Is It My Responsibility to Lead My Family to Christ?

Is my responsibility to lead my family to Christ. 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. Now there are several ways you can ask a question first. You could call us at 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673. You can leave us a voicemail as well.

You can also post your question on our Facebook, Instagram or twitter accounts and you can email us with your question at questions@corechristianity.com first up today let's go to Samson calling in from the Texas Dallas Texas area. Sampson what your question for Pastor Israel Sampson, either use a thanks for giving us a call. What your question my question is in the Muslim warlords and one man can marry all or five or more stop if the person become micro stem with four or five woman got married was the D. How come you must be teaching how come you resolve that kind of program because of low Mary most on one so hope what's what was the base map Sampson a very just a very good question and an additional question, one that has been raised in particular by Christian missionaries in other parts of the world where where men will have multiple wives and they get converted an individual. An individual gets converted and the big question is, well what what what do I do now I'm married to three or four different women have three or four different wives in their dependent upon me and Sampson unit you're going to get different quick answers from from believers on this and from missionaries who have been on the field my Emmett. It's very clear. It seems to me from from the very beginning of Scripture that God intended marriage to be between one man and one woman even even later in the history of Israel. God made accommodations for his his people and to think of the king's intensity, and even they are God, you know, oftentimes brought judgment for the way in which they marry multiple women and so it it's there there some challenges here but I would say so. Fundamentally, marriages must meet be between one man and one woman. It's a picture of the relationship that exists between Christ and the church.

One way of of answering this question it's it's been said that well. The individual should continue to support all of them but only be married technically to his first wife that that those other that those other marriages that took place after that were illegitimate marriages is that that's one way the people looked at it and in the book of Nehemiah. As I Nehemiah you have got it at one time telling his people to depart from certain marriages that were illegitimate marriages because they were not. They were not according to his word and sometimes he will point to that.

I just I just wanted that it you know recognize this is it. It's difficult it's difficult. Culturally, I I thought of Neo lean towards that interpreters and the idea that look if there's a way of still carrying a here maybe the church can can really support and come in and if there's a way of still caring for these families. In particular, these these other women I maybe I should have but II don't know that the the right answer would be but you know he married multiple women, so you should just be married to all these different women have relations with all of them. It seems to me like that also wouldn't be the certainly that the reflective of what Scripture says marriage is and so is a difficult question. You're to get different answers from different missionaries and people, but let me just say there are. This is a real thing.

This is made of this is that this happens throughout the world and so record requires wisdom and my view is that the individual should just be married to his first wife. Thanks for that, Israel, and as you set a tough question, we do receive a lot of tough questions here on this program and our goal is to answer as many of those as we can. Whether were talking about the Bible, the Christian life for doctrine or theology.

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I take my mom and sister to church and I'm afraid if I leave much of the sanctification and guidance in God's word will cease. I just turned 18 and I understand that one of the greatest ministries in our lives is first and foremost our families is my own sanctification and my own life more important than my households. Any spiritual insight and guidance would be much appreciated.

Wow. First, I just want to pray for you brother. In this situation the Lord and pray for this for this individual who emailed us and I asked Jesus that you would give him wisdom.

Thank you Lord that you have brought him to yourself that he knows you that he's wanting to have a godly influence in in his in his home Lord with his with his mother with his stepfather with his sisters and that he's able to go to church with them to read the Scriptures with them. I pray Lord Jesus that you would open their hearts that they would see the glorious gospel and embrace it, receive it, Lord, so that even if this brother does go off join the military that they will continue to grow in their relationship with you and so would you be with my brother, would you give them wisdom which would encourage him. Would you open the hearts of all those were in that house that they might know and love you and walk with you. I pray in Jesus name, amen. This is really brother a decision that you are going to have to prayerfully make. We can't save anyone. Salvation is a work of the Holy Spirit, but by your influence. You know the Lord is working. It seems like in in the lives of your family members. I think of what the apostle Paul said, you know, not entirely similar, but I think there's an application that can be drawn in first grade. In chapter 7 where he says look if if two people are married. One is a believer, the other one is in a believer, I don't think that they should separate.

If there if if the nonbeliever is willing to be around the believer, you don't know you're having a positive influence. A sanctifying influence on that other person and it sounds to me like you're having that kind of influence for your family.

Now does that mean that you have to stay there that you couldn't go off to college with you can go off enjoying the military. No, I don't think so, but I think that that what you want to do is pray, seek the wisdom of a hopefully you know that something something here in a church seek the wisdom of the people there in your church as well. Maybe there's a way to ensure that there can remain connected to your family members even law while you leave, so maybe if you if you want to spend more time trying to set that up in trying to create relationships that are going to continue to have that positive influence in the lives your sisters and year.

Your mother and and in your stepdad, and I think that's one way of going about it, but you need to pray and just asked the Lord to give you clarity and in whatever decision you make, and I pray that God gives you that that inside a clear conscience so that you can continue to serve him and may the Lord open the hearts of your family members. God bless you as you as you seek to be a positive influence in their lives. Great counsel. Thank you for that Israel. This is core Christianity was pastor Adm. Sanchez. By the way, you can leave us a voicemail anytime 24 hours a day at the R number which is 833-843-2670 3833. The core we do our best to review her voicemails once a day, so feel free to call anytime and leaves the question we have Danny on the line from Las Vegas, Nevada Danny, what's your question for pastor atrial well beyond first time caller first time listener and might I two-part comment followed by a three-part question and that is the comment I am 1/3 generation ministry Brett and my late father.

He was a 50 years old fashion Pentecostal preacher we are under anointed power of God. He was in and he was. He was chosen Bible says that many are called but few are chosen.

My father was a chosen vessel and but in here's question it with the Prelude. My my father's wife left after 29 years of marriage looking for another woman in the church.

They were attending a stolen gun went down there to keep both her and the other woman, it misfired. They rented the house and they said that Linda called the police. They fit when the police showed up.

He said he point the gun at them and they did what they're trying to do and you hear the click three questions. If you go to heavenly pathway because he said that he was mumbling something before he died on the way to the hospital and my father was always quick to make things right. If you ever did anything wrong and we believe we believe that he was he was making things right.

You knew you done wrong and before he passed away. Could you cut like a city pastor, the claimant got the hospital but even though she did not pull the trigger because of what she said when he said he was going to check out. She said now open and that with a tone of voice of hope and he would do it if she knew that he had in mind to do something. It was beyond the point of no return other than a miracle from God keep them from doing it and what sure how should I proceed in my life now. As a result of the tragedy that happened three years ago while Danny I'm so sorry, just about that whole situation.

If you question is, is my dad with the Lord now you know II don't speculate about those kinds of things you said that your dad was chosen that he believed in Jesus that he served Jesus's sounds to me like this was a fit of rage and filled them in the that that the broader question is if we are in the act of committing a terrible sin, even if we Christians if we belong to Jesus and you need imagine that there also to suck me in a situation as you can think of it, for in the act and and we die. Does that mean were separated from God forever that were no longer forgiven. Sounds like you know based on your story.

It is seems that maybe even even after everything it taken place your dad was still seeking the Lord and and praying. If we pull onto the Lord. If were justified for children of of the living God you when we commit sins even heinous sins that doesn't remove us from the hands of the Lord, that doesn't mean that were no longer the children of God and so so Danny if if your father trusted in Christ and and believed in Jesus for his forgiveness and then in this in this moment of of passion and anger you know if this event takes place. I don't think that that would mean that he was lost forever, but it but again I don't I don't like to speculate about those kinds of things I think for your part.

You have to entrust your self to the Lord. Obviously there's there's pain there's morning, there's grief still I can. I can only imagine, but we we grieve, as Paul told the Thessalonians not as those who are without hope.

Because we do have hope.

We have hope that Jesus conquered sin, even even the that the sin of attempted murder Jesus conquered sin once for all that he rose again for our justification and so that if we are in him. We belong to him and in our loved ones who are in him that they belong to him that there in the presence of the Lord. Right now, if indeed they belong to him and so I think I think you know casting yourself brother on the mercy of God and you for your part, continually drawing near to the Lord and loving loving Jesus as it sounds like your dad would've wanted fork for you, and continuing to grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ and honoring him to so that's that's that's all that you that you can do is not helpful to the speculate death of coaches trust the Lord his word and continue to seek him brother, thank you for giving us a call, but I'm grateful for for you, listening for the first time and I hope you reach out to us again sometime blessed your listing to core Christianity with pastor Adm. Sanchez, one of the ways that you can participate in this program is through our YouTube channel. You can watch Israel live in the studio on YouTube every day at 11:30 AM Pacific, which translates into 1230 central 130s 12 three Mountain 130 central or 230 Eastern time. You can check it out.

You can also send us a message through our YouTube channel and the cool thing is we often get listeners from around the world and we have a listener in to try to say this right mega Halle India and she says when is the right time to leave the church or what are the biblical reasons to leave the church, but I would say if were done with the church altogether. That is him I'm not can even be a part of the body of Christ anymore and go to church. I'm just gonna do things on my own. There's never I think you are right time for that. But there are particular churches.

I think that are turning away from the Lord, where the, the, the gospel is no longer being taught, and in their embracing things that they should be embracing. I think I think there comes a point where we say yeah I have to remove myself from this place, because even though it might have the name of a church might be called church you know first Church of this or that. What is the church. The church is where the word of God is faithfully preached where the sacraments, the ordinances are administered faithfully. According to the word of God where there is discipline there are a lot of places that are there social clubs that are community type groups where people come together and sing songs in and hear a spiritual message but the gospel, the word of God is not been faithfully taught and I would say you can call yourself a church that is a mean that you're a church and so I would say sister any time you know the cardinal truths of the Christian faith, the doctrine of the Trinity, the incarnation, the gospel, salvation by grace and faith when when those things are no longer being taught, or when they're being departed from by a particular church then then you you want to leave with the gospel. You don't need or want to be a part of that for your own spiritual well-being. I'm also concerned that there are many people who just sort of leave churches any time something happens that they disagree with and in oftentimes not even doctrinal. It's why I don't really like this decision that was made about this program or the you know the worship time. We we just switched from no meeting it, you know, 10 AM to now were meeting at 9:30 AM and I just I can't take that look that I feel like we have to be careful that we don't have such a consumer estate view of the church and in the gathered worship assembly that we we leave any time.

It doesn't meet our particular feelings or wants anymore. The most important thing has to be faithfully teaching God's word so if that's not happening. Then I would say it's it's the right time to leave.

If there are other issues that concern you.

I think I think you you have to have a conversation with the leadership of the church and in racist questions and and and have those discussions and I think even even when it when it's when it's very clear. I think it's time time to leave. I think this is not the right place for me to be anymore. I think it's good to express the reasons why it is that you're leaving support for the leadership to know that you see what's taking place in the gospel is not been preached anymore.

This is a serious issue because it's a warning also for the leadership there in the church and so I hope that you're not in a situation where were you have to leave it out there and again in a good church that does faithfully teach God's word but it if you're not then you really do need to consider what where is the right place for me to be where Mike and continue to grow in my faith in Christ. I love your advice about being careful that we don't fall into a consumer stick mindset because other a lot of people well the worship music isn't quite my style.

I didn't like the color of the carpet to the pastor preaches too long. I mean that's not that's not a reason for leaving the church is yeah I mean definitely. I mean if if the carpet color is really bad.

I mean if were talking about neon orange and every time you look at the ground blind it almost made Bill. I do now you're here, you're right. And I think it'll it different parts of the world that we not only has a sludge of etiquette in in the United States.

In particular, you know that there's so many churches and I think we can for the fall into this consumer stick view of church and choosing the church and were looking for something that's in a scratch you know every sort of itch that we have were not asking the that the more important questions. You know what what is being was a doctrine of this church was being taught here am I going to grow in my relationship with the Lord, are my sins get to be confronted and I'm I could be comforted by the truth of the gospel and that the truth of God's word. Or is this just a place that boy. I like the music sounds nice and pastors kind of entertaining that that sort of thing we really need to rearrange our priorities when we think about finding a good church and we have some resources on that topic that we bill we do we have a greater core guide on how do I find a good church.

You can find that@corechristianity.com. Let's go to a voicemail that came in from one of our listeners. This is from Christie reading the book of Leviticus and I was just wondering if all of the many laws and rules and Leviticus about being unclean sacrificing balls and not eating certain meet all of that was dissolved after the coming of Christ and how do we know that Leviticus 18 verse 22, where it says not to have homosexual relations. We know that is not also just an outdated role that can also be dismissed. Thank you Christie think that was anyone.

I think just 1 Real Clear Way that we can know is is these same sins.

The sin of the same sex relations are brought up throughout the New Testament in places like first Corinthians in the book of Romans chapter 1 of them. Paul talks about.

This identifies it sit and identifies it as soon as one of the causes for God's judgment. God's wrath.

And so it's not just like it. It's sort of isolated here in these in these different ritual ceremonial laws. It's it's something that we see throughout God's word but also were thinking about, in particular sexual relations we have here right laws that were associated with the old covenant. In one sense, and in the temple, the civil government of of Israel, but we also have you know this or overlap between these laws and in the moral law. The law that it is essentially binds all of us that at all times. I that's one of the reasons why think Paul is able to pick up on it in in the New Testament. I would say damages you just see this repeated over and over again in other places of the Bible. Now there are some laws that were strictly just sort of relegated to the ceremonial law visually mentioned some of the sacrifices right Jesus is that the perfect fulfillment of those things and so we don't have animal sacrifices anymore. We don't have at the temple in the same way that they did under the old covenant were there making the sacrifices of atonement, so it's really important for us to be discerning.

Christie is rethinking about God's law and were soon okay okay here in the Old Testament, what we looking at were looking at for example civil laws that were related to Israel as a political body, well the church isn't the same as Israel under the old covenant. So we have to distinguish the dozen.

We can't draw lines of analogy and application from the same just means that were not bound by the civil law in the same way that Israel was. Same thing with the ceremonial law that the worship and the rules related to Israel's temple service and and and whatnot, the priesthood, well we are a priesthood of believers crisis fulfilled the sacrificial system of the old covenant, and so were not bound to that in the same way, but we are always bound to the moral law, summarized ultimately by what Jesus said in loving God perfectly and loving our neighbor as ourselves.

But that looks like something and in regard to our relationships and sexuality even in so that's that's reiterated in other parts of the Bible. As I said, first Corinthians chapter 6 and Romans chapter 1 and elsewhere as well.

We we actually have a resource that you want to get a hold of is called 10 things you need to know about the Bible and homosexuality. It's a core guide over core, Christianity.com and so hope you know that resource it'll it'll go into this question a little bit more appreciate that you're digging into the Scriptures, and that you're wanting to rightly divide the word of truth. May the Lord bless you as you do that. Thanks for listening to core Christianity to request your copy of today's special offer. Visit us at core, Christianity.com and click on offers and the menu bar or call us at 1-833-843-2673. That's 833 when you contact us. Please let us know how you been encouraged by this program and be sure to join us next time. As we explore the truth of God's word together