Did I cause my child to die? Did God? Why did it happen?

Question: I contacted you a couple of months back when I was having difficulties with an unplanned pregnancy. The feeling in my heart right now is one of confusion. Even though the baby was conceived in fornication, I never even thought of having an abortion. Despite the refusal of the man who impregnated me to consider…

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Who is Jesus Christ?

Question: Who is Jesus Christ? Answer: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light…

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Does a person have to repent before you can forgive him?

Question: In Luke 17:3 we are told to forgive if repentance takes place and in Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you,” but in Mark 11:25 Christ says “Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who…

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We would like to get married, but we can’t afford it

Question: I am in the same situation as the young lady, who is 23 years old. I have been with my boyfriend for almost ten years, and we need help. We keep sinning. We want to stop, but we eventually come back to our sinful ways. Since the Bible say let them be married so…

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I love this website

Question: I love this website. I am thankful to God for you. Please keep me in prayer, as I live daily with sin and striving to walk in God’s way. It seems in life we are too comfortable with our sins. I want something more! God bless. Answer: I’m glad you have found useful material…

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My friend is committing adultery. Must I say something?

Question: I need a clear answer. Did I commit sin if I have known from the beginning my friend has committed adultery and still dating someone? She still married, still living in the same house together with her husband and kids. Her husband is nice, old, and busy at work all the time. I also…

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Is it wrong to use “Allah” for God in Malaysian Bibles?

Question: Greetings, With the general election just around the corner here in Malaysia, many issues are being used as fodder including the issue of the use of the Arabic word for God in Malay translation of the Bible being used among native congregations. While this is not prohibited by any existing laws, the same issue…

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How do we treat an adult child living in our house who stole from us?

Question: When an adult child of ours, living in our house steals, and we confront them, how do we treat them at the time of the confrontation and afterward whether they are in the house or decide to leave? What should the appropriate treatment of that child be? Answer: When an adult steals, you call…

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How many sons did Abraham have?

Question: Regarding Genesis 20, where it says Sarah was untouched. So being the wife of Abraham she had no relations with him?  Then how was it written she was barren?  Abraham was married to his half-sister so he only told half a lie to the Pharaoh. Why was the Pharaoh plagued when this was the…

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Could you explain more about fornication, lust, and desire?

Question: To start off, I just want to say I am not trying to be antagonistic to your response in “My boyfriend and I keep falling into sexual sin. What should we do?” but rather trying to fully reconcile what people say the Bible says to the lives we actually live — body, soul and spirit. I…

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Is something a sin if it’s illegal?

Question: Is something a sin if it’s illegal? Answer: Sin is breaking God’s law. “Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness” (I John 3:4). One of God’s laws is “Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which…

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Parenting Pre-School Children – Obedience Training

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/ParentingPreschoolersObedienceTraining.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Ephesians 6:1-4   I.         Simply because limits are placed, it doesn’t mean that they are always followed             A.        Children of this age have a fair ability to communicate             B.        A source of endless “Why?”                         1.         It is no longer enough to know something exists, they want a reason.                         2.         Not so much as to…

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Why is the sky referred to as “heavens” in Genesis 1:6-8?

Question: Hello, I am currently bust with a Bible study of Genesis and I am confused about something. In Genesis God said: “Let there be a space between the waters, to separate the waters of the heavens from the waters of the earth”. If the first heaven is the atmosphere i.e the sky. Then why…

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Can a Christian be friends with an atheist?

Question: Good day sir, I am a woman. I have a friend who has morals and beliefs similar to mine. She is a focused, good person. I have known her for about six months now and, though it’s not long, I feel she is someone I would want to remain friends with. The only thing…

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You Expect Me to Believe That?

by Phil Grear In the beginning, there was nothing. And suddenly for no reason, nothing exploded and created everything. You expect me to believe that? At some point, by chance, the right chemicals happened to float together at just the right moment to be struck by an electrical charge and become life. You expect me…

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Why do you use the non-inspired NKJV?

Question: Love your site! But why do you use the non-inspired version that has changed scriptures and missing words? I also notice that some of the NKJV have a 666 crest that looks like a trinity circle on them. Very deceptive — just like the fish sign for Dagod! Thanks for your thoughts. Answer: There is…

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I was greatly blessed by your article “Jesus Offends People”

Question: Good day. I read your article titled “Jesus Offends People,” and I am greatly blessed. God has inspired me to study His word more lately. Please, keep on sharing the good news with us. Answer: I’m glad you found the lesson from the study of the Gospel Accounts was useful in your studies.

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Martignoni – Thrasher Debate on the Pope

John Martignoni, Catholic, and Thomas N. Thrasher, Christian via Meditate on These Things, April 2012 Proposition “The apostle Peter was the first Pope of the Roman Catholic Church.” Affirm: John Martignoni Deny: Thomas N. Thrasher Martignoni’s First Affirmative My task is to argue the affirmative of the proposition: “The apostle Peter was the first Pope of…

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Are you a church that constantly talks about Obama and abortion?

Question: Is your church a place where I am going to constantly hear about Obama and abortion? Do you discuss politics? Are these topics that are continually touched upon? I would appreciate an honest answer. Thank you. Answer: You can look through the Sermons and see what is discussed here. Moral topics are discussed and why…

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Self-Defense and The Use of Force

by Tim Haile The recent escalation of violence and an unprecedented expansion of government power is forcing more and more people to consider the question of self-defense. Is it right to use physical or lethal force to protect oneself or others? The question is not new. Cycles of controversy over the question can be traced…

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How Does the Holy Spirit Lead?

by Herschel E. Patton via Guardian of Truth XXXV: 8, pp. 237, 239, April 14, 1991 Obviously, the Holy Spirit does lead certain ones. “Sons of God” are thus led. “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God” (Romans 8:14). Jesus was “led up of the Spirit” into…

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Tips in Searching for a Quality Made Bible

by Wayne Goforth The past week I have been searching for a new Bible. I’m really tired of replacing one every 4-5 years, even when they are warranted for life, so I’ve been researching Bible construction. I already knew I wanted a KJV and NKJV, but the question was about the construction quality. After spending…

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My new job interferes with going to Bible study. What do I do?

Question: I just started a new job at school where I work the second shift Monday through Friday. The local assembly where I worship meets for Bible study on Wednesday evenings. My question is: according to Hebrews 10:25 is it considered forsaking or neglecting if I miss Wednesday Bible study? Answer: The reason for attending…

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You shouldn’t be discussing sex on a church’s website

Question: To whom it may concern: I recently searched for information regarding elders and your site came up on my search. I am very disturbed to know that there is an evangelist who seems to think it is OK to publish very explicit material regarding sexual subjects that way you are. I am sure this…

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Abortion Is Seen as Morally Wrong, But Fewer Want the Laws Changed

Source: Dan Merica, “Survey: Few religious groups want Roe v. Wade overturned despite belief abortion morally wrong,” CNN, 16 January 2013. “Slightly more than half (54%) of white evangelicals, according to the Pew Research Center study, favor completely overturning the 1973 Supreme Court decision that affirmed a woman’s right to have an abortion. No other religious group,…

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How do I stop sinning with my friend?

Question: My year began on a very hopeful note, and I was really looking forward to making great changes in my life. My guy friend and I had not chatted or hung out for a while. Unfortunately the day we saw each other it seemed we could not resist not hanging out. I agreed to…

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I find your answers are relevant to my life

Question: I do not have a specific question, but I just wanted to say “Thank you.” Thank you, brother Hamilton, for your sacrifice and dedicated service to God. I often visit and revisit this site just for inspiration. I find that your answers to questions asked even several years ago still hold true and relevant…

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Are the stories in the Bible just “true myths?”

Question: I recently read that C.S. Lewis, who is one of my favorite authors ever, believed that some chapters in Genesis were “true myths” as he called them. “True myths” being stories of both fact and fiction. Chapters concerning the history of Adam and Eve or Noah and the Ark or Jonah and the Whale…

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Where did the demons go after the swine died?

Question: Dear Sir, This is a question that I often wonder about. We are all familiar with the incident of Jesus sending Legion into the herd of pigs because the demons didn’t want Jesus to send them into the abyss (Luke 8:31). However once Legion went into the pigs the pigs all went over the…

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