Answers to Questions Listed by Topics Beginning with the Letter "P"
Unless otherwise noted, all answers were written by Jeff Hamilton.
Pacifism
Paganism
Parables
Parenting
- See: Child Rearing
Parents
- How do you deal with an easily angered father?
- How do you handle a controlling father?
- How do you honor an abusive parent?
- Is disobeying my parents a sin?
- Should a man search out the father who abandoned him as a child to remove a curse of a broken family from him?
- What is a Christian's responsibility to his parents?
- See also Family
Passover
Patience
Paul
- Can you tell me what the vow was that caused Paul to cut his hair?
- Could you explain the vow Paul took at Cenchrea?
- Did the apostle Paul keep the laws found in the Torah?
- How could the men with Saul hear and not hear the voice?
- How did Paul learn the gospel?
- I don't think you proved Paul to be an apostle.
- I would like to ask you about the book of Galatians and Paul.
- "Paul had to be married in order to judge criminal cases."
- Was it a requirement to be married to be a member of the Sanhedrin court?
- Was Paul a false apostle?
- Was Paul ever in Colosse?
- Was Paul married or a member of the Sanhedrin?
- Wasn't Paul a Nicolaitan?
- What was Paul's thorn in the flesh?
- Where can I learn about Paul's work?
- Why did Paul say he left Titus in Crete?
- Why was Saul's name changed to Paul?
Peace
- Now that I've made significant progress against one sin, how do I know where to next make improvements?
- See also: Guilt
Pedophilia
Perfectionism
Persecution
Perseverance of the Saints, Eternal Security
- Can you sin after receiving the Holy Spirit?
- Could you explain I Peter 1:1-5?
- Does sinning or being tempted to sin mean you aren't really saved?
- How is it possible to fall from grace if you can't lose your salvation?
- Once you are saved, can you live a sin free life?
- What do you think about this group who says believers cannot lose their salvation?
- Will God allow sin to get us back?
Persistence
Peter
- Did Peter always believe that Jesus was the Christ?
- Was Mark Peter's son?
- Was Peter in Rome?
- Why did Peter follow Jesus in Matthew 26:28?
Pharisees
Philemon
- What are your sources for connecting Philemon to the letter from Laodicea?
- What happened to the letter to Laodicea mentioned in Colossians 4:16?
Philosophy
Phone Sex
- I started to engage in sexual talk with an old girlfirend, but I stopped. Do I need to tell my fiancee?
- See also Sexting
Physicians, Doctors, Healers
- Should a Christian use medicinal drugs that may affect the mind?
- Who are the three doctors of the Bible?
Plans
Plants
- Does the sycamore tree still have fruit today as it did in biblical times?
- What does a broom tree look like?
Pleasure
- How can I glorify God in everything I do but still have fun in the process?
- Is life all about God and never about us?
- What is gluttony and is all pleasure seeking activities wrong?
Police
Politeness
- See: Manners
Polygamy
- A reader who believes the only reason polygamy is condemned is because the "church" condemns it.
- Didn't God support polygamy by offering David more wives?
- If a Christian becomes the second wife of a Muslim, then would that be acceptable to God?
- If a country permits polygamy, is there a biblical reason not to have multiple wives?
- My husband says he wants to divorce me in order to have a polygamous marriage. What do I do?
- Why did God allow polygamy and concubines?
- Why did God allow polygamy under the Old Testament?
- Why do you teach that a man can only have one wife?
Pornography
- Can I overcome pornography by myself?
- Can I purify my soul after looking at pornography?
- Can sexual instructional videos be viewed to learn better techniques in a marriage?
- Can you make some recommendations for a computer for a 14-year-old?
- Did I mess myself up with gay pornography?
- Did my sins cause my pain? If I stop, will my disease go away?
- Does pornography change a person?
- Doesn't Matthew 5:27-28 only apply to married people?
- How can looking at pornography be adultery, especailly since I'm not married?
- How do I be free from sexual sins?
- How do I get rid of the sin of pornography?
- How do I stay out of the trap of pornography?
- How do I stop my masturbating to gay pornography?
- 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 feel so stupid. I just told a child that looking at pornography was a sin and then the next evening did it myself. Can you give me some advice?
- I found out my 12 year old son is looking at pornography. How do I handle it?
- I got addicted to pornography when I was younger. I don't like the stuff, so how do I stop the temptation to look?
- I have a problem with pornography while my husband doesn't.
- I have committed so many sexual sins, especially lust. How do I get forgiveness?
- I have problems in my youth group. What should I do?
- I keep doing things that I know are wrong. Can you pray for me?
- I keep lapsing back into pornography and masturbation. Is there any hope for me?
- I know what I ought to do, but I keep slipping.
- I realize now that I can be forgiven, so how do I get past the guilt?
- If you constantly watch porn, will God give you up to vile affections?
- If you say pornography is not fornication, are you not accepting pornography?
- Is it wrong to read books like Fifty Shades of Grey?
- Is looking at pornography fornication?
- Is phone sex grounds for a divorce?
- Is pornography a just cause for divorce that allows remarriage?
- Is viewing pornography wrong when you are married?
- I'm addicted to pornography and masturbation. How do I stop?
- I'm falling back into pornography. I know it is stupid, but I need help.
- I've fallen back into pornography, how can I be confident that when I repent I'll still go to heaven?
- My boyfriend is addicted to porn and sex web sites. What can I do to help him?
- My husband and I are separated over his use of pornography. What can I do?
- My husband is into porn and I suspect seeing prostitutes. What do I do?
- My husband supposedly stopped viewing pornography, but he has stopped sleeping with me. How can I trust him?
- My husband was into pornography. He's stopped, but I have not respect for him. What do I do?
- One of my kids in my youth group is into porn, but I don't know what to do.
- Should I turn myself in to the police?
- What is pornography's draw?
- What is the spiritual impact of online pornography?
- While drinking I had video sex with a stranger. I feel so ashamed over what I've done.
- Why is pornography so addictive and how can I help someone stop looking at porn
- See also Answers to Questions about Pornography by Teenage Boys
- See also Answers to Questions about Pornography by Teenage Girls
Prayer, Praying
- Are we not to ask God for what we want to have?
- Can a Christian believe in God and not believe in prayer?
- Can a woman lead prayers at home when her husband is present?
- Can Satan hear our internal prayers?
- Did you get some verses wrong concerning prayer?
- Do I stop praying for my husband to come home?
- Does Ephesians 6:18 teach that saints are to be intercessors between Christians and God?
- Does God always hear our prayers?
- Does God hear the prayers of those who are not yet saved?
- Does God respond to the prayers of the alien sinner?
- Does Jesus hear our prayers before God hears them?
- Have you ever heard of people using Psalms as a prayer book?
- How are prayers handled when a woman's husband is not a Christian?
- How are faith and prayer related?
- How can I feel forgiven?
- How can I get God to answer my prayer?
- How can I pray without doubt when I know that sometimes I won't get what I prayed for?
- How can prayers change things if everything is predestined?
- How do I convince my mother to stop paying people for prayers?
- How do I get God to make me a slave to righteousness?
- How do I keep my thoughts from wandering during my prayers?
- How do I know if God answered my prayers?
- How do you explain praying God's will and not your own?
- How do you make your prayer life better?
- How long do I pray for a cure for my TMAU?
- How much do we do before we let God take over?
- How should I pray to grow bigger?
- I am no longer committing sexual sins, but should I get myself checked or just trust God to answer my prayers?
- I have a hard time focusing while praying and end up thinking about sinful things. How do I prayer better?
- I have trouble remaining focused in my prayers. What should I do?
- I think I'm getting too caught up in the "doing" parts of being a Christian. How can I improve?
- If you're praying for something and believe you have received it, what if it's not what God wants?
- Is group prayer biblical?
- Is it bad to keep on praying the same prayer all over again?
- Is it proper to bless God's high and holy name?
- Is there any certain prayer of forgiveness for fornication?
- Is it useless to pray for a wife?
- Is it useless to pray that society stop sinning?
- Is it wrong to ask God for forgiveness of sins, but also have other things in mind to ask from Him?
- Is it wrong to pray for non-believers?
- Is it wrong to sit while praying?
- Is it wrong to refer to God as Jehovah in a prayer?
- Is the correct way to ask God for help is "if you are willing?"
- Must a prayer be said before eating a meal?
- Must you be baptized even after saying the prayer of salvation?
- Should I ask God to give people His complete knowledge?
- Should I pray for a non-Christian who wants to have children?
- Should prayers only be made for things that bring God glory?
- Should we pray for Satan's salvation?
- Shouldn't we lift hands in prayer and greet with a holy kiss?
- To whom should we pray?
- What authority do we have to lead a prayer?
- What do you do if a girl offers to lead a prayer?
- What do you think about people praying in front of schools?
- What does "anointing him with oil" mean?
- What does it mean for a husband to not honor his wife?
- What prayer can I say to remove temptation?
- What should I pray for?
- What would be an example of a sin not to pray for?
- When I pray to God, am I praying to the Father or the Son?
- Why are prayers ended with "In Jesus' name, Amen"?
- Why bother praying?
- Why did God make Hannah wait so long before having a child?
- Why did Jesus ignore the Canaanite woman?
- Why didn't God help me get my license?
- Why do I feel like God never answers our prayers?
- Why do I feel so disconnected after making the sign of the cross?
- Why do some Christians hold hands when they pray?
- Why do some use King James English in their prayers?
- Why do the wicked appear to succeed, but not always the righteous?
- Why don't Protestants say the Rosary?
- Why is it wrong to pray to saints?
- Why should we prayer for a corrupt ruler?
- Will God give me my heart's desire?
Preachers, Preaching
- Any advice for a person aspiring to preach?
- Are elders responsible for the employment of preachers?
- Are there more Christians who actually believe the Bible?
- Are we to preach the kingdom of heaven or to preach Christ crucified as Paul instructs us?
- Can a preacher be supported by multiple congregations that he is working with?
- Can a preacher kick members out of a church?
- Can a preacher serve as a chaplain?
- Can a woman be a pastor?
- Can a woman be a preacher?
- Can I use your pictures on my web site?
- Can the preacher use his time to conduct a Bible class during the worship service?
- Do abuses prove that preachers are being overused in congregations?
- Do angels preach?
- Do the elders and preachers constitute the church in decisions?
- Do you employ a full-time leader?
- Do you know of a book on being a preacher's wife?
- Do you not know how to treat people?
- How do you prepare for missionary work?
- Does a congregation have the right to mandate what is preached?
- Does a preacher need to give?
- Does Acts 2:17-18 prove women can be preachers?
- Does it please God when we preach and teach His Word?
- Does the whole church need to hear the whole sermon?
- Have you read the whole Bible and memorized Scriptures?
- How can I help a brother become a better teacher and preacher?
- How could a just God put a man in a place where he is unable to hear about Jesus and then send him to hell?
- How could the gospel have been preached to every creature?
- How do I deal with an arrogant leader?
- How much autonomy does a church have when its evangelist is receiving outside support?
- How should a congregation go about selecting another preacher?
- "I don't think a preacher caught in adultery should continue without some disciplinary action."
- I just realized that the church I grew up in is getting old. Is there something I can do?
- I was involved in fornication with my boyfriend who is a preacher. We broke up, but how do I straighten out this mess that I got involved in?
- If a minister has committed adultery, should he step down even though he has repented of his sin?
- If I aim to preach or teach, what do I need to learn?
- Is a preacher an employee of the church?
- Is it acceptable to lie about being in a communist country to teach the gospel?
- Is it appropriate to have PowerPoint presentations during sermons?
- Is it wrong for a preacher to hold the office of minister and his wife belongs to a denomination?
- Is it wrong to hire a preacher who has been divorced?
- Is it wrong to pay a preacher?
- Is it wrong to question your pastor about what is in the Bible?
- Is missionary work scriptural?
- Is teaching in prisons and rehab centers worth it?
- Is the point of life seeing the fruit of your labors?
- Is the Sunset International Bible Institute a trustworthy organization?
- Isn't the reason denominations want married preachers is because they confuse the office of an elder with that of the preacher?
- "It's people like you who make young people fear to turn to God for help."
- "I'm giving serious thought to becoming a preacher"
- Must a preacher teach from the Greek and Hebrew text?
- Must preachers be ordained?
- Must the duties of preaching be evenly distributed among able and qualified men?
- My son is interested in online studies and mission work. Where can he find good studies?
- Our preacher has decided to move because we can't pay him like we used to. What do we do?
- Should a congregation at least partially support a local preacher?
- Should a man be picked as a preacher who is pouting because he wasn't picked?
- Should a man who committed the same sin many times and is still fighting against it be in leadership position?
- Should a preacher be paid through accounts payable or payroll, and how are his taxes handled?
- Should a preacher be paid to hold a gospel meeting?
- Should a preacher be referred to as "reverend?"
- Should a preacher do weddings?
- Should a preacher say, "I break all generational curses on you"?
- Should a repeated adulterer be dismissed from the ministry?
- Should churches support retired preachers?
- Should I get in better shape before preaching?
- Should I not make waves because of the sin in the church I'm attending because I'm only here for a short while?
- Should I quit preaching to find a wife?
- Should I speak at a denominational church?
- Should I stick with the program or go off to teach the gospel on my own?
- Should it be acceptable for a preacher to reprimand an individual in front of the church?
- Should preachers only be supported if they are in need?
- Should we just preach the gospel?
- Should you only teach a subject once to a Christian who disagrees with you?
- Shouldn't you teach about principles instead of pointing out people's sins?
- Someone said I wasn't doing my duty as a preacher because I'm not always out on the street preaching. What do you think?
- Was Jesus ever long winded?
- What can be done about a preacher who puts more effort into delivery than into content?
- What do I need to know to become a preacher's wife?
- What do you think about this preacher's article? I think he is being offensive.
- What does a preacher's wife do?
- What is "mutual edification?"
- What is the difference between a preacher and a teacher?
- What is the function of a pastor?
- What made you want to preach?
- What questions should brethren ask of a man wanting to preach for them?
- What should be done about a preacher whose wife no longer attends?
- What should be done if a visiting speaker starts teaching falsely?
- What should be done when a foreign preacher asks for money?
- What would you tell an eldership who rejects a preacher because his wife wears a head covering?
- When I get busy in school, I lose sight of God. Is that wrong?
- Where does it say that those preaching God's word would be hated?
- Where have you studied?
- Who is the god of this world?
- Why are congregations requiring preachers to be married?
- Why do you feel the need to say that other religions are wrong?
- Why isn't more time spent on spreading the golden rule?
- Would a preacher or elder be allowed who had children involved in sexual sins?
- Wouldn't it be better to put the questions and answers on a site that doesn't mention the church of Christ?
- You can't judge others!
- You should be offering a forgiving hand to sinners instead of just throwing Scripture at them.
- You should stop bullying people about sexual sins.
- You shouldn't be so negative.
Predestination, Foreordination, Unconditional Election
- Are Christians predestined to go to heaven?
- Could God have two wills, one that tells man what to do and a hidden will where He makes some men sin to accomplish His other will?
- Could you explain "foreknew" and "predestined" to me?
- Could you explain I Peter 1:1-5?
- Did God pick Jacob for salvation before or after he was born?
- Does "draw" means God pulls people in with an irresitable force?
- Does everything happen as God designed it or is it all by coincidence?
- Does God already know who will be in heaven?
- Does God exist outside of time and sees all of time at once?
- Does God have an ordained and permissive will?
- Does God not exactly know what we are going to do?
- Does Jude 4 mean that some people are predestined for destruction?
- Does Romans 9 support Calvinism?
- How can prayers change things if everything is predestined?
- How could God repent for creating man when the Bible also says God is not like man to repent?
- I really want to study theology, but how do I know if that is what God wants me to do?
- If Adam and Eve did not sin, would it have been only a matter of time before someone else sinned?
- If God knows everything, then why did Jesus marvel at the centurion's faith?
- If God is sovereign, why does He express sorrow when man is bad? If God knows of everything, why did He repent?
- If Jesus knew Judas would betray him, why did Jesus have him around?
- If we are slaves to God, then aren't we forced to obey Him?
- Is free will and predetermined destiny contradictory?
- Is God bound by time?
- Is God's sovereignty absolute?
- Is Judaism Calvinistic?
- Is our fate predetermined?
- My cousin wants to be saved, but he is waiting for God to give him an experience so he can stop being gay. What should he do?
- "Of course God sends people to hell, but hell doesn't exist!"
- What do you think about predestination and free-will?
- When Jesus said he didn't know the day or hour of his return, was he speaking in hyperbole?
Prejudice
Premillennialism
- Are there sacrifices during the millennium?
- Can people receive Christ after the Rapture?
- Did the Jesuits develop preterism and futurism?
- Do you think something drastic will happen this year? Do you think the rapture will happen in the next two years?
- Do you think there is anything to this New World Order idea?
- Does Hebrews 8:4 damage the view that Jesus reigns on the earth?
- Even if the Jews accepted Christ, wouldn't the Romans have killed Jesus anyway?
- How do I explain the second coming?
- I am confused about premillennial theory
- If you weren't a part of the rapture and had to face the tribulation, would that shake your faith?
- In the Book of Revelation, when is Christ coming back on a cloud, before or after the tribulation?
- Is there any evidence of the rapture being written or spoken of prior to 1909 and Scofield?
- What do you believe in regards to premillennial and dispensational theories?
- What do you know about Jack Van Impe?
- What is the bema judgment?
- What is meant by "one will be left and the other taken"?
- Who cares if the word "rapture" doesn't appear in the Bible? It is still a term used to describe a real event.
- Will Jesus come again when everyone has heard the gospel?
Preterism, Preterist, AD 70 Theory
- Are the seven church in Asia still waiting for Christ?
- Could Hegesippus have been mistaken and John was sent to Patmos in A.D. 70?
- Did the Jesuits develop preterism and futurism?
- Did the Old Law not end until the destruction of Jerusalem?
- Should all prophecies be seen as fulfilled in the past (preterism)?
- What does "end of the age" refer to?
- When was the church in Smyrna established?
- When was the Son of Man coming in His Kingdom?
- Where does the Bible say Jesus will return a third time?
Pride
- Are we wiser today than prior generations?
- Can a person, ashamed over their living condition, be too proud to ask for help?
- Is it wrong to have pride in your work?
- Is my daughter's craftiness a self-esteem issue?
- Questions about James 4
- What is pride?
- What should a teenager do to guard against pride?
- Why did Peter say that perhaps God would forgive Simon?
Priests
- Did the Levitical priesthood replace the priesthood of Melchizedek?
- How could Samuel offer a burnt offering when he was not a Levite?
- Was there a ritual that a Levite had to go through before becoming a high priest?
- Were all Levitical Priests left-handed?
- Were only priests allowed to offer sacrifices?
- What is the difference between a Priest and a Levite?
- What is wrong with Catholicism?
- Where does the Bible say the priesthood is given to all men?
Priorities
- How do I put God first in my life?
- How do I say no?
- How do you seek first the kingdom of God?
- Why did Jesus say to let the dead bury the dead?
Profanity
- How do you stop from saying bad words?
- I need help handling teenage dress and language problems
- I really want to be a Christian, but I keep sinning. What should I do?
- Is it a sin to listen to music that contains swear words?
- Should I confront my friend about his language?
- What do I do about shows where the Lord's name is taken in vain?
Promises
- See also: Oaths
- Are promises only binding when spoken aloud?
- Before I became a Christian, I had promised to marry a woman, but now that I'm a Christian I don't think it will work out. What do I do?
- Can a broken vow to God be forgiven?
- Did God break His promise to Moses?
- Do I have to keep a foolish promise that I made?
- Do I need to keep foolish promises I made in the past?
- Does God still need to keep His covenant with Abraham?
- How many promises can be found in the Bible?
- I repented of a foolish vow, and broke it anyway. So what do I do?
- If the land was promised to Abraham, why did God let it be destroyed?
- Is a person to keep a sinful promise?
- What does God do if you make a deal with Him and don't keep it?
- What does it mean that you will receive power?
- When and to whom was the Savior first promised?
- When are promises binding?
- Why is the command to baptize applied to us, but not those concerning miraculous gifts?
- Would you help resolve a dispute over the sale of a home?
Prophecy, Prophets
- A reader who doesn't believe the gifts of the Spirit have ended.
- A prophet told my fiance not to marry me. What do I do?
- Aren't prophets useless if they don't submit to the church's authority?
- Can you give me a personal prophecy?
- Can you explain some of the prophecies of Christ?
- Can you explain Zechariah 13:1-5? I don't see how it talks about the ending of prophecy and demons.
- Could God speak in a still small voice today if He wanted to?
- Could God's prophets really tell my boyfriend that we would have an unhappy marriage?
- Could you explain prophecy, tongue speaking, and interpretation a bit more for me?
- Do you know of any prophecy that says the Temple will never be rebuilt?
- Does a prophet need to be an official minister before they can prophesy?
- Does Acts 2:17-18 prove women can be preachers?
- Does God speak to unbelievers?
- Does the Bible predict a future war in Korea?
- Doesn't Ezekiel 37 speak of the restoration of Israel before Jesus' return?
- Doesn't prophecy require an interpreter?
- Have you heard about Kim Clement?
- How could "out of Egypt I have called my Son" be about Jesus?
- How do I teach a withdrawn from family member who thinks God is directing her?
- How do we know that one day equals a year in Daniel's prophecy of the seventy weeks?
- I have a Seventh-Day Adventist claiming that Daniel's vision of the statue is still being fulfilled.
- I just can't seem to keep God's teachings in my mind.
- "I know for sure that God speaks to me."
- If Jesus knew Judas would betray him, why did Jesus have him around?
- Is it blasphemy to wonder if a prophet is truly from God?
- Is there a non-miraculous form of prophecy?
- Is there any hope for me?
- Is there any non-biblical evidence that prove the prophecies in the Bible?
- My pastor says God told her that I shouldn't marry my fiance. What do I do?
- My pastor says the girl I am about to marry will fail me spiritually. What do I do?
- Questions about miraculous gifts
- Should a Bible class teacher yield the floor when someone else has a revelation?
- Should all prophecies be seen as fulfilled in the past (preterism)?
- Should I heed the words of a prophet in regards to who I marry?
- The mistranslation of "Jesus" is the 666 in Revelation
- That prophet you called false was right!
- Was Moses a prophet?
- Was there a prophecy connecting the Feast of the Tabernacles to Jesus' birth?
- What about prophecy in the church?
- What did Simeon mean in Luke 2:35?
- What do I say to people who claim God told them to do something foolish?
- What do you know about Jack Van Impe?
- What do you think God is telling me?
- What is God's prophetic word for my life?
- What is the purpose of dreams?
- What is your proof that prophecy has ended?
- What prophet did God blind?
- When and to whom was the Savior first promised?
- Where do dreams of the future come from?
- Where does the Bible explain why Jesus' bones were not broken?
- Who are the false prophets among us today?
- Who was the last to see Jesus?
- Why are all the guys I date bums?
- Why couldn't Isaac take back his blessing and give it to Esau?
- Why did my mother have such a strange dream?
- Why do those who claim to prophesy or speak in tongues scare me?
- Why do we not follow the Old Law but continue to teach the prophecies found in the Old Testament?
- Why is I Corintians 13:8 always brought up to say prophecy will cease?
- Why was I lied to about finding a wife?
- Will the world end on December 21, 2012?
- "You are a false prophet"
Prostitution
- How do I get out of this habit of using prostitutes and masturbating?
- How do I help a male escort out of his sinful lifestyle?
- Is it wrong for a lonely single man to use the services of a prostitute?
- Which is better: to visit a prostitute or masturbate?
- Why are your questions on prostitution so one sided?
Protection
Proverbs
Providence
- Are we limiting God by saying miracles don't happen today?
- How does God influence us?
- How much do we do before we let God take over?
- Is this girl the answer to my prayers?
- Where was God's protection for those caught in the September 11th tragedy?
Psychiatry, Psychologists, Psychology
- How do I get motivated?
- Should Christians get counseling?
- What about hearing voices in your head?
- Why do I still not have control over my anger?
Psychics
- Are psychics real?
- If a psychic helps the police, does this make it good?
- My friend and I shared a dream. Does that mean we are telepathic?
- Should I hone my skills as an empath?
