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Are Sunday morning Bible classes an unauthorized innovation?
Question: I’m studying with a friend who objects to Sunday schools. I don’t know how to approach her objection. She says that where she worships the service is very simple. They don’t have choirs, musical instruments, or Sunday Schools or classes. She said they try not to incorporate anything in worship that they don’t see…
Read MoreWhat is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit?
Question: In Mark 3 it talks about the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit and we do not understand what that means. Maybe you can explain that so we can understand. Answer: The passage you are referring to says: “Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies…
Read MoreIs divorce only acknowledged when it is done for fornication?
Question: What do you think about this situation: Bob divorces Mary not for fornication (she gets fat, or ugly, or burns the cornbread). Bob and Mary have three children and she has always been a housewife with limited education. She begs Bob not to leave her, He leaves her and their children anyway. Two years…
Read MoreAre you “anti” or “liberal”?
Question: Wow! I am so happy to see a site that holds to sound doctrine. There is only one thing that I don’t see much written on Institutionalism. I do see the article on church spending which is correct. I was wondering though if you all were “anti” or “liberal” as many like to say…
Read MoreWhere have you studied?
Question: I just wanted to say thank you for all of your help. Your knowledge has been very helpful to me. May I ask where you have studied? Answer: I and the churches I associate with strictly adhere to the teachings of the Bible. “If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God.…
Read MoreWhat is your stand on marriage, divorce, and remarriage?
Question: What is your stance on marriage, divorce, and remarriage as taught by Ron Halbrook, Tim Haile, and others? Answer: I find the current controversy on marriage, divorce, and remarriage sounding much like what Paul warned against. “As I urged you when I went into Macedonia — remain in Ephesus that you may charge some…
Read MoreWhy is YWHW translated LORD?
Question: I know the New World Translation is not a reliable translation, but why have the other Bible translations changed the original YHWH to LORD? Answer: When a translator encounters a word, he is faced with two choices: he can translate the word or he can transliterate the word. To translate requires finding a word…
Read MoreMust a woman wear a skirt to worship?
Question: I was wondering what is appropriate attire for women? I find the Scriptures that others have used to support the skirt argument are somewhat unclear and haven’t felt that they demand skirt wearing as a godly or correct choice. Please help me see the truth about skirts. Answer: The Scriptures do set forth basic…
Read MoreDo the words “carousing” or “reveling” condemn social drinking?
Question: My preacher said that the words “carousing” and “reveling” are often misused today. Some have associated these words with social drinking. However, carousing and reveling refer to parties where drunkenness is either the goal or by-product of the party. I tried to discuss I Peter 4:3 with him, suggesting that “tippling” means drinking in any amount,…
Read MoreShould a preacher do weddings?
Question: I was recently asked to perform a wedding. I really prefer to let others attend to weddings. What are your thoughts? Answer: Weddings are not a function of the church, but I consider them an opportunity to teach the gospel. Marriages are sanctioned by God (Matthew 19: 4-6), so I am willing to encourage…
Read MoreWhat happens when you lie?
Question: What are some of the consequences of lying? What can it do to a friendship, to a marriage, or to a family? What will happen if you lie? Answer: Imagine for a moment a world where everyone lied constantly. In such a world, you would never be able to trust anything that anyone said…
Read MoreIsn’t a moderate drinker still sober?
Question: To say that taking a drink of alcohol means you are not completely sober (I Thessalonians 5:6-8) is wrong. By this reasoning, a moderate eater would be condemned as a glutton (Proverbs 23:20-21). Answer: The fault in this line of reasoning is that two different things are being paralleled. Gluttony is a sin of…
Read MoreHow many monuments were raised in Joshua 4?
Question: I’m a bit confused. How many monuments were raised in Joshua 4? I thought there were two, but my husband says there was only one. Answer: Perhaps outlining the events in chapter 4 will make things clearer: The people of Israel finished crossing the Jordan (Joshua 4:1) Joshua picked twelve men, one from each…
Read MoreDoesn’t the Bible indicate that God accepts alcohol?
Question: Doesn’t the Scriptures say that God accepts alcohol? It was used for blessings (Genesis 14:18; 27:28; Proverbs 3:10). He gave permission to use strong drink (Deuteronomy 14:26). It was used in the drink offering (Exodus 29:41). God made the grape, which would make the wine, which makes man’s hearts glad (Psalm 104:15). It is true that…
Read MoreIs the church a business?
Question: Is the church a business? Answer: Generally, a business is “an organization established for generating profit; a commercial organization.” As such, the church is not a business. It is an organization, established by God for the primary purpose of worshiping Him and spreading the good news of salvation to mankind. The church holds assemblies.…
Read MoreAre you saying God condemns vegetarians?
Question: Please clarify the latter part of your response. I just want to make sure I understood you correctly. Are you suggesting that I will be punished on Judgment Day by God for my choice not to eat red meat and poultry? Answer: Not at all. There is nothing wrong with being a vegetarian. “For one…
Read MoreI’m disappointed you didn’t answer my question about animals.
I find it very interesting that you choose to ignore passages from the Bible that do not condone the inhumane treatment of animals. You still haven’t answered my question. I suppose you will not answer it and continue to divert the subject to something it’s not about. Unfortunately, I see I already know the answer.…
Read MoreDon’t you feel any compassion for the suffering animals?
Question: Thank you for your reply. I do appreciate it; however, you have not answered my question: do you feel any mercy or compassion for those animals’ suffering? How do you think it would feel to have been killed with a bow and arrow? Also, I note your extreme defensiveness and hostility toward me in…
Read MoreShould failure to attend in the past be publically confessed?
Question: We have a woman who has returned to attending services after not attending for several years. I’m at a loss as to how to encourage her to repent — specifically whether it needs to be done publically or privately. Even though she assembles with the saints once again, she is only coming on Sunday…
Read MoreHow can I make my parents’ faith my own?
Question: How can I test my faith to change my inherited faith from my parents to a faith of my own? Answer: “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? — unless indeed you are disqualified” (II Corinthians 13:5). The…
Read MoreHow do you prove there is a God?
Question: How do you prove that there is a God to a friend who insists that there isn’t a God? Can you teach me how? Thanks. Answer: The first thing that you need to ask yourself and your friend is: Would any proof of God’s existence be adequate to your friend? Some people have already…
Read MoreDon’t you feel sorry for the animals?
Question: I just finished reading your self-justifications for killing helpless innocent animals. Let me ask you this and please be honest with your answer – Don’t you feel any sadness, compassion or do you ever imagine the physical pain/suffering the animal is feeling? Do you really believe that animals were put on this earth to…
Read MoreHow does a disfellowshiped Christian worship God?
Question: If a person is disfellowshiped at a congregation, then how can that person biblically worship God? How does a person know that they have been disfellowshiped? Today’s churches seem to practice no visible discipline, but many are treated as if they have been disfellowshiped. It seems the decision is made in secret among the…
Read MoreYou only worship on Sunday because Constantine changed the day of worship
Question: It seems to me that you would find any mention of the first day of the week and anything that happened on that day is used to support the idea of worshiping on Sunday. Mainstream Christianity worships on Sunday only because the Roman Catholic Church and Emperor Constantine changed the day of worship to…
Read MoreWhy don’t you keep Pentecost?
Question: The early church also worshiped on Pentecost, so why don’t you keep Pentecost as well? Answer: The New Testament mentions that the church started on the day of Pentecost; however, it does not mention that the church celebrated Pentecost or observed any of the regulations for Pentecost. It simply marked the time when the…
Read MoreI’m offended that you defend eating meat
Question: I would just like to say that I am a Christian and a vegetarian. I was kind of offended by your defending of eating meat. You made it sound like anyone who doesn’t eat meat is ridiculous. And your implication that vegetarianism is a departure from Christianity is very wrong and offensive. I also don’t think…
Read MoreAre the commands to work directed to men only or both men and women?
Question: I have a question regarding the wording of I Timothy 5:8 and II Thessalonians 3:10: First, I Timothy 5:8: “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” In the context of I Timothy 5, Paul…
Read MoreRacketeering
by R.L.Whiteside via. The Bible Banner, 1946 It seems that about every line of human activity is cursed with racketeers. If people were not so gullible, common racketeers could not work their schemes. Racketeering was at first a scheme to obtain money or other advantages by threats of damage to person or property. It was…
Read MoreActs 20:7 doesn’t speak of worship, does it?
Question: Acts 20:7 says nothing about worship, rest, or the Sabbath, let alone indicating it was a new commandment to worship on that day. Answer: “Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until…
Read MoreHow can I make my daughter interested in studying?
Question: My daughter is 12 years old and in the seventh standard at an Indian convent. She does not have any interest in studying. Please let me know what I can do to make her study. Answer: In order for education to take place, there needs to be a teacher willing to teach, a student…
Read MoreWho is the uncle of Moses?
Question: Who is the uncle of Moses? Answer: Moses’ parents were Amram and Jochebed. “Now Amram took for himself Jochebed, his father’s sister, as wife; and she bore him Aaron and Moses. And the years of the life of Amram were one hundred and thirty-seven” (Exodus 6:20). In other words, Amram married his aunt. Hence,…
Read MoreHow do you teach preteens about salvation?
Question: How can I effectively teach preteens about the salvation plan? I would like some tips on activities in setting the mood so that when we do the calling they will truly understand what the sacrifice meant. Answer: The beauty of God’s message is that it remains constant, no matter to whom it is taught.…
Read MoreHow do we distinguish between attraction and lust?
Question: Having read your article, “Is masturbation unacceptable?” I wish to commend you for tackling a subject many avoid. Sunday night I finished a series of lessons on human sexuality, so I feel we have this in common. I have a question that might help shed some light on this subject. Matthew 5:28 says, “But I say to…
Read MoreIs the New World Translation an accurate translation?
Question: What do you think about The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures? Is it an accurate translation? Answer: The New World Translation is the product of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, the publishing arm of the Jehovah’s Witnesses denomination. Though it claims to be a literal translation from the original languages of…
Read MoreWhat kinds of homosexuality does the Bible mention?
Question: What kinds of homosexuality does the Bible mention? Answer: “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God” (I Corinthians 6:9-10).…
Read MoreHow can the Sabbath be moved when Christ said he did not come to destroy the law?
Question: Christ did not come to destroy the law but to magnify it. He magnified the law from the letter of the law to the spirit of the law by saying to lust after a woman in one’s mind is equivalent to adultery. But in magnifying the law how can the Sabbath be moved from…
Read MoreSince Christians are spiritual Israel, shouldn’t they be following the Ten Commandments?
Question: In the current age, Christians are spiritual Israel. Hence, the Ten Commandments would still apply to us just as they did to physical Israel. Answer: This point alludes to Romans 2:23-29: “You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law? For “the name of God is blasphemed among…
Read MoreSince Jesus said to keep the commandments, shouldn’t we keep the Sabbath?
Question: Christ was asked in the Bible, “Lord, what must I do to enter the kingdom of Heaven?” Christ replied, “keep the commandments” and named a few of them. Since keeping the Sabbath was one of them, shouldn’t we keep the Sabbath today? Answer: You are referring to the question asked by the rich young…
Read MoreWhen a church splits, who is right?
Question: I am a Catholic. I understand that my religion is kind of looked down on by the church of Christ. I am wondering how many churches of Christ are doing what is being asked for in the Bible? Recently a church in my town split up over an issue and I can’t help but…
Read MoreWhat were the names of Jesus’ twelve apostles?
Question: What were the names of Jesus’s twelve apostles? Answer: At times, names can be confusing because we use a variety of names for ourselves. There is our birth name, our common name, and our nickname. We find that happening in Scriptures. One of Jesus’s apostles was named Simon, but Jesus gives him the nickname…
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