If God Is In Control, Shouldn’t We Just Ignore These Covid-19 Precautions?

Does God reject some people who desire to be saved. That's just one of the questions will be answering on today's edition of core Christianity hi this is Bill Meyer along with pastor Adm. Sanchez and this is the radio program where we answer your questions about the Christian life every day. You can call us right now with your question. At 833, the court, that's 1-833-843-2673 and a course you can always email us with your question. Here's the address questions@corechristianity.com. We have another good news story to share with you as we kick things off today, a Wisconsin dairy is providing free milk to their community members who are struggling during the coronavirus.

It's called sassy cow creamery. It's located in Columbus Wisconsin. It's owned by two brothers, James and Robert bear Wolf. They are keeping a refrigerator outside of their store fully stocked with free milk and other dairy products. They call the fridge. The kindness cooler and it's available to anyone who's in need during the coronavirus pandemic.

The family introduce their kindness cooler at the end of March and demand has been high. The creamery has been giving away more than 400 gallons of milk every day is not amazing eternal hell yeah that's pretty cool.

I mean how neat for them to serve their community and that way I wish there was a kindness creamery cooler here in San Diego.

I'm sure you be taken advantage of it. Let's jump into our first question and this is actually an email question that came in from Ray and he says with the current coronavirus am I compromising my faith in God by following the earthly rules, such as washing my hands keeping a 6 foot social distance rule. Since the Bible has so many examples of God telling us to have faith in him and that he will protect us, such as Isaiah 4110. I'm struggling with faith in God and fear of the unknown.

Should I carry on with life or is there a delicate balance between faith and common sense. Wow, great question, a drill yes a really good question Ray and there is a balance between faith and in common sense.

Yeah, I think of when Satan tried to lead Jesus astray in the wilderness what he tell him to do.

Remember, Matthew chapter 4 verse six. If you are the son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written, he will command his angels concerning you, and on their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone in your member rate how Jesus responded to the devil when the devil was trying to tempt them in this way, he said while again it is written, you shall not put the Lord your God to the test. I think they are handwashing and social distancing is a way of loving our neighbors, but it's also a way of not testing God in this time when we think about the promises we see in Scripture, we have to be careful that we don't just apply them to ourselves directly as though we are the primary audience promises of blessing for obedience and supernatural protection of those were given to Israel under the old covenant, but we can't just read those passages and apply them directly to us, which is not to say that they don't apply to us in another sense they apply to us today through Jesus Christ.

Listen to what the apostle Paul said in second Corinthians chapter 1 verse 20 all the promises of God, find their yes in Jesus. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory so but I would say, you know, by all means carry on with your life, trusting in Jesus and taking proper precautions so as not to test God's goodness. When I go outside though I don't know about you, I wear a mask that you have got a little bit, hand sanitizer, a bottle that I cruise around with. I'm not going outside with a bottle of anointing oil and trying to cast out the coronavirus we know we can use common sense and at the same time, trust Jesus, you know, that brings up an even greater question is drilled.

There are many churches and some Christian leaders that do mention those Old Testament promises as if they apply to us individually. Is that poor theology yeah yeah just think we have to be careful. Sometimes it really is poor theology and it can lead people astray.

For example, when we look at some of the the promises for blessing obedience under the old covenant. Note some of these blessings include things like monetary wealth and land while if we were reading those promises as Christians today. Under the new covenant we were trying to apply those promises to us and our expectation was will hey I go to church every Sunday. You know I my I don't now lie cheat or steal. I should be really blessing of God is really going to just open up heaven and rain down the riches on me, that would be a misunderstanding, a misapplication of the Scriptures, and that's why we really have to understand where we are in in redemptive history on this side of the work of Jesus Christ.

Under the new covenant on those promises right they do relate to us in some sense, but we have to understand them as relating to us through Jesus Christ and really that's the key. There is a lot of times I feel like when some of these teachers fix our eyes on some of these old covenant promises in and get people thinking about riches and wellness.

You don't take our eyes off of Jesus and that's not at all with the Scriptures want to do great counsel. Okay, here's another question that came in.

Carmen actually left this question on our website, you can go to our website at core, Christianity.com/radio core, Christianity.com/radio and then look for that little microphone there, you can click on and leave your question and let's see what Carmen had said I'm from Australia. I love you program think he sent much solo answering all the questions that come in interrelate balanced biblical way. I really appreciate it is that I pay for Christians today practice unite. Now if you just doing it said that physical aspect and not for the spiritual aspect. I've had arguments for and against.

And I'm not quite shuttle say he could help answer this question, that would be really good thank you so much I appreciate everything you day hey Carmen, so good to hear from you.

Thank you for that question all the way from Australia well St. Paul said whatever is not from faith is sin.

And I think this is one of those areas where for some Christians it may be not that big of a deal, but for other believers. It's a really big deal that the objection is will yes but this kind of stretching has been associated with pagan practices.

So how could a Christian possibly do it.

That's true, but so were meats sacrificed to idols in the New Testament. I'm not sure if you're familiar with that text. I'm thinking of first Corinthians chapter 8. This was a real big question in in the first century church for 20 strawberry ice water read this section because I think it's helpful as we think about your question in an Christians and whether or not it's okay for Christians to do yoga is a form of exercise balls and prescriptions eight concerning food offered to idols, we know that all of us possess knowledge. This knowledge puffs up, but love builds up if anyone imagines that he knows something he does not yet know as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, he is known by God. Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that an idol has no real existence that there is no God but one. For, although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth is, indeed, there are many quote gods in many quote lords yet for us there is one God the father, from whom all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.

However, not all possess this knowledge but some former association with idols eat food is really offered to an idol and their conscience. Being weak is defiled food will not commend us to God, we are no worse off if we do not eat no better off if we do but take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block for the week.

For if anyone sees you have knowledge eating and idols Temple. He not be encouraged if his conscience is weak to eat food offered to idols, so by your knowledge this week person is destroyed the brother for whom Christ died. I think that we can look at this passage and I think there's something parallels here right like him food sacrificed to idols in the first century was associated with these pagan rituals and pulses, look whether you eat or not to make you closer to God or further away from God because we know that an idol is nothing there really is only one God.

Those Hindu gods. They're not real they're not the true God. They don't really exist. Paul says so I think sister this really is a question of conscience you for some people, maybe who have come out of Hindu background and they can't help but associate yoga on this particular kind of stretching with pagan practices with idolatry for them, it might really be an issue.

A stumbling block was eight. Will they have to be careful you don't want to sin against your conscience, but for a person who say eight. This is just kind of a form of exercise that I do and they do have no association in my mind with the sword.

Pagan things I think you can do it with a clear conscious that I'll be honest, I've never done yoga. It's just not my thing. I can barely touch my toes so I'm imagining people in a room stretching in and breaking a sweat. Think that that's that big of a deal if there's a lot of other weird stuff going on in their lighting candles and chanting and it's sort of like a séance that would weird me out but hopefully you know if you think about first Corinthians chapter 8 this idea meet sacrificed to idols and the sort of gray area of same look. What is your conscience tell you we know that an idol is nothing. Let's focus on serving the Lord with freedom know Bill, I know that you're kind of a yoga Grand Master.

Is that right come in the lotus position right now hope to get unstuck a beautiful picture actually had. It's interesting that you mention that because we actually had a woman whose does Christian yoga and wheel allowed her to rent space at our church and it was on Thursday mornings, and she brought Scripture into it and it was all about meditating on God and so she had pretty much exercised all of those Eastern mysticism things out of the yoga and really turned it into more of an exercise and worship experience. Interesting yet will I mean I got Paul is very clear in verse 20 is chapter look, there's only one God, for those believers who were wrestling with this question. I think that there is an encouragement there for us to really one be sensitive to our brothers and sisters, for whom this might be a serious issue and maybe a stumbling block, but to also have liberty of conscience and say look at this doesn't do anything for me except maybe cause me to break a sweat. It's it's a form of exercise for that person. I think it's not that big of a deal. Thank you so much for your question though Carmen God bless you. So great to hear from Carmen over in Australia and by the way, you can go to our website and leave your question anytime 24 hours a day@corechristianity.com/radio core, Christianity.com/radio and then look for that little microphone button that you can record your question right there 24 hours a day, or course you can always call us at 833-843-2673. That's 833 the core and leave your message right there now edition of that you can go to our Facebook page or Instagram page and post a question that's exactly what Katie did Israel. She says I'm really confused about how Jesus can be both God and the son of God.

Isn't that a contradiction in a Katie great questions reminds me of the other. They were at the dinner table and eating dinner and Mike, my daughter, she says, how can God be one, but Jesus lives in my heart and your heart and mom's heart and she was really confused cycle. Isn't that kind of a contradiction.

Your question makes me think about that. How can Jesus be both the son of God and God.

And what does it mean that Jesus is the son of God.

So really good good stuff is you know that actually that that title son of God really focuses on the fact that Jesus is the heir to the Davidic throne you think about the covenant that God made with King David way back in second Samuel chapter 7 we promised him this. This kingdom was always going to be on your throne and that the Jews that the Hebrew people were waiting for the Davidic king was going to come and rule and bring in usher in this period of peace and righteousness. Luke chapter 1 verse 32. But the angel Gabriel say about Jesus. April said he will be great and will be called the son of the most high, the son of God and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David. And so one of the things that were getting here is this picture that Jesus is the Davidic king. We also know from the teaching of the Scripture that Jesus is God, you think about John 11 in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God or Romans chapter 9 verse five our great God and Savior Jesus is called so it's important that we take all of these Scriptures into account, and the reason is not a contradiction is because of the doctrine of the Trinity. What is the doctrine of the Trinity say we believe in one God who exists in three persons. The father the son and the Holy Spirit, God is one in essence three undivided persons.this is a great mystery, but the reason we embrace it is because it's what the scriptures teach us, we have to go on what the Bible says this is by getting conversations Katie with with Jehovah's Witnesses and and others who asked this question.

You know well if Jesus is God. How is he praying to the father in the Gospels, will the answer is the doctrine of the Trinity is not that the father and the son are the exact same person know their one in essence, equal in power and glory, but their distinct but not divided and that's why Jesus who is God, according to the teaching of the Bible can also be called the son of God. He's the heir to the Davidic throne element to say one more thing assertive related to this, Katie. Throughout the Old Testament God makes this promise, especially in the Psalms that one day God was going to come and judge the earth so makes perfect sense that here you have in Jesus, God fulfilling the promise coming us Davidic king to rule and to judge the whole world distorted what we would expect just from the teaching of the Scriptures. Thank you for your question Katie, great question and would love to hear your question you go to the Facebook page or the Instagram page. Just a Google core, Christianity, and it will pop up now. We should also mention we have a special Romans Bible study offer this month and her to tell us a little bit about that is Dr. Michael Horton as we reflect on the difficulties families, churches, businesses, our nation and basically all people around the world right now are facing having a sure confidence in the work of Jesus Christ on the cross and his resurrection on our behalf is absolutely critical. We aim to answer the hard unsettling questions of our times with both skeptics and committed Christians in mind when I give answers that not only show why Christianity is true but also why it's good and beautiful. Your support alongside the work of our team is making a real difference in people's lives. A difference in helping others to live with hope, joy and confidence and that difference is eternal so please consider sending a gift right now to help us continue as a thank you gift for $20 or more will send you our brand-new court Christianity Bible study on Paul's letter to the Romans to make a gift and receive the study on Paul's letter to the Romans, head on over to court, Christianity.com this court, Christianity.com on behalf of the entire team that core radio. Thanks for your support.

It really is an excellent resource.

I've had the chance to to look at it a little bit and I just know you're going to be encourage, make sure you get a hold that you can go to court, Christianity.com/offers or give us a call we want to get this in your hands. Let's go back to another question a drill. This one came in on our core Christianity voicemail.

Why does Christianity make me so miserable all the time not Obama read the Bible 44 hours a day that don't want to rip flight may be. Maybe my name is not in the book of why and nothing is registering my immediate amenities. A lot of people that want to be Christians but God will not allow it. Thank you's Scott, thank you for your question, let me ask you, did you view God as an angry judge waiting to smash you every time you fail, or do you view him as a loving father who is eager to give you good gifts. The good gift of salvation the way you asked your question makes me wondering are are there going to be a lot of people who want to be Christians and God won't allow it, as though God were cruel and and we were stripped begging for salvation, but he simply withheld his salvation brother. It's our default setting to sort of think this way. I think Satan would like nothing more than to try and convince us that this is how God is them you think back to the garden of Eden, Adam and Eve in the garden. The serpent tempted them to think that God was withholding his goodness from them. He doesn't want you to be like him is want to know what he knows that's not the God that we serve. That's not the God of the Bible.

Jesus said in John 637. Listen closely to this. All that the father gives me will come to me and who ever comes to me I will never cast out. I think also of Luke chapter 11 verses 10 and following Jesus said everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds into the one who knocks it will be opened.

What father among you, if his son asked for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent or if he asked for an egg, will give him a scorpion. If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him. Scott, I'm really glad that you asked this question because so many Christians have embraced the belief that God is stingy, cruel and evil, and that he has our worst interest in mind. Every time something good in our lives happens we think okay.

He's probably setting me up for some grand failure.

You know, why do we think this about the Lord God gave his son to save us. He loves you and I know for me those times in my life where I've been miserable, it's because I've questioned that because I've been trying to earn his love, and I feel like I don't measure up. Will you know what I don't and neither do you. And I'm not worthy of his infinite love for mankind, I'm worthy were worthy of every condemnation torment, but God in Christ has forgiven our sins. He's a good father and when we go to him, Jesus says, everyone who goes to me I will not cast out. And when you go to Jesus. Scott weighed down with grief, maybe even fear because you know you're a sinner. Jesus doesn't reject you and so brother I would say embrace that view of God that's given to us in the Scriptures. Not that he is stingy and trying to withhold his goodness that he's a good father whose eager to bestow his salvation upon you. If only you will go to him, go to him, brother. This is core Christianity and we would love to hear your questions. You can actually email us anytime at questions at core, Christianity.com enter let's go to one more call this one came in from dawn morning. I'm reading a book of Matthew and chapter 1231 and 32 and explained that that would be great. Thank hey Don, this is a question that we frequently get on the program you're asking about the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit and what Matthew is talking about their those it was one of my lowest points as a Christian I was a brand-new believer and I read this passage and I'm not ashamed to say it, although it saddens me greatly but I wondered if I had committed this said that it wasn't you know that I had actually done anything wrong. I was a new Christian, and I really struggled with relying on my feelings over God's word and if I didn't feel God.

I thought that maybe I had been abandoned by God. We talked about this just with with an earlier question that we received on Satan wants us to think this he wants us to believe were a hopeless cause that God could love others, but that he can't love us. This is why so important for us to understand the context of of the Scriptures. Let me just read that text. Matthew 12 beginning in verse 31 therefore I tell you, Jesus said, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven. People but the blasphemy against the spirit will not be forgiven, and whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven either in this stage or in the age to come. Now it in the parallel accounts in the Gospels to this sort of seen the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit that religious teachers what they're doing is they're attributing the works of Jesus. The miracles of Jesus to Satan.

These are people that don't believe it's not a question of you and other doubting Jesus struggling with some sin. This is in a lack of understanding it's having the truth being inundated with it and then completely slapping Jesus in the face me that's a terrible image but that's exactly what's happening there turning their backs on Jesus willfully after the Pharisees were doing they seen the miracles they couldn't argue with Jesus you shut them down time and time again with the Scriptures, and yet in their darkness. They continually grew more and more hardened until they got to the point that they started saying Jesus was serving the devil. So they aren't believers who fall away or something like that you don't accidentally blaspheme the Holy Spirit and and that's so important for us to understand.

Like I said because I think that there are a lot of Christians with a sensitive conscience who they read this text and they're terrified because they think I'll know I've sinned, you know, maybe I committed the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit will no the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is not believing in Jesus and rejecting Jesus. And if you do that you cannot be forgiven because we often miss.

I think in this text Don Jesus says all sin and blasphemy will be forgiven.

We often focus on the negative. But look at this amazing promise. All sin, murder, adultery, abortion, greed, hypocrisy, pornography, all sin is washed away the blood of Jesus faith in his name, praise God for that. Thanks for listening to core Christianity to request your copy of today's special offer. Visit us@corechristianity.com and click on offers in the menu bar or call us at 1-833-843-2673 that's a 33 core when you contact us. Please let us know how you been encouraged by this podcast and be sure to join us next time.

As we explore the truth of God's word together