“By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commands.”
1 John 5:2
Love everyone! This seems to be the universal motto. As individuals have considered how they are to live under this motto, it has taken on more and more meaning. Unfortunately, it has taken on more than it should. Now, ‘Love everyone!’ means, ‘Tolerate everyone!’ Even if what they are doing or saying is wrong, you are expected to keep quite. After all, what is right for them may not be right for you. Dialogue which pursues objective truth has been replaced with superficial subjectivism. True love gets lost in this environment. Read the rest of this entry »
My concern is growing. A disturbing cultural division exists. Unfortunately, this is no new problem. It has been around for generations, and no permanent solution has been found. What is my concern? It is the division between the wealthy and the poor.
Don’t get me wrong; I know that we will always have the poor among us. Jesus clearly taught this in the Gospels. The problem isn’t the reality of economic diversity. The problem arises when we view this diversity inappropriately. Read the rest of this entry »
Q. I heard an AM talk-radio personality state this past Saturday morning that Muslims and Christians in the Middle East use the name ‘Allah’ for God, indicating they worship the same God. Is this so? If it is, does this mean both groups worship the same God?
A. Individuals attempting to prove Christians and Muslims worship the same God us this faulty argument. The God of the Bible and that of the Koran are not the same. To say they are based on the term ‘allah’ is incorrect. Let me explain why. Read the rest of this entry »
Q. Why is it important to ‘join’ a church; is membership all that necessary?
A. Several reasons exist for becoming a member of a local congregation. Let’s take a look at some of them. (The following reasons are outlined in Dr. Donald Whitney’s book entitled, ‘Spiritual Disciplines Within the Church.’) Read the rest of this entry »
Q. What does prayer accomplish if God doesn’t change His mind? If God doesn’t intend to heal someone why ask Him to heal?
A. You are not alone in dealing with this question. We know that God commands us to pray. We know that God encourages us to ask, seek, and knock concerning our needs. We know that God promises to answer our prayers. Knowing all of this, how does the sovereign will of God compliment our activity in prayer? It is important to remember that several things are accomplished when we pray. Read the rest of this entry »
Q. I hear a lot about faith and faith-based organizations; what is faith, really?
A. Depending on the context, faith has two primary meanings in Scripture. First, faith can be described as trust in God. This ‘faith’ is what is commonly misunderstood and misrepresented. Second, faith can be described as the beliefs a person or church hold to be true. Many churches today still have what is called a Confession of Faith. This document outlines the doctrinal positions of the congregation and is (should be) based upon the Bible. Due to the confusion regarding the first description of faith, let’s take a closer look at it. Read the rest of this entry »
Q. What should I do if my government sends me to war, but the Bible says thou shalt not kill? Should I be a conscientious objector?
A. This question is quite appropriate considering current events. Although I can not tell you to be or not to be a conscientious objector, I can assure you that God will not hold you accountable for murder if you are involved in war as a soldier. The primary passage that supports this is found in Romans.
In Romans 13:1-5, the Apostle Paul teaches the following points: Read the rest of this entry »
Q. With so many different Bibles on the market, how do I know which one to choose? Is there a Bible that is better than others?
A. Good question. There are Bibles on the market that are of better quality than others. When purchasing a Bible ask yourself the question, “Why am I purchasing a Bible?” If you are purchasing a Bible to read you will want one that is in good readable style. If you are purchasing a Bible for study then you will want a Bible that follows a good literal translation. Let me explain the translation process. Read the rest of this entry »
Q. Does God cause illness as a punishment for sin? It appears that He does in Deuteronomy 28:22.
A. Yes and No. You are correct that the passage in Deuteronomy reveals a way in which God punishes sin. The passage states, “The Lord will smite you with consumption and fever and with inflammation and with fiery heat . . .” Before entering the Promised Land, Moses reminded the children of Israel of the consequences disobedience would bring. They knew that if they were disobedient, God would discipline and purge.
Similar warnings are given all throughout the Old Testament and even appear in the New Testament. Read the rest of this entry »
Question: I have heard folks say that Paul was a chauvinist and tried to prevent women from assuming leadership roles. Is this true? Does the Bible treat women as second class citizens?
Response: This conclusion is incorrect. Unfortunately, many form their opinions before allowing Paul to speak for himself. Let’s take a look at what Paul, under the Holy Spirit’s direction, tells us regarding men and women. Read the rest of this entry »