What Does the Bible Say About Dating Someone Who Isn't a Christian?

What does the Bible say about dating someone who isn't a Christian. 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. Our phone lines are open and you can call us for the next 25 minutes with your question.

At 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 also post your question on her 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 Paul in Johnston Rhode Island Paul. Welcome to the program.

Hey Paul, thanks for calling to such a question. Rather, I like to know where Scripture means to go to when my prayers for healing on hope all week. We know that we are encouraged to pray for healing at the end of the book of James. James is seeking to go to the elders of the church and asked for prayer. Heavenly hands on you, anointing with oil in the name of the Lord and and praying for healing. We know that God can heal but we know that the Lord doesn't always heal us when we ask and we don't we don't know why there is the hope brother that one day everything is and to be restored. Even our bodies and we have that hope, because Jesus rose from the dead, but in terms of wrestling with the why question right now. What are some verses in the Bible that could be encouraging for you. One text of Scripture that I think you can go to is found in the book of second Corinthians 2nd Corinthians chapter 12 and it's actually Paul a situation where the apostle Paul himself was praying for something for a kind of healing and the Lord didn't heal him. It's second of this chapter 12 beginning in verse seven.

Listen to what Paul said there to keep me from boasting her from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations he speaking of the revelations that God was giving to him. He just think of all the all the blessing in Paul's life both as a thorn was given to me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me but the Lord said to me, my grace is sufficient for you, my power is made perfect in weakness.

Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of all my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then I'm content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities.

For when I am weak, then I am strong. So Paul the apostle Paul, is there talking and he said look I pleaded with the Lord three times to heal me of distorting the flesh that we don't know what the thorn in the flesh was into media. Specifically, it could have been a physical ailment or sickness. It might've been some some sort of spiritual attack, but Paul is going to the Lord and pleading with God saying take this away heal me and God's response to Paul, and I think too many of us in these situations was my grace is sufficient for you, my strength is perfected in weakness. We don't always know brother why the Lord doesn't heal us or loved ones. We pray for divine healing that is in the week. We need to stop praying we can continue to pray and ask the Lord for his healing. But we don't always know why we don't receive it. Now we know that in the future. We have the hope of the resurrection we will all be fully and finally healed because of what Jesus is done, but right now we trust in him and and so I would I would point you to that passage and knowing brother that the Lord loves you that just because he doesn't heal less doesn't mean that he doesn't love us would understand his purposes all the time why he allows us to continue with the particular kind of suffering, but he does say this.

My strength is perfected in weakness. So you turn to the Lord Jesus.

Paul you hold onto him in the midst of whatever it is that you're facing. You cling to him, knowing that his strength can be perfected even in your weakness rather, thank you for that question federal how would you respond to a person who may go to a church where there told you know if healing hasn't happen you just don't have enough faith, I would probably say find a different church because that kind of teaching is so destructive Bill. I mean, it's absolutely devastating for people to feel like other reason I'm not healed is because there something wrong with me. I just I don't I don't have enough faith that kind of thing people's faith have been devastated by that that kind of theology is not what the Bible teaches. Certainly Paul told Timothy Haik have a little bit wine because of your frequent stomach ailments. He didn't say hey you should have been healed. You should ask for healing. You should be fine.

I disease encouraging a may make use of the ordinary means that God gives you to help you with the various ailments that you have. We know that the disciples are Lord Jesus had various ailments that God didn't take away. And so to say that it's always the you know someone who doesn't have enough faith that kind of thing is just a lie and I would say find better church good counsel.

This is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez.

Let's go to Madeleine who was in Bethany, Louisiana Madeleine what your question for Pastor Israel my call and said that if we deny that their profit that we are quenching the Holy Spirit wanted to know what the biblical aunt. That, thank you for this question gets in into a broader discussion about the gifts of the Holy Spirit described in places like first printing chapter 12 through 14 and there are differences of opinion on this.

You know, there are some Christians who say no there there are prophets today that kind of thing people can prophesy in the name of the Lord and they receive no extraordinary revelation from God. They get these words from the Lord and and that should be a normal part of the Christian life and there are others in this is this is my view who understand those sign gifts really associated with the ministry of the apostles in the first century to have been something that was really for that period of time for for the initial stage of the life of the church to get the gospel out and one passage of Scripture that I frequently will go to in order to I think to make that point is found early in the book of Hebrews in Hebrews chapter 2 beginning in verse one we read this. Therefore, we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it for since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution. How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation is encouraging the church here to hold fast to the gospel to the salvation message that they heard really from the preaching of the disciples from the preaching of the apostles and then he says this. It was declared at first by the Lord and it was tested to us by those who heard while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will and so the author the Hebrews is talking about something that happened in the past and the experience of these Hebrew Christians where the gospel message as it was being preached at that early stage was attested to by God. God is bearing witness to that message with these miracles with the sign gifts and you read about it in places like the book of acts and and also in places like the book of first Corinthians now ordinarily in the life of the church. I think that that we really should focus on what we sometimes referred to as the ordinary means of grace. The preaching of the word of God. The ordinances that Jesus gave to the church went when Paul outlines in a what the church is gonna look like in places like first Timothy three and Titus chapter 1 he talks about ordaining elders and deacons. He doesn't give any qualifications for the prophets who were operating in your local church that kind of thing and I think the reason is because that that the focused what the focus was and is on the faithful preaching of the word of God. Now another really important thing and I don't go on and on sister but what I would say this under the old covenant. The prophets that existed. Like Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Isaiah, they were part of the theocracy. The theocratic kingdom of Israel and their job was essentially to bear witness to God's covenant to to the Kings in Israel to the people of Israel and so they're bringing to bear that the terms of God's covenant on the people there prophesying in the name of the Lord will that theocracy is is gone we are now we have the church, the kingdom of God here on earth.

And so the prophets of the Old Testament there. There is no place for them today.

If I Daniel chapter 9 talks about a ceiling up of vision and prophecy. That's another text that I would point to the apostles were individuals who solved the risen Lord Jesus. They had experienced his presence.

They went preached the gospel planted churches established those churches with elders and deacons. Not with you know a brand-new set of profits that kind of thing and I think that that indicates to us that in the ordinary life of the church throughout her history as time goes on. That was going to be the focus, and that that really should be the focus and so that's that's what I would say sister and again I know that there are differences of opinion in the church on that question but I think we need to focus on the word of God.

Thanks for your question, amen. This is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez. Here's the number to call if you have a question it's 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 let's go to Elias and Long Island New York alas what your question for Pastor Israel. Bold two related firsters Jewish men refer to God as I share share of actual name of God or a false name of God question is the name is Albert Noel Aiello here. Mel should die all those also true or false names of God's they think that question is today Mother's Day that I totally miss it because if I did.

My wife is to be really okay good/amateur.

Yeah, appreciate that question Hashem just means the name and for four Hebrews Jews you know they wouldn't say the divine name in the Hebrew Scriptures we have the name of God, Yahweh.

Sometimes Jehovah and and Jews would not say that name oftentimes they wouldn't even write it they would just say the name or I don't and I Lord know that would be how we translate it into English the word Lord Elohim.

God it's the plural form of L is there differences of opinion as to why God is referred to in the plural, like in places early on in Genesis 1. Some people point to the doctrine of the Trinity, but those are all essentially just Hebrew titles for God, for God, the Lord, and I think there's anything wrong with with any of those. I think that the problem Elias is when people get so wrapped up in this that they they miss the forest for the trees. I've had conversations with Jehovah's Witnesses who say oh you Christians you know you've taken the name of God out of the Bible. What's the name of God the name of God is Jehovah and and they built this entire sect off of the name of God, and that's what that's what they distinguish themselves by the reality is, the focus is not on how we pronounce the name of God when we get the right pronunciation. The question is do you know God, do you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Nothing that the name is insignificant. I'm just saying I think a lot of times we really get confused about these things and in our focus is and in the right place. It is in on the gospel.

It is not knowing the Lord, the Lord God Almighty, so that's what we need to ask ourselves, but all of those. All of those names that you mentioned Adonai Elohim else it is just Hebrew titles for God different titles and so they're totally fine, brother publishing lies. Thanks much for your call. Thanks for listening to core Christianity.

Well we have a brand-new Bible study that we want to offer you today and is not a book that really trips up some Christians. It's a mysterious book if the last book of the Bible book of Revelation. Yes, written by the apostle John as you said Bill, the last book of the Bible and a book that is a mystery for a lot of people. You have a lot of that apocalyptic imagery throughout the book of Revelation the start of cataclysmic cosmic events. How are we supposed to understand them and how do they relate to us today. This resource is connected to help you parse those questions out and it is yours. It's a pizza Bible study meant to be used for group so you can go through it as an individual as well and be hugely beneficial. I think it's yours for gift of $20 or more would love to have you get that in your hands or maybe have your small group at church sign up for. By the way, if you order a certain number of copies, we will offer that the Bible study to you at half-price if you want to use it in the church setting, and I here's what you do, just go to our website.

Core, Christianity.com/Revelation 2 order that core Christianity.com/Revelation or you can call us for that offer or any one of our offers at this number 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 let's go to an email that we received from one of our listeners and her name is Margie and she says this I have had failed relationships throughout my life I realize that I was on yoked in those relationships and being with someone who's not a believer I'm now speaking with a man who is Jewish. Is that still considered on yoked having a relationship with someone who's not a believer in Jesus.

I'm trying really hard not to make another mistake a Margie thank you for that email that you sent us and delete the language of being unequally yoked comes from the apostle Paul in second Corinthians chapter 6 where he said in verse 14 do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers.

For what partnership is righteousness with lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness. What a court has Christ with the Lyle what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever. What agreement has the temple of God with idols we are. You are the temple of the living God under the old covenant that the people of Israel were called to to not intermarry with the nations of the world, the people of Canaan as they were going into the land of Canaan. They were to marry only within the quote unquote covenant community that is that the people got of God among the people of God and end there. That was that the Hebrew people now under the new covenant. It's the same, but the question is, is the person that you're with your thinking about being with are they in the Lord Paul says in verse 20 is chapter 7 says look up if you're single, you're free to be married to whoever you want, so long as they are in the Lord.

That is a part of the new covenant community and the big question that we have to ask here is, does this person know Jesus do they have a relationship with Jesus. You might we might share a lot of similarities with our Jewish neighbors and friends in a some of the same moral principles, you think about the 10 Commandments.

For example, but the biggest question, the most important question for you and for everyone in the world that we have to ask ourselves is who I say Jesus is do I recognize who he is to I have a relationship with him and in terms of dating and pursuing a relationship with someone.

As Christians we should pursue relationships with those who are in Christ because there's no more important question than that. Margie, this is something where we don't want to compromise. Now I know that we've all heard stories of individuals who inundated and they were we to one was a believer. One was in the one of them that the person was a Christian. Eventually they came around they started going to church. I can think God can do anything he wants but work were commanded were told not to be unequally yoked, and so I think wisdom for you. Margie would be not pursuing a relationship with this individual but totally having a friendship. There's nothing wrong with that you can you can be friends, but don't let the relationship progressed beyond that, if this individual is not in Christ you want to be with someone who loves Jesus and who prioritizes their faith and you want to prioritize your faith in Jesus as well. Thank you for that question? This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. Let's go to Keith in Branson Missouri.

Keith what your question for Pastor Israel. I like all Gary, I can hear you Keith, thanks for giving us a call brother with your with your question.

Great. So the question may be three-part.

They all relate art about sexuality in the Bible dollars today or were they just specific to a cultural time or specific situation with that. I've also heard that the word, translated homosexuality in the Bible are actually their original meaning is more so something along like Delia. Either way if those scriptures are still valid today in our time and culture. What you deal with people who are hermaphrodites or have both sex organs something like that.

Very yeah, I mean all very important questions Keith one know that the prohibitions regarding homosexuality that we find the Old Testament also in the New Testament that is same sex relationships, sex excess kinds of things are are not just cultural first for that time there there part of God's revealed will. His moral law in terms of our relationships in terms of marriage in terms of sexual purity.

And so it wasn't just something for the Hebrews under the Old Testament or for you know the Greco-Roman world that kind of thing is the apostle Paul was going about preaching and teaching in the word oftentimes translated homosexuality in places like first Corinthians chapter 6, actually two words two different Greek words that are used there and and really what what they're referring to are same-sex sex acts, not just pedophilia. I mean it could encompass that but but but not just that it so when people tried to limit it to that there there incorrect.

That's not I think a faithful interpretation of this or to the reality is in that world.

There were homosexual, gay and lesbian relationships, and so something that the apostles knew about and were aware of and yet they were they were still calling the church to to essentially what God's word headset and headset all along and in terms of their relationships and sexuality.

Now that the last part of your question there and be the judge again. Everything in terms of some of those think you brightly have to be handled on a case-by-case basis.

We we recognize that as a result of the fall we are born oftentimes in all of us really in in this broken condition. Sometimes that broken condition manifests itself in other ways through things like sickness or through no other biological issues and anaphylactic we have to be sensitive to that and deal with those things as they come along pastorally with wisdom with love with tenderness and ultimately knowing that there's a massive hope for all people regardless of what their background is, or what they struggle with and the hope is the hope of the gospel. Keith and and that's what Paul tells the Corinthians is look. Such were some of you some of you were engaged in these homosexual relationships, same-sex sex acts but you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the spirit of our God. That's the hope that we have met the hope for the whole world that God is the one who, by the grace of the Holy Spirit through the blood of Jesus gives us a new identity answer question. Thanks so much for your question was go to Gaylene from Topeka Kansas scaling what your question for Pastor Israel hey Gaylene are you there Gaylene are you with us at the Gloucester let's go to Lois who is calling in from Kansas hi Lois how are you and welcome to the program.

Hi Lois, thanks.

I can hear you what your question sister to break and change me a lot all day in their church about about Nina.and Dana had taken that out of their law.

II understand it, even in their catechism, but now I'm not Catholic, and with the statues that they have in the image is the date that the output of the church is light, and they also pray to Mary, I know some that Had Mary Gardens or they make a shrine to Mary and even in the Gospels land. Mary and his brothers tried to say hand that he was told anything. My mother yeah so is your is your question why do they do that Lois or or what poncho they Like in regards to that I can respond you will look what is just a reminder for all of us that when it comes to worship. The worship of God. We have to stick to the word of God and what God is revealed to us in his word. We all have this temptation to add to the word of God and to be creative when it comes to worship God really cares about how he's worshiped. And we know based on Scripture you think of the second commandment. For example, in of God didn't want images being made of him of the Trinity and people bowing down before them serving them. That was a part of the pagan nations what they would do in God that there's no way in which we can you know perfectly depict him and that's the problem is is with those kinds of things. The dangers were missed communicating who the Lord is and what he did.

So I would say what you encourages going back to the Scriptures.

It's there that God revealed himself in the Bible that we have the clearest image of Jesus for us today go to the Scriptures. Thanks for listening to core Christianity request your copy of today's special offer.

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