Isn’t remembering the Sabbath a perpetual moral duty?
Question: One question about the Sabbath that I have not seen addressed on this site is that the Reformed school (some Presbyterians and the Puritans) argue that the duty to sanctify one day in seven is a perpetual moral duty and that therefore Colossians 2:16 et al. do not eliminate Sabbath observance but just observance…
Read MoreDoes honoring your parents include avoiding things they disapprove of at all times?
Question: I have read your answers concerning honoring parents, and I understand that one of the prongs of honoring parents is to obey them. But how far does this prong of obedience apply? I ask because I suffer from obsessive thought patterns, so I have been having many concerns lately. For example, my dad sometimes…
Read MoreI find the boxer style for undergarments more modest, but how do I avoid the prohibition on cross-dressing?
Question: I have read the article on modest dress in the Bible and agree whole-heartedly. There are a few points that I would like to clarify and ask your opinion on, however. Please bear with me. Does the verse from Deuteronomy 22:5 refer also to “under” garments? I have found that the “boxer brief” type of…
Read MoreMust elders have the consent of the congregation in order to serve?
Question: Curious what you would have to comment on related to this topic of elderships and having the consent of the Lord’s body to serve as elders. Flavil Yeakley in his book Church Leadership and Organization makes this assertion: “One thing that has confused some people about the authoritarian style of leadership is that Acts 20:28…
Read MoreWho are the principalities and powers in heavenly places?
Question: Who are the principalities and powers in heavenly places that the church can make known certain things? Answer: “To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all see what is the…
Read MoreIs it wrong that my boyfriend and I satisfy each other through touching?
Question: Help, please. I am an adult female in her early thirty’s. I am also a virgin by choice. I am in a committed relationship with my boyfriend and I love him. He is a good, honorable man who is not a virgin and has changed his way of life and tries to live right.…
Read MoreDoes the Bible teach that the sun rotates around the earth?
Question: In school, I learned that the Earth rotated around the sun. Now in our church, we are taught that the earth stands still. Do you have an opinion on this? Answer: Yes, my opinion is that you need to find a true church. Long before Einstein came up with his theory of relativity, people…
Read MoreMy husband claims he been seeing other women where sexual touching was involved but no intercourse. He thinks it is no big deal. Do I have grounds for a divorce?
Question: I recently found some inappropriate emails to my husband (of 15 years) from another woman. He admitted to me that he has been with four other women starting about 5 years ago. He says there was no intercourse only sexual touching. He touched their genitals and they touched his leading to arousal but no…
Read MoreFour Facts Fatal to Original Sin
by Larry Ray Hafley via Guardian of Truth; December 6, 1984; Vol. XXVIII, No. 23; pp. 713, 716 The doctrine of original or Adamic sin states that every person is born in sin. Because of Adam’s sin, all men are corrupt and guilty of sin at birth. Note the testimony of the Philadelphia Confession of Faith:…
Read MoreWas David a Sinner at Birth?
by Jimmy Mickells “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me” (Psalm 51:5). Those who teach and try to prove that one inherits the sin of Adam use this verse as a proof text. Does it really say that David was born a sinner because of what Adam did…
Read MoreIf the Holy Spirit Operated Directly on Mankind …
by Douglas Hoff Many people’s concept of Christianity includes some mysterious work of the Holy Spirit to change one’s life. The Bible does teach the Spirit operates upon man to create faith, convict of sin, and covert the soul. Does he operate directly on man or does he work through the Word of God? The…
Read MoreThe Work of the Holy Spirit in Teaching
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton The teaching in the Bible about the work of the Holy Spirit is plain, but many in today’s religious society confuse the issue. Part of the confusion is the mysticism that made to surround the Holy Spirit and his work. We are not satisfied with simple answers, we want something more.…
Read MoreJohn 6:26-59
by Dale Smelser There are several keys to understanding this passage. One is John 6:48 where Jesus said, “I am the bread of life.” Then John 6:50, “This is the bread of life which comes down out of heaven that a man might eat and live.” As we will note, the consideration of actual baked…
Read MoreThe Restoration of Giving
by Harold V. Comer via Gospel Power, Vol. 14, No. 48, Dec. 2, 2007. This is a day of religious fundraising and money promotions. With all of the emphasis on pressure and gimmicks, there is a great need to restore the New Testament pattern of giving. The first-century practice would correct many of the abuses…
Read MoreHow can you be in a church when there isn’t one in your area?
Question: I am a Christian from the United States and I’m living in India. I have suffered a lot of abuse in the church in my life – yes, clear abuse and other things. Anyway, I do believe I need to be with other Christians, but I’m really praying and seeking to find out in…
Read MoreIf my boyfriend and I touched each other’s private areas, does that mean we aren’t virgins? When we were younger, we pretended to get married. It felt real. Does that mean we are married?
Question: I’ve read a couple of responses that you have given to other people and I find them very helpful. This site is just the site that I’ve been looking for to help me with my situation. I have a couple of questions and I was wondering if you could help me out. I’m presently engaged…
Read MoreI was impressed, at first, by your openness to address sexual issues, until I saw some of your answers
Question: When I first visited your web site, I was surprised to see it was hosted by a church, as I was led there by a link of the Tanner stages. It was a pleasant surprise, and honestly, I let my guard down to my presumptions. But then I looked at questions submitted by teens.…
Read MoreWhat is the significance of a vow taken with the hand under the thigh?
Question: In Genesis 24:2 it reads, “And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:” Why did he have to put his hand under his thigh? Was is the meaning of this? Answer: We know very little about…
Read MoreWhat is the morning star in Revelation 2:28?
Question: I am studying the book of Revelation. In Revelation 2:28, Jesus is talking to the church at Thyatira and he tells them that he will give them the morning star. What is the morning star? Also, there is a reference verse of II Peter 1:19 which talks about the day star. I am assuming…
Read MoreWhy Marriages Fail
by Jefferson David Tant via Vanguard, December 1982 The failure of marriage has become the American way of life — a significant change from former generations. In 1870, one of 34 marriages ended in divorce. By 1900, the rate had risen to one in twelve, increasing to one in five by 1940. According to an article…
Read MoreWhy Is It? (Taylor)
by Gene Taylor Some things are difficult for me to understand. I am not referring to the sciences or mathematics, even though I could for they gave me a lot of trouble when I was in school—I am talking about some things that, on the surface, seem simple enough but yet often have me asking…
Read MoreWhy Have Penitentiaries Anyway?
by Samuel G. Dawson Most people realize that the court and penal systems in North America are seriously broken and must be fixed, yet contemplating doing away with penitentiaries sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it? Barely 200 years ago, an experiment began which has cost us untold billions of dollars. Just last year, this experiment resulted in…
Read MoreWhen Your Child Leaves God
by Jim Lee Many of you parents who will read this, know by experience the horrific impact this circumstance can have on you. In the past, I have often sympathized and grieved with other brothers and sisters who have gone through the heart-wrenching experience of seeing a child of theirs turn their back on God,…
Read MoreWhen Was the Church Built?
by Richie Thetford In the denominational world, one would get all kinds of different dates as to when “their” church was established. But we need only to be concerned with one church – the church that Jesus built! Therefore, let us take a look at when the church of Christ was established. To find out…
Read MoreWhen Nobody Notices
by Shane Williams via The Lilbourn Light, Vol. 9, No. 9, Jan. 2009. Perhaps you’ve seen the sign that reads, “Housework is something you do that nobody notices unless you don’t do it.” The truth behind that statement applies to more than just housework. People seem to have no trouble noticing our failures — anger,…
Read MoreWhat is gluttony and are all pleasure-seeking activities wrong?
Question: I recently stumbled upon a Wikipedia article on the Seven Deadly Sins, one of which is gluttony. I had always thought of gluttony as an immoderate consumption of food, but Catholicism apparently expands this definition to include: 1) eating too soon 2) eating with condiments 3) eating too expensively 4) eating with pleasing the palate…
Read MoreMy granddaughter has turned to witchcraft. Will she be with us when the Lord returns?
Question: My granddaughter has turned to witchcraft and away from God. When she was little she asked the Lord to come into her life. I know her name is in the Book of Life, but will she be with us when the Lord comes back for us? Answer: Having one’s name in the Book of…
Read MoreHow should business meetings be conducted?
Question: We have no elders at our small congregation. Do you have information available on the workings of these meetings and its rules? What authority its president has versus its preacher? This probably a funny question to ask, but we do need some advice. Answer: It is clear in the New Testament that congregations did…
Read MoreWhat are some of the errors of Wesleyans?
Question: When you get a minute could you put up some of the things Wesleyans are teaching falsely on the web site? Answer: The Wesleyan Church has its roots in the Methodist Church. In fact, it originally used the name Wesleyan Methodist Church of America from 1843, at its founding, to 1968 when it merged…
Read MoreWhen a Man Has Taken a New Wife
by Bryan Matthew Dockens To ensure the longevity of marriage, newlyweds should take serious measures to protect their relationship. Enjoy Your Honeymoon Did you know the concept of a honeymoon originated with God? Of course, He never called it that, but notice: “When a man has taken a new wife, he shall not go out…
Read MoreWhat are some good passages to use to prove that we should not call Catholic priests “father?”
Question: I am thinking of some verses to refute Catholicism, and the “father” thing came up. Would Matthew 23:8-10 be a legitimate argument against calling a Catholic priest “father?” Answer: “But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. They love…
Read MoreWhy do some believe you have to be a part of some building to enter heaven?
Question: This is the first that I have seen, but I am sure there more, Church of Christ site that actually says the Church of Christ is a “Way of Life” and not a particular building. Why do some believe it is the building you need to be a member of to enter Heaven? Answer:…
Read MoreDid I go about teaching my now Buddhist son correctly?
Question: I have a new situation that I am trying to deal with and would like to ask your advice as to how to proceed. Some time ago, I received an e-mail from my son. We have had an ‘on and off’ relationship for some time, as well as with his sister. This is all…
Read MoreCan thinking about a girl constantly be idolatry?
Question: Could you help me understand what idolatry is according to the Bible? I know it seems like a simple concept, but I have heard so much conflicting information on the subject. For example, I heard one preacher complaining that being devoted to American Idol constituted idolatry (how about that?). Another said that following celebrities…
Read MoreWhat Is the Difference?
by Irven Lee via The Graphic Evangelist, Vol. 21, No. 8, April 19, 1981. An instrument of music was introduced into the worship at Midway, Kentucky, in about 1858. This innovation moved slowly among churches in the North and finally came to the South in about 1900. Of course, the church support of the missionary society…
Read MoreWould it be wrong to use the church’s property for a garden?
Question: Is it OKfor a congregation to allow members to use the property to grow a garden if they are in need? One example may be a guy who is living in an apartment and has no property. Another may be a family who has a nice lawn and doesn’t want to bring down their…
Read MoreIf a Christian must file for bankruptcy, is he still obligated to pay off his debts?
Question: If one borrows money and they get behind the eight-ball, if you will, so they file bankruptcy, are they morally responsible to pay the borrowed amount back? I said if they did it with the intent of trying to rip someone off that was a sin, but I didn’t see how someone who innocently…
Read MoreMy ex-husband committed adultery, but I didn’t try to stop it. Do I need to leave my current husband in hopes of remarrying my ex-husband?
Question: I was married to my husband for over thirty years. We had both become unhappy, but I didn’t know that he planned to leave me the day after Christmas five years ago. I had not been thinking of leaving, I just wanted some problems resolved. He left for a week and we reconciled, so…
Read MoreDoesn’t masturbation require indecent thoughts to climax?
Question: I read your article. In regards to the definition of masturbation, which for years has been taught to me that was a sin. According to what you say, there is no proof of that in the Word. Now, if the motives are what sets the definition of when masturbation is a sin and when it is not, then…
Read MoreI’m so disappointed with the older people in my church. They oppose the use of RNB, hip-hop, and Reggaeton in church. What would you advise?
Question: I read your blogs and, I don’t know, maybe if you read this you could help me. My church is filled with elderly people (40+). This year the number of our youth has been growing. God has been good and has been blessing us with incredible services. But a lot of members criticize all…
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