How Can I Witness To Someone Hurt By Christianity?

How can I share the gospel with someone who grew up in a Christian home, but turned away from the faith due to apparent using Christianity as a weapon against them. 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 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 we have a good news story to share with you a South Carolina man has honored his late father by learning to cook and opening his own restaurant chain Nelson grew up washing dishes in restaurants where his father served as a cook. He said he always saw the joy that his dad's food brought to so many people after his father and his brother passed away. Table wanted to honor their memory by engaging in that shared passion for food. The problem was they didn't know how to cook, so he turned to YouTube and he started watching endless how-to videos to gain kitchen skills through using the skills he started a catering business and he finally made his dream of opening a restaurant come true, and he now employs 60 people. I will and wow, yes, sounds like his restaurant business is really picked up.

I actually go to YouTube for cooking advice all the time I'm in the middle of trying to learn how to smoke brisket so I will probably four or five YouTube videos and it still hasn't come out that great family is happy with it but I just kinda think I don't know about the day working on a buddy yeah more YouTube videos. I guess by the way, if you want to learn more about today's story were in a post the link in today's show notes that core Christianity.com/radio let's get to our first question of the day and Maddie posted this on our Instagram account.

She says, what does Jesus mean in John 35 when he says that unless one is born of water and the spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of God or Peter when he says, baptism now saves us in first Peter 321.

It sounds like Jesus is saying. Water baptism is necessary for receiving the promise of salvation. I guess what I'm wondering is if were baptized and sealed by the Holy Spirit the moment we believe in Christ then why is water baptism necessary.

That's a great question and family. I think a lot of people today in many churches don't view baptism is necessary me there so many evangelical churches where it's baptism. Is this kinda something that we do and you know around Easter time, or war, and it's this kind of this big production. I even heard of a church that was they would call people up to be baptized, but they would plant people in the church to get up to be baptized just to kind of encourage of the man that is so crazy.

We turned this means of grace. This sacrament that Jesus gave the church into a big show and and so I think a lot of people today Maddie don't view it as important or necessary, but then you read passages like the ones that you've mentioned in first Peter three and also in John chapter 3 and you walk away from those text. Thinking seems like baptism really is significant in John three, for example, raises Jesus's discussion with Nicodemus and Nicodemus is actually in verse four.

How can a man be born when he is old Kenny enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, and Jesus answered him, truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of flesh is flesh, and that which is born of Spirit is spirit. Now there have been a few ways in which this is been interpreted. One interpretation that I remember hearing back when I was in college was that the water here is is referring to the amniotic fluid and lesser born of water another which are physically born you come out of your mother's birth canal. Well, I think that that one can be that interpretation can be ruled out. Another very prominent interpretation. I think this one is probably a lot better is understanding this in the light of the promises made in Ezekiel chapter 36, especially verses 25 through 27. This is a promise that God made verse 25 of Ezekiel 36 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleanness is and from all your idols I will cleanse you and I will give you a new heart and a new spirit I will put within you and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh, and I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes, and to be careful to obey my rules. This is the promise of the new covenant and the promise of the new birth regeneration.

That's at the start of technical word that we use and that's what's pictured conveyed so clearly in baptism, the washing away of our sins, God giving us this new heart cleansing our hearts by faith. You also brought up another text in a first Peter chapter 3 verse 21 were Peter draws these lines of analogy between the flood and the Old Testament that judgment that came upon the whole world and baptism. This is baptism, which corresponds to this now saves you. And yes, this not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In other words, is not just the water in and of itself does this be no magical thing to you that saves you know, baptism is this sign and seal of our salvation. It's a means of grace. It's one of the ways Maddie that God communicates his goodness and promises to his people, so it's not just an empty sign. A worthless sign, but God is speaking to us to you in baptism, showering us with his blessings and primarily showering us with the promise of the gospel, the washing away of all of our sins and so that's why we do it and you're totally right. The moment someone believes that the work of the Holy Spirit there born again by the grace of God in John in John chapter 3 little bit later. Right it is is Jesus is speaking of the wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, you know where it's going or where it's coming from. That's how it is with those were born of the Spirit is a work of the Holy Spirit. So when you believe you believe because you've been born again and then you get baptized but but that doesn't mean that baptism is worthless, because baptism is a sign the seal of God's promise and God commands it back in and of itself is enough for us to want to know what we need to do this and I want to encourage you Maddie. If you haven't been baptized to be baptized because Jesus calls you to be baptized and because in baptism you speaking to you is revealing his goodness. His goodwill his promises. The promises of the gospel that you can cling to as surely as were washed with water and baptism by faith. All of our sins are washed away as core Christianity with pastor Adm. Sanchez and Israel. This question came in from Ryan who emailed us and he says how do I respond to sexual dreams that seem to happen somewhat regularly. I feel as though I have no control over them. As I sleep and when I wake up I just feel guilty yeah right and in the book of Psalms there are so many instances where the psalmist talks about how the Lord is the one who keeps us even while we sleep some chapter 3 verse five I lay down and slept. I woke again, for the Lord sustained me for the very next chapter is Psalm chapter 4 verse eight in peace I will both lie down and sleep for you alone, old Lord, make me dwell in safety. Psalm chapter 12 he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. I just give you one more Psalm 139 verses 11 and 12 if I say, surely the darkness shall cover me in the light about me be night. Even the darkness is not dark to you.

The night is bright is the day for darkness is as light with you know, one of the things that all of those Psalms teach us is that God is the one it keeps is not just during the day but also at night I can understand your frustration aside why I'm not in control of the things that I dream about you and you wake up feeling guilty. I don't think that you need to feel guilty. One thing I want to ask using a what you fill your mind with, especially before bed.

So many people are just entrenched in social media and those kinds of things and filling our minds with a lot of stuff that isn't that helpful is that you want to do. Fill your mind with God's word with prayer.

Are you praying every night before you go to bed. Spending time in the presence of Jesus asking him to do the very thing that the Psalms are saying that God does God keep me even as I sleep. One of the things that we see or are constantly reminded of is our own frailty.

I am then again I get that from your question. Just feel like there's nothing I can do even even in my sleep I can escape these feelings are these less well.

We take all of that to the Lord in prayer we fill our minds with that which is good and true and beautiful and we rest in him, knowing that he's the one that keeps us and if you have those dreams you have those kinds of dreams that I don't think you need to feel guilty or ashamed. I think you take that to the Lord in prayer and no that promise as I as I already read in Psalm chapter 4 in peace. You can lie down and sleep for the Lord is the one who makes you to dwell in safety. Hope that's helpful.

Ryan, thanks so much for your email. We appreciate you listening to core Christianity know if you or someone you love has been struggling during this whole COBIT 19 pandemic we have a really important resource to offer you today Israel.

Can you tell us a bit about that you built a book I've had the privilege of going through recently really and encouraging just Christ centered book called Christ and calamity by Harold St. Bill, it's easy to think that God has forgotten us things get tough with that he doesn't care about us anymore. As we continue to cry out to him in the midst of our suffering. This book is going to remind you over and over again. God is faithful and can be trusted no matter what calamity your face you may really is.

It's one of those books that you read and you just want to hand out to other people as well. So take advantage of this offer had to core Christianity.com/offers or give us a call at 833. The core know if you or somebody you love has been struggling during this COBIT 19 situation. This is a little book that offers big comfort and you can reserve your copy today for a donation of any amount that over to core Christianity.com/offers. You can also call us at 833-843-2673 for help getting any one of our offers. That's 833. The core is a question that came in from Bethany through our website. By the way, you can submit a question through core, Christianity.com/radio and you can even record a question there by clicking the little microphone icon on the page. Bethany says how do you share the gospel with someone who grew up in a Christian home, but turned away from the faith due to their parent using Christianity as a weapon against them. What a difficult thing you know so many people today and you hear it over and over again. They say things like I used to be a part of the church, but I experienced this. This abuse this hurt this pain at the hands of other Christians, even at the hands of my own parents and then Bethany. It sounds like that's what's happening here. The sad thing is one of the big promise that is a lot of people think they get Jesus in the gospel because they were exposed to some sort of version of Christianity sums reversion of Jesus and then they walk away later because it was a situation like the one that you're describing Bethany and in one sense, what ends up happening is there there inoculated to the truth.

You think they get a taste but it's not the real deal and it gives them the strong sort of aversion. This sense of I know that I don't need that. Artie understand what this Jesus and Christianity thing is all about.

And so they rejected really having never understood the goodness of God the grace of Jesus Christ.

Note that this is actually one of the things that we see in the New Testament when Jesus went to his hometown in Nazareth Miramar talks about this in Mark chapter 6, a lot of the people that were there. The people that grew up around Jesus, if you will. They rejected Jesus because they thought they knew him, they said, in a word, this man get these things. What is the wisdom given to him. How are such mighty works done by his hands. Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James and Joseph's and Judas and Simon and are not his sisters here with us and they took offense at him. Jesus said to them, a prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and among his relatives in his own household and he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them and he marveled because of their unbelief. You see what happens when we think we really understand it already. Because we been exposed to some form of Christianity and then we just reject what we think we get it we really don't reads this this unbelief now for your friend. The first thing you need to do is be sensitive to the hurt that he's experienced, spent time listening to him to his story. What what is happened that is and give you a sense of what he thinks Christianity is or who he thinks Jesus is and maybe he realizes what I experienced was not right was not okay when you're gonna want to listen you want to understand where he's coming from so that you can speak into his situation, particularly Christianity being used as a weapon in OUP really want to peel away at that in and highlight the fact that the real Christian faith is never to be weapon eyes to meet Christ was crucified on the cross. Christianity is in coercive without coercing people to love God and to obey God's rules will lose us, what draws us to the Christian faith is the love and kindness of God is that kindness of God leads us to repentance. And that's what you want to emphasize in the love that God has and the fact that Jesus can identify with those who have been in abusive spiritual situations we talk about being abused at the hands of religious people, religious leaders, if anyone knows what that's like Bethany, it's Jesus. And so one of the things I think you want to do is highlight that for this friend of yours that Jesus can sympathize with them that he's been tempted. It always is, as we have been in yet. He's without sin. He's experienced the kind of pain your friend is talking about. Introduce your friend to Jesus to his life. Be patient. Listen, and above all else.

Bethany pray pray that God would bring healing pray that God will bring restoration. Pray that your friend might come to understand the truth of who Jesus is, after having experience for so long I distortion it sounds like of the Christian faith make a bill right now. We can just take a moment to pray for her.

Bethany and for her friend father. We do want to pray for Bethany. We ask that you would give her wisdom. She seeks to love and encourage general and ultimately share Jesus your son with this friend of hers.

We pray for that wisdom would pray for the grace of your Holy Spirit guiding her, guiding her conversations. We pray for this friend Lord Jesus, would you bring healing, would you bring comfort, would you help this person to see where they've been lied to about you about the truth of the Christian faith and to embrace Lord, your goodness, your love, your mercy, to truly through your word into a right understanding of your word come to know who you are and blessed Bethany as she seeks to encourage her friend.

To that end, we pray these things, gracious father Jesus name Amen amen Bethany thanks so much for your note and for your concern for your friend. This is core Christianity with pastor Adm. Sanchez and Indra.

We had this question come in through our website at man's day listing from Adelaide Australia. My question is that we often talk that heaven is a place where there is nice sadness and nice shaman night pain and we often talk about asking now is something that we can kind of take to Jesus may take shame and guilt to Jesus and hate as Aldebaran someone turn on the day of judgment.

One way I held accountable for actions on ethical we fail shame and guilt. Thanks guys will one. Thanks for reaching out to us all the way from Australia. That's awesome. I am so happy that you have found Christianity listen and I thank you for this question.

I think a lot of people imagine that on the day of judgment.

To be standing before God and in all humanity is going to be watching and God is in a Habs like Jumbotron big screen up where you know all of our fall through the are being displayed and where you have to give any kind of reason to be like old man that was bad. That kind of a lie.

I don't think that's what it's going to look like Jesus said in John chapter 5 verse 24 truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. In other words, if we belong to Jesus. We've already passed from death to life.

We don't have to be ashamed. That's interesting because in another place John in first John chapter 2 verse 28 says this related to the judgment in the coming of the Lord. First John chapter 2 verse 28 now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.

If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him that I don't think John is referring to. There is the fact that there are people who were abandoning Christ not abiding in him. Turning away from him who were going to be ashamed at the coming of the Lord.

In fact, John talks about people there in first John would been a part of the church, but they left and just as they're going to be ashamed remaining Jesus abide in him was it me know by means to receive the goodness of his word, his gospel defeat on his flesh and blood.

Jesus said in John chapter 6 to receive his word.

For those of us who are in Christ to belong to Jesus that we don't have to be ashamed and were not going to be ashamed working experiences you say Jade that that comfort that the Lord is going to give to his people. I love the description that's given in the book of Revelation at the very end of the book of Revelation. Revelation chapter 21 the new heavens and the new earth.

Revelation 21 verse three and I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, and neither shall there be mourning or crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. That's what we have to look forward to Jade being in the presence of the Lord, experiencing his goodness.

His mercy is love, not shame but salvation said thanks so much for contacting us and for listening there in Adelaide Australia. We appreciate you so much and we know there's been a resurgence of coronavirus in your country will be praying for that situation there. This is core Christianity with Bill Meyer and pastor Adm. Sanchez. We have time for one last question. This came in from Lewis, who posted on her Instagram account. Is this what does Jesus mean in Matthew 1112 that the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence and the violent take it by force.

How can violence come into God's kingdom. Why would God allow it to be taken by force. Yeah, that's a really good question. And of course the context here we have Jesus talking about John the Baptist begin reading in verse seven as they went away. Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John what did you go out into the wilderness to see a reed shaken by the wind.

What then did you go to see a man dressed in soft clothing.

Behold, those who wear soft clothing, rankings, houses, what then did you go out to see a profit. Yes, I tell you in more than a profit. This is he of whom it is written, behold, I send my messenger before your face will prepare your way before you.

Truly I say to you among those born of women there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist.

Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence and the violent take it by force. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. If you're willing to accept that he is Elijah who is to come. He who has ears to hear, let them hear now the verb can be translated is what's called a cognitive verb, it can be translated like this though violent, are trying to take the kingdom by force that that sort of makes sense when you think about the context of what's happening there in Matthew chapter 11, you talk about the persecution the prophets, and even John the Baptist had experienced in an John obviously is going to be martyred in a just the fact that the kingdom of God is under assault. The people are trying to take it by force, but they will not be able in the fact of the matter is, the kingdom is not something that we take, or even something that we built the beautiful thing Lewis about the kingdom of God is. It's a gift that we receive Jesus is the one who builds the kingdom and in Luke chapter 12 verse 32. He said fear not, little flock, for is your father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom to set something the violent take violently striving know it's a gift that God gives to his little flock. His children to you and to me because the kingdom of God is something that God gives to us the preaching of the gospel by faith in Jesus Christ. Thanks for listening to core Christianity to request your copy of today's special offer.

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