Should We Sing Worship Songs from Churches with Bad Theology?

Should we sing worship songs from churches that have bad theology. That's just one of the questions will be answering on today's edition of core Christianity why I 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. Our phone lines are open right now and we would love to hear from you. Here's our phone number is 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 also post your question on one of our social media sites and of course you can always email us your question at questions@corechristianity.com first up today let's go to Michael calling in from Wisconsin.

Michael what your question for Pastor Israel election we had a pearl white Supreme Court. The members of my church that will Rudy was not pro-life.

I feel spiritual consequences for the watch.

"I may want to follow-up.

So you say what it is the spiritual consequences to people in your church being in favor of the approach choice movement is that what you're asking you the governor, the government right yeah okay well I may so it sounds to me like there's some some question here about biblical ethics.

God's law what's right and what's wrong you know Christians can disagree about any number of things they can disagree about politics, but there are specific issues. I think in the culture in society that that the images it is really clear and man the abortion industry is I think a terrible industry. Frankly me will only think about that. The things that are happening in society. The way we think about life and devalue life in particular about the life of the lives of the innocent lives of the unborn and this is a really serious issue in one of the reasons why I think the church ought to be passionate about this issue is is again going back to God's law, you have the commandment that God gives us in the Decalogue not to murder doesn't just mean don't don't kill but we should be about that. The promotion of life, the thriving of life. And sadly, you know, there are many people in society who aren't, and for whatever reason you have individuals and churches who have bought into that and are there. Are there consequences will will yeah when we reject God's law, or when were not shaped by the teaching of Scripture.

There are consequences name is clear when you look at the book of Revelation. Revelation chapters 2 and three as Jesus is is speaking to the church is writing letters to the churches there. Some of the churches there were compromising with culture and he says very clearly. If you don't if you don't shape up. If you don't repent. I'm going to judge you. I'm a minute come to you and deal with this issue and so he gives them time to repent so you know it is one of the issues at that that the people of God of experience for the last 2000 years and beyond that, even thinking about Israel. You know, under the old covenant is compromise with the pagan culture around them and so so yeah I would say I would say that this is a serious thing. You know that having proper proper biblical understanding of God's law and in Christian ethics is important for the church and when the church rejects that then the church is under will be under God's discipline. Thanks much for that. Thanks Michael for your question. Appreciate that this is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez, just to let you know we have a brand-new core guide available. It's called five themes to help you understand the Bible and we would love to get that in your hands. Yeah, Bill. It's a free downloadable resource and you Artie you mentioned the name. It's five themes to help you understand the Bible and it will it will help you to dig into the various themes of Scripture that we see traced throughout the Bible. It's important for us to to see these little beginning in the book of Genesis all the way through the book of Revelation and in understanding these things will help you as you study the Scriptures as as someone who wants to grow in your own understanding what the Bible teaches, and so get all this resource and it's really easy to access.

It's a free downloadable resource and you can access it over core, Christianity.com love to get this in your hands will help you understand the Bible and its themes and we love to get that to you.

It's core Christianity.com/offers that's core Christianity.com/offers or you can call us for that resource or any one of our resources at 833 the core that's a 33 843-2673 let's go to Valerie from Wichita, Kansas.

Valerie what your question for Pastor Israel recapped, and there's nothing that we need to do about it like there's so many persons out there that if we let Christ this letter without heart mind that you know will not be greedy, adultery, sexual morality, inherit the kingdom of heaven, and as believers no longer combat that repenting of our about seeking God like there's so many verses that God let me follow my command that actually are supposed even at the precast artworks involved with with it that we need to deal and be more Christlike and a lot of friends that I know like in my heart.

They believe Jesus Christ has risen in a diaper that they just don't love them enough to change their life and to walk anyway different than they are, that they that they still say what the free gift of theirs I don't have to change together precast yet there are work that we have to do as being believers in the Bible it says we have to follow certain way. Very good question Valerie and and I know it becoming agrees me to. When you have people in your life friends who profess faith in Jesus Christ. But then they live in ways that are contrary to what they what they profess to believe and sometimes you know that they don't even care about it and they'll say things like, well, you know I'm saved. It's a free gift. I asked Jesus into my heart. There's a lot of confusion out there about this.

The first thing I'll say is yes. Salvation is is the work of God's grace in the gospel is a free gift. The word gospel means good news in the gospel, the good news is for sinners, we come to Christ as sinners.

The gospel we've said this before the broadcast is not is not what we do God's salvation is not something we can earn or merit by our works. It's not like you know it's it's a little bit of grace and then a little bit of works and works of cooperating their back and forth, back and forth so that finally one day we earn our own salvation. That's the sort like the Roman Catholic view of salvation were saying at all of grace.

It's all that the free gift of God spirit, but those who are forgiven who have experienced the grace of God, the Spirit of God is at work in their lives's sanctifying them day by day and in believers in Christ because we have the Holy Spirit because we been sealed with the Holy Spirit is Paul tells the Ephesians in Ephesians chapter 1 were inexperienced things like conviction over our sins. Now of course the Christian life is is a battle in every single day. Genuine believers are going to to struggle with sin in thought, word, and indeed, that doesn't make sin okay but we need to recognize that you know that the sort of idea of sinless perfectionism that that's that's not the reality for the believer and so how do we make sense of all this. Well I think with individuals who are struggling and there are many people right and this is this is just the reality.

I think we do is we help them to understand the goodness of God's grace, there new standing in Jesus Christ and how they're called by God to live according to this this reality and the fact that God has raised you from the dead spiritually speaking and this is exactly what the apostle Paul said in Romans chapter 6 know he's talking about the free grace of God. It's all of grace and he anticipates the objection that someone's going to make bite by saying well if it's all of grace will why don't we just gonna live. However, we want you know you God.

God forgives and I can do whatever I want. He'll just forgive me and he says in Romans chapter 6 verse one what shall we say then are we to continue in sin that grace may abound by no means may it never be.

Paul says, how can we who died to sin still live in it. So this is a conversation I think Valerie that you want to have with your friends who are unclear. Here we take him to Romans chapter 6 and say look how can this be how can this be how can we use who died to sin still live in it. Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death.

We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been raised with him in in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin, the way we think, that I think encourage each other in this what Paul is doing there in Romans chapter 6, he does it.

Also the Corinthians is by reminding one another of the truth of the gospel, calling the people who profess to be Christians but are living in ways contrary to God's will call them to repentance. We call them to to see him either. The reality of the gospel. I think you know, sometimes Valerie and I'm sure you know this, there are people who were just deceived who you know, said a prayer or maybe they go.

I was I was baptized.

You know many many years ago. Don't go to church.

I don't really know much about Jesus and what he teaches but I would call myself a Christian, I guess, but they don't understand the gospel so you know they're there different. I would say people out there there.

Some people are just deceived who really need to understand the gospel and repent of their sins and receive Christ and even though they might be to refer to themselves as Christians is a sort of nominal. There are other people who are genuine believers who are wrestling with sin, struggling, maybe even evening in a pretty bad state. You know, we have a fall into grievous sin they need to be reminded of what Paul reminds the Romans of their in Romans chapter 6 and them to call to repentance called to walk according to the spirit as Paul says to the Galatians in Galatians 5 and following. And that's where we can encourage each other and then that's where you can encourage your friends as well. You know Paul does say in first Corinthians colonies writing to the Corinthians. I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people, not all meaning the sexually immoral of this world of the greedy and swindlers are idolaters since then you would need to go out of the world.

But now I'm writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother that is somebody who's is a member of the church, a part of the church. If he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed or in or is an idolater right revile her drunkard or swindler, not even to eat with such one and so we have a holy obligation as Christians to encourage each other and to exhort each other when you see a brother or sister whose walking away from Jesus whose who's breaking God's law and they just don't care about what it's up to us of God calls us to come alongside of them, and to plead with them and to remind them of the grace of Christ in the goodness of the gospel to call them to repentance, so may the Lord bless you in that Valerie and help you giving you wisdom as you have these conversations with your friends. Valerie, thanks so much for your call and thanks for listening to core Christianity by the way our phone lines are open will be taking your calls for the next 10 minutes or so. If you have a question about the Bible or the Christian life. We would love to hear from you. Here's our phone number it's 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673. And if you have an email question for us. Here's our email address its questions at core, Christianity.com it will. Here's an email from one of our listeners name Sharon. She says thank you core Christianity for your show. My husband and I started watching it online drink over and we've learned a lot from you.

We have a question about the worship music from churches like Bethel elevation church in Hill song, but mostly about the music that comes from churches that preach false teachings like the health and wealth prosperity gospel we move the church we were attending and are now looking for another church and that is one thing we been convicted on. Should we be concerned if a church plays songs from those churches. What should we look for in worship Sharon thank you for that question when their extra couple of questions there.

What should we look for in worship, will the elements of Christian worship and what makes a worship service. A worship service.

It's it's the preaching the faithful preaching of the word of God. The ordinances that Jesus instituted baptism and the Lord's supper its prayer, its offerings and we see the early church taking offerings to care for the needs of the poor to support the ministry that was taking place.

These are the kinds of things that we see happening in early Christian services. You can read about that in in places like the book of acts and acts chapter 2 really early on after after Peter preached on the day of Pentecost by next chapter 2 verse 42 says they devoted themselves to the apostles teaching that is Bible teaching that the preaching of God's word and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, probably a reference to holy communion there. The breaking of the bread and the prayers and came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done to the apostles and all who believed were together and had all things in common this is.

This was the early church right there is their gathering together participating in the Lord's supper doing these things, hearing the preached word in an and since then you and this is what faithful churches have done and and continue to do that with regard to the music in the church. It is vitally important that the way we worship God in the songs that we sing are true are biblical this.

This is so poor because worship shapes us that shapes how we think it shapes what we believe about God it and if were worshiping God the wrong way before before singing songs that are theologically inaccurate or biblically untrue. We agree to be begin to believe things that are false and so we really need to recognize this is is so important to understand this is actually a principal in Scripture that we are shaped by worship. Now what what should we sing, then will I think there's a couple of places and in the Bible that you can go to find an answer one. We do have an entire book of the Bible that is songs for worship. The book of Psalms and I think the book of Psalms really ought to help inform us as were thinking about the, the, the way God wants to be worshiped when we should just sing the Psalms. How many churches don't have the Psalms set to music were really missing out here. One of the beautiful things about that. The book of Psalms is that it it really helps to it really covers if you will. All of the different emotions that we have. There is not just it's not just all that that happy clapping kind of Psalms. Nothing wrong with those sort of upbeat praise songs you do have that in the Psalter but you also have the laments when when the psalmist or the psalmist was was brokenhearted because of sin or because of some trial. I wonder if we really missed out on the laments in Christian worship. How often do we go to church. You know not really feeling very upbeat feeling like God is not speaking to us are struggling with some sin and just wanting to be able to say with David in Psalm 22, my God, my God, why have you forsaken me, rightly, there are times we feel that way in the Psalms. Help us in that they give us words to express our feelings to the Lord and so you do have these these songs are also in the New Testament. A number of passages in the New Testament that people think or maybe early Christian hymns. Philippians chapter 2 for example, verses six through 11.

Many people think that this these the words of an early ham Christological hymn that was sung in worship. Philippians 2 beginning verse six. Who, though he was in the form of God did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Therefore God has highly exalted him, and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, that the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the father and others debate about whether or not that was an early Christian him but but this is what the church was focused on. It was focused on worshiping the holy Trinity fixing the eyes of the worshipers not on themselves per se but on Christ on what he had done on his humiliation and his exaltation is suffering on the cross and his resurrection from the dead. That's we need to be focusing on with the songs that we sing and I think I do. We have to inspect every song, regardless of where it's coming from.

We want to look at the lyrics and say okay is this good is this true is this beautiful is this in line with what God says in his word and if it is praise God and sing with all of your heart to the Lord, but we really do want to be discerning. We need to be discerning with regard to the things we hear not just from the pulpit when it comes to the preaching, but also with regard to the music and what were hearing and what were singing to God is its true. Is it in line with Scripture and so I would say I would say. Be discerning, you know every everything that you sing every thing you do in worship. You want to ask you when asked these questions because it is so important. So thank you Sharon for for your email and grateful that you are encouraged by the broadcast and pray that the Lord gives you wisdom as you as you seek to make this decision for your family and really good response. I grow what about Kumbaya is okay to sing that camp yeah I don't even know what that means Kumbaya. So I would say no. I'm Paul does say in first Corinthians 14 that if someone is you know singing in a tongue you don't understand is that how you say amen. So we have to sing songs that people understand okay and so know the answer is, no less. If there's an interpreter. Okay.

Thank you for the cup. This is Gore Christianity requester Israel Sanchez, just a reminder we have this wonderful resource available for you today is absolutely free and is called five themes to help you understand the Bible.

It's our brand-new core guide. You can find that by going to core Christianity.com/offers and reminder that were to be recording a second a core Christianity show today. So after we finish this program were to be going to a recorded program. You can call us for the next 35 minutes or so with your questions, so feel free to give us a buzz right now.

833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 Harold from Oklahoma has this question. He says, what does it mean when we have a fear of God. What does what does the Bible mean by the fear of God. Here's an opportunity I see how I do want to plug a resource here. It's a book by my friend Dr. Michael Horton called recovering our sanity and it's actually all about this. It's all about the fear of God specifically and in edit. He really digs into the sort of cultural moment that were in and how so many of us are afraid of each other, but were afraid of what the other person believes my political opponent. My theological whatever whatever it might be and he unpacks that boy does a really good job of in this book is also talking about what the fear of God is and he seen a lot of times and water down the psychologist means respect that kind of thing.

But no, it means fear to fear the Lord, you think of trembling you think even of terror. At times, as were talking about the Lord. The uncreated God the one who made all things we we we melt as sinners in his presence. And this is why when Peter recognizes who Jesus is on the boat, he says, depart from me. I am a sinful man. It's why Isaiah when he was in that the throne room of God. In Isaiah chapter 6 that he's overwhelmed with the glory of God and nieces did part for me. He says woe is me. I am undone. I am a man of unclean lips and I dwell amongst the people of unclean lips really is.

This is the recognition that sinners have in the presence of God that even as believers, you know there there is still this fear. Now it's not the fear of condemnation for the believer. It's this fear.

Ultimately that's that's rooted for us as Christians in the love that we have for God. The fear of disappointing the holy one, the fear of sinning against him and so and so you know Scripture speaks a lot about the fear of God.

Chris proverb says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom were called to fear God and yet so often many of us fear everything else but God, we fear being persecuted. We fear other people. We fear loss of comfort. We have to ask ourselves the question do we fear God more than everything else and so that's what I would say right now and I just want to encourage you to get a hold that resource again by Dr. Michael Horton on the fear of God wears another email question for you Andrew before we go today when reading the Bible for the first time can you start in the New Testament or do you have to read the Old Testament first.

I've been told it's New Age and bad to read the new before the old that's it's not New Age read the new before the old I'm not sure resurrection. When I first became a Christian in high schools are going to church. I started with the book of Psalms and I would read three pages a day when read breach, I would that would reach out to Sam to read three pages a dead stop in the middle the chapter and NI started and that's okay you can start in the Old Testament started in the New Testament. I often tell people if you're just starting to read the Bible go to the book of John the gospel of John. I think it's really helpful there to think about who Jesus is that the signs that Jesus did, confirming his deacons confirming that he was the Messiah. So I recommend if you're just starting to read the Bible. Think of the gospel of John and dig in. 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