Should Christians Participate in Peaceful Protests?

With all the protests taking place across the country. Should Christians participate in peaceful protest. That's just one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity by 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 court, that's 1-833-843-2673 and you can email us with your question at questions at core, Christianity.com first step today. Have you heard about barbecue Baptist Church. It's a church that serves up the gospel with the side of ribs chicken and pulled pork. This is actually an outreach ministry of the first Baptist Church in Navasota, Texas and last week they kicked off a weeklong multicity mission to bring the gospel to first responders, and medical professionals in several southern states along with ample servings of free barbecue meals barbecue enthusiasts from this ministry made 17 stops in Texas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Missouri, Arkansas and Oklahoma and according to the ministry's Facebook page. They served up and really love this. They served up Bibles and brisket prayer and pulled pork, redemption, and ribs church and chicken and salvation and sausage. Yeah, you know, the idea of the of that old saying, you know, sometimes the way to a man's heart is through his stomach and talk about bringing a ring on the gospel to the heart through there you go. Very creative way to spread the good news of Jesus Christ. That's that's very cool later. Let's go to our first question of the day and this is a call that came in at 833. The core and say I'm a Christian.

At that eight or nine years old when I was baptized right around aligned, I discovered that my Social Security number 666 – his work in between there so I didn't even notice it all out and I don't find it, but I am 77 years old now and it's about me a lot. I would like your calm analytically. Thank you very much Nancy thank you for giving us a call versus what to say, praise the Lord for bringing you to himself at such a young age, and in that you walk with the Lord for all this time I want to encourage you sister.

I remember years ago as a new believer, I don't member what it was that I was struggling with specifically.

But I remember asking the Lord to speak to me so I decided that I was in the house and open my Bible at random and read whatever scripture I opened to set down pick up my Bible opened it up and I realized I'd turn to page 2666.

It really bothered me so much so that I don't even think I read the Scripture on that page because I felt like I was just doomed. But you know what that was, at least for me more than anything. It was it was me being superstitious, rather than seeking to understand the Scriptures. I was looking for a quick fix. You know an answer to some problem in and I'm not even reading the Bible that day because I opened up the basic 66F course that number specifically is referred to in the book of Revelation. In Revelation chapter 13 and I just want to read this section of Scripture because I think it's important that we understand the context of what John is talking about in the book of Revelation, the Revelation chapter 13 beginning in verse 11.

John says, then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon.

It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence, it makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed and performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast. It deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived. It was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast might even speak and might cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain. Also, it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or on the four head so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark that is the name of the beast or the number of its name. This calls for wisdom. But the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man and his number is 666 Nancy. Here's what you need to note in Revelation, God's children are marked with his name on therefore heads John. He says this repeatedly in the book of Revelation. Revelation chapter 7 verse three in chapter 9 verse four in chapter 14 verse one and later in chapter 22 verse four talks about how God's people are marked on therefore heads with the name of the Lord. This mark has to do with being in league with the antichrist, the one in Revelation chapter 13 the mark of the beast, those who deny Jesus, take the mark. I don't think it's so much a tattoo or a microchip as is depicted in some popular books or even movies numbers in the Bible and especially in prophetic literature that we have here in the book of Revelation's apocalyptic prophetic literature often it in this genre of of Scripture numbers are symbolic and the number six is associated with man. Think back to the book of Genesis, God created man on the sixth day of creation.

So Nancy if you have faith in Jesus. You said you've been baptized. You believe in the Lord. If you have faith in Jesus. You have been sealed with the Holy Spirit. You don't have the mark of the beast. No matter what your Social Security number is the mark of Almighty God on you and if you belong to him.

You have nothing to worry about. So I want to comfort you with those were sister God bless you and may you continue to to walk with Jesus and be faithful to him. Nancy, thanks so much for your call.

We appreciate hearing from you and having you as a regular listener at core Christianity will April. Here's a question that was posted on our Facebook page from Carino Reno says it seems like many churches today are program and evangelism driven with good intentions, but seem to lack theological and biblical depth.

Others are theologically and biblically sound but lack outreach, what place should programs and evangelistic outreach to serve in the local church.

I wrestle with knowing the proper place of programs and outreaches in a culture that thrives on entertainment and business.

That's a great question and I think a lot of times in the church. Our programs can feed into that right mean they can be entertainment driven or people driven and not gospel driven, and so I think that there is a place for programs at times. I think if they can help us carry out the mission of the church in a way that is good and faithful to the Bible just organize as the people of God in order to do that more efficiently than I think the program can be a good thing but a lot of times in churches, we do have all these different programs these things that are going on have nothing to do with the mission of the church so we have to know what what is the mission of the church and you know what it hits not something that we came up with it something that Jesus gave to us as Christians where you give it to us in what's called the great commission.

If you have a Bible, the end of the gospel of Matthew in Matthew chapter 28. Listen to what Jesus said this is the mission of the church. Matthew 28 verses 19 and 20. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I've commanded you.

And behold I am with you always, to the end of the age. Sometimes I think as churches we think it's more complicated than it than it really is coming. Here's the mission statement for us as believers in Jesus Christ. The mission statement for the church go and make disciples. How by baptizing and teaching everything that Jesus taught that we teach the word of God.

That's the mission will what's the method. How do we carry out this mission and again I think that the Scriptures give us some clear guidelines. I would turn to the text of Scripture like acts chapter 2. So if you still have a fight. We know flipping forward a few books that acts chapter 2 would listen at the distal description of the early community of faith filled with the Holy Spirit acts chapter 2 beginning in verse 42.

Listen to what Luke wrote they devoted themselves to the apostles teaching the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers and came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles and all who believed were together and had all things in common and they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes.

They received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all people, and the Lord is key and the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved to see. Other than the Lord is the one who builds the church, Jesus gives us the mission and in the Scriptures.

We also find the method it's a commitment to the apostles teaching to the word of God to the Fellowship, the breaking of bread, probably a reference to the Lord's supper there in acts chapter 2 the prayers. God not only gives us the mission, but he gives us the method those of the things we should be committed to and if programs in the church.

Help us to carry out that mission with the proper method given to us by the Scripture will then I think that they can be good, but if they take our eyes off of the mission will than they can be unhelpful.

Thanks for your question.

Some great insights draw. Thank you for that you're listening to core Christianity and we would love to hear from you. Here's our phone number 833-843-2673 and eight are a we have an offer we want to mention to her listeners today get you in Oakville. One of the things I've noticed lately we've been getting a lot of questions on the deity of Christ, we know that Jesus was God is a today we want to offer one of our most popular Bible studies over core, Christianity.com. It's called Jesus is God in you can download it for a donation of any amount.

The great study to go through with the a group of friends written by yourself. If you ever wondered why Christians believe that Jesus is God to be help by this resource. So over core, Christianity.com/offers to download.

Jesus is God and you can call us at 833 the core for that resource and I was thinking about it, or we've had some questions about Jehovah's Witnesses and the Mormons and what a great study for people to be clear on who Jesus really is and not what some other faiths might claim about yet. That's right, I guarantee you that you've probably had a Jehovah's Witness come to your door ran into a Mormon missionary pain. A lot of Christians feel ill-equipped to be able to have discussions about the Scriptures, and in particular passages that reveal to us who Jesus really is what the church confesses the deity of Christ because of what the Bible teaches. And so this can help you have those conversations and encourage the people around you to encourage yourself as well as you dig deeper into the word.

This is core Christianity and would love to get your email question or your call an angel called us from the Bronx, New York. No how should we get involved in all ANGEL. Thank you for your question and certainly a very relevant one, considering the last several weeks right. I think it's perfectly right to stand up against particular injustices in society.

I've protested peacefully in front of Planned Parenthood's before. Why, because of the atrocity of abortion that not everyone is is going to do that and I think that there are different ways we can stand for life as Christians I know that there are believers who give every year to pregnancy care clinics or volunteer for pro-life organizations are different ways that we can stand against other since two like racism that can very well look like a peaceful protester or doing something like a prayer walk in your community. There are different approaches. Here's an important thing I think we don't need to shame people who don't do things just like we do in a lot of times in a we get really passionate about something that we think to do this and that we point the finger was that what you should do it just like me will know there are there are different ways that we can be involved and we can pursue the good of our neighbor and society so can a Christian be involved in in a peaceful protest. Yeah, should a Christian stand against injustice, and stand up for the vulnerable in society absolutely. This is just wrapped up in what it means to obey God's law, which commands us to love our neighbors and you know pursuing justice for our neighbors I think is a really important thing you see this all over the place in the Scriptures. Look at a passage of Scripture, like Isaiah chapter 1 beginning in verse 12. This is God rebuking Israel for her religious hypocrisy. He says in Isaiah chapter 1 verse 12. When you come to appear before me who has required of you, this trampling of my courts bring no more vain offerings. Incense is an abomination to be new moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations. I cannot endure iniquity, and the solemn assembly your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates. They have become a burden to me. I am weary of bearing them when you spread out your hands.

I will hide my eyes from you even though you make many prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood wash yourselves, make yourselves clean. Remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes cease to do evil, learn to do good, seek justice, correct oppression bring justice to the fatherless lead the widows because now I find that so interesting. Here God is saying look to his people who were doing these religious things that God called them to do under the old covenant, but he said you know what you're doing it, and yet you're living in sin and part of the sin was not crying out for justice on behalf of those who were oppressed and marginalized, the widow of Proverbs chapter 31 verse eight.

Listen to this. Open your mouth for the mute for the rights of all who are destitute.

Verse nine.

Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy. I think this is just right right in line with God's law. We know we believe as Christians, that all people are made in the image of God. That's why we cry out when there are injustices like abortion were crying out for the mute for the rights of those who are destitute or when people when the image of God is being harmed through racism, through injustice, through a lack of equality it's it's right for us as believers to say hey there's something wrong with that because God made us all in his image and we can cry out righteously peacefully as well and I think that's another appointment. You'll just end with this. The Bible says be angry and do not sin.

There are certain things that we see certain sins that we witness in society that make us angry and we ought to be angry because sin is his way to get the image of God is under attack and so were filled with this. I think righteous indignation and yet our response cannot be sinful.

We have to be godly examples. Examples of the love and goodness of Christ and witnesses ultimately of his gospel and that's we want to point people to over and over again is the gospel of Jesus Christ were crying out for justice were pointing people to the Lord of all justice, who bore our sins so that we might be forgiven. This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez and we had an email question come in from Victor a drill. He says I'm studying in John's Gospel, and there are clear and obvious claims of our Lord to be from above, or one with the father. Of course the Pharisees wanted to kill him for what they deemed as blasphemy. Surely the Jews believed that the Christ would be a man above all others, but not the son of God. Are there any texts I can refer to the point to the Christ as being from above who came down as deity clothed in the flesh. Obviously John chapter 1 speaks about this, but John doesn't reference the prophets. There does he. I have a half-brother who is a Hasidic Jew and I think this would be helpful in discussing Jesus Christ with him. Hey Victor, yet you're definitely going to want to get your hands on that resource that I just mentioned you know Jesus is God over core, Christianity.com and I would say yeah there are many so many passages of Scripture both in the Old Testament and in the New Testament. Point us to the divinity of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, with regard to the prophets, well look at what Isaiah chapter 9 verse six is a first that we often go to around Christmas time.

Isaiah 9642 us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder and his name shall be called wonderful Counselor, mighty God, everlasting father prints of peace here. You have the incarnation, a son is given it's it's almost like John 316 is echoing this for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son. Here you have the incarnation and who is this son. He is the wonderful counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting father, the Prince of peace. Later in the book of Isaiah. There's this big transition in chapter 40 and listen to what Isaiah chapter 40 says beginning in verse one, comfort, comfort my people, says your God speak tenderly to Jerusalem and cried to her that her warfare is ended. Her iniquity is pardoned that she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins. A voice cries in the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord Yahweh make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Think about that Isaiah 9 says a son is going to be given he's in a be called the mighty God. In Isaiah 40 says let's prepare the way for him prepare the way for Yahweh, the Lord is coming. You see this also in the Psalms over and over again. You have this this hope that the psalmist would speak of the Lord Yahweh was going to come and judge the earth as you have all these these prophecies in the Old Testament related to God, the Lord coming and you have to imagine the Jews probably were expecting the doctrine of the incarnation from all of that, but that's precisely what happened.

God himself, the Lord assumed humanity took on flesh so that he might live the perfect life in our place in your place and bear the curse of the law so that we might be forgiven and so Victor all over the place in the Old Testament as well in the prophets. We see this hope is hope of the incarnation. This hope of the Lord coming, the son who was given who is God, and those are some of the verses that I would point your half-brother to. But as I said make sure you download that resource.

Jesus is God. I think there to be some other passages there that you cannot look at and that will be helpful in the discussions that you have with your half-brother. Thanks for that April.

This is core Christianity, and you can call us with your question anytime, 833-843-2673. That's 833. The core then called us from Wichita, Kansas. With this question.

When pulling up physical authors of the Bible and their relationship with God on a higher level than what we are capable of, or that they were holier than we are capable of being be a form of idolatry and of yes in the morning to the Catholic Church's position that they hold hope and other leaders be the same as they are a conduit to God that the be something with God that we cannot make us a really good question an important question because we do have this tendency. I think Dan to exalt men to fix our eyes on them and not on Jesus. You know when I was a new Christian, there was a guy in my church who really had positive influence on me love the Lord's name was David McClintic and yet she just recently went to go and be with the Lord walked with Jesus for many many years and I was a young believer eager to grow in my faith excited about learning the Scriptures better so I wouldn't you know, go online and listen to these different pastors and and I had some that I really liked our member one Sunday morning talking to this older, wiser brother in the Lord. David and going on and on and on about this new pastor that I discovered just how wonderful he was and you know how how godly he was and I just preach the word so well that I was going on and on about this man and David just sort of smirking looking at me and he said you know, atrial. Just remember there's one shepherd of the sheep and it was sort of a subtle rebuke to me this this young man he was. Listen to me go on and on. He was saying you know what atrial Jesus is the head of the church, not the pope not your favorite pastor and it seems like the godly us men throughout the history of the church.

Dan were just those men who pointed people away from themselves and to Jesus in Corinth that the church was having all sorts of problems that the Corinthian church. Paul addresses this and in the book of first Corinthians divisions.

Some of them were saying. I follow Paul others. I follow Apollo's others were saying. I follow Peter Paul rebukes that many says were nobodies.

We are servants to whom you believed the gospel, God is the one who adds the increased God is the one who opens hearts.

God is the one Francis faith fall into the trap of exulting men or women in the Lord and while God uses people mightily in our lives.

All of the we should go to Jesus. 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