Archive for 2008
Is Jeremiah 16:2 telling me not to marry the woman I love?
Question: I am a believer in Nigeria. I have this question, I want you to seek the face of God and give me the interpretation. I have a lady friend, whom I truly love and she loves me. She is my neighbor. We have known each other for two years now, but we became friends…
Read MoreCould Hegesippus have been mistaken and John was sent to Patmos in A.D. 70?
Question: Ran into your article, Dating the Book of Revelation, on the net. The Hegesippus evidence is actually addressed in John A. T. Robinson’s “Redating the New Testament.” Both Domitian and Nerva were in Rome during 69 and 70 AD, while Vespasian and Titus were campaigning in Palestine. They had delegated imperial authority in Vespasian’s absence. …
Read MoreHelping the Needy in Our Community
by Matthew Allen “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm” (John 18:36). I am convinced that the verse you have just read is…
Read MoreDoesn’t prophecy require an interpreter?
Question: Could you also tell me how there can be an interpretation of prophecy without prophets? “No prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation” (II Peter 1:20). Answer: “And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day…
Read MoreThe Bible mentions other books, doesn’t that prove the Bible to be incomplete?
Question: Can you tell me why there are so many books talked about in the Bible that are not part of the Bible? Here is a list of them: book of the wars of the Lord (Numbers 21:14), book of Jasher (Joshua 10:13; II Samuel 1:18), book of the acts of Solomon (I Kings 11:41), …
Read MoreCan you explain the three glories found in I Corinthians 15:41-43?
Question: I ran into your web page about Mormons and the three heavens. Paul makes it clear in I Corinthians 15:41-43 that there are three states, or degrees of glory that happen in the resurrection “There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differeth from another star…
Read MoreA Defense of Marriage
DefenseOfMarriage(1)DefenseOfMarriage(2) by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Ecclesiastes 9:2-9 I. A recent article in Newsweek was brought to my attention. It is the cover story, called “Our Mutual Joy” by Lisa Miller, published 12/15/2008. [https://www.newsweek.com/gay-marriage-our-mutual-joy-83287] A. It claims that those who use the Bible to oppose gay marriages are dishonest. B. The article itself is a hodge-podge of…
Read MoreBecause of drugs, I’m hearing voices in my head. Do you know of any herbs which might help?
Question: My mind has been affected by drugs particularly LSD and music. It has opened my mind up to telepathy, mind control, sleep control, and the drug game. I am not sure what to do right now. After all these years I am realizing that if I do not stop telepathy, hearing voices in my…
Read MoreDo you have more thoughts on the issue of dress in worship?
Question: Thank you for your sensible and persuasive essay on dress. It is a nice contrast from some of the more stringent and pharisaical content that I’ve seen and heard, in that you are able to make a sound, scripture-based argument without beating anyone over the head with personal views. Your reasoning shows little personal bias…
Read MoreWhere can I find the early church father’s writings and evidence that Jesus lived and died?
Question: All these early church writing, such as Justin Martyr, Irenaeus and Tatian, the Epistle of Barnabas, Papias, and the Shepherd of Hermas, do you know where I could read their writings? Also, where can I find proof of the existence of Jesus and his death? Do you know of any sources where I can…
Read MoreShould I leave my controlling husband?
Question: Before I married my husband he had set up a living trust which stated that all his earthly possessions at the time of his death will go to his family members other than his wife. As we got married I did not know about it. He then has asked me to quit my job…
Read MoreMy wife and I are drifting apart and I don’t know what to do
Question: I am not too good at asking for help, but here goes. My wife and I have been together for four years and married for about two years. We were sexually active the whole time. She and I have had two children. The first one died a few days after birth. The second one…
Read MoreWhy did Paul say he handed over Hymenaeus and Alexander to Satan?
Question: I just read your online article about Hymenaeus and Alexander shipwrecking their faith (I Timothy 1:20). Good thoughts. What’s your opinion of Paul’s statement that he had turned these guys “over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme”? Answer: “This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning…
Read MoreIs Semiramis a myth or a fact?
Question: Who were Semiramis and her husband Nimrod? Are they responsible for goddesses and religions such as Catholicism along with praying to Mary and so forth? I have read of many “mother and child” religion like in China and in India (correct me if I am wrong). I can’t identify many of them now but…
Read MoreEven if Jesus existed, why did he last eat herbs and fruit?
Question: Wrong on ALL counts. So if he did exist, and some doubt it now, why did he lastly eat herb and fruit , reiterating genesis 1/29–perhaps he really was veggie -YOU don’t know You obviously don’t understand communion then. And god allowed carrion when he spoke to Noah, I am sure. Any fool with a microscope can…
Read MoreShould a 30-year-old man ask for a spanking?
Question: I read your site with interest and as a Christian, I go to if often for advice. I wonder if you might be able to help me. I am 30 years old and have recently got into trouble at work and I seem to be having real discipline problems, as though I’m a rebellious…
Read MoreDo the Sabbath and dietary laws remain because God doesn’t change?
Question: Hello, I just want to say thank you for having such a great site that people can go to with all kinds of questions and get answers. This is my first time here and I am very pleased. However, I didn’t see any of the articles mention clean and unclean food. You see I…
Read MoreMy almost 18-year-old daughter appears to be seeing a lesbian. What can I do?
Question: I have a 17-year-old daughter, soon to turn 18. I am a single mom. Her dad lives in another state but does back me on my decisions regarding discipline. She only sees him two or three times a year so he is not really the disciplinarian. After a lengthy boyfriend relationship went sour (the…
Read MoreThe Purpose of the Church
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/PurposeOfTheChurch.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Timothy 3:14-16 I. Have you paused to consider why the church exists? A. It appears to me that a good number of the problems faced by congregations stem form a lack of understanding the purpose of the church B. I looked at material from various denominations. 1. One, after getting a…
Read MoreDoes Revelation 2:17 mean we will have a new name in heaven?
Question: Revelation 2:17 “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.” Is…
Read MoreWould the Gentiles have been saved if the Jews had not rejected Jesus?
Question: I have a question from one of my students. I know half the answer, but he did bring up an interesting question: if the Jews weren’t provoked to jealousy and didn’t reject God, would the Gentiles have received salvation? Even though from the prophets writing it was decided a long time ago the Gentiles…
Read MoreHow do you grow in grace?
Question: In II Peter 3:18 it says, “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” Does this scripture mean that as we study our Bibles and become more knowledgeable we are blessed with more grace? Answer: Grace refers to the fact that we have been given a gift…
Read MoreHow do I honor my mother when we aren’t getting along?
Question: I had some questions and decided to email you again, as your answers and reasoning made sense. Okay, I have heard that you have to love your parents, but do you have to like them? I love mine (my mom and grandparents), but my mom is sometimes hard to get along with. Maybe it…
Read MoreWere sins rolled forward under the Old Law?
Question: In a Wednesday night lesson recently, our minister stated that under the Old Law sins were not rolled back when sacrifices were made. He said there was no Scripture that says that and that it has just been repeated until people think that. He said since God knew from the beginning of time that…
Read MoreWhat is meant by “nations” in Revelation?
Question: What does Revelation 21:26 and Revelation 22:2 mean? What do the references to the nations mean? “And they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it.” “In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits,…
Read MoreWhere do you start to gain faith?
Question: Good day, I was really impressed by your web site. I am not quite a believer. I tried a few times to read the Bible but seem to have lots of difficulties in reading in “between lines”. The purpose of my email is only to see where I could get good information. You might…
Read MoreIs phone sex grounds for a divorce?
Question: I have recently divorced my husband for sexual immorality and abuse. He watched pornography, read Playboy magazines, is a nudist around other nude men and women, and also paid several times to have phone sex with real women. These actions have been going on for about ten years or more. I consider these actions to be grounds…
Read MoreWhat does it mean when people say “God’s will be done” or “Lord willing?”
Question: What does it mean when people say “God’s will be done” or “Lord willing?” For example, some may say a prayer to God about getting a particular job or being accepted into a university, but then they also say something similar to “if it’s God’s will.” What do they mean by “God’s will?” With…
Read MoreWhat happens if we sin just before we die?
Question: For a faithful child of God, one who has put on Christ in baptism, and has lived a faithful life in Christ, but in a moment of weakness commits a sin, which the Scriptures tells us we all do, and he dies in that moment of weakness – do you believe that the blood…
Read MoreGrace and Permissiveness
by Dale Smelser via Truth Magazine, July 25, 1974 There is cause for concern in some current ideas premised upon the grace of God. What persons with such ideas are saying of grace per se is often fine, but their projected applications are unjustified, especially when they suppose that the fellowship of false teachers and errant…
Read More“Good” According to Whom?
by Shane Williams via The Lilbourn Light, Vol. 9, No. 1, May 2008. Too often people look in the wrong places when they’re searching for role models. We look for someone who is a good athlete, one who makes a large salary, or one who commands respect because of their leadership skills. This seems to…
Read MoreChurch Is Not Like It Used To Be
by Kent Heaton Going to church is not like it used to be. Church services have turned into places of entertainment and frolic and high-pitched computer-generated displays of excitement, energy, and temporal feelings of self-worth. Auditoriums are filled with choral groups arrayed in splashing displays of sparkling gowns with sound systems that generate twenty-seven million…
Read MoreCan a person with schizoaffective disorder truly have faith?
Question: I suffer from mental illness of bipolar and schizoaffective disorder. I believe in the notion that doctors’ advice of medicine helps us keep sane. But there are mental blocks. One is the ability to see God as Maker and Creator of heaven and earth. I have to really mentally think about it before it is natural before I…
Read MoreWho was Flavius Josephus?
Question: I am wondering about something: Often I hear about a historian, named Flavius Josephus. His writings are referred to many times, but I am wondering just how reliable is his writings? Do you believe this resource to be as useful as others seem to? How can we be sure he wrote about things correctly?…
Read MoreCan you help me with some arguments from a Messianic Jew?
Question: I have a friend who was a Christian and recently left the Church of Christ to join a group of people who call themselves Messianic Jews. My friend, and many other people, were told by the person who they call the rabbi of that group that everyone in that group that their last names…
Read MoreIf a Christian commits adultery and dies without repenting of his sin, will he go to hell?
Question: Hypothetical: If a Christian commits adultery and dies without ever asking forgiveness of this sin (whether he lives 5 seconds after committing adultery or 5 years), does he go to Hell because he did not repent of this sin? Selected references: Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:3-6: I Corinthians 6:9-11. Answer: Jesus stated, “I tell you,…
Read MoreI don’t think the Lord cares very much that I sleep with my boyfriend
Question: I am a born again Christian and I sleep with my boyfriend. Do not think the Lord cares very much about this as we are deeply in love so it can never be wrong to make love. Jesus had very very little to say about sex but far more about being rich. To me,…
Read MoreCan the preacher use his time to conduct a Bible class during the worship service?
Question: I’m a young man of seventeen and have been raised and brought up in a very conservative Christian home. I could go on and on about my father, the efforts of my mother, and the great strides I’ve been extremely blessed to make in being an active member in the church, but there is…
Read MoreShould I go out for college basketball?
Question: I played junior college basketball. I got sidetracked and started looking at other things that were selfish and were all about me. I stopped taking basketball seriously and basically quit going in my sophomore year. Recently year a kid that played behind me in high school walked on at the university and now is…
Read MoreIs cigar smoking wrong?
Question: I saw your articles on smoking. I have always believed heavy smoking is bad when it is something done constantly. Actually I hate cigarettes and the only time I do smoke is about three times a year. I have a cigar with one of my best friends as we sit down talk until late hours…
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