Welcome back to
the Liberty Inside.
00:00:06.03\00:00:07.57
Before the
break, we were dealing
00:00:07.60\00:00:10.51
with some interesting
dynamics on disputes.
00:00:10.54\00:00:14.12
One that's also
involved even my own church,
00:00:14.15\00:00:17.03
it's a matter of authority.
00:00:17.06\00:00:19.04
And I remember reading,
in our own church history
00:00:19.07\00:00:24.01
in one occasion Australia was--
00:00:24.04\00:00:25.80
Ellen White, one of our pioneers
00:00:25.83\00:00:28.23
and a woman that I think,
receive some communications
00:00:28.26\00:00:33.82
from a divine nature
which helped her discern
00:00:33.85\00:00:36.33
in the situation
and she made a comment
00:00:36.36\00:00:39.06
when there was a
hotly contested election
00:00:39.09\00:00:41.71
for a president of the
work in Australia and she said,
00:00:41.74\00:00:44.26
neither one of
them is appropriate,
00:00:44.29\00:00:45.74
they're both unfit.
00:00:45.77\00:00:47.81
But she says, well,
at least we'll get the,
00:00:47.84\00:00:50.15
you know, the best of
the worst of the bad thing.
00:00:50.18\00:00:53.25
And I think she said that
00:00:53.28\00:00:54.34
because it was just
personalities appliance,
00:00:54.37\00:00:57.36
she was never
comfortable with that.
00:00:57.39\00:00:59.56
People both striving for power.
00:00:59.59\00:01:00.90
Yeah.
00:01:00.93\00:01:02.35
And the term that she
used and I think it's valid,
00:01:02.38\00:01:04.92
she railed against kingly power.
00:01:04.95\00:01:06.83
And power corrupts and--
00:01:06.86\00:01:08.15
And the attorney
general under George Bush,
00:01:08.18\00:01:13.50
now I forgot his name.
00:01:13.53\00:01:14.59
You know, he was a
Christian and a song writer
00:01:14.62\00:01:17.25
and he did a song,
"No King but Jesus."
00:01:17.28\00:01:19.35
Ashcroft?
00:01:19.38\00:01:20.41
Ashcroft,
Attorney General Ashcroft.
00:01:20.44\00:01:22.63
No King but Jesus.
00:01:22.66\00:01:24.49
And yeah that's the
way we should think,
00:01:24.52\00:01:26.97
and I had a discussion
with one of that church leaders
00:01:27.00\00:01:29.61
recently about
something very serious going on
00:01:29.64\00:01:32.40
in the church
and I said, this is
00:01:32.43\00:01:34.84
the most
important thing, and he says
00:01:34.87\00:01:36.01
oh, no, Jesus is the
most important thing.
00:01:36.04\00:01:38.91
Well, I disputed him on
the dynamic of the occasion,
00:01:38.94\00:01:42.36
but that really should be--
00:01:42.39\00:01:43.86
Yeah. You've said it nicely.
00:01:43.89\00:01:45.36
You know, we did we
Christ scented people.
00:01:45.39\00:01:48.35
You know, it
doesn't say in the Bible,
00:01:48.38\00:01:50.31
the Spirit of
Christ constraints me.
00:01:50.34\00:01:53.92
We should model--
00:01:53.95\00:01:55.37
there was a quarterly
that our church came out
00:01:55.40\00:01:57.23
with some years
ago, Jesus the model Man.
00:01:57.26\00:01:59.88
People reacted against
it like it was a poison
00:01:59.91\00:02:02.30
and it was the very epitome
of what the gospel's bring.
00:02:02.33\00:02:05.83
He just was able to
give us an example not in--
00:02:05.86\00:02:09.73
thus say, in every
regard but you know,
00:02:09.76\00:02:11.23
in some ways we
can never be like Him.
00:02:11.26\00:02:12.70
He was born in that
holy thing and so on.
00:02:12.73\00:02:14.41
But He was modeling, for us,
00:02:14.44\00:02:17.17
the way, heaven
would have us there.
00:02:17.20\00:02:18.32
With the more I look at
Jesus, the more I realize,
00:02:18.35\00:02:20.56
how far for, how
far-- should I go with that?
00:02:20.59\00:02:22.24
Well, that's a
natural consequence of that.
00:02:22.27\00:02:24.34
Keeps you humble. Yeah.
00:02:24.37\00:02:26.38
Not on the way, we
didn't know our strengths
00:02:26.41\00:02:28.91
as well as weaknesses.
00:02:28.94\00:02:30.51
But when you have a
high reference point
00:02:30.54\00:02:32.03
you can't sort of
rest on the laurels
00:02:32.06\00:02:33.60
and say, you know, look at me.
00:02:33.63\00:02:35.11
Look at each other
and we can do that,
00:02:35.14\00:02:36.51
but not when we look at Him.
00:02:36.54\00:02:38.46
You may compare
it by comparison.
00:02:38.49\00:02:39.73
Yeah.
00:02:39.76\00:02:40.79
You know, I'm humble
than looking at most people.
00:02:40.82\00:02:44.40
Certainly it's certain
there, and you on His love,
00:02:44.43\00:02:47.70
you got the field
almost to yourself
00:02:47.73\00:02:49.70
in interpreting Daniel 11 and--
00:02:49.73\00:02:53.54
Well, now I say it
to myself that anyway.
00:02:53.57\00:02:55.46
No, I mean, you're,
you're leading a pack.
00:02:55.49\00:02:58.07
All these are their opinions.
00:02:58.10\00:02:59.13
Yes, that's what I'm telling--
00:02:59.16\00:03:00.19
Can I have a few too?
00:03:00.22\00:03:02.09
But it's going to be exciting
to see, as history unfolds
00:03:02.12\00:03:05.45
and God's will is
revealed in our day.
00:03:05.48\00:03:07.40
Just--
00:03:07.43\00:03:08.82
I would tell
people that all the time.
00:03:08.85\00:03:09.89
How prescient this really was?
00:03:09.92\00:03:11.90
We'll find out soon enough
if my opinions are on track.
00:03:11.93\00:03:14.57
Yeah.
00:03:14.60\00:03:15.63
Well, it's more
than your opinion
00:03:15.66\00:03:16.69
I know you've
studied this deeply.
00:03:16.72\00:03:18.85
My interpretations.
00:03:18.88\00:03:20.04
But this matter of authority,
00:03:20.07\00:03:21.71
I think, is really
where it's gonna come down to.
00:03:21.74\00:03:26.15
And I was telling you
00:03:26.18\00:03:27.80
not long ago
about the Bible event.
00:03:27.83\00:03:30.24
Its fine to even say,
I rest on the Bible only,
00:03:30.27\00:03:33.97
this is you know the
final authority for me.
00:03:34.00\00:03:36.70
But you really need
to think that through,
00:03:36.73\00:03:38.27
because there is
even a line of argument.
00:03:38.30\00:03:40.04
I've seen on
Roman Catholic websites
00:03:40.07\00:03:42.35
saying that since the--
00:03:42.38\00:03:44.51
this is their claim which
isn't as simple as they say,
00:03:44.54\00:03:48.20
since it was Roman
Catholic church councils
00:03:48.23\00:03:50.77
that established
some of the collections
00:03:50.80\00:03:52.48
that lead to the
present day Bible
00:03:52.51\00:03:54.98
and that these councils
relied on the churches authority
00:03:55.01\00:03:57.60
that therefore their
authority lies behind this.
00:03:57.63\00:04:00.97
I think that's horrible.
00:04:01.00\00:04:03.04
If this material in
it came from heaven,
00:04:03.07\00:04:06.72
they would just handmade it
00:04:06.75\00:04:08.24
if you feel
like to pass this on.
00:04:08.27\00:04:10.60
It doesn't stay or fold on
any church body's authority.
00:04:10.63\00:04:15.13
It's kind of like saying,
00:04:15.16\00:04:16.30
whoever hands it
went through, it's theirs.
00:04:16.33\00:04:18.30
No, it's, who
started it. Yeah, right.
00:04:18.33\00:04:21.16
And that's, it's not the
church that is my authority.
00:04:21.19\00:04:24.91
It's the one who originated it.
00:04:24.94\00:04:26.62
Absolutely, but we do
need to have some confidence
00:04:26.65\00:04:30.94
on this and you know, I've--
00:04:30.97\00:04:32.72
we've zigzagging
around this topic
00:04:32.75\00:04:35.27
but I really
believe that all Christians
00:04:35.30\00:04:37.49
and as a Seventh-day Adventist,
00:04:37.52\00:04:38.63
particularly Seventh-day
Adventist Christians,
00:04:38.66\00:04:40.96
really need to
examine this book.
00:04:40.99\00:04:43.70
What is it? Its fine, it
looks all in one binding.
00:04:43.73\00:04:46.42
Where did it come from?
00:04:46.45\00:04:48.09
It's over a span
of about 3,000 years.
00:04:48.12\00:04:54.15
These books were gathered,
they had poetry, some prophecy,
00:04:54.18\00:04:57.37
some just books of history,
it's an interesting mix.
00:04:57.40\00:05:01.82
But even the history's
about how God is working.
00:05:01.85\00:05:03.90
Oh, no, there's a reason for it.
00:05:03.93\00:05:05.23
But does everyone know
the reason that's mine point.
00:05:05.26\00:05:07.69
But one of the
interesting things about Bible
00:05:07.72\00:05:09.94
is the Bible characters.
00:05:09.97\00:05:12.76
It shows the good and the bad.
00:05:12.79\00:05:14.09
Right.
00:05:14.12\00:05:15.37
It's not like the
legends and something there,
00:05:15.40\00:05:17.48
it's all just
the good stuff for--
00:05:17.51\00:05:19.66
Well, no, yeah.
00:05:19.69\00:05:24.23
I've studied the origins of it
and I've been fascinated by it.
00:05:24.26\00:05:27.49
I do believe it's
slit by most people.
00:05:27.52\00:05:31.04
They don't even
realize the different versions.
00:05:31.07\00:05:33.48
This is an essence
to Protestant Bible.
00:05:33.51\00:05:35.90
There's the Roman
Catholic, the Jews version.
00:05:35.93\00:05:37.73
Why are there those books there?
00:05:37.76\00:05:41.27
We shouldn't be troubled by it,
but we should be aware of it.
00:05:41.30\00:05:45.19
At the end of the day,
if there is a challenge
00:05:45.22\00:05:47.11
to your faith and
you know it deeply
00:05:47.14\00:05:49.73
and you got a
strong relationship to God
00:05:49.76\00:05:52.46
and you're about to
account, I think God will--
00:05:52.49\00:05:54.45
as He said, promises
give you the words to speak.
00:05:54.48\00:05:56.98
You're not without recourse,
00:05:57.01\00:05:59.46
but just as a matter
of intellectual openness,
00:05:59.49\00:06:04.02
I think it makes perfect sense,
00:06:04.05\00:06:06.60
especially if you
listen to this program,
00:06:06.63\00:06:08.20
if you know, there's a reason
why you should find out more,
00:06:08.23\00:06:11.19
investigate a little bit.
00:06:11.22\00:06:12.68
Don't you think?
00:06:12.71\00:06:14.64
And you know, I always--
00:06:14.67\00:06:15.95
But, you don't
read it for yourself,
00:06:15.98\00:06:17.34
how do you know,
you're being told the truth?
00:06:17.37\00:06:18.84
Right, and in our own
church, I'll say this freely
00:06:18.87\00:06:22.81
because I think it
needs to be counteractive.
00:06:22.84\00:06:24.52
There were some people,
00:06:24.55\00:06:26.05
who read a book that one of
our houses published, called
00:06:26.08\00:06:31.20
"The Clear Word
Bible" originally,
00:06:31.23\00:06:33.86
it was never really a
Bible, but it was marketed,
00:06:33.89\00:06:37.22
unfortunately in that
form and they showed that
00:06:37.25\00:06:40.51
they didn't know the real Bible,
00:06:40.54\00:06:42.55
by using it in a lazy
fashion because it was
00:06:42.58\00:06:45.22
personal
narrative by a wonderful--
00:06:45.25\00:06:47.06
Paraphrase? Godly man.
00:06:47.09\00:06:48.50
Well, it wasn't a paraphrase,
it was worse than a paraphrase.
00:06:48.53\00:06:51.74
In a structural
sense, it was just,
00:06:51.77\00:06:55.62
a parallel
narrative from the Bible,
00:06:55.65\00:06:58.63
throwing in
research information,
00:06:58.66\00:07:02.00
Ellen White comments and so on,
00:07:02.03\00:07:04.18
in a very loose thing
and there was no great area
00:07:04.21\00:07:08.40
that I could ever
see, that wasn't the point.
00:07:08.43\00:07:10.53
But for someone that
didn't know the Bible,
00:07:10.56\00:07:13.36
it was a horrible substitute
and laughable for someone
00:07:13.39\00:07:16.34
who knew the Bible.
00:07:16.37\00:07:17.40
You know, what you got this for?
00:07:17.43\00:07:19.82
And so they did it to
themselves at the service
00:07:19.85\00:07:21.63
and it gave unfortunate
cause for people outside
00:07:21.66\00:07:25.18
the church to say,
oh, you've your own Bible.
00:07:25.21\00:07:27.06
All we had was a
bad publishing policy
00:07:27.09\00:07:29.53
and lazy people that
hadn't read the Bible,
00:07:29.56\00:07:32.28
we're depending on it.
00:07:32.31\00:07:33.47
We should be
students of the Bible.
00:07:33.50\00:07:35.04
Was that the Bereans? Yes.
00:07:35.07\00:07:36.47
Studied, were
commended by Paul of that day.
00:07:36.50\00:07:39.61
They search that truth.
00:07:39.64\00:07:40.80
They ask questions and
we're commended for it.
00:07:40.83\00:07:42.79
Yes.
00:07:42.82\00:07:43.85
So yeah, the questioning
itself is not a bad thing.
00:07:43.88\00:07:46.16
I think God
encourages that. Yeah.
00:07:46.19\00:07:48.28
And even if you're questioning,
send you on a bit of a zigzag,
00:07:48.31\00:07:53.07
I don't think God
holds you culpable,
00:07:53.10\00:07:54.88
if you're honest
person reaching toward God.
00:07:54.91\00:07:57.64
It's a double-edge sword.
00:07:57.67\00:07:59.01
He'll--well, not a
sword, but double-edged aspect,
00:07:59.04\00:08:02.12
He credits your intention
00:08:02.15\00:08:04.58
and He will guide your
direction, ultimately to
00:08:04.61\00:08:07.55
what He wants
you to know, anyhow.
00:08:07.58\00:08:09.43
Yes, He promises
to do that, John 16,
00:08:09.46\00:08:11.60
the Holy Spirit
would be sent to lead
00:08:11.63\00:08:12.99
and guide us in all
truth, when we were ready,
00:08:13.02\00:08:15.33
which means if we're
not ready, He won't do it.
00:08:15.36\00:08:17.45
So it comes back
to where I started.
00:08:17.48\00:08:19.55
Authority, this is
an authoritative book,
00:08:19.58\00:08:22.20
you treat it as that.
00:08:22.23\00:08:24.32
Behind it lies not just
the experience of the people
00:08:24.35\00:08:27.65
reading about
it, but God himself.
00:08:27.68\00:08:29.66
But when we drift toward
looking the church leaders
00:08:29.69\00:08:33.83
or the claims of church leaders
that some super authority,
00:08:33.86\00:08:37.25
it's bad and to
connect you to Islam
00:08:37.28\00:08:40.23
that's where I think
there's some problems.
00:08:40.26\00:08:42.40
They've got the Quran, which--
00:08:42.43\00:08:44.06
yes, they've
revered in a way physically
00:08:44.09\00:08:46.36
that few
Christians do with the Bible,
00:08:46.39\00:08:48.75
but really, if the mullah says--
00:08:48.78\00:08:51.49
here and he quotes
the Quran a bit loosely,
00:08:51.52\00:08:53.30
then I'll run with it.
00:08:53.33\00:08:54.39
They've given way
too much authority
00:08:54.42\00:08:56.24
to the religious authorities
00:08:56.27\00:08:58.19
and not even to
their own holy book
00:08:58.22\00:09:01.67
which is a human
tendency, as I've said,
00:09:01.70\00:09:03.68
Christians can do it too.
00:09:03.71\00:09:05.39
But I think in any
conflict, which we expect
00:09:05.42\00:09:08.63
at the end of time,
00:09:08.66\00:09:09.70
these prophecies
you're looking at sure
00:09:09.73\00:09:11.35
we'll have to
account for ourselves.
00:09:11.38\00:09:13.41
And they'll say, as they did
00:09:13.44\00:09:14.99
to Peter and John in the temple.
00:09:15.02\00:09:16.75
On what authority do
you say these things?
00:09:16.78\00:09:20.45
It's nice to have a proof text,
00:09:20.48\00:09:21.78
but I think it's a
bit more than that.
00:09:21.81\00:09:23.73
There has to be some
back up on this, or else--
00:09:23.76\00:09:28.11
Miss the whole character of God.
00:09:28.14\00:09:29.21
The non-believer--
I've been following
00:09:29.24\00:09:33.05
Christopher
Hitchens, final debate.
00:09:33.08\00:09:34.83
He was a skeptic
journalist who died of cancer,
00:09:34.86\00:09:38.53
not too many years ago.
00:09:38.56\00:09:39.98
And you know, he used to make
mincemeat of people of faith
00:09:40.01\00:09:43.71
who really
didn't know this stuff.
00:09:43.74\00:09:46.90
And that will happen
from the seculars, they know--
00:09:46.93\00:09:49.33
he knew his Bible
very well, quoted too.
00:09:49.36\00:09:52.40
Outside we will
comment you like that, other
00:09:52.43\00:09:56.24
whether it's a Muslim authority
or the Catholic Church,
00:09:56.27\00:09:59.62
if they were you, question
you, they have their own idea
00:09:59.65\00:10:01.93
of authority and
they'll bounce that against you.
00:10:01.96\00:10:04.79
Who are you to question us?
00:10:04.82\00:10:06.21
And if you don't
have some experience,
00:10:06.24\00:10:07.98
you'll never be ready for it.
00:10:08.01\00:10:09.10
So we're back to
another program, we'd say,
00:10:10.30\00:10:12.01
how do we involve
people in religious liberty?
00:10:12.04\00:10:13.85
They get involved.
00:10:13.88\00:10:15.09
Have some experience. Yes.
00:10:15.12\00:10:16.26
Talk to some public
officials and I'm sure
00:10:16.29\00:10:19.34
you're encouraging
people in your seminars,
00:10:19.37\00:10:21.15
go out and share this and--
00:10:21.18\00:10:22.81
Oh, I
definitely. Talk to people.
00:10:22.84\00:10:24.16
So now when you--
00:10:26.36\00:10:27.41
I know when you
speak, you have authority,
00:10:27.44\00:10:29.82
because you feel
compelled on this
00:10:29.85\00:10:31.70
and you're
reaching the God's word.
00:10:31.73\00:10:33.92
But I certainly wish
you the best, I know this is
00:10:33.95\00:10:38.44
probably our last
program of the sequence
00:10:38.47\00:10:40.21
that you and I
are doing together.
00:10:40.24\00:10:42.12
But give a final
word to our viewers on,
00:10:42.15\00:10:45.79
where you want them to
go in their Bible study,
00:10:47.89\00:10:50.10
finding the
truth that you found.
00:10:50.13\00:10:52.47
I just want to let you know
00:10:52.50\00:10:54.79
that Jesus promised
in John 14, that not--
00:10:54.82\00:10:58.18
let not your heart be troubled.
00:10:58.21\00:11:00.22
He's coming again, He's
got a place prepared for us.
00:11:00.25\00:11:03.34
And so when you
look at the world
00:11:03.37\00:11:04.50
and its coming apart as
it seems, don't be troubled,
00:11:04.53\00:11:07.00
look at Gods word, focus
in on what does the Bible say.
00:11:07.03\00:11:10.97
And to me Daniel 11
is been very powerful.
00:11:11.00\00:11:14.26
It shows the world in conflict.
00:11:14.29\00:11:15.95
Islam and Christianity
in conflict and people
00:11:15.98\00:11:19.77
led Christianity, radical
Islam is about to go down,
00:11:19.80\00:11:23.75
modern Islam are about to follow
00:11:23.78\00:11:25.13
the King of the North,
people led Christianity.
00:11:25.16\00:11:27.59
The pope becomes in charge,
he then persecutes God's people
00:11:27.62\00:11:31.34
of faith that were
caught in the middle
00:11:31.37\00:11:33.32
and God rescues His
people in the middle.
00:11:33.35\00:11:36.89
That's what I'm
finding in the prophecy.
00:11:36.92\00:11:38.54
You may or may not
see the same thing,
00:11:38.57\00:11:40.27
I challenge you to look
and follow where God leads,
00:11:40.30\00:11:43.03
but definitely
ask for the leading
00:11:43.06\00:11:44.69
of the Holy
Spirit, because He can
00:11:44.72\00:11:46.33
and will guide
you into all truth.
00:11:46.36\00:11:49.06
Authority, it's what
Jesus had when He stood
00:11:49.09\00:11:52.29
on the small mountain,
I'm sure, but on the mountain
00:11:52.32\00:11:55.81
and spoke to the crowd
00:11:55.84\00:11:57.02
outlining the
principles of His kingdom.
00:11:57.05\00:11:59.54
When He had finished,
it says in the gospel that
00:11:59.57\00:12:02.85
the people heard Him gladly,
00:12:02.88\00:12:05.53
because He spoke with authority.
00:12:05.56\00:12:08.95
A little later,
after Jesus said,
00:12:08.98\00:12:11.58
gone through His
passion and gone back to heaven,
00:12:11.61\00:12:15.06
those disciples
who'd been pretty fearful
00:12:15.09\00:12:18.02
before hand were
able to powerfully witness
00:12:18.05\00:12:21.37
with authority and
Peter and John there
00:12:21.40\00:12:24.14
before the negative leaders
of the temple were asked,
00:12:24.17\00:12:29.33
by what authority
do you do these things?
00:12:29.36\00:12:31.87
And they said,
00:12:31.90\00:12:32.93
"By the authority of
Jesus, Him, you crucified."
00:12:32.96\00:12:37.16
We do need to
recognize that authority is an
00:12:37.19\00:12:39.52
important aspect of
religion and how we project it
00:12:39.55\00:12:44.09
and how we're involved with it.
00:12:44.12\00:12:45.77
But as I look to
Jesus, the ultimate authority,
00:12:45.80\00:12:50.02
as I looked to His followers,
reflecting that authority
00:12:50.05\00:12:53.49
and empowered by having it.
00:12:53.52\00:12:56.13
I know that this is the
key to the whole matter,
00:12:56.16\00:12:59.04
the summation of the
issue, the ultimate authority.
00:12:59.07\00:13:02.56
For Liberty Insider,
this is Lincoln Steed.
00:13:04.97\00:13:09.16