What Does Evangelism Look Like After a Tragedy?

A pastor a drill here and we want to hear from our podcast audience specifically, it was a call at 1130 Pacific time 833-843-2673. That's 833 the court with your question about the Christian faith. How can I share Christ with someone after they've experienced a terrible tragedy that is one of the questions will be answering on today's edition of core Christianity why this is Bill Meyer along with Pastor Israel Sanchez. We pray that you had a wonderful weekend. This is the radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day. Our phone lines are open right now for the next 25 minutes or so and you can call us with your question. At 833. The core that's 1-833-843-2673 also post a question on her Facebook, Instagram or twitter account.

You can watch a drill right now live on YouTube and send them a message that way course you can always email us your question at questions at core, Christianity.com. Today let's go to Don in central Illinois done what your question for pastor atrial Michael in reading through the Bible. Are you recently in Ezekiel 47 verse 12 where it talks about the water flowing from the temple and I think this passage to mean that this is in the new heavens and the new earth where the temple is Jesus Christ and the water flowing from the temple down to the river gets too broad to cross and the trees are planted there on both side and their leaders are not better whether the first to bear fruit every month because the water flows removed from the sanctuary. In verse 1212 part three. There will be for food and their leaves for healing. Now, in my understanding of the Bible that one we get back it will only get into the new heaven. What would Jesus be no more tears of sorrow, the pain, so why would there need to be leaves for healing. That's an excellent question, and I love to hear that you are digging into the Scriptures reading to the Bible every year. May God continue to bless you as you do that is you open up his word. May he fill you with your spirit to to give you understanding and so Ezekiel 47 verse 12 I'm really getting on the banks on both sides of the river there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month because the water for them flows from the sanctuary.

Their fruit will be for food and their leaves for healing and by the way, you probably know this Don reading to the Scriptures.

Every year, but this is also the images given to us at the very end of the Bible in the book of Revelation. Revelation chapter 22 beginning in verse one. This vision that was given to the apostle John. Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city.

Also, on either side of the river. The tree of life with its 12 kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations now your hundred percent right that that in the new creation. There is good to be no more sickness no more death no more sorrow were inexistent, perfect love and perfect worship in perfect holiness before the triune God. I thought that we just have to do it to read this. As you know, prophetic, symbolic literature often times in the profits you have this kind of language and I think what what's really been highlighted both in Ezekiel and in Revelation chapter 22 is that that the new creation we have, there is the restoration of all things, including the nations. The nations that were once warring with one another the nations it once you know could not get along, we see that everywhere around us now. Now there is perfect peace and that which was broken before has been healed now through the work of Jesus Christ and in the new creation and so that that's really how I how I take it certainly right. We want to let the clear passages of Scripture interpret the less clear ones, and it's very clear as as you already stated that in the new creation in the new heavens and the new earth. There is no more sickness when I can. I need healing per se, as I take it as as these.

These leaves are life-giving it's it's the enjoyment of that eternal state in the presence of the Lord and in perfect peace amongst the nations that at one time were at war. And so, hey, thank you so much for your question brother and may the Lord bless you as you continue to dig into the Scriptures love the fact that Donna is going through the Bible once every year, but a great challenge for everyone of us to be digging into God's word on a regular basis. That's quite an accomplishment, so no one kudos to you.

This is core Christianity with pastor atrial Sanchez would love to hear from you.

If you have a question about the Bible, theology, doctrine, the Christian life, you name it we'd love to hear your question. Here's the phone number it's 833.

The core will be taking calls for next 20 minutes or so 833-843-2673 is the number there's a voicemail we received from one of our listeners named Mark: Ricardo and we had a massive couple days ago to Kroger. Turns out my oldest son was walking and right in front of the shooter didn't know he was coming behind them and by God's grace.

He wasn't shot first. But the man next to him was my son saw a lot of blood and horrible things that he was very shaken up. He's not a born-again Christian, yet he knows the way of salvation. He knows everything.

Mentally, he has has accepted Jesus yet. It might question and request for you guys is for everyone listening to pray for him that he is convicted in the cold spirit doesn't click pester him until he does open up to God and his love for him and also if you have any suggestions on how I can help them through these days really feel so important right now is a multiple tire thank you so much. I would appreciate you and your show by Mark. I am grateful to hear that your your son is is okay after that tragedy I read about this scene in the news and just actually devastating to hear about these kinds of things happens let's let's pray for Mark's son right now. In particular, just for for the Lord to be with him to bring healing and to to use this in in his life. The God I pray for Mark's son, Lord, thank you for the life that you have given to him. Thank you for sparing his life. I thank you that he's he's safe now, and I pray for him, Lord, that this this horrific events God that it would not scar him, but that through these things.

You might you might use the circumstances. Lord God to draw him to yourself. We also pray Lord for for the many others. Lord, who were shot and got that the suffering that that community is feeling right now we we pray God that you would pour your spirit out on them that you would bring about healing, restoration and God just intervene in a powerful way. By the grace your space. Would you be with Mark. Also, as he has conversations with his son and seeks Lord to encourage comfort and also share your love with him in Jesus name, amen. I want to think I read was it a number of pastors were were coming alongside of the victims. It's really encouraged me, I think, is as Christians we need to step into this space right when when there's a tragedy when people are morning when their suffering when were confronted by the, the frailty of of human life, our mortality, we need to be there as the body of Christ, bringing comfort, bringing you know if there are ways that we can support physically helping people to counseling those kinds of things. I think that that is really important and so far it just for us as believers. Mark, I think. I think having these conversations reaching out to those who have been affected. Praying for them have been out finding ways practically that we can be helpful when people are suffering.

I do think of one passage in particular, the me talked about wanting to talk with your son about the gospel about faith in Jesus. In light of this traumatic event that is just experiencing his life and that there is this interesting scene in Luke chapter 13 where Jesus that she talks about a couple really horrific tragedies and he talks about the importance of repentance in light of those things he says. Luke records and in chapter 13 verse one there were some present at that very time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices and Jesus answered them, do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way. No I tell you would unless you repent you will all likewise perish, or those 18, on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them. Do think that they were worse offenders than all others who lived in Jerusalem. No, I tell you, but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. It seems like there there people are coming to Jesus saying hey you know that these Galileans they were killed by Pilate in this gruesome way as they were trying to worship. They must've been pretty bad. People they were making a judgment about these people these victims in Jesus is note, let let's not go there.

Here's you know when were confronted with death with with human mortality. What what should remind us of is our own need of repentance of drawing near to the Lord, that we are human life is frail, and so when we see these kinds of things.

It should wake us up. And, you know, as you're having conversations Mark with your son and your your seeking to comfort him to love him to get in the help that he needs.

I think it is appropriate. Jesus does it there in in Luke chapter 13 essay look like this is so fragile.

Then there is no more important question, didn't you know where my hat with God.

My personal relationship with Christ. I believe in him that I received them for the for the forgiveness of my sins. We need to turn to the Lord, and sometimes these kinds of events are our means to which God turns us to himself and I don't that's the case with your son but that's our prayer Mark so I got give you wisdom as you have these conversations as well.

That bill I want to give you an opportunity to to speak into this as well because I know as a counselor you you work with people who have experienced traumatic events, you know, when you go through something like this, which is really such outside the ordinary event in anyone's life.

It's so important to to get some counseling help right away. There's something that's a lot of times used in situations like this. Workplace shootings is called critical incident stress debriefing RC ISD and what that is is a chance for the individual or individuals who have gone through the event to debrief with the counselor and the research shows that if they do, that their chances of developing post dramatic stress disorder, PTSD are are much less so hopefully this grocery store chain.

A lot of times in these situations, the Corporation will reach out to the employees, the customers that were in the store, offer them that critical incident stress debriefing. I would say to to this dad to mark if your son has not been offer that to explore that possibility. If it's not available through the Corporation to try to go see someone who specializes in this. Because if not, what often happens is there's nightmares. There's anxiety.

There can be eating problems. You know, you name it and these these haunting memories can just come back again and again. So Mark, that's what I would suggest reach out to the company aware of the sort store where this occurred and see if your son can get some help through them and and will this continue to pray for him. Tough situation. This is core Christianity with pastor Adria Sanchez.

I here's our phone number if you have a call regarding the Bible or the Christian life. It's 833.

The core 1-833-843-2673 let's go to Heather from Nashville, Tennessee Heather, what your question for a drill currently in the Bible cover to cover my goal right now I'm thinking 14 and how the Lord removed the Holy Spirit from Saul, which I understand why. After reading this story evil.

From the Lord began to torment him is that you relation. I had been fighting so much that seems to go against the character evil on the morning now and back translation is not correct or went to really think about that and I'm glad to be great. Why, thank you for for that question. And again, grateful to hear that your your digging the Scriptures reading through the Bible and this this, the story of Saul king Saul and David. You know who comes after him is one of the most amazing stories in the Old Testament reading it to my kids and and they were shocked when when basically you have you have Saul try to kill David at one point, and they're just blown away that this guy who was once mightily used by the Lord to me were told that is filled with the spirit that is prophesying is the first king of Israel and then you get to the this section right here in verse 14 of chapter 16 in the spirit or departs from him. That's that right there raises a lot of questions and people's minds Heather but then the next part in a harmful spirit from the Lord tormented him.

So what's going on here and it's it it's interesting one.

I would say that there is not a translation issue here. This isn't contrary to the the character of God, even there is a kind of discipline that's taking place here.

I think look when we sin when we depart from the Lord. When we go down our our own path and that's essentially what Saul was doing God disciplines us in one of the ways that sometimes we experience discipline is is through this this this demonic oppression that we see sometimes that one passage of Scripture Heather that I think you can you can find this in the New Testament in particular is what Paul says to the. The Corinthians were he's talking about a particular person within the church who is living in unrepentant sin, and essentially the apostle Paul says, listen, listen to this. It is actually reported. This is first 20 chapter 5 verse one that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind. It is not tolerated, even among the pagans for a man has his father's wife and you are arrogant you not rather tomorrow and let him was done this be removed from among you, for though absent in the body. I am present in spirit and as if present, I have already pronounce judgment on the one who did such a thing when you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my my spirit is present with the power of the Lord Jesus, you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh so that he is spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord. In other words, this person is living in unrepentant sin, possibly look exercise church discipline on the sky deliver the sky over to Satan, so that he might experience that sort of spiritual depression that chastisement so that he might turn back to the Lord. That's one of the ways that you can read what's taking place in in first Samuel chapter 16 is there's this kind of discipline here were Saul who was called by God is sinning against the Lord as is as you you noted in these grievous ways is disobeying God.

Time and time again and so now he's entering into this this discipline.

This chastisement from the Lord and that's precisely what this what this spirit that's tormenting him is now the sad thing with Saul as I'm sure you you know is he doesn't repent. In fact, he seems to go further and further away from the Lord all the way at the end of his life to to consulting a medium and and just going against everything that he knew was right and he dies this tragic death but we have to realize that when we continue in unrepentant sin. There is discipline for the people of God. There is discipline for those who called upon the name of the Lord and in in this instance, it seems like part of the discipline was. This tormenting spirit. Just like in in first Corinthians chapter 5 deliver this person that the over to the evil one for the destruction of his flesh, his soul might be saved in the Lord Jesus, that he might turn come to his senses realizing that he needs God's grace. Thanks, Heather, and appreciate that question and again we got another listener who's going through the Bible and studying and getting into it deeply. And what we just appreciate that so much of just every time I drill here is somebody is really getting into God's word on a regular basis a big smile comes on his face instead of what I feel.

This blesses my heart new at this time there was thinking a blessing your heart we have something really cool.

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Yet the good idea bill. The other were offering post for a donation of $15 or more. We think they're actually worth more than $50 because are so cool but you can get yours by going to core Christianity.com/shop that's core Christianity.com/shop and look for the core Christianity coffee mug. Well we do get questions through our YouTube channel and Jayanthi asks this question. Can you explain if our forgiveness is dependent upon forgiving others. As it says in Matthew chapter 6 yeah super good question. Jesus right. He gives the Lord's prayer here in the sermon on the Mount and hope we are familiar with that prayer than right at the end of Lee is not a temptation deliver us from evil. You have verse 14. Matthew 614 for if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses now really important with so does this mean that if I don't perfectly forgive the people around me in my life that God is not going to forgive him even withhold forgiveness from me. Well it that it's really important we look at the cart before the horse. It's interesting because you know you have the parable of the unforgiving servant.

For example, in the Gospels and Jesus makes it absolutely clear that we forgive out of our having been forgiven so the only way that you can actually really forgive people, the people of sin against you from the heart is if you're conscious of. If you're meditating on. If you're grounded in the forgiveness that God has given to you, God, who is extended so much forgiveness to us right you all of our debts, the sins we that aggressive but perfect and pure holy God. He's forgiven us.

If we don't forgive others that's indicative of of a deep spiritual problem and let me just say that there are number statistics that have come out recently that show that believing Christians you know people who confess faith in Jesus, am a born-again believer that they have a very difficult time. We have a very difficult time forgiving so there's this there's a sort of malfunction.

I think in our understanding of the gospel, but it's clear to me from the teaching of the New Testament that our forgiving others comes from our having been forgiven and so and so that's the priority is the forgiveness we've received which we extend to the people around us who sin against us. So I would see this more so as if were not forgiving others. If we don't forgive others. There is this this real serious promise an indication of the fact that there's there's a malfunction in our understanding of the gospel. If we think work work work to earn forgiveness and they need to earn our forgiveness.

That kind of thing whether there's a huge problem there. And so were called to forgive. It's an imperative. And I think Jesus is highlighting that here help how important it is for us to forgive but we we also need to realize that it's the forgiveness of God has the priority in our lives and it's only asked we are grounded in in his forgiveness towards us were able to do what he commands us to do that were able to forgive others as he has forgiven us.

That's precisely what verse 12 says forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our our debtors. And so I really appreciate that question watching from from you too may the Lord bless you.

May God give you grace also to forgive and to rest in the forgiveness that is given to you. This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez we have time for one last question. This is an email which has to do with something in the Old Testament Israel from Barry and he says I'm working my way through Leviticus chapter 16 and I'm wondering how to reconcile the commandment to abstain from eating blood with a similar restraint in acts chapter 15. Should Christians refrain from eating blood in their food.

Yeah nothing but well-done stakes and I know a lot of you meet lovers again to be upset about that yet though that's a great question because you'll test Mrs. don't don't eat food with the blood in it and then you get see acts chapter 15 the Jerusalem Council. That's one of the things it's reiterated for new covenant believers verse 19.

Therefore, my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles are turned to God.

We should write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols and from sexual morality and from what has been strangled, and from blood. And that's that's what what what's given to these Gentile believers that you have to understand here's here's a clear this up. This is the note that the Gentile inclusion is just happened that that that the new covenant right is been inaugurated by the death of Jesus Christ is risen from the dead. Now the nations are flocking into the church there becoming a part of the covenant people of God through faith in Jesus Christ.

Let me just tell you something, all of a sudden you have this this cultural shift in the church and it's a huge challenge for these people, Jews and Gentiles who, for a long time had a lot of issues with each other to get along. The Gentiles of the just pagans.

They eat the blood they do all these things that the Jews had a real hard time with his I think the reason these things are emphasized, is not because it's it's still a part of me you were still called to obey the ceremonial law per se something like that. It's because he's trying to help these two cultures come together in one body now is to be accommodating to one another to be gracious to each other your things you shouldn't do because I got great problems and so that's that's why it's stated that the gospel has to be central but we still need to be gracious to each other in the church.

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