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Before you read on, please note that...
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Q: What is Christianity, really? A: Christianity really is a living real relationship with God our maker, it is way beyond religon. We christians believe in a God who loves us so very much that He, did not spare his blameless son, Jesus Christ to die for us on the cross 2000 years ago, so that we shall not perish but have everlasting life. Jesus came to die in our place as a once and for all sacrifice, and by the shedding of his blood, our sins are forgiven and remembered no more. In exchange, Jesus has given us his righteouness, his health, his blessings and himself to us, so that who so ever believe in Jesus, shall not perish but have everlasting life. By believing and accepting Jesus in your life as your personal Lord and Savior, you will be accepted into Heaven for eternalty. The nails on the cross didn't made Jesus stay up there, it was his awesome love for you. <33333
Q: Who is Jesus? A: I found a good site to explain it. Please go here: http://www.newcreation.org.sg/ourlordwhoisjesus.htm
Q: What is salvation? A: Salvation is what all humans need in order to live eternally with God. In the Book of Romans, it says that all people have sinned and don't come anywhere close to being as good as God. But when Jesus died on the cross, he took the sinners' places. When we accept Jesus, God forgives all of our faults and sees us as if we had never sinned. That means that when God now looks at a Christian, he sees Jesus. That's how Christians are allowed into heaven.
Q: How do I get saved? A: I'm glad you asked! Salvation is a wonderful, free gift from our gracious God (check out Romans 6:23). Jesus willingly paid the price we should pay. If you want salvation, then you have to admit you are a sinner. Ask Jesus for forgiveness, and trust in what He did on the cross. If you're not sure what to say, try saying this prayer, or one similar to it:
Dear Heavenly Father,
I realize that I am a sinner, and would like to turn away from that sin. I acknowledge and appreciate that You sent Jesus to die for me on the cross. Please forgive me. I give you total control of my life, God. I will try to trust and obey You. I also ask that you help me grow in my relationship with You. Amen!
Q: What is a Christian? A: The term "Christian" refers to someone who believes and places their faith in Christ. It actually means "related to Christ". Followers of Christ were first called Christians in the city of Antioch. It's a name that has stuck over the years!
Q: How could Jesus possibly love me? I've done some unforgivable things. A: No you haven't. There isn't anything that is unforgivable. God's love and Jesus's sacrafice is of capable washing away the worst of sins. No sin is to big for God to wipe away! Remember, that sin doesn't hold power over God.... only over you. God has even forgiven murderers (who have repented of course). Check out Acts 13:22 and see for yourself.
Q: I'm good enough to get into Heaven, aren't I? A: No. No one is good enough to get into Heaven. You see, God is holy and requires holiness. Even though you may think you aren't that bad of a person and are "generally good", that still won't get you into Heaven. You have to admit, you've done something unrightous before, haven't you? One sin is enough to keep you away from God forever. We aren't saved by our works, but by our faith in Christ Jesus.
Q: But Christianity isn't all it's made up to be, isn't it? I know some Christians and they've wronged me. A: Being a Christian doesn't make you perfect. We're still going to mess up sometimes, just like everyone else.
Q: (this isnt really a question, but i feel it needs to be addressed:) I'll take my chances. A: With what, eternity? Eternity is a long time to be wrong Why would you want to take a gamble on something as important as your eternal destiny? It takes only a moment to trust Christ for your salvation. There will be an eternity of pain and regret if you don't, and if you do there is an eternity of paradise awaiting you.
Q: I dont see what is so great about your God. I cant believe in Him if he's going to send people to hell. A: Hell was originally created for Satan and his angels. In the future, it will contain those who join Satan in rejecting God. If you reject God's provision and forgiveness of your sins, then you will join the Devil who rejected God from the beginning.
Could you believe in a God who would become a human, suffer at the hands of humans, and be killed by them, all so that His death could be the payment for their sins? That is extremely loving. God is saving people who deserve to go to hell -- and we all deserve that. Remember that the same God that sends people to hell also died for them. If they reject what God has provided then what is God left to do? He would have to judge them.
One more thing. Are you implying that it is unjust for God to send people to hell? If so, you accuse God of injustice. Sin is wrong and it must be punished. What would you have God do to those who oppose Him and do evil? Do you want Him to ignore that which is wrong? Do you want Him to turn His head and not be holy and righteous?
Q: I am an atheist. I don't believe in God. A: (I'm truely sorry if you think the following words are offensive or sarcastic, but I'm just trying to make a point. Thanks!) Why don't you belive in God? Is there any reason for you to intellegently reject His existance? Or do you simply desire not to believe in Him? Remember, the Bible doesn't attempt to prove that God exists. It simply speaks as though He does. Maybe I can't prove to you there is a God, but I can introduce Him to you through Jesus Christ and you can judge for yourself if the Words of Christ in the Bible convince you of his existance. One more thing before I give you a link to go further into this I hope you will think about. If there truely is no God as you believe, then when I die, I will lose nothing. But if there is a God like I believe, then you will lose everthing. Please think about it!
Also, please go here: http://www.carm.org/40_objections/40-3.htm#_1_19
Q: I already believe in God, but I'm not a Christian. Surely I'll still go to Heaven? A: Look up James 2:19. It says, "You believe there is one God. Good! But the demons believe that too, and they tremble with fear." (NCV) It's good that you believe in God, but do you place your trust in Him? Also, remember what Jesus said in John 14:6: "Jesus answered, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. The only way to the Father is through me." (NCV)
Why did God make us? A: God made us so we could glorify Him and have fellowship with Him (1 John 1-3). He made Adam and Eve and put them in the garden and then He walked in fellowship with them. He gave them the greatest thing they could have, His love and presence. After they sinned, God said, "Adam, where are you?" God sought Adam. In Exodus 25:8 God said to Moses while Israel was in the wilderness, "And let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them." In the New Testament in John 1:14 it says, "And the Word became flesh and dwelt (tabernacled) among us..." God seeks our presence. He wants to have fellowship with us. He made us to give us His love and enjoy His presence. But, man sinned and separated Himself from God. That is why Christ died for sins, that our fellowship with God would be restored.
Q: How can I know the Bible is the actual Word of God? It's chalk-full of contradictions. A: Saying the Bible is full of contradictions does not mean it is so. Can you provide a contradiction that we can examine in context? There are many websites that address alleged contradictions. Here is one: www.carm.org.
As for question about the Bible being trustworthy, please go here: http://www.carm.org/40_objections/40-4.htm#_1_35
Q: I still think that the Bible was only written to make it look like Jesus fullfilled prophecy. A: I could see your point, but there is just one problem. How do you account for the writers of the New Testament teaching about truth, love, honesty, giving, etc. all based on lies? Why would they suffer hardships like beatings, starvation, shipwreck, imprisonments, and finally execution for nothing but lies? What you are saying doesn't make any sense and raises more questions than it answers.
The only logical explanation is that the fulfilled prophecies really did happen. Jesus actually rose from the dead. He performed miracles and He forgave sins. He forgave sins then and He can still do it now. My sins are forgiven, are yours?
Please note that many cult members will die for their faith as well. But they die for something they believe in, not that they have seen. Muslims, Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses all die for their faith. But the New Testament believers died for what they saw and believed, not for what they believed only. That is a big difference. The NT writers died claiming that they had seen the risen Lord. The cult members die for what they believe and we know that believing doesn't make it true.
Q: What's is God's personal name? A: When Moses asked God this question, God responded by saying, "I Am Who I Am" (Exodus 3:13-15) What was God saying? In Hebrew, "I Am Who I Am" is YHWH. (Hebrew, which is the language the Old Testament was written in, doesn't use vowels). How do you say YHWH? That's a good question -- no one knows for sure. Because of their deep reverence for God's personal name, the Jew's didn't say it out loud. So, eventually, the correct pronunciation was lost. Scholars now think that it's Yahweh (pronounced yah-WEH), although we won't know for sure until He teaches us Himself in heaven. That will be pretty cool!
Is the Allah (the God of Islam) the same as Yahweh (the God of Christianity)? A: ***note: answer taken from May 2005 issue of YouthWalk (YW) magazine*** Nope. Not at all. If Yahweh and Allah were the same God, their characteristics would line up. They don't. Here's proof:
First of all, their characteristics are different. According to 1 John 4:8: God is love. But in the list of ninety-nine names for Allah that muslims memorize and use in woship, not one of those names is "love" or "loving".
Allah doesn't love everyone. The Koran states that Allah only "loves" those who do good but he doesn't love those who do bad. "God loves not the evildoers" (Surah 3:50) In other words, Allah doesn't love sinners. But Yahweh, the God of the Bible, love everyone -- including sinners. Christ died for the ungodly... But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:6, 8)
The Ultimate Schemer. The Bible teaches that God (Yahweh) can't be tempted by evil and won't tepmt anyone with evil (James 1:13). According to the Koran, Allah is the ultimate schemer: "God is the best of deceivers" (Surah 8:30). He even leads people astray: "God leads astray whomsoever He will, and He guides whomesoever He will" (Surah 14:4). FYI -- the Bible is pretty clear about who the Deceiver is. Check out John 8:44. Ironic, huh?
Allah isn't a people person. One of the themes of the Koran is that Allah is unknowable and doesn't want to be known. He's not relational. The Bible, however, teaches that God (Yahweh) is a knowable God who very much wants to be known -- He even sent His Son, the perfect imagie of Himself, just so we could know Him (Hebrews 1:3). Jesus prayed, "This is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent" (John 17:3) He also said, "My sheep know me" (John 10:14)
Here's the bottom line: Yahweh and Allah are so completely different they can't be the same being. Let us clarify one point though. In Arabic, the translation for the word God is Allah. So when Arabic Christians call God Allah, they're actually reffering to the Being we know as Yahweh. (Have I lost you yet?) Muslims, however, insist that Allah isn't justs a title or the generic word for God -- it's the personal name for the god of Islam. When Muslims refer to Allah, they're referring to the god of Islam. Who, as we've seen, is very very different from Yahweh.
Q: What about evolution? The dinosaurs? A: Please see the following links: http://www.carm.org/40_objections/40-4.htm#_1_41, http://www.carm.org/evolution.htm, http://www.carm.org/dialogues/evolutionisfact.htm, http://www.godandscience.org/evolution/index.html I'll be adding more as I find them.
Q: Does God hear the prayers of non-christians? A: Yes. Remember, God is all-knowing. That means He hears everything too. But I think what you're asking is, "Does God answer the prayers of non-christians?" There is no passage in the Bible that directly addresses this issue. So we'll observe three principles stated in other passages that shed some light on the answer.
1. God often rewards the requests of believers. When it comes to prayer, the biblical picture is of a loving Father who enjoys giving good things to His children. Jesus even commands believers to ask God for things (Matthew 7:7-12). James 5:16 says: "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." We also see God rewarding the requests of believers in Psalm 34:15, Psalm 145:19, and John 15:7.
2. God does not reward the requests of believers who are living in intentional rebellion. In Isaiah 1:15, God says: "When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide my eyes from you: even if you offer many prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood" (the blood reffering to their evil acts.) Proverbs 15:29 and Isaiah 59:2 point to the same priciple. It's clear that God is too wise and loving to grant the request of His rebellious children.
3. God rewards the request of unbelievers when the request is to find Him. John 6:37 says He doesn't turn away anyone who comes to Him for salvation. We should know that God is always caring and gracious. He is very concerned when unbelievers go through difficult times or have needs. He might even choose to graciously intervene. However, He is not bound to do this, nor has He promised to. Finally, God is so wise that He sees our needs in spite of our wants. Therefore, the primary prayer that He wants to hear from those who don't yet know Him is "Father, please be my Forgiver and King." God delights to answer this request!
Q: If this God of yours is such a good guy, why doesn't He stop all the evil and suffering in the world? A: http://www.carm.org/40_objections/40-4.htm#_1_31
Q: Well, how do I know what religion is right? A: Well, I do have answer for you. I am positive my answer is right, becuase of two things: prophecy, and the fullfillment of that prophecy (Jesus and his resurrection, His miriacles, ect. ect.). Do you know of these things happening in other religions? Invariably, your answer has to be "no". These things have only happened in Christianity. Therefore, if any religion is true, I'd have to say that Christianity certainly fits the bill, wouldn't you?
Q: Ah, but isn't religion whatever you feel is right? A: How do you know what you feel is right? Haven't your feelings ever turned out to be wrong? Are you saying that what you feel determines truth? If so, then you are putting yourself in the place of God and looking to yourself for what you "feel" is right.
If religion is whatever you feel is right then that could lead to chaos. What if some people had a religion where they felt stealing was acceptable? And what about lying and cheating? Would you trust someone who believed in a religion that felt it was alright to steal, lie, and cheat?
Hitler felt killing Jews was right. He was wrong. The Bible says that the heart is deceitful and untrustworth (Jer. 17:9). If you could come to know truth by what you felt, then the Bible, which is the revelation of God, didn't need to be written. But it has been written and it has revealed that only God is the Source of truth, not something as unstable as your feelings.
I've never known truth to contradict itself. What if someone felt that something was right and another person felt it was wrong? Would they both be right? If your statement is true, then how could there be a contradiction like that if feelings determined truth?
Q: Religion is just a bunch of different paths leading to the same place. A: If all religions are different paths to the same place then why do the paths contradict each other? Does truth contradict itself? Let's review the teachings of just three religions:
Buddhism is pantheistic and says there is no personal God and everyone can reach Godlikeness on his own. Islam says that Jesus was just a prophet and not the only way to God. Christianity says that there is a personal God and that the only way to Him is through Jesus (John 14:6). If these three religions are, as you say, different paths to the same place, then why do they contradict each other? Does truth contradict itself?
Q: I am a Christian, but I feel that me and God are drifting apart. How can I grow in my relationship with Him? A: To deepen your spiritual roots, let's use the word "grow" to create a winning strategy.
G - Get with God. Think about your best friend. Tell me, how did you guys become best friends? You talk a lot, hang out, share concerns and victories. Well guess what? When you do the same with God, it's called prayer. And the more time you spend in prayer, the closer you'll grow to Christ. And we haven't even gotten to one of the best parts about praying -- God can't wait to listen! He cares about every single little thing in your life. He is just as concerned with the AIDS epidemic as He is about the arguement you had with your parents/spouse/friend (you get the point, right?). So talk to Him about anything and everything. And don't forget to listen for His wisdom! Getting with God also involves going to church and finding a ministry (instead of sitting in the back row and leaving as soon as the service is over). Find a place to serve..... help out in the nursery, join a Bible study, offer to be a greeter..... just get involved!
R - Read the Bible. Ah, the Bible. It's and exciting and wonderfully made letter from God to you!! It's an incredible book, but a lot of people think: But I don't have the time to read the Bible for an hour each day. And besides, it's boring and hard to understand!! Well, first of all, you DON'T have to read the Bible for an hour every day to grow spiritually. Even a minute a day will do (anyone has time for that!).
The Bible doesn't have to be boring or difficult for you to understand. If you own a Bible that you don't like to crack open because you don't really get the way it's written or you find it boring, get a new Bible. There are a lot of cool, easy-to-read, easy-to-understand student Bibles in the market today. They're full of neat stuff such as eye-catching graphics and topical indexs and more! The best easy-to-understand version of the Bible is the New Century Version. It changes words or phrases ("he was gathered to his fathers") into that of which a child could understand ("he died").
O - Obey His commands. You don't want to be a hypocrite, right? Knowing the right thing to do yet not doing it is called sin. When we freely sin, and yet call ourselves Christians at the same time, we are being hypocrites. God wants you to live a genuinely authentic godly life -- one void of phoniness. The best way to do that? Simply obey Christ. Trust His leading and obey His Holy Spirit.
W - Witness to others. If you knew a celebrity, you'd naturally want to make it known, right? Well, you know Jesus Christ -- you're on a first-name basis with the creator of the universe, my friend! It doesn't get any better than that! No one is more important than Him. In fact, someday every human knee will bow at His very name. When you enter a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, do you know what you become? A child of the King. Act like it! Share the Good News. Live with confidence, smile freely. When others react to your new attitude and ask what's going on, invite them to church, pull out your Bible, share the difference He's making in your life! Remember: the greatest way to witness is a life filled with Christ. Actions really do shout a lot louder than words.
Q: I really want to get a tattoo, but what does the Bible say about them? Is it against God? A: In the Old Testament law, tattoos were forbidden (Leviticus 19:28). But when Christ came, he redeemed us from the curse of the law (Galations 3). This means that now God looks at your heart and your motives when it comes to what you do. If you're a teen, I'd check with your parents and follow their advice.
Q: I've always wanted to go to church to learn more about the Lord, but my dad won't let me. Instead of going to church, I've been reading two chapters of the Bible every night. Is this enough? A: God sees your problem and understands, so yes, continue with your Bible study. Are there any Christian clubs at your school (I am asuming you're a teen since you're still under the authority of your dad)? If so join them. And be sure to pray for your dad.
Q: My brother says he has a guardian angel watching over him. Is that weird, like some kind of imaginary friend or something? A: If he starts talking to him and introducing him at parties it might be a little weird. But Psalms says that protect us, so he could be right. Nothing freaky here! Check out Psalm 91:11-12.
Q: My parents aren't Christians and they think that my faith is stupid. They smoke pot a lot and want me to smoke with them. I know I am supposed to honor my parents, but I'm also not supposed to break the law. What do I do? A: No, you actually don't honor your parents by breaking God's law. Remember, God comes first, then your parents. So whatever they tell you to do that is against Him, don't do.
Q: If God made pot, why can't I smoke it? A: The Bible says that everything is permissible but not everything's beneficial. God made pot, and some people say that's a reason to smoke it. The trouble with pot is this: 1. It is illegal, and we have to obey the law. 2. It controls you. 3. It's bad for your health. It kills brain cells. So yes, God made pot, but he also made poison ivy; you gonna smoke that too?
Q: I am a little unsure of what, specifically, the Original Sin was and why we should feel accountable. A: Original Sin is the concept that when you're born, you're sinful, from the minute you start to exist, you desperately need God.
Q: What is going to happen in heaven or what are we going to do up there? Will there be any more hurting, pain, tears, crying, or anything else that is going on here on earth? A: Check out Revelation 21:1-27. It's a really great image of heaven. There are huge walls that look like diamonds. The gates to the wall are giant pearls. The streets are paved with gold. It's totally gorgeous!! It's all the absolute best moments in your life put together; no--it's better than that.
Q: How do you use the name of the Lord in vain? Is it wrong to say "God" or "Oh, my Lord"? A: Yep. That's considered taking his name in vain. The deal is that you aren't respecting Him when you use His name to be suprised, mad, or whatever. In the Bible, the Israelites didn't even dare say his name ever because they respected it so much. Remember, when you use God's name you're referring to to a real being who controls the universe and loves you and me.
Q: Has God really always been around? When was He created? A: God always has been, is, and always will be. He is without beginning or end, eternal, infinite -- you get the picture. God wasn't created. If that was true, then whoever or whatever created Him would be God. It's pretty difficult to wrap our minds around isn't it? Us humans are just so used to a start and finish for everything. But that's why it takes faith.
Q: Why did God create sin? A: God did not create sin. God is holy, remember? He wouldn't create something contradictory to His nature. Sinfulness and holiness are complete opposites.
Q: Well if God didn't create sin, then where did it come from?? A: Good question. The question you just asked has been debated by theologins and philosophers for many years. One cannot say their answer is better than the theologins/philosphers. But, with the help of certain resources, I'll take an educated guess.
God created the conditions where free will creatures would be able to make a choice between obedience and disobedience to God. This condition existed when God created an angel called Lucifer who was without sin yet, apparently, had free will. Lucifer chose to rebel against God and sin (check out Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezek. 28:13-15). Likewise, Adam and Eve, having been made by God without sin, listened to the devil and chose to sin against God (Gen. 3).
God, however, did not cause them to sin (James 1:13). In their free will, they chose to rebel agaisnt God, and as a result, sin entered the world (Romans 5:12). God simply allowed the condition to exist where sin was possible.
A similarity is found between the relationship between a child and parent. A parent can create a condition that makes disobedience possible yet the parent is still innocent if the child should choose to sin. An exampe? If a parent tells their child to clean up his or her room and the child does not, then the child has rebelled, have they not? But would you consider the parent responsible for the child's sin? No. Did the parent cause the child to sin? No. The child had a choice to obey or not obey.
In the same way, God has created the condition that the ability to sin against Him is possible. He, however, is not responsible for the rebellion. In conclusion, it was Lucifer who was first to rebel and entered the world through Adam who also chose disobedience.
What about people who've never heard the Gospel? Will God send them to hell when they die? A: That is a good question. The Bible says that God is a just God. We know that whatever He does is right. When it comes to those who have never heard the Gospel, He will do what is right, whatever that is. But as for you, you have heard the gospel and He will judge you according to how you respond. He is calling you to repentance, to turn from sin and come to Him.
In Romans 2:11-16 it speaks about those who have never heard the Law of God and how they will be judged according to the law that is written in their hearts. The Law written in their hearts is the knowledge of right and wrong. Perhaps God's judgment of those without a proper knowledge of Him is included there where it says that they will be judged according to their own consciences that "bear witness, and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them." All I know is that God will do what is right and the only way to have your sins forgiven is through Jesus.
Q: As Christians, what is our purpose in life? A: To live our lives for God.
Q: What purpose do non-believers have in life? A: Basically, unless they place their trust in Jesus, there is no real purpose they can find. I once had an atheist friend (now christian, mind you) whom I asked that question to. They immediatly said, "To try and make the world more comfortable for future generations." I countered them by saying, "But wouldn't that purpose, or any other purpose you as an atheist would try to find in life, be a self-deceptive fiction produced in your own mind? It would have no connection to the harsh reality where nothing really mattered." They couldn't find an answer to this, and I'm pleased to say that a few months later they gave their hearts to Jesus.
Q: Who is the Devil (Satan)? A: http://www.carm.org/questions/whois_satan.htm
Q: Can you give me some general information on cults? A: http://www.carm.org/cults.htm
Q: I have a question. Not that I would ever do this at all. But if someone commited [suicide] would they go to hell, and if they did , could you ask for forgiveness before you past away? And I've commited A LOT of sins, some that are so so terrible. Are you sure God will forgive me if I ask? A: 1. Go to http://www.carm.org/questions/suicide.htm 2.This is a difficult question to answer. Even though suicide, self-murder, is a grave sin, if you are a Christina, you can still be forgiven for it. Remember, it is not actions (even something as heart-breaking as suicide) that get us to (or keep us from, rather) Heaven, but our faith in Jesus. If this person trusted Jesus and believed in what He did on the cross, then they certainly would go to Heaven. I am not, of course, saying that suicide is okay. Usually, once someone has asked Jesus into their lives, they should have a desire to live for the Lord. If you have a deep relationship with Him, you will be happy with your life. And God has assured us that he will forgive any and all sins. Nothing is beyond forgiveness. (see Romans 8:1; Psalm 103:10, 12; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Isaiah 55:7; 1 John 1:9; and John 8:10-11). If you know someone who is considering suicide, get them help right away. If they aren't a Christian, now is the time to introduce Jesus to them. Tell them about how much He cares for them and what He did. Pray for them, find them a good Christian councelor. If they are a Christian, remind them of Jesus's intense love for them. Pray for them and get help them find a councelor to. You might even want to suggest they talk to their pastor. I hope this has helped!
Q: what's your position on spiritual gifts? (mainly gift of tongues and gift of prophecy.) A: Well, honestly I haven't given the spiritual gifts (or Charismatic gifts) much thought. This is one of the much smaller things in the Bible that people debate about, and I haven't really paid much attention to it because it's not a salvation issue. But I did find a page that might help you! http://www.carm.org/questions/charismata.htm The person on this page seems to believe that the Charismatic gifts are still in effect and he gives reasons why.
Q: I've been really involved with church and stuff lately, and it seems like I'm gettin' closer to God and stuff. Is it only temporary.....or will I be this happy all the time? A: What you're on is what some people call a "spiritual high". I completley understand what you mean. Sometimes your walk with Jesus is just so awesome and fired up, but then every now and then you fall back into the "valley". Spiritual highs are awesome, but we can't rely on them or hope to ride on them forever. Enjoy your time with Him and His gifts to you. Don't try to worry about it when it will wear off, that's not your job to decide. God will move you through mountains and valleys at His pace. And each of them will be amazing, even when they don't feel like it. I hope this has helped!
Q: The Bible says that I'm supposed to be loving my enemies. Does this mean I'm supposed to love Satan? A: The answer is no, we are not to love Satan. Satan is the enemy of God. He is more than a foe to us; he is evil itself and as children of light we cannot love darkness or have any part in it.
Q: I found my grandmother's Catholic Bible and it has added books. What are they? A: Catholics believe that these "added" books are also the inspired word of God. They call them the "deuterocanon". These books can help to give us a better understanding of what happened in the 400 years between the Old and New Testaments. However, Protestants believe that they are only writings from the same time period, not the Word of God.
Q: You said that only people who have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ will go to heaven. Oh please! I have a major problem with your answer. You can interpret the Bible however you want, but you can't play God. That's not your job! Jewish people are God's chosen, so surely they'll be in heaven. I think as Christians we need to respect other people's religions and leave them alone. A: Yes, Jews are God's chosen people, but if they refuse to acknowledge Him as Lord, they won't enter the kingdom of heaven. Think about it: Not every Jew entered the Promised Land when they were delivered from Pharaoh's rule. Why not? After all, they were the chosen ones! Nevertheless, their inability to enter came because many refused to make God absoloute Lord of their lives, continued idol worship and lived in disobedience to Him.
Your arguement isn't with me; it's with God. I'm not "interpreting" the Bible, I'm taking it literally when Jesus says in John 14:6: "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." What's not to understand about that verse?
On the last thing... respecting other religions: Don't confuse repect with acceptance. Tolerance isn't always a virtue! Paul got right in the faces of the religious leaders (of all people!) and told them about their need to have a personal relationship with Christ. John the Baptist was in Herod's face as well. He didn't hesitate to tell Herod he was living in sin.
God doesn't want us to turn our backs on those who are lost in other religion. He wants us to love them and share the truth with them!
Q: You're right: Good morals and deeds won't get you to heaven and neither will just going to church. You have to have a personal relationship with Christ. But what is that exactly? A: A relationship is a deep connection between two people. You need to be introduced to someone before you can have a relationship with him. Therefore, to have a relationship with Christ means you need to be introduced to Him, get to know Him, and become connected with Him. We do that by confessing our sins, accepting His forgiveness placing our trust in Him and liviningin obedience to Him.
Q: Anyone can read the Bible and pray! In fact, Bible-reading and praying just become a habit. The Bible says that Christians are known by their fruit, but a lot of non-Christians have good fruit. A Christian has confessed their sins and asked Jesus to come into their life? Come on! Anyone can say a magical little prayer won't save you! A: You're right! You don't have to be a Christian to read the Bible, just as you don't have to be an astronout to read about space. But once you've made a decision in your heart to accept Christ, you want to read the Bible because (1) you realize it's a letter from God to you, (2) it shows you how to grow spiritually stronger and (3) your life is incomplete without it. Hopefully, you'll make Bible-reading a good habit and an integral part of your relationship with Christ.
Q: You say that Jesus is the only way. But, of course, as a Christian you think your religion is the only right one. Don't you think Christians are a bit proud thinking they're the only people who are right? A: When I say "Jesus is the only way to God," I'm simply repeating what Christ said. This isn't something I made up. It's truth from God's word. "I am the way and the truth and the life. No once comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). How much clearer can He make it? No one means no one. That includes me and you -- unless you (and I) have a personal relationship with Him.
Q: Buddha was a man, not a god. He taught that desire for material possessions cause suffering and even Jesus said we'd be empty insie if we tried to fill the viod with material possessions rather than with Him. You can meditate on Buddha and learn to relax. God wants us to be relaxed and not worry. What's wrong with using Buddhism as a tool along with trusting God to relax? A: I'm sorry if you (or anyone who should come here and read this) are a Buddhist and what I say offends you, but why meditate on someone who is dead? When you worship God you worship a living King! It makes sense to ask a living Being for peace instead of trying to find it from a dead man.
God loves you! And He desires to have, an active, growing relationship with you. But according to Deuteronomy 6:15, He is a jealous God and demands all your worship be directed to Him. Is this unfair? No. He sent His one and only Son to pay the price for you sins. He paid our death penalty. We want to thank Him by giving Him 100 percent of our lives and our worship.
Q: All of my friends swear, even my Christian friends. I'm confused. Why is swearing wrong? A: A word, in and of itself, cannot be evil. The way you use it is what makes it evil. Generally, when you cuss you have an underlying motive in your heart that is evil and not holy. Speak words that bring light and life, not darkness and strife. And remember Ephesians 5:4 when you're thinking about this.
Q: Is Jesus a vegetarian? For instance, I know he ate bread and fish a lot, but did he ever eat meat? A: Jesus was Jewish and ate many of his meals at Jewish homes. This means that the diet was high in fish and grains. The people of Jesus' time would have eaten a lot more lamb and goat than beef because beef was harder to come by. He also would have eaten eggs and poultry, as well as butter, milk products, and vegetables.
Q: Prove your God is real. A: God's existance can't be proved.
But wait a minute, I can’t prove that Julius Caesar existed either. There are marble busts of Julius Caesar, of course. There are coins with his name and image on them. Books about him could fill a library. Ancient documents and inscriptions refer to him. But those things are evidence, not proof. Evidence points to a fact. Proof asserts a fact undeniably. For example, I can prove that 2+2=4. I can add two oranges and two oranges, and I’ll always end up with four oranges. That’s proof! It’s what scientists call empirical proof. But whether or not Julius Caesar lived can’t be proven empirically. However, the weight of historical evidence indicates that he actually did live.
The same is true of God. His existence can’t be proven. As in Caesar’s case, however, the overwhelming weight of evidence makes it not only possible to believe in God’s existence, it makes that conclusion inescapable. Reliable men and women through the ages have testified to the reality of God. A man named Moses encountered God in a burning bush and wrote an affidavit, which has become part of the Bible.
Q: Why are there so many different versions of the Bible? A: It was translated from a different language. That is the reason for the different versions, also called "translations". As our language changes, we interpret the original Bible into our language again and again. It was also written in different time. That means different customs and attitudes. That means different names for the same things (for example, "he was gathered to his fathers" becomes "he died"). That means understanding how our faith from that time and from that figuring out how it should work today.
Q: How can you use your whole life dedicated to something th[a]t
might not even exist? and won't you feel let down if there is no god[?]
wouldn't you regret how you spent your time?How can you be so sure he
exist just by one book? A: You are right, God might not exist. In order to determine if His existance is absoloute truth or an "absoloute lie", you'd have look at all the evidence in the world and that is impossible. But we have faith that He DOES so that's why we dedicate our lives to Him. I have also done some serious thought about it, and I've come to the conclusion that God most certainly does exists. Why?
The universe exists. Is it eternal or did it have a beginning? It could not be eternal since that would mean that an infinite amount of time had to be crossed to get to the present. But, you cannot cross an infinite amount of time (otherwise it wouldn't be infinite). Therefore, the universe had a beginning. Something cannot bring itself into existence. Therefore, something brought it into existence. What brought the universe into existence? It would have to be greater than the universe and be a sufficient cause to it. The Bible promotes this sufficient cause as God. What does atheism offer instead of God? If nothing, then atheism is not able to account for our own existence. The universe cannot be infinitely old or all useable energy would have been lost already (entropy). This has not occurred. Therefore, the universe is not infinitely old.
Why would I be let down if God wasn't real? Most people who don't believe in God's existance believe that there is no life after death. Assuming that this is your view, I'd be unconcious in death, and wouldn't be able to reflect on my past life, let alone regret it. Would you be let down if there was a God and it was too late to repent? Why take chances on something as important on your eternal destiny? Please take this into consideration!!
And finally, the Bible isn't just any old book. It is the Word of God. Whether or not He exists (and I believe He does), I have decided to believe it. Think about it: in the end, if my beliefs are false and you are right, it won't matter. I will not have lost anything. But if I am right, you will loose everything. So please, for the sake of your eternal destiny, consider it!!
Q: Er... I have a question. To be a Christian you need to follow the bible, as it is the word of God. However, a lot of people don't follow the Bible in its enirty. Actually, I've come to find that almost every Christian picks and chooses what themes from the bible to follow. In fact, many things that the bible dictates are now illegal. So.. the Bible calls Homosexuality an abomination ib Leviticus 18:22. And God created Homosexuals. Bare with me for a sec...
I wanted to ask you a couple of questions. I'm interested in selling my youngest sister into slavery as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. She's a Illing sophomore, speaks fluent Italian, always cleared the table when it was her turn. What would a good price for her be? While thinking about that, can I ask another? My Mother insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly says she should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill her myself or is it okay to call the police? Here's one that's really important because we've got a lot of sports fans in my town: touching the skin of a dead pig makes one unclean. Leviticus 11:7. If they promise to wear gloves, can the Washington Redskins still play football? Can Notre Dame? Can West Point? Does the whole town really have to be together to stone my cousin John for planting different crops side by side? Can I burn my mother in a small family gathering for wearing garments made from two different threads?
So, is it still ok to call Homosexuals an abomination after all that? How can God want his children, people he created... to be hated by the world? To not have the rights of others? Can you explain that? A: Yes I can explain that. A lot of the points you made are laws found in the Old Testament. If you read Galations 3, you will find that because Jesus came, we are redeemed from the curse of the law.
And of course, it isn't okay for us to call Homosexuals an abomination. I am reminded of something I saw and it said, "Love the sinner, hate the sin." God has clearly said homosexuality is a sin that disgusts Him, but he still loves the homosexuals. And who says that God wants His children to be hated by the world? Who says he wants them to not have rights (although if you are reffering to same-sex marriages, He does NOT want that. Homosexuality is a sin, and wanting same-sex marriages for people would contradict Him. How could he support something that disgusts Him)? And don't think that all bad things come from God. Satan steps in too. Satan is the source of hate. Satan is what makes people have feel prejudice toward eachother and exclude people from having certain rights. If there is sin, Satan is behind it.
Q: What about children, babies, and aborted fetuses? Where do they go when they die? A: The Bible teaches that God provides grace for those who are under the "age of accountability." From God's perspective, this is the age when someone is old enough to understand the concept of mankind's sin and God's free gift to escape that sin. obody knows the exact "age of accountability." Based on various scriptures in the Bible, it could be as young as six and as old as 19. In addition, that "magic" age could vary from person to person, based on his or her intellect, maturity and experience. However, we do know that God is perfectly loving and perfectly just. Therefore, whatever the age of accountability, under whatever circumstances for a particular child, we can trust that God makes perfect decisions based on His overriding attribute of unconditional love for each and every child.
By God's grace, we know that babies and aborted fetuses go to be with God for eternity in heaven. Psalm 139 says that we are unique persons, even before birth in our mother's womb. This means that an aborted baby is a child of God who, by God's mercy and love, goes to heaven when he or she dies. When King David lost his baby son, it's obvious that he knew his baby was in heaven with God. People asked him, "Why are you acting this way? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but now that the child is dead, you get up and eat!" David responded, "While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, 'Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me and let the child live.' But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me" (2 Samuel 12:21-13, italics added).
Q: So what has god doen for you today?lol hah...But really has he ever doen anything for you..? And how exactly do you know that he did it? A: God has blessed me so much! Some of them might be considered "little" blessings that are often overlooked. For example, He has blessed me with two strong Christian parents who love me very much. Clean water and nutritous food. Amazing friends. He has blessed my family so that we are financially comfortable and have a suitable roof to live under. He has blessed me with an abundant spiritual life. He has blessed me with the ability to read something once or study something once and remember it (this comes in handy at school). He has blessed me with two brothers who I admit are annoying sometimes, but still loveable. And He has answered so many prayers in my life, I can't possibly list them all!
How do I know all these blessings and answered prayers came from God? I believe the Bible. What does the Bible promote as the One who is control of everything? God. What else could there be? Good fortune?
Q: Would you still 'Love' god if he (i maintain the I don't believe in hima nd that he is not real) came to earth and was gay? A: God is holy. He does not sin. He has clearly stated that homosexuality is a sin. God can't tolerate sin. How could He contradict Himself? Since God is infinite, His holiness is infinite.
Q: Can God make a rock so big He can't pick it up? A: http://www.carm.org/questions/rock.htm
Q: The idea of a virgin birth is ABSURD. A: Is it? http://www.christiananswers.net/q-aiia/virginbirth.html
Q: Why is it that Christians do not follow the laws of the Bible. For in the Bible it says that all the mitzvot, laws, remain binding forever, and anyone coming to change the the Tohra is immediately identified as a false prophet. (Deut. 13:1-4) A: First, Christianity teaches salvation by grace through faith, and not by faith and/or grace combined with works which is what other belief systems teach. This is a huge difference.
"Suppose there are prophets among you, or those who have dreams about the future, and they promise you signs or miracles, 2 and the predicted signs or miracles take place. If the prophets then say, `Come, let us worship the gods of foreign nations,' 3 do not listen to them. The Lord your God is testing you to see if you love him with all your heart and soul. 4 Serve only the Lord your God and fear him alone. Obey his commands, listen to his voice, and cling to him." --Deuteronomy 13:4 (NLT)
Like I said before, Christians believe Jesus is God. So I do not think we are false prophets. I also reccomend you read Galations 3 in the New Testament.
Q: How did the people who lived before Jesus make it into heaven when they died? I know that I'm going to heaven because God sent Jesus to pay the price for my sins on the cross, and I've repented of my sins and I believe Jesus is Lord. But for people in the Old Testament, there was no Jesus to believe in yet. So what exactly did they believe, and how did they get to heaven? A: You're exactly right -- Abraham, Moses, and all of the people who live BC -- before Christ -- didn't have Jesus to believe in. Hebrews 11 lists some of those BC people (Moses, Abraham, Noah, Enoch, Sarah, Jacob, Isaac, etc.) who followed God. They didn't know Jesus, but they did know this: all throughout the Old Testament, God told them that He would redeem or save them. He first let them know that in the very beginning when only Adam and Even were around (Genesis 3:15). As time went by, God progressively revealed more and more details about His redemption plan. The later in human history people lived, the more they knew what it would actually look like -- God's Son, Jesus. Hebrews 3:11 tells us why anyone who followed God BC will spend eternity in heaven with Him: All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not recieve the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. God always made it clear that people who trusted in His spiritual remedy would be saved. In other words, they trusted in the idea of Jesus long before He came. To put that in Bible lingo, they had FAITH in the promises God had made to them. (Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as hoping and believing in something you can't see -- and that's exactly what they did.) Whata does faith have to do with anything? Well, according to Jesus in Luke 7:50, faith is what saves you. Ephesians 2:8 backs up Jesus' words -- it is by grace you have been saved, through faith. So, all of the BC people who followed God were rescued from the cost of sin because of their faith in God's future redemption plan. If you want even more details, check out Romans 4 and Galations 3. The truth is, we receive Jesus just like all of the BC folks did -- by faith. The difference is they looked ahead to Him, and we look back.
Q: How can Jesus be God, if he died? God doesn't die. A: One of the doctrines that many people fail to understand concerning Jesus is the doctrine of the hypostic union. This is in the teaching that Jesus has two natures: God and man. In other words, Jesus is both God and man at the same time. This is why we see some scriptures that point to Him being divine and others pointing to Him being a man.
This is not a made-up doctrine. Rather, it is a doctrine derived from observing God's word. It is true that God cannot die. It is also true that man can die. But we see that Jesus has two natures, not one. It was the human part of Jesus that died on the cross, not the divine. But, because He is both God and man in one person, and because He was sinless, His sacrafice is sufficient to cover the sins of the world.
Q: My friend's oldest brother is off to college and he says a bunch of people wrote the Bible. Why is the Bible any good if it's like any other human book? A: That guy is right that the Bible is a human book. After all, it didn't drop from heaven, printed and bound in black leather. But it's also a divine book. The people who wrote the words of the Biblee conveyed God's inspired message -- what He wanted to said, the way He wanted it said. That's what makes the Bible "God's Word," a book worth reading and obeying with your whole life.
Q: If God wants everyone to know Him, then why didn't he make us all Christians so we would all love Him? A: Love doesn't mean much when it's forced. God built humans with hearts and minds free to choose for or against Him. If you don't like losing control over small things, how would you feel if God took away your choice on such a huge issue?
Q: I had the perfect chance to witness, and I ruined it. How can I witness without stumbling? A: It takes practice, but most of all, you have to love Jesus with all your heart. If you truely love Jesus, then it will begin to flow as you think about Him more than the person. Remember that it isn't your job to change them, only to tell them. Let God do the rest!
Q: Hey, i have friends who are into wicca. i know a lot about witchcraft, but I dont know how to start a convo with people who are happy with that religion. I need an example of what one might say. could you please help me out?! I dont want them to go to hell because I didnt try to help them. A: If you want something to say, just tell them how you feel. Say, "You know my religion and you seem okay with it. However, I can't say I agree with your choice. I just want you to know that I'll be praying for you." Don't try to talk them into changing their faith -- no one likes to be forced into anything. Pray for them.
Q:i was staying the night at my friends house and we were talkin' about the coming of christ... and my friend mentioned something abotu the "anti-christ"... and i dont know what that is... she said that it was kindof like another devil and that when the raprure is happening the "anti-christ" will try to make me believe that he is the true jesus. and i am scared that i will follow what he says.. but i dunno if weh was just trying to scare me or reall telling me something that could happen... A: Your friend is right. The anti-christ is real. We dont know if the antichrist is around right now. But we do know that he'll have to come around sometime. There are many theories about the future anti-christ.... he could be an actual man... or a form of government.... but what we do know is that the antichrist will fool many people into thinking that he is the Christ. For more information, go to the following websites: http://www.carm.org/questions/antichrist.htm; http://www.carm.org/church/apostacy.htm; http://www.leftbehind.com
Q: This past month of my life has felt very empty and pointless. My boyfriend of two years broke off our relationship, and my parents are fighting constantly and threatening divorce. I'm 17 years old and have never felt more alone in my entire life. I feel hurt, betrayed, angry and used all at the same time.
On top of all that, I’m also struggling with my faith. I don’t even want a relationship with God right now. All the people in my life who’ve said they love me have hurt me deeply. Why would I want a relationship with a God who says He loves me? I’m afraid He’ll hurt me, too. I just don’t know where to turn right now. A: I’d be surprised if you felt any other way! It’s normal for you to feel the way you do in light of all that’s happened recently. But I have good news! Jesus Christ knows exactly how you feel. He, too, was betrayed and lonely and felt rejected by those who said they loved Him. At one point (on the Cross), He even cried out to His Father asking where He was. Jesus can definitely identify with loneliness!
It’s going through tough times such as this that can make you stronger and more complete. God is committed to helping you become whole. So don’t give up on the One who can actually bring you through this dark tunnel. Instead, talk to Him. Put your thoughts in a journal. Write out your prayers on a computer. Cry to Him. And ask God to help you find a trusted friend who will pray with you, listen to you and give you hugs.
Though it seems dark right now, the sun will shine again! I promise! “O my soul, why be so gloomy and discouraged? Trust in God! I shall again praise him for his wondrous help; he will make me smile again, for he is my God!” (Psalm 43:5, The Living Bible)
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