Is it Wrong for Mothers to Work if they Have Young Children?

This is core Christianity, where answering your questions about the Christian life Monday through Friday. Your hosts are author and seminary professor Dr. Michael Horton and Pastor atrial Sanchez call right now with your question.

At 1833. The core that's 1-833-843-2673 and now here's your host Dr. Michael Horton hello and welcome your addition of this unity.

We just love to hear your questions to dialogue about the ruptures and you challenge us to think more deeply about God's word. I'm here with atrial Sanchez and I Michael Horton we just have a lot of fun answering your questions. You know it's been shown that some people are really taking advantage of the coronavirus epidemic and one of them is Jim Baker who is one of the pioneers of Christian television who you might recall from the PTL scandals and he went to jail for fraud and now he's back at it selling a particular product, he proclaims will cure you of coronavirus and now the CDC is threatening him with legal action if he doesn't stop is not sad that at a time when people should be comforted by God's word. There are hucksters out there in the name of Jesus, who are capitalizing on it, literally, in order to make a buck. Now that it's it's heartbreaking mass on the article it said that Missouri is suing him for selling a fake coronavirus cure and as a pastor it's offensive to me because it eat what if God called us to do is ministers as evangelists to preach and teach the word of God to make disciples and a lot of non-Christians can't even tell the difference between somebody like Jim Baker who is a defrocked fraud and a legitimate pastor who is preaching the gospel and so they just look at stories like that and say why should we listen to you at all yeah I and all the more reason for us to continue to stay faithful teaching of the and focus your word of God. And that's really what we get the increment in times like this that's where we can really receive encouragement and hope is that we want to do right now. Let's go to our first call for the day. In regards to Germany.

Really talking about real knowledge about how not material. Do we know how they nature after we have been regenerated by Christ not want to see how those two things go together so much appreciate thank you Drew. What an informed question yeah and it's such an important one, because we have conflicting views floating around about this so look let's start with the teaching of ancient Greek philosophy.

Thinking specifically of Plato. The opposition that you get from pagan philosophy is between flash, which is this stuff you're made of your body physical stuff, and spirit, is that higher part of you that is actually divine.

The spark of divinity your soul your spirit that's not what you find in Scripture at all God made man, body and spirit. The body is not as Plato taught the prison house of the soul.

The body is part of our identity as human beings. And so when you read, especially in Paul. He's the one who uses flesh and spirit, the most what he's talking about is you have to think about it not in the framework of Greek speculation. Plato but as a Jew reading these texts.

How did they read flesh and spirit, while if you look back the passages in the Old Testament/is basically what the arm of man can do unaided by God's grace we are but flesh. We are just human beings then spirit is the Holy Spirit the power of God by his Spirit to save us what God can accomplish is different from what we can accomplish. Remember, Jesus said with man salvation is impossible but with God all things are possible in first Corinthian's 15 verse 50. For example, we read flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Now here he does mean flesh and blood, as in how we are right now in this present state. And that's what flesh meant in the context of the Judaism of his day, whatever belongs to this present age, under the reign of sin and death. We can't save ourselves because we are where the problem the Holy Spirit governs the age to come, which is even now breaking in on this present evil age so something of two worlds. Like Plato did its two ages not to worlds a spirit world and embody world but two ages this age where the whole person, body and soul is under sin and death and the age to come of resurrection life so here flesh and blood is shorthand for human beings in their current condition of parish ability. You can't enter into the new creation without the condition of your body and soul, changing that which is merely of this age must be killed must be put in the ground. That's why we have to die our bodies up to be put in the ground. We need resurrection, not resuscitation but resurrection and so Paul says nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. So it's clear from this passage that it's the same person who was perishable, who puts on him parish ability at the resurrection is not you have one perishable person and then an imperishable person the same person whose perishable in this present evil age is imperishable at the resurrection we often time a sin nature like is the thing like is almost a person inside of us know we still have a sinful nature instead of thinking about parts of us. You know, a bodily part of me, a soul part of me is spirit. Part of me and instead of thinking about a sin nature that is somehow independent of me. Let's think about me and you. There's you, you are simultaneously justified and sinful.

Your nature is still corrupted by sin. But one day one day in the age to come, when it's finally consummated. You will be free not only of the condemnation of sin and the tyranny of sin, but the very presence of sin and death. What a wonderful hope that we have drew thanks that question is speaking of the idea of nature's we have an email here from Brent and this is getting us into the nature of God and the doctrine of the Trinity is can you explain what eternal subordination of the son was or is and what the implications of this error are.

Thanks Meredith funny.

Mike and I were just the other day were talking about this right now it came up, and in recent days.

This idea of the eternal subordination of the son and in an evangelical Christian circle yeah yeah and rising. It's the idea that God the son. Jesus isn't just subordinate to the father in coming to earth via the incarnation. Sometimes we refer to as the economy of salvation that in his very nature, he subordinate to the father and submits to the father.

Now there are two really big. I mean, probably more than to just two really big problems with this one. It suggests that the father and the son have different wills as if Jesus is always bringing his will into alignment with the father is eternally subordinate and submitting to the father then it seems to suggest that within the Trinity. You have multiple wills but an orthodox doctrine of the Trinity acknowledges that there is one will in the holy Trinity to make Jesus essentially subordinate to the father, which sounds a lot like the ancient heresy of Arianism Arianism taught that Jesus wasn't there's a big word consubstantial with the father that is of the same substance that he was subordinate to the father in his very being, that's precisely what Christians of always denied me. Just think of the Nicene Creed. For example, in the fourth century we we we believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten son of God, begotten of the father before all worlds God of God, light of light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the father consubstantial with the father as Mike said it. It was a shocking thing is that this sort of theology was cropping up in evangelical circles and yet the implications of this theology were devastating for an orthodox understanding of Christian understanding of the Trinity of who God is and how God has revealed himself to us. The men who teach this don't intend this outcome. But they don't realize this is the outcome. The logical outcome if you believe that Jesus Christ is in his very being eternally subordinate to the father not in his incarnation, his humiliation, his life here on earth but in his very essence eternally subordinate to the father. The father deserves more worship and praise and so forth. If you really believe that, then you're not saved, and I don't mean because you you don't understand the Trinity, but I mean because we have no salvation unless Jesus Christ is God.

Only God can save us, not a secondary God, not a God who is 95% God, the God whose just as much God is the father, one God in three persons, we need God to save us. And that's exactly what we have in Jesus Christ, amen. Eliciting a core Christianity. If you have a follow-up question or if you have your own question about the faith. Give us a call at 1-833-843-2673. That's 1833. The core one let you know about a special offer for today.

Yeah thanks Israel were excited to share helpful resource on core, Christianity.com called seven things you need to know about heaven and it's free. When you sign up for weekly newsletter. One of the greatest topics a Christian can think about is living forever with Christ our Savior, but unfortunately there's a lot of confusion today about what heaven will be like. That's why we've created this resource so you can have a biblical view of heaven. So head over to core Christianity.com/offers to download seven things you need to know about heaven. Thanks, Mike. Again, that number is 1-833-843-2673. Give us a call to get a hold of that resource. I got an email here from Emily. I like my name is Emily and I live in central Montana. My question for you is a question based on social norms and what should be the biblical reaction.

My husband and I just found out that we are pregnant, praise God. Their other young mothers in the office where I work to continue to work while raising a family in our church.

However, there are very few, if any, working mothers, my husband and I have decided that I will not continue with my outside job.

Once the baby comes, but because it is not the social norm in my office, I already know my boss will not be understanding when I break the news. Could you provide some biblical references on what God says should be the right reaction to this decision and how to have that tough conversation with my employer, a devout Catholic.

The time comes. While Emily my wife and I really had those conversations. I know there they can be really tough. Here's the thing. There is no biblical advice on this. The Bible gives us principles.

Obviously, yet wheat we need to make these decisions together that husbands need to love their wives, sacrificially and lead them and guide them. But making decisions about the sort of thing specially when you both have callings that has to be made together. A husband can't just tell his wife. You can't do this. Calling that God is given you, they have to come to that, together, but beyond that it really comes down to the particulars of your circumstance so it's great that your boss is a devout Catholic, because hopefully he or she will understand your family comes first. I cannot begin to tell you how important it is that you embrace that biblical principle that is a biblical principle.

Your family comes first.

That may mean that your husband has to reduce his workload to. It's really hard today, women have incredible gifts, often incredible training that is equal to or better than a lot of men, then they have a child. They want to be a mom and they realize that that you know there are a lot of things to negotiate their I'm just saying. In some cases.

In some cases I'm not saying in your case, Montana and other people's cases. In some cases I think person who says I want to be a mom and and gets pregnant as a child that your first calling.

You may have to give up your job may be that your husband will stay home I'll stay home.

I'll quit my job or take a leave of absence out. I'll take care of the baby while you keep your job. And that's perfectly acceptable.

Obviously you can't have your child in daycare 24 hours a day seven days a week so something's gotta give. And only you really can know that. Talk to friends who know you really well. Relatives and people in church and get their advice. People who know you and know the situation in detail Mike. I know that there are some churches where there is pressure put on wives to stay at home and raise the kids.

And as you said, might I think that that's having that's important. Our families have to come first.

What about situations where families they just feel like they can't afford it in a you think about different parts of United States that are getting more and more expensive now seems like he got had both the husband and wife working in and out bringing in money just to make ends meet. I also sometimes it's true sometimes it's true, but in other cases, it's just not in other cases it's I want the big suburban life. I want to have maybe a speedboat and in order to fund all of that, of course, you're going to have to have two people working. I think that each couple has to evaluate their own heart your own desires is really comes down to the hardware. Where's your treasure where you really put your treasure parenthood is in the luxury. This child isn't a luxury item. This comes before the house and the speedboat. Everything else is in a core Christianity and were answering your questions about the faith. Give us a call with your question at 1833 the core or gives an email with your question. It questions adequate Christianity.com. Let's take another call minute later. I've been to church split and it seemed to be a struggle between the authority of Scripture and unity and I felt the R side split because the authority of Scripture was not taken seriously as we thought it should be and I wondered as I study further beyond belief splits. It does seem like unity as we read in John 17 is a much greater issue, especially reflecting to the world who Christ is. I wonder what you think about that but yeah you bet sick. I'm sorry it's tough to go through the church split and especially when the authority of Scripture isn't the basis the heart of our faith is not the authority of Scripture. The heart of our faith is Christ salvation in Christ. According to the gospel. But there is no basis for that gospel. Apart from the authority of Scripture. Scripture is what delivers that truth to us. So Scripture is an authoritative what is in a lot of churches it's the culture and that's what's normative. Whatever our friends at work or our friends in our educational and socioeconomic status think is the truth.

That's what we need to conform Christianity to know. Paul tells us in Romans 12 we need to stop being conformed to this weight world's way of thinking, be transformed by the renewing of our mind, according to God's word and you mentioned John 17 sick absolutely. Jerk. Jesus hears his high priestly prayer warriors praying for unity. The unity of the body of Christ. What is he say let's all be united just by an act of the will know let's all be united by signage.

You know were all Christians know not all churches that call themselves Christian are really Christian. What is our unity in his high priestly prayer in John 17 that you refer to sick Jesus says sanctify them in your truth. Your word is truth. As you sent me into the world so I have sent them into the world and for their sake I consecrate myself that they also may be sanctified in truth, sanctify them in the truth. Your word is truth. How do we know what's true the word of God is. We have no basis for emergent were just shooting our mouths off telling people the gospel if it's not authoritatively given by God. God's word is inspired and inerrant and infallible in its doctrines, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, Ephesians 4 that's what draws us together. Jude for the faith once and for all delivered to the saints that faith doesn't change through the centuries that continues to be the pillar and ground of the truth so if churches split over minuscule things that both groups think are taught in Scripture that the shame that's divisiveness. If the church splits over the authority of Scripture.

Then the church that embraces the authority of Scripture is the continuing Church of Christ and the church that rejects the authority of Scripture is no longer part of the body of Christ. Sounds to me like you're in the right continuing body like I remember back to my seminary days in a sexy a student in your class is one thing that you used to say they still say that was really helpful for me. That always stuck with me is the idea that the church is created by the word is so if you don't have the word and I think that's why you're saying of the emphasis on the authority of Scripture. You really can have a church, can you maybe just briefly unpack that idea a little bit because I think it's really helpful while individually Paul says in Romans 1017. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God will that's true to corporately if the church is made up of all believers, then it's made up of all those who've been born again as Peter says, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable by the living and abiding word of God which is the gospel we proclaim to you so you put all these passages together and is pretty clear.

The church is the assembly of those who been raised spiritually from death to life by the powerful sovereign Holy Spirit working through these sufficient and inspired word of God through that preaching people actually come to life brought into life and grow more and more in that life if you don't have the word of God shaping and determining what something is, then, that thing can't be called Christian. Go to our next call. Hello Mike and Israel Ehrlich. My question my question is the parable of the 10 virgins that rightly understood her Christian. I heard taught the difference being works or lover Holy Spirit. Thank you.

Yeah, it sounds like you're asking.

In the parable you were told that some of the virgins were why some of them were foolish and ones were wise with once it had oil in their lamps and some assuming you know the different interpretations of what, what's the oil what's the oil in the lab, so this is in the context of Jesus talking about the second coming. You think back to chapter 24 verse 29 immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be dark in the moon will not give its light, and so forth and is used to augment these cataclysmic events related to the coming of the Son of Man in the in the final judgment any of the series of parables and in teachings, focusing on the importance of Christians watching and being vigilant. In fact, I think that's really the main point of the parable of the 10 virgins. If you look at the very end. In Matthew 25 verse 13 concludes watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour and you know there have been a number of different interpretations as to what the oil is, you know, of course, if you know if you take the imagery of Scripture. Sometimes oil in Scripture is that a similar sign of the Holy Spirit. Earlier in chapter 24 of Matthew's gospel. It seems like the wise are those who do good things were obeying their masters will and so some of taken it is as works of Munich weren't really not told with clarity. I think that the focus though is those who are watchful are continuing to abide in Jesus Christ as we wait right now.

Not knowing the day or the hour.

Not knowing when the Lord is going to come back. God calls us to the light on. Yet people I hunt has a great way of putting my answer.

I think that that's that's really the point of the parables we need to be watchful and continuing to abide in Christ by faith.

And that's with the wise virgins were doing. Thanks for listening to court Christianity to request your copy of today's special offer. Visit us at court, Christianity.com and click on offers in the menu for or call us at 1-833-843-2673 that's a 33, the court 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