What Should We Think About the Collapse of Hillsong Church?

What should we think about the collapse of Hillstone church masters.

One of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity why 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 book core that's 1-833-843-2673. You can also post your question on her Facebook, Instagram or twitter account and you can email us your question at questions at core, Christianity.com and it will. You said you had something you want to mention at the beginning of today's program.

Yeah well I mean people don't know this about me Bill, but between pastoral ministry and hosting core Christianity. I'm also really into music I love music and in particular country music and and I like to sing country music and I just accepted my first record deal.

Which is pretty exciting yet we were in Nashville not too long ago and doing some recording out there so you gonna want to be on the lookout for well my country music CD. It's going to be set on the is that on the April Fools' Day label. Yes, it is like the what get me but may not a lot of people were going well know that I'll make well that you can hear my voice so there probably thinking there's no way anyone would ever make by your CD taught imagining you in a cowboy hat and you know some bell bottom jeans right in the bowl yeah yeah thanks so some of our staff members want to hear a demo so maybe later, when rough year for sure okay are well. Let's get through a voicemail from one of her callers who are called earlier this week, this is Chris in Lebanon, Tennessee real organ every field people are is like if someone has uncovered and are hindering them from the miracle a thank you for that question Chris a couple of passages come to mind what I got.

I guess the first thing I would say is I do believe that God has and can and does even heal people who miraculously heal people who don't confess faith or believe in it and I think that God might do that just to demonstrate his power that the testimony of his grace, his goodness, I mean frankly look at the that the children of Israel under the old covenant the Old Testament all of the mighty signs that they saw the miracles that they witnessed and yet many of them did not believe did not have genuine faith, it will help. How is that even possible. Well, well, it was were told that many of them did not believe, and they perished in the wilderness, and so yeah sometimes God does do mighty things, and demonstrate his power in mighty ways.

Even before those who who don't accept his word, but there is this interesting scene.

The gospel of Mark in Mark chapter 6 where Jesus goes to Nazareth it in.

I think it also speaks to the question that you're asking Jesus when away from there came to his hometown and his disciples followed him in on the Sabbath day he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished saying where did this man get these things. What is the wisdom given to him.

How are such mighty works done by his hands. Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joseph's and Judas and Simon and are not his sisters here with us and they took offense at him. And Jesus said to them, a prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household and he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them and he marveled because of their unbelief. There is an example for you of unbelief boarding I am. That's too strong of a word, but we just keeping God from working, because I'm not knocking up but not you work your mind to do anything herein and elsewhere.

Also in the New Testament. I think of what James said in James chapter 5 where he's talking specifically about praying for healing and the confession of sin, and he says, is anyone among you suffering.

Let them pray. Is anyone cheerful let them sing praise. Is anyone among you sick let him 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 sick and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to one another and pray for one another and so there you have healing physical healing coupled together with you to look a call to confess sins, and in turn from them.

It's a look at here. Here's what I want to say that first God is free to do whatever he wants. He can, he can heal people miraculously, whether they're believers or not. Sometimes he demonstrates his power before nonbelievers in in miraculous ways as a testimony before them ordinarily rightly in Scripture, it seems like prayer and God's answer to prayers to tied together with faith in Jesus. Of course, talked about this. The author, the Hebrew says in Hebrews 11 that the one who comes to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him. And so were called to pray and to pray in faith and were told that the prayer of faith will raise up the sick one will heal the sick one, but God is the one who is free in all of this and so it everything has to happen according to his will and it's not always God's will to heal one of the concerns that I have is is there are some people that will teach that if if you haven't been healed, it's because you do have some sort of secret sin, it's your fault or because you don't have enough faith.

Again, it's your fault, but sometimes just God's will, and so we go to the Lord in faith and we ask for the things that that is placed upon our hearts and then we we trust him and say Lord you're in control you're sovereign and I'm looking to you and whether you can use this sickness in my life to further sanctify me or you're going to heal me and bring glory to your name. I am going to trust you and that's we want to call all of you to his will to trust the Lord to pray to the Lord with faith, but to trust the Lord. No matter what he decides I meant this is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez and if you have a question about the Bible or the Christian life. Our phone lines are open right now will be taking calls for the next 20 minutes or so, you can ask us about doctrine and theology can be if you got a doubt about the Christian faith. Maybe you consider yourself to be an agnostic or an atheist, were open to your questions as well.

Here's the phone number to call its 833.core that's 1-833-843-2673. Again, not hop on the phone right now want to say thank you to a special group of people we call our inner core and these are folks that support us on a monthly basis we actually have a special event coming up for inner core members later this month yeah were hoping to have a virtual meeting with all of our inner court members, and so if you join the inner core, you'll get an invitation to this meeting. It's in happen on April 13 at 8 PM Eastern time, 5 PM Pacific and were to come together that you have an opportunity to get to ask questions about the Bible about the Christian faith or just about the core Christianity team can it be joined by some of the other members of the team here and I just want to want to say thank you to all of you who have partnered with us. The intercourse of a group of people that donate monthly $25 or more and it's such an immense blessing for us were so grateful for all of you just want to encourage you as well.

And if if you're interested in joining the inner core bill will give you some more information on that nemesis. Special bonus on April 13. The interim will be previewing his country music album which would be a really special event for all Harleys just lost a lot of inner core members right there be light April Fools' Day. In case you missed the beginning of the program, but we are looking for that hate. Here's the date April 13 8 PM Eastern time, 5 PM Pacific and you can become an inner core member by signing up with the recurring donation of $25 or more. Your support allows us to continue sharing the gospel in answering the tough questions about the Christian faith were people all around the world.

To learn more about that.

Go to core Christianity.com/inner core that's core Christianity.com/inner core. Let's go back to the phones Bob is calling in from Bellevue, Nebraska Bob what your question for pastor. Israel July, I lost my fianc� to lung cancer and I just yell besides asking why what is a plan.

I am in a grief counseling group, but what what do you how do you deal with grief. I feel it.

She was came down with well we knew it. March 18 and she died July 27 so it didn't take long. So what is your feeling glad to hear that you're getting some grief counseling the wood to say that grief groups, those kinds of things are really helpful in these situations, you know, it is probably one of the most important things you can do Bob and I'm so glad that you are in a group recruit does a national organization called grief share. I know several people who have lost loved ones that been true that group and it can be so helpful in processing your grief and helping with the healing process. So Bob stick with that group. Share your feelings and and let those people pray for you and care for your so that's that's really key and Bob from from the perspective of faith. What Jesus gives us is he gives us hope in the faith in the face of death. That's what Jesus came to do is to to conquer sin and death. When Jesus rose again from the dead. He conquered death for all of his people. For all those who trust in him that that doesn't mean that we don't experience death still in the body before the believer. It's a coming into life and we have the hope also that one day our bodies will be race that doesn't minimize the pain, the grief and anger, even frustration that that you feel and and will feel for for a time and and and so II don't want to minimize that on. I think that's what's important for you to continue to get in into groups, and intimate together with others and to be able to share on but as you do that you can grieve and sorrow and have sorrow but not in a hopeless manner, and so I think of the passage of Scripture that that that we find in first Thessalonians chapter 4 it's an encouragement that God gives the St. Paul gave to a group of people who had experienced grief and and the loss of loved ones, and he says to them. We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that is, those who have died. This using a way of speaking about debt.

Those who are asleep is that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope for since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.

For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord. In other words, this is this is God's word himself to you to his people that we who are alive and are left until the coming of the Lord will not pursue precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel with the sound of the trumpet of God and the dead in Christ will rise first and we who are alive for left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words. Those words are meant to be an encouragement for all those in Christ, we have lost loved ones to be able to say yes I have grief and sorrow, but I'm not hopeless I'm not hopeless because Jesus conquered death, and I have the hope of eternal life and the resurrection of the body. In Jesus, not just for myself but also for my loved ones who have gone before me to be with the Lord. And so Bob may the Lord comfort you and bless you through his word and may you continue to to heal and to get the care that you need and I and I pray that you do whether God bless you Bob we will be praying for you here at core Christianity.

We do believe in praying for our listeners and the we know how tough that can be so thank you for sharing.

Thank you for listening. This is core Christianity with pastor Gabriel Sanchez. Our phone lines are open right now. If you have a question about the Bible or the Christian life will be taking calls for the next 10 minutes or so. Here's the phone number you might want to make. Make note of this. It's 1-833-843-2873.

You can also by the way, you can make. You can call Paul that you the spelled on your phone that is 833.

The core 833 the core I'm hoping people will actually put that on the refrigerator, a drill so that they have reference that the future, such a physical right now. Would love to receive your question.

We also get email questions and this one came in from a listener named Lanita and Israel. She says this I have a question about the things happening at Hill song church where leaders are being exposed for sin in their lives. Some Christians tell me that Jesus said, let him who is without sin cast the first stone that we shouldn't judge anybody and some draw parallels to King David. We committed horrible sins but is remembered as a man after God's heart how God has used broken simple people for his kingdom.

How do I balance this with the standard.

The New Testament puts on leaders in the church. Yeah you will that there is no contradiction there is a standard in the New Testament Gibbs for leaders in the church in first Timothy three and Titus chapter 1, and so when we see leaders compromising and and engaging in sin or in abusive behavior, and I think that's what's coming out with with some of the stories. I'm not just there at that church, but in in all sorts of churches a minute really is a tragedy and so one. Anyone who says to his is a Christian, you just get out you for another brother whose is sitting in an engaging and center sister in this way you will. You don't want to judge and will actually possible, says the opposite in first grade.

In chapter 5 he says it's our job to judge those within the church. Those who are professing faith and especially me all the more with with those who were teachers in the church were held to a higher standard.

James chapter 3, verse one. Don't let many of you become teachers, knowing that we will receive a stricter judgment from God. Primarily, James is speaking about their but also you know that there's a standard here you're called to live a certain way so that you don't bring reproach upon the name of Christ and in in the church and so it's it's important for us.

I think actually to judge not just to let these things, you know, get brushed under the rug, but to expose them. The apostle Paul said in Ephesians chapter 5 verse 11 take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness but instead expose them for it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light becomes visible for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore, it says away cosleeper and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you. I'm also reminded what the apostle Paul said in first Timothy chapter 5 verse 19 do not admit a charge against an elder, except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear now in a situation like this.

It seems like there just wasn't any accountability for a long time. No no rebuke that bad behavior was going on for a long period of time, and as a result you never really suffered as is the church of the church is the primary victim and in cases like this.

We oftentimes will focus on on pastoral leadership and all you know we should just forgive look at King David, so on and so forth. And in people give attention and care to that the that you know the the popular pastor when really we need to focus on the victims. We need to focus on the sheep the church the people who have been abused and not cared for and so so yeah, I mean that there there needs to be a process of of healing for this individual. But the focus needs to be on caring for the victims primarily and and removing the individuals who have been abusive from their positions of power positions of authority because they're not qualified and you know what will Paul says are you and you rebuke in the presence of also that the rest may fear to sobering reminder for all of us from me as a pastor and as a leader in the church. I.e. I see the season I think Lord have mercy reminder for all of us to be praying for our pastors to to make sure that there is good accountability structure in our own lives and in the lives of the people who are caring for our souls. According to the New Testament, and you don't do stuff like this. It grieves my heart.

But most of all, it grieves my heart for the church for the sheep who have been hurt and so pray for them on.

Pray that the Lord would bring healing and restoration and that he would minister to them and in this time. Thanks for the question. You know, a drill, you mentioned accountability and I know a lot of Christians complain about denominations, but one of the things that does happen in many denominations is a certain degree of oversight and accountability, and in this particular case it doesn't seem like like that happen. So it really is a tragedy absently made its way is one of the things that we all desperately need him, not just for it. For leaders, but for every single one of us as Christians, were not called to live in isolation. I heard a statistic not too long ago that it had to do with middle pastoral longevity, pastoral health and ministry in and they basically say look that the number one indicator of a ministry that's that's not to last long.

That's going downhill is there's just there's just no no real accountability know we really know is your isolated when you're isolated in your life and you think of of you know what what we read in the New Testament the evil one going about around seeking to devour someone is looking for us in isolation where there's no care there's no accountability there's no oversight. You put yourself in a dangerous position so we all need that bill. But certainly church leaders need that your listing to core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez and today we are recording a bonus episode of this program will be doing that right after our live program and was so weak organ to continue taking your calls, your questions for the next 40 minutes or so. So if you have a question about the Bible, the Christian life doctrine theology how your Christian walk intersects with what's happening in today's culture.

Call us in the next 40 minutes at this number 833, the court, that's 1-833-843-2673.

We would love to receive your question let's go to Katie calling in from Missouri.

Katie, what's your question for pastor.

Israel no not he cannot Rabelais yeah why I think everybody's in it.

Every pastor might give you different answer. I think a lot of people are intimidated Katie by the book of Revelation, meaning that there's a lot of apocalyptic imagery a lot of symbolism a lot of prophecies that they let a hard time deciphering and so they just think about him and avoid it doesn't seem practical to me right I get to preach that text to a group of people.

Let's go to the Gospels, or let's look at some even Old Testament narratives way more practical than the book of Revelation will people miss Katie and I think this is this is why they don't preach it is that the book of Revelation in a given to us by Jesus through the apostle John was meant to be a comfort to suffering believers.

That's what a lot of you will notice anything as it is. This is sort of like puzzle to unlock and they can't figure it out on the second to teach on it. Well, it will bid it sexy quite simple. It's this prophetic word that was speaking comfort to specifically the persecuted church in the first century and and so it it's meant to encourage believers in their faith. It's it's meant to fix their eyes on Christ and the worship that's taking place in heaven. It gives us glimpses of world history if you will, and in the boat. The battle that is taking place and so I think we really ought to teach on the book of Revelation and by the way, let me just take this opportunity to plug the 10 week Revelation Bible study that we have here at core Christianity, written by a friend and professor of mine, Dennis Johnson, which is an excellent resource and can Katie. Maybe if you stay on the line we can send you that that resource on the book of Revelation, because I think that'll help you as you study the book for yourself. God bless great Bible study. You can find that by the way core Christianity.com/Revelation if you want to check it out.

Let's go to Kathy calling in from Indiana. Kathy what your question for pastor. Israel told the truth.

Daniel however I'm not those of honestly think Christ will be raised when you immediately. Immediately the souls of believers are when we die work work work immediately. Our souls are made perfect in holiness and we enter into the presence of the Lord. Second Corinthians 5 verse eight says to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.

You also brought up the example of the thief on the cross. Paul in Philippians chapter 1 where he's talking about his death as I want to depart and be with Christ because that is far better, far better than anything on on this planet.

And so that there is every indication in the New Testament that when we die we don't just sort of sleep, unconsciously, that kind of a thing, but were in the presence of the Lord first extreme Hebrews chapter 12 as well gives a picture of the saints in heaven worshiping around the throne of God, so really everywhere in the New Testament makes this clear. So what about that language that we find in place the mean I was reading from first Thessalonians chapter 4 earlier. It talks about believers falling asleep. I think that that that that language in the New Testament is you just a relative eyes death for the believer, it is emphasizing the fact that death is not for us what it is for the world or what people think it is. It is in entering into life is arresting is a repose in the presence of the true and the living God. And so all the one amino who referred to death is for sleeping for believers also wrote all these other passages and in their very clear and so we let those clear passages help us to understand the ones that are less clear. And we have that hope Douglas thanks for listening to core Christianity request your copy of today's special offer. Visit us at core, Christianity.com and click on offers and the menu or call us at 1-833-843-2673.

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