Answer – La Vista Church of Christ

Is starting a camping business wrong?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Sat, 19 Sep 2026 21:46:58 +0000

Question:

I want to start a camping business near a lakeside view in a village area where people come for tourism and sightseeing. They stay to relax and enjoy nature, and we provide tents and food.

We do not sell alcohol at our camping site. However, sometimes some customers come after drinking alcohol outside and then ask us for a tent and food. Is it right for us to provide them with these services, or would it be considered a sin?

There is also a fort nearby with beautiful nature views, and there is a temple on the fort. In fact, the fort is named after the temple. People need a guide to visit the fort, and some visitors also use our tent and food services.

So, is there any sin involved in doing this kind of business? Is it right or wrong, according to the Bible and Christian faith?

Sometimes, unmarried boys and girls come to our place just to travel and enjoy themselves. We only provide them with food and a tent to stay in. Will we commit any sin by providing these services?

Please guide me.

Answer:

These are the same issues that owners of Airbnb places, hotels, motels, and rental homes all face.

The first rule is that you are not responsible for other people's decisions. "The person who sins will die. The son will not bear the punishment for the father's iniquity, nor will the father bear the punishment for the son's iniquity; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself" (Ezekiel 18:20). You should encourage people to make good decisions and warn them against bad decisions, but ultimately, you can't make the decisions for them.

You can make a rule that there will be no alcohol or drugs in the campground. You can warn them that you'll ask violators to leave. However, someone will always try to break the rules. It is just the nature of this fallen world.

You can provide guide services to the fort, but you can't control whether someone chooses to worship at the temple. You can make it clear that you aren't connected to the temple in any way.

You can rent out tents, but you will not know whether the people staying in them are engaging in sin. However, you can make it a rule that there must not be any public indecency, or those involved will be asked to leave the camp.

Do I need to be baptized again?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Sat, 19 Sep 2026 21:07:37 +0000

Question:

Greetings!

I have a question about baptism. I’m a baptized believer but have questioned my baptism after reading that some folks hold the position that baptism is invalid if the recipient didn’t understand that its purpose was to have our sins remitted.

I turned to the Lord for the first time in my life while at work. I always believed in God but didn’t know anything about him, so I bought a KJV bible and began to read. God showed me my sinfulness from His Word, and I began to pray and ask the Lord for forgiveness; it was exciting! For the first time in my life, I was talking to God! As I read more, I realized I needed to be baptized, so I did. I didn’t walk away from my reading thinking God wouldn’t forgive me if I didn’t understand the purpose of baptism; I realized He commanded it, and I trusted what He did for me on the cross.

However, some people in the church would have me look to my understanding of baptism rather than the blood of Christ. Am I missing something? Why would a repentant believer, who was baptized because Jesus told him to be, need to be rebaptized?

I want to settle the matter because it’s caused me double-mindedness, and I’m struggling with it.

Thank you!

Answer:

People often hear catchphrases and latch onto them without understanding the issues behind them.

A number of denominations claim that baptism is unnecessary with regard to salvation. Some use baptism to join their denomination or church. Some state that it is just an outward expression of what has already taken place.

When Paul met disciples in Ephesus, he soon discovered they had never heard of the Holy Spirit (Acts 19:1-2). When he asked what they had been baptized into, they told him they were baptized into John's baptism (Acts 19:3). Paul explained that John's baptism was no longer valid because it was to prepare people for Jesus, and he has come. Thus, they were baptized again, this time into Jesus (Acts 19:4-5).

No one knows everything when they are first baptized, but they should understand that the Lord commanded it (Mark 16:16; Matthew 28:19-20). They should also understand that baptism enters them into a covenant with Christ, where they become a part of God's family (Galatians 3:26-27). They should also realize that they are being baptized because they have sinned, and that through baptism their sins will be removed and they will start a new life (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Romans 6:3-7; Ephesians 5:26; I Peter 3:21). The one baptizing you should have made sure you were aware of these things, even if you might not have fully grasped all the significance of what you were doing.

Whether you think you need to be baptized again is up to you. I wasn't there when you were baptized. However, it sounds like you understood that baptism connected you to Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. Since that is where salvation from sin flows from, I'm guessing you understood what you were doing.

How can I convince someone that being a nudist is wrong?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 22:13:15 +0000

Question:

Good evening,

I understand that being a nudist is sinful. Walking around naked with strangers, friends, or family is shameful and against the will and law of God. Walking around naked is rebellion against God.

God commands modesty.

Sin is sin.

So a person who is engaging in nudism after being told that it is sin and rebellion against God is actually willfully persisting in a sinful lifestyle that is not bringing glory to God at all.

It is like telling a person that drunkenness is sin and you prove it through Scripture, but still they make the rebellious decision to get drunk at every chance they get.

Am I right?

I have friends that continue to practice nudism after I spoke to them and told them that it is wrong. It rebels against God and does not bring God glory. I told them that they cannot persist in this ungodly lifestyle.

What can I do to persuade them that this lifestyle is wrong and sinful?

Kind regards.

Answer:

What you have to acknowledge is that you don't control the world. Each person has free will. Some will choose falsehood over truth.

You tried to explain why nudity should be avoided. (See: Is there anything wrong with the concept of naturism?) They didn't accept what you presented. Therefore, since they persist in their ways, you disconnect from them. "Do not be deceived: 'Bad company corrupts good morals'" (I Corinthians 15:33).

While we seek to persuade people of the truth, many will not listen. When God sent Isaiah to warn Israel that they were heading toward destruction: "Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?' Then I said, 'Here am I. Send me!' He said, 'Go, and tell this people: "Keep on listening, but do not perceive; Keep on looking, but do not understand." Render the hearts of this people insensitive, their ears dull, and their eyes dim, otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and return and be healed.' Then I said, 'Lord, how long?' And He answered, 'Until cities are devastated and without inhabitant, houses are without people and the land is utterly desolate'" (Isaiah 6:8-11). All we can do is warn. A few will listen (Luke 13:23-28).

Why are some prophecies written in the past tense?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 22:19:23 +0000

Question:

Since Isaiah 53 is a prophecy about the coming of Christ, why is it written in the past tense?

Answer:

One way God emphasizes the certainty of what He declares about the future is to express it as if it has already occurred. Scholars call this the "prophetic perfect tense."

Speaking of the future destruction of Tyre, God spoke of it as already being destroyed:

"By the multitude of your iniquities, in the unrighteousness of your trade you profaned your sanctuaries. Therefore I have brought fire from the midst of you; It has consumed you, and I have turned you to ashes on the earth in the eyes of all who see you. All who know you among the peoples are appalled at you; you have become terrified and you will cease to be forever" (Ezekiel 28:18-19).

What would happen to the Messiah was a certainty, which is why Isaiah 53 is in the past tense.

Response:

Thank you for the clarification.

Is my hobby becoming an idol?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Wed, 09 Sep 2026 19:33:49 +0000

Question:

Dear Sir,

I have a question about an issue I have been having and can't figure out how to handle it.

I have been doing a creative hobby, but I wasn't doing it alone; I used AI. So it took up a lot of time and became unhealthy because I kept doing it excessively and used AI a lot, so now I am concerned about idolatry. I have decided to correct my behavior and stop using AI because of this concern. But I am wondering whether it is still okay to do this creative hobby without AI, and what the problem might be. Was the problem that I was overly dependent on AI, or did the creative hobby itself become an idol?

I have two opinions: I don't really want to stop it completely because doing so would feel like bottling up my thoughts and feelings, and it is hard for me to keep everything bottled up without an outlet, so that is why I am asking. But more importantly: I want to be repentant and make sure God is first place for me, so if this creative hobby is not something I should be doing any further, I will accept it and move on.

Answer:

As explained in "What Is Idolatry?", just because you strongly like something or spend time doing something doesn't make it an idol. Idols are worshiped, served, and followed. If your hobby is controlling your choices in life, then there may be a problem. AI is just a tool. It can speed some things up, but it isn't perfect. It makes frequent mistakes.

Response:

Thank you very much for your answer!

Is it scriptural to divorce your unbelieving spouse?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Tue, 08 Sep 2026 20:43:19 +0000

Question:

Dear Brother Jeff.

Good day and God bless.

Brother Jeff, you answered me concerning a brother who divorced his wife, without what Matthew 19:9 taught us. This Sunday our brethren replied regarding the divorced couple. They reckon the sister in the picture divorced her first and second husbands because they were unbelievers (I Corinthians7:12-16), so she had the scriptural right to divorce both of them.

Brother, can you please shed light for me on this reply from the congregation?

Thank you.

Answer:

"But to the rest I say, not the Lord, that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he must not divorce her. And a woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, she must not send her husband away. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband; for otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy. Yet if the unbelieving one leaves, let him leave; the brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called us to peace. For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?" (I Corinthians 7:12-16).

Paul's command is not being followed. He states that a Christian married to an unbeliever must not divorce his or her spouse. Your brethren reversed Paul's statement to say that Christians can divorce their unbelieving spouses.

Now, if the unbeliever decides to leave the marriage, then that is his or her decision. The Christian is under no obligation to hold the marriage together. However, nowhere in this passage does Paul give the divorced spouse permission to marry again. What he said just before was that a divorced Christian is not to marry again. "But to the married I give instructions, not I, but the Lord, that the wife should not leave her husband (but if she does leave, she must remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband should not divorce his wife" (I Corinthians 7:10-11).

Christ gives one exception to this general rule: if a spouse is involved in fornication, then the spouse not involved in sin could choose to divorce his spouse, and he would be allowed to marry again. However, the guilty spouse would not be allowed to marry again while his original spouse remains alive (Matthew 19:9).

How do I avoid problems with a sudden increase in income?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Mon, 07 Sep 2026 20:58:57 +0000

Question:

Hello Brother Jeff,

Your work on the La Vista site continues to be a blessing.

God has blessed me with a new job that will just about double my income. I'm wondering, in your experience as a preacher and elder, if you've seen people go wrong spiritually with such a big income change, and if so, how. I'm in my mid-thirties, married, and a father.

I'd be grateful for any advice or warnings you might offer.

God bless you and the church at La Vista!

Answer:

Congratulations on the new job. I hope you find it an enjoyable adventure.

It is a blessing to have more income than you are used to, but don't trust it. "Do not weary yourself to gain wealth, cease from your consideration of it. When you set your eyes on it, it is gone. For wealth certainly makes itself wings like an eagle that flies toward the heavens" (Proverbs 23:4-5). You might continue to prosper in the years to come, but you might also run into difficulties.

Since you're used to a lower income, don't raise your expenses drastically. Live on less than what you bring in. If you have debts, pay them off as quickly as possible (Romans 13:8). When you don't have debts, any variability in income won't impact your life as much. Also, build up a contingency fund. This money will be used to handle unexpected expenses, such as an appliance breaking. "There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man swallows it up" (Proverbs 21:20). It is suggested that you aim to have about 3 to 6 months of living expenses saved. This way, if you suddenly lose your job, you have a few months to locate a new job.

When you can, have another fund to use to help others. "Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed" (I Timothy 6:17-19).

For more see:

What do I tell someone who desires to date a weak Christian?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Mon, 07 Sep 2026 19:54:11 +0000

Question:

Hi Mr. Jeff,

I emailed you several years ago. I wonder if you still answer emails. A lot has happened in my walk as a Christian, and I am very thankful that I've seen Christ's faithfulness more and more. May He be glorified in everything and in all things.

I want to ask a question about courtship. This isn't about my life, but about someone close to me. Someone is pursuing her, and we first advised her to pray and give the brother space because we can really see he is not yet ready; when he has issues, he suddenly pulls out of church. Simply put, he is a new believer.

She listened, then after a while, she went silent and didn't share with us. Then I heard from some church members that they were already officially in a relationship. I have advised my friend before to wait, because God's timing for everything is perfect, but I guess when we are in love, we don't listen anymore.

Now, this friend of mine is more than a sister to me. We went to mission field together for over a year, so I really care about her. She's planning to meet and tell me something (which I suspect is the official relationship she has with the brother).

Now I don't know what to advise her. I learned not to step ahead of God and seek accountability since the Lord has disciplined me so hard in the past. But anyway, I guess one won't really listen unless it is revealed through discipline; thus, the Word is revealed not by the head only but through the heart.

I guess I want to ask: what would you advise my friend? When someone wants to pursue someone within the church, how involved should church leaders be? What does it mean to be in courtship with purity and holiness?

I appreciate your response and help in advance. May the Lord be glorified in your life more and more.

Answer:

I'll continue answering questions as time allows. I plan to continue doing so as the Lord permits.

As you've noticed, advising someone about who to marry is difficult because emotions are high. People often ignore reasonable advice because they think their situation is different. All you can do is give good advice based on God's teaching and pray that some of it sinks in.

In this case, I would suggest asking her what type of man she wants to marry. After she shares a few points, ask how the man she is interested in fits with her interests. The goal is to encourage her to think about the potential future. If she says she can change him into a better person, ask whether she sees signs of him improving. If he isn't changing now, when it is in his interest to impress her, why would she think he will change later, when they are already married?

Avoid telling her who she should marry because, ultimately, it is her life and her decision.

Church leaders should help their members think through issues. They should point out things they might have overlooked in their consideration. They should step in to prevent sin. Thus, if it is learned that she is having sex with the man, then there must be a discussion with both of them about why sex outside of marriage is wrong.

Are Matthew 24:30 and Revelation 1:7 referring to the same event?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Mon, 07 Sep 2026 18:38:01 +0000

Question:

"This generation" in Matthew 24 makes it clear that the signs were not about the end of the world. But the phrase "all tribes on the earth shall mourn" is hard to understand. The phrase was used in Revelation 1:7 and Matthew 24:30. If it meant the destruction of Jerusalem in Matthew, then it must also mean the destruction of Jerusalem in Revelation.

But because of phrases like "all eyes shall see him" and the context from Revelation 1:5-7, it cannot mean the destruction of Jerusalem.

How do we explain them without contradiction?

Answer:

A phrase can have meaning without referring to a single event. When a nation falls, it brings fear and mourning because if one nation falls, others may fall as well.

Discussing the fall of Judah:

"Then I will turn your festivals into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation; And I will bring sackcloth on everyone's loins and baldness on every head. And I will make it like a time of mourning for an only son, and the end of it will be like a bitter day" (Amos 8:10).

Discussing the fall of Egypt:

"Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day when he went down to the grave I caused a mourning: I covered the deep for him, and I restrained the floods thereof, and the great waters were stayed: and I caused Lebanon to mourn for him, and all the trees of the field fainted for him. I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall, when I cast him down to hell with them that descend into the pit: and all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that drink water, shall be comforted in the nether parts of the earth" (Ezekiel 31:15-16).

Discussing the fall of Tyre:

"And they will make their voice heard over you, and will cry bitterly. They will cast dust on their heads, they will wallow in ashes. Also they will make themselves bald for you, and gird themselves with sackcloth; And they will weep for you in bitterness of soul, with bitter mourning. Moreover, in their wailing they will take up a lamentation for you, and lament over you: 'Who is like Tire, like her who is silent in the midst of the sea? When your wares went out from the seas, you satisfied many peoples; With the abundance of your wealth and your merchandise you enriched the kings of earth. Now that you are broken by the seas, in the depths of the waters, your merchandise and all your company have fallen in the midst of you. All the inhabitants of the coastlands are appalled at you, and their kings are horribly afraid; They are troubled in countenance. The merchants among the peoples hiss at you; you have become terrified, and you will cease to be forever'" (Ezekiel 27:30-36).

Matthew 24:30 talks about how the world's nations reacted to news of the destruction of Israel. Revelation 1:7 talks about the reaction of the world's nations to the fall of Rome. Both events punish the nations that were involved in the killing of God's son.

Did God command worship in the Temple every Sabbath?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Sun, 06 Sep 2026 21:35:25 +0000

Question:

Was worship in the temple on every Sabbath day each week a tradition that got started somewhere along the way? I ask because I can’t find anywhere in Scripture that God established weekly worship on Saturday. The sabbath was simply a day of rest.

Thank you.

Answer:

"Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, 'The LORD'S appointed times which you shall proclaim as holy convocations--My appointed times are these: For six days work may be done, but on the seventh day there is a sabbath of complete rest, a holy convocation. You shall not do any work; it is a sabbath to the LORD in all your dwellings'" (Leviticus 23:2-3).

"Convocation" is an assembly or meeting. The holy convocations for the three major feasts were held at the tabernacle and later at the temple in Jerusalem. The location of the weekly holy convocations was not specified, and this was likely one reason local synagogues were built after the captivity. Only the three major feasts required all male Jews to travel to the tabernacle (or temple).