How Should the Church Care for Women Who Think Getting an Abortion Is Their Only Option?

How should the church care for women who are thinking about getting an abortion best is one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity high on 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.

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Here's a voicemail from one of our listeners named Marcos God.

People here are very, but I might need another one tonight young lady asked my number and told her. Bladder, but I have every right now it out of my the be different and I want to know how to answer the questions are popping up in my Marcos hey thank you for that question brother I would I would say run that don't don't mess around. This is serious stuff and just first to your question. Does God tempt me and them is God putting this other woman in my life did tempt me remember what James said in James chapter 1 verse 13 let no one say when he is tempted I am being tempted by God for God cannot be tempted with evil and he himself tempts no one but each person is tempted when he is lured away and enticed by his own desire, then desire when it is conceived gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is fully grown brings forth death and to let me just say what it is is it's our own internal sinful desires that we have wood led astray by those desires, not God who is tempting you to sin, it's, it's the sin inside of us is the indwelling sin. And you don't want to give it.

I don't know give any place to that don't play with that. Don't entertain that because it leads to death and and that's always how how sin works. It promises a lot, seems exciting, but in the end it's bitter. It's like ashes in your mouth it leads to death and to destruction and to pain for you and for the people that you love for your family and so I would plead with you and with everyone listening me when we experience these kinds of things is you know it just just run from the effect is really interesting throughout Scripture were thinking of the battle with Tim Tatian I think there are two strategies. The Bible says we have to use and in the first one is sort of counterintuitive. The first strategy to facing temptation is retreat fully run you the story of Joseph with Potiphar's wife.

In Genesis chapter 39 at what happens. She's she's coming on to him and what he do. He runs away.

I gotta get out of here. I'm not to give them any chance to this exactly what what Bob Paul tells Timothy in second Timothy. It is an interesting tech second Timothy chapter 2 verse 20 2E sensitivity so flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace flee run from those those those passions of sinful passions just retreat that I love the Bible says is because it didn't they stay and try to fight you know don't don't don't be confident in yourself and your own ability.

Don't entertain the thought just don't don't put yourself in situations where where you can have that temptation you want to you want to honor your spouse and you want to honor the Lord in everything that you do. The second strategy is you familiar with this is is a scorched earth policy against Tim Tatian. It was popularized during the second world war and end at various points in in history is essentially just that removing all of the provisions for for for war for battle for life, that the enemy can't use them. Now you scorch the earth and when it comes to temptations in the apostle Paul says in Romans believers chapter. Chapter 13 give no provision for the flesh. In other words, what were you where you find temptation coming to you in your life for those places of temptation just remove yourself from them. Don't put any confidence in the flesh. Don't give yourself any provision there we have to lean not on our own strength but on the strength that God gives in the grace of his spirit and so know God is not tempting you and you are called to exercise wisdom and to flee from temptation and to provide no provision for the flesh. Bless you Marcos some great counsel thinks that a drill this is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez.

Our phone lines are open right now. If you have a question about the Bible, the Christian life. Maybe a how your faith intersects with what's going on in today's culture considers a lot of tension right there and maybe you have doubts about the Christian faith would be open to receiving calls if you consider yourself to be an agnostic or an atheist and have some questions for a drill on that. Here's the phone number is 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 let's go to a voicemail received from one of our listeners. This is from Kurt. I'm wondering, with recent news about the parent decision of the court to rule will be weighed. You know how can a church step publishing the response be to maybe helping care for women who feel vulnerable and feel like getting an abortion as their only option is what to do with an unwanted or unplanned pregnancy.

You yes so important right like I like.

I think this is something that we should be grateful for. Obviously, like I believe that one of the jobs of the civil government is to promote justice for for for for people and for the vulnerable, especially, and the unborn are extremely vulnerable in our society, and so any any any any law that would promote justice, care for the unwanted II think is a good thing going to go further than that, as you're saying you know that as the church in terms of caring for these children through things like adoption.

I artfully say recently like a bit the next step is that we can finally make adoption cheaper. Adoption is so expensive, cost prohibitive for so many people that we have to think about ways we can help each other in and help, especially as you say, those who feel like they're in this position, where and I have to get I have to get an abortion. Of course some of it I think is is is teaching. Teaching by the sanctity of life teaching about you know God's will for for children God's care of us.

II love me anytime I think about this question to go to Psalm 139 where were David is talking verse 13 he says for you speaking to God formed my inward parts you needed me together in my mother's womb. I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works, my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth your eyes saw my unformed substance in your book were written every one of them. The days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them talk about the beauty and in the mystery, even of what's what's happening there in in Psalm 139 using God, you form me you needed me together in my mother's womb that the baby that's growing in your womb is as a person. God is knitting that person together and I think there is a lie. Out there that says oh, this is just a clump of cells in a not to worry about it. That is not in a real person doesn't become a real person tilt that the babies born that can be just as it doesn't make any sense at all is not grounded in anything biologically to sort of this this idea that we get to choose or decide when somebody becomes a person know at the moment of conception.

You have your everything that it's that's needed. This is a person being woven together, knit together by guidance. I think a part of it is teaching, coming alongside of offering help resources and I'm grateful for many of the pregnancy care clinics that are out there that provide no free ultrasounds and in screenings and resources for for mothers who are in need a really wonderful another. A lot of Christians that volunteer in in those care clinics in and who help walk with mother often have a single mother who is wrestling through these things. It is trying to figure out what to do and then they're able to come alongside given ultrasound in helper since he had. This is a precious child and we're here to support you and to help you in whatever way that we can when we want to plug you in and get you connected with resources and I think that's what we can do as the churches is not just same woman would be to praise God for for things like them and what was potentially going to have them pray that that that happens. But we also want to mobilize in the okay. How can we come alongside of these people feel like they don't have any help, and help them and care for them and care for their children as well.

I think that's the part of what God calls us to.

And so maybe volunteering in in some of those pregnancy care clinics for you to be able to engage with these very mothers would be a good start. Consider doing something like that and and pray that the Lord gives you more opportunities to to serve those who are in need.

Thanks for your question Kurt, thanks for that, a drill, this is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez you know abortion is a big controversy in our culture right now, so was homosexuality and one of the things we often receive calls about here at core Christianity is the gay and lesbian issues, even things like a gay and lesbian marriage and so many young people are confused about that.

We've actually prepared a wonderful resource for you that would like to offer you today you have villages you were saying you different people in different situations. Varying perspectives have asked us questions about the Bible's teaching are related to the subject related homosexuality is a greater resource over core, Christianity.com called 10 things you need to know about the Bible and homosexuality and it's free. When you sign up for our weekly newsletter. We know this is what you want of hot button issues in our in our culture today, and oftentimes in a week with an argument about these things and sometimes are not very helpful discussions. We want to have charitable helpful discussions around this ultimately going back to the teaching of the Bible. What God says in his word about this is literally made this resource and again you can get a hold of it over@corechristianity.com/offers to download 10 things you need to know about the Bible and homosexuality check out today core Christianity.com/offers. Of course you can call us for that resource or any one of our resources is our phone number it's 833. The core 1-833-843-2673. You can also call that number right now. If you have a question for Pastor Israel in our phone lines will be open for the next 10 minutes or so if you want to call us with your questions about the Bible Christian life doctrine theology, you name it. Let's go to liana from Orlando Florida.

I hope I said your name rightly on is that correct hey sister, thanks for calling.

What's your question okay, I'm thinking itself because right before I turn on the radio you were talking about and I had a vision and can we get in the situations of me.

I experienced a not so great and all of a sudden now you know he is on again and it's like peekaboo.

I'm back and rail. I like God help me, and you were saying about Ilsley in front like you were tempted like don't like you know being in a place where he would be maybe not answering at all, like, don't put myself in a situation where I'm tempted because I could tell myself you like to give.

And of course the flesh is weak, so my question following after daylight.

Perfect timing and hearing that my question is okay I get back in that moment. Okay, don't answer no me at the same place where an individual or joint alignment may be tempted.

How do I maintain not just for the moment I like daily how do I go about a sister man. Praise God for his providence and write like this is amazing your tuning in. Right when you need needed to hear that and I think that there is you know a couple places in script drug.

I read the first part of second Timothy chapter 2 in in that initial question, but if you keep reading there you know Paul tells Timothy to flee youthful temptations add something to that that I think we oftentimes miss second Timothy chapter 2 verse 22 flee youthful passions and is is not is running from the temptation and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart is what what we what we occupying our time with me. You've maybe heard the saying idle time is is the devil's workshop, you know, we just sort of media not doing anything were getting bored that's that's work temptation can oftentimes come in. I think of David David in in in the Old Testament, you know, when he fell into sin with Bathsheba it was was during the season when winking throughout the war and he's at home he's EM.

He should be out working but he's at home sort of lounging and relaxing and that was an open door for temptation for him. We need to be occupied with the pursuit of righteousness, faith, love and peace and the reality is temptation is always in the present itself.

We have to be vigilant on guard isn't at the exact thing that Jesus said to his disciples when he's praying in the garden of Gethsemane. In verse 4141 there falling asleep. He says to them, watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation because the spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak.

As we recognize our weakness, our need for God's help I need for God's provision in the sense of him supplying his spirit to give us strength as I think I think that's a good thing that you see so lean on God's provision and make no provision for the flesh, don't put yourself in a situation where you know it's it's not going to end up well and if that means not answering this guys calls then then I would say don't answer block his number remedy if it that door is been shot and it's clear this is not something that the Lord has for me this is not a relationship it was honoring to the Lord was difficult. It was painful sister. Set your eyes on Jesus, pursue faith, love, righteousness those things and that's a daily thing you think of how Jesus taught us to pray in Matthew chapter 6 he says one of the zebras lead me not into temptation but deliver me from evil is something we ask God every single day because we recognize our own weakness, our own need and that something that the Lord wants to help you with any encourage you in and as you grow in that and continue to draw near to Jesus by his grace. He'll sustain you heal, he'll be at work in your life by the power of the Holy Spirit to strengthen you in in your walk with him so I want to just take a moment right now sister to pray for you fork for God's grace to be poured out in your life for the filling of the Holy Spirit so that you might do these things is is the Lord calls us to and honor him in so doing, so father thank you so much that in your Providence Lord, our sister liana turn on the radio just at the at at the right time, and I pray for her Lord, would you give her wisdom and the filling of your Holy Spirit so that she might walk live in a manner that is pleasing to you, protecting the, the, the, the things that you called her to protect guarding her heart, Lord, and in a sense and fixing her eyes on you, pursuing you, and relationships that are honoring to you and I discussed you would bless her, Lord, that you would fill her with joy with the fruit of your Holy Spirit and God that you would continually sanctify hi, I thank you Lord for my sister and just pray that you would be with her.

In Jesus name Amen amen.

God bless you sister liana. Thanks so much for your call and again God's providence he returned them just at the right moment.

That's wonderful. This is core Christianity with pastor Adria Sanchez.

Let's go to Casey calling in from Seattle Casey what your question for a drill all around her current pronoun liana company is largely on and I got a really need to focus on gender fluidity in the perspective though I told I need you. I know my preferred pronoun bar and I'm wondering where I worry and value is something I can eat you intricate bikini. Think of the company culture Lord God by not I hold local deal on gender. I Casey, thank you always want these things. If it seems like is becoming more and more initially just that you had a conversation earlier in the week with with someone related to the exact same thing. It's interesting what are these, as this is wild is you know there's all this talk about diversity in an inclusivity inclusion but some perspectives are not really welcome more than me think about. For example, the Bible has to say about gender and sexuality and what we believe the Christian faith teaches which ultimately were were called to no matter what me that's that's the main thing is being faithful to God and to his word as I commend you and in wanting to do that now with regard to we know what their what their asking of you the same like a what what are your preferred pronouns. I know I would present them with a man so he even call me though that you think you can go about it in that way.

I don't know that you you need to go further than that. In this, but if it becomes an issue where there there binding your conscience and calling you to do things that are contrary to God's word. I think I think you can in in humility protest to say, look, this is this is what I believe as a Christian, and the fact of the matter is as as as believers I think are our beliefs and clean to those beliefs faithfully, according to the Scripture are going to be in some contexts, ruffle feathers and so I think I think we want we want to balance being gracious, being respectful, you're not not intentionally trying to stir up the pot while at the same time not compromising what we believe, according to the Scripture.

And I believe that if you do that if you're if you're if you're fixing your eyes on Lawrence and got only faithful to you. Help me to be faithful to you in the workplace to be a light in in this place of one of the ways I think we stand out as Christians today. As you know Casey is is in in just the distinct way in which we live related to these things right minute. It it shouldn't be that that out there, but the reality is it because of how things are going.

It seems more and more like this is that the minority view them in the view that the, the, you know people have had for the last you know several thousand years and now it's it's it's it's treated as if you know that the there's something traumatic with that, but there isn't always a being faithful to your convictions. According to Scripture, and at the same timing respectful of your neighbors there.

To the extent that you're not having to compromise your beliefs is is what I would try to do and just praying that the Lord brings peace in in that situation allows you to work there with a clear conscience and even uses you there as as a light for his word for the truth. In all, and ultimately for the gospel of Christ to shine through and so Casey, thank you and God bless you and and give you wisdom in this situation. Casey thanks so much for your call and for your heart and for wanting to follow God's word. This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez click the email question for you from Eric he says do I have to be baptized to participate in weekly communion at my church in the weekly bulletin it says all are invited to participate in communion. I've even had people within my church told me that everyone is welcome to take communion regardless of baptism. What do you think that I was just asked this question by someone in my church earlier in the week because usually when I'm when I'm administering Lord supper on Sunday mornings is a meal for Christians and are gonna say it for those of you who have been baptized in the name of the father and of the son of the Holy Spirit have professed faith in Jesus Christ. So on so forth. But, in other words, baptism is a prerequisite for taking the Lord's supper taking the Lord's supper prior to being baptism is is mixing there prior to been baptized is mixing mixing up your baptism, as is the sign in the sacrament of our entrance into the visible church, the family of God. The community of faith. If this is picture of new birth regeneration so that it comes first the Lord's supper is that nourishment that that sustaining grace if you will that we need throughout the Christian life but but it did take the Lord's supper without having been baptized is is wrong that's that's not the way it's supposed to be.

It mixes up the order of of the sacraments sought the pope yes you, you do need to be baptized in in. I think part to get that you know what what the apostle Paul says in verse contains 11 returns of examining ourselves discerning, rightly discerning the Lord's body and that that phrase they rightly discern the Lord's body can be taken a couple ways that we could be talking about the elements and in the Lord supper about the wine and the bread understanding what's happening there but it's also probably in the context of first Corinthians rightly discerning the Lord's body is in the church. There were divisions there in in Corinth, I think there's somewhat of a double entendre there in in that passage in first Corinthians 11. Recently we have a right understanding of the church, the body and the sacrament what were doing when we take the Lord's supper and who is a church made up of it's made up of the baptized, and so you need to be baptized prior to taking the Lord's supper in and if you have been baptized or taking Lexapro to talk to your pastor and then get baptized it's it's something God calls us to.

It's a sign of his grace, his love for you in Christ. Thanks for listening to core Christianity request your copy of today's special offer.

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