Q: My friend since a long time ago is not Christian, but another religion. We respect each other's religion and often tell each other of our beliefs...

 

...Recently, she has told me stories of how there are ghosts in her house, and how they have attacked her relatives, even though they are 'ghosts' and not human beings. She has claimed that these 'ghosts' have attempted to cause physical harm to her relatives and tried to kill them. She also claims that there is a 'Goddess' living inside her mother. Although we have been friends for a long time, I do not know how to counter these suppositions back from a Christian point-of-view without faltering our friendship. I do not know what may have happened, or the explanations of these events, but is it uncommon, in a sense, for this to be considered when someone is demon-possessed?

A:  First, I think it's great that you are able to share your faith with your friend.  And even though she has not accepted Jesus, I'm glad that you are able to be open with her and not have to hide that area in your life.  I pray that you'll be able to show her the extensive love of Christ through your actions and care.

Secondly, if what your friend is saying is true, it is no surprise that her and her family and experiencing such things.  Jesus spoke about demons and Satan all the time (recall Jesus being tempted from Satan in the desert in Matthew 4 or Jesus driving out demons in Mark 1:21-28).  Demons are around us, they are here to take us away from God and basically wreck havoc on earth.  

Let's get one thing straight...Satan and demons are around here right now.  We arent living in a time and place where spiritual warfare isnt happening and cant happen to us.  The only way to be saved from this is if we align ourselves with Christ.  Jesus had the authority to abolish demons when He was on earth, and that ability still stands today.  

In James, it says, "You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder" (2:19).  What this passage shows us is that God is alive, the demons know it and they fear His name. 

Read this short article by Pastor John Piper for some other insight.  Click HERE.

[answered by Pastor KJT]

Q: Why is being "good" not sufficient enough?

How do I explain this to a non-believer?? My cousin thinks that by donating money to charities and helping the poor...its good enough, but I don't know how to explain! Help?


Great question. Your cousin's question is really a question of being good enough for WHAT? I think he means being good enough to meet God or to go to heaven. Millions of people have debated this question for years and years. And the result has been that many people believe as he does: Good people go to heaven. We are "good" enough based on what we do (e.g. donating money, helping the poor). The logic goes something like:


There is a good God in a good placed reserved for good people. This God goes by many names. He is behind all major religions. Therefore, all major and possibly minor, religions provide a legitimate path to God and, therefore, heaven. Whether you make it to this good place is, of course, determined by whether you are good. Each religion has its own criteria of good. But what they all have in common is that men and women must do certain things, and not do certain thing, in order to assure themselves a spot in this good place with a good God. After all...


1. It is fair. If you do well in school, you move to the next grade. If you do well in tryouts, you make the team. Being rewarded for your efforts is part of our human experience, so it makes sense that perhaps this idea came from God. After all, the religious books of the world (The Bible, Koran and even the Book of Mormon) tell of God’s eagerness to reward good behavior in this life. So it makes sense that if you do enough good in this life, you should go to heaven.


2. There is a good god. If there is a good God, and if dwells in a good place, then it makes sense that God would fill heaven with good people. Good God + Good people = Good place.


3. It keeps everyone on his or her best behavior. If good people get to go to heaven, then you and I should try to be good. This is good for law and order and makes a healthy society.


4. It makes all religions equal. Since there is a God behind ALL religions, as long as you are good –you get to go to heaven.

This makes sense right? Actually, NO, it doesn't. Once you get past the emotional appeal, the “good people go to heaven” has some MAJOR problems.

1. If good people go to heaven, then we need a clear & consistent definition for what good is.

If God is good, why didn’t he do a better job of telling us what his expectations are, so we don’t have to live our whole lives wondering where we stand? If good people go to heaven, a good God should have communicated that directly to us. Instead we have all sorts of religions (& their leaders) telling us all sorts of different ways to get to heaven. But all religions aren’t the same. The Koran is very different than the Bible. Mohammed /Buddha/Krishna/Gandhi – they have different messages. As open-minded as you might try to be, everyone can’t be right. In order for our theory to work, we need rules the reflect God’s standards rather than the standards of these religious leaders. BUT how do we know what God’s standards are?

2. This line of thinking also makes you wonder how good God really is.

If you were an employer, you wouldn’t withhold a job description from your employees and then evaluate them by a standard they never had the opportunity to see. You would refuse to work at that company. If your teacher did this, you would drop the class. You’d complain to the principal. You’d leave the school, because let’s face: “be good” is not only impractical but also unfair.

3. Your conscience is not enough.

You say, “But wait, maybe God HAS given us a standard. It’s called the conscience. Isn’t there a built-in sense of right and wrong inside all of us? Doesn’t everyone know that it’s wrong to steal, kill, and lie?” And the answer is yes. There is a general sense of morality that resides in all of us and I believe that God designed it. If people made it up, it’s really hard to explain how people of every nation throughout recorded history have continued to arrive at similar conclusions regarding right and wrong; fair and unfair. BUT what the conscience cannot do is give you direction in terms of how good you have to be to go to heaven.

Think about it. That’s where religion takes over. If your conscience had the power to tell you where you stand with God, there would be no need for religion. We would know exactly where you stand. But we don’t. That’s exactly my point. It’s hard to find even two people (w/ two consciences) that are on the same page regarding what good is, let alone how much good we must be to make to heaven.

4. The Bible (or other religion texts) can't help you get into heaven.

You say: “Ok, let’s assume ‘be good’ is not as helpful as I once thought. So I’ll follow a set of religious rules. I’ll read The Bible and do what it says in there. Or I’ll go to church and listen to what they tell me.” The problem here is if you look at the Bible for a list of things to ensure your place in heaven, the standard is way too high. The Bible actually has 248 commands and 365 prohibitions, making 613 rules in total. Can you imagine trying to even read through all the rules, let alone try to follow every single one to ensure your place in heaven? I’m not arguing the Bible is correct, I’m just saying the Bible offers no help in our quest to find a magic list of being good enough to go to heaven.

5. You may just run out of time.

For the sake of argument, let’s assume you're going to try to follow a set of rules. Even if that were the case, you are still left with where you stand at any given time. When you die, what percentage of your overall deeds are required to be ‘good’? 70%? 80%? 51%? Let’s assume that God is really laid back and that only 10% of your deeds need to be good to get you into heaven. Even then, you could find yourself one good work away from the passing grade. Can you imagine that? Because you didn’t help that old granny cross the street, you could miss out on heaven and go to the ‘other place’? Or what if God is a really hard marker: 90% of your deeds need to be good to secure a place up there. Then most of us would probably not make that cut. Heaven would probably be pretty empty. Or have you considered what if you simply run out of time to perform your good deeds? Think about it. You could be destined to be the next Bono, but you walk out these doors, and a car hits you. Then all those wonderful, good acts you were going to do… well, tough luck. Do you see why religions of the world and most people cling to one form of this view or another? It’s because there aren’t good options out there. What else can you believe? If good people don’t go, who does?

6. Everyone does not go to heaven.

First, that’s not fair. It means whatever you do in this life doesn’t matter. You could do whatever you want, and you’d be there. Second, it means most of the major religions in the world have misled hundreds of generations because they don’t believe this. Lastly, if everyone’s going to make it, why doesn’t God just tell us?

The Alternative: Jesus

As you can see, the "good people go to heaven" view is actually full of many holes. So what is the alternative? The alternative is the Gospel. The Gospel teaches us that good people DON’T go to heaven (Jesus actually taught the best in the culture were not good enough). WHY? Because there is really no such thing as a "good" person; we are all sinners and therefore bad people. So what we need is forgiveness of our sins and not fairness.

Do you really want God to give you what’s fair and nothing more? If you believe that only good people go to heaven, I think the only honest answer to that question is, “I don’t know.” Why? Because none of us knows what we deserve! We think we know what’s fair, but I am convinced when people complain about something NOT being fair, it is almost always an excuse for the fact they are NOT getting something they want.

This is where Christianity is really different than other faith systems. The God of Christianity never claims to be fair. He claims to be forgiving. Romans 5:8 says:

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

In other words, while we were treating God and others unfairly, God decided to forgive us and pay for our sins himself. Jesus lived the GOOD life I could never live. And Jesus died the UNFAIR death I should have died. I get what Jesus deserved; Jesus gets what I deserve. Jesus opted for forgiveness rather than fairness.

So friend, read this answer carefully, pray for your cousin and explain it to him. He may not understand it at first, but it is "the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes" (Romans 1:16). And be sure to live this out. Treat people (including your cousin) as God has treated you - with grace, forgiveness and love.

[Answered by Pastor HM, who is glad God opened my eyes and made me realize I'm really not a good person, but rather just a prideful, sinful one]

Q: Does God love sinners?

A:  Yes.  He loves you and I, doesn't He?

What He doesn't love is the SIN in our lives.  God is holy...and being holy means without sin.  Therefore God is without sin and cannot be apart of anyone with sin.  Insert Jesus here.  He comes to save us from our sins so that we may have a relationship with God.  The only reason that Jesus could save us from sin is because He Himself, was without sin.  Jesus is a clean man, coming to save an unclean human race.

Let me make this clear, God loves all His children.  He created us in His image and wants us to have a relationship with Him.  But He hates the sin in our lives and thus offers us a way out.  This is really the basic Christian Gospel.

This coming Friday is Good Friday, which in the Christian faith is the day in which we remember the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross.  It is the pinnacle moment in which our loving God sacrifices His holy son in order to save us...all due to His love for us.

I invite anyone who is reading this post to come to our church and be apart of the service. Details are below.

 


[answered by Pastor KJT]

Q: Is it right to say you want to glorify God's name? Is His name already glorified?

A:  To answer both questions: YES!

Your question is a matter of wording and language. As in, wanting to "glorify" God's name is an verb and "glorified" is an adjective.

The act of glorifying God is a reaction to the way the Gospel has penetrated our hearts.  Another way of thinking about this is "representing God's name."  We are Christians - as in we follow Christ.  If we adhere to this, than we need to represent Him in what we say and do.

To "glorify" God is also an attitude.  It means that we are humble in what we are doing and never point to our own ability, but to God who gives freely. In that, we are putting God first, thereby glorifying Him above ourselves.

You are also right to point out that His name is already glorified.  If our God is a God who could create the world and everything in it, I'm sure that He could glorify Himself if He wanted to.  But I believe that God wants to partner up with us and give us an opportunity to share in this joy.  Hence, giving us Christ and a second chance for a relationship with Him. 

[Answered by Pastor KJT]

Q: Is the food that endures to eternal life one of the things we should work for? Is it a relationship with Jesus?

A:  The passage that this post is referring to comes from John 6:27, which says this:

Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.

In this passage, Jesus is contrasting the crowd's desire to attain food that perishes with the food that He says will give eternal life.  Jesus is advising the crowd in a spiritual sense, not to search for earthly things (represented by the food that goes bad) but rather put their faith and trust into Jesus, who will never perish.  

The "food that endures to eternal life" can be interpreted much like the "living water" that Jesus offers the woman at the well in John 4.  He is offering her something that will not evaporate with the heat, but the water that can satisfy her soul.  

A relationship with Jesus is the outcome of us accepting the Bread of Life or the Living Water.  When we put our faith and trust into Jesus Christ, it results in us having a special and personal relationship with Him.  So the "Bread of Life" does not mean having a relationship with Christ, but rather that relationship with Him is the result when we "work for the food that that endures to eternal life".  

[Answered by Pastor Kelly]

Q: Why is Lucifer so powerful?

Since God is all powerful, and he created the angels, which means the angels are under HIS authority. Why is Lucifer so powerful? If God is the almighty creator, and the authority over his angels, shouldn't God be more powerful than Lucifer and be able to banish his wrongdoings over us?


To answer this question, we'll have to define "powerful" first. It is true that Satan/Lucifer does have power, but this power is limited. Let's look at 2 Corinthians 4:4, "The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." Being the "god of this age" means that Satan has influence over the unbelieving world, but it does not mean he has ultimate authority. Satan exerts his influence by blinding people from the truth and light of the Gospel. Specifically, he often pushes false thinking onto the unbelieving world such as the belief that a person can gain God's favour through their good works. 


That being said, the question remains: If God is the almighty creator, and the authority over his angels, shouldn't God be more powerful than Lucifer and be able to banish his wrongdoings over us?


This question has been nicely answered by Got Questions Ministry. Click HERE to see their full answer. Though no one knows why God has allowed Satan to exert influence over people, three things must be realized:


1. Satan's time to influence grows shorter each day. He will be judged eventually and his influence will end.


2. Though Satan has influence and seeks to harm us, God is our protector. He can turn the bad things in our lives for our goodness. 

3. When the Bible says Satan has power over the world, it must be made clear that God has given him domain over unbelievers alone. Believers are no longer under the rule of Satan (Colossians 1:13). We are in God's kingdom. No matter what Satan may do to us, we are sons and daughters of the true King. And we will be with Him when our lives on Earth are finished.

[Answered by Pastor HM]

Q: Is it wrong to celebrate LENT?

I go to a Catholic school where they celebrate Lent. Is it wrong to celebrate with them and give up things, not eat meat on Fridays, fast on certain days, etc.?

Lent is not a biblical word found in the bible but a spiritual practice started by early Christians which continues today. It is part of the “Liturgical Year” or “Christian Calendar”, where Catholics and liturgical Protestant denominations (i.e. Anglican, Lutheran, etc) still follow. On Ash Wednesday, the early Christians would start the Lenten season by marking themselves with ashes as a sign of their mortality, observing other holy days during 40 day period, leading up to Easter for the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus.

In the Roman Catholic Church, they continue the practice of Lent by going through a season of fasting, abstinence or “giving up” something during that period. In the Protestant Tradition, some also continue this practice but do not practice because of religious obligation.

In response to your question, rather than thinking of Lent as a season for giving up something, I’d prefer to think of it as a time of TAKING ON something. Since our “Free” protestant churches do not want to restrict ourselves to tradition but rather cling to the scripture for direction, I still think the practice of Lent is beneficial in “giving up” something, but concurrently and more importantly, to focus on the Word and prayer (our reflection, repentance, and renewal in Christ during a time of fasting from whatnot). That being said, this practice should not be a legalistic obligation of fasting from meat or etc (it should be up to your discretion, not mandatory), but it can be a very helpful supplement in our Christian walk, especially during time leading up to Good Friday/Easter.

Here is a helpful resource from the late worship theologian, Dr. Robert Webber:

Lent: Inquiry and Instruction

By Robert E. Webber

Question: What is the meaning of the word Lent?

Answer: It has no religious meaning like Advent or Pentecost. It comes from an Anglo-Saxon word, Lencten, meaning "spring."

Question: Why do we observe Lent?

Answer: The purpose of Lent is to provide a time for us to enter into the suffering of Jesus and to go with Him to the tomb.

Question: How can we do this?

Answer: The experience of the people of God who have gone before us is that we best identify with Jesus by adopting a discipline of prayer, fasting, almsgiving.

Question: How should we pray?

Answer: Our prayer may be a spiritual meditation on Jesus Christ--His teaching, His suffering, His death on our behalf.

Question: Why should we fast?

Answer: Fasting is an aid to prayer. Years ago Augustine wrote, "When a man imposes on himself the burden of fasting, he shows that he really wants what he is asking for." Christians fast in order to pray more intently.

Question: What is the purpose of almsgiving (giving money)?

Answer: We give alms (coins/money) to the poor and needy because it is a specific expression of the brotherly love produced by prayer. The closer we are to Jesus, the more we care for our neighbor.

[Answered by Pastor Shu-Ling, Worship Ministry]

Source: Robert Webber, The Family Book of Prayer (Hendrickson, 1996).

http://zoewineskinsdevotional.blogspot.com/2008/02/what-is-lent-and-why-do-we-do-it.html

Q: What is the joy of eternal life?

Good question. The joy of eternal life is Jesus. Let me explain. All people seek joy (happiness).
Blaine Pascal, the great mathematician, once wrote:

All men seek happiness. This is without exception. Whatever different means they employ, they all tend to this end. The cause of some going to war, and of others avoiding it, is the same desire in both, attended with different views. This is the motive of every action of every man, even of those who hang themselves.

All people seek joy. And they often try to find it in worldly things such as relationships, possessions, status or wealth. The Bible, however, teaches us that the ultimate, most satisfying joy comes from Jesus.

The most basic way to understand this truth is to recognize that apart from Christ, you and I deserve judgment and thus separation from the source of all things good (including joy): God. Jesus came on a mission to save us - not only from hell - but so that we can have joy in HIM. When we know we are loved, cherished and accepted by God in Christ, we do not need to seek other forms of joy. Indeed, we find joy in our children and careers, but they are not the ultimate source of our joy; Christ is! [If you've been attending our services, we've been going through the Gospel of John, which tells us that Jesus is the water that quenches all thirst and the food that eternally satisfies

Another truth is that eternal life does not start when you die; it starts now. You don't get the joy after you die. When you receive Christ, he fills you up with joy NOW. Even if sorrow and tragedy strike you, knowing that God loves you in Jesus and that one day you will be with Him in heaven (a place where there is no suffering, pain or sin) gives you this joy.

[Answered by Pastor HM]

Recommends: Dr. John Piper has done a wonderful job talking about joy in his message here. If you have some time, try to listen to some of the messages on joy by Pastor Mark Driscoll.

Q: Two Creators?

Q: My friend says that if there is only one Creator, then God must have created the devil. I said that God didn't, and Lucifer made the choice of disobeying God, and made himself evil. However, my friend said that this must mean there is more than one creator. How do I answer him?

You are correct. God created all things, including Lucifer (his name actually means "light bearer" or "morning star" so his role was to lead the worship of God among the angels). Like human beings, God created angels with free will - the ability to choose. Lucifer became prideful and chose to rebel against God, so he was banished from God's presence (i.e. heaven). Today he continues to do his evil work by influencing this world.

To answer your friend, I suggest you read this post. Here is an excerpt:

If a person is asked, “Does cold exist?” the answer would likely be “yes.” However, this is incorrect. Cold does not exist. Cold is the absence of heat. Similarly, darkness does not exist; it is the absence of light. Evil is the absence of good, or better, evil is the absence of God. God did not have to create evil, but rather only allow for the absence of good. God did not create evil, but He does allow evil. If God had not allowed for the possibility of evil, both mankind and angels would be serving God out of obligation, not choice. He did not want “robots” that simply did what He wanted them to do because of their “programming.” God allowed for the possibility of evil so that we could genuinely have a free will and choose whether or not we wanted to serve Him.

Summarily, there is only one creator. Evil exists because it is - by definition - the absence of good, and not because there is an evil creator out there.

[Answered by Pastor HM]

Q: One of my friends is changing a lot lately. They're not the same person as they were before and I dont really like the "new them".

...I feel like ending our friendship, but I feel bad. I've know this person for a long time, they didn't use to be like this, they use to be awesome. I've been praying about it, but things aren't getting any better. Is it time for the friendship to be finished, or should I hold onto it to see if it can be fixed?


A: Have you TALKED to your friend about this recent change? Do they KNOW how to feel?

This is definitely the first step that I think you should take. Communication is key here...you have to let your friend know (in a loving way!) that you've noticed a change in them. Also, I think it's important to ask yourself if this change is just annoying you, or it's genuinely something that does not glorify God and edifies the friendship. In any case, you should discuss it!

The Bible says that we should speak out in love and talk to one another. I suggest that you do this and get your point across before you consider moving on. Friendships take time, effort and communication to grow, and this could be that time where your friendship with your friend could become even stronger. I know that it may be hard to address the issues here, but I'd suggest for you to give it a try before throwing in the towel.

If all else fails and your friend refuses to change and continues to hurt you with his/her actions, than perhaps it is time to move on. Friends come and go in your life...trust me. You likely won't have the same friends in elementary school that you would have in high school. And even still, those high school friends will change in university/college and even more so afterward when you are working and married. You'll likely just have a handful of friends that you still keep in touch with and are close with after 10 years. That may be hard to accept, but it's a principle that is tried, tested and true.

All I can say is, choose your friends wisely and make sure they are people who can encourage and spur you on. Know how to communicate with them and know when it's time to move on. These are life principles that you'll learn as you grow. Blessings!

[Answered by Pastor KJT]

Q: IS HOMOSEXUALITY A SIN? After reading the answer to the last question regarding homosexuality, I'm still a bit confused. Can you clarify this?

A: Yes. Homosexuality is a sin according to the Bible.

To supplement this, please go here and read the posts already answered about this topic. You will also find a link to the sermon by Brian Pengelly who is a Christian that struggled with homosexuality. Take the time to read these 2 posts and also visit the resources provided.

Q: I can't forgive! Help?

In today's sermon, you preached about the woman who committed adultery and how Jesus told the people to not judge her and to accept her because they weren't any better than her. I know the Bible says to forgive, but I really don't think I am capable of forgiving a person at this point.
She didn't/doesn't have any respect for me, so I really don't want to give any to her.
Would Jesus really accept someone like that; someone like that who doesn't change?
You said that acceptance means being "for" someone and that acceptance means that I identify with someone. I don't get how i can identify with OR be "for" a girl who's trying to get my boyfriend to cheat on me with her. I'm probably "holding a stone in my hand" but I really don't know what i can do...

Friend, I hear you. There are a lot of thoughts in my head, so let me go through some of them.

1. Acceptance is not the same thing as tolerance. Acceptance does not mean you take abuse or put up with immoral behavior. If your boyfriend is flirting with other girls, he will make you miserable and eventually make a lousy husband. So HE is the real issue. My simple advice is to break it off with him (!!!) if he's flirting back with girls. Don't make excuses for him or blame it primarily on the other girl. He is responsible for his own actions. Period.

2. If you a Christian, you must accept and forgive a person no matter what they have done (Luke 17:4). Being "for" another person is understanding that God is gracious and that He loves the person that you once hated. Identifying with another person means you recognize that you are a sinner just like that person; you are no better than them and so you have no right to judge. In your case, you must value this girl's worth as a human being that is loved by God. This doesn't mean you have to be their best friend; but that you cannot treat them in a condescending, judgmental manner. You must also identify with this girl as you are imperfect yourself and have hurt people much like how this girl has hurt you.

3. Forgiveness and trust are two different things. You MUST forgive a person, but you do not have to trust them. Forgiveness is given freely. Trust is earned over time. If your boyfriend is cheating on you, you do not need to trust him again until he proves otherwise. If this girl is lying to you or being insincere with her words, you do not need to trust her until she can prove otherwise. Being a Christian means you affirm a person's worth in God; not acting foolishly by trust people easily.

4. Practically, keep reminding yourself of the gospel. It's not easy to do this, but you must if you are to forgive. The gospel says that we are all bad, and if we are redeemed by Christ, that was God's grace and not our own work, so we don't have the right to judge someone who isn't acting the way we are - especially if they are non-Christian. We put down our stones because God put down the stone of judgment that was for us, and cast it down upon himself in Jesus. This is our motivation to forgive. So friend, remind yourself of this world-shattering truth each day!

5. If you want to forgive, continue to pray and ask for God's strength, wisdom and patience. If we rely on our own abilities to forgive, we will fail miserably. If we rely on God's, He will provide everything we need to do what is right. So take heart, friend. Consider the words of Heather Pham, wife of slain police-officer Vu Pham: "Forgiveness is the only way to release ourselves from pain & anger....with God's help, I'll offer it."

I don't who you are, but I will pray for you this week. Hope this helps.

[Answered by Pastor HM]

Q: What is the role of genetics in determining a person's sexual orientation?

In biology class, we were talking about the possible role of genetics in determining a person's sexual orientation. Is it possible that sexual tendencies are predetermined in our genes? How should I explain the Christian perspective to homo/bisexual friends who believe that it is who they are and they can't change it?

Hi friend. This is a great question that has been debated for many years. I would first recommend you to carefully read these two articles: (1) "Is homosexuality genetic?" (2) "Are People Born Gay? The Biological Basis for Sexual Orientation"

Both articles argue that there is substantial proof that links homosexuality directly to genetics. There COULD be a link, but as of today, nothing has been found. That being said, even if there is a genetic predisposition toward homosexuality, this does not mean a person must engage in the act of homosexuality. Homosexual behavior is a choice, after all. This maybe an extreme example, but imagine if we found a genetic predisposition toward violence (some would actually say this has already been found) - does that mean we will allow those with this gene to act upon their violent tendencies? Of course not!

Richard Deem once wrote, "It always amazes me when people say that they were born gay. Looking back on my own experience, I would never say that I was "born straight." I really didn't have any interest in females until about the seventh grade. Before that time, they weren't really interesting, since they weren't interested in sports or riding bikes or anything else I liked to do."

How should I explain the Christian perspective to homo/bisexual friends who believe that it is who they are and they can't change it?

Brian Pengelly, who came to speak at SPLAT last year, wrote two great articles on such a topic. Brian is a man who grew up with an attraction toward men, but by God's power, refrained from pursuing that course in life. The first article is entitled, "Brian's Story: Putting the Pieces Together" and the second, "You Can't Be A Christian - I Don't Hate You!"

In the latter article, Brian describes four ways to reach out to homosexual friends:

1. "Please get to know me!" The most common complaint I heard from my gay friends was that Christians didn't bother to get to know them before telling them what to do. Many Christians had built assumptions about what they must be like, without bothering to see if it was true or not. One told me of being frustrated with Christians railing against homosexuality because of "promiscuous lifestyles" but the ironic thing was the individual was still a virgin. Others told of Christian friends and family members assuming their feelings must be because of sexual abuse, or "just not having met the right guy/girl yet". All responses were tied to Christians not taking time to listen to the person's story, to understand them in the context of their lives, and left the individual feeling unimportant and unloved.

2. Coercion is not okay. Many of my friends told stories of loved ones threatening them in order to motivate them to stop being gay. Some had been thrown out of their home, others had been told that if they didn't change they would receive no more assistance with university tuition. In every case these ultimatums hardened the person's heart against Christianity, forced them to lie, and never brought about the desired change. One friend pointed out how Christian failed the golden rule in this. "How would they feel if their parents forced them to choose between college and their faith?!"

3. "Tell me about Jesus!" For those who had not grown up in Christian homes, telling them what the Bible said had no more persuasive force than someone else trying to influence me by quoting the Quran, or the code of Hannurabi. What my friends were interested in was Jesus. It was only as they got to know Jesus, and saw him reflected in my own life did they begin to care what Scripture said about sexuality.

4. "If you really love me, then care for me!" Most of my friends had heard the phrase "love the sinner, hate the sin" a thousand times, but were hard pressed to come up with concrete examples of how a Christian had ever loved them. Most had found that Christians were afraid to help them or treat them kindly for fear of being perceived as "condoning
their lifestyle". What finally broke down the barriers between us was my willingness to serve them where they were at. In my case it meant giving them rides when they needed it (whether moving them out of an abusive partners apartment, getting them home safe after a night of drinking, or a simple lift home after an event).

[Answered by Pastor HM, with lots of help from his Internet pals!]

Jesus and Capitalism?

I recently watched Capitalism - A Love Story, and I was wondering: If Jesus came back and saw our economy in action, i.e. capitalism - an individual, competitive system driven by profit and the accumulation of wealth - what would he think?



I have never seen this film (but I will watch it soon!) so I cannot comment on the film itself. However, I do get a sense of what Michael Moore, the film's director, is trying to say.

If you read the Gospels, you'll find Jesus' concern was not with the political systems of the day. Jesus was primarily concerned with spiritual redemption rather than political renewal. Interestingly, it was for this reason why many Jews did not receive Him; Jesus was not the political conqueror they thought he would be. So I don't think Jesus would be too concerned about capitalism as political system. I think he would be more concerned about the selfish accumulation of wealth, i.e. consumerism/materialism, which is an issue of the heart.

Theologian John Stott sums up Jesus’ teaching this way: “What Jesus forbids his followers is the selfish accumulation of goods; extravagant and luxurious living; the hardheartedness which does not feel the colossal need of the world’s under-privileged people; the foolish fantasy that a person’s life consists in the abundance of his possessions; and the materialism which tethers our hearts to the earth.” (read the rest of the article from CPYU here)

The problem with consumerism/materialism is that it goes against the entire message of the Bible, which tells us that our identity comes not from material ownership, but from being a child of God (Eph. 5:1) and that our joy comes not from possessions, but from knowing Jesus Christ (Ps. 37:4). Here are only some of the things Jesus said regarding materialism:

Matthew 19:21-26
Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property. And Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. “Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, “Then who can be saved?” And looking at them Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Mark 4:19
But the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

Mark 8:36
For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?

Summarily, Jesus' way of influencing others was to deal with the heart rather than big systems. Indeed he spoke to rulers and the cultural elites of his day, but he always addressed heart issues such as consumerism. If he were to reappear, I am certain Jesus would preach the same message as he preached 2000 years ago: "No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money" (Luke 16:13)

[Answered by Pastor HM]

Q: Speaking in tongues?

I recently started attending a pentecostal church. I like that church because their worship and messages are amazing and i can feel God working in me. But one thing that bothers me is the speaking in tongues and the manifestation that goes on in that church. I don't find that "normal" because I've attended Chinese churches like RHCCC all my life. Can you tell me what you think about these church with the manifestation and the speaking in tongues?

In churches across denominations in the past, present and probably future (til Christ comes back), “speaking in tongues” has been a contested issue. Some churches believe that the gifts of the HOLY SPIRIT have ceased (cessationists), while others believe they continue today.
There is no biblical evidence that the Gifts of the Holy Spirit have ceased and thus I would not be a “cessationist” but what is important is to know what God has revealed through the bible about speaking in tongues.

"What is speaking in tongues? We may define this gift as follows: Speaking in tongues is prayer or praise spoken in syllables not understood by the speaker.”

Here’s a few things to consider: Speaking in tongues is primarily speech directed TOWARD God (praise and prayer). Unlike prophecy, which is directed FROM God, person who speaks in tongues directs to themselves and God (1 Cor 14:2, 28)

- No one should understand the words if it is in tongues (1 Cor 14:2)
- Should not be ecstatic (going “crazy”) but self-controlled which is why Paul kept some order when people were speaking in this manner (1 Cor 14:27-28)
- In that same passage, Paul says if no one can interpret the tongue speaking, that person should keep silence in church and speak to themselves and God.
- In (1 Cor 14:5) Paul says tongue speaking can be helpful, just like prophesying, as long as it’s interpreted
- Not EVERYONE speaks in tongues. Not everyone has the same gifting (1 Cor 12:30)

(cited from Wayne Grudem – Systematic Theology)

In conclusion, as we encounter those who may be able to speak in tongues, we need to remember what scripture says about it and other Spiritual gifts. Then we will have a better foundation to talk to those about what they are doing (whether to affirm the word, or rebuke if necessary). We should heed the wise words of Pastor C.J. Mahaney, leader of the Sovereign Grace Church movement who consider themselves reformed but charismatic. He says that the gifts of Spirit should always point towards God… not to the gifts themselves. They should glorify God or else they would be considered idols in and of themselves.

[Answered by Pastor Shu, worship pastor]

Q: What if the devil repented? What would happen to everyone on earth? In Hell?

A: Good question! Let's see if we can tackle this issue.

Firstly, it is impossible for Lucifer (who is also known as the Devil since he is the Fallen Angel) to repent of his sins. Because he was part of God's glory before (being an angel), he had the knowledge and the opportunity to turn to goodness, but chose the other route. So thus, he had the chance to stay in the presence of God but turned it down.

Secondly, the redemption that we receive through Jesus Christ was for humans only and was not meant to include angels or demons. It was necessary for God to provide a Saviour for those who needed saving. Angels do not require such saving and demons have already made their alliances.

Lastly, the Bible does not give us any hint that the devil would repent even given the chance to. It says that the devil is keen on bringing down God, indicating their desire to walk away from the light and make a stance against goodness. Thus, the fallen angels would be even more deserving of the wrath of God having full knowledge of that goodness, but choosing otherwise.


[answered by Pastor KJT]

Homosexuality and the Exclusivity of Christianity?

My friends and I were having a big conversation/debate about religion. Two of them are Jewish but not really practicing. They had issues trying to accept some things with Christianity.

The first problem was regarding gay marriage and homosexuality. My friends think that Christianity should change as society changes. They think that the whole idea of marriage being man and woman is too traditional and narrow-minded and that we should change our views to suit today's culture.

Then we got into the whole debate about whether you can be gay + christian. Since they don't believe that being gay is sinful, it was difficult to explain how a gay person can confess and become a Christian. Christianity comes off as being very narrow-minded. In their word, we are a bit "superior self-righteous power." One of them said that Christianity is the only religion that won't accept the good aspects of other religions, which are open-minded. They also asked that if someone does not believe in Jesus, etc would they go to heaven? They see Christianity as saying, "You have to live this way and believe what Christians believe, or you are unworthy and will not get into heaven" and "If you are gay, you must convert and repent and become straight and become a Christian."

How can i rephrase my beliefs so that my friends don't picture Christianity as a holier-than-thou, exclusive club that seeks to alienate people who don't believe the same thing? How can i help give my friends a more positive view of Christianity, without denying our attitude toward homosexuality and the fact that there really is only one way to heaven?

Hello. It would seem your friends have two primary concerns (the first is built upon the second):

1. Homosexuality

2. The exclusivity of Christianity as the one true way to God

So let's break it down:

1. Homosexuality

Since your friends are Jewish, they should appreciate and understand this next point: Long before the New Testament was written, the Old Testament condemned the act of homosexuality as immoral and unnatural (Lev. 18:22). So the stance Christians take is not something that the early church "made up." The New Testament affirms the Old Testament.

Your friends make the claim that religion should evolve with the times. I see several flaws in this argument. First, it assumes that something newer is superior to something older. This is known as "chronological snobbery" and it's false. If this were true, then we can argue for allowing any form of evil to be normative in society. For instance, if one day, a group of people start arguing that marrying your own sister should be lawful and moral, by this line of thought, who is to say they are wrong? The second flaw is that the biblical stance on marriage has been the universal understanding in every human civilization in world history. Listen to what this article from Got Questions says:

The Bible alone, however, does not have to be used to demonstrate this understanding of marriage. The biblical viewpoint of marriage has been the universal understanding of marriage in every human civilization in world history. History argues against gay marriage. Modern secular psychology recognizes that men and women are psychologically and emotionally designed to complement one another. In regard to the family, psychologists contend that a union between a man and woman in which both spouses serve as good gender role models is the best environment in which to raise well-adjusted children. Psychology argues against gay marriage. In nature/physicality, clearly, men and women were designed to “fit” together sexually. With the “natural” purpose of sexual intercourse being procreation, clearly only a sexual relationship between a man and a woman can fulfill this purpose. Nature argues against gay marriage.

2. Now, let's talk about your friend's primary concern: The exclusivity of Christianity. There's a few points here:

A. The Bible does not describe homosexuality as a “greater” sin than any other. All sin is offensive to God. Homosexuality is just one of the many things listed in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 that will keep a person from the kingdom of God. According to the Bible, God’s forgiveness is just as available to a homosexual as it is to an adulterer, idol worshipper, murderer, thief, etc. God also promises the strength for victory over sin, including homosexuality, to all those who will believe in Jesus Christ for their salvation (1 Corinthians 6:11; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Philippians 4:13).*

*This is an excerpt from this article.

B. We are not saying there are no truth in other religions. Every culture & religion has some expression of God’s truth. To claim that there is no other name but Jesus doesn’t mean other religions don’t have truth; it is however to claim that those truths are to be examined in light of Jesus Christ who claims to the Truth (John 14:6). C.S. Lewis once wrote, “I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.” Lewis isn’t saying you can’t see other truths, but that by Jesus (who is THE Truth), we can truly understand other truths.

C. We are not saying we cannot learn from other religions. Christians can learn a great deal from the rest of the world. The intensity of which a Hindu seeks God can make us look like hypocrites. The discipline a Muslim can make us look very lazy. The missionary commitment of a Mormon puts us to shame.

D. We are not saying that Christianity is the one true religion. Christianity is not the savior; Christ is.

Christianity is claiming that Jesus Christ in the one and only savior who can deliver us from our sins. HE is the issue here. Your friends may say, “Christians are hypocrites” – but that’s not the issue. Yes, there are bad Christians (who don’t love as Jesus loved), but there are also those who follow Jesus and love and would be considered “good Christians.” In the same way, we can say there are bad and good Buddhists, or Mormons, or Muslims. This is not the issue. Christians are not claiming that following their religion gets them to heaven or saves them; Christians are claiming that Jesus does. So Jesus is really the issue; who do you think Jesus is? Why do think this way? On what basis do you believe or not believe who he says he is?

E. Christianity is not the only religion that claims exclusivity. Your friend is wrong to say that Christianity is narrow-minded, while other religions are open-minded. All religions teach different things and therefore are exclusive by nature. Imagine a person says this: “All Chinese look alike.” What would you say about this person? Two things: (1) This person is obviously not Chinese (2) He lacks interest in Chinese people because he never looks at them very hard. It’s the same thing with religion. Let's take a look at some examples...

Muslims radically claim exclusivity - not just theologically but linguistically. They believe that the sole and sufficient miracle of Islam is the Koran. They also believe that it is only recognizable in Arabic and that any translation makes it unsacred.

Hinduism is uncompromising on 3 issues: The law of karma (law of moral cause and effect); the authority of their scriptures (Vedas) and reincarnation.

Buddhism doesn’t believe in a personal God at all

New Age followers believe they are God

Baha’ism claims cosmic embrace of all religions, which means they are excluding exclusivists!

What I’m trying to say is that every faith system is exclusive, because every time you assert something a true; you mean something contrary is false. Truth excludes its opposite. Even those that deny the exclusive nature of truth are actually making a truth claim. That's what your friends have done. By stating that Christianity is narrow-minded, and implying they are open-minded, they have made an exclusive truth claim!

F. Christianity is actually the most inclusive of all faith systems. Other religions assume our ability to secure God's favor & love by doing the right things. What is the implication here? You can be a "good person" if you follow certain rules. Listen to what Dr. Tim Keller says (read this carefully!):

"The universal religion of humankind is: We develop a good record and give it to God, and then he owes us. The gospel is: God develops a good record and gives it to us, then we owe him (Rom. 1:17). In short, to say a good person, not just Christians, can find God is to say good works are enough to find God. So the apparently inclusive approach is really quite exclusive. It says, 'The good people can find God, and the bad people do not.' The gospel says, 'The people who know they aren't good can find God, and the people who think they are good do not.' So both approaches are exclusive, but the gospel's is the more inclusive exclusivity. It says joyfully, 'It doesn't matter who you are or what you've done. It doesn't matter if you've been at the gates of hell. You can be welcomed and embraced fully and instantly through Christ.' "

So friend, take heart. Read as much as you can (I've put some further recommended resources below) about this topic; pray that God would grant you wisdom, patience and courage and talk to your friends again. I've encountered many people that share your friends' viewpoint. There's hope because the gospel has the power the save (Romans 1:16-17).

[Answered by Pastor HM]

http://www.everystudent.com/features/connecting.html

www.reasonablefaith.org - Dr. William Lane Craig's website

The Reason for God, by Timothy Keller (Listen to Keller's talk about exclusivity)

Vintage Jesus, by Mark Driscoll

Evidence That Demands A Verdict, by Josh McDowell

The Case for Faith, by Lee Strobel

Jesus Among Other Gods, by Ravi Zacharias