When the TRUTH is OFFENSIVE (Matthew 14:1-12) with #subtitles
March 5, 2023 - It's DANGEROUS to speak the truth in our culture. George Orwell and Dr. Jordan B. Peterson have warned against the sickness of a culture that would forbid its citizens to speak the truth, or worse still, demands acquiescence to falsehood and lies.
Bill C-4 may criminalize free speech and religious practice, as Christians, Muslims and civil liberties organizations have pointed out. Such legal threats suppress truthful and open discussion of key spiritual and moral questions related to gender, sexuality, LGBTQ issues, abortion, or euthanasia (now euphemistically renamed as "MAiD" or "medical assistance in dying"). While Bill C-4 purports to make "conversion therapy" illegal, many have pointed out that the law is deliberately vague and broad enough to be weaponized against politically incorrect opinions including the work of Christian leaders and counselors.
Speaking the truth may be defined as a crime or as "hate speech," so that those who speak it -- are canceled. Still, God's servants have always spoken the truth, even when it cost them dearly. When the Prophet John (John the Baptist) spoke out boldly against King Herod's sexual sin, i.e., his adultery and incestuous relations, he got put in jail for his troubles and was later beheaded. For what? For speaking God's truth about sexual immorality. What does the Bible teach us about continuing to speak God's truth to our culture, even when it's dangerous? As we count the cost of speaking the truth, how can we be as courageous and bold as John the Baptist was?
0:00 Intro
0:32 Do we have free speech?
0:59 The truth threatens us
1:48 Voltaire's definition
2:20 Free speech is in doubt
2:32 Bill C-4 (conversion therapy) is dangerous
5:30 Jordan Peterson's critique of compelled speech
6:47 Who gets to define "hate speech"?
7:35 George Orwell's definition of liberty
7:48 Why the Bible is offensive to many
8:30 What if the law criminalizes Biblical truth?
13:21 The problem of a guilty conscience
17:40 The godly confront their culture's sins
18:36 Our culture has redefined sin
19:05 Why Canadians say "sorry" so much
21:07 The Canadian Gospel: peace at the expense of truth
25:25 The unvarnished truth still pulls on the human heart
31:25 Are you a slave to your passions? Here's why.
33:20 Cowardice is a sin of omission
35:12 The godly will suffer as a witness
37:08 How Hugh Latimer faced down a king
40:26 Suffering with courage for Jesus
Sermon by Pastor Sam Chua, March 5, 2023 (with subtitles for #deaf viewers)
Westlynn Church, North Vancouver, Canada
Bible text: Matthew 14:1-12
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+14%3A1-12&version=ESV
http://www.westlynnbaptistchurch.com
Postscript:
Here is a long list of Canadian organizations opposed to Bill C-4:
https://ccrweb.ca/en/organizations-calling-defeat-bill-c-4
In our video thumbnail, we didn't use the CANADIAN spelling for the word "cancelled". We're so sorry! (We are tempted to explain the joke, but you'll have to watch the whole sermon... sorry again!)
TOPICS: Christian Scripture and theology, speaking the truth in a hostile culture, Christian views of sex, gender identity and sexual immorality, John the Baptizer, Yahya, Bill C-4 (previously, Bill C-6), cancel culture, definition of hate speech, freedom of speech, freedom of expression, freedom of conscience, and civil liberties.
#truth #johnthebaptist #bible #jesus #church #northvancouver #northvan #freespeech