Search — Theology Explorer

Learning from Fallen Pastors?: Do you think it's wise to listen to preachers who have "fallen from grace" like Mark Driscoll? I find much of his preaching very life-giving, but I get judgment from other Christians.

Q&A question: Learning from Fallen Pastors?

Serving God in our Professions: I am a DJ on a secular radio station. Knowing what's in many of the songs, I wonder if I am not pleasing the Lord by being in this job. Is this a matter of conscience?

Q&A question: Serving God in our Professions

faith and science

Did Jonah Actually Die?: Did Jonah die? I was introduced to this theory by social media and was surprised to see a lot of people think he died and was risen based off of Jonah 2:1-6, Jewish tradition, and The Sign of Jonah.

Q&A question: Did Jonah Actually Die?

Jonah Jonah

Numbers 6 1 Corinthians 11 Numbers 6 1 Corinthians 11

Nazarite Vows – Why Long Hair?: If long hair for men is a disgrace by nature (1 Corinthians 11: 14), then why is it part of the Nazirite vow in Numbers 6:5?

Q&A question: Nazarite Vows – Why Long Hair?

Mike Winger idea 2024-09-06

How to Pray Without Ceasing: What does it mean to "pray without ceasing" as instructed in 1Thessalonians 5: 17, and how do we practically achieve this?

Q&A question: How to Pray Without Ceasing

Mike Winger idea 2024-09-06

Must All People Hear before Rapture?: Does Matthew 24: 14 teach that the rapture will not happen until all people groups hear the Gospel? Or could Christ return before this happens?

Q&A question: Must All People Hear before Rapture?

Matthew 24 Matthew Matthew 24 rapture Matthew

What Did the Pope Say?: Have some of the things Pope Francis has recently said been heretical?

Q&A question: What Did the Pope Say?

heresy Pope Francis

John 9 John 5 John 9 John 5

Does Sin Cause Illness?: Does sinning cause physical illness? Does refraining from sinning stop it? John 9:3 and John 5: 14 seem to say both are true. Is this a contradiction?

Q&A question: Does Sin Cause Illness?

Matthew Matthew 7 Matthew Matthew 7

Casting Pearls before Swine: In what ways or in what situations might Matthew 7:6 be applicable today?

Q&A question: Casting Pearls before Swine

Was David Conceived in Adultery?: In Psalm 51:5, David says that in sin his mother conceived him. Is he saying that he has been in sin since his conception, or that his mother was in sin when she conceived him? Was David born in adultery?

Q&A question: Was David Conceived in Adultery?

Psalm 51 David Psalm 51

Is Calvinism Heresy?: Why isn’t Calvinism more strongly condemned among non-Calvinists? The doctrine essentially teaches that God will punish people for something completely out of their control, which makes God seem unjust.

Q&A question: Is Calvinism Heresy?

Calvinism heresy

Is God Prideful?: Is God prideful? If our purpose in life is to glorify God, does that mean we were created only to praise Him? I know He is worthy of praise, but was He seeking praise by creating us?

Q&A question: Is God Prideful?

Bible Typography: How important is Bible typography? For example, the way the KJV arranges paragraphs makes context harder to understand than in the ESV.

Q&A question: Bible Typography

hermeneutics

Standing With Israel?: With all of the tensions and things going on over in Israel, how should we be responding to those we’re surrounded by who hate Israel? They don’t seem to understand why we stand with Israel.

Q&A question: Standing With Israel?

Israel

Matthew 16 Matthew John 21 Peter Roman Catholicism Jesus

Was Simon Always “Peter”?: Catholics always say Jesus changed Simon’s name to Peter. However, previous verses (Matthew 16: 16, John 21: 15, Matthew 4: 18, and Luke 5:8) refer to him as Simon Peter. Jesus says, “You are Peter…” not “From now on, you are Peter.” Was Simon always known as Peter?

Q&A question: Was Simon Always “Peter”?

Genesis 2 Genesis Genesis 2 Genesis

Adam – “Leave & Cleave”?: How do you interpret Genesis 2: 24? How could Adam come with such a statement, since he had no earthly mother or father?

Q&A question: Adam – “Leave & Cleave”?

Rapture: Do We Have a Choice?: Assuming a rapture, are we irresistibly taken, or is it a choice to leave with Him? I ask irrespective of Calvinistic irresistible grace. Luke 17: 31-36 seems to indicate both.

Q&A question: Rapture: Do We Have a Choice?

rapture Calvinism

About Natural Selection: Regarding natural selection, I recently had a class on that topic in college and was a bit confused on how we, as Christians, should approach that topic with others.

Q&A question: About Natural Selection

Staying Encouraged in Today’s Culture: How do you stay encouraged in today’s culture? The culture is so discouraging. I sometimes feel like a failure because other Christians seem to “have it all together.” Also, how can we pray for you?

Q&A question: Staying Encouraged in Today’s Culture

Mike Winger idea 2024-10-11

Bonus Prayer Request.Please pray for my cousin’s 3 grandchildren. A car wreck on Friday has left one paralyzed and 2 in still in the ICU. One has had 7 surgeries so far. They are all under age 12.

Q&A question

prayer

Stay Focused on Christ!: How do I keep my mind on Jesus all day? I often get so distracted and conform to the ways of people around me. This is the thing I struggle with the most. I’d love your advice!

Q&A question: Stay Focused on Christ!

Jesus

Mike Winger idea 2024-10-11

Advice for a New Youth Pastor: I just started into youth ministry. Jesus saved me in college; I never had a youth minister, and the position didn’t come with a manual. Any resources, recommendations, wisdom, etc.?

Q&A question: Advice for a New Youth Pastor

Jesus pastoral ministry

Mike Winger idea 2024-10-18

How to Pray for our Enemies: How can we pray for our enemies biblically? Especially those actively trying to kill those you love.

Q&A question: How to Pray for our Enemies

Mike Winger idea 2024-10-18

Does God Grant Our Belief?: What does Philippians 1: 29 mean when it says that God "grants" us belief in Him? Is this deterministic?

Q&A question: Does God Grant Our Belief?

Philippians 1 Philip Philippi Philippians 1

Mike Winger idea 2024-10-18

Anger at God’s Word?: Do you have any specific advice on how to deal with emotions while reading the Bible? Recently, I can’t even get through a few verses without feeling overwhelmed with anger or frustration!

Q&A question: Anger at God’s Word?

Mike Winger idea 2024-10-25

All Things vs. All This Through Christ?: The NIV changed Philippians 4: 13 from I can do "all things" to "all this" which makes more sense to me in context. Do you think "all things" has been misused historically? Will other translations follow?

Q&A question: All Things vs. All This Through Christ?

Philippians 4 Philippians 4 Philip Philippi

Mike Winger idea 2024-10-25

Advice for Depression & Spiritual Dryness: When I was a teen, I had depression leading to a suicide attempt. Through God I'm still here, married, and have a family. I read/study the Bible and pray, but I feel lost and far from God. Advice?

Q&A question: Advice for Depression & Spiritual Dryness

anxiety and mental health

Mike Winger idea 2024-10-25

Balancing Ministry & Family: As a young youth pastor, I am struggling to balance my desire to fully invest time and energy into ministry, with also being married with 2 young boys (2 and 1). Can you give some good principles here?

Q&A question: Balancing Ministry & Family

A Biblical View of Immigration: What are some biblical thoughts surrounding the political issue of immigration?

Q&A question: A Biblical View of Immigration

Confessing Your Faith when Difficult: I'm a 30 y/o woman in SoCal, financially dependent on my Muslim parents. I've studied for years and I’m now feeling called to Christ. I fear being kicked out. Any advice on how to tell them I'm Christian?

Q&A question: Confessing Your Faith when Difficult

Islam

Eternal Begottenness?: Should we hold to eternal begottenness of the Son which seems to suggest that the Son was caused? It seems orthodox, but wrong to say of God.

Q&A question: Eternal Begottenness?

When Discipline turns to Drudgery: William Booth says, “We ought not consult feelings but do our duty.” How does that not then become drudgery? How do we be disciplined like Daniel, yet not mechanical?

Q&A question: When Discipline turns to Drudgery

Daniel Daniel

1 Corinthians 5 1 Corinthians 5

Hosting Sinners in our Homes: Is 1 Corinthians 5:9-13 only for corporate gatherings or also for private gatherings such as family meals, etc.? Should Christians host professing Christian family members who are living in unrepentant sin?

Q&A question: Hosting Sinners in our Homes

Overcoming Difficult Addictions: I’ve tried SO many times trying to quit vaping. I’m starting to feel like a bad Christian. Any advice?

Q&A question: Overcoming Difficult Addictions

addiction

Contemplative Prayer: I'm curious about contemplative and listening prayer practices promoted in my church. Are they rooted in or influenced by Eastern mysticism or New Age ideologies?

Q&A question: Contemplative Prayer

prayer

Why Didn’t God Forbid Polygamy?: If verses like Exodus 21: 10 aren't supporting polygamy but protecting women in a bad situation, why didn't God just outlaw polygamy outright? I agree with you, but don't know how to counter this argument.

Q&A question: Why Didn’t God Forbid Polygamy?

Exodus 21 Exodus 21

Obeying our Conscience: Is Romans 14: 23 about emotional doubt or intellectual doubt? For example, I'm mentally convinced that ham is OK to eat but I still doubt it emotionally. Which is my conscience to obey?

Q&A question: Obeying our Conscience

Romans 14 Romans 14

Mike Winger idea 2024-11-15

What is a Heart of Flesh?: What does giving us a heart of flesh mean, when flesh is usually negative?

Q&A question: What is a Heart of Flesh?

generosity

Can Fallen Leaders Be Restored?: Can fallen pastors who have engaged in egregious sin be restored back to ministry?

Q&A question: Can Fallen Leaders Be Restored?

Mike Winger idea 2024-11-15

Are My Dreams from God?: My pastor says you can tell if a dream is from God by whether or not it aligns with Gods Word, but also if it’s very bright, warm, and vivid. He says if you’re afraid in the dream, then it’s not from God. Is that true?

Q&A question: Are My Dreams from God?

A Child’s Stage of Accountability: My three-year-old passed away in a tragic accident. I’ve heard that infants are welcomed into God’s presence when they die, but what about a slightly older child? Is my daughter in Heaven?

Q&A question: A Child’s Stage of Accountability

heaven

Author Unknown = Still Inspired?: Can we be confident that a book of the Bible is truly inspired and belongs in the canon if the author is unknown (like Hebrews)? If we don’t know who wrote it, how can we trust what it contains? How can we know it wasn’t just the written version of a sermon? A pastor may be educated, but they aren’t inerrant.

Q&A question: Author Unknown = Still Inspired?

Grain Offering = More Holy?: In Leviticus 2:9-10, the part of the grain offering for the priests is "a most holy part." Why is the part that the priests eat more holy than the memorial portion that is burned on the altar?

Q&A question: Grain Offering = More Holy?

tithing

Romans 6 Romans 6 homosexuality

Dying to Sexual Addictions: I’m only 18, but I’ve been addicted to pornography for 5 years now, which slowly turned homosexual over time. Can you please explain the past tense of “died” in Romans 6:2? Am I dead to sin, or do I die?

Q&A question: Dying to Sexual Addictions

BONUS Q!.We'll probably never find every artifact or an original manuscript. But what is on your list of top biblical artifacts you hope are discovered? Israel in Egypt is one of mine.

Q&A question

textual criticism Israel

By Grace, Through Faith, No Works: As a former strict, legalistic Orthodox, will I ever be able to grasp that salvation truly is by faith and NOT works? I STRUGGLE!

Q&A question: By Grace, Through Faith, No Works

salvation

Is “Bodybuilding” Biblical?: My friends and I love natural bodybuilding. Is it biblical to work on your body to one day showcase it in minimal clothing on a bodybuilding stage or on social media in a non-sexual way?

Q&A question: Is “Bodybuilding” Biblical?

sexual ethics

Choosing Sides?: A friend of a friend asked why he has to “choose sides” (God or the Devil). Why can't he just remain neutral? He claims it's not really free will when there's only one “right side.”

Q&A question: Choosing Sides?

free will