Should Pastors Be Winsome or Blunt When Speaking the Truth?

Should pastors be winsome or blunt when speaking the truth. That is one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity will hi, I'm Bill Meyer along with Pastor Israel Sanchez. This is a radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day. We'd love to hear from you and our phone lines are open right now. Here's the phone number it's 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673. By the way, we have a YouTube channel and you can watch a drill live in the studio right now on YouTube and see just how cute he really is. You can also message him through our YouTube channel and we have an email address if you want to send us a question by email. It's questions at core, Christianity.com will fill out your setting people up to be majorly disappointed here. I don't tell Cody do with high expectations is all and listen to the word the work and that's the main thing so are it. But that's true, it is all that his wife does think he's very active and she knows well let's go to Tammy Culligan from St. Louis, Missouri tell me what your question for Pastor Israel daughter 24 years old. Three. Long-term relationship. They were young boys or had a point where you think I'm telling what he single for a while recently met you different ways that were attracted to her. Wanted day and they were about. Well she did date with him. He gets broke out when she found out that and 1 Key Way. Very helpful. Like there day ;-) bad that he wasn't quote related yet, but he wanted that he might get from me mom why they are that the people were way in a religion that they know no different.

She said I'm never going to change my though for short.

She crying that she wanted me what she called herself may require them to be Christian and right now and I would like To repair today Tammy, thank you for you for giving us a call and would I would love to pray for your daughter is. She is wrestling through this and just as a little grin during this time contentment but also guide director steps so important right and we think about a partner a lifelong partner in marriage with the Bible. Does this speak to this and so pray for you and for her father, I thank you for Tammy for her question calling in right now. I pray that you would be with her daughter that you would fill her daughter with your Holy Spirit. I thank you Lord that she confesses Christ, that she believes in you Lord and that she wants to follow you and I pray that you would help her in this season of her life Lord to draw near to you to growing contentment in the season that you have are waiting Lord for the right person that you might bring into your life. Someone Lord God who loves you who loves your son Jesus and and with whom she can grow in in a healthy relationship but also spiritually Lord what she said to be encouraged in her walk with you and so would you be with her and would you provide that for her. I pray in Jesus name, amen. I know that this is something that I've had this conversation with singles in in my church as well who are thinking limited I met this guy.

He's great. I mean just and some kind love it seems that he is a good family.

He's not a Christian is not a Christian yet but boy, everything else seems to be there night. I just have to say look, there's nothing more important than what someone believes about Jesus and in what you're thinking about marriage in a relationship, a serious relationship as a believer I think it's it's it's so important that that you pursue those who are in Christ that you don't settle for for someone and maybe they have everything else. But they just are not sure about Jesus.

They don't go to church. I would say look the most important thing is is them being in Christ. Paul in first Corinthians 7. He talks about the woman is free to marry only in the Lord right it were not free to marry outside of Christ. I think part of the issue.

There is the problems that that creates and I've seen this over and over again course, you also have the words of the apostle Paul in second Corinthians chapter 6, verse 14 do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has a righteousness with lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness.

What a court has Christ with both Lyle or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever. What agreement has the temple of God with idols for we are the temple of the living God to me. You by your daughter in Christ. You guys are the temple of the living God, and you want to be with some daughter want to be with someone who's going to encourage the right worship of God with whom they can, you know she can grow together. I did it again this is so important is an area we don't want to settle were commanded not to settle as Christians and understand that can be hard because we long for friendship and companionship. It is as as human beings is God made us and it's in it's in that time.

I think in this time that it's important that we we grow in contentment that we grow in Christ and continually bring this this desire. This need to the Lord and trust that God is going to provide the right person in his timing. You know, not growing impatient.

One of the things we see in in the Old Testament special with the patriarch is how often they grew impatient with the promises of the Lord and try to take things into their own hands and it always led to disaster and so you know we learn from from their example is an area where we can grow and trusting God and committing our way to the Lord and sing God you provide the right persons and help me to draw near to you to love you and and and entering to relationship it's honoring to you ultimately. And so Tammy may God be with you. May God be with your daughter and fill you both with the spirit. Thank you for calling in some great counsel. Thank you for that intro the score Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez. Our phone lines are open. If you have a question about the Christian life about the Bible about doctrine and theology, you name it we would love to hear from you and tell your friends and your church, fellow church members about this program as well. Here's our phone number if you have a question will be taking calls for the next 15 minutes or so 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 let's go to Patricia from Long Island Patricia.

What your question for Pastor Israel atrial and baloney in the third chapter verse six it says now we command your brethren in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw yourselves from every brother that walks disorderly and not after the tradition, which he received about what if we had children who are living with people that they are not married to.

Does that mean were supposed to have nothing to do with those children. Hey Patricia, thank you for this questioning sounds maybe like it's a it's a very personal close to home question and so one. With regard to what the Bible teaches about judging those who are within the church.

Paul says in the book of first Corinthians and what have we to do with judging outsiders. We judge those within the church so that when there's a so-called brother someone who professes the name of Christ, but is living in lawlessness is just rejected the Lord well will we do distance ourselves there as the church is in its it's the exercise of church discipline so that this individual would recognize would see that their soul is in is in a state of peril that they are turning away from the Lord by their behavior and answer that that's a serious is a judgment of the church that that is made. Now what about family members. What about our children who maybe were raised in church maybe were part of the church for a time and then and then have gone astray have walked away from the Lord will admittedly this is this is a sticky situation but I would not say that is apparent that you would want to cut them out or cut them off from your love from your care. Obviously, I think you want to and I'm I'm assuming this is already happen you know you share in in terms of you know that the seriousness of this, especially if this is someone who professes faith.

Who knows the truth is oh so you know you articulate what with the word of God says you call them to follow Jesus to walk with Jesus, but I don't think that that you should just say why what I'm through with you my I no longer going to have any interaction with you. I think in part because you we want the door to be open you wanted her to be open for them to return to come back and when you think of Jesus and in the parable, he gives of the prodigal son in Luke chapter 15 there's there's an open door. There, the sun runs away and squanders you know all of his father's. You know inheritance with loose living is is is doing things that he knows he shouldn't do. He knows that he's let his father down and yet he comes to his senses and he goes home and he's thinking well is is is my father can except maybe maybe I can just be a servant in my father's house.

I know that I've I've tarnished the family make name and what is the father doing.

And in a course in this parable it's it's displaying for us the love that got God has for his lost sheep, the father welcomes his prodigal son who's who's who's been on the run for so long does a party for him and and says my son who was lost is found, he was dead.

But he's alive again and that's we pray for.

That's what we long for. And so we have conversations we extend love.

We speak the truth in love, dad and I think that's what what you should do or you knowing it. In this situation with with with a loved one, of course, the church as as you know the body of Christ does make judgments of an individual is living in this in this way there member of the church.

There is a process of church discipline, but again it's always that the goal is always restoration. It's always repentance.

That's were longing for and so may the Lord be with you Patricia and give you wisdom and be with those who you love and first for all of us uniform for all those who are wrestling with this thinking them what one of my children is straight from the Lord. We just pray right now that God would indeed bring the prodigal's home father in heaven. We look to you. We thank you Lord God for the example that you give us in Scripture of your love for your wandering children God that you don't cast them out when they return to you but that you fling the doors wide open that you clothe them in the righteousness of Jesus Christ, you receive them into the household is what we pray Lord God right now for all those who have wandered away maybe with who've heard the truth.

They grew up going to church, hearing the truth but they've they've decided to to turn away and and now they're living in that faraway country prodigal. He God. We asked that by the grace of your Holy Spirit, you would bring them home to you.

You would draw them that you would use loving family members that you would use loving churches Christians to speak the truth in love, and that they would see Lord that the bankruptcy of the emptiness of a life apart from you and and apart from your son Jesus to his name we pray.

Amen. I meant Mrs. Gore Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez. If you're a parent or a grandparent. We want to tell you about a special collection that we have put together. It's called our faith and family collection the faith and family collection yeah I'm it. It's amazing. Bill is in it. With so many the questions that we get relate to faith and family images even that that previous caller right there it's it's something that I know is central to each of our lives and talking about the faith in the context of family and sharing the truth with our children with our grandchildren is so important, so this faith and family collection combined some of the best questions and answers we received on the show about faith and family. We get in the things like relationships, marriage, parenting, sexuality and dating relationships how to answer the questions that our young children are asking little kids who have questions about theology you have questions about the Bible how to care for aging parents as well.

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More by yesterday constructive criticism. One thing that frustrates me is when pastors do not give straightforward answers to difficult questions as a selection or show what struck me is when the lady asked about their Native American ancestors were saved because they didn't know Jesus Christ never gospel instead given her a straightforward answer of no or not they or yes they are, say you gave some basic commentary on the Scriptures, but you never ever gave her a final conclusion that based upon your interpretation of the Scriptures know they are not, say, or yes they are, say I have got to tell you I was the many pastors on the radio and when tough questions come along and they they walked on them. They don't want to get some I the hard answer. I love your show. I love everything you're doing a great job on just is just frustrating. Why have people do that. Yeah man appreciate your your questioning and your feedback in and of course we do want to give a clear biblical answers to the questions that come in.

I recall the question that you're referring to the passages that I went to early chapters of the book of Romans were Paul the apostle makes it clear that even those who never hear the gospel of Jesus Christ are still held accountable before God. Based on the light of nature that they've received. God speaks through his creation. Psalm 19 the heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament shows his handiwork Dan today, but her speech night into night reveals knowledge. God has revealed himself as the creator and what humanity has done what mankind has done so often does when talking about these civilizations that are out there is that they suppress the truth of God in unrighteousness so that they are justly condemned before God and canceled the middle I went to that text in in in Romans. If you like that, that's providing a real clear answer, of course, would we do want to be wise and careful.

You know God is the ultimate judge and and so the realities were thinking about you know that declaring this person or that person saved or not saved, I think one there's gonna be a lot of surprise Jesus.

In fact, says this himself in the Gospels in Matthew chapter 8 beginning in verse 11, he says. I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. While the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into outer darkness in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Or as Jesus puts it elsewhere. You know many who are first will be last in the last first week we draw these conclusions we make these judgments but often times were wrong. Jesus is in in in there specifically know people look at the religious leaders.

The quote unquote sons of the kingdom that the scribes and the Pharisees and that that boy there. They've they've got the that the direct line to God, they're just so close to God. God must you have a very special place for them in heaven.

And Jesus says to those guys are to be cast out to outer darkness you know is entering the kingdom of God before them.

The tax collectors and prostitutes and so what we just want to be slow in terms of making those kinds of judgments I think also of what the apostle Paul said in first Corinthians chapter 4 beginning in verse two he says. Moreover it is required of stewards that they be found faithful with me is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact I don't even judge myself, for I am not aware of anything against myself but I am not thereby acquitted. It is not. It is he says the Lord, who judges me. Therefore, do not pronounce judgment before the time before the Lord comes, will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God we have a limited perspective here on earth we don't see everything that God sees. We don't know everything that God knows we know that people are saved solely through Christ and through the gospel.

And we know that the whole world is justly condemned for having rejected that the truth the light that God has received, but I think we just gotta be, we gotta be careful in terms of just saying will you know that person to those people.

They just must all not be saved.

God is the judge God judges outsiders. Paul says in in first Corinthians chapter 5 and so we we exercise wisdom there. We want to be not waffle around but just but just leave head up to the true and the living God and say his judgments are just and true and everything he does is is right and so I know based on what the Scripture says that that only those who are in Christ are going to be in heaven is only through Christ and through his gospel that we have salvation.

So anyone outside of Christ isn't saved isn't going to be saved can't be swipe.

The proclamation of the gospel is so important. I so appreciate your question and you you reaching out to us a with that.

May the Lord bless you score Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez.

Let's go to Eric in Idaho, Iowa Falls, Iowa Eric, what's your question for Israel is a chronic health problem you have any cursors you recommend meditating upon maybe for encouragement. Maybe you have some billing properties under wondering about that long-term health problem, you six boy coming there some place we can go on the Scriptures in terms of verses to meditate upon even even with regard to healing. You know that the Psalms often. We know from visiting someone in the hospital who sick as a pastor I will I will pray the Psalms over them and with them, in particular those Psalms that speak about God's healing power aware the Psalms is crying out to God for deliverance or for healing. So I think that those are those are some places that we can go also.

Just the Psalms of lament where the psalmist is crying out to God because of his circumstances wonderful book that was written by a seminary professor actually some some time ago. It's called rejoicing in lament. Then he wrote this book. Jacob Billings was diagnosed with incurable cancer and said that this book are rejoicing lament is is just through his wrestling through his diagnosis.

You know, having this cancer and going to the Psalms and using the Psalms. I would recommend that resource another passage I think that that I would point to Eric is Paul's words in second Corinthians chapter 4 verse 16 where he says so. We do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away our inner self is being renewed day by day. This light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.

As we look not to the things that are seen to the things that are unseen for the things that are seen are transient, the things that are unseen are eternal brother. God is preparing in us and through even the suffering that we experience in preparing us for this eternal weight of what we don't lose heart. Yes, the outer man. Our bodies waste away. But even while that's happening the inner man by the grace of the Holy Spirit is being renewed and we have the hope also Eric that even our bodies are going to be raised and restored through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. That's what Paul makes so clear in first Corinthians chapter 15 so that would be another chapter of the Bible that I would point you to the hope that we have that one day these bodies so overwhelmed, overcome by sickness and disease one day these bodies will be fully healed. At the resurrection by the power of the Holy Spirit until we have that hope you have that hope in the Lord comfort you with that reality, brother score Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez we have time for one quick email question. This one comes from Ned and he says how should we reconcile the doctrine of the Trinity with the Shema here oh Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is getting into some deep Trinitarian theology, then the show will let me tell you how the apostle Paul does it. He inserts Jesus Christ into the Shema of Deuteronomy 6 for he says in first Corinthians chapter 8 verse six yet for us there is one God the father from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist here oh Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Paul says rest.

There is one God the father and one Lord Jesus Christ.

He sees one pointing out the deity of Jesus Christ but is helping us understand the Shema rightly. In other words, and even the Shema has room for the holy Trinity that that's what Paul is saying is inserting Jesus there, right in the midst of it and so praise God thanks for listening to core Christianity request your copy of today's special offer.

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