Are Natural Disasters Like Hurricane Ian a Judgment from God?

Are natural disasters like hurricane Ian a judgment from God.

That is one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity will hi there happy Friday on 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. Our phone lines will be open for the next 25 minutes.

Here's the number 833 the court to spell that out 833 the core or 1-833-843-2673 90 can also post your question on one of our social media sites and you can always email us at questions at core, Christianity.com first step today. Here's a voicemail from one of our listeners named Lashawnda. Fairly nearly very curt and we baptized. We got asserted a great character but an interesting railing anything or helping at Crowell we prayed and felt God letter to a new chart in this church. We had been very faithful going. You know we get we wanted. Part of this church. We really felt like family and one of the things that they are requiring that we get baptized a second time. I wanted Pastor Israel, like take on that you likely, maybe even a prayer that were in the right place and I were going in the right direction.

I formed it as a question but that is what I would like to get hit by Shauna thanks given us a call for reaching out and I am grateful to the Lord that you are your your your husband. If you have come to faith your walking with Christ are wanting to get plugged into a solid church and that you found a church that it seems like is used is teaching the truth and their engaging in you guys are being discipled and in your growing in your face, but I am concerned about this.

This added requirement of you know well you were already baptized but we want you to get baptized.

It our church before or so that you can become a member now look if you were baptized in the name of the father and of the son of the Holy Spirit versus thinking about the church ready baptized and what did they believe in the doctrine of the holy Trinity do they believe the doctrine of salvation who God is and what he's done for us. Were you baptized in the name of the father and of the son of the Holy Spirit, with the intention of being a part of the church that's the case then for this other church to say what will you need to do that again if want be part of our church. That's what I would say that's an issue that's a problem that calls into question a legitimate baptism, and in here's the thing. I just think in so many of our churches today. We have a low view of what we call the means of grace. Baptism of the Lord's supper, it sounds like this is in a ceremony that we get to do in front of all these people and and we want you to do that at our church to it's not a show you were talking about a holy sacrament of the church work where God is speaking and acting and he's done that for you and for your husband and so I was I was at the minimizing of baptism of its legitimacy of its power, its efficacy it's it's it's setting those things aside and just and want to do that here at our church. As I have an issue with that. If I don't know if you can have no more conversations with with the with the pastors of the leadership at this church that your that your currently out but I wouldn't I would not advise you having already been baptized to just sort of go through the motions of baptism again, for the sake of joining this church there gumming the theological error here if that if this church thinks that you know regardless of how your baptized at other churches. You need to be baptized at our church, our own way and if it's unique or different from getting baptized in the name of the father and of the son of the Holy Spirit than I would have issues with that, but just the fact that there there requiring this I think is is problematic and so I think there needs to be more conversations, I would if I could I would love to sit down with the pastor.

The church just gets more understanding. I would understand if if say you were baptized in the Mormon church or as a Jehovah's Witness, why you would need to get legitimate legitimately baptized for the first time. It did that this attribute is like that was the case, and so you've been baptized.

Now you should just be received as a member in this church without having to go through baptism again because God is already done that for you and so really again just grateful that you guys are walking with the Lord. I want to pray for you asked in a would be for prayer and so let's pray for Shanda and for her family, that the Lord would guide them and that ultimately they would get settled in a in a solid church with her to continue to grow for many years to come. Dear heavenly father, thank you for this question. I thank you for my sister Michelle and I thank you for her husband for her family.

Thank you that they have come to faith in your son Jesus and I pray that by the power the Holy Spirit you would guide them, especially as they make this very important decision about word settle down as a family to worship you and to continue to grow in their faith.

Lord, would you guide them. Would you bless them and would they find a church that is faithful to the pure preaching of your gospel to the right worship. Lord according to what you outlined in your word and would they continue to grow in the grace and the knowledge of Christ for many years to come will be with them and bless them that give them clarity as to this decision I ask in Jesus name, amen.

Just a follow-up for you Israel. If you are looking for a new church and you say visitor start attending and then that church has a whole bunch of hoops they need you to jump through like this one, you know, in order to become a member in order to attend you got to do this this this this this.

I'm guessing that you would be concerned because it almost sounds like the Judaizers of the New Testament. That's an interesting I think tie their bill because right what what's required for church membership out. I would say it's all coming ultimately embracing the gospel now. Sometimes churches can add a bunch of other things and I would say likely no new members class or catechism classes and that's not just a we want to teach you these things as you enter into the church but the agitators in the New Testament Lycan in the book of Galatians what they were doing as they were saying look if you if you come to faith in Christ you really want be part of the church you need to do all of these other added sort of ceremonial things like if you're a man, you need to be circumcised according to the law of Moses you need to eat it in in a certain way that that is in alignment with the the Mosaic code and so on and so forth and so they're adding these things to quote unquote church membership in the apostle Paul makes it very clear in the book of Galatians like you guys are getting it all wrong unit did you receive that the spirit of God by the works of the law or by hearing with faith and so we have to be very careful in the church today that were not adding our own sort of cultural practices and and requiring those for membership in our church that felt like that's in particular what was going on and in this case it sounds like there is maybe some confusion about baptism, and in the legitimacy of baptism, but that's another issue that's a theological issue and so not really important for us as workers were going. Churches were looking at churches to the get this stuff right and to understand these things that we can find a good church really good counsel. This is core Christianity with pastor Adm. Sanchez. Our phone lines are open.

If you have a question about the Bible, the Christian life doctrine theology, you name it. Would love to talk to you. Here's the number it's 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 let's go to Sally who is calling in from Missouri. Sally, what your question for atrial will. I really years so I listen to it every day I write my question today is concerning the new international version of the Bible.

Okay version.

I have a friend to told me that they leave things that version leaves things out. My current stance in the prophecy of Isaiah. She would stay in that it does that, and I'll specify that Jesus is going will be coming in. All born surgeon, whatever, but I don't find that in there. I read this version of the Bible since the 80s and I just wondered what your view on that lot thinks I've I've heard recently in a similar criticisms of the NIV.

Personally, I do think it's it's an okay version of the Bible to use. It's a little bit more accessible in a sump pump. Translations like the NASB, for example, or to be more of a wooden translation component people have a hard time with that.

Also, a lot of times if I'm if I'm talking with somebody who is newer to the Christian faith hasn't really ever read the Bible, I will recommend that they get an NIV on target to be some some translation differences in in in different places and I'm not.

I don't recall specifically with regard to the Isaiah prophecy how the NIV translated there but that's that's I think that we can look into and and think about it doesn't necessarily mean that it's it mean we should just rule out that that version altogether minutes clear in the New Testament that Jesus was born of a virgin, the Virgin Mary, and so and and I think of the NIV that Deming retains that it's not it's not denying the virgin birth, and so I would say go for them and use it and end use alongside of other translations of the Bible to Garza. Translation is different than a paraphrase or something like that. There are paraphrases we might say of the Bible that it can be used emotionally but we don't want to use them for serious study and so I would say is as you study the Bible seriously. Many read the NIV and and when you come across a verse your you want some more information on our you want to think through a little bit deeper. Maybe check out the ESV and the NASB, and maybe a good Bible commentary as well to go deeper and get some of the historical background, but I would so you don't have to feel bad about using the NIV is a translation of the Bible and I hope that that helps you out.

Thank you Sally for your question, no I got this big Gutenberg Bible that I have to carry around with me and it's really heavy. Is it okay to like it.

A smaller one yeah Bill you totally can you. It's funny that I wasn't when I was in high school and not by I came to faith in high school and I started taking the only Bible that we had in my house. It was and it was a King James Bible and I would just walk around, you know school with acting and it was it was quite a sight.

So this is core Christianity with pastor and real Sanchez would love to hear from you. If you have a question about the Bible or the Christian life 833.

The core is the number lot calls here at the core about worship people say what what exactly is worship and what you look like.

I'm not sure my church is doing it right. Today we want to offer you a free resource on that topic you want to know more about worship. Get a hold of this free download over it.

Core, Christianity.com called nine things everyone should know about worship and out worship is only that I'm passionate about. As a pastor or someone who leads worship at least in church on Sunday every week Jan and I want to help you understand better and so go to core Christianity.com and download nine things everyone should know about worship love to get that in your hands. We think it will be really helpful to you and perhaps to some people your trip. Maybe even your worship leader again. It's called nine things everyone should know about worship.

You can call that but find that by going to core Christianity.com/offers core, Christianity.com/offers we do receive voicemails here at the core. You can call us 24 hours a day leave your voicemail that you can call over the weekend if you like and will review those voicemails on Monday. It's 833. The core 833-843-2673.

And here's a voicemail from one of our callers that came in yesterday. I am wondering with current news about her opinion relating Florida you know I remember growing up and hearing want to know friends other people say things like anytime there's a tornado, hurricane, that is, it is God's judgment. You know on that place ordination and I don't think that's right but I guess I'm just wondering how you answer folks who do say those kinds of things after these tragedies happen is curious to hear your yeah well let's maybe just take a moment right now to pray for what's I was going on Florida right now with her Canyon and Bill. I know something that that we've we've spoken about and just our hearts are grieved and you see some of those images on online flooded homes, houses, and in death. You know people who have died as a result of the Lord. We ask for your mercy to be poured out on the state of Florida. We pray Lord, especially those who have lost four. Especially those who have lost so much God for healing for restoration. We pray for the safety of those in Florida Lord who are and have been just in the middle of everything and look we look to you and and his people wrestle through the questions of suffering and catastrophe. Lord I asked that even through all of this you would be drawing people to yourself. We pray in Jesus name, amen yeah so I'm in your ears. The first thing that I would say is look everything that happens happens under God's providential care. Jesus said, not even one sparrow falls to the ground apart from the will of your heavenly father is. Sometimes we see things like this and we think oh well, maybe just you know God was not at all a part of this or not involved it and I did. We try to remove God from disasters. If you will but but we have to realize that everything that happens in this world still in some sense what is is happening under God's providential care.

He knows all things. He's in control he's sovereign now, does that mean that that you do something like this is a judgment on direct judgment from God. Well, in the Bible sometimes symptoms are judgments like this to me that I don't think we can just say no. No way. It never but here's what I would do. Here's what I have done over the years is as this question gets races I go to Luke 13, where Jesus is having a conversation with a group of people who bring up terrible catastrophes that have happened to people as a way of asking you like what were these people pretty bad as this is the special judgment of God on those people and listen to how Jesus responses to Luke 13 verse one there were some present at that very time you told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices and he answered them.

Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered in this way, no, I tell you, but unless you repent you will all likewise perish, or those 18, on whom the tower of Siloam fell and killed them. You think that they were worse offenders than all others who lived in Jerusalem.

No, I tell you, but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. So that there the point of these people and they must've been pretty bad for for for God to allow that to happen to them man that they must've been some pretty miserable sinners right Jesus and Jesus is look you think they were worse than everybody else. Listen to this. All of us are called to repentance.

He doesn't focus on the catastrophe is God specific judgment. He just is. Look each and every one of us with things like this happen we need to consider ourselves as a Lord how my living and I walking with you.

Do I know you have I trusted in you and in excellent things like this and remind us of the frailty of life. The reality of death and sin in the world and their calls for each and every one of us to turn to the true and the living God and to cling to him and and insofar as people are suffering out there that do to think about how we as a church can can mobilize and help and care for people. Those who are in need and so I think is going there to Luke 13 is really helpful when we see these kinds of things in the world taking place and saying, look, this is a reminder for all of us. We need the Lord. We need the Lord, and I hope that that's what people take away from this.

This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez.

Let's go to Leona, who's calling in from Oklahoma. Leona, what's your question for Israel. I was wondering if church membership was a requirement super good question Leona and I know this is one that many, many people have we had many people come to our church. We have a membership process and and they just so we really need to do that.

Why where in the Bible does it say you know thou shalt become a member of a church can't I just go and sort of be a part will visiting throughout the New Testament. You have these calls to submit to the authorities that God is placed over your life, including the elders in the church. Why because they they keep watch over your soul. One day they're going to have to give an account so question that I like to ask people and I hope you all as you listen right now. You can ask yourself this question or hear me asking you this question who are the elders who are keeping watch over your soul. For many people it but maybe they wouldn't know they don't have an answer that question to me they have other Christian friends who are encouraging to them, but they're not really accountable to a church body to a pastor that's a problem because the New Testament assumes that as believers in Jesus Christ we have that and I think that's one of the things that membership gives to us really clear distinction of look. This is where I met him accountable to the church.

Here they have an obligation to me and I have an obligation to them. Often times I think that we we we don't take that seriously enough the importance of being in a solid church and not just sort of visiting or attending often on, but being a member, and in fact in in a very different sense, right.

Like Paul says in first Corinthians 12 that were all members of the body. He's using the analogy of upper body right foot and some of us are hands, feet, eyes, nose is but together we make up helpful are a healthy, local congregations and so I want to encourage all of our listeners to be plugged into their local churches and to be members. And even though that there is a Bible verse.

It says again you shall be, you know you need to go through the six-week membership, you know, process, or however long it is and then become a member of the church. I think it just sort of assumed, especially when we think about baptism, the doctrine of holy baptism is what were baptized into the church were part of these organic bodies and were accountable and and again that's one of the things that membership provides for us and it's helpful for pastors for elders to be able to see okay. Who are the members of our church, not just people who critter passing through and visiting with who are the people that God has called us to shepherd that were to be accountable for and so I would say yes, it is necessary to be a member of the church and I hope Leona that your your plugged into the church that that you're part of and that you're growing there. Thank you for your question. Great counsel.

Thank you for that Israel. This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez by the way were going to be recording a second episode of core Christianity today when our live program answer just a few minutes. So if you weren't able to call in during the live show. Feel free to call in and we will use your call on the air at some later date as we record a special extra broadcast, here's the number to call its 833. The core 833, the court, you can call us the next 35 minutes or so 833-843-2673 will. Here's a question from Lorna.

She called him and she said if I make a anointing oil as gifts.

Will I be cut off.

Since I'm not a priest in James it says to anoint people with oil. If you're sick, Lorna. Well, the answer to that is no insert you're referring to some of the some of the regulations under the old covenant for the priests and the oil that they used in the temple worship and it was it was mom very specific in terms of of of the ingredients that were used in who was allowed to use that oil weren't were not under the old covenant) that so so those ceremonial laws bound the people of God in the Old Testament while the temple was standing they don't they don't bind us today and so if if you are, you know, making anointing oil is gifts and maybe one consider sending us some. I think that would be cool would be great to get a vial of your anointing oil, but it's not. I would say finish of you being cut off or you know you know sinning against the Lord or anything like that. Of course in the New Testament. Please let James chapter 5 does talk about elders anointing. Those who are sick and come to them and and banner asking for prayer and into the prayer of faith will raise up the one who is sick and so I think it's is totally final. One thing I'll just say about that.

The practice of anointing with oil. Should you have that text in James chapter 5 I think sometimes in our churches we concerted treated superstitiously by members. It is a newer believer you 90 people who they they would anoint just about everything with oil, you know, the doorpost the Windows their car isn't it. Let also to things you and I think sometimes we can we consider treated as this. I don't know me in a holy magic oil and that that's not what it is it's it's a symbol. More than anything else in and so I think keep that in mind, but other than that your your fine sister and appreciate your question your listing to core Christianity. Melinda called in from St. Louis, Missouri, and she says I'm a Lutheran and we practice close communion. What are your thoughts on that day Melinda okay well I am in. So I think every church in one sense should practice a degree of close communion were talking about here is not just anybody can take the Lord's supper.

In effect, there are warnings in places like first Corinthians and elsewhere about taking the Lord's supper unworthily, and so I was in you. I have an issue with churches that are just like a were setting up the elements.

They know that the bread and the line, and whoever wants to come just come you know and and take some if you want, and they don't fence the table, some as we called it, and provide any warnings.

The warnings you see in Scripture about not eating and drinking unworthily without faith.

But among those who who say maybe practice it kind of close community. Just say you know it's not just open for anybody their summer.

Say what you have to be part of our particular church. If you can take the Lord's supper then there are others, and I would be in this campus a look.

You might not be a member at my church I pastor you know I pastor in a particular denomination. When I be a member in that denomination.

But if you have trusted in Christ you been baptized in the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit you made profession of faith in Jesus Christ and come to the table as one who has embraced the gospel as I would I would I would differ with those who say you have the affirm exactly what we affirm with regard to everything before you can come to the table and so that clarifies it for you. God bless thank you. 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