Answers to Questions Listed by Topics Beginning with the Letter "M"
Unless otherwise noted, all answers were written by Jeff Hamilton.
Man
Manners, Politeness
Marks, Tattoos
- Are tattoos or plastic surgery sinful?
- Is there a connection between the mark of the beast and the mark of Cain?
Marriage
- A reader who believes the only reason polygamy is condemned is because the "church" condemns it.
- Am I being selfish asking my wife for sex after having an emotional affair with another woman?
- Am I married in the eyes of God?
- Am I supposed to try to convince my husband to stay with me?
- Are engagements required before a marriage can take place?
- Are there such things as "mamzers" -- good and bad seeds?
- Can a young couple make a covenant even though their parent won't allow them to marry?
- Can a man lust after his own wife?
- Can a married man have a female friend whom he prefers over his wife?
- Can adultery be forgiven? Should I tell my spouse?
- Can I divorce my wife because she sees sex, even in marriage, as sinful?
- Can I marry the brother of a man with whom I had committed adultery 15 years ago?
- Can I tell you about a way to get married without government involvement?
- Can my husband ask me not to see one of my friends?
- Can you explain levitate marriages?
- Can you marry a near relative by marriage?
- Can't a wife abstain from sex for a few days?
- Could cousins marry in biblical times?
- Do I need to renew my vows with my current husband since my former husband has died?
- Do you think a Protestant and Catholic can marry?
- Does a husband have the right to spank his wife?
- Does a marriage begin when it is consummated?
- Does God condemn marriages to non-Christians?
- Does rape within a marriage lead to divorce?
- Does the Bible talk about asking a father for his daughter's hand in marriage?
- Does the definition of marriage change?
- Doesn't the Lord require Christians to marry Christians?
- Even though we sinned, could this be the woman God wants me to marry?
- How are prayers handled when a woman's husband is not a Christian?
- How can a husband and wife be equal when the husband has rule over the wife?
- How can a wife be her husband's companion when he is the head of the household?
- How can a young man stay focused?
- How can I convert my Jehovah's Witnesses wife?
- How can I get my non-Christian husband interested in the church?
- How can one be a good wife when it is obvious her husband doesn't care?
- How do I deal with a financially irresponsible wife?
- How do I defend against Satan?
- How do I find someone to marry?
- How do I handle my daughter living with a man?
- How do I handle my verbally abusive husband?
- How do I have sex on my wedding night?
- How do I repair a damaged marriage?
- How do I repent of adultery when I don't feel sorry for doing it?
- How do I save my marriage?
- How do we handle sexual intimacy when my husband has diabetes?
- How do you build trust in a marriage?
- How do you help someone who is being abused, but who doesn't want help?
- How will I know that this is the girl God wants me to marry?
- I am convinced I do not really deserve happiness. Am I being rational?
- I don't know if I should remarry my ex-husband or another man who says he loves me.
- I don't need a piece of paper to say I'm married
- I just found out my husband had an affair eight years ago. Am I free to leave this marriage?
- I married a woman in name only so she could become a citizen of my country. I have a girlfriend and a child by her. How do I fix this mess?
- I really appreciate your article "The Institution of Marriage"
- I think I'm getting too caught up in the "doing" parts of being a Christian. How can I improve?
- If a country permits polygamy, is there a biblical reason not to have multiple wives?
- If a man gets a woman pregnant, must they marry?
- If a person commits fornication before marriage while engaged, does that effect a later marriage?
- If a person is married under false pretenses, is it still a valid marriage?
- If divorce is allowed, then shouldn't polygamy be allowed?
- If I marry the girl I love, I will be rebelling against my parents. What do I do?
- If my boyfriend and I touched each other's private areas, does that mean we aren't virgins? When we were younger, we pretended to get married. It felt real. Does that mean we are married?
- Is anal or oral sex between a married couple a sin?
- Is it a sin to choose to remain single?
- Is it a sin to lust after your own wife or husband?
- Is it rape when a husband is influenced by alcohol, drugs, or pornography?
- Is it right to marry a non-Christian if she is willing to convert?
- Is Jeremiah 16:2 telling me not to marry the woman I love?
- Is living with your fiance all right if you seriously intend to get married?
- Is looking at another person and noting they are beautiful a form of lust?
- Is married love different from Christian love?
- Is my marriage before a justice of the peace legitimate?
- Is oral sex between a married couple a sin?
- Is romantic love a duty or an emotional thing?
- Is sex within marriage a privilege to be earned?
- Is there a passage that says to marry a partner of your youth?
- Is viewing pornography wrong when you are married?
- It is getting hard not to have sex. I want to marry my boyfriend, but I don't want to give up my independence. Can we get married so we can have sex, but still live apart?
- I've committed adultery and I don't know where to begin picking of the pieces of my shattered marriage.
- I've liked this girl for a long time, but I can't figure out my feelings as to whether she is the one God wants me to marry.
- Must a Christian wife obey her non-Christian husband?
- My boyfriend and I plan to get married so is oral sex wrong in our situation?
- My boyfriend doesn't want to get married yet because he'll be dropped from his dad's insurance. What should I do?
- My boyfriend has sickle cell anemia and I'm a carrier. Should we marry?
- My girlfriend and I will get married, but we can't afford it right now.
- My husband says I deserve to be spanked.
- My husband supposedly stopped viewing pornography, but he has stopped sleeping with me. How can I trust him?
- My marriage is not what it should be and I fear I'm losing my husband. What should I do?
- My marriage of a few months is a disaster. What should I do?
- My non-Christian wife led me to stop attending worship, but I'm trying to come back. Do you have any advice?
- My parents don't think the girl I want to marry is good looking enough. What should I do?
- My pastor says God told her that I shouldn't marry my fiance. What do I do?
- My sexual relationship with my husband is awful, how do I fix the problem?
- My wife and I are drifting apart and I don't know what to do.
- My wife and I aren't talking any more. What do I do?
- My wife committed adultery. We repaired the marriage, but I still hurt. What can I do?
- My wife has lost interest in sex. What do I do?
- My wife is planning to leave me after the house sells and I don't know what to do.
- My wife says she forgives me, but she doesn't trust me. What do I do?
- Questions about Boaz
- Should a preacher do weddings?
- Should a woman deny her husband sex?
- Should a woman stay home and not work to take care of the children?
- Should I, as a Baptist, be in a relationship with a Catholic?
- Should I continue a relationship with someone of a different religion?
- Should I divorce my wife?
- Should I divorce to get peace back into my life?
- Should I get married now?
- Should I leave my controlling husband?
- Should I leave my unloving husband?
- Should I leave this marriage?
- Should I marry the father of my son?
- Should I marry the girl I got pregnant or the girl that I love?
- Should I tell my husband about my adultery?
- Should I tell my husband that I committed adultery?
- Should I wait until after my schooling to get married?
- Should married couples stay in touch on a regular basis with an ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend?
- Since I had sex with my girlfriend, does this mean I am married to her?
- Since I had unmarried sex, should I remain single?
- The idea that a husband cannot rape his wife is a gross misrepresentation of what the Bible says.
- Was it right to put our old dog to sleep?
- We took vows before God, isn't that enough to say we are married?
- We've been living together for five years and don't need a paper to prove our love, but I want to make it right with God. What should I do?
- What are the requirements for joining the church there and what are the requirements for getting married there?
- What are your thoughts on how bad my marriage is?
- What are your top five words of advice for newlyweds?
- What can I do about my mother-in-law's interference?
- What can I do about my wife's friends telling her not to trust me?
- What can I do? I am new to this country and my husband is seeing another woman.
- What can I do? My wife and I are drifting apart.
- What constitutes a marriage?
- What do I do about a husband that sinned at a bachelor's party?
- What does the Bible teach about dating and choosing a life partner?
- What happens spiritually when a husband and wife have a sexual relationship?
- What is meant by not being enslaved to a non-Christian?
- What more should I do to be worthy of forgiveness? I committed fornication just before my marriage.
- What sexual acts should not be committed before marriage?
- What should a wife do if she feels unloved?
- What should I do with my husband who is living in adultery?
- What to do when parents disagree about spanking
- When was the spousal rape law passed?
- Where did Cain get his wife?
- Who did Adam and Eve's children marry?
- Who was the only man in the Bible forbidden to marry?
- Why attitudes toward spanking are changing
- Why did God allow polygamy and concubines?
- Why did God allow polygamy under the Old Testament?
- Why do ministers hold a Bible during a wedding?
- What does it mean for a husband to not honor his wife?
- Why was proof required of virginity in the Old Testament?
Mary
- How could Jesus be sinless when he was born of Mary?
- What proof is there that Mary was born without sin?
- Wouldn't Mary's sins be passed on to her son Jesus?
Masturbation
- Are there dangers to masturbating?
- Can I have someone I know who is struggling with masturbation and guilt contact you?
- Does holding sperm for a long time cause cancer?
- Doesn't masturbation require indecent thoughts to climax?
- How do you punish a boy caught masturbating?
- I disagree with your stances on the Sabbath and on masturbation.
- I feel so guilty about my past sins. I just can't get them off my mind. Why do I still not feel forgiven? Is forgiveness all about feelings?
- I keep lapsing back into pornography and masturbation. Is there any hope for me?
- Is it wrong to perform masturbation and petting?
- Is it wrong to self pleasure while thinking of a spouse?
- Is masturbating wrong for women?
- Is masturbation a sin when it is not accompanied by pornography or sinful thoughts?
- Is masturbation sinful or not?
- Is masturbation unacceptable?
- I'm addicted to pornography and masturbation. How do I stop?
- My girlfriend and I mutually masturbated. What is the chance that she is pregnant?
- Since a sin offering was required, is masturbation a sin?
- Will masturbating when single cause harm later when married?
- Would masturbation be unacceptable between a husband and wife as a part of sexual intercourse?
Medicine, Medical Practices
- Are there medicinal foods?
- Because of drugs, I'm hearing voices in my head. Do you know of any herbs which might help?
- Could Jesus have cured people through the placebo effect?
- Is acupuncture acceptable?
- Is donating blood or organs wrong?
- Should a Christian use medicinal drugs that may affect the mind?
- Should I trust in God for my healing and not seek the aid of a doctor?
- What does "anointing him with oil" mean?
- Where does the Bible say doctors won't know what they are healing?
- Your explanation of pharmakeia is poor
Meekness
- How could Moses be called meek?
- What does it mean that we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren?
- What is pride?
Mental Illness
- Can a person with schizoaffective disorder truly have faith?
- Should a Christian use medicinal drugs that may affect the mind?
Ministers
- Are there more Christians who actually believe the Bible?
- Can a woman be a preacher?
- Must preachers be ordained?
- Should a preacher be paid to hold a gospel meeting?
- Should you only teach a subject once to a Christian who disagrees with you?
- What does a preacher's wife do?
Miracles, Miraculous Gifts
- A reader who doesn't believe the gifts of the Spirit have ended.
- Are speaking in tongues and prophesying similar gifts?
- Are tongues still in existence today?
- Can you explain the gifts mentioned in Ephesians 4:11-16?
- Can you recommend books on the topic of miraculous gifts for today?
- Can't demon possession still happen today?
- Could Jesus and the apostle only do miracles after receiving the Holy Spirit?
- Could Jesus have cured people through the placebo effect?
- Did an angel actually stir the waters at Bethesda, or was it only a local tradition?
- Didn't Joel say that young men would dream dreams?
- Do miracles happen everyday?
- Do we have miracles from God today?
- Does God still raise people from the dead?
- How can miracles cease if God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow?
- How do I tell my children that the TV "miracles" are fake without sounding like I'm condemning their mother who believes in them?
- How many gifts did the early Christians receive from the Holy Spirit?
- I was healed but I never benefited from it because my daughter abuses me.
- Praying in a heavenly tongue
- Questions about miraculous gifts
- What are the gifts of the Holy Spirit?
- What does "anointing him with oil" mean?
- What is it that I'm doing, if it is not speaking in tongues?
- What is your proof that prophecy has ended?
- What was the last miracle performed in the Bible?
- Why are some demons rebuked and others casted out?
- Why aren't we following the Holy Spirit?
- Why haven't you written about the Comforter?
- Why is the command to baptize applied to us, but not those concerning miraculous gifts?
- Why won't God heal amputees?
Modest
- See: Clothing
Money
- Can there be circumstances when cosigning a loan will be all right?
- Do you know what it means to "cast your bread upon the waters?"
- How can I help my family now that the insurance funds are running low?
- How do I deal with a financially irresponsible wife?
- If a Christian must file for bankruptcy, is he still obligated to pay off his debts?
- Is life not meant to be enjoyed?
- My parent's debt is exhausting all of my savings. What am I to do?
Now Concerning the Collection - Questions about King Joash's financial management
- Should I co-sign a loan for a church building?
- Should the church help a family that is constantly in financial difficulties?
- Should wages be fixed?
- Shouldn't you teach about principles instead of pointing out people's sins?
- What does 'Name it and Claim it" mean?
- What does the Bible say about credit cards?
- What is mammon?
- What kinds of debt are permissible?
- Why is America prosperous and the Philippines are not?
- Would you help resolve a dispute over the sale of a home?
Morality and Ethics
- Can a Christian be involved in distributing contraceptives if it will reduce the number of abortions?
- Do you think a movie with a good story line but some immorality scattered in should be watched?
- Does pornography change a person?
- Does religious ethics do more harm than good?
- Does the concept of right and wrong come from the nature of God?
- Hate mail from a feminist
- How can Solomon say that multiple sexual partners is bad when he had hundreds of wives?
- How do you handle a teenage liar?
- How do you prevent teenagers from having pre-marital sex?
- How should a Christian handle violent or adult content video games?
- I need help handling teenage dress and language problems
- Is it okay for boys and girls to swim together?
- Is it wrong to deny service to someone who is obviously in sin?
- Is it wrong to have a job that encourages others to sin?
- Is masturbation unacceptable?
- Is same gender love wrong?
- Is watching movies or making jokes about sinful things really that bad?
- Isn't vegetarianism the ideal for man?
- I'm teaching a group of 13-17 year girls and would like to address decision making, relationships, and sex. Do you have any suggestions?
- Shouldn't you teach about principles instead of pointing out people's sins?
- We may disagree, but doesn't matter, so long as we get to heaven
- What advantage is there to being religious?
- What are the biblical consequences to lying?
- What are your opinions about the Disney company?
- What are your recommendations for teaching teens about the dangers of sensuous literature?
- What do you think about the idea "anything you do in moderation is not a sin?"
- What is the spiritual impact of online pornography?
- What makes some fantasy stories wrong?
- What sexual acts should not be committed before marriage?
- What to do when a church leader preys on members
- When is it appropriate to start kissing?
- Why aren't we teaching about issues regarding how to stay saved -- moral issues like sex, drugs, alcohol, etc.?
- Why is suicide a sin?
- Why were the Israelites not to use diverse weights?
- Will I be sinning if I have sex with my girlfriend?
- Would God be pleased with my example to my children?
Moses
Murder
- Can a murderer be forgiven by God and still go to heaven?
- Can God be fair if He doesn't give a sinner another chance to repent?
- How can God command us not to murder when God murdered people in the Old Testament?
- Is it right for a soldier to kill in war?
- Is the commandment "You shall not kill" or "You shall not murder"?
Music
- Are pants, earrings, makeup, or Reggaeton music bad?
- Can a group (choir) sing if it is after the worship service?
- Can I use your pictures on my website?
- Can instrumental music be used during weddings held in a church building?
- Does the use of parts justify the use of choirs and solos?
- How do we know that the songs we are using are acceptable to God?
- If is wrong to use instrumental music because the New Testament doesn't mention it, then it would be wrong to use electricity.
- Is it okay to listen to instrumental "Christian" music outside of worship?
- Is it okay to listen to secular music?
- Is playing an instrument for a person's own enjoyment scriptural?
- Is the song "Light the Fire" scriptural?
- Is the use of a "praise team" scriptural?
- Should I only listen to "Christian" music?
- What is your opinion about instrumental music in the church?
- What musical instruments were used in ancient Greece?
- What should be done when everyone doesn't follow the song leader?
- What song books would you recommend?
- Where can I find acapella recordings for the songs in our song book?
- Where can I find the hymn, "Who Shall Stand Before the King"?
- Why are there musical instruments in Revelation?
- Why do we use songs by writers who did not believe the truth?