If Marriage is a Civil Union, Can Pastors Marry Same-Sex Couples?

This new episode of core Christianity was prerecorded. My pastor Mary's gay couples. What does the Bible say about that. That is one of the questions will be answering on today's edition of core Christianity why Abdul 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 with your question.

At 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 to get her voicemail. Feel free to leave a message. You can also post your question on our Facebook, Instagram or twitter accounts and you can always email us your question at questions@corechristianity.com first up today let's go to Glenn calling in from Missouri. Glenn what your question for pastor atrial computer all back about the demons that were cast out the fallen angels, it became demons first rebellion never offered any kind of great or for forgiveness of. They repented what they did or is something that that us humans were allowed to Glenn thanks for the question is an indication the Bible that they were given a chance to to be saved, that atonement was Berg provided for the Angels that kind of thing so that that the fallen angels could get back into God's good graces.

If you will affect just just a country or passages in the Bible seem to indicate that the fallen angels are being reserved for judgment. So I think of Jude verse six, the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling.

He is kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day there there. You know, this idea being reserved for God's judgment because of their rebellion. Also, another passage I think it makes it clear that that redemption does not extend to the Angels in the same way that it extends to us is found in Hebrews chapter 2 passage that people don't typically go to one having this discussion, but by the author.

The Hebrew says in chapter 2 verse 16 for Shirley. It is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. Another he there is, is Jesus therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people because he himself suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted and so right there. Having the author of Hebrews makes it very clear that Jesus is the mediator, the high priest, not for the angelic hosts in the same way that he is frustrated for human beings so that we might have communion with God having fallen away in sin and being be welcomed back into his presence of those two passages of Scripture. I think that speak to your question and I think they speak pretty clearly so God bless you Glenn thank you for giving us a call. Thanks for listening to core Christianity. This is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez and here's an email that came in from one of our listeners named Roxana. She says my pastor Mary's gay couples because he says that we all sin and that he does civil marriages for the law of the land. What you think about this line of reasoning. Yeah, you know II think one of the things that we're going to increasingly get a lot of pushback for as Christians in Emmett.

Is it something it's already happened. We see it all over the place, but it is just that the sexual ethic that we believe in.

According to Scripture, it so it's a different from what broader society culture has embraced so you know to believe that marriage should be between a man and a woman to believe that sex should be reserved for marriage. Those kinds of things. That's not very popular at all, and they're going to be people who don't agree with some of the majority of society doesn't agree with us and working have to hold fast, I think, to the teachings of Scripture to be faithful to God's word to being distinct in our Christian communities as holy communities.

Committees that are set apart that don't look like a reflect the rest of society. The rest of culture. I think it's one of one of the ways were where reserved as witnesses in society. If you will, but it sounds to me like this pastor is is trying to occupy the sort of gray area arena, saying, well, you know there there there.

They are not Christians. And yes, they're doing this and it just numb them just to do this is a civil marriage.

Part of me thinks it there's there's a real issue here in terms of what it is that were supporting or getting behind as Christian ministers and were communicating when we do those things. Sin brings God's judgment.

Sin is is destructive is terrible and I think this is something that we see throughout the teaching of the Scriptures very clearly. Manoj is quoting from Jude. They are speaking of the judgment on on fallen Angels and getting immediately after that passage talks with the judgment he came upon Sodom and Gomorrah but but but I think there's a real issue when we say what I don't do that. But I'm I don't have any problem you know giving a hearty approval to that fact. In Romans chapter 1 where Paul talks about same-sex relationships.

Homosexual relationships. He gives this stern rebuke. This warning related to God's judgment need easy speaking here in that context, and then in verse 20 is a since I did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.

They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice.

They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanders, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless.

Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them to do it we have to be very careful. You know that that we were not when giving approval to things, behaviors, practices, relationships this are signing off on on those things when in reality it striving people further and further away from the Lord.

And so we want to think about ways to communicate the grace of the gospel of the love of Jesus Christ for sinners. All kinds of sinners right in the.

The gospel is big enough for for all of them wanted communicate that clearly but in a way that doesn't undermine or compromise the truth or the Bible's sexual ethic and the teaching of Scripture on marriage on sex on relationships and so that that's what I would say and if if this is something that the other thing I would say is your best behavior. If he's able to marry a bunch of people outside of the church that just seems like it would also create issues. I felt distant. Now you speaking personally as a minister the gospel I stick to doing weddings for people within the church that I pastor because I want to know the people that I'm marrying.

I want to be able to encourage them and come alongside of them in marriage is such a big think such a beautiful thing that I think it's important that we take it seriously as ministers of the gospel and that were encouraging in and walking with individuals who want to get married. So just of marrying whoever I think this is something that I would also have questions about. So thank you for your question and God bless. We actually have a free resource that's related to this topic and would like to offer that to you today. It's called 10 things you need to know about the Bible and homosexuality. Yeah, yeah, I mean again when we we start talking about this subject.

There's so much more that can be said, and frankly that needs to be said and that's why we created this resource. We do hope to get a hold of it again.

It's over core, Christianity.com/offers and it's called 10 things you need to know about the Bible and homosexuality.

We know that there a lot of questions about this. We get them on the broadcast is as you've heard and so get a hold of this resource is yours and we want to keep encouraging you to grow in your understanding with the Scriptures teach again it's a free resource you can find it by going to core Christianity.com/offers.

Let's go back to the phones, and soul is on the phone from Milwaukee, Wisconsin on so what's your question for pastor. Israel will my life.

I will be dependent on other people. I used to be a Roman Catholic side and knowing now Christian. My question is I'm currently married to my wife and my why want to live the role the gospel Bible and I want to become head of household, but happiness to being any other people, and he has been hard for me what resources do you suggest that I could use for me to be able to become head in the house and follow our Christian marriage, a brother, God bless you in marriage and just in the Christian life as you continue to grow in your understanding of the gospel. My mind a meal, he goes to Paul's exultation. And in Ephesians chapter 5 husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish the same way, husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He loves his wife loves himself.

For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, and we are members of his body now.

I love those two words there. Jesus nourishes and cherishes his church and those are two things that God calls you to do brother for for your wife and in terms of leading net and I think taking the role as you know, the spiritual leader in your home.

I would encourage you not and I encourage every husband I've talked to many couples where you know the wife feels like man I wish Mike.

My husband was was more encouraging terms of let's get in the church. Let's pray together. Let's read the word together. Let's grow in Christ together. Oftentimes in marriages.

Husbands are to sit back and and just feel like I don't know about the whole spiritual thing in me and my wife is a real spiritual line.

I kind of am off over here.

I would just encourage you to one make sure that you have a healthy pursuit of Christ in your own life and that you're leaving your family and that prayer in the study of Scripture in being in church on Sunday on the Lord's day and and growing together in that in NSO. I think that's one way that you can it helpfully lead your family and ultimately if the Lord blesses you with children that that that those will be rhythms that you have in your life in your marriage with your with your children as well.

As you grow together in the word of God and in the grace of God. But remember, also, again we neatly think about leading as husbands in marriage it, it's that the picture is Jesus right.

Ephesians chapter 5.

And how did he lead.

It wasn't the sort of top-down authoritarian you know like meal from the top control type thing. It was, it was service. It was humble service, humble love give you think of what Paul tells the Philippians you know consider the needs of others is more important than your own. I think this is part of the way that you honor the Lord in your marriage as a husband is considering your wife's needs caring for her loving her serving her also and and growing together in the things of the Lord in leading and in Scripture reading in prayer in being in church and service to your neighbors to the people around you and the people in your church community. Those are all things that I would would encourage and recommend and and what I wanted to do is just take a brief moment to pray for you right now because I know that this is a real struggle.

We all have in in marriage for husbands and for wives and God. I think you know he is revealed in his word that he be wants her marriages to be good and honoring to him and and healthy and so I want to pray for that for you, brother, father, I thank you for for this question from and so Lord in and for the ways that you've been at work in his life behind Lord, knowing that he doesn't he doesn't want to depend so much on others, but he wants to be someone who is in nourish her and cherish her as your son Jesus is with his church.

We thank you for that beautiful picture. Lord Jesus nourishes and cherishes his church and that we have the privilege of being a part of that church and I pray that that my brother would understand more and more in his life that great work of your son Jesus that that great nourishing that great cherishing that great service sacrificial service that would shape him as a husband, loving his wife and caring for her in and considering her needs, Lord, even above his own. And as his family grows. Lord, if that should be in your will Lord that he would be able to do that to cultivate that kind of relationship and leading in prayer in the study of Scripture and church. Would you be with him. Would you bless him, which granted wisdom and fill him with your Holy Spirit. To that end, I pray in Jesus name, amen. And so, thanks so much for your call and for listening to core Christianity and the magic I appreciate his earnestness and thoughtfulness in asking that question. Thanks for the great advice there. Israel this is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. Let's go to Ryan from Florence, South Dakota, Ryan, thanks for hanging on what your question for atrial all weekend and my question is the father saw him in the Holy Ghost. I guess what I know and father son and Holy Ghost were three persons in one. All which to me there all previous papers and I guess my son-in-law see it that way. So I just am not sure who is right, trying to figure it out. Another version will Ryan think that question. I love getting questions on the doctrine of holy training. This program is called core Christianity because we want to talk about those core truths of the Christian faith truth that I think so. Oftentimes in the church we we forget about all we miss. We just don't don't fully understand, and certainly the doctrine of the holy Trinity is the very bull's-eye of the faith. This is who God is and also how God has revealed himself to us for our for our redemption for our salvation is of the proper way of talking about the Trinity and this is this is needed comes out of years and years and years of the church wrestling through the revelation that we have in Scripture. The old and new Testaments in the wiki how can we best articulate this in a way that is faithful to Scripture faithful to God and how he's revealed himself and doesn't undermine you know what what what's been revealed. The proper way is to talk about God as one. Deuteronomy 6 for hero Israel, the Lord is God, the Lord our God Lord is one, and to outstrip to this is this is made absolutely clear were monotheist.

We believe in one God, but you also have in Scripture.

The language of three distinct persons. The father the son and the Holy Spirit in their not the same person you think about Jesus that is baptism you know you have the voice of the father from heaven.

This is my beloved son, with whom I am well pleased you have the presence of the Holy Spirit were told there you have you have these three distinct persons and yet we believe that there God one in essence, undivided that were in essence what were talking about substance their equal in power and in glory so that the father is not in terms of of essence right you know over the sons that the son is subordinate has a lesser essence, if you will, than the father.

Another equal bear and yet there revealed to us is three distinct persons. Jesus, when he when he commanded his disciples to go into all the world to make disciples is baptized in the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit you have this language.

This trinitarian language throughout the New Testament, the language of father son and Holy Spirit.

Over and over again. The end of second Corinthians and seven Corinthians chapter 13 Paul gives the benediction.

If you will, to the churches is the blessing of God the father.

The that the fellowship of the Holy Spirit and the grace the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all and so that that trinitarian language, the language of three persons.

Is there throughout the pages of the Bible and so were were were trying to make sense of the fact that God is one and yet the father is God the son is God and the Holy Spirit is God, not three different gods same essence but three distinct persons different persons revealed to us by by their their relations to each other and that's what we see in Scripture and so we wouldn't say Ryan God is one person and three persons that would be a contradiction and naturally reject it. It's not. There's a contradiction in the doctrine of the trade were thing. There are three distinct persons and yet there one in essence and and in that sense 11 substance the holy Trinity, the Godhead and so so there's no contradiction there is a distinction but not a contradiction. Thank you for your question and love.

The love that you're having these conversations with your son-in-law about God and and theology would be proud to be able to talk with him about these things and may the Lord bless you guys. As you continue to dig into the word and and grow together. By the way just in terms of getting a deeper understanding of the doctrine of the tree. Maybe you can stay on the line. We continue this resource. The book core Christianity by Dr. Michael Horton has a whole section on the doctrine of the Trinity and I would love that to get that out to you as you keep studying the these things and and I know it will be a blessing to you. So God bless.

This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez, we do receive emails here and you can email us anytime with your question about faith in the Bible a doctrine theology. Here's the email address its questions at core, Christianity.com that's questions at core, Christianity.com here's a question from one of our listeners named Matt he says thank you so much for your ministry. It's been a huge blessing to me when I came back to Christ in 2018. After wondering for a long time core was really pivotal in being a huge encouragement and a strong foundation to lean on. I married but I'm unequally yoked and my wife does not share my faith. She knows that I'm a Christian and only vaguely so. And I haven't said too much about my faith or elaborated much on it. We spent the last nine months physically apart because of her work in a different country and while she was away. I also began to attend a really wonderful church at home here in the US but I'm not sure how to move forward and share this change in my life with my wife.

What should I do.

Well, let me first. Again, who bring a lot of this absolutely pray for you to because we know the situation here and would love to see your wife experience and know the grace of Jesus as well and so father, I want to pray for Matt and his marriage and ask Lord God that you would be with him.

Would you please give him wisdom, would you please help him, Lord, to clearly communicate in a way that's helpful and true to your word.

The, the promise the hope that we have in your son Jesus and I am pray for his wife. Lord, that she would experience a conviction of your Holy Spirit in her eyes would be opened and that she would know Jesus and the forgiveness of sins, and so would you be with him. Would you help them to continue to grow and I pray that they would be able to grow together in the faith and in a relationship with even as they grow as a couple and so please hear our prayers we pray God in Jesus name, amen it out but blatantly the question this quiz question was essentially asked by the Corinthian church to the apostle Paul and were were in marriages that are mixed marriages, meaning you know, the unequally yoked on a married someone who doesn't share my faith who isn't a believer and Paul says to them in verse 10 of verse 27 to the married I give this charge not I but the Lord, the wife should not separate from her husband. But if she does, she should remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband and the husband should not divorce his wife to the rest I say I not the Lord that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever and she consents to live with him he should not divorce or if any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever and he consents to live with her she should not divorce him for the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband.

Otherwise, your children would be unclean, but as it is they are holy. Now there's a lot there and I'm looking to get into everything in that passage, maybe we can another time, but specifically his his commentary that the unbelieving wife in this case, you know where your or your married the unbelieving wife is made holy by her believing husband now that doesn't mean I think that you know you're married to a non-Christian, and they have a ticket into heaven to just because they're married to you, that kind of thing. No, that's not what Paul is saying as it is a verb that you stare at it, to sanctify, to make holy and I think that the image is of you know through your relationship through the influence, you can have it. She's willing to be with you, me, you guys are are are married, you get to share the light in the love of Christ with her and so I think it's really important that you do do that you just clearly communicate about what God is doing in a minute.

You guys are having conversations as you go out on date night or whatever it is that you're doing. Being able to talk about what Christ is done in your life, not just what Christ is done in your life for you know is really good for me kind of thing that's often how we talk about Jesus but but who Jesus is and how that relates even to her and not just her but to everybody that's that's the reality that Christ is the Savior of the world and that he he he reveals his gospel the message goes out to everyone. He calls all people everywhere to repent, to believe in so you mean have this great opportunity to love your wife as Jesus loved the church if we can talk about a little bit earlier on the broadcast. You think of Ephesians, Paul says there me what she should be seeing in you is you know the grace of Christ. You know, growing in your own life, as the Lord draws you closer to him and and and I think that should actually make us obviously right is husband's better husbands, so she should benefit from Jesus in your life and that should be something she experiences and sees as you love her and sacrificially kindly and as you're speaking to her the truth of the gospel is you're communicating that according to Scripture and and that's what I would encourage you to do is to direct remain with her to be with her and pray that the Lord would use your relationship to open her eyes to his grace in her life to God bless thanks for listening to core Christianity request your copy of today's special offer.

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