Answer
Should I continue seeing this divorced woman?
Question: I have a question that is tough for me to come to conclusion on. I hope you can reply after careful consideration, but in somewhat of a timely fashion. I am dating a woman who has divorced her husband. Initially, she did not tell me why and over time she revealed that her ex-husband…
Read MoreI’ve continued to commit fornication after I was baptized. How do I convince my boyfriend that it is wrong?
Question: I have committed fornication with my boyfriend before and after baptism. Now I feel so much guilt and I don’t know how to ask God for forgiveness. I have been asking God to guide me and help me with my situation. I’ve been asking Him to change me. I’m trying to seek the Holy…
Read MoreHow can we make things right and be committed Christians?
Question: I am a middle-aged woman in a relationship with a middle-aged man for about a year. We have talked of marriage, but I am not sure if this man is the one that God wants me to marry. I am a born again Christian. I’ve been praying to God to give me a sign…
Read MoreHow can I be a Christian in a Hindu family?
Question: I am a strong believer in the Lord, but I am a Hindu. My teacher has told me that if one person believes in Him, the household would soon become believers as well. True enough, my parents have a Bible at home and they have bought for me a crucifix pendant of gold. However,…
Read MoreExperience with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes
Question: Thank you for all your work with this site and for answering hard questions that sometimes members of the Church are unprepared and unequipped to answer. I graduated from High School in 2010 and have experienced first hand the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. I was never personally a member, but once I did happen to be…
Read MoreDid David have two sons named Solomon?
Question: I’m now reading II Samuel and I am confused about David’s children. In II Samuel 5:14, the passage reads that one of the names of the eleven children born in Jerusalem was Solomon. In II Samuel 12:24, the passage reads that Bathsheba gave birth to another Solomon. My question is which of these two…
Read MoreAm I still in adultery?
Question: I need some advice about my situation. There is a lot that has happened, but I’m going to try to summarize to keep it short. Several years ago I had sex with a girl who was barely married a few months before to a guy (I’ll call him “J”). We kept on in it,…
Read MoreWhat do you say to people who left the church when you run into them?
Question: Over the last couple of years, members (particularly young adults) have fallen away from the church. It concerns me, as I have heard that they are going their own way and some now have relationships (boyfriend or girlfriends). I am not sure how to deal with the situation as these people have been an…
Read MoreWhy was there an idol in David’s house?
Question: In I Samuel 19:13, why was there an idol in David and Michal’s house? I know Saul erected a monument for himself in Carmel (I Samuel 15:12). Did Saul and his children worship other gods? Answer: The Hebrew word teraphim is often translated as a “household idol,” but some translators, such as Koehler-Baumgartner, think that it…
Read MoreThank you for posting your sermons
Question: Thank you for posting your sermons, such as When Good Men Do Nothing, in this way. Thank you for teaching clearly and simply. This issue is not just about what is happening in our country politically, it’s how we turn away from the needs of our families, our kids lost in the Internet and worldly…
Read MoreMy husband and I are just not getting along
Question: I have written to you before and you really helped me with your advice and I am in need of it again, as I really don’t have anyone I can talk to about this problem. I was married for over twenty years to my late husband. We had a wonderful and blessed life raising…
Read MoreShould Christ be put into Christmas?
Question: It just doesn’t seem right that we shouldn’t bring Christ into everything. I thought that’s what we were supposed to do. Wouldn’t it be alright to sing carols about Christ because they are just songs about his birth, even though some of them might have Christmas in them? This is really difficult for me…
Read MoreWhat should be done if a visiting speaker starts teaching falsely?
Question: If an elder at a congregation puts a visiting speaker in the pulpit who has no business being there, and you have a lot of visitors in the audience, what should the preacher do or say about that? I might add that the elder’s knowledge is nowhere close to where it should be to…
Read MoreCan you join the church?
Question: I do appreciate the sermon outlines but figured this was an oversight that could stand some tweaking. In Why Are There Denominations? V. “Join the church of your choice” is a foolish idea A. It is advocating pleasing self. B. We need to join the church of God’s choice. We cannot “join” but we can be added to…
Read MoreIs it wrong to report less than what something costs so as to pay less tax?
Question: I have some questions. Part of my job is running an importing business for my small shop. My supplier asked if she can lower the invoice price to make my tax smaller. Is this a sin? The people at the customs office offered me a cheaper solution to the taxes I pay. Instead of…
Read MoreIs it necessary to fast or to give something up for God?
Question: Is it necessary to fast or to give something up for God? For example, I love video games. So does me giving up video games for a week please God? Answer: “Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject…
Read MoreCan a daughter at 18 go to college without her parent’s permission?
Question: Would it be a sin to move out at 18 despite your father telling you that you will leave only when he approves? I know a father who will not allow his daughter to leave home until she is married. However, she is mainly confined to her house when she is not at school…
Read MoreWhy am I suffering like this?
Question: I’m in my early twenties. I’m suffering from arthritis for several years. I took many treatments, but I’m not able to find a cure. I’m a Christian. One more thing is that I was in a relationship with a girl. I loved her like anything. I have touched her several times and I have…
Read MoreHow can looking at pornography be adultery, especially since I’m not married?
Question: I have looked up some information on your site and found some to be helpful, but I can’t help but wonder still. It is said that looking at porn is a sin and it says that anyone who looks upon someone with lust commits adultery. But isn’t that term only for married people? I’ll…
Read MoreWhat is a pacifist?
Question: What’s a pacifist? Because I know the Bible says to turn your swords into something that is not used to kill. Answer: A pacifist is someone opposed to violence for any purpose. He believes that every matter can be handled without violence. Thus a pacifist is opposed to the military and police because of…
Read MoreIf I give a gift, should I not say who it is from?
Question: The Bible says to give in secret, so does that mean we should not even let people know who it’s from, or does it mean we should just not go around saying, “Oh, yeah, I gave this to so and so”? And does that mean for a birthday or a random giving we should…
Read MoreWill God forgive me for cutting myself?
Question: Um, yes, hello. I have been having a problem for a very long time about cutting myself and hurting my body. I just wanted to ask if God will forgive me because I know that He put me there in the first place. What I am trying to say is can you give me…
Read MoreI’m trying to do what is right, but my mother is spreading gossip. What do I do?
Question: Hello, I am a Christian. Here’s the situation that concerns me. My family and I, including my sister who is involved in an adulterous relationship, lived together in one house. My parents and my sister are not Christians. However, since my stand in the matter, things at home started to get out of hand.…
Read MoreI’m supposed to mentor a young man, but he just won’t talk. How do I make this work?
Question: I have a little friend through one of the mentoring programs that helps young men. The relationship has not been the most encouraging experience as I have tried to connect with him, but he seems to be shy and unwilling to spend time. I understand he has friends, but I can’t even get to…
Read MoreWere Jacob and Esau identical or fraternal twins?
Question: I overheard an argument concerning Esau and Jacob. One was arguing that they were twins (Genesis 25:21ff) but not identical twins. What are your thoughts? Answer: Twins are when two children are born to one mother in the same birth. “So when her days were fulfilled for her to give birth, indeed there were twins in…
Read MoreCan two non-Christians, involved in adultery, be baptized?
Question: I want to hear about your views on this particular topic. There’s this man who is married with kids. He had some problems with his wife — she being aggressive and abusive. He met another woman while he was still married to his wife and had sexual relations with her. He eventually divorced his…
Read MoreCan a Christian be a serious actor when so many movies have intimate scenes?
Question: “It is good for a man not to touch a woman” (I Corinthians 7:1). What is the guideline for dating and marrying an actor or actress, where a part of their job sometimes involves intimate scenes? Does this mean they have sinned? Can a Christian be a serious actor or actress during these times,…
Read MoreWhat should I do with a game that has an indecently dressed character?
Question: I’ve been reading some of the articles and questions, and I like your commitment to keeping sinful entertainment out of your life. I have been trying to keep all forms of this out of my life for a while now. My DVDs almost wholly consist of Disney movies save a few. But I do want…
Read MoreWe prayed together and made vows to God, but our wedding is not until next year. Are we committing fornication as we have sex?
Question: I would like to ask you a question: I have read your responses to other people. I am in a relationship. Both of us are Christians and we love God. We prayed together and vowed to God about our lives for our marriage. We are preparing for our wedding next year. We do have safe sex together.…
Read MoreI think the Bible treats homosexuals worse than other so-called sins
Question: I am in utter shock. Being homosexual is not a choice, no one wants to be different if it was not meant to be. The Bible says we should stone children who disobey their parents, same as homosexuals. I only see the concept being applied to homosexuals. The Bible was written by man, it…
Read MoreI’m afraid of growing old and dying
Question: I’m going through a time right now of fear and turmoil. Fear of growing older and dying. It’s a paralyzing fear that I can’t seem to shake. I know it has to be a lack of faith. I don’t want to fear. I want to trust in what God has promised me. I also…
Read MoreWas Solomon sinning before God offered him wisdom?
Question: In I Kings 3:3 it says that Solomon showed his love for the Lord except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places. In Deuteronomy 12:4-5 God says you must not worship the Lord your God in their way, but you are to seek the place the Lord your God will choose from…
Read MoreI’m having a difficult time concentrating when I read the Bible. Is there anything you can suggest that will help?
Question: I’m having a difficult time concentrating when I read the Bible. Is there anything you can suggest that will help? Answer: I find the same thing happening to me if I try reading without a purpose in mind. What I would suggest is not reading the Bible straight through. Instead, read the books for a reason.…
Read MoreCan you marry for reasons other than love?
Question: Is it biblical to marry for reasons outside of love? For example for children, physical desire, status, family pressure, obligation, it is time, etc? Answer: So many people think that love is something that happens to a person when the truth is that love is something a person chooses to give. That is why…
Read MoreWhat does Isaiah 30:20-21 mean?
Question: What does Isaiah 30:20-21 mean? Answer: We’ll start by looking at the context. Israel wasn’t following God’s teachings. ” “Woe to the rebellious children,” says the LORD, “Who take counsel, but not of Me, And who devise plans, but not of My Spirit, That they may add sin to sin” ” (Isaiah 30:1). Instead,…
Read MoreThank you so much for your help and advice
Question: Thank you so much for your help and advice. I know I haven’t met you in person, but I feel much trust in you for the help you’ve provided to me. So much praise for your site. With the Internet being the way it is, it’s hard to find Christian answers online with all…
Read MoreDid Absalom have sons or not?
Question: Hi, I am just wondering why there’s a discrepancy in what II Samuel says about Absalom. In II Samuel 14:27 it says that Absalom has three sons and a daughter, but in II Samuel 18:18 it says that Absalom erected a monument for himself because he thought he has no son to carry on…
Read MoreI want to go to college, but my dad won’t let me. What should I do?
Question: Hello. I’m a senior in high school and I turn eighteen next year. I want to go to college next fall. My dad said I’ll go to college when he decides and in the meantime, he will probably want me to study at home to earn a medical coding license. Although I do not…
Read MoreOver a year later, my lawyer notified me that he accidentally overpaid me on my transaction. What is the proper thing to do?
Question: I need your help. Sometime last year I concluded a property transaction and the final proceeds were transferred to me. Just recently, I requested the lawyer to resend me a copy of the remittance slip with the accompanying statement, as this was from a foreign country so that I could check on the exchange…
Read MoreI somehow lost my love
Question: I go to a church of Christ. Lately, something has been telling me I need to get myself right and that I need to get baptized again for the right reason, but over the years I lost how to love and believe and how to let him in my heart. My conscience keeps telling…
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