When Pastors Let us Down

According to recent poll pastors are becoming less and less trusted figures in our society.

How should the church respond best is 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. You can also post your question on our Facebook, Instagram or twitter accounts and you can email us with your question at questions at core, Christianity.com will enroll right near the end of yesterday's program. We had a call from Lonnie and she told us that she feels so guilty and convicted every time she goes to church, that she doesn't feel like attending anymore affect she says she brother just stay home and read her Bible and the customer at a time. I know you felt you had a few other things that you wanted to say to Lonnie yeah well I mean it really was an important call and Lonnie hope that you are listening right now because I think a lot of people feel the same way that you do it times and one of the things she said when she called us yesterday. She said tonight I go to church and I just feel like I'm not doing enough and I think a lot of times that that's how how people feel church what church does for them need to go to church and you're just loaded down with this burden of guilt. You need to do more did I don't don't ask yourself the question. You know what am I getting out of this, but what can you do to serve, and Frank lactic a lot of pastors and churches have sort of played into this by by repeating that over and over again and one of the things Lonnie that I like to tell the people it at our church and and that I tell people all the time about what church is supposed to be. As it is not first and foremost were we go to do more to be burdened by this just huge weight of guilt law. The church is where we go to receive where we go to hear the word of Christ for us when we go to have our burdens lifted and so it really is so important for us to deceive the church in that way it at times. Like I said yesterday, we are going at work. I feel guilty, she hear the preaching of God's word and were under the law were convicted of our sins, but we need to move from guilt and this is what were the church ought to take us from guilt to the grace of God to the gospel and from there to gratitude from you know experiencing the law, confessing our sins receiving grace from Jesus and then living a life of gratitude walking with the Lord obeying him, not because we feel like a man. I'm just burdened down by this. This need to have to do these things because we love him because he's been so gracious to us and so I know Lonnie that so many people feel the way that you do and I think we need to recover that high view of the grace of God, of the goodness of the gospel.

We really need to be in church because God intends for us to gather together as his people to be encouraged and as we gather together were receiving the grace of God and we we from that get to go and live in gratitude.

And so I just want to encourage you and I I pray that you get to express not just the guilt of sin. When you gather with believers but more than anything the grace of the gospel and thanksgiving for what Jesus has done for you ma'am this is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez were taking your calls live right now at 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 let's go to Jim Kell from Oberlin Park, Kansas. I welcome the core Christianity good afternoon. I would call myself mature believer walking with Jesus and my 50 but I have felt question. My heart all my my mother committed suicide when I was 14 I narrowed Jesus came to restore what was law. My mother loved me and her family. She but also committed to. I often gone to the Scripture where the disciples and Judah and I just need to keep talking with our Lord and Savior and a brother went to get clear answer from Saul yeah so it sounds like you know the question is what what hope do I have for my merino in you mentioned Judas there, and we know from the Gospels, Matthew chapter 27 that that Judas that he committed suicide. Matthew chapter 27. Beginning in verse three when Judas is betrayer saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the 30 pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders saying I have sinned by betraying innocent blood. They said what is that to us. See to it yourself and throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple he departed and he went and hanged himself really just a dark scene in in the Gospels and we know that suicide is is something that many of us have had loved ones. People near to us with who have battled with mental illness with depression who tragically taken their own lives and in so that it sounds about the question you're asking is if the unpardonable sin.

Let me to say no suicide, murder is not the unpardonable sin that just because someone commit suicide doesn't mean that they're not going to be in heaven. There been some people in the history of the church which said that but the fact of the matter is that's not what the Bible teaches about the unpardonable sin, or about suicide.

The problem that Judas had was they didn't repent.

He didn't turn to Jesus, we might have remorse over what he had done, but there was no hope in the gospel and true believers can battle with things like mental health issues can I believe it commit suicide and yet still be united to Christ and what saves them is the fact that Jesus holds onto them were saved by Christ through faith we receive that salvation may think of you don't really another way to think about this question is can someone who dies committing an act of sin be saved, or are they lost forever because you know they got drunk and got in a car accident died. So there there there a loss that that kind of the thing will know again Jesus is the one to tell who holds on to us by faith and as believers we still sin and some people as Christians their last act was an act of sin, and yet I don't think that the Lord abandons them. In fact the Scripture says very clearly that he will never leave us nor forsake us. And so sister I am so sorry about the experience that you had I met.

It sounds like you've been thinking about this for many many years. But let me just assure you that the hope of the gospel is that by faith in Jesus Christ, we will be in the presence of the Lord and our loved ones will be in the presence of the Lord, even if they died in a tragic way even if they died through suicide. This is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez. Our phone lines are open right now and we would love to talk to you. If you have a question about the Bible or the Christian life. Give us a call at 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 let's go to Julie from Trenton, Mississippi hi Julie, welcome the core Christianity started high church are that high. I want to start typing on a regular basis so I don't how that don't know that that is that okay in the eyes of the Lord or control of Yeah yeah Julie will thank you for your question.

Now the tithe.

In particular, was a part of the old covenant. You know that the Israelites would bring a ties to the storehouse to the temple and it was a part of how the ministry the temple ministry was sustained there.

The people were giving the firstfruits of whatever they received back to the Lord.

Now there's some debate in the church today about whether or not that that tithing principle still applies for believers today. Personally I think that what what I think that giving generously and giving consistently to the work of the gospel to the local church is an important thing when Jesus said where your treasure is, that's where your heart will be also. And so one of the ways we align our hearts with the purposes of God in the world today, missions outreach, the preaching of the words by guess by giving to these things and there's a great passage in the New Testament sacrament. Second Corinthians chapter 9 with the apostle Paul talked about what what should look like for us as Christians to give under the new covenant is, is the point is this second Corinthians chapter 9 verse six whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Then he says in verse seven. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver, and so the way I would want to encourage you and your husband is for the both of you to think okay what does it look like for us to give in light of how generous God has been to us his goodness to us in Jesus through the gospel. Really, I mean, when we meditate upon God's generosity to his people were encouraged to extend that generosity to others to give to the the work of the gospel and so we purpose in our hearts what that looks like a no for some people that might be 10%. For others it might be more, and there's nothing wrong with him and it really is that the wonderful thing that that pulses are the Lord loves a cheerful giver.

But each one must give as he is decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, so giving shouldn't be done under this sense of law or obligation. It should be done out of the sense of joy and as as those who have received so much from the Lord you want to give back and so I think one way that you can encourage her husband Julie is by talking about that how gracious God has been and how do we want to respond to God's kindness to us. What does that look like for us as a family to be generous as the Lord is been generous to us as he sustained us and that's a conversation that the two of you need to have an and I I trust that as you have that conversation, especially meditating on the gospel that you will be encouraged to give an end of the two of you can get on the same page thinking about supporting the church generously so God bless you and and thank you for what you do to encourage the believers around you like so much Julie for your question. We appreciate that. Let's go to Aaron who is calling in from Morristown, Tennessee hi Erin, hello how are you doing well Erin, what's your question, yeah, so I'm part of a recent church plant and one cannot live about a month. Recently in the consistent pattern of pastor talking generously about other church members regularly to me, particularly one incident about a couple that I'm very close with my head at that mall repented of any Sansone innovate. Thereby, pirates, grouping, pastor sure this to me and it wasn't someone.

Messerli felt like I needed to know so I felt like it was coming from a place of gossip and were going to be approaching him just to, discuss it, and how we don't like it was approach. The best way and didn't know if you have any words of wisdom for how to approach this in a tactful manner without me, you know becoming angry. Yeah well one I'm I'm sorry to hear about the situation that you're in. It really does put individuals in a difficult position when someone in spiritual authority some woman who's a pastor does something that is clearly wrong, engages in gossiper and in some other sin. And so it's a really awkward situation to be in. But you can love your pastor by being honest with him and and having this conversation. So how you approach that conversation I think one with a lot of humility with a lot of prayer. Pray for your pastor. Pray that that when you bring this up, you know that it doesn't come off as an attack as an accusation I think so often. Whether were talking to a pastor or someone else you know and when were when were talking about sin struggles. It's really easy for us to get defensive and so pray that there wouldn't be that that defensiveness, but that there would be humility and the ability to receive the boards that your brain we know what you're what you're saying and and so I think that's that's the best way to approach them and certainly Erin having a direct conversation with your pastor and and letting them know.

Hey, I felt like when you brought this up or when you were speaking in this way that that was that was gossip made me uncomfortable and and get as a pastoral be the first to say that we have to lead in repentance.

At times we have to be able to say, look, and same thing with with parents writers as parents, you know, as a father. When I when I failed I go to my children, I say, I'm so sorry. Please forgive me and sometimes pastors have to do that as well so my prayer is that as you're praying for your pastor as you approach him with humility with care. With love, that you will be able to talk about this and it'll be an edifying conversation for you and for your family and also for this pastor, your listing to core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez and today we want to offer you a very special resource is actually something that a drill has produced himself and we love it.

It's called seeing Jesus that we've been offering this resource for a few days now and that we really want to get in your hands. You can find out more about it over@corechristianity.com but it's a brief sort of devotional resource been written to encourage you in your walk with the Lord and to help you have a deeper understanding of who Jesus is. I focus on Jesus as the bridegroom of the people of God as the great high priest of God's people.

The one who deals with our sin and death itself.

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That's 833. The court also if you go to days to today's a show on our show notes you will see more about that particular resource any resources that are mentioned on today's program. Let's go to Miguel who is calling in from Kingfisher, Oklahoma hi Miguel doing well Miguel how, thank you for calling.

What's your question on when we do something wrong.

A lot of people immediately seem to abandon him will pull away from him and doing the doing seems like they totally forget about all the names in the Bible have fallen like David and Abraham but the Lord still falsely run to and all forgiveness and grace and mercy. I wonder how come we Christians don't do it.

We immediately throw mom really is heartbreaking right so why is it that we turn our backs on a brother or sister when they fallen into some single Paul said in Galatians chapter 6 verse one brothers. If anyone is caught in any transgression, you are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself. Bless you to be tempted.

Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. And so what we turn our backs will look every situation is a little bit different, but part of that part of the issue is were were not exhibiting the same grace to others that may be the Lord has given to us. Now there are situations in Jesus talks about in Matthew chapter 18 where where someone goes through this process of church discipline and and maybe they continuing a pattern of unbelief of not repenting of continuing in sin stubbornly and in those situations, the church does say okay well look, this person is out of fellowship with the church and out of fellowship with Jesus Christ and in they deal with it, but for repentant sinners for people who have fallen and their their broken it's not the job of the church to say no, you're done. We've we've sort of excommunicated you your out of the picture. No restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness and you also have to consider yourself because the, the realities like that saying goes you know but for the grace of God there go why it's only the grace of God that keeps us and we should we should really be humbled when we when we hear about these things because the reality is, it could happen to anyone, and that's precisely what the apostle Paul is getting out there in Galatians chapter 6 and so Miguel, if there someone in in your life who you feel like you've seen this happen to them. Or maybe about.

I don't know.

I do know what the situation is, but you can reach out to that individual or to make sure that you're in a church where when people are truly repentant dark they're coming forward and they're asking for mercy there not just been cast aside.

But there being received, because Jesus welcomes repentant sinners, and so we should as well. Thank you for your question.

We'll thanks Miguel man what a great promise for all of us that when we mess up God forgives us every time you will as long as were truly repentant guide and at the us alive saying that when we fail you know we want to convince us that we can never get back into God's good graces is that God is done with us. That kind of thing. But you know 70×7. That's what Jesus that we come to the Lord. We repent were honest about our sandwich means you don't minimize it, downplay it, pretend like it didn't really happen. That kind of thing. But when we truly repent we walk in the light. John says in first John chapter 1, we have fellowship with one another, and so we need that fellowship and that we need to be encouraged in this is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. Let's go to a voicemail received at 833, the court Sharon morning about the Gallup poll. A number professions one through 22, which were the trust at most and the least, and they said nurses were number one but in the middle were pastors. Why are they in the middle wire date is stressful they were going down to the bottom of the list. So could you answer why people feel that way about ministers. Thank you, Mike.

Yes your list as you can imagine is a pastor I'm really bummed out about this one as well, but it does seem like there is this lack of trust not just for pastors but for authorities in general. Right now I think in our in our culture today. We have the sort of radical individualism. You know I don't want anybody telling me what to do or how to live or how to think, even regarding things of the subjects like spirituality and so we don't like authority.

We have a sort of allergy to authority, even the idea of a God who is over us who who has these laws for us to follow that kind of pedantic.

That's one of the reasons why, potentially, pastors and cortical spiritual leaders are are viewed suspiciously today, but I think part of the problem is also some of the ways in which pastors have acted in in society and in very public manner. Some you think of the prosperity gospel preachers who run television. Sort of like snake oil salesman trying to try to convince people to send them more money and and I'm in a ghetto send you this this sand from the Jordan River. That kind of thing that's going to heal you at the people here that they just think this is just bogus and so that's part of the reason. Another issue is not just you know the sort of prosperity gospel preachers but prominent pastors who have fallen who have been caught up in some sort of sexual scandal or financial scandal.

And again, people see that they just think how man you Christians are all a bunch of hypocrites. So that's another really big problem in the in the church and in the world today and a lot of those things are a lot more public than they once were, at least because of social media in the news and and sadly they people are drawn to those kinds of stories we we want to hear.

They want to hear about how the church is failing about pastors and Christians are hypocrites, but at the end of the day your pastor should be a man of integrity, someone that you feel like you can trust, but you're never called the place your trust, your faith in your pastor you're called the place your trust in Jesus and good pastors are pastors who point not to themselves whose ministry is not all about you know what they are doing good. Pastors are pastors who lead the sheep to the chief Shepherd Jesus Christ and again may be part of the problem today is is too many pastors are are focusing on themselves trying to lead people to themselves. It's what the apostle Paul said in acts chapter 20 Seo when he was warning the Ephesian elders about those who were going to come in, not sparing the flock he is seeking to lead people astray after themselves assert one of the hallmarks of false teachers.

Good pastors .2 Jesus and maybe there haven't been enough of those today. Pray pray for pastors that are going to point you and the rest of the world to Christ the chief Shepherd because he's the Savior, and I think that the more pastors focus on themselves and on their own ministry and and RR you know falling into some of the scandals and that's why you see a lot of distrust know we need a point to Christ, and we help people trust in Jesus, and I think the other issue that comes up is unfortunately we have a lot of Christians who were kind of elevating pastors to superstar positions in certain churches in this country where there there's almost a and idol worship of the pastor and that can cause huge problems right there yeah absolutely is a sort of celebrity pastor problem that we see all around us. And a lot of times you know you have these that you know the rise of the celebrity pastors and then they crash and burn and and again nobody can carry that on their shoulders and were not called to his pastors what were called to do is feed the sheep to preach the word of God to be faithful to Jesus to be committed to the word into prayer and God is the one who gets the glory.

Jesus is the chief Shepherd. He gets praise. Thanks for listening to core Christianity request your copy of today's special offer. Visit us at core, Christianity.com and click on offers in the menu bar or call us at 1-833-843-2673. That's 833 when you contact us. Please let us know how you been encouraged by this program and be sure to join us next time. As we explore the truth of God's word together