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Should Christians purchase dinners from denominational churches?
Question: Should Christians purchase dinners from denominational churches? Answer: Start by reading Should a Christian attend a university operated by a denomination? It covers many of the basic principles we need to discuss. The core question is: Does the purchase show support for the denomination and its teachings? For example, in a number of places,…
Read MoreI’m having trouble resisting fornication
Question: Hi, I have been involved in sexual immorality and fornication in the past, but it is coming back to me. I would like to repent, but it’s tough. I have been messing around with escorts at massage parlors all my life. I really would like to repent. Answer: Resisting temptation is always difficult. “Be…
Read MoreDid Paul bring alms to all Jews or just Christians?
Question: Hello Jeffrey, The Apostle Paul in Acts 24:17 shows that he brought alms, supplied by churches, to his nation. Alms would be mercy benevolence to the poor of that region. The New Testament Greek word for “nation” in this passage is ethnos. Thayer defines this word as a multitude associated or living together. Louw & Nida’s Greek Lexicon…
Read MoreShould I continue a career that might take me where there is no church nearby?
Question: Good afternoon to the Church Of Christ in LaVista, I am a member of the Church of Christ. I thank God for your website and all of its content. Currently, I am in the military serving in the U.S Navy, I have a month before I have to make a decision as to whether…
Read MoreThe material on this website has great relevancy to our generation
Question: Greetings to you, sir, and to the church! The materials and subjects here on this website are of good timing and of great relevancy to our generation and especially to young evangelists like myself, who desire to grow in the knowledge of the truth so as to teach the whole counsel of God’s Word…
Read MoreIs sexual touching a public or private sin?
Question: This is a situation involving a Christian man and a woman. I have several questions. The man is married and his wife is still living. The woman’s husband has passed away. and she is now single. As friends, they became close. At times they have embraced each other. They also have touched each other…
Read MoreWere women forbidden to speak in Corinth because they were prostitutes?
Questions: I was told that women in the church of Corinth were prostitutes and that is why they couldn’t speak in the church. And that does not have anything to do with the other churches. Answer: “I was told” makes a useless source. The most detailed information we have about the church in Corinth comes…
Read MoreThere is too much to do and too little to do at the same time
Question: My wife and I are both fully retired. We moved to this rural community to help watch our grandkids. Life has been great until moving here. Now things are a little testy. The biggest problem, it seems, is that there is nothing, absolutely nothing, to do outside of babysitting. Our center has been the…
Read MoreYour articles shed light on some difficult topics
Question: Good morning, I just want to take a moment to say thank you. I minister at a small congregation. I have often read your articles on the La Vista Church of Christ website, for what I can confidently say is some years. They have been very helpful in shedding scriptural light on sometimes difficult…
Read MoreIs it biblical to take a vacation?
Question: Dear Sir, Is it biblical to take a vacation from work? Thank you. Answer: Employment is governed by rules set by governments and the agreement between the employer and the employee. For example, under the Law of Moses, the Israelites were required to not work on Saturdays (Deuteronomy 5:12-15). They also had special religious…
Read MoreHow old is “young” in I Timothy 4:12?
Question: Hello brother, May I know who can be considered as young in the church based on I Timothy 4? Thank you. Answer: “Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe” (I Timothy 4:12). The Greek word neotetos simply…
Read MoreHow far do we help with the wedding of a young man who got a girl pregnant?
Question: Hello brother, how are you? I have a question for you, but first, let me give you some context. I am a Spanish-speaking minister who works with an English-speaking church that meets in the same building. There is a sister in the church who has always come to church. She has a son that used…
Read MoreWhat is “cowardly”?
Question: Hi Jeff, Can you tell me what the “cowardly” is referring to in Revelation 21:8? Thank you! Answer: The Greek word deilos refers to someone who is fearful or timid. It is the type of fear caused by a lack of faith. “He said to them, ‘Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?'” (Matthew…
Read MoreI think you misused some verses in “Careful What You Say”
Question: This is something I think can be especially difficult among the churches of Christ just because of our tradition. There is a very popular way of reading the Bible in the churches of Christ that goes way back to our roots and the reasoning is that a belief or practice can only be authorized…
Read MoreWhat is consecration?
Question: Hello brother Jeffrey, I have a question for you. Biblically speaking what is consecration? I noticed that this word had multiple definitions. Answer: The Hebrew word qadhash means “to be holy.” Thus, it refers to things or people dedicated to God or set apart for use in service to God. “Sanctify to Me every firstborn, the first…
Read MoreIs this appropriate clothing for worship?
Question: Good morning, Can you come to worship dressed like this? Over here it happens, but we are not in Africa. We are in Europe. This person has been a member of the congregation for decades and has his citizenship here in this country. His African tribal costume leaves a part of his chest completely…
Read MoreShould I marry a man who is less educated than I am?
Question: Good evening, I need counsel. I am a 28-year-old African lady, a Christian with a degree in Nursing Science, and currently working as a Registered Nurse in my country. I have deliberately mentioned my African origin, education, and professional qualification because my concern is around this aspect. I was raised in a Christian home with…
Read MoreYou should have trained counselors to answer questions about abuse
Question: [The original question was left unedited since the author feels qualified to comment on other people’s educational background.] I think the way you handled a question by someone who was abused who asked if they were still a virgin was awful. You need to train or have Christian counsellors answer those questions as no…
Read MoreI don’t believe abortion should be outlawed or be easily accessible
Question: Hi, Thanks for the site that you run. On more than one occasion I have gone there to read your responses. I wanted to follow up on the question of abortion because first, as someone who was raised as a Christian, I do believe it is wrong. I am not extreme on either side.…
Read MoreDoes the Bible say anything about falsely accusing a woman of being a prostitute?
Question: Does the Bible say anything about falsely accusing a woman of being a whore or prostitute? Answer: One of the Old Testament laws was “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor” (Exodus 20:16). Lying was never considered to be acceptable, regardless of what the lie was about. I believe that you might…
Read MoreHow do you repent of stealing when the victim has died?
Question: If a person stole money from their parent with the intention of paying it back, but the parent passed away before they could get the money back to them, plus their other parent has passed away, what do they need to do to make their life right? It happened years ago. No debt was…
Read MoreIs the Bible left to each individual’s interpretation?
Question: A few questions I have: Is the Bible left to each individual’s own interpretation? How can we trust translations? Isn’t that just someone else’s interpretation(s)? How can I prove the Bible is correct if someone doesn’t even believe it in the first place? Thank you. Answer: “But know this first of all, that no…
Read MoreWas the angel at the pool of Bethesda from God or the Devil?
Question: Dear Sir, There appears to be a lot of confusion regarding whether the angel at the pool of Bethesda was from God or not. Can you give me your insight into where this “angel” came from? Some even go so far as to believe the angel was of the devil which confuses me further. Try…
Read MoreWhy does an accusation against an elder require two or more witnesses?
Question: Could you explain I Timothy 5:19? “Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses.” I was studying this chapter with another Christian and we both have been confused about what exactly is prohibited in verse 19. Must any and all concerns about an elder be…
Read MoreAm I still a virgin?
Question: Am I still a virgin? Is God disappointed in me? Growing up as a child, I was raped when I was really little. But then Jesus found me when I became a teenager and I love him. I forgave the person who raped me. I even hated boys at some point. Now I’m in…
Read MoreI’m afraid of being in a relationship
Question: Good day sir, I appreciate all you do to help people. Most importantly you do this only to please God and not man. I am in my 30s and I know I should be married by now. A major factor for being unmarried yet is nuclear family financial responsibilities. The more I try to…
Read MoreI fear I didn’t have the right attitude before I was baptized
Question: First off, I would like to say, I grew up in a church of Christ. A few years ago, I was struggling with hardcore sin in my life. My brother died that year, and it woke me up quickly. I was partying, drinking, smoking weed, cussing, having sex, and just not living right. I…
Read MoreMy fiance’s family will never love me
Question: Dear sir, Please, I need your advice. I was dating this young guy, who I thought we would spend much time together for the rest of our lives. Instead, little did I know that he was just playing with me, after some time the communication just started breaking down. It came from nowhere. I…
Read MoreWhy is more than faith required?
Question: I’m a bit confused about what Jesus is saying about how one gets to heaven. In John 3:16 he says that we just need to believe in God and we will be saved. And that there is no judgment for those who believe in Jesus. Yet, in Mathew 7:21 Jesus says that not everyone…
Read MoreMy mom is upset that I don’t spend as much time with her as my sister does
Question: Context before I ask my question: I have been married to my husband for about a year now and happily consider ourselves still very much newlyweds. The first time I moved out of my parents’ home was when I married my husband. I was in my twenties and was the last out of my…
Read MoreDo we need her father’s blessing?
Question: I bring you greetings, Please, sir, I have a pressing question that demands an urgent answer. I proposed to a girl and she accepted after praying about it. We both belong to one group in our church and according to the ethics of the group, every member of the group must attend an interview…
Read MoreIs salvation a miracle?
Question: Hello Brother Jeffrey, Is salvation considered a miracle? I ask because the gospel is described as the power of God and in the Strong’s Concordance, the same word is used in some places for miracles. Also, Ephesians 2:1-10, Titus 3:4-7, II Timothy 1:9-10, John 6:44-45, Colossians 2:11-12, II Timothy 2:24-26, Acts 2:48, Philippians 1:3,…
Read MoreShould a man be appointed a deacon when he only attends Sunday morning services?
Question: I emailed you before about a topic, and you had an answer that I did not agree with at all, but today I have an unrelated question. At our church, we are in the process of selecting new deacons. Is it wrong for me to think it is a bit ridiculous that two of…
Read MoreShould I get rid of the crucifixes on my wall and my t-shirts with religious slogans?
Question: Hello, I am a recent convert. I was baptized for the remission of sins just a few days ago. Now I’m wondering. I have crucifixes hanging on the walls in my home, and I often wear shirts with religious sayings on them. For example, I wear a hat that reads “Jesus is Lord” and…
Read MoreI know pornography is wrong, but I can’t seem to defeat this sin
Question: Hi there, I want to start by explaining my situation. I’m 21 years old and was raised in church my whole life but I never really surrendered my life to Jesus and truly believed in him until this past year. I have been able to turn from many sins and things I used to…
Read MoreIs it wrong to love anything man-made or belonging to this world?
Question: Hi, Sorry for the numerous questions I’m about to ask, but they all revolve around the subjects of secular entertainment and materialism so it made sense to me to ask them together. I grew up with a love of playing video games, watching movies, reading comic books, etc. About a year ago I began…
Read MoreHow do I convert my Hindu girlfriend?
Question: Hello sir, I have this question — it is more like a problem. I started dating this girl, but she’s of a different religion (Hindu). I am a Christian. I like this girl. What should I do? How do I convert her to Christianity? Please respond to me. Answer: Teaching anyone to become a…
Read MoreWhat would you do if your child came out as trans?
Question: I am a transgender woman and I listen to one of your sermons and have explored your site quite a bit, and I am just disturbed. I will be honest I am not a Christian, I am an atheist. I grew up a Southern Baptist, I used to hold Bible studies every morning in…
Read MoreCan a man be an elder if his adopted son is unruly?
Question: Hello, I have a question about the children in the qualifications for elders. If a man has a natural-born child and adopts a child, would this be plural children? What if the adopted child is unruly and irreverent and eventually moves away from home? To me, this does not fit the bill for believing children.…
Read MoreWho was the King of Tyre in Ezekiel 28?
Question: Who was the King of Tyre in Ezekiel chapter 28? Thank you for maintaining your site it has been most helpful to me. God bless. Answer: The king of Tyre at the time Ezekiel was written was Ithobaal III (sometimes spelled Ethbaal III) who reigned from 591–573 BC. His name connects him with the…
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