Answer – La Vista Church of Christ

Did I judge correctly that my wife committed adultery?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 21:41:02 +0000

Question:

Many years ago, my first wife and I got a divorce. I came home one night after church, and she told me she wanted a divorce. I didn't want it, and she said it was for irreconcilable differences. So we separated for a bit, then tried reconciliation, which ended up failing.

While separated, I asked for the cell phone back that I was making payments on, and reluctantly she gave it back. I did an online search of that particular phone's call history and started noticing a certain number which came up many times. There were also pictures sent, but I couldn't see what they were. I then looked up the number to discover who it was my wife was talking to. It was another man. I worked in another county at the time, and one morning while driving into work, I passed my wife coming out. I wondered what she was doing down there. Well, it happened to be where this man lived. Since I knew his name, I looked up his address and decided to drive by his house one night. Sure enough, my wife's car was there. She had spent the night at this guy's house when I passed her on the road that morning driving into work.

I decided I wanted more proof, so I continued to get video footage of her car at the man's house even into the wee hours of the morning. I also found a letter that she had written to him. I believed I had enough evidence that she was cheating on me, the one reason divorce is allowed according to God's word, and I filed for divorce. The judge ruled in my favor and granted me the divorce.

About a year after, I was talking to my ex-wife on the phone, and I just point-blank asked her if she had had relations with this man. She said, "Once." I wanted some closure to make sure I was in the right because I had remarried.

My current wife had the same situation as me. She was also cheated on, and she had proof of her then-husband going over and staying at another woman's house.

I guess my question to you is: Did I have enough proof of adultery? Did I need to catch them in the very act? Sometimes this worries me, and anxiety overwhelms me. I even met with the elders at my church and told them the story before I remarried. They agreed that I had scriptural right. So why does this still pop up and bother me? I have also had OCD for about 35 years now. Any help you can give me would be appreciated.

Thank you.

Answer:

People suffering from OCD do not tolerate uncertainty well. They want to be absolutely sure, so they constantly live in the past, questioning every action to see if there was any flaw in what they had done. Notice that you had a judge who agreed with you and granted your divorce. Your wife told you she committed adultery. You had elders review your situation before you remarried, and they agreed that your first marriage ended because of your wife's adultery. However, notice that you can't allow yourself to accept the obvious conclusion. You fear that you might have missed something. Thus, you will also have trouble accepting my answer as well.

God never said that a husband had to catch his wife in the act of adultery. Instead, we are told, "Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment" (John 7:24). You have multiple witnesses that she was seeing another man: the phone records and evidence that she was spending nights at this man's house. You also have her own admission. This is a fair judgment.

The past is over and done with. It is long past time to move on. "Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:13-14).

How can marrying a divorced woman be ongoing adultery?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 22:16:25 +0000

Question:

In Matthew 19:9, "commits adultery" is used twice in this verse. The first time, concerning the husband, it is in the present tense. Now, the present tense does not always mean ongoing action. The context must determine that.

The second time, concerning the wife, it is in the aorist tense. Aorist tense never is ongoing.

If we follow the correct grammatical rules, then how could the present tense be ongoing? How could it be ongoing for the husband and not the wife?

Thank you.

Answer:

I'm sorry, but in Matthew 19:9, "commits adultery" in both cases is in the third person, indicative, present tense, middle voice.

Question:

Thank you. I’ll come back to Matthew 19 concerning the woman.

Let’s look at the parallel verse in Matthew 5:32. The phrase "causes her to commit adultery" here is in the aorist tense. This is an absolute. This leaves no doubt that Christ meant that it was not ongoing.

The present tense in Matthew 19 concerning the woman must be understood as if it were in the aorist tense; that is, it’s not ongoing. If not, then why not?

Thank you.

P.S. Christ gave this message to a group of people in Matthew 5 and then traveled approximately 80 miles and told a different group of people the same thing. So if it’s not ongoing in chapter 5, then it must not be ongoing in chapter 19. Otherwise, we have a contradiction.

Answer:

While "shall divorce" in Matthew 5:32 is in the aorist tense, both "to commit adultery" phrases are in the present infinitive middle tense.

"The aorist is in the indefinite tense that states only the fact of the action without specifying the duration." [William Mounce, Basics of Biblical Greek].

"The aorist indicates an undefined action usually occurring in the past." [ibid.]

"Undefined" means you cannot make any conclusion about whether the action is ongoing or not. It is undefined. However, this only applies to the divorce (Matthew 5:32). It only states that a divorce occurred in the past. It tells us nothing about the adultery that led to the divorce or the adultery that occurs after the divorce due to a remarriage.

Question:

Thank you.

In Matthew 5:32, in the phrase "Whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery," the Greek word for "commits adultery" is moicheuo, and it’s in the aorist tense, and the action is punctiliar.

How do we get ongoing action from an aorist tense and a punctiliar action?

Thank you.

Answer:

Not every question can be answered from the grammar found in a single verse.

"But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the reason of unchastity, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery" (Matthew 5:32).

"Everyone who divorces his wife": The verb is in the third-person, subjunctive, aorist, active tense. This means that the divorce happened sometime, most likely in the past. It is not saying that the divorce is ongoing. It should be noted that there is a textual variation that has "divorce" as a present participle, meaning that the person is currently divorced.

"causes her to commit adultery": This is in the present tense with middle voice, indicating that it is a current (ongoing) problem that is affecting both parties. Again, there is a textual variation that has "commit adultery" in the passive aorist tense. If this is the correct verb form, the "causes" is still in the present tense (ongoing), but the adultery started in the past. You cannot conclude from "commit adultery" alone whether the problem continues or not. It is undefined in the aorist tense. However, because it is connected to "causes," that verb does fill in the missing information.

"marries": The verb is in the subjunctive, aorist, active tense. The marriage occurred sometime in the past or present, but it doesn't indicate whether it is currently ongoing or not.

"a divorced woman": "Divorced" is a perfect participle in the middle voice. It is the woman's current state, and the divorce affects both parties.

"commits adultery": This is again in the present tense, middle voice. There is no textual variation here. It is ongoing, and it impacts both parties.

"And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery" (Matthew 19:9).

As in Matthew 5:32, the "commits adultery" is in the present tense, middle voice in both occurrences. It is a current (ongoing) situation that affects both parties.

"For the married woman is bound by law to her husband while he is living; but if her husband dies, she is released from the law concerning the husband. So then, if while her husband is living she is joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from the law, so that she is not an adulteress though she is joined to another man" (Romans 7:2-3).

Paul makes it very clear that a woman who is still bound by her covenant (law) to her husband and marries another is an adulteress (an ongoing state) as long as her original husband lives. Her marriage to another man does not override or nullify her covenant.

None of the passages contradict each other. They all point to the same issue. Your conclusion that Jesus said it was not ongoing in Matthew 5:32 is without textual support.

Should Christians not talk to non-Christians?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Sun, 26 Jul 2026 02:32:50 +0000

Question:

Hello Pastor, and peace be with you this Lord's Day.

I have been studying the book of Romans today and have two questions:

Question 1:

When I sincerely turned to God, I found myself in a certain situation: I became willing to befriend and communicate only with Christians, while deleting or blocking non-believers. I felt as though chatting with those who do not believe in Jesus—especially young people—would somehow contaminate me with sin.

Question 2:

How do I offer myself as a living sacrifice? Does it mean that everything I do must be done for God (Romans 12:1-2)?

May God bless you! I am mindful of your love.

Answer:

"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 5:14-16).

How do you teach others if you never talk to them? How do you set a good example when no one sees you?

My relationship with my fellow Christians is stronger than with worldly people, but I still interact with people who are not following Christ. I don't get involved in their sinful behavior, but I don't hide either.

"Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain" (Philippians 2:14-16).

In regard to a living sacrifice, see:

When does jealousy go too far?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 16:14:17 +0000

Question:

In your sermon on jealousy, point C, you said that jealousy between a husband and wife can go too far. I was wondering if you could give me an example of righteous jealousy between a husband and wife and an example of jealousy that has gone too far.

Answer:

Jealousy can be used in a righteous sense when someone wants to keep what legitimately belongs to him. Thus, in warning Israel away from idols, God declares: "You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me" (Exodus 20:5).

The relationship between a husband and wife is also an exclusive relationship that is jealously guarded. "Put me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm. For love is as strong as death, jealousy is as severe as Sheol; its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the LORD" (Song of Solomon 8:6). Like death, the love between a husband and wife does not easily relinquish its hold. Thus, a husband would be right to feel jealous if his wife was having sex with another man (Proverbs 6:34-35).

However, jealousy is a strong emotion that can easily overcome a person's reason. "Wrath is fierce, and anger is a flood, but who can stand before jealousy?" (Proverbs 27:4). While marriage is an exclusive relationship, it does not mean that the husband controls every interaction his spouse has with others. It would be impractical and wrong for a husband to state that his wife cannot talk to another man. He cannot control who his wife has for friends. There should be a level of trust between a husband and wife, such that he is confident she reserves herself exclusively for him, even while she is dealing with other people. "Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant" (I Corinthians 13:4).

When was the prophecy of restoring the land fulfilled?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 16:39:58 +0000

Question:

When was Deuteronomy 30:5 fulfilled?

Thank you.

Answer:

"So it shall be when all of these things have come upon you, the blessing and the curse which I have set before you, and you call them to mind in all nations where the LORD your God has banished you, and you return to the LORD your God and obey Him with all your heart and soul according to all that I command you today, you and your sons, then the LORD your God will restore you from captivity, and have compassion on you, and will gather you again from all the peoples where the LORD your God has scattered you. If your outcasts are at the ends of the earth, from there the LORD your God will gather you, and from there He will bring you back. The LORD your God will bring you into the land which your fathers possessed, and you shall possess it; and He will prosper you and multiply you more than your fathers" (Deuteronomy 30:1-5).

After promising that God would uproot Israel from the promised land if they broke the covenant (Deuteronomy 29:24-28), God promised, through Moses, that He would bring them back to their land.

Israel did break the covenant, and Ezekiel prophesied at the start of the exile: "Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, 'Now I will restore the fortunes of Jacob and have mercy on the whole house of Israel; and I will be jealous for My holy name. They will forget their disgrace and all their treachery which they perpetrated against Me, when they live securely on their own land with no one to make them afraid. When I bring them back from the peoples and gather them from the lands of their enemies, then I shall be sanctified through them in the sight of the many nations. Then they will know that I am the LORD their God because I made them go into exile among the nations, and then gathered them again to their own land; and I will leave none of them there any longer. I will not hide My face from them any longer, for I will have poured out My Spirit on the house of Israel,' declares the Lord GOD" (Ezekiel 39:25-29).

These prophecies were fulfilled during the days of Ezra and Nehemiah. In fact, Nehemiah cites Moses' prophecy in his prayer to God. "Remember the word which You commanded Your servant Moses, saying, 'If you are unfaithful I will scatter you among the peoples; but if you return to Me and keep My commandments and do them, though those of you who have been scattered were in the most remote part of the heavens, I will gather them from there and will bring them to the place where I have chosen to cause My name to dwell'" (Nehemiah 1:8-9).

However, take note that God offered them a return if they returned to God and kept His commandments. While God did bring them back to the land, the people still didn't fully give themselves over to obeying God.

What does “under the earth” mean?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 00:40:21 +0000

Question:

Hi Jeff,

"That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth" (Philippians 2:10 NKJV).

Does the phrase “those under the earth” refer to those in the grave?

Thank you!

Answer:

We typically refer to heaven as being located "up," even though it isn't in this physical universe. Since we bury the dead, it is common to refer to the realm of the dead as "down."

"Now this expression, 'He ascended,' what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things" (Ephesians 4:9-10).

Paul is discussing how Jesus descended from heaven to earth, then to the grave at his death, from which he was raised and ascended to heaven.

In Philippians 2:10, Paul is stating that Jesus rules everything (Matthew 28:19). He rules in heaven. He rules the earth. He rules even the realm of the dead. "Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment" (John 5:28-29).

Another verse has a similar phrase. "And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the book or to look into it. ... And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, 'To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever'" (Revelation 5:3, 13).

Response:

Thank you, Jeff.

How are the Father and Jesus related?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 16:01:44 +0000

Question:

Dear Brethren in Christ,

Greetings to you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

I hope this email finds you in good health and spirit.

Recently, certain doctrinal questions have arisen within our congregation. Some members are concerned that our local preacher's teachings regarding the nature and deity of Christ differ from what has traditionally been taught and believed in many churches of Christ in the area.

Because of the confusion these matters have caused, we would greatly appreciate your biblical insight and comments on the following points.

Is Jesus God?

Our local preacher teaches that Jesus is not only the Son of God but is also God. In support of this position, he cites passages such as Romans 9:5; Titus 2:13; and I John 5:20.

The common belief in many churches of Christ in my region is that Jesus is the Son of God but is not God Himself.

Could you please provide your biblical understanding and comments on this matter?

Is Jesus Jehovah, or Does He Share in the Divine Identity of Jehovah?

Our local preacher teaches that Jesus is Jehovah or shares in Jehovah's divine identity with the Father and the Holy Spirit. He cites Hebrews 11:26; Matthew 12:28; I Corinthians 10:9; Psalms 102:25–27 with Hebrews 1:10–12; Psalm 89:8–9; Mark 4:39; Isaiah 6; and John 12:41.

He also refers to the article "Is Jesus Jehovah?" to support his view.

For many decades, the churches in my region have generally understood Jehovah to refer exclusively to the Father. Consequently, this teaching has generated considerable discussion and confusion among our brethren.

Would you kindly provide your comments and biblical perspective on this subject?

Is Jesus Worthy of Worship?

Our local preacher teaches that Jesus is worthy of worship. He cites passages such as Romans 9:5 and Revelation 7:10.

The common belief in many churches of Christ in my region is that worship should be directed only to the Father, based on passages such as John 4:23–24.

Could you please explain your understanding of this matter from Scripture?

Does God Have a Triune Nature?

Our local preacher teaches that God is triune in nature (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). He cites Deuteronomy 6:4, Matthew 28:19, and I John 5:7 (NKJV).

The churches in my region do not traditionally hold the doctrine of the Trinity. Rather, we believe that God is one, namely the Father.

Would you please share your biblical assessment of this teaching?

We sincerely desire to understand the Scriptures correctly and to preserve unity in the truth. Therefore, we would be grateful for any biblical guidance, explanations, or resources you can provide regarding these matters.

Thank you for your time and consideration. We look forward to hearing from you.

Answer:

Before we begin, let's establish that it doesn't matter what has been traditionally taught or what the preacher says. The only thing that matters is what the Lord says, since He is the head of the church. "And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all" (Ephesians 1:22-23).

I couldn't help but notice that while you listed verses that your preacher used to prove his position, you have no verses used by the brethren in your region to prove their position. That should be a warning sign.

Is Jesus God?

John begins his book with this statement: "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 of men" (John 1:1-4). John claims that the Word was both with God and was God. In order to be "with" requires multiple beings; hence, we conclude that God is composed of more than one being. We also see that the Word was completely involved in all creation; therefore, the Word cannot Himself be created.

Continuing in John, we read, "He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. ... And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:10-12, 14). Here we read that the Word came in the flesh to dwell among men. The Word is Jesus Christ.

Therefore, John answers the question. See "Is Jesus God?" for additional details. The passages your preacher used also establish this point.

Is Jesus Jehovah, or Does He Share in the Divine Identity of Jehovah?

"For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this" (Isaiah 9:6-7).

Jesus wears the same names as the Father even though they are separate beings. Before Jesus' birth, it was prophesied that one of his names would be Immanuel. "Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel," which translated means, 'God with us'" (Matthew 1:23). Yet, the LORD (Jehovah) stated in the past: "'You are My witnesses,' declares the LORD, 'And My servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe Me and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, and there will be none after Me. I, even I, am the LORD, and there is no savior besides Me'" (Isaiah 43:10-11). There is no God or Savior but Jehovah, yet Jesus is God and Savior (Titus 2:13). Thus, Jesus is a part of the Godhead.

"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him" (Colossians 1:15-19).

"For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority" (Colossians 2:9-10).

In other words, Christ, while he was here on earth, completely represented God. This was by the Father's design. Jesus exists in the form of God.

"Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:5-11).

Therefore, yes, Jesus is Jehovah and so is the Father. See "Jesus Is God" for more details.

Is Jesus Worthy of Worship?

"And they sang a new song, saying, 'Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.' Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.' And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, 'To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.'And the four living creatures kept saying, 'Amen.' And the elders fell down and worshiped" (Revelation 5:9-14).

Angels and men refuse worship, but Jesus received worship without rebuke.

"And when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says, 'And let all the angels of God worship him'" (Hebrews 1:6)

See also Matthew 2:11; 8:2; 9:18; 14:33; 15:25; 28:9, 17; Mark 5:6; Luke 24:52; John 9:38. For more on this topic, see "God Was Manifest in the Flesh," "Jesus' Deity While on Earth," and "The Deity of Christ."

Does God Have a Triune Nature?

See "The Trinity: God is Three in One."

Will God heal illnesses caused by sin?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Tue, 14 Jul 2026 21:00:47 +0000

Question:

Hello,

How have you been lately? May God bless you.

I would like to ask a question: Will God heal illnesses caused by sin? (I believe that everything is in God's hands.)

After all, if God has chosen someone, He will see it through to the end—is that right?
God's plans are beyond human comprehension, and the ultimate outcome is exceedingly wonderful.

Answer:

There are cases where God selects individuals for tasks. However, it would be a mistake to assume that this is done for every person. See "Does Everything Happen for a Reason?"

Will God heal illnesses? Yes, if such healing fits within His plan. "Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him" (James 5:14-15). Does this mean everyone will be healed? No. There are times when an illness serves a purpose, such as Paul learned: "Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me--to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me" (II Corinthians 12:7-9).

God has told us what He desires and plans: "For this is the will of God, your sanctification" (I Thessalonians 4:3). However, God has left it up to each individual to decide whether he will submit to God's plan or rebel. "So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:12-13).

I feel so lazy and irresponsible

Jeffrey Hamilton — Tue, 14 Jul 2026 20:30:28 +0000

Question:

Hello,

I feel so bad, so guilty, so scared to lose my salvation because I've been ill and feel like I lost my first love. I was so active in the church, at home, and in my hobbies. I can do the bare minimum at home, and I've cut my work hours to a few per week to keep my health insurance. For God's work, I only have one student online once a week. I'm a Bible class teacher for little ones; I don't feel like I'm putting in much effort there. I teach a women's class online every other week; not much effort there, either. I don't like TV, and I've been watching TV lately, but I can't find the will to preach to others to get more students. When I have good moments, I work a little and also do household chores.

What can I do? Any advice?

By the way, my illness is not that bad. I've had sleep apnea all my life due to jaw malformation, but I guess now in my 50s it's caught up with me. It's untreated due to my jaw issues. My oxygen drops to 83% all night (just found out), and I stop breathing every 1.5 minutes. I've found a solution, and I'm working towards getting better, but for now, I feel so scared. I'm embarrassed to constantly ask God for forgiveness. Why ask if I'm not changing my ways?

I feel so bad because I feel lazy and irresponsible to God. I can do other work, but I can't do more for Him. In all honesty, what I do for Him doesn't feel like much; it doesn't cost me much effort.

Sincerely in Christ.

Answer:

People have a strong tendency to measure themselves against other people, including their past selves. Some can't let go of their past mistakes, to which Paul said, "Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:13-14). That same advice applies to past accomplishments. All the things you've done in the past are wonderful, and I'm glad to hear that you are not sitting back.

You are doing what your health allows. You would like to do more, and you are approaching the problem correctly by addressing the core issue (your sleep apnea). However, while you are healing, don't discredit what you are doing. To your students, the children you teach, and the women in your class, you are important. After all these years of teaching, it seems easy, but it is no less important.

If you are looking for some additional challenge, consider writing lessons and articles. You find teaching easy, so teach others to teach (II Timothy 2:2).

Instead of fighting to do all the things you used to handle, find what you can do. God is not looking for you to work your way into heaven. All the things we do cannot make up for our past sins. Yet, God's rich mercy offers us salvation, and in appreciation, we do what we can to serve Him.

This isn't an issue of laziness or sin. It is a matter of failing health and approaching old age. It requires adapting to your limitations and making the most of what you have. Don't waste time wishing for what you don't have.

Question:

Thank you, brother Hamilton. I'll keep that in mind and look for other ways to serve.

We are members of the Lord's Church and have been traveling to other countries to preach. We are helping to guide the few members in a congregation. My husband would like to improve his prayers during service. He's asked me for help, but I'm very afraid to cross the line. In what way could I help him?

Maybe there's a way for me to do some simpler things for God's Work.

Answer:

There is no reason you can't point out some passages that might help your husband improve his prayers, or find him a book that you think addresses the issues well, or even give him encouragement when he makes progress. The thing to avoid is telling him what he must do.

Response:

Ok, thank you.

I truly appreciate your advice and the work you do.

Can a congregation ask its preacher to step down?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 19:21:15 +0000

Question:

Dear Sir,

I greet you in the name of Christ, and thanks for all that you do for the church. I would like to ask a great question that has been bothering me.

Can a congregation tell a preacher to step down from his role because of old age? This would be the congregation's decision and not the preacher's.
Can the church decide that they do not want a brother who serves as a preacher and an elder at the same time?

Thanks, sir.

Answer:

A congregation decides which preachers it wants to support, including the local preacher. A congregation cannot ask a preacher to leave the congregation without cause, as would be true for any other member (III John 10). However, a congregation can decide to invite another preacher to work with them. They can also decide not to support the current preacher. The current preacher may decide to retire or move to another congregation to work with them. If he stays, perhaps the pulpit can be shared between the two preachers.

Handling such situations is difficult, as the current preacher will not appreciate the rejection. It should be done gently.

Deciding that a preacher cannot be an elder violates I Timothy 5:17. A congregation cannot add a rule that conflicts with what the Lord allows. See: