How can you distinguish between the real and the make-believe?
Question: Alright, how do we know that religion, in general, is not just our mind playing tricks on us? This has been bothering me badly now. I didn’t know if you had an answer or not. For example, I had terrible anxiety problems. I was convinced that my house was haunted. I started hearing things…
Read MoreIs it bad to have a month’s worth of food and water set aside, just in case?
Question: Since I have joined the Lord’s church I feel I can’t be myself around my brothers and sisters. I am a bit of a geek and for years have educated myself on eating healthy, striving to eat organic foods only, avoiding things that I know are harmful to the body, preparing for an economical…
Read MoreDo I have grounds for divorce?
Question: I recently left our nearly 50-year marriage, moved to another state, and am starting my life over. He sexually abused me for most of our marriage. It consisted of forcing me to read a pornographic “book” he put together by pasting images on notebook pages with his own captions. The theme was always me…
Read MoreIs it wrong for a younger woman to teach older women?
Question: We have been in several small congregations and my wife has been asked to lead woman’s classes or has started one where there wasn’t one. The problem is that she feels a little strange about it because she is a young woman teaching older women some twice her age and Titus 2:3-4 says it…
Read MoreI can’t make up my mind between my husband and my lover
Question: Hi I hope you may be able to help. I’m a born-again Christian for the last 10 years. Here is my anguish: I met my husband when we were both near 20 years of age. At the time of meeting him, I was going through an awful time dealing with a nasty father and…
Read MoreShould we break up because we haven’t been able to restrain ourselves?
Question: Hi, My boyfriend and I have been dating for almost 10 months. We are both sophomores at a Christian university and met here at the beginning of our freshman year. In our relationship though, we have been having trouble with sexual sin. We have never “gone all the way” and had sex, we’ve just…
Read MoreCan I ask why you have not answered some of my questions?
Question: I understand that you have a life, but can I ask why you have not answered some of my questions? I think they are important. Answer: There is one of me. That’s it. There is no staff here. I hold down a full-time job as a preacher plus work two part-time jobs to make…
Read MoreWhere does the Bible say that God’s patience is long but not endless?
Question: Sir, Kindly let me know where exactly it is written in the Holy Bible that God’s patience is long but not endless? I am very eager to know the exact book, chapter, and verse in the Holy Bible. Answer: “And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and…
Read MoreShould I tell my husband I have herpes?
Question: Hi I am a Christian in the Lord’s Church and been baptized since I was 14. However, during my Army days, when I was in my early 20’s, I strayed and committed sin. While in the world, I contracted an STD (herpes). I was only 23 at the time and that was the worst…
Read MoreWhat if a church doesn’t have studies during the week?
Question: Hi brother, I hope you are still holding fast to Him. I have just moved to a place where there’s a small congregation of about nine members, who don’t meet during the week, only on Sundays. I have asked them to meet at least twice a week but to no avail. What is your…
Read MoreIsn’t filing for a 501(c)(3) exemption making a covenant with the people of the land?
Question: Exodus 34:12 reads in the NASB: “Watch yourself that you make no covenant with the inhabitants of the land into which you are going, lest it becomes a snare in your midst.” Without expending too much on the passage in Exodus 34:12, I am trying to determine the extent that verse 12 covers. By…
Read MoreI feel so guilty because we broke down and had sex. Should I leave the man I love
Question: My boyfriend and I are strong believers. We started a relationship less than six months ago and put a strong principle that there would be no sex. In the last two weeks, the principle got broken when we got carried away in love and had sex. Right now I feel too guilty although we…
Read MoreIf a congregation retains an elder who is a widower, should we leave?
Question: We’re conducting a class in which we’re going over the basics of Christianity and just last night, we started discussing the qualifications of elders and deacons. I almost fell out of my seat when our minister stated it’s OK for an elder to keep on serving after his wife dies or passes on. Both…
Read MoreDid God just make the world look like it evolved to test our faith?
Question: Dear Sir, I am a Christian and I have wondered for a while now after I saw a documentary on how the world was created. It explains that water came from meteors, live came from a mixture of chemicals, and it explains this in a very graphic way, answering quite a few of my…
Read MoreAre the baptisms in the New Testament Spirit baptisms or water baptisms?
Question: I have been studying with a co-worker of mine and apparently, we are getting nowhere fast. Our discussions consist of mostly the importance of baptism. He knows the Gospel and believes that it is vital to believe in it for salvation’s sake, but he doesn’t believe that baptism is an essential part, only that…
Read MoreCan a woman correct a man who is sinning directly?
Question: Can a woman follow the teaching in Matthew 18:15-17 and go directly to a brother if she has is bothered by a fault or trespass of his, or must she go to the men of the congregation to approach him? It seems to me the passage applies to all Christians not just men and…
Read MoreIs the third river from Eden the Hiddekel or the Tigris?
Question: I was studying about the location of the Garden of Eden today, and I noticed you said the Bible lists four rivers Pishon, Gihon, Euphrates, and the Tigris? I don’t believe that the Bible lists the Tigris. I believe the last river is listed as Hiddekel which is found in Genesis 2:10-14. Answer: “The…
Read MoreIf falling for your body’s desire is a sin, then how come masturbation isn’t directly a sin?
Question: If falling for your body’s desire is a sin, how is it then that masturbation isn’t directly a sin if it is a desire of the body? Answer: The flaw is in your premise. Sin is breaking the law of God. “Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness” (I John 3:4).…
Read MoreI can’t get past the fact that my boyfriend is not a virgin
Question: Hello! Thank you so much for your website. It has helped a lot. However, I wanted to ask if you had any advice for a woman who has saved herself for marriage and is courting a man who hasn’t. I have found it extremely difficult to accept his past. I feel like he will…
Read MoreI know we’ve sinned, but my parents are controlling my life. Shouldn’t I be able to make my own decisions?
Question: I had sex with my boyfriend about 2 months after we got together. We were friends for about a year before we became a couple. I’m 28 and he is 30 years old. We are both Christians. I’m from a Christian family, but he is not. He has been a Christian for a little…
Read MoreWhat does “godliness” mean?
Question: What does “godliness” mean? Answer: “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been…
Read MoreI lied to my girlfriend about being a virgin and it has been bothering me. What do I do?
Question: I have something that’s been bothering me lately, and I have to get it out somewhere. I started dating this girl four years ago for two years. While we were dating we were completely in love and agreed that we wouldn’t have sex until marriage. After we broke up my loneliness pressured me into…
Read MoreI want to be baptized, but my parents don’t think it is necessary
Question: I lost a lot of my faith recently due to the fact that I realized baby baptism doesn’t count and nothing that I did concerning God counted. I can’t even be baptized again yet because my parents don’t think it’s necessary after infant baptism, so I don’t know what to do. I could have…
Read MoreDoes a person have to repent and ask for forgiveness before you can forgive him?
Question: I trawled through the topics on questions but can’t find one that I want to ask. My sister and I are Christians. She says that she doesn’t have to forgive a person unless they come to her and ask for forgiveness. she tells me that nobody got forgiveness from God until they actually went…
Read MoreMy fiancee is having trouble forgiving me for my past sexual sins
Question: I am having an issue with my engagement. Before I met my fiancee I was not a Christian. I had had sex with multiple partners. My fiancee, at times, has trouble forgiving me for these past sins. What can I do to help her? I know I’ve hurt her but don’t know how to…
Read MoreI must commend you for your advice to this young lady
Question: I read the chain of emails titled “Does God forgive Christians who commit fornication and sexual immorality?” and must truly commend you for your level of maturity, which is displayed in the way you advised this young lady. Really good counsel. Answer: Thank you for the encouragement. I do what I can to help…
Read MoreI’ve tried to get out of homosexuality several times, but I keep falling back into it. I feel that I’m out of hope
Question: As a young adult, I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Savior. I believe that Jesus paid for my sin on the cross and paid for by eternal salvation. Later I started living a homosexual life. I’ve tried many, many times to stop the homosexual life. Several different times, I have prayed for God…
Read MoreWouldn’t Jesus being both man and God contradict the Old Testament?
Question: Is Jesus Christ man only and not God? If he is man as well as God then it would contradict passages like Hosea 11:9; Ezekiel 28:2; Isaiah 31:3. Answer: It is wrong for men, such as the king of Tyre or the Pharaoh of Egypt, to call themselves a god because they are not…
Read MoreThe Awful Aftermath of Adultery
by Jonathan Perz How rampant is the sin of adultery? While an exact number is hard to pinpoint, on the low end of most surveys, approximately 25% of all married individuals will commit adultery during the course of their marriage. This is not just a minor problem, it qualifies as an epidemic, and Christians are…
Read MoreI just learned my wife had a sexual encounter before we met
Question: My wife of over forty years just told me when she was 16 years old and her boyfriend was 18 years old, they fooled around. He played with her until climax, and she also played with him but not to climax. They never had intercourse. Just before breaking up, they were at her parents’…
Read MoreI fell into fornication. I’ve broken up with her, but should I tell her why?
Question: Hi Sir, I have come across your site reading your articles on courtship and relationship matters while searching for articles on how to prepare myself for a godly relationship in the future. And I thank God for your sound advice and guidelines in how we should live our lives as God’s people. For background on…
Read MoreCan a person pray in a tongue and not know what they are saying?
Question: Hello! I was talking to someone about tongues, or the so-called ‘tongues,’ with a friend. She insists that people can say what they don’t understand and referred to I Corinthians 14:14. This verse literally says one can pray using words they themselves don’t understand. Please help me out. Thanks. Answer: “Therefore let him who…
Read MoreI’m afraid to be alone at night
Question: I want to ask for your direction and advice, please. At the moment I am 26 years old man. I have my own small business and have this problem. I am afraid to be alone. I can’t stand to be alone in my home. If my family members go somewhere for a couple of…
Read MoreShould pitch pipes be used before a song?
Question: I have a very hard time worshiping in song after someone uses a pitch pipe. I have discussed it with brethren in our congregation. Some agree they don’t like it either. If we visit other places for gospel meetings, it’s to me like fingernails on a chalkboard. I heard a few sermons that try…
Read MoreCould you explain the importance of waiting eight days for circumcision?
Question: Could you explain the importance of waiting eight days for circumcision? Answer: “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘If a woman has conceived, and borne a male child, then she shall be unclean seven days; as in the days of her customary impurity she shall be unclean. And on the eighth day the…
Read MoreIs it wrong to daydream about being successful?
Question: I often find myself daydreaming about being successful. I daydreamed about impressing my teachers with my papers and presentations, daydreamed about winning awards for the things I create, daydream about guys being impressed with my godliness and wanting to date me, etc. Basically, anything I am doing or am planning to do, I daydream…
Read MoreAny advice for a person aspiring to preach?
Question: What is some advice you have for a person aspiring to be a preacher? Answer: First, study. You can’t preach accurately what you don’t know. “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (II Timothy 2:15). If you need…
Read MoreThanks for the article on the Origin of the King James Version
Question: Hi, I read the article about the controversy of musical instruments. The article mentioned the Richmond Hills Church of Christ and I decided to google that church. My search led me to a nonsensical conspiracy site about how the new world order plans to take over the church via liberal church planters. After sifting through…
Read MoreMust a person fall when hands are laid on them?
Question: Dear Sir, Many pastors expect the person they lay hands and pray for to fall backward. Many worshipers also seem to be attracted to this falling, thinking it’s an act of the Holy Spirit though there was no result from this. To me, this act does not seem to be biblical. Please let me…
Read MoreHas Becoming a Christian Changed You?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/HasBecomingAChristianChangedYou.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Romans 12:1-8 I. The Barna Group has done several surveys on the impact Christianity has on people’s lives. A. In May, 2006, a survey showed that 51% said that they had been greatly transformed by their faith. 1. I found that interesting because of what Jesus said – Matthew 7:15-20 2. An…
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