Does the Church Need to Address “Christian Nationalism”?

To address Christian nationalism.

That's just 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 the radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day. Here's our phone number it's 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 you can always leave a voicemail at that number 24 hours a day. You can also post your question on one of our social media sites and feel free to email us with your question at questions at core, Christianity.com first up today let's go to Dwight calling in from Nashville, Tennessee Dwight what your question for pastor atrial all know you will bless you program all today is the Holy Spirit, all way all, no matter what believe that one was shipped Jesus Christ as their Lord and I told the Holy Spirit does not always so stop and listen to you but you know I think that question yes I do believe that when a child of God is filled with the Holy Spirit were baptized in the Holy Spirit. Paul says to the print is by one Spirit.

We've all been baptized into one body.

The dispirited guy never leaves us. Now we can grieve the Spirit of God in our lives as Christians in in in sitting and in certain ways where we don't have that same sense of God's presence but but the spirit never abandons us. This is part of the reality of the promise that God gives us under the new covenant on that the entire Christian community covenant community is going to be filled with the spirit of God. As Joel prophesied in Joel chapter 2, and what windows that happen for us as believers. Paul says in Ephesians chapter 1 verse 13 in him in Jesus, you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it to the praise of his glory. In other words, that the filling of the spirit, the gift of the Holy Spirit is like this down payment that God is given to us as his people and advancement if you will, and guaranteeing that God is in that God is and follow through on on what is purchased our redemption. If you will, until were in the way in the presence of the Lord in glory and so we have the spirit of God. Now, in the spirit is a seal for us is this down payment and guaranteeing our future inheritance were already as the children of God, believing in Jesus. New creations in Christ, and so so yes the spirit of God is always with us and I think this is one of the distinct realities of the new covenant in the Old Testament under the. The old covenant. It seemed like things were different. I mean, of the spirit of God would come upon the Kings. For example, like Saul or King David or the judges you think of Samson and there were times of the spirit of God come upon them powerfully and then and then leave it. It seemed like but for us, we have this this special promise of the indwelling in ceiling of the Holy Spirit that seems to be in some ways, you know, unique to this the situation that rented the new covenant so that for the believer would have to be afraid of the spirit of God abandoning us or leaving us, but we should be concerned about grieving the Holy Spirit, which again is what Paul goes on to say that we can do through sin, and so there are times in our lives where where we don't feel the presence of the spirit is much as we we hadn't been in prior times and sometimes it just, you know, because God gives us the special moments we can really sense his presence. And that's just not the ordinary Christian life are not always feeling that other times it could be as a result of sin or taking our eyes off of the Lord, not fellow shipping with believers, but for the true child of God, the Spirit of God never leaves us Dwight and so we have that promise from the Lord.

This is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez would love to hear from you. If you have a question about the Bible more. The Christian life. Feel free to call us anytime at 833.

The core 1-833-843-2673 or shoot us an email at questions at core, Christianity.com. Let's go to Jerry and Fort Wayne, Indiana jury what your question for pastor atrial stand before Christ to account when is that as soon as you desire is that Judgment Day I think in Scripture it's referring specifically to the final day, the day of judgment. Paul said in acts 17. The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he is given assurance to all by raising him from the dead, and so I think that this this last date of the final judgment happens at the same time as the resurrection. The quote unquote day of the Lord the ultimate day of the Lord described in in Scripture. And so, so I was eight I would say it it's it's taking place at the very end. Not not know it was good to speak to the final judgment. I don't think it's something that's timely and what what we experience individually. As soon as we die per se. I think it's talking about that final day contemporaneous with the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.

As the creed says a thank you for that question Jerry Douglas thanks Jerry appreciate your listing there in Fort Wayne you're listening to core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez and yes this is wedding season all summer long. We actually have a special resource for those who were thinking about marriage, or even if you're already married. That's right Bill you a large amount of questions we get at core. Christianity is about marriage, dating, engagement, marital conflict divorce that the list goes on to listen to the broadcast. You, you know, this is we answer these questions. It's actually vital for all of us to ask why did God create marriage in the first place is marriage just a means to meet our individual needs and desires is the biblical view of marriage itself outdated.

There a lot of people try to to redefine what marriages today as we seek to answer these questions and many more in our booklet.

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This railing will read the Old Testament. Sometimes people think boy will I read the Old Testament you know I want to get straight to Jesus straight to the Gospels, but the reality is the Old Testament also takes us straight to Jesus through the types and shadows through the way God dealt with his people under the old covenant, and in various ways anything at the temple the sacrifices or that seen in the book of numbers where you have this this bronze serpent that's constructing the people look to the serpent and are healed or experienced healing.

As I think it's a clear picture of Christ elevated on the cross looking to him us by faith and receiving healing. That is the forgiveness of our sins and actually this is something the Bible itself teaches when you go to the New Testament that one. The principle of of Bible interpretation is that we let Scripture interpret Scripture. Let let let the word of God provide for us the interpretations when you go to John chapter 3 and in verse 14 we read, as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up whoever believes in him may have eternal life. What what saves us what heals us from the serpent bite of sin it's looking to Jesus by faith on the cross for us for our forgiveness and answer your you're right on brother every looking at that story simply is this is this is is pointing me to Jesus. Yes it is and and that's made absolutely clear in John chapter 3 verse 14 thinks that this is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez and here's a voicemail from one of our listeners named Dave I Israel. I've heard politicians recently claimant God's will that they get elected in that God has chosen them to make America a Christian nation that's her thing and I'm wondering if you think that pastors or church leaders that America have any obligation to address Christian nationalism. I think that that question and you know it depends on how were defining this other so much that absent so many debates online. People single. We know what's wrong with being patriotic and and loving the country that God has placed me in this app see nothing wrong with that, by the way I'm been grateful for the gifts that God gives to us, but there is a problem when we when we give you know that the earthly kingdoms of this world, a position that God is not given to them.

There is one holy nation, one holy Christian nation. It's called the church. It's the kingdom of God manifested on earth today spread abroad throughout all the nations of the world and as that the that the kingdom of God on earth today are a manifestation of God's kingdom on earth were called to be like the kingdom outpost heavenly embassies that engage with broader society for the good of our neighbors and for the glory of God. But we were not were not transforming these these earthly temporal kingdoms and societies into what only the church is and so II think that there's there's a concern. Sometimes I think when people talk about the United States.

For example they talk about United States.

Sort of like the Old Testament talks about it Israel under the old covenant as the very special people of God called by God put in covenant by the Lord, the Lord is entered into the special covenant with us is has the chosen ones and and we need to recover that and that's just that's just a confusion of what the Bible teaches, such as a misunderstanding of redemptive history. I think a misunderstanding of the place of the church in the world today and the place of the temporal kingdoms of the world today. XOXO where that's happening where people are trying to say our politicians are saying things like, which, which by the way just sounds totally manipulative right if you need to vote for me because I'm to make you know us a you know God's kingdom on earth again today and and if you don't then were in big trouble and that's it.

That's manipulation and bad theology, and so on them there some serious issues there and so II think that's happening if if you're sitting down thinking as as a minister, the minister of the gospel via people in my church who think in that way then yeah I want to address that I want. I would help people to understand what the Bible actually teaches related to these things at which which again it's it's not that we can be patriotic that we can't be grateful for the blessings of the Lord has given to us here that we can't seek to that we shouldn't seek to pursue that which is the best for our neighbor in in in line with what God calls us to just based on his law and what is revealed even in creation. All of those things good wonderful. But the moment you start saying we are the special people of God, the United States America is the special people of God like Israel was under the old covenant. You have a theological problem.

The special people of God today under the new covenant it's it's the holy nation, the church were part of in the body of Christ and then that body consists of people from every tribe and tongue and nation of the world and we engage with the kingdoms of this world as that holy nation as as the embassies of God on earth today is a week we have to have the right understanding the right balance, I think, and where we don't, then yes, I think, ministers, pastors are obligated to say there's a theological error here that we need to address because we don't want our people falling into into that air. Thank you for your question. Well said this is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez.

We have a YouTube channel. By the way, and you can check out a drill on YouTube every day at 11:30 AM Pacific time. Just translate that into your local time zone 11:30 AM Pacific for that half-hour were on YouTube and you can message us through our YouTube channel as well. Rita is watching on YouTube and she says, how does the Bible tell us how to live in this world where racism exists hi Rita, well I'm is a sister like asking how does the Bible tell us how to live in the world where where sin exists them in us as believers as as Christians when what were called not to participate in the sin of the world and society around us to expose as Paul says in Ephesians, the unfruitful works of darkness so that the first question we have to ask ourselves is, you know to what extent, if any, has that the sin that's out there penetrated into our own hearts on so that that's a question anywhere where do we need to confess and repent of sin when when we need to. That's that's a part of it and not letting whether it's racism or anything else right. Not letting that take over and and begin to influence us and and so that we begin to reflect more of of the world. Instead of being the holy people of God called out of the world to to proclaim the excellencies of of our Lord is out so I would just save you as God's people were called to be distinct were called to be holy and were called to pursue that which is good and just for our neighbor sets were called to live and so to the extent that we can as individual Christians pursue that with the people around us in in our societies that we should we should stand up for those who are oppressed. Those who are mistreated.

This is something you see all over the place in Scripture. And it's precisely how God is God is is is the God who cares for those who don't have a voice for those who are oppressed for those who are mistreated. He is the defender of the widow, the orphan and the stranger and he calls us as his people to also care for those who are in need and so so you have one. The you know, not letting the sin of society and culture the world penetrate into our own hearts so that we begin to to reflected into pursuing that which is good and right and just, in accordance with with God's law in in in society and the church as well and so those are two things that I would say to your question. Thank you for recount was on YouTube. This is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez, just a reminder we have this wonderful resource on marriage available to you. It's called why would anyone get married a case for the beauty and goodness of marriage and this could be for somebody who's engage somebody who's already married. Maybe if you're a parent or grandparent you have some young adults, children or grandchildren who are thinking about marriage or maybe wondering, is it worth getting married in today's world. Well, this would be a great book for them to have. Again it's called, why would anyone get married you can find that by going to core Christianity.com/offers will make that available to you for a donation of any amount you can find other great resources at our website as well just go to core Christianity.com and browse around a bit to receive emails here at the core and you can email us anytime at questions at core, Christianity.com here's one from one of our listeners named Joe he says at the end of first Timothy five. It looks like Paul is shaming people in the church for their sin in front of other people. I thought that Christians as new creations. We would be treated with forgiveness and grace rather than behavior like this that seems to contradict what Paul says in Romans seven about continuing to struggle with sin but still finding mercy and grace Joe thanks to that question.

If it is what week we talk like all sins are equal, but that what they really aren't. Some sins are more heinous in the sight of God than others.

It could be just just by virtue of the sin in and of itself, it could be the person who's committing the sin I have is it's one thing for someone who is ignorant doesn't know very much to to sin and in a certain way to nothing for a person who knows better.

Think of a teacher. For example, religious teacher, Pastor, theologian to send in the exact same way and and and to do so you know knowing clearly that what they're doing is is wrong and heinous in the sight of God. And I think that's what we have there in first Timothy chapter 5 because specifically it's not just is not just in a Paul talking about shaming people for their sin.

You know people Christian struggling with sin in the church he's talking specifically about elders in the church leaders who are held to a higher standard than he talked about earlier in first Timothy chapter 3, where he was bringing up the qualifications for for overseers in the church and he says in chapter 5 or 17. I think that this is the portion that you're referring to let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching for the skeptic through the Scripture says you shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain and the laborer deserves his wages. Do not admit a charge against an elder, except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear is what we talking about here were not what I do. Talk about a semi who struggling with sin were talking about someone who's been convicted of sin and not just anyone but but a leader in the church, an elder, a pastor who's who's it's clear that they've sinned, but instead of repenting there continuing to sin their hardhearted they're not wanting to let go of their snow.

This is a cut that huge problem because this person is supposed to be an example to the church of godly behavior, but there but they're setting a bad example so that that the fear the danger here is other people are going to follow suit. They're going to begin to live in an ungodly way, or reject God's law and so and so for that reason pulses look if if an elder in the church. A pastor has been has been convicted of sin is been called out in this is very clear and yet they can can you to persist in sin I don't just turn a blind eye. Don't overlook that if you do, the consequences are going to be devastating. This is part of that the issue not exactly the same but you know you think of when Paul was was rebuking that the Corinthians, because there was a clear examples of sin in their church, sexual immorality, and then the church wasn't doing anything about it and he says you a little leaven leavens the whole lump. If you if you just let this go. What's gonna happen is that sin is in a sporadic skin infect the whole community.

And so you can't do that yet that yet the cut it off at the source.

If you will. And that's what he sin you have to do with with the bit with this person with this elder the spiritual leader was persisting in sin, rebuke that man in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear so that the church will see hey were not going to put up with this.

This is not okay. This is not the kind of behavior that should be exhibited by an elder and it's going to be addressed if indeed this this is is taking place and so I think what's what were seniors not you know like this attempted shame somebody who struggling with sin that the real the picture of Romans seven you that battle with sin and and daily fighting to walk in the Spirit to put to death by the Holy Spirit. The deeds of our body, the sinful deeds of our body.

And you know what we wrestle with that. It's not pulsing go to that person and you know expose their sin before the church and and rebuke them no, he sang for the elder for the pastor who persists in sin call them out there in the presence of all, so that the church will see that it's not permissible behavior and so that they'll be afraid and will walk in holiness and repentance. And so it's really important that we understand the context there and when we do, it highlights one I think the high calling of elders in our churches. You know that the qualifications that that are set before us in first Timothy three and Titus chapter 1, but also just how seriously we should take sin within the church. Oftentimes and you might've heard this before but what can happen is churches can take very seriously the sins of others outside of the church but not very seriously our own sins of things that we battle with within the body of Christ we really have to begin by taking our own sin here at home. Seriously, especially when you have Christian leaders who are who are walking in stubbornness and unrepentant so that needs to be addressed in the need to be stern rebuke in the presence of all Paul says so that so that God would be glorified.

Thanks your question so well said.

And of course, in some cases, there are churches and even denominations that have not been taking those steps we got some pastors who've been living outside God's will and that's really tragic, yet, you know, we say that discipline is a mark of the true church really caring about each other and caring about sin within the community. It's important for all of us friends be in churches that care about the truth and care that God is honored that his his word is kept as I hope that you have that. Thanks for listening to core Christianity request your copy of today's special offer. Visit us at core, Christianity.com and click on offers in the menu bar or call us at 1-833-843-2673.

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