June 26, 2025 • 24 mins
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Cultural shifts pull us toward extreme reactions - either condemning those with different views or accepting everything without question. But what if there's a better approach?
The new "Unshaken" series explores how Christians can remain steadfast in their faith while engaging lovingly with a changing culture. Through the compelling story of a pastor's encounter with a tailor who practiced a different religion, we see a powerful contrast in approaches. While previous Christians had condemned the man's idols and even told him he was "going to hell," this pastor chose relationship first. The result? Both the tailor and his cousin eagerly accepted an invitation to church.
This approach mirrors Jesus' response to the woman caught in adultery. Rather than condemning or condoning, Jesus extended compassion while challenging her to "go and sin no more." His example teaches us that truth without grace is mean, but grace without truth is meaningless. True Christian witness requires both.
The prophet Daniel provides another timeless example of navigating this tension. Thrust into Babylon's pagan culture as a young man, he maintained his convictions without becoming judgmental or self-righteous. Through respectful determination and unwavering faith, he influenced four successive emperors and ultimately secured freedom for his people.
Today's believers face similar challenges: How can we uphold biblical truth without alienating others? Can we engage with culture without being corrupted by it? Is it possible to love unconditionally while maintaining moral boundaries? This series addresses these tensions by demonstrating that effective Christian witness isn't about choosing between truth and love – it's about embodying both simultaneously.
Ready to stand firm without compromising love? Subscribe to hear more episodes in this thought-provoking series that will equip you to remain unshaken in a culture of compromise.
Daniel Dilemma - CH
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Daniel Moore (00:06):
When societal norms undergo shifts, as they
inevitably do, we are oftenpulled towards extreme reactions
, as they may appear simpler anddemand less of us.
In response to these changes,we may experience feelings of
anger, threat and frustrationthat lead us to either isolate
ourselves from the cultureentirely, lashing out and
(00:26):
condemning those who holddiffering viewpoints, or we may
become fatigued by the ongoingbattles and opt for an
all-encompassing acceptance thatavoids any potential conflicts
with the evolving culture.
This week, on Connecting theGap, we start a new series
called Unshaken.
Holding fast in a culture ofcompromise.
(01:14):
We'll be interview people thathave a story.
Welcome to Connecting the Gap.
This is a podcast aboutmarriage, bible and book studies
.
We interview people that have astory.
I'm Daniel Moore, your host.
Thank you, guys for joining usthis week.
If you're not familiar with ourshow, you can check out our
(01:35):
website, wwwconnectingthegapnet.
For our platforms.
Our YouTube and Rumble linksare there.
We're also on the Christianpodcasting app, edify.
You can also visit us on socialat Facebook, instagram and X at
ctgaponline.
If you're a fan of the show,please subscribe.
(01:55):
Feel free to leave a comment onour platforms.
Give us a thumbs up or afive-star review on Apple
Podcast.
We'd be eternally grateful toyou for doing that Well.
This week, as I mentioned herein the intro, we're starting a
brand new series and this isgoing to be based on fighting
the culture war, but doing itwith love and doing it without
compromise.
We call this new seriesUnshaken.
(02:16):
This week we are going to bedoing episode one Love.
Before Lecture.
What one pastor got right thatothers missed.
(02:37):
A pastor once told a story ofhow he was gifted a very
expensive tailored suit by achurch member.
He had never had anything thatnice before.
Ever since he was a kid, he hadalways just gone to JCPenney
and picked out the cheapestthree-piece suit on the
clearance rack, and that wasalways as nice as it got.
Well, the day came for him togo to the shop to pick out all
(02:59):
the options, he took his wife,as there was no way that he'd be
able to pick all that stuff outwithout help, and he walked in
the door.
As soon as he stepped throughthe threshold he gazed around
the room at all the suits andclothing hanging on racks and
lining the wall.
Then something caught his eye.
In the back of the room, highup close to the ceiling, was a
(03:21):
gap in the clothing.
There sat three idols staringdown blankly at him.
It kind of caught him off guard.
He diverted his gaze back tothe face of the tailor and
extended his hand out for ahandshake.
Good morning, pastor and MrsPastor.
The man named Joe said in asoft-spoken voice he was a
(03:43):
dark-skinned man from a foreigndescent and had a slight accent.
He had a sparkle in his eyesthat eagerly grabbed the
pastor's hand and shook itvigorously.
Let's go back into my fittingroom and we'll get this started.
Well, they walked into a roomfilled with bulky rolls of
fabric, sewing machines andfluffy wool.
(04:03):
It smelled of starch and fabricsofteners.
Joe got the pastor all measuredup, even measuring angles, that
he didn't realize that he evenhad.
Using a stubby pencil, hefinished scribbling numbers down
on a worn tablet.
He then stood up and said well,you're ready to go.
I'll get started on these assoon as possible.
(04:25):
They shook hands once again andsuddenly Joe looked the pastor
right in the eye and said youknow, you are not what I
expected.
You are much different thanother pastors I have talked to
here in my place.
The pastor questioningly lookedinto the tailor's eyes.
What do you mean by that?
He asked.
Well, when other pastors orChristians have come into my
(04:47):
place and they see my people'sgods up there on the shelf, they
always want to tell me thatthey aren't real and that they
will never be able to doanything for me.
One man in particular who thisguy is, a well-known pastor you
may know, so we're not going toname here even asked me out to
dinner once and wanted me totell him why I thought my gods
were real.
(05:07):
When I couldn't give him ananswer, he agreed with, he
looked me straight in the eyeand told me I was going to hell.
Joe's voice faltered a littlebit with emotion.
You, on the other hand, havenot judged me or said anything
about my idols, and you've beenvery nice to me.
You are not what I expected.
Well, I'm very sorry you havehad such negative experiences
(05:31):
with the other Christians youhave met.
The pastor said that is not theheart of Jesus and the way he
would treat you.
The people in my churchunderstand the goodness of God
to all people and they wouldwelcome you with open arms.
Would you like to visit mychurch sometime?
You mean you want me to come toyour church?
Joe asked, his face beamingSure.
(05:58):
The pastor said you can sitwith my wife and I on the front
row as our special guest.
We'd love for you to come andvisit us.
Joe had the biggest smile onhis face, to which he replied to
the pastor Sure, I would loveto come.
Thank you for inviting me tovisit.
About ten days later, the pastorreturned for the final fitting
of his personally tailored suit.
When he walked in the door, joemet him with an outstretched
(06:21):
hand and said hey, pastor, meetmy cousin.
His cousin looked to be a fewyears younger than he was.
After sharing hellos, thepastor revisited the invitation
he had extended to Joe to visitthe church.
Then, out of the blue, thecousin asked if he could come
too.
Sure, you can.
The pastor said We'd love tohave you both.
(06:43):
We really appreciate that,pastor.
They said with excitement,shaking his hand and looking
like he had just invited them tothe Super Bowl instead of a
sermon series.
The pastor pondered why Joe andhis cousin had responded
differently to him than theother pastors and Christians
they had come across before,especially since they had
(07:03):
basically received the sameinvitation After all.
The pastor deeply admired theleader that had taken Joe to
dinner and considered him to bea strong man of God.
Upon thinking about thedifferences between the two
encounters, the pastor realizedthat the other leader's style of
reaching out to people was moreconfrontational than his.
(07:24):
While he totally agreed withthe other leader's beliefs, he
questioned his technique In hisconfrontation with Joe.
The other leader was withoutdoubt correct, but he wasn't
helpful.
Joe had left that conversationfeeling judged and with the
feeling that a door that hadbeen slammed in his face.
And you know, that seems to bea problem that we have today.
(07:54):
As Christians, we mean wellwith our interactions with
people that are lost, but whenit comes down to it, we just
don't love very well.
An excellent example of thisthought process is in John 8,
with the woman that was caughtin adultery.
The religious leaders hadliterally dragged her into the
(08:15):
street from her lover's bed,where they confronted Jesus,
trying to trip him up, remindinghim that with the law of Moses,
they were bound into stoningher to death for what she had
been caught doing.
Moses, they were bound intostoning her to death for what
she had been caught doing.
The Pharisees were trying theirhardest to trap Jesus between
what was soon to be consideredthe old law and the newfound
grace that Jesus had beenteaching.
But what Jesus said to themleft them speechless.
(08:37):
The scripture says they keptdemanding an answer.
So he stood up again and saidAll right, but let the one who
has never sinned throw the firststone.
The scripture says they keptdemanding an answer.
So he stood up again and saidAll right, but let the one who
has never sinned throw the firststone.
Then he stooped down again andwrote in the dust.
When the accusers heard this,they slipped away, one by one,
beginning with the oldest, untilonly Jesus was left in the
(09:03):
middle of the crowd with thewoman.
Then Jesus stood up again andsaid to the woman where are your
accusers?
Didn't even one of them condemnyou?
No, lord, she said.
And Jesus said neither do I Goand sin no more.
That's John, chapter 8, verses7 through 11.
That's John 8, verses 7-11.
I mean, isn't Jesus' responseawesome here?
(09:25):
Instead of condemning her,jesus showed love and compassion
towards her and, above all, heshowed her grace.
He said to the crowd Let himwho is without sin among you, be
the first to throw that firststone at her.
Jesus' response to the womanshowcased his unwavering
(09:47):
attitude of love he exemplifiedin every encounter he had with
people, even in the face of sin.
Jesus did not condemn, butcalled the woman to repentance
and transformation.
He showed her grace andforgiveness, while also
challenging her to go and sin nomore.
Jesus' love is not based onperformance or perfection.
He loves us in our brokennessand sin, but he also calls us to
(10:11):
a higher standard and a life offollowing him.
In every interaction, jesusdemonstrated love that seeks the
best for each person, leadingthem to a life of faith and
obedience.
That seeks the best for eachperson, leading them to a life
of faith and obedience.
We should hold this story closeas an example of how to
interact with the diverse peoplethat we encounter daily, just
(10:31):
like Joe, who had a differentcultural background, or the same
sex couple that just moved innext door, or that very liberal
person that wants to debate andargue with us on every topic
that we talk about.
And that challenge remains thesame we have to learn to stand
firm in what God has called usto, but at the same time, we
(10:53):
have to learn to love them.
Well, there is something thatwe need to remember Truth
without grace is mean.
Grace without truth ismeaningless.
Truth and grace together well,they are life changers, you know
.
You need to remember thatbecause, wrapped up in a
nutshell, that's what this newstudy is going to be all about.
(11:16):
In today's world, it is moreimportant than ever to show love
to others and share the messagethat we are all flawed and in
need of a Savior.
Jesus came to this earth tolive a perfect life and
ultimately sacrifice himself onthe cross, providing us with the
opportunity to have arelationship with a holy God.
Through his forgiveness and thegrace of God, we can find hope
(11:39):
and freedom.
It is our duty to spread thisgood news to everyone,
regardless of differences, andshare the message of God's love
and salvation with all of thosearound us.
Our responsibility as believersis to navigate the balance
between upholding the truthsfound in God's Word and
embodying His loving acceptanceand transformative grace.
(12:01):
This means following Jesus'example of showing compassion,
forgiveness and acceptance, asdemonstrated in the story that
we shared of that woman that wascaught in adultery.
Striking this balance ischallenging, and it often pushes
us outside of our comfort zones, and we don't really like that.
(12:21):
The tension between standingfirm in faith and showing love
that can be a littleoverwhelming.
While we aim to express God'slove, help those in need and
spread the gospel message.
We must also be mindful of notcondoning or becoming complicit
in behaviors that go againstGod's standards.
Amidst rapidly changingcultural norms, it requires
(12:44):
discernment, wisdom and prayerto navigate this tension
effectively.
Consequently, many believersmay find themselves feeling
disoriented and unsure of theirplace in a rapidly changing
world.
The conflicting messages thatthey hear in church and
encounter online can lead tofeelings of frustration and
(13:05):
confusion.
This inner turmoil stems frombeing pulled in different
directions, torn between thedesire to reach out to those in
need of God's love and guidancejust as much as we do, while
also staying true to theirconvictions and biblical
principles.
This struggle can create asense of being stuck between two
extremes not wanting toalienate or judge those who are
(13:28):
seeking spiritual guidance likethemselves, while also not
wanting to compromise theirfaith and beliefs.
It can be challenging tonavigate this tension and find a
way to engage with othersauthentically while remaining
grounded in one's own values andbeliefs.
This inner conflict exposes theimportance of finding a balance
between sharing God's love andupholding personal convictions.
(13:52):
We grapple with challengingquestions for which there are
really no simple solutions.
Some of those questions aresuch as this what is my role as
a disciple of Jesus in today'sever-evolving culture?
Or how can I stay steadfast inmy faith while also connecting
with individuals who may seemvastly different from me?
(14:13):
How should I respond whenothers criticize my Christian
beliefs as unloving?
How does the message ofChristianity apply to everyone,
given the wide array of cultural, ethnic, lifestyle orientation,
political and spiritualdifferences?
Is the entirety of the Biblestill relevant, or are some
sections outdated due tocultural changes?
(14:35):
Can the scriptures be trusted?
Does God love and compass allindividuals?
Didn't he send his son to dieso that all could be redeemed?
If I uphold the truth, how willI be perceived by others?
How can I guide my children toengage with culture without
losing them to its influences?
And another question how can Inavigate the constant influx of
(15:00):
changes in our world?
Well, when societal normsundergo shifts, as they
inevitably do, we are oftenpulled towards extreme reactions
, as they may appear simpler anddemand less of us lashing out
and condemning those who holddiffering viewpoints.
Or we may become fatigued bythe ongoing battles and opt for
(15:34):
an all-encompassing acceptancethat avoids any potential
conflicts with the evolvingculture.
When faced with culturalchanges, individuals can find
themselves gravitating towardspolarized responses due to the
emotional and mental straincaused by societal transitions.
Emotional and mental straincaused by societal transitions.
The extreme reactions canmanifest as either wanting to
(15:56):
fiercely reject and condemndiffering beliefs, or succumbing
to exhaustion and passivelyaccepting everything without
critical evaluation.
Both responses can hindereffective engagement with the
changing culture, emphasizingthe importance of finding a
balanced approach that allowsfor discernment, open dialogue
and respectful interactionamidst societal transformations.
(16:16):
Now the gospel brings us hopethat we need not be immobilized
by extreme reactions.
We have the ability to remaincomposed even during turbulent
cultural shifts.
Here in the Bible, we witnessthis response not only in the
actions of Jesus, but also inthe life of a figure facing
challenges shockingly similar toour own times.
(16:38):
This example demonstrates howan ordinary individual found
himself in extraordinarycircumstances and the
difficulties he encountered thatcompelled him to uphold a faith
rooted in God's truth andcharacterized by his grace.
This man is the prophet Daniel.
When we study the life ofDaniel and the dilemma that he
(17:02):
was put into with the captivityhe was in, we learn that we can
stand in our faith withoutcompromising our belief in God.
We learn that we can stand inour faith without compromising
our belief in God.
Daniel faced significantchallenges in a culture that was
drastically different from hisown and was characterized by
immorality and corruption,similar to our modern society.
Despite these difficulties,daniel remained steadfast in his
(17:25):
faith and upheld hisconvictions in a shifting and
decadent culture.
In his faith and upheld hisconvictions in a shifting and
decadent culture, daniel'sexample teaches us valuable
lessons on how to navigate andengage with the culture that
challenges our beliefs andvalues.
By remaining steadfast in ourfaith, upholding moral
principles and seeking God'sguidance, we can endure and
(17:45):
thrive in the midst of a diverseand shifting cultural landscape
, just as Daniel did in one ofthe most decadent cultures in
history, that would be ancientBabylon.
This is how it happened.
Following the rule of KingDavid and his son Solomon,
israel divided along geographicand tribal lines.
Over time, the ten northerntribes turned away from the true
(18:09):
God and began worshiping idols.
Despite numerous warnings fromGod, they continued in their
disobedience.
Eventually, god allowed theAssyrians to conquer the
northern kingdom, the southernkingdom, judah, along with the
tribe of Benjamin.
And, of course, the southernkingdom was where Daniel lived.
They witnessed the downfall ofthe northern brothers, but still
(18:31):
straight from God, prophetslike Jeremiah, habakkuk and
Zephaniah.
They all warned Judah ofimpending judgment, but their
messages went unheeded.
The Babylonians, led byNebuchadnezzar, captured Judah,
destroyed Jerusalem, looted thetemple and took the people as
captives.
Israel was left in ruins, itspeople exiled from their
(18:54):
homeland and forced to adapt toa foreign way of life.
Daniel, along with many otherJews, was taken as captive to
Babylon at a young age, possiblyaround 16.
Despite the challengingcircumstances, where there was
no hope of revolt or legal help,daniel remained steadfast in
(19:14):
his faith in God.
He trusted in God's guidanceand remained humble while
standing by his beliefs.
Daniel's behavior stood out forits respect and determination.
He did not blindly follow thecustoms of Babylon, but also did
not act self-righteous orjudgmental.
He understood that the goal wasnot just to be right but to
(19:36):
have a positive influence,knowing that righteousness and
correctness are not alwayssynonymous.
Over the course of 70 years,daniel encountered numerous
life-threatening trials,witnessing friends endure trials
like surviving the fieryfurnace and spending a night
among lions.
Despite being surrounded by aforeign culture, daniel remained
(19:58):
unwavering in his faith Due tohis steadfast devotion to truth
and grace.
God displayed his supernaturalpower by blessing Daniel with
the favor of four Babylonianemperors.
Ultimately, the final emperor,cyrus, granted freedom to the
Jewish people, allowing them toreturn to their homeland.
(20:21):
Now that's influence.
Daniel remained steadfast andshowed love to those around him,
mirroring the actions of Jesus.
This is the example that we arecalled to follow when faced
with shifts in culture.
Balancing truth and graceduring times of significant
cultural change is challenging.
It may be tempting to disengagecompletely or to pass judgment
(20:44):
on those with differing views.
On the other hand, it can alsobe tempting to simply conform
and accept everything withoutquestion.
However, as followers of God,we are called to be set apart
while also spreading the messageof Jesus.
Despite the ongoing challengesposed by cultural shifts, we
(21:06):
must find a way to remain rootedin our Christian beliefs when
faced with rapid changes.
How should we react to culturalshifts?
Should we adapt to them and goalong the prevailing tide?
If not, how can we engagemeaningfully with a world that
may seem at odds with ourbeliefs?
Since his arrival in Babylon,daniel remains steadfast in his
(21:31):
faith, serving as a timelessexample of living a righteous
life in a corrupt society.
We can emulate his approachwithout compromising our values
or conforming to a permissivementality.
It is possible to uphold ourbeliefs while maintaining
respectful relationships,avoiding the pitfalls of either
passivity or self-righteousness.
(21:53):
Striking this delicate balancenecessitates humility,
compassion and a firm relianceon God, while challenging.
By staying connected to God'sSpirit for guidance, we can
authentically reflect Hischaracter of both righteousness
and love.
You know, just as Daniel servedas a catalyst for positive
(22:13):
change, each of us has thepotential to impact our current
era.
In the same way we can striveto be influential individuals
who prioritize effectivenessover being right.
By fostering meaningfulrelationships with people,
particularly those who differfrom us, we can make a
noticeable difference.
Us, we can make a noticeabledifference.
(22:39):
Embracing a spirit ofgenerosity and willingness to
help those in need, we canembody the compassionate nature
of a loving God.
We can be a people who standfirm and we can be a people that
love.
Well, well, that's going to doit for this week's episode.
As we kick off this new seriescalled Unshaken, holding Fast in
(22:59):
a Culture of Compromise, pleasesubscribe to be sure that you
don't miss any of the episodesin this series, as well as the
episodes from our marriage sideof this platform.
That's going to end this week'sepisode.
I'm Daniel Moore.
Thank you for listening thisweek.
This show really wouldn't bepossible without you.
If you're a fan of the show,please leave a review on Apple
Podcasts.
Or, if you'd like to help usout, just take a few seconds to
(23:20):
give us a five-star click andplease subscribe to us on your
favorite platform, and the linksfor those are in the show notes
.
Well, that's all for this week,and we believe that God's Word
never fails us.
God's Word has stood the testof time and, through Jesus'
death on the cross, he hasconnected the gap.
Aria (23:40):
You've been listening to Connecting the Gap podcast.
In this world, there are manydisconnects that cause chaos in
our lives.
This podcast is birthed fromthe desire to share hope and
restoration of the power of thegospel by being transparent and
open in our biblical walk withGod.
Each week, we take a fewmoments as we navigate God's
Word and peer into otherpeople's testimonies and
encourage each other to connectthe gap.
(24:00):
We upload a new audio podcastevery Thursday and a video
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We are also on the Christianpodcasting app Edify.
You can subscribe to ourpodcast on many of the available
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(24:21):
If you would like to contactour ministry for any reason,
visit our contact page and sendus a message.
We hope you are blessed by thisministry.
This is a production ofConnecting the Gap Ministries.
Thank you.
When societal norms undergo shifts, as they
inevitably do, we are oftenpulled towards extreme reactions
, as they may appear simpler anddemand less of us.
In response to these changes,we may experience feelings of
anger, threat and frustrationthat lead us to either isolate
ourselves from the cultureentirely, lashing out and
(00:26):
condemning those who holddiffering viewpoints, or we may
become fatigued by the ongoingbattles and opt for an
all-encompassing acceptance thatavoids any potential conflicts
with the evolving culture.
This week, on Connecting theGap, we start a new series
called Unshaken.
Holding fast in a culture ofcompromise.
(01:14):
We'll be interview people thathave a story.
Welcome to Connecting the Gap.
This is a podcast aboutmarriage, bible and book studies
.
We interview people that have astory.
I'm Daniel Moore, your host.
Thank you, guys for joining usthis week.
If you're not familiar with ourshow, you can check out our
(01:35):
website, wwwconnectingthegapnet.
For our platforms.
Our YouTube and Rumble linksare there.
We're also on the Christianpodcasting app, edify.
You can also visit us on socialat Facebook, instagram and X at
ctgaponline.
If you're a fan of the show,please subscribe.
(01:55):
Feel free to leave a comment onour platforms.
Give us a thumbs up or afive-star review on Apple
Podcast.
We'd be eternally grateful toyou for doing that Well.
This week, as I mentioned herein the intro, we're starting a
brand new series and this isgoing to be based on fighting
the culture war, but doing itwith love and doing it without
compromise.
We call this new seriesUnshaken.
(02:16):
This week we are going to bedoing episode one Love.
Before Lecture.
What one pastor got right thatothers missed.
(02:37):
A pastor once told a story ofhow he was gifted a very
expensive tailored suit by achurch member.
He had never had anything thatnice before.
Ever since he was a kid, he hadalways just gone to JCPenney
and picked out the cheapestthree-piece suit on the
clearance rack, and that wasalways as nice as it got.
Well, the day came for him togo to the shop to pick out all
(02:59):
the options, he took his wife,as there was no way that he'd be
able to pick all that stuff outwithout help, and he walked in
the door.
As soon as he stepped throughthe threshold he gazed around
the room at all the suits andclothing hanging on racks and
lining the wall.
Then something caught his eye.
In the back of the room, highup close to the ceiling, was a
(03:21):
gap in the clothing.
There sat three idols staringdown blankly at him.
It kind of caught him off guard.
He diverted his gaze back tothe face of the tailor and
extended his hand out for ahandshake.
Good morning, pastor and MrsPastor.
The man named Joe said in asoft-spoken voice he was a
(03:43):
dark-skinned man from a foreigndescent and had a slight accent.
He had a sparkle in his eyesthat eagerly grabbed the
pastor's hand and shook itvigorously.
Let's go back into my fittingroom and we'll get this started.
Well, they walked into a roomfilled with bulky rolls of
fabric, sewing machines andfluffy wool.
(04:03):
It smelled of starch and fabricsofteners.
Joe got the pastor all measuredup, even measuring angles, that
he didn't realize that he evenhad.
Using a stubby pencil, hefinished scribbling numbers down
on a worn tablet.
He then stood up and said well,you're ready to go.
I'll get started on these assoon as possible.
(04:25):
They shook hands once again andsuddenly Joe looked the pastor
right in the eye and said youknow, you are not what I
expected.
You are much different thanother pastors I have talked to
here in my place.
The pastor questioningly lookedinto the tailor's eyes.
What do you mean by that?
He asked.
Well, when other pastors orChristians have come into my
(04:47):
place and they see my people'sgods up there on the shelf, they
always want to tell me thatthey aren't real and that they
will never be able to doanything for me.
One man in particular who thisguy is, a well-known pastor you
may know, so we're not going toname here even asked me out to
dinner once and wanted me totell him why I thought my gods
were real.
(05:07):
When I couldn't give him ananswer, he agreed with, he
looked me straight in the eyeand told me I was going to hell.
Joe's voice faltered a littlebit with emotion.
You, on the other hand, havenot judged me or said anything
about my idols, and you've beenvery nice to me.
You are not what I expected.
Well, I'm very sorry you havehad such negative experiences
(05:31):
with the other Christians youhave met.
The pastor said that is not theheart of Jesus and the way he
would treat you.
The people in my churchunderstand the goodness of God
to all people and they wouldwelcome you with open arms.
Would you like to visit mychurch sometime?
You mean you want me to come toyour church?
Joe asked, his face beamingSure.
(05:58):
The pastor said you can sitwith my wife and I on the front
row as our special guest.
We'd love for you to come andvisit us.
Joe had the biggest smile onhis face, to which he replied to
the pastor Sure, I would loveto come.
Thank you for inviting me tovisit.
About ten days later, the pastorreturned for the final fitting
of his personally tailored suit.
When he walked in the door, joemet him with an outstretched
(06:21):
hand and said hey, pastor, meetmy cousin.
His cousin looked to be a fewyears younger than he was.
After sharing hellos, thepastor revisited the invitation
he had extended to Joe to visitthe church.
Then, out of the blue, thecousin asked if he could come
too.
Sure, you can.
The pastor said We'd love tohave you both.
(06:43):
We really appreciate that,pastor.
They said with excitement,shaking his hand and looking
like he had just invited them tothe Super Bowl instead of a
sermon series.
The pastor pondered why Joe andhis cousin had responded
differently to him than theother pastors and Christians
they had come across before,especially since they had
(07:03):
basically received the sameinvitation After all.
The pastor deeply admired theleader that had taken Joe to
dinner and considered him to bea strong man of God.
Upon thinking about thedifferences between the two
encounters, the pastor realizedthat the other leader's style of
reaching out to people was moreconfrontational than his.
(07:24):
While he totally agreed withthe other leader's beliefs, he
questioned his technique In hisconfrontation with Joe.
The other leader was withoutdoubt correct, but he wasn't
helpful.
Joe had left that conversationfeeling judged and with the
feeling that a door that hadbeen slammed in his face.
And you know, that seems to bea problem that we have today.
(07:54):
As Christians, we mean wellwith our interactions with
people that are lost, but whenit comes down to it, we just
don't love very well.
An excellent example of thisthought process is in John 8,
with the woman that was caughtin adultery.
The religious leaders hadliterally dragged her into the
(08:15):
street from her lover's bed,where they confronted Jesus,
trying to trip him up, remindinghim that with the law of Moses,
they were bound into stoningher to death for what she had
been caught doing.
Moses, they were bound intostoning her to death for what
she had been caught doing.
The Pharisees were trying theirhardest to trap Jesus between
what was soon to be consideredthe old law and the newfound
grace that Jesus had beenteaching.
But what Jesus said to themleft them speechless.
(08:37):
The scripture says they keptdemanding an answer.
So he stood up again and saidAll right, but let the one who
has never sinned throw the firststone.
The scripture says they keptdemanding an answer.
So he stood up again and saidAll right, but let the one who
has never sinned throw the firststone.
Then he stooped down again andwrote in the dust.
When the accusers heard this,they slipped away, one by one,
beginning with the oldest, untilonly Jesus was left in the
(09:03):
middle of the crowd with thewoman.
Then Jesus stood up again andsaid to the woman where are your
accusers?
Didn't even one of them condemnyou?
No, lord, she said.
And Jesus said neither do I Goand sin no more.
That's John, chapter 8, verses7 through 11.
That's John 8, verses 7-11.
I mean, isn't Jesus' responseawesome here?
(09:25):
Instead of condemning her,jesus showed love and compassion
towards her and, above all, heshowed her grace.
He said to the crowd Let himwho is without sin among you, be
the first to throw that firststone at her.
Jesus' response to the womanshowcased his unwavering
(09:47):
attitude of love he exemplifiedin every encounter he had with
people, even in the face of sin.
Jesus did not condemn, butcalled the woman to repentance
and transformation.
He showed her grace andforgiveness, while also
challenging her to go and sin nomore.
Jesus' love is not based onperformance or perfection.
He loves us in our brokennessand sin, but he also calls us to
(10:11):
a higher standard and a life offollowing him.
In every interaction, jesusdemonstrated love that seeks the
best for each person, leadingthem to a life of faith and
obedience.
That seeks the best for eachperson, leading them to a life
of faith and obedience.
We should hold this story closeas an example of how to
interact with the diverse peoplethat we encounter daily, just
(10:31):
like Joe, who had a differentcultural background, or the same
sex couple that just moved innext door, or that very liberal
person that wants to debate andargue with us on every topic
that we talk about.
And that challenge remains thesame we have to learn to stand
firm in what God has called usto, but at the same time, we
(10:53):
have to learn to love them.
Well, there is something thatwe need to remember Truth
without grace is mean.
Grace without truth ismeaningless.
Truth and grace together well,they are life changers, you know
.
You need to remember thatbecause, wrapped up in a
nutshell, that's what this newstudy is going to be all about.
(11:16):
In today's world, it is moreimportant than ever to show love
to others and share the messagethat we are all flawed and in
need of a Savior.
Jesus came to this earth tolive a perfect life and
ultimately sacrifice himself onthe cross, providing us with the
opportunity to have arelationship with a holy God.
Through his forgiveness and thegrace of God, we can find hope
(11:39):
and freedom.
It is our duty to spread thisgood news to everyone,
regardless of differences, andshare the message of God's love
and salvation with all of thosearound us.
Our responsibility as believersis to navigate the balance
between upholding the truthsfound in God's Word and
embodying His loving acceptanceand transformative grace.
(12:01):
This means following Jesus'example of showing compassion,
forgiveness and acceptance, asdemonstrated in the story that
we shared of that woman that wascaught in adultery.
Striking this balance ischallenging, and it often pushes
us outside of our comfort zones, and we don't really like that.
(12:21):
The tension between standingfirm in faith and showing love
that can be a littleoverwhelming.
While we aim to express God'slove, help those in need and
spread the gospel message.
We must also be mindful of notcondoning or becoming complicit
in behaviors that go againstGod's standards.
Amidst rapidly changingcultural norms, it requires
(12:44):
discernment, wisdom and prayerto navigate this tension
effectively.
Consequently, many believersmay find themselves feeling
disoriented and unsure of theirplace in a rapidly changing
world.
The conflicting messages thatthey hear in church and
encounter online can lead tofeelings of frustration and
(13:05):
confusion.
This inner turmoil stems frombeing pulled in different
directions, torn between thedesire to reach out to those in
need of God's love and guidancejust as much as we do, while
also staying true to theirconvictions and biblical
principles.
This struggle can create asense of being stuck between two
extremes not wanting toalienate or judge those who are
(13:28):
seeking spiritual guidance likethemselves, while also not
wanting to compromise theirfaith and beliefs.
It can be challenging tonavigate this tension and find a
way to engage with othersauthentically while remaining
grounded in one's own values andbeliefs.
This inner conflict exposes theimportance of finding a balance
between sharing God's love andupholding personal convictions.
(13:52):
We grapple with challengingquestions for which there are
really no simple solutions.
Some of those questions aresuch as this what is my role as
a disciple of Jesus in today'sever-evolving culture?
Or how can I stay steadfast inmy faith while also connecting
with individuals who may seemvastly different from me?
(14:13):
How should I respond whenothers criticize my Christian
beliefs as unloving?
How does the message ofChristianity apply to everyone,
given the wide array of cultural, ethnic, lifestyle orientation,
political and spiritualdifferences?
Is the entirety of the Biblestill relevant, or are some
sections outdated due tocultural changes?
(14:35):
Can the scriptures be trusted?
Does God love and compass allindividuals?
Didn't he send his son to dieso that all could be redeemed?
If I uphold the truth, how willI be perceived by others?
How can I guide my children toengage with culture without
losing them to its influences?
And another question how can Inavigate the constant influx of
(15:00):
changes in our world?
Well, when societal normsundergo shifts, as they
inevitably do, we are oftenpulled towards extreme reactions
, as they may appear simpler anddemand less of us lashing out
and condemning those who holddiffering viewpoints.
Or we may become fatigued bythe ongoing battles and opt for
(15:34):
an all-encompassing acceptancethat avoids any potential
conflicts with the evolvingculture.
When faced with culturalchanges, individuals can find
themselves gravitating towardspolarized responses due to the
emotional and mental straincaused by societal transitions.
Emotional and mental straincaused by societal transitions.
The extreme reactions canmanifest as either wanting to
(15:56):
fiercely reject and condemndiffering beliefs, or succumbing
to exhaustion and passivelyaccepting everything without
critical evaluation.
Both responses can hindereffective engagement with the
changing culture, emphasizingthe importance of finding a
balanced approach that allowsfor discernment, open dialogue
and respectful interactionamidst societal transformations.
(16:16):
Now the gospel brings us hopethat we need not be immobilized
by extreme reactions.
We have the ability to remaincomposed even during turbulent
cultural shifts.
Here in the Bible, we witnessthis response not only in the
actions of Jesus, but also inthe life of a figure facing
challenges shockingly similar toour own times.
(16:38):
This example demonstrates howan ordinary individual found
himself in extraordinarycircumstances and the
difficulties he encountered thatcompelled him to uphold a faith
rooted in God's truth andcharacterized by his grace.
This man is the prophet Daniel.
When we study the life ofDaniel and the dilemma that he
(17:02):
was put into with the captivityhe was in, we learn that we can
stand in our faith withoutcompromising our belief in God.
We learn that we can stand inour faith without compromising
our belief in God.
Daniel faced significantchallenges in a culture that was
drastically different from hisown and was characterized by
immorality and corruption,similar to our modern society.
Despite these difficulties,daniel remained steadfast in his
(17:25):
faith and upheld hisconvictions in a shifting and
decadent culture.
In his faith and upheld hisconvictions in a shifting and
decadent culture, daniel'sexample teaches us valuable
lessons on how to navigate andengage with the culture that
challenges our beliefs andvalues.
By remaining steadfast in ourfaith, upholding moral
principles and seeking God'sguidance, we can endure and
(17:45):
thrive in the midst of a diverseand shifting cultural landscape
, just as Daniel did in one ofthe most decadent cultures in
history, that would be ancientBabylon.
This is how it happened.
Following the rule of KingDavid and his son Solomon,
israel divided along geographicand tribal lines.
Over time, the ten northerntribes turned away from the true
(18:09):
God and began worshiping idols.
Despite numerous warnings fromGod, they continued in their
disobedience.
Eventually, god allowed theAssyrians to conquer the
northern kingdom, the southernkingdom, judah, along with the
tribe of Benjamin.
And, of course, the southernkingdom was where Daniel lived.
They witnessed the downfall ofthe northern brothers, but still
(18:31):
straight from God, prophetslike Jeremiah, habakkuk and
Zephaniah.
They all warned Judah ofimpending judgment, but their
messages went unheeded.
The Babylonians, led byNebuchadnezzar, captured Judah,
destroyed Jerusalem, looted thetemple and took the people as
captives.
Israel was left in ruins, itspeople exiled from their
(18:54):
homeland and forced to adapt toa foreign way of life.
Daniel, along with many otherJews, was taken as captive to
Babylon at a young age, possiblyaround 16.
Despite the challengingcircumstances, where there was
no hope of revolt or legal help,daniel remained steadfast in
(19:14):
his faith in God.
He trusted in God's guidanceand remained humble while
standing by his beliefs.
Daniel's behavior stood out forits respect and determination.
He did not blindly follow thecustoms of Babylon, but also did
not act self-righteous orjudgmental.
He understood that the goal wasnot just to be right but to
(19:36):
have a positive influence,knowing that righteousness and
correctness are not alwayssynonymous.
Over the course of 70 years,daniel encountered numerous
life-threatening trials,witnessing friends endure trials
like surviving the fieryfurnace and spending a night
among lions.
Despite being surrounded by aforeign culture, daniel remained
(19:58):
unwavering in his faith Due tohis steadfast devotion to truth
and grace.
God displayed his supernaturalpower by blessing Daniel with
the favor of four Babylonianemperors.
Ultimately, the final emperor,cyrus, granted freedom to the
Jewish people, allowing them toreturn to their homeland.
(20:21):
Now that's influence.
Daniel remained steadfast andshowed love to those around him,
mirroring the actions of Jesus.
This is the example that we arecalled to follow when faced
with shifts in culture.
Balancing truth and graceduring times of significant
cultural change is challenging.
It may be tempting to disengagecompletely or to pass judgment
(20:44):
on those with differing views.
On the other hand, it can alsobe tempting to simply conform
and accept everything withoutquestion.
However, as followers of God,we are called to be set apart
while also spreading the messageof Jesus.
Despite the ongoing challengesposed by cultural shifts, we
(21:06):
must find a way to remain rootedin our Christian beliefs when
faced with rapid changes.
How should we react to culturalshifts?
Should we adapt to them and goalong the prevailing tide?
If not, how can we engagemeaningfully with a world that
may seem at odds with ourbeliefs?
Since his arrival in Babylon,daniel remains steadfast in his
(21:31):
faith, serving as a timelessexample of living a righteous
life in a corrupt society.
We can emulate his approachwithout compromising our values
or conforming to a permissivementality.
It is possible to uphold ourbeliefs while maintaining
respectful relationships,avoiding the pitfalls of either
passivity or self-righteousness.
(21:53):
Striking this delicate balancenecessitates humility,
compassion and a firm relianceon God, while challenging.
By staying connected to God'sSpirit for guidance, we can
authentically reflect Hischaracter of both righteousness
and love.
You know, just as Daniel servedas a catalyst for positive
(22:13):
change, each of us has thepotential to impact our current
era.
In the same way we can striveto be influential individuals
who prioritize effectivenessover being right.
By fostering meaningfulrelationships with people,
particularly those who differfrom us, we can make a
noticeable difference.
Us, we can make a noticeabledifference.
(22:39):
Embracing a spirit ofgenerosity and willingness to
help those in need, we canembody the compassionate nature
of a loving God.
We can be a people who standfirm and we can be a people that
love.
Well, well, that's going to doit for this week's episode.
As we kick off this new seriescalled Unshaken, holding Fast in
(22:59):
a Culture of Compromise, pleasesubscribe to be sure that you
don't miss any of the episodesin this series, as well as the
episodes from our marriage sideof this platform.
That's going to end this week'sepisode.
I'm Daniel Moore.
Thank you for listening thisweek.
This show really wouldn't bepossible without you.
If you're a fan of the show,please leave a review on Apple
Podcasts.
Or, if you'd like to help usout, just take a few seconds to
(23:20):
give us a five-star click andplease subscribe to us on your
favorite platform, and the linksfor those are in the show notes
.
Well, that's all for this week,and we believe that God's Word
never fails us.
God's Word has stood the testof time and, through Jesus'
death on the cross, he hasconnected the gap.
Aria (23:40):
You've been listening to Connecting the Gap podcast.
In this world, there are manydisconnects that cause chaos in
our lives.
This podcast is birthed fromthe desire to share hope and
restoration of the power of thegospel by being transparent and
open in our biblical walk withGod.
Each week, we take a fewmoments as we navigate God's
Word and peer into otherpeople's testimonies and
encourage each other to connectthe gap.
(24:00):
We upload a new audio podcastevery Thursday and a video
version of it on YouTube andRumble.
We are also on the Christianpodcasting app Edify.
You can subscribe to ourpodcast on many of the available
podcasting platforms, includingApple Podcast, spotify, amazon
Music, iheart Radio, tuneinRadio and more.
We are also available on yourAlexa-enabled devices.
(24:21):
If you would like to contactour ministry for any reason,
visit our contact page and sendus a message.
We hope you are blessed by thisministry.
This is a production ofConnecting the Gap Ministries.
Thank you.
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