Search — Theology Explorer

How was Solomon Wise since he Turned Away?: How was Solomon considered to be the wisest man on Earth and yet he, too, turns away from God in his old age? He also doesn't seem to recognize his sinful ways. He doesn't even ask God to relent.

Q&A question: How was Solomon Wise since he Turned Away?

Solomon

Witnessing Opportunity vs. Spiritual Trap!: I met some Muslims who were evangelizing, and I went up to them to challenge their beliefs. They invited me to a Ramadan dinner at a mosque. Should I go, or would that be a spiritual trap?

Q&A question: Witnessing Opportunity vs. Spiritual Trap!

Islam angels

Are Court Weddings Recognized by God?: I watched the whole marriage series and didn’t find anything about this: my wife and I have been married for 8 years (through the court) and she claims God doesn’t acknowledge it. Thoughts?

Q&A question: Are Court Weddings Recognized by God?

About Jesus’ 40 Days in the Desert: I saw a video where you said “3 days and nights” was a Jewish idiom. Is 40 days in the desert the same, or is the Bible referring to 40 as just a long time that can be tangible (40 days, 40 nights, 40 years, etc.)?

Q&A question: About Jesus’ 40 Days in the Desert

Can a True Christian Deny Jesus’ Deity?: If a person believes in the Gospel, that Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead, but they don't believe that Jesus was God (just a "higher spiritual being"), are they a Christian?

Q&A question: Can a True Christian Deny Jesus’ Deity?

Obeying vs. Honoring Parents: I am a legal adult and I currently still live in my parents’ home. I am looking at moving out in the near future, but my parents believe that young women shouldn’t leave the home until they’re married. Where do you draw the line between personal convictions and the command to honor your parents?

Q&A question: Obeying vs. Honoring Parents

How to Respectfully Correct our Husbands: As a Christian wife, what are some principles I can apply in order to respectfully and lovingly offer my husband correction when needed?

Q&A question: How to Respectfully Correct our Husbands

Genesis revelation Moses Genesis revelation

Can we Trust what Moses Wrote?: Besides simply “the Bible says so” and biblical figures certifying them, how do we trust revelations that what Moses wrote of others’ lives and/or words (all of Genesis) are things those people actually said/happened?

Q&A question: Can we Trust what Moses Wrote?

Should I Get Re-Baptized?: If I was baptized as a teen and "messed up" a bunch, even not going to church as I should, should I get re-baptized after "coming to my senses" and trying to live for God again?

Q&A question: Should I Get Re-Baptized?

baptism

Responding to Others about Divorce: How do you handle Christians who don’t believe that your divorce was biblical? He was a narcissist/sociopath who convinced them before he died that I was the problem, and my children won’t speak to me.

Q&A question: Responding to Others about Divorce

divorce

Wisdom for Young Marrieds: Do you have any advice or mistakes to avoid for a young marriage?

Q&A question: Wisdom for Young Marrieds

1 Corinthians 6 1 Corinthians 6 hell

Struggling with Repeated Sin: There are sins listed in 1 Corinthians 6 that seem to send people to Hell. I struggle often with gluttony and anger. I repent, but I fall back into it often. What’s the difference?

Q&A question: Struggling with Repeated Sin

How to Interpret Proverbs: Verses in Proverbs often seem like unrelated thoughts. Their vague quality makes it hard to know how to interpret them correctly. How do you determine the context of these verses?

Q&A question: How to Interpret Proverbs

hermeneutics

Can Christians Work for Secular Businesses?: Should Christians work for businesses that include agendas promoting sin (like Disney)? It has a diverse product but sinful ideas are included. How do we make sure we’re not being unequally yoked in non-marital situations?

Q&A question: Can Christians Work for Secular Businesses?

Mark 16 Acts 3:6 miracles Mark 16 Apostles

Should we Command People to be Healed?: Should we command for someone to be healed, or ask God for someone to be healed (Acts 3:6)? Do we have the very same authority of the Apostles to perform miracles (Mark 16: 17-18)?

Q&A question: Should we Command People to be Healed?

Are the Beatitudes Eschatological?: Can it be said that the Beatitudes are eschatological? I've heard that the word “blessed” can be better translated as “blissful” in them.

Q&A question: Are the Beatitudes Eschatological?

eschatology

Speaking the Truth in Love – Abortion: How do we discuss abortion in a way that doesn't push people away from the Gospel? Despite being very careful to speak up with gentleness, I'm still getting accused of being hateful, and blocked.

Q&A question: Speaking the Truth in Love – Abortion

abortion

Bearing with One Another’s Conscience: The Bible says to bear with brethren of weaker faith. If instrumental music is a liberty, shouldn’t we bear with those who believe a cappella is the right way and not use instruments?

Q&A question: Bearing with One Another’s Conscience

faith and science

About Pastors Purchasing Sermons: What are your thoughts about pastors purchasing sermons and not acknowledging the original author, basically plagiarizing another pastor? It has been a huge problem at our former church.

Q&A question: About Pastors Purchasing Sermons

pastoral ministry

1 Peter 3 Peter Jesus 1 Peter 3

Who Were the Spirits in Prison?: Who are the spirits in prison Jesus preached to in 1 Peter 3: 19?

Q&A question: Who Were the Spirits in Prison?

Is it Sometimes Biblical to Pray for Death?: Is there ever a biblical case to pray for someone to die? Didn't Paul pray for the destruction of some peoples’ flesh for the spirit to be saved in the day of judgment?

Q&A question: Is it Sometimes Biblical to Pray for Death?

death and afterlife

About Medical Marijuana Use: I have an incurable sleep disorder that my Doctor has authorized the use of Marijuana for as it is one of the few things that helps. Should I pray for healing or keep taking this drug that I hate?

Q&A question: About Medical Marijuana Use

healing

God’s Voice or My Own Thoughts?: How do I differentiate between God's voice and my own intrusive thoughts?

Q&A question: God’s Voice or My Own Thoughts?

True Believer but No Life Change?: Is it possible to believe in Jesus yet never have a change of life? My father has cheated and lived with his mistress. he said he believed in Jesus, yet he never came back home to live with his family.

Q&A question: True Believer but No Life Change?

Do Women Always Need a Male Head?: If there is a Christian adult woman whose father has passed away and she does not have a husband, who is she to be accountable to?

Q&A question: Do Women Always Need a Male Head?

Symbolism Between the Wine & Jesus?: Was Jesus’ miracle of turning water to wine at Cana meant to be a symbol of how Jesus does not use water to wash us, but uses His blood (wine)?

Q&A question: Symbolism Between the Wine & Jesus?

Jesus miracles

Do we Need Religion to have Morals?: How would you respond to this statement?: “You don’t need religion to have morals. If you can’t determine right from wrong, then you lack empathy, not religion.”

Q&A question: Do we Need Religion to have Morals?

Can we be Sure of the Resurrection?: In Acts 25: 20, if Festus and Agrippa can't be sure of the resurrection claim, how can we be sure now?

Q&A question: Can we be Sure of the Resurrection?

resurrection Festus

Comments on Reincarnation/Simpsons’ Prophecies?: Do you have any suggestions to help a believer of reincarnation? Ex: Ryan Hammons has 55 verified statements about having a past life. Also, Bible prophecies mean nothing since The Simpsons have predicted the future many times.

Q&A question: Comments on Reincarnation/Simpsons’ Prophecies?

prophecy

Was I Really Saved in the Past?: Was I ever really saved and had a relationship with Christ if I left heterosexuality and embraced my same sex attraction and married my wife?

Q&A question: Was I Really Saved in the Past?

Joshua 7 Ezekiel Samuel Achan Joshua 7

Resolving a “Contradiction”: Does Ezekiel 18: 20 contradict the stoning of Achan and his family in Joshua 7: 24-26 (the idea of original sin passed down through Adam) and 2 Samuel 12: 13-15?

Q&A question: Resolving a “Contradiction”

Do we “Just Believe” to be Saved?: To be saved, all we need to do is believe? Like how I believed that Santa was real when I was younger? Or is there more to this belief?

Q&A question: Do we “Just Believe” to be Saved?

How are Miracles Proof if Satan Can Also Do Them?: One of the proofs you've put forward that the Bible is from God is miracles and prophecy. If we see that Satan is also able to do miracles, like Pharaoh's magicians, then why are those things proof it’s from God?

Q&A question: How are Miracles Proof if Satan Can Also Do Them?

Satan prophecy miracles

Can an Infinite God relate to Finite Creation?: How can an infinite God relate to a finite creation? Compared to infinity, our world's age is nothing, be it 10,000 years or billions. Same with the size of universe.

Q&A question: Can an Infinite God relate to Finite Creation?

creation

Could God Exist but Not be Perfectly Good?: Atheist here. What stops a supernatural but not perfectly good being from being the author of the miracles in the Bible, especially when you already accept the existence of supernatural beings?

Q&A question: Could God Exist but Not be Perfectly Good?

miracles atheism

Does Creating Time Require Time?: An atheist posited this question: If God created time, doesn't that require time, to create time?

Q&A question: Does Creating Time Require Time?

atheism

Is a Belief in God an Attempt to Personalize the Impersonal?: An atheist claims: “Belief in God is what happens when social brains try to explain an impersonal universe. Personal explanations for impersonal events fail to deal with logic of uncertainty.” Any help?

Q&A question: Is a Belief in God an Attempt to Personalize the Impersonal?

atheism

How can Jesus be Sinless if “Unclean” at Times?: My professor brought up this question and I need to know your opinion. According to Hebrew Scripture, anything not of God’s perfect eschatological view is sin (human excretion, etc.). So how can we say Jesus is sinless?

Q&A question: How can Jesus be Sinless if “Unclean” at Times?

Jesus eschatology

Should Mormons Celebrate Christmas and Easter?: As a Mormon, since you'd consider us non-Christian, should we be allowed to celebrate Christmas or Easter?

Q&A question: Should Mormons Celebrate Christmas and Easter?

Mormonism

Why Christianity vs. Other Religions?: Why should a person be Christian over another monotheistic religion which claims to be the truth, such as Islam?

Q&A question: Why Christianity vs. Other Religions?

Islam

Why does God Allow Children to have Cancer?: Why does God allow children to get cancer and other terminal illnesses?

Q&A question: Why does God Allow Children to have Cancer?

parenting suffering

Matthew Jesus miracles Matthew

Why Didn’t God Show Sodom Miracles?: In Matthew 11: 23-24, Jesus says that Sodom would have been saved if they had seen His miracles. Why, then, didn’t God perform miracles so that they would believe? Doesn’t He want everyone to be saved?

Q&A question: Why Didn’t God Show Sodom Miracles?

If God Doesn’t Change, Why do His Rules?: From a non-Christian friend: If God doesn’t change over time, how come He commands Jews not to eat certain foods in the Old Testament, but deems them OK in the New Testament?

Q&A question: If God Doesn’t Change, Why do His Rules?

Can God Give Commands when He Forced us to Exist?: Is it fair for God to demand our everything when we are forced to exist? I know Christ died for us, but it seems unfair to go through such suffering and sacrifice to receive salvation and avoid Hell.

Q&A question: Can God Give Commands when He Forced us to Exist?

salvation suffering hell

Is Evangelism Harmful?: If a conscientious person who never heard the Gospel can still be saved, but a skeptic of the Gospel is damned, doesn't evangelism damn more people than it saves? Wouldn't humanism be our best bet?

Q&A question: Is Evangelism Harmful?

angels

Can we be Pro-Life and Against Same-Sex Adoption?: How do we respond to people who say “You Christians are so pro-life yet you don’t want gay people to adopt”? What’s the path to answering that question?

Q&A question: Can we be Pro-Life and Against Same-Sex Adoption?

abortion homosexuality

Conviction vs. Condemnation: Can you help me process the difference between “conviction” and “condemnation”? I know it’s right to feel sorry when I sin, but where’s the fine line between that feeling and allowing my guilt to cripple me and make me feel like a failure who is unclean before God?

Q&A question: Conviction vs. Condemnation

Thoughts about IVF: What are your thoughts about IVF? I’ve been battling infertility for a few years, but I’m concerned about whether IVF is biblically acceptable, especially about discarding the extra embryos. Is it equal to abortion to discard the embryos even if we can't guarantee they will grow if planted in the womb?

Q&A question: Thoughts about IVF

abortion

Did the Father Turn His Face Away?: Did the Father really turn His face away from Jesus on the cross?

Q&A question: Did the Father Turn His Face Away?