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Can one receive the Holy Spirit without baptism?
Question: Can one receive the Holy Spirit without baptism? Answer: The clear answer to this is “yes.” Baptism is a command found in the New Testament, yet people had received the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament. In addition: “While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard…
Read MoreHow do you answer someone who doesn’t believe the Bible?
Question: Greetings Brother. I pray the Lord continues to bless you and the works you have undertaken. A month or two ago I posed a biblical question on a forum that quickly turned into a small argument over the Bible’s validity with another individual. I have known him to be an extreme liberal and unbeliever.…
Read MoreMy congregation is becoming more unscriptural. Should I find another one?
Question: My home congregation is slowly beginning to make some unscriptural moves. I have been told by another gospel preacher that my home congregation has a bad reputation. Our evangelist holds an erroneous view on marriage, divorce, and remarriage. He believes that Christ’s covenant is for Christians only and that since an alien sinner didn’t…
Read MoreCan a married couple talk dirty during sex?
Question: Hi, I have read through a lot of your Answered Questions and wanted to throw one out at you. Do you think it’s improper for a married Christian couple to “talk dirty” during sex, using words and language they would ordinarily not use in daily conversation? (If no one else is around and the…
Read MoreHow do I honor abusive, ungodly parents?
Question: Our parents are abusive, ungodly people. I have forgiven them and continue to ask God to help me. My sister says I have to honor them by doing what they want because they are old. She chooses to subject herself to their verbal abuse. I struggle to do as God would want. I do…
Read MoreMy friend is planning to commit fraud. What should I do?
Question: I have an ethical problem. I recently became aware of a friend planning on committing what is basically insurance fraud with his car due to his financial situation and his car having so many issues. I know when and how he plans on having his vehicle “stolen” and stripped as well as what insurance…
Read MoreDoesn’t I Corinthians 11 prove that Jesus couldn’t have had long hair?
Question: Regarding “Didn’t Jesus have Long Hair?” Don’t you think that I Corinthians 11:11ff shows that Jesus had to have short hair? I read your post regarding this subject and think this text would answer that question. “In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. For as…
Read MoreYou sound like congregations I’ve been associated with all my life
Question: I stumbled upon the web site of the La Vista church and I just wanted to say that your article on the home page takes me back many years ago when the church was trying to be a true church of Christ — not competing with denominations, etc. The church in La Vista sounds…
Read MoreWhat about those farmers who torture their animals?
Question: What about these awful farms that keep calves anemic and torture them just to offer veal on a menu when we already have meat choices. At one point is it torture? Do you feel God would accept the way we farm today? Is there a list of Christian farmers that can be circulated to…
Read MoreWas Stephen lynched in Acts?
Question: Was Stephen lynched in Acts? Answer: “Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul” (Acts 7:57-58).
Read MoreIs there a great difference between the NASB and the KJV? Can the NASB be trusted?
Question: Your web site is very informative. I attend a church that only recognizes KJV and no other. I read between NASB and KJV. Is there a great difference between the two? Can the NASB translation be trusted? Thank you for help in this matter. Answer: Both the King James Version and the New American…
Read MoreDoes sinning or being tempted to sin mean you aren’t really saved?
Question: I was reading a page on your web site that said if you give in to sexual desires, even just once, Satan can more easily bring you in and cause you to go further and further into sin until he has you trapped. This is only true for those who are lost. A child of God…
Read MoreShould it be acceptable for a preacher to reprimand an individual in front of the church?
Question: Should it be acceptable for a preacher to reprimand an individual in front of the church? Answer: “Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew…
Read MoreHow do you handle attending a funeral where the practices are unscriptural?
Question: This past weekend I attended my grandmother’s funeral, but I have a question. My family is very unscriptural in most of their ways, but while I was there they had a woman preach or eulogize the funeral I am wondering if I am in sin by attending it and staying for the services? I was…
Read MoreWhy can animals be used for food, but not men?
Question: If “Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. I have given you all things, even as the green herbs” according to your post on PETA’s statement that Jesus did not eat meat – what prevents people from eating each other? I am a vegetarian who eats fish. I am not a follower of…
Read MoreWhy did Jesus say that unless he went away, the Comforter could not come?
Question: Why did Jesus say that unless he went away, the Comforter could not come? Answer: “Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you”…
Read MoreThe article on being a preacher’s wife was just what I needed
Question: Recently I read your article on “The Blessings of Being a Preacher’s Wife” and I just want to tell you that I have been so blessed by it. In two months I am getting married to a preacher myself, so I was going through the internet such articles. All that you mentioned in the…
Read MoreYou are right, God’s people need the word, not social things
Question: Greetings in Christ’s name! Yes, you are correct, God’s people need to be feed by His everlasting word and not with social and worldly things. We love learning more from you. Answer: Thank you for your kind words.
Read MoreWhat do you mean by “new age melodies?”
Question: I read your Review of Sacred Songs of the Church. I noticed this sentence: “The “praise song” crowd will probably not like this book because it is not filled with one-stanza numbers having a set of seven, often touchy-feely, words sung eleven times to a new age melody.” I was wondering if you would mind…
Read MoreIs it a sin to let another man touch me during the night?
Question: I let another man touch me in the night time. I do not know what to do. Answer: The question is too vague for me to answer well. By “touch,” I’m assuming he touched your genitals in some way, but I don’t know if you mean purposely or accidentally. By “let,” I don’t know…
Read MoreWhat is sin? Is it spiritual or physical?
Question: What is sin? Is it related to the spiritual or the physical? Answer: The simplest definition of sin is, “Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness” (I John 3:4). Sin is when you break one of God’s laws. All sins start from inside, “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts,…
Read MoreIs it dangerous to use the NIV Bible?
Question: Is it dangerous to use the NIV Bible? Answer: Dangerous would be too strong of a word. It has many misleading translations, which if you are not aware of them could lead you to the wrong conclusion. See “The New International Version” for more details.
Read MoreMy boss appears to be a Christian, but she is awful. What should I do?
Question: I work for a government agency. My contract expires next year. I have been under the supervision of a woman who has been in her position for over 25 years. She jokes that she will die in her office chair; she has no plans to retire. Her office is covered in Christian arts, a…
Read MoreDoes the Bible say anything about retiring?
Question: Does the Bible say anything about people retiring after a certain age? Are there any examples of this in Scripture? We live in a world where society seems to make retirement the goal, and I was wondering if there are any scriptures or people that back this up? Answer: We know that people had dreams of working…
Read MoreWhat happened to Elijah after he was taken up to heaven?
Question: According to scripture, Elijah was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind, so does that mean that he is still in heaven with God, Jesus, and the angels? Or is he in hades awaiting judgment with everyone else? Answer: Does it matter? All I can possibly do is answer with the little we are…
Read MoreQuit picking on the Nazarenes! We’re not saved by baptism
Question: I suggest you read Ephesians 2:8-10 and pray about your erroneous attack on The Church of the Nazarene. We are saved by the precious blood of Christ, not by being dipped in water. There are some, after all, who do not have the opportunity to be baptized immediately (the thief who died next to Jesus),…
Read MoreAren’t men born sinful?
Question: I’m just emailing about a little something I found in an article of yours. It’s answering a question about where the Word talks about all men being equal. Not to be picky, but it says in the article we are all born without sin, which isn’t true. One of the basic concepts of Christianity, as…
Read MoreShould I stay with a church that isn’t great but appears to be growing?
Question: Is it OK to stay with a church if you see God changing it and you yourself are helping that change? I was just wondering. There are a lot of downfalls at my church, but things have been looking better, not always just there. It is starting to get out of the state of…
Read MoreDon’t big companies mistreat animals?
Question: I read your article about the Bible and animal rights, and I see that it is right on. Anyone with biblical knowledge knows it is. My problem is not with the use of animals for food or leather, etc, but with the unbiblical practices of big agriculture, which unduly confines, often beats, and misuses animals.…
Read MoreMy boyfriend and I made a commitment to each other before a friend. Are we really married?
Question: I am in college, and so is my boyfriend. We have been dating for about two years and have known each other for about six. I am in love with him and know he is the one for me. A few months after we started dating, we fell into temptation and had sex with…
Read MoreWhat can I do about getting annoyed with people?
Question: I have a problem with my attitude. I am a medical professional and I work in a very stressful environment. I choose this profession because I truly believed I wanted to help people to learn more about their medications. I find myself getting frustrated and tend to sin when people come in with fake…
Read MoreDoes the Bible state the world is flat?
Question: [This is the first point in an overly long document that was sent, purporting to prove there are errors in the Bible. This first point claims that the Bible states the world is flat. I’m not going to give space for false teaching, but I want to illustrate with this first point the errors…
Read MoreIs it right for a church to have meetings or parties at the church?
Question: Is it right for the church to have devotionals, Leadership Training for Christ, retreats, summer camps for the youth, Trick or Treat at Halloween, or New Year Eve parties at the church? Answer: A church’s duty foremost is to provide the opportunity of its members to gather for worship. “… when you come together…
Read MoreIt’s obvious you have little to do but bash other religions
Question: Regarding “Should Christians Help Support the Salvation Army?” It is obvious that you have very little to do but bash other religions. Maybe I should do one about yours. No, that would make me just as un-Christian as you! Answer: Quite a broad generalization based on one sermon outline. My job as a preacher…
Read MoreDo I need to be withdrawn from because my girlfriend gave me a handjob?
Question: My girlfriend and I are both virgins, but last month she gave me a handjob. We know it is bad. We asked for forgiveness and have decided we will stop sexually touching each other. My question is do I need to be taken out of the church? Like the brother in I Corinthians chapter…
Read MoreWas Naomi related to Obed in any way?
Question: Was Naomi Obed’s grandmother or even related to him in any way? Answer: Obed was the son born to Boaz and Ruth. Ruth was Naomi’s widowed daughter-in-law. She had married Naomi’s son who had died. Boaz married Ruth in part because he was a near kinsman to Ruth’s husband. In particular, he was the…
Read MoreDid the Haitians make a pact with the devil? Did that cause the earthquake?
Question: Do you know what the basis for Pat Robertson’s comments on Haiti and their pact with the devil was based on in terms of the light of Scripture? Is it true they made a pact with the devil? I find his comments to have no scriptural basis at all. I then took it upon…
Read MoreIs membership in a local congregation necessary for salvation?
Question: First of all, I want to say that I do like your site and the good information it provides. However, while reading “Christians Without Churches?” I came across the following statement: “Is it possible for a Christian to be part of the “universal” church without being identified with a local church? The Scriptures give…
Read MoreDoesn’t a marriage license mean the government controls marriages?
Question: You said: “They imagine all sorts of nonsense regarding giving up rights, but the reality is that the government is serving as a repository of the covenant.” License is a prior restraint. It presumes that the activity is not a right but stems from the licensor (government in this case), is illegal otherwise and…
Read MoreCan’t a person be a Christian and a Wiccan?
Question: I am a Methodist Christian witch. A few months after turning fifteen, I felt too pushed to believe in God by my church family, then a friend suggested giving Wicca a try. I felt free to be myself and learn from my mistakes instead of feeling guilty and being punished. Like all Wiccans and most…
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