Should I Go Back to a Church Where I’ve Been Hurt?

Should I go back to a church where I've been hurt. 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. We would love to hear from you and our phone lines are open right now. Here's the phone number it's 833-843-2673. That's 833 the core, I could always post your question on one of our social media sites you can watch a drill live in the studio right now on our YouTube channel and you can message us your question through YouTube and you can always email us any questions at questions at core, Christianity.com first up today. Here's a voicemail from one of our listeners named Veronica I wanted to but I don't. I just don't know because he and I want to believe in God but Yehuda talk to about this issue that I'm having very very afraid of death craters. Nothing after this life, and I would really like to learn more and make it guide me to the right direction to get my question answered.

I could talk to my chocolate.

Thank you for giving us a call Veronica and just for your openness and your willingness to learn. I do think it's important for you to get plugged in with with a good church around your area where you can. We can go and maybe spend some time with the pastor asked the questions that you have questions that are on your heart and your mom obviously happy to respond to the questions that you asked but you need people around you in your life or you can also go to buy and have conversations with you want to believe, but you're struggling because it oh I can't see God have ever have never seen Jesus never had it had a vision. Jesus at one occasion in the gospel say no after he appeared to his disciples once he had been resurrected from the dead. We reading in John chapter 20 verse 26.

Eight days later his disciples were inside again and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked and Jesus came and stood among them and said, peace be with you and he said to Thomas, put your finger here, and see my hands and put out your hand and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe Thomas answered Jesus my Lord and my God and Jesus said to him, have you believed because you have seen me.

Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed. That's us Veronica.

We don't we don't get to see Jesus write him.

Jesus ascended into heaven after his resurrection from the dead. We have the record the testimony of the apostles and and eyewitnesses in in Scripture. In the New Testament and we take what they proclaimed what they preached and we receive that by faith.

Now it wouldn't call that of a blind faith. I think there are a lot of good reasons to believe that Jesus is who he said he was in and did what he said he would do men and there are number of resources that you can look at even over at our website. Core, Christianity.com related to the resurrection of the dead just need proofs if you will evidences for us to to look and say wow this this really does make sense. We can embrace this by by faith but but I would just say you know it is coming to God and saying okay here's here's what God is said in his word.

He has taught that were all sinners that we need his grace we need mercy and that he's provided a way for us to experience that grace in his son Jesus, the one who was speaking to Thomas. There, in the question for each of us that we have to ask ourselves, who do I say Jesus is do I think he was just a great teacher a moral leader, a spiritual guru or do I accept his own testimony about himself that he is the Lord Christ that the son of God, the one who came to take away our sins. That's who Jesus is. He's easy.

He's God himself come to redeem us to save us so that we don't have to be gripped by the fear of death or condemned because of our sins. You're not alone in in your your fear of death death. The Bible says is the great enemy of humanity. But the last enemy to be destroyed. According to the apostle Paul in the book of first Corinthians chapter 15 Jesus came to deal with sin and death, so that those who are suffering under the fear of death.

Those who are suffering in bondage to sin could have freedom so that you Veronica could have freedom. And so I would say right now even right now pray to God, go to him and say cod IIII him him struggle that you and I know I can't see you, but I want that hope that you give. I want the assurance the knowledge that I there is hope. Beyond this, this, life, hope beyond the grave and I want forgiveness for all of my sins. When you go to God in that way even if you don't understand everything you know he hears your prayer and in that prayer of faith coming to God asking God for his mercy and and for that hope that Jesus gives is a prayer that he will answer and so Veronica and one other encouragement for your signal get plugged into a good church. I want to encourage you to read through the Gospel of John. If you have a Bible, get a hold of the Bible and and spend some time reading through the Gospel of John and getting to know who Jesus is. The Bible says that faith comes by hearing and hearing through the word of Christ in us. You hear God's word. I believe that God is going to work. Faith in your heart and so God bless you and thank you for giving us a call.

Veronica thanks so much for listing your core Christianity unilateral it's it's so beautiful when people call me say I really want to believe.

How do I do it. How do I have faith and that's just that genuine call of I think there are so many people right now who are searching for truth are searching for answers and are not finding it of the places they thought they would find yeah no absolutely Bill and and there are so many different voices that were hearing all around us. That's what we need to go go to the, the sure word of God where he is spoken to us so clearly and then as I said not to Veronica to and to everyone who's listening right now.

Faith comes to the warden by the work of the Holy Spirit, and so if you want to grow in your faith.

You need to grow in your understanding of God's word. I meant you're listening to core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. Our phone lines are open. If you have a question about the Bible, the Christian life. Or like Veronica, if you're a person who maybe is struggling with doubts or maybe your you consider yourself to be an agnostic or an atheist. We were open to your calls as well give us a buzz. Here's the number will be taking calls for the next 20 minutes or so 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 we have one of our excellent Bible studies, we want to offer you today and it's actually on a book of the Bible little trips up.

A lot of people because there is just a lot to one packet yet were offering in our study on the book of Revelation. Just a wonderful resource written actually by Prof. that I had in seminary name Dennis Johnson, just a godly man, a brilliant man and and someone who is really spent a lot of time studying the book of revelations this just a great resource for you were offering it over at Cork machine core, Christianity.com for a gift of $20 or more and by the way, this is one of the safe you could do on your own if you wanted, or it would be great for for group to go through together that's interested in studying the book of Revelation we actually have a discount available to you a by several for your church or your group your Sunday school class.

So if you want to check that out. Just go to core Christianity.com/Revelation again. Core, Christianity.com/Revelation for that revelation, Bible study, we did get voicemails here at core Christianity and here's when we received from one of our listeners named Sharon L question about the church for a long period of time and you were told to get down from your position and can include you a bad taste in your mouth about church having that problem. Now I wanted to return back to the church after the pandemic and my husband really doesn't want to sell anything that I continue to cite sort of praying that we will find a church family again. That will be at accepting of us think that Charlotte I'm sorry to hear about the conflict in in church and I don't know what the situation specifically is why they asked you to step down. I would say you know it is. If it's something where maybe there was disagreement immuno related to how to do things. I think it's important for us to be clear and honest with each other and so I would say that though the only way forward. And in this context, if you want to have good experience there in that churches is just being honest in saying hey, this is how I was made to feel based on you know you guys asking me to to step down and and maybe they were right.

Maybe they weren't right. I don't know what the situation is, but I think what you don't want to do is is be there and then just sort of be growing in bitterness and frustration because you know they asked you to step down.

You step down your there and you're just frustrated with the leader should be what we want to have an open and honest conversation with the with the leadership there and hopefully that's something that you guys can work through an end. God can bring P site. I do know that that's possible.

Obviously, Jesus calls us you know when we have something against a brother or sister to go to them to make peace to be reconciled in of this is this is one of the great implications of the gospel for us as as believers, God reaching down to those who have sinned against him, his own enemies and and reconciling us to himself through the blood of his son Jesus. If God could do that for us if he could bring peace in that way for us than we ought to pursue peace with each other, especially within the body of Christ. Now again because I don't know your situation entirely old all the detail that it's tough for me to speak to, but I would just say I think this is important for all of us. Let's have those those transparent honest conversations with the people that were worshiping side-by-side with in the local church is so important. You don't want to be in a situation where you're trying to grow in Christ and your understanding of God's word but you have things against the very people you're worshiping with, or the leadership in your church and so I was a talk with them and pray that it's something that the Lord brings peace and grace and and and hopefully you know your relationship with with the leadership there. Your your husband's relationship with them as well will be better, stronger even than it was before.

God bless some great counsel. Thank you for that April. This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. Let's go to Margaret calling in from Tennessee Margaret what is your question for pastor.

Israel, all you know person practicing homosexuality and they profess to the world that they will be able to partner, would you allow them your pulpit to preach the word of God. I Margaret no I I would not I would think that that person a minute, based on on the teaching asserting that's I would think that person is not qualified to be a pastor to be a preacher of God's word. Paul gives the qualifications very clearly in first Timothy three and in Titus chapter 1, and I would say that this individual doesn't meet several of the qualifications we have to be really really careful with who we put in front of us to preach for all sorts of reasons and this is why you know you have those qualifications that are given there in the pastoral epistles, but quite, quite simply, the answer would would be naughty when when Paul writes to the Corinthians. Also in in first Corinthians chapter 6 and goes to this whole vice list of the kinds of sins that that the Corinthians were engaged in prior to their conversion.

Among those sins heat.

He mentions practicing homosexuality being in the same-sex relationships and say this is no big deal.

It is who we are what we do and impulses.

No such were some of you but you were washed, you were sanctified, that that's not who you are anymore. Paul says that you not to identify with that anymore and so an individual who who continues to say oh yeah I'm I'm gay and I'm a practicing homosexual but I'm still going to preach the word of God and God doesn't care about it.

There's a huge contradiction there, and that that individual would not be qualified to serve as a minister the gospel we actually have a great core guide on this issue because there's so much controversy about homosexuality in our culture, and even within the Christian church.

It's a called 10 things you need to know about the Bible and homosexuality. You can find it by going to core Christianity.com/guides look for 10 things you need to know about the Bible and homosexuality were our phone lines are open. If you have a question for a drill about the Bible or the Christian life, doctrine and theology were open to pretty much anything.

Here's the phone number 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 let's go to Sherry calling in from California.

Sherry thank you for your call and what your question will have a question, do you believe that a believer today. He directly attacked by the any or pressed, as Paul did with the thorn in the flesh. As a result of the will of God, the direct will of God and what would you recommend a believer to. If, after receiving prayer and fasting and praying that demonic force has not left yesterday. Thanks for the question whether the text is referring to sin. Corinthians chapter 12 verse seven, where Paul talks about the stone in the flesh that he had which God used in order to humble him in there.

There is debate about what exactly that was was a spiritual oppression always is some kind of sickness was. This was this disease. Whatever it was it was something that God used in his life, to keep him from growing arrogant and boastful and guided you know has also two tools in his in his toolbox for for us to come to keep us from growing arrogant and boastful as well. Could God use the evil one spiritual attack to to humble someone like I think that that is something that you see throughout Scripture. You also see it in in instances of discipline you think about what Paul says to the Corinthians and what is encouraging them to exercise church discipline on the individual who's in an illicit relationship with the with the family member, Paul says deliver such a one over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh that his soul may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. In other words and and I guy over to Satan, so that he can experience that the pain in the struggle of that spiritual attack so that he would come to repentance. The goal is not punitive just to punish an individual. The goal would be to bring that individual to repentance.

Now it in terms of, you know, I don't know specifically what what it is that your your experiencing. Sometimes it can be spiritual warfare. Sometimes it can just be be the result of the fall and the corruption that's just inside of us. I would say you to work were encouraged in Scripture to resist the evil one and he will flee, and so were to make a stand against the devil and how do we do that we do that through prayer, as you said and fixing our eyes on the truth of the gospel. We do that with Scripture you think of Jesus's own temptation in the Gospels, the evil one came to him, twisting the word of God seeking to tempt Jesus to get Jesus to worship Satan to to turn away from the word of God and in Jesus met the temptation of the devil with the truth of Scripture and so I would say the way we do that that battle is like you said to prayer but also Sherry through rightly understanding God's word. The truth of the gospel who God is what God calls us to. And when were tempted or when the evil one comes with his lies were able to meet those lies with the truth of Scripture. So my question for you would be the needle are are those things are happening, you know you are you are you being confronted with these lies with things that aren't true about God that things are trying to lead you astray if that's the case then you respond with the word of God maybe did you want it you want to share a little bit more Sherry in terms of what I direct whole ball bowl, if not all and and and or there is no lightning fan that I know of and and I will scan myself forward instant Nicole oppression but calm in prayer and has been received from various ministers bent over the Houston fasting and and I've read the word anything even ran Scripture over myself and all of it, all of it. Let me pray for you right now ensure one more passage of Scripture, Lord Jesus, you are good in God, we come to you right now and we lift our sister Sherry up to you and we pray for your divine protection in her life. We pray Lord that whatever it is that that she's going through whatever experience she's having Lord that if if it is demonic oppression.

We ask Lord Jesus that you would drive the evil one away that you would give her a sense of your presence. The presence of your Holy Spirit and Jesus that you would give her your piece may be in a way that she she hasn't experienced in a long time that you would give her your peace.

Thank you Lord Jesus that you have conquered the evil one your life, death and resurrection that he is powerless against your people and I pray that you would fill my sister with that knowledge and grant her your deliverance father do this for us. We pray in the name of your son Jesus. Amen. The passage of Scripture. I wanted to read is what John says in first John chapter 5 verse 18 we know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him and the evil one does not touch him. We know that we are from God in the whole world lies in the power of the evil one, but Sherry if you belong to Jesus. You do not line the power of the evil one anymore.

He who is in you is crater than he who is in the world insulate Christ himself grant you his peace, his presence, his protection, God bless thank you for your call. Sherry will continue to pray for you and your situation.

This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez, just a reminder we have that wonderful Bible study on the book of Revelation available today.

This is something you could do a study on your own or with a small group or Sunday school class at your church and you can find more information on that by going to core Christianity.com/Revelation let's go to Jason who is calling in from Missouri. Jason what your question for pastor.

Israel J. Jason, I can hear you. So I'm a believer in a lot, and the Bible, but I struggle with alcohol you been told you can't quit on your own, but God's got a thought come hundred percent Beaumont 101 and what a mess of strong Jason. The first thing I want to say to you is that you aren't on your own and and I do think it's it it is important for you to have people around you who can hold you accountable both in the church you need to be in a good church. If you're not in a good church and even beyond that with with addiction and alcohol addiction. You know, having a support group something like AA can be really really helpful, but there needs to be that openness that that transparency, I think that's one of the ways that God so often puts to death those those sinful struggles that that we still have, you know, you know, at the enslavement to something like alcohol. I think it is being honest. It's confessing it even like you're doing right now and then getting the support and the help that you need and so if if you don't have people in your life you need you need that you need to be in a good church and you need to be getting encouragement there and I just want to also encourage you with with Scripture in first Corinthians are extreme in Romans chapter 7 the apostle Paul talks about that struggle that we have as believers. He says in verse 13 did that which is good. Speaking of God's law bring death to me know it was sin producing death in me through what is good in order that sin might be shown to be sin and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure. For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin, for I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but the very thing I hate. I do now. I do what I do not want. I agree with the law that it's good so now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me, for I know that nothing good dwells in me that is in my flesh I have the desire to do what is right. Paul says this is like you think you could say the same thing Jason had the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out right. Do not do the good that I want the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing now. I know if I do what I do not want. It is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me and he goes on to say in verse 24 wretched man that I am who will deliver me from this body of death will deliver us Jason who will deliver you from this body of death.

Paul says thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord, so that I myself serve the law of sin with my mind with my flesh I serve the log out of my mind with my flesh I serve the law of sin. Jason get the accountability that you need in the church, maybe in support groups, but also get that the hope that yours in the gospel knowing that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, if you confess your sins to him. Thanks for listening to core Christianity request your copy of today's special offer. Visit us at core, Christianity.com and click on offers in the menu bar or call us at 1-833-843-2673.

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