Fighting Depression in 2020

With a global health crisis civil unrest in the presidential election. There doesn't seem to be a light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to 2020. In such an emotionally exhausting year. How are those who are experiencing depression supposed to hold on to hope that's just one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity hi 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 core that's 1-833-843-2673 and you can post your question on our Facebook or Instagram account or email us with your question at questions at core, Christianity.com first step today we have a sweet good news story to share with you when five-year-old Carver learned about the wildfires ravaging his home state of Oregon. He told his grandmother.

He wanted to do something to help the firefighters wall at a local store. Carver saw a baby Yoda Dall. He really really wanted but he decided the firefighters would need the Dall more than he did.

So we sent it off in a care package along with the note. Well, a couple of days later he received a note back saying how much the local fire crew loves baby Yoda.

In fact, the firefighters now bring baby Yoda with them everywhere they go, and they document his travels in a Facebook group so that Carver and other people can see how much baby Yoda has helped them along the way.

That's awesome.

It's a bridge that target the other night and there were little baby Yoda stuffed animals for sale and my kids like we have to have one of those that enough you seen the Disney man DeLorean with the baby Yoda, but he's pretty cute.

That's great.

Well thank the Lord for us.

We kids like that and for our wonderful firefighters were on the front lines of those those terrible fires throughout the West.

Let's get to our first question of the day and this one came in at 1-833-843-2673 my name is Michael from Port St. Lucie, Florida regarding the Lord's prayer.

Specifically lead us not into temptation to come to grips with that passage. Let me know the book of James that the Lord does not tempt us? Thank you. Though God is not the author of sin, and I think that's one of the one of the things we have to make sure we we just say right at the outset God is not the reason why we sin were to blame when when we sin, and while God is sovereign over temptation. He's not the tempter. Actually, there's this great promise that we get in first Corinthians chapter 10 verse 13 it says no temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it as clear from that verse that God is sovereign over temptation is what I mean by that sovereign over temptation will the Lord can keep us from trying circumstances from circumstances where we might be tempted by the evil one and you know in the Lord's prayer the very next petition deliver us from the evil one lead is not temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

So God doesn't tempt us and he cannot tempt us because he's God, he's good in the Lord's prayer, Jesus taught us to cling to God and to cry out to him that we wouldn't give into temptation and a gun to protect us from from circumstances where we might be tempted. There's another thing to know that and sometimes you know that that that word translated different ways you could be testing it could be temptation is that's another thing to consider testing and temptation have the validity to uncover what is in our hearts. I think that this is a really interesting thing for us to consider.

In the Old Testament when the Israelites came through the testing in the wilderness Moses told them in Deuteronomy chapter 8 verse two. Remember that these 40 years, the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness so that he might humble you and test.

Do you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commandments and then just a few chapters later in Deuteronomy 13 verse three you shall not listen to the words of the false prophet or the dreamer of dreams for the Lord your God is testing you to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and so there are different ways to think about this idea of testing or temptation. One. Right there is God, not tempting us.

Like James says God is not the one who tempts us to sin were tempted by sin were drawn away by our own sinful desires nuts with what James says and because God is good because God is an evil, he's not the author of sin. He doesn't tempt us actually first Corinthians 10. He's the one who keeps us from being tempted beyond what were able what what a wonderful promise.

We have there. And yet at the same time we know that we experience trying circumstances in life circumstances that sometimes are related to our falling into temptation being led astray by our own sinful hearts and so were pleading with God, we come before the Lord.

Humbly, as Jesus taught us to pray and sing God keep me. I know your sovereign, I know you're all-powerful, I know you're in control. God I need you because like the words of that great hymn says I'm prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love. Here's my heart go take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above come, thou fount of every blessing, a wonderful hymn, but I think it's so true we can say God I'm prone to wander keep me guard me, lead me not into temptation. Deliver me from the evilness of Jesus taught us to pray is not a contradiction with with what James says because God does not tempt us in the sense that he's causing us to sin. But we do recognize that God is sovereign over the circumstances of our lives and so we cling to him and we look to him for help in the hour of temptation you're listening to core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez and here's an email that came in from Donna.

She says I live in a co-op and a couple blocks away is a psychiatric medical Center.

We also have a shopping center close by, and sometimes they let certain patients out during the day and most of them Panhandle. We received notices for management of the shopping center saying not to give them money because they were seafood and a stipend from the city today someone asked me for money for food and he didn't look almost all. In fact, he was actually better dressed than I was. So I said no.

My question is, was, it is sin for me to turn down giving money to this man.

I don't want to be an enabler and give money to people who buy cigarettes or alcohol with it or feed people who don't want to work in Panhandle all day. However, I still felt guilty saying no.

What do you think Donna, first I want to commend you and I think the desire you have the burden that you feel to give to the poor is Christlike. I think that's honoring to the Lord.

I have always loved Proverbs 1917 says whoever is generous to the poor lens to the Lord and he will repay him for his deep isn't that of a beautiful promise of a what one thing to say God is when you're generous to the poor. It's as if you're lending to me and I'm gonna repay you. The Christian churches historically been known for its charity to the poor, and I think sometimes we can be overly critical of those in need by saying things like, oh, you deserve that, or she deserved that her weren't so lazy they'd be better off they would be on the street. Whatnot, and oftentimes we can do this in order to justify why we don't need to help those in need.

We have to be careful.

We have to examine our own hearts. Here nice to be a part of a church that had a thriving homeless ministry really was a beautiful thing to see, and I had the opportunity to get to know a lot of my homeless neighbors. In those days. One of the things that struck me was how different each of their stories were.

Sometimes it was a mental health issue that but put them out on the street. Sometimes it was a history of drug use and maybe it wasn't that they were using drugs anymore, but that their brains had been so affected by drug use for for many many years that they couldn't arrive in in the normal world anymore. They just out on the street. Sometimes it was related to abuse it may be a difficult family situation or no family, you'd be surprised how many people just have no one. Personally, I think it's best to err on the side of compassion. That means that I also met people who didn't want to work and you know process. If a man won't work. He won't eat.

There are circumstances where we are enabling people and and maybe even contributing to their self harm and so we have to be wise because we don't want to do that oftentimes we don't know what the background is but it sounds like in your case Donna. You do know that the panhandlers are referring to are being cared for by this psychiatric medical Center and they've asked you not to give them money, and I think it's okay for you to say okay I won't and I mentioned that the church I was a part of well for a while you we had a thriving homeless ministry. We actually asked individuals in our church not to go from member to member of the church asking for money. This happened countless of times homeless people in the church would would go around in and basically Panhandle and we would ask the people of our church not to give them money when they asked because the church already committed in various ways to helping them as I don't think you're sending by not giving money to these individuals or to the individual you are referring to. But I do want to encourage you in your compassion for the poor and for those in need. I think that that's something that's honoring to the Lord. I think each of us which we should ask these kinds of questions that we should examine our own hearts and we should want to cultivate a heart of generosity toward those who are in need and to be careful that were not justifying why we don't help those who are in need, looking for reasons for which we don't have to help those who really want to want to be Christlike here and so thank you for your question.

You're listening to core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez and you know here at core one of our most popular Bible studies is our study on the Gospel of John and were offering that to you today at the 10 week study and it's just a great way to learn about the life and ministry of Jesus, and you can do it on your own. You can do it with a group of friends that we been getting great feedback from people who have been using this study. Right now it's available as a PDF download or you can request a physical copy of the physical copies are actually really nice. There's also a leaders guide that's available if you want to go through this study with a group of people and feel like the Lord is calling you to be a Bible study leader will check this out and over to core Christianity.com/offers to get your copy of our new Bible study on the Gospel of John, know this could be a great resource to send to your pastor or to a small group leader as they are planning their next Bible study you can call us for this or any one of our offers at 833-843-2673. That's 833. The core will schedule another question.

Michael wrote to us and said did Peter teach that Jesus delivers to us the spirit, forgiveness and salvation in acts 238 and first Peter 321. Didn't the earliest Christians in church history hold to baptismal regeneration. Hey Michael, so thousand you're asking. You know, do those verses acts 238 and first Peter 321.

Teach baptismal regeneration there. Ask a couple questions or what to be earliest Christians are in in church history, believe, and then what does what do these two verses mean when they talk about baptism, and in the gift of the Holy Spirit so they read first that the verses that you're referring to, and that I probably should define what baptismal regeneration is for those who are unfamiliar with that phrase first acts 238 Peter said to them repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit and then the other verse you are versus you referring to first Peter 321 through 22 Peter said baptism, which corresponds to this is referring to the flood in Noah's day baptism, which corresponds to this now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, the resurrection of Jesus Christ was gone into heaven is at the right hand of God with Angels, authorities and powers having been subjected to him again.

What are these verses referring to these verses teaching baptismal regeneration. What baptismal regeneration is is it's the belief that when an individual is baptized whether there are an adult or an infant baby at that moment they are given the forgiveness of sins, the gift of the Holy Spirit there born again in the very act of baptism by the power of the Holy Spirit. Everyone who is truly baptized in the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit is indeed a child of God there born again the regenerated at their baptism and there were many Christians in the early church who embraced this view, the question is what does the Bible teaching is that what acts 238 teaches in first Peter 321 through 22.

Well, I don't think that those verses teach baptismal regeneration, other is a close relationship between the sign of baptism and the reality that it signifies a minute signifies that the forgiveness of our sins. The gift of the Holy Spirit are union are in grafting into Jesus Christ as her all the things that baptism visibly conveys but baptism doesn't save in and of itself Jesus Christ by faith saves us, and he gives us these tangible signs of his salvation through which he communicates his grace to us now. Christians have talked about this in different ways. As I said early in the church there were many people who did believe in baptismal regeneration. There are many Christian traditions today that but do as well. You also have people in the New Testament we read the New Testament word. It's very clear that they been baptized and still seem to be completely lost.

And I think we all have examples of this are seeing this around us, or it may be, but in our own lives in a will baptized but we really didn't understand the grace of God or experience the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives until until much later in life or believe in Jesus even think of acts chapter 8 verses 13 and following. This is the story of Simon the magician he's kind of a infamous character in the New Testament actually later in church history as well. In acts chapter 8 here's a guy who was the magician he was practicing witchcraft basically and then he ended up being baptized were told. Acts eight verse 13. Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized, he continued with Philip and seeing signs in great miracles performed. He was amazed that when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit for as yet he had not fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus and they laid their hands on them and they receive the Holy Spirit. And when Simon saw that the spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles hands, he offered them money, saying, give me this power also so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.

Peter said to him, may your silver perish with you because you thought that you could obtain the gift of God with money you have neither partner law in this matter.

For your heart is not right before God. Repent therefore of this wickedness of yours and pray to the Lord that if possible. The intent of your heart may be forgiven. You, for I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity as you have a guy was baptized.

We told that he had believed kind of an interesting text there, but he still completely lost. His heart is not right and socially. One of the things I think is that that baptism. It is this sign it's a means of grace is one of the ways that God is powerfully at work in our lives, we can't minimize it is not just an empty sign ritual that we do because we feel like you know God is given it to us as a sign of his salvation and is one of the ways God communicates his grace to us, but that grace the work of God's Spirit isn't necessarily tied to the moment the baptism is administered.

There are people who believe in Jesus and are truly born again prior to it having been baptized and then there baptized their people were baptized in the reality that that sign points to the forgiveness of sins union with Jesus that they don't experience that reality until much later in life and that's where the grace attached to baptism hits them. If you will, and so I think that those verses that you referring to acts 238 first Peter three 2122 they're talking about baptism as more than just an empty sign right if this is a sign of salvation, the forgiveness of sins. These promises are closely attached to the sign of baptism so that we shouldn't despise them, and yet at the same time I don't think that we should conclude based on the close association between the sign of baptism and the reality that it points to that everyone who is baptized is undoubtedly born again.

I think just common experience reveals that that's that's not the case. And of course you do.

As I said have examples in Scripture you have people who had been baptized but who were still lost. It seemed and so appreciate the question and answer. Thinking through baptism and feel free to follow-up, give us a call back if you like.

Thank you.

Federal just for clarification. What does though the Roman Catholic Church believed they believe in baptismal regeneration.

Yeah, the Roman Catholic Church Eastern Orthodox churches is limited, but a believe in baptismal regeneration and so you know court of the Roman Catholic Church. When a person is baptized there infused with these graces from God, including faith there made a child of God in that moment. There are a lot of Christian traditions that have taken this view, and there are others that haven't taken this view in and I happen to be in a tradition that doesn't believe that all those who are baptized are undoubtedly born again or regenerated the spirit of God is sovereign in Oakville. You mentioned Roman Catholics even they would say you know a person can be born again through baptism still be condemned and lost a lot of intricacies another can of worms bill that your enemy up here for as well. Good stuff for us to think about. Certainly, as Christians, and ultimately want to go back to the word and see what the Scriptures say your listing to core Christianity with pastor Adm. Sanchez.

Our phone number if you'd like to connect with us is 833-843-2673. That's 833 the core. You can also submit a question through our Facebook page and Kaylee did that. She said 2020 has felt like a really emotionally exhausting year. It seems like in every area of life.

There is a conflict between people and though I've never dealt with depression before. That is the only thing that makes sense of what I'm feeling throughout this year. I don't think I'm alone.

How can people like me persevere and hang on what it feels like one thing after another is weighing life down at Kaylee, you're absolutely not alone. I bet that everyone listening to your question right now thinking amen yeah I feel the same way and I could definitely say I felt that same weight as well.

This year it's been a hard year for a lot of us that just because you brought up depression. I do want to say that there's nothing wrong with scheduling an appointment with your doctor to express how you're feeling. Sometimes we can get the blues because of the circumstances around us and that's totally normal.

In other a lot of things went on right now that make people who might ordinarily be a positive feel down. There is also clinical depression, which is different from the normal blues we all get an and could be the result of a chemical imbalance that a doctor can can help you with, and so God in his kindness is given to us.

Common wisdom of doctors, physicians, medicine to help us with with situations like that and so if that's not ever something that you've pursued. Maybe that's something for you to consider sitting down with your doctor in line with this because we know that this is such an important issue right now in the church. We do have a resource called nine things everyone should know about depression Kaylee and that you can download that over to our website. Core, Christianity.com nine things everyone should know about depression might give you some more insight into what you're feeling, besides that, and practically speaking, set your hopes not on this world, or the present circumstances, but on Jesus. I don't know how much you read the news or are on social media, but maybe it be a good idea to take a step back from media for a while. The research is showing that it's really having a negative effect on us and especially during the pandemic use of social media has skyrocketed. It's really overwhelming support for you to get away from all of that and to spend time with Jesus to study his word to be committed to prayer another something stabilizing about that because it helps us to have the eternal perspective. Yes, things are hard right now but I have a good father in heaven was given his son for me and for my salvation. So you don't persevere by clenching your teeth and powering through and just trying to have happy thoughts and a good attitude. No, I mean the reality is we are. Many of us, facing great difficulties that could be sickness, it could be sickness in our family. It could be the financial strain that's been brought about by the pandemic or just the isolation, the loneliness that so many people are feeling. Maybe you're feeling it right now. We haven't been able to spend the time together that we really need to spend together. You Hebrews chapter 3 talks about encouraging each other, day by day. While it is called today less were hardened by the deceitfulness of sin, but that the difficulty with the current circumstances as we have all these pressures that are building on us and we don't have the normal fellowship that we we typically ordinarily ought to have as Christians because we distanced many of us, at least, so there is kind of a recipe here for feeling down and depressed and that's why think we need to be stabilized. We need to sit before the Lord and surrender look to Jesus cry out to him and rest in him and and maybe take a break from you know all of that.

This sort of information overload that were getting from media and social media because I think that that can add to the stress we are with you and praying for you. We know that so many people are suffering right now because of the pandemic.

But again, let's take a step back. Let's enter into the presence of the Lord, sit at his feet and hear his promise in this world you will have relation, but take heart I have overcome. 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 for 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. As we explore the truth of God's word together