My Kids Have Left the Faith. What Should I Do?

My kids have left the faith. What should I do that is one of the questions will be answering on today's edition of core Christianity will hi there, by Bill Meyer along with Pastor Israel Sanchez. This is the radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day.

You can reach us right now with your question at this number 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673. You can also post your question on one of our social media accounts and you can email us your question at questions at core, Christianity.com. Today let's go to Christine in Edmonton, Missouri Christine what your question for Pastor Israel and publish agreement technical. I wanted to know about John 24 that mother you know a woman have I to do with the Anda and then he says my time is not yet come in.

He goes ahead and makes the lawn is something in there about the marriage supper. The landmark anything since it Christine, thank you so much for that question.

First, we read John chapter 2 verse four and there are some people that are concerned with the you like is Jesus being disrespectful to the Virgin Mary here to his mother. John chapter 2 verse four Jesus said to her woman. What does this have to do with me, my hour has not yet come. And of course she was. She was asking to do something that the there at this wedding in Cana of Galilee and and they run out of wine and she looks to her son. She looks to Jesus and his responses. What does it have to do with me, my hour has not yet come first. Jesus is not being disrespectful. The other the fit command and honor your father and your mother.

We know that Christ was perfectly obedient to the law of God that it no point in his life did he ever dishonor his parents and sin in that way. This was a sort of a normal way of speaking at that time effect later in John's Gospel in John chapter 19 for the end of Jesus's life will you know when we know Jesus is speaking to his mother. Verse 26 of John 19th is when Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby.

He said to his mother woman that limit again behold your son and then he said to the disciple, behold your mother and from that hour the disciple took her to his own home. So Jesus is not being disrespectful.

There are really what he's doing is he's focusing our eyes the the eyes of those around him on what was to come. The focus in the Gospel of John is this hour that is being referred to in in you.

You hear this language throughout John's Gospel, I think, for example, if John chapter 13. This is sort of kicking off what's referred to as Jesus's upper room discourse and in John 13 verse one it says now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that he is hour had come to depart out of this world to the father having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. And so the hour that the gospel of John is referring to is the hour of Christ's crucifixion of his passion. It's the reason for which Jesus entered into the world to suffer for our sins, and then to rise again from the dead for our justification so that we could have a perfect relationship with God and and that's what he's what he's alluding to. There in the beginning of the gospel of John when he when he speaks about that hour. But of course at this at this wedding you know where Jesus turns the water into wine. There are, I think hints of that future marriage supper of the Lamb that the union between Jesus and his bride, the church that celebration that working to enter into when were in the presence of the Lord Christine so there's a lot going on there, but that would be the best way of looking at this Jesus not been disrespectful. Instead, he's fixing our eyes on his passion on the gospel that he's going to accomplish. Christine, thanks so much for your question. Thanks for being a regular listener of core Christianity by the way, if you want to email us your question, you can always do that at questions at core, Christianity.com here's an email we received from one of our listeners named Mary she says I'm the mother of adult children who have wandered from the faith.

One of them is going to marry someone who isn't a Christian, how can I witness to my future son-in-law and my daughter in a way that's honest and winsome. Well, sister.

I'm sorry and I know that your you're not the only one who's using the situation at their many parents who long to see their kids walking with Jesus and maybe for a time it seemed like they were and they were in the church and and fellow shipping with the people of God and then have have since I drifted away as as you say. I think first and foremost you need to be committed to prayer. We cannot convert people. It's not the work of human mites, not the work of the flesh. It really is only a work of the Holy Spirit. God is the one who opens our hearts. And of course this is something you see all over the place in the Bible I think about the preaching of the disciples in the book of acts in acts chapter 16 we read in verse 14, one who heard us was a woman named Lydia from the city of Thyatira seller of purple goods was a worshiper of God and the Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul we need is God to open the hearts and so I would say first and foremost be committed to praying to praying for your children to praying that the Lord would open their hearts don't don't neglect that most important thing I think a lot of times we do we want to just fix the problem at you in whatever way we can. I want to sort of cause this person to change his need to give them the truth that kind of thing that you need to realize that the truth can only be received by the grace of the Holy Spirit, and so pray. I love the story of the conversion of St. Augustine long long time ago. He talks about in his book called the confessions and you know he didn't come to Jesus until later in life and one of the things he he gets into in in the confessions in the story of his conversion is the instrumental role that his mother played in his life and he talks about how she just watered the ground with her tears as she would pray for him night and day longing to see him embrace the faith and for for many years. He was sort of stiff arming his mom and that the faith didn't want have anything to do with the church. Affect was often mean he would need often mock the Christian faith and even even his mother in in what she believed what the Lord was able and the Lord did mighty miracle in his life and he talks about how you know his mother just prayed for him for many many years and and so I want want encourage you to pray and also to keep the doors open. That is to say you know your your your children may make decisions that you disagree with and I do you can be honest about the fact that you disagree with them but make sure that that they know that you're always there for them that that the doors are open that your spending time with them with pursuing them in and able to speak the truth in love, praying for God to give you wisdom to know how to address some of the situations that you think that you're saying that maybe you disagree with. But at the same time you know if if they're not claiming to be Christians not not holding that over them. If you will not not saying you know well you need to do this that and the other because because it's what I believe I helping them to realize that they need Jesus and and if they don't embrace the faith. Now, if they've rejected the Christian faith, not not treating them as as if as if they date.

They need to obey you know in in the sense that you know as a Christian and think of, in particular, what the apostle Paul said in places like first Corinthians races.

Look what have we to do with judging those were on the outside. If somebody has rejected the faith God is going to judge them for that but were still called to pursue them and to share the truth in love with them. Now if if your son claims to be a Christian.

That's another story. And I think that that in that situation. Maybe could be a more bold and and just say look, you're not living in line with at least what you've professed to say so.

This requires a lot of wisdom but be immersed in prayer for yourself for wisdom and for your children. Thank you for that call for that email.

You know we have a lot of parents who share Mary's concern they have kids that are coming on prodigal on then we have other parents were raising her children. Right now they are concerned that might happen to them.

We actually have a wonderful core guide on this topic.

It's called five ways to help your kids keep the faith.

You can find that at our website.

Core, Christianity.com/guides five ways to help your kids keep the faith, not one go help because I was in so you mentioned that were prodigal right and you have the parable of the prodigal son in Luke chapter 15 and I just shows you God's heart towards his wandering children and I think that's that's at the same kind of heart that we need to have for our cases, longing to see them come to their senses and sometimes take a long time and then that's what happened with the parable of the prodigal son he goes off into the world and living however he wants and it isn't until he realizing his sin catches up to him and he realizes man I had it so good in my father's house and I said that's we pray for would pray for people for our children, even at times to have that realization.

And maybe that's it. A text of Scripture that you might want to camp out at and read and meditate upon and pray that your son would have that experience such a great suggestion you have not read that particular parable, we would encourage you to open up your Bible and read about God's incredible love and mercy and grace for every one of us.

Now he welcomes us with open arms. Even when we have have strayed and that's what the real suggestion you do with your kids as well. This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez by the way, we have updated one of our core Bible studies, which is just a wonderful way to learn the core tenants of the Christian faith really what we stand for. Core Christianity would like to offer that to you today. Yet our core Christianity 101 Bible study a complete self-contained study on the Christian faith aimed at building a solid foundation in the basics often today you here either. People saying things they were dividing over secondary issues in the church we see others who don't think that think that the important doctrines that we often talk about on this broadcaster is significant as they really are doctrines like the doctrine of the resurrection or justification by faith alone.

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If you have a question for pastor Israel. Here's a voicemail received from one of our listeners named Jasmine in the United Kingdom. I asked the question about eating disorders. I really appreciate right I did you like a simple frame About him great because he is 20 is primarily an air mass is something that I would ask all I'm saying that Harold raised the control I don't think it means. Each trust gone just means you need to match how when you get nourishment. He needs to drink eight. Think straight. My cat how keep praying. Team leader Bible in my stage right. Hey Jasmine, thank you for that follow-up all the way from the UK, and of course what were talking about things I love about this broadcast is were talking about really serious issues pastoral issues and and how to minister to people and and how to think about the other struggles that we have fan and so often you know you have these sicknesses diseases even and then you also have you have sin and all of these things are woven together and it's hard to do so. To separate those at times with what you're absolutely right. We don't want to suggest to someone that oh this this sickness that you have this experience you have is just is just totally your fault. I will we wrestle with is is you know what were dealing with these. With these experiences that we have and then how it is that we respond to these things. And right there are proper responses like going out getting help getting accountability getting medical care. Those kinds of things and in their improper responses to symptoms as it's with those improper responses. I think were we do bear responsibility and where there can be sin, but I appreciate you reaching out to us and and listening to the broadcasts.

And of course they want to be so careful as were as were seeking to encourage those who are struggling with things like an eating disorder and so thanks for reaching out one of the things we often talk about on this broadcast is that there is how our personal sin and there's also the possibility that we been sinned against. And sometimes those two things can intersect and a person who's maybe been sinned against in some way ends up then falling in some kind of a pattern, and more. That is a another whole issue that we need to deal with this. But yeah, it actually is. We are sinners and were sinned against as as you've heard on this broadcast before, if you've listened for some time and so I think what that does. It should just cause us to be humble. As we talk about these things and also compassionate were not making excuses for for sin for our sinful behavior know were responsible for our actions. But at the same time we realize that we live in a world that's broken, fallen, and were also the victims if you will of of sin and of sinful acts and so were were weighing all of this. Bring all this together and falling at the feet of Jesus Christ and saying Lord forgive me for my sins, but also Lord bring healing in my life and in my heart for those areas where I've been sinned against. And that that have have led to devastating things in my own life. Help me Lord bring healing in my life and so we desperately need Jesus in this in this broken world in which we live and that's that's the hope that we have is is his goodness. His forgiveness and the work of his spirit to to continue to bring that healing that we so look for your listing to core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. If you have a question about the Bible or the Christian life. You can call us at 833. The core let's go to Lori in Nashville, Tennessee Lori what your question for pastor. Israel hi on Revelation chapter 6 verse nine. Can you please tell me if you think that this court thank heaven can actually see what's happening on earth because I'm thinking about people to say, oh, my mother, my father, looking down now this balance but actually my mom was looking down, she probably be crying any tears in Heaven.

So my question is that not 19 of chapter 6 supports that yeah and excellent question let me just read Revelation 6, nine and 10 it says when he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne a cried out with a loud voice, O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth.

What it what what an image. What a vision John is giving here of the deceased saints of those who had lost their lives for following Jesus.

And they're not just in some kind was the soul sleep that kind of thing is is is sometimes suggested.

Note there they are around the throne of God beneath the door and got crying out to the Lord saying how long they're offering up these these prayers if you will to God asking for justice to be done and of course there is the response in verse 11, they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete who were to be killed as they themselves had been. And so there they're told to to be patient and to wage now.

I don't think that John's focus here at the point is not that the take away here is not the you know we were to conclude from this that those who are in heaven, in the presence of the Lord are concerning themselves with the things of this earth that they're just up up there gazing and watching of that. I think the focus of the saints in heaven sometimes refer to them is that the church triumphant. That is all those who have believed in Jesus Christ and died and are now in the presence of the Lord. Their focus is the triune God. They are around his throne worshiping him, you have this this picture given to us in the book of Hebrews in Hebrews chapter 12 just a myriad of of saints and angels gather around the throne of God worshiping the Lord that's happening in in heaven worship.

That's what they're there consumed with their not focused on you know what's going on down there. That kind of thing so much and yet there there is this indication here that that there is an awareness that that they have there in the presence of the Lord. Now, does that mean that there they're upset that they're sorrowful that kind of a thing. Now I don't I don't think so there is this perfect peace there in the presence of the Lord, but they are crying out for justice for God's kingdom to come. If you will. And that's precisely thinking that were commanded to pray for and so I would say yes there is an awareness but but the focus here of Revelation chapter 6 is not a when were in heaven working to be doing a sort of standing in the stands are sitting in the stands of heaven watching you know the rest of what's taking place on earth and and that's were to occupy our time with no working to be. You know our time to be occupied with worshiping the Lord and praising him. And so that's we have to look forward to.

Thanks your question Lori, this is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. You can watch us live on YouTube every day at 11:30 AM Pacific, which translates into 1230 Mountain 130 Central or 230 Eastern time. And that's the time to call in the studio so if you hear of this program at a later time in the day is tape delayed by that particular radio station so that's the time you want to call in live or watch us on YouTube list of the radio 130 11:30 AM Pacific time, 130 Central let's go to a YouTube question that came in from Shannon Uzziah, and here she says should we cut off our parents if their toxic and they they don't take responsibility for their actions or do we continue trying have some sort of relationship with them. Look, we always say out. I would say it's really important that we distinguish between forgiveness and reconciliation and restoration. Forgiveness is something you're always called to as a Christian and in people sin against us. They heard us. Even the people that we know what we we hoped would have been to the greatest models of love, sometimes even are our closest family members can sin against us and we are called as Christians to extend forgiveness from the heart and intercourse. The only way that we can do that is is really through meditating on the great forgiveness that God has shown to us in the gospel.

We didn't deserve it. We were rebels we had turned our backs on him and yet he pursued us in love. And if God is forgiven us the great the great weight to the great mountain of sin that that we had committed against him. Then we to ought to forgive. And of course Jesus brings us up over and over again in the Gospels, but forgiveness is different than reconciliation, and you might forgive your your parents who maybe have sinned against you in some grievous way but reconciliation happens when the the other party that the people who have sinned against you with where they recognize what it is that they've done it and they do take responsibility. There's confession, there's there's repentance you can you can forgive regardless of what another person does but reconciliation does require two parties and so I would say, what with family members and we want we want to be reconciled and that takes a lot of work that takes honesty. Being able to say hey this is what you did to me this is how it affected me and them you know having the humility to be able to say I am so sorry. I see that that's that's really me know what what what do you want, and I think we should always pursue within the body of Christ and and certainly also within our own families is that reconciliation we can pursue that and especially to the gospel of Jesus. And restoration is even a step further at saying look that the relationship is to be restored to what it was. And of course if if an individual recognizes what they've done. If they repent of it then. Then there's possibility for that. But if they don't, as you said you use that were toxic up there just if they're just training me and maybe my family and getting in between-causing harm will then maybe it's not the best thing to to bring restoration to the right relationship right away when you're still praying that there would be that that real and genuine repentance so that healing true healing can happen. And so I know that this is a really complex issue, but my encouragement to you is forgive forgive through the gospel and to meditate on what Jesus has done for you and say Lord you have forgiven me so much I want to forgive those who who have sinned against me and then pray for reconciliation. Pray that that your your parents or your family members who ever sinned against you, that they would have a sense of what it is that they've done. And maybe that means having a conversation and being very honest in saying, look, this is this is how your actions have affected me and then sing Lord open their eyes and their heart to to see that so that there can be healing so that there can be reconciliation and then praying also for wisdom and say Lord, what does it look like potentially to to restore this relationship if that is the wisest thing to do the right the right thing to do and how how can we do this in a way that is honoring to you and and is is ultimately going to be for for the good of of both of us and so that's what we long for brothers and sisters. You know the peace that we have through Jesus Christ and the gospel allows us to have peace with one another, both within the church and also within our families and so we pursue that piece too often I think we just when somebody sins against us want to cut them out of our lives. Immediately we really ought to on the face of what God is done for us, pursue them in love. Praise the Lord.

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