Search — Theology Explorer

Romans 10 Romans 10:9 Jesus Romans 10 Romans 10:9

The Minimum to Be Saved?: What's the minimum one must believe to be saved? Romans 10:9? But anything else? What about polytheists who believe it? Or if someone said, "Yes, Lord Jesus died and rose, but His death wasn't for our sin"?

Q&A question: The Minimum to Be Saved?

Deuteronomy 32 Deuteronomy 32

Impassability – Does God Have Emotions?: Could you help me understand impassability? I’ve heard that God doesn’t have emotions, meaning we can’t move God to “feel.” What about Deuteronomy 32: 21 which sounds like we can move God to feel things?

Q&A question: Impassability – Does God Have Emotions?

Discouraged by Free Will: My son is bothered by free will because it causes so much pain and suffering and that God foreknew we would sin. How can I encourage him?

Q&A question: Discouraged by Free Will

suffering free will

Developing Belief as an Analytical Person: How do I develop a belief in Christianity? It feels very difficult as an analytical person. I’ve been looking into apologetics but still can't develop faith and I strongly want to live righteously.

Q&A question: Developing Belief as an Analytical Person

apologetics

Trusting God While Questions Linger: I keep thinking I’ll trust God easier if I get more questions about God answered. But I’m sad about things like unmet godly desires. Remembering God’s promises doesn’t help. How do I fix this?

Q&A question: Trusting God While Questions Linger

Hell: Traditional vs. Conditional?: What is Mike’s perspective on the topic of Hell?

Q&A question: Hell: Traditional vs. Conditional?

hell

1 Timothy 5 Timothy marriage 1 Timothy 5

Marriage, Heaven & Vows: Regarding 1 Timothy 5: 11-12, if there is no marriage in Heaven, and when a spouse dies we’re free to remarry, how then does a young widow break her first vow?

Q&A question: Marriage, Heaven & Vows

Purpose of the Tree of Life: If we were created as eternal beings, then what purpose did the Tree of Life hold in the Garden of Eden?

Q&A question: Purpose of the Tree of Life

Matthew Matthew 6 Matthew Matthew 6

Matthew 6 – But Poverty?: How do we reconcile Matthew 6: 25-33 with the reality of poverty? I'm comfortable saying "even He doesn't, God is still good" but this passage sounds almost Word-of-Faith.

Q&A question: Matthew 6 – But Poverty?

Matthew 18 Matthew Matthew 18 Matthew

Purgatory in the Book of Matthew?: I've been curious about the word “until” or “till” in Matthew 18: 34. Does this imply purgatory?

Q&A question: Purgatory in the Book of Matthew?

Jesus Given a Higher Name?: New believer here, and my question is, since Jesus is YHWH, why is He given the name above every other name in Philippians 2? What does that mean?

Q&A question: Jesus Given a Higher Name?

Jesus Philip Philippi

1 Corinthians 14 prophecy 1 Corinthians 14

Can All Believers Prophesy?: Does 1 Corinthians 14: 31 mean all believers can prophesy? If all can teach in some way without being teachers (i.e., teaching their children), can all prophesy without being prophets?

Q&A question: Can All Believers Prophesy?

Hyperbole in Scripture: The Sermon on the Mount has some hyperbole (cut off your hand). How do you know what is hyperbole and what isn't, specifically regarding anger?

Q&A question: Hyperbole in Scripture

Does God Use our Sin?: Do you believe that God uses the consequences/results of a sin for His own purposes, like a one night stand resulting in a child? A reference could be Joseph and his brothers.

Q&A question: Does God Use our Sin?

Joseph

Matthew Matthew 8 Jesus Pharisees Centurion

How/Why was Jesus Amazed?: Matthew 8:5-13 says that Jesus was amazed at the centurion's faith. In other places in the New Testament, Jesus knew the thoughts of the Pharisees. If Jesus could read thoughts, how could He be amazed?

Q&A question: How/Why was Jesus Amazed?

Interracial Marriage: Biblical?: Are mixed-race or interracial marriages biblically permissible?

Q&A question: Interracial Marriage: Biblical?

marriage

Evangelism: Relationships Required?: I've been told that you should build a relationship with someone before sharing the Gospel with them. Thoughts?

Q&A question: Evangelism: Relationships Required?

angels

Others’ Consciences: Our Responsibility?: Are we responsible if someone is emboldened to disobey his conscience because of something we posted online (Romans 14)? I wish to show games I like on my channel, but I’m afraid they may convict a brother.

Q&A question: Others’ Consciences: Our Responsibility?

Romans 14 Romans 14

Matthew Matthew 23 pastoral ministry Matthew Matthew 23

Are “Titles” Biblical?: Is calling people by a church title, like Pastor, biblical? Nowhere in Scripture is anyone referred to by anything other than their first name, and Matthew 23:7-12 seems to forbid it.

Q&A question: Are “Titles” Biblical?

Scriptural Coincidences?: Abram's father, Terah set out for Canaan, but stopped in Harran, where he died. Later, God calls Abraham to Canaan. How do I know if something like this is a coincidence or meaningful?

Q&A question: Scriptural Coincidences?

Abraham Canaan Terah

Should Abortion be Prosecuted?: Do you think it's biblical that women who have abortions should be legally judged the same way as someone who commits murder?

Q&A question: Should Abortion be Prosecuted?

abortion

Balancing Ambition & Contentment: As a Christian, how do you balance ambition and contentment?

Q&A question: Balancing Ambition & Contentment

James Acts 15 James Acts 15 salvation

James: Works Based Salvation?: In Galatians, Paul says Jews from the sect of James were Judaizers. If the book of James was written before the Acts 15 council, do you think James in his book taught a works-based salvation?

Q&A question: James: Works Based Salvation?

Why No Marriage in Heaven?: Jesus clearly says there is no marriage in Heaven. But God established pre-fall that it is not good for man to be alone and He gave Eve to Adam despite Adam being in communion with God in the garden. Thoughts?

Q&A question: Why No Marriage in Heaven?

marriage Jesus communion

Appropriate Motivation for Hard Work: Is it wrong to reward myself for doing the things I have to do? I worry that it might cause me to work for the wrong motives. But it's so hard to get myself to do things.

Q&A question: Appropriate Motivation for Hard Work

[Cover-Up Culture Update} Do you have an update on the cover-up culture exposure project?

Q&A question

Un-Learning Without Deconstructing: For those who used to be a part of Bethel, what advice would you give to those who are deconstructing things learned there without losing faith? I attended their ministry school years ago.

Q&A question: Un-Learning Without Deconstructing

Bethel Church

Roman Catholicism marriage

Inter-Faith Marital Conflicts: My wife is Catholic, but I have an issue with our kids going to mass due to it being a propitiatory sacrifice. Am I doing more harm (by causing strife in the marriage) than good by not exposing them?

Q&A question: Inter-Faith Marital Conflicts

Who Was Theudas?: Who was Theudas in Acts 5? Is it a contradiction?

Q&A question: Who Was Theudas?

Theudas

God’s Will & Our Choices: Some people pray for God to remove a potential partner from their life if they aren’t the right fit. I’ve tried this, too, but God doesn’t always remove the partner in question. Why is that?

Q&A question: God’s Will & Our Choices

One of Mike’s Favorite Verses: What is your favorite Bible verse and why? P.s., I liked your cat video.

Q&A question: One of Mike’s Favorite Verses

Genesis 3 Genesis Genesis 3 Jesus Christ Jesus

Adam & Eve Clothed with Lamb?: Do you think God used a lamb to clothe Adam and Eve in Genesis 3? Paul says, “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ,” the lamb!

Q&A question: Adam & Eve Clothed with Lamb?

1 Thessalonians 5: 19-21 says to "test all things," but gives no context as to what the testing looks like. I am a Bethel alumni who doesn’t want to throw away prophecy. I need to know how to test all things.

Q&A question

prophecy Bethel Church

Third Temple: Location?: For third temple prophecy, is the location specified? Does it HAVE to be the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, or can it be built somewhere else in Israel?

Q&A question: Third Temple: Location?

prophecy

Mental Illness vs. Demonic Possession: What is your opinion on whether or not the spike in mental illness in this world could potentially be demon possession?

Q&A question: Mental Illness vs. Demonic Possession

demons

Non-Competitive Evangelism: I do a lot of evangelism, in an older tradition that has not focused on evangelism for a long time. How do I evangelize without it feeling like it’s a competition with newer, trendier churches?

Q&A question: Non-Competitive Evangelism

angels

Parents & Adult Children’s Sin: How should parents of adult children respond to a son or daughter's sinful lifestyle? If your daughter lives with her boyfriend, should you have them over for dinner together?

Q&A question: Parents & Adult Children’s Sin

parenting

Earning vs. Receiving God’s Love: How do I go from trying to earn God’s love, to just receiving it?

Q&A question: Earning vs. Receiving God’s Love

How to Depend on The Spirit: I know that as believers, we live life through the Holy Spirit and He gives us strength to obey God. But how do we depend on the Holy Spirit's strength? What does that look like lived out?

Q&A question: How to Depend on The Spirit

Holy Spirit

Finding Meaning & Contentment: I feel spiritually empty despite recent financial blessings. I’m not lacking, yet discontent. What gives life meaning, and would serving or evangelizing help fulfill me?

Q&A question: Finding Meaning & Contentment

angels

Why Didn’t Jesus Come Sooner?: If Jesus was always God’s “Plan A,” why did He wait? Why not reveal Jesus sooner?

Q&A question: Why Didn’t Jesus Come Sooner?

Jesus

Explain the Latter Rain: Can you explain the “Latter Rain” in Joel 2: 23-29 from a biblical perspective? This seems to be a root of a lot of all this cover-up culture.

Q&A question: Explain the Latter Rain

Joel 2 Joel 2

Handling Injustice: Work vs. Church: How should injustice/unethical actions in the workplace be handled in comparison to how we handle sin in the church?

Q&A question: Handling Injustice: Work vs. Church

Romans 13 & Corrupt Government: Many preachers use Romans 13 to promote supporting our current governmental leadership. Yet those same preachers were anti-Biden or anti-Democratic when he was in office. How do we walk that out rightly?

Q&A question: Romans 13 & Corrupt Government

Romans 13 Romans 13

Man of God Syndrome?: What is “Man of God Syndrome”? Responding to At Boshoff’s message.

Q&A question: Man of God Syndrome?

False Teachings & Family Conflict: My brother attends At Boshoff’s church and wrote me off after I challenged At's teachings. He doesn't want to speak to me. It's terrible for the family. I don't feel like reconciling. How do I handle this?

Q&A question: False Teachings & Family Conflict

elder qualifications pastoral ministry

Bad Leadership but Good Teaching?: The only church in our town doesn’t have a healthy leadership structure. The main pastor acts like an overlord. No council, no elders. He is proud and very arrogant. But the teaching is good. What do we do?

Q&A question: Bad Leadership but Good Teaching?

Evangelism: Not Afraid of Hell?: What do you say to someone who says they know they're going to Hell, but doesn't even want the way out?

Q&A question: Evangelism: Not Afraid of Hell?

hell angels

Leaving Family for Military Service: I am a former member of the military and have a desire to go back to an elite unit. However, I feel anxiety leaving my wife and daughter for periods of time. How do I reconcile this?

Q&A question: Leaving Family for Military Service

marriage