August 11, 2025 • 28 mins
On today’s Bible Answer Man broadcast (08/11/25), Hank answers the following questions:
If Jesus is God in the flesh, who was He praying to during His time on Earth? Lance - Mountain View, MO (1:58)
Could you explain the lack of the wedding garment in Matthew 22:11? Paul - Springdale, AR (6:16)
A friend of mine believes that sexual fantasies about imaginary people are not wrong. What are your thoughts on this? Can I even have a conversation with him if he denies that this is not “real” lust? Ben - Regina, SK (9:37)
In light of 1 Corinthians 5:11-13, should churches be inviting non-believers into the church to speak? William - Calgary, AB (23:02)
If Jesus is God in the flesh, who was He praying to during His time on Earth? Lance - Mountain View, MO (1:58)
Could you explain the lack of the wedding garment in Matthew 22:11? Paul - Springdale, AR (6:16)
A friend of mine believes that sexual fantasies about imaginary people are not wrong. What are your thoughts on this? Can I even have a conversation with him if he denies that this is not “real” lust? Ben - Regina, SK (9:37)
In light of 1 Corinthians 5:11-13, should churches be inviting non-believers into the church to speak? William - Calgary, AB (23:02)
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
Heard all across the United States, Canada and around the world.
This is the Bible answer Man Broadcast with Hank Anagraph.
Hank as President of the Christian Research Institute at CRI.
Our desire is to equip you not only to defend
the historic Christian faith, but to become a winsome witness
to a spiritually hungry but skeptical world, because life and
(00:31):
truth matter. To learn more or to find resources to
help you grow in grace, call eight eight eight seven
thousand CROI or go online to equip dot org. That's
equip dot org. The following program was pre recorded and
now here's Hank canagraph I.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Thank you very much. Randy is always it is such
a pleasure to be in studio. It's a privilege in
fact to be in studio, and I am in studios
A directory's of people that stand shoulder to shoulder with
this one of a kind ministry outreach in the battle
for life and truth. You can given a safe, secure
fashion on the webbitequipped dot organ. If you've never given,
(01:14):
please consider doing that. If you've maybe given once, consider
giving another time. And if you can, consider joining CRA's
support team. This is a foundational group of people that
allow us to minister not just in western regions, but
(01:37):
quite frankly, all around the world. Again, you can give
in a safe, secure fashion on the Webit equipped dot
or you can also write us at box eighty five hundred, Charlotte,
North Carolina, zip code two A two seven one, and
our resource consultants they're standing by triple eight seven thousand
and the letters c RI. A lot of you hanging on.
(01:57):
We'll go right to the phone lines. Talk to Lance
mountain View, Missouri Highlands.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
Hi, Hank, how you doing this evening?
Speaker 2 (02:05):
I'm doing pretty good.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
How are you?
Speaker 3 (02:08):
Oh, it couldn't be better. I enjoy your show, and
let's tell you every single day. And I have got
a I've got a head scratching question for you that
my wife asked me this morning, okay, and she managed
to confuse herself and stump me at the same time. Okay.
(02:35):
Ever since she was a child, we went to school together,
we went to the same church together, and grew up together.
And she has always been afraid of God, for you know,
in the Old Testament, where the Israelites would not obey him,
(02:58):
that a lot of them had to be and the
luckiest the rant of God. So she wouldn't pray to God.
She would pray only to Jesus. And our preacher was
with Collner, that you pray to God in Jesus' name.
(03:18):
And then she asked me this question this morning. If
Jesus were God in human form, then who was he
praying to the Father?
Speaker 2 (03:31):
When we read about Jesus Christ in the incarnation, we're
reading about one person with two natures, one hundred percent
human and one hundred percent divine. And oftentimes the Bible
is relating to us Christ speaking from the perspective of
his humanity. From the perspective of his humanity, Christ does
(03:54):
not know all things because though he is not divat
rusted of a single attribute of divinity, his divinity is veiled.
He voluntarily takes on the form of a servant, and
so he now prays to the Father, and the Father
(04:16):
is communicating with him in love, just as Christ is
communicating with the Father in love. But again, Jesus Christ
sometimes is depicted in scripture as speaking from the perspective
of his humanity. There are other times in which we
see that Jesus is acting from the perspective of his divinity.
(04:39):
So the Bible tells us not only that God raised
Jesus Christ from the dead, but that Jesus Christ rose
himself from the dead. He had the power to lay
down his life and the power to take up his
life again. So when you read the Bible again, you
have to you have to recognize that Christ can say
that only the other knows certain things, and he does
(05:01):
not know those things speaking from the perspective of his humanity. Obviously,
from the perspective of his divinity, he knows all things.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
Okay, okay, that's what I couldn't. I couldn't get find
the words to explain to her that's difference. And and
you just made it perfect clear to me.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
Well, this is one of the beauty's lands. Of the
seven Ecumenical Councils, they hammered out these issues so that
we could understand, uh in in brief sound bites, as
it were, the nature of God as revealed to us
in in holy tradition and holy scripture. Of course, we
(05:49):
have the Holy scriptures through holy tradition. That's why Paul
said to us what he had received he passed on
to us as a fort imports that Christ died for
our sins, et cetera. So we have this hammered out
in the seven Ecumenical Councils, and they primarily dealt, I
(06:11):
say primarily, not exclusively, primarily dealt with the nature of God.
Let's move on to Paul. He's listening in Springdale, Arkansas.
Speaker 4 (06:20):
Hi, paulk you doing, sir?
Speaker 5 (06:23):
Good?
Speaker 3 (06:23):
Her?
Speaker 1 (06:23):
Are you good?
Speaker 4 (06:25):
I'm gonna ask you a question, and then if you
don't mind, I'm going to just be satisfied with your answer.
Hear you on the radio. It's a lot easier for me. Okay,
My question, sir is I'm a nephew, and I believe
it's verse eleven. I understand the parable. The king's having
a banquet for the wedding, and finally no one shows up,
(06:48):
at least the first people or the first group, so
he gets everybody off the highway in the highway. But
first eleven, I don't understand. He looked at one individual
and asked him where is your wedding down? And because
he's not wearing the wedding gown, he finds his hands
or feet with cords and and I'm assumed he throws
it into that place where they're asking a peep and
(07:11):
screaming and stuff. So I'm assuming that statement is that
correct or can you elaborate on that? And I always
appreciate what you're doing, sir, Thank you.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Well, thank you so much for your question. Well, this
is an interesting story in scripture, and that story is
pointing to someone who is refusing to wear the garment
that is provided by the king. So the king not
only gives you the invitation or draws someone in to
(07:42):
the wedding feast, but he provides a garment for the
wedding feast. But in this particular case, you have someone
who is refusing to wear a garment that is provided,
which is illustrative of someone who is refusing God's hospitality,
or someone who is wanting the kingdom of God on
(08:07):
their own terms rather than on the terms of the
king who is throwing the wedding feast to begin with.
So the idea is rather than receiving a life of
faith and repentance and virtue and charity, that person is
(08:30):
wanting a kingdom on their own terms, by their own edict. Well,
this is a greater meta narrative, then, a meta narrative
that expands from the story. If we do not receive
a life of repentance. Well, then we will receive a
(08:54):
life of outer darkness because we are now doing it
our own way as opposed to doing it his way.
And that's what repentance is all about. Repentance is a
u turn on the road of life. It is a
turning from self will to doing it by the will
of the Master. It is subjugating our will to the
(09:18):
will of God, who created us and who knows what
is best for us. So again, this is emblematic of
someone who wants the kingdom, but not on the terms
of the king, but rather by their own terms. Let's
go back to the phone lines. We'll talk next to
(09:40):
Ben listening in Saskatchewan, Canada.
Speaker 6 (09:43):
Hi, Ben, Hey, thanks for taking my call.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
My pleasure.
Speaker 6 (09:48):
So I'm concerned for a friend. I'm going to try
to the best of my ability to represent his position here,
and I'm wondering if you can help me speak into
his life because he believes that my position is invalid
because I'm married. So it's well, you'll maybe it'll it'll
be easier for actual explain. So his position is that
(10:09):
sexual fantasies that don't involve real people but only restricted
to imaginary people are not actually left and are therefore
actually not sexual immorality. And he believes that on two accounts.
The one because I'm married, that it's that I don't
(10:30):
have the ability to speak into his life about left
and as well, because I'm younger. We tend to be
a little idealistic, and God is not so much concerned
with our actions as we think we are when we're younger.
He's more concerned with the heart. And because he's simply
looking for a release, if you will, there's no evil
(10:52):
intent and I'm just concerned, you know, for his well being.
Speaker 2 (10:57):
Okay, big question. Let me deal with that on the
other side of the break. It's an important question that
we have a couple of seconds before we go to break.
We'll come back with an answer to Ben's question as
the break, as well as the more answers to your questions.
So please don't touch that dial.
Speaker 1 (11:13):
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(12:03):
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(12:27):
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(12:51):
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(13:36):
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Why not drop us a line at CRI today. We'd
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once again here is Hank hannagraph.
Speaker 2 (15:38):
They very much brandied. We're talking to Ben in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada,
and Ben's friend thinks it is not sinful to sexually
fantasize about an imaginary woman. Whatever that is. Sounds a
little creepy, to be honest with you, But there is
a maxim in Scripture, and that maxim is that were
(16:00):
to take every thought captive for Jesus Christ. In other words,
the idea is always that we live within the parameters
that God sets forth for us to live within. And
those parameters are there not because Christ is a cosmic
kill joy, but it is so that our joy might
(16:20):
be complete. So we have to take the fantasies of
our mind and make those captive to the word of God.
This is one of the reasons, incidentally, that I was
so excited to promote Love Thy Body by Nancy Pearcy.
It gives you a proper view of the body, and
we are a body soul unity. It means that we
(16:43):
also have to take captive the metaphysical aspect of our humanity.
If you look at Matthew chapter five, Jesus warns that
anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed
adulterate with her in his heart. So the parameter there
is already very very clear, whether it's an imaginary woman
(17:08):
or it is a real woman. You're not too lust
after a woman. The relationship between men and women are
relationships that are guided by principles given to us by
the very one who knit us together in our mother's womb.
To argue that someone is fantasizing about an imaginary woman
(17:31):
is to obey the letter of the law, but to
miss the spirit of the law. In other words, it's
a way of trying to get around something that is
fairly explicit in terms of the teachings of scripture how
we are to relate to the opposite sex.
Speaker 6 (17:47):
So on that topic, actually, if you just simply choose
us to define leus as you know, only with real people,
like is it even possible to have this conversation with him?
If you just simply choose to say, well, that doesn't
fit into the definition of luss because she's not a
real person, and therefore it's not real adultery.
Speaker 2 (18:07):
Yeah, again, I think you'd have the conversation. But here
is someone who is arguing on the basis of the
letter of the law as opposed to the spirit of
the law. The spirit of the law makes plain how
we are to use our minds in a way that
is pleasing to the Lord, as opposed to a way
that is displeasing to the Lord. And remember that what
(18:32):
I communicated, I think covers this Matthew chapter five. Anyone
who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery
with her in his heart. That's the principle. Now, what
he's trying to do is get around the principle by saying, well,
this is not a real woman, this is an imaginary woman.
Speaker 6 (18:50):
And yeah, because I brought up Matthew Chapter five to him.
Actually I talked about lesson. I mean, I want, actually
I even want great detail about what the danger I'm
both on a spiritual level, on a biological level, on
a neurological level, about what happens when you left after
me and you indulge in that kind of a pleasure.
But he just still believe that, No, God doesn't mind
if I do this because I'm just you know, he
(19:12):
wants me to have this release, and I just thought, well,
I'm not really sure how.
Speaker 3 (19:16):
To help him.
Speaker 2 (19:16):
You know. Yeah, Well, I think what we have to
do is what I said earlier, take every thought captive.
When we're seeking to find escape routes, If we're seeking
to find ways out through technicalities, what we're doing is
showing that we're not taking every thought captive. Rather, we
(19:38):
are trying to manipulate God's principles for our own pleasures.
And those pleasures, as you have pointed out to him,
are pleasures that are damaging on many, many different levels.
So we think that we've gotten around a rule, but
only to find out that that rule was there for
(19:58):
our safety. It was there to protect us. And that's
why I started out this conversation by saying that God
places parameters around our lives because he is the manufacturer
of our lives. He understands exactly how we are designed,
and he puts those parameters around our lives so that
our joy might be complete. When we violate those parameters,
(20:20):
there's always repercussions. So the fact that we get out
of something on a technicality doesn't mean that we got
out at all. It simply means that we imprisoned ourselves.
Speaker 6 (20:34):
And is there a way to speak into his life
if he simply says because I know, because I mean
this came up a conversation as well.
Speaker 4 (20:39):
Well.
Speaker 6 (20:40):
These parameters are put on by me ben the human
the way I interpret scripture, you know, because he interprets
it differently as a gray area. And therefore my position
is legalism. How do you respond to that?
Speaker 2 (20:52):
Yeah, I mean this is not about legalism. I mean,
we don't want to go into either one of two errors.
One is legalism, the other license right. But this is
not about legalism. This is about you as someone that
he is coming to as a confidant. You're giving him
instructions from the Word of God, principles from the Word
(21:16):
of God that guide the life of someone if you
are indeed a believer in the ways of Christ who
knows precisely how we are to conduct our lives. And
so I don't think this has anything to do with legalism.
It has to do with you legitimately wanting to help
someone who is hurting themselves by a practice that ultimately
(21:40):
leads to all kinds of problems, and you have delineated
some of them. I mean, they're psycho physical problems that
are very very significant.
Speaker 6 (21:50):
Okay, well, hey, thanks for your response.
Speaker 2 (21:51):
Tank.
Speaker 6 (21:52):
I don't know, I don't know if people normally say this,
but if you can be thinking about it, please pray
for him. I don't know if I'll be able to
get through to him, but I hope spare it well.
Speaker 2 (21:58):
So the fact that you are speaking to him and
doing so in love, I'll tell you, is just fantastic.
That's exactly what we're called to do. And you know
we're not called to change anybody's heart. Only the Holy
Spirit can do that. But the very fact that you
are dealing with him with gentleness and with respect, and
I think in a very compelling way, is an example
(22:22):
to all of us. You get it. You know, it's
so important that we make a difference that we do
what Ben is doing, that when God gives us an
opportunity to minister to someone, that we do it with
gentleness and with respect, not in a condemning fashion, but
(22:43):
in recognition that someone who is violating principles that God
has given to us with respect to human sexuality is
only going to end up in a world of hurt,
and so if we really care about that person, we
do exactly what Ben is modeling. I think it's fantastic.
I'm so glad he called today William and Calgary, Alberta
(23:03):
Kenned listening on the web.
Speaker 5 (23:04):
Hi William, thank you, thank you for taking my call,
my pleasure. I had a question for you. We are
having an event in Calgary and they're inviting a famous
preacher speaker to attend an event that has left the church.
(23:27):
He after thirty years in ministry, had decided that he's
no longer a believer and he identifies as an atheist.
I have been very troubled by this particular circumstance. It's
being held inside a local church and the church is
(23:49):
inviting this person to speak. Under First Corinthians, Chapter five,
verses eleven to thirteen. It describes how Paul admonished as
Christian believers not to associate with others. It calls brothers that,
for example, in this case, I would describe as an idolator.
(24:13):
Do you think that churches should be inviting non Christians
to come into our churches and participate in church events.
Speaker 2 (24:23):
Well, I don't think that they ought to be given
a platform to communicate their perversions. But you know, let's
say there's a debate where both sides of the issue
are exposed to the audience, so people can see the
bankruptcy of a particular point of view. I don't see
something wrong with that. But when you give someone who
is a non believer a platform in the church, I
(24:46):
think that is a violation of what John is specifically
telling us we ought not to do in his epistles.
And in this case, you know, if he they have
someone that was once a Christian pastor who's renounced the faith,
and you have that person who is a secular humanist
(25:09):
given a platform to communicate whether I think there's a really,
really bad idea.
Speaker 5 (25:17):
I also read like in Jude verses seventeen to twenty,
it says that in the last times there will be
scoffers who follow their own ungodly desires. These are people
who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do
not have the spirit. But you, dear friends, build yourselves
up in the most holy faith, in praying in the spirit.
(25:39):
I think the churches should be inviting speakers that lift
us up. And I don't know that a non Christian
can lift up the body. Even with the motivational message.
Speaker 2 (25:49):
Yeah, again, the principles in violet. We cannot give someone
who is not a believer or a platform in the
church to communicate their poisonous dogmas to the believer. If again,
if there's a debate where both sides of the issue
are heard, so it edifies the believer, I think and
equips the believer, then it has a place. But not
as you have delineated, we are at a time for
(26:11):
this edition of the Bible Lancemen Broadcast. We will be
back tomorrow with more. Please stay tuned for that.
Speaker 1 (26:17):
You've been listening to the Bible answer Man Broadcast with
Hank Hannagraph. Our mailing address is Pobox eighty five hundred, Charlotte,
North Carolina, zip code two eight two seven one. To
listen to the broadcast on the internet, visit equip dot org,
where you'll also find a wealth of information and resources
to equip you to talk to a resource consultant. Call
(26:39):
eight eight eight seven thousand CRII. That's eight eight eight
seven thousand, two seven four. The Bible answer Man Broadcast
is supported by listeners like you. We're on the air
because life and truth matter. The Complete Bible answer Book
(27:02):
Collector's Edition is the comprehensive collection of the most often
asked questions Hank Hannigraph has received throughout his four decades
as host of The Bible answer Man broadcast. With more
than half a million copies already in print, this newly
revised and expanded Collector's Edition helped seekers and skeptics alike
sort through the truth on topics such as reliability of
(27:25):
the Bible, religions and cults, the resurrection and afterlife, and
many more issues vital to a better understanding of God
in Christ and our relationship to Him. To receive your
copy of The Complete Bible answer Book Collector's Edition, Revised
and Expanded, call eight eight eight seven thousand CRII and
(27:46):
make a gift to support the Christian Research Institute's life
changing outreaches eight eight eight seven thousand CRII or visit
us at EQUIP dot org.
Heard all across the United States, Canada and around the world.
This is the Bible answer Man Broadcast with Hank Anagraph.
Hank as President of the Christian Research Institute at CRI.
Our desire is to equip you not only to defend
the historic Christian faith, but to become a winsome witness
to a spiritually hungry but skeptical world, because life and
(00:31):
truth matter. To learn more or to find resources to
help you grow in grace, call eight eight eight seven
thousand CROI or go online to equip dot org. That's
equip dot org. The following program was pre recorded and
now here's Hank canagraph I.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Thank you very much. Randy is always it is such
a pleasure to be in studio. It's a privilege in
fact to be in studio, and I am in studios
A directory's of people that stand shoulder to shoulder with
this one of a kind ministry outreach in the battle
for life and truth. You can given a safe, secure
fashion on the webbitequipped dot organ. If you've never given,
(01:14):
please consider doing that. If you've maybe given once, consider
giving another time. And if you can, consider joining CRA's
support team. This is a foundational group of people that
allow us to minister not just in western regions, but
(01:37):
quite frankly, all around the world. Again, you can give
in a safe, secure fashion on the Webit equipped dot
or you can also write us at box eighty five hundred, Charlotte,
North Carolina, zip code two A two seven one, and
our resource consultants they're standing by triple eight seven thousand
and the letters c RI. A lot of you hanging on.
(01:57):
We'll go right to the phone lines. Talk to Lance
mountain View, Missouri Highlands.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
Hi, Hank, how you doing this evening?
Speaker 2 (02:05):
I'm doing pretty good.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
How are you?
Speaker 3 (02:08):
Oh, it couldn't be better. I enjoy your show, and
let's tell you every single day. And I have got
a I've got a head scratching question for you that
my wife asked me this morning, okay, and she managed
to confuse herself and stump me at the same time. Okay.
(02:35):
Ever since she was a child, we went to school together,
we went to the same church together, and grew up together.
And she has always been afraid of God, for you know,
in the Old Testament, where the Israelites would not obey him,
(02:58):
that a lot of them had to be and the
luckiest the rant of God. So she wouldn't pray to God.
She would pray only to Jesus. And our preacher was
with Collner, that you pray to God in Jesus' name.
(03:18):
And then she asked me this question this morning. If
Jesus were God in human form, then who was he
praying to the Father?
Speaker 2 (03:31):
When we read about Jesus Christ in the incarnation, we're
reading about one person with two natures, one hundred percent
human and one hundred percent divine. And oftentimes the Bible
is relating to us Christ speaking from the perspective of
his humanity. From the perspective of his humanity, Christ does
(03:54):
not know all things because though he is not divat
rusted of a single attribute of divinity, his divinity is veiled.
He voluntarily takes on the form of a servant, and
so he now prays to the Father, and the Father
(04:16):
is communicating with him in love, just as Christ is
communicating with the Father in love. But again, Jesus Christ
sometimes is depicted in scripture as speaking from the perspective
of his humanity. There are other times in which we
see that Jesus is acting from the perspective of his divinity.
(04:39):
So the Bible tells us not only that God raised
Jesus Christ from the dead, but that Jesus Christ rose
himself from the dead. He had the power to lay
down his life and the power to take up his
life again. So when you read the Bible again, you
have to you have to recognize that Christ can say
that only the other knows certain things, and he does
(05:01):
not know those things speaking from the perspective of his humanity. Obviously,
from the perspective of his divinity, he knows all things.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
Okay, okay, that's what I couldn't. I couldn't get find
the words to explain to her that's difference. And and
you just made it perfect clear to me.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
Well, this is one of the beauty's lands. Of the
seven Ecumenical Councils, they hammered out these issues so that
we could understand, uh in in brief sound bites, as
it were, the nature of God as revealed to us
in in holy tradition and holy scripture. Of course, we
(05:49):
have the Holy scriptures through holy tradition. That's why Paul
said to us what he had received he passed on
to us as a fort imports that Christ died for
our sins, et cetera. So we have this hammered out
in the seven Ecumenical Councils, and they primarily dealt, I
(06:11):
say primarily, not exclusively, primarily dealt with the nature of God.
Let's move on to Paul. He's listening in Springdale, Arkansas.
Speaker 4 (06:20):
Hi, paulk you doing, sir?
Speaker 5 (06:23):
Good?
Speaker 3 (06:23):
Her?
Speaker 1 (06:23):
Are you good?
Speaker 4 (06:25):
I'm gonna ask you a question, and then if you
don't mind, I'm going to just be satisfied with your answer.
Hear you on the radio. It's a lot easier for me. Okay,
My question, sir is I'm a nephew, and I believe
it's verse eleven. I understand the parable. The king's having
a banquet for the wedding, and finally no one shows up,
(06:48):
at least the first people or the first group, so
he gets everybody off the highway in the highway. But
first eleven, I don't understand. He looked at one individual
and asked him where is your wedding down? And because
he's not wearing the wedding gown, he finds his hands
or feet with cords and and I'm assumed he throws
it into that place where they're asking a peep and
(07:11):
screaming and stuff. So I'm assuming that statement is that
correct or can you elaborate on that? And I always
appreciate what you're doing, sir, Thank you.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Well, thank you so much for your question. Well, this
is an interesting story in scripture, and that story is
pointing to someone who is refusing to wear the garment
that is provided by the king. So the king not
only gives you the invitation or draws someone in to
(07:42):
the wedding feast, but he provides a garment for the
wedding feast. But in this particular case, you have someone
who is refusing to wear a garment that is provided,
which is illustrative of someone who is refusing God's hospitality,
or someone who is wanting the kingdom of God on
(08:07):
their own terms rather than on the terms of the
king who is throwing the wedding feast to begin with.
So the idea is rather than receiving a life of
faith and repentance and virtue and charity, that person is
(08:30):
wanting a kingdom on their own terms, by their own edict. Well,
this is a greater meta narrative, then, a meta narrative
that expands from the story. If we do not receive
a life of repentance. Well, then we will receive a
(08:54):
life of outer darkness because we are now doing it
our own way as opposed to doing it his way.
And that's what repentance is all about. Repentance is a
u turn on the road of life. It is a
turning from self will to doing it by the will
of the Master. It is subjugating our will to the
(09:18):
will of God, who created us and who knows what
is best for us. So again, this is emblematic of
someone who wants the kingdom, but not on the terms
of the king, but rather by their own terms. Let's
go back to the phone lines. We'll talk next to
(09:40):
Ben listening in Saskatchewan, Canada.
Speaker 6 (09:43):
Hi, Ben, Hey, thanks for taking my call.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
My pleasure.
Speaker 6 (09:48):
So I'm concerned for a friend. I'm going to try
to the best of my ability to represent his position here,
and I'm wondering if you can help me speak into
his life because he believes that my position is invalid
because I'm married. So it's well, you'll maybe it'll it'll
be easier for actual explain. So his position is that
(10:09):
sexual fantasies that don't involve real people but only restricted
to imaginary people are not actually left and are therefore
actually not sexual immorality. And he believes that on two accounts.
The one because I'm married, that it's that I don't
(10:30):
have the ability to speak into his life about left
and as well, because I'm younger. We tend to be
a little idealistic, and God is not so much concerned
with our actions as we think we are when we're younger.
He's more concerned with the heart. And because he's simply
looking for a release, if you will, there's no evil
(10:52):
intent and I'm just concerned, you know, for his well being.
Speaker 2 (10:57):
Okay, big question. Let me deal with that on the
other side of the break. It's an important question that
we have a couple of seconds before we go to break.
We'll come back with an answer to Ben's question as
the break, as well as the more answers to your questions.
So please don't touch that dial.
Speaker 1 (11:13):
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We'll be back in just a moment with more from
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(12:03):
the comprehensive collection of the most often asked questions Hank
Hannigraph has received throughout his four decades as host of
the Bible answer Man broadcast. With more than half a
million copies already in print, this newly revised and expanded
Collector's Edition helped seekers and skeptics alike sort through the
truth on topics such as reliability of the Bible, religions
(12:27):
and cults, the resurrection and afterlife, and many more issues
vital to a better understanding of God in Christ and
our relationship to Him. To receive your copy of the
Complete Bible answer Book Collector's Edition, Revised and expanded, call
eight eight eight seven thousand CRII and make a gift
to support the Christian research Institute's Life changing outreaches eight
(12:51):
eight eight seven thousand CRII or visit us at equip
dot org. Anyone who's been paying attention knows there's a
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(13:12):
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(13:36):
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Speaker 7 (14:01):
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matters more. Essentially, two books in one. Part one equips
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Part two explains why truth is necessary but hardly sufficient.
(14:21):
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not the meal. We are created to experience life to
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Speaker 1 (15:07):
Why not drop us a line at CRI today. We'd
love to hear from you. You can get in touch
with us several ways. You can call us toll free
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(15:28):
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once again here is Hank hannagraph.
Speaker 2 (15:38):
They very much brandied. We're talking to Ben in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada,
and Ben's friend thinks it is not sinful to sexually
fantasize about an imaginary woman. Whatever that is. Sounds a
little creepy, to be honest with you, But there is
a maxim in Scripture, and that maxim is that were
(16:00):
to take every thought captive for Jesus Christ. In other words,
the idea is always that we live within the parameters
that God sets forth for us to live within. And
those parameters are there not because Christ is a cosmic
kill joy, but it is so that our joy might
(16:20):
be complete. So we have to take the fantasies of
our mind and make those captive to the word of God.
This is one of the reasons, incidentally, that I was
so excited to promote Love Thy Body by Nancy Pearcy.
It gives you a proper view of the body, and
we are a body soul unity. It means that we
(16:43):
also have to take captive the metaphysical aspect of our humanity.
If you look at Matthew chapter five, Jesus warns that
anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed
adulterate with her in his heart. So the parameter there
is already very very clear, whether it's an imaginary woman
(17:08):
or it is a real woman. You're not too lust
after a woman. The relationship between men and women are
relationships that are guided by principles given to us by
the very one who knit us together in our mother's womb.
To argue that someone is fantasizing about an imaginary woman
(17:31):
is to obey the letter of the law, but to
miss the spirit of the law. In other words, it's
a way of trying to get around something that is
fairly explicit in terms of the teachings of scripture how
we are to relate to the opposite sex.
Speaker 6 (17:47):
So on that topic, actually, if you just simply choose
us to define leus as you know, only with real people,
like is it even possible to have this conversation with him?
If you just simply choose to say, well, that doesn't
fit into the definition of luss because she's not a
real person, and therefore it's not real adultery.
Speaker 2 (18:07):
Yeah, again, I think you'd have the conversation. But here
is someone who is arguing on the basis of the
letter of the law as opposed to the spirit of
the law. The spirit of the law makes plain how
we are to use our minds in a way that
is pleasing to the Lord, as opposed to a way
that is displeasing to the Lord. And remember that what
(18:32):
I communicated, I think covers this Matthew chapter five. Anyone
who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery
with her in his heart. That's the principle. Now, what
he's trying to do is get around the principle by saying, well,
this is not a real woman, this is an imaginary woman.
Speaker 6 (18:50):
And yeah, because I brought up Matthew Chapter five to him.
Actually I talked about lesson. I mean, I want, actually
I even want great detail about what the danger I'm
both on a spiritual level, on a biological level, on
a neurological level, about what happens when you left after
me and you indulge in that kind of a pleasure.
But he just still believe that, No, God doesn't mind
if I do this because I'm just you know, he
(19:12):
wants me to have this release, and I just thought, well,
I'm not really sure how.
Speaker 3 (19:16):
To help him.
Speaker 2 (19:16):
You know. Yeah, Well, I think what we have to
do is what I said earlier, take every thought captive.
When we're seeking to find escape routes, If we're seeking
to find ways out through technicalities, what we're doing is
showing that we're not taking every thought captive. Rather, we
(19:38):
are trying to manipulate God's principles for our own pleasures.
And those pleasures, as you have pointed out to him,
are pleasures that are damaging on many, many different levels.
So we think that we've gotten around a rule, but
only to find out that that rule was there for
(19:58):
our safety. It was there to protect us. And that's
why I started out this conversation by saying that God
places parameters around our lives because he is the manufacturer
of our lives. He understands exactly how we are designed,
and he puts those parameters around our lives so that
our joy might be complete. When we violate those parameters,
(20:20):
there's always repercussions. So the fact that we get out
of something on a technicality doesn't mean that we got
out at all. It simply means that we imprisoned ourselves.
Speaker 6 (20:34):
And is there a way to speak into his life
if he simply says because I know, because I mean
this came up a conversation as well.
Speaker 4 (20:39):
Well.
Speaker 6 (20:40):
These parameters are put on by me ben the human
the way I interpret scripture, you know, because he interprets
it differently as a gray area. And therefore my position
is legalism. How do you respond to that?
Speaker 2 (20:52):
Yeah, I mean this is not about legalism. I mean,
we don't want to go into either one of two errors.
One is legalism, the other license right. But this is
not about legalism. This is about you as someone that
he is coming to as a confidant. You're giving him
instructions from the Word of God, principles from the Word
(21:16):
of God that guide the life of someone if you
are indeed a believer in the ways of Christ who
knows precisely how we are to conduct our lives. And
so I don't think this has anything to do with legalism.
It has to do with you legitimately wanting to help
someone who is hurting themselves by a practice that ultimately
(21:40):
leads to all kinds of problems, and you have delineated
some of them. I mean, they're psycho physical problems that
are very very significant.
Speaker 6 (21:50):
Okay, well, hey, thanks for your response.
Speaker 2 (21:51):
Tank.
Speaker 6 (21:52):
I don't know, I don't know if people normally say this,
but if you can be thinking about it, please pray
for him. I don't know if I'll be able to
get through to him, but I hope spare it well.
Speaker 2 (21:58):
So the fact that you are speaking to him and
doing so in love, I'll tell you, is just fantastic.
That's exactly what we're called to do. And you know
we're not called to change anybody's heart. Only the Holy
Spirit can do that. But the very fact that you
are dealing with him with gentleness and with respect, and
I think in a very compelling way, is an example
(22:22):
to all of us. You get it. You know, it's
so important that we make a difference that we do
what Ben is doing, that when God gives us an
opportunity to minister to someone, that we do it with
gentleness and with respect, not in a condemning fashion, but
(22:43):
in recognition that someone who is violating principles that God
has given to us with respect to human sexuality is
only going to end up in a world of hurt,
and so if we really care about that person, we
do exactly what Ben is modeling. I think it's fantastic.
I'm so glad he called today William and Calgary, Alberta
(23:03):
Kenned listening on the web.
Speaker 5 (23:04):
Hi William, thank you, thank you for taking my call,
my pleasure. I had a question for you. We are
having an event in Calgary and they're inviting a famous
preacher speaker to attend an event that has left the church.
(23:27):
He after thirty years in ministry, had decided that he's
no longer a believer and he identifies as an atheist.
I have been very troubled by this particular circumstance. It's
being held inside a local church and the church is
(23:49):
inviting this person to speak. Under First Corinthians, Chapter five,
verses eleven to thirteen. It describes how Paul admonished as
Christian believers not to associate with others. It calls brothers that,
for example, in this case, I would describe as an idolator.
(24:13):
Do you think that churches should be inviting non Christians
to come into our churches and participate in church events.
Speaker 2 (24:23):
Well, I don't think that they ought to be given
a platform to communicate their perversions. But you know, let's
say there's a debate where both sides of the issue
are exposed to the audience, so people can see the
bankruptcy of a particular point of view. I don't see
something wrong with that. But when you give someone who
is a non believer a platform in the church, I
(24:46):
think that is a violation of what John is specifically
telling us we ought not to do in his epistles.
And in this case, you know, if he they have
someone that was once a Christian pastor who's renounced the faith,
and you have that person who is a secular humanist
(25:09):
given a platform to communicate whether I think there's a really,
really bad idea.
Speaker 5 (25:17):
I also read like in Jude verses seventeen to twenty,
it says that in the last times there will be
scoffers who follow their own ungodly desires. These are people
who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do
not have the spirit. But you, dear friends, build yourselves
up in the most holy faith, in praying in the spirit.
(25:39):
I think the churches should be inviting speakers that lift
us up. And I don't know that a non Christian
can lift up the body. Even with the motivational message.
Speaker 2 (25:49):
Yeah, again, the principles in violet. We cannot give someone
who is not a believer or a platform in the
church to communicate their poisonous dogmas to the believer. If again,
if there's a debate where both sides of the issue
are heard, so it edifies the believer, I think and
equips the believer, then it has a place. But not
as you have delineated, we are at a time for
(26:11):
this edition of the Bible Lancemen Broadcast. We will be
back tomorrow with more. Please stay tuned for that.
Speaker 1 (26:17):
You've been listening to the Bible answer Man Broadcast with
Hank Hannagraph. Our mailing address is Pobox eighty five hundred, Charlotte,
North Carolina, zip code two eight two seven one. To
listen to the broadcast on the internet, visit equip dot org,
where you'll also find a wealth of information and resources
to equip you to talk to a resource consultant. Call
(26:39):
eight eight eight seven thousand CRII. That's eight eight eight
seven thousand, two seven four. The Bible answer Man Broadcast
is supported by listeners like you. We're on the air
because life and truth matter. The Complete Bible answer Book
(27:02):
Collector's Edition is the comprehensive collection of the most often
asked questions Hank Hannigraph has received throughout his four decades
as host of The Bible answer Man broadcast. With more
than half a million copies already in print, this newly
revised and expanded Collector's Edition helped seekers and skeptics alike
sort through the truth on topics such as reliability of
(27:25):
the Bible, religions and cults, the resurrection and afterlife, and
many more issues vital to a better understanding of God
in Christ and our relationship to Him. To receive your
copy of The Complete Bible answer Book Collector's Edition, Revised
and Expanded, call eight eight eight seven thousand CRII and
(27:46):
make a gift to support the Christian Research Institute's life
changing outreaches eight eight eight seven thousand CRII or visit
us at EQUIP dot org.
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