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Can a church let the community use its well?
Question: Greetings Brother Hamilton, I trust you are doing great today. I have this conflict to clarify: I understand the church is not suppose to go into business or maintain one. But I have a challenge; My congregation was gifted a piece of land with a sunken borehole (well) by a brother . Can the church…
Read MoreIs it a sin to get breast implants?
Question: Hello brother! I have a question for you! I’m a baptized member of the church of Christ, and I was wondering if it would be a sin to get breast implants. I have a ”deformity” that causes them to look strange, and I was wondering if it would be a sin to go ahead…
Read MoreIs it wrong to watch or play sports?
Question: Hello! I’ve read several of your articles on sports but needed more information. I love college sports and the friendly competition that’s behind them. Is there any biblical principle that prohibits playing or watching sports? Answer: The Bible mentions several sports and uses sports to illustrate a few concepts. See Notes on Sports. There is…
Read MoreThe idea of redemption confuses me
Question: Hi there, I’m reading through the Bible for the first time. I’m up to Numbers 18 and was confused by verses 14-16. For reference (I’m using an NIV, but I might switch to ESV sometime): “Everything in Israel that is devoted to the Lord is yours. The first offspring of every womb, both human…
Read MoreIs it right for a church to support a Bible school?
Question: Greetings to you, Brother Hamilton; I trust you have been in good health. I need your guidance on these issues: Is it a sin for the church to financially support Bible schools? The church sometimes requests Bible school students to help carry out a massive evangelism campaign. How can the church balance its relationship…
Read MoreI was thinking of asking you a quesion, but you just answered it
Question: Brother Hamilton, I am just writing to thank you again for all that you do. I was considering writing to you about a topic, but I opened the site this morning to find your Q&A on “Should the church organize social activities?” addressing the very topic I had in mind. You are in our…
Read MoreHow could he ruin my life like this?
Question: Good, dear Minister of God. I have been married for ten years and knew my husband for about eight years before we married. One of the primary reasons I believed he was God’s will for me was that I saw him as an honest person with very high integrity. He had been a choir…
Read MoreShould a church organize social activities?
Question: I have been a Christian for nearly 40 years and recently became a member of a new congregation after moving. One of the initial impressions is the focus among the brethren about various social activities. Card playing clubs, baseball outings, book clubs, etc. Some of these are promoted from the pulpit, and signs are…
Read MoreCan you separate instead of divorcing?
Question: Hello, First, thank you for your patience, guidance, knowledge, and service. To God be the glory, and may His will be done always. I have a question and need guidance. Recently, a fellow Christian couple realized that they were in an unscriptural marriage. The option of going back to her original spouse is not…
Read MoreI can’t grasp the concept of grace and that I don’t need to punish myself to be forgiven
Question: Hello sir, I have questions about sin, repentance, and the importance of confession and restitution. I love your website, and I admire your wisdom and helping others, which are completely backed up by Scripture. Your input would be greatly appreciated, sir. I also hope that by asking these questions, I will help others on…
Read MoreAre gender reveal parties unbiblical?
Question: Hello, I am bringing this up because my family and I are invited to a party next week. It’s a gender-reveal party. I have attended at least two in the past, and I guess they were pretty enjoyable. I did try to search for some answers, whether they are biblical, and I did find…
Read MoreWhich came first, Leviticus 12:3 or Exodus 4?
Question: Hi, I read your article “Did God give Moses the commandment to circumcise?” You point out that in Leviticus 12:3, God instructs Moses that boys must be circumcised on the 8th day. In Exodus 4, we have the situation where God is preparing to kill Moses because he has not circumcised his son. Since…
Read MoreWhy was one woman called “daughter” instead of “woman”?
Question: Good morning, brother. I have been reading Luke 7 about the woman who was a sinner and brought an alabaster flask of fragment oil. She stood at Jesus’ feet, washed His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head. Jesus refers to her in Luke 7:44 as “woman.” In…
Read MoreHow would the Jews know that Psalms 110 is talking about the Messiah?
Question: Hello Jeffrey, I hope you’re doing well by the grace of God. I have a question about Psalm 110:1, “The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” When Jesus quoted this in Matthew 22:45, he pointed out that David called the Messiah Lord. Please…
Read MoreIs it wrong to get advice from non-Christians?
Question: Good morning, Brother Hamilton, I hope this message finds you well. I wanted to express my gratitude for the valuable resources on your website, which have been a blessing to me over the years. I have a question regarding scriptural authority for seeking counseling outside the church. Specifically, is there scriptural support for advocating…
Read MoreWhat If I Can’t Attend Due to Failing Health?
Question: I have been a faithful member of the Lord’s Church for many years. I have been very concerned about something lately and wonder if you could assist me. In Hebrews 10:25, the Bible says that we are not to forsake the assembly of the saints. I despise not going to church, but I have…
Read MoreWas there a significant age difference between Jonathan and David?
Question: I read a comment online that some scholars believe that there was a 20 – 30-year difference between Jonathan and David, that Jonathan was at least 20 years older than David. I have been searching but cannot find scripture that verifies that. Do you know of one? Answer: Jonathan participated in battles against the…
Read MoreDoes morality change with age?
Question: I spent a lot of time looking at your answers to several sexual questions. I am fairly clear ( I think ) that intercourse is a grave sin outside of marriage. Anything that leads there is wrong. A few months ago, I reconnected with a childhood friend. I believe God set this in motion.…
Read MoreShould I take courses that teach evolution?
Question: Recently, I’ve been thinking about the future, how my life will be, and how my career affects me. I picked a job in botany. But after taking an online course, I feel utterly terrified. A lot of history is about the evolution of plants. I know this won’t affect me in the actual workforce,…
Read MoreIs God All Loving?
Question: Is God all loving? This might be a strange question for a new Christian, but this is legitimately important. The reason I questioned this is because of God saying that these people are abominations, mainly (Leviticus 18:22) and (Deuteronomy 22:5). But as I wrote this, I realized the potential that maybe it was up…
Read MoreI was ready to fight at first, but by the end, I agreed
Question: I just wanted to express my appreciation for your response to this question: Why doesn’t God prevent innocent children from being harmed? I’ll admit, I was ready to fight at first, but by the end of the entire response, I felt that you detailed and answered all of my grievances that not only that person…
Read MoreShould I marry the man I’ve already had sex with?
Question: Hello there! I am emailing because I’ve been in turmoil this past month. Recently, I’ve felt that the Lord has strengthened my conviction to follow him. I plan on hopefully being baptized by the end of the year. My church is very Protestant; they believe in purity, and I’ve heard many stories of those…
Read MoreYou should reword your home page
Question: My wife just happened upon your cover page and read the “Who We Are” statement. I have used your website for a couple of decades. Many times, when I want detailed information about the church of Christ’s viewpoint on a topic, I will add the words “la vista church of Christ” since I know…
Read MoreMy life is a ruin
Question: My friend, I don’t know where to begin. I have prayed to the Lord for wisdom. I don’t know where, but I’ll just begin. As a child, I grew up very lonely. I later found out I have autism, though I am high-functioning. As I got older, I had to go to preschool, where…
Read MoreDoes it matter how well we sing?
Question: Hello Jeffrey, I hope you’re doing well by the grace of God. You have been of tremendous help to me. God richly bless you. Please, I have some questions that I want your help with. What I know: God is the audience of our worship. But when we teach as an act of worship,…
Read MoreWho was the greatest king?
Question: Good day, brother Jeffrey! About Hezekiah, we read in II Kings 18:5-6: Hezekiah trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him. He held fast to the LORD and did not cease to follow him; he kept the…
Read MoreCan a non-Christian serve in worship?
Question: I have a great deal of respect for your website and the articles on it. However, I don’t agree 100% with everything. I have worshipped in congregations that have and don’t have a fellowship hall; neither bothers me. The congregation installed elders and deacons, which has caused some problems. I have a question about…
Read MoreI don’t think I’ll ever be perfect
Question: I struggle to keep my heart and thoughts on God through the day. I’ll be doing good for a while, then doubts creep in, saying you won’t ever amount up to God by trying to be perfect, even though Jesus said to be perfect like the Father. I feel as though He’s grown tired…
Read MoreWhy does the Bible talk of other gods?
Question: Good evening! I have been wondering about certain things in the Bible, specifically the “Divine Council.” There are many different verses I can use, but I want to focus on three: The first being Psalm 82:1: “God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods.” I generally don’t accept that…
Read MoreI’m grateful for your article on tent-making ministers
Question: Peace to you sir, I’m very grateful for your article on tent-making ministers. I’m enlightened by it. I look forward to try implementing it in my context. Be blessed indeed. In the Master’s Royal Service, Answer: I’m glad the article is helpful.
Read MoreCan you explain Leviticus 19:20 more?
Question: Does Leviticus 19:20 imply that if the slave woman was not betrothed, it was not a sin to sleep with her? What punishment would it have been? Is the primary sin harm of the owner’s property or sexual sin in itself? Why is no monetary compensation paid, unlike Deuteronomy 22? Thank you! Answer: “Now…
Read MoreIs it wrong to link to WVBS or GBN?
Question: Is it wrong for a church to link to WVBS or GBN on its website? I’m unsure if it’s right or wrong, but I’d at least like your thoughts, if you don’t mind. Thanks. Answers: World Video Bible School (WVBS) and Gospel Broadcasting Network (GBN) solicit funding from individuals and churches. “WVBS is organized…
Read MoreThis one really hit home
Question: Thank you. “Thankful for the No-Names” really hit home for me. Most of my preaching years were spent in smaller churches, just as you described. There are many who serve in such a capacity. More that we know. Thank you. I appreciate your articles. Answer: You’re welcome. Like you, I’ve spent all my life…
Read MoreDoes Leviticus 20:10 permit adultery with the wife of a Gentile?
Question: Maimonides says that the repeated clause in Leviticus 20:10 is written this way to permit adultery with the wife of a Gentile. Is there any truth to that? And why is it written in such an ambiguous way? Is it to reveal human evils? Answer: The text of Leviticus 20:10 literally reads: “and a…
Read MoreAm I being unrepentant?
Question: Hello, I am a fellow disciple of Christ who recently has had his faith attacked from seemingly every possible angle. The foremost attack is self-inflicted in the form of a sin I committed. I want to preface this with two things: First, I need to hear the truth, no matter how painful. Second, I…
Read MoreHow do I get over this woman?
Question: I need some guidance. I was going to church and celebrating recovery, also serving at church, but I never felt connected to people or God. I felt like a loner like every other time I attempted to go to church. I started talking to this girl, my mom’s co-worker, whom I’ve always thought was…
Read MoreWe can’t find a good congregation
Question: Hello, I’m facing a dilemma and seek guidance to do the right thing. My husband and I used to attend the only church in our area that lacks a kitchen. We stopped going because the preacher left, there are no elders, and the men currently leading the church are not biblically sound in their…
Read MoreWhat can I say to someone who frequently says, “I swear to God”?
Question: What can I say to someone who says “I swear to God”? Thanks Answer: The goal should be to get the person to think about what they are saying. Often, people use catchphrases without much thought. Thus, I would ask, “Do you think so little of the truth of your own words that you…
Read MoreCan a woman conduct marriages?
Question: Good day, sir, Can a woman conduct marriages? Answer: Marriages are not a function of the church. God established them when the world started (Genesis 2:24), long before Christ established the church. Now, in a marriage ceremony, it is typical to teach a bit about what God says about marriage. This then runs into…
Read MoreMy husband left me, claiming I was violent
Question: Hi! Please share your wisdom with me. I am standing in need of spiritual guidance and prayer. I have been married for over a year. Half the time I was together with my husband at home and half the time we’ve been separated. My husband did the unimaginable and betrayed me. I was raised…
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