we're fighting the right battles. So in order to do that, we've created what we call spiritual warfare cards.

And let me take just a minute to describe what they're like. In these cards, we'll have about six categories. So we'll talk about the general principles of spiritual warfare. We'll talk about what to do when you're actually attacked. There's very specific promises in God's word about how to respond in spiritual warfare, understanding how the enemy works, the most common lies that he comes at you with.

And then here's the thing. These are the kind of cards you want to review and have clear in your mind. I taught all my kids these basic verses.

So when it happened in our home, when they were facing things at different times, it would be on the tip of their tongue. This is the kind of thing you want to provide for your friends, your family, your kids, maybe a co-worker, someone at church in an easy format where you can understand this is spiritual warfare and this is how I respond and it's at your fingertips. We need to not just remember but know how to live out.

Greater is he that is in us than he that's in the world. Chip, I think your reminder about reviewing these cards so the truth comes quickly to mind is really helpful. Knowing the truth about the spiritual battle going on around us gives us the power we need to see it to stay calm and to battle like Jesus did with truth and grace. Well, whether they're for you or to give us a gift to help and encourage someone else, I hope you'll pick up a set or two while discounted supplies last.

For all the details on our newly revised spiritual warfare scripture cards, tap special offers on the app, give us a call at 888-333-6003, or visit us online at livingontheedge.org. I hope you'll do it today. As we wrap up today's program, I honestly hope you're blown away just a little bit, but I hope you're not discouraged. If we have the courage to be really honest, I mean really truthful about what we think and how we act and how we talk, here's what I want you to know. The hate and the violence, it doesn't start with our lips. It doesn't start with our hands.

It always begins in our heart. And so, somehow when we think, well, you know, I didn't hit anybody or I didn't murder anybody or, you know, I'm just angry, I'm just frustrated they're wrong, I get it, okay? We've all been there and we're seeing it played out. But what Jesus said is when you hate someone in your mind, when it comes out of your heart, words that are degrading, attacking, labeling, blaming, quote, them, whoever they are, and it can be in your house, it can be with your family, it can be with your roommate, it can be with one of your kids or one of your parents. It's when these kind of attitudes in our hearts that are so filled with hate and hurt and anger, he says that's the cause, that's where we need to address it. So let me ask you, this isn't one of those programs where it's like oh that's interesting, who are you mad at?

Who do you hate right now? Who do you have feelings and thoughts about that Jesus would say stop it? That you need to come today and say Lord, you've made everyone, you love everyone, they're made in your image, I can disagree with what they say, I can disagree with what they're doing, I can absolutely think it's harmful to people and to the country, but I can't hate them. Our battle's not against flesh and blood, there's not all these evil people that we had this big broad brush of a stroke, they're individual people like you and me and God is asking us first and foremost to root out of our heart the hate and the hurt and the violence and then to not let it come out of our lips or in our words or on our Facebook or Instagram or Slack and to be the kind of person that doesn't tear down relationships, but to be the kind of person that the world needs now and that is a humble bridge builder. Are you willing to do that? Would you be willing to build some bridges instead of tear things down? It doesn't mean you sacrifice your convictions, it doesn't mean you agree, but it means you refuse to become part of that hurtful, angry, despicable aspect that's poison in our culture and in our country.

You say first and foremost, Jesus, I'm going to love people the way you do, and then I'm going to champion what's right and what's just. Just before we close, I want to say thank you to those who make this program possible through your generous financial support. Your gifts help us create programs, purchase airtime, and develop additional resources to help Christians live like Christians. If you've been blessed by the Ministry of Living on the Edge, would you consider sending a gift today? You can call us at 888-333-6003, tap the donate button, or donate online at livingontheedge.org. Your support is greatly appreciated. Well, be sure to join us next time when Chip continues his series, What the World Needs Now. Until then, this is Dave Drouy saying thanks for listening to this Edition of Living on the Edge.