My Child Wants to Identify as Transgender. What Should I Do?

Our child wants to identify as transgender. What should we do best is one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity will handle Myra lumber Pastor Israel Sanchez and this is a 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 account. You can send us a message through our YouTube channel course you can always email us your question at questions at core, Christianity.com our phone lines will be open for the next 25 minutes or so, so hop on the phone right now with your question for Israel. Let's go to Matthew calling in from St. Louis, Missouri. Matthew what your question for Israel.

I really appreciate your ministry so I have a question on Catholic beliefs and Mary the mother of Jesus and just sort of my eye was raised Catholic.

I don't know a whole lot of their traditions and other things that can I go back with it, but come to learn, at least in talks with my grandmother that there they have a belief that she was sinless similarly to Jesus and also add that Mary and Joseph did not have any other children besides Jesus and that she also did not die but did an essentially normal similar to Jesus and like Elijah and Enoch, but I was curious on how how they would support that position scripturally because it seems like Scripture points to a few opposite things. They Matthew thank you for giving us a call and for that question know it's interesting.

You mentioned that the dogma of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in the Roman Catholic Church that wasn't really even made official until the 20th century and so you know you you asked the question. You know where they find support for these things in Scripture. Some some of the things are ZZZ don't have any support for with regard to some of the other things they say about Mary. They will Roman Catholics will point to various passages in Scripture that they believe this support need of the conclusions that Dave drawn may be about her sinlessness or whatever it but it's usually by implication with regard to you know whether or not Mary and Joseph had other children thus tabled the word it's translated brothers Jesus's brothers that could be translated to a different way. You know not not not as brothers but maybe his cousins or something like that and so so you will say a number of things.

And of course we don't want to minimize the role of the Virgin Mary in the history of redemption. She is according to the church and in Christian for the last 2000 years and we can refer to her as the mother of God that his sheep, she bore God the son, not not in the sense of you know that Jesus or the eternal word of the father began to exist through Mary, but the the word himself took flesh from her womb that she didn't give birth to it to a mere human being, but that the Lord himself took humanity from the womb of the Virgin Mary and so insofar as that's the case, the church is historically referred to her as the, the God bearer and that's that's a proper title but it seems to me like in the ministry of Jesus, oftentimes you know when when people would focus on his mother. He was sort of redirect the focus. I think of Luke chapter 11 in verse 27.

As Jesus said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him. Blessed is the womb that bore you in the breasts, that which you nursed your mother was blessed. Jesus from his people.

An amazing God bless her and Jesus says in response, blessed, rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it Mary and Matthew sheep she needed the that the grace and redemption of Christ just as much as anyone else. In fact, she herself says at the beginning of Luke's gospel in Luke chapter 1 that that beautiful song that she sings, sometimes referred to as the Magnificat in verse 46 Mary said my soul magnifies the Lord in my spirit rejoices in God my Savior Mary like like the rest of humanity needed to speed Savior needed a deliverer and that was that was her son, the God man, Jesus Christ, who bore the sins of his people, but I think the emphasis that we did in the gospel that we don't we don't want to get minimize the role that the Virgin Mary played but Christ seem to do point to the need to obey his word and to follow him and and that the one who does that. That's the one who's blessed in so that that's where our focus should be as well and I think Mary herself, even if that. She says there in the Magnificat.

She points away from herself and to Jesus her sons.

That's what we want to do us as Christians and as the church as well.

Not to not to downplay her but to focus on. I think what she would want us to focus on, which is Jesus that the Redeemer of God's people. God bless you. Matthew and Matthew, thanks so much for listing the core Christianity and for digging into God's word, man.

That is just so important and valuable. We appreciate that whenever our listeners are really actors as brands and search the Scriptures for the truth. This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez and you know what we have this a special group of people. We sometimes mention on this program. The look on our inner core. These are people that support us on a monthly basis and we have something really special. Coming up for our inner core members an opportunity for you to join the inner core as well.

Yet you benefit from the answers we give on the show would like to invite you to become a member of the inner core as an inner core member you'll receive a signed copy of the book core Christianity finding yourself in God story by Prof. Michael Horton exclusive updates and bonus content from the team. We join unicorn the month of March will send you an invitation to join us on a live virtual meeting with me some of the other members of the core team and other inner core members on Wednesday, April 13 at 8 PM Eastern time, 5 PM Pacific time to me an opportunity for you actually ask questions about the Bible and the Christian life as well as ask any questions you might have about the core Christianity mission organization so if you're at the inner inner core member already, please be on the lookout for an invitation. Your email and would love to have you join the inner core. Again, that event is coming up on April 13, 8 PM Eastern time. You can become an inner core member by signing up with a recurring donation of $25 or more and your support.

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Let's go to Linda in Avoca, Arkansas Linda, what's your question for pastor Israel taking my call and thank you for your question and not worth 22 and 20 square and he freeze on until they all ferret in the book of anthrax the disciples to go along and wait for the Holy Spirit to come on yes Linda that's I think a good observation that you've made there and so the question is, what's the difference. Is there any difference between those those two events you have Jesus appearing to his disciples in John chapter 20 breathing on them and saying receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them.

If you withhold forgiveness for many it is withheld just seems like he's endowing them here with with authority. With this apostolic authority as they go forth as his representatives in the world but then you also have is as you know in the book of acts and ask chapter 2. Specifically, the day of Pentecost in and of course that the the word of Jesus to his disciples to wait for the promise of the father, the gift of the Holy Spirit, and so one thing I think it's is there's no contradiction here and there. There are some people who will say what happened next 20 is assertively Eric sees me, and in John chapter 20 is a sort of endowment of authority, office breathing on them. Anointing them with the Holy Spirit and then and then there's something else distinct.

It's taking place on the day of Pentecost that the giving of the spirit did the whole church. The pouring out of the Holy Spirit in line with what Joel had prophesied in Joel chapter 2 there. Others will say will this is this is just sort of a foretaste one Jesus revealing to his disciples that the spirit comes from him. Proceeds from him as the father. As with the father and and that what you have here is is a sort of preparation or for foretaste of what was to come there shortly.

On the day of Pentecost, but I'm united we look at both these passages and say yes Jesus of one appeared to his disciples after his resurrection breathed on them said be filled with the Holy Spirit receive the Holy Spirit but also setting anyway for the promise of the father.

Something else that that's that's coming and that was the day of Pentecost. And so I view those is as though the way I personally take it is in the Odyssey two distinct events, but that the first and in John chapter 20 is the sort of foretaste this preparation for what was coming in acts chapter 2, and so God bless you that you know there's no there's really no contradiction.

There is just these distinct things that are taking place in in the lives of the disciples is as you know there there following the Lord, and being sent out by him in his service, so God bless Linda your listing to core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez were taking your phone calls your questions about the Bible, the Christian life doctrine or theology or maybe some of your doubts that you have about the Christian faith. Give us a call right now, here's the number it's 833.core that's 1-833-843-2673. You can also email us your question any time our email addresses questions at core, Christianity.com just questions at core, Christianity.com Israel. Here's an email question from one of our listeners named Kelly.

She says my daughter is refusing to have a relationship with us because we are refusing to use the pronouns they them when referring to her. She claims to be a lesbian and transgender.

Some of our Christian friends say to go along with this because it would be showing her love and acceptance by our pastor says absolutely not, because it's not how God made her we are choosing to honor God over our relationship with her daughter at the recommendation of our pastor but it's heartbreaking for us. We have told her we love her and accept her choices but not to expect us to celebrate or affirm those choices. What should we do will Kelly had my my heart breaks you know when I think about this situation and its so close to home for you and II know you love your daughter and are concerned for her and so that the first thing I want to do is pray for you and and just invite all those who are listening to pray with me, for you and for your family. Gracious heavenly father we pray for Kelly and her family. We ask you oh God to be with her to give her wisdom to fill her with your spirits with compassion, with love with clarity Lord on on how to have conversations with her daughter that don't compromise your truth but but also are are full of grace and gentleness, or that her her daughter would know.

Obviously hurt her mother's love her families love but especially Lord God your love and would you dear God in heaven working her life would you open her eyes and her heart in her mind to receive the truth of your word the Lord would you would you do it. Only you can do in the situation and ministering to this family and and and being at work in Kelly and in her daughter. We pray in Jesus name, amen and amen.

Certainly I think not. Not a simple question. The first thing I would say is in of the apostle Paul in Colossians chapter 2 exhorted the Colossian church and he said in verse 16. Let know what our chief in verse eight see to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world and not according to Christ, see to it he said no one takes you captive by philosophy or empty deceit, and there is in our society today opening a lot of worldly thinking. A lot of bad philosophy a lot of empty deceit, according to human tradition on that. The question of identity, sexuality, gender mean, this is this is I think an area where we've really gone astray, and where many people have been taken captive to a worldly way of thinking to worldly ideologies and and we don't want to not reinforce those false ways of thinking and so I sympathize with you. You know in in terms of wanting to hold fast to the word and what what the Scriptures teach and yet at the same time, of course, wanting to keep that open door with your daughter and and to continue to have conversations with her intent to demonstrate your love for her.

The other passage of Scripture that comes to mind is what the apostle Paul said in second Timothy in second Timothy chapter 2 verse 24 the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach patiently enduring evil correcting his opponents with gentleness God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil after being captured by him to do his will. But I think with all of your interaction with your daughter you want to be characterized by that patient's by that gentleness still able to to disagree and this is where people have a really hard time. If you disagree with me if you just embrace and affirm everything I'm doing and you don't really love me, will that also is not true that's that's if that's a worldly way of thinking. You know the loop that the idea that love means affirming me in whatever I do will that's that's just that's just false.

There are decisions that people make all the time that are harmful detrimental to be wrong from for me to continue to just love you and that deserted to affirm what you're doing there. And so, so, of course read wheat we don't embrace that we don't buy into that as Christians and yet at the same time you we are wanting to be gentle you're wanting to continue to reach out to your daughter to express your love and at the end of the day. I just would say to me is what Paul says there in second Timothy praying, praying that God would grant repentance that the scales would fall off of your daughter's eyes and in in this area and that she would recognize the one you know who she is and I don't know if she's been baptized if she professes faith in Christ, but that that the idea of the truth of God, making us in his image and calling us to refit reflect him and his love and his beauty that that would be something that begins to shape her mind and her thinking, and so pray sister that the Lord would intervene that he would do the work that he can only do and continue to love your daughter to pursue right I don't think you need to be, you know, intentionally offensive, or saying you know, let me just let me just be over-the-top in in terms of disagreeing with you here know I think I think I'm with gentleness, with respect, as were called to throughout Scripture, you can disagree with her.

Continue to love her even if she thinks will that she maybe she defines love differently, but I know you continued to love her and as you do you pray that the Lord would do what only he can do in in causing his grace to break through and will join you in praying for that as well. Kelly God bless you some great counsel in a difficult situation. Thanks for that Israel. This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez's our phone lines are still open. If you have a question about the Bible or the Christian life will be taking calls for another five minutes or so at 833. The core is 833-843-2673 can also leave a voicemail on that number 24 hours a day. Let's go to Kevin calling in from Fayetteville, Arkansas Kevin what your question for pastor.

Israel. MacCallum was curious if you would shed some light on the date of cremation burial. We as Christians or as anyone here on earth exactly a mix of their mixed signals on what's right and what's wrong. If you just build a simple model that Kevin, thank you for that question.

Personally I don't believe that this is a matter of right and wrong.

I think that this is in there is liberty here for for a believer for an individual to say I'm choosing to be buried or I'm choosing to be cremated.

Now of course you know the Bible does have a high view of the body. God made all things, including our bodies and in this created world and and so we also want to make sure that you know where we are maintaining that have united their some people say what you're if you're cremated is that. Does that minimize the Bible's teaching or or go against the Bible's teaching about it. I just don't I don't I don't know that I would would go that far and I don't think that's the case I'm certainly I think one thing I would want to tell you is that you know that the weather you're buried or cremated cremated doesn't have any bearing on your eternal resting place in the sense that you know if you if you're cremated you can get into heaven.

That kind of a thing. It is in our our our the manner of our burial that gives us hope in the afterlife and the resurrection of the dead. The life of the world to come its whether or not we believe in Jesus. Now whether or not we've received him, the forgiveness of our sins experienced his grace presently and so that's what I I try to emphasizes their some people were concerned with OI that you know I don't I don't want to make God angry with with this sort of final act as a will will right now is, is when we when we have to deal with and and and resolve the, the, the issue of in a delight to have a relationship with God and my in union with Christ by faith in him that that's the most important thing. And so with regard to cremation burial. I would say to Kevin that that you have liberty here and in your family is liberty here to think about this, and to say we think this this decision.

For these reasons is going to be is to be the best for us and I think that you can do that with a clear conscience. God bless Kevin we also have a core question on this topic because we do receive a lot of calls about the cremation question.

The question is called can a Christian be cremated. You can find on our website by going to core Christianity.com/questions. Again, that's core, Christianity.com/questions. Let's go to voicemail from one of our callers.

This is from Natalie calling and I'm wondering because I maintain Bible studies and thinking about rank might have been learning, teaching, and just I'm not sure about the theology is this Monday night. How can I truthfully also gently show them good resources that he's not quite Christian community is assessing a Bible study setting a Natalie God bless you. First let me just say we would love to send you some resources if you get a hold of us.

Natalie maybe maybe shoot us an email and let us know who you are. Would love that to send you some free Bible study resources that you could use for your group and what it what a joy it would be to encourage you and partner with you in that way and I hear you had conversations even with people my own church who have have wrestled with this and in years past, and other churches within a Bible study and in the wrestling with the content.

The material they feel like I don't know that this is totally faithful to God's word. Why think like you said what you want to be gentle. Obviously it's is not helpful just to say this is this is dumb.

You guys are all weird for wanting to study this know I think with gentleness, we can look at the text of Scripture and and how it's being presented in say is this the right way to go about it and usually will. The good thing about these kinds of studies is there's frequently a lot of discussion and interaction and I would say use that as an opportunity to lead to to walk towards a better understanding of the Scriptures, and this is something you see throughout the New Testament. I think of Priscilla in the book of acts in acts 18 we read in verse 24, a Jew named Apollo's and a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus and he was an eloquent man competent in the Scriptures, and he had been instructed in the way of the Lord and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John, he began to speak boldly in the synagogue.

But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately and it sounds to me. Natalie like that's exactly what you want to do is you you as you are in these groups in your hearing. Teaching maybe from your Bible study leader you want to be able to explain the word of God more accurately and so maybe that happens in the context of the study or maybe like Priscilla and Aquila. Here you you grab coffee with the Bible study leader you need take him aside and in you, ask questions and you present another perspective. It is so important for us friends as we study the Bible that we are doing so with humility, but there were also you know interpreting the Scriptures accurately correctly that were rightly dividing the word of truth.

There is so much twisting of the Scripture out there brothers and sisters, we need to head to that we don't want that that the descriptors to be twisted our hands. Instead, we want to hear the word of God as it was meant to be heard and understand according to its context, and so God bless you, Natalie, and in doing that.

May the Lord bless you and these conversations that you're going to be having. Thanks for listening to core Christianity request your copy of today's special offer.

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