Was David’s “trick” on Ahimelech a sin?

Question: Hi Jeff, Is a trick a sin? When reading I Samuel 21:1-9, can we say that David lied to Ahimelech or tricked him? In many cases in the book of First Samuel David used a trick to get himself out of trouble. Answer: “David said to Ahimelech the priest, “The king has commissioned me…

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Spiritual Wisdom and the Internet

by Matthew W. Bassford The Internet is one of the most powerful inventions in human history. If we use it to seek the Lord, it can accomplish great things for Him. Without the Internet, I certainly wouldn’t be able to blog, and I probably wouldn’t be able to write hymns. This is to say nothing,…

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The Difference Between Truth and Lies

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/DifferenceBetweenTruthAndLies.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: John 18:33-38   I.         Truth is critical             A.        Truth brings stability to a nation – Proverbs 29:14             B.        Truth makes us free – John 8:32             C.        Jesus is the way and the truth – John 14:6             D.        Jesus’ words, which are truth, judges us – John 12:48             E.        What distinguishes truth from lies? Pilate asked…

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I caught my fiance lying and now I can’t trust him

Question: Hi and good day, My fiancé and I have both been Christians for some years now; however, I strongly believe that he has a problem with lying. He lies and makes others look bad, and he looks like the victim. Accidentally, I found out the truth about a matter, and only when I confronted…

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Is it wrong to give a bribe in a country where bribery is prevalent and demanded?

Question: Please, is paying a bribe to someone who demands it before justice is practiced a sin? The public sector and almost every institution in my country are choked with extortioners and people expecting bribes. Employment in the public sector is found by paying something to politicians and “middlemen” before one is given employment. This…

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My girlfriend lies about her past all the time

Question: Good evening sir, I am in a relationship with a girl whom I love. The only problem I have with her is that she lived a sinful sexual life in the past, and it makes her continually lie to me. Most of the time she tells me that she regrets her past and has…

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Trapped in a Lie

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/TrappedInALie.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: James 3:8-14   I.         I ran across an article titled, “The Philosophical Contradictions of the Transgender Worldview” by Ryan T. Anderson             A.        The transgender movement claims “that people are what they claim to be, regardless of contrary evidence.”             B.        The lengths the promoters of transgenderism go to deny the obvious is mind…

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Is it a lie if he doesn’t know I lied to him?

Question: I have a problem this has been bothering me. I am a Christian. I heard a brother in Christ mention something and I told him that he looked good when I thought that he did not. Should I tell him the truth, even if he did not know that I did not mean it?…

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Does Galatians 3:28 support gender diversity?

Question: Hi Mr. Hamilton, I’ve found out that a large number (possibly a majority) of my friends are LGBTQQIAA+. Some are genderqueer, transgender, gay, lesbian, pansexual, and asexual. A very large percentage of my year group is not straight or cisgender. I know that having homosexual sex is wrong. Should I rethink my friendship with…

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Do I have to be nice to liars and the profane?

Question: Hey Jeffrey, I have a question: I try to be a friendly person all the time, but some people’s personalities I don’t mesh with, or I’m not a big fan of how they do things or treat people. Some people lie all the time and make light of it and one guy constantly curses…

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What do I do with the gifts a guy gave me?

Question: Hello, I am in a dilemma and I was hoping I could get some help. I met a young man briefly recently, but he didn’t know I was married. He had the impression I was only in a relationship with the young man I spoke about, but in the real sense, I was married…

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Is joking lying?

Question: Hey Jeffrey, I was reading your articles on lying and it got me to thinking about something. Is joking or teasing lying? For instance, if someone asks me what I do for a living and as a joke I say I “push semi-trucks with my hands” for a living as a joke, only then tell…

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Should we have lied about my daughter’s depression?

Question: Is it ever OK to lie? My daughter was disqualified from entering a military group at her college due to behavioral health. She spent days there due to depression.  We filled out the medical forms and answered questions honestly for her college. Now my family is upset because they said she needed to play the system and…

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To get money, I lied to a man that I’m pregnant with his child

Question: I searched about God and found this site. I am depressed and wondering what I should do. I just need prayers. I just finished college and because I haven’t gotten a job, I met this man who is 60 years old. He started providing for me. He is married to two wives, and he…

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You don’t understand the depth of despair transgenders go through

Question: Dear Sir (must be), Your answer is very condescending and full of your own opinions. God will undoubtedly judge you for this, also. Do you know the depths of despair that this person may have gone through just to get to the point where they are willing to ask someone a question like this and you…

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Rahab

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Rahab.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Joshua 2:1-24   I.         Rahab has given many Bible students difficulty over the years.             A.        James 2:14-26 – James tells us she was an example of a working faith when she took in the Israelite spies and sent them out secretly.             B.        Notice that her action was listed as an example similar…

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I lied to my wife about my adultery. Do I have to tell her?

Question: Hi, I am writing this email to ask a serious question about my life. I’m a Christian. I have been married for three years. But I had a problem with sex “addiction” (I’m not that sure if it’s or not). I am highly drawn to girls since I was young just to have sex…

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I found out my girlfriend has been lying to me

Question: I am in a relationship with my girlfriend for about a year, and for about the first 10 months she lied to me that she is a virgin. She always told me that those who lose their virginity before marriage are sinners. I started loving her for her thoughts. She is Christian and I…

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I find myself not caring like I used to

Question: Hello, I’m a 16-year-old girl. I received Christ as my personal Saviour for about 2 or 3 years now. But recently something has been bugging me. I feel as if my conscience has left or something. It sounds crazy or stupid, but I find that I have to force myself to feel guilty or…

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I lied about my virginity to keep my boyfriend. What do I do now?

Question: I have been in a relationship before, but it didn’t end well. My heart was broken from that moment. I felt miserable. But this nice Christian guy came into my life. He is very nice and he takes me to church. I started to know more and more about God. God healed all the…

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What is the best way to avoid lying?

Question: Is it true that Jesus said in Revelation 21:8 that all liars will go to hell? If so, what is the best way for a Christian parent to avoid lying about things like Santa, birthday presents, or surprise parties? Or if a suicidal friend makes you promise not to tell someone that they are…

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How do I correct a lie that I’ve told for years?

Question: I lied for several years about something, and the substance of the lie is probably known by many people in college. It was just something to help my image; however, I recognize sin is sin. It is likely not criminal or anything of a serious kind. Do I need to confess to everyone, some…

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God Cannot Lie

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/GodCannotLie.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Kings 22:1-28   I.         Heathen men molded their concept of their gods into their own image – Romans 1:22-23             A.        We can read stories of the Greek gods and in their interaction with men they often lied and cheated to accomplish their goals.                         1.         The Greeks saw their gods as just…

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I found out someone I trusted had lied to me. What do I do?

Question: Sir, I have a friend whom I trusted so much. I always told her the truth, and I was very open with her. But yesterday I found out that she was lying to me about something she told me before. I am so heartbroken presently, and I don’t know how to get over it.…

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