Should Christians Fear Halloween?

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That's 833 the court with your question about the Christian faith.

Should Christians fear Halloween best is one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity will 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.

We pray that you had a wonderful weekend we have our phone lines open right now and you can call us with your question. At 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 Porsche can also post your question on our Facebook, Instagram or twitter accounts. You can watch a drill in the studio right now on our YouTube channel and send us a message that way course you can always email us your question at questions at core, Christianity.com first up today. Here's a call we received from one of our listeners named Kimberly I wanted to?

Has been or will call my has been my boyfriend asked me me what some real proof that you know that you have the Holy Spirit will my answer was basically that of an inside buddy. You helps you learn to live in when you're reading the Bible interpret that and I wanted to get your answer and see one have a lines up for a fee.

If you have the better one for him because I thought about 100% sure. So I asked somebody that knows thank you very much God bless you bye-bye May God bless you as well, Kimberly, and thank you for that question. What an important question. It is because there's a lot of confusion about this very question. Some people think the only way that you can know that you're actually filled with the Holy Spirit is if you manifest the sign gifts of the Holy Spirit, gifts like the gift of tongues. But that's not what the Bible teaches. I think the best place to go. Kimberly if you want to know what what does it look like to be filled with the Holy Spirit is what Paul said in Galatians chapter 5 where he described the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

He says in verse 22 the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

Against such things there is no law in those who belong to Christ, have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the spirit so right there. I think you know is he's talking about these these various fruits of the Holy Spirit. This is what it looks like to be filled with the Holy Spirit to have these characteristics love, joy, peace, patience, it's, it's the spirit of God bearing that fruit in our hearts through Jesus Christ. Paul in the book of Ephesians in Ephesians chapter 5 he gives us his exhortation to be filled with the Holy Spirit and I think this is another helpful text to to look at. So Ephesians chapter 5 verse 17 he says do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is and do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the spirit. In other words, all of us as Christians are commanded to be filled with the Holy Spirit addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. And so I think there again you have this beautiful description of what it looks like to be filled with the Holy Spirit that states joy it's worship it's thanksgiving to God for his goodness and so know each of us and we read that list. For example, the fruit of the Holy Spirit in Galatians chapter 5 realize, oh boy, I I fall short of that precisely why Paul commands in in Ephesians 5 to be filled with the Holy Spirit. We daily need that feeling of the Holy Spirit. How does that come comes through the word of Jesus Christ in the book of Colossians in Colossians chapter 3, Paul says in verse 16. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God's are parallel to what we read there in in Ephesians and so as the word of the Lord Jesus is is the Bible Scripture penetrates into your heart and you meditate upon it, that the spirit of God fills you, you are actually right on Kimberly when you said that one of the things that that the spirit of God does. He helps us to understand the Scriptures which we call this illumination, the spirit of God is illuminating our minds so that we might grasp understand the teaching of the Scripture is over all things, that the spirit does. But the signs of the spirit are the fruit of the spirit. God bless a man right!

There Israel and Lord help us all develop those fruits with his power.

I know I certainly need my home life, especially when it comes to doing with my teenage kids the past.

It really is a work of the Holy Spirit. That's we need to realize it's not it's it's no coming before the Lord, receiving his grace and I think Bill of what Jesus said in John chapter 15 where he sitting apart from me you can do nothing.

But if you abide in me, if you abide in the vine, you will bear fruit. And really it's it's Christ in us by the grace of the Holy Spirit bearing fruit. So there actually is. I think you know sometimes we hear these things we just get overwhelmed with a go boy this to seem so difficult Lovejoy patients, you have patients well they the key is abiding in Jesus and let in the spirit of God do his work in our hearts.

I meant this is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez. Our phone lines are open right now for the next 15 minutes or so. If you have a question about the Bible or the Christian life. Israel is also happy to tackle questions on theology or Christian doctrine or even how our faith intersects with our daily lives. In today's culture.

So give us a call. Here's the phone number is 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 go to a voicemail received from one of our listeners named Juliann how what the Bible about following how a person should handle that little hey Juliann, a very practical question as we are in the month of October now and yet you knocking to get a Bible verse on Halloween. This is obviously something that's come up a lot later in Scripture doesn't address it specifically, but I think there are passages of Scripture that speak about these kinds of issues of of of conscience if you will, because I know there are a lot of Christians who think all black.

I can even touch that with a 10 foot pole. You know, ghouls and goblins and and and ghosts in no way you know not to let my kids go trick-or-treating. Then there are other Christians who say oh you know what's what's the big deal in the kids want to dress up and and maybe it's an opportunity to to get to know your neighbors a little bit and to have conversations with people in your neighborhood and in it you get some candy out to me. Let's be honest with you in and put all my cards on the table we've done trick-or-treating the last several years and we have a nice time as a family. I do see it as is an opportunity to get to know my neighbors a little bit more and also to collect a hefty candy tax from my children so they bring it all in and and then we just take all the good stuff and leave them with the tootsie rolls, but so one of the passages of Scripture that I go to is in first Corinthians chapter 8 where the apostle Paul talked about meat sacrificed to idols.

Now this is something that we don't we don't struggle with specifically today, but in that day you had people who were coming to Christ from these pagan backgrounds and there was these meat markets essentially where the meat that was sold. There had been sacrificed to an idol was meat that was was offered up to an item that was being sold in the market and there were some believers that I'm not can I touch that with the 10 feet with a 10 foot pole because of its association with ghouls and goblins and demons and and false deities and that kind of the thing and and and so pulses we need to be sensitive to those people. There are others who said an idol isn't really anything in the world that meet regardless of who it was sacrificed to is nothing wrong with with eating.

I can have a clear conscience because I know that there's only one God, again, is that what Paul says in first Corinthians 8.

Therefore, verse four as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that an idol has no real existence and that there is no God but one. Although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords for us.

There is one God the father from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom all things and through whom we exist. However, Paul said not all possess this knowledge but some through former association with idols eat food as really offered to an idol and their conscience. Being weak is defiled here. Paul's argument is look one. Be sensitive to one another darken to be people within the church would think I should do this or I shouldn't do this.

What we need to be patient with each other, gracious, not putting a stumbling block in front of our brothers and sisters until he says look if you can't do it and in good faith if it if it hurts your conscience to do you think I'm sitting when I do. Flynn don't do it also is in first grade is chapter 14 verse 23 whatever is not from faith is sin. And so this is it. I think a personal question that every Christian family can answer for themselves and if it's something we just think, is not a big deal were certainly not worshiping these things were just going around collecting candy having a nice time as a family taking a walk will then be dumbing do that and give thanks to the Lord for you know your kind neighbors and for the. The big candy bars that you might get as you're going around town, but if it's something that really bothers your conscience. You guys can do will then will then don't do it.

And let's be gracious to one another as we think about these things and a lot of people forget that Halloween is this the Eve of All Saints Day and I know one of the things you've done in the past. As you read to your kids the stories about some of the incredible martyrs that have gone before us and how inspirational could that be up at hello Irina yeah you know maybe we'll do that again this year we have done that in the past with our children we got in a couple copies of the Fox's book of martyrs and it is I think good to have those kinds of conversations with our children as we expose them to the saints in in days past, you have really stood up for the truth, stood up for it. For the Lord and suffered a great deal because of that, and so having use it as an opportunity to talk about those kinds of things that we wonderful thing or as an opportunity also to talk about the hottest and Reformation, you know, recovering that the faithful teaching of the word of God. The importance of God's word for gospel and I think you know if you're if you're doing those kinds of things your you're really using the right way. This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez and with Halloween coming up just a couple weeks ago it away were offering a really cool resource. It's a classic book written by CS Lewis. You might be familiar with CS Lewis from Chronicles of Narnia or from your Christianity, but he wrote a fascinating book, which really is apropos for this time of year is called the Screwtape letters yeah maybe that's chicken you and Halloween as you sit down with your family and read the Screwtape letters and were offering it here at core Christianity I've I've mentioned before, one of the things I recently read through this book again and one of things that struck me is how relevant it is for a number the issues that are going on in in the world today. Questions that people are asking.

It's a get a hold of this this resource over it.

Core, Christianity.com. It's yours for a donation of any amount just go to our website. Core, Christianity.com/offers and look for the Screwtape letters from CS Lewis again. Core, Christianity.com/offers one of the ways you can submit a question is by going to our YouTube channel. We actually have a couple of people that have been watching us today including Julie watching from England. Laura is watching as well and she says that this question if the mark of the beast is not physical, then how can not getting it be used to prevent us from shopping or trading as it says in Revelation a great question, Laura, and if it sounds like your your frequent listener to the broadcast because II do we get questions about the market to be seduced. They look and go to Revelation chapter 13 and it seems like this is this is more of a symbol and it especially when were reading apocalyptic literature, like the book of Revelation we have to realize that a lot of the numbers a lot of the images that we have. It's prophetic imagery there there symbols you think of that, the seven golden lampstands earlier in the book of Revelation, which were symbols for the seven churches or we know that that the image that John has of the Lord Jesus Christ. In Revelation chapter 5, a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain will does that mean that Jesus in heaven is literally a Lamb a wounded lamb know it's it's this image that he receives this picture of Christ the lamb who takes away the sins of the world standing because he rose again from the dead, and so we have to we have to one interpret the book of Revelation. According to its genre, and according to its context and win in Revelation chapter 13 it talks about the mark of the beast units. Is it people are marked on their their right hand or on their forehead. The number that their marked with is the number 666 that's read in verse 18 which is a very symbolic number in Scripture, it is the number of man your member man was created on the sixth day, and it's this idea of the worship of man out of a viewing man is ultimate. 666. In other words, rejecting God and the true worship of God and worshiping self idolatry and what's interesting as as I frequently mention on on on this show when we get questions about the mark of the beast when you get to Revelation chapter 14 it talks about the saints, God's people marked on therefore heads with the name of the true and the living God. So that's why that's why understand this the way that I do now to your question, what is this you know how our people knocking to be able to buy and sell them with regard to with regard if it just if it is a symbol.

What will primarily with the symbol is his association with this false Mina worship. The worship of the beast. The worship of the Antichrist and so there there is this real association that these individuals have with this idolatry and as a result of that, there, there is this you know, inability to buy or sell. We don't have to take this as you know, it's a microchip or it's a vaccine or it's a tattoo that people get in order to conclude that that there there going to be permit forbidden from buying or selling.

You can understand the way that I understand it, and I don't think it poses any problems for our interpretation and so really appreciate your question Lauren, thanks for for listening to the program you're listening to core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez is our phone number if you have a question about the Bible or the Christian life. Give us a buzz 833 the core. You can also email us anytime at questions at core, Christianity.com.

Let's go to Norman who is calling in from California, Missouri Norman what your question for a drill hello. My question is I guess we were in Sunday school yesterday and I can't hardly feeling. She believes that you can see back from heaven to earth to see what happening here what you gone on and I died and I don't believe that I didn't leave that and I couldn't find anything in Scripture to back up what I believe yeah Norman so that the question is, can people in heaven look down on earth and see what's going on well in the teaching of the New Testament. It doesn't seem like that's a huge but a huge focus is. It seems to me like when we get these these pictures of heaven, it's that the saints who have gone on before us, the people who have died believing in Jesus Christ are in the presence of the Lord, and their their focus is on God himself there there there there focused on Christ on the worship of the true and the living God together with all the heavenly hosts. You do have this seen in Revelation chapter 6 John says. And in verse nine he opened the fifth seal and 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 they 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 than 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 were to be killed as they themselves had been so you have this.

The sense of right like bear in in Revelation chapter 6 the martyrs are calling out to God for justice. They had been killed because of their faith in Jesus and then there praying to the Lord are asking God to to bring essentially justice, judgment, and the Lord says wait a little bit longer but you don't get the sense that there you know there preoccupied with everything that's going on on earth. No, actually I think one of the most beautiful pictures that we can we can get it's painted for us of what's taking place in heaven is in the book of Hebrews in Hebrews chapter 12 and this is actually passage of Scripture that a lot of people don't don't go to when they think about heaven that I think it's unfortunate because it's really talking about what what's taking place when we gather together as the people of God to worship God. It's it's this joining of the heavenly choir around the throne of God to to bring Jesus our praise our Thanksgiving and the other the Hebrew says, and in Hebrews chapter 12 verse 22.

You have come to Mount Zion to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem to innumerable angels in festal gathering, this is a party that the festal gathering of the angels around the throne of God and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all into the spirits of the righteous made perfect those of the same folks that we read about in Revelation 6 just there and to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant into the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. So I don't think it is untestable that we diary to be for like guardian angels and you know you know paying attention all the things that are going on here on earth. I think we go to be in the presence of the Lord our time is it to be occupied with worshiping the true and the living God around his throne together with the Angels calling out to the Lord and it's to be this wonderful thing and so I think that's a perspective were given in the New Testament that's that's that. The best answer that that we have and and that's over and be focused on so thank you Norman for your question.

May the Lord bless you and thanks so much for being a regular listener to core Christianity. We really do appreciate it. By the way, if you're a regular listener would love to invite you to join our inner core. That's a group of people that support us on a monthly basis if you join the inner core. First of all you get a copy of Dr. Michael Horton's book core Christianity. The book that inspired this program and some special resources just for inner core members including a monthly video devotional from pastor Israel. So you want to find out more about the inner core. Just go to core Christianity.com/inner core will here's a question that came in from one of our listeners named savanna Israel driving home and brought I wanted no part one right after they've been together for so long they don't agree with the other part of our moral are no more more godly, more went now on drive a savanna I'm sorry to hear about the situation.

Obviously you know the sounds like a very complex issue. The first thing I would say is you. If you're married in the person that you're with is not a believer that doesn't necessarily mean you should you separate from them, or get a divorce affect the apostle Paul talks about this in first Corinthians chapter 7 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 and the husband should not divorce his wife to the rest I say I not the Lord that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever and she consents to live with him he should not divorce or if any woman as a husband was an unbeliever and he consents to live with her she should not divorce him and in he goes on to say that the reason is because as there's the Lord may use that relationship. Your relationship here to to sanctify, that is to draw this person closer to Jesus.

He goes on December 16. How do you know life, whether you will save your husband or how you know husband whether you will save your wife. I think also of what we read in first Peter in first Peter chapter 3 verse one Peter said likewise wives, be subject to your own husband, so that even if some do not obey the word that sounds like that's where where this man is that he's not obeying the word, they may be one without a word by the conduct of their wives when they see you respectful and pure conduct vessel.

So those are two passages of Scripture that you can look at one of the things you mentioned is that your your husband, your partner is on drugs, addicted to drugs. That's a very serious thing. All does go on to say in first Corinthians 7 that that if your abandoned by an unbelieving spouse are not bound to that person if they if they leave you if they abandon you.

And in first Timothy chapter 5 verse eight Paul says if any man doesn't care for for his relatives, especially those who are in his own household. He has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

It use of this is that this is a really complex issue. I think it sounds like this man needs help desperately needs help. If you're not married, and I would say you're not bound to this person at all and and yes, you should be with someone who is a Christian you should pursue a relationship with someone who is godly who loves Jesus was can help you to love Jesus. Better site I think there's a simple answer there if if you're not actually married but if you are married.

It might be healthy to eat to get a separation of this kind of behavior at times can be abusive. That something is individuals abusing himself and even you in this relationship by you by dragging you and all. All of these things as if you need some really serious help. And so I want to pray for you right now that the Lord would give you wisdom and I hope that you're in a a solid church.

If you're not in a solid church get into a good Bible believing church where other believers there can encourage you and walk with you and so let me only pray for your father. We lift savanna up to you.

We ask gracious God, that you would give her wisdom. We pray that you would help her to make the right decision. Whatever decision what it is that you would have for making the situation trusting in you and wanting to honor you and what you bring healing work where there is been pain and hurt and may Christ be glorified in her life.

Jesus name, amen. Hey, thanks for that question. Savanna may the Lord bless you. Thanks for listening to core Christianity request your copy of today's special offer.

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