Will My Mom with Dementia Go to Heaven?

Will my mom who has dementia go to heaven. That's just one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity this is Bill Meyer along with pastor Adrian Sanchez and this is the radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day. You can call us right now with your question. At 833.core that's 1-833-843-2673.

You can also email us with your question at questions at core, Christianity.com first up today creative take on coronavirus prevention as many restaurants around the country began to reopen this one comes from Europe, a caf� in Germany is passing out pool noodles for customers to wear on their heads to enforce social distancing rules there which a list of the federal rather than using floor markings and screens to keep people apart.

The owners of the caf� distributed straw hats with two colorful pool noodles attached to the top to mark the occasion. The owner of the caf�, Jacqueline Roth posted a photo to the caf�'s Facebook page showing customers sitting at their tables enjoying their meals. Wearing their new headgear. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Negative times feel like a it would be kind of tough to eat my noodles with Pulido's on my head. I don't know but I wonder if you can take them home for your kids. Afterwards, that would really be my kids were younger, you still like to have pool little battles with their not even in the pool just in the backyard. Let's not jump into our first question of the day. This one comes from Merced who emailed us this the San Diego newspaper reported that churches in our city will now be allowed to hold drive-in services. Now the congregations are able to physically gathering this limited way. How would you advise church leadership to utilize this method of gathering effectively. Also, should the church administer the sacraments of baptism and the Lord's supper during this time, especially in light of the social distancing and the specific order of refraining from direct or indirect physical touch with others. While great question.

Yeah, heres had in you know this whole thing is been developing over the last several weeks and of course you just recently that the governor of California didn't allow for churches to begin gathering again. Although I think they're supposed to be with it. It's either 100 people, or 25% capacity.

Something like that, depending on the size of the building. We've been doing these driving services now for about two weeks and it's it's really been a blessing for our people and one of the reasons for their people who are asking me you wanted to just keep in the live streaming thing in online message instead of going through all the work of coming together. The big question we have to ask is what is happening when we gather together for worship as the people of God. So many people are confused about this today I go to Hebrews chapter 12 beginning in verse 18, because I think that the author to the Hebrews there describes what's happening when we come together as God's people. Hebrews 12 beginning in verse 18 it says this, you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire in darkness and gloom and a tempest in the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers bag that no further message be spoken to them, for they could not endure the order that was given.

If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned indeed, so terrifying was the site that Moses that I tremble with great fear, but you have come to mount Zion into the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and innumerable angels in festal gathering into the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all into the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. Now there with the author. The Hebrews is doing is he's comparing worship in the Old Testament under the old covenant with what's happening now were not going to Mount Sinai receiving the law under Moses were going were coming before the heavenly Jerusalem use. Think about the image that's painted their gathering before God, the angels worshiping the King of heaven. Jesus is present with us through the word it into the ordinances that Jesus gives to us those of the reasons why we said look we want to meet no matter what the circumstances are. Even if were meeting in a parking lot and I want to encourage pastors. You do whatever you can to bless and encourage your people and to lead them where to mount Zion before Jesus, the throne of God and I recognized.

He said that is not easy and and for several weeks now. I know a lot of churches, at least here in San Diego and throughout the United States. In places where they were allowing for driving services is confined space. It took us a while to find space in order to have one of these services and so it's difficult want to be gracious with our leaders and and pray for them, but I think if it's possible for us to meet we should do whatever we can to meet because of the precious things that are happening in the gifts that were receiving when we do meet, it really is a beautiful thing. Let me just say one of the thing with regard to how it's gone for us. You know it's been awkward at times. I was actually talking to Bill a little bit ago and just mentioning how you know it's different and you know you people are in their cars is that the services going on and I'm, you know, at least where were at. I'm preaching on the top of the Jeep so that people can see me it's it's totally not our normal set up and the dangers that that can be distracting, but the goal is want to hear the word of Christ. We want to grow in our faith and so were trying to set aside all the distractions that we can, and despite the fact the circumstances are little bit different, maybe awkward were entering into worship through the word and drawing near to the Lord so rigid, I thank you for your question, I continue to pray for churches throughout the United States that are looking for innovative and creative ways to bless their people and to gather together is the church in a way that safe. Now Israel during your services you are serving the sacraments are serving the Lord's supper. Yeah so and sacrament is just that you know it's a word that we used to describe the ordinances that Jesus gave to the church. The word sacrament comes from a Latin word it comes from a Greek word that means mystery baptism, the Lord's supper.

These are the ministries of the church. These are the ways that the spirit of God is powerfully working in our midst today and so I think there there a really important part of what happens in worship and so we been having the Lord supper at our driving service. You know are our elders and deacons. They got gloves on and masks on.

We asked people to bring their own cups so that we could pour into their cops and then we hand out these prepackaged wafers that we got sort were trying to do everything by the book and I and we are so it's been a blessing for people and again. It's so weird.

You know the circumstances are different than were used to, but the elements of worship were there the body and blood of Jesus Christ for us the word of God being preached singing and prayer were doing it and I think insofar as we are it's honoring to the Lord. You're also providing a great witness in your area of San Diego because as you've mentioned it's not just your congregation sitting in their cars, but people in the area are coming by to check out what's going on and maybe hearing the gospel for the very first time. Yep folks who were just going to the park nearby where were having our service, they didn't know, but they also got a little taste of what happens in a Christian worship service so it's pretty cool yet.

We had a lot of people to walk by him to sort of watching me on top of the Jeep wonder like what is going on a lot of people taking pictures so sort of funny but it's fun. This is core Christianity with pastor Adm. Sanchez and her phone number. If you have a question 46833 the core that's 1-833-843-2623 federal us go to our first call of the day. My name is Angel and ongoing from the blog I and visually impaired and often but that does not stop me from praising God and my question to you. What type should be played good in my plated collision Jamaican gospel music when I visited the play gospel so I need to know the play is services Angel God bless you. So good to hear from you. Want to thank you for giving us a call in the question that you ask is a really good one if it's a question I've been asked a lot of times is the pastor you know at our church. We have pretty traditional hymns that we do. You know that's that's kind of what were you stewing there been people come to visit.

Hey, why do we do it that way and why we have another styler kind of music and that's totally okay as well. I think the key Angel is the music needs to be good true and beautiful and it needs to point us to Jesus Christ. Paul said in Colossians chapter 3 verse 16 let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom and then get this, he says, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God to the goal of music in church is to help the word of Jesus Christ dwell in us richly.

Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. Now the style might be different at Reno from church to church.

Caribbean music or or gospel music review know that the hymns that we sing and in my church. My question is, is the music helping the word of Christ dwell in you is it filling us with the truth of Scripture that that nourish us that strengthen us in our faith. The styles can be different and in fact you look at a book like the book of Psalms. When that was that the handbook for the ancient Israelites will did you know that there are various genres within the Psalter different styles we might say of music you have the Psalms of lament, which are the kind of sorrowful dirge as we might say it's the psalmist coming before God that the E minor T it's a lament.

It's sad.

It's pleading with the Lord. You also have hymns, the sort of outburst of praise and joy you have songs of thanksgiving you have other kinds of Psalms as well as you have all of these different genres. Even within the Psalter that I think testify to the fact that there are different styles and kinds of music that can and should be played in the church and we want to encompass all of the feelings that the people of God can have.

Sometimes I think you go to churches and in the music is always the sort of excited, happy, praise loud kind of music we don't have the. The songs of lament.

Sometimes we go to church and the song that I want to sing the song that you want to sing is God where are you and so often. That's what the psalmist is saying and so I think with the music that we have. We wanted to point us to Jesus who wanted to cause the word of Christ dwell in us richly. We wanted to encompass all of the emotion if you will of the people of got the joy and the sorrow that I mentioned Angel that it that it needs to be good. I think that there are two problems that we can have here. You see, we don't want the music to be so distracting that it takes our eyes off of the Lord benefit can be distracting in two ways. One, if it's so much a performance that you have a band required.

That's up there doing all the quote unquote worshiping while the people can't really enter in because it's so professional will then the music itself becomes a distraction because of how produced it is we want the congregation to enter into worship, to sing, but music can also be distracting if it's just not done well. We want to strike this middleground or sing with the music is good. It's beautiful. It's being played well skillfully and it's pointing us to God and to his word and it's not distracting because it's so much of a performance. It's also not distracting because it's poorly done and so those are I think some of the guiding principles at least that I've used. As I've thought about this question. I hope that they're helpful to you as well and keep getting your praise on Angel, so glad to hear that that your worshiping the Lord and drill your church as you mentioned you use traditional hymns and they are just so chock full of wonderful as Scripture and doctrine, and yet a lot of the current contemporary praise songs or cut a light on Scripture.

I'm wondering what your thoughts on that because I've heard some criticism that some of the. The modern day contemporary worship songs are just sort of repetitive gobbledygook without really getting into the heart of God's word. Yeah well I think going back to that text in Colossians 316 if one of the goals in musical worship is that the word of Christ would dwell in us richly, but the songs that were singing or communicating the word of Christ. The truth of Scripture in a clear way there's a problem. It's amazing but what we believe about God is also taught in our worship we sometimes think we worship God the way we do because of the truth we embrace in Scripture, but the way we worship God also helps to teach us those truths, it establishes us in the faith, and so you know it we don't often realize it, but the way we worship God is teaching others about what we believe about God and we don't want to have a shallow view of God, of his word. We want to have that robust, rich understanding of who God is revealed to us in the Scriptures because at the end of the day that's what's getting get us through the suffering that we experience in this life. The challenges that we might face.

Those moments of lament. We need the richness of Scripture and we need to sing it while said this is core Christianity with Bill Meyer and Pastor Adm. Sanchez and you know so many people in our country right now are struggling as we all know, and many unfortunately are living with a lot of fear and that's why having a sure confidence in the work of Jesus Christ on the cross on our behalf is so critical. Your core Christianity. Our goal is to answer the difficult questions of our time with both skeptics and committed Christians in mind, we want to give answers that not only show why Christianity is true but also why it's good why it's beautiful and your support of this program is making a huge difference. A difference in helping others to live with hope and joy and confidence in that difference. If you think about it it's an eternal difference which you prayerfully consider sending a gift now to help us continue with this ministry as a thank you for a gift of $20 or more, we will send you our new core Christianity Bible study on Paul's letter to the Romans, and this is so cool something you could use as a family or small group. Even your pastor could use it to preach from to make a donation and to receive this study on Romans just head over to the core Christianity website at core, Christianity.com that's real simple one word core, Christianity.com on behalf of the entire team here core radio.

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Let's go to an email that came in. This one is from Joe and he says when praying safer healing from God, should a person. Thank God for that specific healing as if it's already happened. What if God chooses not to heal catcher.

Thank you for your question. I've heard people praying that way before. I don't necessarily think that that's the best way to print part of it just seems presumptuous to me. You know we want to presume on God or assume that we know exactly how you can answer our prayers because we don't know in every instance, what his will is why he's allowed certain suffering certain sicknesses you think of the story of Job, it's clear that God is in control, that he has power sovereignty over Job's plight over the sickness and the suffering that he endures and God uses it in his life and sometimes he uses suffering in our lives as well to bring us closer to him and so it's really important that we don't just assume that God is going to heal us, and I've seen this in some churches it really is a false theology of false doctrine that says it's always God's will to heal you right now and if he doesn't heal you, it's because you don't have enough faith.

You see how destructive that is, it causes people to think of the reason that I'm struggling with this. The reason I'm sick in this way is either because of some sin in my life or because I just don't have enough faith to be healed. What terrible doctrine. I mean it just crushes people who are already crushed with thickness. Not long ago there's a church out here in Reading and just such a tragic story made nationwide news because there was a little girl in that church, who had died in basically the entire church came together and said were were declaring were proclaiming that this little girl is going to be raised from the dead, so the parents were holding on to hope for days that this little girl was to be raised and they were declaring thanking God it as you saying in your question here thanking God for the fact that she was raised from the dead, that she was going to be healed and that this was going to be this great big testimony to the whole world while it was presuming on God was assuming that they knew what God was going to do now. The hope we have as believers in Jesus Christ is one day we will be fully and finally healed at the last day, our bodies will be raised again from the dead, but we can't say right now that God is going to do that and just assume that that he will. I think of what Paul told Timothy in first Timothy chapter 5 verse 23 he said to him, no longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments that so interesting. Paul doesn't tell Timothy hate Timothy you know what you praying harder that your healed you.

You must not have enough faith is a state that little bit of wind to help settle your stomach because I know you have these constant stomachaches. We have to be practical about these things. We have to realize that God has given us things like medicine, diet wisdom there. We can also pray for healing, but we don't want to just assume that were always going to be healed. We got to trust God in the midst of these kinds of prayers and we got say Lord.

This is in your hands. Do what you will in me through the suffering that you've allowed to come into my life. If you heal me, God, thank you and I praise you for that and I look for that. But if you don't, Lord, I trust you in a minute. Continue to follow you and I know that you are able to make all things work together for the good of those who love you later.

What you're really talking about here is the sovereignty of God, and we come back to this over and over again on this program because I think a lot of people don't really understand what it means and it's not about what we do or what we want.

It's about who God is and what his tongue for us and what he will do for us and that's what we need to keep focusing on as we walk through our Christian life came in. While this is core Christianity and would love to hear from you. If you have a question for us.

Here's the number 1-833-843-2673.

That's 833 the core and we have a call from Sandy in Erie, Pennsylvania.

My mother cried several years ago and she had dementia. She is now in a nursing home at 90 years old. I'm wondering if she still say she does agree that Bible but she said she had been saved as a child, but I'm wondering will she go to heaven thank you very much Sandy thank you for your question, let me just begin by praying for your mother, gracious father in heaven. I thank you for Sandy and I thank you for your mom. I pray Jesus that even in the midst of the dementia that she suffers from right now that she would still know and experience your presence.

Lord, thank you Jesus that you say I will never leave you or forsake you.

And I pray that Sandy's mom would know that deep down in her heart Sandy would know that for her mother Jesus that you are faithful that you are with us even in our sickness and even in death, Lord, as you promised so be with Sandy be with her mother. Comfort them and give them a sense of your presence, gracious father, I ask in the name of your son Jesus. Amen to Sandy that the question is to someone without the cognitive capacity to fully understand or articulate the faith go to heaven. You shared Christ with your mother, your mother embraced Jesus were saved by faith in Jesus Christ.

But what happens when somebody gets dementia or what about no children who can't really articulate that faith are people who have other ailments or sicknesses you think of mental retardation. Those kinds of things you know. Can that person be saved and the answer is yes. First, none of us fully comprehends or understands how salvation works. Jesus saves.

Not my perfect understanding of how Jesus saves. It really is the most glorious miracle and mystery of all Scripture is God's saving regenerating our hearts transforming us. Faith is a gift that comes from God and God does not take away that gift. If your mom believed and believe she's united to Jesus Christ. He belongs to him and yet the promise of Jesus as I said, Jesus said I will never leave you or forsake you know.

King David when he prayed in Psalm 22, he said verse 10 on you was I cast from my birth. He's talking to the Lord from my mother's womb. You have been my God. God is so good to his people. He keeps them. I think also of John the Baptist in Elizabeth's womb. When Elizabeth is greeted by Mary and of course our Lord Jesus in the womb of the Virgin Mary member were told in the Gospels that John the Baptist left excessive heat, he recognized the presence of Jesus, the God man there even in the womb of Elizabeth. Your mom can still experience and know Jesus's presence, even if she doesn't have that the same cognitive abilities that she once did.

And our home, our confidence has to be in God's word and promise and you can be confident because Jesus is faithful and good. He loves your mom and he won't let go for. Thanks for listening to core Christianity to request your copy of today's special offer. Visit us@corechristianity.com and click on offers in the menu bar or call us at 1-833-843-2673. That's 833, the court when you contact us. Please let us know how you been encouraged by this podcast and be sure to join us next time.

As we explore the truth of God's word together