What Does Biblical Hospitality Look Like When Your Neighbors Are LGBTQ+?

What does biblical hospitality look like when your neighbors are LGBT Q that's just one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity hi this is 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. Here's our phone number it's 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673. You can also post your question. One of our social media sites course you can always email us your question at questions at core, Christianity.com burst up today let's go to rich calling in from Pennsylvania rich what your question for atrial alloy drill how you doing I'm doing well how are you rich all pretty good for a while now I've been concerned about the decline in our society and all that but in first Timothy 211 where he talked about. I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man she most be silent.

How should I look about in today's society. I feel the uprising of women live in all that in the 50s and 60s. It is just the decline of our society. How should I view that an end.

The thing of the same yesterday today and forever. Where in the Bible big… Law ever change was both listening to the word of God and trusted. I don't see that being upheld. Love Rich, thank you for for your call and for that question. And so, so your you're absolutely right. We want to go by the book by God's word. I'm so the question is what is God's word teaching there in first Timothy chapter 2 verse 11 repulses little woman learn quietly with all submissiveness I do not permit a woman to teach or exercise authority over man. Rather she is to remain quiet for atoms form first then Eve and Adam was not deceived with the woman was deceived and became a transgressor, and so forth specifically with the apostle Paul is talking about. There is not just not just like women aren't allowed to teach. Or have any authority. I think talking specifically about the church and offices within the church is in a go on to say in first Timothy chapter 3 verse one. The saying is trustworthy. If anyone aspires to the office of overseer.

He did desires a noble task. Therefore, an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober minded self-control, respectable, hospitable, able to teach there it is again. I'm not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. I think many people rich are concerned with things that are happening in in society and certainly there's a lot of confusion about things like gender and sexuality in our world today and so I think it is important for us to talk about the. The beautiful distinctions into the complementary relationship that exists between male and female, as God created us. I think that's I think that's good and right and I think that's reflected within the structure and order of the of the church as well and then and then also in broader society, but I don't think that we would want to take first Timothy chapter 2 verse 11 and just apply it, you know, across the board to everything specifically here again here and then another place is like first Corinthians chapter 14 where you have another prohibition on on teaching women teaching were talking about offices in the church that, in particular, the office of elder or pastor and I think that's where the bill the.

The application fits for us and so I hope that clears it up some for you brother and I pray that your blessed and encouraged. Thank you for listen to the broadcast Ridge. Thanks so much for calling in. This is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez.

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Let's go to one of the voicemails we received from one of our callers. This came in from Doug question I work with a gentleman who is gay and good relationship with the person I work with the question I'm having is we were regressing my mind about inviting them over him and his partner over for dinner curious about what is advisable here.

I have two young children and to individuals and generous support and my children are old enough I think it's a really be talking about these knobs will be question they might have about physical affection is advisable to as a Christian to invite them over for dinner or at this point in my children's lives right now coming out how to explain what's with the defenses here. Maybe not not do that. Share your response to expend much man.I love this question. And I love the fact that your wrestling through this for yourself wanting to be a good neighbor and share the gospel of Christ also wanted to be a good father, and making sure that you are discipling your children well caring for them not exposing them.

Perhaps the things that that target to be detrimental to their own growth in grace and understanding is so such a practical and important question for some to say this hospitality isn't just inviting our friends over. I think a lot of times in Christian circles, we we we miss is that I'm a pretty hospitable person right II have you know my my best friends over frequently would like to hang out with each other but that's not what hospitality biblical hospitality is actually the word in the New Testament means love of stranger in images of you, if you broke it down as his compound word hospitality than just inviting our friends over him. It's even caring for those who are different than we are, who are on the same pages when we think of Jesus's words in Luke chapter 14 when you throw great banquet don't just invite your friends and the people can repay you invite the poor, the crippled, those who can't repay you. Those who are can elevate your social status you think also of the parable of the good Samaritan biblical hospitality I think is is is beyond or goes further than what so many of us think of when we think about hospitality.

Now we live in a day where increasingly we are going to need to help our children at at the appropriate times. Think through the issues of gender and sexuality from a biblical perspective with the biblical worldview, it's imperative that we teach our kids these things because if we don't the world will just think of media, social media unit is everywhere around us.

And so it's it's so important for us as parents to have these kinds of conversations and again at the appropriate time with our children. We want to help them to know one that all people are made in God's image were called as Christians to love all people and to do good to all people, especially those of the household of faith but but to all people to God's law calls us to live in certain ways and many people in the world reject that law so we can have those conversations with with our children in same look. Not everyone believes like we do.

I have this conversation with my kids.

My oldest is is 10 years old and and just even walking around the neighborhood in Southern California and he sees things and he starts to ask questions. This was a look were called as Christians to love people who differ from from us to think differently than we do about the world about God's law, but we don't have to embrace their beliefs. We can even lovingly challenge those beliefs and that's that's what God calls us to do. I would say model charitable engagement with non-Christians is an opportunity for you.

Otherwise, I think our kids might grow up thinking that the gospel only works in the church, but that it doesn't work in the world. The gospel has something to say to us within the church, but it doesn't have anything to say to my gay neighbors with the truth as it does have something to say to your gay neighbors and God uses us to to extend that message. The truth of the gospel Christian hospitality as you help them to see how the Christian faith drives us to reach out while maintaining our convictions.

That and I think that's that's the best balance you can strike now if if this couple sounds like you guys have your friends we work together so you know him so there's is already this this friendship and I think that's a good thing out. I would save if the couple was openly hostile and trying to sow seeds of doubt in your children or something like that with an outside yet don't don't do that.

But if it's an opportunity for you to extend Christian charity.

Maybe it does create a conversations with your children after the fact.

And in this is where you need to be discerning you and your wife need to be discerning in and say okay, how do we want to approach this. Are we ready. Are they ready to have that kind of conversation we talk about the world in which we live. God's law. How were called to live and in light of you know, the fact that people reject the gospel and so on. So for those again are important conversations to have and so pray.

Talk to your wife think through whether or not you know it.

It would be it would be fine to have them over and then use it as an opportunity to show the love of Christ and to teach your kids about the love of Christ as well.

God bless Doug follow-up question for you Israel. He did asked the question what if they were openly displaying affection to each other with that change or revise or even let's take that to the church where you know you you welcome gay individuals into the church, but then you have a gay couple that is openly displaying affection in front of children, young children, which a perspective beyond that.

Yeah, I mean II guess I would say right and this is kind of what I was getting at their Athena if there if there openly doing things to try and I do know undermined right if if there if they're putting on a show is imagining a couple comes to the church in action not really interested in in coming to the church or being a part of it. They just want to put it in your face because they know they does read. I think that that would be an issue in the same way that let you know if there was a heterosexual couple and they were just there and there were these you know displays of affection that were just over-the-top use. I hate were actually here to focus on Jesus not to not to distract one another and so it sounds to me though, like based on Doug's Doug's question that you've got a friendship with with that with this individual on that they know each other right inside me like that, that would be the issue.

In particular, and so I would say yeah I'm in Vegas could be a great opportunity to talk about the Lord to pray there together with them to answer questions that they might have coming. This is one of the ways that the Lord gets the primary way, I think the Lord gets his word out as to these kinds of relationships, friendships, and so appreciate Doug's question. Just pray that the Lord gives him and his wife wisdom and uses them that the Spirit of God. Doug would fill you and that God would use you to be a light where you work in your neighborhood for Jesus and for his word immense good counsel there.

Thanks Adm., this is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. If you have a question about the Bible or the Christian life. You can always call us and leave a voicemail 24 hours a day. Here's the phone number is 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673. We do our best to review her voicemails each day so feel free to call us anytime, 833 the core and leave your question, let's go to Jean calling in from Kansas. Jane what's your question for atrial what is your functional Jesus calling paging you know a lot of people were talking about this book sometime. 11 heard and when it is much discussion recently and personally have not read Jesus calling what I've heard about it is just that it is a mean it's essentially a devotional that seeks to use like a guest Jesus's voice.

You know like Jesus himself speaking to you. The problem is it's it's not necessarily always quoting Scripture just sort of you know Jesus talking to you and here's what I think you would say that type of thing. I don't think that's helpful.

You look look. I think if we want to hear Christ speaking to us. He does that through his word, and so I think good devotionals take the word of God and help to explain and help us to understand it. Help us to know who Jesus is on the basis of his word.

It's not just people giving us you know good advice or words from Jesus that Jesus didn't actually speak and so I think that's one of the reasons Jean that that some people have been concerned about this devotional. But as I said, it is not one that I've personally used now is it is it something that you've used them, and how have you found it to be kind of in your own life years and that she only has Scripture three right helpful to me. Yeah well will again I think it's just important for us to with whatever it is that were reading. Whether it's a devotional. I made a special were talking about books that are there spiritual in nature and you were talking about God and how he communicates himself to us his word, his will, I think we just always want to be discerning and so I think you can look at those things and say okay is this true doesn't line up with Scripture. I think the other piece that has raised concerns and again I'll just say it again, is the way in which it's written as if Christ himself.

Jesus himself was speaking to us and this is I think where we do have to be very careful because we don't want to. We don't want to speak on behalf of Jesus. If Jesus is not clearly said something that though there is a danger there. I would say Jean that there is there is a caution that I would have for that and just even the methodology. I don't know that IIII agree with that but at the same time. I think that you know when when we are using resources that are rooted in Scripture that are communicating the word of God clearly to us that we can and and ought to be encouraged and so I don't know but I don't think that it's it's a devotional that I would personally recommend. I think that there are other devotionals that are probably really good that don't take the exact same approach but but II think the reason is not because you know I want to be, you know, kind of grumpy about it at some places I just it's so important for us to make sure that were not putting words in Jesus's mouth that were letting him speak for himself through his own word, and so any time any time were not doing that or words are being put into the mouth of our Lord. Then I think we have to be very cautious and and I think it does raise concern jobless. Jean, thanks for the colonists. Thanks. By the way I drill Jesus says your been grumpy so just want to pass along to you to say don't do that Monday is absurd for him. If this is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez we get emails there and if you have a question for us. You can send us an email anytime. Here's our email address its questions at core, Christianity.com and here's one from Eric.

He says occasionally sins of my past come to mind. I have confessed these sins to the Lord and I've asked for forgiveness. At some point in time. What should I do when these things come to mind again do I need to confess them again to the Lord and ask for forgiveness. Is there something else I need to do. For example, if I cheated on an exam in the past. Is there something else I should do when that sin comes to mind if you confess your sins to the Lord, truly will will you forgiven them and this is the promise that we have in first, we confess our sins, God himself is faithful and just to cleanse us to forgive us and cleanse us of all unrighteousness. Now I think that it sounds to me you brought the example above of cheating on egg on an exam. If you've done something that has hurt others or harmed others are created a situation where you know I cheated and and and and that you been basically living a lie in this area and you're just confessing it, but you're not dealing with that sort of underlying issue. There are there are times I think where you know these things will come up in our minds over and over again because there needs to be some resolution there. Maybe that looks like opening up and confessing and saying to the people who gave you the exam I cheated on that exam. I should have gone in a on that exam. I laminate it just depends on the on the circumstances and in an every situation is a little bit different, but I would say just with regard to me know when you confess your sins, you want to rest in the promise of the gospel and the reality. The fact that Jesus forgives and cleanses all of your sins, you don't have to wallow in guilt or shame or feel like a man. God doesn't really forgive me know I I think that that's that that is willing to take God's word, and so does that mean that we were not to be reminded of those sins those failures know we we are. But when we are, I think we also in that moment ought to remind ourselves of the blood of Christ and the goodness of God and the graciousness of God and the fact that we are forgiven and we reiterate that to ourselves. Remind yourself of your baptism even to me this is what the apostle Paul says in Romans chapter 6, he's writing to you. No group of people who were wrestling struggling with sin.

Should we continue in sin that grace may abound because of the war, saying that boss is no way, how can we would've died to sin, live any longer. Don't you know that as many of you as were baptized into Christ to put on Christ. He tells the Galatians is are you reminding yourself of the fact that you have been forgiven that you have been washed by the blood of Jesus Christ.

And now you're called to walk in newness of life. And so when the evil one.

The accuser brings those sins to your mind be reminded of them and you're tempted to think that in my really forgiven. I can't believe I did this know you cling to the promise of the gospel and you put that back in the evil one's face and you trust in Jesus, and if again there there's a situation where were maybe you need to have a conversation because you sinned against someone you haven't done that.

Perhaps that's why you know this is continually coming up in your mind, and I would say will will have that conversation that you need to have and pursue forgiveness and reconciliation.

If that's an issue. Thank you for the question. Thanks for that. I drill this is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. We mention that you can call us and leave your voicemail question anytime here's the number 833, the court, that's 1-833-843-2673. Here's a voicemail from one of our listeners named Gloria the Bible say about people have an EU believe is okay. Building coming to be red flags that I would say there Gloria one is you know somebody comes and says I'm a prophet. I have visions and and prophecies and whatnot will that that raises a bigger question and that is does God ordinarily give those sign gifts of the Holy Spirit today. Now I do think God to work in extraordinary ways. At times, yes, but were talking about light and how is God ordinarily working in the church today and and when people say well I'm a prophet or an apostle called by the Lord and I have visions and prophecies and dreams and so on so forth that there assuming that this is a sort of the ordinary Christian life, and I will and I would beg to differ there.

II think that those gifts those sign gifts in particular were used to help propel the gospel forward in the early days of the church in the apostolic. And then as time went on, and the word of God continued to be preached in the church was establishing to do still have the things happening, you know extraordinarily miraculously at times a healing or providential word of knowledge that kind of thing that is not how. Ordinarily, God works in the church today.

Ordinarily I would say he works through the faithful preaching of the Bible that that's what we need to be grounded too many people are chasing after signs and wonders prophecies a miracle we want to hear those things I want to give me a special particular prophetic word from the Lord but were not growing in our basic understandings of of understanding what the Bible teaches that we need to go to get back to the local church being plugged into solid churches with the word of God is faithfully taught, and that's how God intends for us to grow its oath of first red flag is just the claim. Second, though you said what about people who are just profiting off of this and they're building a business. Why would you assume that that sounds very much to me like Simon the magician in the book of acts Simon the sorcerer peddling the word of God, but not even the word of God here, but this this claim to having supernatural prophetic power peddling that to make money or to build a platform or to make yourself great. I would say run from that me when you see that when you see an individual who's doing that. I think I think that we need to be discerning and wise and and and call it what it is, which is which is false wrong and sin. Frankly, and so so you have them. Those are the two things there. I'm concerned about this kind of stuff and you see it in media, television, unit televangelists and again I think so.

Often the focus is taken away from the pure preaching of the gospel. That's when you get back to you know it's so critical. You talk about this on a regular basis drill that you know those who teach in the church. Those who are pastors those who are leaders are called to a very high standard and when people are are violating the truths of God. There's going to be some pretty severe consequences. It's terrifying.

Honestly built when when you think about it and you pray for mercy, but you know you go back even to the earlier question about speaking for Jesus, putting words in Jesus's mouth. This is why we have to be so cautious want to let Christ speak for himself, and we want to platform his voice through Scripture. 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.

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