Joseph B. Bethea - "But If Not" (September 8, 1974)

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	(choir singing)	0:08
	♪ Oh praise God, oh praise him ♪	0:11
	♪ Now and forever more he come ♪	0:16
	♪ Now and forever more ♪	0:26
	♪ He come ♪	0:39
	(organ playing)	0:51
	(choir singing)	1:36
Man	Let us confess our sins.	5:56
	First corporately and publicly,	5:59
	and then privately and silently with God.	6:04
	Let us pray.	6:09
	Lord, today I ask you to rid me of my undue concern	6:11
	over what impression I make on other people,	6:17
	forgive me for being so preoccupied by what I seem to be.	6:22
	With the affect I produce,	6:27
	with what others think and say of me.	6:30
	Forgive me for wanting to imitate others	6:33
	to the extent that I forget who I am	6:37
	for envying their talents so much	6:40
	that I neglect to develop my own.	6:43
	Forgive me for the time I spend playing games	6:46
	with my personality	6:50
	and for the time I don't spend in developing my character.	6:52
	Now let me forget about this stranger that I was	6:57
	so that I may find myself for I will never know	7:01
	my home unless I leave it	7:06
	and I will never find myself if I refuse	7:09
	to lose myself.	7:12
	Lord, let me be open	7:14
	to my brothers and sisters	7:16
	so that through them	7:18
	you will be able to visit me	7:21
	as your friend for then I will be the person	7:22
	that your love wants me to be,	7:26
	your child, Father	7:29
	and a neighbor to all others	7:32
	for Christ's sake,	7:34
	Amen.	7:36
	Let us continue with our personal confession.	7:38
	Jesus our Lord says,	7:56
	Let not your hearts be troubled,	7:58
	believe in God,	8:02
	believe also in me.	8:03
	Peace I leave with you.	8:05
	My peace I give to you	8:08
	not as the world gives do I give to you.	8:12
	Let not your hearts be troubled,	8:16
	neither let them be afraid.	8:18
	Amen.	8:24
	(organ playing)	8:27
	(choir singing)	9:09
	♪ Praise the Lord, ♪	9:13
	♪ Praise the Lord ♪	9:16
	♪ His words are marvelous ♪	9:19
	♪ By his ways and his might ♪	9:27
	♪ He has exalted us ♪	9:34
	♪ Hallelujah ♪	9:41
	♪ Hallelujah ♪	9:50
	♪ Praise the Lord ♪	9:56
	♪ Praise the Lord ♪	10:00
	♪ His words are marvelous ♪	10:04
	♪ Praise the Lord ♪	10:12
	♪ Praise the Lord ♪	10:16
	♪ His words are marvelous ♪	10:21
	♪ By his grace and his might ♪	10:26
	♪ He has exalted us ♪	10:34
	♪ Hallelujah ♪	10:41
	♪ Hallelujah ♪	10:51
	♪ By his grace and his might ♪	10:56
	♪ He has exalted us ♪	11:04
	♪ Praise the Lord ♪	11:11
	♪ Praise the Lord ♪	11:15
	♪ His words are marvelous ♪	11:19
	♪ By his grace and his might ♪	11:26
	♪ He has exalted us ♪	11:34
	♪ Hallelujah ♪	11:42
	♪ Hallelujah ♪	11:47
	♪ Hallelujah ♪	11:50
	♪ By his grace and his might ♪	11:57
	♪ He has exalted us ♪	12:05
Woman	Hear the word of God.	12:28
	In the year the King Uzziah died,	12:32
	I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne	12:35
	high and lifted up	12:38
	and his train filled the temple.	12:40
	Above him stood the seraphim.	12:42
	Each had six wings.	12:45
	With two he covered his face	12:47
	and with two he covered his feet	12:49
	and with two he flew.	12:52
	And one called to another and said,	12:55
	"Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts.	12:58
	"The whole Earth is full of his glory.	13:01
	"And the foundations of the thresholds	13:05
	"shook at the voice of him who called.	13:07
	"And the house was filled with smoke	13:10
	"and I said, woe is me for I am lost.	13:13
	"For I am a person of unclean lips	13:17
	"and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips	13:20
	"for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.	13:23
	"Then flew one of the seraphim to me	13:27
	"having in his hand,	13:29
	"a burning coal which he had taken	13:30
	"with tongues from the altar.	13:33
	"And he touched my mouth and said,	13:36
	"Behold, this has touched your lips.	13:39
	"Your guilt is taken away,	13:42
	"and your sin forgiven	13:44
	"and I heard the voice of the Lord saying,	13:46
	"Whom shall I send?	13:49
	"And who will go for us?	13:51
	"Then I said , Here I am, send me."	13:53
	Therefore if any one is in Christ,	14:06
	he is a new creation.	14:10
	The old has passed away,	14:12
	behold the new has come.	14:14
	All this is from God who through Christ	14:17
	reconciled us to himself	14:20
	and gave us the ministry of reconciliation	14:23
	that is God was in Christ	14:27
	reconciling the world to himself	14:29
	not counting the trespasses against them	14:33
	and entrusting to us	14:35
	the message of reconciliation.	14:37
	So we are ambassadors for Christ	14:39
	God making his appeal	14:42
	through us.	14:44
	We beseech you on behalf of Christ	14:45
	be reconciled to God	14:48
	for our sake He made him to be sin	14:50
	who know no sin	14:53
	so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.	14:55
	Working together with him then	14:59
	we entreat you	15:01
	not to accept the grace of God in vain	15:02
	for he says, an acceptable I have listened to you	15:05
	and helped you on the day of salvation.	15:10
	God give us the encourage to hear these words.	15:13
	(organ playing)	15:18
	(choir singing)	15:27
Man	Together, let us affirm our faith.	15:57
	We are not alone.	16:02
	We live in God's world.	16:04
	We believe in God	16:07
	who has created and is creating	16:09
	who has come in the true man, Jesus	16:12
	to reconcile and make new	16:15
	who works in us	16:18
	and others by his spirit	16:19
	we trust him.	16:22
	He calls us to be in his church	16:24
	to celebrate his presence	16:27
	to love, and serve others,	16:29
	to seek justice, and resist evil,	16:32
	to proclaim Jesus crucified and risen.	16:35
	Our judge and our hope	16:39
	in life, in death,	16:41
	in life beyond death,	16:44
	God is with us.	16:46
	We are not alone,	16:48
	thanks be to God.	16:50
	The Lord be with you.	16:53
	Let us pray.	16:56
	Oh God, I feel good about the beginning of this, a new day.	17:07
	Even in the wet and cold of the rain	17:15
	this morning, it's a good day to be alive.	17:17
	It's a good day to sing and pray	17:21
	and to listen to your word	17:23
	as you speak to us.	17:25
	It's a good feeling to worship,	17:28
	to rub shoulders and elbows with friends	17:30
	and family and newly discovered neighbors.	17:33
	To exchange warm smiles,	17:37
	to look no each other's eyes.	17:40
	It's a good day to be and to become the woman or man	17:43
	you created each of us to be.	17:49
	Yes, God it's good to be alive	17:53
	and I thank you in this moment	17:55
	with my whole heart.	17:58
	Let all the people say, thank you God,	18:01
	thank you God.	18:06
	Oh God, I remember the hurt and pain	18:09
	and loneliness and sadness	18:12
	and hunger are around me.	18:14
	Real, live, honest to goodness brothers and sisters	18:18
	of mine, are really in need.	18:22
	Forgive me oh gracious God,	18:28
	when I turn my head,	18:31
	or close my eyes,	18:34
	or shrug my shoulders,	18:36
	or act nonchalant.	18:38
	Forgive me for those times	18:42
	when I lean back and relax	18:44
	and just because all is well with me,	18:46
	I act as of all is well with others.	18:50
	God, imprint upon my mind	18:55
	and keep me always uneasy and restless	18:58
	and conscience-stricken	19:01
	until I know, really know	19:03
	that when one of us suffers,	19:08
	all suffer.	19:10
	When one rejoices,	19:12
	all rejoice.	19:14
	Let all the people say, forgive me oh, God.	19:17
	Forgive me oh, God.	19:23
	Oh God, in the midst of my hurt	19:27
	and the hurt of others,	19:29
	help me to know your peace.	19:30
	When tears come to me,	19:33
	and to my neighbors,	19:35
	give me your comfort.	19:36
	When I grow weak and weary	19:39
	give me your strength.	19:40
	When the night is dark	19:43
	and the day confusing,	19:44
	show me your way.	19:46
	When my heart gets dull	19:50
	and life is dreary,	19:51
	give me your joy.	19:53
	I have read and heard	19:56
	and believe your word.	19:58
	Ask and it shall be given you,	20:00
	seek and you shall find.	20:02
	Knock and it shall be opened.	20:04
	And so when I see that I have	20:08
	life to live,	20:10
	service to give,	20:12
	and love to share.	20:13
	Help me oh God	20:16
	to be a responsible person	20:19
	today, tomorrow, and tomorrow.	20:22
	Let all the people say,	20:27
	be with me oh, Lord.	20:29
	Be with me, oh, Lord.	20:33
	I praise you oh, God.	20:36
	For who I am, and for who I may become.	20:40
	In the name of Christ	20:47
	who taught us as we have prayed these words,	20:49
	to pray also this prayer,	20:52
	our Father, who art in Heaven	20:56
	hallowed be thy name.	20:59
	Thy kingdom come,	21:01
	thy will be done	21:04
	on Earth as it is in Heaven.	21:05
	Give us this day	21:08
	our daily bread	21:09
	and forgive us our trespasses	21:11
	as we forgive those who trespass against us.	21:14
	And lead us not into temptation,	21:18
	but deliver us from evil	21:21
	for thine is the kingdom	21:23
	and the power and the glory	21:25
	forever, Amen.	21:28
	On this the first Sunday	21:35
	after classes have begun and thus officially	21:39
	the first Sunday of the new academic year,	21:42
	let me welcome you to Duke Chapel.	21:45
	And those of you who are new	21:50
	or those of you who are returning	21:52
	students, faculty, staff, family,	21:54
	friends, sounds persons,	21:58
	we welcome you to this place of worship	22:01
	and more particularly to this service today	22:04
	and pray that God's spirit	22:07
	and the love of Christ	22:10
	the sustaining fellowship of his spirit	22:11
	will speak to you richly this day.	22:16
	I know as you do that there are many people in need.	22:19
	But I call your attention	22:24
	to an announcement in the bulletin for you	22:25
	or maybe someone whom you know	22:27
	can be able to help a family.	22:29
	There are a group of people going to build	22:34
	a new house for a woman and two other persons	22:39
	who live with her.	22:43
	If you would like to volunteer	22:45
	your time, your services,	22:46
	or donate some materials or if you know someone	22:48
	who could do either of these	22:52
	please let us know here in the chapel.	22:55
	Also, you maybe interested in helping in some other	23:00
	work that goes on in the chapel.	23:04
	If you are, and we hope many of you will be,	23:07
	you will note the announcement at the bottom of the page	23:11
	giving you the opportunity to share in this work.	23:14
	So I ask you simply to fill that in,	23:17
	tear off that part of the bulletin,	23:19
	and let us have it and we'd be very pleased	23:21
	to have you share in the ministry of this place	23:24
	in the way that you indicate.	23:27
	And to preach to us today	23:31
	is the Reverend Doctor Joseph B. Bethea,	23:32
	Director of Black Church Studies	23:36
	for the Divinity School here at Duke.	23:38
	He has been here for two years,	23:41
	and among many other things that have happened since	23:44
	he's been here,	23:46
	the enrollment of black students	23:47
	in the Divinity School has more than tripled	23:49
	from less than ten to almost 30 or maybe above 30	23:52
	this year out of a total enrollment of 300.	23:56
	I'm not so sure that any other part of the University,	24:00
	any other school undergraduate or otherwise	24:03
	can say that about it's increase in black students	24:07
	in it's constituency.	24:11
	But Joe has done much more than this.	24:14
	He has brought to the Divinity School	24:16
	and to the University	24:18
	a commitment to the church	24:19
	and a commitment to show concern	24:21
	for people in need.	24:24
	He's actively involved in the Durham community	24:26
	and in other communities across the state,	24:28
	and in the life of the church.	24:31
	So it is my personal privilege	24:33
	and I think it will be	24:35
	a stimulating experience for us all,	24:36
	to hear the Reverend Doctor Joseph Bathay	24:39
	as he brings God's word to us today.	24:41
	Joe, we welcome you.	24:44
	And in the name and in the spirit of God,	24:47
	we hear you as you give his word to us	24:48
	for this day.	24:52
-	[Rev. Joseph Bathay] Bob, I must thank you	25:03
	for those kind words of introduction.	25:04
	It's good to come again to the chapel	25:07
	and to be associated with you	25:10
	in the leadership of the service	25:14
	and with Miss Broda,	25:16
	who's father was a classmate of mine	25:18
	some years ago.	25:21
	But and if and not,	25:25
	these are three very short words.	25:31
	Very short and simple	25:38
	everyday words.	25:41
	That probably fall so easily from our lips	25:44
	that it would be interested,	25:50
	interesting indeed to note the number of times	25:51
	we use them in an ordinary day.	25:56
	But and if and not.	26:01
	Two conjunctions and a negative	26:06
	we are told.	26:09
	Only eight letters	26:14
	and three words.	26:19
	In fact, only seven different letters	26:20
	in these three words.	26:24
	That's two point something per word.	26:26
	But as they are used,	26:32
	in the context of the Book of Daniel	26:36
	the third chapter and the 17th and 18th verses	26:43
	these three short simple	26:50
	everyday words	26:55
	portray for us a sterling example	26:58
	of unqualified loyalty,	27:03
	courageous integrity	27:07
	and daring hope.	27:11
	A sterling example	27:15
	of responsible existence	27:19
	in a difficult situation.	27:24
	And the two verses read,	27:28
	"If it be so,	27:31
	our God whom we serve	27:35
	"is able to deliver us	27:38
	"from the burning fiery furnace.	27:40
	"And he will deliver us out of your hand,	27:45
	"oh King.	27:48
	"But if not,	27:52
	be it known to you oh, king	27:57
	"that we will not serve your gods	28:01
	"or worship the golden image	28:05
	"which you have set up.	28:06
	The book of Daniel appears to have been written	28:12
	in the days of the bitter persecution	28:15
	of the Jews by Antiochus Epiphanes,	28:18
	the king who reigned in Syria	28:24
	from 175 to 164 BC.	28:27
	In his effort to Hellenize the Jews	28:34
	and to introduce the different customs	28:39
	it is said that he tore down the walls of Jerusalem.	28:46
	He plundered the city	28:51
	and slaughtered the people at will.	28:54
	He defiled the sanctuary.	28:59
	Trying to compel the faithful	29:03
	in Jerusalem to give up their practice	29:07
	of the Mosaic precepts,	29:11
	to abandon their worship at the temple	29:13
	and adopt the religious and cultural	29:18
	patterns of the nation.	29:22
	Under such persecution	29:27
	many Jews did give up their religion.	29:31
	Many of them turned to the pagan religion	29:36
	of the king.	29:40
	And the book of Daniel	29:43
	is an endeavor to keep God's people	29:46
	loyal and faithful	29:52
	to that which was vanity	29:55
	in the tradition of their fathers	29:58
	at all cost and in all circumstances.	30:01
	Even if it meant death to them.	30:06
	So that Daniel's message seems to be this,	30:10
	God still controls history.	30:15
	In spite of all the forces and powers that	30:20
	would turn to the contrary.	30:25
	In spite of all of the manmade powers	30:30
	and influences by which we are often compelled	30:36
	to live, God still controls history.	30:41
	The nation's history.	30:49
	The people's place in a nation's history	30:52
	may cause one to doubt	30:57
	an affirmation like this.	31:00
	Indeed a nation may destroy itself	31:05
	on believing.	31:10
	An institution may destroy itself	31:14
	on believing.	31:18
	Persons may destroy themselves	31:22
	on believing and trusting	31:26
	in their own power and	31:29
	in their own ability	31:33
	to control history which they cannot do.	31:35
	Message of the book of Daniel,	31:43
	is eternal and it is clear.	31:45
	God still controls history.	31:52
	God and God alone.	31:56
	The book calls God's people,	32:01
	God's faithful people at every time	32:04
	and every place to be loyal,	32:09
	to maintain integrity	32:12
	and to keep the faith.	32:15
	The writer gets the message across	32:22
	through the use a series of stories	32:28
	and visions.	32:31
	And one of the stories is about three Hebrews	32:35
	who refused to accommodate	32:38
	the pagan religious practices of Babylon.	32:42
	The story has been referred to	32:48
	as the story of the golden idol	32:50
	and the fiery furnace.	32:55
	King Nebuchadnezzar set up at Dura	33:00
	a huge golden idol	33:05
	to whose dedication all the officials	33:09
	of the kingdom were summoned.	33:12
	That they might bow down and worship	33:16
	the idol under the threat of death	33:19
	in the fiery furnace.	33:23
	Everybody came and everybody did so,	33:28
	everybody bowed down, except	33:31
	these three Hebrews.	33:35
	The king was very displeased.	33:39
	But they explained to him	33:45
	that they, they could not bow down to an idol.	33:46
	They could not worship his gods.	33:54
	Even if the threatened punishment must fall on them.	33:58
	And if it falls,	34:06
	their God would be able to deliver them.	34:09
	But if not,	34:17
	king we cannot serve your god.	34:23
	We cannot worship your golden image.	34:28
	If we must go to the burning fiery furnace,	34:33
	our God, the one God	34:38
	of Israel	34:41
	is able to deliver us.	34:45
	And that's pretty strong faith, is it not?	34:50
	But their faith was even stronger than this.	34:54
	We know God can deliver us.	34:59
	But we are not sure that he will.	35:04
	We know God has the power	35:08
	but we are not sure what God's power is	35:11
	and what God's preface is	35:15
	in this situation.	35:18
	But if not,	35:22
	even if God does not deliver us	35:28
	from your burning fiery furnace	35:32
	oh, king, if our bodies must be burnt to ashes,	35:35
	we still will not serve your gods	35:42
	or worship the golden image	35:46
	which you have set up.	35:47
	This is loyalty,	35:50
	this is integrity.	35:54
	This is hope.	35:57
	This is responsible existence	36:00
	in a difficult situation.	36:05
	Now let me suggest if you will	36:07
	two or three alternatives	36:11
	that might well have motivated these three Hebrews	36:17
	in the situation.	36:21
	One thing, they might have been motivated	36:26
	by the spirit of nationalism.	36:28
	You're going to be a citizen of the country,	36:34
	and there are certain requirements.	36:41
	That citizenship has precedence and preeminence	36:45
	over any and all other loyalties	36:49
	and allegiances you may have.	36:52
	If you don't fight in our wars,	36:57
	if you don't believe that	37:01
	there's certain people among you	37:04
	are inherently inferior,	37:05
	if you don't believe that a certain kind of	37:10
	economic system, a certain kind of a political	37:15
	system is right and was ordained in Heaven	37:19
	then you are a traitor.	37:23
	And in this culture	37:31
	we would call you a Communist right quick.	37:37
	And loyalty to the nation is important.	37:43
	I know that indeed	37:48
	a nation cannot expect	37:51
	to survive long without a reasonable loyalty	37:56
	from it's people.	38:01
	But allegiance to what, what is it that	38:05
	should claim our supreme loyalty	38:08
	and allegiance?	38:11
	If you are going to live responsibly	38:15
	you're going to have to have some loyalties	38:21
	and allegiances that supersede	38:24
	even citizenship in any nation.	38:28
	That supersede and take preeminence	38:35
	over loyalty and allegiance	38:39
	to any system that is manmade.	38:42
	But if not,	38:44
	they could have been motivated	38:49
	by nationalism or they could have been motivated	38:51
	by crowd psychology.	38:56
	It must have been difficult	39:01
	to refuse it to bow down	39:03
	when everybody else was bowing.	39:04
	Oh, you know, when you're in Rome	39:10
	you're supposed to act like Romans	39:12
	and do what Romans do.	39:14
	It must have been hard	39:19
	for them as they looked out	39:20
	and saw everybody bowing down.	39:22
	There they were standing alone	39:28
	after all now when you are at Duke,	39:33
	when why are you on this campus,	39:36
	and when you are students,	39:38
	members of the faculty and staff here,	39:45
	you have, you won't act like it now.	39:47
	You may not look the part all the time.	39:54
	But you do well to serve Duke's gods	39:58
	and worship Duke's images.	40:03
	Even in the white	40:08
	middle class traditional manner.	40:12
	We don't mind having	40:22
	few Hebrews among us.	40:26
	We don't mind having a few blacks among us.	40:31
	So long as they don't upset our systems	40:36
	and the way we are accustomed to doing things.	40:40
	So long as they, they can be	40:43
	assimilated into our culture,	40:46
	which has to be right.	40:49
	Responsible existence	40:54
	in this University community,	40:58
	responsible existence anywhere,	41:01
	demands that Hebrews and Blacks	41:05
	and every other group	41:09
	must resist every attempt	41:11
	to be assimilated or acculturated	41:15
	in a pluralistic world.	41:20
	But if not,	41:22
	then these three Hebrews	41:29
	might have been motivated by fear.	41:30
	Fear of being ostracized,	41:36
	fear of being out of step,	41:39
	fear of being misfits.	41:42
	Yes, even fear of death.	41:44
	For responsible living	41:49
	we'll at times require non-conformity.	41:51
	Responsible living may at times	41:57
	require death.	42:00
	Nationalism,	42:08
	conformity, fear,	42:11
	these are just some of the alternatives	42:16
	that might have motivated these Hebrews	42:20
	in that crisis situation.	42:22
	But no one of these and no other alternative	42:26
	motivated them.	42:31
	No, no they were motivated by their faith.	42:33
	They were motivated by loyalty to their God	42:37
	and their integrity and their hope.	42:41
	For they remembered that God had spoken to their fathers.	42:46
	Shame to them and to all of every generation	42:52
	who would falter.	42:56
	I am the Lord your God	42:58
	who brought you out of the land of Egypt	43:02
	and out of the house of bondage.	43:05
	You shall have no other gods before me.	43:08
	You shall not make for yourself	43:12
	a graven image or any likeness of anything	43:15
	that is in Heaven above	43:18
	or is that in the Earth beneath	43:20
	or that is in the water under the Earth.	43:22
	You shall not bow down to them	43:26
	nor serve them.	43:29
	Now it doesn't make any difference	43:32
	if everybody else is bowing down.	43:35
	All of the nation's people may worship	43:41
	the king's image,	43:45
	they may serve the king's gods	43:47
	but you shall not.	43:49
	So they stood	43:56
	facing death.	44:01
	Even if our God does not deliver us	44:06
	even if our bodies are burned,	44:11
	but if not,	44:16
	come what may,	44:18
	we will not serve your gods	44:19
	nor worship your image.	44:22
	The story continues.	44:26
	The angry king ordered the furnace	44:27
	to be heated seven times hotter than usual.	44:29
	Had those three Hebrews thrown into	44:33
	the burning fiery furnace.	44:37
	But he was amazed,	44:41
	he was shocked	44:43
	when he looked and saw these three Hebrews	44:46
	walking around in the fire.	44:51
	Unhurt, somehow, somehow	44:55
	a power from above came down	45:01
	and joined them in the furnace.	45:05
	The king saw a fourth being	45:10
	who's appearance was like the Son of God.	45:14
	We live in a world of continuing crisis.	45:20
	As a matter of fact, we live in a time	45:25
	of extreme crises.	45:28
	Pressures and fears are our constant companions.	45:33
	But God's word is eternal.	45:40
	God's word is everlasting.	45:45
	It calls us now as it called of old.	45:47
	To responsible existence	45:54
	in the present and in this place	45:57
	and this University,	46:00
	this nation and in this world.	46:02
	And just as	46:09
	a fourth being, a fourth presence joined	46:14
	those Hebrews in the fiery furnace,	46:20
	there is a presence at our disposal.	46:24
	So that when the pressures of the times	46:30
	and when the fears of the time assail	46:34
	we need to remember that faith	46:38
	in God's purpose here.	46:41
	The song writer has said it,	46:46
	better than I can.	46:48
	God is my strong salvation.	46:49
	What foe have I to fear	46:53
	in darkness and temptation.	46:55
	My light, my help is near.	46:58
	Though host encamp around me	47:02
	find (mumbles)	47:05
	what terror can confound me	47:08
	with God at my right hand.	47:11
	Yes, faith in God	47:14
	helps us live responsibly	47:17
	in all circumstances.	47:20
	With loyalty, with integrity,	47:23
	and with hope.	47:27
	Isaiah 43	47:30
	sums it up for us.	47:37
	But now thus says the Lord,	47:41
	he who created you oh, Israel	47:46
	he who formed you oh Jacob,	47:51
	fear not for I have redeemed you.	47:53
	I've called you by name and you're mine.	47:58
	You pass through the waters,	48:03
	I'll be with you.	48:06
	And through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you.	48:09
	If you have to walk in the fire,	48:15
	when you walk in the fire	48:19
	you shall not be burned.	48:21
	Neither shall the flame consume you,	48:25
	for I am the Lord your God.	48:30
	The Holy one of Israel	48:33
	your Savior.	48:35
	But if not,	48:38
	responsible existence	48:42
	in this community and in any community	48:45
	yea in all the world,	48:50
	requires the loyalty, the integrity	48:54
	and the hope expressed	48:58
	in but if not.	49:02
	In the name of the Father,	49:07
	the Son, and the Holy Spirit.	49:08
	Amen.	49:11
	(organ playing)	49:18
	(choir singing)	49:57
	♪ A firm a foundation ♪	49:58
	♪ Ye saints of the Lord ♪	50:01
	♪ is laid for your faith in His excellent Word ♪	50:05
	♪ What more can He say ♪	50:14
	♪ Than to you He has said ♪	50:18
	♪ To you who for refuge ♪	50:23
	♪ To Jesus have fled ♪	50:28
	♪ Fear not I am with you ♪	50:34
	♪ Oh be not dismayed ♪	50:39
	♪ For I am your God ♪	50:43
	♪ And will still give you aid ♪	50:47
	♪ I'll strengthen you help you ♪	50:51
	♪ And cause you to stand ♪	50:56
	♪ Upheld by My righteous ♪	51:00
	♪ Omnipotent hand ♪	51:05
	♪ When through the deep waters ♪	51:11
	♪ I call you to go ♪	51:16
	♪ The rivers of sorrow ♪	51:19
	♪ Shall not overflow ♪	51:25
	♪ For I will be with you ♪	51:28
	♪ Your troubles to bless ♪	51:33
	♪ And sanctify to you ♪	51:37
	♪ Your deepest distress ♪	51:42
	♪ When through fiery trials ♪	51:48
	♪ Your pathway shall lie ♪	51:52
	♪ My grace all-sufficient ♪	51:56
	♪ Shall be your supply ♪	52:01
	♪ The flame shall not hurt you ♪	52:05
	♪ I only design ♪	52:10
	♪ Your dross to consume and ♪	52:13
	♪ Your gold to refine ♪	52:18
	♪ The soul that on Jesus ♪	52:24
	♪ Has leaned for repose ♪	52:29
	♪ I will not I will not ♪	52:33
	♪ Desert to his foes ♪	52:37
	♪ That soul though all hell ♪	52:42
	♪ Should endeavor to shake ♪	52:46
	♪ I'll never no never ♪	52:50
	♪ No never forsake ♪	52:55
	♪ Amen ♪	53:02
	(organ playing)	53:15
	♪ Praise the Lord! ♪	55:16
	♪ Ye heavens, adore him ♪	55:18
	♪ praise him, angels, in the height ♪	55:22
	♪ sun and moon, rejoice before him, ♪	55:28
	♪ praise him, all ye stars and light ♪	55:34
	♪ Praise the Lord for he hath spoken ♪	55:41
	♪ worlds his mighty voice obeyed ♪	55:47
	♪ laws, which never shall be broken, ♪	55:53
	♪ for their guidance he hath made ♪	55:59
	♪ Praise the Lord for he is glorious ♪	56:16
	♪ never shall his promise fail ♪	56:24
	♪ God hath made his saints victorious ♪	56:33
	♪ sin and death shall not prevail. ♪	56:40
	♪ Praise the God of our salvation ♪	56:49
	♪ hosts on high, his power proclaim ♪	56:58
	♪ heaven and earth and all creation, ♪	57:09
	♪ laud and magnify his name! ♪	57:17
	(organ playing)	57:26
	(choir singing)	57:38
	(organ playing)	58:42
	(choir singing)	58:56
	♪ Hallelujah, Hallelujah ♪	59:08
	♪ Praise him on (mumbles) ♪	59:13
	♪ Praise (mumbles) ♪	59:19
	♪ Hallelujah, Hallelujah ♪	59:26
	♪ Hallelujah, Hallelujah ♪	59:29
	♪ Hallelujah ♪	59:35
	♪ Amen ♪	59:44
Man	Oh, God as we give these gifts	59:54
	we ask you to take our hands	59:57
	and work through them.	59:59
	Take our lips and speak through them.	1:00:01
	Take our minds and think through them.	1:00:04
	Take our hearts and warm them with your love.	1:00:08
	Make us whole persons	1:00:12
	to be obedient to you,	1:00:15
	and to care for our neighbors,	1:00:17
	for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord,	1:00:20
	Amen.	1:00:24
	(organ playing)	1:00:27
	(choir singing)	1:01:17
	The grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,	1:04:45
	the love of God the Father,	1:04:50
	and the communion and fellowship	1:04:54
	of the Holy Spirit	1:04:55
	be with you this day	1:04:58
	and forever.	1:05:01
	♪ Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen ♪	1:05:05
	♪ Amen, Amen, Amen ♪	1:05:41
	(church bells ringing)	1:06:31
	(organ playing)	1:06:49

Item Info

Title:

Joseph B. Bethea - "But If Not" (September 8, 1974)

Description:

Responsible living in the world will demand non-conformity from us that will often be difficult and come with costs. Our faith in God sustains us in these moments. Even if we are not rescured in the moment, we know that God still controls history. (Abstract created by Duke Divinity School staff.)
Sermon start time: (Part 1) 25:03. Sermon end time: (Part 1) 49:14.
Key quotation: “Yes, faith in God helps us live responsibly in all circumstances, with loyalty, with integrity, and with hope.”

Permalink:

https://idn.duke.edu/ark:/87924/r40g3hd2k

Date:

September 8, 1974

Speaker:

Bethea, Joseph B.

Biblical Book:

Chapter and Verse:

Subject:

Contributor:

Duke University. Chapel

Identifier:

UA.17.01.0003 RR-0724
ref6647_iig
uachapelsermaud
duke:320773
dcrau001808
ark:/87924/r40g3hd2k
d48ff62d-a1d1-4ccf-b2df-f94812a7da29

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Duke Chapel Recordings

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Duke University Chapel recordings

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Language:

English

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United States
North Carolina
Durham (N.C.)

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Provenance:

The Duke University Chapel Recordings were transferred to the Duke University Archives beginning in 1970.

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Educational Use Permitted

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This material is made available for educational and non-commercial use. This recording may contain 3rd party materials, such as music or readings that are therefore not covered by the license indicated here. Copyright in this material has not been transferred to Duke University. For other reuses of this material beyond those permitted by fair use or otherwise allowed under the Copyright Act, please see our page on copyright and citations https://library.duke.edu/rubenstein/research/citations-and-permissions.

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Joseph B. Bethea - "But If Not" (September 8, 1974)

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