When Should Theological Differences Keep Me From Marrying Someone?

Should theological differences keep me from marrying someone 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. We hope you had a great weekend. This is the radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day we get some great practical questions as well and would love to hear yours. Here is the phone number it's 833. The core our phone lines will be open for the next 25 minutes or so. Again, 833-843-2673 course you can always post your question. One of our social media sites you can watch a drill live in the studio right now on our YouTube channel and message him that way and of course you can always email us your question at questions at core, Christianity.com first up today.

Here's a voicemail from one of our listeners named Linda, and Scripture talks about where there are two or more gathered together in my name name that he would be there. Kinda leaves me wondering who bear when only I am praying along you know it just dumped me a little bit. I I like to pray a lot on my own so any help would be great an understanding that and thank you for your program very helpful. Linda was the first thing I'll say is God is there. When you're praying on your own by yourself the that the Lord is there present as you approach him to Christ with faith and so you should be encouraged to pray on your own and with other believers as well. Now the passage of Scripture that you're referring to is Matthew chapter 18 verse 24, where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them, and now this comes in the context of Jesus talking about church discipline and going to your brother when your brother or your sister has sinned against you and then taking taking two witnesses with you then get them going to the church and bring them with something really official going on here in terms of dealing with sin in the body of Christ. So I think that's that's that the wider context of Jesus's statement in verse 20, but you want to remember what Jesus said when he was speaking about prayer when he was teaching on prayer in his sermon on the Mount, Matthew chapter 6 verse five when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners that they may be seen by others. Truly I say to you they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your father who sees in secret will reward you. And so I want to encourage you Linda with those words that when you are by yourself and you got your room and shut the door and you're praying that your father sees you and he hears you and our prayers please him and so we should all be encouraged to pray to the Lord again.

Whether were by ourselves and our prayer call in our prayer closet quote" or a, together with the body of Christ praying in church or praying in Bible study week we ought to be praying and I giving thanks to the Lord God bless great counsel thinks a drill.

This is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez. If you have a question about the Bible or the Christian life, doctrine and theology, or maybe even some doubts about the Christian faith.

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First, you know, is Scripture doesn't give us a lot of specifics in terms of who to marry and who not to marry. Except for the fact that were commanded to marry only in the Lord that's that's key so so when a Christian gets married they shouldn't they shouldn't entertain the idea of marrying someone who isn't a believer who doesn't go to church. Someone who who doesn't embrace the gospel. I think I think that's really important because a lot of times we get into relationships or people get into relationships with someone who just that that the you know they don't share the same faith and that they're hoping you know by means of the relationship to bring this person to faith, but oftentimes it doesn't work out, and so I think we want to be wise here.

Your question is a little bit more specific though them. This isn't just somebody who denies the faith who rejects the Trinity, the incarnation, this is somebody who's Roman Catholic resume of Leah, a practicing Roman Catholic, and so is it okay for a Baptist or a Protestant Christian to marry someone who's a committed Roman Catholic will here's here's what I would say if there really committed Roman Catholic church they're gonna want you to get married in the Roman Catholic Church, if there really committed Roman Catholic, which means that your to be committing to being a part of the Roman Catholic Church and and presumably raising your children in the Roman Catholic Church and I think that's it that's it. That's a big thing because there are significant differences between Protestant Christianity and Roman Catholicism, and so just just in terms of wisdom. I think there are there are theological differences that would I think keep the two of you from from wanting to pursue married me thinking about raising your children what you're teaching them about the faith. What you're teaching them about piety, what you're teaching them ultimately about the doctrine of salvation. What is it mean to be a Christian, how how is one is saved that something where Roman Catholics and an Protestants different so there's some vital issues that that I think are are so significant that you know in less you could resolve those issues then I would say I hope that that you know this person that you're interested in wood would come around to embracing you know some of that some of the key doctrines of the Protestant reformers spoke about some of the reasons why they why they separated themselves for the room from the Roman Catholic Church were removed from the Roman Catholic Church doctrines like the doctrine of justification, our proper biblical ecclesiology doctrine of the church and so I would I would counsel you and say no this.

This isn't something we should pursue in terms of of marriage and maybe continue to have a friendship to talk about theology to talk about church. The significant things and then if if this person came around, then yes I would say consider moving forward. But there are instances where there there are theological differences that are so significant that I think it would make marriage or relationship part.

It's best if you want to raise a family in the church in the Lord and so you need to exercise wisdom. There and appreciate your question Eddie, God bless. Let me ask a follow-up to you and drill.

I'm sure as a pastor you get this question from young people, a lot, maybe even not so young people, someone comes to you and says well I'm dating this guy and he's really nice and he's really moral and well he's not a Christian but I'm I'm bringing them that he already had a sixpack to you exactly I don't want to mention that part. But this whole idea of missionary dating of I'm going to win them over to the Lord. What's your advice yeah so look, I mean I've heard stories where it's like we know we were we were dating and this person wasn't really strong in their faith. Or maybe they didn't embrace Christ, but they really did come to faith through our relationship and I think great, but ordinarily speaking I think you know it, especially because were only called to marry in the Lord. We don't want to be presumptuous, and so I think a lot of times people are willing to settle nine.

Oftentimes they're willing to settle with regard to the most important thing right like like does this person share my faith or not. Well, they don't. But you know I'm I want to settle for this person because of all the things that you mentioned Bill and so III think that that's that's us here, you're setting yourself up for a lot of heartache and pain later down the line especially if you're someone who is committed to Christ and wanting to walk with the Lord and wanting in marriage to raise a family in the Lord. Again, we don't want to be presumption on assume that you know God is going to save this person through you know my my friendship. My relationship with them. Now if two people are already married and one is a believer and the other one is in a believer while Paul has instruction for that in first Corinthians chapter 7 he says lifted this person is willing to to live with you and consents to continue to be married, don't.

Don't separate yourself from the. Maybe God will use you to bring them to the faith. But I think it therefore not already married. That's not something that we should enter into and so you know. Pray that the Lord would bring that person to face but don't don't get the cart before the horse.

Don't don't commit to someone who isn't committed to Jesus great counsel. Thanks that I drew this is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez and would love to hear from you.

If you have a question about the Bible or the Christian faith, maybe how your Christian walk intersects with what's happening in today's culture. There can be a lot of pressure there. At times, let's go back to the phones. Tammy is on the line from Nashville, Tennessee, and Tammy. What's your question for atrial call 101 pray to the Lord Jesus. Should we actually call him by his Hebrew name. Yes, you, you know Tammy my name is a drilling people get my name wrong all the time you know they'll call me Adrian or Ariel are also things doesn't bother me at all. I decided I just sort of laugh, and it doesn't it's not becoming my name is kind of strange.

I think that a lot of people have this name and people wonder with regard to Jesus. The name of Jesus and are we getting it wrong, should we be calling him. Yes, you are even just with with the divine name should we use the divine name there's a there's a there's an entire religious sect, the Jehovah's Witnesses make a big deal about this and they'll say what we've we've mistranslated the name of God throughout the Bible. His name is Jehovah and we've taken the name of God out of the Bible is very upset about this, but the reality is I don't think I don't think Jesus is as concerned with whether were using the English or Hebrew pronunciation of the name Jesus is is coming from the Hebrew idea of Joshua right that the the one who led the children of Israel into the promised land into the land of rest, so right there you have this this picture of what Jesus would be doing, but ultimately the rest that he gives us is is rest from sin and death Matthew chapter 1 verse 21 she will bear a son, speaking of Mary, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. That's we need to focus on who Jesus is and in the name Jesus reveal something to us about our Savior. He's the deliver the Savior, the one who brings us into the true promised land grants us true rest. This is why Jesus said at the end of Matthew chapter 11 come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

So I think that's we keep in mind will what were praying and whether you say you know Yeshua or Jesus. I think I think both are both are fine so long as we recognize who he is, were not praying to just some person just some man were praying to the eternal son of God who came to release us from our sins, and did so through his death on the cross and resurrection from the dead.

Thanks Tammy for your question. I Tammy thanks so much for listening to the core Christianity.

We do appreciate you would love to hear from you. If you have a question about the Bible or the Christian life.

Our phone lines will be open for the next 10 minutes or so. So now is the time to call 833.

The core is the number 833. The core that's 833-843-2673. I can also email us your question. Here's our email address its questions at core, Christianity.com atrial. Here's an email from one of our listeners named Hazel. She says thank you for what you're doing. May God continue to bless your program.

My question is about sin and heaven when Revelation 21 four, says he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be any mourning or crying or pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. Does this include all the sins that we've done what we forget all the sins we've committed woman get to heaven for the former things have passed away.

You know we get this question.

Sometimes I get there we can to be able to remember when were in heaven in the presence of the Lord we can to be able to remember the, the difficulties of life of this present evil age are sins are our struggles with sins and it it if we can remember that.

Isn't that going to put a damper on on our experience of eternity and so the question is you is sort of like you and our memories are bar are erased, you know soon as we enter into the presence of the Lord and and everything that we experienced here on earth. At least all of the bad stuff is just sort of blotted out and everything is is positive, the memories that were the result of all good stuff. Well I don't I don't know that that's the case, but that doesn't mean that our experience in heaven is going to be that you know worse off if you will, in one sense that that that the pain that we experience right in the in this world is going to be removed fully every tear wiped away. That's absolutely what would John is saying there in Revelation chapter 21 but not not in that it's it's totally forgotten, but in that the glory of Christ and the grace of Christ and the forgiveness of Christ is gonna be so real and present and inwardly around the throne of God worshiping him that that the thought of our sin, the memory of the pain in this world is going to be eclipsed by the joy of being in the presence of God in right now is it right now.

Through Christ our sins are indeed forgiven affect the book of Revelation starts off and John says to him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood. Revelation chapter 1 verse five and to the saints experience the forgiveness of sins. Now, because Jesus loves us. He's freed us from our sins through his death on the cross through his blood, but we still struggle with sin.

We still have sorrow, pain, death that we experience your honor than that to be removed in the presence of the Lord in the new creation in it. It's good to be absolute joy Hazel and so may God bless you as we look forward as we all look forward to that day in Christ and to what he's done for us. What a wonderful day will be a man. This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez, we do receive voicemails here and you can leave us a voicemail 24 hours a day at 833. The core let's go to voicemail from one of our listeners named Paul, thank you for your ministry at Street real question is will there still be given authority structures are established that most Christians believe that an eternity all ecumenical recently dissolved and every individual Christian will become directly and only accountable Jesus so but a parable about 10-19 and also the 12 thrones 22 versus 2030 seem to imply otherwise. Also, if the answer is yes, then how should that our submission to church or net again. Think of your ministry. Okay yeah so the ball you know are there going to be authority structures in heaven at least for us.

Why, I mean I can think of a few that are that are going to be dissolved. If you will, specifically what you think of the temporal kingdoms of this world which were called to submit to Romans chapter 13. Will those temporal kingdoms are to be around the church, the kingdom of God by the new creation is going to cover the whole world beat the entire earth and in ultimately the new creation and that ultimately Jesus is to be the king. So you do have some authority structure there specifically with Christ as King us as his subjects worshiping him, serving him, but it certainly gonna look a lot different but you also think about some of those some of the structures that existed in the world throughout the world. In the ancient world specifically that Paul says none of them and that they're not going to be there. Specifically, I'm thinking of his words in Galatians chapter 3 verse 27 for as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there was us an authority structure in the ancient world, specifically there. He's talking about slave or free, there is no male or female, for your all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise. And so there's up whatever to look like rim and things are to be radically shifted if you will now that that is indeed the case doesn't mean that we should neglect authority structures here on earth course not. Over and over to me that that that the language of in the fifth commandment. Honor your father and your mother teaches us to obey those authorities that God is placed in our lives, so that's it. That's a part of the live the world in which we live, and I think to some extent in the new creation is can it be also a part of the world to come about what exactly that's going to look like this one of the challenges with thinking about the eternal state and the new creation is we don't have a lot of really clear details in the new test we know to be better than anything we could ever imagine. But I think it's it's me and want to cautious of work taking parables. For example, in trying to paint a picture of what our existence in the new creation is going to be like in the structures of authority there because often times that the parables weren't meant to teach that or communicate that specifically is you want to be careful that were not getting ideas from the parables that they're not necessarily trying to communicate. But all that being said, I think it's it's safe to say that there there can be some sort of relationship is even if were just thinking about Christ as King and us as his subjects in the new creation. We are there. There is there some structure there and so and so.

But I think we can we can embrace that but we want to be careful that we don't read too much into it or assume that it's gonna look one way or another, speculatively, and so appreciate your your question and sorry I couldn't go into that more but is not a lot that the New Testament says on that. In particular your listing the core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez would love to hear from you if you got a question about the Bible or Christian life leave us a voicemail anytime at 833 the core. Here's a voicemail that came in earlier this week will help kill time for initial win is fasting okay for mental and I'm wondering if if you're thinking here you know if I have a mental health disorder. Do I need to fast and pray that God would remove that and and so you know I think we should always be praying and I think fasting is is a good thing a legitimate thing, typically in the Bible is associated with times of great difficulty or times of great need. With the people of God are coming before the Lord and crying out to him and saying please God intervened into the removal of food for a period of time as a way of focusing our eyes on the Lord and praying in a very concentrated way and and I think with whatever whatever ailment we have. I think it's okay to pray and even to pray and fast and say Lord help me with this is I don't think that there's anything wrong with that but I think it's also important if you if you have a serious mental health disorder that you get professional help to God uses means in common grace and and doctors to help us with some of the struggles that we have and so you've heard to say this on the program before if you listen to me this is this is one of the areas where I think we can we can go to a Dr. a trained professional and get some help as well as pursuing the help of the Lord gives through prayer and through his people through the body of Christ Fellowship, community, and so is I hope that your I hope you're getting all of that hope you're in a solid church.

We are being encouraged. I hope that you're able to get unprofessional of is something that that you're wrestling with. And then in terms of the second part of your question with regard to fasting the different kinds of fast that we see in Scripture. You do have examples of different kinds of fasts which I think Meno emphasizes that there there is just one way to do it you think of Daniel's faster.

He's only eating vegetables nothing you know know know meets note no delicacies you think of other facet seem to be more all-encompassing. Jesus his own fast in the wilderness, and if so I would say unity as you if you're thinking about fasting if if this is something the Lord has laid on your heart you want to pray about something very specifically. Don't try to begin with a 40 day fast of everything except water theft be a satellite to start off as a start small. Maybe, just maybe just one meal or one, one kind of food or something like that recent going on with it. This aside and focus on the Lord in prayer during that time, I would usually be having lunch or breakfast.

I am going to pray and seek the face of the Lord and say, God, hear my prayer and I think if you do it that way your your your better chances.

Think in terms of success and just not being overwhelmed by trying to fight off more than you can chew and so coronation. May the Lord bless you grant you his peace and wisdom appreciate your your question and so important for us to fix our eyes on Jesus, thank you for listening to core Christianity request your copy of today's special offer.

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