Search — Theology Explorer

Was Aaron Punished In Place of Moses?: In the book of Numbers, why did God punish Aaron for unbelief when Moses is the one who struck the rock?

Q&A question: Was Aaron Punished In Place of Moses?

Moses Aaron

Do Our Spiritual Gifts Ever Change?: As believers, are we given a static set of spiritual gifts, or are our gifts more dynamic in nature so that God adds to and/or subtracts from them according to our season of life or our maturity in Him?

Q&A question: Do Our Spiritual Gifts Ever Change?

spiritual gifts

Should We Date Unbelievers for Evangelism?: My cousin is dating someone who is not a Christian in the hopes that they will get saved. Is this okay to do?

Q&A question: Should We Date Unbelievers for Evangelism?

angels

Mike Winger idea 2022-10-21

If My Own Child Comes Out…: What is your take on what we should say when unbelievers ask, “What would you do if your child came out to be gay?” Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Q&A question: If My Own Child Comes Out…

homosexuality

Is Monarchy Unbiblical?: I’ve been thinking about this question a lot since Queen Elizabeth died last month, but I’ve had it for a while. Does 1 Samuel 8:6-7 teach that monarchy is unbiblical?

Q&A question: Is Monarchy Unbiblical?

Samuel

Mike Winger idea 2022-10-21

Overcoming Difficult & Serious Sins: Do believers eventually overcome big sins like lust? What if we don't before we die? Does that mean we were never saved?

Q&A question: Overcoming Difficult & Serious Sins

sexual ethics

Mike Winger idea 2022-10-21

Are Only Men Called to Sacrificially Love?: Can you explain how Ephesians 5: 25 is a particularly masculine command? Many verses including John 15: 12-13 call ALL believers to love one another sacrificially.

Q&A question: Are Only Men Called to Sacrificially Love?

Ephesians 5 John 15 Ephesians 5 John 15

Mike Winger idea 2022-12-02

How Deep in Theology to go while Evangelizing: How much of the doctrine of the Trinity do we need to explain while sharing the Gospel (especially when it comes to the hypostatic union)?

Q&A question: How Deep in Theology to go while Evangelizing

Trinity angels

Mike Winger idea 2022-12-02

Should We Settle On a Religion that “Feels Right”?: If a friend says they're looking for a religion that "feels right," how do I approach them if they’ve already left Christianity?

Q&A question: Should We Settle On a Religion that “Feels Right”?

Mike Winger idea 2022-12-02

Will We Remember Unbelievers in Eternity?: After a believer dies, will they remember their loved ones who were unbelievers? I understand "perfect peace," but that doesn’t answer the question.

Q&A question: Will We Remember Unbelievers in Eternity?

evangelism

Honoring God Regardless of Feelings: When I feel "good" I find myself doubting less, being more loving, and sinning less. How do I know if I'm growing in the spirit or if it's just my antidepressants making me nicer?

Q&A question: Honoring God Regardless of Feelings

doubt and faith

Why was the Cross Necessary if God is All-Powerful?: I have an agnostic friend who can’t accept that the cross was necessary. They believe God was not all powerful if He could not find another way of saving humanity without sacrificing Jesus. Thoughts?

Q&A question: Why was the Cross Necessary if God is All-Powerful?

Jesus agnosticism

What Kind of Jokes Fall Under “Jesting”?: I'm confused about “eutrapelia” and I don’t know if it is just crude joking or all jokes that word speaks of in Ephesians 5:4. I use the KJV and it just says "jesting."

Q&A question: What Kind of Jokes Fall Under “Jesting”?

Ephesians 5 Ephesians 5

Leviticus 25 Leviticus 25

Slavery in the Old Covenant: How do we reconcile the treatment of foreigner slaves (not Israelite servitude) under the old covenant (bought as property, handed down to children, etc. – Leviticus 25: 44-46)?

Q&A question: Slavery in the Old Covenant

2 Kings 2 Elisha 2 Kings 2

Does 2 Kings 2 Challenge God’s Goodness?: My brother brought up 2 Kings 2: 23-25 to challenge the goodness of God. He saw an imbalance of justice when bears came to maul 40 boys for making fun of Elisha. How would you respond to this?

Q&A question: Does 2 Kings 2 Challenge God’s Goodness?

Mike Winger idea 2022-12-16

Should Churches Keep Records of Giving?: My church requires all employees to give to the church (in general; any amount is fine). They pulled me aside to ask why I haven’t been giving, and when I told them I was, but that I felt better giving anonymously in the offering plate rather than having a record attached to my name, they told me it needed to be tracked. Am I wrong for feeling weird about this, or are they?

Q&A question: Should Churches Keep Records of Giving?

tithing generosity

Mike Winger idea 2022-12-16

Am I Obedient Enough? Repentant Enough?: I have recently been worrying a lot about whether I am obedient enough, repentant enough, or believing enough to be a real Christian. How can I biblically deal with this struggle?

Q&A question: Am I Obedient Enough? Repentant Enough?

repentance

Mike Winger idea 2023-01-13

Did Jesus’ Atonement Require His Divinity?: Why was it necessary for Jesus to be fully divine in regard to our salvation? Wayne Grudem states, “Only someone who is the infinite God could bear the full penalty for all the sins of all those who would believe in Him..." Do you agree, and are there any other reasons stated in Scripture?

Q&A question: Did Jesus’ Atonement Require His Divinity?

Wayne Grudem Jesus salvation

Mike Winger idea 2023-01-13

Ministering to LDS Members: I showed some LDS members your Book of Abraham video, but because they believe they heard from the Holy Spirit, biblical arguments haven’t worked. How can I show that they haven’t heard the Spirit?

Q&A question: Ministering to LDS Members

Abraham Mormonism

Mike Winger idea 2023-01-13

About Love in 1 Cor. 13:7: What does it mean practically that “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things”?

Q&A question: About Love in 1 Cor. 13:7

Mike Winger idea 2023-01-27

How Smart Must We Be to Evangelize?: I often get overwhelmed because it seems that I need to know EVERYTHING about EVERY topic (history, science, linguistics, etc.) to be able to defend the faith. Do you have any advice?

Q&A question: How Smart Must We Be to Evangelize?

angels

Mike Winger idea 2023-01-27

Sharing Truth with a Defensive Person: My husband doesn't believe in the Trinity and gets so defensive when I try to talk to him about the true God. Should I not bring it up anymore and just live as an example?

Q&A question: Sharing Truth with a Defensive Person

marriage Trinity

Mike Winger idea 2023-01-27

Are Believers Still “Sinners”?: I was wondering, when we get saved, are we still “sinners”? I know that after being saved we sometimes sin. But does that still label us as sinners? I thought we were new creations.

Q&A question: Are Believers Still “Sinners”?

creation

Mike Winger idea 2023-02-17

Prophecy Fulfillment, or Just Staged?: People quote prophecy as evidence of Jesus’ deity. Couldn’t He have deliberately fulfilled some prophecies, such as bribing men to divide His clothes, or purposefully riding a donkey into Jerusalem?

Q&A question: Prophecy Fulfillment, or Just Staged?

Jesus prophecy

What is the “Harvest”?: What does the harvest refer to in Luke 10? I've always heard it talked about relating to evangelism, but a harvest implies that the work has already been done and you're able to get the fruit of your labor.

Q&A question: What is the “Harvest”?

Luke 10 angels Luke 10

Titus Titus 1 1 Timothy 3:4-5 Timothy Titus elder qualifications

Do Unbelieving Children Disqualify an Elder?: 1 Timothy 3:4-5 and Titus 1:6 seem to indicate if someone desires to be an elder they are disqualified by unbelieving children. Does this include adult children? The wife? What do these verses mean?

Q&A question: Do Unbelieving Children Disqualify an Elder?

1 Corinthians 5 1 Corinthians 5

Interacting with Fallen Believers & Cult Members: How are we to relate to fallen brothers in terms of fellowship, and to cult members with hospitality according to 1 Corinthians 5: 11 and 2 John 1: 10?

Q&A question: Interacting with Fallen Believers & Cult Members

Does Gospel Rejection = Stop Hanging Out?: If I have a friend who is not saved and I have tried to evangelize them and have only been met with resistance, do I need to stop hanging out with them?

Q&A question: Does Gospel Rejection = Stop Hanging Out?

angels

1 Corinthians 14 1 Corinthians 14 tongues

Biblical Guidelines – Speaking in Tongues: 1 Corinthians 14: 27-28 says that someone should not speak in tongues unless there is an interpreter, but how are they supposed to know if there is an interpreter present?

Q&A question: Biblical Guidelines – Speaking in Tongues

Isaiah Isaiah second coming

Unclean Meats & the Second Coming: If all meats were made clean, then how do Christians interpret Isaiah 66: 15-18, as that passage, I believe, refers to Christ’s second coming, and in it He “destroys” those who eat unclean meats?

Q&A question: Unclean Meats & the Second Coming

The Right Age to Evangelize?: When is the right age to evangelize? I'm 15 and I used to evangelize and many believed, but I also got into trouble with the police and at my school. My pastor told me to wait until I’m more mature and I’ve learned more of God’s Word.

Q&A question: The Right Age to Evangelize?

pastoral ministry angels

Mike Winger idea 2023-03-17

Religion = Control? / Where’s God During Abuse?: How do I help my dad (an unbeliever) who thinks religion is used to control us? He also says, “If God exists, where was He when my father was beating my mother and I, and I cried out to Him?”

Q&A question: Religion = Control? / Where’s God During Abuse?

evangelism

How to Pray for Unbelievers: I don’t believe Calvinism is biblical, but I find that my prayers for unbelievers often sound Calvinistic: “Change their hearts, bring them to You,” etc. How should we pray for unbelievers' salvation?

Q&A question: How to Pray for Unbelievers

salvation prayer Calvinism

Mike Winger idea 2023-03-17

Warnings about False Teachings: Do warnings to Churches and believers in verses such as Jude 1:3-4 or other Epistles regarding false/heretical doctrines apply to Mormons who want a relationship with God/Jesus but are just deceived?

Q&A question: Warnings about False Teachings

Jesus Mormonism heresy

Mike Winger idea 2023-03-17

Encouragement Amid Physical Limitations: What counsel would you give a discouraged believer with a debilitating chronic illness who carries a lot of guilt for not being able to serve in the ways they want to be able to?

Q&A question: Encouragement Amid Physical Limitations

suffering

Mike Winger idea 2023-04-07

Witnessing to Muslims: I'm 15, and my best friend at school is a Muslim. Do you have any advice for trying to evangelize Muslims who are intelligent and rational but very set in their ways?

Q&A question: Witnessing to Muslims

Islam angels

Mike Winger idea 2023-04-07

If God Seems Silent, Does He Still Care?: My sister walked away from God because she begged for direction in her life and she says she heard nothing from God. This led her to believe God doesn’t care about her. How do I respond to this?

Q&A question: If God Seems Silent, Does He Still Care?

Evolved from Monkeys?: From a biblical standpoint, is there any reason that Christians believe we evolved from monkeys? I'm confused why some Christians believe that, and I’m curious if it’s purely a worldview standpoint?

Q&A question: Evolved from Monkeys?

Romans 8 Peter Romans 8 angels

Should our Main Focus be Evangelism?: John Wesley says, “You have one business on this earth: to save souls.” Is Christlikeness or spiritual maturity chiefly a means to an end – of bringing people to Christ (Romans 8: 29, 2 Corinthians 3: 18, 2 Peter 3: 18)?

Q&A question: Should our Main Focus be Evangelism?

Is Nepotism Sinful?: Is nepotism a sin? My church was founded by my grandpa, my dad is the senior pastor, and my brother is a youth leader. I do believe they legitimately earned these roles, but others at my church don’t.

Q&A question: Is Nepotism Sinful?

pastoral ministry

suffering death and afterlife

How to Biblically Process Grief: How do we deal with grief in the right & biblical way? I lost my dad months ago by sudden death. I feel worried, I’m angry, and I cry. I’m so tired of the rollercoaster feelings.

Q&A question: How to Biblically Process Grief

Witnessing to Strangers: What’s your favorite way to witness to strangers?

Q&A question: Witnessing to Strangers

evangelism

Can Non-Believers bear the Fruit of the Spirit?: Can someone who is not a Christian show the fruit of the Spirit?

Q&A question: Can Non-Believers bear the Fruit of the Spirit?

How Do We “Abstain from Blood” Today?: How, as 21st century Christians, should we understand the decree for gentile believers to abstain from blood (Acts 15: 20, 28, 29)?

Q&A question: How Do We “Abstain from Blood” Today?

Acts 15 Acts 15

Does Sincerity = Salvation?: I have a Muslim friend that I speak with regularly about God. I am a firm Christian, but I question how other God-fearing people who have been indoctrinated into a specific religion are not saved.

Q&A question: Does Sincerity = Salvation?

salvation Islam