Do You Have to Be a Fundamentalist to Be a Christian?

You have to be a fundamentalist to be a Christian. That's just one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity will hi there and happy Thanksgiving, a day in advance. 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 would love to hear from you and we are live in the studio right now you can call us with your question. At 833 the Corvettes 1-833-843-2673. Now you can also post are your question on one of our social media sites you can watch atrial live on YouTube right now and message us through our YouTube channel course you can always email us your question at questions at core, Christianity.com first step today. Here's a question from one of our listeners named Michael by Alec question, absolutely not.

It's not a sin to pray for knowledge to pursue knowledge and wisdom. I think the book of Proverbs talks a lot about this in particular were talking about the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. In Genesis chapter 2 is in a reverse nine out of the ground the Lord made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food, the tree of life was in the midst of the garden and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

I think the idea here is, is this picture of rendering judgments being able to discern between good and evil is something that the Kings in Israel were called to do to have this discern it's it's a sign of maturity. The tree is this. This sign if you will of what Adam and he were called to rendering a right judgment. Adjust judgment. Ultimately, as it pertained to the serpent and casting the serpent out of the garden again. This language of good and evil and discerning between good and evil is something that you see throughout the Bible.

One passage that all all bring up his first Kings chapter 3 remember Solomon's prayer for wisdom. He says give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people that I may discern between good and evil.

For who is able to govern this your great people.

Some of the kings of Israel long for this something that ultimately Adam and Eve were called to have as they mature in obedience to the Lord there in the garden and it's what they didn't do that and exercise wisdom, and they didn't discern between good and evil like they were supposed to and they chose the evil and so thank you for that question and may the Lord bless you as you continue to pursue wisdom and knowledge in the Lord I'm so glad you pointed out out a girl because there at times can be sort of an anti-knowledge bias in the church. I've heard some people say, well, you don't really need theology, you don't need to go to seminary. You just need to read God's word and somehow knowledge is bad and I'm guessing you would disagree with that absolutely were called to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ and so it's I think I think sometimes we consider pit the head and the heart against each other right, it's a heart religion. It's about feeling you need to get deep into all this theology mumbo-jumbo, but the fact of the matter is, is that we understand the Bible and sound doctrine are our hearts are really stirred. They should be stirred and that's rooted in a in in a right understanding what the Bible reveals to us and so we need that knowledge for you to know the Lord your listing to core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez.

Our phone lines are open right now. If you have a question here's the number to call.

It's 1-833-843-2673 now or open the questions about the Bible, the Christian life. If you got some doubts about the Christian faith. Israel will be glad to talk to you about that. Maybe you're wondering how your Christian faith intersects with your daily life in today's culture. I would be happy to take a question on that topic as well so give us a call 833-843-2673 that's a 33. The core there's a question from one of our listeners named Allison I'm sorry it's an email.

Here's what Allison said the church I grew up in was extremely aggressive in the way it talked about judgment and the truth of the Bible as opposed to the ways of the world.

I left that church for a time, mainly because of this, but I'm plugged into a church now, and the teaching is very different. They still teach the Bible but things just aren't as strict or demanding.

I'm wondering which form of Christianity is true and you have to be aggressive toward the world in order to prove that you're really a Christian. Allison, thank you for that question. I just tell you one thing that really concerns me that I see happening in the church today is you do have some churches and pastors taking this very aggressive stance against the world to us versus them and were you were were very negative about everything that's taking place in the winter and obviously think the sin in society, we should lament and mourn those things but there there is this danger.

I think if were not careful, we can begin to think that Jesus came to save us from sinners, not from sin and we can start to look down on all the people in the world out there who are causing all of these problems and were dealing with the were being bold for Jesus aggressively dealing with these sinners out there. When we we have to remember Jesus came to seek and save the lost.

He has a heart of compassion for sinners, that he never condones sin, but he doesn't justify sinners and so as a church were called to let our light shine before men, so that they might see our good works and glorify our Father who is in heaven. And so do we take strong stances against certain things, certain sins out there. Yeah, we should all on the basis of Scripture but were calling people to faith and repentance to receive the grace of Christ, and I think of if were complaining. You know all the time about our neighbors and how bad everything is to be really hard for us to engage them with the gospel with the apostle Paul said in Colossians chapter 4 verse five is think this gets to your question Allison, walking wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious. Season with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person is talking about how you engage the world outsiders that is those who were not a part of the church and he doesn't say you do it with a hammer, do it aggressively. You know, make sure that they know how horrible they are and how how good you are as a follower of Jesus, so he says let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt and Jesus again said you are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world. The sermon about his he's echoing Paul is echoing there in Colossians 4 of the words of our Lord Jesus.

And so I think your faithful ministry looks like expositor in the Scriptures well being faithful to this the text of Scripture, and that should lead us to have a greater love for sinners who are in the world so that were engaging them building bridges over which we can carry the gospel the message of salvation in Jesus Christ. It shouldn't be this sort of culture war, us versus them work were great. They are bad me that that sounds a lot to me like the Pharisees and I don't have anything to do with that and so as we grow in the word we should have that that grace, that heart of compassion being being strong against sin, but compassionate toward sinners. Thanks. I'm know if you're old enough to remember this, a drill, but there was a character on Saturday Night Live called the church lady played by Dana Carvey. I do remember some of these you when people talk like that.

I did reminds me so much of Allison that special. We will let you know that we have a special offer just in time for Thanksgiving and it's something that we think will really encourage you this time of year it's called five biblical reminders for Thanksgiving yet get a hold of.

If you haven't gotten a hold of it yet.

I mean Thanksgiving is right around the corner and it's not about gorging ourselves with food.

Although there is a lot of good food and I hope you have a lot of good food around your table.

It is about what were called to do every single day. As followers of Jesus Christ and that is to give thanks to the Lord and so we have this resource. Five biblical reminders for Thanksgiving and and I think the resource that help you to do just that, to stir your heart and to produce in you Thanksgiving and so get a hold of this research can download it for free over it.

Core, Christianity.com love you how to get your hands on this today and maybe you can read it with your family with your kids about tomorrow on Thanksgiving day. Here's the URL just go to court, Christianity.com/offers that score, Christianity.com/offers a course you can always call us for that, or any one of our offers 833-843-2673 while April. Here's a Facebook question from Beth and she says I'm a long time listener to the program.

My son asks where did evil come from, did God create evil, for his own purposes.

I think that question, a question also mean Mike my kids invest that question as well. And the answer to you.

Did God create evil is God the author of evil, the author of sin, we would say no to that.

We have to make some really careful distinctions here James in James chapter 1 says let no one say when he is tempted I am being tempted by God for God cannot be tempted by evil, or with evil, and he himself tempts no one but each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire, then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is fully grown brings forth death.

Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers, every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change James point there is.

Look, we can blame God for our sin.

We can blame God for our evil were responsible creatures. We make decisions in God gave Adam and Eve in the garden freedom of will. We talked about the note that Genesis chapters 2 and three.

The from the fall in chapter 3, and any given free will to do it to choose to follow that they chose not to.

They sinned, they fell. We fell in Adam and we get a day by day, week, we also choose to sin. It's God's grace that he draws us to himself through his son Jesus. And so God is not the author of evil, but we can say this, he's able to use the evil actions of human beings for his own purposes. And of course that's one of the things that we see so clearly throughout the Bible.

Think of the foremost example.

The example of the crucifixion itself by me. Here is what we are one of the most heinous things.

The most heinous thing to ever happen in the history of humanity the murder of the son of God and yet God somehow was mysteriously at work in and through that to redeem mankind, and of those who put their faith in Jesus Christ as it is very clearly next chapter 4 where you have this prayer of the disciples were this a truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. The Lord somehow God was working sovereignly through these circumstances, these people responsible these people who put Jesus to death Herod Pontius Pilate the Gentiles the people of Israel there to be judged for that and yet somehow God is able to make all things work together for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose.

And so thank you for that question and may the Lord bless you. You're listening to core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez.

Our phone lines are open right now. If you have a question about the Bible, the Christian life.

A doctrine or theology will be taken questions for another 10 minutes or so, so hop on the phone right now at 833-843-2673. That's 833 the core.

By the way, we should remind you that if you're listening to this program later in the day or in the evening or on the weekend some radio stations actually air our program by tape delay. So if you want to call in and talk to a drill live in the studio.

Here's the time you want to do it. 11:30 AM Pacific time, which translates into 1230 Mountain 130 Central or 230 Eastern. That's the time that were actually on the air live in the studio so give us a call. During that time. If he calls a different time today. You can always leave a voicemail. Let's go to an interesting question we received from one of our listeners last week Bible is about your superiors. Thank you yeah yeah simply there quite a few of them floating around out there and I think with with social media and and you know Twitter and all that stuff. It is they, they sorta spread like wildfire.

Two passages of Scripture come to mind. The first one is in Isaiah chapter 1 actually Isaiah chapter 8 beginning in verse 11, and is speaking about the fear of the Lord is. This is the Lord, for thus the Lord spoke with me. His strong hand upon me and warned me not to walk in the way of this people, saying, do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear nor be in dread with the Lord of hosts, him you shall honor as holy, let him be your fear, let him be your dread.

In other words, don't get caught up in fear because of all of these things that the people are saying around you. These conspiracies, you know who you should fear the Lord, the holy one of Israel. One of my one of my problems are that one of the big issues out there that I have with with the these conspiracy theories is is people get sucked into them.

They produce anxiety and fear or terror and what we don't focus on is the fear of the Lord, mortifying our sins we need to focus on the Lord brothers and sisters. He should be our fear.

We don't need to be afraid of the things the people of this world are concerned with the conspiracies that they're talking about. Fix your eyes and look let's one passage of Scripture, but just another helpful encouragement. I think from the book of second Timothy in chapter 2, verse 23 Paul told Timothy have nothing to do with foolish ignorant controversies you know that they breed quarrels is that the case and when you hear about a lot of these you know conspiracy theories that are out there. What breed fear, anxiety, quarreling, have nothing to do with that Paul tells Timothy don't waste your time with that with that with the latest conspiracy theory that's out there that's causing everyone to be afraid. Fear of the Lord and focus on his word back to the question and when you read that verse from Timothy. It reminds me of Twitter and social media only that, let's be honest, there's just so much floating around out there and what is Paul telling us to do.

Stay away from that stuff yeah bad we gotta be wise with it. So shall we use social media because it could be a real real downer. Actually, so use it wisely. You're listening to core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez.

Let's go to Joel calling in from Kansas. Joel, what's your question for pastor. Israel how to bring the money to God who's afraid of God are they that issues in the past without overstepping and pushing my way to bring them closer yeah and I don't know what what specific issues you're referring to. I know I know people who have experienced trauma, and even church -related trauma that can be a real difficult situation and I think one just a faithful presence being an example of what a godly Christian looks like as a friend as an encourager as someone who will pray for you and walk alongside of you is your experiencing difficult things she knows a thing. Being a model there in in those things, especially when people have had bad experiences and I get I don't know what exactly the experience referring to is but one event that expenses in the church they feel abandoned when they been abused. It's really hard for them to meet it as you imagine the trauma so it's hard to understand how this could happen in a context that supposed to be safe and so I think one just been a model of that safety of godly behavior, godly conduct, prayer, and ultimately knowing right.

What we can't force anyone. Of course anyone to the Lord. Salvation is a work of the Holy Spirit, and so I would just encourage you to pray for this friend that the Lord, by the grace of his spirit would heal the wounds, but you know whatever those those wounds are that the fear sounds like you sitting at their they're scared that God would would intervene and work in one of the ways that God works is through his word, and so as you as you continued to have this friendship bringing God's word into the mix talking about who Jesus is why you and as sinners their there is fear, the fear of the Lord to going back to that text in Isaiah chapter 8, but knowing that God is gracious toward sinners, that he calls us to repentance that he offers us his mercy, and so I would just say be a faithful friend. A good example of the love of Christ and bring God's word to bear when there are opportunities and pray that the Lord would soften this individual's heart Lesson this is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. How can we learn to express gratitude to God and others. What we have a wonderful resource available for you, right before Thanksgiving.

It's called five biblical reminders for Thanksgiving.

You can find that by going to our website.

Core, Christianity.com/offers. It's absolutely free again.

It's called five biblical reminders for Thanksgiving. You can also call us for that, or any one of our offers at 833-843-2673 Michael calling in from Ashley Illinois Michael what your question for Israel and more on that afternoon. I have a 24-year-old son and he is on Mary very intelligent.

He is no mechanical engineer and he is so she understands that God exists that we couldn't be here without God, but he says that there are so many different what he calls what what are known as religions that he can't wrap his head around Jesus Christ and I need help how to convince them that Jesus is the only one I think that I just a suggestion on how to put my son all is. Let's pray right now for Michael and for Michael, son, father just lift Michael up to one as a father long to see his son know and love Jesus I pray for him that you would fill them with your spirit that you would grant him wisdom, Lord, that you would give them opportunities to continue to have these conversations with his son. "Give them wisdom like to bring your word to Baron for his son Lord is his son wrestled through some of these questions I pray Lord that you would open his heart that he would see the glory of your son, gracious father through Scripture and by the power of the Holy Spirit you would reveal yourself to him the drum to yourself God that you would be with this family. We ask in Jesus name, amen. It's SME Michael like your son is having a hard time with the exclusivity of the gospel with all these other religions out there any T cells are smart like a smart guy.

Of course no one is one of the issues is we know right that that they can't all be true when they're saying very different things. A lot of people today want to say all religions basically say the same thing love God, love each other and and so at at their core, their they're the same basically. But the fact of the matter is we know the religions of the world don't basically say the same thing.

Yeah, that big we know most of them have the these moral standards love God love one another, but beyond that and being a and in terms of what salvation is of who God is very different.

Islam, for example, rejects that Jesus you know died on the cross and rose again from the dead, that he is the eternal son of God. Jesus himself says that he is the things any that he didn't do those things for our salvation.

Paul in first Corinthians chapter 15 so the Jews didn't rise from the dead were were were lost were still in our sins and so they can't all be true when they're not all the same and so what makes Christianity unique distinct well Christianity is the only religion where God sent his son into the world in history in time and he revealed himself to us to think what John said in John chapter 1 verse 818 no one has ever seen God. The only God who is at the father's side, he has made him known. What you do now we know God it's through Jesus, God has revealed himself to us so clearly not just through creation and felt that your son understands a look at the creation of I realize there has to be a God but beyond that he's given us the spec special revelation of his word, and ultimately of his very son, the Word made flesh who came to earth for us and for our salvation. Christianity is unique because it doesn't teach us what we need to do to get to God and you know that the laws we have to keep in order for God to accept us.

It's about the God who loves people who broke his law who failed to send an and so you know, talking about what makes the Christian faith unique, the forgiveness of sins, the revelation of who God is in his son Jesus. And this is something you're not gonna find anywhere else.

And there are some helpful resources Michael that we can probably get in your hands is a couple books on apologetics that I think would be great for you to check out. One is a book called the story of the of reality.

The story of reality by Greg Koegel and Kiki gets into you know some of some of the things that you're asking about. I would encourage you to get that book encourage your son to read that book as well.

And maybe that could produce a more more conversation but we will continue to pray for you rather and and just just remember that the Lord hears your prayers. I oftentimes bring up that the story of of Monica and St. Augustine, St. Augustine was converted to Christ when he was in his early 30s and his mother prayed for him every day.

He said she watered the ground with her tears and and for a long time.

It didn't seem like he was coming right he would argue with his mom about why he didn't believe any was real intellectual about it. But the Lord changed his heart.

God is able. Michael and so II want to just encourage you also to continue to pray for your son if you have these conversations, knowing that it's the Holy Spirit who does the work you may God be with you in that event, and Bill. I really, is that the big distinction there right of the gospel reveals to us. Now we need to do so that God will love us but how God is already love sinners and that's the beautiful thing about the Christian faith. Thanks for listening. Christianity to request your copy of today's special offer.

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