Can Christians support Black Lives Matter?
Question: Hello, I am a member of the church. We have mixed views here on whether or not we are allowed to stand in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter Movement and the ongoing protests. Some members have asked me to settle the topic biblically, but I need some advice. In addition, concerns have come…
Read MoreA Confession for Internet Writers
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I Repent of pretending to know more than I do, of speaking without listening, of correcting without caring, of passing judgment without understanding, of talking at people instead of with people, of using words that hurt and do not heal, of writing without grace, charity, love, and kindness, of writing with…
Read MoreThere are thousands of religions. What makes you think yours is the only one?
Question: No offense dude. But given that there are over 1000 religions from all over the world. The idea that your particular God of choice is the only real one. Is just plain ludicrous. And not one thing of what you have to say about the bible matters. It can all be disproved in seconds…
Read MoreThe Old Testament Points Us to Christ
by Tommy Peeler The Old Testament is valuable because it points us to Christ. Jesus emphasized that the Old Testament pointed to Him Jesus said, “You search in the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that bear witness of Me” (John 5:39). When the audience failed to…
Read MoreOvercome Evil with Good
by Eric M. Hamilton “Do not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21). This is one of those profound statements in the Bible, that when it hit me, it hit me hard. On the surface, it seems a no brainer: Duh! Of course, you overcome evil with good! Photo by Andrea…
Read MoreWere non-believers ever invited to assemblies?
Question: In the last couple of years, I have come to believe that the assembly is for believers. I haven’t seen any examples that non-believers were ever invited to the first of the week assembly. Have you any thoughts on the matter? Thanks. Answer: “In the Law it is written, “By men of strange tongues…
Read MoreA Gender-Neutral God in Hymns
by Matthew W. Bassford The other day, I found myself going through some hymns of hope and comfort that a hymn blogger has been posting daily through the coronavirus pandemic. The style (organ plus choir) isn’t my thing; from my perspective, you’ve got a nasty instrument drowning out the good parts. However, the hymns themselves…
Read MoreAre virtual choirs wrong?
Question: Hi, With the advent of social media, we hear about these virtual choirs. Do Christians have the authority to do virtual choirs and post them on Facebook? Doesn’t this constitute entertainment because they have an audience? Answer: I can play the card game Solitaire and find it entertaining, even though there is no audience.…
Read MoreConfusing Mercy with Justice
by Matthew W. Bassford The other Sunday, I was approached by one of the younger sisters at church. She had a couple of questions. They involved hypotheticals that many of us have encountered before. What about the tribesman in the Amazon jungle who never gets to hear about the gospel? What about the man who…
Read MoreShould we only greet in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ?
Question: Dear Brother, Greetings to you. Is there any regulation to greet only in the name of Christ? Or can we greet in the name of Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit? Could you please clarify this, brother? Thanks. Answer: Of the many passages that mention greetings, none say “in the name of the Lord,”…
Read MoreWhere is the justification for taking the Lord’s Supper at home?
Question: Dear Brother, In these times of pandemic and gathering restrictions, I have seen many different takes on gathering for the Lord’s table and virtual worship. It is good to see autonomy alive and well within the Lord’s church. My question is the acceptance of virtual worship and the taking of the Lord’s table via…
Read MoreDemanding a Sign
by Matthew W. Bassford Matthew 16:1-4 is one of the more off-putting passages in the gospels. Some Pharisees and Sadducees come to Jesus asking for a sign. A reasonable request, right? Don’t you have the right to ask a self-proclaimed prophet to show that he’s really from God before you believe in Him? However, Jesus…
Read MoreWhat About This Man?
by Doy Moyer This isn’t a parable, but it is a principle to be understood with multiple applications. After Jesus resurrected and met with His disciples, He specifically talked with Peter. Three times (probably mirroring the three times Peter denied Him), Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him. Three times Peter said he did, and…
Read MoreYour God Can’t Be the Only Real One
Question: No offense dude. But given that there are over 1000 religions from all over the world. The idea that your particular God of choice is the only real one. Is just plain ludicrous. And not one thing of what you have to say about the bible matters. It can all be disproved in seconds…
Read MoreDoctrinal Matters
by Doy Moyer When we think of “doctrinal” issues, we tend to think of matters like marriage and divorce, the work of the church, baptism, etc. We work hard to try to get these right, and there are often sharp disagreements over the nature of these “doctrinal” matters. “Doctrine” means teaching, and anything we teach…
Read MoreHow can a young man overcome sexual sin when he is not yet financially able to get married?
Question: I am a new convert. I have read several of your articles, which have helped in building up my faith. American marriages are quite different from marriages in my country. Here the bride’s parents will give the groom-to-be a list of things to buy or pay that can add up to millions in cash…
Read MoreIf I don’t remember making a confession, do I need to be baptized again?
Question: Hello! First and foremost I want to offer my appreciation for your website and the encouragement it brings to many. I have been struggling with doubts about my personal salvation over the last few years and was hoping you could bring me some clarity/advice on what my next step should be. I want to…
Read MoreSo there is not a sin gene?
Question: Dear Jeffrey, Can you, if you get the chance, please confirm my understanding from one of your sermons Infant Baptism? This is the first time ever, I’ve heard the thought we didn’t inherit sin, and I’m staggered by that. So there is no sin DNA? We don’t sin because we are from Adam and inherited…
Read MorePrejudiced: Preconceived Opinions
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Prejudiced-Preconceived-Opinions.mp3 Text: James 2:1-9 I. How many of you believe you are prejudice? How many of you believe you are the victim of prejudice? A. Prejudice is old, old problem that Christians have battled for centuries. 1. It means to have an opinion about something or someone before all the facts are weighed. 2. It is not wrong to…
Read MoreWorthy of Trust
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Worthy-of-Trust.mp3 Text: Psalm 15 I. It has occurred to me that a core problem in our society is that we don’t trust anyone. A. Anyone trust the politicians? What about the news media? B. For some there is now a lack of trust of the police. C. What is behind this lack of trust? D. I’m sure you heard…
Read MoreHow do I deal with my son declaring he is a homosexual?
Question: Good Morning I’m struggling. Not long ago, my son announced that he is gay. We are members of the Lord’s church and have been all my life, and he has been all his life. I have told him from day one that I do not support his decision and I cannot allow him to…
Read MoreBooks “Missing” from the Bible?
by Ethan L. Longhenry In recent times we have seen an explosion of material alleging that the Bible that we have is not complete. Many theories have been advanced that speak of all kinds of other books that were “banned” from the Bible, “taken out” of the Bible, and other such ideas, and that such…
Read MoreListening to the Hard Sayings
by Matthew W. Bassford The law of Christ is not as I would have written it. There are actions that don’t bother me very much that God labels as sins, and there are things that chap my hide but are not condemned by Him. I think pineapple on pizza ought to be classed as an…
Read MoreThe Heavens Declare the Glory of God (Psalms 19)
by Mike Johnson Psalm 19 is beautifully written and has been revered by many people over the years. From it, many conclude that there is a God who created the universe, and He has revealed Himself to mankind through the Scriptures. From Psalms 19:12-14, the awesomeness of these concepts should cause introspection on the part…
Read MoreBut He Didn’t Have to be Circumcised!
by Edwin Crozier Didn’t we just have a whole debate in Jerusalem that discovered Christians didn’t have to be circumcised? In fact, in Paul’s letter to the Galatians, he will brag that no one made Titus get circumcised during that meeting (Galatians 2:1-3). Yet, Paul circumcised Timothy. What’s up with that? Acts of the Apostles…
Read MoreThe Many Forms of Patience
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/The-Many-Forms-of-Patience.mp3 Text: II Timothy 2:23-26 I. The example of Job A. Job understood that there is no arguing with the Creator of the universe – Job 9:1-4 B. But in his frustrations with his friends’ insistence that he sinned, he wanted to argue his case – Job 23:1-7 C. In this Job was wrong, but we find him…
Read MoreThe Failure of Moral Relativism
by Doy Moyer (By “moral relativism,” I mean in this context the idea that morals are merely human conventions and are relative, non-absolute, and changing according to our own personal or societal situation and desires. Morals are subjective, with no ultimate line or standard by which moral behavior is to be judged other than what…
Read MoreThere’s a Lesson in That …
by Patrick Andrews Two weeks ago, at the request of a friend, I wrote a poem about Beulah Land. Someone commented on that poem recently and after I finished reading the comment, I listened again to the song that I had copied to my post. This song was written over a hundred years ago. The…
Read MoreHow do we handle our son’s birth father’s recent contact?
Question: Good afternoon Brother Hamilton, First of all, I want to thank you for your wonderful service in maintaining such a great resource for us to learn from. Your website has truly helped and aided me in my Christian walk. I am a sister in Christ. Let me give you some background. My husband and…
Read MoreHow can I have faith when so many are leaving the faith?
Question: I am a long time reader of your site and a Bible believer for 10 years, I’m afraid I am coming to my second and perhaps final crossroad in faith. At age 19, I learned of the likes of Harris, Dawkins, and most importantly Hitchens after trying to liberalize my beliefs due to same-sex…
Read MoreMy boyfriend doesn’t want to get married, but he doesn’t want me to leave either
Question: I have two children with my boyfriend, and I’m trying to follow God’s plan. I want to get married and he doesn’t. He also doesn’t want me to leave with our children. What should I do? Answer: Following God’s plan doesn’t include living with a man and having children without being married. I assume…
Read MoreDon’t Go Into Egypt
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Do-Not-Go-into-Egypt.mp3 Text: Jeremiah 42:1-6 I. Imagine living during the last days of Judah A. Josiah was a wonderful king – II Kings 23:25 B. But he was killed by the king of Egypt – II Kings 23:28-29 C. But Jehoahaz, the king who succeeded him, only lasted three months – II Kings 23:31-33 D. His brother replaces him as…
Read MoreDie on the Mountain
by Terry Wane Benton Text: Deuteronomy 32:48-50 Photo by Alex Meier on Unsplash God commanded Moses to take one last journey to the tops of Mount Nebo, from there take a look over into the Promised Land, and die on that mountain. It is sad that he got so close, could see it, but not…
Read MoreYour teaching has been an encouragement to me
Question: I hope everything is well with you, and I hope God is protecting the Lavista Church of Christ! I’ve been encouraged a lot with the teachings about marriage, contraception, etc. I am thankful that God helps me a lot in spiritual growth. I hope to know more about God, His church, and His Word.…
Read MoreThe Wonder of Touch
by Whit Sasser God’s design of the sense of touch is truly a most wondrous thing. Pain can save us from danger. Caressing can make us feel love and convey love to another. Determining the feelings of various things can be so helpful. Is it smooth or rough? Is it cold or hot? Is it…
Read MoreIs it alright to gamble just one time?
Question: My wife wants to play a slot machine for about 15 minutes. She wants to give any money she might win to those in our community who are needy. This does not affect our regular contributions. This will be a one time occasion. I am personally not comfortable with her doing this but she…
Read MoreDo I need to confess some sins to a Roman Catholic priest to be forgiven?
Question: Hello Jeffrey! I’ve been studying Christianity once again and found out that there are two kinds of sins at the Roman Catholic Church — ‘venial’ and ‘mortal’. I found out that if one commits a mortal sin then it must be confessed in front of a priest in order to be completely forgiven. That…
Read MoreWhat can a young widow do about wanting sex?
Question: Hi, I’m wondering about how to stay healthy as a young widow? My husband passed 15 years ago prematurely, and I miss his natural intimacy. You have said in this article that unless we are married, we have no entitlement to sexual intimacy. However, a sex-life is highly recommended by doctors for general bloom…
Read MoreI’m struggling with my thoughts
Question: Hey, I’m struggling with my thoughts. Satan puts sinful thoughts in my mind, then I feel like I have sinned and begin to worry about those thoughts. I worry a lot about everything. I know I haven’t sinned because I do not accept them, and I do not even want them there, but it…
Read MoreWas Mary’s mother a Levite?
Question: Regarding necessary inferences in the New Testament: Fact: Mary and Elisabeth are cousins. Fact: Elisabeth had to be a full-blooded Levite in order to marry a priest. (Zacharias) Fact: Mary’s father was of the tribe of Judah. What would be wrong with making a “necessary inference” and infer that Elisabeth’s mother and Mary’s mother…
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