Does the Bible's Teaching of "Forgive Us Our Debts" Speak to Student Loan Forgiveness?

Does the Bible's teaching of forgive us our debts speak to student loan forgiveness. That 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. You can call us right now with your question.

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By the way, we also have a YouTube channel. You can watch a drill right now live in the studio on YouTube and send him your question that way course you can always email us your question at questions at core, Christianity.com and enter before you to our calls. Today I got a question for you about something that's been in the news this week. I know you have heard that Pres. Biden is planning to cancel a significant amount of student debt in our country and some people to be getting $10,000 of their student loans forgiven.

Now I know there are some Christians who are frustrated with this are frustrated that taxpayers are basically going to be footing the bill for this, while others are saying.

Well, we should celebrate this decision because a huge part of the gospel is about us being forgiven our debts, so I'm wondering what you think. Do you think the gospel should impact the way we approach things like like student loans and and debt.

Why would I think the gospel should impact the way we approach everything in life. So me to start start by saying that, but what one thing that I want. This is maybe one of the most hopeful pieces of advice that I regard as a pastor somebody Tamino pastors are not Omni competent, meaning they they they are not experts on everything and we should be experts on the word of God on on Scripture exegesis. We should know theology, church history, but if you're looking for. You know your pastor to have hot takes on every every political issue that's happening everything that's happening in broader society.

I that's not something that you should expect because that just the fact of the matter is if you're invested as a minister the gospel in faithfully preaching the word of God and shepherding the people that God has brought into your church. You're not going to have the time or the capacity even to fully be able to unpack every sort of issue that's going to say I just want to say that at the outset because I think sometimes we would put a lot of expectation on our pastors to be able to comment and all these things and and and frankly something you just don't know the ins and outs of every every issue specifically, I think I can't say every need Jesus to speak about forgiving debts thinking that the Lord's prayer specifically and it sounds like that's what you were referring to Bill but we want to be careful. I think a lot of times of people getting these these discussions about politics and policy.

We can use the Bible in a sort of cheap way. Where were appealing to the to certain verses, you know, almost as is just the sort of proof texts for whatever policy or idea. We want to be implemented but were not actually handling the word of God with care with the care that it deserves. That will that we need to give to holy Scripture is of the Bible should shape the way we think about everything that happens in the world and in society and in how we relate to our neighbors. But let's not use the Bible in a cheap way and I see this happening so often and in political discussions both on the right and also on the left. Canceling debt is central to the gospel, the forgiveness of sins. It wasn't just made to disappear though right Jesus Christ himself took our debt upon himself that it would when he went to the cross. He said in a right before he died is finished paid in full. Jesus paid our debt and this is where I think the analogies are false through and you mentioned billet people are getting upset because it is not about one to one correlation certainly not between Jesus forgiving us our sins and and what were seeing in in society today as we want it, we will again want to be careful that were not using the Bible in a cheap way and so there are people who I mean I'm seeing this on social media people are really upset about this frustrating out they cannot lie.

I finished paying my loans already and now all of a sudden in other people getting getting forgiven and that that doesn't seem fair and and so on and so forth.

So there's I think people who are warped upset and I cannot. I can understand that there are also other people who I think are going to benefit from this immensely and that reality is both of those groups are within the church. Both of those groups are within the body of Christ.

And so we have to learn how to relate to each other with charity and love and and graces well. I think of what we read in Scripture. In the New Testament where James says in James chapter 1 beginning in verse nine let the lowly brother posting his exultation and the rich in his humiliation, because like the flower of the grass he will pass away for the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass its flower falls in its beauty perishes, so also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits and so the gospel does. I think shape the way we think about resources, money, the amount that we have that we don't have rail in them that that the gospel does inform us here, and ultimately helps us to see these things as it is not ultimate as not the main thing which I think helps us in our relationships with each other and people who differ differ with us on this in terms of being able to engage charitably and with love and with respect. And so I think if there is no BB grateful for for your brothers and sisters maybe were in Oregon to benefit from this for whom you know this is something is like man I I really need this and things have been so difficult with the economy lately and ends which are struggling to beat me to be grateful for them and for that and and for for them specifically by the we also understand many people are frustrated and and I can understand some of the frustration to so that I mean being charitable with each other build something we always try to encourage on this on this broadcast and being united around core Christianity so thanks for bringing that up and become a complex issue will know and I think you answered are really well so so thanks for that.

It will appreciate that if you got a question for a drill about the Bible, the Christian life, theology, doctrine.

We are open to all of your questions, maybe even you have some doubts about the Christian faith were open to hearing from you as well. Our phone lines will be open for the next 15 minutes or so. Here's the phone number to call 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 let's go to a voicemail that came in from one of our listeners. This is Marcus coming out Chronicles where they were carrying our great way and gentlemen that was trying.

On the cart and it is that the ox had stumbled the guys name was her nose at him.

His name but anyway if you try that they've the art, God struck him down right away.

I mean how could that be okay again that if and when a man in some versions of the cocci got shaken or shook like it might've been the first reaction my mind to save the art at the question don't get it. Why did God kill them on the spot. Thank you for your direct great day Douglas, hey Marcus, thank you for that question kind of allowed scene we see in first Chronicles. Also in first Samuel W reference first Chronicles some numb there right now first Chronicles chapter 13 verse nine it says when they came to the threshing floor of ketone Loza. That's the guys name put out his hand to take hold of the ark as the ark of the covenant for the oxen stumbled and the anger of the Lord was kindled against Loza and he struck him down because he put out his hand to the ark and he died before God and David was angry because the Lord had broken out against us in the place that places called pet as opposed to this day, and David was afraid of God that day and he said how can I bring the ark of God home to me.

So David did not take the ark of the ark home into the city of David, but took it aside to the house of Obed Edom to get tight so it took a couple things here. I mean God does strike is a down foot for reaching his hand out and and seeking to stabilize the ark. The oxen stumbled, but he reaches out any.

He grabs a hold of the ark of the covenant.

David is upset about this, but he also has this fear. The fear of God sets in on him and probably on the others as well and what treatment you need to know Marcus is at least with regard to this guided been very clear that the people were not to touch the ark of the covenant meeting the way it was constructed had these poles attached to it so that you didn't have to touch the ark of the covenant when you were carrying it around numbers chapter 4 in verse 15 we read when Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all the furnishings of the sanctuary as the camp sets out after that, the sons of Christ shall come to carry these but they must not touch the holy things last day die so there's is barrier separation between man and a holy God. We can't just waltz into God's presence. We can just touch the holy things, the ark of the covenant.

Bring this picture of God's throne. The place where God resides and so it was it was what I was I had done regardless of his intentions write what he had done was directly contrary to what God had commanded and I think specifically that the big take away here and there's a couple takeaways one are our intentions write don't change whether or not an act is is right or wrong. Frankly, when were talking about God's law. The front of you that I do just didn't mean to do that. That wasn't my intention, but the realities and is what we we are still standing, specifically breaking God's law is a way that we we need to take account of that but the other thing here is a God is just really serious about the fact he's honored respected warship rightly and this is what we see throughout the Bible is why Hebrews 12 says when to worship the Lord with reverence and on I think. So often today Marcus we we have this very low view of God, of his holiness of of his law in so we read stories like this we can monitor and accuse you of this I think is we all struggle with. We read stories like so we think. Boy that just seems that just seems like too much, but I think part of the reason so many in our society have that reaction is because we've minimized the holiness of God, as he's revealed himself to us in Scripture that we need to recover and I think as we do, we realize that that God cares about not just of agonies worship, but how he's worshiped as well and we as sinners are some kids waltz into his presence is only through the blood of Jesus Christ that we have access to God and so those are all things you want to factor in your reading those those kinds of stories and hopefully that's that's helped you unpack what happened there in first Chronicles. Thanks for your question. You mentioned this before, a drill I think it's Job that at one point he's he's questioning God and God basically says who are you to question may rightly anything but all the suffering that Job experienced and here he is looking for answers that you know why I'm in the same question that were asking we experience great suffering acetate, hold on a second. Were you there when I created the stars and and you know like tame the Leviathan in all the states. Is it week.

We need to realize that there's a distinction between us creatures, and God the creator and I and again that that's something it's that editing is lost on so many people we have such a low view of the divine, of the Lord of his holiness and and as a result of that we have. We we have a low view of sin in a high view of ourselves too often and so we need to recover what the Bible teaches on these things really well said this is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez one let you know about a resource that we have available today, and it's something that will help you answer some of those tough questions you may get asked by let's say a friend or relative somebody who maybe has doubts about the Christian faith or even one your kids when they come to you with the tough question.

It's called tough questions answered yet tough questions answered is a booklet it's about 50 pages long and we dive into some of those those difficult questions ability, referring to doesn't science make religion unnecessary. Why is Christianity so exclusive and were talking out of either Jesus as he's the only way why is that and how do we had we talked to our neighbors who maybe don't embrace the gospel about that specifically what about other religions. What about Buddhism. What about Islam in a hot out of that of those religions factor what we think about those things that these are some of the questions that we talk about in this resource which I think will be a real blessing to you and so get a hold of it. For a donation of any amount over core, Christianity.com against called tough questions answered love to have you pick that up. Maybe this weekend and start going through it and will help you. Definitely when you get asked some of those tough questions go to core Christianity.com/offers again core Christianity.com/offers to find that our phone lines are open. If you have a question for a drill about the Bible or the Christian life. We would love to hear from you. Give us a call right now, here's the number 833 the core that's 833-843-2673 will be taking calls for another 10 minutes or so, so hop on your phone right now let's go to John in St. Louis, Missouri. John what your question for Israel. All were going with Mark all about the revelation of lumbar, though, what is the devils bone of the hellfire. Well thousand years of any released to law to yield to get donations of tartaric God in Jerusalem is now between added that when Jesus arrived without errors in depth or after the Lone Ranger, one that would've devils cast into the lake. There is a lot there John so you're talking about revelation chapter 20 which is really at the heart of a lot of discussions around eschatology the study. The last things and and and so there are three major groups. Here you have premillennialists who approach this passage one way and so the idea is that Jesus is going to come back.

Prior to this millennium that's described here and rain on the earth for a thousand years. Many until a literal 1000 years you have post millennialist who say well, Jesus actually what was going to happen is so that is kind of the opposite view is is after arraignment for 1000 years in men.

Maybe that's literal maybe that's not literal at this sort of golden age of of the you know the victory of Christ on the earth. That's were working usher in the return of Jesus is in a come back to Christianize society if you will. You have millennialist who also take this this millennial reign differently. Heavenly reign typically associated with the time that Jesus ascended into heaven and is raining at the right hand of the father throughout the entire church age. So we said Jesus has been raining now for for quite a while, the thousand years.

There isn't. Isn't supposed to be taken literally. But it's is this is a long period of time leading up to the final battle, you know that the revelation of the Antichrist and the destruction of all evil and and the resurrection, and so on and so forth but doesn't do them just read the text.

Because this is this is an important passage.

John says and I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding his hand. The key of the bottomless pit and a great chain and he sees the Dragon that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan bound him for a thousand years and threw them into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years are ended.

After that he must be released for a little while and Sony's release there, that's that the sort of last gathering of evil, the last of attack of evil on Christ and on his kingdom, and it's ultimately squashed it's it's destroyed. But again, that with regard to the thousand years here. One thing to know is that there's a purpose clause here in verse three, the, the reason the devil is bound to so that he might not deceive the nations any longer. Listings parallel to what Jesus said in John chapter 12 verse 32.

Speaking of his death. He says when I am lifted up from the earth.

I will draw all people to myself right before then, verse 31. He said now is the judgment of this world now will the ruler of this world be cast out literature, something that Jesus did very definitively at the cross in conquering, saying, we might say in binding Satan, so that what so that the gospel would spread throughout the whole world and that's exactly what we've been seeing Christ was lifted up and he's drawing all people to himself. The nations that once were were in darkness now had the light of the gospel penetrate in and through them and Jesus himself during his earthly ministry talked about binding the strongman binding Satan through his through his miraculous works through the exorcisms that he was that he was performing it. So it seems to me like what what's being spoken of their in Revelation chapter 20 is this visionary depiction of Christ's victory over the evil one, so that the gospel would advance throughout the world during this church age, leading to a final rebellion what what scripter talks about is a great apostasy in an battle between good and evil, where we know who who wins that we know that Christ comes out on top and so appreciate your your question John. Hopefully that helps to unravel some of the question about the millennium there in Revelation chapter 20 which we need to realize again that there's a lot of differences of opinion on this text and on the book of Revelation and so you have to dig into the descriptors and study up on this and come to your own conclusion rather than by the way John we have a great Bible study on the book of Revelation. You can find that by going to core Christianity.com/studies just look for our great Bible study helping you unpack the book of Revelation. Let's go back to the phones James is on the line from Missouri. James what your question for Israel to me on as a little child I grew up with my grandmother and their Catholic my aunt is in the in the whole works. As I grew older I became Christian became a believer and now I'm concerned about my Catholic family since they don't preach salvation and repentance and they have idols all her car.

Everything do they go to heaven to Go to heaven since they don't really push salvation and repentance is just being good enough. Get some to heaven. That bothers me to my family members that are Catholic. Do they go to heaven.

Hey James, thank you for that question.

I can hear your concern. Of course I have friends and family members who are Roman Catholic as well and so this is something that I personally have have thought a lot about first, let me just say that with regard to salvation. It is in our perfect understanding of doctrine and theology, even that the theology of how salvation works that saves us. We are saved by Jesus Christ himself through faith. And so individuals can have a really faulty understanding even of salvation and still be saved if there placing their trust in Jesus. Now there might be a lot of other elements there that that lead to confusion and and to struggle in life because there's confusion about what assurance or confusion about the role of works, and so on and so forth.

But our hope is that look at individuals even even in churches that that don't preach like they should if if they're hearing the word of God and we know that the spirit works together with the word that there's there's that hope on that God is illuminating the mind and the heart and that individuals are are coming to faith and so is why it's important. I think I got an opportunity for us with our friends who are Roman Catholic the talk about the gospel to talk about who Jesus is and what he's done and I have I have family members work at we had we had great conversations about Jesus about the gospel known those same and I I believe in Jesus for the forgiveness of my sins and trusting in him him now if an individual says no I don't I don't actually II think that I'm common to make it based on my own merit will I would be very concerned because there's a real fundamental misunderstanding of the gospel there and of of Christ's work and so II just think that we need to have these kinds of conversations and there's an open door in so far as you know, they confess, you know, faith, and in the holy Trinity, faith, and that the deity of Christ his redemptive work of belief in the Bible so there's an open door there to have have those conversations but I went I would say yes or no. Just as a blanket statement to to your question because at that. We have to dig deeper. There are many people in Protestant churches and and where you present churches where the gospel is not clearly taught or faithfully taught, and I would want. I would when asked the same kinds of questions I want to say what you trusting in are you trusting in yourself to justify yourself before God or are you trusting in Christ and his perfect work for you inside. I think that we can just paint with a broad brush or we have to recognize again that it's not our perfect understanding of salvation saves its Jesus himself and then and then have those important conversations about what it means to believe in Jesus and to trust in him and so may the Lord be with you. Let me just offer a prayer to the Lord right now for you as you have these conversations with her family members. God, I thank you for James and for his heart for his family member so I know he loves. I'm sure he wants to know that they know you and love you and I pray that you would be at work in their hearts in his heart that you would give them fruitful conversations Lord that center around you and what you've done for us and that you would draw my brother James, together with all of his family closer to you closer to your word closer to the truth and that he would be encouraged, as he has these discussions with family members and that they would be encouraged Lord and that they would grow also as a result of of these conversations that they have to bless them and be with them. I ask in Jesus name, amen. MM hey James, thanks so much, where really just shows the importance of of all of us being clear about the gospel when were talking others, whether it's friends or family member. So now I once heard innocently sitting is never want to assume the gospel and we can't do that. We go back to the truth of the gospel time and time again on this broadcast because people needed. We needed and the world needs it to. Thanks for listening to core Christianity 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. 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