Search — Theology Explorer

Is Every Good Thing an Answered Prayer?: Why are some people so quick to celebrate when God answers “small” prayers, but they overlook the fact that He didn’t answer “bigger” prayers like healing someone of cancer?

Q&A question: Is Every Good Thing an Answered Prayer?

prayer healing

Why Aren’t Mormons Christians?: Ex-Mormon here. Surely all Christians believe things about God that are incorrect, but they're still saved. What makes the LDS different? How are my misconceptions acceptable when theirs aren't?

Q&A question: Why Aren’t Mormons Christians?

Mormonism

Are Miracles Unreliable?: If Satan and his workers can perform miracles to mislead people, why should I believe Christians when they tell me to look at miracles, or when Jesus says to look at His miracles?

Q&A question: Are Miracles Unreliable?

Jesus Satan miracles

Why Does God Allow Painful Grieving?: Why did God allow My cat to be attacked by a dog if He could have stopped it? We are heartbroken.

Q&A question: Why Does God Allow Painful Grieving?

Did Jesus Know He’d be Resurrected?: Did Jesus know He was only going to die for 3 days and it wouldn’t actually be for eternity? And why did the father require a sacrifice if it wasn’t for eternity?

Q&A question: Did Jesus Know He’d be Resurrected?

Jesus

Did Jesus Exist & Is Scripture Really Inspired?: What proof is there that Jesus really existed, and if the Gospels were written by man, how do you prove they were inspired by God and not by man?

Q&A question: Did Jesus Exist & Is Scripture Really Inspired?

Jesus

Why does God Require Prayer?: Why would God require prayer for what He knows He SHOULD heal?

Q&A question: Why does God Require Prayer?

prayer

Can Non-Believers Come to Church to Observe?: Are there any good rules of thumb for atheists attending a church service for the purposes of learning? Assuming they have no intention of conversion, is this considered rude or invasive?

Q&A question: Can Non-Believers Come to Church to Observe?

atheism

Is God Egotistical?: Isn’t it egotistical for God to ask us to worship Him?

Q&A question: Is God Egotistical?

worship

Why does God Expect Perfection: The Bible says, “Be perfect as your father in Heaven is perfect.” Why would God, knowing that we will always be sinful when we are in flesh, expect perfection?

Q&A question: Why does God Expect Perfection

heaven

Is the Bible Just a Storybook?: How can you believe in a storybook (referring to the Bible)? This was actually a question I faced several times when I stayed in Germany for a while.

Q&A question: Is the Bible Just a Storybook?

{Does God Know Every Choice We’ll Make?” Does God already know what choices we will make? Does He just know the outcome of every single option, or are there maybe two or a couple possible options for everyone’s choices? If the first, what's the point?

Q&A question

dating and relationships

Was YHWH a “Storm god”?: I have been hearing atheists & Muslims saying our God YHWH was originally a storm god. Has this been proven archeologically? Any implications on our faith? Any thoughts on that?

Q&A question: Was YHWH a “Storm god”?

atheism Islam

Stumbled by Theological Doctrines?: The different theologies like cessationism & continuationism can be a stumbling block for unbelievers and cause confusion. How can this be explained to them?

Q&A question: Stumbled by Theological Doctrines?

cessationism

Are Older Texts More Likely to be True?: What about other books like the Vedic texts that are older than the gospels? Should “older” equal more accurate or true?

Q&A question: Are Older Texts More Likely to be True?

Bonus Q: Why is he still babbling and not demonstrating his god exists?

Q&A question

demons

AI – Image of the Beast?: What are your thoughts on Chat GPT (and AI in general)? As Christians, should we be concerned about this type of technology? Is it OK to experiment with, or should we "steer clear"?

Q&A question: AI – Image of the Beast?

Worshiping at Work: Divided Attention?: Is it bad to listen to worship music when you're working? I prefer it over secular music, but I also feel guilty for not giving it my full attention. Is this treating it as entertainment?

Q&A question: Worshiping at Work: Divided Attention?

worship

Speaking Over Our Lives: Is “speaking something over your life” a biblical concept? A Christian said something like, “If you were going to die in one week, how would you live? I'm not speaking that over your life though!”

Q&A question: Speaking Over Our Lives

1 Samuel 16 Samuel 1 Samuel 16

God Sent an Evil Spirit?: 1 Samuel 16: 14 and 1 Samuel 19:9 speak of an “evil spirit from the Lord” tormenting Saul. How could a holy/righteous and loving God give him a tormenting spirit?

Q&A question: God Sent an Evil Spirit?

1 Corinthians 9 sanctification 1 Corinthians 9

Disqualified from our Rewards?: Since sanctification is a work of the Holy Spirit, and we will never be fully sinless in this life, how do we not become disqualified from/lose rewards in Heaven (1 Corinthians 9: 27)?

Q&A question: Disqualified from our Rewards?

The Biblical Way to Get Married: Why do we have to have an ordained pastor to get married? Is there Scripture to back this up? If two people make a commitment to each other and God, is that enough?

Q&A question: The Biblical Way to Get Married

pastoral ministry

What Does Evil Music Sound Like?: If we took away the lyrics from music, would there still be such a thing as “bad music” or “evil music”? If so, what does evil music sound like?

Q&A question: What Does Evil Music Sound Like?

Romans 7 salvation Romans 7

Do We Still Have a Sin Nature?: Does flesh = sin nature? Adam & Eve sinned, even without a sin nature. After salvation, we still have the flesh (Romans 7: 18), but we’re dead to sin/not slaves to sin (Rom 6:2-7). Does this mean we no longer have a sin nature?

Q&A question: Do We Still Have a Sin Nature?

Can We Go Outside of Scripture for Context?: I've heard 1 Corinthians 4:6 used to say not to go "outside" of scripture (e.g., learning history to help interpret biblical context). Your thoughts?

Q&A question: Can We Go Outside of Scripture for Context?

hermeneutics

Roman Catholicism worship

The Origin of Sunday Worship: When is the earliest, in church history, that we see Christians worshiping on Sunday instead of the Sabbath? Did it begin with the Catholic Church, or was it before?

Q&A question: The Origin of Sunday Worship

What Makes “Drag” Wrong?: Drag queen culture is championed by the LGBTQ movement, and therefore feels immoral by association, but I find it hard to put a finger on why drag by itself is biblically wrong. Any thoughts?

Q&A question: What Makes “Drag” Wrong?

homosexuality

Genesis Genesis 9 Genesis Genesis 9

Eating Meat After the Flood: In Genesis 9:3, why did God allow us to start eating meat after the flood?

Q&A question: Eating Meat After the Flood

Using Cannabis Before Quiet Time?: I take mild cannabis edibles for my ADHD. On them I have wonderful quiet times in prayer and Bible study. Would it be rightly dividing Scripture to say this is how I personally am being “sober-minded”?

Q&A question: Using Cannabis Before Quiet Time?

prayer

John 15 – Will I be “Taken Away”?: What are your thoughts on John 15:2 and the Greek word for "takes away"? I've heard that it would be more accurately translated as "raise up." This word seems to change the meaning of the verse.

Q&A question: John 15 – Will I be “Taken Away”?

John 15 John 15

Do God & Satan Talk?: Is the devil talking to God in today’s generation like in the book of Job? If angels are warring with demons, can we assume there is communication?

Q&A question: Do God & Satan Talk?

Satan angels demons

Roman Catholicism apologetics angels

Which Faith is True?: How can I know I have the right faith? I've been watching many apologetics videos since I first found your videos over four years ago, and many Catholics, reformed believers, and evangelicals all have convincing arguments.

Q&A question: Which Faith is True?

About the Shroud of Turin: What are your thoughts on the Shroud of Turin?

Q&A question: About the Shroud of Turin

Leading Others to Biblical Teachings: My family member LOVES Joel Osteen. What are some thoughtful questions I could ask that would naturally lead them to a more biblical, Christ-centered understanding of the Gospel?

Q&A question: Leading Others to Biblical Teachings

Joel Osteen Joel Osteen

Rulers & Authorities; Manifold Wisdom: Can you explain Ephesians 3: 10 (ESV)? Who are the "rulers and authorities in heavenly places," and how is the "manifold wisdom of God" made known to them through the church?

Q&A question: Rulers & Authorities; Manifold Wisdom

heaven

1 John 2 1 John 2:2 atonement Calvinism 1 John 2

1 Jn. 2:2 & Limited Atonement: Doesn't 1 John 2:2 blow the Calvinist doctrine of Limited Atonement straight out of the water?

Q&A question: 1 Jn. 2:2 & Limited Atonement

Is the Canon Closed?: Why can no new books of the Bible be written? Why is the canon closed?

Q&A question: Is the Canon Closed?

1 Peter 3 Peter 1 Peter 3

Must we Share our Faith in Every Circumstance?: Looking at 1 Peter 3: 15-17, what would you say to anyone who would ask you about "the hope you have in you"? And are there times or certain people who you wouldn't bother providing that answer to (e.g., someone you know isn't really interested in the answer and just seeks to make fun of you)?

Q&A question: Must we Share our Faith in Every Circumstance?

How did the Thief on the Cross Know?: The thief on the cross believed Jesus would come into His kingdom, despite knowing that Jesus was going to die. How might that be, since even the disciples didn’t grasp this until the resurrection?

Q&A question: How did the Thief on the Cross Know?

Jesus resurrection

How to Reach a Wiccan: What can or should I say to a Wiccan relative who wants to have seances to reach her dead son? She’s not a believer, so should I just hold my tongue?

Q&A question: How to Reach a Wiccan

The Man in Mark 14: Who was the man in Mark 14: 51-52? Could it be that this was somehow Jesus Himself escaping? As an unbeliever, how should I approach my readings? Any questions I should keep in mind?

Q&A question: The Man in Mark 14

Mark 14 Jesus Mark 14

2 Samuel 7 2 Samuel 7 Samuel Jesus

Understanding Parallel Prophecies: Is there a process you go through to understand parallel prophecies? For example, 2 Samuel 7: 14 seems to be about Jesus, but clearly not completely because he doesn’t commit iniquity.

Q&A question: Understanding Parallel Prophecies

Different Personalities in the Trinity?: Do the different Persons of the Trinity have different personalities? Would God the Father, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit act in a different way than the others in a given situation?

Q&A question: Different Personalities in the Trinity?

Trinity Jesus

Do Heavenly Rewards Support LDS Doctrine?: Every time you answer a question about rewards in Heaven, I can't help but think of the LDS levels of Heaven. How do I debate with them when they use rewards as the basis for their belief about there being different levels of Heaven?

Q&A question: Do Heavenly Rewards Support LDS Doctrine?

Mormonism

Can a Christian Struggle to Obey God?: Can a Christian still struggle with submitting completely to God? Or is that a symptom that you're not truly saved?

Q&A question: Can a Christian Struggle to Obey God?

submission in marriage

About the “Two Witnesses” in Rev.: Who are the two witnesses in the book of Revelation, and is it possible for them to be people that are walking the Earth today that are not in the Bible?

Q&A question: About the “Two Witnesses” in Rev.

revelation revelation

Matthew 12 Matthew Jesus Matthew 12 Matthew

Are Casual Conversations Sinful?: Someone argued with me that because of Matthew 12: 36 (every idle word…), all jokes and fun conversations are sinful, and that Jesus never spoke in a casual, non-serious way. Is this true?

Q&A question: Are Casual Conversations Sinful?

Should We Still Forgive when Not Asked?: Do we still need to forgive others if they don’t ask for forgiveness? My grandma believes that as Christians, we don’t forgive unless the other person repents and asks for forgiveness.

Q&A question: Should We Still Forgive when Not Asked?

forgiveness

Christian Creators: Make This Content!: As a YouTube pastor, do you have any suggestions for content you would like to see Christians make? I'm in seminary and I’m thinking about making videos, but I wonder what I should create (if I did).

Q&A question: Christian Creators: Make This Content!

pastoral ministry