Which women were considered liturgical dancers?
Question: Concerning liturgical dancing, who were the women in the Bible that were considered the dancers? Answer: The word “dancer” does not appear in the Bible. There are occasional mentions of women dancing, but there is no indication that it had any fixed part of worship. The article Dancing in the Bible contains a fairly…
Read MoreWhy are some demons rebuked and others cast out?
Question: I wanted to know if you could tell me why in some incidents in the Bible demons are rebuked and other times they are cast out? Answer: In every verse that I could find involving a person possessed of a demon, the demon was cast out (or it might say that the person was…
Read MoreMired in Tumult
by Gilbert Alexander Why are Episcopalians and Presbyterians “mired in tumult over gay issues” as reported in a 7/7/06 article in the News Courier? Is the Word of God so vague and complex that people cannot know what is moral and natural, and what is immoral and unnatural? God clearly condemned homosexual behavior in the…
Read MoreMark Twain’s Cat
by Forrest D. Moyer, 1984 Mark Twain once said: “We should be careful to get out of an experience only the wisdom that is in it — and stop there; lest we be like the cat that sits down on the hot stove lid. She will never sit down on a hot stove-lid again —…
Read MoreWe’re thinking about getting married, so how do I get him to be honest with himself?
Question: Hello. I want to thank you so much for the information because it helped me out a lot. I have one problem: telling him that he is not a virgin. Every time I try to tell him it bothers him to talk about it because he knew it was wrong and stuff. I know that…
Read MoreAren’t Acts 2:38 and Matthew 26:28 different in some Greek texts?
Question: I read your Acts 2:38 in comparison to Matthew 26:28. Problem is the King James version agrees it’s the same in Greek, but the Nestle makes it more personal where it could read “for the remission of your sins”. Even though I don’t think that matters because it makes it more personal with the…
Read MoreAre you still a virgin after anal sex?
Question: Are you still a virgin if you have anal sex? I am a 14-year-old teenager (and still a virgin). A boy I know told me that he had anal sex with a girl. But not in her vagina and he said it only lasted for a couple of seconds and he stroked about 5…
Read MoreAre the writings of women a form of teaching men?
Question: I understand the principle of women not teaching a man (I Timothy 2:12 ). I occasionally run across articles written by women on Bible topics. Oftentimes these are on websites targeted toward women, though anyone can read them. But I’ve also seen them on general audience websites, and even in print publications targeted toward…
Read MoreWhy are so many churches of Christ so small?
Question: Why are so many churches of Christ so small? Why do so many of them seem to have so few young people? Why do so many of them have so many problems? Why are there so many churches? (denominations) Answer: What immediately strikes me is the focus of these questions. They are all internal:…
Read MoreShould we pray for Satan’s salvation?
Question: How do we respond to someone who asks why we do not pray for Satan’s salvation? Answer: While the potential for change is exists, one thing that many people have a hard time accepting is the fact that some people won’t ever change; not because they are unable to change, but because they are…
Read MoreMardi Gras
by L. A. Stauffer in Biblical Insights, Vol. 6, No. 2, Feb. 2006 Neither Mardi Gras nor any of the practices of the lenten season are authorized by God in the Scriptures. Mardi Gras is a French term that means “Fat Tuesday” but generally refers to a three-day religious celebration that occurs immediately before Ash Wednesday.…
Read MoreMay Christians make use of denominationally sponsored preschools?
Question: In our area, we have many preschools and pre-kindergartens that are located in the buildings of different denominations. Some are government-funded and some are just private schools. These schools are like any other in that they are preparing the children for kindergarten. The only Bible teachings are just Bible stories being read and, of…
Read MoreWhat is the purpose of dreams?
Question: What is the purpose of dreaming? I know in the Bible, especially the Old Testament, there are prophets or people there that have dreams and some needs to be interpreted. At least they have meanings, but can we still compare them with the modern world? Some people I have asked said they are in…
Read MoreLord, Lord!
by Ethan R. Longhenry “Not every one that saith unto me, ‘Lord, Lord’, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy by thy name, and by thy name cast…
Read MoreIs the church or Israel the bride of Christ?
Question: Is the church or Israel the bride of Christ? Answer: In the Old Testament, Israel was depicted as God’s bride in several prophecies. But she was declared to be a faithless wife. God declared that He was a husband to Israel (Jeremiah 31:32), but Israel broke the marriage covenant. She became a spiritual adulteress.…
Read MoreDid Jonah learn the lessons God taught him?
Question: What would Jonah have answered God at the end of the Book? Did Jonah learn the lessons? Answer: Since we are not told, to speculate would be useless. We can see the lessons God taught Jonah and it is those lessons which we, in turn, also need to learn. As Paul warned, “that you…
Read MoreIs it wrong for a married couple to record themselves having sex?
Question: Do you think it’s wrong for a married couple to record themselves on video when having sex? Answer: The question that must be asked is, “For what purpose?” Why would a couple want to record private moments, especially given that it may be seen by others? The only reason that I could come up with…
Read MoreThe Letter and the Spirit
by Edward O. Bragwell, Sr. via Guardian of Truth XXXIII: 3, pp. 67-68, February 2, 1989 Earl Irvin West, in Volume 2 of his The Search For The Ancient Order (p. 250), introduces a chapter called “Prophets of Liberalism,” with an astute observation about what he calls “seeds of liberalism”: “Whether in the halcyon days of the restoration…
Read MoreThe Lesser of Two Evils
by Al Diestelkamp via Gospel Power, Vol. 13, No. 31, July 30, 2006. When it comes to behavior, one should never allow himself to be put into positions where he chooses between two evils. There may be situations wherein we think we must make such choices, but in reality, there are always other options that…
Read MoreThe Legitimate Magnitude of Government
by Bryan Matthew Dockens The ideology of some, as clearly reflected in current events, favors a government that is practically unlimited in size and scope. Such political philosophy, however, does not reflect the wisdom provided in the scriptures. The legitimate function of government, as prescribed in God’s word, is limited to “the punishment of evildoers…
Read MoreLegalism and The Salvation Army
by Sam Stinson “There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?” (James 4:12). A man named Johnny Harsh, who calls himself a captain in the Salvation Army, has faced media scrutiny in recent days. Harsh, by all accounts a…
Read MoreYour site has helped me understand God’s intention for sex
Question: Thank you for your site. It helped me understand what God intended me to fulfill in my life when it comes to sex. I have found many sites that have twisted God’s words about the boundaries of sex. I’m very happy I found your site because I was getting very mixed up with what…
Read MoreCan a woman teach a man in private?
Question: One of our lady members has a sister and brother-in-law who are not members of the church. She asked her brother-in-law if he would study with me. He told her, “No!” Only with herself and his wife. So, this sister asked me if she would be wrong teaching them in the private setting of…
Read MoreYour web site is very well done
Question: I was looking for a topical study and happened to pick your website. I just wanted to let you know it is very well done and offers a lot for anyone searching for the truth. It is very apparent that a lot of time and effort have gone into putting all of this together.…
Read MoreWhat does “anointing him with oil” mean?
Question: Will you please explain James 5:14 to me? I am especially interested in understanding “Anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.” I have heard of elders in the church just recently who did this to a very sick lady that was on her deathbed. Is this verse to be taken as…
Read MoreCan you help? I’m feeling overwhelmed.
Question: Over the last couple of months, I have had a period of trials. Since September, I have had to break up with my girlfriend, which has left me somewhat lonely, I received a low job review (which I thought I should have challenged, since I felt unfairly rated, but was still feeling upset about…
Read MoreWhy do boys act as they do?
Question: I really enjoy your web site. I have been studying it for quite a while and it all sounds scripturally correct. I have been asked at church to teach a girls’ teenage class about peer pressure and have been concerned about how to answer some of the questions the girls have asked of me.…
Read MoreAm I no longer a virgin if my boyfriend touched certain areas?
Question: Please, I need your help. I have never had sex. I am a proud 22-year-old virgin and I plan to stay that way until I am married. See the problem is I have a boyfriend now and, well, he likes to touch certain areas. I just want to know is it possible that he…
Read MoreMust a woman bear children to be saved?
Question: Would someone give a clear answer as to the meaning of I Timothy 2:15 which agrees with other clear passages such as John 3:16-17; Hebrews 2:9; I Timothy 2:1-4; II Peter 3;9; Acts 17:30-31; Mark 16:15-16, etc., all of which indicate God’s desire for every soul to be saved. Some would make this passage…
Read MoreWhat do you know about the Kenites?
Question: I was wondering about the teaching of the Kenites and the six-day man. Answer: Prior to your query, I hadn’t heard that there were teachings attributed to the Kenites. But a little bit of Internet searching told me a bit about this philosophy. First, let’s establish what the Bible says about the Kenites. The…
Read MoreJoe H. Blue
[Written in January 1944 in a personal letter to Roy L. Ruckman. Brother Blue had no thought of it being more than a personal letter, but it has been shared with hundreds for it is a means of encouraging young preachers.] I was born September 18, 1875, in Izard County, Arkansas, near Mt. Pleasant. The…
Read MoreWhy does a good person come down with cancer?
Question: I got a call from a friend telling me that another really good friend’s wife has just been diagnosed with cancer all through her body. It is one of those cases where I have to wonder, “Why?” and “Where is the fairness in this life?” as this lady was tops in my book, just…
Read MoreWhat do you think about the New Living Translation and the Complete Jewish Bible?
Question: I am of need of some help with Bible translations. What I would like is a list of good translation Bibles and a list of bad Bible translations. I don’t like the NIV and I always felt in the spirit that it indeed was not trustworthy. However, I have another Bible called the New…
Read MoreIs it a sin to view naked girls?
Question: Is it a sin to view naked girls? Not in a pornographic way, but as in like just girls without their clothes on. Answer: Much depends on the purpose for which the viewing takes place. If it was a sin to see someone naked (boy or girl), then parents would have a hard time…
Read MoreIt Is My Life and I’ll Do What I Want With It!
by Dick Millwee Rather a bold, confrontational, in-your-face kind of statement isn’t it? Generally, it is made by individuals who try to defend their lifestyle when it is called into question. However, the concept of the statement is a biblical one. Consider with me the statement found in Psalms 119:109, “My life is continually in…
Read MoreShould I get baptized again?
Question: I read your answer about re-baptism. For a time now I have struggled with about being re-baptized. When I was originally baptized, it was done the proper way by immersion in the name of the Father, of the Son, and Holy Spirit for the purpose of becoming saved. But since then I fell away from…
Read MoreMy sexual relationship with my husband is awful, how do I fix the problem?
Question: My husband and I have been married for 7 years. I am 30 years old, my husband is 28, and we have no children. We lived together the first 2 years, then apart for the next 2 due to his military service. After he left the military, we were back living together for 2…
Read MoreShould I spank my boys for breaking a window?
Question: I have two twin boys, both aged 15. My wife and I both agree that the right way to parent is to spank when necessary with the rod. Recently they have been getting into a lot of trouble together, and yesterday they broke a window (whilst playing ball inside — forbidden in the house…
Read MoreIrresistible Grace and Matthew 23:37
by Bryan Sharp In Matthew 23:37 Christ proclaims: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not!” Jesus is bemoaning the fact that the people…
Read MoreShould games be offered at youth groups?
Question: Without asking or even wanting, my wife and I found ourselves in our church’s youth ministry. I’ve been saved for five years and my wife three. I have a ministry dilemma. I believe in the things that your congregation believes in, providing for others their spiritual needs. As a result, I got rid of…
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