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Having researched the “emerging church” movement, I am left confused regarding the teaching of a ‘man friendly Gospel’ that these churches have adopted. Some theologians believe this is wrong; that God is a Holy God and man in his sinful state is God’s enemy. Also, Psalm 5 says God hates his enemies, but Jesus tells us to love our enemies. Why does He tell us to do this if he doesn’t love them himself? Finally, I have always believed that we mustn’t judge or condemn, yet this seems to suggest a ‘man centered approach’. These same theologians believe that the real Gospel preaches repentance and a making aware of sin; that the only way to God is through the ‘narrow gate’ by living a sacrificial life. I’m not sure what all this means anymore. Is God a loving father, or a strict judge?

I just read your response to the question titled “Working Out Our Salvation” and I was wondering about one thing. When you said:

“We should strive to be more Christ like in our manner of living. Not to earn something, for we’ve already received it, but to allow God to work in us according to His purpose.”

I believe you are mistaken. I agree with you, that we are not trying to “earn” our salvation, for salvation is by faith alone. However, in our daily walk (or race as Paul puts it) we are trying to earn our crowns, or treasures in heaven, and all the other glorious things promised by our Savior. So while the Bible is clear we cannot earn our salvation, when Paul speaks of earning something he is talking about rewards, not our salvation, or at least that is what I believe. In that respect I believe we are trying to earn something in heaven. Your Thoughts?

When talking to atheists, I am often asked some very difficult questions. It becomes frustrating at times, but I need help on how to properly address certain things they bring up.

One question was one that I probably should expect from them, it goes like this “If God told you to kill someone would you do it?” and of course they bring up Abraham as an example. My response was on what basis do you ask this question? Are you assuming things about God?

Then they tell me its not a hypothetical scenario, and that I’m not answering the question. The thing is that I know they are trying to back me up into a corner. They also said this “Many people have killed because they heard the voice of God”. The conversation then becomes very frustrating, and they often go to make insults from there.

The other thing that I want to address properly is the laws. Christ was sinless and he fulfilled the law. However, atheists always bring up the OT laws-the Mosaic and Levitical laws and so forth, and ask why we don’t follow them. So, if the keeping of the Sabbath is brought up, -and Jesus mentioned if a sheep falls into a pit, will not the man lift it out- how do I answer to them if they say he wasn’t keeping the commandment.

In other words, did the original commandment even restrict works on the Sabbath to the detail the Jews took it as being, or was the Sabbath just a day where no work was to be done in “general”, for lack of a better word.

Any answers or advice would be great, I just want to make sure that I answer them properly.

I was wondering what your thoughts are Gehazi being pronounced a leper in 2 Kings 5:27 then his reappearance in 8:4 but no sign or further discussion about him being a leper. What happened to his leprosy?

What evidence do we have that Old Testament prophecies we believe to be Messianic Prophecies are also considered to be Messianic Prophecies by the Jewish people? And if our versions of them are the same what is their reasoning for not accepting Jesus?

1 John 5:19 says that the whole world is under the control of the Evil One. Many use this scripture to say that hurricanes, tornadoes, etc happen because the planet itself is under the control of Satan. We know that God cursed the ground because of Adam’s sin, but does that mean Satan is in charge of creating “natural disasters”?

My question is, why was God so angry at Job’s friends?I find helpful and good what they said about God. What wasn’t correct in their speeches about Him that angered the Lord? And why He complimented Job in the end contrary to His friends?

I’ve been noticing in these trying times that there is a lot of “God talk” with regards to inspirational sayings, quotes, etc. and obviously a lot of Facebook pages about God. My question is, can people be saved by “bypassing Jesus” when directly praying to God? Does God recognize their sincerity of wanting to be saved but without accepting Jesus as their Savior?

Re: 1 Samuel 24:3 “And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where [was] a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave.” What does it mean to “cover his feet” and why would he not have heard David cutting off a piece of his skirt?

Could you explain the three hundred ninety days and forty days prophecy in Ezekiel 4:6. Does this apply to the regathering of Israel or the re-unification of Jerusalem or both?