Who Are You to Pass Judgement on Another?

My friends and I got into a debate the other day about worship with so many people leaving the church.

Should we do what works best for our culture that's just one of the questions will be answering on today's edition of core Christianity hi this is Bill Meyer along with pastor Pedro 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. You can also email us with your question at questions at core, Christianity.com first up today.

A major announcement from one of America's fast food chains. As you know over the past month or so there's been a spike in COBIT 19 cases throughout southern states like Florida, Texas and Arizona, causing several new cancellations and shutdowns now tragically AAA has announced they have postponed their annual Cal appreciation day usually takes place every July, when the restaurant chain. Let's everybody who dresses up in some form of Cal themed costume get free food from their local AAA.

No word on when cow appreciation day will be rescheduled, but a drill.

Personally, I am utterly heartbroken. Oh no my family is devastated.

We do the cow thing every year and mom and my wife loves Chick-fil-A I did to Bill Weber fast food. I got enough to eat fast food. What's your favorite fast food restaurant. If you do okay. Probably Tripoli. I like the way you pronounce it to that.

I like that okay okay out of course here in SoCal we got all the kind a like a hole in the wall Mexican taco John's, which you can't beat that. I think so. No street tacos and talk of the guy in the taco truck all day long. Got the best of the best. You probably got one of the discount cards don't yet they don't have those kinds of places don't have discount cards just need to seek it.

What you get.

So, alright, well, let's get through our first question of the day. This is a call we received at 833. The core Darlene called in from Sacramento. I hey thanks Darlene and thank you for calling in with that question. So you referring to Matthew chapter 6 verse 22. The eye is the lamp of the body. So if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light that I use the member part of our body to which we see all things Jesus saying if it's tainted. Everything is going to be tainted, and of particular importance here. This section in the same amount. I think there's a focus on how we view money and possessions of the sin of greed. But the verse in its context. If you go back a few verses in verse 19 of chapter 6 Jesus said do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven were neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. And then he says the eye is the lamp of the body. So if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness that he picks up this theme again of how we view money says no one can serve two masters for either he will hate one and love the other, he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. So II think that interpreters and Bible commentators to talk about this. This statement of Jesus the lamp of the body is the I fitting it in the context of how we think about money and possessions you he's really, I think calling out your the sin of greed. How we view the world around us that Jesus had no problem talking about money and possessions. It's really hard for a lot of pastors to bring the subject up today because of all of the abuses that we see, especially coming from the prosperity gospel movement you think of the televangelists that are out there always fleecing the flock trying to get money from the church.

But the thing is, we don't want to shy away either from calling out sins like the sin of greed. The fact of the matter is in our society today. I think this is one of the primary idols of Americans money and possessions how we view those things. So the question is do you cling to those things that when you put your hope is that what you live for, or you love and serve God. You can't serve two masters. Jesus says you have this friend that when I was a teenager. He was actually my youth pastor at the time I was going to small evangelical church and this guy loved cars. He was always on it that at that time I think was the auto trader website he would be looking for a good deal on a car that was just one of the hobbies you know that he had and I remember. Finally he found his car was sort of like his dream car and it was for sale online. He was able to buy it I got this this really good deal on it and he was so excited about this car that he got. He said to be one. When afternoon had you want to go for right I got a return some stuff to big fiber when the sporting good stores and I said sure and he was really excited to take me in this car and yet these skis in the back we get to the store. We parked in the parking lot.

He says hey, would you mind grabbing those skis. He starts walking towards the front of the store.

I get the skis out. I get out of the car. I close the door when I turn around I wasn't paying attention in one of the skis hit the side of his car made this loud scratching noise and my friend just turned around mortified. But if you can imagine a relic. He just got this thing and I looked at him terrified and I looked at the car that I just hit you know my heart sank and I looked at him again. He looked at the car he looked at me. He kind of smiled and he said well it's all going to burn. Anyway, this guy was a believer it was.

It was so cool though because it was like a is hope is not in the car. I was, I felt, you know. Thank you Jesus that he didn't kill me right there, but this is how do we view money and possessions do they enslave us.

Do they enslave us at such an important question for each of us to ask or are we servants of Jesus which we can hold those things loosely, and we use all of the gifts that God gave to us to glorify the Lord. We share with those who are in need, and admits one of the things that Jesus is getting at here. Right. How do you view money and possessions and so darling that's how I think we should understand that versus in in that context of being enslaved to those things. Jesus is look if if that's the light that's in you, boy.

It's darkness. This is core Christianity with pastor Averill Sanchez.

If you have a question for us. You can call us anytime 1-833-843-2673 or you can spell it out. 833 the core. You can also email us at questions at core, Christianity.com Nathan emailed us with this question. Does baptism confer faith or grace upon an individual or is baptism a confirmation of personal faith in Christ really good question and I think I think a lot of us you know coming from evangelical backgrounds over and over again we hear that Montr�al baptism is an outward sign of an inward faith. Its first and foremost about my personal faith in Jesus and in getting to share that with others. I believe in Jesus. It's my public testimony. Well, I think to a certain degree that's true but but that's not the primary focus of what baptism is not in the Scriptures. There's this article that I wrote over at core Christianity called three Old Testament pictures of baptism, you should not want to point you do that because I think it might be helpful for you as you think about this question, but what I do. There is, I highlight these different types of baptism in the Old Testament we see leading into the New Testament.

A baptism in the New Testament to just drop out of the sky as a list. These parallels these pictures of it in the Old Testament.

Even the Hebrews practiced a form of of ritual washing of baptism you think of baptism as this picture of new creation it that way back in.

In the book of Genesis and certainly one of the things that baptism depicts is this idea of regeneration, new creation, washing away of our sins. Also in the Old Testament. Baptism is a picture of judgment. The flood of Noah is referred to as a baptism it's thesis judgment. This this curse, if you will one sense, yet it's also deliverance salvation.

The crossing of the Red Sea is referred to in the New Testament as a kind of baptism right you see this all over the place of the interesting parallels and I met a new creation Genesis 11 into all talking about this and in second Corinthians chapter 5 or 17 or even John chapter 3 verse five being born of water and the spirit baptism is a sign of judgment right. Genesis 6 the flood. Peter refers to that is a baptism in first Peter chapter 3 verses 19 through 21. Baptism is a sign of deliverance. Exodus 14 Paul refers. That is a baptism in first Corinthians 10, 125. My point in bringing all of that up is baptism is primarily something God does.

God is the one who brings about new creation.

God is the judge of the whole earth. God is the one who gives us deliverance. I think it's best to refer to baptism as a means of grace. What I mean by that I mean it's one of the ways that God by the power of the Holy Spirit is conveying exhibiting his grace, his love, his goodness in Jesus toward his people is not just something or even primarily something that we are doing that I'm doing something that God is doing something that God is saying God is revealing it's his love. It's his goodness it's his gospel for his people, and I think we realize that point. Baptism becomes so much more beautiful, at least in our minds because according to Scripture it's not primarily your work. Something that you are doing is what God is doing. He's the one that washes away our sins. He's the one that makes us a new creation and what I'm not saying is that everyone who is baptized is undoubtedly going to go to heaven fact no major Christian tradition believes that even the ones that think the baptism regenerates you, by its very act that is makes you a new creation just through the act. The sign and seal of baptism will even they recognized those traditions recognize that the person who is baptized may not end up in heaven right like that. The key here is faith. Baptism exhibits to us these great gospel promises, but each of us are called to believe to have faith and so Nathan baptism is the means of grace. It's God's objective gospel promised to his people. It's more than just something that we are doing something that God is doing something that God is saying, and we, in response are called to lay hold of that grace that's exhibited to us in baptism by faith is such a beautiful picture and and such a wonderful promise for us to lay hold of that ultimately points us to Jesus and his work for us. Thanks for that great explanation and drill.

This is core Christianity with pastor Averill Sanchez. Just a reminder that this program is listener supported and we count on people just like you to make it possible. We also want to tell you about an outstanding Bible study that we have available just for you. This study is called core Christianity 101 downloaded by signing up for our weekly newsletter. It's a great stating go through by yourself or with the group of friends, and it's 10 weeks long and covers 10 of the most important topics Christians need to understand today core Christianity.com/offers to download core Christianity 101 in our prayers that everybody would get this Bible study and go through it because we know that it will really help you to grow in your faith and to share your faith with others and explain to them the core doctrines of the Christian faith. You can call us ready.

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That's 833. The core, by the way, you can also post your question on our Facebook or Instagram accounts and Nicole did that. She says I've been reading and listening to the book of Romans and in chapter 14. The heading and the ESV Bible says do not pass judgment on one another, though it's talking mainly about food.

Could this mean more than food. I have pass judgment on others, which is such a struggle for me because I'm reminded of what Christ did on the cross and that there is no condemnation for those who are in him. Yet as I judge am I not condemning.

Could you please help me understand this. Yeah Nicole thank you for that question and let me just say there is so much confusion today about this topic of judgment. I do know how many times it for Jesus's words taken out of context, reasons don't judge judge not lest you also be judge and frankly people outside of the church. Even people who don't identify as Christians know that personnel often use that verse when they hear Christians talking about sin in society and culture as a will in Jesus say not to judge how can you be so judgmental in the context right. We need to understand that Jesus is probably there rebuking the Pharisees their ungodly judgments that they would, but they would often bring against people, and I see you have you have confusion there. You also have Paul in first Corinthians chapter 5 telling believers to judge other believers if and what have we to do with judging those who are on the outside. In other words, our focus is Christian should be judging the outside. Those not in the church right God is going to judge them. Our focus should be judging, fellow believers, and in the context there is referring to church discipline when somebody is living in open sin. We should judge that we should say what will this is not okay in the church right. We gotta go through the process of church discipline that Jesus gives to us.

We need to purge the Levin from the body, lest it spread that's another text that talks about judgment and there it seems like Paul says we should judge sin in the church so than what in the world is he talking about here in Romans chapter 14, where he talks about not judging. As for the one who is weak in faith welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions verse one. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables.

Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him were you pass judgment on the servant of another.

It is before his own master that he stands or falls.

And he will be upheld for the Lord is able to make him stand to see what Paul is talking about here in first Corinthians 14 is not matters of sin, but matters of opinion, do not quarrel over opinions you know you might think. I only eat Chick-fil-A right or whatever it is that's remedied. Probably not the greatest example, but here they're talking about food and some of the believers there in Rome were judging each other on the basis of what they would eat impulses look this is the sin issue. Don't divide over this. Don't judge your brother and despise your sister over what they're eating or what they're not eating at the end of the day they have to give an account to God.

This is not a sin issue.

You need to live according to your conscience with regard to those areas that are not clearly defined in God's word and I think that's what the apostle Paul is talking about medical US will is is this broader than food or can this be broader than food.

I think absolutely we can judge fellow believers, we do sometimes judge fellow believers when they don't do things the exact same way we do you think about all the different radio applications. This could be, well, you don't parent the exact same way that I do or you don't know. Raise your kids the same way your school them the same way that I do and that's a big one. I think that in the church we can judge each other on or you don't do your devotions like I do and I read the Bible every single morning. I do you do that we have to be careful pulses that were not making the sort of extra biblical rules and requirements, applying them our own way and then looking down on other people who don't keep the rules that we've made for ourselves. I think that's part of what the apostle Paul is getting accurate is not an issue of sin. It's a matter of opinion, and he says look, let's be gracious to each other, to be charitable to one another. At the end of the day, he says. And in verse 12 of chapter 14, each of us will give an account of himself to God as a one word when were not talking about issues of Sammi. This is in the question of like hey this person in the church is in an open adulterous relationship and and nobody saying anything in it, we just shouldn't judge. That's a polished document on those situations that you do church discipline you call people to walk according to the word of the Lord, because you love them, you encourage them, but when it comes to other things.

Don't get so worked up that this is in a sin issue.

Don't judge your brother or sister and so divine. I think that's a wonderful word for us. And you're right Nicole the one of the reasons why we can be gracious to each other is because God has been so gracious to us because there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ. So who are we to condemn a brother or sister not because they've broken God's law.

That's not even what in question here in Romans chapter 14, but because they're not doing things the way we do them. It's silly. It leads to divisions in the church and we should set it aside and be charitable with each other extra? Benadryl. I love that paraphrase of Paul, go get so worked up yet it's the working on my own Bible translation behavioral Sanchez version of Scripture that's escorted Christianity with pastor Adm. Sanchez. We have another question for you, this one from a Madison who posted on our Facebook page he says my friends and I got into a debate the other day about worship.

Some of them were saying we shouldn't do anything that isn't commanded in Scripture, but none of our churches sacrificed bulls and goats like they did in the temple and I don't see a worship service outlined anywhere in the New Testament they attend more traditional churches that seem outdated to me. With so many people leaving the church. Should we do what works best for our culture yeah love this question and I want my favorite things to talk about. Think about this study is worship in the history of Christian worship in one of the things that worship is in the Bible is it's the meeting of heaven and earth best meeting of the Old Testament really God commanded this tabernacle this temple to be built for the people of God to worship him and it was a replica of the heavenly temple where God was enthroned, and God gave really specific requirements for how he wanted to be worship you think about a book like the book of Leviticus 7. This is really really clear outlined everywhere and, especially, there was obvious that God wanted to be worship a particular way is not just enough that we worship God doesn't just care that he is worship.

He also cares Madison about how he's worshiped. Just look at Leviticus 10 made evident by who they offer strange fire to the Lord. Fire that he had not commanded them to offer and there struck down there killed they worship the Lord the wrong way and we sometimes they go that's old covenant. You know God is is relaxed now now worship is just come however you want, do whatever you want but the fact of the matter is that's not the case either. Paul says in first Corinthians that some people were dying in worship because they were coming before God the wrong way they were coming in humility and repentance when they were taking the Lord's supper pulses. For this reason many of you are weak and sick and some have even died because you don't judge yourself and instead are judged by God. When you approach in worship sinfully worship as it is a sobering thing. There's nothing I think more beautiful but there there's also this this great reality.

Madison of the fact that look this is the meeting of heaven and earth were coming before the holy one, we should approach with reverence and awe the author to the Hebrews tells us in Hebrews chapter 12 and of course in the New Testament.

You're right we don't have like a book of Leviticus for new covenant worship where it says here's exactly what you should do and how you should do it and in the kinds of things that that's not the kind of specificity that we have with New Testament worship at the fact of the matter is we do have. I think a very clear picture in the New Testament of the things we should focus on in worship you think about what Luke wrote in acts chapter 2, verse 42 is he described New Testament church evidences the early church will here's what the early church did they devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. So what I devoted to doctrine, theology, the gospel, the truth of God's word fellowship with each other. The breaking of bread coming together in their participating in the meal that Jesus gave to his disciples that he instituted there, praying there devoted to the prayers. Later in the book of acts you get another picture of this in acts chapter 20 verse seven on the first day of the week.

That is Sunday the Lord's day. We were gathered together to break bread, Paul, talk with them intending to depart on the next day and he prolonged his speech until midnight you preaching and the Lord's supper. See, I think, in the New Testament. You do have these principles that are given to us for worship as believers today.

So even though we don't have a book of Leviticus. We do have a clear picture. I think of where worship should look like. Listen to what Paul said in second Timothy chapter 4 verse one I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus was to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom preach the word be ready in season and out of season, reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.

Our services are worship should be focused on Jesus on his word on his body and blood that means to be the focus should be what the culture want to should be what God wants as he reveals. Thanks for listening to court Christianity to request your copy of today's special offer. Visit us at court, Christianity.com and click on offers in the menu bar or call us at 1-833-843-2673 that's a 33, 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.

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