Search — Theology Explorer

Was Sacrificing to Molech Similar to Abortion?: Was Molech child sacrifice similar to abortion in that a key purpose was to get rid of unwanted babies born (most often) of sexual sin? Ezekiel 16: 20-21(NKJV) clearly links the practice to fornication.

Q&A question: Was Sacrificing to Molech Similar to Abortion?

Ezekiel abortion Ezekiel

How Much Should we Desire Marriage?: How fervently should I pray for the possibility of marriage being included in God’s will for my life? It has always felt pointless considering that it's likely God may not ever give it in my life.

Q&A question: How Much Should we Desire Marriage?

marriage

Should We Celebrate Friends’ “Out of Wedlock” Pregnancies?: I have some Christian friends who have gotten pregnant out of wedlock, and I feel like they expect you to react just the same as if they were married. What’s the right response in this situation?

Q&A question: Should We Celebrate Friends’ “Out of Wedlock” Pregnancies?

About Moral, Civil & Ceremonial Laws: Why do we differentiate between moral, ceremonial, and civil law? Meaning, who decided the moral law was to be continued but not the other two types?

Q&A question: About Moral, Civil & Ceremonial Laws

1 Samuel 28 Abraham Samuel salvation

About Abraham’s Bosom & King Saul’s Salvation: Does 1 Samuel 28: 19 disprove the theological idea of “Abraham’s Bosom,” or could we perhaps assume that King Saul was saved?

Q&A question: About Abraham’s Bosom & King Saul’s Salvation

Should We Require a Sign from God Before Belief?: How would you respond if someone you love said something like, "I won't believe in any God unless He performs a supernatural miracle right in from of me”?

Q&A question: Should We Require a Sign from God Before Belief?

miracles

Can We Take Communion for Someone Else?: My mom likes to “take communion over people” when they need prayer as if it does something extra special or gives her favor in prayer. It seems like this isn’t right or biblical. Thoughts?

Q&A question: Can We Take Communion for Someone Else?

prayer communion

Discerning What is Vanity in our Appearance: How do you discern what is vanity and what is not? Is wanting to "fix" appearances always vanity? Examples: covering scars with tattoos or having rhinoplasty to "fix" an appearance after a broken nose.

Q&A question: Discerning What is Vanity in our Appearance

tattoos

A Young Pastor being Disrespected: I am a young pastor of a church with people mostly in their 60s and 70s. My staff often micromanages me, corrects me in public, and treats me like a grandchild instead of their pastor. Any advice?

Q&A question: A Young Pastor being Disrespected

Is Christian Nationalism Biblical?: Is Christian nationalism in the sense of theocracy a scriptural concept?

Q&A question: Is Christian Nationalism Biblical?

Are Rapture Dreams Truly from God?: What are your thoughts on Christians that have “rapture dreams” claiming that the rapture will be soon? Do you think these are from God, or just a result of all of the end times talk that has ramped up lately?

Q&A question: Are Rapture Dreams Truly from God?

rapture eschatology

How Were Jesus’ Words Translated?: Did the synoptic writers translate Jesus’ words from Aramaic to Greek? Does that partially explain why they don’t match each other exactly, because they translated to best explain His teaching?

Q&A question: How Were Jesus’ Words Translated?

Jesus

Christ’s Law vs. the Moral Law: What is Christ’s law, and how is it different from the 10 commandments which many argue is the moral law we are to keep to this day?

Q&A question: Christ’s Law vs. the Moral Law

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

Avoiding Distraction in Prayer: What is the best way to focus on God? Do you know of any techniques for this? While I'm praying, I try to focus on God, but I always seem to get distracted.

Q&A question: Avoiding Distraction in Prayer

prayer

Mike Winger idea 2022-10-21

How to Glorify God at All Times: If Scripture tells me to glorify God in all I do, how can I glorify God when doing things like taking a math class, playing checkers, eating a meal, listening to Beethoven, etc., if these things are "morally neutral"?

Q&A question: How to Glorify God at All Times

Pastors Teaching Dream Interpretation?: What is your take on Christian pastors practicing and teaching dream interpretation using dream dictionaries, Google, and their own reasoning to interpret?

Q&A question: Pastors Teaching Dream Interpretation?

Mike Winger idea 2022-10-21

Should Israel be Referred To as Palestine?: Why do you refer to biblical Israel as Palestine when Palestine wasn’t even a country until about 135 B.C.?

Q&A question: Should Israel be Referred To as Palestine?

Israel

Mike Winger idea 2022-10-21

Does This Verse Justify False Teaching?: How should we understand 1 Corinthians 1: 18-2:5,14, 3: 18-19? Ray Comfort quoted this to say Bible stories are supposed to sound dumb! Can't this be quoted to justify any dumb-sounding false teaching?

Q&A question: Does This Verse Justify False Teaching?

1 Corinthians 1 Ray Comfort 1 Corinthians 1

1 Corinthians 11 1 Corinthians 11

Biblical Hair Length of Movie Characters?: In Lord of the Rings, would you consider the hair length too long for some characters, such as Aragorn or Legolas? How do I apply 1 Corinthians 11 when designing characters for my own projects?

Q&A question: Biblical Hair Length of Movie Characters?

Luke 23 Jesus resurrection Luke 23

How Was the “Thief on the Cross” Saved?: How was the “good thief” in Luke 23: 42 saved? He died without knowing Jesus' resurrection. Jesus tells him, “Today you will be with me in paradise,” but Christ doesn’t rise for 3 days. Confused!

Q&A question: How Was the “Thief on the Cross” Saved?

Meaning of the Leftover Miracle Food: What is the meaning of the 12 and 7 baskets left over from the feeding of the 5,000 and 4,000?

Q&A question: Meaning of the Leftover Miracle Food

miracles

Can We “Declare” things in Prayer?: What are your thoughts on “declarative prayer” or “positive confession” (e.g., “I declare revival for this city,” “I declare that this day is blessed,” etc.)?

Q&A question: Can We “Declare” things in Prayer?

prayer

About Boycotting Businesses: Should Christians boycott businesses paying for abortion travel?

Q&A question: About Boycotting Businesses

abortion

Why Do Two Peoples’ Prayers Yield Different Results?: Why do some people have a gift of healing that works when they pray for people, but I can’t do the same? If we are praying to the same God, why do two peoples’ prayers give different results?

Q&A question: Why Do Two Peoples’ Prayers Yield Different Results?

prayer healing

Genesis baptism creation Genesis

Did God Rest for More than 1 Day?: In the beginning of Genesis, it says God rested on day 7, but considering no creation happens beyond day 7, didn't He technically rest for more than 1 day, or am I misunderstanding something? Also, is it possible to ask you to pray for me? I'm getting baptized on Sunday and I hope my unsaved friends and family turn to Christ when they watch.

Q&A question: Did God Rest for More than 1 Day?

Jesus baptism pastoral ministry

Has Jesus Always Been God?: Our pastor said on Sunday that Jesus wasn’t God here on Earth until the baptism of John and descending of the Holy Spirit. It sounded really bad to my ears. Can you comment, please?

Q&A question: Has Jesus Always Been God?

Having Insurance = Lack of Trust in God?: What are your thoughts on having insurance and medical aid? I've heard it said that these things are rooted in fear and keep us from truly trusting God. Is that a biblical/wise perspective to have?

Q&A question: Having Insurance = Lack of Trust in God?

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

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

Is Changing our Appearance Sinful?: Would changing our appearance in any way be a sin since God has created us in His image? For example, if we wear makeup, is that covering our natural beauty? And if we shave our body, is that destroying the beauty God has given us?

Q&A question: Is Changing our Appearance Sinful?

Matthew 10 Matthew Matthew 10 Matthew healing

Raising Dead & Healing for Today?: Raising the Dead: Should we practice Matthew 10:8 today, or has the command to heal, cast out demons, and raise the dead ceased?

Q&A question: Raising Dead & Healing for Today?

Why is Abraham Commended for being with Hagar?: Why is Abraham commended for his faith when he tries to conceive a son through his slave, Hagar? Isn't that an indication that he had a moment where he lacked faith?

Q&A question: Why is Abraham Commended for being with Hagar?

Hagar Abraham

Discerning God’s Voice: How can I tell when the Holy Spirit is talking to me? Ever since hearing a sermon about a pastor's conviction to spend more time with God, I think I’m hearing God ask for more time when I close my Bible.

Q&A question: Discerning God’s Voice

Encouragement amid Infertility: My husband and I have struggled to have a baby, and I have had Psalm 127:3 on my mind. It makes me feel like there is something I need to do, and a lack of faith. What is the context of the “reward”?

Q&A question: Encouragement amid Infertility

marriage

Why Can I Be Saved, But Not Judas?: Heartbreakingly, I have betrayed Christ for things worth far less than 30 pieces of silver. What is fundamentally different between Judas and me? Why can I still be saved, but he couldn’t?

Q&A question: Why Can I Be Saved, But Not Judas?

Judas

Could Cain Still Be Alive?: How do you feel about the Bible conspiracy that Cain is still alive somehow and is wandering the Earth to this day?

Q&A question: Could Cain Still Be Alive?

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

Jesus resurrection Apostles

When Were the Apostles Saved?: When were the Apostles saved? They didn't have the full knowledge of what Jesus was doing until His appearance after His resurrection. Could they be considered "saved" before Pentecost?

Q&A question: When Were the Apostles Saved?

Will God Reveal when our Thinking is Unbiblical?: Philippians 3: 15 says God will reveal when our thinking is opposed to His calling. How, then, do so many dedicated Christians get all the way through life still utterly confused about essential moral issues?

Q&A question: Will God Reveal when our Thinking is Unbiblical?

Philip Philippi

Genesis Genesis 1 Genesis Genesis 1

Are Drugs OK if they’re Grown Naturally?: Is Genesis 1: 29 allowing us to smoke weed and to eat magic mushrooms because they’re found naturally? Hasn’t sin surely had a big impact after the fall, on vegetation?

Q&A question: Are Drugs OK if they’re Grown Naturally?

The Bible on Transgenderism: What is the best biblical case against transgender behavior?

Q&A question: The Bible on Transgenderism

Can We Add Punctuation to Scripture?: A pastor at a local Bible study wants me to add punctuation to a section of Scripture that is just words to see multiple meanings. I feel uncomfortable with this. What are your thoughts on doing this?

Q&A question: Can We Add Punctuation to Scripture?

Titus Titus 2 Titus Titus 2

How to Grow in Self-Control: Because it is a fruit of the Spirit, is self-control a teachable skill like in Titus 2, or a gift of the Spirit? What practical advice do you have to get more emotional and verbal self-control?

Q&A question: How to Grow in Self-Control

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

Mike Winger idea 2023-01-27

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

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

Philippians 1 Philip Philippi Philippians 1

Mike Winger idea 2023-01-27

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

Q&A question: Should Pastors Discuss Politics?