What more can I do for my ex-wife who lost a child?

Question: Good afternoon Brother Hamilton and all the brethren at the La Vista congregation.  I’m hoping you can offer me some guidance on a complicated issue: My former wife’s son recently died in a very tragic fashion.  He and I had a great relationship while his mother and I were married and maintained occasional contact…

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Two Trips and Suffering

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/TwoTripsAndSufferings.mp3 by Scott Smelser

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Should a Christian shave his head for a dead relative?

Question: Should a Christian shave his head for a dead relative? Despite the fact that shaving the heads for the dead is forbidden in the Old Testament, should a Christian have anything to do with such practices? Thank you for your time. Answer: “You shall not shave around the sides of your head, nor shall…

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Why did my uncle die young? How can we know he is OK?

Question: I have recently lost my uncle due to a short illness. He was only in his thirties. When I read your website it only refers to people dying young as wicked. This confuses me as my uncle was a very good man at heart. Yes, he was not a saint but he had a…

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Did I cause my child to die? Did God? Why did it happen?

Question: I contacted you a couple of months back when I was having difficulties with an unplanned pregnancy. The feeling in my heart right now is one of confusion. Even though the baby was conceived in fornication, I never even thought of having an abortion. Despite the refusal of the man who impregnated me to consider…

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Did those who were killed by the angel know there was a God?

Question: My husband wants to know if the 70,000 killed by a plague by an angel knew there was a God? Answer: You are referring to those who died as a result of David’s sin in numbering the men of war in Israel. “So the LORD sent a plague upon Israel from the morning till…

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If Christ died for all, then that means all died. Do you really believe that?

Question: In your rebuke of Thayer’s Greek Lexicon, you used the passage of II Corinthians 5:4-15. “For the love of Christ compels us, that if one died for all, then all died.” If “all” means the whole population of the world, then the whole population has died (which in the context of scriptures have died to…

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What happens after death? Will I be reunited with my loved ones?

Question: Hi, Right now I’m not a Christian, but I’ve been thinking a lot about it lately. Death kind of scares me, I mean I’m only 14 but still. I kind of wanted to know what you believe, why you believe it, and what I should do, and what happens after death. I also wanted…

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When the Good Die Young

Text: I Kings 14:1-18   I.         It is a sad occasion when a young person meets with death             A.        We think about the potential that was suddenly cut short.             B.        The older people think about the experiences they enjoyed that this person didn’t have an opportunity to experience first hand             C.        We realize we will miss their companionship, especially…

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How can someone in Christ fear death?

Question: How can someone in Christ fear death? Answer: It would depend on the strength and growth of their faith. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me” (Psalms 23:4). “Inasmuch then as…

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Does an unborn baby have a soul?

Question: I have a coworker who was telling me his girlfriend had a miscarriage, and that’s why he doesn’t believe in God.  I tried to comfort him by telling him that the baby could not have sinned, thus had to be in heaven.  He seems like he may be interested in God, it seems we…

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Is it right to say “Rest in Peace” in regard to a known sinner?

Question: I would like to ask a question regarding a statement left by many of my friends, as well as my Christian brothers and sisters in Christ. The statement is “Rest in Peace” to Whitney Houston. I know according to the Bible that no one is in Heaven yet. We all go to Hades either…

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What about ghosts, sacrificing to the dead, and sin?

Question: I have doubts about certain religions. People have asked me what I believe regarding these things and I honestly don’t know what the Bible says about it. You probably know about religions that preach about “ghosts” or “spirits.” I’ve even heard about people who sacrifice animals or other people to get something they want.…

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Are There “Ghost Amongst Us”?

by Jack Wise Jr.   Many believe the spirits of dead people walk on the earth. Many “psychics” claim they can speak to the dead. Is it true? Do the spirits of the deceased rise from the grave and walk amongst us? Solomon, the wisest man to have ever lived, said the dead know nothing,…

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My girlfriend committed suicide and I miss her so much!

Question: Why can’t I meet my girlfriend? I want to talk with her once more. I want to say “I’m sorry” to her. I want to feel her once more. My eyes are eager to see her. Can’t I see her just once? Can’t God show some mercy on me and allow her to meet…

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Did Jesus’ spirit leave his body and go to Hades?

Question: I have a general question that I’m hoping you can help me find supporting scriptures. Somebody challenged me that he doesn’t believe that the spirit left Jesus’ body when he died and went to Hades.  His argument is that Jesus is God and he’s in control of even Hades so that his spirit would…

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I’m afraid of growing old and dying

Question: I’m going through a time right now of fear and turmoil.  Fear of growing older and dying.  It’s a paralyzing fear that I can’t seem to shake.  I  know it has to be a lack of faith. I don’t want to fear.  I want to trust in what God has promised me.  I also…

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Do I have to give my father a proper burial?

Question: Where does it say “honoring your father” means even to go as far as giving him a proper burial when he dies? Answer: “Then the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, “The men of Jabesh Gilead were the ones who…

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How can Paul die with Christ if Christ is living?

Question: I am confused about “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20 NLT). Isn’t God the living God?…

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When the Bible says sin brings forth death, is that talking about hell?

Question: In James 1:13-16 at the end when it says “sin when it is full-grown brings forth death” or something like that. Is the “death” referring to hell? Answer: It is referring to spiritual death, which does ultimately lead to hell. Think about it this way: The first time you sin, it bothers you greatly.…

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How do I help a friend who is blaming God for her mother’s death?

Question: A friend’s mother has died. The friend is approximately 40. She blames God for the death of her mother and is becoming more and more bitter about losing her mother. What can we share with her from God’s word to help her? Answer: While I considered your question important, I delayed responding because the…

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Have some people visited hell in a near-death experience?

Question: I have recently seen a video on YouTube that took quotes from people who had near-death-experiences and had apparently “been” to Hell. And what they said about it just seems to me like it couldn’t be. How could God let anyone, good or bad, be made to have that much pain for all eternity?…

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How could David see his child when David hasn’t ascended to heaven?

Question: Hello, I read your question:  What happens to children when they die? You said that David would see his child when he died.  I don’t understand this because Acts 2:34 says that David has not ascended into the heavens. (David was long dead by this time).  Also, John 3:13 says no one has ascended into…

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Do humans become angels when they die?

Question: Do humans become angels when they die? If no, what are they and were they before us? Do they have their own planet? Any information on angels would be helpful. Answer: No, humans do not become angels after death. It is true that after the resurrection, we will have new, spiritual bodies. “So also…

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What is spiritual death?

Question: What exactly is spiritual death? Some say that spiritual death is a separation from God. But what exactly is being separated? A physical separation, personal separation, or soul separation after physical death? If it was a physical separation, then why did God continue to have a relationship with Adam and Eve by clothing them…

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Did Jesus spend three days in hades?

Question: I had a lady try to tell me that Jesus spent three days in Hades before he arose from the grave. I didn’t really get to discuss this with her because she had to leave. How do people come up with this kind of thinking? Answer: Sometimes people make up things, but in this particular…

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Life Beyond the Grave

by Clem Thurman in via Gospel Minutes, Vol. 58, No. 23, June 5, 2009. The salient doctrine of Christianity is the teaching of Jesus Christ about life after death. Most religions have some kind of “hope” about life after death, but only Christianity offers real evidence of that hope and also carefully defines it. Christ…

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What happened to Elijah after he was taken up to heaven?

Question: According to scripture, Elijah was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind, so does that mean that he is still in heaven with God, Jesus, and the angels? Or is he in hades awaiting judgment with everyone else? Answer: Does it matter? All I can possibly do is answer with the little we are…

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Is it a sin to want to die?

Question: Is it a sin to want to die? Answer: There have been people in the past who because of depression expressed their desire to not continue life. Job rue the day he was born, “Why did I not die at birth? Why did I not perish when I came from the womb?” (Job 3:11).…

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Why is it wrong to pray to saints?

Question: Why is it wrong for Catholics to pray to saints? Answer: Well, first of all, prayers to someone dead is an exercise in futility. The dead cannot hear your prayers. They are no longer involved in life. “For the living know that they will die; but the dead know nothing, and they have no more…

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