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I took some pictures from my boyfriend, and he pushed me into a wall trying to get them back. Should I be concerned that he might be violent?
Question: I need some advice on a situation that just recently happened to me. I went to visit my boyfriend on Sunday night. At first, we were getting along, laughing and joking. Then I saw a picture of him and his ex-friend, about five of them. I walked toward them and took the pictures. He…
Read MoreWhat is it that I am missing?
Question: God truly does work in mysterious ways! My seventeen-year-old daughter came to me a few minutes ago as I was finishing up the kitchen for the night and told me that she had received counseling from a minister online and how great the advice given to her was. Seeing as I am a born…
Read MoreMy fifteen-year-old is staying out to all hours of the night. What do I do?
Question: The reason I type this question is that I have a 15-year-old son. He has been acting up over the last 2 to 3 months. He has always been a well-behaved lad. But over the last few months, he has been getting in with the wrong crowd at his high school. His grades are…
Read MoreDo I need to talk to my friend about her nose-piercing before talking to her about baptism?
Question: I have a friend who after recently being in a car accident has decided she wants to learn more about God and the Bible … in so many words. She said she’d like to come to church with me to see what the churches of Christ are like, and in passing said that they…
Read MorePETA exists because people kill animals sinfully
Question: Your story was filled with half-truths. PETA exists, not because people eat animals, but because people kill animals sinfully. Do you think God wanted our meat packaging companies to use a .45 to shoot a cow in the head before hanging them upside down, slicing their necks and letting them bleed to death? You…
Read MoreIs it wrong to refer to God as Jehovah in a prayer?
Question: Is it wrong or scripturally incorrect to refer to God as Jehovah? For instance, when you pray to Him, to address Him as Jehovah. In Matthew 6:9, Jesus is showing the disciples how to pray. He starts with “Our Father in Heaven.” Since Jesus never refers to God as Jehovah and when instructing His disciples how to pray…
Read MoreWhat was the significance of anointing Aaron as high priest?
Question: What was the significance of anointing Aaron as high priest? Answer: Anointing was a representation of setting something or someone apart for a special purpose. Thus, the altar was anointed before offerings were placed on them to God. “And you shall offer a bull every day as a sin offering for atonement. You shall…
Read MoreThank you for addressing problems few others are willing to write about
Question: I want to thank you for your web site and the fact you post articles and letters of everyday problems Christians may face that almost no one talks about. Often I search for help in responding to one of my readers concerning a private problem and most of the time I can’t find brethren…
Read MoreI’ve been enjoying your Genesis study
Question: I’ve been enjoying your Genesis study. Thanks for the hard work to bring God’s Word to people! Answer: I really appreciate the kind words.
Read MoreIs life all about God and never about us?
Question: Is life “all” about God and never about us? If so, are we ever allowed to enjoy personal pleasure for our own benefit? For example, marriage could be considered personal pleasure in that a relationship, future family, and sex are all involved. Or what about entertainment such as playing video games, or playing a…
Read MoreAlexander Campbell and the Church of Christ
by Wayne Jackson Members of the Lord’s church are sometimes erroneously referred to as “Campbellites.” What exactly is behind such appellation? It is a tiresome thing to have to respond, again and again, to the same misguided (and frequently dishonest) charges. But one is compelled, from time to time, to do so. First, Alexander Campbell…
Read MoreWhat is so bad about a cottage in a vineyard?
Question: “And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city” (Isaiah 1:8). What’s so bad about ‘a cottage in a vineyard’ and a ‘lodge in a garden of cucumbers’? Answer: “Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with…
Read MoreHow can I pray without doubt when I know that sometimes I won’t get what I prayed for?
Question: I have a question about prayer. I understand that the Bible states that when we pray, we are to let our requests to God be given in faith, believing that we will receive. So if I pray that God will help me through a difficult time or give me the strength to overcome some…
Read MoreHow do I relate with my mother who was withdrawn from years ago?
Question: My mom was withdrawn from about 30 years ago when I was around 5 years old. She was withdrawn from because she got remarried after an unscriptural divorce. I am a faithful member of the church and I have two young children. What kind of relationship should I or can I have with her?…
Read MoreMy boyfriend and I have broken up so many times, I don’t know what to do. I love him, but I’m confused and need some help
Question: My friend told me to send you an e-mail because you really helped her out, and she thought that you could help me. I have been in a relationship with this boy for 7 months now. We have broken up so many times I lost count. We have been through a lot together making…
Read MoreCould the Roman Catholic’s early list of popes be accurate?
Question: The Catholics base their entire religion on the belief of ”Sacred Tradition” and ”Apostolic Supremacy.” Catholics claimed that a man named Linus was the second pope and succeeded Peter in 67 A.D. And they believe him to be the same Linus mention in II Timothy 4:21. They even have a list of popes [The…
Read MoreWhat does “vain thoughts” mean in Psalms 119:113?
Question: I recently came across a section of the Psalms that concerned me. Psalms 119:113 says in the KJV, “I hate vain thoughts, but thy law do I love.” Doing a Google search for the phrase “vain thoughts,” I came across a few articles, mostly from British writers of the eighteenth century, that asserted that…
Read MoreDoesn’t the Scriptures say that Edom took over Israel’s identity?
Question: I agree with you on Ezekiel 35, but according to Scripture Edom still exists. The Scriptures clearly show that Edom assumed true Israel’s identity when Israel was forced out of Samaria and Judah. The so-called Jew today is Edom according to Scripture. Please read Jeremiah 25. Moreover, read Ezekiel 35:9-15 again. According to the word, Edom…
Read MoreWhat do you know about the Black Hebrew Israelites?
Question: Hi. I hope all is well with you. Getting straight to the point, I want to get some information on a particular group of Christians who look at themselves as being black Hebrew Israelites. I’m not sure if they actually call themselves that but I’ve seen others refer to this group as Black Hebrew…
Read MoreAre all prominent theologians saying Obama is the antichrist?
Question: I was just talking to a friend of mine (who also happens to believe in UFO’s) saying that Obama is the antichrist and going on and on with all these flimsy arguments. He claims that all these prominent theologians are all saying the same thing. Is this true? What do you think? Answer: “For…
Read MoreWhat happens if I know God, but I sin?
Question: I was doing a little research on sin to try and understand it a little better. I have just read through the New Testament and I’m still unclear on some things. I read your article online about sin, it was very informative and helped me greatly, however, I have a question. It says in your…
Read MoreJesus was a vegetarian because the Bible was compiled by a bunch of meat-eaters
Question: I have read your article on your website regarding Jesus being a vegetarian. It seems that you are no different than the people who compiled the Bible way back to 400 AD. There is a lot of gospel regarding Jesus taught vegetarianism was removed because the early compilers of the Bible are meat-eaters. And the…
Read MoreAre the translations “God-breathed?”
Question: Does II Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,” apply to reputable translated versions of the Bible, not just the original copies? I want to use this verse to state my point to someone that Acts 2:38 is translated properly and Mark 16:16…
Read MoreYour argument that the Nephilim came first is wrong
Question: Your argument that the Nephilim came first after the sons of God had children is wrong. It is one sentence. The Nephilim were in the earth in those days when the sons of God came and had children with the daughters of men. If it was two sentences then you would be right, but it…
Read MoreIf something is used to praise God, then it can’t be wrong, can it?
Question: In God’s worship, should everyone be in one accord, like everybody doing the same thing? I ask because I know there shouldn’t be musical instruments in the church. I play the piano and people have told me that I was wrong because I didn’t play in a church — something about me not using…
Read MoreCan we have meals in the building since eating together is an expression of fellowship?
Question: Someone has been arguing with me about fellowship and they say it is okay to have meals together in the building because eating together is an expression of fellowship. He says, “If eating together and having fun together is not an expression of fellowship, then what is it?” He says we do these things…
Read MoreIsn’t Jeremiah a poor source to argue about the inappropriateness of speedos?
Question: I came across Preaching Like Jeremiah while researching Jeremiah. There’s a lot of good stuff here, thanks. However, I was amused that you invoked Jeremiah to defend your apparent stance against speedos; considering the dirty underwear incident at the beginning Jeremiah 13. I’m now wondering if there’s a page on your site that invokes David to…
Read MoreDo you know of some good visuals on Herod’s family tree?
Question: I’ve been trying to study the role of Herod The Great and those of his family tree because of the impact they played in the Scriptures. Are you aware of a good web site where I can find visuals of Herod’s family tree? Along with this, I’m trying to figure Herod’s bloodline. Does it have…
Read MoreHow long was Daniel in the lions’ den?
Question: How long was Daniel in the lions’ den? Answer: Since the king was tricked into sentencing Daniel, he worked hard to find a way to avoid sending Daniel into the lions’ den. “And the king, when he heard these words, was greatly displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him;…
Read MoreSince lobsters and crabs are cooked whole, does that violate the law not to eat blood?
Question: Some foods like lobster and crab are cooked “as-is” without having the blood removed from the animal. Does this violate Acts 15:20 which instructs Christians not to eat blood? Thank you for your devotion to the scriptures and teaching others. Answer: This is a question I never considered before and never heard discussed. Thank…
Read MoreNeither Jesus nor Peter ate unclean animals, so if you teach otherwise you are departing from Christianity
Question: I agree with you that there is no record of Jesus being a vegetarian, but you must also concede that there is no record either, in the “words in red”, of Jesus departing from tradition in such a sharp way as described in Acts10:9-16 and I Corinthians 10:25-26. The often-quoted Mark 7:19 is universally considered a…
Read MoreWhat kind of church I should attend to learn the truth?
Question: I was wondering what kind of church I should attend to learn the truth. I used to go to the Salvation Army. I just want to make sure that when I start this path I take the right road. Answer: I don’t know how well you’ll accept my answer since it would be easy…
Read MoreIf Jesus had brothers and sisters, why did he give the responsibility of Mary to his disciple John?
Question: Since Jesus had brothers and sisters (Mark 6:3), why would the disciple John be given apparent responsibility for Mary, the mother of Jesus in John 19:25-27? Wouldn’t it seem better for Mary to be cared for by her own children? This would be particularly so because two of them, James and Jude, apparently wrote…
Read MoreWhy do you believe in God? If God loves us all, why doesn’t He let us all in heaven?
Question: Why do you believe in God? If God loves us all, why doesn’t He let us all in heaven? Answer: Why do you believe there is a Sydney, Australia? Assuming you have never been down under, what makes you believe it exists? There are multiple interlocking reasons why believing in God makes sense. I have…
Read MoreCan you explain levitate marriages?
Question: I need some help with marriage laws in the Old Testament, concerning the death of a brother. Under the Old Law, if a man’s brother died was he to take his dead brother’s wife as his own wife? What if he (the man still alive) was already married? What if the women (of the…
Read MoreDo I need to leave my marriage?
Question: I need some advice: I met my husband through work when we briefly worked together on a project. He was recently separated and at first, we just talked but then he started to phone me every day at work and would chat for a few minutes just to say “hi.” I did not discourage…
Read MoreDo all churches of Christ teach that the Ten Commandments were nailed to the cross?
Question: I stumbled upon the La Vista Church of Christ web site in the course of searching for an answer to the question, “Were the Ten Commandments Nailed to the Cross?” Simply stated, your answer is “Yes,” and I fully agree with every single comment I found on your web site regarding the answer to this question – good work; I’m impressed. Somebody…
Read MoreWhere can I find acapella recordings for the songs in our songbook?
Question: I had a cassette collection of the Songs of the Church Acapella and I think they were sung by the Meistersingers. I moved and my tapes were lost and are sorely missed. Do you know of any source where I could buy another set? I am a song leader in a small church of…
Read MoreMust a woman dress plainly or wear a covering at all times?
Question: I am a head-covering lady and a modest dresser. I see that you have links to different head covering sites for ordering them. Do your ladies wear them all the time or just for church and praying? Also, about modesty: Are their dresses or skirts plain or with prints? Do they wear skirts? I have…
Read MoreIs Matthew 5:28 only limited to lusting after a married woman?
Question: Does Matthew 5:27-28 about lust apply to both married and single men? I’ve been curious about this and want to gain a correct understanding of the passage. In the context of that passage is Jesus talking to Jewish men who were married? If so, does that mean the passage only applies to married people…
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