V-Day Podcast is LIVE.

Our live Ask Us Session on dating, sex and relationships ("V-Day") took place Friday Night, February 19, 2010. Over 50 questions were asked (40 of them were live text-in questions!). We tried to answer as many as possible, but in the end, we had about 10 unanswered (We'll answer them soon via another live session or via this blog).

You can listen to the podcast by clicking on the following links:

(1) PART ONE (1 hour, 18 min.) and (2) PART TWO (33 min.).

Among the questions asked were the following...

You say that there is marriage when you find the other half God has given to you. If that’s the case then why is there divorce?

Some couples say I love you right away but some aren’t ready to say it after a year. How do you know when the right time to say it?

How far is too far when it comes to physical intimacy? I mean, as long as you don’t have premarital sex it’s okay, right?

If your potential soulmate, like you really believe you’re going to spend your life with this person, asks you to choose between God and him or her, how should you respond?

I’m in a relationship but we don’t talk, what do I do *sad face*

What if your parents beat you if they find out that you’re dating someone? What if they go and yell at who we’re dating? (personal experience)

How do you get over a hard and painful breakup?

If you’re dating is it ok to prioritize and neglect your gf/bf over your other friends in life?

What would you say is the hardest thing about marriage?

I have a Christian friend who’s dating a guy 4 years older than her and they’ve already gone FAAR. I’m scared for her so how should I respond?

Is infatuation a sin?

What if you like a Christian best friend?

How do I get a non-christian friend out of an unhealthy relationship?

What if you have more than one girlfriend of boyfriend?

My friend’s really mean to me…it makes me really sad L what should I do?

What do we do if we’re no longer a virgin?

My ex keeps following me and bugging me, what do I do?

Is it wrong to date my friend’s ex?

If a non-christian friend has told you that they have had sex, how should you respond?

Is dating for fun ok? Must all relationships be serious or the first step towards marriage?

How do you deal with someone who likes you but is the same sex as you?

Is it alright for a guy to date a girl who is 2 years older than him?

What should I do if I like one of my friend’s sibling?

I got my girlfriend pregnant…As a Christian what should I do?

I met this guy who I thought was pretty cool, but he won’t leave me alone. He sends me creepy messages on Facebook. How do I deal with him in a nice Christianly manner. This person is a true stalker, like seriously.

Thanks to everyone who came, and especially the brave counselors on the panel! As this was a resounding success, we'll try to do another in the near future!

Q: When we see a homeless person on the street, what should we do?

First and foremost, it is important to understand that everyone is made equal in God’s eyes. Despite the differences in our socioeconomic status, mental health, family background, culture etc… we are all children of God made in His likeness. However, some of us are blessed with more than others, and in this regard – God expects a lot more from those people too. “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. Luke 12:48”.

There are over 2000 verses in Scripture that calls upon us to respond to the needs of the poor. When we approach anyone who is in need, it is important to be reminded of what Christ said, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” Matthew 25:40. With this perspective in mind, we approach the poor not as privileged, but with humility and awe because we are serving our Lord Jesus himself.

The Bible gives us many practical examples on how we are to approach those in need. One of these verses is found in Isaiah 58:6-7 “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter – when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?” So even more practically, what does this look like today in our city? There are many ways you can respond when you see a homeless person on the street – here are a few examples:

1. Don’t judge. You don’t know what has happened in their lives that have led them to become homeless. “Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (Colossians 3:12) .

2. Take the time to have a conversation. I have heard that one of the hardest things for the homeless is the feeling that they are invisible, that they don’t exist. Next time you see a homeless person, don’t just pass by. Take the time to stop, introduce yourself and ask how they are doing. You will be surprised about how much you learn.

3. Give pre-made care packages. This is a good idea for everyone, but especially those who see the homeless on a consistent basis. Care packages could include anything that would be useful for those who are homeless (i.e. Bible, TTC token, socks, toothbrush, soap, mittens etc…). If you aren’t able to carry so much around, another idea is buying gift cards (Timmies, grocery stores etc..) and keeping them handy in your wallet. Alternatively, you can ask them what they would like to eat, go buy it for them – and even better – eat with them as well.

4. Be wise. It is important to exercise wise judgement when approaching ANYBODY. For example, if you are alone, and it appears that the individual you want to approach is intoxicated or under the influence, would it be wise to approach them? Probably not, use wisdom!

4. Pray. Pray, pray, pray and pray some more. Pray before, during and after every conversation. Depending on how the conversation has gone, try to take hold of an opportunity to pray for them and their needs. Always remember to point them back to God – the source and reason of why you show love to begin with.

“He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God”. Micah 6:8

[Answered by Patricia F. Luk, Agape Counselor]

Q: What is the significance of Sunday School and Fellowship? Is possible to be a Christian by just going to service?

A: To be a Christian means to believe Jesus Christ is your personal Saviour and Lord. So fundamentally, you can be a Christian without having to go to any of the things that you mentioned. However, I don't someone could be taking their faith seriously and growing as a Christian without having the support of the church family.

If someone is to say "I can be a Christian without going to church," I think they are lacking the maturity and commitment to continue as a disciple of Christ. It's hard to be a Christ follower and disciple of Christ. God doesn't call us just to believe and then be stagnant in our growth, but He calls us to believe and make disciples of others (Matthew 28:18-20).

Our church offers Sunday School to teach the Word and Fellowship to build community. Sunday Service is to have corporate worship. All of these are integral aspects of church life and help facilitate the growth of a Christian. I believe that if you are serious about your faith, then you need to be apart of a community to learn and grow.

[answered by Pastor KJT]

Q: We're supposed to read the Bible every day...how are you supposed to do that?

...Open the Bible to a random page? Use a devotion book? If so, what are some good devotion books?


A: I just have to say that your question is full of intensity and I praise God that there seems to a deep passion to read the Word and build a relationship with Him. That's very refreshing, thank you!

I wouldn't recommend to open to a random page and read from there. If you haven't read the Bible at all and you're just starting out, I'd recommend to read the Gospels first, particularly the Gospel of John. If you have done that already, go through the rest of the New Testament, perhaps starting with Acts and then reading the Epistles of Paul.

Also, try and find a Study Bible, one that doesn't just contain the Bible, but also has footnotes that explain the passages. I would recommend this one from Zondervan that's in the NIV translation or this one by Crossway Books in the ESV translation. Both provide good introductions to each book and gives historical and cultural background when necessary.

As for a good devotion, may I suggest "My Utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers? This is a real classic. Other good authors that I like to read are Max Lucado and C.S. Lewis.

Hope this has helped your personal walk with Christ, feel free to ask your counselors or Pastors for some more suggestions or see what they're reading!


[answered by Pastor KJT]

Q: God kills?

One of my Facebook friends put this up regarding Christianity:

God kills 70,000 innocent people because David ordered a census of the people (1 Chronicles 21). God also orders the destruction of 60 cities so that the Israelites can live there. He orders the killing of all the men, women, and children of each city, and the looting of all of value (Deuteronomy 3). He orders another attack and the killing of “all the living creatures of the city: men and women, young, and old, as well as oxen sheep, and asses” (Joshua 6). In Judges 21, He orders the murder of all the people of Jabesh-gilead, except for the virgin girls who were taken to be forcibly raped and married. When they wanted more virgins, God told them to hide alongside the road and when they saw a girl they liked, kidnap her and forcibly rape her and make her your wife! Just about every other page in the Old Testament has God killing somebody! In 2 Kings 10:18-27, God orders the murder of all the worshipers of a different god in their very own church! In total God kills 371,186 people directly and orders another 1,862,265 people murdered.

So my question is: Is this true? This is scientific research. But I'm a believer and I don't think that's true. What's your opinion?

Thanks for this question. When we are faced with such bold claims, we often find ourselves doubting our Christian faith. However, if we carefully examine these claims, we'll find that they are not as rock-solid as they appear to be. Your friend's quote comes from a website - www.evilbible.com, so it's not his/her own writing. This is a clear example of propagating something that sounds true, but is untrue if you carefully examine the facts. The good news is there are plenty of sites that have already refuted the claims presented on this website. For instance, take a look at this website.

Since this particular quote talks about the God of the Bible and the killing of "innocent people," let's focus upon this issue. The first thing you'll notice is that you can really make the Bible say whatever you want it to say if you don't read things in CONTEXT.

For instance, the quote mentions 1 Chronicles 21 - God kills 70, 000 innocent people. If you actually read this passage, it tells us that though God did allow for sickness to come upon 70,000 men, he spared the rest of the city ("...but as he was about to destroy [Jerusalem], he relented" - v. 14).

Another example: Isaiah 13:16; Psalm 137:9 and Hosea 13:16 all talk about babies being thrown against rocks. What the authors fail to understand is that these verses were spoken by prophets. Prophets were charged with telling the hard truth to people and to call them to change their evil ways. If people did, judgment would be averted. A similar story is found in Jonah. Jonah is told to go and tell Ninevah they are doomed. The people repent and are spared. Jonah is even upset because of God's mercy (for more on this particular topic, read this thoughtful post).

Evilbible.com also talks about Exodus 21:1-11. But again, the authors take everything out of context and leave out the passage in the Bible that talk about the proper treatment of slaves (you can read more about slavery in the Old Testament here). The law explicitly condemned all of the following:

• Rape (Dt 22:25-27)
• Prostitution (23:17-18)
• Sex outside of marriage, whether consensual or not (Ex 22:16-17, Dt 22:28-29)
• Sex with a slave who was betrothed or married to someone else (Lev 19:20-22)

Therefore any forced intercourse would have been against both the letter and the spirit of the law.

The lesson here is to always make sure you read the passage in historical context, instead of picking verses of your choosing to support your idea. This is exactly what the authors of www.evilbible.com have done!

---

That being said, we must acknowledge that there was killing in the Old Testament and it was allowed, condoned and commanded by God. There are several important things to understand:

1. As the universal Creator God is also the universal judge, to whom all people are accountable. This means that god has the right to bring whatever judgement he wants on people.

2. Since all people are sinners, we are all subject to the God's perfect judgment/justice. The folks at RationalChristianity.com offer this explanation:

The primary reason was punishment for wrongdoing. The populations of the destroyed cities had long histories of grievous sins (Gen 15:16, Dt 25:17-19), which often included sacrificing their children to false gods (Dt 12:29-31). Their consciences should have told these people they were doing wrong. Had they listened and changed their ways, they would not have been destroyed. God has said that if any nation is about to be destroyed as punishment but repents, he will forgive them and not destroy them (Jer 18:7-8). In fact, this occurred in the city of Ninevah (Jonah 3:4-10).

In the cities that were given to the Israelites as their inheritance, there was a secondary reason: totally depraved cultures were destroyed so that they would not corrupt the Israelites into committing the same evil acts (Dt 7:1-4,20:16-18). This did in fact occur: when the Israelites didn't obey God and destroy cities, they too began practicing child sacrifice (Ps 106:34-40).

Additionally, the destruction of wicked nations served as an instructive warning to contemporaries (Josh 2:1-11) and future generations (1 Cor 10:1-11).

3. There is a tension between God's sovereign will and human freedom. Just because God allows for things to happen does not mean he approves of these actions. Matt Slick (from CARM.ORG) writes:

It is worth noting that the Old Testament records many atrocities. The fact is that God allowed people their sinful desires and he worked within their culture, even as he does now, as he permits all kinds of bad things to happen. Nevertheless, God introduced what is called the Apoditic Law (Exodus 21:24): an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. The Apoditic Law was instituted to prevent the increase of blood revenge, a practice where revenge would escalate out of control between two parties. Since the hearts of the fallen are so wicked and the harsh environment and culture produced difficulties for survival, God has a few options to counter their proclivity towards evil. He can run roughshod over their free will and force everyone to obey him, or he could wipe them all out (he had already done this with Noah's flood), or he could work within the situation at hand. In the case of this psalm, and it's Babylonian captivity context, God chose to work with people and through them instead of violating the freedom he had given them and forcing them to act in a manner that he instructs.

---

Hope this helps. Friend, don't buy into these false claims. Again, they may seem credible, but if you really do some research, you'll be able to refute them as many have done in the past. So I encourage you to do your research, and articulate your points well if you do encounter someone who has been influenced by these claims.

Lastly, remember to look at the person and work of Jesus. Jesus came to pay the penalty of sin FOR US. On the cross, Jesus absorbed the rightful judgment of God. And he did it because he loves us. That is a God worthy of our worship!

Pastor HM

For more information, please do read the following articles carefully. They have much more detailed explanations than I can provide and are worth your time!

1. Genocide in the Old Testament

2. Why would God order the destruction of men, women and children in the Old Testament?

3. Murder in the Old Testament

4. EvilBible is Dead

Q: Can christians read/watch sorcery stuff? (e.g. Harry Potter series)

A: Absolutely! I've seen all of the Harry Potters series and enjoyed them thoroughly! They're great fun and entertaining.

I know the argument about not watching something such as Harry Potter. Many Christians will hold the view that it encourages sorcery or teaches things that contradict the Bible. And while I can see this argument flying for young children, I think that as adults and teenagers, we are far from being under that influence. When I watch Harry battle it out with his magic wand...I don't actually believe that magic comes from a wand and that we can fly on a broom. I just take it as great entertainment

Keeping your mind pure doesnt mean that you just ignore everything that's going on in the world! It just means that you only let the good things infiltrate your heart. Dont actually believe in the fictional characters of Harry, Ron and Hermione. But just watch it because it's a fun movie!


[answered by Pastor KJT, who loves Harry Potter movies!]

V-DAY, Live Ask Us Session on February 19.

Keep sending those questions in. We're sorting them through now!

During the night, we'll also have an opportunity for you to ask some question via text message, etc.

Q: If God only chose some to be saved, do those that are not called upon have the chance to turn to God?

"I've read some of the previous questions asked on predestination, but it still doesn't really clear up my mind on some of the issue regarding this topic..."

Admittedly, this is one of those topics that nobody on the planet will completely understand. That being said, it is addressed in Scripture and so Christians cannot ignore it. As you've read some of the previous posts, I won't summarize their content here (for those who haven't read them, read them HERE).

To answer your question directly: No. If God doesn't choose, then you don't have the ability to turn to Him. Salvation only comes when God chooses us and works in our heart so that we have the ability to respond to Him. Listen to what theologian Donald Bloesch (Essentials of Evangelical Theology, Volume I: God, Authority and Salvation. Peabody, MA: Prince Press, 1978) says:

"To give all the glory to God in the accomplishing of our salvation is not to reduce man to nothing. Yet we must also not say that man gets some of the credit for his salvation, that man can help in the procuring of his salvation... Our position is that we must affirm both the sovereignty of grace and the responsibility of believers. The two errors to be avoided are the following: that one is saved exclusively by the work of grace upon him thereby not including or allow for personal faith and decision in the salvific process...the second error gives man a determinative role in his justification so that he virtually becomes a co-redeemer with Christ...Only the person who is transformed by divine grace can make a positive response to God's gracious invitation, but only the one who does make such a response is indeed transformed by grace."

God wants all people to be saved and become his children, but what he ordains is actually that only some will be saved; the rest will never know him. However, in my experience we also need to be careful in our understanding, even if we have what we think to be the “right” view on this big topic of God’s election. A simple indoctrination on the topic can do us more harm than good in our view of God. First off, we have to agree that we don’t know all the answers. I really want you to read Romans 9:1-26, and see if you can connect with Paul’s argument on the topic of God’s election (which really answers your question). I’ll summarize/paraphrase what Paul’s logic is (though you should just read it yourself):

-In the OT Bible stories, God clearly elected some, like Jacob; he also didn’t elect others, like Esau

-God chose Jacob before he was born; to emphasize that he wasn’t chosen because of anything he did (his own righteousness, or how smart/good-looking/nice he was)

-What shall we say? Is God unjust for choosing like this? Not at all! God can be merciful or unmerciful to whomever he chooses.

-I hear you asking, “Then why does God blame us? For who can resist his will?”

-But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, “Why did you make me like this?” God can do what he wants. Maybe God chose this way of doing things so that he could make his power and wrath better known, and so that we who are elected as Christians could truly appreciate what’s been given.

This probably isn’t a comforting passage if you were looking for clear understanding on God’s election, yet this is one of the clearest passages in the Bible about election. We might be screaming “that’s not the answer I want.” But God has given us that answer, and he can use even our lack of knowledge and control to teach us a lesson on humility and realizing our place under God. We’re not God, and there are some things we need to accept that we’ll never know in this lifetime. We can instead take the attitude of David, who writes: “My heart is not proud, O LORD, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, put your hope in the LORD both now and forevermore.” (Psalm 131) This is a mysterious topic, and we need to accept to a certain extent that free will and predestination are two parallel lines that only meet in eternity, and that some questions just won’t ever receive the clear logical answers we want in this lifetime.

Regardless of whether we have all the answers or not, and regardless of which view you take on the debate of election/predestination, these principles are important for us all:

1) We need to live in the present as only God knows who has been chosen and who hasn’t. The Biblical idea of God’s election should be freeing, and give us greater motivation in evangelism. Oftentimes on this topic, people say, “Well then, what’s the point of telling my friends about Christ? God’s gonna save them or not, and I can’t change that.” But the point is that we’ll never know, and God has commanded us regardless to go share the Gospel (Matt 28:19-20). And knowing that the conversion process is not up to us and “how good we are at presenting the Gospel” is a very liberating understanding that should compel us to tell more people about this glorious God. In history, many of the greatest missionaries have strongly believed in God’s predestined election. For ourselves, we’re also sure in times of hardship and doubt that God has chosen us, and nothing in this world can steal us away.

2) God is love. It’s easy to see God as being heartless and unfair. But we need to understand he is God, and we are men. And the fact that he even chooses to save some (when he could have saved none) is a testament to his love. And the way he did it, namely through giving his only begotten son into the hands of fallen men that he sovereignty knew would slaughter him, is a testament to that love he has for the whole world.

[Answered by Pastor HM and Mark Cheng]

Are only Protestant Christians going to heaven?

What about the other religions that use the Bible? For example, would Catholics or Presbyterians go to Heaven, or do they have to be Protestant?

Hi! Good question. I've written a previous post concerning this issue. Read it HERE. To answer this question, let's get some terminology cleared up. Protestants and Roman Catholics both fall under the banner of "Christianity." You can read up on their differences HERE. Presbyterians are NOT a third category, but rather fall under the umbrella of Protestantism.

Among the chief differences between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism is this very issue of salvation. According to Roman Catholicism, man cannot be saved by faith alone in Christ alone. They teach that a person must rely on faith plus “good works” in order to be saved. Protestant teaching affirms Scripture, which says salvation comes from God alone through the death and resurrection of His incarnate Son, Jesus Christ (Eph. 2:8).*

So my answer is quite straight-forward: Anyone who receives and trusts in Jesus ALONE (& not their own merits/deeds/works) for the forgiveness of their sins gains salvation. If you genuinely hold to Roman Catholic doctrine and believe you can enter God's kingdom on his own merit, then please look at Scripture and instead put their faith solely in the fact that we are “justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, whom God displayed as a propitiation in His blood through faith.” (Romans 3:24-25). Good works arise from faith in Christ and thus are an indication that one is truly born again. But in and of themselves, they do not justify or save us.

[Answered by Pastor HM]

*This, in fact, is where Protestants received their name; they "protested" against Roman Catholic teaching.

Q: How do you know if you really believe in Christ?

This is a basic, but very important question. In essence, belief in Jesus means you receive Jesus for all that He is. The opposite of belief is, of course, unbelief. Unbelief is something Jesus encountered in his own life and is still prevalent today. When people don't believe in Jesus, or only believe some things about Jesus, then they don't truly receive Him as He really is. For instance, if you only believe that Jesus was a good, moral teacher, you have fallen into unbelief because Jesus claimed to be much more than a moral teacher - he claimed to be God. To believe in Jesus, therefore, is to trust in Him completely. This is especially crucial when it comes to salvation. Salvation is much more than mere head knowledge; it involves believing that you are a sinner and that Jesus died for you on the cross to pay the penalty for your sin. It's an act of the mind, will and heart (Romans 9:9-10).

That being said, how do you know if you really believe? I addressed this in my last sermon found HERE. Here's a written excerpt:

Dr. Victor Shepherd once said, "Our knowledge of someone is precisely the DIFFERENCE that person has made within us as a result of our meeting him/her. To know God is to be profoundly ALTERED by God through having encountered him."

The more you know a person, the more effect there is on your life. That's the principle. When you truly know a person, your life is made different forever. I'll give you an example from my own life. I've dated my wife for 13 years (we've been married for 5). I can confidently say that since I've gotten to know her, she's made the biggest impact in my life. I've been made different forever. If my life wasn't much different after 13 years, then I really couldn't say I know my wife. I may know facts about her (e.g. her favourite colour is blue; she likes sushi; she is the eldest child, etc.), but I don't really know her intimately.

With respect to our relationship with God, the same principle holds true. We know God when we have been made different forever through our encounter with Him. Sadly, many people know FACTS about God (e.g. believe that Jesus did this and that), but they don't know God PERSONALLY - God has not had a profound, everlasting impact in their life. When you know God, the direction of your life MUST change because that's the kind of IMPACT God makes on a person. He works in a person's heart, so she no longer desire to sin, but desire to live in holiness and obedience to Him. When you truly know God, your priorities; life direction; behaviour; words; innermost desires change as a result of your relationship with Him.

So friend, my question to you would simply be: Has your life changed because of Jesus? Would others who know you well agree?

[Answered by Pastor HM]

For further reading:

1. John Piper's message on "Believing in Your Heart." He writes this:

Therefore, believing in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead is much more than accepting a fact. It means being confident that God is for you, that he has closed ranks with you, that he is transforming your life, and that he will save you for eternal joy. Believing in the resurrection means trusting in all the promises of life and hope and righteousness for which it stands. It means being so confident of God's power and love that no fear of worldly loss nor greed for worldly gain will lure us to disobey his will. That's the difference between Satan and the saints. O might God circumcise all our hearts to love him and to rest in the resurrection of his Son.

2. John Walvoord's article entitled, "Do You Really Believe in Jesus?" He writes:

The Bible uses the word believe or the word faith hundreds of times to describe an act of trust. It is an act of the mind in that it involves comprehension of some truth, to at least a limited degree. The Bible indicates that the Holy Spirit works in our hearts and enables us to understand what we should believe to be saved (John 16:7-11).

Belief is also an act of the will because it involves a decision on our part (John 7:17). Are we going to trust the facts about the person and the work of Christ? The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ was the God-man — all that God is from eternity, and all that man is apart from sin. The Bible also repeatedly presents, in both testaments, the fact that God Himself provides Christ as the One who would die on the cross for our sins. He was the lamb of sacrifice (John 1:29). He died in our place. He "bore our sins in his body" (1 Pet. 2:24). He died "the righteous for the unrighteous" to bring us to God (1 Pet. 3:18).

Q: It is wrong to admire yourself?

A: It's not wrong to be proud of your accomplishments, but it is wrong to hold them above your God. We are all given gifts and talents in our lives and we use them to fulfill the purpose that God has created us for. It's not bad to be proud of the worship set that you just practiced, or the missions trip that you were just on. But is IS bad when you look upon those things and put them FIRST before God. Meaning; are you proud of the worship set because you honoured and worshiped God? Or are you proud that you were able to show off your talents in front of the congregation?

When we admire ourselves, we are associating the accomplishments that we have with our own ability. The Bible tells us that if we are to boast, let us boast in the Lord (1 Cor 30-31). Which means that while we can be proud of ourselves, we must always be grounded in remembering that every accomplishment we have, ever talent and gift that we possess, comes from the Lord.


[answered by Pastor KJT]

Q: Can a person ever sin too much or be too deep in sin that he/she cannot be forgiven and/or accepted by God?

A: The black and white answer to this question would be "no". You can never sin so much that God won't forgive you. God's grace and forgiveness extends till the day we die and as long as we ask for forgiveness, repent and make a decent effort to change our lives according to the teachings of the Bible, there is no sin in the world that God can't forgive.

Now, as I said, that's the black and white answer. But I'd like to go a little further and explain how a Christian should think regarding your question.

As Christians, we know that if we ask for forgiveness and repent of our sins, God will forgive us. That does not mean that we continue to live in sin, banking on the fact that if we ask for forgiveness one day, all those sins would be wiped away. We dont knowingly sin all our lives, and on our death bed, ask God to forgiveness; that is an irresponsible response to the Gospel.

We cannot perpetuate sin in our lives and then using God's grace as an insurance. The Bible has many passages about fleeing from sin (1 Cor 10:14 - flee from idolatry, 1 Tim 6:10 - 12 - flee from evil, 1 Cor 6:18 - flee from sexual immorality). What this says to me is that as Christians, we live in sin and then ask for forgiveness...we FLEE from sin and when we FAIL to do so, God will forgive us.

Also, the call to REPENT means to recognize the sin and learn from it. It means to pledge to avoid, to the best of your ability, the temptation of succumbing to that sin. Of course, we will fail sometimes, but that's where God's grace comes in. But we are never to abuse His love and grace.

[answered by Pastor KJT]

Don't be google for God, but find the answers you're looking for. Maybe here. Maybe elsewhere. But keep looking. This is what the ASK US Blog is about: Exploring our faith together.

Q: How can I learn to trust God more?

When I'm worried I pray to Him, but after that I still get worried. Also, I find it hard to trust others people. How do I know who God has sent for me?

There appears to be two parts to this question. First, there's the issue of trust. Pastor Kelly has written a great little post on this very issue. Read it here. Trust is a matter of character. You can only trust those who have proven themselves in the past. You can trust good friends because they have earned your trust (e.g. they keep their word; they don't cheat you; they don't gossip behind your back, etc.). You can trust God because God loves you and keeps his promises. He even suffered for you and died in your place, on the cross! If that doesn't show us a compelling picture of love, nothing will! When you pray, therefore, you need not worry because God will take care of you. He is trustworthy, good and pure.

Practically, I would suggest reading the Scripture and soak in the verses/stories that talk about trusting in God. For example, when David faced Goliath (1 Sam. 17); he put His trust in God, even though everyone laughed at him. When you read this story, it should remind you that God is trustworthy to you as he's been to thousands and millions of other individuals. I'd also recommend that you continually meditate on God's past grace in your life (e.g. past prayer requests that were answered; etc.). This will help remind you that God's character is the same. You can trust Him today and tomorrow. Lastly, when you pray - simply ask God to give you the strength, wisdom, patience and insight to trust him more. Sometimes it's difficult to be patient and trust God, and that's why we need his continual strength to do so.

As for your 2nd question ("How do I know who God has sent for me?"), God can speak to us through many different people and circumstances. Again, it comes down to the issue of trust. When you are unsure of something and you talk to another person about it, do you trust that person has your best interests in mind? Do they love God? Do they know what God desires (i.e. do they know what the Bible says about an issue)? This is not to say God cannot speak to you through non-Christians. When I was young, God spoke to me through a non-Christian friend who challenged me on my attitude. I'll never forget that day.

But when it comes to salvation and deep matters of faith/life direction/sin, I believe God speaks to us through those who know and love him. Those who truly know and love God are those who know the truth and have your best interests in mind. You can trust them for God has sent them as "witnesses" to you (see John the Baptist's example in John 1:6).

Hope this helps!

[Answered by Pastor HM]

Q: God hates me?

How do you respond to a person who thinks that God hates him because so much has happened in his life where he has prayed, but nothing has happened. Also, he has experience so much pain and death around him that he believes God has been idle to?

This is timely question as I'm sure some of those in Haiti are wondering the same thing. First, I'd encourage you to do is pray for your friend. You have to rely on God because there is nothing we can do or say - in our own wisdom - to make your friend believe in Jesus. Pray that God would open his spiritual eyes because your friend may believe nothing is happening, but this does not mean God has ceased to work.

We are human beings with finite senses and intellectual capacities. So when we pray, we often think that God only answers our prayers IF He answers them our way or when we can visibly see the results. This is simply untrue. I believe God listens to our prayers; and answers them according to His time and in His way. So I'd respond to your friend by telling him to be patient and wait upon the Lord.

The second thing is to point your friend to Jesus. Jesus came to our world to suffer with us and for us. When people suffer, there are two usual responses:

(1) “You’re suffering because God is judging you. You’re doing something bad, and God is angry with you.”

(2) “You’re suffering and that means there is no God. Or at least, He doesn’t care about us.”

When we look to Jesus, however, we see neither of these gods. We don’t see a condemning God; we see a God of love that bears the punishment for our sin. We don’t see a missing God. We see a God who is willing to enter a world of suffering to suffer with us and for us. No other faith or philosophical system makes such a claim. So whatever your friend is going through, let him know that Jesus has been there too. Jesus knows what it's like to betrayed; to lose a loved one; to be hated; to be beaten and to die horribly. And that's why when your friend prays to Jesus, he can rest assured that God is listening! He is not idle nor incapable. He is a compassionate God who listens to and answers prayers in his sovereign, perfect timing.

I'd also recommend you listen to this sermon & read this article - so you're equipped to handle your friend's questions about suffering in general.

Friend, God has given you the great gift of ministering to your friend in his/her time of need. Pray hard. Study hard. And listen attentively. Sometimes the way a person gets to know Jesus isn't through what you say, but what you don't.

[Answered by Pastor HM]