I want to be baptized but my dad won’t let me

Question: In Spanish class, we had a test. This guy asked me for the answers; he is an upperclassman. I knew it was a sin, and I didn’t want to do it, but I did anyway. I feel stupid and hate this blasphemous sin I have committed. Only now did I realize I could have…

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Does God have an ordained and permissive will?

Question: Like many times in the past few years, I was lost as to God’s will for my life. So I typed into Google: God what do you want me to do? Stay where I am or move? I have been out of work for several years and my money is running out. This time…

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Is survival preparation sinful?

Question: First of all let me thank you, brother Hamilton, for maintaining such a wonderful, informative, godly website for these past years. I can personally attest to how your advice has helped me to understand, more clearly, the Word of our Lord and apply it to my life, not only for my benefit but for…

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If a guy is drunk at his wedding, is he really married?

Question: My “soulmate” had gotten himself in a messy situation about ten years ago. We had been dating but had split due to distance. While I was gone he started seeing another girl (at the time he was 18) whom he slept with. When I returned, however, he told me that it was me he…

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Does God give us our names?

Question: Does God give us our names? Answer: Depends on which name you are referring to. If you mean the designations like Christian, disciple, or child of God, then, yes, those come from God. If you mean your birth name then, no, that was the name your parents picked out for you. There are times…

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If God condemned something in the past does that mean the law remains?

Question: Hello! I came across a website today about Leviticus and homosexuality. At the bottom it said the following: “Now, if God never changes and never goes back on His word, what He says in Leviticus stands for all time. Thus, what He condemns in the Old Testament remains condemned into the New Testament and…

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Should I divorce my husband of less than a year?

Question: I came across your website by chance while searching for information on divorce and separation. Below is my question: I have been married since earlier this year and separated from my husband only a few months later. I am older than my husband, and unfortunately, we didn’t date as long as we should. I…

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Why do the Jews teach different doctrines from the New Testament?

Question: I was wondering why the Jews think Satan isn’t evil and of God to test people. They think that hell isn’t eternal. And that the Messiah will be a normal man, not the Son of God, who will rebuild the church in Israel and bring people back to Judaism. If the New Testament doesn’t…

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How does the Holy Spirit testify to people today?

Question: Hello, I was reading your page and I was wondering if you thought that the Holy Spirit testifies with people today. I can see what you mean by churches making a following off these emotional responses but are you saying that God doesn’t have a way of testifying with us to let us know…

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Your articles are enjoyable as well as a learning tool for me

Question: Greetings! I have been reading the articles consisting of different topics on your website. It has been an enjoyment as well as a learning tool for me personally. I greatly appreciate it for sharing with everyone the articles. Answer: I’m happy to be of service.

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Can Christians receive massages?

Question: Can Christians receive massages? Answer: It would depend on the purpose of the massage. There would be nothing wrong with a massage to loosen sore muscles, but a massage that arouses sexual feelings would be wrong. “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each…

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Do I have to give up my girlfriend to become a Christian?

Question: Hello, I am a 19-year-old young man studying with a church. I have been studying for over a year and a half and now I am ready to get baptized. I have made it my effort to not only learn the word of God, but to also apply it to my life. I pray…

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Is staying home because of an illness “forsaking the assemblies?”

Question: Hello, I read a section of your website that had to do with “not forsaking the assembling.” Could you give me your thoughts considering the following: Because I have been very low physically (adrenal fatigue State II and related diagnosis of hypoglycemia and extreme hormone imbalance) I have not attended church these last two…

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Should Christians fill out census forms?

Question: I would like to know how a Christian should react to government requests to fill out census forms. Answer: “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of…

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Why can’t I repent of my fornication?

Question: I’m a 26-year-old female. I got saved at the early age of 10. My grandmother is the one that first took me and my sisters to church, taught us how to pray and read the word of God. I learned from that early age that as a woman I had to stay pure until…

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Why do we need both redemption and forgiveness?

Question: I’ve read The Living Redeemer article. But why do we need redemption and forgiveness? (Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14). Is redemption not enough? Kindly explain. Answer: “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7). “In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness…

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Did Jesus physically arise?

Question: When Jesus rose from the dead, what form (human, spiritual, or something else) was he in when he appeared to the women and the apostles? Upon death, He gave up his spirit (Matthew 27:50) or his soul (Isaiah 53:12) but yet he did not want Mary to “cling to me”. Some apostles saw Him…

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How do you honor a bipolar mother and an autistic brother?

Question: I’m trying to follow the whole honor thy mother and father thing. My father is not around and my mom is hard to deal with. She and I argue sometimes, but she is also skitzo and bipolar. She seems like she’s a normal person, but she told me I have no idea what she…

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Food, Gimmicks, and Recreation

by Jeff May Problems arise as we strive to serve God faithfully, but God has given us a tree – the tree of Calvary, to be used in such situations, just as Moses cast in the tree at Mariah to resolve the problem of the bad water (Exodus 5), and Elisha cast in the tree…

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What do we do if he can’t afford the dowry (Lobola)?

Question: I have been dating this man for the past three years, and I love him so much. We grew up together in the church but we started dating when I was in my early twenties. He was supposed to pay a dowry (lobola) but he lost his job. This happened again this year, but…

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Was Paul a false apostle?

Question: I have recently stumbled onto some information. Apparently, some Christians think that the apostle Paul was a false apostle and false teacher. They say that he taught Jesus “faith only” while Jesus himself clearly taught faith + works. I am deeply troubled by this and feel my world has been turned upside-down just when…

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My best friend has started to smoke. How do I make him stop?

Question: I’m 14 years old and female. My best friend (who’s a guy) has just started smoking cigs and will start smoking weed soon. He doesn’t know how much I care about him. Since I am an only child, I view him as my older brother (he’s older than me by half a year). I…

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How can you discount things like radiocarbon dating and fossils?

Question: First, what does this mean: “Faith is the demonstration of your prejudice”? Second, how do you discount things like radiocarbon dating and fossils? If God created Adam and Eve as the first humans, then where did everyone else come from after them? Was incest acceptable back then because if there was only Adam and…

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Why is it so hard to get over an ex-boyfriend?

Question: Why is it so hard for me to leave my ex-boyfriend alone? I was involved with him at one time, but I came back to the Lord, got baptized, and am focusing more on Jesus. I thought I was delivered and set free it. There had been times I could do good when I…

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If I dream a woman wanted me, does it not mean we are married?

Question: I was in a dream one night and saw a lady in my church trying to sleep with me. I ran away from her but she was desperate. Her younger brother, with her in that dream, was asking me why I don’t want to marry his sister. Physically, she was not the one I…

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How can I glorify God in everything I do but still have fun in the process?

Question: I’m a 14-year-old guy. Most guys like to play sports, games, computers, etc. Well when I’m taking part in these activities, I’m thinking to myself, “stop idolizing this stuff, you could be reading the Bible instead.” In other words, whenever I am doing something fun, it feels like I should be reading the Word…

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Once again your articles are super helpful

Question: Once again your articles are super helpful. Today I was studying Romans 9.  Thanks for all you guys do! Answer: It is good to hear that the efforts here are helping others.

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How do I find a church?

Question: Hello, I really want to become a Christian and be saved, but my problem is finding the right church. By the way, to whomever this is going to, I found this website and don’t know how I have forgotten but I love it. I started to cry and I cry all the time when…

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