Can We Sing the National Anthem in Church?

The national anthem in church is just one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity will hi and happy Independence Day from all of us here at core Christianity Abdul Meyer along with Pastor Israel singes and this is the radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day. Would love to hear from you, and you can call us with your question anytime, 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 can also leave us a voicemail anytime today you can post your question on one of our social media sites were email us with your question at questions at core, Christianity.com. Today let's go to Bob who is calling in from Willard Missouri Bob what your question for atrial will or will so all these women that were so appealing to them that they had sexual relations with them and produce according to my best with your giants. Nowhere in the word of God.

Do I see with the sons of God are interpreted as demons or Satan, and I don't see because the nature of angels were Jesus says you will be like the angels in heaven, you're not reproducing you not to be given in marriage in the so my pastor says that they produce so many hybrids half demon have humans.

That's why the flood came because they were wiping out the old human race. Basically, with these demons or replacing them.

I don't see where that happens at all and I tried to get with my pastor and asked him a question and he just chooses to ignore me not if you're in the word, in the words is what you said the words that I'm for that. But I really perplexed or what happens to those half demons and half human beings is worth. Jesus is concerned, who died for all they needed salvation through faith in Christ because of God's grace are just don't understand those bad things when I don't see it in the word hey Bob, thank you for that question and you're you're bringing us right to a real sticky passage of passage that has been interpreted a few different ways. Genesis chapter 6, first let me let me begin by saying I'm grateful that you're having conversations with your pastor about this. I hope that you can continue to have conversations.

Let me just say Bob as a minister myself as a pastor I love it when people in my church come to me with with questions about the sermon feedback their own thought stuff that their rustling through and so and so I think that's good. It's good for us in the church tech to have those kinds of conversations and to have that kind of relationship with our pastor. We can dig into the Scriptures together. We want to be Maria. Now that the view that the sons of God in Genesis chapter 6 are fallen angels does have some historical battery backing in the history of the church there.

There been many have taken this view and and impart their there is exegetical biblical reason for that sons of God in the Old Testament in various places, refers to angels, angelic beings doesn't always have to refer to angels, but it certainly does in places like the book of Job.

I believe also in the Psalms and so and so you have that and then also you know you have a couple passages in the New Testament assembles it will that think Jude is alluding to the scene where he talks about the angels who rebelled and so there there is seen as her as are looking at Scripture, and I think that, biblically speaking, that's one interpretation that people have taken these are trying to understand the Bible.

But it does raise a lot of questions like how that impossible.

You know, for angels to have relations like that with the human being angels as these as these spiritual beings and then then then with regard to their off receipt so you're right and that's one of the reasons why other people say no I don't think that that's the right interpreted that it doesn't even seem possible based on what we know about angels and based on what the Scriptures reveal to us, but there are other ways also to take the sons of God in Genesis chapter 6. Some people understand the sons of God. There is a divine king. These kings, who have this divine authority. So there there there humans but they have this this kingly role this divine role.

Psalm 82 talks about rulers judges serving in one sense in this divine role in their in their position the sons of God who are judged because of their sins look what I like to say in it. When I preached through the book of Genesis some time ago and I got to Genesis chapter 6, I laid out the various views that are out there but but I just look the focus of the text right that the focus what what Moses try to communicate to us is that things were just really bad. Prior to the flood that there was this sexual deviancy and it just kept getting worse and worse and worse again.

Genesis chapter 6 verse one when man began to multiply on the face of the land and the daughters were born and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive and they took as their wives any they chose. Then the Lord said, my spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh his day shall be 120 years, the naphthalene were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came into the daughters of men and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown. Now verse five the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only continually evil and the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth and it grieved him to his heart. And the Lord said, I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land. Okay so that that's that's what's the point here is whatever the sons of God. Whoever they wore what they were doing was calling down the judgment and wrath of God. We know that it was it was some kind of neo-sexual immorality, whether they were angelic beings or you know these these kings there in in in that time taking wives to themselves and people say polygamy was the sin that was being practiced. Other think it was the mixing of the godly line with the ungodly lines with mixed marriages.

All of those things and think that there's biblical warrant for each of those positions. Let's not miss the focus it's that things were just getting really bad, but apart from God. Society continues to go down further and further away from the Lord invoking his judgment and of course God did judge the world and in the take away for us anytime we see the stories of judgment whether it was in Genesis chapter 6 or later in Genesis with the judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah that the take away for us. And of course God promises after this never to flood the world again. But we know that sin brings down God's judgment that were called to repentance that were called to faith and so these these stories for us are warnings for us really ought to turn to the Lord and to call upon the name of the Lord and that's what we should do with me and we read the stories to say Lord have mercy upon us and help us to follow. You according to your word.

Bob, thanks so much for your question. Thanks for listening to core Christianity, we do receive emails here and if you have an email question for a drill. You can feel free to email us anytime. Here's the address it's questions at core, Christianity.com here's an email from one of her listers name Taryn parent says I've been asking God in prayer to help me overcome my anxieties and find a local church to join.

I finally visited the church after many years it happened to be the Memorial Day service and I've never felt more welcomed anywhere. However, at the beginning of the service, the pastor brought out the American flag and called the congregation obligation to salute the flag sing the national anthem meant to say the Pledge of Allegiance. I felt very troubled by this.

Was this appropriate to do and should I consider visiting a different church hi Darren, thank you for that question and and certainly a timely one.

I'm glad to hear that you felt well received at the church that people were were friendly but I would've been uncomfortable to not because there's anything wrong with being patriotic. I think we ought to give thanks to the Lord for the many gifts and blessings that he's given to us here but we we have, to distinguish between the church as this universal institution of the kingdom of God on earth is an associated with one particular country or nation the church is itself a holy nation scattered abroad throughout the whole world in the midst of the kingdoms of this world and we are embassies of the new creation of God's kingdom. And so I think having in the sort of strong association with one particular country.

I under the old covenant. It was it was Israel right with you. One of the things that we we we face distinct about what Christ is, has brought to us through the new covenant to his work is it now the churches and identified with one particular country that the United States of America is not the kingdom of God. The church on earth today. Again throughout the whole world is a manifestation of God's kingdom.

Now again, don't please don't get me wrong I am not saying we don't want to be patriotic and grateful and thankful and be for the good of our neighbors here, all in whatever country that the Lord has us we should be were called to pray for civil authorities to submit to civil authorities, to seek the good of the nations where the Lord happens to have us and to be lights wherever God has a salt and light.

But when it comes to worship gathering together as the covenant people of God up by a local expression of that universal church. Throughout the entire world I I don't think it's appropriate to to salute the flag of a country or to sing the national anthem. That's this is not we should be doing in the church we should be singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. We should be directing our gaze onto God and the gospel Jesus Christ and his work for us. That's what the church gathers together to do and so and so you know III would also have been very uncomfortable and in frankly I think that that's not the right approach.

I've been you know as a Christian of the been to many different churches over the years. Now, obviously, not so much anymore.

Visiting other churches that preach on Sundays, but I've been to churches where on Memorial day or on 4 July. They had this this you know huge extravaganza you know lights and and confetti and flags everywhere and fireworks over that even a mega church one time were they actually had fireworks within the service. And no, I just thought yeah I'm in the dark about a fire hazard right but it is not look is this where God wants us to focus God cares about how he's worshiped and and he cares about the fact that we worship him as Scripture has prescribed the Scripture calls us to worship him. And certainly all of the stuff that you have happening in so many churches around this time of the year. Frankly, they're not things that you find in the Bible. I think they can be distractions. Frankly, at times it can even be the you know idolatrous and so and so we want to be wise, we want to be discerning again. We want to be grateful and rejoice, for God's good gifts to us whatever those gifts are and wherever we are and and pray for civil authorities and an end before the good of of the places where the Lord has us, but that should not be mingled into the worship were were were singing national anthems and saluting you know the American flag. I just think that's that's not what Scripture calls us to do and so if I were you, guide search for a church that has a a healthy understanding here in a right balance. Recognizing that they were citizens of the United States.

If were in the United States, and so were were were grateful for that. Were thankful was good to be patriotic. There's nothing wrong with enough to be ashamed about that but were primarily citizens of heaven, and we would gather together for worship on Sunday.

It's that citizenship that heavenly citizenship that were exulting in and praising God for through the blood of Jesus Christ. God bless you Karen. I do hope that you find a good church, where Christ is exalted and you are encouraged thanks for that, a drill, this is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez want to say thank you to a very special group of people we call them our inner core. These are folks that believe so strongly in what we do here at this ministry that they have committed to making a monthly donation to help keep us on the air and were giving you an opportunity to join the inner core this week. Yeah, what a blessing it is to be able to partner together and that's what we hope you'll do with us. Consider joining the intercourse you've been blessed by the broadcast. If you are encouraged by the biblical answers that you hear on this program in your walk with the Lord, would you consider joining the inner core is Bill said it's a monthly donation of $25 or more, then it helps us to continue to produce this broadcast and a lot of the content that we give away so often for free. Things are going to encourage you and help you in your walk with Christ.

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That's all one word core, Christianity.com/inner core. To learn more about becoming a part of that special group of people. What we do receive voicemails here at core Christianity and here's one that came in from one of our listeners named Joseph, my question was, what you do when you work at a place that is beautiful on the outside but there's a lot of toxicity on the inside and you yourself end up being part of that.

Thank you for any like to give me updates practice to light on exactly what God wants me sometimes found that many days are like I need to get out of here.

I need to go somewhere like it where and a lot of it is because of the job that work at any help. By the grace of God go up there.

Thank you.

I just think that question let me let me just first pray because this is a wisdom issue. I don't think that is necessarily sort of black-and-white right and wrong. It's something that Juergen have to use wisdom and wisdom comes from God comes from the Holy Spirit, and so on. Ask God to give you his wisdom right now. Father, thank you for Joseph's question. I thank you that his desire is to honor you wherever you have him and that he wants to draw near to you and to walk with you to honor you, Lord, we do know that so often Lord that RR environments can shape us and sometimes they can shape us in in ways that are not good and not honoring to you and so I ask what got one that you would guard him. His mind his heart that you would help him. Father in all things to honor you to be steadfast in his faith and to glorify you where he works and I pray that you would give him wisdom Lord about it if maybe the right decision for him is taking a step back from this or step away from this Lord God in finding a situation that will be more conducive better for his own growth as a man, and in particular is a man of God and so father please be with Joseph. Please fill him with your Holy Spirit with the spirit of wisdom and lead him and guide him in this situation I pray in Jesus name, amen. One of the things I love about Jesus is how he engaged with people with people in the Bible who oftentimes were reviewed as those are not the people want to be around the tax collectors the sinners the prostitutes I will build those people being around them is going to paint us, and yet Jesus was never tainted. Jesus was bold. He was courageous he was compassionate and he never compromised he never compromised the truth he was able to engage with nonbelievers. We might even say in toxic cultures and places, and yet he always brought light and love and truth and and calls to faith and repentance and I think God calls us to be like Jesus. When were engaging with the world.

To be compassionate but also to have conviction to to be firm in what it is that we believe not to compromise and we know that that's a temptation as we engage in the workplace just just generally with with culture with society that that there's this this temptation to compromise our beliefs to be ashamed of what we believe or even to begin to act out in ways that we know are not aunt honoring to the Lord.

The apostle Paul in first Corinthians chapter 15 verse 33 said do not be deceived. Bad Company ruins good morals bad Company ruins good morals corrupts good habits wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning is always a look if you're an environment where you feel I'm being pulled away from God.

I'm not strong enough spiritually strong enough to be here and to be a witness to be a light actually what this is days is drawing away from what I would say be wise if you have to take a step back or find a different place to work because this is having no really, really bad effects on your relationship with Christ. It is leading you into temptation. If you will and and you're participating in this toxic culture than I was. I would say maybe the look but the smart thing to do then is to say, this is this is become a huge stumbling block for me and I'm not strong enough to to handle this environment, I need to get out of this situation and and maybe the Lord opens the doors for you to be able to do that. Or maybe the Lord gives you grace in the midst of the situation to stand firm and to be bold and to be able to relate to the people that you work with with truth, not with toxicity and are not engaging in the toxic culture, whatever that looks like an order looks like if it's crude joking if it's gossip whatever it is I think as Christians you as a believer you have to stand firm in the truth and and made the spirit of God give you grace and strength to do that, you know, Paul says in first Corinthians chapter 5 when he talks about associating with the ungodly to look at when I wrote to you to Corinthians. And I talked about not associating with the ungodly. I didn't mean with with the ungodly and in the world. Otherwise you have to be transported out of the world ever take a rocket ship to another planet because the fact of the matter is as as as believers in the world were rubbing shoulders with people who don't believe in Jesus and God doesn't call us to just avoid them know he calls us to to love them and speak the truth to them were called to not associate with anyone who is a so-called brother and is guilty of sin, is living in sin and in unwilling to repent and so it's not that the Bible says you have to you to leave that job because of the people there because of the culture.

It's a wisdom thing it's MI able to be here and honor Christ, or is this pulling me away from the Lord and that's something that only you can answer, but may God give you wisdom in answering that question and guide you. Anna and I pray that the Lord in a wherever you are with you stay there you go somewhere else that God uses you to be a light and gives you that boldness that compassion that courage that all of us need as Christians. Joseph thanks so much for your call and I can certainly relate to his situation and realize I've been there done that and that difficult toxic work environment. It can be so stressful on day in and day out, so will be praying for you Joseph, and that in your work environment. The score Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez, we do receive emails here and if you have an email question. You can write to us at questions at core, Christianity.com there's one from Jeannie, she says, is it wrong to have wine or beer on occasion I feel Jesus would not have turned water into wine. If this were a sin, obviously were not to get drunk, but I feel so overwhelmed at times and I see King David and others celebrating and drinking wine for enjoyment.

So I'm not sure what to think. Yeah yeah great great question. We have to differentiate between what the Bible teaches in our sort of cultural practices in in the church and there are some churches really do treat alcohol as as if it's sinful in and of itself, like like having a beer having a glass of wine is sin.

While that's not something that you see in Scripture of course Jesus turned water into wine. Some people say Willow wasn't why we don't whine like we think of today, but there's no indication that Jesus turned the water into the no nonalcoholic grape juice or something of this was wine.

This was letting it was a party.

It was a celebration and often times in the Bible.

Wine is this drink of celebration.

It's a drink of God's kingdom. Isaiah chapter 25 if drinking wine was sinful. Paul would not have told Timothy to take a little bit of what of wine on occasion to settle his stomach. Timothy had some stomach issues and and then also try try a small glass of wine to help settle your stomach and so I think that it didn't the church in the United States. I think you know there there are.

I think some some traditions that we might have that aren't necessarily rooted in the Scriptures or in the teaching of the Bible. Now, of course, as you say you know this drunkenness in the Bible is a sin. Paul says in in Ephesians do not get drunk with wine, but be filled with the Holy Spirit and so the question is what are you controlled by, and that that seal the hole ideally says don't get drunk with wine, don't be under the influence of wine. Don't let that be what drives you, what what controls you be controlled by the Holy Spirit, be under the influence of the Holy Spirit speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord in your heart that's work that's what were called to do. That's how are called to live in and having wine or beer or what not that that's not an issue that that's not edition.

It's certainly not something that the Bible says is sinful, but we do need to exercise wisdom and we also need to consider the people that are that are around us, people for whom it might be a stumbling block and so and so.

This again is another issue of wisdom and may God give you wisdom as you look at the Scriptures for the answer that's we want to do. Thank you and God bless you. Thanks for that?

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