My Church Has Become LGBTQ Affirming. What Should I Do?

Hi this is Bill Meyer. It's a special best of addition of core Christianity. The leadership in my church's affirming of those who practice homosexuality, what should I do. That's just one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity hi this is Bill Meyer along with Pastor Israel Sanchez and this is the radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day. You can call us right now with your question. At 833. The core that's 1-833-843-2673.

You can also post your question on her Facebook, Instagram or twitter accounts and you can email us with your question at questions@corechristianity.com will pastor a drill. How is your church service yesterday. I think it went well. Bill, thank you for asking. We actually had a baptism which is really wonderful. That was a wonderful thing for you, Bill didn't have any baptisms in our church were doing missions week talking about all the different missions projects and interview missionaries and the pastors up there wearing interesting garb.

So it's been a couple weeks let's get to our first call. This is Peter from Syracuse New York who has a question. First Peter welcome to core Christianity, thanks for calling us today what your question and I have a question about the usual reliable what happened out Los Angeles in 1906 and how the Assemblies of God church is or started out of that because of all the miracles they experienced, and how people today in the church should see that in light of what the Bible says and stuff in example like a continuation is on versus cessation is very much thank you for that question yet you drop in some good theological terms.

Their continuation is and that is the belief that the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit continue in the life of the church today and secessionism, which is the belief that those sign gifts that they were really associated with the time of the apostles, and that as the history of the church progress, especially after that that early stage. When Gwen that the gospel was getting jumpstarted into the world that those gifts began to die out and once once we have now that had now the canon of Scripture that the word of God in in this form that we have it and we didn't need those those miracles in the same way, they can function in the same way so how do we look at some of these movements that if that it happened over the history of the church. Well, we examine them on the basis of holy Scripture. At the end of the day God is spoken very clearly in his word and finally in his son Jesus.

In fact, the author, the Hebrew says, and in the very beginning of Hebrews in Hebrews chapter 1, you know, God spoken in various ways to our fathers by the prophets, and so on and so forth.

But in these last days has spoken in his son. And so Jesus is the final and ultimate revelation of the father for us and God is given us his word in Scripture. As we go to the Scriptures and we examine these revivals. Whatever whatever one word were talking about your you're referring to the quotable Azusa Street revival in the early 1900s, we examine them on the basis of Scripture. Now my take is that there can be real revivals that take place in the church today, but that those revivals happen primarily through the faithful preaching of the word of God. How do churches that are quote unquote dead and struggling become renewed.

How does new life breathed into them.

It happens through the preaching of the word. I think of that wonderful image that were given in Ezekiel 37. The prophecy of the dry bones where Ezekiel is given this vision from the Lord of these dry votes dry bones. This valley of dry bones in the Lord asked me to. Can these bones live and he begins to tell the prophet to speak the word of the Lord to the dry bones and it's the word of God that begins to bring the dry bones back to life and in and in in the church today when the church is gone astray. Historically, weather was in the medieval church or even in recent days in a churches that have abandoned the right understanding of the gospel, the pure preaching of God's word the way in which we get back on track is not necessarily. I would say to signs and wonders. It's through faithful Bible teaching Peter and so I'm generally suspicious of movements is say oh there's this wonderful work that's happening in the focus is on the sort of miraculous and not on the gospel because actually in the Gospels that were given in the New Testament the miraculous was always meant to point to something else, namely the ability of Jesus Christ to forgive our sins, the heart of the gospel that you see, for example, when Jesus healed the paralytic and in in Mark's gospel uses him into this miracle so that you might know that I have authority on earth to forgive sins. So my question is, were thinking about these different revivals is is the word of God being preached and is Jesus and the forgiveness of sins being magnified if if that's not happening. Well then I think we we should view them suspiciously because the spirit of God that the primary work of the Spirit of God today is to fix our eyes on Jesus, thank you for your question and answer great counsel there. Israel this is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez. Here's the phone number if you have a question. It's 1-833-843-2673.

That's 833. The core let's go to Kyle calling in from Salem, Oregon Kyle, welcome to core Christianity hello hey Kyle thanks her for calling us today what your question was raised in the Lord covered the historical Christianity to not talk and you know declaring things through sickness and demanding God deal with sickness and I was wondering now that I'm a kind of learning and a baby Christian. But what is that what is the correct way to approach sickness and prayer for you and expectations. Yeah, that's an excellent question because college is sitting on some movements, like the prosperity gospel movement disorder. Theology is God's will is for you, never to be sick.

There is a problem with you. If you are sick you don't have enough faith. You're not really trusting in the promises of God are laying hold of that which the Lord has for you and and I'm so grateful to hear that the Lord is brought you out of that because that is a devastating theology. It puts this huge burden on individuals, especially individuals who are suffering and they feel like what must be my fault.

I don't have enough faith, he can't be God's will that I'm sick.

Well, the reality is is is Scripture tells us very clearly that the Lord can and does use even sickness in the lives of his people suffering persecution. Paul told Timothy it out, take a little bit of wine every day because of your frequent stomach ailments. He didn't just say you name it and claim it know me. Even Timothy struggled with sickness and so we as believers will too. But we can still be encouraged to pray that the Lord would heal.

We just don't want to be presumptuous. We don't want to assume that it's always God's will to do this or to think that you know God is sort of this genie in a bottle that we can just wish whatever we want and he'll give it to us. That kind of thing and I go to James chapter 5 because I think James gives us the proper prescription here for how we should approach this issue. He says in verse 13 is anyone among you suffering.

Let them pray. Is anyone cheerful let them sing praise. Is anyone among you sick let them call for the elders of the church and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord and the prayer of faith will save the one who is second in the Lord will raise him up, and if he is committed since he will be forgiven at the right there you note, James is encouraging. If someone is sick, let them call for the elders of the church and let them gather together and lay hands on the sick brother or sister and pray for the Lord's healing out. Does that mean that God is always going to heal. No.

But God can. We we believe that God is absolutely able to heal miraculously and that that he does and so we pray for it, but ultimately we trust in him and say Lord we are were were confident in you in your will for us were praying for.

This is something that we want but we can't be presumptuous and we can't command God to do things for us, as if he worked for us.

We are servants of the living God. And so we go to him in humility and we pray for each other and we pray for each other over sick and that's what James says we should do their Kyle, thank you for your question. May the Lord bless you. Thanks so much, thanks for listening to core Christianity by the way, if you are a regular listener to this program want to tell you about something that you can be involved in and that is joining our inner core, our inner core team are people that really believe in this ministry and want to support us on a regular basis. We have some special resources will send you so you can check that out at our website which is core Christianity.com. Let's go to Brian who is calling in from Junction city, Kansas Brian, welcome to core Christianity Brian, welcome to the broadcast. So good to have you today what your question brother backslidden Christian and I want to get back into the church and my life is like, really against it.

So a couple years ago I brought the tour on the church and she basically started bawling on is a big kind of like not to get into the church looking for some guidance on how the how to get back into the church and bring up my wife. I guess well Brian, I definitely want to want to pray for you, but first let me just let me just get to your question, Jesus is the good Shepherd and he pursues us when we wander, he pursues you. The very fact that you're calling right now into this broadcast made it in my mind is a sign of the fact that Jesus, the good Shepherd is pursuing you. And even when we fail when we fall when we've been quote unquote backs backslidden for a long period of time.

That doesn't mean were beyond the grace of God and I just think of Peter after he had denied Jesus and what Jesus does for him at the end of John's Gospel help Jesus cooked and breakfast restored him on the shore of the beach. I would encourage you to read that story the very end of John's Gospel how Jesus treats Peter and when we go to the father after having backslid for a period of time. I just want you to know that when we go to him humbly repentant. He welcomes us to think of the parable of the prodigal son in Luke chapter 15. He welcomes us he welcomes you and that might be a scary thing sounds like it's a scary thing for your wife, but there is no better place to be than in the arms of Jesus then cared for by him experiencing his grace, his forgiveness what it should do is, it should make us into more loving people, more loving husbands and so I'm not sure why it is that that your wife is is scared or concerned about this, but I think first and foremost, it sounds to me like you are sensing the call of the Lord that you know you need to be back in the church and so I would say taking steps in that direction. And as you take steps in that direction because it's what what the Lord calls us to walk in the light to be a part of local churches where the word of God is is faithfully taught that you're also praying for your wife and encouraging her and hopefully showing her that this is a wonderful thing that this is a good thing for you, for your marriage for for the both of you because as I said there is no better place to be than in the arms of Jesus.

And so is the Lord is calling you to himself, heed the call go continue to pursue him you calling in is is even a sign of you pursuing him right now. José open up the word study the Scriptures get plugged into a good church and as you're doing all of those things be praying for your wife that her heart would also be softened as well and so Brian I want to pray for you right now as as the Lord is working in your heart and and in your wife is well. Father, I thank you for Brian and for his willingness to call and open up on on this broadcast tonight. I pray for him and I know many others as they listen right now are also praying for him that you would give them a sense of your love of your grace of your forgiveness Lord toward all those who call upon your name, the name of your son, Jesus Christ, that you would fill him with your Holy Spirit that you would give him wisdom, Lord, to know what what steps he needs to take now in getting plugged into a good church where your word is faithfully taught what he's can hear the gospel and be encouraged and I pray also for his wife, that you would give her a sense of your presence of your love of your goodness be with them. Lord, in this in this time of transition and change would be with them, protect them from the evil one and bless them. We pray in Jesus name, amen amen thanks Brian. So much for your call.

We will continue to pray for you and your wife and as a rule, said that that you find a church where you are she and you both feel welcomed and cared for the truly preaches the gospel that would be the prayer for for all of us. This is core Christianity with pastor Adm. Sanchez and you on this program we do receive a lot of calls from people who are wrestling with tough questions. If you listen very often you you know that's the case people even call concern that they've done something so bad that they jeopardize their standing before God that they've lost their salvation will here at the core Christianity.

Our mission is to help answer those tough questions, but we can't do it without your support. That's exactly right. You know, we also hear from people who want to share their faith with family members and friends but fear that they won't have answers to the tough questions that there asked her what gives people confidence in their faith and comforts with the truth of the gospel we take your questions and respond with biblical answers every day on the radio to our web articles in Bible studies, all of our efforts aimed to help people dig deep into the Scriptures showing them how the gospel of Jesus Christ is the power to equip believers with confidence and wisdom as they live out their Christian faith before watching world. So if you benefited from core Christianity.

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Now, as a special thank you, will send you our new Bible study on the book of Philippians. What guides our life.

What motivates us. What is a Christian life look like in practice as you are on the show. That's what people have questions about we find so many of the answers to those questions in the book of Philippians and that's exactly why we wrote this Bible study is really a great way to help you or somebody you know will build confidence in understanding the Bible as a drill mansion with a gift of $20 or more to help support this ministry will send you a copy of the brand-new Philippians Bible study to pick up your copy just had over the core, Christianity.com/new study that's core Christianity.com/new study, let's go to a voicemail question that came in from one of our listeners last week, I did more tradition 90 have always been a leader on the sexual issue in England. We get kind of your kind churches I have attended her conservative preacher clear gospel and down the little round about, and I'm trying it say something is not when it clearly is.

I just wonder if we can afford that compromising more than any right on account of uncomfortable.

I'm not trying to be picky in rebellion what you think at that kind of compromise they think it trickled down. Thank you for that for that question and you compromise in the Christian life and in the church is never a good thing that is really important that we understand what is it that makes a church, a church, a true church where the marks of the true church of Jesus Christ on earth today will we would say number one is the faithful preaching of the word of God is God's word being taught faithfully is the gospel being clearly communicated. That's key if you don't have the faithful preaching of the word of God. You don't have the church because the church is created by the word God speaks the church into existence through his holy gospel. It's beautiful. It's amazing and so you have to have that that the word for there to be the church, the true church.

You also have to have the right administration of the worship that Jesus gave us the ordinances that he talked about baptism and the Lord's supper. These these signs and seals that Jesus himself instituted for us and for the church to observe. It is a church doing these things is very important for us – that question. And thirdly, is there discipline is there fellowship in a people growing together in the Christian life encouraging one another, exhorting one another, day by day like the author, the Hebrews said in Hebrews chapter 3 and then church discipline, like Jesus, articulated in Matthew 18. These are the marks, the signs of the true church of our Lord Jesus Christ and and where these things are happening. Jesus is present. According to his word.

According to his promise. Now a lot of churches are abandoning the faithful preaching of the word of God.

There is even quote" churches that Satan. The Bible isn't God's word and what you begin to have.

There are all sorts of very serious problems that sounds to me like you're in a local congregation that is faithful to preaching the word of God. But as a part of a bigger denomination that is may be beginning to go astray, and where they're going to straight sounds like is on issues related to the sexuality and in particular gay and lesbian relationships. Will this is something that the Bible speaks very clearly to first Corinthians chapter 6 verses nine through 11 listen to what Paul said or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God. Do not be deceived. Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor violators nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God and such were some of you.

Paul said but you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the spirit of our God is so churches I think that that take the position that homosexuality is okay.

Gay and lesbian relationships are okay that there there and in the eyes of God.

It's it's it's not it's not a sin issue that they've gone astray.

They've gone astray what their teaching is not what the Bible teaches, and it's a serious thing and Jesus.

I think made this clear right that that actually leadership in the church does begin to trickle down as you said Jesus said in Matthew chapter 15 verse 14 blind guides if they lead because the people that they lead to fall into a pit now again I know that there are faithful pastors and godly men were leading churches and denominations that are going astray and have gone astray. I recognize that and and that that's a that me there's a real tension there.

There's a battle there that I know some of these churches, or are trying to fight trying to reform things from the inside and the question is do we want to fight that battle.

Are we able to compete can we really bring about change, or is it better maybe to do separate. I think that's where you are going to need wisdom. If you're in a church, though that is faithfully preaching the gospel local congregation that is calling sin.

Sin that is administering the ordinances that Jesus gave according to his word than I would say you don't, you don't necessarily have to have to leave that church. I wouldn't I would say you have to because other churches around her. Or maybe in the proximity aren't as faithful as it should be. Sounds like maybe the church are a part of is trying to bring about reformation and that's a really good thing, so I would say pray and ask God to give you wisdom about which decision you should make and again we need to realize that that a little leaven leavens the whole lump. Like Paul said in first Corinthians chapter 5 verse six and so sometimes maybe the better decision is to say, look, this stuff is spreading these beliefs. These ideologies are spreading. We need to get out here, but I don't know that I can tell you one way or another. If the church that you're in.

Presently, the local Carnation is being faithful to the word of God talk to your doctor pastor about it and and share your concerns and pray and may the Lord bless you as you as you make this decision. By the way, we have an excellent resource era core Christianity which you can find on our website or in today's show notes it's called 10 things you need to know about the Bible and homosexuality. So when you go to the website just checked for that resource on today's show notes page we have time for one quick question, here's an email that came in a drill. It's from Jason.

He says how should we understand the gates of hell, not prevailing against the church. In Matthew 1618. What does that look like yeah really an important question. I mean, Jesus said to Peter, I am going to build my church, and they gates of hell will not prevail against her and I think fundamentally what that means is that the gospel that was preached by Jesus delivered to the apostles which they handed down to the elders in local churches that they planted. They said passing it down that that gospel would never be lost in the history of the church that they despite the fact that you know over time in church history that all sorts of corruption, abuse, false Gospels that that had been preach the true gospel would always be on earth and there there colts like the Mormons and the Jehovah's Witnesses say no. The gospel was lost for a long time and we had to restore it. That kind of thing will know the gospel, the forgiveness of sins by grace through faith in the name of Jesus Christ that is always going to be preached and would be preached and at the end of the day God's kingdom is going to advance and has advanced for the last 2000 years, and so in difficult days like these. You know it's easy to be discouraged. We have to remember that promise that Jesus gave they gates of hell will never prevail against my church because my gospel is going to be preached. Thanks for listening to core Christianity to request your copy of today's special offer.

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