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I found an answer to something I often wondered about in Daniel
Question: I often wondered why Daniel was made third in the kingdom and found the answer on your site. Thanks. Answer: You’re welcome.
Read MoreGiving to God (Owen)
by Dan R. Owen, Ph.D. via The Gospel Advocate, June 2017 Since the time of Abraham, dedicated followers of God have given of their wealth to the One who provides all wealth. God blessed Abraham with much and Abraham gave a tenth to Melchizedek, priest of God Most High (Genesis 14:20). Jacob, an heir to the…
Read MoreWhy continue to drift aimlessly through life?
Question: Dear Jeffrey, You wrote once that suicide never solves anything. But putting that aside (because that comes with its own baggage), what if all you ever were meant to do was accept Jesus authentically and be saved — that’s all God ever had planned for you? There is no other plan. One may sincerely hope…
Read MoreI thought I loved a man, but I don’t. How do I break up?
Question: Sir, Unknowingly I fell in love with a guy who is divorced. He is more than ten years older than I am. He divorced his ex because she was an unbeliever. She wanted to separate from him. The guy is near my home. He has struggled a lot in his life. I was attracted…
Read MoreHow do I come to the point where I don’t feel like wasted space?
Question: Hello, I truly enjoy the insight given on your website. I am normally a very positive person, and when I’m around people I am the one encouraging them to keep going, to keep pushing forward. However, when I am alone and I allow myself to think for enough time, I really don’t see what…
Read MoreHow do I know I won’t fall into fornication again?
Question: I seem to be struggling with my Christian life. I keep dabbling in fornication, which is always painful for me, so I don’t even know why I do it. I also noticed I don’t have a lot of Christian friends around. I can’t seem to actually find any friends, even in my church. I…
Read MoreDoesn’t the Bible say we will live on earth after the millennium?
Question: Hello, I read your article about Jesus not ruling on a physical throne on earth because the earth will perish. Well, the first earth will perish because at the end of the millennium Jesus will make a new one and the eternal city will come down from heaven to the earth. Read the Bible. The final…
Read MoreWhy would God allow me to be born a homosexual?
Question: Hi, Man of God, My question is this: if being gay is a sin, why would our God allow me to be born like that? Secondly, I have been praying to God that if I’m wrong, he must fix me. But until now, nothing. I believe that God said Ask, Seek and Knock. He’s…
Read MoreIs it covetous to want to get married?
Question: Is it covetous to want to get married? I’m not speaking of an example of a man and woman loving each other and wanting to marry, but rather a man or a woman who wants to find a mate? I go to a church that is mostly elderly people, so there is no Christian…
Read MoreWhen should one seek counseling and when shouldn’t they?
Question: What are your thoughts on counseling? When should one seek counseling and when shouldn’t they? Thank you. Answer: I’m puzzled by your question because technically you are asking my advice, which is another way of saying you are seeking my counsel. But you are asking whether doing so is good or not. “Where there…
Read MoreI don’t want to, but I keep committing fornication with a woman I don’t love
Question: Hello minister, Please, I need your urgent intervention. I have been involved in sexual intercourse with a lady I don’t intend to marry. I have a fiancee whom I am patiently waiting to marry after school. We only see each other once a year. Any time we are together, we always restrain ourselves from…
Read MoreDo you all believe the only way to be saved is through baptism?
Question: I was reading more on the La Vista Church of Christ website, and I was a little confused about something. Do you all believe the only way to be saved is through baptism? Answer: I have a question for you: Can a person be saved by ignoring what God commanded to be done? For…
Read MoreKeep up the good work!
Question: Hello, I am a member of the church of Christ. I am not 100% sure on how I stumbled upon your website, other than late-night “googling” for a Bible class, but I am sure glad I did. Your site is absolutely fantastic! It is very helpful in studying and I just want to drop…
Read MoreI realize now that I can be forgiven, so how do I get past the guilt?
Question: I’ve obsessed for a long time about committing the unpardonable sin, as some have called it. I have struggled with some addictions for a while (alcohol and pornography), and a few times had the thought come into my mind: “if you give in to certain temptations, you will lose the Holy Spirit.” Well, I…
Read MoreDoes ‘this form of doctrine’ in Romans 6:17 refers to a type?
Question: Good day, Does ‘this form of doctrine’ in Romans 6:17 refers to a type? This means things we do now will only get their true meaning in heaven. Answer: Good to hear from you! “But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that…
Read MoreCan you record your own music with instruments?
Question: I am a member of the Lord’s church (Acts 2:41) and am fully aware and fine with the fact that instruments in worship toward God are unauthorized by Scripture (Acts 17:25), and thereby unacceptable (II John 9). However, I read your article Is playing an instrument for a person’s own enjoyment scriptural? and I…
Read MoreDoes a husband have to take care of children in a marriage who are not his?
Question: Does a husband have to take care of children in a marriage who are not his? Answer: When you marry a woman who has children from a prior marriage, you are accepting responsibility for those children. “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has…
Read MoreHow do you handle in-laws who are evil toward your child?
Question: What do you do in a situation when your in-laws are evil toward your child because they don’t like you? They take it out on her — nice one minute and evil demonic the next — even using profanity and bodily harm against her, and all you say is “I’ll pray for you.” Answer:…
Read MoreHow should transgenders be treated in business?
Question: I am an HR manager I must uphold laws that protect transgender rights. As a Christian can I do that? Answer: “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12). As best that I can tell, the laws basically demand…
Read MoreWould God give us more than we can handle?
Question: Hello, I have heard the saying, “God does not give us more than we can handle” being used quite a lot. Is this biblically correct? I am a Christian and I feel like I am being crushed. I am a teenager, but I cannot enjoy my youth. I have stomach issues, so there are…
Read MoreShould I leave this church where the pastor drives a luxury car?
Question: Hello. Thank you so much for taking the time to consider my question. I’ve struggled with the decision of whether to leave my church. The congregation is very loving and over the past two years, I have developed several good friendships. My dilemma is with the pastor. She is a very gifted speaker and…
Read MoreShould a Christian support capital punishment?
Question: Dear Minister, I read today in an article on your site that you approve of capital punishment. It is my opinion that capital punishment and the biblical teaching of loving and forgiving one’s enemies are not compatible. I am, however, willing to change my views upon sufficient evidence from the Bible. Kindly explain further.…
Read MoreHow can the Scriptures apply to me? Aren’t we called to love each other?
Question: Hello, I was raised Catholic. After trying out a couple of religions, I’ve come back to the Catholic Church. I also see myself closely identifying as a pansexual. I read in Romans what it says about homosexuality, but it states things that I am not, so how can the word of God say things…
Read MoreIf we continue to live together and have sex, are we still in sin if we are planning to get married?
Question: Hi, I have a question it lies heavy on my heart, and I have talked to many people about this and I still don’t have a correct answer, since everyone’s meaning and opinion differ from one another. But I would like to have the Christian way of doing it and understanding the situation correctly.…
Read MoreDoes someone have to repent of all their sins before baptism?
Question: Does someone have to repent of all their sins before baptism or can they repent of the ones they struggle with most? Answer: If you were poisoned and you were going to die and someone offered you the cure to save your life would you take it? There is a catch with the cure,…
Read MoreI told my wife I forgave her for her cheating, but I really haven’t
Question: Hello Minister, I write this with the hope that you’ll be able to help me to unshackle this chain that I’ve been hauling for many years. I’m a very angry man, and I find it difficult to forgive and let it go. I used to be a very kind and loving person, which I’ll…
Read MoreI had a relapse of my schizoaffective disorder and I fear I did something wrong
Question: Hello, I have schizoaffective disorder. I have had a recent relapse. I encountered many disturbing occurrences of racing thoughts and hallucinations from the enemy, and I did not do well. I rebuked and prayed, but I feel broken and lost like I did something wrong. I have been a Christian for many years, but…
Read MoreHow do I tell someone that having a child outside of marriage is not good?
Question: Hi! I just started hanging out with this girl from work lately, and she recently told me she had a miscarriage a month or so ago. She’s also had a few before that I already knew about. She’s not married, and she has only been dating this guy since she had the miscarriage. She…
Read MoreWhat do I do? A friend propositioned me
Question: One of my friends, who is also a male, has sexual desires for me. He says that he loves me a lot and this is something that will complete the cycle of love for him. He also says that he is not gay. He has never had sex with any other male, but he…
Read MoreWhat does it mean to give your problems to the Lord?
Question: What does it mean to give your problems to the Lord? Does it come down to the fact that things on earth are temporary and we should be looking at the bigger picture? Answer: “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your…
Read MoreI struggle to fit in
Question: Hi, I am struggling a lot with fitting in. I was not raised in the church. I found the truth over 30 years ago. I have moved to different states for various reasons. I have had an ongoing struggle trying to find my place in each congregation. I feel sometimes it is a hard…
Read MoreHow do you know you’ve understood the Bible correctly?
Question: Hi there, I have a question about the different ways people read the Word of God. Overall each one has something right, but I would mainly like to know of a way of reading the Bible and taking it to heart. How is this specific method obtained through the Scripture? A fellow worker and…
Read MorePitch-Pipes and PowerPoint
by Bryan Hodge Members of the church of Christ have historically emphasized that the Bible teaches that we should have Biblical authority for what we do. God has required such. He did under the Old Covenant (e.g. Leviticus 10:1-2; I Samuel 13:9-14; II Chronicles 26:16-21). He does under the New Covenant (e.g. Acts 15:22-24; Colossians 3:17…
Read MoreShould the Lord’s Supper only be offered after the invitation?
Question: I have been a member of the Church for many decades and have never felt the Lord’s Supper should be served before the invitational hymn. We want to wait for those who care to join our work, so we should serve it after the hymn. Do you agree? Answer: The assumption is that most…
Read MoreI keep having sex because I’m looking for love and acceptance
Question: I am a mother of a teenage boy. I was traditionally married to his late father who died over a decade ago. I always find myself falling into the same sin: I cannot resist sex. I am HIV positive, and I always tell that to my partner. I am a Christian and have tried…
Read MoreYour site helps me answer questions quickly
Question: I would love to thank you for maintaining and publishing your website online at lavistachurchofchrist.org. It has helped me answer questions for friends quickly when I didn’t have my Bible with me at work. I am not always good at putting things into words well so that it comes across in a manner that…
Read MoreIs circumcision necessary?
Question: Do you consider male circumcision a necessary intervention in life – young or old? I only ask because some Christian denominations believe so. I was circumcised as an adult. I only ask for your guidance. I accept that Jesus was circumcised. It was my Sunday School teacher who broached the subject. She told us…
Read MoreWe just can’t get enough money for lobola in order to get married
Question: Good day, I have a very loving relationship with the father of my toddler. We love one another dearly, but unfortunately, we have no money. He has no money, and I cannot go on living day-to-day worried about the next meal. Our child lives at my home, where my parents cater to the child’s…
Read MoreMy nephew spends everything he makes and is always begging for money to pay bills. What do I do?
Question: I read your article on giving. Someone asked and you gave a lot of discussion around widows and orphans and want versus need. I have family members who look for ways not to work but continually seek help from us. My nephew and his wife do not go to church. My nephew was raised in…
Read MoreIs entertainment the devil’s substitute for joy?
Question: I recently listened to a sermon where the preacher said, if I remember correctly, “Entertainment is the devil’s substitute for joy. The more joy you have in the Lord the less entertainment you need.” Is that so? Before becoming a Christian, I had these habits of reading and consuming culture for selfish reasons, now…
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