Should I Keep Sharing the Gospel with Someone Who Rejects It?

July keep sharing the gospel with someone who rejects it. That's just one of the questions will be answering today on core Christianity hi this is 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.

You can call us right now with your questions, and our phone lines will be open for the next 25 minutes or so, here's the number it's 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673, as always, you can post your question on one of our social media sites you can always email us your question at questions at core, Christianity.com first up today. Here is a voicemail we received from one of our listeners earlier this week I Pastor Israel. My question pertains to Christianity and homosexuality.

This month being pride month. What I do if my company openly supports LGBT Q community. Even this week.

They decided where were encouraged to wear different colors of the rainbow each day. This is very difficult because I work with clients that have very different religious and political views than me and I'm not sure what to do. If any conflict arises.

Just because I won't be wearing those colors I don't openly support the homosexual lifestyle, but at the same time I want to be respectful and loving to others, so any advice on how to go about this. Working in a workplace that is promoting the LGBT Q community would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for any insight. I think you sister for your question and this is a question that were getting more and more these days it's a question that I received from people in my own church and I think that the decision to abstain from wearing you know the rainbow colored shirts and and whatnot participating in in the pride celebration is the right decision. We as Christians are going to stand out in the culture and because of that there could be some some repercussions in terms of how people think about us numbing Jesus seem to indicate that there there there would be for his disciples, and especially when you have things like this where society seems to be going in one direction and it's very contrary to the things that we see in Scripture that the ethics we find in the Bible God calls us to rejoice in and to celebrate when we don't rejoice and celebrate with them there.

There can be consequences.

And I think that we have to be willing to bear those consequences as Christians and as as lights in the world. I think of two passages of Scripture. The first one that comes to mind is in first Peter chapter 4 and Peter seem to indicate that this was just the reality for us as the people of God in a world in in in in a time where there are so many who reject the truth of God's word he says in first Peter chapter 4 beginning in verse one. Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourself with the same way of thinking.

For whoever has suffered in the flesh to flesh has ceased from sin so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God for the time that is passed suffices for doing with the Gentiles want to do living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry.

This is sadly tragically the kinds of things that we see in these pride celebrations and pride parades faces with respect to this, they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery and they malign you, but they will give account to him who is to judge the living and the dead, and so I think I think we separate ourselves from those kinds of celebrations from participating in that. I also think I'm currently preaching through the book of Revelation and I'm right in the middle of Jesus's letters to the seven churches, and what's interesting is is some of the churches are doing really well. Jesus only commends them. He doesn't have anything anything to rebuke them. Some of them are are you that good things going for them but there also struggling in one of the struggles was essentially participating in the idolatry of society, I think, and particularly the church I'm preaching about this week is the church in Pergamum and he says to them. I have a few things against you, you have there in Pergamum.

Those who hold the teaching of Babel him who taught Bay look to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality and others is that there's there's this conflict. There's this compromise that you and the church are engaged in that there people there in Pergamum or who are teaching. Eight.

These kinds of things are okay. Not a big deal to participate in these festivals of pagan worship. These idolatrous ceremonies or meals. Yeah coming with its five other real gods that kind of a thing.

And Jesus here has stern words for them because they're compromising, and so I think that we have to be careful that we as believers in Jesus Christ. Don't compromise. During this moment. Now, having said all of that we are still called you are still called to love your neighbors no matter who they are, no matter how they identify in terms of their sexuality. No matter how they sin were called to love our neighbors loving our neighbors doesn't mean affirming everything that they do in celebrating everything that they do it. It's defined by what Scripture says love is an and that involves speaking the truth, but it also involves being willing to serve, to lay down our lives for those who are in need of you think of the parable of the good Samaritan really being willing to care for people, even people with whom we have strong disagreements so I would say no in the workplace, not not engaging in that that same celebration, but being a person who's known for a deep love for everybody that you work with and care and interest in people's lives and desire to see there good I think that's how we need to be known as Christian, so that even as we as we abstain from some of these cultural celebration saying know this goes against my conscience and it goes against God's word were were known by people as those who have just up the heart of love and compassion for those who are in need, even while maintaining our strong Christian convictions.

God bless you sister and may the Lord give you courage and wisdom have some great counsel and really I was thinking about it too is you're going to revelation your reading Jesus words to these various churches, I can't help but think in today's world there are some denominations that have strayed so far from the truth. You wonder what what Jesus would be saying to them, you're absolutely right. II actually, as I was preparing to preach through the book of Revelation. In considering the letters that Jesus gave to the seven churches was was thinking you know if Jesus wrote a letter to the church that I pastor will will he say and would I be able to handle it you know it is because Jesus can see the things that we don't see our blind spots and he lovingly graciously calls us to repentance. And that's you see over and over again in Revelation chapters 2 and three but churches that don't repent, where the pure preaching of the gospel is lost with the truth of God's word is abandoned, Jesus is like I'm, remove your lampstand. You're no longer him he might have a building you might have a service you know in more of an affinity group club where people come together, but if my word and spirit are not there. You don't have a church and so would it really is important for us in our own churches to take the words of Jesus to heart but but yes, so many denominations out there that have abandoned you know that the truth of God's word. The truth of the gospel, who many people pray that they hear the words of our Lord Jesus, and come to repentance.

And so yeah so so important for us in this day your listing to core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. Our phone lines are open right now and we would love to hear from you. If you have a question about the Bible, the Christian life, doctrine and theology or like that last listener how to walk out your Christian faith. How to stay faithful in a culture that's really in many ways persecuting you so… Let's hear from you. Here's the phone number is 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 course you can also email us at questions at core, Christianity.com. By the way, we have produced some great Bible studies here at the core and we have a new one to tell you about today. Yeah, this new Bible study is on the book of Ruth. Ruth is practically hidden in our Bibles and it's easily overshadowed by larger, more dramatic Old Testament books but did you know that without Ruth there would be no line of David. There would be no gospel and there would be no Savior. This Bible study will help you understand Ruth as a part of a larger story of Scripture by providing tools for studying the Old Testament while opening our eyes to God's redemptive workings throughout history. While many focused on the love story between Ruth and Boaz.

The book of Ruth also provides us with a larger love story showing us how God intends to bring beauty out of ashes. I really do hope you get a hold of this 10 week study can go through it on your own or with a group of people in your church and it's yours for donation of $20 or more in all of our studies are set up to work for personal use, but also in a group format and they're available in bulk quantities to so they be great to consider as you plan maybe for a fall Bible study small group Sunday school class, you can receive a copy of our Ruth Bible study for donation of $20 or more by going to core Christianity.com/studies again.

Core, Christianity.com/studies and look for the brand-new Bible study on the book of Ruth we do receive voicemail spirit core Christianity. You can call us 24 hours a day. Leave us your voicemail at 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673. Here's a voicemail from one of our listeners named Maria and finding any sexually dying cancer several years ago where it ended handle and I brought up Christianity and getting persecuted by him and now he is in hospice. He declined having a chaplain speak to him go visit them on Sunday. What is your counsel, how to bring about gospel dying man doesn't know Christ. Thank you and God bless you Omari, I'm sorry to hear about the situation and the first thing I want to do is just pray for this man and pray for you that the Lord would give you the words father we pray for this man who has demonstrated in his life, hostility toward your truth. We pray God that you would soften his heart.

We ask that you would draw him to yourself. By the power of the Holy Spirit that he would come to understand the gospel, the forgiveness of sins the hope that we have in your son Jesus prior to his death. And like the thief on the cross he would call upon your name for forgiveness and experience that forgiveness now be with him be with Marie as well. Lord, as she speaks with this family give her courage for the filling of your Holy Spirit boldness and wisdom, Lord, to articulate the truth of your gospel to to this man to this family. We pray in Jesus name, amen it of the first thing I want to do is just read the words of the apostle Paul in second Corinthians chapter 5, beginning in verse 16 he says from now on.

Therefore we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation the old has passed away. Behold, the new has come.

All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation that is in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God for our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God that we plead with people saying we implore you, be reconciled to God. Why, because of the goodness of the gospel because, for our sake he made him to be sin. Jesus who knew no sin, the sinless son of God, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. Having had our sins forgiven and and given as a gift, the righteousness of Jesus Christ credited to our account with regard to this man you know a lot can change in the space of some years you said you know, from that time that initially you guys spoke around the dinner table when he was hostile to the gospel that there's been some time that is a elapsed and it sounds like some serious life changes with with sickness in the Bible is full of stories of God changing the hard hearts of people you think of Saul of Tarsus, a persecutor of the church, transformed by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the power is in God's word and spirit. It's nodding in you sister is not in you know how how well you can articulate these truths. It's in the word and in the spirit, working together with the word in the hearts of people who hear and so pray for wisdom pray for an open door, and I would say if you get an opportunity and when you get an opportunity focus on the glory of the gospel on the hope that we have the promise that we have in Jesus of new life of the forgiveness of sins, and so II just pray for you that the Lord would give you this opportunity and that the Lord would open the heart of this man as he is. He draws near to death, and so the Lord be with you Maria, thank you for calling such a difficult situation of Maria we appreciate you and your heart for this gentleman and again we do do pray that God will use you in a mighty way in his life and his remaining days. This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. Our phone lines are open for the next 10 minutes or so. If you have a question about the Bible or the Christian life would love to hear from you. Here's the number and shut this down for future reference.

It's 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673. By the way, make sure to tell people in your church or small group about core, Christianity, and when they can listen. We'd love to have them join our listening audience as well as go to Michael calling in from Nashville, Tennessee. Michael welcome the core Christianity what your question below and thank you for your ministry. The week before last great payment. Our church and we will worship leader showed up heavily intoxicated, drunk, and after flying for the Scripture reading and failing to give through even one song it did the whole, service bill Park and as a result, he actually led worship this past Sunday and I was told my pastor.

I was convicted that I could not bring my family as I believe he does not meet the qualifications listed three targets want and I'm just concerned that church discipline is taken here that my family and myself like leave the church and counsel, Michael. I'm so sorry to hear about the situation. It sounds like this individual desperately needs help me to show up to church as someone on the worship team intoxicated right images should goes to show that this I'm probably talking about an addiction here that's bleeding into all of his life even even showing up at church. In this way so it sounds to me like there there really seriously needs to be an intervention of sorts. The church needs to take this very seriously, both because it sin as as you said in terms of thinking that just just for any believer to show up in this way, but certainly for somebody was in a position of leadership doesn't meet the qualifications of first Timothy three. As you said Titus chapter 1 and so you have to handle it as as as sin but also have to handle it is a boy that this person really needs some some probably help in terms of addiction because I do show up like that at church is indicative of a very deep problem of a pattern of alcoholism probably now this kind of thing has happened in the history of the church. In fact, the apostle Paul talks about a similar situation in first Corinthians chapter 11 and in their he says in verse 17 the following instructions in the following instructions. I do not commend you.

Because when you come together.

It is not for better, but for worse, for in the first place. When you come together as a church. I hear that there are divisions among you, and I believe it in part, for there must be factions among you, in order that those who are genuine may be recognized when you come together does not not the Lord's supper that you eat for and eating each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry. Another gets drunk want to do not have houses to eat and drink in or do you despise the Church of God and humiliate those who have nothing what shall I say to you, shall I commend you in this know I will not using some of you got the showing of the church and and you're getting drunk you're showing up intoxicated me think of the story in Leviticus chapter 10 of Nate ab in a buy who were God struck them down.

They were offering strange fire to the Lord and right afterwards were told that you know there's this prohibition in the priest as they approach the worship can't be drunk should not drink any alcohol prior to why because it brings about God's judgment in here at the end of first Corinthians chapter 11 you have that warning again were where Paul says, for this reason many of you are sick and weak and some have even died because you failed to to deal with the sins in your own life, and some people are so blinded by their sin and their addiction that they desperately need the church to intervene, to come alongside and say hey you need help.

We need to get you help.

You should not be serving in this capacity.

You need the grace of Jesus. Right now you need to, but maybe check into up up a program for addiction for alcoholism as I would say you know a Michael that the leadership here needs to come alongside of this individual needs to deal with the sin and get this guy. The help that he needs. And if if the leadership is unwilling to do that if they're unwilling to exercise discipline and in that way will then that's it. That's a serious. I think sign of of a problem. One of the marks of the church of Jesus Christ is his discipline faithful discipline and care for people especially care for people who are sinking in sin and in struggling and so may the Lord be with you and may the Lord be with the leadership of your church and giving wisdom and in handling the situation well your listing to core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez, just a reminder we have a great new Bible study available for you.

It's on the book of Ruth and would love to get that to you either for your personal study or maybe for a small group or Sunday school class to find out more about it. Just go to core Christianity.com/studies again.

Core, Christianity.com/studies look for the new Bible study on the book of Ruth we do a YouTube channel here at core, Christianity, and you can send us a message of through YouTube and actually watch a real live in the studio every day at 11:30 AM Pacific time. Here's a question from one of our YouTube viewers. How do you deal with hate towards you and towards Christianity in general.

Yeah well I mean it in one sense, right like as the Disciples of Christ we don't want to do things that cause people to hate us.

We want to be obnoxious, but the truth is, if we cling to to the word of the Lord, and if we cling to what the Bible teaches, there can be people who reject us and who hate us even, because you know we preach the gospel because we call people to follow Jesus. What should we do when were hated by others that we retaliate. Do we respond in kind.

Do we grow in bitterness do we shut our hearts off to them. Know Jesus said very clearly, this is Matthew chapter 5 verse 38 you have heard that it was said, and I for nine, a tooth for tooth, but I say to you, do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If anyone forces you to go 1 mile, go with him 2 miles give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. You have heard that it was said, you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.

For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have, not even the tax collectors do the same if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others do not even the Gentiles do the same.

You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. What does God what is Jesus call us to do when were hated when were persecuted when were reviled for the sake of his name.

He says will don't don't respond with reviling with mockery with hatred respond love turn the other cheek respond with humility respond with righteousness, so that they might see your good deeds and glorify your Father who is in heaven. May God give us the grace to do that with our eyes fixed on Jesus, one who did it for us. Thanks for listening to Christianity to request your copy of today's special offer. Visit us at core, Christianity.com and click on offers and the menu or call us at 1-833-843-2673. That's 833 when you contact us.

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