Answer
Wouldn’t a prophetess lead services?
Question: Good day, Women are mentioned as being prophetesses during the church age, such as Phillip the evangelist’s daughters (Acts 21:9). Did they not lead in the worship services? Answer: When trying to understand what God wrote, you don’t take portions from one part and use them to ignore other parts. This is what the…
Read MoreMy wife wants to separate and I don’t know what to do
Question: Hi brother Hamilton, I am a member of the church and have been reading the website for answers for a while now. I do appreciate what is asked and answered for things I myself had questions about. I find myself in a difficult marriage situation. My wife of many years has informed me that…
Read MoreWho my boyfriend was is hurting me
Question: Hello, how are you? I wanted to share something that has been particularly challenging for me lately. I have always lived chastely out of love for God and as a gift for my future husband. I’ve been dating a man for several months who, in almost every way, is the person I asked God for.…
Read MoreCan We Get Along Just as Well Without It?
by David Gibson What if God gave us a choice of plans of salvation? Option A is the church plan. Option B is the non-church plan. In other words, if you want to be a part of the church, fine, but if you’d rather get to heaven without the church, that’s OK too! So what…
Read MoreWhat is an “instrument” in Romans 6:13?
Question: What is an instrument in Romans 6:13? The Thayer’s Greek lexicon and Strong’s dictionary didn’t help me understand this word. Answer: “Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, and…
Read MoreShould I insist that my boyfriend confront his parents about his change in religion?
Question: Dear Brother, I accepted Jesus Christ a few years ago. I come from a Hindu family. I like a guy, and he was a Hindu too. As I kept on talking to him about Jesus, one day he accepted Jesus Christ. He said he can no longer view his old religion the way he…
Read MoreWhat does “without natural affection” mean?
Question: “Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful” (Romans 1:31 KJV). What is natural affection? Answer: “Without natural affection” (astrogous) means “Being without the natural love between parents and their children.” Seneca, a Roman philosopher, used the word in “justifying” for killing unwanted children. It is a person without the natural affection for…
Read MoreIs having a song during a sermon out of order?
Question: Dear Sir, I have a question that requires clarification. In I Corinthians 14:40, “Let all things be done decently and in order.” (NKJV) Will it be wrong or inappropriate for a brother delivering a sermon and in the process of delivering it, he pauses and lets the congregation sing a song relating to his message,…
Read MoreWhat do saint and blameless mean?
Question: Does saint mean to be morally blameless? Strong’s says: “From hagos (an awful thing) (compare hagnos, thalpo); sacred (physically, pure, morally blameless or religious, ceremonially, consecrated) — (most) holy (one, thing), saint.” Answer: I suspect that the difficulty is understanding the meaning of “blameless.” We tend to assume it means “without fault” or “sinless.” However, various…
Read MoreHow has the power to delay God’s answers?
Question: Dear brother, We read that God answered Daniel’s prayer the very first day. How then was it delayed, or who has the power to delay God’s answer? Thanks and regards. Answer: “Then he said to me, ‘Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding…
Read MoreMy wife abandoned us and took all my money
Question: Good Afternoon, Brother Hamilton, My wife and I were baptized into Christ and added to the Body. Last fall, my wife rushed to get dressed for a meeting. I asked her when the dementia medication for my Dad would arrive. It had already been several weeks. This led to an argument where we both…
Read MoreWas it God’s will that I didn’t know about my husband’s sins before we got married?
Question: Greetings! I am reaching out to let you know that I think the Answers to Questions section on the church’s website is an invaluable resource, and I appreciate the very direct and truthful responses. The following are some questions that have plagued me for years, so I thought I’d pass them along and get…
Read MoreDid the Ten Commandments come through angels or God?
Question: Dear sir, Were the Ten Commandments delivered by angels or God Himself? I am somewhat confused by references such as Acts 7:53, Galatians 3:19, and Hebrews 2:2. Answer: “Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and…
Read MoreI enjoy your blog posts
Question: Hi, I really enjoyed your blog posts. So much detail and time went into them, and it’s a great ministry when there is limited counsel available online. Noting that we should ultimately seek counsel from our local elders, not online, I do really appreciate your blog. Answer: I’m glad you are finding the information…
Read MoreShould I separate myself from my transgender dad?
Question: Dear Minister, I have family problems and need advice from a neutral person. I’m 15 years old. Last Sunday, my older siblings (who are in their early to mid-20s) came home for church and dinner. We spend every Sunday together, along with their spouses and children, since they live in our neighborhood. After dinner,…
Read MoreDid baptism end after Jesus went to heaven?
Question: Good day, Pastor, Kindly throw light on this issue: Did baptism end after Jesus Christ went into heaven? Is water baptism still relevant to be a true Christian? I am of the opinion that it is no longer necessary, but I would appreciate it if you could kindly explain it to me in your…
Read MoreBelieve!
by David Gibson “Believe” is the main keyword of the Gospel of John. From the 12th chapter of John, let’s see what we can learn about what it means to believe: Many believed (John 12:10-11). A large number of those who witnessed Lazarus’ resurrection came to believe in Jesus (John 11:45). This is as it…
Read MoreIs it good to get advice about a problem?
Question: Hi Mr. Hamilton, Thank you again for your time and thoughtful answers. I’ve read through everything you shared, and I’m doing my best to trust the truth over my feelings, even though it is tough for me. I have another question— if that’s alright? Do you believe I’ve obeyed Scripture in seeking godly counsel…
Read MoreHow can I gain true repentance?
Question: [Note: This is an abbreviated version of the long letter I was sent.] How can I find true repentance? It is what I seek. I confess my sin to God, but I fall again. I made many mistakes before. In my ignorance, I thought I would offer sacrifices to God for my forgiveness. I…
Read MoreCan I break a deal I made with God?
Question: Hello, Last year, I promised God some things in exchange for Him healing or freeing me from OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder). I promised to stop watching a series that I watched a lot, horror movies, and anime. Well, now I am in psychiatric treatment and I still have OCD, but the thing is that in…
Read MoreHow do I handle being engaged to a member of a denomination?
Question: Hello, I need your advice on my personal life. I am a born-again, baptized Christian. But I backslid for about two years. In those years, I got engaged to an unbeliever. Now I’m trying to return to Christ, and I’m not sure what to do. She is from an Orthodox background. She is willing…
Read MoreRedemption of the Body
by Terry Wane Benton We were redeemed from sin and condemnation by the blood of Christ when we were baptized into Him (Acts 2:38; Romans 6:3-6). But, now we are waiting for “the adoption, the redemption of our body” (Romans 8:23). Paul’s soul was already “adopted.” “We received (past tense) the Spirit of adoption” (Romans…
Read MoreWhy would babies who die be judged?
Question: I have a question about infants, aborted and miscarried souls, and the judgment. Are they awaiting judgment? Would there be any reason to judge them? I have had several miscarried babies, and it’s just something I’ve been wondering about, even though I know where they’re going/have gone. Thank you so much for this website.…
Read MoreHow do I look for a wife without losing focus on God?
Question: Hi, How are you? I’ve been doing well. It has been a rough journey. It’s taken me a while to get to where I’m at and sober from alcohol for the last four months. I’m still working on other areas in addiction, of course. I’ve always had such a strong desire for a spouse.…
Read MoreIs there a difference between original sin and actual sin?
Question: Dear Jeffrey I am combing through reading material around the subject of Original Sin. I am critiquing a book written by a popular proponent of this doctrine, “Original Sin: Illuminating the Riddle” by French theologian Henri Blocher. Amongst his discussions, there are two arguments he made to support his doctrine, which I have some…
Read MoreIs the Holy Spirit not bound by only the words in the Bible?
Question: Hi Jeff, I heard a sermon a while ago, and someone recently shared it on Facebook to say that brethren are too worried about emotionalism, and they don’t worship in the Spirit and truth as God intended. “The Holy Spirit is not bound in the words alone within the leather covers of our Bibles.”…
Read MoreWhy bother teaching those in denominations?
Question: Brother Jeffrey, I’ve recently thought that when talking to people of different denominations about the truth, we do have a responsibility to a certain extent. However I also believe that in this country, particularly in the southern United States, we may not be held as highly accountable especially to people of the denominations because…
Read MoreWhy do the headstones in cemeteries face east?
Question: Hello Mr. Hamilton, I was having a conversation with my dad about cemeteries. I suppose I never considered it, but he mentioned that all cemeteries are typically arranged with the head of the deceased facing East. And my dad looked it up, and it said that one of the reasons Christians do it is…
Read MoreIsn’t saying that Jesus suggests buyings swords for self-defense an assumption?
Question: Years ago, I discovered your helpful website, but I stopped using it. Recently, I re-discovered your website. I appreciate the tremendous amount of work you have put into the material found there. I have only gone through a small portion of it and found some great resources there. However, I disagree with many of…
Read MoreWhat is meant by “secret things?”
Question: Good afternoon, In Deuteronomy 29:29, what is meant by “secret things”? Is it referring to unrevealed things not found in the Bible? Is it referring to things that the Bible, specifically the New Covenant, doesn’t speak about at all? I hope my wording is understandable. Thanks. Answer: “The secret things belong to the LORD…
Read MoreHow do we deal with a rebellious teenage daughter?
Question: Dear Mr. Hamilton, We wrote you a year ago with a query concerning the raising of our children. First and foremost, we would like to thank you, as our situation has substantially improved. We are, however, writing to follow up, if you would be so kind. We have gotten things under control with our…
Read MoreWas there something else I could have said?
Question: I had a debate with someone about Colossians 2:11-12, specifically regarding how it was interpreted as referring to water baptism and that water baptism was a work of God. However, my opponent argued that “without hands” proved it was not water baptism since a man is involved in immersing you in water. To that…
Read MoreYour website helped me understand difficult concepts over the years
Question: Hey brother, I know that you do not know me, but I just wanted to send some encouragement your way! I just put two and two together that you write a lot of the content on the La Vista church of Christ website. I absolutely love your site! Several of your articles and studies…
Read MoreDid I react in the right way?
Question: Greetings! I have been reading articles on your website for some time, and I recently discovered the question-and-answer section, which encouraged me to write. I need some advice. I have been going through a tough breakup for a few weeks now. I am a Christian, and I was in a relationship with someone from…
Read MoreDo I need to go to school to preach?
Question: Mr. Hamilton, I have studied the Bible all my life. I read everything I can. I preached for three weeks a year ago in a local congregation and asked all my elders to attend, and one did. He asked me if I wanted to teach in our congregation. I said yes, and never got…
Read MoreAre all Christians persecuted?
Question: I have a question about a verse that tells us that all godly Christians shall suffer persecution. II Timothy 3:12 states: “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” This verse concerns me because I’ve been a Christian since I was 12 (I’m now in my fifties), and I…
Read MoreIs acting a sin?
Question: Dear Mr. Hamilton, I hope this message finds you well. I wanted to share a thought that has been on my mind lately, particularly regarding the world of acting and entertainment, and how it might be perceived within the church. It wouldn’t surprise me if one day I came across a sermon or article—perhaps…
Read MoreAre eyewitness accounts unreliable?
Question: Hello Mr. Hamilton, I have a question for you. I recently came across someone talking about St. Joseph Cupertino. They claimed that eyewitnesses had seen him levitate on several occasions. The problem I have is that one of the reasons Jesus’ resurrection is trustworthy is based on the eyewitness testimony. And then there is…
Read MoreIs it a sin to not attend on Sunday night?
Question: I was raised in and am a member of the church of Christ. God blessed me with faithful parents who didn’t just “take me to church,” but lived it. I am 66 years old and have struggled with an issue for most of my adult life. It is the question of Sunday night services.…
Read MoreI think I should dedicate every use of my car to my grandmother
Question: Good evening, I’ve been diagnosed with OCD. I’ve been struggling with promises to God for a long time, but now I’ve a problem with one, I suppose I did five years ago. While I was trying to get my driving license, the month before the driving exam, I probably made a promise to always…
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