How Can We Love Our LGBT Neighbors and Be Faithful to the Bible?

Christians maintain friendships with gay and lesbian persons best is 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. 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 and today we want to pick up with a question that we receive at the end of the broadcast yesterday from John and John. I hope that your listening today. Yes, in an excellent question really about the age of accountability does the Bible teach that there is an age of accountability for our children and I think I think sometimes people have the sort of idea that children are are just innocent that they are born without sin. That kind of a thing, and as they do they get older.

That's when they really become accountable now course, when you have children you know your children are not sinless.

All you know, it's very obvious railing. The doctrine of Original Sin I think is proven. Everything will day by by young children, but it one thing that we have to understand is that our children are as I just mentioned there. The idea of Original Sin born in Adam guilty, I mean David said in Psalm 51 verse five behold, I was brought forth in iniquity and in sin did my mother conceive me as I think it's really important to understand that, but I also think it's important that we we recognize that there's this principle that we see throughout the Scriptures that the severity of judgment. A level of of accountability.

For example, that that we experience is dependent upon our knowledge, how much we know Jesus said in John chapter 15 verse 22.

If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin, and none of the thing with that that question is. I think sometimes we downplayed the level of understanding that our kids have, especially when it comes to the things of the Lord. Children are children really understand a lot more than I I often think we give them credit for. I remember years ago talking to my daughter and and we were looking at these pictures on my computer of of outer spacing of these beautiful stars and in nebulas and, as might four-year-old daughter was looking at these images on my computer screen shed is very concerned look on her face and I said honey you know what, what's wrong white with with what's the deal and she said how come I don't see Jesus in any of the pictures. It is strong that we would tell her you know Jesus ascended up at the right hand of the father in heaven. And so here we are looking at these pictures of the heavens and she she really believed that Jesus had ascended, she was expecting to see Jesus you know floating by Mars or something like that.

It just it was that it was it was childlike faith. You know, and I just thought that was so beautiful are our children as we train them up as we teach them about the Lord. It's really amazing to see how a faith by the grace of the Holy Spirit begins to and can begin to blossom in their hearts, and so let's do the hard work of discipling our kids and I'm also thinking of the time in the Gospels when the children came to Jesus, and of course the disciples want to keep them away like their water too little or bugging you. You know and understand and he he basically chastised the disciples and said no let them come to me that's right. Yeah, Luke's gospel, even little babies were being brought to Jesus and the disciples that you have the Lord doesn't have time for that. But he said nope and bring them here for to such as these belongs the kingdom of God laid his hands on them. It really such a beautiful picture your listing to core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez. Here's the phone number to call if you have a question about the Bible or the Christian life. It's 833, the court, that's 1-833-843-2673 let's go to Stacy calling in from Austin Texas Stacy, what's your question for Pastor Israel Mike why traditional credit and so opposed feminists and feminism go to my parents are college educated, but for a number of years during my childhood. My father had health issues in my mother's was the only paycheck in the family but traditional Christians would have denied her the ability to support us what you think best is what I I don't know me, I guess I'd be curious to hear more about what traditional Christians you're talking about. My mother was a single mom. As I was raised by single mom and and she worked really hard to pay the bills for our family. Putting food on the table from me and for my younger brother and my younger sister and and I think in everything that she did you know she was honoring the Lord she was seeking to to love her family. Well hell not getting into everything that's that's entailed with feminism and another different different kinds of feminism but the Bible speaks very highly of the family and the importance of the family and training our children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. I was just talking about that right there. It had during the introduction. The Bible oftentimes talks about this and and and women helping to raise and catechizing train their children be see this in places like first Timothy chapter 2 Titus chapter 2 new talks about women train training their children to love God to love his word and and I think innovate in our society right now there's this attack on the family and on this idea of that. The traditional family now. Times have changed in in many ways, and we live in a different context than than what you getting in. Certainly the ancient near East, and even in the time of the New Testament, there are new jobs and new opportunities for women. It sounds to me Stacy like in your family from your mom did everything that she could to support the family and to care for you and and I think that that that's actually something that should be commended. But there are ideas out there and I think you see them in all in in some of you know what we we see in feminism today that really actually goes against so many of the principles that we find in Scripture and and especially that high view of the family.

Now again, there are there are different streams and and strands of this and and if I think we want to be careful and I want to be careful as I talk about it because this is not something that were in it were to get into too much here, but I would say speaking as a pastor and a pastor of a quote on quote traditional Christian church that in situations like the one that you're speaking of. We would seek to help the come along side of the family and to care for the family and certainly not to to chastise your your mother anything like that so thank you for for your question and I appreciate appreciate you calling. Thanks much, Stacy. This is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez. Let's go to Jordan calling him from Cedar Falls, Iowa. Jordan welcomed the core Christianity held on. Thank you for this. So you really encouraged me to look forward to watching every day and I'm extremely blessed by doing news getting into the truths of the Bible pretty early believer, but did discover some rich truth of the Bible in regards to the sovereignty of God in the will of man. If God created all things. How is he not the author of sin since the success of your getting this end into some deep deep truth there in the Scripture and Jordan stoked that you're encouraged by the broadcast of the Lord is is using it to bless you and and you're right that the Lord did create all things, and also that the Lord ordains all things work were talking here about God's sovereignty neck that could sorta sound scary, but we we have to affirm what the Bible teaches. And when you look at a passage of Scripture like Ephesians chapter 1, for example, beginning in verse four Paul said, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and blameless before him in love he predestined us.

That is the father predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ and then down in verse 11, Paul said in him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will now all things there means all things Paul makes it absolutely clear.

God works all things together according to the counsel of his will. Were talking here about his eternal decree. So the next question is will if God has decreed all things. If he's absolutely all-powerful, all sovereign will then how is he not be the author of evil, and I think I think it's a very fair question that you asked what it's it's something that we have to be really discerning it in a passage that I would go to is attacks like acts chapter 4 Jordan, a wonderful prayer given by Peter and he says in verse 27, four truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate along with the Gentiles and the people of Israel to do what ever your hand and plan had predestined to take place, and now Lord look upon their threats and grant that your servants continue to speak the word of the Lord with boldness and so there's there's something that there's up there something we have to note here one. Everything happened according to God's plan were talking about the crucifixion there and in acts chapter 4 and yet these people, these individual people are acting freely. Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles. Herod there responsible for their actions for what they do and so in one sense here. You have both the responsibility of mankind people making decisions, real decisions, acting freely and in here engaging in sin, and yet the absolute sovereignty of God.

And there's there's somewhat of a mystery here and in terms of how these two work together Jordan, but we want we want to embrace both of these truths.

One that the fundamental responsibility that we all have before God to turn to him to believed it to to repent of our sins. And yet at the same time to recognize like all said there in Ephesians chapter 1 that we have been predestined according to the one who works all things according to the counsel of his will see when we sin that's not that's not God acting that's us acting and yet he's allowing us to eat. He permits us to and because he's allowing us permitting us.

He's not the author of sin is giving us a sense of what we've chosen, and I think that's the other different ways in which theologians historically have have tried to answer these questions that that's that's the one that I that's the approach that I take Jordan and men. I am just so encouraged that even as a newer believer your you're taking into some of these these deep deep truth of the word of God and kind to say men keep digging in. Keep pursuing the Lord keep studying the word Jordan, that's great. We appreciate so much your calling. I was thinking maybe we should send Jordan a copy of a CS Lewis's mere Christianity which will help him as he grows in his faith. Yeah that would be an excellent gift or in something you deftly want to check out.

Maybe we can get that in your hand so this is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez and here is the phone number to call if you have a question it's 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 let's go to a voicemail that came in yesterday. I know that the Bible amendment is love God with all our heart, mind and soul. One is love thy neighbor as you love. I felt my question is that because we are to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. I have a couple of good friends that are lesbian and homosexual but I love them. They know what I believe then I have talked to them about God, but I still have a relationship with them is okay. I'm not the judge of that shortly.

I know that whatever they're offended.

They have to answer to God, not anyone else. I do love them good equal, but I just was wondering about it. Thank you for having the show on and giving us the opportunity that these questions that let you and thank you for that question and in my responses. Yes it is okay and good on you for being Christlike in and having relationships with people who don't believe just like you do and wanting to share friendship and just the love of Jesus with with people. People in the world. People who think differently than then we do II think it really is a shame. I've seen some studies recently that showed most Christians.

Most believers only spend time with the people that are just like them and I think that you know that that's easy right will who want to be with people who think just like we do and agree with us on everything. It makes it makes dinner and get-togethers. A lot a lot easier.

There's no conflict.

But the fact of the matter is, over and over again with the ministry of Jesus, and it seems like he was intentional at pursuing the people who didn't think just like him. The people who really need grace and over and over again. He uses sort of this this this this repetition of what I came to seek and save the loss of income for the righteous know I came for.

For the sake for the broken. For those who are needy Jesus that I am the good physician and I think we asked was because as believers, as followers of Jesus should look a little bit more like him.

In this regard. Now there are number of passages of Scripture that make it absolutely clear that you know it is okay again to your question etiquette that the parable of the good Samaritan in Luke chapter 10 verses 25 to 37 read that might be a passage that you want to sit down and read. Essentially, Jesus describes a man who was was beat up and left on the side of the road with nothing near dead and a priest walked by and sort of veto just you got some distance and and didn't help him, and a Levite in the religious person walked by and I same thing didn't stop to help the guy beat up on the side of the road and then Jesus at a Samaritan walked by, and in that day. What you need understand about the Samaritans is that they were really respected by the Jews me that they were viewed as less than both because of their culture and also their religious beliefs and yet the Samaritan walks by the guy who was beat up on the side of the road and he reached down to him and he picked him up and he nursed him back to health, and he paid for his medical bills. And Jesus asked the question to to the people gathered there when he told the story of who was the good neighbor who was the one who really loved his neighbor, and of course it was. The Samaritan had again was so shocking. What would've been so shocking about this story that that Jesus told was that I get that Samaritans you know they were never viewed as the hero of the story. Yet that's what Jesus did and he said look loving our neighbors. Loving the people around us.

The way in which God calls us to love them. It is to love even the people who don't look and think just like we do. Paul said it very clearly in first Corinthians chapter 9 verse 20 chapter 5 verses nine and 10. He said I wrote you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people, not at all. Meaning, the sexually immoral of this world or the greedy and swindlers are idolaters, since you would need to go out of the world. The bosses look but I'm not saying you can't have friends, you know, that are that are not Christians, the sexually immoral of this world you deftly get to leave the world were called to be salt and light in the world. Maria and I just wanted to commend you and encourage you because it sounds like that's exactly what you're doing now as we do that as we share the love of Jesus with the people around us don't think just like we do that we want to make sure that we don't compromise our beliefs is one of the amazing things about Jesus as he was a quote unquote friend of sinners.

He never engaged in or indulged in sin with them and even just condone their sin no. He challenged everyone around him to to love better to be holy and yet he was also so welcoming to sinners in the sense that he extended grace to them and in a way that the religious leaders of his day didn't and you want to be a friend who extends that kind of grace to to the people around you that that helps them to see a this Jesus he's awesome. He's loving he's he's he's merciful and he calls me to himself and so Maria may the Lord bless you as you continue to cultivate these relationships and I one resource. Actually, that you might want to consider is a book by Rosario Butterfield called the gospel comes with a house key and it's really up all about having these kinds of relationships. These kinds of friendships, but we really care for the people around us. We invest in their lives, and we seek to share the love of Jesus with them. Really appreciate so much your friendship.

For these individuals.

Your care for them, and your willingness to dialogue with them on some difficult topics.

This is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez and all other Christians today aren't particularly comfortable defending the Christian faith when talking to unbelievers and today we are offering an excellent book that will equip you to do just that. Yes, we are continuing to offer more than a carpenter really a short book that packs a powerful punch because there's a lot of really good information in here that will help you better know how to share the truth of the Christian faith with people were skeptical and a lot of people today are skeptical you did Jesus really rise from the dead, how queen of the Bible is true. All of these questions of people or less are asking around us.

This is a book that can help you have solid answers. It was written by Josh McDowell image before over 15 million copies in print and so this is a book that has really been influential for for many believers and we want to get it in your hands, you could get your copy of more than a carpenter for a donation of any amount by going to core Christianity.com/offers that's core Christianity.com/offers or you can call us at 833-843-2673 for help getting any of our offers by the way, one of the ways that you can take part in core Christianity is through our YouTube channel we actually broadcast the program every day live at 11:30 AM Pacific time. 1230 Mountain 130 Central and 230 Eastern time and right now we have a couple of YouTube viewers watching in Africa.

How exciting is that two different countries on the continent of Africa tuning in to core Christianity via YouTube.

Let's go to another question.

Wallace is on the line from Nashville, Tennessee. Wallace what your question for Pastor Israel will will will Scripture is an outsourced group of 1434 will probably insert also Scripture verse two, and created the Polish photo manual or cost of the world's usual insert photo show Catholic Church is so pushy also be over airmail in the church's stance is a great question, while someone actually that we received on the broadcast before. Nothing in both of those passages, Paul is speaking primarily in the context of corporate worship and leading the church I did.

I do take it to to be a reference to the authority that the elders of the church have over the body.

The elders are are charged you see this especially in places like first and second Timothy with guarding the deposit of the faith that the doctrine, the theology, then if the part of the role of the elders in the church is a sort of oversight of the doctrine of what is being taught of the gospel that is being proclaimed and here in first grade.

These 14 and then also in first Timothy two. It does seem to suggest bolus I look this is this is something that this reserved primarily for specifically for men were serving in this capacity is elders again. You see the qualifications outlined for elders in first Timothy chapter 3 and then also in Titus chapter 2 some of the pastoral epistles there and I know that there's no there's disagreement on this in the church there. Some people say that we don't read it that same way, but that's that's how I understand it, and so it sounds like you work your tradition or does this, does this mean that women should not serve as a pastor of a local church that would be exercising that kind of spiritual oversight and authority in an and in my view, the answer would be yes. That's actually why Paul did emphasize in first with the three. This is an office reserved for men. The church help any one of the one of the challenges when were having this kind of discussions of that I'm I'm I try to be sensitive to is a lot of people say what if that's your view than what is the role that women in the church have a mean dog you know I've are they engaging in an of the study of sound doctrine. Those kinds of things and and I think we have to say yes that every single person in the church plays a vital role that God is gifted each of us in unique ways for the advancement of the gospel. Paul makes this very clear elsewhere and in first grade.

In chapter 12 reset every single member in the body plays an important role of vital role. I love the book of Philippians because over and over again Wallace in the book of Philippians, Paul talked about how the Philippian church co-labored with him in the gospel side-by-side for the faith.

Men and women and and I think that's how we have to view it. Now that doesn't mean that we do sort of collapse everything and say well it doesn't matter if you know what your role is because the I think the Bible gives us some very clear specifications as to who should be serving in and what office specifically but we also need to remember that God calls each and every one of us that you whether you're a man or a woman have a very important role to play in the life of the church that were all charged really with knowing sound doctrine with guarding the good deposit of the faith in the sense that we hold fast to and cling to the truth of the gospel and so you are as a member of the church no matter who you are, were, or whether you're a man or woman valued and necessary and I think it's very important to distress that to emphasize that and I thank you for your question rather Wallace thank you so much.

This is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez a lot of great questions today on a variety of topics, and I know right now in your church a drill you been going through the book of first John in preaching any highlights from that from this past weekend. Well, we actually float it out.

I don't always preach every Sunday we had some of the interns preach for us this last Sunday which is really really wonderful is it's nice I finished up the book of first John, but really I would say one of the big highlights of just talking about guarding that the deposit of the faith, understanding, sound doctrine, it's that over and over again throughout first John. John talks about the spirit of the antichrist. It's out there and how we need to know the true Jesus we need to cling to sound doctrine how Christ is revealed himself to us through his Word and brothers and sisters each and every one of you needs to do that we all need to know Jesus through his word so that we might hold fast to what the Bible teaches. 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