Hi Rhys - and welcome to the St. David's Uniting Community. I don't normally invade this space but I thought your comment warranted a response. Many thanks for your posting - it's generous and helpful of you to share your view. And I quite agree with you - Jesus' words about weeping and gnashing of teeth in this passage are truly shocking. Which I think was often the point of Jesus' parables - to get us to think, react, discuss. If I'm honest, there are many passages of scripture that I find shocking, sometimes even offensive, on first reading but - like those parts of ourselves that are harmful or difficult to face - I don't think we can ignore these passages, much as I'm sometimes tempted to! Instead, I believe that by wrestling with them, even questioning them at times, we can find God's message of love, grace and justice within them. You ask 'who are the evil people who will be burned up...?' I think Jesus was partly using this exaggerated story to say 'don't judge others - who are you to declare who's good and evil?', something, as I tried to explain, that the Church has sadly done all too often down through the years. As a local church, we don't have a uniformity of belief but the vast majority of believers at St. David's Uniting will not have a literal interpretation of this parable - i.e. will not think that Jesus was saying that some would be divided and burned up. In fact, in last week's sermon (which would ideally be read in conjunction with this one) I tried to say how this was not the good news of God's love as I understand it...but perhaps last week and this one, I explained this more in the written version rather than in the video. Instead, most of us might well treat this passage as a form of exaggeration ('rabbinic hyperbole') or believe that Jesus is referring to the healthy and harmful aspects in each of us. But perhaps I didn't make that clear enough in the sermon and/or perhaps the St. David's Uniting Church community are used to the times when I am trying to use humour to critique or play with the Bible passage. Your comments are a very helpful reminder that this won't be clear to everyone, especially new people, and so have given me pause for thought. In short, I believe that any belief we hold as Christians that doesn't speak of God's love for all people and of all creation must be questioned for God is love. I hope you will continue with your wrestling with the tough passages of The Bible and pray that through that struggle, and the glimpsing of God's grace in the most surprising areas of life well beyond the traditional Church, that your relationship with the God of radical welcome, amazing grace and eternal love, will grow with every day. Rev. Phil Wall

@@stdavidsunitingchurchponty4434 Thank you for your insightful response. I have often been drawn to this Church due its inclusive nature. The first time was by accident as I received a leaflet through my door inviting me (and my family) to a concert in aid of something I forget. I am a gay man and often shunned by Church's for traditional reasons and it is hard for someone like me to find an accepting Church. I think that's part of the reason I got so shocked by your response because I have come to expect that kind of reaction in the past. Your response surprised me and was also very kind. Obviously attending the Church at the moment is impossible but I do hope to come along one day (if you'll still have me. Ha!).

@@huwwilson650 Thanks for taking the time to reply Rhys. I really appreciate that you gave us the chance to explain things...though it's also sad to hear that you've found the wider Church to be an exclusive, unwelcoming place in the past. Tragically, I know that's the case with many folk and, though we're far from perfect at St. David's Uniting, we do our best to welcome everyone, speak out against prejudice, and challenge any Church structures which seem to allow exclusive practices - doing so because we believe that God created us all in God's image; that Jesus welcomed those that society and religion often marginalized; and that the Spirit can move within and through us all. Once we're gathering for services again, it would be great to welcome you to the gang! We'd absolutely still have you - in fact, we welcome dialogue, debate and diversity of belief in our community! In the meantime, keep well and God bless you.

@@huwwilson650 Hi Rhys. Phil again! Clearly, now I've learnt how to comment on youtube, I can't get enough of it! No...what I wondered was whether you'd be prepared to send me your email address (not here of course!) as I would like to reflect upon what I have learnt from you and from our conversation in my next sermon but would rather show you what I was going to say first. So if you were willing to send your details to [email protected], I'll be in touch. Many thanks and go well.

@@stdavidsunitingchurchponty4434 Ha! Yes of course. I'll send it to you now.

Hi Tzarina, the documentary is found over 2 parts. Please find the KZbin links below :) Wales and Slavery Part 1 - kzbin.info/www/bejne/oX3XfouenM10rKM Wales and Slavery Part 2 - kzbin.info/www/bejne/oXq3hmqvncunmcU