Can the Bible Be Used to Cure Anxiety and Depression?

Can the Bible be used to cure anxiety and depression.

That's just one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity by Bill Meyer along with pastor Gabriel 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. Here's our phone number it's 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673. You can also post your question on one of our social media sites you can email us your question at questions at core, Christianity.com. We also have a YouTube channel. Our cameras have been down for the last week or two because of a break in here at our offices but we hope to have us new cameras ready to go by tomorrow or Wednesday so you can actually see a drill and his cool new outfit on it. There's no cool new appetites. The same shirts I wear all the time so so I regularly really cool new hat today will you wear a hat today because I have the cameras are in here so I can units casual Monday for me get away with exactly but the hat will be gone probably by Wednesday or whenever the cameras are operational, so be watching for. By the way, you can send us a message or through our YouTube channel.

Even though we just got a still photo up there right now. Just go to the YouTube channel and shoot a drill a message that way and you can listen to the audio as well. With voicemail from one of our listeners. This came in last week from Anna OR all all direction. Thank you so much for your ministry you learn so much for that encouragement. So Jesus is talking about is coming there in Mark chapter 13 talks about being vigilant and watchful, staying awake, I mean if he was speaking literally here. I'll tell you who the most sanctified people on the planet would be would be new moms and I could save four-month-old in our home who is not giving us a lot of sleep, especially my wife and so all you move new moms out there who are staying awake. God bless you. But that's not what Jesus is talking about there in Mark chapter 13.

This is more of a of a metaphor of the picture, being vigilant, watchful against temptation against deception.

Actually, you know, one of the things I say this is just a really important point when it comes to interpreting the Bible that the most helpful aid to interpreting Scripture is the Scripture itself so we want to let Scripture interpret Scripture and the apostle Paul when he talks about the coming of the Lord the day of the Lord in first Thessalonians chapter 5 he uses this same imagery of watchfulness of staying awake, and he says will just begin in verse two, first Thessalonians chapter 5 verse two for you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night, nowhere to get that that imagery from he gets it from Jesus when Jesus talks about is coming. While people are saying there is peace and security, then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness brothers for that day to surprise you like a thief that a comfort so many people may think about the coming of the Lord. They're terrified there anxious yeah I'm a believer but we know what's going to happen to me will here is Paul right of the Thessalonians, and encouraging them singlet this day. If you are in Christ, if you belong to him. It's not going to overtake you as as a thief, for you are all children of light. Children of the day. We are not of the night of the darkness. So then let us not sleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.

For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love and for a helmet the hope of salvation, and so he sing look at being watchful being awake.

It's living in the light it, it's being the people of the day if you will be the third imagery of light and darkness, good and evil living, as those who are no longer in darkness sister those who have put on Christ that that the breastplate here of faith and love, the helmet of salvation.

That's how were called to live and to walk.

It doesn't mean you don't want to get a full night of sleep. In fact, I would encourage you to do that so that you're not tired during the day and so that that's what Jesus says is getting at. And that's what Paul helps us to understand there in first Thessalonians chapter 5, you know there are a lot of people that are spiritually asleep these days and maybe him for a rude awakening. Would you agree I I would gather there is this sort of right then we just coming off of the celebration of Easter, the reality of Christ's resurrection from the dead.

There are so many people who totally missing who who you just a craft spirituality for themselves in this thing works for you. This is what works for me, but we are walking in darkness. We need the light of Christ in light of his resurrection to guide us your listing to core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. We would love to hear from you.

Our phone lines are open right now. Here's the number it's 833 the core that's 833-843-2673 I mentioned that our YouTube channel is backup will be back up and running with her cameras probably tomorrow or Wednesday. Got a nice note from jerk Jerome who was listening in the Philippines. He says he's looking forward to our YouTube channel began back so thank you Jerome for being one of our regular listeners. I guess I should say YouTube viewers by the way, we have a great new resource we want to tell you about today.

We get a lot of questions about heaven on this program and to answer those questions, we are offering this free resource to you today yes called seven things you need to know about heaven and it is completely free to one of the greatest topics a Christian can think about is our everlasting life with Christ.

It's what helps us from striving after the things of this world.

We don't need to do hunger for material possessions for power for ease and comfort. Why, because Christ is secured for us and everlasting kingdom where we are co-heirs with him. Unfortunately, lots of folks today ignore this truth and try to turn this world into their own paradise and others try to learn about heaven from people who supposedly were taken there in dreams, but all this fall short of what the Bible actually says about heaven. That's why we created this resource so you can have a biblical view of heaven so important to know what the Bible has to say about heaven and what we have to look forward to as believers in Christ, and you can go to our website right now and find mad at core, Christianity.com/offers again core Christianity.com/offers look for seven things you need to know about heaven all our phone lines are open will be taking your calls about the Bible and the Christian life for the next 15 minutes or so.

So pick up your phone.

If you have a question for Israel about the doctrine and theology.

Maybe you have some doubts about the Christian faith. Maybe you consider yourself to be an agnostic or an atheist just come stumbled on the show and you have a question for Israel.

Feel free to give us a call 833. The core 833. The core let's go to Leland in St. Louis, Missouri Leland what your question for pastor. Israel will highly lintel I like to know the gluteal year were actually interview, ask the question because the Bible states leads bit key tool was very clear to Q I'm thinking that leads to Is that that is Old Testament who were believers. Okay this is a holding set to want to do that Jesus went to the other establishes the supplements that and I want to know if he actually did he actually go to jail because the first said he went to Whistler.

The Christian state that in Christ so that that would be in paradise out with the letter thief went out I was. If the Bible clear. Personally, if the Bible clear that he completely screeching. It hey Leland, thank you for that. That question yet. You gotta be real careful. We talk about this.

This idea of Christ going to hell now course, we've gone this question before related to the apostles Creed and a one of the lines there in the apostles Creed.

He descended into hell bent. So some people will and this is what I what I often will say any preacher or person who says Jesus suffered in hell that is that he died on the cross and then he had to go for three days to suffer the torments of hell if you will. And then he rose again from the did that. That's just ruled out from the get go. That's not something that the Christians of ever believed or taught.

But there are others will say will know there there was this dissent and really it was about Christ vindication proclaiming his victory over the grave. It's not that he was giving people a second chance at salvation. That would be incorrect.

Although there are some people who have taken that view that that is not what the Scriptures teach we need take the whole Bible together really it did the passage that you referenced was Ephesians chapter 4 where it talks about that the wondrous workmate of the focus in Ephesians 4 is the one body that's being built up in unity in faith and in love. Paul says in verse four there is one body and one spirit, just as you were called to one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and father of all who is overall and through all and in all but grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore, it says when he ascended on high heat.

He let a host of captives and gave gifts to men. Not here.

Christ is is depicted is a quote from the Psalms as victorious as it is this sort of, but the ascension is his victory march if you will, over the over the conquered foes is is captives.

I think there specifically that the evil one, and his hosts who have been conquered and then it says in verse nine, saying he ascended, what does it mean but that he also descended into the lower regions of the earth. He who descended is the one who also ascended far above the heavens, that he might fill all things. And so is that dissent there that I think your you're referring to. That's not descending to preach a second gospel of salvation to people. It is descending to proclaim his victory over the grave.

The harrowing of hell if you will.

And then there are other passages I think that that help to corroborate this you read in first Peter chapter 3 where it talks about Christ going in proclaiming to the spirits in prison. Probably there when you when you cross reference that with second Peter chapter 2 verses four and five and June 6. Probably there proclaiming his victory over that the, the, the wicked spirited. I think referring to the evil spirits in the days of Noah think it way back in the book of Genesis and so you know controversy will tax and in the way it's been interpreted, but we want to steer clear from anything that would suggest that Christ suffered in hell or that he was offering people who had died already a second chance of salvation who were who were in houses like theirs is a second chance theology that's not what he was doing after his death. The dissent was a picture of his proclaiming victory over the angelic hosts over over over the grave and and rising again and ascending into heaven as this victorious king and conquering warrior if you will. God bless Leland thank you for that question. So you're saying there's no get out of hell free card available. Is that what you say no. I mean what we need is Jesus to be united to Christ, and that sometimes people will will and it's interesting to use that language bill because I think sometimes you know people look at things like the quote of quote sinners prayer me know if I just do this if there's this formula that I can go through and that'll be my golden ticket not go through these motions, and boom, to be welcomed into the presence of God.

But that's that know that's that's not how it works.

We need to trust in Christ to believe on him and in believing in him what were united to him, his spirit fills us in an he's the one who brings us up with him. It's in him that were seated in the heavenly's and so it is that the key is our relationship to Jesus Christ.

Some great words there. Thank you for that April.

This is core Christianity with pastor Adm. Sanchez were still taking your calls if you got a question about the Bible or the Christian life. Or maybe how you know your Christian walk intersects with what's happening in today's culture. There are a lot of challenges right now in our society. Maybe you have a question about how your faith fits so give us a call 833-843-2673. That's 833. The core is a voicemail that came in from one of our callers in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

This is from José needed another Bible is verses that life is so hard. The Lord knows are given everything to him because to him that we still have this fear that just overpowers a heaven sleep night and I really don't like medicine because it makes me a person I don't feel safe with medicine anymore and am trying to give my life to God in everything I do. I just want to overcome this dieting situation.

How have strength like a father, I thank you José.

Thank you for your question brother. The first thing I want to do is just take a moment to pray for you. I can tell that this weighs heavily upon you, so I want to pray for you and I want to buy all of our listeners to join me in praying right now for José gracious heavenly father we lift José up to you. Who is wrestling with anxiety and fear.

Lord we ask that your spirit would be at work in his life in a powerful way that you would bring him peace that you would come his anxious heart. You would also Lord surround him with people who can encourage him and help him, Lord, and in trying to determine what what what the best course of action for him is Lord in trying to address this issue. I asked that you would give him wisdom. I pray Lord that you would guide him and just ask father that in in these days he would be able to draw near to you and that he would experience the peace that comes from you and from your son Jesus, whose name we pray. Amen as I have been there them. And there are a couple of ways to think about this one.

It is clear that in Scripture there is a kind of sinful anxiety that comes as a result of a preoccupation with this world focus so much on this world that were full of anxiety and fear. And I think that's what Jesus was talking about in places like Matthew chapter 6 verse 25, which is therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what will you put on.

Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing. In other words, he says don't be so preoccupied with this world and its goods that you are you are kept from the peace that God wants you to have an end from trusting in the Lord. There a lot of people me think of the parable of the soils of Jesus tilting of those who with the desires for riches that cares of this world choke out the seed of God's word so that that people you know in in in the Christian let it become fruitless and just think that they are so derailed by fear and by anxiety. That's what Jesus is getting out there.

Also, the apostle Paul in Philippians chapter 4. Right again. He gives another expectation similar to this verse six. Do not be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus, so there are some people who they do, they fall into the trap of sinful anxiety where they're not trusting God they're not coming before the Lord, seeking him, making their their prayers, their requests made known to him, experiencing his peace and and and for some were listening that that might be you you you need to surrender to the Lord and and to heed Jesus's words there in Matthew chapter 6. Paul's words in Philippians there as well. But what we can also differentiate between that and I think something like an anxiety disorder great in the same way that I wouldn't say and you can go to the Bible just to have your dear your cancer cures can just read these Bible verses in your cancer will go in though that's not how it works. Can God miraculously heal cancer yeah if if it's in his will.

Certainly we can pray for that we can pray for the Lord to to deal with and bring healing with areas of mental health issues and you think of depression you think of an anxiety disorder but I wouldn't identify that as I said in the me know that would be a way of putting I think an extra burden on an individual who struggling with with the real mental health issue and this is where I think a good doctor can be helpful in sort of wading through you know what is it that I'm experiencing here is this is this more than just a sort of meal anxiety that people can experience because they're not trusting in God and his word is this is something deeper than that. Is this is this a mental health condition, and I think Bill you might even be able to speak to this as well.

Right when you know I think his question is, is excellent and in your right there's different types of anxiety. If it's a biological anxiety that involves brain chemistry. That's a very different type of anxiety than you were talking about with the worries, the cares of this world.

Yes I would say to José get that evaluated by a professional. He mentioned being concerned about medicine and on the one hand I can understand what he saying because some of the antianxiety medications can be very addictive. On the other hand, there are some very safe antidepressant medications that have an antianxiety component. They're not addictive. They won't change his personality. They won't alter him in any way, but they'll help him deal with those feelings of anxiety that well up within them so that something that I would suggest that he pursue you. Thank you José. I pray that that's encouraging for you. So this'll, let me just to sum it up were saying here is one minute. It sounds to me like this might be something that that's deeper than just the general anxiety that Jesus is speaking of in places like Matthew chapter 6 where you're going to want to get some maybe some some more professional help from from a doctor. I'd appreciate Bill, your comment there that there there some other medications. It maybe just need to try try something different and see what works for you works for your body and in the midst of everything I was a continuing to go to the Lord and ask God for guidance for wisdom. If it is an issue where it's likely that either I need to repent of something here asked that the spirit of God to illuminate that in your mind and your heart and and to give you that piece you know if if this is indeed if you have is that like to give that piece that Paul talked about when he wrote to the Philippians and and may the Lord be with you brother God bless you and thank you for giving us a call.

Thank you José. We appreciate you.

This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez, just a reminder we have this wonderful free booklet on heaven. It's called seven things you need to know about heaven.

It's a free download. You can find that by going to core Christianity.com/offers and look for seven things you need to know about heaven, but we do receive emails here at core, Christianity, and Rob says I'm fairly certain that my pastor was also my boss is having at best and inappropriate and unhealthy relationship with an unmarried female staff member or at worst a full on affair. I've seen his vehicle at her home on multiple occasions when he told me he was somewhere else.

I've also received text from others who spotted his vehicle there as well as emails from local hotels confirming his reservations, pastors, and at least one elder have confronted him about this, but to no avail. What should I do as a staff member and someone who reports to him only man really sorry to hear about this situation. I do think about me.

I'm glad hit something. Some people have confronted him already. It sounds to me like if this is something that's that's persisting yeah that I mean II think further concentrate the confrontation addressing is amazing what what the apostle Paul told Peter according to Galatians chapter 2 you're not walking in step with the gospel.

Why because he was doing things he was living in ways that were not in line with what he confessed her or profess to believe this was a different issue or when Peter was, not willing to sit and eat with Gentiles because he was afraid of certain Jews, but this is a serious thing a really serious thing sounds like maybe there are some inappropriate relationships are sound like there's already been some deception in terms of, you know, failure to be in one place and and then not being there. So these are these are pretty big red flag sums I'm surprised to hear that he's already been confronted, but hasn't been addressed so might be that there is there is an issue but is more of a systemic issue in the church where you have an individual has a lot of power and the accountability structure. That said, there may be other pastors.

The other elders. They're not able to speak into this individual's life. That's to me the sign of an unhealthy system.

It's a probably means something deeper needs to be addressed there and in obviously if you're seeing things the these red flags and you bring it up. You try to address it, but you just get shut down. That too is is a really really big problem we wait we have to take this seriously and in one of the things that Paul tells Timothy in first Timothy three and Titus chapter 1 he talks about elders being above reproach and the importance of that because the way they live, the things that they do reflects on the church and in on the ministry of the word and in so this is a serious thing.

I pray that the Lord gives you guidance, but it sounds to me like either either something is going to change or you should probably find a new church in the South some seriously unhealthy things going on there and not a lot of accountability and so brothers and sisters that it is an issue rightly we see these things happening in the church, but that doesn't mean that we can run away from the church or neglect good churches, solid churches that are faithfully teaching the word of God where there is accountability when incurs that for all of you. Thanks for listening to core Christianity request your copy of today's special offer.

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