Search — Theology Explorer

Must our Salvation Produce an Emotional Response?: Most Christians have a moment where they break down and weep as they realize what Jesus did for them on the cross. Is it normal to not have experienced this? I'm grateful, but also weirdly indifferent.

Q&A question: Must our Salvation Produce an Emotional Response?

Jesus salvation

Is Reading the Bible Better than Listening?: I have difficulty reading the Bible, and I think that listening to the Bible (like an audio Bible) might be helpful, but I feel like I'm missing something by not reading it. Any thoughts?

Q&A question: Is Reading the Bible Better than Listening?

Is it OK to Correct our Parents?: Is correcting your parents biblical, and what do you do if they do not respect correction?

Q&A question: Is it OK to Correct our Parents?

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

How to Tell if a Show or Movie is Appropriate: As Christians, how should we judge whether or not a secular show or movie is OK for us to watch or not?

Q&A question: How to Tell if a Show or Movie is Appropriate

Is Hell a Present or Future Place?: What is the best defense or response when defending the position that Hell is not a present place, but instead, a future place?

Q&A question: Is Hell a Present or Future Place?

hell

Can a Christian Have a Demon?: Can a true Christian be “possessed” or have demons?

Q&A question: Can a Christian Have a Demon?

demons

Philippians 1 Philip Philippi Philippians 1

About Plagiarism in Preaching: Plagiarism in preaching seems to be on the rise. In Philippians 1: 15-18, Paul seems to be saying the end justifies the means when preaching. Is this an accurate interpretation, and applicable to plagiarism?

Q&A question: About Plagiarism in Preaching

Should Pastors Discuss Politics?: Should pastors avoid discussing current political issues with their congregation?

Q&A question: Should Pastors Discuss Politics?

pastoral ministry

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

Deuteronomy 24 Jesus Deuteronomy 24

Jesus’ Sacrifice Contradicted?: Does Deuteronomy 24: 16 contradict Jesus' sacrifice?

Q&A question: Jesus’ Sacrifice Contradicted?

Romans 14 millennium Romans 14 Philip

When Will Every Tongue Confess?: When do you think Philippians 2: 10-11 will be fulfilled? At the end of the millennium, at Armageddon, or throughout the future at different stages? I think Romans 14: 10-12 gives us some insight.

Q&A question: When Will Every Tongue Confess?

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

How Old Will We Be in Heaven?: How old will we be in Heaven?

Q&A question: How Old Will We Be in Heaven?

heaven

About the “Church of Christ”: Do you have any insight on Church of Christ doctrine? I have a friend I'm planning to open a dialogue with who is in the Church of Christ. I see works based salvation emphasized, but need help.

Q&A question: About the “Church of Christ”

salvation

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

Is the Senior Pastor Role Biblical?: Why do so many churches have a “head” pastor that does mostly all the teaching when God gives teaching gifts and words to many people?

Q&A question: Is the Senior Pastor Role Biblical?

pastoral ministry

Cowardice in the Book of Jonah?: Were the mariners and shipmaster selfish cowards and Pagans in Jonah 1:5-15? Even with drowning in a stormy sea, I sense hesitation to discard Jonah to save their own lives.

Q&A question: Cowardice in the Book of Jonah?

Jonah Jonah

Mercy vs. Sacrifice: What does Jesus mean when He says, “I desire mercy and not sacrifice” in Matthew 9: 12-13?

Q&A question: Mercy vs. Sacrifice

Matthew Jesus Matthew

Can Coffee be Addictive?: Does proverbs 25: 28 apply to coffee? A lot of people are addicted to coffee, and without drinking coffee they get headaches and other problems. Does that mean it is sinful?

Q&A question: Can Coffee be Addictive?

alcohol

Acts 6 revelation Revelation 2 Acts 6 Jesus revelation

About the Nicolaitans: Isn't Jesus hating the Nicolaitans in Revelation 2:6 out of character? Also, who were they? I hear they were a cult from the Nicholas of Acts 6, one of the 7 deacons.

Q&A question: About the Nicolaitans

The Destruction of Jerusalem: Do you think that Jesus prophesied the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70? Or do you think the passages people refer to are only about end times events that have not been fulfilled yet?

Q&A question: The Destruction of Jerusalem

Jesus eschatology

1 Corinthians 5 1 Corinthians 5

Living Together if a Couple Abstains?: Is living together without being married while abstaining living in sin? I don't know how to deal with so many Christians that think it's OK, in light of 1 Corinthians 5:9-13.

Q&A question: Living Together if a Couple Abstains?

Parental Guidance – Sexual Identities: HELP! My wife and I have access to our kids’ text messages. We discovered our daughter texted a friend that she wants to tell us that she's "coming out as bi-sexual.” What do we do?

Q&A question: Parental Guidance – Sexual Identities

marriage

Can Christians Serve in the Military?: I was curious what your thoughts are on the modern American military and if Christians can/should serve in it.

Q&A question: Can Christians Serve in the Military?

Are there Additional Spiritual Gifts?: Are there more spiritual gifts than those talked about in the Bible?

Q&A question: Are there Additional Spiritual Gifts?

spiritual gifts

Do We Pray For or Against our Enemies?: How do you reconcile the New Testament's clear teachings to love and pray for our enemies with Psalms like Psalm 69:22-28? Is there ever a time when we should pray against our enemies?

Q&A question: Do We Pray For or Against our Enemies?

Genesis Genesis 1 John 1 Jesus Christ Jesus Genesis

Gospel Patterns?: Is Genesis 1:1-6 a foreshadowing of the beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ? John 1:1, Luke 1:1, Mark 1:1, Matthew 4: 17, and 1 John 1:1 all speak of beginning, then water, light, and darkness.

Q&A question: Gospel Patterns?

Unhealthy Associations w/Gratitude: Growing up, I had people expect me to show gratitude as a way to ignore abuse. Now, I want to be thankful for blessings in my life, but I associate gratitude with abuse. How do I separate that?

Q&A question: Unhealthy Associations w/Gratitude

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

Why Physical vs. Spiritual Blessings?: What is the significance of God promising physical blessings to nations (thinking particularly of the promise to Ishmael), when, in light of eternity, physical blessings are nearly insignificant?

Q&A question: Why Physical vs. Spiritual Blessings?

About the Septuagint & Masoretic Text: Is the Greek LXX (Septuagint) considered a flawed copy? The genealogy of Shem adds hundreds of years which is quite significant. Is the Masoretic Text inerrant, or am I misunderstanding inerrancy?

Q&A question: About the Septuagint & Masoretic Text

biblical inerrancy

Thoughts on the Asbury Revival: What are your thoughts about what is happening at Asbury?

Q&A question: Thoughts on the Asbury Revival

Is there a Proper Format for Church Services?: Is the current way we do church services prescribed in the Bible? Where did this current style of worship come from?

Q&A question: Is there a Proper Format for Church Services?

worship

Exodus 32 Aaron Exodus 32

Was Aaron Punished for the Golden Calf?: Why didn't Aaron get punished for making the golden calf in Exodus 32?

Q&A question: Was Aaron Punished for the Golden Calf?

Butterfly Effect/Multiple Universes?: What are your thoughts on the butterfly effect and the possibility of multiple universes?

Q&A question: Butterfly Effect/Multiple Universes?

Galatians 5 pastoral ministry Galatians 5

Galatians 5 – Heaven or Rewards?: In Galatians 5: 19-21, is the “kingdom of God” a reference to Heaven itself, or a reference to rewards? A local pastor says it is about rewards, but I am skeptical.

Q&A question: Galatians 5 – Heaven or Rewards?

Did God Permit Child Sacrifice?: Why did God allow child sacrifice in Judges when the man said he will sacrifice anything that walks through the door, and then his daughter walks out? Aren't the other nations judged for this action?

Q&A question: Did God Permit Child Sacrifice?

Can Killing a Leader be Justified At Times?: We know that self-defense is biblical, but what about assassinations like Project Valkyrie (Hitler) or times when killing a leader might save other lives? Are we still bound to their authority?

Q&A question: Can Killing a Leader be Justified At Times?

Hitler

Bible Reading Schedule – Required?: Do you think it's wrong if I don't read the Bible regularly? I do read and study it, but I don't have a consistent schedule.

Q&A question: Bible Reading Schedule – Required?

Parable of the Minas: I was just wondering what your interpretation of the parable in Luke 19: 11-27 is. Specifically, what do you think the slaves and the minas represent?

Q&A question: Parable of the Minas

hermeneutics

Must We Always be “Nice”?: Is it biblical to be nice? My boyfriend is extremely honest and it rubs a lot of people the wrong way. Does he have a biblical obligation to be nice with his words?

Q&A question: Must We Always be “Nice”?

The Holiness of God’s Justice: Any tips for how to become less opposed to God’s judgment, and to see it as holy? It can cause me to feel like God is an unloving God sometimes.

Q&A question: The Holiness of God’s Justice

Dancing as a Form of Worship?: Is dancing allowed in church? Can it be considered worship?

Q&A question: Dancing as a Form of Worship?

worship

Matthew Matthew 7 salvation Matthew Matthew 7

Works-Based Salvation?: Does Matthew 7: 21 tell us that works are necessary to get saved?

Q&A question: Works-Based Salvation?

Are Men’s Beards Prideful?: What do you think about beards? I heard a pastor say that it is a prideful thing to wear a beard, and therefore wrong to have one. I don't really agree. I don't think you do either, as you have one.

Q&A question: Are Men’s Beards Prideful?

pastoral ministry

Worshiping in Spirit & in Truth: What does it mean to worship God “in Spirit and in truth”?

Q&A question: Worshiping in Spirit & in Truth

worship

Hebrews 1 cessationism prophecy Hebrews 1

Does Hebrews Support Cessationism?: Is Hebrews 1:1 a reasonable proof text for cessationism in relation to prophecy? It says God spoke to our ancestors through prophets, but "in these last days," He has spoken to us through Christ. Are we in the "last days" Paul refers to?

Q&A question: Does Hebrews Support Cessationism?

Hair Length that Honors God: At my age and health, it’s hard to manage my long hair. May I cut it chin length as long as I keep it looking feminine and still relatively longer than a man’s? Is simply maintaining that gender distinction the important part?

Q&A question: Hair Length that Honors God