How To Be An Effective Witness Within A Cancel Culture

I've lost quite a few friends for speaking out against certain issues.

How can I be sure that I being a true light for Christ when speaking out against things that I believe are wrong. That's just one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity hi 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 email us with your question at questions at core, Christianity.com first step today for California high school students are helping children color their way through the coronavirus pandemic. The students teamed up on an economics class project at the end of their freshman year at Long Beach Polytechnic high school students are all 15 years old, developed a business plan to publish a coronavirus themed coloring book for kids that would raise money for charity. But instead of stopping there before use their plan to create the be the change coloring company to publish their covert coloring book. This 28 page coloring book features characters such as Al E gator Wally Lennar wall and Sam the mail and the characters explain the do's and don'ts for staying safe during the pandemic including teaching kids how to properly wash their hands. The book even comes with a facemask. Now these books cost five bucks and 40% of the price is donated to charity and the kids are really excited about their new projects that need to hear young people who are really making a difference. During this time the yes it's very neat MEI that we keep hearing the stories of these young entrepreneurs who are helping others and that is they think like I was not doing that when I was 15, creating a business plan and what all this stuff so I think that's really cool now and I was that age, I was just a ride my stingray down to 7-Eleven for Slurpie's everyday right a stingray's will listed to our first question of the day and this one comes from beyond who posted on our twitter account.

She says Pastor Israel, what is your favorite book of the Bible and why young cadets like asking me which of my kids is my favorite. I mean it's a really hard it's a really hard question to answer. I think typically it's whatever book I'm preaching through cassettes like the book that I'm deep into, and so II begin to fall in love with it.

You know, in a way that I had before but usually it is sort of funny but whatever book I'm preaching through tends to be my favorite book at that time, but I would say you know if I had to pick favorite book of the Bible, to go with Old Testament Leviticus because I did preach to Leviticus some time ago. You know the quickest way to shrink your church creates the switches that you can funny because I was having a great time but after we were done with the series to Leviticus had a few people come up to me and say you were glad that's over, but now I'm I actually loved preaching to Leviticus.

I love the book will be the case because of all types and shadows that I point us to Jesus and the neat things related to worship them in one of the things that you get from Leviticus is that God is holy and that he cares about how he's worshiped and I think one of the reasons I love. At least when it will look at the Old Testament love the book of Leviticus is because I think that we missed that today and a lot of our churches. We don't have that same reverence and awe, I think you got in the Scriptures related to worshiping and this is just for the Old Testament worship him even in the New Testament in Hebrews chapter 12 it talks about worshiping God with reverence and awe because God is a consuming fire. I don't know what you think Bill and beyond. I don't know if you feel the same way but I feel like, and in a lot of our churches today. We've lost that sense of reverence and awe that since of the holiness of God. And so I love the book of Leviticus because this is their front and center, and then New Testament let me think about that.

I got onto the gospel of John, and I find myself going back to John over and over again it splits the book that I recommend to people when when I'm trying to get them to read the Bible. They never picked up the Bible states will go to the gospel of John, and I think is just so many beautiful pictures of Jesus there you have all the IM statements of Jesus in the Gospel of John, you have the miracles that the these different accounts.

I think it really focusing on Jesus, not just as the Savior, but as God incarnate on John 11 in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.

And so I want to go with Leviticus and John.

But I think if you asked me in 45 minutes. I'm might give a different answer and I feel right now. Bill what your fit book will interestingly enough, it's probably the book that you're going through right now. During your sermon series. Galatians just so awesome book was so much rich theology and let me just say if you don't have an online church service right now. Check on Pastor Israel sermons because they are somewhat with our kids actually last week from Galatians 6 and restoring the believer who has fallen and just some really solid stuff so thanks for your great preaching. Hey, thanks. I'm always super encouraged when I hear people say, hey, my kids got something out and that's the goal in preaching is one of preach for everyone to understand the truth of God's word and so that's that's really cool.

Tell your kids thanks for checking it out. Let's get to another question.

This one came in from Steve and he says, is there a doctrine as to what a church should do with its offerings. I just wonder if the church should be giving regularly to the community that it what are your thoughts yeah I think that there are some principles in Scripture that we can take right like other examples that we have in the New Testament related to the question of regularly giving to the community that can sort of making a come I guess Mike my question would be what do you mean by that. Are you talking about hey you know there's a park being built in my neighborhood. Maybe we should take the ties in the offerings of the churches is receiving and we should give those resources to the building of this park because it's can it make the neighborhood more beautiful or something like that. That would make me uncomfortably.

We really have to ask a question what is the mission of the church. The mission of the church was given to her by Jesus, the great commission going to all the world and make disciples, baptizing them in the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you.

That's the mission of the church. The church is called by Jesus to make disciples. So whatever we're doing with our resources. It should be geared toward accomplishing that mission. If it were not doing that. If it's not gospel ministry that were supporting but I think were misusing those resources and you have.

They have different ways in the New Testament that that that that sort of plays out.

You think of the fact that throughout the New Testament.

You have this encouragement to support the pastors of the church. For example, you see this in first Timothy 517 to 18 in first Corinthians chapter 9 verse 14 posted in the same way the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel member years ago had this friend who was a Mormon and and we would talk about Jesus and the differences between Mormonism and Christianity in one of the things he would sort of boast about his he would say well you know the Mormon church. We don't have any paid clergy pastors that we pay or that kind of a thing, and that he was he was proud of that fact that it just made me think what will actually Paul makes it very clear like we ought to support our pastors. Why because they're laboring in preaching and teaching want to free them up to be able to ask positive exegete God's word and we should have a high view of the ministry of the word then just put anybody up there it to preach and teach God's word. You wouldn't go to, you know that to a doctor who had never been trained or or go under the knife you know is surgery by someone who had learned how to do surgery. The YouTube videos or something like that and oftentimes I think when it comes to the ministry of the word. We just think, is not that big of a deal. Anybody could do, but the reality is, it really is this high calling in the New Testament and pastors are called to study to show themselves approved to know the word of God to be able to teach it soundly want to is churches we should want to free them up in order to do that and that's one of the things you see purchasing the New Testament giving resources to you also have collections that were taken for the saints, for those who were in need. Think of first Corinthian 16 one through 11 nine second Corinthian chapter 8, Paul talks about a relief fund offensive that was put together for the poor saints in Jerusalem. Think about the fact that early on in the church that were there were these programs for caring for the widows of the church. You see this in acts chapter 6 you basically have this this fund that's put together in order to feed to care for the widows of the church. Those who couldn't care for themselves. There's actually a whole section on this in first Timothy chapter 5, caring for widows who were truly widows and so it seems like the church was committed to the ministry of the word advancing the gospel in that way and then caring for each other. The people who are in need in the congregation in the body of Christ who don't have any other way of being able to help themselves and that's with the church gets to step in. That's what we have things like deacons you.

A lot of people don't understanding of deacons elders that I don't get what what's the difference what are those offices about what Paul talks about them in first Timothy three and Titus chapter 1 and the elders are really there to care for the spiritual well-being of the congregation. They focus on teaching the word on governing the church caring for the sheep shepherding them of the deacons focus really on the sort of physical well-being of the Carnation when somebody is in need. When the widows need to be cared for. The orphans need to be careful that that's with the deacons focusing and God is just organized his church in such a beautiful way because he realizes God knows one person can't do everything you can have one pastor who is trying to care for the spiritual and physical and and everything else that we have teams to be all of these different gifts you think about what Paul says in first Corinthians chapter 12 and so it seems to me, Steve, that the focus of the ministries of the church should be the advancement of the gospel in caring for those who are in need within the body of Christ and in so far as were investing in things that are outreach related.

I think there's nothing wrong with having no soup kitchens or those kinds of things but the goal should always be not just to nourish people physically to nurse them spiritually as well. During this coronavirus pandemic. One of the things we've been doing is the church by one of our deacons came up with this.

I think wonderful idea. It's been a neat ministry just putting together these food boxes with no staple food items to give away to people who are in need in our community throughout San Diego were at and so on Saturdays to get together with some other members of our church in the put together these these food boxes. No milk of a mountain and usually we have these little notes of encouragement in the boxes maybe maybe some Scripture some gospel encouragement just to say hey on behalf of Christ want to bless you and that that's that's outreach opportunities rep try to create bridges into the community, not just to give people free food when there is a part of that house because want to share the love of Christ with people. That's the goal Steve with the offerings that are received by the church has to be focused on. They ought to be focused on how are we expanding the ministry of the word in the world how we introducing people to Jesus, thanks for your question. How do you feel about churches that may do wonderful works in the community, but never actually preach the name of Christ. They may be serving the poor, but there's never a word mentioned about Jesus. I mean, I feel pretty strongly about that you can have a social club that does good things, but the job of the church. What God is called pastors to do is to preach the word, so we should care about the physical the well-being of the people around us, but if were not preaching the word.

Technically I was in were not even a church. The church is created by the word of God. Faith comes by hearing Paul said in Romans 10, and hearing by the word of God. And so if the word of the gospel is not being proclaimed is something really wrong, and frankly I think that there are churches out there that do a lot of nice things so called churches to do a lot of nice things.

They might even meeting these beautiful buildings. We know where there is crosses adorning the walls abusing them this great big organ and all these things in on their doing nice things in the community. But if they're not preaching the gospel. If they're not preaching Christ was not really a church might be a pretend church it like that might present itself as the church.

But that's not a church that's not to say that we just want to preach Jesus did not care about the well-being of our neighbors with the people in our church and want to have a holistic vision of ministry.

The focus is the gospel, but want to care for people the mind, body and soul. I think of starting on a non-build, I just I just always go back to that seen in John chapter 6 were Jesus. It fed a multitude they're coming back to him because they want more bread.

And Jesus tries to look, I know you're coming back for more bread but I want you to get this time the bread of life. Remember what happened in that seen in John six. The crowd left left him there there called the physical bread in a give me the physical bread provide for my physical needs, but I'm not interested in what you're providing for me spiritually and I think a lot of times churches today can only focus on the physical to the neglect of the spiritual.

Jesus didn't do that. He said look yeah you not. He feeds the multitude, but he's trying to show them keys the bread of life message of the church is to give the people, much as physical bread, but to give them the bread of life.

Jesus Christ, thanks for the great explanation drill. This is core Christianity with Bill Meyer and Pastor Israel Sanchez and we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day. We have an amazing team of people who are behind us producing the show. People who write the core articles for website they produce the great core Bible studies. These resources are really designed to help you more fully understand the gospel and also have the confidence to share your faith and you can imagine all of this requires a lot of people to come alongside us and support this work that's right Bill, we couldn't do this without your prayers and without your help mentor asked you to come alongside of us and become a regular supporter with the monthly donation of $25 or more, you can join the inner core and be a part of the team that makes this show possible in order.

Core, Christianity.com/inner core. To learn more or give us a call at 833, the court again that 833-843-2673 and Bill know we're just talking about what we should be the focus of Christian ministry.

It's getting Jesus, the bread of life out there and that's what we want to do on this program help people to know God's word so that they might know God, know Christ, the bread of life. And so we really appreciate your support of us in that mission. Thank you for partnering with us go free to call us anytime again that's 833-843-2673 let's go to a call that came in from Sarah everything going on in our world and our country today. The racial loss actually quite a few.

Find out going on and my question is how can you make sure that you're being each light I went out and count on like Ralph is on or social group had a feeling, hey Sarah, thanks so much for your encouragement and support. Thanks for listening the program and me what it difficult season. It seems like we've been in with everything about coronavirus and you had, you know that the protest and all the racial tension in our country there's there's just so much room for division in the church right now. I get that. I see that and you're right like we can talk about this. We can speak out about these things and I think we should were called as Christians to stand firm in the truth and we see evil injustice to speak out against it not to be ashamed of the truth. That's a sad realities.

A lot of people today are ashamed of the truth. People are calling good, bad and bad. Good. We have everything backwards today and that it's easy to sort of jump on the bandwagon of the broader culture, but standing firm with God's word that might cause you to lose some friends rejecting Jesus talked about this Paul talked about this.

You see this all over the place even think the prophets in the Old Testament relic like them speaking the truth against Israel at that time didn't make them very popular. People want to hear. Peace. Peace where there is no peace. They want you to tell them what they already believe and to affirm them in that and and so it requires boldness to stand for God's word to stand for God's truth.

It required boldness. Then in in the days of the Bible and requires boldness today as well, but I think at the same time as words were having these discussions, we want to make sure that were filled with charity in the love of Christ. This idea of being a light in the world comes from Matthew chapter 5 verses 14 to 16 Jesus said you are the light of the world.

The city set on a hill cannot be hidden, nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house in the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven so interesting that Jesus says that because we just talked about the importance of loving God by our words and our actions how the gospel goes out his word this message. We have to preach Jesus. We also want to serve and do good and and that's a part of how we adorn the preaching of the gospel.

People see our good works and they give glory to our father who is in heaven. And we do that Sarah Weir were light in our community and in our neighborhoods where God has us but the reality is sometimes when we shine for Jesus. We do good and we speak the truth, they're gonna be big people who just aren't interested people who hated. Paul said that the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing. He talked about how for some people it's the aroma of life and life to be.

I believe that I am brace that for other people. It's the aroma of death you preach Jesus and the truth of the gospel and people just don't want to hear it.

I think of what the apostle Paul said to young Timothy when he exhorted him to preach the word in second Timothy chapter 4.

Listen to what he said of just such a powerful text of Scripture is that 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 for the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions we are living in those days. Sarah their people just don't want to hear the truth that they want you to tickle their ears to give me what I want to hear. So I think it's this balance of saying with the love of Christ with the truth of God's word. We want to engage the people around us and we want to make sure that were focusing on Jesus. We can speak out against a bunch of things without ever preaching the gospel without ever sharing Christ if you're just pointing the finger at the world is saying this is bad. This is bad. This is bad, but never giving people the hope of the gospel will then think the light is shining very bright because the light isn't me or my works.

It's Jesus who he is shining in and through his people. It's that the hope that we have in him is the gospel and so you want to make sure that as you're speaking out against these things are also giving people the hope of the gospel that should be the focus because you think about all the all the brokenness in the world you think things like racism you think of the divisions that we see around us the hope that we have is only through the truth of God's word through what Jesus has done for us and so Sarah as you seek to be a light holding fast to the truth of Scripture fix people's eyes on Jesus in a wood, when Christians assume that if I just follow Jesus. Everybody's in a love me. They totally got it wrong because Jesus of the opposite. We should realize that, and yet continue to pursue the Lord for good counsel and real thanks to much and sir, thank you for your question. This is core Christianity with pastor Adm. Sanchez and Jason emailed us with this question. He says I'm reading through the Screwtape letters, by CS Lewis and I can't help but inject myself into the text.

I feel like the strategies outlined by the main character the double name Screwtape are things that I have experienced. However, I also tend to read the Bible with myself at the center as well. How do I shift from reading and studying theology with myself at the center to reading and studying with Jesus at the center.

Yeah, I think it's good to think about the Scriptures as for us, but not necessarily all about us. You know, we like to think of them is all about us. So we read ourselves right into it.

In one sense and the problem with that is, sometimes we can really misunderstand and misinterpret the Scriptures, and that way.

So for example if I'm reading you know these Old Testament promises related to the land of Israel, riches and wealth and so on and so forth.

And I'm saying you know that that is my promise in that way, as it was under the old covenant will that I I'm I have this expectation that if I'm just faithful to God is in a blessed me with no plot of land somewhere and maybe riches and wealth and in my flocks or to do really good and in all that will that's that's the wrong way to read the Bible. The Bible is not primarily about us, it's about Jesus. It's about him. It is the story of redemption and all Scripture points to him you think about Luke 24 what Jesus said when he's on the road to Emmaus with some of his disciples in any opens their eyes to see all the things in the Scriptures written about him so the Scriptures are about Jesus, but there written also for our benefit so that we might know Jesus, so that we might be challenge corrected built up by the truth of the gospel. So you fix your eyes on Jesus through the Scriptures, Jason, and then you receive through the Scriptures Jesus before you, the forgiveness of your sins, the hope of the gospel. The promises that in him. Paul says are yes and amen for you, so it is beautiful thing that we read the Scriptures through Jesus, we realize that we receive all these benefits in him and from them that bless 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 a 33 core 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