SPLOXA Ask Us Blog

We've moved!

2010-09-14T13:56:00.000-07:00

Yup, it's true. With our brand-new website, we've incorporated the ASK US blog right there. Ask a question right there on the site, and get an answer there as well. So keep asking your questions, and check out the other parts of the site as well!

Q: I met a Taoist. What do they believe in?

2010-09-10T10:08:00.000-07:00

A: Taoism (also known as Daoism), comes from Eastern Countries. Inherently, Taoism represents "the Way" or "the Path", but that "way" is not constant. As in, there are many interpretations of the Taoist texts as to what is the way or path of life. Thus, this Eastern religion has many streams and sects.

For Christians, we already understand that "the way" (and the truth and life), is Jesus Christ (John 14:6). There is no doubt as to how we are to gain salvation or the path that we are to choose. It is clear in the Biblical Scriptures.

To understand more about Taoism, please visit this site HERE. You can also make use of Wikiepedia.org.

[answered by Pastor KJT]

Q: Following only some rules in Levicticus but not others?

2010-09-01T09:38:00.000-07:00

The book of Leviticus was used as a guide for living a life pleasing to the Lord in the past. But nowadays, why do we only follow some rules and not others? (For example, we use the sexual relations guideline, but not the guideline about food and purification?)

Matt Slick, from CARM.org, takes the "traditional" approach in explaining how to apply rules from the Old Testament, including the book of Leviticus:

The Old Testament laws are categorized in three groups: the civil, the priestly, and the moral. The civil laws must be understood in the context of a theocracy. Though the Jewish nation in the Old Testament was often headed by a king, it was a theocratic system with the Scriptures as a guide to the nation. Those laws that fall under this category are not applicable today because we are not under a theocracy.

The priestly laws dealing with the Levitical and Aaronic priesthoods were representative of the future and true High Priest Jesus, who offered Himself as a sacrifice on the cross. Since Jesus fulfilled the priestly laws, they are no longer necessary to be followed and are not now applicable.

The moral laws, on the other hand, are not abolished, because the moral laws are based upon the character of God. Since God's holy character does not change, the moral laws do not change either. Therefore, the moral laws are still in effect.

In the New Testament we do not see a reestablishment of the civil or priestly laws. But we do see a reestablishment of the moral law.

Summarily, things like sexual relations fall under the moral law category and must be obeyed, but others like food and purification fall under the priestly category and do not have to be followed. I would suggest you read this article (especially the end) by J. Daniel Hays entitled, "Applying the Old Testament Laws." Hays suggests a new approach ("principlism"), which involves 5 steps.

Identify What The Particular Law Meant To The Initial Audience
Determine The Differences Between The Initial Audience And Believers Today
Develop Universal Principles From The Text
Correlate The Principle With New Testament Teaching
Apply The Modified Universal Principle To Life Today

The authors then gives an example of how this works from Leviticus 5:2, "if anyone touches an unclean thing, whether a carcass of an unclean wild animal or a carcass of unclean livestock or a carcass of unclean swarming things, and it is hidden from him and he has become unclean, and he realizes his guilt":

Leviticus 5:2 provides an example of how the method of principlizing can be used by believers today to apply legal passages without being under the Law. The verse reads, "Or if a person touches anything ceremonially unclean—whether the carcasses of unclean wild animals or of unclean livestock or of unclean creatures that move along the ground—even though he is unaware of it, he has become unclean and is guilty." The action required to correct one’s ceremonially unclean status in this verse is described a few verses later. So verses 5–6 should also be included: "When anyone is guilty in any of these ways, he must confess in what way he has sinned and, as a penalty for the sin he has committed, he must bring to the Lord a female lamb or goat from the flock as a sin offering; and the priest shall make atonement for him for his sin." The traditional approach simply classifies these verses as a ceremonial law that no longer applies to believers today. However, using the principlizing approach, one can interpret and apply this text in the same manner as one would narrative.

What did the text mean to the initial audience? The context of Leviticus discusses how the Israelites were to live with the holy, awesome God who was dwelling in their midst. How were they to approach God? How should they deal with sin and unclean things in light of God’s presence among them? These verses are part of the literary context of 4:1–5:13 that deals with offerings necessary after unintentional sin. Leviticus 4 deals primarily with the leaders; Leviticus 5 focuses on regular people. Leviticus 5:2 informed the Israelites that if they touched any unclean thing (dead animals or unclean animals), they were defiled ceremonially. This was true even if they touched an unclean thing accidentally. Being unclean, they were unable to approach God and worship Him. To be purified (made clean), they were to confess their sin and bring the priest a lamb or a goat for a sacrifice (5:5–6). The priest would sacrifice the animal on their behalf and they would be clean again, able to approach and worship God.

What are the differences between the initial audience and believers today?

What is the universal principle in this text? The central universal principle in these verses relates to the concept that God is holy. When He dwells among His people, His holiness demands that they keep separate from sin and unclean things. If they become unclean, they must be purified by a blood sacrifice. This principle takes into account the overall theology of Leviticus and the rest of Scripture. It is expressed in a form that is universally applicable to God’s people in both the Old Testament and the New Testament eras.

How does the New Testament teaching modify or qualify this principle? According to the New Testament, God no longer dwells among believers by residing in the tabernacle or temple; He now dwells within believers by the indwelling Holy Spirit. His presence, however, still calls for holiness on their part. He demands that they not sin and that they stay separate from unclean things. However, the New Testament redefines the terms "clean" and "unclean." "Nothing outside a man can make him ‘unclean’ by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him ‘unclean.’ … What comes out of a man is what makes him ‘unclean.’ For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man ‘unclean’ " (Mark 7:15, 20–23). Believers under the New Covenant are not made unclean by touching dead animals. They become unclean by impure thoughts or by sinful actions.

The New Covenant also changed the way God’s people are to deal with sin and uncleanness. Rather than bringing a lamb or goat to atone for sin, a believer’s sins are covered at the moment of salvation by the sacrifice of Christ. The death of Christ washes away sin and changes the believer’s status from unclean to clean. Confession of sin, however, is still important under the New Covenant (1 John 1:9), as it was under the Old Covenant. Christians are not under the Old Covenant, and their sins are covered by the death of Christ. Also because they have direct access to God through Jesus Christ, they no longer need human priests as mediators.

Hope this helps. Keep asking good questions such as this one.

[Answered by Pastor HM]

Q: What does it mean to meditate on God's Word?

2010-09-01T09:07:00.000-07:00

To answer this question, we must first understand what the word meditate means: To engage in contemplation or reflection, to focus one's thoughts on: reflect or ponder over.

Listen to what one author writes:

Meditation is a function of the mind and the heart. It is what we think about in our hearts and it is something we each do every day. Whether we realize it or not, we all spend a large portion of our time in some form of meditation. The thing is, what we meditate on may or may not be worth while. In fact, what we habitually think about is frequently unhealthy for our growth as Christians. Often it is simply sinful. This is why I asked you earlier to spend some time making notes about what you thing about. This is the first step in the process of training ourselves to think correctly.

What then is Christian meditation? It is the deliberate practice of turning our hearts and our minds to the full time task of bringing the word of God to life in the daily activities of our lives. God wants to change us from the inside out. He wants to renew our minds and hearts so they will become more like his own. However, it is only by God's grace and power that this could ever happen. We cannot change ourselves. God uses a number of things to accomplish this. But the primary tool he uses is his own word recorded in the Bible. If we ignore it, he cannot work in us. If we use it and put it to use, he will be able to enter into our lives and form us into what he wants us to be. Meditation on the word of God allows its transforming power to renew our minds and change our hearts.

HOW do we meditate on God's Word? Justin Taylor has a great little post that will help. It also contains a bunch of links that will further your understanding in this crucial area of Christian living.

[Answered by Pastor HM]

Q: Is depression a sin? Or is it an idol?

2010-09-01T08:51:00.000-07:00

Tim Chester, from the UK, has a great post on this very issue. Read it in its entirety here. Chester writes the following:

Depression can have a number of underlying causes – guilt, disappointment, trauma, bereavement, betrayal and so on. (Depression is sometimes linked to chemical imbalances in the brain, but medical science is unclear which is cause and which is effect. In my experience and the experience of others pastors to whom I’ve talked, chemical imbalances are never the only cause. You have to remember that medical practitioners look at all problems in medical terms because that is what they are trained to deal with – they almost inevitably ignore the spiritual dimension.)

We are not responsible for most of those causes. But we are responsible for how we respond to them. We all at different points in our life have to respond to adverse circumstances. Those circumstances may be external (bereavement, failure, disappointment, relational difficulties). They may be internal (illness, chemical imbalances). They may involve both external and internal factors. But we are responsible for how we respond and we will respond with different degrees of faith. Where we are not trusting God’s grace or God’s care or God’s goodness then that response will be expressed in ungodly ways.

The word ‘depression’ covers so much that it is impossible to say depression is a sin or not a sin. Many of those causes (guilt, disappointment, trauma and so on) will make us sad. They may sap our energy and our zest for life. They may feel like an overwhelming darkness. All these are classic symptoms of what people call depression. All of them are, I think, natural and often quite proper responses. But God also tells us to rejoice in the Lord. So in some people features of their depression can reflect a failure to have faith in God in some sense. They may doubt God’s grace and so be consumed by guilt. They may doubt God’s goodness and so be consumed by disappointment. They may doubt God’s care are so be consumed by fear. For some people their depression becomes an identity that enables them to avoid taking responsibility in life.

I am always surprised that people are so reluctant to say that sin might be involved in depression. People seem to think this is cruel. But it should not be shocking to evangelicals to discover that we are sinners, and that our sin affects us in profound and significant ways. And seeing the sin that is involved also offers profound and significant hope because we have a Saviour who rescues us from the penalty and power of sin. Often the process of change is slow. Complete change takes a lifetime. But change is always possible because of Christ’s work for us and the Spirit’s work in us. That is not cruel. That is good news.

Summarily, it is difficult to say definitively whether or not depression is a sin. Depression can arise as the result of sin. One thing is for sure however: How we respond to depression can be sinful. When we fail to trust God (in essence, we commit idolatry; we end up trusting/loving/serving something or someone more than God), then it will expressed in ungodly and sinful ways.

I think Chester's final comments are worth-noting:

It is simply not true that Christians with depression are in any way lesser Christians. In fact it’s a horribly, ugly distortion of the gospel. But the issue is not whether some people think depression is a sin or not (as if Christians without depression are not sinners in a myriad of others ways?!). The issue is people believing anything we might do could make us more or less a Christian. That is the lie. I guess it’s a lie many people operate with, but it is a lie. Our identity is entirely based on God’s electing love, Christ’s finished work and the Spirit’s regenerating power. I can’t add to that and I can’t take away from that.

Friend, remember our identity, significance, security and worth is found in Jesus. When you are faced with depression or anything else, remember this truth!

[Answered by Pastor HM]

Q: Shunned?

2010-08-31T20:55:00.000-07:00

I'm going into my senior year at school and since tenth grade, my class has pretty much shunned me for everything. It got pretty bad last year as to having my average drop from an 87% to a 63%. It's my last year at the school and I know I should make the best out of it. I've learned during the summer how love should work and why it should work the way it does. I'm trying, but even if I see one of my classmates from school at my youth group, I can't bring myself to start a small conversation without feeling bitter. I don't know what I’m supposed to be asking, but I’m pretty much just wondering how to get through the next year with my class. I have friends in other grades, but I mean, it is senior year and I should be spending more time with my class before we leave for university. Anything I can do?

GREAT QUESTION! Human beings were created to be social creatures, meaning that we are most comfortable when we have family, friends and acquaintances. Friendship is an important element in a fulfilled, contented life, and those who have close friends, whether one or two or a multitude, will usually be happy and well-adjusted. At the same time, those who call themselves our friends may cause us grief and hardship, and at times disappointing us.

TRUE FRIENDSHIP

The Lord Jesus Christ gave us the definition of a true friend: "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you" (John 15:13-15). Jesus is the pure example of a true friend, for He laid down His life for His "friends." What is more, anyone may become His friend by trusting in Him as his personal savior, being born again and receiving new life in Him.

There is an example of true friendship between David and Saul's son Jonathan, who, in spite of his father Saul's pursuit of David and attempts to kill him, stood by his friend. You will find that story in 1 Samuel chapter 18 through chapter 20. Some pertinent passages are 1 Samuel 18:1-4; 19: 4-7; 20:11-17, 41-42. Proverbs is another good source of wisdom regarding friends: Proverbs 17:17; Proverbs 18:24. The issue here is to remember that in order to have a friend, one must be a friend: Proverbs 27:6; Proverbs 27:17.

Friends are of like mind. The truth that comes from all of this is a friendship is a relationship that is entered into by individuals, and it is only as good or as close as those individuals choose to make it. Someone has said that if you can count your true friends on the fingers of one hand, you are blessed. A friend is one whom you can be yourself with and never fear that he or she will judge you. A friend is someone that you can confide in with complete trust. A friend is someone you respect and that respects you, not based upon worthiness but based upon a likeness of mind.

Friendship can have its negative aspects as well. Supposed friends can lead us into sin (2 Samuel 13:1-6). A friend can lead us astray in regard to our faith (Deuteronomy 13:6-11), provide false comfort and bad advice (Job 2:11-13, 6:14-27, 42:7-9). Friends can also prove false, pretending affection for their own motives and deserting us when our friendship no longer benefits them (Psalm 55:12-14; Proverbs 19:4, 6-7). Friendship can be broken down through gossip (Proverbs 16:28) or grudges (Proverbs 17:9) or in your case – being deliberately avoided or shunned by your friends.

Friends should be chosen very carefully because, as Paul told the Corinthians, “bad company corrupts good character” (1 Corinthians 15:33). Proverbs 1:10-19 and 4:14-19 contains warnings about friends and how we should choose them. We are not to associate with those who entice us to do wrong, no matter how appealing their “friendship” seems to be.

BEING SHUNNED

Many of us have probably felt shunned by our friends at one point or another and most often than not those feelings may have caused some disagreements and hurt feelings. The thing about shunning is that sometimes those may not have been our intention and because nobody speaks up about what has happened the situation gets out of control.

Know that as born-again believers we have a resource in God's Word that can bring comfort and clarity to this situation. One person or even a group's rejection does not mean we are unlovable. We can choose to allow rejection to determine how we feel and allow that feeling to color our idea of who we are, or we can choose to put that behind us and move forward on the basis of something that is far more lasting.

For believers, we need to remember our position in Christ. When we are born again, we are accepted. "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves" (Ephesians 1:3-6).

Even though we do not deserve it nor can we earn it (Ephesians 2:8-9), the Lord Jesus Christ has blessed us with every spiritual blessing and has made us accepted in Him. This acceptance is His gift of grace, and it transcends any and all other "feelings" we may have because it is not based on "hope so" but on "know so." We know that this is true because God's Word tells us, and as we believe this truth by faith, it becomes reality in our hearts and lives.

As believers we are not defined by our past failures or by disappointment or by the rejection of others. We are defined as children of God, born again to newness of life and endowed with every spiritual blessing and accepted in Christ Jesus. That is the defining factor when it comes to victorious living. God has prepared for each of us unique opportunities to walk through the "all things" of this life. We can either walk in our own strength and what the Apostle Paul calls our "flesh," or we can walk in the power of the provision God has made for us through the Holy Spirit. It is our choice. God has provided us with armor (Ephesians 6:11-18), but it is up to us to put it on by faith.

Therefore, if you are a child of God, you may suffer disappointment in this life, but you need to remember that as a child of the King, this rejection is a momentary bump in the road. You have a choice to either allow that bump to derail you and walk wounded, or you can choose to claim the heritage of a child of God and move forward in grace. Forgiveness of others and of self is a gift that you can give because it is the gift given to you by the Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 4:32).

If your friends in your senior year won't talk to you then most likely you are not going to be able to get a response as to why they shunned you or why they may have avoided you through these past few years. Perhaps you are going to need to just move forward in your life, making new friends, prepare for this coming school year and future campus life. You have already demonstrated that you can be a top student. So focus on doing well in school, serving and developing your friendships in fellowship. Remember that once you graduate from high school, everyone will be heading off to different campuses, different parts of the province and world. That may mean focusing on the friends you already have and seeking to build new relationships with others in your senior grade that have common interests with you.

Seek to be that true friend like the example of David and Jonathan and you will find that people will be drawn to you. Be open, friendly and kind to all.

Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

[Answered by Ray Lee, Summer Intern]

Q: Why doesn’t God make Himself visible to us? Why doesn’t He make everything in this world easy to understand?

2010-08-25T13:55:00.000-07:00

A: People often claim that if Jesus would appear in front of them or make everything easy to understand they would believe. They claim that the reason they just can't believe is because they can't see Jesus or any evidence of Him.

So why would a loving God, who wants us to believe not make himself visible so that we would all believe? The answer is simple, He tried that once. Look at the life of Jesus. He taught here on earth for 3 years, and many people did believe but many still did not. He healed the crippled and made them walk. He healed the blind and made them see. He even raised people from the dead. Still many people did not believe that He was the Son of God.

He even told a story of a rich man who had it all and died and a poor man who also died. The rich man was in torment but could see the poor man who was now taking it easy in what we would consider heaven, but at that time, (before Jesus died) it was called paradise. After being told that there was nothing that could be done to help him, the rich man asked that the poor man be sent back to talk to his brothers so they would not end up where he was. Luke 16:31 says, "He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'" This verse is very important. Remember Jesus told this story before His own death and resurrection. He was right, many of those who refused to believe before His death still refused to believe after He arose from the dead.

Remember how the disciples were changed after seeing Jesus after His death, but they did not have a clue until they saw Him. In John 20:27-29 he said to Thomas: "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!" Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." Do you realize Jesus was talking to Thomas about us? We are the ones who are blessed because we believe even though we have not seen Him. But don't miss what He told Thomas: Stop doubting and believe!

For instance let’s say that you are on one side of a deep pit and another person is on the other side. There is a bridge over the pit but you know that it is not safe so you tell the other person not to go out on it but they tell you they don't believe you. They then go out on the bridge and start jumping up and down, and sure enough the bridge gives way and they are killed. What will your reaction be? Will you admire them because they checked everything out for themselves? Or will you think they were stupid, because they would not listen to you? They could not see that the bridge was weak, so why should they believe you?

Does it make you feel good when people trust you? Does it make you mad when people refuse to trust what you say? God has done many things to prove to mankind that He exists but we keep refusing. He takes trust and belief very seriously. John 3:18 tells us that whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.

What does God require of us to be saved? People asked Jesus the same question in John 6:28-29. Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?" Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent." The one who was sent was Jesus. That is all God requires of us, that we believe.

People claim that because God does not show himself visibly to them proves that He does not really want to save everyone. That is a lie. In fact we are told in 1 Timothy 1:15-16, “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.”

God has revealed enough of His nature for us to be able to trust Him. He has declared and shown through the events of history, in the workings of nature, and through the life of His only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, that He is all-powerful, all-knowing, all-wise, all-loving, all-holy, unchanging, and eternal. He has shown that He is worthy to be trusted. But as with the Israelites in the wilderness, the choice is ours as to whether or not we will trust Him.

Often, one is inclined to make this choice based on what he/she thinks he knows about God rather than what He has revealed about Himself and can be understood about Him through a careful study of His inerrant word, the Bible.

If we are honest, we have to admit that there are many things we don't understand about God and about life. We do not have final answers to the deep problems of life. There are areas of mystery in our Christian faith that lie beyond quick answers or even the most profound spiritual exercises. For many people, these problems raise so many questions and uncertainties that faith itself becomes a struggle, and the very person and character of God are called into question. Instead, let’s encourage one another to face up to the limitations of our understanding and to acknowledge the pain and grief they can often cause. Instead let’s be like the psalmist in Psalm 73:28: “But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God and made Him my refuge that I may tell of all your works.”

For those who refuse to believe, we cannot blame God. Based on the evidence of the life of Christ and the Bible, we have all the proof we need right before us. All we have to do is believe and we will be saved. The decision is up to each person. We need to remember that only we can make this decision while we are still alive. Once we die it is too late, our fate is sealed.

[answered by Pastoral Intern, Ray Lee]

Q: Does "An Eye For An Eye And A Tooth For A Tooth" In The OT Contradict What Jesus Teaches?

2010-08-25T13:31:00.000-07:00

A: Yes in fact Jesus’ teaching is confronting the popular misuse and abuse of the Old Testament law, known as the law of retaliation. The Old Testament rule in Moses’ law was to guide judges in pronouncing their sentences. Jesus was opposing the manner in which the rabbis, scribes and Pharisees were presenting the rule to the people as a divine right to punish wrongdoers. Jesus was emphasizing the moral demand that one must not seek revenge as set out in Leviticus 19:18 and Romans 12:19.

In the Old Testament we read:

Exodus 21:22-25 “… eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot …” This passage is cited in a way that protected a pregnant woman and her child from death or injury that might occur if two men were in a fight.

Leviticus 24:17-22 “… fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth. As he has injured the other, so he is to be injured.” This passage is applied generally to any case where a crime of murder or intentional maiming occurred.

Deuteronomy 19:15-21 “Show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.” This occurs in a passage to prevent perjury and in attempting to use the court to execute or punish an innocent individual.

The literal meaning of the principle “Eye for an Eye” is that a person who has injured the eye of another is instructed to give the value of his or her own eye in compensation. At the root of this principle and purpose of the law is to provide equitable and fair compensation or punishment for an offended party. A person who has injured the eye of another is instructed to give the value of his or her own eye in compensation. It both defined and restricted the extent of compensation or the deserved penalty. The punishment must fit the crime – no more than the crime but also no less. It was strict but fair.

The law and principle was designed to prevent and deter such crimes. It was there to remove vengeful actions for crimes from the hands of the victim and his family and put them into the hands of the governing judicial system. It was designed as a principle of proportional justice and to appropriately punish the offender. This law was given to Moses and the people of Israel to assure that the judges would render righteous and proper judgment. In every instance in the Old Testament when a reference was made to "an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth," it was referring to judgment rendered by judges. A punishment sufficient to serve as a deterrent to the crime was to be rendered. This law was to insure against a judgment being rendered that was excessive and beyond reason.

The people of Israel had abused this rule by making it an excuse for retaliation and vengeance. They construed it as saying, "If someone knocks out my tooth, I have a moral right to knock out his tooth." But God had not intended this rule to authorize violence. Rather, He had given it to prevent what we call cruel and unusual punishment. In other words, just as a court in our time cannot impose penalties beyond certain limits, so also the judges of Israel could not dictate a punishment out of proportion to the damage done. If one man had wrongfully taken the sight of another, the offender could suffer no more in punishment than the loss of his own sight.

Too much of the world’s ethic today is also to: 1) strike back; 2) get even; 3) do unto others like they do to you. Many times the justification for retaliation is that ancient law, “… an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.”

In the New Testament, Jesus says in Matthew 5:38-39, “You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.” This suggests discussion and likely debate in the Jewish community on the Old Testament law and the interpretation given to it by the judges, scribes and Pharisees. With this expression, Jesus is saying there is a contrast between what He is teaching and what the Jewish leaders have taught. Jesus dismissed the rule of eye-for-eye as invalid. He was not contradicting Scripture, but rather its misapplication.

Jesus continues in the rest of the passage in v. 40-42 and says, “And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.” Jesus’ teaching here is confronting the popular misuse and abuse of the Old Testament law, known as the law of retaliation.

What does Jesus mean? Who is the evil person? The following four examples in this passage clarify this. The evil person is the person who: 1) slaps you on the cheek; 2) sues you for your clothes; 3) asks you to go a mile; or 4) asks you for money.

Notice also the change in perspective Jesus is giving compared to the Old Testament law. The Old Testament law addressed what the judges should do to the person who committed a criminal offense related to murder or maiming. Jesus has a different perspective. He addresses the issue on what you should do if offenses of conflict or insult happen to you. Jesus addresses not what the court or government should do, but what a disciple and Christ-follower should do when he or she is offended.

We understand the original teaching from the Old Testament is made with the intention to limit violence, and violent retribution or revenge. So, to begin with we start with something essentially good - made with proper intent to limit violence. Jesus will take it further in this passage, just as he has done with the other Laws he has cited and expounded further. Here Jesus warned his disciples not to resist violence with more violence. This was contrary to the OT passages cited above. Evil, and the evil person, can be overcome only by good. This keeps us free from anger -- from being poisoned by the evil directed against us and its destructive forces -- and instructs his followers to maintain Christian tolerance and restraint. It brings both us and our enemies under the yoke and umbrella of God's love.

What should Jesus’ disciples and followers do? Do not resist or retaliate? Yes, but Jesus’ call to discipleship goes beyond a passive response. He further calls us to take positive action: 1) turn the other cheek; 2) give your cloak as well as your tunic; 3) go the extra mile; and 4) give or lend to the person who asks you.

Jesus’ teaching is not merely legal and technical, but extends deeply and profoundly into the practical situations of conflict, oppression, and the needs of everyday life. When we are offended or insulted, we have two choices: we can escalate the conflict with retaliation, or we can de-escalate the conflict. Jesus calls his disciples and followers to be peacemakers in situations of conflict and instead extend a blessing.

Matthew 5:9 says, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.”

[answered by Pastoral Intern, Ray Lee]

Q: How do I refrain myself from homosexuality?

2010-08-25T08:41:00.000-07:00

I know that being a homosexual is a sin, but what I can do to refrain myself from homosexuality or committing that sin?

Thank you for your honesty. The Ask Us Blog generates a lot of questions about this one topic of homosexuality. In the past, I've quoted someone like Brian Pengelly; a Christian man who is homosexual, yet chooses to live in a heterosexual relationship with his wife. He does not claim it is easy - but with prayer, accountability and faith, Brian leads a God-honoring life by choice. Struggling with homosexuality is not easy nor simple (as this article states), but with Christ, it is possible as we have new power over temptation and sin.

Practically, I would suggest that you deal with this temptation the way you would deal with other temptations:

(1) Pray continually - asking God for wisdom, strength, patience and courage. Relying on God first is the key!

(2) Seek trusted friends and mentors that will keep you accountable. Check out this site for some resources and testimonies by Christians struggling with this very issue.

(3) Don't put yourself in a place or position to be tempted. This means avoiding certain relationships; media and places that will encourage sinful ideas and thinking.

(4) Be patient and humble [Just because you are a Christian doesn't mean these temptations will go away immediately; some struggle their entire lifetime with this issue, but choose to refrain from giving in and thus lead God-honoring lives].

(5) Remind yourself of how much God loves you. Whatever temptation and weakness you have, God doesn't accept you on the basis of that. He accepts you because of what Jesus did for you, on the cross.

Friend, I'm glad you wrote. You're not alone. Over the course of my ministry, I've talked to dozens of teenagers struggling with sexual issues. Many are Christians who continue to live by faith and try their best - with God's help - to lead Christ-centered lives such as yourself.

[Answered by Pastor HM]

Q: I have no motivation to pray. Help?

2010-08-25T07:39:00.000-07:00

I feel like I am drifting away from God and my faith isn't as strong as it use to be. I use to pray every single night and have motivation to go to church but these days I have been too tired and I just end up falling asleep before I get to praying. What can I do?

I think all Christians have gone through what you've just described, so you're not alone, friend. I suppose the first question I'd ask yourself is: What was the motivation to pray and to go to church? If you pray and attend worship out of a sense of duty or to get something, then it is inevitable that your spiritual life will continue to be dry, boring and exhausting. Listen to what Pastor Tim Keller says:

There can be long lists of things that we pray for, and long lists of Bible verses we read, and long lists of things we thank him for. Yet there is no fire. Why? If we lose focus on the glory of God in the gospel as the solution to all our problems, then we devolve into a set of "grocery list" prayers, made rather desperately. When we are done, we only feel more anxious than before. The presence of God is not sensed because God is really just being used – he is not being worshipped.

Instead, we should always remember that the first thing we need is a new perspective on our needs and problems. We should always intertwine with repentance over our unbelief and indifference to God's grace. On the one hand, we must "pray into" ourselves that the thing we are asking for is not our Savior or God or glory! But, (on the other hand) after we repent and refine our desire, we should "pray into" ourselves that God is our Father and wants to give us good things, so we can ask in confidence. Also, intertwined with our petitions should be praise and marveling that we are able to approach God, and be welcomed in Christ.

This is gospel-centered prayer, rather than anxious petitioning. Our desires are always idolatrous to some degree, and when we pray without dealing with that first, we find our prayers only make us more anxious. Instead, we should always say, in effect, "Lord, let me see your glory as I haven't before, let me be so ravished with your grace that worry and self-pity and anger and indifference melt away!" Then, when we turn to ask God for admission to grad school or healing of an illness, those issues will be put in proper perspective. We will say, "Lord, I ask for this because I think it will glorify you – so help me get it, or support me without it." If the overall focus of the prayer is on God's glory and the gospel, our individual petitions will be made with great peace and confidence.

So friend, the first thing I'd do is to examine your motives and start praying for God to reveal his presence to you. Don't immediately pray about what you want; pray for God's presence to fill your life. That will ignite your passion again and again!

Second, on a more practical note, are you getting enough rest? If you are exhausted and leave your prayer (& devotion time) at the end of the day, you can't devote your best energy. I would suggest you try another time to pray. Usually, I spend some time in the morning to do my devotions as I have the most energy and alertness. In the evening, I only say a short, 'goodnight' prayer to God. For additional information, I recommend you read this blog post about "devotional times."

[Answered by Pastor HM]

Q: What does it mean when God leaves our prayers unanswered?

2010-08-25T06:58:00.000-07:00

Great question. This is not an easy one to answer, but there is a chapter in a book by Pastor Bill Hybels entitled, "The Mystery of Unanswered Prayer," that will help. Hybels gives 3 reasons why prayer may go left unanswered:

1. If the request is wrong, God will say, "No."

Like us, the disciples made inappropriate requests of Jesus, and he said, "No."

Hybels describes a time when the board of elders at his church prayed fervently for a person to fill a staff position. Once they had decided who they wanted to join the team, Bill sat down to lunch with the man and prayed that God would provide the right opportunity for him to make the offer. He sensed God saying, "No." Later, the elders discovered that the man had deception in his life and he would indeed have been a bad fit for the job.

2. If the timing is wrong, God will say, "Slow."

Like children, we dislike the words, "Not yet," as God shakes his head at us.

God has reasons for his "Not yets" we must not insist we know better than he.

3. If you are wrong, God will say, "Grow."

Relational discord will cut us off from close fellowship with God.

When we disobey, God says, "Why should I honor your requests when you don't honor mine?"

Hybels then provides a fourth reason but the outcome is ANSWERED prayer.

4. When the timing, request and your own heart are right, God will say, "Let's go!"

God wants to move that mountain for us; to change that circumstance; to answer that prayer.

You'll be amazed at how often God will say, "Let's go!"

So friend, take heart. God has a good reason to leave some of your prayers unanswered. Perhaps the timing or the request itself is wrong. Maybe something in your life is not God-honoring. Whatever it is, continue to pray to God. He'll answer you in his own (& perfect) timing.

[Answered by Pastor HM]

I would recommend listening to this sermon as well, by Dr. John Ortberg - one of today's leading thinkers about spiritual formation.

Prayer: Does It Matter? "The Mystery of Unanswered Prayer" from MPPC on Vimeo.

Q: Earth is 6000 years old, or 4.6 billion?

2010-08-25T06:37:00.000-07:00

According to the genealogy of the Bible, the age of the Earth is around 6000 years old. With the scientific evidence today, scientists have estimated the world to be 4.6 billion years old. Who's right?

I would read this article by Pastor Driscoll of Seattle, specifically the section entitled "How old is the Earth?" He writes:

The general scientific consensus based upon radiometric dating is that the earth is very old, perhaps even 4.5 billion years old. Some Christians have sought to refute this finding by declaring that the universal flood in Genesis 6-9 altered the earth's geology so greatly that the earth now appears old. But non-Christian scientists have countered by arguing that they have also tested rocks and meteors that have come from the moon and landed on the earth which also date to the same age as the earth, roughly 4.5 billion years old. Many Christians have disregarded radiometric dating as flawed and inaccurate...

In the end, it must be admitted that the age of the earth is simply not stated in the Bible and it may be young or old. Futhermore, both young and old earth advocates are inferring from the Bible a position that the Bible simply does not clearly state. It must also be admitted that the age of the earth is not a great concern in the Bible; as Augustine rightly said, it is not a scientific textbook seeking to answer the ever-changing inquiries of science, but rather a theological textbook seeking to reveal God and the means by which He saves us.

It is also very important to read the 6 possible interpretations of the Genesis account. The account that Driscoll (and I agree it seems to make the most sense) is that of "Historical Creationism":

In this view, Genesis 1:1 records the making of all of creation by God out of nothing (or ex nihilo) through a merism of "heavens and earth," which means the sky above and land below, or the totality of creation. Since the word used for "beginning" in Genesis 1:1 is reshit in Hebrew, which means an indefinite period of time, it is likely that all of creation was completed over an extended period of time (anywhere from days to billions of years). Then Genesis 1:2 begins the description of God preparing the uninhabitable land for the creation of mankind. The preparation of the uncultivated land for and creation of Adam and Eve occurred in six literal twenty-four hour days. This view leaves open the possibility of both an old earth and six literal days of creation.

Summarily, the Bible's account of creation is compatible with the view that the world is 4.6+ billion years old.

[Answered by Pastor HM]

Q: Can you give me advise on what to do if you ever 'lost touch' with God?

2010-08-24T13:24:00.000-07:00

...What i mean by that is when you feel like you don't feel the same love and affections towards God, as you did the first time you followed Him. And when you pray for Him to help you rediscover him, it seems like the best you can do seems like an 'empty prayer'. I really want to get my passion back, but I've been waiting for months
and my prayers are left unanswered. I can't even make it to church because I'm the only Christian in my family and I'm still a young teen. Please pray for me, and I need you're advice.

A: I think your situation is something all Christian encounter at some point in their walk with God. First, I want to say although God may feel out of touch, His love for you is unwavering and is constant.

The beginning part of any relationship is often exciting and filled with love and affection, however, the after the “honeymoon” stage is over, this is when the real work begins. I think the key idea is when we choose to follow Jesus, we are in a relationship with him, and that means to make opportunities to discover everyday – whether it is reading His word, participating in Bible studies or engaging in conversations with an accountability partner. But more importantly, it also means to follow and live out His commands. I believe one of the many factors that cause Christians to feel “out of touch” with God is because not only do we not devote enough time to learning more about Him but we also shy away from living out our faith. Unfortunately, time often passes quicker then we know, and the numerous opportunities that we pass up not to live our faith causes us to grow farther away from God.

If you really want to get your passion back for God, it’s not about waiting, because the passion won’t just suddenly hit you like the wind. Rather, it’s more about doing, acting, and living! I encourage you to start immersing yourself in an environment where you can be fed in God’s word and live out the lessons that He is teaching you. I do believe you are in a challenging situation being the only believer in your family, however there are many resources that are out there that can help support you in your walk with God. There are some great resources out there that can also help you! You can visit http://splat.rhccc.ca/ to listen to podcasts of sermons that are from our Youth service, or even reading the Bible everyday (perhaps begin with John!) or other devotional books.

I will definitely pray for you and I know that when you begin to take the steps to draw yourself closer to Him, God will meet you with his overwhelming love and affection.

[answered by Bernice Nei, Agape Counselor]

Q: Why is there so much bloodshed and murder in the Old Testament? God sent his people to slaughter entire cities, including men, women and children...

2010-08-18T09:30:00.000-07:00

...Why Children? Maybe the men and women have done things God cannot allow, but children... They probably don't even know what they're doing. They're not given a chance to repent!

A: This is an interesting question that has huge implications. In answering your question, I draw some of my insights from this article (http://tinyurl.com/28hwslu); I encourage you to give that a read if you have time.

I think it’s important to establish that from a divine justice point of view, we are deserving of nothing good. If God is God, and we are imperfect humans that fall short of His standards, then we have no right to demand anything from God. In fact, we should be punished for our sin with death, sickness, suffering, guilt, and every bad thing, in this life and in the life to come; this is what we deserve (Rom 6:23).

This is obviously a very counter-cultural teaching, as the world tells us that we are all entitled to basic rights and freedoms. In Canada, there are basic rights and freedoms that are guaranteed to us in our constitution and upheld by the law. According to our laws, we do “deserve” these things. On a side note, I would argue that these are good things, and that we should uphold basic rights. However, we should be careful not to extrapolate these basic human rights to holding any weight before God. As I stated earlier, we aren’t entitled to anything before God. We simply have no bargaining chips to negotiate with (Rom 3:23). That we are NOT dead, and that some even have a chance to know God, is already more than we deserve; it’s bonus.

As you process that reality, another problem in our thinking is separating the God of the OT (Old Testament) from the God of the NT (New Testament). Most of us are more willing to believe in a God that loves, and forgives, and lays His life down for us. It may seem a shock that the God of the OT could be so cruel as to command His people to kill entire cities. Though this loving depiction of God in the NT is not wrong, it is incomplete. And so is the view of a cruel God in the OT. In the NT, God demanded righteousness of his people, and even went to the extent of striking down members of the church (Acts 5) who tried to deceive Him. That standard for righteousness has not been watered down from the OT to the NT. Jesus asserted that he didn’t come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it (meaning he wasn’t undoing the OT). Likewise, the God of the OT was not as cruel as we generally make Him out to be; He showed many acts of tender care for His people, and even for those who were not His chosen people. In the story of Jonah, he mercifully sent the prophet to stop the city from living in sin. When they repented, he gladly spared them. Though the times changed, and the writing styles and authors changed, the God of the OT is indeed consistent with the God of the NT. It is important that we look to both to give us a full picture of God.

In fact, to believe that God was cruel then (in the OT), is similar to believing that He is cruel now. God is unchanging (Jam 1:17). When you look at recent catastrophes, like 9/11 or the tsunami, there were great amounts of death. Victims included men, women, children, Christians, Muslims, atheists, all killed by the catastrophes. As I argued above, none of us are truly innocent or undeserving of death, and none of us have a case to bring before God that “He shouldn’t have killed us”. If you believe God to be omnipotent and omniscient (all-powerful and all-knowing), then the fact that He foresaw these disasters, and chose not to prevent them (even though He was strong enough to), could be seen as cruel in the same light.

In reality, what we read about in the Bible is that God’s ways are beyond our ways. It’s difficult to wrap our heads around, but God actually cares more about the victims of catastrophes and injustices; infinitely more than we do. Remember, He created them (Psa 139). And just because He permits the acts to happen, does not mean He’s rejoicing. Instead He mourns. But everything God does is love, and in some way (that is totally beyond our understanding), God can act in love, expand His kingdom, and yet permit these killings.

I think the proper thing to do in our current position is give thanks to God. Give thanks that you’re even alive (when technically we all deserve not to be). Give thanks that you’re able to repent (if you’re reading this, you have the capacity to repent). Give thanks if you’ve heard the Gospel and accepted it. And give thanks for any other good thing in your life (whether friends, family, food, school, etc). It’s all gravy on top.

[answered by Mark Cheng, Agape Counselor]

Q: Does man have one less rib than woman?

2010-08-10T12:30:00.000-07:00

A: No, men and women both have 24 ribs, 12 on each side.

Q: Why do people doubt the Bible despite the evidence?

2010-07-28T08:54:00.000-07:00

The Bible, the word of God, is historically, scientifically, and mathematically correct, confirmed by archaeology. Why do people still doubt it and think its false?

People still doubt the Bible as the Word of God because this is also a spiritual matter and not just a matter of proving the Bible to be correct historically, scientifically, mathematically and through archaeology.

2 Corinthians 4:4 says, “The god of this age (Satan) has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”

There’s a spiritual opposition involved in preventing people from accepting the Bible as the truth. This is why you can present as many proven facts to them all you want but they still refuse to believe - it's because they are blinded spiritually. We need to pray for people that God would shine His light into their hearts so that they would come to know Him.

“For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ" (2 Corinthians 4:6).

When dealing with questions that people have, try to answer it the best that you can. The Bible has and will continue to stand any test. But also remember to pray for them!

[Answered by Pastor Quang]

Q: Clean hearts or clean minds?

2010-07-28T08:44:00.000-07:00

We are always saying that our hearts must always be "clean" and etc. But I'm very confused because isn't it our minds that control our thoughts and feelings? Why do we always mention the heart, rather than our mind?

Think about your being as an onion with many layers, with the spirit being the innermost layer and the social relationships a person has as the outermost layer:

Spirit/will/heart --> mind --> body --> social

The Spirit/Will/Heart (SWH) of a person is the inner core of being from which actions flow. Our SWH has the power to do what is good or evil. It’s the center of who we are and ultimately who we become. According to the Scriptures, this is what is enslaved to sin (Rom. 6:14-20), is desperately sick (Jer. 17:9), is full of evil (Mark 7:21-23), loves darkness rather than light (John 3:19), does not seek for God (Rom. 3:10-12), and cannot understand spiritual things (1 Cor. 2:14). No matter how hard a person tries, she cannot change this state through a focus on external behavior (e.g. changing the way you dress/behave/talk; attending all sorts of programs, etc.). It is because the SWH is "bent away from God" and only "toward sin."

If, however, we put our faith and trust into Jesus, then Scripture declares that we are given a new SWH that is now responsive, alive and warm to God (Ezekiel 36:26-27). Our SWH - before faith in Christ - was "stone" (i.e. completely unresponsive, dead toward God). Consequently, we were "free" only to choose sin. When The Holy Spirit enters our being, we are given a new spirit (heart, will) that has the POWER to fight temptation and thus sin.

Let me illustrate with an example. You are confronted with a temptation to sin (e.g. your friends are talking badly about another friend behind her back). That’s when your spirit comes into play. In order for you to commit sin, your spirit/heart ("will") must say “yes” to that sin. If there is no inner yes, there is no sin. Even if you think about sin, that’s not a sin (that’s not even temptation!). Remember, temptation is the thought plus the inclination to sin. It's when you linger over the thought. Sin is when we inwardly say yes to the temptation; when we decide to do it.

Here's the connection between the mind and SWH ("the heart"). Your mind is the "processing center" of your being. Thought enter your mind; your SWH lingers over those thoughts and it commits to a course of action; and your body acts it out. This is why Paul tells us to "not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind..." (Romans 12:2). Elsewhere he tell us to ensure that we "take every thought captive to obey Christ" (2 Cor. 10:5). Why do we need to take every thought captive? Because thoughts can be influenced by Satan. The Devil is always scheming to fill your mind with thoughts which are oppose to God's plan (often, he uses the media and culture to do so). He plants ideas into your mind to lead you away from God. This is why its so crucial to "take every thought captive" and to "renew your mind" and to do focus upon godly things (Philippians 4:8). When we do so, it gives the Devil less of a chance to fill your mind with his thoughts; and thus it gives your SWH less of a chance to linger over sin. All your behavior flows out of your SWH; but it's your mind that feeds your SWH with what it decides upon.

Hope that was helpful. As a church, we need to strive for BOTH clean hearts and renewed minds - not one OR the other.

[Answered by Pastor HM]

Q: "If you believe in Jesus Christ put this on youe wall. DON'T JUST IGNORE THIS because in The Bible, it says if you deny Him...

2010-07-28T08:40:00.001-07:00

...He will deny you in front of His Father in the Gates of Heaven." - I found this on Facebook. Will God really "deny you in front of His Father in the Gates of Heaven"? I think if I believe in God I don't have to do that, so many pros and cons. I know it isn't a big problem, but what to do/believe?

A: I find these chains laughable...really, they are just a waste of time. And what's more is that they are completely wrong, taken out of context and do not represent the Christian faith at all.

Firstly, I find no need to be scared of such posts. You are right when you say that you believe in God and feel that you do not have to forward this post on your wall. Salvation (entering the gates of Heaven), is based on our hearts and our acceptance of Jesus Christ. No amount of wall posting can prove what is in our hearts and putting this on your wall certainly does not indicate that you are a Christian.

Secondly, the repercussions of not putting this on your wall is not true. Just because you don't post it, doesn't mean that you are denying God, and thus resulting in Him denying you. It just means that you refuse to perpetuate this hoax and continue the wrong teachings.

I have seen this on Facebook as well and have chosen to ignore it. My faith does not rest upon updating my status to this post and thus I will not continue the chain on Facebook. I know who I am in Christ, where my faith is and certainly where I am going after death. Regardless of updating my status.

[answered by Pastor KJT]

Q: How are we supposed to know what God's will is for us? How are we supposed to know whether or not something occurs because that is according to God's will or our own? I always pray to God asking him what He has planned for me in terms of pursuing a career. I'm really confused of what I want to do in the future and I just don't know what God's calling is for me.

2010-07-28T08:16:00.000-07:00

A: Hello! Thanks for your question. We have answered similar questions before, so please read the following posts before reading on:

How do you know that God is calling you to do something?

How do you know it's God speaking and not a coincidence?

It seems like your question revolves around future career paths or school program. My advice to you would be just to relax. I know that the uncertainty of the future causes anxiety for many people, but if you have a strong relationship with God and allow Him to guide you, you will be fine.

If you are waiting for a booming voice coming from the skies to tell you to be a doctor, dentist or accountant...that probably won't happen. The Holy Spirit often leads in ways that aren't explicit: open doors to next to impossible school programs, job opportunities at the company of your choice, finding a mate when you least expect it.

When our hearts are open to allowing God to work in us, than He will. When we are in tuned with God, we'll know when and where He is leading us. I know that that sounds arbitrary, but God isn't something we can break down and understand. Just work on strengthening your relationship with God, read your Bible on a regular basis and serve in your local church - these are the things that God cares about. The rest He'll take care of.

[answered by Pastor KJT]

Q: What counts as an idol?

2010-07-28T07:24:00.000-07:00

Anything can be an idol. In Psalm 95, the psalmist tells us that The Lord is a "great God, and a great King above all gods." What he's trying to say is there are other gods that we often treat as kings - as one who has authority over our lives. Dr. Tim Keller has done a remarkable job of explaining what an idol is in today's postmodern culture. He writes:

Sin isn’t only doing bad things, it is more fundamentally making good things into ultimate things. Sin is building your life and meaning on anything, even a very good thing, more than on God. Whatever we build our life on will drive us and enslave us. Sin is primarily idolatry.

Richard Gaffin, in The Pattern of Sound Doctrine, put it this way:

Because we are, each of us, the image of God, we will worship, in fact we must worship, someone or something, either our original, as we should, or, with the illusion that we are the original or our own ultimate point of reference, ourselves. If the latter, we will give ourselves over, with the full, still efficient resources of our imaging capacities, to some figment, some distorted image, focused on ourselves or on some aspect of the world, ultimately seen as an extension of ourselves. What [John] Calvin observed long ago is no less true today: the human heart, our image-bearing and image-fashioning nature, is an idol factory.

Your idol could be your relationships; family; sex; food; a sports team; an experience; career; status; money; possessions, etc.. It's really anything you treasure above God. Even religion can be an idol. If you attend church that doesn't mean you're immune to falling into the trap of idolatry. Keller writes elsewhere:

Truth can be made an idol. Are you resting in the rightness of your doctrine rather than the work of Jesus? If so, the Bible calls you a fool. In Proverbs, "the scoffer" is a person like this. The scoffer is always sure he is right, and always disrespectful, disdainful, and mocking toward his opponents. The internet breeds scoffers, because if you're a scoffer you get more traffic to your blog.

Gifts can be an idol. You can mistake spiritual gifts for spiritual fruit. Especially if you are successful in ministry, you can begin believing in justification by ministry: "I know I'm in God's will because my ministry is going well." Many of us in the Reformed world make an idol out of being a great preacher: "If I could just be a great preacher, then my life would have significance."

Morality can be a religious idol. Holiness is good, but Christians can feel like God loves them and will bless them because of their moral record.

Idolatry is essentially distorted worship (Romans 1:25) - Taking things that are good (friends, food, sex, etc. ) and making them ultimate things. It's saying, "I cannot live without _______." And the result is: We live for them, not for God. Idolatry is really about your identity - what you rest your hope upon. Listen to what Pastor Mark Driscoll says (he sums it up very well, including what happens when you fall into idolatry):

Let me give you a few resources that will help you. I think you've hit on something most people don't think enough about. BUT they need to. Why? Because it ultimately affects your entire life's trajectory. So thanks for your question.

1. Read Tim Keller's Counterfeit Gods. Be sure to watch his introduction video on the website first!

2. Get a copy of Greg Beale's We Become What We Worship. This is a lengthy read, but it will really help you.

3. Watch this video by Pastor Mark about "American Idolatry."

4. Pray against idolatry. Pray hard. This is something that will destroy your life if you don't put it to death. Rest your hope, joy and satisfaction on Jesus.

[Answered by Pastor HM]

Q: Does 1 Corinthians 6:9 condemn gay relationships?

2010-07-27T14:49:00.000-07:00

Is what this guy saying true?

The author of this video, Justin Lee, is the director of the Gay Christian Network (GCN), a gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and straight ally organization and Christianity ministry founded in 2001. The theological beliefs of members of the GCN range from conservative to liberal. On their official website, this is what they write:

Here at GCN, we have two types of gay Christians. On one side are those who are in gay relationships or hope to be someday. On the other side are those who view their same-sex attractions as a temptation, and strive to live celibate lives. We call these views Side A and Side B, and both are well-represented at GCN.

For the record, Justin holds to the "Side A" view and therefore believes God blesses same-sex marriages. While I appreciate Justin's honest testimony of struggle and his desire to lead a godly lifestyle, I don't believe he's right in his interpretation of the text.

The word in question in 1 Cor. 6:9 is the Greek aρσενοκοίτης (arsenokoites) and it refers to "one who lies with a male as with a female." The Greek terms used in this phrase refer to the passive ("effeminate") and active partners in consensual homosexual acts. God clearly condemns this act in 1 Cor. 6:9 as well as in Lev. 18:22, Lev. 20:13, and Romans 1:26-28. I just don't see how Justin can misread the text in the way he does.

Matt Slick gives a good summary of the orthodox Christian view on homosexuality. He also answers some common objections - similar to the ones raised by Justin Lee. Summarily, the "Side A" view is not biblical and should not be held by Christians. The "Side B" view, however, is acceptable: Those who are attracted to the same-sex can lead God-honoring, celibate lives by refusing to give into temptation. An example who has come to speak at our youth service would be Pastor Brian Pengelly. Read his powerful story here.

In closing, I do want to say I have read both Justin's and his friend, Ron's testimonies and were touched by both stories. Justin and Ron don't see eye-to-eye but they show a great deal of respect to each other. I think that's where the Christian evangelical church - in general - has much to learn.

[Answered by Pastor HM]

Q: Does the Bible condone whether or not the church and state should be separate?

2010-07-27T13:50:00.000-07:00

This is a great question, and GotQuestions has provided a solid answer here. I also found the following video which explains it pretty well.

Basically, both sources argue that the separation of church and state is a wise decision. It protects the integrity of the church and the religion freedom of individuals. That being said, this does not mean individuals of religious faith should not be involved in politics. It simply means that people - regardless of religious belief (including Christianity; including atheism) - have the opportunity to voice out their opinions in the public sphere.

[Answered by Pastor HM]

Q: Contrary to many people's desire to have a g/f or b/f, I'm very satisfied with my single life~I'm very content with the luxurious amount of time I have in developing my skills and focusing on building a career. Is it wrong that I don't want to date or marry?

2010-07-23T11:18:00.000-07:00

A: Being single AND being fine with being single is a very blessed thing. The Apostle Paul was a single guy and it was a good thing.

"Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to marry. But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband." -1 Cor 7:1-2

"I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that." -1 Cor 7:7

It is clear that Paul thought that singleness was A GIFT. A good thing. We need to assure people today that being single is not a bad thing or peer pressure others to get into relationships. But it is important to understand the key part of this passage: a spiritual gift from God is not to be used selfishly but used to glorify God! Everything Paul stood for would ultimately be testifying to the glory and knowledge of God and the good news of Jesus. This should be no different today!

I think it is a great thing that you are satisfied in singleness, and treat it as a gift from God, but this gift should not be used to serve ourselves. We are blessed to be a blessing to others, just as Abraham was in Genesis. We need to use our lives to further God's kingdom, make Jesus known and glorify Him. This can possibly be done in developing our skills and developing our career, but we can't forget what comes first! When we are blessed with skills and good careers, it should be to glorify God and not ourselves. We need to have ambition in life, but the ambition starts with God and to further HIS kingdom, not to further out personal kingdoms.

Lastly, if you do someday start burning with desire for a wife/husband, Paul also affirms this desire:

"But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion." -1 Cor 7:9

We need to affirm both singleness and marriage because the bible calls us to, but ultimately, it's important to remember that both are a gift from God and both are given to:

1) Glorify God and further His Kingdom

2) Bless the individual

3) Bless those around us

[answered by Pastor Shu-Ling]

Q: Is Capital Punishment and the idea of Eugenics OKAY? Are they accepted and allowed?

2010-07-21T06:52:00.000-07:00

Your question on capital punishment has been previously reviewed and answered so feel free to check it out at http://sploxa.blogspot.com/search?q=capital+punishment

“Eugenics” literally, meaning normal genes. It can be defined as developing strategies for attempting to improve the gene pool of a species either by halting the transmission of unwanted characteristics or increasing the transmission of desired characteristics. This can involve issues related to eugenics, human cloning, abortion, or euthanasia.

Eugenics aims to improve the genetic constitution of the human species by selective breeding. The use of Albert Einstein's sperm to conceive a child (by artificial insemination) would represent an attempt at positive eugenics. The Nazis notoriously engaged in negative eugenics by genocide. The word "eugenics" was coined by Sir Francis Galton (1822-1911) to denote scientific endeavors to increase the proportion of persons with better than average genetic endowment through selective mating of marriage partners.

The practice of eugenics was first legally mandated in the United States in the state of Indiana, resulting in the forcible sterilization, incarceration, and occasionally euthanasia of the mentally or physically handicapped, the mentally ill, and ethnic minorities (particularly people of mixed racial heritage), and the adopting out of their children to non-disabled, Caucasian parents. Similar programs spread widely in the early part of the twentieth century, and still exist in some parts of the world. It is important to note that no experiment in eugenics has ever been shown to result in measurable improvements in human health.

In Canada, the eugenics movement gained support early in the 20th century as prominent physicians drew a direct link between heredity and public health. Eugenics was enforced by law in two Canadian provinces. In Alberta, the Sexual Sterilization Act was enacted in 1928, focusing the movement on the sterilization of mentally deficient individuals, as determined by the Alberta Eugenics Board. The campaign to enforce this action was backed by groups such as the United Farm Women's Group. Individuals were assessed using IQ tests. This posed a problem to new immigrants arriving in Canada, as many had not mastered the English language, and often their scores denoted them as having impaired intellectual functioning. As a result, many of those sterilized under the Sexual Sterilization Act were immigrants who were unfairly categorized. The province of British Columbia enacted its own Sexual Sterilization Act in 1933. As in Alberta, the British Columbia Eugenics Board could recommend the sterilization of those it considered to be suffering from "mental disease or mental deficiency."

The popularity of the eugenics movement peaked during the Depression when sterilization was widely seen as a way of relieving society of the financial burdens imposed by defective individuals. The eugenics excesses of Nazi Germany diminished the popularity of the eugenics movement.

Modern inquiries into the potential use of genetic engineering have led to an increased call for caution. Some ethicists suggest that even non-coercive eugenics programs would be inherently unethical.

Consider the following principles and issues with modern new technologies and genetic engineering:

 1. The Bible states that all things were created by God and for Him (Colossians 1:16). As individuals we are made in God’s image and therefore should be subject to His plan (Genesis 1:26,27;Matthew 22:20,21). God designed all living things after certain “kinds” (Genesis 1:11-25). Too much manipulation of the genetics (altering species) could be delving into issues reserved for the Designer, Creator and God of the universe.

  2. Creation was affected by the events recorded in Genesis 3 (mankind’s rebellion against God’s plan). Death entered into the world, and man’s genetic make-up and that of the rest of creation began a change toward demise. In some instances, genetic engineering could be seen as an attempt to undo this result called the “curse.” However, God has said that He has a remedy for this—redemption through Jesus Christ, as described in Romans 8 and 1 Corinthians 15. The creation anticipates newness associated with the culmination of God’s promise to restore things to an even better state than the original. To go “too far” to fight this process may compete with the responsibility of individuals to trust in Christ for restoration (Philippians 3:21).  

3. It seems evident from general scriptural study that God has a plan for the process of life. It seems evident that the process is unique and purposeful. There is concern that if humanity interferes with that process, something could go terribly wrong. For example, Psalm 139 describes an intimate relationship between the psalmist and his Creator from the womb. Would the use of genetic manipulation to create life outside of God’s plan jeopardize the development of a God-conscious soul? Would interfering with the process of physical life affect the prospects of spiritual life? Romans 5:12 tells us that all humanity sins because Adam sinned. It is understood that this involved the transference of the sin nature from generation to generation so that all have sinned (Romans 3:23). Paul explains the hope of eternity through the conquering of Adam’s sin. If all that are in Adam (from his seed) die, and Christ died for those in such condition, could life created outside of that “seed” be redeemed? (1 Corinthians 15:22, 23).   

4. There is also the concern that such bold strides in genetic engineering are motivated by a defiance of God. Genesis 11:1-9 discusses what happens when the creation attempts to exalt itself above the Creator. The people in Genesis 11 were unified, yet they were not submissive to God’s design. As a result, God stopped their progress. God certainly recognized that there were some dangers involved with the direction in which the people were headed. We have a similar warning in Romans 1:18-32. There God describes individuals that have become so enamored with the creation (actually worshipping it rather than the Creator) that those individuals spiraled down to destruction. There is a danger that genetic engineering could foster similar motivations, and ultimately, similar results.  

5. Finally, if humanity was created, then there must be a Creator, and humanity is therefore subject and accountable to that Creator. Although the world’s thinking would have one believe that man is accountable to no one but himself and that man is the ultimate authority, the Bible teaches differently. God created man and gave him responsibility over the earth (Genesis 1:28-29, 9:1-2). With this responsibility comes accountability to God. Man is not the ultimate authority over himself, and he is therefore not in a position to make decisions about the value of human life. Neither, then, is science the authority by which the ethics of eugenics, human cloning, abortion, or euthanasia are decided. According to the Bible, God is the only one who rightfully exercises sovereign control over human life.

As a follower of Christ, one needs to seriously consider these questions and issues before making too speedy a decision to accept all benefits that science promises.

Check out the article by Church Colson and his view on eugenics: “War on the Weak - Eugenics has made a lethal comeback”. He says, “We are reminded that every life at every stage is precious in God's design. We must help our neighbors understand that this aspect of the Christian worldview—the conviction that all life is sacred—provides the only defense for the weakest in our midst.”

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2006/december/15.72.html

Check out the article on “What is the Christian view of human cloning?”
http://www.gotquestions.org/cloning-Christian.html

HOPE THIS HELPS! THANKS FOR ASKING!

[Answered by Ray Lee, Summer Intern]

1) Where did all the different races/ethnicities come from? I read something about Shem, Ham, and Japheth?

2010-07-21T06:47:00.000-07:00

GREAT QUESTION! GotQuestions gives a concise answer. Here's what they say:

 The Bible does not explicitly give us the origin of the different “races” or skin colors in humanity. In actuality, there is only one race—the human race. Within the human race is diversity in skin color and other physical characteristics. Some speculate that when God confused the languages at the tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9), He also created racial diversity.

It is possible that God made genetic changes to humanity to better enable people to survive in different ecologies, such as the darker skin of Africans being better equipped genetically to survive the excessive heat in Africa. According to this view, God confused the languages, causing humanity to segregate linguistically, and then created genetic racial differences based on where each racial group would eventually settle. While possible, there is no explicit biblical basis for this view. The races/skin colors of humanity are nowhere mentioned in connection with the tower of Babel.  

After the flood, when the different languages came into existence, groups that spoke one language moved away with others of the same language. In doing so, the gene pool for a specific group shrank dramatically as the group no longer had the entire human population to mix with. Closer inbreeding took place, and in time certain features were emphasized in these different groups (all of which were present as a possibility in the genetic code). As further inbreeding occurred through the generations, the gene pool grew smaller and smaller, to the point that people of one language family all had the same or similar features.  

Another explanation is that Adam and Eve possessed the genes to produce black, brown, and white offspring (and everything else in between). This would be similar to how a mixed-race couple sometimes has children that vary in color. Since God obviously desired humanity to be diverse in appearance, it makes sense that God would have given Adam and Eve the ability to produce children of different skin tones. Later, the only survivors of the flood were Noah and his wife, Noah’s three sons and their wives—eight people in all. Genesis 7:13 tells us, “On that very day Noah and his sons, Shem, Ham and Japheth, together with his wife and the wives of his three sons, entered the ark.” Perhaps Noah’s daughters-in-law were of different races. It is also possible that Noah’s wife was of a different race than Noah. Maybe all eight of them were of mixed race, which would mean they possessed the genetics to produce children of different races.

Whatever the explanation, the most important aspect of this question is that we are all the same race, all created by the same God, all created for the same purpose—to glorify Him.

THANKS FOR ASKING!

[Answered by Ray Lee, Summer Intern]

Q: Is liking someone who is "transgender" a sin?

2010-07-20T13:57:00.000-07:00

For example, you yourself likes a 'guy,' who was originally a girl in the beginning...

This question does not have an easy, straight-forward answer. First, we must be clear on our definition of "transgender." According to the Intersex Society of North America:

People who identify as transgender or transsexual are usually people who are born with typical male or female anatomies but feel as though they’ve been born into the “wrong body.” For example, a person who identifies as transgender or transsexual may have typical female anatomy but feel like a male and seek to become male by taking hormones or electing to have sex reassignment surgeries.

People who have intersex conditions have anatomy that is not considered typically male or female. Most people with intersex conditions come to medical attention because doctors or parents notice something unusual about their bodies. In contrast, people who are transgendered have an internal experience of gender identity that is different from most people.

Biblically, a transgender person CAN live a God-honoring lifestyle. Though it is extraordinarily difficult (as this article has stated), it can be done. A person who has female anatomy, for instance, can humbly submit to God's plan and live as a female, rather than choose gender reassignment surgery. Therefore, it is not a sin to "like" a person feel like they are born in the "wrong body."

However, caution must be taken. If you are a professing Christian, do not pursue a relationship with a transgender person if he or she has not made the choice to live a Christ-centered lifestyle (In actual fact, this applies to ALL relationships). For example, if your transgender friend decides to pursue gender reassignment surgery, he is sinning and you should not pursue a relationship with him. On the other hand, if he is trying his best - by the power of the Holy Spirit - to live a godly, Christ-exalting lifestyle (e.g. chosen NOT to go through with hormone therapies, or surgery), then perhaps a romantic relationship is possible.

Summarily, when approaching issues such as transgenderism, we must do so in humility and compassion. I would recommend taking a minute to our previous post - "Is transgenderism a sin?"- and an article from Bridging The Gap which, among other things, makes a great point:

I’m not content with validating people’s discomfort simply on the basis of their own anxiety and unfamiliarity – as understandable as those feelings might be. In fact, I find my patience running very thin when I encounter this kind of knee jerk response. Yes, this is challenging to understand and relate to …. But for the sake of Jesus and in the name of Jesus, get to know the real human being behind some imposed label or issue. Listen to the story of faith in their heart. Listen to their journey. Listen, learn and love.

Hope this helps. Great question. Keep such ones coming!

[Answered by Pastor HM]

Q: Life of Pi?

2010-07-15T19:36:00.000-07:00

Recently had to read the book Life of Pi in English. I'm kind of confused as to what my stance of the message of the book is. The main character is a "devout" Hindu, Muslim, and Christian, claiming that he "just wants to love God". However, don't the 3 religions contradict? Also, a theme of the book is "the better story"; biological truth is that humans are born, they live, and they die, and nothing beyond that can really be physically proved. It is inferred from the book that it's natural to pick "the better story" (the one with God; people having hope in Him, having love, etc.) I'm not sure what to think of this point; is it wrong to believe in God because it just seems to be more hopeful/purposeful/joyful? (I guess in a way this relates to Pascal's wager)

Life of Pi is a book full of postmodern musing and thought. Postmodernism is intellectual movement characterized - among other things - by skepticism about the knowability of "the truth." As Jean-Francois Lyotard once said, "There is an incredulity toward metanarratives." This is a fancy way of saying postmodern people have a suspicion of and disbelief in "big stories" or all-encompassing truths). Life of Pi propagates this very notion. Here is what one book review says:

Life of Pi is very much a self-conscious postmodern novel. Martel plays with postmodern skepticism about the knowability of true truth and the distinction between fact and fantasy. The book begins with an "Author's Note," purportedly about how Martel came to write his story. This is the part of the book that we instinctively understand to be factual, rather than fictional. Yet partway through, Martel, sitting in a café in Pondicherry, encounters a minor character from the story, who tells him he knows a story that will make him believe in God, and that he should look up Pi - now a middle-aged zoologist living in Toronto with his family - and hear it for himself.

So right off the bat Martel creates doubt about whether this story is factual or fictional. He propagates this doubt all the way through the novel. Written as though it were a combination of Pi's memoirs and Martel's investigative reporting, it begins as a simple memoir of a childhood in Pondicherry amongst the zoo animals. Then it turns into a rousing adventure of survival on the high seas. However, some of Pi's later adventures begin to test the limits of your credulity. Finally it wraps up with a sequence that calls everything you have read into question.

As you have observed, the postmodern ideology found throughout Life of Pi manifests itself in Pi's religious plurality. He is a Hindu, Christian, and Muslim, and sees no conflict between these three mutually exclusive faiths. Pi's desire is to "love God" and go beyond the notion that one must commit himself to only one religion. At first glance, this sounds reasonable. After all, don't all roads to the same mountain top? Unfortunately, the answer is NO. Hinduism, Christianity and Islam contradict each other. The way to God is not a climb up a mountain, but to make it through a maze where there is a single correct path and many incorrect ones that lead to dead ends. Consider the law of non-contradiction, which says something cannot be A and non-A at the same time and in the same sense. So if we apply this law to the claims of Hinduism, Islam and Christianity, it means one is right and two are wrong or two are right and one is wrong (Islam and Hinduism claim that Jesus is not God, whereas Christianity claims He is). This is why statements such as "It’s true for you, but not true for me." It is either true or untrue. Jesus is either God or he’s not. Period.

As you can see, there is a problem when Pi claims that he only wants to love God (implying that there is no such thing as the exclusive truth: Even those that deny the exclusive nature of truth are actually making a truth claim! This is one of the major problems with postmodern thought that tells us to deny the existence of "truth." Either hinduism is right. Or Islam is right. Or Christianity is right. Or none are right. You cannot embrace all religions like Pi and have integrity. Ravi Zacharias tells us that there are four fundamental questions that every religion seeks to answer: Origin, meaning, morality and destiny. Each one of these belief systems are vastly different and therefore provide answers that contradict one another.

Your last question, "Is it wrong to believe in God because it just seems to be more hopeful/purposeful/joyful?" is an interesting one. It is never wrong to believe in God because he does give us the only (and highest) hope, purpose and joy we desire and need. In fact, God commands us to do so (Psalm 37:4). But I must ask: What kind of God do you believe in? The god of Pi is a mix of several gods in an attempt to find the best of each one. Yet this is not how God wants us to come to Him. Faith isn't really believing in the "better story." It is believing God at his word - as he truly is; not what we THINK he should be. Listen to the conclusion of the fore-mentioned review (here, he quotes C.S. Lewis):

Faith in the Biblical sense isn't blind optimism in the "better story." It means taking God at his word: specifically, believing the Bible when it promises that the sacrificial death of Christ is sufficient to turn away the wrath of God on account of our own sins. "In other words," says Lewis, "I believe it on His authority. Don't be scared by the word authority. Believing things on authority only means believing them because you've been told them by someone you think trustworthy. Ninety-nine per cent. of the things you believe are believed on authority. . . . A man who jibbed at authority in other things as some people do in religion would have to be content to know nothing all his life." Don't let Martel's deficient understanding of faith keep you away from what is still a gripping yarn in its own right.

Hope this helps.

[Answered by Pastor HM]

What does God say about masturbation? I've heard people say that it'e perfectly normal, and everybody does it, but i'm having my doubts..

2010-07-15T07:09:00.000-07:00

I've answered this question before, so please read this post. In addition to the resources listed, Got Questions also has posted an article on this very issue. Hope this helps!

Q: My best friend who claims to be Christian got plastic surgery last summer to make her eyes bigger...

2010-07-14T12:29:00.000-07:00

...I was totally against it and tried to tell her she looked fine the way she was and advised her against it, but she got it done anyways. This year, she went and got it done again, for more drastic effects. She didn't even tell me before she got it this year and I had to find out through her brother. I don't know why she is doing this to herself. I thought once was more than enough, but apparently not. I don't know how far she is going to go with all this plastic surgery stuff. How should i approach her about this issue when she clearly doesn't listen?

A: Plastic surgery has recently become more popular among teenagers and young professionals. I think it's due to what I would call the "Hollywood" effect where younger stars are emerging and they are publically going under the knife (think: The Hills with breast enhancement, botox and lip plumping). In the past, plastic surgery was more for the middle aged woman, but now, it's very mainstream spreading to women of all ages.

From a Christian standpoint, plastic surgery for enhancement or change other than for medical purposes (I'll address that later on) would be going against what God has created. The Bible tells us that we are fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God (Psalms 139:14), and for us to change that, I believe shows our dissatisfaction with what God has created. Most people that do minor plastic surgeries have an issue with self-esteem. I find that that is usually the root cause for many young girls and the issue does not lie physically, but internally. I know of the surgery that you are talking about and know that it is very popular in Korea. Personally, I think this is a trend to make the "single eyelids" into "double eyelids" and don't think that Asian girls should do it. That is what makes us unique and we should be proud of it; there is no need to conform ourselves to look like others.

I mentioned about plastic surgery for the case of medical procedures above. There are times when plastic surgery is a way of helping someone integrate back into society and will help with their self esteem. Those cases, I would classify as medical ones where a person was a victim in a fire with burns to the face or other tragedies that would result with the need of facial reconstruction. In those cases, I believe it is fine to go through plastic surgery to remodel and repair. Plastic surgery in this case would be for need, rather than for beauty.

For your friend, I'm not too sure what you can to do to stop her from doing these surgeries. But I would talk with her and try to understand where this desire to change herself comes from. Then I would reassure her that she is beautiful as she is and there is no need to go through with these procedures to conform to what the world believes is beautiful. Keep reminding her and supporting her of this. I believe that many girls just get sucked into the world of plastic surgery and as I have heard, it is very hard to stop at just one (think Heidi Montag). The need to upkeep a look is too great and many woman do plastic surgery as a form of maintenance (ex, botox on a monthly basis, face lift on a yearly basis, etc). It is a good time to talk to your friend now, before it spirals out of control. Keep praying for her!

[answered by Pastor KJT, who has "single eyelids" and wouldn't change it!]

Q: Is it okay to drink when your parents allow you to and if it's only something to accompany a meal?

2010-07-14T09:32:00.000-07:00

A: Consuming alcohol is a personal choice which some Christians decline and others enjoy with their meal.

Fundamentally, there is not an issue with consuming alcohol. The Bible talks about getting drunk off wine, which is a sin because it alters the way that you think and feel. Ultimately, the choices that we make while being drunk usually do not reflect Christ (Ephesians 5:17-19). For this reason, many Christians stay away from alcohol altogether, rather not consuming any as to not put themselves in a position where there is a possibility of being drunk.

On the other hand, there are Christians who do enjoy a glass of wine with their meal or a beer while watching the game. They are able to exercise self control and know when to stop. The Bible does not condemn this but rather warns us not to overindulge and become drunk off our beverage.

It's also interesting to note that the Bible does not talk about an age limit or tell us when or where we can drink. Therefore, consuming alcohol is a choice left up to us. The government regulates that those who are 19+ can purchase and consume alcohol. But does that mean as soon as you are 19, you should hit the LCBO and go crazy? Absolutely not!

Alcohol must always be consumed in moderation, if consumed at all. If you are curious to try alcohol and your parents permit it under their supervision, I think that is fine if it is consumed in moderation. However, if you have no desire to try it and there is a conviction in your heart not to, you can decline the offer, even if it is from your parents. I would advise against trying alcohol in any other situation other than with your parents if you are under the age of 19. It's not only illegal, but dangerous and can put you in a position where you do not know when to stop and find yourself drunk. And honesty, even at 19, some are not mature enough to handle the responsibilities of buying and consuming alcohol. Age is not an indication of being ready for this, maturity is.

Bottom line is that alcohol can be consumed as long as it does not lead to drunkenness. Whether you choose to or not is up to you, but as the Apostle Paul says,

²³"Everything is permissible"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"—but not everything is constructive. - 1 Corinthians 10:23

which means that there are some things that are acceptable but not beneficial or used to build us up. If drinking falls under this category for you, than refrain from doing so. If you are mature about it and can handle it, than consume with caution. Cheers!

[answered by Pastor KJT]

Q: What exactly is stuff like the "Toronto blessing"? - people speaking in tongues, shaking, acting like animals, etc. People claim that it is the manifestation of the Holy Spirit, but everytime I see it (like from youtube videos) I am seriously freaked out. Is it of God or not?

2010-07-14T07:49:00.000-07:00

A: "Despite it's dubious credentials as a research aide, Wikipedia is useful for the following introduction to the topic of the Toronto Blessing:

"The Toronto blessing, a term coined by British churches, describes the revival and resulting phenomena that began in January 1994 at the Toronto Airport Vineyard church, now the Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship (TACF), a neocharismatic evangelical Christian church located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Participants in the conferences and meetings sponsored by TACF have reported healings, incidents of personal transformation and a greater awareness of God's love. It has also been referred to as the Father's blessing, the Anointing, the Awakening, the River and the Fire.

CharacteristicsThe blessing has become known for ecstatic worship, including what is known as falling or resting in the Spirit, laughter, shaking, and crying. "Holy laughter" was a hallmark manifestation and there were also instances of participants roaring like lions and making other animal noises. Leaders and participants claim that these are physical manifestations of the Holy Spirit's presence and power. One TACF teaching, the golden sword prophecy, has been spreading among charismatic churches.
Some Christian leaders were enthusiastic about what they saw as a renewal in North American Christianity, while others saw it as hysterical and spiritually dangerous. Critics referred to it as "self-centered and evil" and cited the strange manifestations as warning signs. Others defended the blessing as historically rooted in earlier revivals and as having positive effects in the lives of participants. In his book, Counterfeit Revival, Hank Hanegraaff makes the case that the revival has done more damage than good, saying that Toronto was a matter of people being worked into altered states of consciousness where they obscure reality and enshrine absurdity."

How should you and I view the Toronto Blessing? Everyone is responsible to come to one's own conclusions. However, I would recommend a book by Tyndale Seminary professor Dr. James Beverley called, "Holy Laughter and the Toronto Blessing" (Zondervan, 1995). It is, in my opinion, one of the most balanced, well-researched, and Biblically-filtered investigations into this movement.

Below I've summarized Dr. Beverley's conclusions about the Toronto Blessing (5 Positive, and 5 Negative):
Positive Biblical Patterns (pgs. 150 - 153):

1. Repeated exaltation of God's Power
2. Picks up on the rich teaching of Scripture that the Christian church is in constant need of renewal.
3. Is about evangelism and revival, central themes of Scripture (Matt. 28:18-20)
4. Leaders have been exemplary in their lack of focus on money (Matt. 6:19-34)
5. Nonlegalistic in its ethos and style (Matt. 23:1-36)

Critical Biblical Concerns (pgs. 153 - 160):

1. Weak preaching typifies their nightly meetings.
2. A reductionistic and rather shallow view of the Holy Spirit.
3. Contrary to the Bible, the Toronto Blessing has an anti-intellectual spirit.
4. The Toronto Blessing represents a faulty understanding of signs and wonders.
5. Lack of emphasis on the person of Christ.

Since this book was written over 15 years ago, a lot has happened. For one thing, the frequency and fervency of the nightly meetings has stopped. Currently, their focus is on regular revival conferences.

For the sake of critical integrity, I spoke to Dr. Beverley (July 9, 2010) and asked him of his opinion of the current situation.

To summarize his response: In retrospect, if he was to write an update to "Holy Laughter and the Toronto Blessing", Dr. Beverley would not include the final Biblical concern (5. Lack of emphasis on the person of Christ.). He felt that this was too strong a concern. Subsequent to publishing the book, he has visited the Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship and has found that they do give significant emphasis on the person of Christ, and therefore such criticism is not deserved.

In conclusion, one must carefully, critically, and Biblically consider all aspects of the Toronto Blessing. Though there are several admirable qualities of this movement, there are also some significantly disturbing aspects. I do not doubt that there are many sincere and genuine Christians in this group and many more that have been blessed deeply by their ministry. Superficially, one muses that they bring a measure of balance to the stale version of Christianity present in many of our evangelical churches in the GTA.

However, unbalanced diets can lead to malnutrition or sickness ... and the long-term effects of weak teaching and over-emphasis on manifestations can certainly lead to an unhealthy spiritual community. Therefore, one's endorsement must be made cautiously, if at all!"

[answered by Pastor Fred Tham, English Congregation]

Q: Christians are called to "not be yoked with non-believers". However, what if a couple is already married before one of them becomes a Christian?

2010-07-13T12:38:00.000-07:00

A: Being married to an unbeliever can be one of the most difficult challenges in a Christian's life. Marriage is a sacred covenant that joins two people together in one flesh (Matthew 19:5). It can be very difficult for a believer and an unbeliever to live in peaceful harmony (2 Corinthians 6:14-15). If one partner becomes a Christian after the marriage, the inherent struggles of living under two different authorities quickly become apparent.

Often Christians in this situation will look for a way out of the marriage, convinced that this is the only way to truly bring honor to God. God’s Word, however, says the contrary. It is very important not only to be content in our situation, but also to look for ways to bring glory to Him out of our challenging circumstances (1 Corinthians 7:17). The Bible specifically addresses those who are married to unbelievers in 1 Corinthians 7:12-14: “…If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband…”

Christians married to unbelievers will need to pray for the power of the Holy Spirit to enable them to profess Christ and live in the light of God's presence (1 John 1:7). They should seek God's transforming power to change their hearts and produce the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). A Christian wife is obligated to have a submissive heart, even toward her unbelieving husband (1 Peter 3:1), and she will need to remain close to God and rely on His grace to enable her to do so.

Christians are not meant to live solitary lives; they need to find support from outside sources such as the Church community and Fellowship groups. Being married to an unbeliever does not alter the sacredness of the relationship, so it should be the priority of every Christian to pray for his or her spouse and set a good example, allowing Christ's light to shine brightly (Philippians 2:14). May the truth found in 1 Peter 3:1—that an unbelieving spouse is “won over”—be the hope and goal of every Christian who is married to an unbeliever.

The link below provides a commentary on the 2 Corinthians passage and the issue of “Unequal Yoking with Unbelievers”:
http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/IVP-NT/2Cor/Unequal-Yoking-Unbelievers

[answered by Pastoral Intern Ray Lee]

Q: I know buying pirated DVDs and such is not right as it is stealing, but many hong kong, china (etc.) movies are not available for sale (the real version) in Canada, and my parents are afraid to buy online for security reasons. What should I do?

2010-07-07T12:28:00.000-07:00

A: Well, you kind of answered your own question. You know that one the one hand, buying pirated DVD's are stealing, but you can't get the real copies in Canada and your parents are hesitant of buying online. So thus, you cannot get real copies and you don't want to steal...what should do - don't steal!

Yes, I understand that annoying you cant watch the DVD's, but sticking to your guns is apart of having integrity and holding onto your values. Bottom line is that you know it's wrong, but there is still a temptation to do it...what are you going to do?

Buying online is quite safe nowadays as long as you buy from reputable sites. I shop on eBay, Amazon and other Internet sites quite frequently and have never had a problem. They are secure and convenient to use. For example, Amazon.ca is a large company likely has some Hong Kong titles you may be interested in.

Another option is to subscribe to a multicultural channel through your local cable company. Rogers has a value pack that you may be interested in, you can find it HERE. Another suggestion is to find a place that rents the DVD's. You can usually find them at a local Chinese Mall, but just be careful for every 1 legit place, it seems like there are 7 illegal ones! Or, you could always get friends/relatives that travel to HK often to pick you up some!

I do commend you for venturing to find other ways to satisfy a hobby without sacrificing your integrity. I hope you find a solution to dilemma!

[answered by Pastor KJT]

Q: How do you let go of bitterness? God teaches us not to be bitter and anger and learn to forgive our enemies. How are we suppose to do this if these are people who are acting very mean to us (such as spreading gossip, etc.)? Are we suppose to love them despite them doing so?

2010-07-07T11:56:00.000-07:00

A: In the Book of Ephesians, it says this:

30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. - Ephesians 4:30-32

This passage tells us that indeed, bitterness is not something that we should have in our lives and the Apostle Paul (who writes the Book of Ephesians) tells us to get rid of it by being kind and compassionate to one another, forgive each other just as Christ forgave us.

One would focus on the fact that in order to get rid of bitterness, we have to be kind and compassionate to one another, but the main message of this passage is not that, but is the last part - just as Christ forgave us.

You see, we do not have the capabilities to get rid of the bitterness we have. If we consider bitterness a sin (amongst the other things that Paul tells us to get rid of), than we have to know that we unable to get rid of sin without the forgiving power of Jesus Christ. Thus, there is no way that we can get rid of the bitterness we have on our own, but it is only through the power and revelation of Christ's forgiveness.

Therefore, to answer your question, you must rely on Christ and allow Him to work through your heart and change the way that you feel. I understand that may be easier said than done as we always want something more tangible and we want to see results, but ultimately, if we remember that it is Christ who forgives even the worst of our sins, we can remember to extend that grace to others also.

[answered by Pastor KJT]

Q: Is it appropriate for Christians to use birth-control (e.g. condoms?)

2010-07-07T11:30:00.000-07:00

A: There is no black and white answer to this question as this is a matter of personal conviction based on Biblical values. I will give you my opinion and explain why I feel that way. But before I do, I want to make one thing clear: it is NOT okay for not married Christians to be use birth control of ANY type other than abstinence because you are not married. If you aren't married because you shouldn't be having sex and thus no reason for a contraceptive!

I personally feel that it is okay for a Christian married couple to be using condoms or other contraceptives (other than emergency contraceptives). Let me explain. A young couple who just got married may not be ready to have children but still wish to enjoy the intimacy that God intended for His [married] children to have. Thus, the use of condoms would be acceptable. In the case of emergency contraceptives, I will leave you to read Dr. Steve Tu's answer as he has done extensive research on the topic. You can find his answer HERE.

In Genesis 9:7, it says "As for you, be fruitful and increase in number; multiply on the earth and increase upon it.". I realize that it is God's command for us to have children and many of them, but a couple has to also face the financial, emotional and physical realities of life and the responsibility of raising a child. If they are not at the point where they can do so yet, contraceptives may be used.

However, I believe that if we deliberately hold back from having kids because we don't want to change our lifestyle or not spend your money on children, than we are not following God's command. If you can, you should.

Also along those lines, if a married Christian couple was to "accidentally" conceive, it is NOT acceptable to abort or use emergency contraceptives. As a matter of fact, not only is it not acceptable, it is sinful to do so. The child has already been "made" and thus the Christian should take it as a blessing and take responsibility for the baby. After all, God does not make mistakes.

[answered by Pastor KJT]

Q: In heaven, are we all equals? What exactly does that entail?

2010-07-06T13:29:00.000-07:00

A: In essence, we are all equals as we are all sinners and only enter heaven through the grace of Jesus Christ. However, the Bible does talk about different levels of rewards.

Revelation 22:12 says,

“Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done."

This indicates that Jesus will reward each person differently. This is not a matter of salvation (every believer receives this), but it shows us that there will be a time that all will essentially reap what they sow. Exactly what those rewards are are unknown.

And so although all Christians are granted eternity in heaven, not all Christians are the same in a sense that some simply believe, but others believe and DO!

For more information, please read this blog post: http://www.gotquestions.org/levels-heaven.html

[answered by Pastor KJT]

Q: Is it better to pray to God about the same thing more than once? It is more likely for Him to answer your prayers if you pray for it more than once?

2010-07-06T13:03:00.000-07:00

A: God will answer your prayer if it is in His will not because of how many times you pray for it. For example in Matthew 6:7, Jesus warns us -

“7And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.”

That is we are not to “babble”, repeat the same word over and over again in a meaningless way. This is praying with our minds disengaged from our lips. We should not pray thinking there is some special formula, a certain number of times that we ask God until something is answered. He will answer the request if it is in His will. This is the key thing.

Having said all this there are times when we have to be persistent in prayer, to keep praying for some things over and over again. For example, the salvation of your loved ones may take many years of praying for them, not just a one time thing. Another thing that will take repeated prayer is what to do with your life. In some cases, God wants you to develop perseverance and to keep praying and not to give up. Another reason I believe why we have to pray over and over for some things is that God’s will becomes clearer to us as we continue to pray and eventually our prayer changes to conform to His will and that is when it is answered.

[answered by Pastor Quang of the English Congregation]

Q: Are Christians supposed to swear? If they do, does it mean they are not real Christians? Are we allowed to say 'crap'?

2010-07-06T10:28:00.000-07:00

A: It is definitely a sin to swear (curse, cuss, etc.). The Bible makes this abundantly clear. Ephesians 4:29 tells us, "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." First Peter 3:10 declares, "For, whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech." James 3:9-12 summarizes the issue: "With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water."

James makes it clear that the lives of Christians should not be characterized by evil speech or swearing. By making the analogy of both salt water and fresh water coming from the same spring (which is uncharacteristic of springs), he makes the point that it is uncharacteristic for a believer to have both praise and cursing come from his/her mouth. Nor is it characteristic for us to praise God on one hand and curse our brothers on the other. This, too, is uncharacteristic of a true believer.

Christians should honor the purpose of speech by using our mouths to praise God and leading others to obey the Lord through faith in Jesus Christ. Every word we speak should be “gracious” and “seasoned with salt” (Col. 4:6). We should always ask, “What would Jesus say?”

Jesus explained that what comes out of our mouths is that which fills our hearts. Sooner or later, the evil in the heart comes out through the mouth in curses and swearing. But when our hearts are filled with the goodness of God, praise for Him and love for others will pour forth. Our speech will always indicate what is in our hearts. “The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45).

Why is it a sin to cuss / swear / curse? Sin is a condition of the heart, the mind, and “the inner man” (Romans 7:22), which is manifested in our thoughts, actions and words. When we swear and curse, we are giving evidence of the polluting sin in our hearts that must be confessed and repented of. Once we confess our personal sins to God and ask forgiveness for them, we are restored to perfect fellowship and communion with Him. Thankfully, our great God is “faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). When this happens, we receive a new nature from God (2 Corinthians 5:17), our hearts are transformed, and our speech reflects the new nature God has created within us.

The Thesaurus defines “profanity” as “The quality or state of being obscene. Something that is offensive to accepted standards of decency.” The Law Encyclopedia defines “profanity” as “Irreverence towards sacred things; particularly, an irreverent or blasphemous use of the name of God; vulgar, irreverent, or coarse language.”

On March 5, 2007, the Christian broadcasting company VCY America ceased broadcasting “Insight for Living”, the radio program of Charles Swindoll, reformed preacher, author, and former president and Professor Emeritus of Dallas Seminary. The company listed many instances in which Swindoll had used language that the company considered “unbecoming a pastor, and…inappropriate for our listeners”. This language included words such as ‘crap’, ‘buns’, ‘heck’, and ‘balls’. This language was not only seen as offensive and crude, but a barrier to ministry. VCY affirmed their stance that Christian radio is a “witnessing tool”, and such inappropriate language abases Christian radio, interfering with its ability to minister effectively.

In January of 2007, author and pastor John Piper, preaching to college students at a Christian conference, said that God “kicks our ass,” referring to God’s discipline for his children. Reflecting on his slip of the tongue, Piper stated that he might have used it to try to be “gutsy and real and not middle-class pious”, but wished he hadn’t used it, reasoning that, “It backfires if one becomes unholy to make people holy”.

We must remember that over time language does change, as does connotation and the definition of profane. History proves that what was once profane is no longer, and what is now profane may not have always been and will not always be. Perhaps a more appropriate scripture for this cultural shift in how language is used is I Corinthians 10:23, “"Everything is permissible" - but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"—but not everything is constructive.” So when in doubt, don’t. The Bible is clear, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” [Ephesians 4:32]. We need to be careful how we speak, no matter what language we choose.

The following response by Wayne Grudem may be helpful to you: http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Articles/ByTitle/1945_Wayne_Grudem_on_Offensive_Language/

[answered by Pastoral Intern Ray Lee]

Q: When people pass away, can they look down on earth and see us?

2010-07-06T10:17:00.000-07:00

A: Great Question! There is no clear biblical passage to answer your question but consider the following.

Within the Christian faith, there is a significant amount of confusion regarding what happens after death. Some hold that after death, everyone “sleeps” until the final judgment, after which everyone will be sent to heaven or hell. Others believe that at the moment of death, people are instantly judged and sent to their eternal destinations. Still others claim that when people die, their souls/spirits are sent to a “temporary” heaven or hell, to await the final resurrection, the final judgment, and then the finality of their eternal destination. So, what exactly does the Bible say happens after death?

First, for the believer in Jesus Christ, the Bible tells us that after death believers’ souls/spirits are taken to heaven, because their sins are forgiven by having received Christ as Savior (John 3:16, 18, 36). For believers, death is to be “away from the body and at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:6-8;Philippians 1:23). However, passages such as 1 Corinthians 15:50-54 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 describe believers being resurrected and given glorified bodies. If believers go to be with Christ immediately after death, what is the purpose of this resurrection? It seems that while the souls/spirits of believers go to be with Christ immediately after death, the physical body remains in the grave “sleeping.” At the resurrection of believers, the physical body is resurrected, glorified, and then reunited with the soul/spirit. This reunited and glorified body-soul-spirit will be the possession of believers for eternity in the new heavens and new earth (Revelation 21-22).

Second, for those who do not receive Jesus Christ as Savior, death means everlasting punishment. However, similar to the destiny of believers, unbelievers also seem to be sent immediately to a temporary holding place, to await their final resurrection, judgment, and eternal destiny. Luke 16:22-23 describes a rich man being tormented immediately after death. Revelation 20:11-15 describes all the unbelieving dead being resurrected, judged at the great white throne, and then being cast into the lake of fire. Unbelievers, then, are not sent to hell (the lake of fire) immediately after death, but rather are in a temporary realm of judgment and condemnation. However, even though unbelievers are not instantly sent to the lake of fire, their immediate fate after death is not a pleasant one. The rich man cried out, “I am in agony in this fire” (Luke 16:24).

Therefore, after death, a person resides in a “temporary” heaven or hell. After this temporary realm, at the final resurrection, a person’s eternal destiny will not change. The precise “location” of that eternal destiny is what changes. Believers will ultimately be granted entrance into the new heavens and new earth (Revelation 21:1). Unbelievers will ultimately be sent to the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15). These are the final, eternal destinations of all people—based entirely on whether or not they had trusted Jesus Christ alone for salvation (Matthew 25:46; John 3:36).

After death, the believer in Christ is in heaven and is most assuredly perfectly content to enjoy the glories of heaven and worshipping the majesty of the Lord without worrying about the Earth and its inhabitants. For those who do not receive Jesus as Savior, the story of the rich man and Lazarus is instructive (Luke 16:19-31).

[answered by Pastoral Intern Ray Lee]

Q: My dad says that he doesn't fear the Lord, but he respects God. Is he right? And what does it really mean to fear the Lord?

2010-07-06T10:15:00.000-07:00

A: Great Question! Respect for God is part of the story but not the whole story. Consider the following.

For the unbeliever, the fear of God is the fear of the judgment of God and eternal death, which is eternal separation from God (Luke 12:5; Hebrews 10:31). For the believer, the fear of God is something much different. The believer's fear is reverence of God. Hebrews 12:28-29 is a good description of this: “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our ’God is a consuming fire.’”

This reverence and awe is exactly what the fear of God means for Christians. This is the motivating factor for us to surrender to the Creator of the Universe.

Proverbs 1:7 declares, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge.” Until we understand who God is and develop a reverential fear of Him, we cannot have true wisdom. True wisdom comes only from understanding who God is and that He is holy, just, and righteous. Deuteronomy 10:12, 20-21 records, “And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Fear the LORD your God and serve him. Hold fast to him and take your oaths in his name. He is your praise; he is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes.” The fear of God is the basis for our walking in His ways, serving Him, and, yes, loving Him.

Some redefine the fear of God for believers to “respecting” Him. While respect is definitely included in the concept of fearing God, there is more to it than that. A biblical fear of God, for the believer, includes understanding how much God hates sin and fearing His judgment on sin—even in the life of a believer. Hebrews 12:5-11 describes God’s discipline of the believer. While it is done in love (Hebrews 12:6), it is still a fearful thing. As children, the fear of discipline from our parents no doubt prevented some evil actions. The same should be true in our relationship with God. We should fear His discipline, and therefore seek to live our lives in such a way that pleases Him.

Fearing God means having such a reverence for Him that it has a great impact on the way we live our lives. The fear of God is respecting Him, obeying Him, submitting to His discipline, and worshipping Him in awe. Fear of God brings with it many blessings and benefits. It is the beginning of wisdom and leads to good understanding (Psalm 111:10). Only fools despise wisdom and discipline (Proverbs 1:7). Furthermore, fear of God leads to life, rest, peace, and contentment (Proverbs 19:23). It is the fountain of life (Proverbs 14:27) and provides a security and a place of safety for us (Proverbs 14:26).

[answered by Pastoral Intern Ray Lee]

Q: Are Christians allowed to date in school?

2010-06-30T13:21:00.000-07:00

A: There have been numerous questions that have been asked in reference to dating, so I will be pointing you to some of them in this answer.

Firstly, let's establish something. The Bible does not talk about dating specifically as during those times, people did not date. They went from engaged to married. Dating is a late 20th century model of courtship.

So having said that, I believe there are some things that you must ask yourself before you decide to date a person. Mainly, you need to reflect on why you wish to date in the first place. Read THIS blog and then come back to continue this answer.

I suspect that you are also asking this question because there may be a person of interest at your school in which case a question has been answered about how to deal with crushes. Go to THIS blog, read it and especially watch the youtube video at the end.

Now, to answer the question at hand, are Christians allowed to date in school; I would say that if you are seriously ready to consider marriage and the person who you are thinking about dating is on the same page, than you are ready to date. The fact is that most people in elementary and high school are NOT ready for this type of lifetime commitment even if they think are. Thus, as a Pastor, I highly recommend that those in elementary and high school hold off on dating until university. Of course, this is just a guideline and ultimately, the choice is yours. But if you're asking for my solid answer, that would be it.

Please visit these blogs HERE for more information on dating, parental approval and if it's okay for Christians to date non-Christians.

[answered by Pastor KJT]

Q: Suppose a Christian did something really sinful, but died in a car accident the same day before they had a chance to repent and ask God for forgiveness. Will this person still be saved?

2010-06-30T13:04:00.000-07:00

...And if the answer is yes, then won't haven be a non-perfect place because that person still hasn't been forgiven of their sins, but still entered the Kingdom of God?

A: This is quite an interesting question! Let's tackle it one step at a time.

Yes, a Christian who did something very sinful and died in a car accident before repenting will be saved. You have to remember that salvation does not rest upon a constant confessing of every sin a person has ever committed. When we place our faith in Jesus Christ, the Scriptures tell us that we are granted salvation. We do not have to keep on asking for forgiveness in order to maintain our status of being saved. Look at this passage from Colossians 1:13-14

¹³For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, ¹⁴in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

This passage clearly outlines the fact that Christ has brought us out of darkness and into the light and we have been redeemed by His sacrifice. This sacrifice results in the forgiveness of sins.

So having established the fact that we are forgiven of our sins once and for all through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, a Christian who has full knowledge and acceptance of this is redemption will enter heaven "clean". The need to literally and legalistically ask for forgiveness and seek repentance after each and every time we sin is unnecessary since we have been given grace already. However, a mature Christian should possess an attitude of repentance in which he/she recognizes that they are sinners and accept the need for a Saviour.

For further understanding on this topic, please go HERE and read this blog post.

[answered by Pastor KJT]

Q: How do I bring my friends to church when all they care about is being entertained?

2010-06-30T12:28:00.000-07:00

...Whenever I bring them to Agape events, they usually just come for the entertainment without getting the real message behind everything. Plus, one of my friends are so fixated on her own thoughts about life (first life, second life...) that it's hard to get my thoughts to her. I want to bring my friends to church, but not so they will be entertained. What should I do?

A: Dear friend, do not be discouraged! I know that it is tough to reach out to friends and introduce them to our Christian faith, but many have been in your boat and there are also many who have succeeded!

I think the most important thing to do at this point is twofold:

1. we have to pray for our friends - forcing them to come to fellowship or church activities are only going to help so much. We have to really lift them up to God and ask the Holy Spirit to work in their hearts. After all, it is not us that have the capabilities to change them, but God Himself. So keep your friends in prayer and remember to trust that God will do what He needs to do in His time.
2. we have to model it for our friends - in addition to praying for them, we have to model the Christlike life to them. You have to give them a reason to want to change, a reason to want to seek out who this Christian God us. If your life is nothing different then theirs, then they'll wonder why they need to change.

Now, specifically about your friend that has her own thoughts about life. You mentioned about her believing that she has a first life and second life and this seems to be aligned with the teachings of Hinduism and Buddhism. In order to evangelize, we cannot just impose our beliefs on others. We have to take the time to understand and love them. In the case of your friend, it's important to see where they are coming from and then address the issue from there. Remember that just as strongly as you hold onto your faith as a Christian, she may hold onto her own religion. We have to be sensitive and understanding, but also not waiver in the Truth we believe in.

For more information about how to evangelize and specifically about Buddhists and Hindus, please go to here to see other Ask Us Answers.

[answered by Pastor KJT]

Q: Can Christians listen to the band My Chemical Romance and other bands like it?

2010-06-30T09:19:00.000-07:00

A: Only having one My Chemical Romance (The Black Parade) in my iPod, I will have to say that in short, the answer is Yes, we can listen to bands like MCR and other bands in their genre. However, this doesn't imply "free reign" to not using godly discernment. While all music in the "Christian" or "Non-Christian" categories ALL belong to God, not all are glorifying to God or edifying to a person.

As an example, let's use the song "The Black Parade" as an example. The song speaks to some parallels to Trinitarian references and talks somewhat about the songwriters "faith" (Gerard Way). I'm not too clear on what his faith is about, or whether he considers himself a follower of Christ, but there are definitely some Christian influence that impacts this song. On the surface, Way sounds like someone who is struggling with understanding death and its implications. Anyways, the song itself has some interesting themes to ponder and musically speaking, the musical arrangement itself is crafted quite EPIC-ly in the vein of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" or Radiohead's "Paranoid Android".

Overall, I'm sure MCR and other bands like them have their own personal issues. They have probably written some terrible songs or songs that just perpetuate a sense of depression or hopelessness. But on the other hand, they've probably written some songs that have boosted some people's spirits (especially in some forums I've read). In terms of the question on whether this kind of music is "permissible" to listen to, I'll point to the Apostle Paul:

"Everything is permissible for me"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"—but I will not be mastered by anything." - 1 Corinthians 6:12

When we follow Christ and live by His word, we will see things differently, through His eyes. Music and culture isn't neutral and should be waded through carefully. Questions in light of this verse: "is this song beneficial to me?" or "does this music master me or manipulate me?". Overall, if we truly follow Christ, we'll ask these kinds of questions before we take stances based on preference.

Also read this answer for some more information on discernment in our culture. Click HERE.

[answered by Pastor Shu-Ling Lee, English Congregation Worship Pastor]

Q: Are all people in this world God's people? God calls us to love others... does this include non-christians and people who hate God as well?

2010-06-29T13:32:00.000-07:00

A: Firstly, let's establish if we are all in fact God's people.

Considering the fact that God created us, yes, we are all literally God's people. We are created in His image and we belong to Him. Whether or not people realize this is or not and whether or not we are for God or against Him, is another story. But Biblically speaking, everything on earth belongs to God, including us.

Secondly, let's understand the meaning of love and how it relates with others.

Jesus demonstrates the ultimate love for humankind when He died on the cross. It's important to understand that this sacrifice that Jesus did was not for specific people who loved Him. He died for everyone. Even, and especially for the ones who condemned Him to the cross. Take a look at this passage below:

¹²My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. ¹³Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. ¹⁴You are my friends if you do what I command.- John 15:12-14

This verse explains to us that we are to love one another as [Jesus] has loved us. And what is that love? Verse 13 explains how Jesus epitomizes and shows us the meaning of love - that a man would lay down his life for his friends.

We are given a command to love each other and an example of what it means to do that. The challenge is as you say, to love those who hate God. If Christ could do that and lay down His life for people who hated Him, than we too can learn how to embrace those who hate us. This is a hard concept to master, but something that God wants us to do.

[answered by Pastor KJT]

Q: Satan's Attacks or God's Work?

2010-06-25T15:09:00.000-07:00

How can you differentiate between what are God's works and what are Satan's attacks if in the case that the event is bad. Sometimes God puts you through tough times so that He can reveal Himself more easily to you, but how do you know that those tough times are not created by Satan? When Satan attacks you, how do you know that's not God trying to reveal Himself to you?

This is a very thoughtful question. Sometimes we unwittingly go through our problems and struggles in life not seeing that God has a greater purpose for our suffering. Or we lose sight of the spiritual, and are convinced that all that exists is what we see: the physical. There are a few points I’d like to make from the Bible:

Satan DOES attack

There IS indeed spiritual warfare; it’s real. Eph 6:13 says, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm.” That is to say, that Satan is at work, tempting, lying, fixing circumstances against Christians. However, that is not to say that Satan is to blame for every bad thing that happens to us.

God DOES work

It is also true that God tests us to grow our faith. He is not as concerned with our physical or financial wellbeing as he is with our faith. 1 Peter 1:6-7 says, “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” How exactly does this work? Well, somehow, when we go through trials in life, it forces us to not look within and be so self-absorbed. When our eyes are off of ourselves and our ambitions, we can focus them on God. It’s sort of like a wake-up call to us when we get so caught up in our routines. Though it’s natural to want to avoid pain and suffering, Paul argued that it was good for us to see the bigger picture and take joy in it. Romans 5:3-4 says, “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.”

God uses EVERYTHING

Here’s the kicker: to God, everything can be an opportunity for Him to reveal Himself more to you. Whether it is an intentional attack from Satan (spiritual warfare), or whether it is God putting you through trials to refine you, they serve one and the same purpose: His glory through our sanctification. In both causes of suffering, our response ought to be the same: to turn to God. And in that lies our true source of comfort from the pain.

How do we know everything can be used as an opportunity for God? Well, I’ll point out one great example that you should look into if you have the time. In the story of Job, Satan needed to ask for permission from God to inflict suffering on Job. God allowed it in his sovereignty and love. After losing several family members and all of his earthly riches, by the end of the book, we see that Job’s faith had been proven strong and was even bolstered by his experience of trial. All this was possible, even though it was Satan’s idea to test him. A great theme in the story of the entire Bible is how God turns “bad things” (such as spiritual warfare and opposition from Satan) into good things for His purpose. Job was an example of this. You can also see this clearly in the story of Joseph (Gen 37-50). Perhaps the greatest examples of these are in the life of Jesus, how God turned a suffering betrayed saviour into the hope for our world. When you believe in a sovereign God, that transcends time, sees everything, is more powerful than anything… it should all make sense how God is able to use everything for our good, and ultimately, His glory.

[Answered by Mark Cheng, Agape Counselor]

Q: How do you know when God is calling you forward to do something?

2010-06-25T11:30:00.000-07:00

Great Question! Let me answer this with two points.

1. How Can We Recognize The Voice Of God?

This has been asked by countless people throughout the ages. Samuel heard the voice of God, but did not recognize it until he was instructed by Eli (1 Samuel 3:1-10). Gideon had a physical revelation from God, and he still doubted what he had heard to the point of asking for a sign, not once, but three times (Judges 6:17-22, 36-40). When we are listening for God's voice, how can we know that He is the one speaking?

First of all, we have something that Gideon and Samuel did not. We have the complete Bible, the inspired Word of God, to read, study, and meditate on. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). When we have a question about a certain topic or decision in our lives, we should see what the Bible has to say about it. God will never lead us or direct us contrary to what He has taught or promised in His Word (Titus 1:2).

Second, to hear God's voice we must recognize it. Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27). Those who hear God’s voice are those who belong to Him—those who have been saved by His grace through faith in the Lord Jesus. These are the sheep that hear and recognize His voice, because they know Him as their Shepherd and they know His voice. If we are to recognize God's voice, we must belong to Him.

Third, we hear His voice when we spend time in prayer, Bible study, and quiet contemplation of His Word. The more time we spend intimately with God and His Word, the easier it is to recognize His voice and His leading in our lives. Employees at a bank are trained to recognize counterfeits by studying genuine money so closely that it is easy to spot a fake. We should be so familiar with God’s Word that when God does speak to us or lead us, it is clear that it is God. God speaks to us so that we may understand truth. While God can speak audibly to people, He speaks primarily through His Word, and sometimes through the Holy Spirit to our consciences, through circumstances, and through other people. By applying what we hear to the truth of Scripture, we can learn to recognize His voice.

2. How Can I Know When God Is Telling Me Or Leading Me To Do Something?

Pray! Especially when you’re unsure of God’s will for your life. “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5). “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him” (Psalm 37:7). If you don’t know what to pray, you can always personalize and pray verses such as, “Show me the way I should go, for to You I lift up my soul” (Psalm 143:8) and, “Guide me in Your truth and teach me” (Psalm 25:5).

The primary way God commands us is through His Word. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). If Scripture commands something of us, there’s no need to hesitate and wonder if it’s really God’s will for us. He cares so much about us that He already gave a plain and clear guidebook to life – the Bible. “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105). “The Law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple” (Psalm 19:7). “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to Your Word” (Psalm 119:9). Likewise, God never, ever contradicts Himself, so He’ll never ask you to something contradictory to Scripture. He will never ask you to sin. He will never ask you to do something Jesus Christ wouldn’t do. We need to immerse ourselves in the Bible, so we will know which actions meet God’s standards. “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth: meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything that is written in it” (Joshua 1:8).

Christians also have the Holy Spirit to discern what is, or is not, God’s will for our lives. “The Spirit of truth . . . will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13). Sometimes the Holy Spirit will either agitate our conscience if we’re making a wrong decision, or He will pacify and encourage us when we’re leaning toward the right decision. Even if He doesn’t intervene in such noticeable ways, we can have confidence that He’s always in charge. Sometimes God can alter a situation without us even realizing He has acted. “The Lord will guide you always” (Isaiah 58:11).

If God is calling you to take a leap of faith, be encouraged by His presence. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9). And remember, “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

[Answered by Ray Lee, Summer Intern]

Q: We all know that having sex with out bf/gf is a sin, but if we simply fall asleep on the same bed with them, is it also considered a sin?

2010-06-25T11:28:00.000-07:00

Great Question! Let me answer this with three points:

1. SEX Before Marriage Is Sin.

The Bible undeniably condemns adultery and sexual immorality, and according to 1 Corinthians 7:2 sex before marriage is sexually immoral, “But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.” In this verse, Paul states that marriage is the “cure” for sexual immorality. First Corinthians 7:2 is essentially saying that, because people cannot control themselves and so many are having immoral sex outside of marriage, people should get married. Then they can fulfill their passions in a moral way. Sex before marriage is included in the biblical definition of sexual immorality. There are numerous Scriptures that declare sex before marriage to be a sin (Acts 15:20; 1 Corinthians 5:1;6:13, 18; 10:8; 2 Corinthians 12:21; Galatians 5:19; Ephesians 5:3; Colossians 3:5; 1 Thessalonians 4:3; Jude 7). The Bible promotes complete abstinence before marriage. Sex between a husband and his wife is the only form of sexual relations of which God approves. Hebrews 13:4 says, “Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral”. Abstinence is God’s only policy when it comes to sex before marriage. Abstinence saves lives, protects babies, gives sexual relations the proper value, and, most importantly, honors God.

2. What Is An Appropriate Level Of Intimacy Before Marriage?

Ephesians 5:3 tells us, “But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality or of any kind of impurity...because these are improper for God's holy people.” Anything that even “hints” of sexual immorality is inappropriate for a Christian. The Bible does not give us a list of what qualifies as a “hint” or tell us what physical activities are approved for a couple to engage in before marriage. If there is any doubt whatsoever whether an activity is right for an unmarried couple, it should be avoided (Romans 14:23). Any and all sexual and pre-sexual activity should be restricted to married couples. An unmarried couple or those dating should avoid any activity that tempts them toward sex that gives the appearance of immorality. The more a married couple has to share exclusively between themselves, the more special and unique the sexual relationship in that marriage becomes.

3. What About Falling Asleep On The Same Bed?"

Spending time alone with a member of the opposite sex whom we find attractive can present temptations that can be very hard to resist. The Christian dating couple must have boundaries in place and be committed to not crossing them. If they find this hard to do, they must take steps to ensure that Christ will always be honored during their time together and that sin is never given a chance to take hold of their relationship.

Jesus was more concerned with the heart than with specific rules. That means that the real question is “What is your motivation?” Is your motivation to get away with as much as you can without actually sleeping together? Is your motivation to guard the purity of your brother and sister in Christ to the utmost so that you can stand blameless before God? Is your motivation to guard your relationships against the temptation to stumble in a moment of weakness? The way in which you answer these questions will have a direct impact on your actions.

The following questions will help you diagnose the wisdom of your Christian behavior. So consider these as you navigate the physical side of dating:

1. Should I do this? What does the Bible say? (For instance, are you engaging in anything sexually immoral, prohibited or tempting yourself towards possibly sinning?)

2. What does my conscience tell me? (You may not be doing something explicitly condemned as wrong, but is it wise? Is it beneficial? What if family or non-Christian friends see, or hear or walk in on us?)

3. What does my weakness require? (What is my greatest temptation? If I have struggled with sexual immorality in the past, how can I guard against it now?)

4. What does my brother or sister in Christ need? (Sister, are you tempting your brother to stumble by the way you are dressed when he comes over to your place at night? Brother, are you taking advantage of a woman’s need for affection in order to push the boundaries of a physical relationship?)

In your dating relationship, learning to say “NO!” may be the best positive answer that you can give to be faithful as a follower of Christ as you guard your hearts!

[Answered by Ray Lee, Summer Intern]

Q: Unanswered prayers?

2010-06-25T11:21:00.001-07:00

Sometimes I feel so distant from God and that my prayers don't get answered. I know He's done some amazing things for me in the past, but it makes me wonder if all those amazing things were just coincidences. Recently, I prayed that I would do well on a presentation and I actually barely passed it. The Bible says that whatever we ask for, we will get it as long as it is according to His will, but if in this situation, how would it not be according to His will?

How many Christians have prayed for someone or something, only to see their prayers go unanswered? How many have prayed and perhaps have “given up” because either they have become discouraged through a weakness of faith or have come to believe that whatever they have been praying for isn’t God’s will? Nevertheless, how we deal with unanswered prayer is not just for our own benefit but for the benefit of others as well. Our privilege of prayer is from God, and it is as much ours now as when it was given to Israel (Deuteronomy 4:7). Yet, when we pray or speak to the One in Heaven, there are times when He seems not to answer. There can be many reasons for this and the Scriptures themselves suggest why and how our prayers are being dealt with by the One who is our representative (Hebrews 4:15).

A primary reason why prayer is unanswered is sin. God cannot be mocked or deceived and He who sits enthroned above knows us intimately, down to our every thought (Psalm 139:1-4). If we are not walking in the Way, or we keep anger or hatred in our hearts toward our sister or brother, or we ask for things with the wrong motives (such as from selfish desires), then we can expect God not to answer our prayer because He does not hear (2 Chronicles 7:14; Deuteronomy 28:23; Psalm 66:18; James 4:3). Sin is the ‘stopper’ to all the potential blessings that we would receive from the infinite ‘bottle’ of God’s mercy! If only we would be more careful to avoid sin, we would be more worthy recipients of all the blessings and foretastes of the glory that is ours in Christ Jesus (Job 11:13-18). Indeed, there are times when our prayers are evil’ in the Lord’s sight, most notably when we clearly do not belong to the Lord either because of unbelief (Proverbs 15:8) or because we are being hypocrites in what we say and how we actually live (Mark 12:40).

Another reason why prayer seems to go unanswered is that the Lord is drawing out of our faith a deeper reliance and trust in Him, which should bring out of us a deeper sense of gratitude, love and humility. In turn, this causes us to benefit spiritually for He gives grace to the humble (James 4:6; Proverbs 3:34).

As you prayed for your presentation, did you do your part and give your very best to the Lord? Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men”. Remember that God is not here to bless all and everything that we ask, want or desire. Perhaps the Lord is seeking to train and refine you as Romans 5:3-5 tells us that “… we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.”

We all need to pray with the right motivation. Selfish motives will not be blessed by God. “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives …” (James 4:3). We can have confidence that the Holy Spirit will accomplish His work in presenting our prayers to the Father according to His perfect will and timing, and we can rest in the knowledge that He is working all things together for our good (Romans 8:28).

[Answered by Ray Lee, Summer Intern]

Q: If Lazarus died and rose again, did he get to see what heaven was like before he was risen from the dead?

2010-06-24T13:18:00.000-07:00

A: Truth be told, this is a question that I cannot fully answer with certainty. Mainly because this is a wonder that is not fully explained to us as it is miracle that Christ performs, but also because it is not addressed in the Bible. It's just something that we have to take by faith as truth and trust that what the Bible tells us is in fact what happened.

I will say that when we die, our bodies are not resurrected, it is our souls. For Christians (which is the case for Lazarus), we are told that are souls are taken to heaven as we have been redeemed by Christ's sacrifice and forgiveness. Our bodies are left "as is" until the 2nd and final coming of Christ in which case our bodies and souls are resurrected.

Again, the case of Lazarus is a phenomena that we cannot understand. God does, what God needs to do. For more information, please go HERE.

[answered by Pastor KJT]

Q: Can a Chrsitian sociopath exist?

2010-06-22T13:32:00.000-07:00

This is a difficult question, but I'll give it my best shot. I have consulted a professor of psychology/medical doctor regarding your question, and the response I got was one of uncertainty. In the first place, the definition of a "sociopath" (i.e. person living with "antisocial personality disorder") is debatable and complex. If we must define one, generally, it is someone who is living as a the "judge of all." They have little or no conscience and they are filled with pride. They are the opposite of a modest God fearing person. From this perspective, the answer to your question would be "NO." However, there are two other considerations:

1. It has been documented that some sociopaths have become Christ-followers. Through the grace and power of God, they lead repentant and reformed lives. In this case, the answer would still be "NO."

2. A Christian becomes mentally ill and develops this condition. This person is saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9), but for whatever reasons, he starts exhibited the symptoms of sociopathy. In this case, the answer would be "YES."

Summarily, it would appear that no matter the circumstances, the symptoms/actions belonging to a sociopath are completely incompatible with the characteristics of a Christian. Therefore, in most cases, the answer is "NO."

[Answered by Pastor HM]

If a Christian is cremated, how does his/her body "rise from the ground" when Jesus coming in the 2nd coming?

2010-06-22T13:07:00.000-07:00

Great little question. The answer is straight-forward: Christians will be given new, glorious, resurrected bodies. Our old bodies do not rise; they stayed burned in the ground. Philippians 3:20-21 says, “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” Jesus will return one day and give us new glorified resurrected bodies. Think of a seed that is buried in the ground and dies. After a while, it will emerge as something more glorious and beautiful than we could ever imagine. When a Christian dies, we too are buried but likewise spring forth with a glorified resurrected body. The difference between our body now and our future resurrected body is that our body now is mortal and can be subject to sin, but our glorified body is not. It cannot be subject to sin or suffering.

[Answered by Pastor HM]

Q: "Dealing"?

2010-06-20T16:28:00.002-07:00

Recently, I got introduced to a few high school terms, and one of them was “dealing” (in terms of relationships and hooking up like when two people act like their dating, but in reality are not). My Christian friend has been dealing here and there, but I feel as if it’s not right in the eyes of the Lord. Is there a biblical stance on this I can show them to help them resolve their problem?

Great Question! Based on what you’ve mentioned, it sounds like your friends are not being truthful to one another and to their friends. The Bible nowhere presents an instance where lying is considered to be the right thing to do. The ninth commandment prohibits bearing false witness (Exodus 20:16). Proverbs 6:16-19 lists “a lying tongue” and “a false witness who pours out lies” as two of the seven abominations to the Lord. Love “rejoices with the truth” (1 Corinthians 13:6). For other Scriptures that speak negatively of lying, see Psalm 119:29, 163; 120:2; Proverbs 12:22; 13:5; Ephesians 4:25; Colossians 3:9; and Revelation 21:8. There are many examples of liars in Scripture, from Jacob’s deceit in Genesis 27 to the pretense of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5. Time after time, we see that falsehood leads to misery, loss, and judgment. This demonstrates how we are to conduct ourselves as children of God.

Christian ethics and how to make decisions in life is well summarized by Colossians 3:1-6, 9-10:

“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming… Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.”

  Remember that it is not appropriate to be involved in multiple Christian dating relationships because the whole process inevitably will involve more lies and deceit to cover up past deeds. There will be hurt, humiliation, embarrassment, and heartbreak when the eventual break-up takes place. We are commanded as followers of Christ to love one another as Christians [1 Peter 4:8; 1 John 4:7; Luke 6:31], love our neighbor as ourselves [Mark 12:31] and not to bring pain to one another [Romans 13:10]. James 5:12 tells us that, “Above all, my brothers, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your "Yes" be yes, and your "No," no, or you will be condemned.”

Dating is not a game and neither are people's hearts and feelings. Let’s learn to honor, respect and value one other [1 Corinthians 13:4-8]. Let's learn to be Godly, truthful and moral in the way we relate to the opposite sex. Let's always remember to stick to our Christian fundamental beliefs and values especially when it comes to dating and how we live our lives!

If your friends would like to learn more about dating and courtship, the following link may be of interest to them: What does the Bible say about dating / courting? http://www.gotquestions.org/dating-courting.html

HOPE THIS WAS HELPFUL! THANKS FOR ASKING!

 [Answered by Ray Lee, Summer Intern]

Q: Hindu AND Christian?

2010-06-20T16:28:00.001-07:00

I have a friend who says she's Hindu and Christian. I want to share the gospel with her & be able to tell her that it's not really "right" to have 2 different faiths but I don't know how to do so without offending her.

Great Question! The question is, "What is the right religion?"   Fast food restaurants entice us by allowing us to order our food exactly the way we want it. Some coffee shops boast over a hundred different flavors and varieties of coffee. Even when buying houses and cars, we can look for one with all the options and features we desire. We no longer live in just a chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry world. Choice is king! You can find about anything you want according to your own personal likes and needs.  

So how about a religion that is just right for you? How about a religion that is guilt-free, makes no demands, and is not encumbered with a lot of bothersome do's and don'ts? It is out there, just as I have described. But is religion something to be chosen like a favorite flavor of ice cream?

  There are a lot of voices vying for our attention, so why should anyone consider Jesus above, say, Brahma, Muhammad or Confucius, Buddha, or Joseph Smith? After all, don't all roads lead to Heaven? Aren't all religions basically the same? The truth is that all religions do not lead to Heaven, just as all roads do not lead to Toronto.  

Jesus alone speaks with the authority of God because Jesus alone conquered death. Jesus, by His own power, walked away from the tomb three days after dying on a cruel Roman cross. Anyone with power over death deserves our attention and deserves to be heard. Jesus claims to be the only way to salvation (John 14:6). He is not a way; He is not one of many ways. Jesus is the way.  

Sharing the true gospel with others can be difficult, and it can become even more difficult when it involves your friend. The Bible tells us that some people will be offended at the gospel (Luke 12:51-53). However, we are commanded to share the true gospel and there is no excuse for not doing so (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8; 1 Peter 3:15).

One of the first things we can do is to pray for them. Pray that God would change their hearts and open their eyes (2 Corinthians 4:4) to the truth of Jesus and the gospel. Pray that God would convince them of His love for them and their need for salvation through Jesus Christ (John 3:16). Pray for wisdom as to how you can minister to them (James 1:5). In addition to praying, we must also live godly Christian lives in front of them, so they can see the change God has made in our own lives (1 Peter 3:1-2). As Saint Francis of Assisi once said, “Preach the gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”

So, pray for an opportunity to talk, share and explain the gospel with your friend. When the doors do open to share your faith and beliefs, remember to do so with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15). Trust that their heart has been prepared by God to receive His truth. Know also that the Holy Spirit will be with you! Ultimately, we must leave the salvation of our friends to God. It is God's power and grace that saves people, not our efforts. What we can do is pray for them, witness to them, and live the Christian life in front of them.

As you approach your friend carefully and humbly in prayer the following link may help you:

I am a Hindu, why should I consider becoming a Christian? http://www.gotquestions.org/Hindu-Christian.html

HOPE THIS WAS HELPFUL! THANKS FOR ASKING!

[Answered by Ray Lee, Summer Intern]

Q: What can I do to get my family to know Jesus and come to church?

2010-06-20T16:24:00.000-07:00

I've been brought to church ever since I was little by my older brother, but my parents are not Christian. A while after, my brother stopped going as well, but I continued to go ever since then. I really want my parents to get to know Jesus and come to church with me, but it is just so so difficult because they are Buddhist and they think that church is just a place that scams your money (offering). What can I do to get my family to know Jesus and come to church? They also think that coming to church is going against their Buddhist religion which will then bring them bad luck if they do go to church.

Great Question! I Know Many Students Struggle With This Issue! If you are part of a normal family, you'll probably find it quite hard to share the gospel with them. What part can you play in reaching out to your non-Christian parents?

They might have been keen for you to go to church earlier on, but now they're not so sure, because you're taking it far too seriously. They hoped that you'd learn some good morals and manners at church - but you've become really serious about Christianity - much too serious for their liking! Or they were against you becoming a Christian from the very beginning. They were horrified when you started going to church, and have put every obstacle in your way ever since.

Opposition from non-Christian parents can come in various forms. They give you a hard time every time you want to go to church or Bible study. They even schedule family events to purposely clash with church events so as to force you to choose between family and God. They may even forbid you to go to fellowship or worship service, and will most certainly point out all your faults as being hypocritical. "Aha", they say with delight, "is that what a good Christians does?"

Sharing the gospel with your parents can be very hard. Here are three things to consider and remember.
1. There is a reason why parents find it hard to hear the gospel from you - and that's because you are their child. You are younger than them - and you always will be. They can remember you drawing on walls and biting the furniture. And now you want to tell them which God is real? You want to tell them that the stuff they have believed in all along is completely wrong? Well of course you want to tell them these things - and it's for their own good. But they will find it impossibly hard to listen, for the simple fact that you are their child and they are not disposed to learn such things from their child. Imagine for a moment that roles are reversed - and your own child is telling you how it is. You would probably also find it hard to believe your child knows better than you!

2. Does this mean that it's completely hopeless? No. While they will be unreceptive to hear the gospel from you, they will hear it much better from someone their own age and life-stage. And this is simply how natural relationships work - they are much more likely to listen to their own peers. But how can you transform yourself from being a child, to being a 40 to 50-year old person? The answer is that you can't. However, chances are that there are others in your church and congregation that are already at the same age and life-stage as your own non-Christian parents.

That's right, the parents and adults in your church are exactly the thing you need to help witness to your non-Christian parents. And what you need to recognize is that you aren't the only one who reaches out to your parents. It’s our church and community as a whole who should be reaching out to your parents. And so what you need to do is to mobilize the other parents and adults in our church / congregation to help reach out to your parents.

How can you do this? If Bobby, your good friend at church has Christian parents, why not drop hints to see if your parents would like to either go over to meet your friend Bobby - and Bobby’s parents or come visit your home. And as they meet Bobby's parents they see that Christian's aren't strange and immature - they are in fact people just like them. And as they build relationships and common interests they can hear the gospel explained to them in time by someone their own age, and their own life-stage.

You could even make a point of finding out about events that the Chinese Cantonese or Mandarin side is running, and tell your parents about them. They can choose which activities they would feel comfortable in joining or attending. You could let the Chinese pastors responsible for caring or potential older people in our church consider helping to reach out, visit and pray for your non-Christian parents.

Thirdly, does that mean that there's nothing for you to do but sit back and watch? No. You play an important part in the process, by witnessing to your parents, showing them what Christians are like in day-to-day life. Bobby’’s parents can explain to them what Christianity's all about, but they can't hang around to live out the Christian life for your parents - only you can do that. And as you strive at being godly at home, as you make gospel-driven decisions, as you repent from your sin, you are witnessing to your parents.

This doesn't mean that you have to be perfect at home - for no Christian will be perfect. And in fact, that's not what a Christian is in the first place! Instead you are showing to them that a Christian is a sinner who has been forgiven, and is growing in godliness. They may still make sarcastic and hurtful comments when they catch you at your worst (and we are all at our worst at home). But if you are turning from your sins, and seeking to walk in righteousness, they will notice.

Above all, remember to pray for your parents and be patient with the work of the Holy Spirit!

Here are 2 links to questions that may help you understand Buddhism and how to help your parents:

What is Buddhism and what do Buddhists believe? http://www.gotquestions.org/buddhism.html
I am a Buddhist, why should I consider becoming a Christian? http://www.gotquestions.org/Buddhist-Christian.html

GREAT QUESTION. THANKS FOR ASKING!

[Answered by Ray Lee, Summer Intern]

This Sunday: Is Abortion Wrong?

2010-06-16T08:19:00.000-07:00

Q: Marianne Williamson quote?

2010-06-15T11:50:00.000-07:00

My friend used this quote by Marianne Williamson:

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

Could you explain what it means? I used to think that it was saying you can be proud, but God opposes the proud; therefore I believed it was wrong. But my teacher explained it as using the gifts God gave us... and now I'm confused.

To understand quotes, you must first understand the person behind the quote. Marianne Williamson is a leader in the "New Thought" (or "New Age") movement which incorporates elements of Christianity, Judaism and other world religions. However, their beliefs contradict almost everything Christianity is about. For example, the movement's promotes the ideas that "Infinite Intelligence" or "God" is ubiquitous (i.e. present in all places at once), spirit is the totality of real things, true human selfhood is divine, divine thought is a force for good, all sickness originates in the mind, and 'right thinking' has a healing effect.

If you read this article, it explains exactly why these ideas are completely contradictory to Christian doctrine. I believe the biggest problem with Williamson's quote is that it assumes that people are good people with good hearts and are capable of good actions. This is simply untrue. We are not good people. We are sinful people who desperately need God's mercy and salvation. We cannot "shine" or "manifest the glory of God" unless we receive this salvation in Christ first. Once we die to ourselves, repent of our sin, trust in God's forgiveness, and live in relationship with God - then we can "shine like stars" (Philippians 2:15) and "glorify God" (Psalm 50:15). Summarily, I cannot agree with your teacher. The quote isn't really about using the gifts God has given you. It's about the nature of mankind. You are correct. God does oppose the proud (James 4:6) and this is exactly what the quote is about: Being proud of yourself and inspiring others to do the same.

[Answered by Pastor HM]

Q: 40 Million Minutes Video?

2010-06-15T11:47:00.000-07:00

I was just wondering if you remember a video that you showed a long while back about time. It just showed how we spend a certain amount of time doing certain things a day and then how it adds up to years in a lifetime. It also talked about something like how we spend an average of like 10 min a day with God and in a life time it added up to years that were much less than all our other daily activities. If you remember this video, can you send me the link? Thanks.

Yes, I do remember the video. It's called "40 Million Minutes." Here it is. Enjoy!

Q: 1 Corinthians 10:13 says that we won't get tempted beyond what we can bear. But sometimes I feel overwhelmed by temptation. Why is that?

2010-06-12T08:34:00.001-07:00

The Scriptures tell us that we all face temptations. First Corinthians 10:13 says, “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man.” Perhaps this provides a little encouragement as we often feel that the world is caving in on us alone, and that others are immune to temptations. We are told that Christ was also tempted: “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15).  

Where do these temptations come from? First of all, they do not come from God, although He does allow them. James 1:13 says, “For God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.” In the first chapter of Job, we see that God allowed Satan to tempt Job, but with restrictions. Satan is roaming around on the earth like a lion, seeking people to devour (1 Peter 5:8). Verse 9 tells us to resist him, knowing that other Christians are also experiencing his attacks. By these passages we can know that temptations come from Satan and he knows to attack your most vulnerable area. We see in James 1:14 that temptation originates in us as well. We are tempted when we are “carried away and enticed by our own lust” (verse 14). We allow ourselves to think certain thoughts, allow ourselves to go places we should not go, and make decisions based on our lusts that lead us into the temptation.  

How then do we resist the temptations? First of all, we must return to the example of Jesus being tempted in the wilderness by Satan in Matthew 4:1-11. Each of Satan’s temptations was met with the same answer: “It is written,” followed by Scripture. If the Son of God used the Word of God to effectively end the temptations—which we know works because after three failed efforts, “the Devil left him” (v. 11)—how much more do we need to use it to resist our own temptations? All our efforts to resist will be weak and ineffective unless they are powered by the Holy Spirit through the constant reading, studying, and meditating on the Word. In this way, we will be “transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2). There is no other weapon against temptation except the “sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God” (Ephesians 6:17). Colossians 3:2 says, “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.” If our minds are filled with the latest TV shows, music and all the rest the culture has to offer, we will be bombarded with messages and images that inevitably lead to sinful lusts. But if our minds are filled with the majesty and holiness of God, the love and compassion of Christ, and the brilliance of both reflected in His perfect Word, we will find that our interest in the lusts of the world diminish and disappear. But without the Word’s influence on our minds, we are open to anything Satan wants to throw at us.  

Here, then, is the only means to guard our hearts and minds in order to keep the sources of temptation away from us. Remember the words of Christ to His disciples in the garden on the night of His betrayal: “Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41). Most Christians would not openly want to jump into sin, yet we cannot resist falling into it because our flesh is not strong enough to resist. We place ourselves in situations or fill our minds with lustful passions, and that leads us into sin.  We need to renew our thinking as we are told in Romans 12:1-2. We need to no longer think as the world thinks, or walk in the same way that the world walks. Proverbs 4:14-15 tells us, “Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not proceed in the way of evil men. Avoid it, do not pass by; Turn away from it and pass on.”

We need to avoid the path of the world that leads us into temptation because our flesh is weak. We are easily carried away by our own lusts.  Our faith in Jesus entitles us to his power and authority because we are literally co-heirs to God’s kingdom with Christ (Romans 8:15-17). We can enact that power and authority against the enemy in a several ways. Here are some examples:

Binding evil thoughts and their sources
Rebuking evil spirits and the works of evil whenever we’re being tempted
Taking our thoughts captive and making them obey Jesus / Casting evil thoughts out of our minds
Putting on the full armor of God
Speaking appropriate Scriptures that diffuse the lies of temptation

If we are doing the above actions while trusting in the Lord’s power and not our own strength, we will be successful in repelling the devil’s attacks. These aren’t magical incantations that ward off evil, but rather, they are legitimate and rightful claims to the authority of Jesus Christ.

Our faithful walk with the Lord each day will bolster our success in using his power and authority over evil. A faithful walk involves a daily surrender to God’s will and a commitment to keeping our “vessels” (body, soul and spirit) pure as much as possible. We do this by steering clear of temptations and quickly returning to God in repentance when we stumble in sin.

If at any point we’re feeling overwhelmed by the temptations of the devil, we can readily call on Jesus for help in prayer. Jesus, fully God, yet fully man, faced as strong a temptation as any of us will face in life. He was victorious and stands ready to help us resist the temptations we face. He offers to help us whenever we are tempted, because he cares for us and knows our struggles firsthand: “Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” (Hebrews 2:18).

May you continue to trust in God’s power and not in your own power. May you continue to focus on the name of the Lord, Jesus Christ that is above all other names. May you continue to equip yourself with the full armor and Word of God in all you do! Finding a trusted friend, adult or Pastor to talk to or to be your accountability partner would be a wise option to consider.

HOPE THIS WAS HELPFUL! THANKS FOR ASKING!

[Answered by Ray Lee, Summer Intern]

Q: What does the bible say about standing up for others?

2010-06-12T08:34:00.000-07:00

There is a girl that goes to my school whom a lot of people tend to make fun of and hate on. I feel bad that I am also guilty of laughing along sometimes and just being a bystander. But I've realized that it's really mean and I really don't mind being friends with her. I don't really care about what other people think if they see us together and I know I shouldn't be ashamed of being friends with her. What does the bible say about standing up for others, not following the crowd and not caring about the judgment of others?

Bullying Is A Problem

Every day thousands of teens wake up afraid to go to school. Bullying is a problem that affects millions of students, and it has everyone worried, not just the kids on its receiving end. Yet because parents, teachers, and other adults don't always see it, they may not understand how extreme bullying can get. Bullying occurs when a person is picked on over and over again by an individual or group. Two of the main reasons people are bullied are because of appearance and social status. Bullies pick on the people they think don't fit in, maybe because of how they look, how they act, kids who are shy and withdrawn, or because of their race or religion.

It sounds like your friend is experiencing verbal bullying that includes name-calling, taunting, teasing and insulting comments. Verbal bullying can also involve sending cruel instant or email messages or even posting insults about a person on a website. One of the most painful aspects of bullying is that it is relentless. Most people can take one episode of teasing or name calling. However, when it goes on and on, bullying can put a person in a state of constant fear.

What Does The Bible Say

The Bible also has many stories about bullies and people being bullied. For example the story of David and Goliath [1 Samuel 16, 18-19] and Saul who becomes Paul the apostle [Acts 9:1-19; 22:3-16; 26:4-18]. Two passages that are helpful are 2 Timothy 4:16-18 [“At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion's mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen”] and Luke 6:27-28 [“But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you”].

Consider the following principles:  

Learn to forgive, pray for and yes … learn to love the bully. 
Don't hang around with the bully - not only for your safety but to avoid being unduly influenced by people of questionable character.
 Trust God to take care of you. 
Remember that you are never alone, even with no one around. God is always by your side.

As you seek to be a friend, remember that a friend is one with whom you can be yourself and never fear that he or she will judge you. A friend is someone that you can confide in with complete trust. A friend can console and help us when we are in trouble. A friend is someone you respect and that respects you. An example of true friendship is the story of David and Saul's son Jonathan, who, in spite of his father Saul's pursuit of David and attempts to kill him, stood by his friend [1 Samuel 18:1-4; 19: 4-7; 20:11-17, 41-42].

What Can You Do?

If your friend is being bullied, try and talk to them about it. Let them know that as a friend, you want to help. Tell them that you'll be there for them whenever they need to talk, and take their problem seriously. If your friend has somebody to talk to like you, they won't feel so alone. Just knowing that there's someone on their side can help people who have become a target for people who bully. It's also important to tell them that it's not their fault they're being bullied, it's the person bullying who has the problem. They don't have to put up with it. It can be difficult when you know someone is being bullied. Bullying isn't a friendly thing to do. It's wrong and shouldn't be accepted by anyone.

Here are some things that may help you and your friend handle the verbal bullying:

Ignore The Bully And Walk Away. Bullies thrive on the reaction they get, and if you walk away, or ignore hurtful emails or instant messages, you're telling the bully that you don't care. Sooner or later the bully will probably get bored with trying to bother you.
Hold The Anger. Anger is the response he or she is trying to get. Bullies want to know they have control over your emotions.
Don't Get Physical. Don't use physical force (like kicking, hitting, or pushing). Not only are you showing your anger, you can never be sure what the bully will do in response.
Talk About It and Tell Someone. It may help to talk to a guidance counselor, teacher, friend, trusted adult or Pastor — anyone who can give you the support you need before the bullying escalates. Talking can be a good outlet for the fears and frustrations that can build when you're being bullied.
Find Your (True) Friends. If you've been bullied, find one or two true friends and confide how the bullying has hurt your feelings. Set the record straight by telling your friends quietly and confidently what's true and not true about you. Hearing a friend say, "I know the rumor's not true. I didn't pay attention to it," can help you realize that most of the time people see gossip for what it is — petty, rude, and immature. Perhaps you are that special friend who’s willing to take the time to care and listen.

GREAT QUESTION. THANKS FOR ASKING!

[Answered by Ray Lee, Summer Intern]

Q: Why wouldn't God let us all be Christians in the first place?

2010-06-08T13:46:00.002-07:00

Doesn't he want us to be all in heaven and rejoice with him since we are all children of God?

I've answered a similar question, "If God can change the non-Christian's heart, why doesn't God just make everyone become Christians?" so read that first. As to your question, let me answer in sequential points:

God created us to have a relationship with Him.
God also created us with free- will. Free will is the ability for a person to make choices that determine his actions.
With the ability to make choices comes the ability to sin (i.e. do things contradictory to the will of God)
Like everything else in life, sin has consequences. The most devastating consequence is separation from God. When we sin we have effectively severed our relationship with God.
God sent Jesus to restore that relationship by paying the penalty for our sin. When we trust in his sacrifice for us; ask for his forgiveness and repent of our sin, God gives us new life, new hope, and a new family. We become His children, rejoicing in Him on Earth and in Heaven.

[Answered by Pastor HM]

Q: The Bible tells us to obey our parents, but what if I know my parent's decisions are wrong?

2010-06-08T13:46:00.001-07:00

You are correct (Ephesians 6:1; Colossians 3:20). We should seek to honor our parents in much the same way that we strive to bring honor to God —in our thoughts, words, and behavior. However, while we are required to honor parents, this doesn’t include imitating ungodly ones (Ezekiel 20:18-19). If a parent ever instructs a child to do something that clearly contradicts God’s commands, that child must obey God rather than his/her parents (Acts 5:28). That being said, we must always show patience, respect and love to our parents even if we disagree with them and/or are forced to disobey them.

One crucial question you must humbly ask yourself is this: How do you know that the actions of your parents are wrong? Are you certain that your parents are doing something that is immoral, according to the Bible or is it only your perception? For instance, if your parents tell you that you cannot watch a certain movie, that doesn't go against Scripture. In fact, they probably have a very good reason. In cases such as these, you should obey your parents because it is a matter of disagreement, not immorality.

[Answered by Pastor HM]

Q: If it is considered illegal to buy pirated DVDs... then isn't buying them considered a sin? My Christian parents do that, and I feel uncomfortable because when more people buy these products, the more there is a need for the producers to create more illegal ''goods''.

2010-06-08T13:29:00.000-07:00

A: Buying pirated movies is perpetuating the industry and giving those who pirate movies or other forms of media a reason to continue what they are doing. Hence, I would consider this a sin as it:
1. is stealing
2. being a stumbling block because it provides a reason for others to continue sinning

In terms of your Christian parents buying the DVDS, I'd suggest that you talk to them about it! Many people simply have not thought about their actions in the way that you have and perhaps just having a discussion can open their eyes to something else.

I think that buying pirated DVD's is very prominent in our Chinese culture as many of the sources stem from China and the availability of them at malls such as First Markham Place or Pacific Mall. It's cheaper than buying the real thing (which, who doesn't want to get "a deal"?) and therefore you can buy a lot!

Pirating anything is illegal and sinful. Fake LV handbags, software, clothing, DVDs...it all cost producers and manufacturers to create and make. Thus, if we are getting them at a "discount", we are essentially stealing away their business, not to mention their creative ideas and R&D.

For those reading about this for the first time, please go HERE to see a previously answered question.

[answered by Pastor KJT]

Q: Are there really aliens/other life forms out there? Did the Bible state anything about this?

2010-06-08T12:24:00.000-07:00

Spock says "I've answered this question in a previous post. Check it out HERE."

Q: As a follow-up question to the skipping school question, what if your parents don't mind you skipping, or you know that the class isn't going to do anything that day? (for example, a supply teacher, a "review" period, etc.)

2010-06-04T11:41:00.000-07:00

A: The original question can be found HERE.

Just use your best judgment at this point. If your teacher is okay with it, if your parents give you permission, if you don't need to go to the class...than all the arrows point to the fact that it's okay.

This is a decision that you need to make, based on the information that you have and have weighed in your mind. I've already given you a general principle with Biblical back up. Whether or not you skip a class is your call. You need to discern this on your own.

[answered by Pastor KJT]

Q: I have recently became a Christian and I feel like my passion towards God has faded away and really want to get it back. But it is so difficult for me because I can't always make it to church weekly considering the rest of my family isn't Christian, it's only me. I became Christian with the guidance of a close friend who helped get to know God better. You can just imagine how much love I had for Jesus and how eager I was to follow him. After awhile, the passion began to fade as I kept sinning. I keep on asking God to forgive me, and now I think he's tired of forgiving me. Please give me some advise.

2010-06-04T11:29:00.000-07:00

A: Firstly, I want to address the last part of your question; about God being tired of forgiving you. Trust me...He is NOT tired of forgiving you. As a matter of fact, He wants to and has done so already and has shown this through the death of Jesus Christ. Our God is a God of grace and mercy. In the Bible, it talks how God forgives us and His mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23). What this verse basically means is that we sin on a daily basis, but we wake up every morning with a clean slate.

His love never fades, His grace will never go away and as long as you seek after Him, He's not going to "revoke" you. Please do remember this foundational truth.

In your situation, with your non-Christian parents and the inability to come to church and be apart of our community, I do realize it's tough. Continue to pray to deepen your walk with Christ and also spend time with some Christian friends at school. I've answered a similar question before, so I will link you to some more practical solutions. Please read my responses HERE and HERE.

Just remember that you are a child of His. And even in times of need and you don't "feel" Him, He is there waiting for us. Have patience and be joyful in this trying time.

[answered by Pastor KJT]

Q: Angry friend?

2010-06-03T10:14:00.000-07:00

My friend who I am working with on a project got really angry at me and called me some rude names. The others in our group tried to diffuse the situation but his anger kept flaring up. What should I do when we work on the project again?

Christian counselors report that 50 percent of people who come in for counseling have problems dealing with anger. Anger can shatter communication and tear apart relationships, and it ruins both the joy and health of many. Sadly, people tend to justify their anger instead of accepting responsibility for it. Everyone struggles, to varying degrees, with anger. Thankfully, God’s Word contains principles regarding how to handle anger in a godly manner, and how to overcome sinful anger.  

Anger turns to sin when it is selfishly motivated (James 1:20), when God’s goal is distorted (1 Corinthians 10:31), or when anger is allowed to linger (Ephesians 4:26-27). Instead of using the energy generated by anger to attack the problem at hand, it is the person who is attacked. Ephesians 4:15-19 says we are to speak the truth in love and use our words to build others up, not allow rotten or destructive words to pour from our lips. Unfortunately, this poisonous speech is a common characteristic of fallen man (Romans 3:13-14).

Anger becomes sin when it is allowed to boil over without restraint, resulting in a scenario in which hurt is multiplied (Proverbs 29:11), leaving devastation in its wake, often with irreparable consequences. Anger also becomes sin when the angry one refuses to calm down and seek peace, holds a grudge, or keeps it all inside (Ephesians 4:26-27). This can cause depression and irritability over little things, often things unrelated to the underlying problem. 

Our response to difficult people should center around the examples provided by Jesus, for He surely dealt with many difficult people during His time here on earth. Jesus dealings with these people were never out of an attitude of superiority or dominance, but rather as one coming with an attitude to serve. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus was quite specific in Luke 6: 27-31:

But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.

  Putting all this together, the way to deal with difficult and angry people is to love them, pray for them, expect to give rather than to receive, maintain a humble spirit, and relate to them in patience and kindness. But more important is the need to pray for the Spirit’s power to change our own hearts and minds toward the difficult person and enable us to see them as needing the same love, grace and mercy that God extended toward us. Remember that Jesus even forgave the men who were going to kill him (Luke 23:34-39). The way to deal with difficult people, then, is to imitate Christ’s humility and love. That kind of response helps to build and encourage one another and is pleasing to the Lord.

Consider the following steps:

 1. Consider Changing Your Behavior That Triggers Their Anger. Sometimes the most practical thing to do is to change whatever it is that triggers the anger in people.

2. Ask Them Directly Why They Are Angry Toward You. The quickest way to find out why someone appears constantly angry with you is to simply ask them. They may not even realize they were communicating angrily toward you, so your inquiry may open up a great dialogue.

3. Communicate Clearly How Their Negativity Affects You. Honestly letting people know how their behavior is affecting you emotionally is often an "eye-opener" to the other person. Start with "I feel" statements rather than "you" or "you should" statements.

4. Suggest Ways To Remedy Anger, If The Other Person Acknowledges He Or She Has An Anger Problem. If the angry person in your life is open to it, suggest talking to a trusted adult, Pastor or doctor to determine what the problem is. There are many underlying problems such as Depression, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), Bipolar Disorder, and other conditions which can lead to anger problems.

[Answered by Ray Lee, Summer Intern]

Q: Is porn a worse sin than normal lust?

2010-06-03T10:06:00.000-07:00

If so, how could we stop sinning with lust, we can control what we do, but we can't control our hormones right? Also, what about wet dreams?

Great questions! Let me try to answer this in two parts.

1. What Does The Bible Say About Lust and Pornography?

 In 1 John 2:16, we are told that the three main categories of sin are the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. Pornography definitely causes us to lust after flesh, and it is undeniably a lust of the eyes. According to Philippians 4:8, pornography definitely does not qualify as one of the things we are to think about or take action in order to view it. Pornography is addictive (1 Corinthians 6:12; 2 Peter 2:19), and destructive (Proverbs 6:25-28; Ezekiel 20:30; Ephesians 4:19). Lusting after other people in our minds, which is the essence of pornography, is offensive to God (Matthew 5:28). When habitual devotion to pornography characterizes a person’s life, it demonstrates the person is not saved and will not be part of God’s kingdom (1 Corinthians 6:9).

The dictionary definition of lust is "1) intense or unrestrained sexual craving, or 2) an overwhelming desire or craving." The Bible speaks of lust in several ways. Exodus 20:14, 17 (NLT), "Do not commit adultery. . . Do not covet your neighbor’s house. Do not covet your neighbor’s wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else your neighbor owns," or Matthew 5:28, "But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust in his eye has already committed adultery with her in his heart." Job 31:11-12 (NLT) sums up lust quite nicely: "For lust is a shameful sin, a crime that should be punished. It is a devastating fire that destroys to hell. It would wipe out everything I own."  

By far, the most searched for terms on the internet are all related to pornography. Pornography is rampant in the world today. Perhaps more than anything else, Satan has succeeded in twisting and perverting sex. He has taken what is good and right (loving sex between a husband and wife) and replaced it with lust, pornography, adultery, rape, and homosexuality. Pornography can be the first step on a very slippery slope of ever-increasing wickedness and immorality (Romans 6:19). The addictive nature of pornography is well documented. Just as a drug user must consume greater and more powerful quantities of drugs to achieve the same “high,” pornography drags a person deeper and deeper into hard-core sexual addictions and ungodly desires.

 For those involved in pornography there is hope as God can and will give the victory. Are you involved with pornography and desire freedom from it? Here are some steps to help guide you to victory:

Confess your sin to God (1 John 1:9).
Ask God to cleanse, renew, and transform your mind (Romans 12:2).
Ask God to fill your mind with pure thoughts (Philippians 4:8.
Learn to possess your body in holiness (1 Thessalonians 4:3-4).
Understand the proper meaning of sex and rely on your spouse alone to meet that need (1 Corinthians 7:1-5).
Realize that if you walk in the Spirit, you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh (Galatians 5:16).
Take practical steps to reduce your exposure to graphic images. Install pornography blockers on your computer, limit television and video usage, and find another Christian who will pray for you and help keep you accountable.

Practically speaking, there are numerous tools to combat an addiction to internet pornography. There is a great program available at http://www.x3pure.com . There are several quality internet filtering programs that will completely block your computer from accessing pornography, such as http://www.bsecure.com. Another fantastic tool is available at http://x3watch.com. X3watch is accountability software. It tracks your internet browsing and sends a report of any objectionable websites you have visited to an accountability partner of your choosing. Your temptation to view internet porn would be greatly reduced if you knew your youth pastor, parent or friend would receive a detailed report about it.

 Some of us may blame our hormones for our lustful desires by saying, "It’s not my fault … it’s my hormones!” If we accept the lie that we can't control our emotions or desires, we will also believe we can't control how we act when we are feeling emotionally vulnerable or out of control. Not only are we too quick to believe our feelings and desires, we are also at times far too quick to obey them. The problem is, if we cater to our emotions and desires and let them control our actions in life, we will be more vulnerable to be controlled by our emotions in the major transitions and difficult seasons of life in our adolescence years and beyond.

  Certainly what happens in our bodies does affect us emotionally, mentally, and even spiritually. We cannot isolate these various dimensions of who we are - they are inseparably intertwined. But we fall into the trap of the devil when we justify our sinful attitudes, desires and responses based on our physical conditions or hormonal changes. All through the Bible, we are called, encouraged and challenged to exhibit self-control in our daily lives (1 Corinthians 7:4-6; Galatians 5:22-24; 1 Thessalonians 5:5-9; 1 Timothy 3:1-3; 2 Timothy 3:2-4; Titus 1:7-9; Titus 2:1-7; Titus 2:11-13; 1 Peter 1:12-14; 1 Peter 4:6-8; 1 Peter 5:7-9; 2 Peter 1:6).

Didn't God make our bodies? Doesn't He understand how they work? The psalmist praises God for His watchful care and His sovereign plan as it relates to the creation of our physical bodies in Psalm 139:13-16. Long before you and I were born, every molecule of your body and every day of your life, from conception to the grave, was carefully thought through and planned by God. He understands exactly what is taking place in your body through every season and change. This wise, loving Creator is aware of the hormone levels at any stage of our maturity and has provided for every season of life. God does not offer an easy or trouble-free process of growth but has promised to meet all our needs and to give us grace to respond to the challenges and difficulties associated with all stages of life.

Paul’s prayer in I Thessalonians 5:23-24 is helpful as a prayer we can expect God to answer, as we exercise faith and allow Him to do so:

May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body [including your emotions, desires and hormones] be kept blameless at the coming of out Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.

There are quite a few good books on overcoming porn addiction that I’ve recommended to others: Every Young Man's Battle: Winning the War on Sexual Purity One Victory at a Time by Stephen Arterburn and Fred Stoeker, Pure Freedom: Breaking the Addiction to Pornography by Mike Cleveland, and The Game Plan by Joe Dallas. 

2. What About “Wet Dreams / Nocturnal Emissions”?

 Wet dreams / nocturnal emissions are fairly common in the lives of men. The Bible mentions "emission" in a few places (Leviticus 15:16,18,32; 22:4; Deuteronomy 23:10). Deuteronomy 23:10 specifically refers to a nocturnal emission: "If one of your men is unclean because of a nocturnal emission, he is to go outside the camp and stay there."

 Ultimately, we cannot control what we dream about or what happens with our bodies while we are asleep. However, if we are filling our minds with lustful or impure things during the day, it will likely show up in our dreams. A nocturnal emission is a natural bodily function that is made more frequent by sexual over-stimulation. A nocturnal emission is not sinful in and of itself, but it can be the result of sinful thoughts, desires, and input. If you have a wet dream / nocturnal emission, examine your thought life. Examine what sort of images you are exposing yourself to. If you find that you have allowed yourself to be "inflamed" by lust, confess that to the Lord and ask for His help in overcoming it. Follow the words of Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things.”  

[Answered by Ray Lee, Summer Intern]

Q: What should we do if our Christian friend confesses they are no longer a virgin?

2010-06-03T09:54:00.000-07:00

How can we continue to support them if we know it is wrong; or what should we tell them to do now (they feel fake coming to church)? 

It’s great that your friend trusts you enough to be able to share such an intimate part of their life with you. When we talk about someone being a virgin, we are talking about someone who has who has never experienced sexual intercourse. Let me try to answer your question in three parts.

1. What are Sexual Sins?

As you mention, sex before marriage, sexual immorality but also adultery are considered sexual sins. According to 1 Corinthians 7:2: “But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.” In this verse, Paul states that marriage is the “cure” for sexual immorality. First Corinthians 7:2 is essentially saying that, because people are not able to control themselves many are having immoral sex both outside of marriage and before marriage - that people should get married. Then they can fulfill their passions in a moral way as husband and wife.  

Since 1 Corinthians 7:2 clearly includes sex before marriage as part of the definition of sexual immorality, all of the Bible verses that condemn sexual immorality as being sinful also condemn sex before marriage as sinful. There are numerous Scriptures that declare sex before marriage to be a sin (Acts 15:20; 1 Corinthians 5:1;6:13, 18; 10:8; 2 Corinthians 12:21; Galatians 5:19; Ephesians 5:3; Colossians 3:5; 1 Thessalonians 4:3; Jude 7). The Bible teaches that we remain sexually pure and abstain from sex before marriage. Sex between a husband and his wife is the only form of sexual relations of which God approves (Hebrews 13:4).  

Far too often we focus on the “recreational” aspect of sex without recognizing that there is another aspect—procreation. Sex within marriage is pleasurable, and God designed it that way. God wants men and women to enjoy sexual activity within the confines of marriage only. Song of Solomon and several other Bible passages (such as Proverbs 5:19) clearly describe the pleasure of sex. However each couple as believers must understand that God’s intent for sex includes producing children. Thus, for a couple to engage in sex before marriage is doubly wrong—they are enjoying pleasures not intended for them, and they are taking a chance of creating a human life outside of the family structure God intended for every child.  

Please remember that if the Bible's message on sex before marriage were obeyed, there would be far fewer sexually transmitted diseases, far fewer abortions, far fewer unwed mothers and unwanted pregnancies, and far fewer children growing up without both parents in their lives. Abstinence is God’s only policy when it comes to sex before marriage. Abstinence saves lives, protects babies, gives sexual relations the proper value, and, most importantly, honors God.

A book that I’ve recommend to others on this topic and one that I’ve found very helpful is called, “The DIRT on SEX” by Justin Lookadoo. You can get it at your local bookstore or Chapters at a reasonable price. As well, feel free to come and see me if you like and I’ll lend you my copy!

2. What Is True Friendship According To The Bible? 

Trust is essential to true friendship. We all need someone with whom we can share our lives, thoughts, feelings, and frustrations. We need to be able to share our deepest secrets with someone, without worrying that those secrets will end up on the Internet the next day! Failing to be trustworthy with those intimate secrets can destroy a friendship in a hurry. Faithfulness and loyalty are key to true friendship. Without them, we often feel betrayed, left out, and lonely. In true friendship, there is no backbiting, no negative thoughts, no turning away.   True friendship requires certain accountability factors. Real friends encourage one another and forgive one another where there has been an offense. Genuine friendship supports during times of struggle. Friends are dependable. In true friendship, unconditional love develops. We love our friends no matter what and we always want the best for our friends.

The Lord Jesus Christ gave us the definition of a true friend: "Greater love has no one than this that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you" (John 15:13-15). Jesus is the pure example of a true friend, for He laid down His life for His "friends." What is more, anyone may become His friend by trusting in Him as his personal savior, being born again and receiving new life in Him. 

3. How Can I Help And Support My Friend?

 The Bible presents several different resources to help all of us overcome sin and to support others who are caught in its grip. In this lifetime, we need to continuously seek to be victorious over sin (1 John 1:8). With God’s help, the power of the Holy Spirit and His Word, we can progressively overcome sin and become more and more like Christ.   Many Christians find that Christian fellowship like having an accountability partner … like you can be a huge benefit in overcoming stubborn sins. Having another person who can talk with you, pray with you, encourage you, and even challenge you is of great value. Temptation is common to us all (1 Corinthians 10:13). Having an accountability partner or an accountability group can give us the final dose of encouragement and motivation we need to overcome even the most stubborn of sins. Is this what your friend is seeking to do?

Great question! Consider if you or your friend need to talk to a trusted adult friend, Pastor or Counselor about this issue as well.

[Answered by Ray Lee, Summer Intern]

Q: Jesus coming back and the signs when it happens?

2010-06-03T09:49:00.001-07:00

I heard that Jesus said that he would come back again (when the world ends) when everyone in the world have known about him and when the Jews turn back to God. Is it true? Either way, what signs are there when the time comes?
Those are good questions that deserve way more time to explicate, but nonetheless, here are some thoughts scripturally:

We do not know when Christ will return.

Passages such as Matt 24:44, Matt 25:13, and Mark 13:32-33 actually state that Jesus will come back “at an hour you do not expect”. “Hour” or [hõra] is best understood as time in a more general sense. The point of these passages is Jesus telling us that we CANNOT know when He is coming back and since He is coming back at an unexpected time, we should be ready at all times for His return. There have been many attempts at making predictions of a future date and time of Christ’s return, which has in turn misled many Christians. Therefore, we need to reject those predict specific dates and times in that regard.

The Apostle Peter reminds us that God has a different perspective on time, “But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow about his promise as some count slowness.” So although there are numerous passages talking about the return of Christ being near, we should also consider that it does not necessary mean chronologically close by human time standards.

Lastly, there are definitely some passages that describe the signs of Christ returning. Here are some:

    •    The Preaching of the Gospel to All Nations (Mark 13:10, cf. Matt. 24:14)
    •    The Great Tribulation (Mark 13:7-8, Luke 21:20-24)
    •    False Prophets Working Signs and Wonders (Mark 13:22, cf. Matt. 24:23-24)
    •    Signs in the Heavens (Mark 13:22; Luke 21:15-27)
    •    The Coming of the Man of Sin and Rebellion (Rev. 13, 2 Thess. 2:1-10, etc)
    •    The Salvation of Israel (Romans 11)

Very honestly, there has been much scholarly dispute to how all these things will pan out, but I think more importantly than trying to discern the “end time” is to consider this:

“No matter what the differences on the details, all Christians who take the Bible as their final authority agree that the final and ultimate result of Christ’s return will be the judgment of unbelievers and the final reward of believers, and that believers will live with Christ in a new heaven and a new earth for all eternity. God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit will reign and will be worshiped in a never-ending kingdom with no more sin or sorrow or suffering.”

Wayne Grudem (Systematic Theology)

[Answered by Pastor Shu-Ling]

Q: My friend (who goes to church) says she wants to change before she goes to high school, since she can "re-create" herself because not many people will know her there. She wants to change because she believes she's not likable and some of her friends at her school were excluding her. I want to help her, and I don't want her to become something she's not. What should I do?

2010-06-02T12:22:00.000-07:00

A: The transition between Elementary School to High School is tough. I can certainly understand why your friend would choose this time to "re-invent" herself.

Firstly, it is important to understand and accept our identity in Christ. Meaning, we are God's children and we are accepted and loved by Him. I know that sounds like the cliche thing to say, but it's true. Once we have this concept down pact, it gives us amazing confidence that we are set apart from the world. It also enhances our relationship with God by knowing that we are created in His image (Genesis 1:27).

Ephesians 2:10 says, "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." We are created for a purpose. Each of us have been intricately crafted by our Father and our identity must rest in the One who has saved us: Jesus Christ. This passage says that we are created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God has prepared us to do. This means that our purpose in life is not to please others or make sure that our friends don't exclude us.

Having said that, I would warn your friend that being likable does not mean that we conform ourselves to other people just so that they will like us an include us in activities. If those friends are doing something that goes against my faith, I would refrain from doing it, even if it makes me "unlikable". On the other hand, if her attitude has been negative and that is the cause of her friends excluding her, than she should reflect on it and see if it is something she should change.

Whatever the case, please do continue to encourage her to stay true to herself and rooted in Christ. Whatever she does in her life it must have the foundation of God.

[answered by Pastor KJT]

Q: Is hypnosis bad?

2010-06-02T11:58:00.000-07:00

A: Hypnosis poses some problems for Christians. Let me explain:

(a) Self Control - one of the fruits of the Spirit is self-control. Under hypnosis, you do not have full self control of self and are at the manipulation of others. We follow the lead of the Holy Spirit and under such influence, are incapable of doing so.

(b) We are to yield to God - Romans 6:12-13 says this, “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.” Therefore, we are to give ourselves to God and not human beings (as in the case of hypnosis).

(c) Hypnosis is altering our consciousness - When we are unconscious, we are susceptible to other forms of control. We should be weary of this as Satan is lurking around the corner, also willing for us to do his will. We shouldn't allow any opportunity for this.

All in all, I would stay away from such form of mind alteration. It may seem innocent and fun at first, but the concept is dangerous. We are told to control our minds and bodies for a reason, and when we give it over to someone other than God, it opens the doors for exterior influences.

For more information, please read the article HERE.

[answered by Pastor KJT]

Q: I was reading Revelations and I passed by a passage that I didn't really understand. Revelations 2:4 says, "You have forsaken your first love." What does this mean?

2010-06-02T11:38:00.000-07:00

A: At this point in the Book of Revelation, the author is addressing different churches. Revelation 2:1-7 is talking about the Church of Ephesus.

¹"To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands: ²I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. ³You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. ⁴Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. ⁵Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. ⁶But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. ⁷He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

Verse 2-3 shows that what this church is doing is clearly good and worth praising. Even in the face of persecution they have not grown weary and in the midst of false teachers and teachings, they have stayed true to the Truth and not allowed outside influences to tear down the walls of righteousness.

However, when we look at verse 4, the Church in Ephesus is being rebuked for forgetting why they are doing ministry. This church must have been doing ministry well, but they have lost sight as to why they are doing it. The reason why the church exists is none other but to show the love of God. That "first love" is in reference to the commitment to help and serve others and the Church of Ephesus is doing ministry without being rooted in Christ's love.

In conclusion, this passage is rebuking the Ephesians attitudes and reminding them that what they are doing in the name of God, must be done in love.

[answered by Pastor KJT]

Q: During one of the sermons, the pastor said that Jesus understands all the problems we have since He had gone through them Himself. Had He really been through all our issues? What about bad marks, crushes, etc? Had Jesus been through them too?

2010-06-02T09:23:00.000-07:00

A: I believe the sermon that you are referring to is the May 16th 2010 one on John 11. It can be found here.

In the Bible, it tells us that Jesus is the Son of God, but came down in the form of a human being to die for us and give us new life. The Bible tells us also that Jesus was treated like a human being; He was tempted for 40 days (Mark 1:12-13), He was scorn by the people and was also mistreated.

In Hebrews 4:14-16, it says this:

¹⁴Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens,Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. ¹⁵For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. ¹⁶Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

This passage gives us the reassurance that whatever we are going through, Jesus understands. Your question about bad marks may not be applicable for Jesus, but has He gone through stress? Yes. Has He experienced disappointments? Yes!

Jesus lived in a time that is very different than the times we live in. And although He may not have gone through exactly the same things that we are doing through, Hebrews tells us that He can sympathize with our emotions. He knows what it feels like to be betrayed, He knows what it feels like to fail, He knows what it feels like to lose a loved one.

[answered by Pastor KJT]

Q: Is miscarriage in the case of abortion a sin?

2010-06-02T04:28:00.000-07:00

A miscarriage is the unintended death of an unborn baby, also referred to as a spontaneous abortion.

I don’t believe a miscarriage is a sin (though it is a consequence of living in a sinful, fallen world). It is not a procured abortion. There is no intent on the part of the mother to terminate her pregnancy. She wants to have the baby but for whatever reason her body is unable to carry the child.

Miscarriage is suffering, not sin.

[Answered by Dr. Stephen Tu, Trinity Pacific Church, Vancouver, Canada]

Q: What happens to our relationships in heaven?

2010-06-01T10:08:00.000-07:00

Will we know the people we know on earth in heaven? Will our relationships remain in heaven? Will we recognize others? Also, we've heard that you can look down at hell- which means we'll see our peers that didn't follow Christ. Wouldn't we feel sad to see our friends in hell? Isn't heaven supposed to be full of happiness and no sorrow? To summarize all the questions, ''What happens to our relationships in heaven and our emotions?''

Great questionS! Let me try to answer them briefly.

Will we know the people we know on earth in heaven? Will we recognize others? Yes. But only those who have faith in Jesus. John 20:16 tells us that though Jesus had a physical, glorified and new body, the disciples still recognized him and 1 Corinthians 15:49; 53 tell us that we will bear the likeness of Jesus' glorified body in heaven. Therefore, we will be able to recognize, interact with and be relationship with each other. That gives Christians great hope! It also gives us great motivation to evangelize our unsaved loved ones.

Will our relationships remain in heaven? Matthew 22:30 says, "At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven” - which indicates that the nature of our relationships will be different. In fact, they will be better. We will be surrounded by great numbers of believers (Revelation 7:9), and all our needs will be met, including the need for companionship.

Wouldn't we feel sad to see our friends in hell? Isn't heaven supposed to be full of happiness and no sorrow? This is a difficult one to answer. If you read Revelation 21-22, you find that heaven is a perfect place with no suffering, tears or sadness. Additionally, we will in be in complete agreement with God (1 John 3:2). What does this mean for our loved ones in Heaven? We will agree with God that they do not belong there because they are refused to accept God's offer of salvation. As hard as it is to comprehend this: We will not be saddened by their lack of presence. For more information, please read this previous post.

Summarily, heaven is a place of exploration, fun, community and worship. The best life you can imagine on this planet cannot even compare to heaven. This gives Christians great hope but also a great burden to evangelize as many people as we can.

[Answered by Pastor HM]

Q: Different skin colors? Salvation before Jesus' time?

2010-06-01T09:19:00.000-07:00

I don't get how people have different skin colors. What happened to people in Asia, and Africa during Jesus' time? How would they ever have the chance to hear about the Word?

It seems you have a few questions here. I'll break it down.

1. How did people have different skin colors? There is no biblical, clear-cut answer, but GotQuestions has done their best to answer your question. Read their answer HERE.

2. What happened to people in Asia, and Africa during Jesus' time? How would they ever have the chance to hear about the Word?

First, it's important to understand that all people - no matter when/where they were born - are accountable to God whether or not they have heard the gospel. God has clearly revealed Himself in nature (Romans 1:20), in the conscience (Romans 2:15) and in the hearts of people (Ecclesiastes 3:11), so men are “without excuses” (Romans 1:20). A person does not end up eternally separated from God because of what they have not heard; he gets there because of his failure to respond properly to what God has revealed to Him. Deuteronomy 4:29 tell us that if a person genuinely seeks after God, He will make himself known. It is, therefore, the responsibility of a Christian to evangelize as many people as we can. We are not called to speculate who is saved, but to bring the good news to the nations (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8; Romans 10:15).

That being said, in Jesus' day (and even before his time), God did provide a way for people to be saved. It was through faith in God. Genesis 15:6 tells us Abraham believed God and that was sufficient for God to credit it to him for righteousness (see Romans 4:3-8). Listen to what GotQuestions writes:

What has changed through the ages is the content of a believer's faith. God's requirement of what must be believed is based on the amount of revelation He has given mankind up to that time. This is called progressive revelation. Adam believed the promise God gave in Genesis 3:15 that the Seed of the woman would conquer Satan. Adam believed Him, demonstrated by the name he gave Eve (v. 20) and the Lord indicated His acceptance immediately by covering them with coats of skin (v. 21). At that point that is all Adam knew, but he believed it.

Abraham believed God according to the promises and new revelation God gave him in Genesis 12 and 15. Prior to Moses, no Scripture was written, but mankind was responsible for what God had revealed. Throughout the Old Testament, believers came to salvation because they believed that God would someday take care of their sin problem. Today, we look back, believing that He has already taken care of our sins on the cross (John 3:16; Hebrews 9:28).

Summarily, those in Jesus' day - including inhabitants of Asia & Africa - were saved if they believed in God (and not in themselves or a false idol to save them from the sins). Today, God has revealed Jesus Christ to us, and it is through him alone that salvation is granted. Thus, it is our responsibility and calling - as Christ-followers - to tell people who have never of him the good news of his salvation!

[Answered by Pastor HM]

Q: Is the rapture a reasonable possibility?

2010-06-01T09:18:00.000-07:00

Yes. According to Scripture, there will be a time before Jesus returns which is known as "the tribulation" (Matthew 24:21). This is a time of great distress, where there will be:

- Persecution (Matthew 24:9)

- Apostasy or the "abandonment of faith" (Matthew 24:10)

- False prophets (Matthew 24:11)

- Love turned cold (Matthew 24:12)

- Gospel preached in the whole world (Mattthew 24:14)

- Signs in the heavens (Matthew24:29)

- The coming of the Man of Sin and the Rebellion (2 Thessalonians 2:1-10)

Following this Jesus will appear to take away those who are His. This is known as "the rapture." The rapture means “caught up” where Jesus gathers all believers (those who have died or those who are still living) to be with him.

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17)

At this time Christ will return visibly and judge the nations and establish his kingdom.

At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other (Matthew 24:30-31)

Look he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, event those who pierced him; and the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him (Revelation 1:7)

[Answered by Pastor HM]