Can We Choose or Assign Our Gender?

Can someone choose their gender best 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. Our phone number is 833 the Corvettes 1-833-843-2673. You can also leave us a voicemail that number and of course you can post your question on one of our social media sites and feel free to email us any questions you have at questions at core, Christianity.com first up today let's go to Jack was calling in from Texas, Jack, what your question for Pastor Israel hey Jackie, they're all. Chapter 5 I think the verse verse three again about I never noticed that you yeah well let me just read first Chronicles chapter 25, beginning in verse one David and the chiefs of the service also set apart for the service, the sons of Asaph, and of human and of jettison, who prophesied with liars with harps and with cymbals, so you so you have it is what you have going on there is this this sort of prophetic speech is having the context of of worship. Worship with these musical instruments there there in in in the ministry of of Israel that happened. The question I guess it is.

Are you wondering Jack was to go back to forcing anyone or is that something that we should be doing today are that we should expect from our worship leaders and church. Well you I God, but I never I skip prophecy as this sort of maybe broader category I think and can can encompass a number of things.

So yes, it is fourth telling you think about the proclamation of God's word and the profits especially under the old covenant. One of the things that they would do is bring to bear the terms of God's covenant, especially when his people had broken God's people had broken God's covenant, and so they would they would tell forth the word of the Lord they would they would warn about the judgments that God had told his people about and say hey if you don't if you don't shape up Israel, you kings were practicing idolatry. God is going to bring those covenant curses upon you as a people have referred to the prophets as these covenant prosecutors think of him as it is these lawyers were coming forward that God called as a part of the theocracy there under the old covenant to keep his people in line but they also would foretell events, and in certain instances, you think of all the prophecies related to the coming of the Messiah in the book of acts acts you see that foretelling the of activists. For example in, and those who were prophesying with him for telling of a famine that was coming in first Corinthians chapters 12 through 14 you have a discussion about tongues and prophecy, and there it seems like even tongues are a part of this sort of prophetic gifting in and in the context of the church at that time there was singing and prophesying and giving of thanks and so prophecy is actually I think oftentimes a broader category than than we sometimes give it credit for.

In the Bible and that's one of the things were staying there in first Chronicles chapter 25 now if you know this broadcast right knee, typically one of the things it will say is ordinarily I don't believe that God is is is speaking in this same way out of that we should expect, for example, our worship leader gets up on a Sunday morning with the with the guitar on his playing guitar and in and leading that the church through the songs to to give a word of prophecy to speak authoritatively on God's behalf. No, I think actually that that happens to the preaching of the word.

Then there are some people who have referred to preaching as a kind of prophesying because it's telling forth the word of the Lord. And so I think that's that's where we need to focus but it is interesting to see some of these instances throughout the Bible of these spiritual manifestations, miraculous manifestations of God communicating his word and his will to his people to Jack appreciate your question brother.

And thanks for reaching out to the core know my my daughter was practicing her clarinet the other day for the high school band and it did not sound like prophecy to daily did with no man may be like. It may be like a curse or something you prophetic curse Qaeda yeah kind it was that that made music okay well don't let her hear this this episode of the broadcast build is not okay this is core Christianity with Pastor Israel said just by the way, if you have a question for us about the Bible of the Christian life. You can leave us a voicemail 24 hours a day retry to review her voicemails.

Each day you can call us at this number is 833 the Corvettes 1-833-843-2673. Here's a voicemail that came in earlier from one of our listeners. Gladney and go to school and they want us to allow children to agenda and that they want to be in and allow them boy girl Girl boy bathroom Bible say about the how should we go with the children and to paying you know that I gender identity.

Thank you, will gladly, the Bible says that God created us male and female that it's something that that God is no necessity that we choose or decide for ourselves, but that this is something that is given to us by the Lord and so and so right there you have this great contradiction is great difference between what were hearing in culture today, which by the way is is new I made it this is just like we were at work were coming up with this you know as we go and this is not how the world has thought for the history of humanity and yet here we are.

And so, so, I think, frankly, we just need to call it what it is isn't is is not not true and it's not helpful and I think many people are beginning to see.

Now you have to be a Christian to see you see the absurdity of this this whole sort of trans gender thing that I'm not saying that there isn't such a thing as real gender dysphoria there. There's serious mental health issues that I think need to be addressed, but the way in which our culture is approaching this in the way in which our culture is talking about gender and gender identity and gender fluidity images you can you can choose to be whatever you want. You might change your mind you can go from being male to female to back in for the just. This is not true. Biologically, it's not true. Scientifically, it's not true on the basis of how God has created us and so and so I think that that's that's really important for us to say and I think it's really important for us.

Just because as I mentioned were were beginning to see the destructive effects of this ideology on young children, young children who work were going through the cortical gender reaffirmation surgeries and are suffering with the consequences for the rest of their lives and are now coming in and speaking out about that. And so, so this is just a really serious issue right now and one I think that it's important for us as believers to to stand firm and with what the Scriptures teach, but also adjusted to point out the absurdity of of the current cultural moment and and say no this is not right and this is actually not good were not actually helping each other were not helping our children when were feeding them with these ideas and really confusing them and and and at times I think even even earning them a great deal of harm and so gladly. I don't know if you work in the school system and this is something that's been pushed on you but this is one of the areas where where we as believers I think are going to be challenged and where were going to have to remain. I think faithful to what what Scripture teaches not participate in in some of the things that were being asked to do or participate in for the good of our neighbor ultimately and for the good of of of the children who are around us, so there's a lot more I think it could be said, but I would you say in terms of what the Bible teaches that was your your question. The Bible is very clear about the fact that God has made us male and she was something that we decide and and I determine at some point later in our lives to the question is really a tragedy. Israel in there so many confused young people right now and unfortunately the messages that their hearing from a culture from the media through social media, and even sometimes from their educators is in my opinion it's really lies from the pit of hell is it Satan. He's the father of lies and he is deceiving people and deceiving children and that you know Jesus what he speak most harshly about you know better to have a millstone around your neck and thrown into a lake than than to deceive these little ones in the just breaks my heart that Bill and I know you you should've been in the world of therapy and in dealing with some of these issues in some of these questions, and even even research regarding unit of the transgender movement and whatnot so for you to say that I think is is is saying something that would, in terms of that that whole world. Bill did you feel like there's just a ton of confusion there that everybody just embraced this this certified ideology that that therapist feel like what we have to disaffirm whatever this child is saying more is there pushback even there. Well it's interesting that you asked that question, because unfortunately several of the major professional associations like for example the American psychological Association.

Even the American Medical Association and the American Academy of pediatrics in these organizations, there are these small transgender lobbies that often are crafting the policy statements for these organizations and their pushing these agendas, even though it does not. It completely conflicts with the science. As you mentioned earlier that conflicts with what we've known for for many years and so yeah it's it's it's a tragedy. I think we have to be careful to what voices we listen to and always, always use our God's word as our authority by way there is one organization I will mention it's an organization of physicians that have some real issues with this. It's the American College of pediatrics there kind of the I guess call them the conservative alternative to the American Academy of pediatrics and they have some great research on their website about this issue. So would stir listeners towards that to really be able to answer some questions that perhaps their kids have about this issue.

So anyway, thanks for addressing it. It's it's really a serious some issue in our culture right now. This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez and I want to mention something that we just feel so thankful about here at the core and that is a group of people who support this program on a regular basis. They believe in what we do. They believe in the fact that each day were helping people to unpack the truths of Scripture and understand more about the Christian faith. We call those people our inner core nephew been blessed by the broadcast. If you are encouraged by the work they were doing as we open up the Scriptures together and seek to to provide answers to the difficult questions of people are asking that you're asking today. Would you consider joining the inner core. It's a group of supporters who give a gift of $25 a month and and hopefully pray for us as well. I mean that's that's one of the things that we appreciate so much as your prayers.

We know at the end of the day that it's the Lord who does the work in building his church and using his word to get with the power the Holy Spirit to transform lives and so we want we want the ward to go out. We want you to be encouraged and want that word to change you to shape you to encourage you in your faith in Jesus Christ and soaked partner with us and that by joining inner core and it is a thank you. Will send you a copy of the book core Christianity by Dr. Michael Horton, which is a just a great introduction to those core Christian doctrines that we think everyone should know.

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Core, Christianity.com/inner core. Would love to have you consider prayerfully consider joining that great group of people in the inner court. By the way, if you have an email question. You can shoot it to us anytime at questions at core, Christianity.com were open to questions about doctrine or theology or maybe doubt you have about the Christian faith. Comparative religions, you name it. Again, it's questions at core, Christianity.com there's one that came in from one of our listeners and they say in the New Testament does the Greek word pestis usually mean faith or does it usually mean faithfulness is an excellent question. Yet pestis is is the Greek word for faith it's used throughout the New Testament, especially places like the Gospel of John, and this section, an important question because it's the note when were talking about salvation and we we often times they were saved by faith in Jesus Christ will how do we define faith is faith. The empty hand that receives the that the salvation that God freely gives is and is not a work. It's not something we do.

It's an instrument if you will. It's that it's that hand that receives the grace of God in the gospel or is faith, not empty-handed.

It's a sexy faithfulness. It's living a life of faithfulness and service and doing Internet since faith very much becomes a work were saved not by our faith in Jesus Christ as this instrument of our justification. What were saved by our faithfulness by being faithful to God by being obedient to his law.

Well, there is a huge problem with that because Lesbos is in Galatians law is not of faith there.

There is this distinction is special were thinking about justification being justified before God we we can be justified by the works of law, and so for defining faith by faithfulness then then were were posing some serious problems with regard to the doctrine of our salvation. So it's best to define faith, not as faithfulness to live there.

There might be instances in the New Testament where, and in the context is what helps to determine how word is used is not ever really helpful to say will this one word always has this meaning words in the Bible. Greek words, Hebrew words have a range of meaning in the context helps us to determine how word is being used, but typically the word pestis means faith is special.

Were talking about me know it.

In regards to our justification being saved by faith were not talking about faithfulness there but but faith is that empty hand out one helpful definition of faith is is is is is this knowledge, writers that there's a knowledge of what it is. It's been believers in a sent work were giving a sense to that and then trust the lying on the gospel personally for ourselves what God has given to us in his son Jesus.

It's a saving grace whereby we receive and rest upon God, the gospel, the grace that he gives to us in his son Jesus and so appreciate appreciate that question so poor that we understand what faith is otherwise built week we get into this whole idea of war saved by our faithfulness and we keep our say ourselves saved by her faithfulness and that that's just that's that's salvation by works and and that's a huge issue night in the New Testament. So true.

This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez, we do receive voicemails and you can leave a sure voicemail 24 hours a day at this number 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 is one from Pat in Long Island, New York. I will now have to be saved in order to have the Holy Spirit living in them can a person is not, say, ask God the Holy Spirit to live in them. I'm very interested in finding that out. Thank you very much and thank you for your program. I appreciate it very much.

Really interesting question, and while I would say that there are times where there is certainly the spirit of God can work upon those who are not saved, even in miraculous ways and you see this in the Old Testament.

I think you also see this in the New Testament when it comes to having the Holy Spirit live in you that's that's the language that you used that that person is someone who is born again, who says Jesus is Lord.

In fact, Paul told the Corinthians that no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit, and so if the Holy Spirit lives in you. Your body is a temple of the true and the living God. You've been claimed by the Lord saved by faith justified and so and so I would say no and on and a non-Christian will not cannot have the Holy Spirit living in them. The text of Scripture to go to is in Ephesians chapter 1 in in in verse 13. Listen to what Paul said in him 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 never to see how Paul brings those things together it's hearing the gospel. The gospel of your salvation, believing in Christ is faith as the instrument of our of our cell of our justification for salvation, laying hold of this gospel promise that God is given to us and being sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.

The spirit of God coming and living in us making us the temple of the true and the living God with a person doesn't believe they don't have that. And again, as I said, that is me. The spirit can't work and doesn't work in that individual's life and and that there might not even be in a miraculous manifestation think that that happened. But there's a difference between that and being sealed with the Holy Spirit, which is something that is is only true of Christians of believers. Thanks for the question.

Pat great explanation. Thanks for that.

A girl this is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. You can always post your question on one of our social media sites including Instagram and here's one that came in. What are some things that my husband and I can do to begin teaching our young kids about the faith. I love this question. And I'd love to get your insight to because I know you have kids or limit older than mine, but with with our children. Just trying to be consistent one.

Be consistent. Going to church, taking your kids to church and exposing them to the life of the worshiping community. Too often, that does not happen anymore and it really is tragic and people wonder what boy you know you kids went off to college and and just stopped going to church abandoned turtle together but a lot of times it is that they see us as their parents not prioritizing worship together with the people of God. It should be a priority in our lives to be something that there that they're seeing in us and learning from us as we engage with the community of faith is that this is a simple thing on Sunday Nana and I should have to say it, but I bring it up because it is so important.

Beyond that, I think making sure that we were in these rhythms as families of praying together reading Scripture together. There are there great catechisms that you can use as well.

It in in my family we sometimes use that would scold the Westminster shorter catechism is a short Q&A about the faith trying to help our children have the sort of grammar, of who God is in theology so that they can grow into but that there are there are also other catechisms that could be helpful Q&A things you can do with your children to say that you're if you're praying together every day reading Scripture together. That's it. That's a wonderful thing you think well my kids are pretty young. I don't know how much you will be able to follow along with with Bible reading, but I think you can just just short portions of Scripture reading a Psalm or a brief story can be really good and asking questions, having conversations about the things that you're reading. Just just making sure that the that in your life as as parents God talk and talk about God's grace about the gospel that we Jesus addend that's not that's not foreign that's not something that they only here on Sunday but that that your you're having those conversations in the home around the dinner table you're applying the truth of God's word to everyday life situations is its that example that I think is so important for us to set for our children. Here's the reality is we don't do that perfectly and so there can be times where you fall short where you said and it's obvious and going to our children then and and saying hate mommy daddy we need Jesus's forgiveness to we need the grace of the gospel to please forgive us. Please please just just know that we need God's resetting that's that's an important example that we set for them as well. So having that honesty is not just it's not just here, you need to do these things and believe these things, and otherwise you can control is is no. We all desperately need the grace of God, and I want to give you a few a few moments or to all also chime in because you have kids so well. I think everything you said is so true. The importance of meeting as the body of Christ, worship, and of course the going into God's word and pray together. I would also add there some great Christian literature you think of some of the historic classics. No Pilgrim's progress for the Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis. I actually read that to my kids when they were three and five. We went through the entire Chronicles of Narnia. Now granted or not, can understand the symbol of wisdom of Aslan.

But now that their teenagers, they do get it and that's so exciting, so I would encourage people to get start with the Chronicles of Narnia with your young kids and if you're like Bill you can do the voices of all the characters like Aslan really really well and so that's another and be just like as you're doing the stories you know give it some give it some creative area, God had a go you that your kids are bound to say really you know chime in an endless sense of hey thank you again so much for listening to the broadcast. May the Lord bless you guys.

And until next time here at the core jobless. 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