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How do you fund your church?
Question: I checked on your web site for anything new and read about your Church on its Home Page. The business model is very good. As you know, I have a nonprofit as well. I had this fantasy that I could create a worldwide organization that I could call on when someone or an organization…
Read MoreHow do I tell my cousin that Mormonism is wrong?
Question: My cousin just starting going to a Mormon church. She once used to go to a Christian Church but has started going to church with her ex-mother-in-law. How should I begin to tell that the church she is going is not one of Christ and is pretty much a cult? Any help would be…
Read MoreIf God makes them one, how can there be divorce for any reason?
Question: The one thing that I noticed was that you said that there are biblical grounds for remarriage due to an unfaithful spouse. This, however, is not true from my understanding. I do see where a widow or the death of one spouse gives a biblical grounding for remarriage. But nowhere does it give any…
Read MoreWill God hold me accountable for my son’s sinful life?
Question: I am a Christian woman who is very distressed over my 19-year-old son who has suddenly turned to underage drinking and sexual fornication. Have I committed these sins against him, by not using wisdom with whom he was hanging around? Will God hold me accountable for my son’s rebellion? I am weighed down heavily…
Read MoreDid Jesus return the donkey he used for the triumphal entry?
Question: Did Jesus return the donkey he used in entering Jerusalem just before his death? Answer: It is not recorded, so any guess would be purely that — a guess. The colt was freely given to the Lord for his use (Mark 11:6). Beyond that, there is little that can be stated.
Read MoreCould I have driven my friend away by talking about my faith?
Question: An individual I know has made fun of me for doing my Bible studies and changing the way I live. At one time this person was quite helpful to me. He would take me to the store or the doctor appointments. But I started talking to him about why I was studying the Bible,…
Read MoreCan a seventeen-year-old conduct worship?
Question: My father is a pastor. Since we have two branch churches, my father will come to the main church only for giving a message after finishing the services in our branch church. So, he has appointed some youths to conduct songs, praise, and worship. But these people do not have any knowledge of music.…
Read MoreShouldn’t circumcision be advocated for health reasons?
Question: I read your explanation on the subject of “circumcision.” It was very good. However, I believe that having your son circumcised is a good thing. Not for any religious reason but health issues which there are many. Maybe you could add that in your presentation that though circumcision is no longer required as a religious…
Read MoreCan you say more about Aramaic being used in the Bible?
Question: I have a question concerning the two words, Arabic and Aramaic. In one of your most recent answers, you spoke about Aramaic being used in the Bible, but not Arabic. What is the difference between the two words? I understand that Arabic would be spoken by Arabian peoples, so where does Aramaic come from? I…
Read MoreHow does Philippians 3:10 relate to family?
Question: How do I tie Philippians 3:10 in with marriage, family, and parenting? Answer: “Yes most certainly, and I count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord, for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and count them nothing but refuse, that I may gain…
Read MoreWhy do ministers hold a Bible during a wedding?
Question: I have seen many people married in my lifetime, where the marrying authority has read the vows, always having the Bible in hand and appearing to read the vows from the Bible. Are the vows in the Bible? And why do they do this? What does the Bible say about united in marriage? Answer:…
Read MoreWho initiates grace, God or man?
Question: I do a lot of reading on theology and it seems like there are all kinds of versions on certain topics. I pray for God to shake up Christianity one day so that all these different interpretations of the His Word are eliminated and the Truth is illuminated. It gets pretty confusing sometimes because…
Read MoreIs masturbation a sin when it is not accompanied by pornography or sinful thoughts?
Question: I masturbate and I’ve been addicted to it now. Anyhow, I read in your article that if one produces semen with any sexual purpose, it is a sin (such as seeing a pornographic picture or video). My question is: Would masturbating without thinking of such things and just masturbating with a clear mind, that…
Read MoreWhy do you quote from the Old Law?
Question: I read Why We Don’t Follow the Old Testament and saw your point of view on the matter, but you do quote laws from Leviticus to justify positions. Aren’t all those laws thrown out, along with all other laws from the Old Testament? I’m not debating homosexuality here, but you do quote: Leviticus 18:22…
Read MoreDon’t you feel guilty telling young people they have sinned?
Question: When you look over these posts and see how miserable and guilty the children that you advise feel about their “sins,” don’t you regret the way you teach? God loves us all no matter what mistakes we make and it would be nice to find some Christians who teach the love and not the…
Read MoreAm I married in the eyes of God?
Question: When I met my husband, he was going through a divorce from his former wife. She had been unfaithful. He moved out and the other man moved in with her. Before I met him, he had already begun the divorce papers. Because of his first wife’s unfaithfulness, I understand he had a right to…
Read MoreCan a married man have a female friend whom he prefers over his wife?
Question: My husband has a new “friend” (female) that he constantly chooses over me. He lies to me in order to be with this friend. He tells this friend things that I told him in confidence about her, such as that I am uncomfortable with their new relationship. He puts me down to this new…
Read MoreWhat happens when you swear not to do something, but you do it anyway?
Question: What happens when you swear to not do something but you do it? And what should you do? Answer: Whether you swear or simply stated that you were not going to do something, that is sufficient to bind a Christian. A Christian is a man of his word. Swearing isn’t required to make a…
Read MoreDid Nehemiah rebuild the whole wall of Jerusalem or only parts of it?
Question: When Nehemiah rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem was he rebuilding the whole wall or only parts of it? Answer: When the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem, the Bible noted the following, “And all the army of the Chaldeans who were with the captain of the guard broke down the walls of Jerusalem all around” (II Kings…
Read MoreAre you born again?
Question: What I would like to know is are you a born again Christian church as in John 3:3? Jesus said no one will enter the kingdom of heaven unless they are born again so are you? Answer: No one can be a Christian without being born again. For more details, see the article “Are…
Read MoreQuestions about Jesus
Questions: How old is Jesus? Where is he from? Why do people believe in Jesus? What is his real name? Why is he dead? Why do people think of him? What does he look like? Do you like him or not? Do you think he is nice and kind and helpful? Why do they pray…
Read MoreDid the apostles speak in different languages or did the people hear in different languages?
Question: When the apostles were speaking in tongues, were they actually speaking a different language or did each person hear them in their own language? Were they each speaking and different groups congregated toward the one who was speaking their particular language or did each apostle just speak and every person just heard him in…
Read MoreHow big was Jerusalem?
Question: How big was Jerusalem in say, square miles? Answer: In David’s day, Jerusalem occupied a space of about 12 acres (0.02 square miles), and the estimated population was about 2,000 people. During Solomon’s day, the size of the city increased to 125 acres (0.2 square miles) and the estimated population was about 25,000 people.…
Read MoreNow that I’m changing, people I know are taunting me. What do I do?
Question: I want to tell you something and then ask if you would please comment on the situation. As you know, I have written to you several times asking questions. I also am doing a Bible study online, through a congregation of the Church of Christ. I refer back to many of your answers for…
Read MoreWas Luke a Gentile?
Question: Was Luke a Gentile? Maybe a proselyte? If so, how do we know this? Answer: Nothing is said in the Scriptures concerning Luke’s heritage, so we cannot know by direct reference. Luke is believed to be a Gentile because in Colossians 4:10-14, Paul lists three fellow Jews and then three others, of which one…
Read MoreThree trivia questions
Question: What two Old Testament men loved each other passing the love of women? What son fell on his father’s neck? Who wanted a drink from a certain well and refused it when brought? Answer: Someone into trivia, I see. What two Old Testament men loved each other passing the love of women? From David’s…
Read MoreA rebuttal to “When is a child too old to spank?”
Question: I would like to comment on your article entitled: How do we start biblical discipline when our children are already older? I agree with most of what you have written. I believe that corporal punishment can be very effective if it is done in love, not impulsively and not as a reaction to anger. As…
Read MoreWhat are my chances of being pregnant?
Question: My boyfriend ejaculated inside me twice without a condom. I had an abortion around February. What are my chances of being pregnant? Answer: If 100 married couples were regularly having sex and using no contraceptive, the odds are that in one year 85 have the couples will have conceived a child. The fact that…
Read MoreShould I marry the girl I got pregnant or the girl that I love?
Question: Needing some scriptural advice. I got a girl pregnant, or so she claims. I know that was a sin and have sought forgiveness with God. My confusion is here: I don’t feel like she’s the best Christian woman for me, actually, she and I fight often. I have a life long friend who I…
Read MoreWere proselytes considered Jews?
Question: Were proselytes considered “Jews”? For instance, would a proselyte have been welcome in the temple or synagogue? Answer: A person who converted to Judaism was considered equal to those born under Jewish law. Yes, they were welcomed into the synagogue. When Paul was teaching in the synagogue, there were proselytes there. “Now when the…
Read MoreDo you have a summary of John 6?
Question: I am witnessing to a Roman Catholic and we are discussing John 6 the bread of like. Without getting into the long word game over what they believe, I was wondering if you would have anything on John 6 I could read. I have been engaged in this ugliness long enough and I’m trying…
Read MoreWhat were the requirements to be a Pharisee?
Questions: Do you happen to know what the “requirements” were to be a Pharisee? Answer: The word “Pharisee” means “a separatist” in the Hebrew language. They arose while Greece was spreading its influence across the world as a group opposing Greece’s Hellenistic influence in Israel. It started as a social movement, became a school of…
Read MoreWhen and why did humans start eating meats?
Question: When and why did humans start eating meat? Answer: When the world was first created, mankind was given vegetables to eat. “And God said, “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall…
Read MoreIs killing animals limited to only when needed for skins and meat?
Question: Is there a verse in the Bible says we shouldn’t kill God’s creatures unless it is for their skins or meat or anything like that? Because in my job I kill moles for money. If there is, would I be doing wrong or a sin if there is a verse like that? I thought…
Read MoreWhy is Jesus said to be of Nazareth if he was born in Bethlehem and who was the serpent in the Garden?
Question: Hi! My brother-in-law asked me, “Why was Jesus called Jesus of Nazareth if he was born in Bethlehem?” My answer was because he was only born in Bethlehem, but he was raised in Nazareth. Was I correct? He also feels that Jesus, in the form of a snake, tempted Adam and Eve to test…
Read MoreAre speaking in tongues and prophesying similar gifts?
Question: With talking in tongues, some of the time it says they talked in tongues and prophesied. Was that part of talking in tongues, or separate? I always get confused. I know in I Corinthians 14:22 mentions reasons for each, but I don’t know if they are separate. Answer: Speaking in tongues means having the…
Read MoreHow do I handle attending services when there are family outings planned?
Question: I am wondering how to handle getting to church in various situations. One is when my husband, who is not a Christian, has family functions that we are all expected to attend, i.e.: Easter Sunday, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, etc. My husband usually says I can’t go to church because it’s too much driving…
Read MoreDid the woman at the well change her life?
Question: Did the woman at the well make a change in her life, and if so what kind of change did she make? Answer: After the incidence at the well, we are told, “From that city many of the Samaritans believed in him because of the word of the woman, who testified, “He told me…
Read MoreIs it wrong to have a fellowship building for dinners?
Question: You have a great web site, and I’m forwarding a link to several people. On the home page, the first paragraph causes me to ask if you think it is wrong to have a fellowship building for pot luck dinners. Answer: In answer to your question, I will point you to some responses and…
Read MoreDo people know what is happening on earth after their death?
Question: Do saved people, after they go to heaven, know what is going on down here on earth? Answer: Those who have died are no longer involved in the activities on earth. “For the living know that they will die; but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of…
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