Ask a Bible Teacher

Are Children Really Saved?

Published: November 28, 2006
Q

Most people believe that children before they reach the age of accountability will be saved. How does that belief square with the children that were destroyed in the flood and the children, along with the men and women, that God told the Israelites to kill in conquering the promised land?

And if it does, where in the Bible does it say so?


New Testament Tithing

Published: November 27, 2006
Q

Why is it in the New Testament we are not told to pay tithes. { ten percent of our income}? If we are to Tithe, to whom do we tithe, (a TV prosperity preacher)? Seems to me that he already owns much. Aren’t we to give to the poor? I’m confused..


Jesus And God

Published: November 26, 2006
Q

I’ve been reading the articles about the trinity, and I would say your answers are as correct as they can be on this subject. However, is your standing that one must believe in the trinity to be saved?

I ask this because I’ have always told people to just be focused on Christ, and that they must believe he was God in the flesh And to pray and ask God to reveal the truth in their hearts. Am I looking at this in the wrong way?


Ministering To A Fallen Pastor

Published: November 24, 2006
Q

I hope you are having a happy and blessed Thanksgiving. My question for you is regarding excommunication. My pastor, a man I’ve known and respected my whole life and who has been the head of my church for 8 years, was recently arrested in a police sting at a park for making a sexual advance to an undercover male police officer. It wasn’t prostitution, but it was overtly sexual. I spoke to him after this happened and he’s clearly sorry for what he did and not proud of it or denying it at all. Understandably the church has asked him to step down as pastor, but they also are banning him for a year from even attending the church. I was told about this informally by a couple of the board members and I told them then that I didn’t think it was a good thing to prevent him from seeking support and healing from his church family. I tried to research some scripture in his defense, but I ended up coming across 1 Cor. 5:1-5. But, it seems to me the context of these verses are against somebody who is not repentant, which my pastor clearly is. Do you think that this is an appropriate course of action to take against somebody who needs the church now more than ever? I understand they’re trying to prevent mixed emotions among the congregation when the new pastor starts, but I think they’re sacrificing grace, mercy and forgiveness for their denominational bylaws. I know this is going to come up at church on Sunday and I know there are others who feel the same way I do, I was just wondering if my feelings can be supported scripturally or are the scriptures from 1 Cor. 5:1-5 the final voice on the subject? Thank you so much for any insight.


Judaism And Islam

Published: November 24, 2006
Q

My question to you is this: every time I mention that Islam is not a peace-loving religion my husband said neither is Judaism. He teaches Sunday School and they have been going through all the books in Old Testament. He maintains that God instructed Israel to overtake its enemies with violence in order to gain the Promised Land. Also, that God deals with His/our enemies harshly. I try to counter this with God’s love for us through Jesus Christ but I don’t seem to be making any headway.

Do you have any suggestions on how to answer this? I feel the times are such that we, as Christians, are going to have to be able to defend our beliefs against this very thought.


Disagreeing About God’s Word

Published: November 24, 2006
Q

have a question that I’m not sure how to ask. I suppose it could be the old “How come there are so many interpretations” question; but I’d like to ask it like this.

We believe that God’s Word is truth and I think He gave it so we’d know things. So, why is it that people believe the Word in so many different ways that it appears to make others wrong and some right and the cause of so many disagreements for example in end time events.

I mean, since God’s Word is truth shouldn’t the Church know the truth? Why should we be divided? Did God mean for His Church to be divided on knowing the End time Events that He revealed in the Word? (I’m not asking about date setting etc, just about what He has revealed.)

Many act as if it is OK when we disagree about end time things, and call those things non-essentials. If End time things are in the Word, didn’t God believe them to be Essential? What are your thoughts?


Gog-Magog Next Or Isaiah 17?

Published: November 20, 2006
Q

Several countries mentioned in Ezekiel 38-39 which make up the upcoming Gog-Magog invasion against Israel are not yet in position. Do you see any evidence of their alignment in the near future from current world events and news? Also, in your view, will Isaiah 17 take place before Gog-Magog?


Emergent Church

Published: November 20, 2006
Q

Again thank you so much for your knowledge and faith.

I have a question regarding the rapid growth of the emergent church and I wonder if you could explain this movement to me in more detail. I had always thought that the real Church would be the one falling away from the false teachings going on in organized religion today. Not falling away from OUR FATHER, but false religion. Thanks again.


Great Falling Away

Published: November 19, 2006
Q

What is the great falling away or the emergent church movement?


The Pre-Wrath Rapture

Published: November 18, 2006
Q

1)What do you think about the pre-wrath rapture of the Church? I was pre-trib for such along time until I read the book by Marvin Rosenthal, “The Pre-Wrath Rapture of the Church”. It made so much sense that just cannot see any other way. I would just like to know what you think about it and have you read the book.

2)If the Muslim’s messiah is the the anti-Christ then how does this go with the anti-Christ coming from the Holy Roman Empire?