How Can the Church Welcome Those Who Mourn?

I pray all the time. I read the Bible. I'm a Christian. I love Jesus but what if I don't want to go to church.

That's just one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity this is Bill Meyer along with Pastor Israel 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 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 and you can also email us with your question at questions at core, Christianity.com well with all the difficult and painful news during the past two weeks we have a very encouraging story to share with you a go fund me campaign to help a Minneapolis firefighter who sports bar was destroyed in the writing has been going strong core boy Balla and his wife were originally set to open score sports bar in March but they had to postpone the opening date due to the coronavirus pandemic shutdown, then they plan to open on June 1, the date Minnesota headset for restaurants to be allowed to open well. Tragically, the ballast restaurant and the building. It was in were destroyed in the looting and riots in the wake of George Boyd's death and unfortunately they didn't have insurance to go fund me account that was set up for the bellows had a goal of raising $100,000. But here's the great news as of earlier this week, nearly 34,000 people had donated more than $1 million to rebuild their restaurant.

While that is great news is so cool to see communities coming together to help small business owners and I may just so important and I'm glad to hear that they been able to put together that that money that to help them get the business started.

I know a lot of us saw that story on TV when there when they first lost her place and had no insurance, and so cool that so many people have stepped forward to help them out or let's go to our first question of the day and we received this one from Eric he says in Christian circles, we often make a distinction between temptation and sin, almost at the expense of downplaying temptation as morally neutral. However, since temptations come from our own sinful desires.

According to James one is the desire for something sinful itself. Simple.

For example, are homosexual desires simple are those desires the same as sexual orientation, or is that a man-made and un-biblical definition hey Eric, you know this is a big one. Let me to start off by saying I will probably I can barely cover everything and in the short time that we have, but there is a resource over our website core, Christianity.com 10 things you need to know about the Bible and homosexuality want to encourage you to check that out in the sermon on the Mount, Jesus said whoever looks at someone with a lustful intent has already committed adultery. Disordered sexual desires and lust need to be put to death. The fact is, whether through the fall, or through various environmental factors. We can have these disordered desires that feel very natural to us which are nevertheless unnatural to humanity. I think homosexuality's is one of those kinds of desires we need to be clear on this, because Scripture is clear on this Scripture calls homosexuality against nature. Romans chapter 1 verse 26 for this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men with men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. The word passion there is in reference to strong desires, particularly sexual desires here and you'll note that God gave them up to these so that we wouldn't want to say that these desires were were natural or were even okay there meant to be mortified. That's an old word which simply means put to death.

It's often the word that we use.

We talk about the mortification of Sanyo.

Paul talks about in Romans chapter 8 the need to put to death the sinful deeds of the body to mortified you know what each and every one of us has our own set of disordered desires for one person it might be sexual for another person. It might be greed or pride or covetousness. Each of us is in the fight called to deny ourselves the sinful passions within us peer made this very clear. He said in first Peter chapter 2 verse 11 beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. That notice were going to have the sinful passions. The question is what do you do with them. Are you putting them to death by the grace of the Holy Spirit or are you creating a justification for them where you sing well this is just me know their sinful passions that were called to put to death, and so I would want to say you know we talked about orientation are those kinds of things to me you ask.

Are these desires. The same thing as sexual orientation, or is that a man-made and un-biblical definition. These desires are not natural to us in the way that God intended us to be what he created man and woman and so there unnatural desires that might feel like there are orientation, as I said it could be just because of the fall or it could be because of very serious prominent different things that happen in an individual's life. Nevertheless, were called to the put them to death to deny ourselves to look to Jesus Christ.

I think we have to we have to state that very clearly because the Scriptures make that very clear.

A difficult issue that a lot of people are asking questions about in our culture, and of course in the church in the evangelical church in the Protestant church as a whole. There's just been a lot of division over this whole issue of homosexuality and so again we would steer you towards that great resource 10 things you need to know about the Bible and homosexuality. You can find out more at core, Christianity.com.

Let's go to our first call of the day. This one comes from Brandon in Pennsylvania are like to do you believe the possible elevation and if you do you also believe the point of no return on earth about impossible to burn or go back to the goodness of God. Also in Matthew, talk, laugh your thank you very much you really good question in Hebrews 6 I mean I think if there are a handful of passages that we often get questions about on this broadcast Hebrews 6 is one of them just to be very clear. No, I don't believe that it is a genuine believer in Jesus Christ can lose their eternal salvation.

Ultimately their salvation is rooted in God's work in his grace and so this is something that God is doing in us, we can't lose it the opposite Hebrews begins in chapter 6, verse one. Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God and of instruction about washings and the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. In this we will do if God permits, for it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened with tasted the heavenly gift have shared in the Holy Spirit and have tasted the goodness of the word of God.

The powers of the age to come and have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt for the land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God.

But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned.

Talk about judgment here blessing and curses that I think that last little parable that's given by the author to the Hebrews there in verse seven, the land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, is key in helping us to understand what's going on here. The rain is God's word.

It's the grace of God. It's been poured out to the preaching of the word and through the ordinances that Jesus gave things like baptism effect when the author of the Hebrews talks about being enlightened. That was the that the language that was used in the ancient church for for your baptism.

It was being enlightened tasting of the heavenly gift will be the Lord's supper communion. The powers of the age to come experiencing them. This is a community of people who are being rained upon with the gospel, God's word, the rain is falling and yet what's being produced.

Again, the author of the Hebrews there says produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God.

If the word of God produces this crop this fruitfulness.

It's blessed. But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed.

You see, the problem is not this is you know of a church that has been bearing all this fruit they believed in Jesus and then there losing their salvation. The problem is this what the author the Hebrews.

This is saying think the word of God is falling on you.

Is it being mixed with faith in other words, have you genuinely laid hold of it. This is really confirmed by what the author the Hebrews says earlier back in Hebrews chapter 4. Therefore, while the promise of entering God's rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it for good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them because they were not united by faith with those who listed the key here is do you believe the gospel that is being preached.

If you do your saved if you don't if all you're hearing is the word of God. But you're not mixing the word with faith will your near to being cursed, and again this is confirmed just a little bit later in chapter 6, though we speak.

In this way. Verse nine.

In your case. Beloved, we are sure of better things.

Things that belong to salvation. Another was he sending out hope that you're hearing the word I'm concerned for you because it seems like some of you are turning away from the gospel you're not believing in Jesus for your salvation, but I'm hopeful for better things for things that accompany salvation, the author, the Hebrews says so this is not an example of true Christians who believe in Jesus are born again and then fall away, know the author, the Hebrews is concerned that they've heard the word that the rain is been falling and yet they haven't mixed it with faith and the warning here, for each and every one of us is this you can sit in the pew you can be in the church. The question is not, are you around the gospel. The question is do you trust in Jesus Christ personally receive the word of God for your self. That's what makes all the difference is one thing to hear the word for it to go in one ear and out the other. It's another thing to lay hold of the word, by faith, and that's with the author.

The Hebrews wants for the people that he's writing to Brandon, thank you so much for the question then it really appreciate your very thoughtful response to that you're listing the core Christianity and we would love to receive your email question you can email us at questions at core, Christianity.com you can also call us at 833-843-2673 and were excited to tell you about an offer that we have for you today okay so this is one of my favorite resources that we have. Being a pastor. It's called eight things everyone should know about the church. It's free for you when you sign up for our weekly newsletter core Christianity to one of the things we love is the church and one encourage everyone to worship and serve in a healthy church. This resources that help you understand what churches and how to best honor God through your participation in the local church. So head over to core Christianity.com/offers to download eight things everyone should know about the church.

The Corsican calls anytime and ask for that resource 833-843-2673 we received an email question from Bob in Virginia and Israel.

Here's what Bob asked what happened to all those in Old Testament times were unaware of Israel and Israel's God, where did they spend eternity and what happens to folks in New Testament times that are not aware of the gospel. I would love to have scriptural answers on this and Bob very good question and I first let's begin by stating what we do know. I think this is really helpful when we approach questions like this. Number one God is love. First John chapter 4 verse eight he is in cruel or evil. He's good. And because he's good. He's also just no one is going to stand before God on the day of judgment and feel like they've been handed the wrong verdict. There's in Scripture.

Even this indication that work going to be judged more or less severely depending on how much we know.

For example, Jesus said in Luke chapter 12 verses 47 and 48 that servant who knew his masters will be did not get ready, or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know and did what deserved a beating will receive a light beating everyone to whom much was given of him much will be required and from him, to whom they entrusted much they will demand the more God's judgments are just now. Here's what everyone does know Bob, this is really the key passage to go to when answering your question. Everyone knows deep down inside that God is the creator Romans chapter 1 verses 18 and following.

Listen to what Paul said the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth and here's the truth is what can be known about God is plain to them because he has shown it to them.

His invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world in the things that have been made, so they are without excuse for although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking and their foolish hearts were darkened claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. This what some theologians.

Bob called the census to win a Titus. The sense of God is that since you get whether you're Christian or not. When you look up at the stars and you're just overwhelmed with a sense of God. We all have that since right is there something greater than us out. There were small in the grand scheme of things.

There's there's a sense of the divine.

But here's what we do sinfully we suppress it we deny it we try to push it down until it goes away. We each have this sense of God.

Paul says we suppress it in unrighteousness.

So the fact of the matter is everyone from the very creation of the world God's invisible attributes can be clearly perceived in the things that God has made. We know deep down inside that there is a God that he's the creator of all things, and that in and of itself holds us justly accountable before God. So God is just and he's going to judge us on the basis of his truth and end up on the basis of what we know and pulses. This is one of the things that we know we deserve God's judgment, but God in his mercy continues to pursue us even though we suppress that truth. He sent his son. He didn't just give us his creation but he sent his son Jesus into the world to reveal his goodness.

His salvation is gospel to us as it God is just. Please good to. He's merciful and he calls all people everywhere to repent and Jesus is the one who comes to me. John chapter 6, I will in no way cast out. He's calling us to him so that we could be forgiven for all the times we have suppress the truth of God in unrighteousness.

Thank you for your question Bob, I hope that helps you check out Romans chapter 1 read that passage because really that's where the answer is, this is core Christianity with pastor Pedro Sanchez and your question is always welcome. You can call us at 833 the core and if you don't have a question feel free to call us and comment on something your part of the program. We would love to communicate with you. Let's go to another call that came in a room hi Sheila and I listen to you, shall all the time and I so think are at some very quiet during that time. I don't like to the church mainland is having such a hard time with my jealousy and envy and I guess happy Christians. I felt like such a terrible person.

It's so painful for me because I had a daughter that died by suicide years ago and I do a lot less depression and anxiety and as a Christian. I'm supposed to like to go to church and so therefore I feel even worse about it and guilty and I'm embarrassed to even admit this. Please help me I would appreciate it so much, so very much. So Sheila may the Lord bless you sister. Now I want to pray for you and I want to invite everyone listening right now to join me in prayer for our dear sister Sheila heavenly father we lift you up to right now the burden that she carries the pain that she feels in and even justice, sense of isolation and loneliness were not wanting to be in church. I pray dear God, to cause the light of your countenance. Your love to shine upon her.

Would you encourage her to fill her with your Holy Spirit.

I pray Lord for your mercy to be poured out on her and as she seeks you Lord which you encourage her, would you strengthen her, both in her relationship to the church Lord God that you've given to her and also Lord in her relationship with you. Would she just be so comforted by the grace of your Holy Spirit. In Jesus name, amen Sheila, first I want to point you to a resource we have over it. Core, Christianity.com nine things you need to know about depression, anxiety, depression is not something you need to be ashamed of, and I think that resources can really help you check that out over core, Christianity.com sister.

We felt that you've been through so much in the first thing I just want to say use, don't beat yourself up. I was just recently reading Ruth to my kids in our in our Bible reading time and I was struck in the very first chapter by Naomi's words when she returned to her home after the death of her husband and her sons read chapter 1 verse 19 begins the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem and when they came to Bethlehem the whole town was stirred because of them and the women said is this Naomi.

She said them.

Do not call me Naomi, call me Mata for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went away for the Lord is right me back empty. Why call me Naomi when the Lord is testified against me and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me.

Naomi goes back to her people back to Bethlehem that the place of worship. And yet she feels bitter. You're not alone. Sheila and I can totally understand why why you feel like you can't relate to church and I can understand why you might feel jealousy as well me tell you something. You know who else sympathizes with you I think you know will say Jesus met my mind goes immediately to I Isaiah chapter 53. The description of the suffering servant in verses three through five. Jesus was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Shirley he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows that we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace and with his wounds we are healed. Sheila Jesus knows your sorrows the pain of loss. The pain of feeling like a loner. I hope that no matter how far you feel from other people. You don't ever feel far from Jesus because he knows you can sympathize with you and give you comfort the comfort of his Holy Spirit. You know what it's okay that you don't feel like raising your hands and putting on a fake smile at church. God does not want that from you.

Did you know Sheila, that of the hundred and 50 Psalms in the Bible. The majority of them are Psalms of lament worshipers saying things like God. Why am I suffering, why have you abandoned me. Why do I feel empty.

That's our song.

Sometimes it's not that the happy clap you I'm just smiling right now. It's pain and we can still go to the Lord.

With that, and worship him. It saying God I don't have anything, but I have you I feel like you've left me I'm coming to you. Help me Lord, part of. I think the answer to this is having an accurate understanding of the body of Christ in the church. Sheila, we don't just weep with those who weep were also called to rejoice with those who rejoice in the reason we can do this the reason you can do this is because we are one body through the blood of Jesus Christ, the sorrows of my brother or sister belong to me and so do the victories. This is one of the reasons we need the church. I hope that you can have this file you need other people who work in a weep with you posted in verse 20 and 12 verse 26 if one member suffers, all suffer together if one member is honored, all rejoice together. You have Sheila in the body of Christ people that can weep with you and people with whom you can rejoice. Why, because of what Jesus Christ has done for you and when you come before the Lord. Sincerely he is on you can bless his name and receive his grace. Thanks for listening to court Christianity to request your copy of today's special offer.

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