Search — Theology Explorer

Rapture Craze?: Can you address “Brother Joshua” and the current rapture craze?

Q&A question: Rapture Craze?

rapture

Galatians 2 Romans 6 Galatians 2 atonement Romans 6

PSA + Crucified WITH Christ?: How does the doctrine of Penal Substitutionary Atonement harmonize with us being “crucified with Christ” (Galatians 2: 20, Romans 6:5-6)? The substitution element seems to be missing, and wrath seems confusing if we are to affirm crucifixion with Christ.

Q&A question: PSA + Crucified WITH Christ?

Pre-Wired to Sin?: Why are Adam and Eve guilty when the brains God gave them are what guided them to make their decision to sin? They processed the situation based on the way God had pre-wired them.

Q&A question: Pre-Wired to Sin?

Adam and Eve

Eschatology in The Psalms?: Is it valid to interpret Psalms 42-49 as talking about the End Times (Tribulation in 42-44, Lamb’s wedding in 45, God’s reign/judgment and New Jerusalem with a river in 46-49)?

Q&A question: Eschatology in The Psalms?

eschatology tribulation

Obedience Leading to Hardship?: My walk with Christ feels harder the more I obey. I lost family, friends, and even my girlfriend. Sometimes I wonder if this is even worth it, yet I still long to stay faithful. Any advice?

Q&A question: Obedience Leading to Hardship?

Galatians 1 salvation baptism Galatians 1

Baptismal Regeneration: False Gospel?: Would you consider the teaching that baptism is necessary for salvation to be a "different gospel” (Galatians 1:6)? If not, how would you distinguish it from the Circumcision Party's false teachings?

Q&A question: Baptismal Regeneration: False Gospel?

Malachi 4: About Jesus?: Is Malachi 4:2 talking about Jesus? Some translations like NKJV vs. NASB seem to reference it differently.

Q&A question: Malachi 4: About Jesus?

Malachi Jesus Malachi

Loving God Above Family: My husband is an unbeliever. He recently told me he can't be a believer because he idolizes me and our kids and couldn't love God more than us. Beyond praying, how can I address this biblically?

Q&A question: Loving God Above Family

marriage

Church Membership but Rarely Attending?: I’m a youth pastor at my church, and several families at my church consider themselves members but are only present a few times per year due to weekend activities. Should we address this strongly?

Q&A question: Church Membership but Rarely Attending?

Trusting God More in Prayer: I fully believe God never fails and His decisions are always right and good. But it's still hard not to feel like He's "let me down" when I pray SO hard for something and it doesn't happen. It feels like He's absent and it (ashamedly) makes me question the parts in Scripture where He invites us to ask and SAYS He'll act.

Q&A question: Trusting God More in Prayer

prayer

Mike’s Favorite Christian Music: Bonus!.What are some of your favorite or best recommended Christian music artists and albums?

Q&A question: Mike’s Favorite Christian Music

Failed Rapture Predictions: Learning the lesson: An autopsy of recent rapture predictions.

Q&A question: Failed Rapture Predictions

rapture

Genesis 2 Genesis Genesis 2 Genesis Adam and Eve

The Mortality of Adam & Eve: Is Adam and Eve's mortality a result of the poison in the forbidden fruit or the declaration of God in Genesis 2: 17?

Q&A question: The Mortality of Adam & Eve

Ezekiel 37: 2 Separate Events?: In Ezekiel 37, Ezekiel is told to prophesy to dry bones, and they come together, but he had to prophesy again for them to come to life. Do you think this is referring to two separate events?

Q&A question: Ezekiel 37: 2 Separate Events?

Ezekiel Ezekiel

Honoring Tradition & Embracing Change: How can pastors balance honoring tradition with leading forward when influential members of the congregation resist technology, new ideas, and change?

Q&A question: Honoring Tradition & Embracing Change

The Value of Fallible Gifts: If all the gifts of the Spirit are subject to human fallibility, what is their true value for the Church? Why would God tell us to eagerly desire them if they can so easily be misused or misunderstood?

Q&A question: The Value of Fallible Gifts

Repentance after Spiritual Drought: Do you have any advice for someone who was raised Christian, who professed faith and went to church but still lived a worldly and immoral lifestyle, then has recently come to Christ in repentance?

Q&A question: Repentance after Spiritual Drought

repentance

A “Word” from the Lord?: I go to a Calvary Chapel and there are a lot of “words” given to people. They’re not unbiblical but seem sort of vague, like I’m not able to test them. Should I only accept it if I can test it?

Q&A question: A “Word” from the Lord?

Calvary Chapel

Gathering while Disabled?: In light of the Scripture that states not to forsake the gathering together, I am concerned about that because I am disabled, do not drive, and do not have consistent transportation to church. Advice?

Q&A question: Gathering while Disabled?

John 3 Jesus Elisha Enoch

Enoch & Elisha – In Heaven?: Enoch and Elisha are said to be in Heaven in the Old Testament. Why did Jesus say in John 3: 13 that no one has gone to Heaven except Him?

Q&A question: Enoch & Elisha – In Heaven?

Let’s Grow in Christ!: Can you please share a few suggestions, just for fun and faith-building, for us to do this weekend to grow in Christ (besides going to church)?

Q&A question: Let’s Grow in Christ!

Responding to Zachary Levi: A respectful analysis of Zachary Levi’s beliefs on the Bible.

Q&A question: Responding to Zachary Levi

The Witness of the Spirit: If I know I believe the Gospel is true but I don’t feel any “witness of the Spirit,” what does that mean? I’m trying to trust with my whole heart.

Q&A question: The Witness of the Spirit

evangelism

Has God Abandoned the World?: My dad is an unbeliever but acknowledges God’s existence through creation. He believes that God created the world and then abandoned it. How can I help show him that God is still with us to this day?

Q&A question: Has God Abandoned the World?

creation

Should I Worship a God I Don’t Like?: A common objection I hear is, "Why should I worship a God I don't like?"

Q&A question: Should I Worship a God I Don’t Like?

worship

Is My Sin Even My Fault?: Why am I accountable to God for my sins when I was born with a sin nature? Shouldn't a loving God provide the basic remedy for creation when they had no choice in being created and no choice regarding their nature?

Q&A question: Is My Sin Even My Fault?

creation

Was YHWH Beaten in Battle?: How can I defend 2 Kings 3 when skeptics use it as an example of Yahweh being beaten in battle by another entity in driving the Israelites out, despite them being prophesied to win?

Q&A question: Was YHWH Beaten in Battle?

apologetics Israel

Learning to Evangelize Better: I converted just over a year ago and had some success evangelizing to my community (libertarians). I've read the New Testament and I’m working on reading it twice now. What can I do to evangelize better, especially to libertarians?

Q&A question: Learning to Evangelize Better

angels

Revelation 3 revelation Jesus Revelation 3 revelation

How Can God Have a God?: I heard this question in my group: God is considered the Most High; thus Jesus (who is God) is the Most High. Therefore, why does Jesus claim that He has a God above Him in Revelation 3: 12?

Q&A question: How Can God Have a God?

Does Doubt = Incomplete Faith?: I’m a new believer who used to be a Jehovah’s Witness. I gave my life to Christ a few years ago, but sometimes I wrestle with doubt. Does that make my faith incomplete?

Q&A question: Does Doubt = Incomplete Faith?

Jehovah's Witnesses

Acceptance Only of a “Higher Power”: My daughter (13) believes that there may be a higher power, but doesn’t believe in Jesus. I’m trying to figure out how to reach her in an effective manner. What advice can you offer?

Q&A question: Acceptance Only of a “Higher Power”

Jesus

The Sadness of Animal Suffering: Why is there such a great amount of suffering that animals need to go through? Wouldn’t a good God create it to where the animals didn’t have to suffer and still feed us?

Q&A question: The Sadness of Animal Suffering

suffering

Answered Prayer or Coincidence?: How can I tell if God actually answered my prayers or if the outcome was just a coincidence? Many Christians say God has spoken to or guided them without evidence. How can such claims be tested objectively?

Q&A question: Answered Prayer or Coincidence?

prayer

Does God Send Us to Hell?: How can I convince my brother that God does not condemn us to Hell and that it’s our own free will that puts us there? He has stopped talking to us due to that belief he has.

Q&A question: Does God Send Us to Hell?

hell free will

Explaining the Trinity to Muslims: I have a Muslim friend who is struggling to understand the Trinity and asked, “how can God be 3 things all at once, and how can He be crucified?” Can you explain it in a way that a Muslim will understand?

Q&A question: Explaining the Trinity to Muslims

Trinity Islam

Derren Brown miracles atheism

Street Healings: Are They Real?: Are street healings real? Christians pray for strangers who report relief from pain and various illnesses. But atheist Derren Brown has produced similar results. Are these miracles or psychological effects?

Q&A question: Street Healings: Are They Real?

doubt and faith anxiety and mental health

Is Mental Illness a Fallacy?: I'm in a faith crisis. I shared my mental health struggle with my discipler, and at the next study, they called mental illness a fallacy. I walked away and struggle if it's all real.

Q&A question: Is Mental Illness a Fallacy?

1 Corinthians 6 Ephesians 5 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 David marriage 1 Corinthians 6

Why is David in Heaven?: Can you explain how David would be in Heaven when he knew 1 wife was God’s design but was living in continuous sin (1 John 3:4-9, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, Hebrews 10: 26, Ephesians 5:3-7)?

Q&A question: Why is David in Heaven?

Rejecting Certain Parts of Scripture?: Can you have blind faith and not believe certain parts of the Bible?

Q&A question: Rejecting Certain Parts of Scripture?

Higher Healing Statistics?: Christians tend to pray for the healing of their loved ones when they are physically unwell, there should be a statistically measurable difference in health levels among Christians vs. non-Christians. Do we see it?

Q&A question: Higher Healing Statistics?

healing

Breaking News!: Bonus Update.Covering a “Rapture Cult Update” from the recent false prophets.

Q&A question: Breaking News!

rapture prophecy

Is Christianity a Cult?: In light of Mhlakela's serious error, how can Christians be assured that we aren't also blind members of a cult? Scholars are quick to explain t:hat "near" means quickly, unexpectedly, or suddenly. Then why don't they translate "tychikos" (soon) as such? 2 Peter 3:8-9 is also frequently used as an excuse.

Q&A question: Is Christianity a Cult?

Peter

Is Repeated Repentance a Deception?: I have heard you say we should keep repenting. But, if we are continually repenting for the same sin or sins, has it lost its value? Is our repentance real or are we deceiving ourselves?

Q&A question: Is Repeated Repentance a Deception?

repentance

Politics in The Pulpit?: To what extent is it appropriate or necessary for pastors to address current events & politics from the pulpit? How should church members respond if these topics aren’t addressed thoroughly or at all?

Q&A question: Politics in The Pulpit?

mark of the beast mark of the beast

Mark of the Beast: Always Wrong?: If a man takes the Mark of the Beast to provide for his family, how will God judge him?

Q&A question: Mark of the Beast: Always Wrong?

The Church’s Voice = God’s Voice?: My dad said, “The church asked me to be a deacon, so it must be God.” Is it wise to treat the church’s voice as God’s voice?

Q&A question: The Church’s Voice = God’s Voice?

About Clear Truth Media: I think you’ve written for Clear Truth Media and they are platforming Mark Driscoll. With your stance on unqualified pastors, how do you respond?

Q&A question: About Clear Truth Media

Acts 10 Matthew 5 Matthew Acts 10 Jesus Matthew 5

Dietary Laws: Fulfilled?: How did Jesus fulfill the dietary laws? I’m considering Jesus grafting in Gentiles into the faith to be the fulfillment of that (Matthew 5: 17, Acts 10:9-15).

Q&A question: Dietary Laws: Fulfilled?