How Should Churches Confront Pastors Who’ve Covered Up Sexual Abuse?

How should churches confront pastors who covered up sexual abuse that is one of the questions will be answering on today's edition of core Christianity will hi Abdul Meyer along with Pastor Israel Sanchez. This is the radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day and we would love to hear from you. If you have a question here's her phone number is 833. The Corps will be taking calls for the next 25 minutes or so. That's 1-833-843-2673 also post a question on one of our social media sites and of course you can always email us at questions at core, Christianity.com Federalist go to the phones right also got Kami on the phone from Fremont, Nebraska Kami what your question for Pastor Israel. Yes, my mother and I share what we've learned through the Bible and what we hurry at one time we had found a passage of verse. I believe in.

I think Revelation showing member where but the all nation.

Here the name of Jesus and then that's what I'm looking for a way to help me, that I agree. Really appreciate and so Kami I think of the passage are referring to is in Matthew chapter 24 where Jesus is talking about this time of judgment, and he says that the Gospels and go out to the whole world to all nations, and then the end will come is that the text referring to that passage okay so yeah I mean this is something that Jesus says were worth thinking about Matthew chapter 24 supports understand the context here in Matthew 24 begins with the disciples looking at the temple and they're just overwhelmed by the beauty of the temple. The Jewish historian Josephus just talks about about the temple at that time. How just glowed in the sunlight. It really was this this site to behold and so the disciples are probably walking by and they're seeing this in the same Lord.

Look at this majestic temple. And Jesus says truly I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down. And of course that happened just a few years later in 70 A.D. when Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans, and as he sat on the Mount of olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, tell us, when will these things be and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age.

And so this is a question that the disciples asked that launched Jesus into into his teaching here related to his coming and the end of the age and the destruction of the temple there in Jerusalem and one of the things that Jesus says in verse 14 is that the gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. And so there are couple of ways that people taking this some people take this is you know that the gospel is going out is recorded throughout the book of acts. In the end that's referred to is this this time of judgment, the specific time of judgment on Israel that was executed in 70 A.D., I think there's more to it than that. I think that there there is obviously talk of the destruction of Jerusalem. Here in Matthew 24, the disciples asked when is the temple going to be destroyed, but it seems like there's more to it than that. He's referring to this. This final last that we sometimes think eschatological coming, that the second coming of the Lord and that's can be proceeded by the gospel going out to the nations of the Gentiles the fullness of the Gentiles is as the apostle Paul says in Romans chapter 11 and so that's one of the things that's taking place right now. I'm Peter in in second Peter when he talks about the coming of the Lord is God is not slow about his promise to return, but he's being patient towards us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance, so right now it is is a time of preaching the gospel getting the word out so that people turn to Christ in repentance because there is coming a day, the day of judgment. The day of the second coming of Christ were there won't be any any more chance. Repentance is the time of judgment, and so that's that's really what we we have to understand, according to that end answer for it.

For our part part. I think it is realizing that the gospel is going to continue to be preached during this age, and then Christ will come. Thank you Kami for your question.

They Kami thanks so much for being a regular listener to core Christianity. We do appreciate you if you got a questions about the Bible, the Christian life may be about doctrine or theology or maybe you have doubts about the Christian faith were open to those questions as well. Here's our phone number is 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 let's go to Don and Kansas Don. What's your question for Israel. Jan Mike is the market was placed upon Cain after he killed Abel that Mark actually be grace is an interesting interesting questions. Were talking about Genesis chapter 4 and God has basically brought this judgment against Kane for murdering his brother and Cain says to the Lord in Genesis 413. My punishment is greater than I can bear. Behold, you have driven me today away from the ground and from your face I shall be hidden. I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.

And the Lord said to him, and not so if anyone kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him. Seven hope sevenfold. And the Lord put a mark on Cain less anyone who found him should attack him and I'm guessing Don that that's why you're here wondering in a will is this is this an act of God's grace God's kindness and and it wasn't.

I would say yes, and there is this the specific judgment.

There are consequences to Cain's sin shortly and in and then Scripture talks about King John speaks about Kane. Specifically, as is, we don't want to be like him. We don't want to love our brothers like Cain loved his brother and murdered him and so he set up and in the Bible is is a certain negative example. But we see even here, God's long-suffering and kindness.

In one sense, even though there's this judgment that's that's brought against him. There's also this this preservation, the kindness of the Lord and how often you know can each of us say in our own lives.

I'm doing better than I deserve from the Bible says that all of send and fallen short of the glory of God and that the wages of sin is death. It's God's gratuitous mercy that he allows us to continue to breathe and to experience all of the wonderful and good. No common grace gifts that he gives to us and those things should be for us. You know that calls to repentance calls to turn to him as Paul says in in the book of Romans. It's the kindness of God leads us to repentance. And one sense here. Yeah, God is exercising kindness towards Kane.

Even after he had committed this this terrible act. Thanks for your question on and I'm so thankful for that grace because you when I was 12 years old I broke my brothers arm and God forgive me for the bill. I don't want to get into that, so you broke your brother's arm waving railing or something was an accident. Total accident we were on a jungle gym, and that's the longest okay anyway he's he's fine today, but he's never live that down. By the way, he constantly reminds people this this is core Christianity with faster Israel Sanchez at our phone lines are open. If you have a question about the Bible or the Christian life may be how your Christian walk intersects with today's culture and all the challenges that brings here's our phone number is 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 will be taking calls for the next 15 minutes or so. We do want to tell you about a brand-new Bible study that were making available to you today and it's really wonderful is called the parables of King Jesus had. Thanks, Bill. We do have a new Bible study called the parables of King Jesus. It's fascinating to think that Jesus spent so much of his ministry teaching in parables.

This study helps to explain what they are and how Jesus uses these stories are not lessons about economic principles or tips for living civic lessons or marital advice there about how the promised prophet, priest and king.

Jesus has come and is bringing forth his eternal kingdom. The parables tell us something about the king his kingdom and his people. That's that's us and so you understand how you fit into the kingdom of God and where you fit in into God's story. There's no better place to start than in the parables of King Jesus.

Go ahead and get a copy of that resource over it. Core, Christianity.com for donation of $20 or more. By the way, all of our Bible studies are set up to work really well for personal use, but also you can use them in a group format. So for example, maybe your small groups looking for something to go through or you got a Sunday school class you later looking for some curriculum for next fall. This would be a great study to go through again. It's called the parables of King Jesus, and you can get it for donation of $20 or more@corechristianity.com you can find it at our website. Core, Christianity.com/studies or course you can call us for that Bible study or any of our resources. We would love to hear from you. Let's go to an email.

Our email address is if you'd like to email us. The question is questions at core, Christianity.com questions at core, Christianity.com here's one from Brandon. He says recently in response to a listener who was struggling over whether to attend his brother's same-sex wedding. You mentioned first Corinthians 5. Nine through 11 which says not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer but is sexually immoral, a report about the Southern Baptist convention was just released that shows that not only has sexual abuse from SBC pastors been shockingly common, but that SBC leadership stonewalls the victims to protect itself from legal liability instead of removing those pastors from authority, should all believers shun or expel all the individuals involved with this tragedy. Yeah, I mean, I, I, I, Saul, I haven't even read the entire report and its hundreds of pages long, but I've ever done to read some of it in and read some summaries also report, and it's absolutely horrific. Frankly, and it's it's terrifying.

Really when you think about the judgment that that is going to come and that does come on, ministers and church leaders who aren't caring for the flock but are actually contributing to the abuse of the sheep.

I think I think Absalom certainly meant what were dealing with. When you have somebody who's in a position of ecclesiastical authority who is using their authority to stonewall to defend abusers not victims with what you have there is not a shepherd but a wolf frankly I mean that that's what it is.

People were praying on the sheep and this is been an issue since the beginning of time I think of Ezekiel 34 God's warning against the shepherds of Israel listen to Jesus.

What good the prophet Ezekiel said the word Lord came to me, Son of Man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel prophesy and say to them, even to the shepherds thus says the Lord God shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves should not shepherds feed the sheep you eat the fat you clothe yourselves with the wool you slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep the week you have not strengthened the sick, you have not healed the injured you have not bound up the straight you have not brought back the lost. You have not sought and with force and harshness.

You have ruled them so they were scattered so they were scattered because there was no shepherd.

And they became food for all the wild beasts my sheep were scattered. They wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill.

My sheep were scattered over all the face of the earth with none to search or seek for them. Therefore, you shepherds hear the word of the Lord as I live, declares the Lord God surely because my sheep have become a prey and my sheep have become food for all the wild beasts since there was no shepherd.

And because my shepherds have not searched for my sheep, but the shepherds have fed themselves and have not fed my sheep. Therefore, you shepherds hear the word of the Lord.

Thus says the Lord God, behold, I am against the shepherds and will require my sheep at their hand and put a stop to their feeding the sheep the words you're out that I'm putting a stop to this. You should not be in the position that you're in.

No longer shall the shepherds feed themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths and they may not be food for them. This is one of the things was coming out in this report tragically is quote unquote shepherds who were leaving the sheep to be preyed upon by abusers in the church and in and that's it is disqualified. You're just disqualified that's that's the reality. And so we need to take this very seriously. And yes, it's not something to say. Oh well, you know, it looks like is a small mistake or whatever know this is serious. This is the flock of God which he calls us to care for and to shepherd and so I do think that there there needs to be a strong response there within within the SBC might be read anywhere. And these are the kinds of problems that exist in all denominations and and if they're not dealt with seriously. They grow when you get this. This system of abuse. This sort of systemic injustice within these within even these communities of faith that that need to be addressed in frankly at times just need to be overhauled and it's what it's what Jesus did when he went to the temple turning over tables why because the shepherds in Israel had allowed the sheep to be preyed upon. And whenever we see that happening. We need to stand with Jesus against it and care, especially for the victims go to them and tend them and minister to them as Jesus, the good Shepherd does so mimic God. May God bring more clarity, more transparency, genuine repentance and healing. You know for for the churches that are that are caught up in this injustice, especially for for the victims. Such a tragedy, and so many people hurt by that, and boy it needs to be addressed fully and then strongly some glad you said that it real. This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. Our phone lines are open for the next five minutes or so. If you have a question about the Bible or the Christian life are numbers 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 let's go to Wayne in Kansas when what your question for pastor. Israel, what about 19 or talk about me and partly from oil and one Monday, firing her out but he would rule over lurking around the true meaning of that. Okay six yes… After the fall time of of curse, but also a time where God is exhibiting his his grace and what we read there in Genesis chapter 3, beginning in verse 14 the Lord said to the serpent because you've done this accursed are you above all livestock is of the serpent is cursed here and above all the beasts of the field on your belly you shall go – and dust you shall eat all the days of your life.

I will put enmity between you and the woman in between your offspring and her offspring, he shall bruise your head and you shall bruise his heel assert that you have curse but you also have this. This promise of grace and an gospel even Genesis 315 the proto-young Elian of the first preaching of the gospel promise of the gospel.

We say and then to the woman in verse 16 he said I will surely multiply your pain in childbirth, bearing in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you and to Adam he said, because you listen to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you shall not eat of it. Curse it is the ground because of you in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life.

Thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you and you shall eat the plants of the field by the sweat of your face you shall eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken for you are dust and to dust you shall return.

So in been one since were seeing here is the effects of sin on the created order.

Work is not sin. We know this.

Adam and Eve were called prior to the fall to tend the garden to do work. Good work and it was a joy it was an act of worship. But now as a result of sin that the ground is not going to respond as it once did. Now sin is entered the world. Now there are thorns and thistles, and death and that's what we've been reaping.

Frankly, since since the fund that's we've been been seeing and, boy, haven't we seen it this this week in particular with some of the tragedies throughout the United States that cause us to just say Lord, how long have mercy, and so here's the thing you have you have these these yet you know judgments that are brought forth this curse because of sin, if you will that we live under. But we also have the hope Wayne of the fact that Jesus has taken the curse for us thorns and thistles coming up from the ground and Jesus is crowned with the crown of thorns. He's taking our curse upon himself so that we might have eternal life. And so you have here judgment but also the hope of the gospel and and I think that's that's we get embedded in those verses there in Genesis chapter 3.

Thank you God bless. They Wayne, thanks so much for listening to core Christianity by the way were going to record a second episode of core Christianity today so if you have questions for pastor Israel. You can still call us for the next 35 minutes or so. We would love to hear from you if you got questions about the Bible, the Christian life. Doctrine of feel free to call us at 833 the core that's 833-843-2673 and just a reminder we have that wonderful new Bible study available for you today. It's called the parables of King Jesus be great for summer study for either you or of your small group, you can learn more about that by going to core Christianity.com/studies let's go to Carl who is calling in from liberty Missouri Carl, what's your question for pastor Israel killing of the very first question.

Matthew 24 and we spoke second coming of the Lord, are you referring to the rapture or after the tribulation? I a great great question Carl and if you listen to the broadcast for some time.

You know that, didn't we talk about the last things what's referred to as eschatology the end times. We often like to say look, there are a number of different views that are out there that Christians who love the Bible have taken on their are some people that believe that there is going to be a rapture of the church prior to the second coming, so that there are really two separate comings of Jesus one coming for his church specifically and one at the end of time with this church to judge the world. Now that view is is like I said held by many. I think faithful brothers and sisters in Christ Bible teachers who believe in the Bible and the authority of Scripture. But as I study the Bible and have studied the Bible and in my own life. My sense is that there aren't two separate comings of Jesus one for justice church and then another one later did to judge the world, the second coming, but that typically in the Bible when when sometimes he will say will the maybe that's referring to the rapture is probably actually referencing the second coming, specifically of Jesus.

And so when I was talking about Matthew 24 I think. I think the focus. There is his final coming in judgment. I think you get that from the context. In particular, of Matthew chapter 24 and I also think you get that in Paul's letters to the Thessalonians that this is specifically referring to the second coming, which I would say is contemporaneous happens at the same time as the final judgment, the resurrection, the end of all things, if you will. And so that's my answer with regard to Matthew 24 I know that there are going to be others who take a different view on that, especially if they if they believe that there could be a distinct rapture for Christians prior to the second coming, but that that's my view, Carl Gazette. Up for you. All right.

Thank you and God bless. Have a wonderful day thanks Carl, this is core Christianity, we have time for one more call with go to Judy who is calling in from Oklahoma. Judy, what's your question for pastor. Israel, yes hello and all I was wondering at the beginning of everything and everything got started and when God and win now, let's turn the fallen angels you know when you kick kick them out of heaven because he was trying to take over the where God's position in all why that God just kicked them out and didn't stop it, stop it.

From then on to do away with a McAlpine treaty. It's an excellent question, and thank you one forgiven us a call for the first time. It is really a question of why does God allow really evil to happen, but more specifically, the fallen angels to operate. We know according to the apostle Paul in Colossians chapter 1 that everything was made for the glory of Christ is somehow God is able to use even the evil angels the fallen angels for his sovereign purposes.

Now we may not understand that entirely.

That's one of the great mysteries that the Scriptures give to us. But what we know and rest in the fact that the God who allowed certain things to happen. It is not the cause of sin of the author of sin is the one who's gonna bring everything back together redeeming the world through the grace of his son Jesus because he's in control. Thanks for listening to core Christianity request your copy of today's special offer.

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