Q:In the Book of Genesis, God created Adam and Eve. Did God ONLY create Adam and Eve or did he also create another couple?

Where did Cain's wife come?

Good question. Here is an answer by the lovely folks at GotQuestions. I think it answers your question directly. They write:

The Bible does not specifically say who Cain’s wife was. The only possible answer is that Cain's wife was his sister or niece or great-niece, etc....(*read the rest of the answer in the article)

Since Adam and Eve were the first (and only) human beings, their children would have no other choice than to intermarry. God did not forbid inter-family marriage until much later when there were enough people to make intermarriage unnecessary (Leviticus 18:6-18). The reason that incest today often results in genetic abnormalities is that when two people of similar genetics (i.e., a brother and sister) have children together, there is a high risk of their recessive characteristics becoming dominant. When people from different families have children, it is highly unlikely that both parents will carry the same recessive traits. The human genetic code has become increasingly “polluted” over the centuries as genetic defects are multiplied, amplified, and passed down from generation to generation. Adam and Eve did not have any genetic defects, and that enabled them and the first few generations of their descendants to have a far greater quality of health than we do now. Adam and Eve’s children had few, if any, genetic defects. As a result, it was safe for them to intermarry.

[Answered by Pastor HM]

Q: Is the "magician" Criss Angel possessed by demons?

Since I have never met him personally, I cannot say whether he is possessed by demons or not. In Scripture, a demon-possessed person can manifest a variety of extreme behaviors.

Some of these passages, the demon possession causes physical ailments such as inability to speak, epileptic symptoms, blindness, etc. In other cases, it causes the individual to do evil, Judas being the main example. In Acts 16:16-18, the spirit apparently gives a slave girl some ability to know things beyond her own learning. The demon-possessed man of the Gadarenes, who was possessed by a multitude of demons (Legion), had superhuman strength and lived naked among the tombstones. King Saul, after rebelling against the LORD, was troubled by an evil spirit (1 Samuel 16:14-15; 18:10-11; 19:9-10) with the apparent effect of a depressed mood and an increased desire to kill David.


These behaviors do not seem to be consistent with Criss Angel's. The most likely explanation is that Criss is an optical illusionist and an entertainer. He may be tapping into the occult and be under the influence of demons, but no one can be absolutely sure. Read this previous post here for more information. Hope this helps.

[Answered by Pastor HM]

Q: Is Yoga evil?

"Can a Christian practice Yoga? I know that it has become very trendy to do this, especially hot yoga. I personally do know some Christians who have been practicing Yoga as a form of exercise and relaxation. From my point of view Yoga is about physical exercise and strengthening and improving flexibility of the muscles. But I know that the philosophy behind yoga is much more than physically improving oneself. It is an ancient practice derived from India, believed to be the path to spiritual growth and enlightenment. Is it possible for a Christian to isolate the physical aspects of yoga as simply a method of exercise, without incorporating the spirituality or philosophy behind it?"

Good question. This is something that has been hotly debated over the past several years. Here's a clip of two pastors discussing the issue:



You'll see in the video that one pastor, John MacArthur, does not believe Christianity and yoga practice are compatible. He says:

That doesn’t sound anything like Christianity. If you want a whole life, if you want your life to be what it should be, you don’t put yourself in some weird physical position, empty your mind, center on yourself and try to relieve your stress. You go to the word of God, to the gospel of Jesus Christ, you embrace in faith the sacrifice of Christ in his death and resurrection as your savior and redeemer. God comes, regenerates you, transforms your life, makes you a new creation, and you’re saved and you’re on your way to heaven, and you can live a life of peace and joy. That’s the promise of the gospel. There is no contribution made to that by any physical position or any kind of meditation.

The idea of Christianity is to fill your mind with biblical truth and focus on the God who is above you. That’s Christian worship. The idea of yoga is to fill your mind with nothing except to focus on yourself and try to find the god that is inside of you. From a Christian viewpoint, that’s a false religion. Exercise is a different issue.

The other pastor, Doug Pagitt, disagrees and he says:

Yoga, it’s really hard to hold these postures, to hold these positions. And I’ll tell you that from my own experience, and the many, many people that I know who participate in yoga, none of them have ever found themselves to be opened up to something negative or something demonic or something evil. In fact, many of us find the high benefit that comes from body mind connection, and from knowing that we are pushing, that we are stretching, that we are sending our body into an exercise. And that exercise is not wholly disconnected from our will or from our mind or from our spirit; it’s a complete practice. And I’ve never known anybody who has had anything detrimental come into their spirit because of their practice of yoga.

Now, I myself have never participated in yoga, but have consulted others who have. Here's what they said:

"1. Yoga is a form of meditation that originates and is steeped in idol worship - the positions are actually postures that allow yourself to lose yourself completely and open yourself out for spirits to speak to you. You are supposed to completely abandon your thoughts and when that is the case you can allow anything to come in.

2. "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 realms." - Eph. 6:12 I think yoga can appear harmless because Christians can say, well when people meditate I can pray to Jesus instead. But I think it's a dangerous thing when you put yourself in those situations where you open yourself to anything to come into you. Our struggle is against a dark spiritual world and although we are already victors in Christ we shouldn't go play with fire either.

3. So my personal convictions are this, from my own experience, is that I've tried to do yoga while focusing on the Lord..but at the end of the day, the whole environment doesn't give me peace. So, I quit the gym and I haven't done it since."

Another wrote this:

"After thinking about it a bit, I think yoga fits into the category with lots of other things: kinda like, this "bad origins / commonly abused" category of activities. I'd put playing cards there, along with investing in stocks, watching Harry Potter movies, etc. They can be used positively when used carefully; but if you are just enjoying/using them status quo, and not being vigilant, you could be easily led astray as you buy into that culture. I understand the argument for abstaining from yoga; and I think I understand what McArthur is trying to say; it can promote this idea that self is god. And therefore we should take the attitude of humility and keep ourselves away from these situations if possible.

However, you can go against the culture of yoga and deny this idea that self is god. You can do the motions of yoga yet still profess the name of Jesus. I think lots of Christians understand that if they were attending a friend's party or going out to a club with friends, that they would need to be vigilant; they understand that at these parties, the culture there promotes lots of "bad stuff", and they need to actively resist that culture. I think most Christians don't view yoga or playing cards or Harry Potter movies in that same way, when they ought to. They just sort of assume that it's all pretty harmless, and proceed to do these things running downstream with the culture of these activities, when these activities indeed have a negative culture attached to using them (whether that be the origins, or the common usage).

Is abstaining from yoga right? Well, it's pretty wise. You should be able to appreciate the wisdom behind staying out of temptation's way whenever possible. But one can also do yoga and glorify God; it is a narrow road though."

If you have a chance, I'd also read these articles about yoga. In conclusion, there are more detrimental effects to practicing yoga than physical (or spiritual) benefits. For these reasons, I'd abstain from it.

[Answered by Pastor HM, with help from a few good friends]

Q: How did John know every single thing Jesus did in the Gospel of John?

"...He knows things no one is supposed to know, like how Jesus made alcohol when his mother asked him to."

GREAT question. The answer is straight-forward. John was an apostle, and one of Jesus' closest friends (along with Simon Peter and James). In other words, he was an eye-witness and participant in the work of Jesus during his earthly ministry. The Gospel of John is Jesus' story from John's point of view, so what you're reading in your Bible is not based on the testimony of people that weren't there. It's based on first-hand, eyewitness accounts. Even if John did not witness specific events personally (e.g. Jesus' mother asking him to help during the wedding of Cana, John 2), he interviewed eyewitnesses that were present. A reliable and honest author in the Greek and Roman world drew from reliable sources. That's what John did! In fact, we could surmise that Jesus actually told John in conversation what he did during the wedding feast. That's how he wrote about what happened in John 2.

[Answered by Pastor HM]

Q: Those, who are mind-controlled by heavy-metal and worhipping Satan, will God help them?

This question is very similar to one we received from last week.
While I am uncertain as to what you mean those who are "mind-controlled by heavy-metal," I assume you are referring to the genre of music known as heavy-metal.

I don't believe it is fair to generalize like that; not all heavy-metal music condones the worship of Satan and I'm not even certain you can be mind-controlled by it. It IS fair, however, to suggest that some heavy-metal songs delve into satanic themes and therefore should be avoided. Satan can often use the lyrics in these songs to negatively influence your mind. That being said, even if someone is "mind-controlled by heavy-metal," God will help that person.

Read our answer HERE (from last week). Here is an excerpt:

YES, God will help. After all, God wants people to be saved including those involved in forms of the occult. Yet there is a degree of human responsibility in salvation. Acts 2:21 says: "And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." In order to be saved, a person must repent of his sin and call for God's help on his own accord. God may open the spiritual eyes of a person under the control of Satanism, but he must embrace this truth for himself. In other words, if a person is under the control of Satanism and resists God's help, God will not force this choice onto a person, even if it is for their own good.

Hope this helps. Keep the questions coming!

[Answered by Pastor HM]

Q: Jesus and the UFC?

"I really like watching mixed martial arts, like UFC. I know that it is violent and bloody and from my point of view, it is just a sport. The goal of the sport is to gain the upper hand. These athletes are well trained, and are not out to "kill" their opponents. And at the end of the day, each fighter respects each other. Also, the sport is highly regulated and a very experienced referee is in charge of each match. What is your opinion on this matter? I don't see the bible condeming or endorsing this activity. So I would conclude that this is a conscience issue. In fact there are many Christian fighters who are fighters and many Christian athletes in general. I would argue that God needs his people in many different places."

Great question. I, too, enjoy MMA (mixed martial arts). When I was younger, I trained in Kung Fu, and currently am a fan of GSP, Anderson Silva and big guys like Frank Mir and Fedor.

I agree with your points. MMA is a high-energy, competitive sport, like football, baseball, hockey or boxing. The bible does not condemn it. You are also correct that there there are many Christian MMA fighters. (In fact, in January, there was a "Fight with God" conference in which real fighers partnered with some of the best preachers in the country to teach fight principles that are tied directly to the Apostle Paul's teachings in scripture about spiritual battle). The great Matt Hughes and the legendary Fedor Emelianenko (who has stated that he loves attending church) are such examples. Indeed, watching or participating in MMA is a matter of the conscience.

[Answered by Pastor HM, who enjoyed UFC 107, especially the Mir/Kongo fight, but wants to see GSP back in action soon]

Q: What is the biblical stance on euthanasia, assisted suicide, and mercy killing?

This is a very sensitive and difficult question. The fine folks at GotQuestions have an answer here that will help. Also read this article by Kerby Anderson, who wrote Christian Ethics in Plain Language (2005). Both of these sources argue the following:

1. God is sovereign over life. Moses was told by God “I put to death and I bring to life … no one can deliver out of my hand” (Deut 32:39).


2. It is Against the Sanctity of Human Life. Human life is sacred. We are made in God’s image Gen 1:27. For this reason it is even wrong to curse another human being (James 3:9) let alone kill them. Unlike animals, human beings are rational (Col 3:10, Jude 10) moral beings. They resemble God and are morally responsible to him (Gen 2:16-17). The can be holy as he is holy and are exhorted to moral perfection.


3. It is a form of suicide or murder. You shall not murder (Ex 20:13). Killing one self is both a rejection of God’s sovereignty over life and an attack upon the sanctity of life. It matters not whether the human life is our own or another’s; it is still in God’s image, and he is sovereign over it. Even the most desperate believer in the Bible who wished to die never contemplated taking his own life but prayed, like Jonah, “O Lord, please take my life from me, for death is better to me than life” (Jonah 4:3). Suicide fails to take responsibility for the life God has entrusted to us. It fails to show the basic self-respect of which Paul spoke about “No one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it” (Eph 5:29).

To be clear, we must also distinguish between active euthanasia (which is morally wrong) and passive euthanasia (which can be wrong depending on whether it is natural or unnatural):

Active Euthanasia: Taking life to avoid suffering. This is morally wrong.

Passive Euthanasia: Allowing death to occur in order to avoid suffering. Within this category, there are two sub-categories:

• Natural: By withdrawing artificial or unnatural means of life support (respirators, artificial organs, machines) in order to allow death.
• Unnatural: By withdrawing natural means of life support (food, air, water) in order to allow death. This is morally wrong.

It is never right to take a life (active euthanasia) or to withhold ordinary life sustaining means such as food, water and air. But for the cases of withdrawing unnatural life (see chart above) saving mechanisms for irreversible, terminal sickness a death can be justified. This is when extraordinary human efforts are really prolonging death rather than prolonging life. When artificial life supports are interfering with the natural process of death, rather than enriching the person’s natural life, then their use is wrong. It is resisting the hand of God involved in the process of death. There is a difference between repairing life to function naturally and sustaining life artificially.

Summarily, to allow death...

1. Has to be artificial means to keep alive not natural means

2. The disease must be irreversible and terminal: No one should be allowed to die if we have the means at hand to save his life. Even if we have artificial means.

3. The patient has veto power: If the patient is conscious and rational, then he has veto power over any decision not to extend his life by artificial means. If he is not conscious and no expressed will was made previously, then others responsible for him must make the decision.

4. A collective decision: Family members, with doctor, pastor, lawyer. But even before this pray and consult God.

[Answered by Pastor HM and Pastor Quang]

Q: With SNA coming up, I just wanted clarification on what a "spiritual high" is and what the pros and cons of it are.

check it out: www.saturdaynightalive.ca

A: in one sentence, a spiritual high is a state of mind in which you go through a spiritual experience and are "living off" of that feeling. It's not authentic and not sustainable. As a person leaves the spiritual experience, the feeling dwindles and that "high" has dissipated.

The Pros of a Spiritual High:
Not that many. It is not something that I would encourage as it is not real and does not provide any edification to the church or yourself as a Christian.
- provides some type of connection with God and may encourage one to seek a deeper, authentic relationship with Him.

The Cons of a Spiritual High:
- a "high" insinuates that there will be a low. Because the spiritual high is not based on an authentic relationship with Christ, that low will inevitable come
- the "high" is not reflective of a true authentic relationship with Christ, although it may seem to be. Therefore, as said before, there is nothing to sustain this high.

You are right to assume that these spiritual highs occur during events such as SNA, TC or a Fellowship Retreat. It's when nothing is distracting you and you can focus on God. But when you come back to "regular" life, those distractions are there and it is hard to keep that high when there are things around us.

I encourage discernment when it comes to your experiences with conferences and events. These highs are not indicative of your spiritual status. They are sometimes deceiving and need to be seen as what they truly are.

Hope this helps a little...come to SNA on December 12th 2009 @ 6:45pm!


[answered by Pastor KJT]

Why is it that in our church, people who are not baptised cannot take communion?

"The Bible clearly makes a distinction between baptism with water, and baptism with the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11). We know that we live in God when we receive the Holy Spirit (1 John 4:13). Isn't living in God enough to take communion? 1 Corinthians doesn't mention anything about baptism in the Lord's Supper, only that we examine ourselves to see if we're living in God. Why then is our church drawing such a connection between baptism with water and the Holy Spirit?"

The last thing our church wants to do is be legalistic about this matter. Technically, we will not stop anyone from taking communion whether they are baptized or not. However, the reason why we ask that baptized believers take communion is because Lord's Supper must be taken very seriously.

Baptism is a way for believers to make a public commitment that they have indeed received Christ as Savior and Lord. That's why we encourage and tell believers to be baptized. And that's why we ask that only baptized believers take the communion. It's not because we are making a connection between water baptism and baptism of the Spirit. It's because it's the most definitive way for believers to show they are truly living with God. I have been approached by students asking whether they can take the communion because they are hungry or because they want to taste the elements for fun! At our church, when you want to get baptized, we ask that you attend a 3-month class (in addition to a special class on baptism) so that we can clear up any such misconceptions and misunderstandings. Once you understand the importance and reason why you - as a Christian - ought to be baptized to proclaim your faith to the world, then the natural step is to participate in communion, a time when we remember the Lord's sacrificial death for us.

[Answered by Pastor HM]

Q: Psychic Activities?

Q: Are psychic activities such as palm reading or horoscopes considered Satanic activities? Should I believe in these things? I have found, in the past, that horoscopes prove to be true.

It depends on how you define "Satanic" activities. Psychic activities may not appear to be "satanic" because you are not part of a cult that worships Satan, etc. but I believe these activities are influenced by Satan, and thus, when you participate, you are allowing Satan to manipulate and hurt you. The fine folks at GotQuestions write this about psychic readings:

Satan pretends to be kind and helpful. He tries to appear as something good. Satan and his demons will give a psychic information about a person in order to get that person hooked into spiritism, something that God forbids. It appears innocent at first, but soon people can find themselves addicted to psychics and unwittingly allow Satan to control and destroy their lives. Peter proclaimed, “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). In some cases, the psychics themselves are deceived, not knowing the true source of the information they receive. Whatever the case and wherever the source of the information, nothing connected to spiritism, witchcraft, or astrology is a godly means of discovering information. How does God want us to discern His will for our life? God’s plan is simple, yet powerful and effective: study the Bible (2 Timothy 3:16-17) and pray for wisdom (James 1:5).

The Bible strongly condemns spiritism, mediums, the occult, and psychics (Leviticus 20:27; Deuteronomy 18:10-13). Horoscopes, tarot cards, astrology, fortune tellers, palm readings, and séances fall into this category as well. These practices are based on the concept that there are gods, spirits, or deceased loved ones that can give advice and guidance. These “gods” or “spirits” are demons (2 Corinthians 11:14-15). The Bible gives us no reason to believe that deceased loved ones can contact us. If they were believers, they are in heaven enjoying the most wonderful place imaginable in fellowship with a loving God. If they were not believers, they are in hell, suffering the un-ending torment for rejecting God’s love and rebelling against Him.

You can read the entire article HERE. What about horoscopes?

Astrology, then, opposes biblical teaching in at least two ways: it advocates faith in something other than God, and it is a form of divination. We cannot determine God's will for our lives through horoscopes. As Christians, we are to read the Bible and pray to God in order to gain wisdom and guidance. Consulting a horoscope is a violation of God's means of communicating with His children. We strongly believe that horoscopes should be rejected by Christians.

Read the entire article, "Should Christian consult horoscopes?" HERE.

Summarily, I would strongly urge you to stay about both psychic readings and horoscopes. Besides what I just shared with you, I also the ability of these activities to predict the "truth" comes from their vagueness. If a statement is vague enough, you can draw whatever meaning you want from it.

[Answered by Pastor HM]

Q: Will God still help those who are under the control of Satanism?

This question is hard to answer because the wording is vague. I'll try my best though!

First, let's define Satanism. I found a help article, so read it HERE. The article says that there are various definitions of Satanism:

...there is a plethora of ideologies and false philosophies in Satanism. You can be hard pressed to find a handful outside their own coven, church, or group that “believe” the same way. Some of Satanism's practices are constant, but Satanists' comfort and unity is found more in the “acts” of rituals than in the “relationship” to a belief system. It is easier to call themselves "Satanists" if they “do” certain things.

Even in their harsh disagreement of principles and beliefs, there is an underlying commonality: self. The very sin for which Satan was forever dismissed from God’s presence is their common denominator: selfishness. All forms of Satanism claim that life exists to consume. Wicca demands you treat mother earth with respect and use the power that is within her and yourself, but for your own good. Devil worshippers hail allegiance to Satan and think he will guard them for all eternity; that is, if they believe there is an eternity. Some adherents of Satanism hold that the only existence they will ever know is here on earth. And thus, devil worshippers live for the moment and their creed is gluttony and debauchery.

In short, Satanism, while it may or may not be worshiping Satan, is a conscious effort to NOT worship the one true real God. Romans 1 gives a clear look into the heart and motives of a Satanist. They have “depraved minds to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness” (vv 28-29).

Will God still help those under control of Satanism?

If you are asking whether God will help someone "possessed" by a demon, then YES, God will help. Consider the times when Jesus saved demon-possessed people.

[Read this post about spiritual warfare and how Christians are to fight against demons and their influence]

If you are asking whether God will help a person is not possessed by a demon, but worships Satan, then YES, God will help. After all, God wants people to be saved including those involved in forms of the occult. Yet there is a degree of human responsibility in salvation. Acts 2:21 says: "And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." In order to be saved, a person must repent of his sin and call for God's help on his own accord. God may open the spiritual eyes of a person under the control of Satanism, but he must embrace this truth for himself. In other words, if a person is under the control of Satanism and resists God's help, God will not force this choice onto a person, even if it is for their own good.

[Answered by Pastor HM]

Q: Does it mean we do not fully believe in Jesus if we question and have doubts about his superhuman miracles?

Pastor Ho-Ming said "Believing in Jesus is believing EVERYTHING is true." Does it mean we do not fully believe in Jesus if we question and have doubts about his superhuman miracles?

Thanks for asking this question. Let me begin with some clarification. What I meant to say was this: "Believing in Jesus means believing that what Jesus actually said, commanded and did is true, and to live according to His words." For instance, when Jesus says that we must be spiritually reborn to enter the Kingdom of God (John 3:1-21), we better trust Him and find out how we can be spiritually reborn.

As for your question, it is perfectly okay to have doubts and questions about Jesus. We are finite human beings so there are many things we don't understand. Naturally, we will have many questions as well. There is a difference however between unbelief and questions.





For example, you can have questions such "How did Jesus walk on water?" and still believe that Jesus actually did those things. That's not unbelief. Unbelief is when your heart is hardened and you simply shut out the possibility that Jesus could have done any of those supernatural things he did.

Friend, if you're really serious about your questions, then ask questions and seek the answers (like you're doing right now on this blog). Compile research, listen attentively to scholars, do whatever it takes to get some answers.

Now, you will probably get to a point where no matter what historical evidence is presented, you still have some doubts. But that's when you have to have faith. However, this is not blind faith. When you have faith in Jesus, it doesn't mean you have all the answers (that will never happen!); it means you have enough evidence to believe. I believe there is enough evidence is in the Bible. Christianity has stood the test of time for over 2000 years and it is still standing because the events recorded in the Gospels are accurate and true. These events include the supernatural miracles of the Son of God, Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

If you have some extra time, watch (1) Dr. John Ortberg's videos on "Faith and Doubt."
(2) Lee Stroebel's video on "Why Don't People Believe in Miracles?" or read his chapter on miracles in his book, The Case for Christ.

[Answered by Pastor HM, who has doubts, will continue to have doubts, but believes that Jesus will answere those doubts in his time]

Q: Is it possible to be demon possessed or dead locked?

If so, what is the reason behind it and how does it occur? Is there a possibility that anyone can be possessed at any time? To answer your 3 questions, I've consulted other authors (click on the links to read their full articles) who are well-versed in this massive subject.

Q1: Is it possible to be demon possessed or dead locked?

According to Scripture, since the Holy Spirit lives in a Christian (Romans 8:9-11, 1 Cor. 3:16; 6:19), it would seem unlikely that the Holy Spirit would allow a demon to possess the same person. GotQuestions writes this:

This is sometimes a controversial issue; however, we strongly hold to the belief that a Christian cannot be possessed by a demon. We believe there is a distinct difference between being possessed by a demon and being oppressed or influenced by a demon. Demon possession involves a demon having direct control over the thoughts and/or actions of a person (Luke 4:33-35; 8:27-33; Matthew 17:14-18). Demon oppression or influence involves a demon or demons attacking a person spiritually and/or encouraging him/her into sinful behavior (1 Peter 5:8-9; James 4:7). Notice that in all the New Testament passages dealing with spiritual warfare, we are never told to cast a demon out of a believer (Ephesians 6:10-18). Believers are told to resist the devil (1 Peter 5:8-9; James 4:7), not to cast him out.

On the other hand, "we know from the Bible that demons can and do possess those who do not belong to Christ, and Scripture gives some examples of people being possessed by demons."

Q2: If so, what is the reason behind it and how does it occur?

Pastor Driscoll says it is Satan's influence:

In his war against God, the Serpent not only has the fallen angels who are now known as demons, but also has people who are allies in his army either by demonic possession, demonic influence, or simply living according to their sinful nature and flesh (2 Pet. 2:4; Rev. 9:1; 12:3–4). Such people include false prophets who speak for the Serpent (2 Pet. 2:1), false apostles who begin ministries for the Serpent (2 Cor. 11:13), false Christians who divide churches (Gal. 2:4), and false teachers who teach heretical doctrine for the Serpent (2 Pet. 2:1).

Q3: Is there a possibility that anyone can be possessed at any time?

Again, there is a different answer depending on whether you are a Christian or not. While Christians can be influenced by a demon (e.g. Peter was influenced by one in Matthew 16:23), "most theologians believe that a Christian cannot be possessed because he has the Holy Spirit abiding within (2 Corinthians 1:22; 5:5; 1 Corinthians 6:19), and the Spirit of God would not share residence with a demon." Conversely, those who do not belong to Christ can be influenced AND possessed by demons at any time.

What are some possible symptoms of demon possession? GotQuestions says this:

There is a wide variety of possible symptoms of demon possession, such as a physical impairment that cannot be attributed to an actual physiological problem, a personality change such as depression or aggression, supernatural strength, immodesty, antisocial behavior, and perhaps the ability to share information that one has no natural way of knowing. It is important to note that nearly all, if not all, of these characteristics may have other explanations, so it is important not to label every depressed person or epileptic individual as demon-possessed. On the other hand, western cultures probably do not take satanic involvement in people’s lives seriously enough.

[Answered by Pastor HM]

Q: If someone is trying to impersonate God, should I follow along?

"...They aren't insulting Him, but it just doesn't feel right."

Scripture that tells us to "not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain" (Exodus 20:7). This is the 3rd of the Ten Commandments, and it tells us not to take a deceptive oath in God's name; swear using his name or use his name disrespectfully. While your friends may not be explicitly using God's name, when they impersonate God, they are most likely doing so in a disrespectful manner. God's name represents his holy character and attributes, and for this reason, it should never be taken lightly.

So what now? If someone is trying to impersonate God and it doesn't feel right to you, that's a good sign. That's the Holy Spirit at work in your heart, guiding you toward right and away from wrong. I'd recommend that you pray for courage to tell your friends as kindly but firmly as possible that what they are doing is offensive to you and your faith, and for those reasons, they should stop altogether.

For a bit more information on this subject, visit this website.

This is an excerpt from the article you'll find there.

There is a larger sense in which people today take the Lord’s name in vain. Those who name the name of Christ, who pray in His name, and who take His name as part of their identity, but who deliberately and continually disobey His commands, are taking His name in vain. Jesus Christ has been given the name above all names, at which every knee shall bow (Philippians 2:9-10), and when we take the name “Christian” upon ourselves, we must do so with an understanding of all that signifies. If we profess to be Christians, but act, think, and speak in a worldly or profane manner, we take His name in vain. When we misrepresent Christ, either intentionally or through ignorance of the Christian faith as proclaimed in Scripture, we take the Lord’s name in vain. When we say we love Him, but do not do what He commands (Luke 6:46), we take His name in vain and are in danger of hearing Him say to us “I never knew you. Away from me” in the day of judgment (Matthew 7:21-23).

[Answered by Pastor HM]

Q: Faith, Repentance & Discipleship?

Question:

1) Is repentance necessary for salvation?

My understanding is that it is “to change one's mind.”
The Book of Acts seems to especially focus on repentance in regards to salvation (Acts 2:38; 3:19; 11:18; 17:30; 20:21; 26:20).

I am asking this question because we always say that faith and faith alone in Jesus Christ will save us and nothing else.

Can repentance and faith be understood as “two sides of the same coin.”?

2) Even though faith is a free gift, when we preach to people should we tell them to "count the cost" of being a disciple and talk about the narrow road vs the wide road? or should we just tell them to believe and then they can go to heaven?

Answer:

1) Repentance is defined like you said, as “changing one's mind”, about sin. I will try to explain why salvation does not make sense without repentance, and maybe along the way explain how repentance is different from just feeling sorry for some bad things you do.

The notion that faith alone saves us is something we commonly hear. Eph 2:8 says we're saved not by our works so that no one can boast, but rather by grace. So why repentance?

Well, the Bible makes clear that repentance is of critical importance, and is a mark of our faith. There's no such thing as “faith by itself” that is not coupled with a change of action and attitude toward sin. Read these verses to see how repentance is related to salvation: Acts 3:19, 11:18, 20:21. John the Baptist says this in Luke 3:8-14:

“You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The axe is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”

Though people came to him claiming to have a relationship with God (through God's covenant with Abraham), they were filled with trembling at John's words. John goes on to tell them specifically what they ought to do to repent:

“The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same.” … “Don't collect any more than you are required to.”

It is important to know that these are not works. It's not penance as though we can make it up to God with our actions. Because back to Eph 2:8, it really is faith in Jesus that saves us, and not sorrow or guilt. But our attitude and our actions tell it all. Our faith is an open book before God, which he judges by our attitude and actions. And when we sin, we need to loathe our sin (and sinful attitudes) the way God does, and come to him humbly.

“We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, 'I know him,' but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.” - 1 John 2:3-6

Ultimately, salvation is not just a free ticket to heaven and eternal life. In fact, abundant eternal life is something that starts the moment you come to faith in Jesus Christ! Fortunately, God is not only concerned with our final destination; he cares about changing us now on this journey. You can not separate the two, just like you can't separate repentance and salvation.

2) Jesus himself uses the harsh language of counting the cost in Luke 14:25-33.
“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.' In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.”

God's Word tells us that the journey of a Christian is not easy. For several reasons, people find this truth hard to take. Today, it's not uncommon to hear preachers and churches that glorify the Christian life, and make it sound like it is only pleasant. However, like the message of Paul and Peter in their day, the Gospel of the Bible was not received well most of the time. Preaching the Gospel results in persecution (Matt 5:11), rejection (Luke 4:14-30), and maybe even our martyr (Acts 7).

But what's the big deal about watering down the message a bit to make it more appealing? Is suffering part of the central message anyways?

Emphatically I say, yes. Living out the Bible is like swimming upstream in the prevailing culture of our world, and will certainly result in great suffering for God. The Gospel never promises a healthy life, a popular life, or a money-rich life. It does not say repentance and obedience are easy. Likewise, we need to honor the truth in our message, and in our witness. It's not wrong to show non-Christians that our lives are not easy or picture-perfect as Christians. We don't need to put on a fake face to be an effective witness.

I want us to remember the familiar Great Commission, where Jesus says:
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Notice that we are to make “disciples”. Contrast this to “converts.” Disciples in Jesus' language are people who have counted the cost and decided to follow. Second, notice that Jesus says “teaching them to obey everything I have commanded.” That means we do not only emphasize the things that are easy to say, and eliminate the not-so-pleasant parts. We present God's word as it is.

For further learning, look into what John Piper says about the prosperity Gospel. Though 'prosperity Gospel' usually refers to the popular deception that all God-trusting Christians will get rich in this life, a Christian life without suffering is found on the same principles: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLRue4nwJaA.

[Answered by Mark Cheng, Agape Counselor]

Q: If you are a different religion and you want to become a Christian, what do you have to do to make it offical?

A: You may be surprised to learn that the answer to "how to become a Christian" is far easier than you think it is.

Let's look at the most famous verse of the Bible (and one that Pastor HM preached on 2 weeks ago). John 3:16 says this, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." This verse says that if we believe in God's Son, Jesus Christ as the saviour our sins, we are granted eternal life and the privilege of going to heaven.

The question is...how do we do that. Well, I have a "3 step guideline" that may help you gather your thoughts and work out where you're at.

Repent - Repentance means to acknowledge that we are sinners and that in order to be saved from our sins (which would otherwise result in death), we need a Saviour. Part of this process is to understand that we cannot save ourselves from sin, but to look ahead to Christ who did that for us on the cross.
Recognize - Recognize the fact that Christ is in fact the one that saves us from our sins. Scripture tells us that the wages of sin is death...but it also tells us that Christ took that death penalty for us. So that when we believe in Him, we can have eternal life and a relationship with Christ. By His death, we are saved.
Accept the Gift - Accepting the gift means simply to put your faith in Christ and accept what He has done for you by His death. Salvation is not earned, it's not purchased...it's given freely and can be accepted freely by you. All you have to do is believe.

It's really that simple in becoming a Christian. Many people think that you have to wait a certain period of time or do special tasks in order to attain this "title", but that is far from the truth. God doesn't ask us to jump through hoops or complete a check list before allowing us to be called children of His.

However, in re-reading this question, I think your specific situation may be more difficult than the average student in our fellowship. You specify that you are a different religion and ask how to become a Christian. I'm going to venture out and guess that this other religion that you speak of is not exactly your own, but that of your family's. As in, your family may be Buddhist and you were raised Buddhist...but after attending our services/fellowship for awhile, you would like to make the choice in becoming a Christian.

If your family is open and accepting, then this should only be a slight hurdle. However, if they are not and are adamantly against you joining our church...it could be a bigger battle. The "3 steps" on how to become a Christian still stands, regardless of religious affiliation. But I would encourage you to talk to your counselor or Pastor about this. They could help you on a more personal level (rather than on the Internet through this blog). It may be difficult for your family to understand, but the decision on Christ is a personal one and one that only you can make.

Please talk to your counselor or Pastor about this, they could really give you more personal advice.

[answered by Pastor KJT, who stood firm in her decision with Christ and has never looked back]

Sabbath?

Agape Fall Retreat 09

Muskoka Woods

This question came up while we were doing devotions at retreat. Dan (our speaker) mentioned that we should always have a day of rest, and it is a commandment. Technically, if we were working, like doing our homework or studying, are we sinning against God? If one was not taking a rest because of work or school for the whole week, are we sinning?

Great question. This question is especially relevant if you live within an Asian household, which often emphasizes the value of hard work, sacrifice and determination.

To sabbath means to rest from one's work. Why should we do take a sabbath? For one, our bodies physically need a break. We are not machines that are built to work 24 hours, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. If we try to work like a machine, we'll burn out. Someone once told me that unless we take a sabbath, a sabbath will be imposed upon you. That means you can try to go without rest, but eventually the consequences will catch up with you. Either your body will break down, or the relationships around you. Even your career can be in jeopardy if you don't rest. Worst of all, your relationship with God will suffer because you have failed to rely upon Him.

Taking a sabbath break is an act of trusting in God. When we rest from our work (assuming we have worked hard on the last six days - no an excuse to be lazy!), we have to remember that God is still working while we are not. And we have to trust in that. Pastor Mark Driscoll wrote an article that I think you should read concerning this matter. It's found HERE. Here's an excerpt:

Legalistic attempts have been made to rob the Sabbath of its worship and joy by carefully mandating what can and cannot be done. However, Jesus seemed to have intentionally lived in public view to serve as a contrary model of the Sabbath than that given by other legalistic teachers. For example, Jesus healed on the Sabbath (Matthew 12:1–14, John 9:1–17), taught on the Sabbath (Mark 6:1–2), and promoted evangelism on the Sabbath (John 7:21–24). Jesus demonstrated that the Sabbath is not to be enforced legalistically, but that it exists for worshipful fun and rest. Furthermore, our true Sabbath is not in a day but ultimately in a saving relationship with Jesus where we can rest from trying to earn our salvation and rest in His finished work (Matthew 11:28–30; Romans 4:5; Colossians 2:16–17). Therefore, the Sabbath is not a law for believers to obey, but instead a grace to enjoy.

In conclusion, by setting aside a day, we are showing that we are a people who are set aside (holy) and who rest in Jesus. Worshiping is our primary objective and our weeks are purposefully ordered around worship. Then, our worshipful work can be rightly undertaken.

Summarily, what activities you do or don't do on the Sabbath is not the main issue. Remember, Jesus attended worship, taught and applied the Scriptures, performed acts of mercy and encouraged others to do the same, AND He rested from some of His usual labor. The issue if whether you trust in God, and devote the time we would have spent working on worshipping Him. If we don't trust in Him and devote time to worship Him, that is sin. So I'll end with a question for you: Have you taken a break from your work or school during this week to rest and trust in God?

[Answered by Pastor HM, who takes the sabbath on Monday, since he technically works on Sunday]

Q: Even though the Bible states that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, can we say that all sins are equal?

...According to the Bible, it seems that they are not. Can you shed some light into this? If it is true, can we justify "smaller" sins?


A: Thanks for asking this question! It's so applicable to our post-modern world right now as our society has somehow developed their own idea of morality and the varying degrees of this.

From the stories in the Bible, it may seem that God views some sins more serious than others...but that in fact is not the underlying truth. Romans 6:23 tells us: For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. ALL sin is looked upon as defiance to God and the punishment for those sins are death. No matter if it's a little lie to get out of trouble or covering up the tracks of a serial killer. They are all the same to God. A sin, is a sin...is a sin. There is no varying degree of them.

However, we have to take into the account of the death of Christ and what it ultimately gives us...grace. Grace comes into the picture because it is by grace which we are forgiven of those sins. By accepting Christ as our Saviour...we are believing in the pardon that His death gives us for us and our sins. We don't have to die, because He has died for us already.

Having said that, just because God gives us grace and pardon for our sins, does not mean that some are more evil than others. It's the complete opposite, as a matter of fact. Those sins are exactly the same, He just gives us Christ instead.

To further your last point about the justification of smaller sins...you are treading on very deep waters if you start to do that. As soon as we begin to justify the sins in our lives, we are playing God. It's very plain and clear...any sin is a sin. DO NOT look upon God's mercy and grace to mistake it for His weakness. You are intentionally defying Him and for lack of betters words...He'll show you who's boss.

Check out this short article by John Piper, he supplements my answer well. Click HERE.


[answered by Pastor KJT, who is saved by grace cause God knows that she's sinful]

Q: In the Book of John, what can be derived from it to be used as guidelines for differentiating good and evil in modern times?

...As in what are the rules laid out for the people of God? And how does it apply to our daily live? If possible, how do we stay focused on this goal?



A: The answer to this question looks far beyond the Book of John, but the the whole of the New Testament.

Firstly, you have to know this. That Christ came to die on the cross, not only to give us new life, but to deliver us from the present evil age. John 17:15, it says this: Father don't take them out of the world, but keep them from evil. What this means is that although we are Christian, we live in a world that is full of evil. Christ's prayer for us, is not for God to remove us from this, but for Him to keep us away from the evil that surrounds us. Through the death of Christ, we have been given a way out...to choose good over evil.

To differentiate between good and evil is a hard one. It presents the idea of discernment and conviction. John Piper in this article, gives a great explanation as to how to make decisions when God's will isn't necessarily obvious (as in written in the Bible). I think it would give great insight to your dilemma. Please click on the link and read the article as it eloquently addresses all you are asking about.

[in case you don't have time to read it, I'll summarize. Basically, in order to tell the difference between good and evil, we have to have a "renewal of our minds". Look at this world through the eyes of God, ask Him for guidance and seek Him in all that you do. I love this passage from the Psalmist "delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart" [37:4]. When we align ourselves with God...when our heart beats for the things that God wants...He'll grant us the desires that we want to see. The idea here is that those desires are not the selfish ones (material goods, fake happiness, etc). But that those desires are ones that honour and glorify God (abolishing slavery and poverty, helping the widows and orphans). When our hearts are aligned with God, it helps us to understand and see the world through His eyes, and allows us ultimately to discern between that which is good and that which is evil. Read the article!]

Staying focused on this goal means commitment and sacrifice. We are called to be the light in this world...the good in the evil (Matthew 5:13-16). It means that we do the opposite with what the world is telling us to do...that being love ourselves only, work for ourselves only, satisfy ourselves only. Christ instead, does the exact opposite...He tells us to love others, to work for Him, and to help the poor and widowed that our outside of our community.

In order to do this, you have to establish yourself in Christ, yearn and develop a deep relationship with Him. Love the things that He loves, hate the things that He hates. And be willing to JUMP in with both feet and fully give your life as a living sacrifice to Him.


[answered by Pastor KJT]

Q: Should I still ask God for help for something even though I know I don't deserve it?

This question has lots of layers to it. On the one hand, if you're asking for something that is immoral or sinful (i.e. the Bible speaks against it), then I don't think you should be asking God at all. Whether you deserve it or not is not the issue in this case.

On the other hand, if the help you require is not against the Bible's direct teachings, then you can ask God. Theologically, I want to point out that we do not deserve anything anyway. Listen to what the Apostle Paul says in Romans 11:33-36:

Oh, the depth of the riches and s wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

“For u who has known the mind of the Lord,
or who has been his counselor?”

“Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?”

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

God created us and everything in our universe (John 1) meaning we don't deserve anything. We are not entitled to anything. God does not "owe" us anything. We owe it all to God! Therefore, asking for God's help (providing you are not asking anything that constitutes as sin) is something we ought to do! And when we ask, God will hear us and answer according to his own perfect timing. There are many examples in the Bible of individuals who asked God for help, calling upon his name. Consider King David's example (2 Sam. 22:7):

“In my distress I called upon the Lord;
to my God I called.
From his temple he heard my voice,
and my cry came to his ears."

I'd also recommend you read this article/blog, which I found helpful on this matter. Here is what Michael Lane, the author, writes:

Suppose you're having trouble making ends meet and you're not sure how you will pay this month's bills. You may ask God to send you some extra money. You may ask God to help you find a better paying job. In all likelihood, God is not going to do either of those things, though it's certainly possible. The point is that it really doesn't matter how God decides to solve the problem. By asking God for help, you have admitted that you need Him, and that is what really matters. How God decides to deal with the issue is immaterial, but rest assured He will intervene in the best way possible.

God does not want you to depend on a particular solution; He wants you to depend on Him.

Asking for God's help in all situations is a very important part of our relationship with Him. When you ask for God to help, you are indirectly saying that you trust Him and that you need Him. You are admitting your weakness and acknowledging His strength. You are submitting and surrendering to Him.

But what are we saying to God if we never ask for His help? We are saying we don't need Him. We are sending the message that we have no need of His blessing or protection and we want to go it alone.

Another reason to ask for God's help is not to seek a specific outcome, but rather to receive His comfort, support and peace. God may not provide a direct resolution to every difficulty in our lives, but He will comfort us. When you seek God during times of trouble, large or small, you are saying, "God, be with me during this time. Let my thoughts be with you and let me feel your presence."

[Answered by Pastor HM, who - like all people - owes everything to God]

Q: Is capital punishment justified?

This article from the fine folks at Got Questions is worth the read.

There are three traditional views regarding Capital Punishment (CP). In order to keep this article brief, we will examine the last one: Retribution.

1. Rehabilitate – No CP for any crime
2. Reconstruct – (reconstruction OT laws) CP for all serious crimes
3. Retribution – CP for some capital crimes

In the "retribution" view (#3), CP is legitimate for some crimes, namely capital ones. The primary purpose of CP is to punish. Unlike view 2, this one does not believe that civil governments today are bound by the Mosaic law. While it also protects innocent people from repeated violent crimes or acts as a deterrent, this is not its primary purpose.

Examples of CP in the Bible include:

1. It was given to Noah (Gen 9:5-6).

2. It was given to Moses as a penalty for capital crimes including murder (Ex 21:12), avenging a death, causing a miscarriage (Ex 21:22-23), false testimony in a capital case (Deut 19:16-19), and owning an ox that killed people (Ex 21:29). In each case the person who received CP was responsible for the death of an innocent person or persons.

3. In the NT, it is also given in the context of capital crimes. Government has the sword for capital crimes (Romans 13:4). Jesus acknowledged Rome’s authority over his life (John 19:11) where alleged crime was a capital crime namely, treason (Luke 23:2). Paul’s alleged crime for which he was willing to receive capital punishment if guilty was treason (Acts 25:11; 17:7).

The Biblical Basis for CP:

1. The need for CP is implied in man’s nature

2. Human beings are created in God’s image (Gen 1:27). They both resemble and represent God on earth. Killing them is an attack on the God who made them. It is a rejection of his sovereignty over human life (Deut 32:39). For this capital crime God explicitly declared that he demanded a CP (Gen 9:6).

3. Such a punishment is also implied in the very nature of the crime (as in the case of Cain when he killed Abel).

4. Cain deserved and expected capital punishment. Gen 4:10 “Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground.” This cry for blood vengeance is a clear indication that justice demanded a life in return.

5. God gave the power of CP to human government. There was CP before the time of Noah, but it was left to relatives to avenge the murderer (Gen 4:14). By instituting CP in Noah’s time Gen 9:6, God took justice out of the hands of the families of the deceased and placed the sword in the hands of human government. In this way justice could be more objectively exercised by eliminating the personal revenge factor and the emotional anger.

6. CP was incorporated into the Mosaic Law. It was given before. But in Ex 21, what Mosaic law did was to incorporate it and extend it to many other noncapital crimes, including religious and ceremonial ones. These reasons for CP were not intended for other nations but only Israel. God through Moses extended CP to noncapital crimes for Israel, his chosen nation, not to all the nations. CP was already prescribed for capital crimes. Therefore, if CP for capital crimes was not given with the law of Moses, then it did not pass away with the Mosaic law. Mosaic law passed away.

7. CP is reaffirmed in the NT. 
CP was given to the whole human race through Noah (Gen 9:6, 9-10). This is not abolished so is still in effect.

CP was given to Israel through Moses for noncapital crimes (Deut 4:9, Ps 147:19-20). This has been abolished.

The sword that was divinely given to human government for CP (Gen 9:6) is explicitly reaffirmed in the NT (Romans 13: 4, John 19:11, Acts 25:11)

Summary

1. CP for capital crimes is stated before the law of Moses. Gen 9:6 says: "Whoever sheds the blood of man,
by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man."

2. Additions were given for noncapital crimes in Mosaic law. These have been abolished.

3. It is stated in the NT (Romans 13:4).

[Answered by Pastor Quang, with a little help from Pastor HM]

Q: Is war ever justified?

Many people misquote the ten commandments and say that killings is wrong when it actually says murder is wrong. Also, the ten commandments refer to human relationships and not government. Based on that understanding, is war ever justified? Is it justified to defeat evil? Does a government have that right? Examples: The American invasion of Afghanistan to defeat terrorism, World War II.

Though war is a terrible thing, and innocent lives are lost, sometimes war is required to restrain evil. Sometimes the only way to keep sinful people from doing great harm is by going to war with them. If Hitler had not been defeated in World War II, how many more millions of Jews would have been killed? If the Civil War had not been fought, how much longer would African Americans have had to suffer as slaves? Therefore for the Christian, going to war would be a valid option, and a part of submitting to the ruling authorities as required in Romans 13.

However, the most important thing we can be doing in a time of war is to be praying for godly wisdom for our leaders, praying for the safety of our military, praying for quick resolution to the conflict, and praying for minimum casualties – on both sides of the conflict.

Also read this article concerning your very question.

[Answered by Pastor Quang and Pastor HM]

Q: Is it okay for a Christian to be a soldier in the army or be a police officer?

Examples of military service are found in the Bible. The first example of military service is found in the Old Testament (Genesis 14), when Abraham's nephew Lot was kidnapped by king of Elam, and his allies. Abraham rallied to Lot's aid by gathering 318 trained men of his household and defeating the foreign forces.

King David was in the army and led his forces into battle. Although Solomon's reign was peaceful, he further expanded the army, adding chariots and horsemen (1 Kings 10:26).

Many Centurions mentioned in the New Testament are praised as Christians, God-fearers, and men of good character (Matthew 8:5-13, 27:54, Acts 10:1-2, 22). The titles and places may have changed, but the armed forces should be favourably valued as the Centurions in the NT.

[Answered by Pastor Quang Nguyen]

Q: Christians versus the Beast of Revelation?

"I have been studying a lot about the Beast of Revelations and I was wondering, what will God do to those people who are Christian but don't know about the Beast of Revelations? Will they be punished?"

There are actually TWO beasts of Revelation, which I described in THIS POST. Here's an excerpt that is related to your question:

The only thing Scripture tells us is that though the beasts of Revelation (i.e. Satan and his demon minions) continue to influence and dominant the world, he can never dominate the Christian, even if he takes away our earthly lives:

Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain (Rev. 13:7-8).

In other words, Christians may or may not be aware of the Beasts of Revelation (after all, there are many, many interpretations as to who exactly the Beasts really are), but they need not be afraid of them. God will not punish Christians, but rather ensures that they will conquer Satan and his forces:

And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death (Rev. 12:11).

[Answered by Pastor HM]

Q: Singing out loud in worship?

Q: One of my close friends doesn't sing during Sunday worship. They find it awkward to listen to their own voice out loud and have people listen in. Since singing is a form of worship, does that mean that God will look down upon these kinds of people? Is it bad that I have stopped myself from encouraging my friend to sing out loud? Is that not their personal choice, and are there not other ways to worship that does not directly involve your vocal chords?

This is quite an interesting question… with 2 more questions added into it! Haha! Anyways, to answer your question(s), I think it’s important to first look at what “worship” is. In short, Singing out loud on Sunday morning does not necessarily equate to worship. As you said yourself, it is a form of worshipping, but does represent it as a whole. Check out this verse.

Romans 12:1-2 says:

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

To God, our Spiritual service of worship, is what He’s looking for. Sometimes we get caught up just looking at people’s “outer expressions” we do not know what is going on the INSIDE. God does not look at our outer expressions, but to our inner expressions of worship. So to answer the 2^nd part of the question, God doesn’t look down on people who don’t sing, but He does look at whether their heart is set towards Him in repentance, praise and thankfulness.

I’ve been leading worship for Sunday worship services for 13 years and I’ve also had similar questions as to why some people simply choose not to sing out. I’ve realized that some people may not be ready to outwardly express their worship to God or prefer to sing “in their hearts”. I know that sounds like a cop-out answer, but it is true for some people. Learning to worship can be understood in parallel to learning to read your bible!

Anyways, I think the main idea of worshipping together as the Gathered people of God is to remember one part of that verse, “to present your BODIES as A living sacrifice”. Our worship is not only an individual act, but a communal one. We are called to worship God together and that could possibly take some sacrifice and growing pains in the learning process. Maybe someday your friend will realize that by singing in worship to God it is not simply and individualistic thing, but we are singing as God’s gathered people TOGETHER as ONE offering of praise. In the mean time, it’s more important for us to cultivate our inner expressions of worship first and allow the outer expressions to mature with “renewing of the mind”.

[Pastor Shu-Ling, English Congregation Worship]