Today’s Podcast

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1. Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
2. Stereotypes are awful, but they are everywhere and just part of our nature. The question is whether we let them rule us or do we rule them. We can get over them with some effort. Is it worth the cost? Think about those who pushed through their stereotypes to reach you.
3. Scripture
   1. John 15:18-25
   2. Jesus: If you find that the world despises you, remember that before it despised you, it first despised Me.  If you were a product of the world order, then it would love you. But you are not a product of the world because I have taken you out of it, and it despises you for that very reason.  Don’t forget what I have spoken to you: “a servant is not greater than the master.” If I was mistreated, you should expect nothing less. If they accepted what I have spoken, they will also hear you.  Everything they do to you they will do on My account because they do not know the One who has sent Me.  If I had not spoken within their hearing, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for ignoring My voice.

If someone despises Me, he also despises My Father. ²⁴ If I had not demonstrated things for them that have never been done, they would not be guilty of sin. But the reality is they have stared Me in the face, and they have despised Me and the Father nonetheless. ²⁵ Yet their law, which says, “They despised Me without any cause,”^[a] has again been proven true.

1. Devotional
   1. The words cliché and stereotype have a good deal in common. Both come from French, both were originally printers’ terms, and both have come to take on somewhat negative meanings in modern use.
   2. Their original meanings are essentially synonymous, referring to printing blocks from which numerous prints could be made. In fact, cliché means stereotype in French. Their modern meanings, however, are quite distinct. Cliché is today overwhelmingly encountered in reference to something hackneyed, such as an overly familiar or commonplace phrase, theme, or expression. Stereotype is most frequently now employed to refer to an often unfair and untrue belief that many people have about all people or things with a particular characteristic.
      1. a plate cast from a printing surface
      2. something conforming to a fixed or general pattern; especially :  a standardized mental picture that is held in common by members of a group and that represents an oversimplified opinion, prejudiced attitude, or uncritical judgment
      3. We’re bad about stereotyping people
         1. Ethnic groups
         2. Political parties
         3. Socioeconomic sectors
         4. Religious affiliation
   3. World views Christians as the cause of the problems in the world order
      1. Demand human rights, sometimes go about it the wrong way
      2. Tie political agendas to Christian views detracting from gospel message smearing Christian values and worldview of who we should be
      3. Fail to meet standards we say we hold then blame others or sin which we cannot help but commit
   4. Jesus warns of the stereotype His followers would receive
      1. From the political realm – fail to kneel to Caesar means rebelling against the state
      2. From the Jewish community – usurp the thought of one God with Jesus coming to live among us as the God/Man; God incarnate – confusion of the triune godhead
      3. From the Gentile community – setting standards of living condemning satisfaction of base desires in any way we please; sexual immorality, lying, stealing, injury to others through gossip/slander, idol worship
      4. All evils of the world would be blamed on the Christian community – if they would just leave everyone else alone, tolerate everyone else and stop this “Jesus is the only way” teaching
      5. Guilt would stop; fighting would stop; pain would stop
   5. The stereotyping will not end until time stops
      1. Jesus promises the world will continue to despise us and abuse us
      2. He promises they will not listen to us if they will not listen to Him
      3. He promises they will close their eyes and fail to see
      4. He also promises some will come to know Him and be saved from their sins
      5. That one who listens and clings to Him is worth the pain and suffering
   6. Don’t give up; one more is worth the cost
2. If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved. In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.