How Should Christians Deal with Church Scandal?

This is core Christianity were 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 atrial Sanchez. Welcome back to another episode of corporate entity. Were we answer your question about the faith time Pastor atrial Sanchez with Prof. Michael Horton, Mike, it's good to be back together anyways yeah have you been it's all right.

It's been a good week.

Good you have been a good week for me as well. I've had something on my mind lately. The what's on the mind of America's pastors the study they just came out from Barnett listen to this. When presented with a list of possible challenges facing the church today. Half of Protestant pastors.

Note that reaching a younger audience. 51% is a major issue for their ministry just over one third of pastors 34% marks this statement as a top three concern for their church with 12% noting is the top concern of pastors also agree that declining or inconsistent outreach and evangelism is a major issue facing their local church. 50% of all the pastors who affirm the statement exactly 21 540% that falls within their top three concerns with 14% agreeing it is their largest concern how to reach the law is one of the big concerns that we have is pastors today gets into an Instagram question from colony said how can I be more intentional with sharing my faith. Do you also know of any resources that can help me better share my faith.

Let's think about this question yeah it's such an important question because I will I think first of all, step one: is to know what you believe and why you believe it, we say that a lot. It basically encompasses you'll know what you what you believe is one of the basic core doctrines of the Christian faith.

If we don't know what Christianity teaches them are just gonna talk about ourselves and our experience is nothing wrong with that. There's nothing wrong at all was saying Jesus changed my life and talking about that but no one should conscious that they won't but no one should believe in Jesus Christ because you believe in Jesus Christ.

They should believe in Jesus Christ because they believe it's true. And so you have to know what you believe and why you believe that you have to give reasons for your faith is, as Peter tells us, be prepared always to give an answer for the reason of the hope you have step two. II would say: establish a credible social connection with the person as much as possible. I just ought you.

I've done street evangelism. Yet we talk to people we handed out tracks we did in a but I don't know if the Lord used that me may have used it. In some instances, but I think that we turned off more people than we turned on. Just because it we didn't know anybody there wasn't a social connection there. So, whether on an airplane or in your own home, to whatever extent you can establish a connection with that person do that first. Do you come off as defensive as argumentative, maybe even unloving or uncaring people want to see that it was not just the can you argue the case well. But how do you argue it but Peter goes on to say what he says. Be ready to have an answer, he says, but do it with gentleness and respect.

That's absolutely key. Step three. Realize that you can't save anyone. We were just in India and you know that government there is cracking down on Christians, Muslims also but it is critically Christians there's an anti-conversion law and so they've come to one of the pastors that we know very well and and if you have told him you know were were watching you closely.

Have you converted anyone and he could honestly say I've never converted anyone because we can't we can't convert anyone look at acts 1614, one who heard us was a woman named Lydia from the city of phi Tyra, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God, the Lord opened her heart to receive what Paul said that's what's going to happen, you know, we can present the gospel but the Lord is the one who opens the heart and remember that you're not the only person in that process.

First Corinthians 36 Paul says I planted Apollo's watered.

But God gave the growth you're going to maybe have that conversation with a person on the plate don't stress out don't think I got to close the deal here you're not making a sales pitch. The person isn't gonna go to hell because you didn't close the deal. The Lord may use that as part of a string of encounters that that person has and realize that the Lord is the one who gives the growth he's the one who gives success rest in him. Then I guarantee you they will see that the person you're talking to will see you're not just a sales person you are actually someone who cares about them and you don't have to bring them to the point where they confess Christ in that you know that flight to Chicago.

Step four invite them to church. This is a big one. You know, I think that the goal really in our evangelism know what you believe what you believe it, and get them to church presented to them gently and lovingly and invite them to come to church with you. Romans 1017. Faith comes by hearing the gospel preached.

Paul says that's how we come to faith. Faith is created in our heart we don't create faith. The evangelist doesn't create faith the Holy Spirit creates faith and he does that through the preaching of the gospel so you you want to get them to where they hear that gospel preached. I know Mike really that point is I wonder if a lot of our evangelism were not focused on what Jesus said to do in the great commission, which is to make disciples and the only way that happens is in the context of the local churches were under the history of the word and other brothers and sisters are encouraging us using the gifts that God has given them how they make hunger. Yes, he says make disciples. That's right yeah that's our goal. Our goal is not to get somebody to sign a card, prayer, prayer, whatever and then you know the next day it's New Age or whatever know. Our goal is to get them into the life of the church where they become disciples that his followers of Jesus, together with other Jesus followers came in on. It also takes out a lot of the pressure off of you because this is we were saying of farm mindset is I have to convert this person will then I'm not trusting in the Lord who is the one opening the heart of individuals like Mike talk about their next chapter 16 with Lydia, that is just not realizing how God uses other people in the body of Christ to participate in in the work of making disciples, we think too highly of ourselves. I think it was rudderless. It's a garden that's why Paul uses that analogy of planting and watering and God's always the God of the harvest.

He's the one who brings our and we may never see a harvest we may talk to somebody for a long time and never see them come to the Lord what may be the loved one will keep praying for them and pray that others will come into their life and you know what we may never know whether that person came to saving faith. But the Lord knows those who are his name in question here from Amber on Facebook.

How do I trust God and not my feelings or false thoughts to what a good one it is. And Amber is a question that is near and dear to me because I remember is a newer Christian. When I first came to the Lord had all these great feelings and it was that the sort of honeymoon stage of my salvation are ever thinking it is if I can tangibly feel the presence of God in my life. It is this change that's taken place on one day I woke up probably excited 06 months after I had begun walking with the Lord and feel anything and I thought oh no, I've lost that loving feeling I've let it what I thought maybe I lost the Lord like me. What have I done you know what I do last night or what what's going on. Why has the Lord left me in and so I associated the presence of God in my life with my feelings.

I think a lot of Christians do this to have a hard time trusting in God's word fact over there feeling feelings for you and I think that's unit for the question you're asking is really relevant to us and I would just go to a text like Romans chapter 10 verse 17 repulses faith comes through hearing and hearing through the word of Christ. I think as the word of Christ is dwelling this ridge that you're digging into the Scriptures as your hearing the word of Christ preached to you every Sunday and you're learning about who Jesus is. I think that's what helps us, and because this actually to trust in him because one, the word creates faith in our hearts, but the more I thought about this. It asked the gospel is being preached.

We learning more and more who this God is Jesus, his love for us.

And when you know the sacrificial love of Christ, for you will point you want to trust him out and you realize you can trust him over your feelings and so I think it this is a really hard one for us. I wonder Mike what you would think about this, but so often today, when people think about religion and spirituality.

They associate with feelings. Yeah I accept this. I embrace this because I just felt something when it's good for you.

Yeah, that's what people can say the only free with doctrine right back with the word what took place historically that Jesus died and rose again for our sins, and that we have to root our faith and not our feeling. Exactly 1 of the verses that comes to mind is Romans five verse one actually one through five is worth quoting in context. Therefore, since we have been justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, and the verb tenses. There are so important. We have been justified. You're not being justified. You're not being declared righteous by your obedience in your service and your feelings. You have been justified. The moment you trusted in Jesus Christ. You were declared righteous, and because of that we have right now.

Peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Now he doesn't say we have peaceful feelings.

Sometimes we do. Sometimes we don't. As you said it: you know there are reasons why sometimes we feel it more than other times. But we know we have peace with God even when we don't feel how do we know it will be but we've been justified with bending declared righteous, and so he goes on to say because of this we can rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and so forth. A lot of people think well if you endure if you suffer if you have character, then you'll be justified.

No, because were justified. We can accept the suffering that God sends into our life to now sanctify us. He is molding us. He justifies us first and then he begins to sanctify us, be careful Amber of not switching those in thinking, to the extent that I feel my sanctification. I feel that I'm growing in Christ. To that extent, I'm assured of my salvation.

You're sure of your salvation because you trust in Jesus Christ to his declared you righteous by his life and death. That's with the word of God says that we have to get to and Amber if if your water well yeah but I still mess up over and over him and that's great for Paul to say I've been justified have peace with God, but I really struggled day by day. So how can I have confidence will listen to what Paul said. Just two chapters later in Romans chapter 7 verse 18. I know that nothing good dwells in me that is in my flesh for have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out for I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing as Paul, the one who just finished saying and in Romans chapter 5 were justified. I have peace with God is a struggle world in a phase Amber but we trust in what God has said, not in our feelings take your eyes off yourself and your feelings and put them on Christ and his work. You're listening to core Christianity were answering your questions about the faith. Give us a call if your question at 1-833-843-2673. That's 1833 the core or send us an email at questions at core, Christianity.com and I want to let you know about it. A special opportunity we have for you to partner with us here at core Christianity, you know, we first of all want to think all of you who were part of what we call the inner core. It's because of you and your generous prayers and gifts that were able to continue this program and continue reaching out to more and more people around the world to become a member of the inner core. Just go to core Christianity.com/offers and become a member today. Thanks Mike. We do hope you partner with us Mike. I got a question for you. Do you speak any languages besides English yes but not well.

I think that when I grew up speaking Spanish a little bit and then we would stop speaking Spanish in my household. I mean, I probably the time I was three or four so I can speak Spanish but now I have a harder time because we just didn't do it so much growing up you use it you lose it they say that's life. Well, speaking of languages. We have a our first call for the day. A question about the gift of tongues less listening to Stephanie's question, why about how I meant it. Glad people all are all in one lab writing.

The end point. The church that done in an orderly manner done orderly and God is a God of order.

I did end on that and that the Holy Spirit molding that are that not count yeah you bet Stephanie great question I think is thinking about first contents 14 were Paul explicitly tells the Corinthians that they're not to do that that in public worship. No one should speak in tongues without an interpreter.

That's clear throughout that passage now.

First of all, we have to ask what tongues are in the first place. If you go back to acts two at Pentecost were we first have the instance of speaking in tongues. What happens there. People think that the apostles were drunk as their preaching Christ.

And Peter says no were not drunk it's only noon. What on earth is tongues, then why did they think they were drunk, not because they were speaking language that they didn't understand but for the very opposite reason what they say, for each of us hears the gospel preached to us in our own tongue in our own language. Now there there was a practice and pagan religion of speaking unintelligible words and that's probably what was infiltrating Corinth and Paul is saying no that's not that's not what tongues is tongues is actually speaking in languages that you may not know you have never learned that's what was strange. You have these backwoods people from Galilee not only speaking hi Hebrew, but they are speaking languages and dialects that people who came to Jerusalem for the feast from all over the place recognized and they said that list my language how they know that they heard the gospel clearly preached in their own tongue tongues was given as a booster rocket to get the gospel out to as many people as possible like a UN translating machine so Paul is saying if you're going to have tongues make sure that it's not the sort of ecstatic utterances type of tongues but that it's languages and then have an interpreter make sure that there is an interpreter. There so I think this was still going on in the time of the apostles, you still had people who like Peter and the apostles at Pentecost, who were able to speak the word of God in languages that they didn't know they were given the Holy Spirit gave them supernatural assistance there but there was always an interpreter somebody who explained to the rest of the congregation. What was being said here sleep. The really important point on the Stephanie Paul says, I would rather speak one word with my intelligence than a thousand of those words that you guys are babbling, what is he mean he says because everything needs to be for edification. God is a God of order as you pointed out Stephanie from that passage, and so the main thing is a people are edified. If people are individuals, spread out over the congregation are speaking ecstatic utterances that they themselves don't even know much less the people around them. That's not edifying anyone pulses. So what ever we think tongues you know were not at all agree on what tongues means but at least we can agree or should agree with Paul that it should never be done in a public setting without interpretation without translation, as it were, so that the whole body is edified in on Steffi wanting out on Addison.

We think about the gift of tongues in the Bible.

There's this whole background meeting, but the redemptive historical background going back to Genesis chapter 11 with the Tower of Babel and what did God do there. He cursed, essentially mankind by dividing the languages bite by confusing language is what you have here on the day of Pentecost is this great restoration and reversal if you will of that curse. This is God saying note now this is my new redeemed humanity coming together and I'm giving them that the confusion of languages but but there's understanding now and I think that that's that's signaling something to us in the flow of redemptive history of God's thing this great restoration and that's one of things that the gift of tongues meant to communicate yield a booster rocket got the rocket into orbit and now we don't need that supernatural booster rocket what we have is the Holy Spirit giving gifts to individuals in the church who, for example at Wycliffe Bible translators and other Bible translating organizations missionaries out there who are translating the Bible into unknown tongues. That is the present analog to what speaking in tongues. The supernatural gift of speaking in tongues was in the book of acts.

Thank you for your question Stephanie, we have an email here from Cheryl. How should we deal with church scandal leaders fallen churches cover up abuse.

There are people hurt by these things. But at the same time. I know that these things happen. It doesn't mean that we should abandon church but wondering how can I talk to a friend was really upset because one of our elders left the church after it was discovered that he was having an ongoing affair for several years. While such a difficult question and sadly relevant for us it is in your gonna have to jump in here to a drill you know I'm I'm the old guy here. I've seen too many of these scandals and the think the first thing I think we have to accept is that we are sinners were all sinners and that includes our leaders.

So take your focus off of your leaders.

Yes, they have to be held to a higher standard than the rest of the church.

They have to be blameless.

You know, in the sense that they don't have any any charges against them. You can't say will this person is a fee for murder and so forth. There has to be honesty they have to admit when they go wrong. That's why you have elders in the church who are looking after the ministry of of word and sacrament, and discipline in the church so you know we have to realize the power is not in the ministers but in the ministry. The power is in the Holy Spirit's use of the means that that have been appointed by God in the church for his grace.

That's the preaching of the word baptism, the Lord's supper and the care and discipline of the church exercises through the elders, so that's what makes a church, a true church, you may belong to a true church that has a false Shepherd. Well, there's a process for removing either false shepherds or shepherds who have stumbled and fallen who may be restored. In some cases who may not be allowed to be restored. In other cases. The main thing here.

I think for us as members, church members is to trust that process we trust the process. But the processes conducted by spell sinners, so sometimes it goes wrong right well but the process is still good. The word baptism and the Lord's supper still means of grace, so I I trust God's promise that he's gonna work through the ministry even when my minister has fallen. Don't let the frailty of God's servants keep you from the power of his precious ministry to you. That's what I would say here.

First and foremost, if you are in a church that doesn't have discipline for the pastor. You can get away with whatever he wants them find another church find a church where pastors are also under the authority of the elders. Yes, Shirley in a one of the things you said there in your question you talked about leaders covering up abuse you know that the fat reality is is that that happens sometimes. You know you have a group of elders potentially who they want to protect the pastor or they think that they're protecting the church by covering things up when in reality, as you say sure what ends up happening is more people get hurt because of the dishonesty in the hiding or protecting the pastor and not the ministry. The minister, not the ministry and the other setting. It often happens is when there is a situation like this that the real victim is the church and sometimes something will come out and people say oh well you know the pastor just a sinner. We need to be gracious me to be forgiving and it's true that we do need to forgive.

Jesus calls us to forgive but all the attention goes on the individual and not really where the true victim is a me that the true victim so often these cases, the church and people in the church if it's possible for a pastor to cover up something that either he or someone else he's covering for in the congregation if it's possible for them to pull that off. Then the elders aren't doing their job. 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 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.

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