Is There Anything Christian About Christian Science?

Is there anything Christian about Christian science. This 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 and this is the radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day. There's our phone number is 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673. You can also email us your question at questions at core, Christianity.com would love to hear from you. First up today let's go to Wallace calling in from Nashville, Tennessee. Wallace what your question for atrial hey Wallace are you doing well. How are you doing Michael is not good.

Say one of greatest love of God for his love.

Some shelves while those now that you go little while shoes of Michelle and all knowledge of God's goal is you can't break little about myself will call you. I disagree with you know offering up prayers to the Virgin Mary. I do think that in in Protestant circles and will become a Protestant minister that sometimes we can minimize the role of the Virgin Mary in the history of redemption think that's that's a problem when you read Scripture either. All such debates were happening.

Also in in the early church around Mary and in particular that focused on Jesus in the incarnation, and who it was that took flesh from her womb.

The second person of the holy Trinity. The word made flesh, and so that there been a lot of conversations about the symptoms. I think that in Protestant circles.

You know, kind of in in our response against Roman Catholics or two Roman Catholics we can kind have a low view if you will of the things that took place. You know, through God's providential action and care redemptive working in salvation in bringing his son through the womb of the Virgin Mary and so that's one thing, but I don't believe with the Roman Catholic Church and some other Christian traditions that that that Mary should be prayed to that we should ask Mary to pray for us. To me that's a part of Roman Catholic theology with us. They will, we can go to her and asked her to pray for us, just like you ask somebody else to pray for you here on earth but there's no indication in Scripture other that something that were called to do as as Christians affect Mary herself.

I think pointed away from herself and to Jesus, her son, the Savior of the whole world, but then you also ask will will is the Catholic Church's view on marriage that make them a cult.no I don't believe so. I don't believe the Roman Catholic Church is a cult. I think that there are a lot of disagreements that we have some serious issues related to doctrines like the doctrine of justification, and in historically mean there been some real fierce debates between the Roman Catholic Church and the Protestant reformers and they basically said early on that that the Protestant Reformation was accursed. Now Catholics today will say something a little bit differentness or tone down their language, but that with it some serious differences disagreements. Why am not Roman Catholic but I wouldn't say that the Roman Churches is the same as the of the Jehovah's Witnesses or the Mormons. They do happen to get the doctrine of God right so many of those court Christian doctrines that we believe are central to the faith. The doctrine of the Trinity. The doctrine of again the incarnation of the son of God and so I did to do something that we can celebrate and see if it is a good thing in and we would want to categorize them with the Mormons with the Jehovah's Witnesses who don't get the doctrine of God, right, who reject the doctrine of the Trinity and and don't understand the incarnate incarnation.

But that's not to minimize again the differences between Roman Catholics and and Protestants, and in some of those differences include piety and prayer and no intercession to the saints, and those are things that I think that you don't see in Scripture and so I would I would on the basis of Scripture with Catholic friend say hey that's not something that you find in the Bible so I think that something we challenge Wallace thank you for for your question. May the Lord bless you. This is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez, Pope Francis on the line just want to say thanks for your comments are yeah yeah just listens to court, the entity doesn't. If you know it you personally send him you know this this broadcast and see if we can get them on the line. I think that Wellington is a lot to discuss. So there would be a lot to discuss.

All right, well let's cook one of our voicemails from one of our listeners who listens to us in Florida, and all single wanted to do with how much involvement should I have in terms of helping the opposite sex, especially if they are Christians. One person in particular and we were in their relationship, and I got out of that relationship and its government. Later, he reached out and he needed a lot of help with transportation help with other things. I only help because I think I want to but I just don't know how appropriate is he doesn't seem to have a good Christian community younger and he could reach out, possibly from the resources. The other question to that and how much involvement should I be in a relationship that is not a promising relationship of her future husband there right now you, thank you so very much God bless you and increasing are you dear sister, thank you for your question and let me just say a couple of things one you should not pursue a relationship that you know this is not to go anywhere. This is not an end in in marriage romantically.

I don't think you should waste your time with no not at all, and especially if if this is something that is a stumbling block is that you see is actually leading you away from obedience to Christ and his word will gather a lot of red flags. There we need to take sin very seriously and in those those areas of temptation in our lives that seem to trip us up. We have to take that very seriously what Jesus said is Matthew chapter 5 verse 27.

You've heard that it was said, you shall not commit adultery.

I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If you're right eye causes you to sin, carried out and throw it away.

For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell. Jesus is speaking to all of us here is a look, don't don't minimize and make excuses for your sin when you see that your you're doing something or in a relationship or going to places where you find yourself in compromising situations and giving into temptation don't just notice it was not that big of a deal, do better next time know he says he's as if your right hand because he doesn't cut it off using hyperbolic language there but but essentially distressing.

We can't play when were playing with fire. This is a game and so I would just want to say to you sister you have to take this very seriously. Now the good news is there is grace for you and Grace for this individual. I don't want you to feel you should not feel bad that you're not helping this individual.

Yes, God wants us to help people to care for each other but over this individual.

Specifically, I think because of the history of the relationship he needs to get into a church where he has accountability and where there are others in the church other men who can help him support him in the ways that he needs to be supported so that is not dependent upon you, and again they just think about the history of the relationship is not is not appropriate to go on in that way and and and just for your own sake you wanting to have a clear conscience before the Lord, but also wanting to walking in purity and honoring the Lord up to the right decision is not continuing to help the sky with with the things that he needs % look, you need to get some some help from the church from other men in the church.

If you're not in a church and you don't have those kinds of connections you need to get in a good church. That's how you can help by encouraging him in that direction and for yourself, sister. I think I think it's it's commendable that you want to help but oftentimes you know this is a concern that I have. We will we will find ways to hold onto his sinful patterns in our lives and often, often those ways can sound very good and pious you not dumb to try to help this person will yeah but it but if it's very clearly been a stumbling block and it's it's in an area for temptation you pulses give no provision to the flesh, to fulfill its lusts and so so I just would would exhort you to be very careful in this situation not to pursue a relationship that you know isn't going to go anywhere and to pursue the Lord and and you know if this is been longing for companionship or relationship rated pursue the Lord and pray that the Lord would provide that for you in a way that's good and honoring to him and an end. In line with what he calls us to someone who believes and loves the Lord is good to respect you and honor you and love your family, your your 17-year-old as well. You may the Lord bless you sister in that and grant you his grace. And so I appreciate your call and thank you for for just your openness.

May the Lord give you wisdom and fill you with a sense of his love and forgiveness as you turn to him. God bless some great counsel.

Thank you for Benadryl you're listening to core Christianity with pastor Adm. Sanchez want to tell you about a brand-new Bible study we have available. It's actually on the book of Hebrews Israel wrote this, along with his co-author, Josh Maloney yeah this is a fun, studied it to work together on it goes through as as I said before, one of my favorite books of the Bible, the book of Hebrews on encore Christianity we costly questions about whether or not God speaks to us today. It was a difference in the Old Testament and the New Testament widen the son of God become a human being.

In the book of Hebrews we see wonderful answers and explanations to these questions, but it's important for us to member this letter a letter to the Hebrews is not just a list of questions and answers and facts. It's coming from a concerned pastor to his congregation is very just past Doral. That's one thing I love about the book of Hebrews in these warnings throughout the book of Hebrews, but it is not trying to give this church a sense of condemnation or drive them away from GZ try to draw them closer to Jesus. So if you want to be drawn closer to Jesus. I want to encourage you to get a hold of this 10 week Bible study on the book of Hebrews today for a gift of $15 or more over core, Christianity.com. This is really a fantastic study. Would love to get this in your hands. As we've said before, you could do this individually or do it with a small group at church Sunday school class.

In fact, maybe your small group is looking for something to go through this fall and this would be a great choice. You can find it by going to core Christianity.com for studies again. Core, Christianity.com/studies look for the book buddy on the book of Hebrews we do receive emails here at the core and here's our email address. If you have a question it's questions at core, Christianity.com and were open to any questions you might have about the Bible, the Christian life doctrine theology. Again, questions at core, Christianity.com. If you sent us a question this weekend. Here's one that came in from one of our listeners named James he says, can the Lord's supper be taken individually at home in devotions and prayer times and that James is gone this question before and I got a lot of responses. The first time I answered it. So I imagine that there's good to be some some questions.

Maybe some follow-up. When I answered again.

This time, but it's it's important thing. My answer is no.

We should not be taking the Lord's supper on our own at home by ourselves, assertive, administering it to ourselves. The Lord's supper is a holy ordinance that Jesus gave to his church and its administered in the context of the local church where you have a minister who's been called to preach the word of God and is qualified to do that you that that the ordinances like baptism and the Lord's supper. Are these invisible words that God gives to his people in the church is called to guard those those things got him guard that word, the deposit of faith that once for all has been delivered to the saints, and in the same way that you would just have anybody step into the pulpit to preach the word of God. Why because it's so important when speaking on behalf of God were saying we want to communicate the truth in the same way right and we just have anybody do that we can just have anybody administering the Lord's supper to themselves. Something that happens within the church and part of the issue is the Lord's supper is the sign of our unity and community as the body of Christ. The apostle Paul said in first Corinthians chapter 10 verse 16.

The cup of blessing that we bless is it not a participation in the blood of Christ, the bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ because there is one bread, we who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. In other words, this is the community meal.

This is the churches family meal around the body of Christ is not this the sort of magic bread that I just go in and you know whatever I want to to have a special moment with Jesus seated on my own that can think of something we did together as the church under the faithful ministry of the word to receive by faith, Christ's body and blood for us so and so.

I think a lot of times of one of the issues that think I think we we sort of minimize the Lord's supper. It's this in many people's minds is this kind of ritual it's about me and my personal time with Jesus and as I do it.

I'm thinking about the cross and the fact that he died for me and let me just say those are all those are all good things you can do that at home on your own without trying to administer the Lord's supper. Tears of them should always be meditating on the goodness of God to us in the gospel but we were taking holy communion.

Something we did together as the body of Christ, and it's something that we don't give to ourselves, but Christ gives to us through the hands of the minister so that we might be built up in our faith.

And so we want to minimize these holy ordinances that Jesus gave to us or treat them as common things we want to receive them, receive them as the very gifts of God for the people of God in accordance with the word of God. Thanks. This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez, we do receive voicemails here on a regular basis and you can leave us one this weekend if you like. If you have a question about the Bible or the Christian life. Here's a listener call that came in earlier this week hi.

My question is, I've been on a one-year slight money people coincidently must call in general I will change and I find that the majesty think the Bible some of the books I would like to know what you think about asking specifically what is such a legitimate but is generally assessment close to save the environment. Just like Javier go to sleep by pushing much less or not it would consist reading the Bible. I'm always encouraged that I think that we need to be reading the Bible studying the Scriptures that what you find is that every religious group every quote unquote cold even they claim to just read the Bible we talk to Jehovah's Witnesses in the Civil War. Teaching is just the Bible teaches in the quote. Some verses here and they are often taken out of context.

Talk to the Mormons say the exact same thing will just just reading the Bible right that it is what the Bible teaches and they'll use biblical words like grace and Jesus and son of God and phrases. The issue comes down to the interpretation Herod heretics false teaching really can appeal to Scripture gives a more just reading the Bible is something everybody says but we have to test that we really have to say okay is this really what the Bible teaches and were commanded to test the spirit. To me this is something that we see in first John chapter 4 just listen closely to this at this what I think God would say to you, my friend beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world and by this you know the Spirit of God. Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world all ready is really important right. We have to be discerning there to be many people and churches and movements that say this is just this is just you know a new movement a new wind of the Spirit and by the way, you might know this but but the Christian science and begin until about the 19th century. This is this is something that's new anytime you have something that's new like that. I think we should immediately read the red flag should go up because it's like if nobody got this throughout the history of the church.

So you begin to ask questions and when you begin to delve deep into what Christian science actually believes and teaches even though they say yet what we just read the Bible like everyone else. What you find is they don't just read the Bible like everyone else. They don't just read the Bible like the church is read the Bible for the last 2000 years.

They change the interpretation of Scripture their own interpretation. In a way that twists the word of God, and I think it leads people astray. They deny in fact that the goodness of the material world. There's is very assertive matter and the material world is is not real is not good.

It's the spiritual world that matters most. Which coincidentally is very similar to the false teaching that John was coming up against in first John, as he's writing to these Christians.

They also deny the reality of sin.

Now there's a huge problem because if you take away sin as as a category writing. This is something is happening all over the place in our in our society today with no such thing as sin.

I would want to talk about sin will this is something that they do, they deny the reality of sin will if you deny the reality of sin, then you also deny the hope that we have in Jesus Christ the Savior who came to save men from their sins. If you say, sin is an being is in a real thing, then you remove essentially the need for the gospel for the good news of what Jesus Christ is accomplishing so you begin to see how they might they might read the Bible and talk about the Bible but the way they twist Scripture in the categories of Scripture really undermines the teaching of the Bible and ultimately it undermines the gospel the very need for a Savior Jesus Christ as I would say look, friend continue to read the word of God continue to read the Bible and every time that you read the Bible, pray pray and say God help me, by the grace of your spirit to understand this and get into a church, a solid church that values the Scriptures that believes the Bible and confesses with the church of all ages. Those core Christian doctrines that Christian science rejects Christian science rejects the doctrine of the holy Trinity. The doctrine of the incarnation, the doctrine of sin.

That's the very essence of the Christian faith. These things are as of the lived theology what they teach strikes at the very vitals of true religion. You can have true religion. If you reject the Trinity and and the need for a Savior. That's precisely what they do and so get into a church where the faith once for all delivered to the saints. Belief in one God, the holy Trinity, father, son and Holy Spirit.

The incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ to work with those things are believed and held and were the word of God is good to be faithfully taught and where you can grow under faithful Bible teaching I not AI. It sounds to me and I I imagine that you had a good experience. You been going there for year. The people are very nice and you know you just a gorgeous, reading the Bible.

What's the big deal and in the fact the matter is that the true church is not determined by the niceness of the people and the coffee hour that they have.

I have five Mormon friends who are very very nice wonderful people we might ceramic that I do want to minimize that. But what they say about Jesus and the gospel is not true is oh so might have friends relationships like they of that is a good thing is not a bad thing, but when it comes to the word of God and religion faith. I would say men don't go to that church don't know be a part of that Christian science movement because it doesn't teach what the Bible teaches get plugged in to a solid church and I appreciate your question is want to encourage you to continue to study the Scriptures and if you don't have a copy of it. Get a hold of the book core Christianity by Dr. Michael Horton because it will really unpack some of those core doctrines that I've been talking about. May the Lord bless you. Thanks. 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 or call us at 1-833-843-2673. That's 833 when you contact us. Please let us know how you been encouraged by this program and be sure to join us next time. As we explore the truth of God's word together