Call-In Classic Christianity Radio – Bob George P439 (5-10-19)
Bob answers several questions from radio callers on the original People to People radio that was on the air for over 30 years. Andy asked about what day believers should celebrate Christmas for he heard that that date was really the birthday of a pagan god and Christmas has pagan origins. Bob answered that the date is not important for you are not celebrating a date but the birth of Christ. Bob’s advice is to not get involved in disputable issues.
Julie called to ask Bob about his viewpoint on living with someone outside of marriage. Julie was rationalizing her sin of fornication, specifically called out in scripture as sinful behavior. We should never get to the point of calling something good that is bad, calling something other than what God calls it, which is sin. We may not be able to carry it out and that is why Christ came to dwell in you by His Spirit. But if you do not deal with what is true then how then can you change to live in the new way of the Spirit that God has called you to live as a born again believer? Bob explained what Jesus did to take away sin and was firm with her on truth, exhorting her to live in the new life God had called believers to live. While offering practical advice that hopefully she will take to heart, she can choose to live in accordance with God’s best for her, a life of joy and peace, the fruit of the Spirit. She cannot experience that if she chooses to willfully live in sin. She has to make those choices to change her way of thinking.
Steve called to get help out of his way of living. He identified himself as an alcoholic given to anger, continually falling back into alcohol despite listening to Christian radio trying to do the right thing. Bob addressed anger as a secondary response to fear. Bob explained that the only solution to fear is to grasp God’s perfect love for you. Perfect love casts out fear. Steve needs to be convinced of God’s perfect love for him, that nothing can separate him from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus. Bob also addressed Steve’s error in thinking in regards to his identity. Steve is not an alcoholic but a child of God. A person naturally acts in the manner he thinks he is. Bob also addressed that the reason Steve is in error is because he is not studying the word of God from the scriptures. It is so vital to get into God’s word for truth, for the Holy Spirit is your teacher who reveals truth to you. You can get all kinds of conflicting information on Christian radio and all kinds of ideas and persuasions out there. You will begin to think is if anybody agrees with anything. The only way to know whether something is true is to study the word of God for yourself and let the Holy Spirit reveal truth to you. Psychologists tell you that you are an alcoholic and try to alter the mind with drugs for depression. If you let yourself be taught from God you will discover who you really are, a child of God and you will learn to have your mind renewed with truth, and you may just discover that you do not need to take drugs at all. You will also discover that the Holy Spirit lives in you to will and to act according to His good purposes. Jesus came to give you life and life to the full.
Andy from Vancouver, British Columbia
Why was December 25 chosen to celebrate birth of Christ? Bob replied that it was probably in April, 6th B.C. Believers celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and that makes no difference to many. If I did not know my parent’s birthday then it makes no difference if I happened to celebrate my parent’s birthday on the wrong date. I am still celebrating my parent’s birthday and that is the focus.
People need to be aware of attitudes in Christ when someone believes differently on a matter. Bob provided good advice and that is to avoid arguments on disputable matters. I say that for the vast majority of people, so far removed from the original pagan origins, they are not celebrating the day but celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. But it is wise to find out what people really know about Jesus Christ. I share because there are cults or false religions that celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ but know nothing about what his death, burial and resurrection means personally for them. And that is also true for those who grew up in the mainline churches, such as Baptists or Presbyterians. You can hear about Jesus Christ but until the Holy Spirit reveals truth to you concerning the gospel then no matter what was shared, you have not been born again. Believers, irregardless of denomination, from the traditions of men passed on from generation to generation, knowing nothing of pagan origins, will celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ in all sincerity and in truth.
What is shared in this paragraph is not necessarily the understanding of Bob George. Having heard testimonies of former Catholics, and even former Satanists, who are greatly bothered about Christmas for they know the associations to the dark side. For some former Roman Catholics, who know the pagan origins of such a holiday, they will have nothing to do with Christmas, and would rather avoid it altogether. Keep that in mind, with a Spirit of love and grace, toward those who do not see things in the same light as you do. Here is the attitude, based on a New Covenant of grace, in regards to other believers who think differently than you on this matter.
Romans 14:4-6
4 Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.
5 One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. 6 Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.
These scriptures come to mind when someone is growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Ezekiel 44:23
They are to teach My people the difference between the holy and the common, and show them how to discern between the clean and the unclean.
2 Corinthians 7:14
Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?
Not all former Catholics believe the same way, and it depends a lot on how entrenched they were in Catholicism or how much they have studied. There are former Roman Catholics who have no problem celebrating Christmas as the birth of Christ but who will never participate in a Catholic mass.
Now Bob’s response was quite simple and short. Bob acknowledged that December 25 was pagan and was the birthday to some false God. For Bob, it makes no difference because we, as born again believers, are not celebrating a pagan god. According to Bob, it makes not a matter what the reason for it is, believers are celebrating the birth of Christ. Jehovah Witnesses cannot talk about the deity of Christ so they do not even believe Jesus is God so what they believe about the real date of Christmas makes no difference. Bob’s advice is to not get involved in disputable issues. There are too many important things to discuss, such as the gospel message, with those people. Bob offers good advice.
Although this may be rare to encounter a believer who believes differently, choosing not to celebrate Christmas, keep this scripture in mind when you meet a believer who does not have the same knowledge as you do. Why should I destroy someone else’s faith by what I approve?
Romans 14:21-23
21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything to cause your brother to stumble. 22 Keep your belief about such matters between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves. 23 But the one who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that is not from faith is sin.
It is beneficial to avoid the superfluous activities or traditions associated with Christmas and just use the holiday as a means to share the good news of the gospel, avoiding any mention of what one personally believes on disputable matters.
Julie from Springfield, Oregon
Julie called to ask about living with someone outside of marriage. She says she believes she knows the answer to it. A woman who is living with someone else outside of marriage, and what are your views on it? And why are counselors so quiet about that? Julie, at first shares as if she was talking about some person in general but then admits that she is a woman who is living with someone outside of marriage and even that she has left and come back into that situation several times. She later confesses that her boyfriend says he loves Jesus and God but hates to talk about God. So in addition to fornication, she is unequally yoked with an unbeliever. She also is rationalizing her behavior. Bob confronts her with the truth, calling out her behavior for what it really is, sin. He does so in a matter of gentleness, yet firm with truth, with the intention to restore her to right living, where she can experience the peace and joy with God.
Bob warns about denying calling something is sin when God clearly says it is. She then agreed with Bob that the behavior she is doing is sin. But seeking to justify her behavior, she provides more information about her circumstances, such as being homeless. Bob did not give into her one moment. He remained gracious yet firm with truth. He instructed her to make the right choices in life, reminding her that she is in this situation because of wrong choices. Then, to respond to her excuses or fears of homelessness, he informed her that there are always other options. To help her to be willing to make right choices, he asked her: “Are you happy with your choices? Is what you are doing working for you?” Obviously she knows the answer to those questions or she would not be calling, willing to express her difficult situation. He reminds her that all sin has been placed on Jesus Christ and tells her that God wants her to be happy. But one cannot be happy living in sin. God is interested in you having peace and joy.
Bob tells her that when you are dealing with issues that are sin, then it is not a matter of someone’s view on it, but what the word of God says it is. Living with someone outside of marriage is fornication and God calls it sin. That is the truth of the matter.
1 Corinthians 6:18
Flee fornication. Every sin that a man does is outside the body; but he that commits fornication sins against his own body.
Also the truth of the matter is that the sin you are talking about was placed on Jesus Christ 2000 years ago at the cross, so him who knew no sin became sin for you, so that in the resurrection of Christ you can become the righteousness of God.
2 Corinthians 5:21
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
You never want to get to the point of denying what God says is true, that is calling what is bad good and what is good bad. Living together is not shacking up, not just saving expenses. Living together is sin. You call it what it is and then you just thank him for taking that sin away never to be seen again in the eyes of God so that you can walk in the newness of life.
Romans 6:4
We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
God did not die for us just so that all are sins are forgiven but so that we walk in the newness of life, with the fruit of the Spirit, that he produces in you as you are willing to yield yourself to His control.
John 10:10
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Julie, have you come to the point where you have come to know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? Julie said she asked Jesus into her heart a long time ago. Julie then started rationalizing her sinful behavior by saying that following Jesus is very hard for her. She says that she just make choices that come, claiming there are no other options. Bob replied there are always other choices and told her that what she said is a cop out. Are you really happy with this arrangement? Don’t tell me you are happy for there is no way to be happy in that, living in sin willfully knowing it is wrong. God tells us not to do that because He wants the best for us. God wants us to have peace and joy and love and patience and kindness and goodness. All those things get hampered when you choose to willfully sin, choosing to sin when you know it is wrong. God want the best for you. Recognize that fact and get out of it.
This is not doing any good for you or for the guy. He is probably feeling guilty as well. The two of you get together and agree to quit this. Does your boyfriend know the Lord? Julie replied, “He says he knows Jesus and God but he gets upset when I talk about God.” He is not saved then. No one is saved who gets angry talking about God. On top of fornication, you are also unequally yoked with a non-believer.
2 Corinthians 6:14
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
You need to get out of that relationship. You do not have to make a massive blow up over it. Just say, “I cannot continue to live this way, it is not good for me and it is not good for you, and we have to cut this off”. Just like Jesus told the woman caught in adultery, to go and sin no more. God is also telling you the same thing. Julie then said, “Will you remember me in prayer to do what I have to do?” Absolutely.
Bob then continued giving her needed instruction. You need to find a way to make a living. Julie, still trying to rationalize her behavior says, “But for the grace of God go I. In my church, one of the main reasons, I do these things is they tell you to take off, leave and don’t come back.” Julie then share that she keeps leaving and coming back to this man. She says she is living in a mission and that there is no alternative. Julie also said she has been homeless.
Julie is making excuses so Bob got more firm with her. The issue to me is this. There are places that take care of people who are homeless. What you have been believing and doing has not been working for you, has it? You have to realize that whatever you are doing is not working. What you believe is why you are living this way. The choices you have made are not correct. There are correct choices and there are ways to get jobs. If you are alcoholic, then that has to come under the control of the Holy Spirit sooner or later in your life. You are a byproduct of your choices. Do you want to continue living as if your decisions are okay? Do you want to continue thinking that you are just living under those circumstances? Or do you want to change your way of thinking? You have to make up your mind that what you have been thinking and believing has not been working. You have to decide that you are going to change the way you have been thinking. You have to decide that you are going to get work and be a diligent worker, to work as unto the Lord and not unto men. There are shelters out there. I do not know if a pastor said to you not to come back to church, and if so, then that is not a good thing. For a church is a place for people like you. You have to go and get work. Be a waitress or whatever it might be. I hope this has helped you. If you need more help, then get back in touch with us.
Romans 6:6
Your old evil desires were nailed to the cross with him; that part of you that loves to sin was crushed and fatally wounded, so that your sin-loving body is no longer under sin’s control, no longer needs to be a slave to sin;
Colossians 3:23
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,
Steve from Albany, New York
Steve called to say he is an alcoholic who keeps backsliding and losing faith. He tries to keep up with biblical stations and has anger in him. He called to get help out of this way of life he has been living.
I can tell you where your fear comes from. Your anger comes from fear. Fear is a secondary response to fear. Men do not like to admit they are fearful so they just take it out in anger. They do not mind saying they are angry. Anger is a sign of fears in you. Fear of not being able to stay sober. Fear of not being able to live life you like to live. Fear of people finding out what is really going on under your skin. There is only one solution to fear and that is the perfect love of God.
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1 John 4:18
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
God’s goal for you is to be perfected in His love. Come to the point that you are convinced of God’s love as did the apostle Paul.
Romans 8:38-39
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Drunkenness or whatever it is cannot separate you from the love of God. Nothing can separate you from the love of God. God wants you to rest in that truth. If that is God’s goal for you, and perfect love is what casts out fear, so fear is what casts out love. So that is where Satan lives, in fear. Satan’s goal is to keep you fearful to keep you from the perfect love of God. Satan’s goal in life for you is not to keep you fearful but to keep you in fear so you can never rest in God, in his perfect love for you. If you are saved, God has saved you and you are a child of God. You are not an alcoholic if you are a child of God. If you are not a child of God then that is good of an identity as any. But as a child of God, let that thought begin to penetrate in you, and come to understand that God loves you perfectly. If I am a child of God, then the most natural thing to do is to stay sober. If you are an alcoholic, then what is the most natural thing to do? You do by action what you think you are. If you identify yourself as an alcoholic, believing a lie, then to drink alcohol and get drunk is what alcoholics do. But if you are a child of God, that does not make sense anymore for you, for you are a new creation. You need to get a hold of your new identity. You have been made into a new creation.
2 Corinthians 5:7
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
Steve also said he is caught in depression. He said he lived in the mission for 10 years, lived in the streets and homeless. He says the money is a trigger to him. He says he listens to biblical stations trying to do the right thing, yet back slides.
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Bob responds. Listening to radio stations will not do it for you. There is something about listening to people on radio, whether Bob George or anyone else, and you say, “Oh, that really sounds good.” But you need to be taught by God, learning the truth of the word of God by the Holy Spirit who lives in you. The Holy Spirit cannot reveal anything to you until you study.
Steve then asks, “Are we going to be judged by Him?” No, but the reason you ask that question is because you have not been getting into the scriptures. You err because you know not the scriptures. Find a translation easy to read and get into the scriptures and ask Him to reveal truth to you. If you are not born again, then it makes no difference and it will sound like foolishness because truth must be spiritually discerned. A person without the Spirit of God cannot discern the the things of God.
1 Corinthians 2:14
The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.
If you are born again, God will reveal the meaning to you. If you are listening to Christian radio, then all you are doing is listening to every viewpoint under the sun. At the end of the day, the only thing you can say is does anybody agree with anything. One day one man will say something and the next day someone will say something contradicting what you heard yesterday. Bob can teach what God has revealed to him, but if you are relying on someone else from the radio who tells you something else then you might hear something else. If you went to a Presbyterian church then you get a Presbyterian viewpoint. If you went to a Baptist church then you get a Baptist viewpoint.
The main point is that whatever you have been believing is not working so you need a change of mindset. You have got to get into the word of God, listening to truth and discerning what truth is and what it is not. There are all kinds of ideas floating out there in the world of Christianity but god reveals truth to you through his word. The only way to know if Bob George is teaching you correctly is to go into the word of God and check it out. The issue is that you have to come to understand your new identity. God has made you into a child of God and that is your identity.
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
John 1:12
Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—
I asked who you are? If you say you are a Presbyterian then that is just where you parked your body on Sunday. I did not ask where you parked your body. Being Baptist, Presbyterian, or whatever denominational persuasion, those are not biblical identities. The only identify God gave you is child of God. Now if you listen to psychologists out there, they will tell you that you are an alcoholic.
No, you are a child of God who has the tendency of getting drunk. That is a child of God getting drunk. If I am a child of God getting drunk that makes no sense. That is not what God made you as a child of God to do, doing those things that made you so miserable that you came to Christ in the first place. God gave you new life to live a different way, as a child of God, with a new identity. You do not need this alcohol because you have Jesus. The main ingredients of depression is fear. Alcoholism is fear. It is fear that I am not going to get treated the way I think I need to be treated. Bury yourself in the grace of God. Come to the realization of God’s perfect love for you.
Romans 8:38-39
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
That perfect love will cast away that fear. When fear is cast away then there is no need to alter your mind when God says he wants to renew your mind.
Romans 12:2
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
There is no better way to renew the mind than to let the Spirit of God reveal truth to you through His word.
John 16:13
But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.
Philippians 2:13
for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
