Unconditional Election

by Terry W. Benton Understanding Purposeful and Temporal Election versus Unconditional Salvation Election The second point of Calvinism in the TULIP acrostic is “Unconditional Election”. It means to Calvinists that God picked Randy and not Bob, Suzie, and not Janet for salvation and that His election of Randy and Suzie was “unconditional”. That means that…

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Trusting God When Afraid

by Wayne S. Walker “Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You” (Psalm 56:3). Jesus told us, “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28). The fact is that “God has…

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How did the children of Israel get their name?

Question: How did the children of Israel get their name? Answer: They were descendants of Jacob who was a son of Isaac who was a son of Abraham (Exodus 19:3). Jacob, when concerned about his brother Esau’s possible approach to kill him, stayed behind to pray all night. There he was visited by an angel.…

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Catholics venerate Mary, they don’t worship her

Question: Allow me to begin by saying that I am not a member of your congregation. Please attend to your own flock before this is taken into account. I am a practicing Catholic that believes strongly in building character through criticism. I also do my best to apply this in my spiritual life. I read…

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I’m worried that my son will be too short

Question: I don’t know exactly what I need, but I definitely need help. Before getting back to obeying Christ and attending a church of Christ, I was out doing what I wanted to do and ended up pregnant. The baby’s father and I ended up getting married a few months after I had the baby.…

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Did God invent algebra?

Question: I went through a lot of stress in high school with algebra. Did God invent algebra? I don’t think so. If He did, where is it in the Bible?  Why did God invent algebra and why do we need it? People are stressed out and having nervous breakdowns over it. I bet you never…

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Is the use of instrumental music in worship a salvation issue?

Question: Is the use of instrumental music in worship a salvation issue? For example, regarding the division between instrumental and non-instrumental churches of Christ, if in the end when Christ returns both churches are still divided and convinced of their own views on the issue, will all of them that otherwise have remained faithful to…

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Isn’t divorce for any reason other than fornication a sin?

Question: Where is the Scripture that God allows divorce for any reason other than fornication, such as drug addiction, or abuse? I Corinthians 7:10 is not giving permission to divorce. It is a command not to.  If disobeyed, however, I Corinthians 7:11 says she must remain unmarried. There is only one scriptural cause for divorce — fornication. You said there…

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Thank you for the pictures (2)

Question: I was looking for pictures for a class I am teaching for 3 to 5-year-olds and found your site.  I just wanted to say thank you. Answer: You’re welcome.

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Should I talk with a brother who is wearing a Masonic ring?

Question: I noticed that a brother in Christ wore a Masonic ring. I mentioned it to one of the elders. We talked a short time and he agreed it’s a religion. He did not ask, neither did I tell, who he was. Am I to talk with the brother or leave it alone? Answer: It…

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How do I handle my verbally abusive husband?

Question: I have been married for several years and about the same time, I became a member of the Lord’s church. I am in a situation where I am not sure what to do as a Christian. The whole time I have been a Christian I have fallen many times, but every time I try…

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To say rape can’t happen in a marriage is wrong!

Question: I was surfing the Internet when I found your site. I am a Christian, a woman and having read Chapter 11, take this opportunity to express my belief that the final sentence of the final paragraph of this page, appears to draw a conclusion that is not scriptural and simply wrong. I assume the paragraph…

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The Old Testament and New Testament Christians

by Joe R. Price Moses Brings a Second Copy of the Stone Tablets Exodus 34:29-30 The Old Testament is a relevant part of God’s word, even though it is not the standard of authority by which we obtain reconciliation and life in Christ (Colossians 3:17; Galatians 3:23-27; Romans 7:4; II Corinthians 3:14; Ephesians 2:14-18). To…

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Anything Worth Doing Is Worth Doing Badly

by Gary Henry via WordPoints.com Gebhard Fugel Moses vor dem brennenden Dornbusch c1920 When God wanted Moses to go deliver Israel, Moses demurred with objections that may have been intended to sound humble: “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh?” (Exodus 3:11), “I am slow of speech and slow of tongue” (Exodus 4:10), etc.…

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Why do people post Deuteronomy 11:18-21 on their walls?

Question: I have a question regarding Deuteronomy 11:18-21. I am sure this is an easy question to answer but for some reason, I cannot get my mind around it. I have seen many people place the passage in their homes. I am not really sure what this verse is fully referring to and how it…

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What is the Social Gospel?

by Richard Thetford Have you ever asked yourself “what is the social gospel?” Most individuals that have been raised in the Lord’s church have come to know and understand what the social gospel is. There are many, many individuals in churches of Christ around the country today that are actively engaged in a social gospel…

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The Gospel and the Social Gospel

What is the Difference? by Bob Myhan Many of the Lord’s churches have gone the way of the modernistic de­nominations, abandoning the gospel for “a different gospel, which is not another” (Galatians 1:6-7). Paul, in the passage just quoted, used the word “gospel” in an accommodative sense. There was but one gospel. What he called “a different…

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I am convinced I do not really deserve happiness. Am I being rational?

Question: I have been struggling with some problems recently.  I was baptized into Christ three years ago, and have been married for several years.  My wife was baptized into Christ while in high school, but sadly did not maintain an attitude of repentance, and was involved in inappropriate relationships with two of her boyfriends before…

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How can Satan be bound if he is walking about like a roaring lion?

Question: Would you please assist me with a question about Revelation 20? I understand that Christ is now reigning and that when death is conquered at his second coming his reign will end. I know his reign is not a literal thousand years. But my question is: How is Satan bound for the thousand years…

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Devaluing the Local Church

by Glen Young via Gospel Power, Vol. 15, No. 25, June 22, 2008. The local church occupies an important position in God’s scheme of things. It is through the local church that Christians execute certain works. These are works that God commands that can only be accomplished as a group in the context of a local…

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The Way International

by Wayne S. Walker Its History Several years ago, when I was working with the church in Medina, Ohio, I was at a shopping center in a nearby town when my attention was caught by a flyer posted on the window of one of the stores. It was printed by “The Way Ministry” of Brunswick,…

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Can a church be scriptural without elders?

Question: I’m having a problem reconciling attending a church without elders. The Bible doesn’t lay out an alternate plan for church leadership. What does a church do in lieu of leaders? Can a church be scriptural without them? Who is responsible for the growth and protection of new members if there are no elders? Answer:…

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What does it mean that John was “in the spirit?”

Question: In Revelation 1:10, John said that he was in the “Spirit” what did he mean? “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,” Answer: It means that while he was physically on Patmos, his spirit was elsewhere. A similar thing happened to…

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