| Question | Answer | Publish Date |
| How can some christians not believe in the Rapture even when the Bible chearly talks about it? | All christians would believe in a Rapture but differ on the timing of the event. i.e. Pre, Mid or Post Tribulation. The majority view is the Post Tribulation. I think God will deliver us from the judgment so I'm pre-tribulation. See "Snatched Before The Storm" on the web site. But I don't fall out with others over it. God delivered Noah & Lot from judgment and I believe the Bible teaches He will do it again. | 2006-06-17 |
| Who is the Antichrist mentioned in the Bible? | No one knows his identity. Many guesses have been made over the centuries.It is unlikely that the Antichrist can be positively identified until the Church has been taken away and the Tribulation has begun. | 2005-04-01 |
| what does it say about people who enforce the law and it only works if they remain uncorrupt? |
The Law cannot be kept by mankind without sinning. See Galatians 3:10-29. The purpose of the law is to show that all have sinned and fallen short of God's standard.
Jesus also fulfilled the law in the sense that He met the law's requirement by paying the penalty each of us incurred for disobedience, which is death. Jesus, who never sinned, never brought on Himself the death penalty that was required by the law. But as Creator of humankind and our perfect sacrifice for sin, He was able to satisfy the law's demands that required our death. Thus He "put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself" (Hebrews 9:26). Having "washed us from our sins in His own blood" (Revelation 1 :5), Jesus makes it possible for us to receive God's gift of eternal life.
| 2005-08-03 |
| Can a tranvestite get into heaven and if so, which body will they have after the new bodies are given out? The sex they were born with, or the one they died with? |
1. No one gets into heaven except by faith alone in Christ alone. See Romans 1:16, Ephesians 2:8-9 & Romans 5:6-9.
2. The Bible says the physical laws will be vastly different in heaven. See 1 Corinthians 15:35 - resurrection body, imperishable, glory, powerful and spiritual. From this description, it is apparent that our current bodies would not be acceptable in such a place.
See Matthew 22:29-30. It doesn't seem that people in heaven will be either male or female. The Sadducees asked Jesus a question about heaven. The Sadducees gave a scenario of a woman who married 7 men (sequentially, since they all died prematurely) in her lifetime. They asked whose wife she would be in heaven. Jesus answered: “You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures, or the power of God. "For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.
In other words, there will be no marriage or sexual differences among those in heaven, since reproduction is unnecessary. To me the implication is that we will be genderless in heaven or at least our gender will not matter.
| 2006-07-16 |
| I have children that enjoy the Pokemon series, and games. Should I be worried about what people say about it being satanic, or is it just fun and games? |
A1. I have seen it briefly a few times on TV but must admit that I thought the animation and storyline were poor. See http://www.crossroad.to/text/responses/answerstopokemon.html for detailed reasons for concern. I would suggest that the Narnia Chronicles would be better book and DVD material for children with a clear Christian message.
A2.
| 2006-08-08 |
| Concerning suicide: is it true that if you commit suicide, then you cannot go to heaven? |
What does the Bible say about a Christian who commits suicide? I do not believe that a Christian who commits suicide will lose salvation and go to hell. The Bible teaches that from the moment a person truly believes in Christ, he or she is eternally secure (John 3:16). Here is some advice for those considering suicide.
1. If you have placed your hope and trust in the Lord, there is never any reason to take your own life. Jesus loves you so much and as a believer in Him, you experience that love each day. Ask Him to forgive your lack of trust and your fear of the future. Ask Him for guidance and strength to endure whatever it is you are facing.
2. It is the devil who is telling you lies that make you doubt and feel hopeless. See John 10:10 & 1 Peter 5:8)
3. Seek professional, Godly counsel. Talking to someone else can help you to recognize what it is in you that is driving these feelings. God is so much bigger than whatever you are facing. See Psalm 55:22. It says, “Cast you cares on the Lord and he will sustain you.” He desires to help you; He longs for you to call on Him and He will answer you.
| 2006-07-16 |
| Do any of the little things really matter? If we all believe in the same basic thing then won't we all go to heaven? | I don't think getting to Heaven is a small thing but rather the biggest thing or decision we will ever make. In this world we are so caught up with "things" that we forget about the wonder of creation and spiritual things. In John 10:1-9 Jesus makes it clear that He alone is the door to eternal life (i.e. Heaven). The alternative is the same judgment as that awaiting the Devil and the fallen angels. See Matthew 25:41. Not all roads lead to God that is why God has told us the way through the Bible and the life of Jesus. | 2007-03-16 |
| What did Jesus mean by 'feed my sheep' | See Hebrews 5:11-14. All followers of Jesus are members of His flock. We are all called to be under-shepherds. If one of us falls, the rest of us stop and pick him up and put him on our shoulders. If one of us strays, the rest call out and point the way. But we don’t follow each other. Together, we follow Jesus, for there is but one flock, and one Shepherd. | 2006-02-17 |
| What is sin? |
What comes into your mind when someone mentions sin - murder, lying, robbing pensioners, child abuse? If so you would be right. But in God's sight sin is a much wider thing and yet, in essence, something very simple. Let me explain.
A young man came up to Jesus and asked him, "Good teacher what good thing must I do to have eternal life?" Jesus replied, "Why do you call me good, no one is good except God? Obey the commandments."
"Which ones?" asked the young man.
"Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not accuse anyone falsely, do not cheat", Jesus replied.
" I have kept all these since I was a boy", said the young man, "What else do I need to do?"
Jesus said "You still lack one thing, go, sell everything you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me".
At this the young man went away sad, because he was very rich.
Despite his wealth and power, and his moral life style, the young man knew there was something missing in his life - he wasn't at peace about his future. Isn't it strange that no matter what we have or who we are we know there is something beyond this life? The question he asked therefore was a good one and he asked the right person - Jesus. However he made several mistakes. Firstly he thought he only needed to add some extra little good thing to all that he had already done to merit eternal life - he thought he wasn't really that bad.
Secondly he failed to acknowledge who Jesus was, the Son of God, the Messiah, and not just a 'good' teacher.
His third mistake came when he said that he had kept the commandments Jesus had listed. This was impossible, everyone, apart from Jesus, has broken most of the commandments, and often many times2. Jesus, however, didn't argue with him. He simply presented the young man with another opportunity to see himself, as he really was - a sinner. When he suggested that he should sell all that he had and give the money to the poor he was really asking him to obey the first commandment. 'You shall have no other gods before me'. One of the 4 that he hadn't quoted. He was inviting him to give up the 'other gods' of selfishness and love of wealth and follow and obey him. Here the young man made his fourth and most serious mistake, he walked away from Jesus, sad and still in his sins - without hope of eternal life.
You see sin is simply failing to acknowledge God as God by 'doing our own thing' and, as a result, failing to be the sort of person he requires us to be3. God does not see some sins as unimportant and others as serious enough to keep us out of heaven. All disobedience is sin and needs to be forgiven, past, present and future. This can only happen when we acknowledge that we are sinners, in need of Gods forgiveness and help, and turn to Jesus, the saviour of sinners, in true repentance. That was what the young man failed to do. What about you, will you walk away?
| 2006-03-20 |
| Why do some people consider 'speaking in tongues' bad for certain religions and faiths? | Speaking in tongues is practiced among some pagan religions and this means it is important to "test the spirits" if it is practiced today in the Christian church. However, not all Christians see it as a gift for today. It is important that any spiritual gift is motivated by God's love and there is interpretation of tongues if spoken publicly. See 1 Corinthians 12-14. | 2006-06-19 |
| When the Bible speaks about women remaining quiet in the church, does that mean that there should not be women preachrs, teachers, and prayer leaders in the churches? | It is important to read the whole context in 1 Timothy 2:8-15. There is a difference between the man and women in the ROLE that they have. The man is have the headship in the home and church as this was the order of creation. I don't think that pastors/elders of a local church should be women. However, women are allowed to be deacons and leaders in other areas. For example, teaching in a small group, other women and children. The early church had Lydia, Chloe & Nympha were women in some form of leadership. See Acts 16:13-15, 40; 1 Corinthians 1:11. | 2006-06-20 |
| the bible speaks of inner beauty and not outward appearances. are we as women doing sinful things by coloring and perming our hair and wearing makeup? |
We can't take a single verse out of context and either misapply it or dismiss it. We've got to look at the principle behind it. The Bible certainly has a lot to say about the importance of modesty. Out of respect for our brothers and sisters in Christ, we don't want to do anything that will cause others to stumble.
The Scriptures remind us that our outward appearance should not be a distraction from what's most important—who we are inside. True beauty comes from within (1 Pet. 3:3-4).
| 2006-10-31 |
| I know that Church of Christ do not believe in music during worship service because of the verse that says do not add to or take from the word of God. So, by having music during our services, does it mean we are living against Gods will? | I don't know which Church of Christ you are refering to. I however think it is complete nonsense to not have music in worship services. There is no solid Biblical basis for this view at all. There is however plenty of mention in the Bible of God's people in the Old and New Testament enjoying their worship of God to music and even dancing. Old Testament - During the Exodus Miriam the prophetess, taking her tambourine, led the women in song and dance, celebrating the Lord's triumph over the Egyptians (Exodus 15:20-21). Saul encountered a band of sanctuary prophets who prophesied accompanied by instruments (1 Samuel 10:5). Isaiah composed songs, including one celebrating the Lord's deliverance of those who trust in him (Isaiah 26:1-6). The public regarded Ezekiel as "one who has a beautiful voice and plays well on an instrument" (Ezekiel 33:32). The New Testament mentions worship music in several places. The gospel story begins with a hymn of praise on the lips of the heavenly host, "Glory to God in the highest" (Luke 2:14). Reading the lesson from Isaiah in the synagogue of Nazareth (Luke 4:16-20), Jesus probably intoned it according to the custom of the time. The Gospels record that Jesus and his disciples sang a hymn after the Last Supper (Matt. 26:30; Mark 14:26), probably the "Great Hallel" (Psalms 113-118) of the Passover tradition. Luke records that Paul and Silas were singing hymns in prison at Philippi when an earthquake occurred (Acts 16:25). Paul urges the Christians of Ephesus and Colossae to give thanks to God in "psalms and hymns and spiritual songs" (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16). Describing the assembly of the church of Corinth, he remarks that "everyone has a psalm" (1 Cor. 14:26) which must blend with the contributions of other worshipers in an orderly service. Perhaps "psalms" were the biblical psalms, while "hymns" could have been Christian music in praise of Christ and "spiritual songs" more spontaneous worship expressions. | 2006-11-05 |
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if someone says that they called by God to hold a position in the church, does that person have the right to ask for a salary? its causing an uproar in our church right now
| | 2006-11-09 |
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Jesus said to Peter, "Feed my ________ and feed my sheep."
What is the blank - I had never heard this before and someone told me that this is the true quote.
| Not in the Bible in one sentence. See John 21:15-18. Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves Him and after Peter replies Jesus says to him - "Feed my lambs" then "Take care of my sheep" and then "Feed my sheep..." ending with "Follow me!" | 2005-12-20 |