Posts Tagged ‘influence’
How do I reach a friend who is sinning?
Question: Hi, I don’t know if these are the kinds of questions you answer, but I might as well ask. I have just started high school, and already I am seeing and hearing about a lot of bad things going on (smoking, drugs, drinking, sex, cursing, etc.). I try as hard as I can to…
Read MoreIs it wrong to listen to rap or hip-hop music if it doesn’t contain anything about killing, drugs, or sex?
Question: I know Christians shouldn’t listen to secular rap or hip hop music, in which I stopped recently, but what if the song doesn’t contain anything about killing, drugs, and sex? Is it okay to listen to it? Answer: There is no prohibition on any particular musical style. The problem is that certain styles of…
Read MoreWhat If Christ Were Not?
by Batsell Barrett Baxter via The Sower, Vol. 54, No. 6, Nov/Dec 2009. Henry Rogers, a brilliant lawyer of a few years ago, wrote a book entitled The Eclipse of Faith, in which he imagined that some powerful hand had wiped the influence of Christ out of our civilization, as a hand wipes the chalk…
Read MoreShe Changed My Life
by Marlon Ruck as told to Wilson Adams via Biblical Insights, Volume 9, Number 6, June 2009 Marlon was a twenty-four-year-old Catholic, home from the military, and living in Toledo, Ohio; Delores was eighteen, beautiful, and a member of the Lord’s church. “I was crazy about her from the beginning and asked her to marry me…
Read MoreEmpty Faith
by Carey Scott “My friends, what good is it to say you have faith, when you don’t do anything to show that you really do have faith? Can that kind of faith save you?” (James 2:14, CEV). There are a lot of people going around and calling themselves a Christians. Yet their actions do not…
Read MoreIs it wrong to buy from a company that uses poor business practices to make money?
Question: Is it wrong for us to buy products from companies that use sweat-shops or may have poor working conditions, poor company reputation, etc.? I’ve been thinking about this recently because I personally feel neglectful about shopping at a popular store because I’ve heard that they have had problems with their company in the past…
Read MoreIs it wrong to make a decision about what is right or wrong based on what you think a cartoon character would do?
Question: Is it sinful to base your life on a cartoon? Let’s say you’re being tempted, but to help you get past your temptation you think about what a hero on a show would do. Would that be sinful? Answer: A lot would depend on the cartoon I would think. Behind every cartoon is a…
Read MoreDo you think a movie with a good storyline but some immorality scattered in should be watched?
Question: I read your comment on a question about movies and video games. I believe you even referred to watching the Lord of the Rings movies if I’m not mistaken. I totally agree that there are movies that Christians should not watch. What do you think of movies, though, that have a very good story or…
Read MoreIs it wrong to work in a Catholic hospital or work for a company that produces sexual themed movies?
Question: In your answer “Is it wrong to have a job that encourages others to sin?” I was wondering if you could give me some examples of this. I got concerned because I have a mother whose employer sends her to work some days in a Catholic hospital. (She is NOT Catholic by the way).…
Read MorePeer Pressure (Waldron)
by Bob Waldron via The Bulletin of the Church of Christ at New Georgia, February 24, 2008 Much of God’s covenant with Israel of old dealt with human relations. Various and sundry laws pointed out how the Jew was to conduct himself among his peers. One of these admonitions was, “Thou shalt not follow a…
Read MoreShould a Christian eat with a non-Christian who is having alcohol with his meal?
Question: First, I want to thank you for explaining in a previous response about why social drinking is sinful. Now, I have for you a short scenario that’s based on that fact. A Christian gets invited to go eat at a steakhouse by his non-Christian work buddy. While ordering his meal, this buddy decides to get an…
Read MoreIs watching movies or making jokes about sinful things really that bad?
Question: What about people who like action movies and stuff like that, or producers who make violent movies. I mean, you can like action movies but that does not mean that you support violence. There is a difference between making a joke about something and claiming that you actually would do it. You can live…
Read MoreIs it wrong to purchase items that help fund a denomination’s missionary efforts?
Question: Not long ago, my husband and I were driving past a Baptist church and noticed that they were having a garage sale. While driving past, I saw some signs that their young people were holding up stating that the sale’s profits would be used to send them on a mission trip. I felt like…
Read MoreI think my girlfriend is making a mistaking in finding a new place to live. What can I do?
Question: I’m curious to hear your two cents on this situation I’m stuck in right now. So here’s the story: Since my girlfriend and her daughter live over two hours away, she’s looking to move closer since it’s very hard for us to see each other. We only do that about once a month, twice if…
Read MoreIs living together, but not sleeping together, a sin?
Question: I’ve just got back from my youth group after having a discussion about living together before getting married. I’ve searched your articles and I don’t think they quite answer the question “Is living together before marriage a sin?” We actually want to know is living together, but not sleeping together, before getting married a…
Read MoreOne Sinner Destroys Much Good
by Ron Daly Wisdom is better than weapons of war; but one sinner destroys much good. Ecclesiates 9:18 The title of this article comes from a statement of the writer of the book of Ecclesiastes in chapter 9, verse 18. It conveys a thought that each of us must consider. It tells us that a…
Read MoreIs it a sin for church members to watch TV shows like “Dancing with the Stars?”
Question: Is it a sin for church members to watch tv shows like “Dancing with the Stars?” Answer: I have never seen the show referenced, but then I rarely watch television, so I’ll address the problem of watching dancing. One of the problems with many dances is that they are designed to excite lust both…
Read MoreHow does God influence us?
Question: A while back I was looking through Scripture and discussing with a friend about the influence of the Holy Spirit, God, and Jesus. I don’t remember where the Scriptures are at. I should make a list of subjects and put down Scriptures in the list when I find one that goes along with the…
Read MoreEven though there is falsehood in an article, can’t you read it to find some truth buried in it?
Question: I am somewhat frustrated. I suppose you may have felt frustrated reading that article I sent, or at least part of it. When I read it, of course, I wasn’t looking for flaws. You appear to focus on flaws when reading something you know you disagree with. I suppose nearly everyone including me does…
Read MoreIn order to repent, do you need to find the people to whom you set a bad example?
Question: If you were a bad example as a teen and several of the other teens at church were influenced to sin by you, once you have repented and started living as a Christian years later, what does the Lord want you to do? Do you need to track these people down and ask their…
Read MoreIs it okay to listen to secular music?
Question: Hi! I have e-mailed before concerning if we could have facial hair. I have come to you again for some help concerning secular music. My question is: Is it ok to listen to it or is it against God’s Word? I myself believe that it serves no purpose but to pervert the Good News of…
Read MoreThe Power of an Example
by Gilbert Alexander When God planned marriage, He planned a helper for man, a woman, a wife (Genesis 2:18-24). Hers is a role of subjection to her husband (Ephesians 5:22), a role of obedience to her husband (Titus 2:1-6). She is taught to be wise and careful in judgment (discreet), to be pure (chaste, not…
Read MoreMay Christians make use of denominationally sponsored preschools?
Question: In our area, we have many preschools and pre-kindergartens that are located in the buildings of different denominations. Some are government-funded and some are just private schools. These schools are like any other in that they are preparing the children for kindergarten. The only Bible teachings are just Bible stories being read and, of…
Read MoreCan a woman, wearing a covering, work in a store selling alcohol?
Question: What about women who wear covering among the regular population? Is it a sin to let the woman who wears a covering to work in a store where they sell beer or things of the sort? I need to know if I am sinning if I do not wear a covering. It is hard…
Read MoreThree Examples
by Sam Stinson “Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us” (Philippians 3:17, ESV). Experience is not authority. Because Jesus is our authority, his word is authority. However, how do we, those of us who deliver God’s message of salvation in Jesus,…
Read MoreStrangers and Pilgrims in this World
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Whether Mathletes is his actual name, or he was using a generic name of “disciple” in penning this letter, we don’t know, but this letter, by a Christian living in the early years of the second century (somewhere between 100 and 130 A.D.), contains a wealth of information about what Christianity…
Read MoreWould God be pleased with my example to my children?
Question: I would like to ask a question since it deals with teaching my children. Will the Lord be pleased with the way I am teaching my children to live in this world today? Lying example – I have a son who is disabled and has a life expectancy in the early twenties. I’m trying…
Read MoreAppropriate Behavior for the Lord’s People
by Ron Drumm Are you amazed at the bazaar things that people do? I am! But, you can be sure that others look at us, and think we are doing bazaar things as Christians. In fact, many of the views we take and uphold from the Scriptures cause people of the world to say some…
Read MoreNotes on Influence
Genesis 5:3 – The influence of a father on his son Exodus 23:2 – Following a crowd is not an excuse for evil behavior Deuteronomy 12:29-32 – Do not let culture influence your religious beliefs Deuteronomy 18:9-12 – Do not let culture influence your religious beliefs I Kings 11:1-8 – The influence of Solomon’s wives…
Read MoreIs it wrong to have a job that encourages others to sin?
Question: Is it wrong to have a job where you are not sinning yourself but may be causing someone else to sin? Answer: “Who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them” (Romans 1:32).…
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