Can Christians Use the Enneagram?

The Graham personality test has become wildly popular in recent years, but should Christians use it. That's just one of the questions will be answering on today's edition of core Christianity hi this is Bill Meyer along with Pastor Israel Sanchez and this is the radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day.

You can call us right now for the next 25 minutes and ask your question. Here's the phone number it's 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673. You can also post your question are Facebook, Instagram or twitter accounts. You can watch us on YouTube and you can email us with your question at questions at core, Christianity.com first up today let's go to Chris in Sarasota, Florida Chris, welcome to the program. You'll thank you so much for your show. I really enjoy a lot from it.

Thank you Chris.

What's your what's your question rather scriptural. John 10 2220.

I know my heart for a couple years now and am going to play ball, giving him the glory that you gave me. Speaking of the father so that they may be worn and I'm just wondering what your take is that Scripture look what he think he means by the glory and how it applies that the day in unity with with the rest of the Christian brothers and sisters � thank you for that question. So this this passage of Scripture John chapter 17. It's what we sometimes referred to as Jesus's high priestly prayer when it comes on the tail end of what we refer to as the upper room discourse is this series of teachings that Jesus gave to his disciples shortly before his death were essentially he's telling them about the helper who would come and fill them to be trying to encourage his disciples in the context here because they're they're beginning to get concerned. He's been talking about how he's going to leave them if any go away and prepare a place for them. And of course the other disciples they wait a minute. Are you bring this with you.

What's gonna happen here. And so Jesus is been encouraging them and here in John 17, he prays for them.

He doesn't just pray for them.

He prays for all those who would believe in him and if you look at verse 20. It says I do not ask for these only but also for those who will believe in me through their word not to stop right there and say wow Jesus is blank praying for us for you. For those of you who believe in him, that they may all be one, just as you father are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me the glory that you have given me I have given to them.

That is a purpose clause here. They may be one even as we are one.

So one thing I think that we could save just on the basis of this text Chris is that somehow this glory that Jesus is talking about is what unites the people of God together. It makes us one verse 23 I in them and you and me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you have loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. This is a really beautiful picture of the father bestowing this honor.

This glory upon the sun. This glory that he said, even from the beginning of creation and Jesus saying I give that to my people to those who are united to me by faith that I don't think it's this idea of you know us being praised or or glorified in the sense of you know, getting all this attention or that kind of thing. It's being sharers with Christ in his victory. By the grace of the Holy Spirit and actually missing to make sense in the context because as I mentioned, everything up until this point has been Jesus instructing his disciples on how this spirit was coming in. The spirit was going to fill them and unite them to Jesus. And so in one sense right now. By the presence of the spirit we experience and and participate in the glory that belongs to Jesus in one day when when were in the presence of the Lord and in fullness. We might say, when we are you know out of this body. When we die. And when the principal order ultimately at the resurrection were going to experience that glory in a new way in. In a final way, if you will.

And so that's what Jesus is getting at here in this passage, and one other thing that I'll just say about this text is so amazing me earlier in John's Gospel in John chapter 13 I think verse 35 Jesus said the world will know you are my disciples, by your love for each other.

And here he sorta stresses the same thing. He talks about how you note this oneness. This unity is going to help the world to know that God the father sent his son into the world. This is what why Christian unity is so important. This is why it's important that we unite around the courtrooms of the gospel, because it has to do with our witness to the world around us as we share those truths. Our unity by the grace of the Holy Spirit is this sign to the world that God sent his son into the world and so I love how Jesus prays that there and and what privilege it is for us to know that Jesus prayed for us is praying for us as our great high priest and that he calls us to be one as his people. Thanks for that question.

Chris makes much for listening Chris to core Christianity. If you have a question for Pastor Israel. Here's the number to call 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 opal in St. Louis, Missouri Opal, what's your question for pastor. Israel for three and I would like to know that so Solomon really up here. So Solomon I hear your prayer that appear to people because it was left of the glory look upon you and he really appeared to him like this with. It felt my curio prayer. Yeah, that's a great question.

Opal second Chronicles chapter 7. Beginning in verse 12 then the Lord appeared to Solomon in the night and said to him, I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself is a house of sacrifice. When I showed up to heaven, so that there is no rain or command the locus to devour the land or send pestilence among my people if my people who are called by my name humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Now I think the focus in this passage. In particular, Opal is on the fact that the Lord heard the prayer of Solomon that the Lord is good to continue to hear the prayer of his people because he goes on to say in verse 14 if my people again were called by my name if they humble themselves. Verse 15 my eyes will be opened in my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place inside. I think that word sometimes you know where were talking about these these appearances if you will, where God reveals himself to people that could just refer to God speaking to Solomon audibly.

We do know that there are instances in the Bible where there were these physical manifestations you think of the, the Israelites in the wilderness. You know that the pillar of fire and in the cloud you think of Moses and the burning bush so that there are instances of that. But the reality is, these these pictures they really don't reveal to us what God looked like as it were, because you're absolutely right, no one can see God and live in all his glory because he's infinitely awesome. This is why so often when when you have these kinds of events in the Scriptures you know the people who had these experiences would would be terrified and they would say I seen the face of God, as it were, I'm I'm afraid I'm going to die because of the glory of the Lord, but I think hearing in second Chronicles chapter 7 I'm I don't think that God appeared to him in the sort of visible form. I think it it's using that word in the sense of God revealed himself to Solomon and spoke to him and gave him this assurance it is coming in the context of the building of the temple that he was going to meet his people there and that when they turned to him, he would hear them when they turn from their sins. He would hear them and it is as you mentioned Opal below. This is a wonderful text of Scripture to pray many people innovate, they sort of associate this text with a particular country.

I don't know that we would necessarily do me through talking about the temple here. In particular, but were all called to turn to the Lord to repent of our sins and we have the confidence that when we do the Lord hears us. And he receives this is a really wonderful text of Scripture and so wonderful Opal that your praying the word of God. May the Lord bless you.

Thanks so much opal soy drill. I'm curious, do you think when people apply that verse to the United States in our current situation. Do you think that's valid doors it hard to read into that. I just think we have to be really careful, you know, when we say if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and and we sort of take my people there to refer to the United States of America as though the United States was you know God's theocratic kingdom here on earth. Sort of like Israel was in the Old Testament, will that would be a misunderstanding of of that passage. One of the things that we affirm about the kingdom of God is that it's universal. It's not associated with 1 Particular Pl. or one particular nation.

It's all tribes, tongues, and nations.

The whole world, but you know it's a wonderful Jesus had that encounter with the woman at the well in John chapter 4, you know they get into this discussion about you. Where's the proper place to worship God and do some people say over here. Some people say over there in Jesus that look, the time is coming where working to be worshiping what God is going to call people to worship him in spirit and in truth, is not to be about, you know, I worship God on this mountain are on that mountain or in this country or that country God is calling the nations to himself and so the Christian church consists of people from every tribe, tongue, and nations. We have to be careful what we take these kinds of passages and then apply them to a particular country as if to assume that you know there are some countries that are really God's chosen countries and there are others that aren't better.

We have to be careful your listing to core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez and if you have a question about the Bible or the Christian life.

Here's the number to call its 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673. You can also leave us a voicemail anytime 24 hours a day at that same number and here's a voicemail we received from Rhonda and her daughter struggling with know God is living in their abuse of children struggling with that night it nor I could shower in the Scriptures.

Thank you run a very heavy question. Of course you know we we see the suffering that exists in the world and horrible horrible kinds of suffering and we think to ourselves will how how do we deal with this, as Christians, what does God's word have to say about this. We know that God created the world good without sin, but that he gave mankind freedom and that Adam and Eve left to the freedom of their wills fell from that good state wherein they were created, sin entered the world and it corrupts it corrupts each and every one of us so that we do heinous and horrible things. Now God is not the author of sin and evil. But he has allowed in sort were trying to balance these two realities here running God. God, in one sense, what we would say this is not God's will. God calls us to obey his word, his lot to love him and to love each other but in another sense, we know that God is all-powerful, that he didn't control his sovereign control that all things happen according to the counsel of his will be possible talked about this in Ephesians chapter 1 suite we have this sort of tension there that were dealing with. And we know that God does not allow any suffering that he has not already purposed how to conquer and ultimately got conquered that sin and suffering at the cross sore I go when we think about these horrible things that happen in the world today is straight to the cross of Jesus. You want to talk about the horrible horrific event picture of abuse a picture of shame a picture of murder you go to the cross in the ancient world.

In the Roman world.

The cross was was the ugliest symbol out there.

There were there were philosophers at that time who who you know railed against this idea of crucifixion because it was just so heinous it was reserved for the worst criminals in which a shameful you saw crosses are cross erected on a hill in the edges. It is made your stomach turn.

Because of the shame because of the abuse because of the torture Jesus experienced that the son of God, God himself.

The second person of the holy Trinity experienced that in his body for our sakes and so he can sympathize with us in our pain, and in our weakness.

And here's the crazy thing right. I mean really is Apsley amazing.

Something were meditating on I meditating on right now because were coming up on Good Friday, getting ready to celebrate Easter Christ ascended to the cross hung on the cross.

This this symbol of torture, shame, pain, this ugly thing, and by his presence. He transformed it. It's so strange isn't it, that for Christians the cross is you know that this symbol if you will of our religion that people wear it around their necks in the ancient world that would've been crazy. Why would you ever do that well. The reason Christians do it so often today is because Jesus, the eternal son of God when he hung on the cross he transformed it into this instrument of love, hope and beauty receipt.

I love this about Jesus that he's able to buy his presence transform that which is broken and so when we look at the brokenness in the world around us.

When we look at the sin horrible sin right we don't always have, you know the specific answers related to some of the things God, why did you allow that specific thing to happen. I don't know but I do know God is all-powerful and he's able to cause all things to work together for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose. Paul says this in out Romans chapter 8 and we are also called to take these kinds of things. These kinds of sins very seriously as the church you mentioned abuse. Frankly, we've minimize this. I think we don't talk enough about it when we think about what happens in our local churches and there are some organized organizations that are out there that are really raising awareness and helping churches.

Be wise in terms of thinking through these issues and also creating policies that will protect the people in their church, and in particular the children in their church from abuse and thinking of one organization in particular that I'd I'd recommend our church actually use this organization is called grace stands for godly response to abuse in a Christian environment. We really need to understand these things so we can care for and minister to the people who are wrestling with the very questions that your friend has Rhonda but I go and rotunda going to the Scripture as I go to the cross and I go to the power and providence of God and God's ability. Somehow, to transform our brokenness to redeem us.

That's where we go, and so that's why would point your friend and for those who are who are wrestling with this question of abuse for those who have experienced abuse. Maybe you've never talked about it. Look at this organization, grace, godly response to abuse in a Christian environment so important that we get the help that we need. Oftentimes professional help in situations like this so that the healing process can begin. And so thank you for that question you're listening to core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez's we have a free resource we want to send you it's actually one that a drill has written. It's called seeing Jesus. Yeah, that's right, you know.

Around this time of the year. Everyone has opinions about Jesus Easter. I may just turn on the TV in there although Zeno history Channel documentary see who was Jesus and the fact the matter is there are a lot of people who are confused about the identity of Christ.

I wrote seeing Jesus as as real introduction to who Jesus is in his ministry. Vito as our great high priest as the one who cleanses the church as the one who is Lord of creation. This can it dig into some really neat passages of Scripture and and hopefully illuminate them in ways that you've not heard before and so get a hold of this free resource.

It's a it's a physical booklet seeing Jesus would love to send it to you. All you have to do is go to our website at the special URL core, Christianity.com/Jesus again. Core, Christianity.com/Jesus. You can also call us at 833-843-2673 to get that particular offer. Let's go to a voicemail that we received yesterday. Your thoughts on any grand I have friends who have recently gotten any grand talk about their numbers and research that however I've been getting salmon reading that it had origins in the occult, and that it is very closely related to the New Age movement and hoping he could shed some light on it. Christian should be in an should he used any grand or if we should hear clear that thank you, thank you for for that question. And I've done a little bit of reading on the ideogram. It does seem like you know in terms of its roots. There is some some background it has in these sort of occult movements. I think the way in which most people think about it today is sort of is another personality test. Think of the Myers-Briggs that was really popular.

Several years ago in terms of just a real simple answer no. Should Christians use it or should they not use it I wouldn't I wouldn't bind anyone's conscience one way or another, you think about the discussion Paul has in verse 20. In chapter 8 where he's talking about meat sacrificed to idols and of this food that was associated with the occult with paganism if you will. Buses look we know that that stuff is nothing it's it's it's it's meaningless right now.

Now if eating that kind of food because other people to stumble, then let's just avoid it because we know that it's nothing but if it doesn't hate don't make a big deal about it. You know, Paul makes it very clear in first grade is a and in other places, and so I think you are are there potentially benefits to personality type testing you think of the workplace and and I'm getting to know some your colleagues more than I've seen it used in that way. I don't know that there's anything sinister about that.

I also think that people can go over the top and and really sort of put a lot of stock in these things and and just think they're bound to this sort of identity yet to be careful with that to you know we hold the stuff loosely. We recognize an idle quote unquote is nothing in the world. As Paul says in first Corinthians chapter a and so I think, so long as people aren't being bound by these kinds of things or putting too much stock in them. I don't see them as that big of a deal, but if of course I would say that this is a matter of Christian liberty, Paul could say what he said in first Corinthians 8 about food sacrificed to idols and think we could say that about the any agreement, so thank you for that question. This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. Let's go to Angela and St. Louis, Missouri, Angela, what's your question for pastor. Israel write about. There is no then there will we no longer have free will and if we don't have free welders that mean that will kind of be like slaves almost yeah, that doesn't sound like a great picture of heaven beings enslaved, but the fact of the matter is, our wills are going to be so renewed and restored that there's gonna be no desire for sin or evil work in the lives in perfect love and in perfect harmony mean the fact of the matter is, is right now because sin is a part of this world because were still in one sense corrupt. Even though we might have Jesus living in us by the grace of the Holy Spirit, we still as Christians sin and we long for the day when we won't send anymore. When will worship God and love God perfectly and that's what we have to look forward to in heaven the author the Hebrews in Hebrews chapter 12. He describes the believers in heaven as as the saints who souls have been perfected, the spirits of the righteous made perfect, so our wills are going to be so renewed and restored. If you will, that there's gonna be no desire for sin or evil because we we know the pain and the hurt that it cause and and and there is no more sin. At that point and so I wouldn't I wouldn't say that that means were were robots or that were you note in this sort of terrible situation where we have to worship God, and we just don't want to do it no will see the beauty of God in its fullness in our hearts will be continually prompted to worship and to praise and in the new creation Angeles can be. It's can be with all of the believers feasting fellowship being in perfect love anything about what the apostle Paul said in first Corinthians 13 you now abide faith, hope, love, these three but the greatest of these is love. The love that we experience now by the grace of the Holy Spirit. That's can it endure on into eternity. And it's going to be perfected and were going to love God perfectly and were going to love each other perfectly and it's gonna be so beautiful and it's not going to be this sense of slavery. The reality is, the problem is people today are slaves to sin. We are enslaved to it, unable to be freed apart from the grace of God and been what's so wonderful about heaven and the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come is is will be fully free or not slaves were free to love and worship God and by the grace of the Holy Spirit were going to be able to do that perfectly and if you know Jesus.

If you have faith in Jesus Christ are united to him. That's what you have to look forward to for all eternity. 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