I am a born-again Christian. I know this. But a while back ( and even now occasionally) I had serious doubts. There was a point where I was devoid of faith and it seemed like all was lost. I wanted to believe, but I just couldn’t. I read the bible, and it would help, but then I’d get a sense of hopelessness and belief would become impossible again. It came to a point where I asked for signs that He was real and He delivered in the form of an unknown call on my phone shortly after I had asked. then, a text saying Jesus never fails, and finally, out of the blue a friend texted me cause she felt like something was wrong. I’ve read that once you were saved nothing could change it, but what about you? What if you decide that you don’t believe anymore? Can you come back? The prodigal son explains that the son comes to his senses and begs his father but the son never forgot the father.

In the first 3 chapters of Ephesians Paul’s tone seems much different than in the last three, almost as it was two different messages that were spliced together. Can you explain this?

Can we forgive ourselves? So many people say you have to forgive yourself, but I have never found it in the Bible.

In Luke 6:30 the Lord says we should give to everyone that asks us. I consider myself a generous person and have helped out many struggling people through the years, but because of my generosity I have also had some that keep coming back with excuse after excuse and looking for a regular handout. Where do we draw the line? I want to obey the Lord, but I’m not sure getting taken advantage of by people unwilling to provide for themselves was what he had in mind.

“I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things.” Please tell me what God meant when he quoted this!

Our pastor says we required to pay our entire tithe to the local church and then let the leaders decide how to distribute the money. His support for this view was based on what Paul did when he took the money given in Corinth to help the church in Jerusalem. It he correct in this?

My husband went home to be with the Lord.  Do I tithe/give offerings from the insurance money?  I love to give and am a giver, but right now fear has set in with the finances.  Friends of mine state I should tithe.

Recently the topic of fear came up in a family discussion. I made the statement that it isn’t wrong to be afraid. (ie: night before surgery, facing a dangerous situation like cancer) What is wrong is if we allow fear to overpower us. Being fearful and stepping out in faith anyway shows our trust in God that he is going to do what he says. Can you help me back this up with scripture?

I’m afraid of dying because I don’t know much about Heaven and I’m afraid of not being good enough to go there. I’m afraid of the doubtful thoughts I’ve been having. The ‘what if there is no Heaven’ thoughts. I pray a lot and read bible verses most days. I grew up Christian and have been saved. It was a wonderful feeling! I guess I’m asking how to ease my mind. Would fellowship strengthen my faith and help me to not feel so fearful?

I find myself often just flush with greed. I have much; I have more than enough financially and I have advanced to a healthy old age. Yet I seem to have the idea that, “if I had more I could contribute more to God’s work in the world.” Yet by most giving standards I do give far more than a tithe. I mean much more. Got any suggestions as to what is wrong with me? Is it just a worldly attitude? God forbid that an old person would be guilty of that!