Is IVF an Option for Christians Struggling with Infertility?

Can in vitro fertilization be an option for Christians who are struggling with infertility.

That is one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity hi this is Bill Meyer along with pastor Gabriel Sanchez and this is the radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day. We would love to hear from you can call us in the next 25 minutes and talk live to pastor a drill, here's the phone number it's 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673. You can also post your question on her Facebook, Instagram or twitter accounts and you can always email us your question at questions at core, Christianity.com will today's a very special day here at core Christianity. It's pastor atrial's birthday and you don't have to tell you atrial is blessed with a very youthful appearance. If you check out our website and look at his photo. He looks like he's about 15 years old. Yes, yet actually he is 75 years old to this right yeah I know it. Amazing.

I got the elixir of life. Bill, thanks for bringing that up. You know, I'm wearing my colorful birthday shirt today and deliberate fans, your daughter's birthday this week to write is her birthday party on Saturday. It was so honestly I'm a cookout you are.

Her birthday is on the 23rd and so basically, yeah. I don't even have birthdays anymore. It's all her this week. So yeah, we've been celebrating her. She turned seven. So were really blessed. It's great let's get to our first call of the day. Darla is on the line from Columbia, Missouri Darla, what your question for pastor atrial all about marriage ended and I can hear marriage and that during that time marriage and we didn't have God in our lives.

At that time that we had separated after training. Try and work that we separated, and in that year afterward, we had kinda came back together and you know gotten paid one point and invited me to church and I and all bonded and wonderful but then trying to move forward. You like sometimes I don't know, trying to know something that God or keep keep trying because we went through the divorce final but yet were still trying to like Welch getting backing together. You know, let me know that you know for sure will Darla let me just say it sounds like the Lord has done a real working in in your lives, and that something to be grateful for me really grateful for.

I I'm just so stoked to hear about the to be going to church and really experiencing a saving relationship with Jesus Christ and that really does transform the way we think about marriage, because, according to the Bible. No marriage is supposed to be a picture of the gospel. It's a picture of the relationship that Jesus Christ himself has with the Churchill the love that Jesus has for his pride in the way in which we the church, the bride responds to Jesus and so I think that that's foundational for marriage and for for healthy marriages and now having experienced the grace of God I think that that there is legitimate really sounds like a wonderful opportunity so amazing Darla so often in our lives, how the Lord takes assertive broken parts those those difficult parts and he begins to to piece them back together and it could very well be that that's what the Lord is doing here.

I think about you know Paul's exhortation and in first Corinthians chapter 7 where he said in verse 10 to the married I give this charge not I but the Lord, the wife should not separate from her husband. But if she does, she should remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband, so you have right there that the call for reconciliation and I think in terms of moving forward you still want to be wise, I think you know if you're both in a church together. Maybe you notice starting from scratch in terms of doing things like premarital counseling and in working through the sort of past history with the pastor or a counselor. I think that that can be really helpful is as you move forward.

Really now wanting to make Jesus the center of your marriage and your relationship with God is as a family, that the center of your family and so I would say you know this. This really is. Seems like a really wonderful thing that you don't have to. You have to rush OCC still want to exercise wisdom and and be committed to the local church be worshiping there together side-by-side and maybe get your your pastor involved so that he can help walk with you through this time and and potentially do something like a premarital counseling and and really wanting to build a strong foundation for for moving forward. You don't know if you mentioned it, but are you are the two of you going to the same church right now together yeah yeah yeah where he started going and now I'm going awesome awesome well yeah and the let me just encourage or maybe what I like to do is is pray for the two of you just for for wisdom and for the Lord's continued healing in in your lives and and also in your marriage but I would say you know that that church, and in particular the pastors there going to be the most well suited to help you through this time and really the sort of navigating Academy Pat we move forward from the situation that we were in now to something more healthy and so let me pray for you, sister, father, thank you God that often that the things that we think can never be healed.

You are able to heal, but I do prefer for wisdom for Darla for her family. Would you please guide them in this time.

Would you please bring great healing great restoration great reconciliation in a way that honors you is healthy, has Jesus at the center. Father, we we just ask for your wisdom for your guidance for your blessing and we thank you. Also, Lord, for your salvation.

For the forgiveness of our sins for bringing Darla and her husband into the church and into fellowship with you and with your son Jesus in whose name we pray.

Amen and amen some great counsel, Israel, and I do agree with you boy getting some good counseling premarital counseling sums are heading back into hopefully this reconciliation would be would be a real key for Darla and her husband.

This is core Christianity with pastor atrial Sanchez.

Let's go to raver from Independence, Missouri River what your question for pastor atrial case laws and prosperity within my palaces and I believe this can be elbow and prosperity. As promised, this and peace and prosperity go hand-in-hand, and I belatedly help and support them and not only to examine my other neighbors by around the world close to home that I hear sound Mimi on TV and on different characters and not by phone, and history.

It almost sounds like the kind it into borderline prosperity and salvation gospel and I like it here, and some clarification on. Thank you for taking my call. Thank you so much for calling us and yeah how do we as believers under the new covenant with faith in Jesus Christ.

Pray you know Psalm 122. What is it mean for us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem will first let me just say your you're absolutely right.

People can take this verse out of context, those in the prosperity gospel, not just this verse with so many passages in the Scriptures will say if you do this you're going to be blessed, and in particular when they when they say bless their talking about health and wealth and and those kinds of things really this sort of old covenant mentality. You do good. You're going to be blessed you. You know if you if you don't keep the covenant you're gonna be cast out a land that kind of a thing. Well raver we are not under the old covenant, and so we have to be really careful how we understand those promises and how they apply to the church today is oh so you're right and your you're wise to be discerning when you hear some of these things on television. Frankly, I don't know that that's the best place to get Bible teaching anymore these days with all of the prosperity gospel preachers out there, but let me say this when we think about Jerusalem.

Maybe you had the city there in in the ancient world. You had the destruction of the city of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. Jesus himself prophesied.

But you also have this.

This promise that ultimately the Jerusalem that were looking to is not the sort of physical you know, place, and you know and in the middle of of Israel that the other that's were all flocking to that that kind of thing. Ultimately, Jerusalem, the city, the temple was a picture of a far greater reality and raver that there is a wonderful passage in Scripture that highlights this in the book of Hebrews chapter 11. I want you to listen to what the author to the Hebrews said Chapter 11 beginning in verse nine by faith he, the author hears talking about Abraham the patriarch he went to live in a land of promise as in a foreign land living in tents with Isaac and Jacob. Heirs with him of the same promise, for he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God by faith Sarah herself received power to conceive when she was past the age that she considered him faithful who had promised. Therefore, from one man and him as good as dead, were born descendents as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.

These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar and have acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth for people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland if they had been thinking of the land they had gone out, they would've had opportunity to return.

But as it is, they desire a better country, that is raver, a heavenly one.

Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city, a heavenly city, the heavenly Jerusalem, and in fact it's that city that the author, the Hebrews is in a talk about in the very next chapter in chapter 12 he says in verse 22 but you have come to mount Zion into the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, that's what what's happening raver when we gather together for worship so what I'm saying is ultimately in the new creation right there is gonna be that that physical Jerusalem that were all flocking to and worshiping around the throne of God, with all the saints, and the angels and the Lord himself right now were looking to the heavenly Jerusalem were were setting our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. And if you're a member of the church, the body of Christ through faith in Jesus, you're part of that city, the heavenly Jerusalem.

That's the city that we break it up to have peace. The peace of God, and it really is this this wonderful beautiful promise, but we need to understand it in the light of all of Scripture and in particular I think were seeing in these chapters and in Hebrews chapters 11 and 12 and elsewhere as well. And so when you pray for the peace of Jerusalem. So we pray for world peace, but we ultimately were praying for the peace of God's church of God's people here on earth. Now all those who have trusted in Jesus Christ by faith. Raver May the Lord bless you and thank you so much for your question.

This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. Easter is fast approaching and we have a wonderful devotional that we would like to offer you and is something we want you to get this week because it actually kicks off.

You can start using this next Monday as we approach Easter really help you get into the project we appropriate frame of mind spiritual frame of mind to celebrate both Good Friday and Easter next week that you know it's interesting. Historically, the ancient church as many believers prepared for Easter. They would have a time of prayer and even a time of fasting leading up to the Easter celebration. I'm not saying that you have to do that but it is good for us to prepare our hearts for worship early every Sunday I made something that that we ought to do. But if this is we think about Easter coming up here in a couple of Sundays when get this devotional in your hands. This is Bill was saying it's a weeklong devotional called sayings from the cross and it really is just the perfect way for you to prepare your heart for Easter and and to worship the Lord and so get hold of this free Easter devotional. This resource truly gets at the heartbeat of what we do here at core Christianity. It's absolutely free and you can get it by going to core Christianity.com/Easter. That's core Christianity.com/Easter. You can also call us for that resource for anyone of our resources at 833-843-2673. That's 833 the court let's go to Amy calling in from Union, Missouri Amy, what's your question for pastor. Israel will the Holy Spirit or God. Hey Amy, thank you so much for that question we get that question about the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit fairly frequently on this broadcast tonight thinking. I don't know if this is you, but I think for many believers it's the greatest fear God, did I do something that's can it cause you to forever cast me aside and II get it there will I've mentioned this before, there was a time in my life work.

This was one of my fears as well as a newer believer goodness that I do something that would cause the Lord to lead out really feel his presence like I did. Maybe at an at another time in my life and so a really important question what will just say is ultimately the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit I think is the outright rejection of Jesus Christ not just rejection but in the context and in the Gospels. When the religious leaders were committing the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.

Amy they were attributing the works of Jesus to Satan. They were basically identifying Jesus with the devil they didn't have faith didn't want faith didn't want the gospel they didn't want forgiveness, they hated Jesus, and if a person dies hating Jesus rejecting the gospel, not believing them there been there there there there lost, there's no hope for them. Now we even as Christians.

Amy can can and still do send in any even grievous ways to think about Peter. Peter himself denied the Lord Jesus will Jesus was on the cross and yet Jesus restored him and the people of God, Amy Dusan and and even blaspheme in in terrible ways, but the Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and let me to say to you, Amy.

If you turn to him no matter what you've been through no matter what you've done. If you turn to him and say Lord I want your grace.

I need your grace. I want to turn away from you. He's merciful to you. He loves you he forgives you and that's a promise that we haven't in John in the book of first John were told if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us of all unrighteousness. And so the hope that we have is not that were sinless. If we serve a Savior, who is so forgiving, so merciful that we turn to him. He lavishes us with his grace and his mercy are there some people who turn away from the Lord were fatalistic quote unquote blaspheme the Holy Spirit.

Their hearts are so hardened that there there just forever lost. I think Paul talks about that kind of thing and in the book of Romans chapter 1, you know, people floated beyond beyond the pale. If you will but but the reality is if you're struggling with this is you listen right now if you're struggling with that question cut. I'm afraid that I'm I'm lost. I'm afraid that you're through with me just say to you if that was if that was you. You wouldn't have that concern would be you wouldn't be worried about that when you turn to the Lord. He's merciful to you. May the Lord bless you and we to get some of the questions about that blasphemy in the Holy Spirit and a lot of people I think need to know the context of what Jesus was saying to the Pharisees. We talked about that several times on this broadcast and so important I think for all of us special because so many believers get ripped up by that you absolutely this is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. Let's go to Rick in Castaic, California Rick, welcome to the program my call quickly. My question comes from the story of the raising of Lazarus and when Jesus and Martha had a conversation before he raised him near Martha said that he knows or she knows that her brother will rise again on the last day and during the resurrection and then Jesus replied to her as I am the resurrection and the life. So my question starts. We know there could be a time and place for the of the resurrection, but can we say maybe more specifically, that the resurrection is in a person or a person, the person of Jesus is Jesus Christ and the us and then us as believers, can we say that we already have possession of the resurrection, based on say John five work. He says that those who believe in him a bath pass from death to life.

I think in room six says we have been brought from death to life in the Colossians talk about that we have been buried with him in baptism, in which we were also raised with Rick thank you for the related to two-part question there. Yes, I think, and in terms of talking about the resurrection technologies and what Jesus said to the sisters.

Are you verse 25 of John chapter 11 I am the resurrection and the life.

Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and that's what it is echoing what you said earlier in chapter 5 is what I think the reason that Jesus can speak in this way is because you're such a close relationship between his resurrection. His rising from the dead in our resurrection as his people, but that it's almost as if they're one and the same.

The apostle Paul highlights this, in particular in first Corinthians chapter 15 he calls Jesus's resurrection, the firstfruits of the resurrection.

That is, it sort of one resurrection harvest that were all part of in Jesus's resurrection was the first fruits of that it was it was the sign of what's to come for all of the people of God. And so in Christ we have the resurrection that we have to be careful that that we don't say we have it all.

Now, in the sense that it's already happened.

That is, that the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come, that that's already have and that was actually a concern that the apostle Paul had to had to deal with both in first Corinthians, and also he was writing to the Thessalonians because there were some people that were saying the resurrection has already happened there. The rising from the dead.

It's already taken place. It was just the sort of spiritual reality well know, Paul corrects us in first 2015.

He says we are raised in one sense right now seated at the right hand of the father, by the grace of with Jesus, by the grace of GE, the Holy Spirit, but were looking forward to the fulfillment, the, the final resurrection if you will, the resurrection of the body and so I got I think the best way to look at it is now united to Jesus by the Holy Spirit, by the grace of the Holy Spirit.

We have that resurrection life in us were born again we come to life if you will. Were looking forward to that greater reality that that's put out there for us and in the Gospels and in the epistles that our bodies are also going to be raised so that is a future reality that were looking forward to, but we have the assurance of that reality right now and so far as the Holy Spirit lives in us and we arty have that quote unquote resurrection life by the power of the Holy Spirit, dwelling in us by the spirit to Jesus. And so Rick, thank you for for that question.

A really such a beautiful picture that in Jesus we have life in the hope of the resurrection of the body man this is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. Let's go to a voicemail that we received here from yesterday hello I think it is a great show. I have a question about engine check for analyzation on Christian women who has no problem with fertility and pregnancy. Is it okay to use and then transferred a citation and care. Thank you so much for that question, cistern, and I know this is something that that many people fertility, something many many people. Many believers struggle with a limit to say yes I do believe that IVF and in vitro fertilization is is an option for Christians, but that you have to exercise wisdom. Obviously I know it's it's an invasive process.

It's a very expensive process and so I think that that's those are those are things to consider. We also know that in in Scripture. Children are a blessing, something that that that we week can and ought to pursue as Christians.

And so I think that this is a legitimate option. I think in terms of the wisdom you know the process of in vitro fertilization is is sort of complex there are you taking this into the egg and the sperm and and fertilizing fertilizing them, making the embryo outside of the womb and then implanting it and so one of the big register of wisdom questions. I think that we need to ask is, are we are we going to you how many embryos are we getting create and are we intending to implant all of them. I have it. We as believers have a high value of life and find the protection of life, the sanctity of life that the pursuing of life and so I would say if if you're going through this process. I think it's important that you know you you fertilize only the amount of embryos that you intend to use, but I do think that this is a legitimate option for Christians and I also know that this is just a really difficult thing for a lot of families and II just want to pray for you and for the many people who many believers who are struggling with infertility. Father would you please give wisdom would you guide Lord for this for this woman for her family, which you lead her and God would would you we asked grant children. We do pray for that Lord and we thank you for your goodness to us. Give us wisdom and be with this sister. We pray in Jesus name, amen, amen. May the Lord bless you and thanks for listening to the core.

Thanks for listening to core Christianity request your copy of today's special offer. Visit us at core, Christianity.com and click on offers and the menu 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