“Isn’t one of the signs of the end times world economic crisis? What does the Bible say about the signs? Where are we in that whole picture? You never talk about it.”

Radical changes in the economy — especially commerce being confined to only those loyal to the Antichrist — is part of End Times prophecy, but that happens after the Antichrist establishes rule over the planet.  That event — the rise of the Antichrist — is the only clear indicator the Bible gives of the beginning of the End.

“Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come.  Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way,  for (that day will not come) until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.  He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.”  –2 Thessalonians 2:1-5

As far as “where we are in that picture” goes, nobody really knows.  Jesus refused to give a time frame.

“No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”  –Matthew 24:36

And because we don’t know when the End Times will come, it’s a poor use of time, talent, and resources to focus on when it might be.  The point is, it’s coming.  So Jesus told His disciples (including us) to focus on spreading the Gospel, making new disciples, and teaching others what He’s taught us.

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  –Matthew 28:19-20

–Eric

“Sitting in on sunday’s service got me thinking……. If we all sin (steve included) and all sin is equal, why is it ok for you (Steve) to lead us by giving us the word of God, but a person who became gay for whatever reason, can not sing and give praise durring worship?  Now please don’t take it like I’m out to get you (Steve).  That is not my intention.  I just don’t understand how we can say that that is fair?”

You are correct in saying that we all (including Steve) sin.  You are also correct in saying that sin is equal in its effect of separating us from God.  That’s what sin is — a Latin word that literally means, “without”.  So what’s the difference?

The difference is choice.

Whether it’s called a habitual sin or an addiction, it boils down to one of two options — either the person is unable to stop the sinful behavior, or the person is unwilling to stop it.  A Christian who has been saved by Christ and received the Holy Spirit has the ability to break free from any sin that might have imprisoned him.  Because that is true, any Christian still indulging in habitual sin is doing so because he chooses to.

It doesn’t matter what the sin is.  It could be homosexuality, drug addiction, alcoholism, pornography, or abuse.  The dynamic is the same — Jesus has spoken against it and given all believers the ability to be free from it.  But it’s up to the believer to choose to be free, or remain captive to his sin.  If Steve (or any other staff member) was indulging in any habitual sin, rest assured the elders and trustees would be forced to remove him from his active position.  Whether the move was permanent or temporary would depend on the staff member and the judgment of the elders and trustees.

–Eric

“My daughter married a Jehovah Witness. She continues to follow her Christian upbring and beliefs. They have a child, who goes to his meetings with him and goes to our church. I know deep down she would like her husband to join her at church, Clovis Hills, and realize the truth. Since we all live together, how can we bring the word to him?”

That’s a very difficult situation to be in.  I answered a similar question earlier in this series.  Click here to read the answer.

–Eric

“I have recently been listening to the Bible on CD. And though I know it is not an indepth study (listening while driving down the road) - I have noted that Paul has writen a large portion of the New Testament. He is also pretty much the major advocate that Gentiles (us) can be saved as well as the Jewish. Paul doesn’t appear to have been one of the twelve apostles of Jesus (who preached mainly to other Jews?) Where, from the mouth of Jesus himself, does he say Gentiles and not just the Jews are able to follow him and be saved?”

This was a statement Jesus gave to a disciple (not an apostle) named Ananias in Damascus:

 “[Paul] is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.”  --Acts 9:15

Later,  Peter was given a vision and a command from the Lord not to “declare impure what God has made clean” (Acts 10:15), which he understood to mean that the Gentiles were to receive the gospel.  Later in the same chapter, the Holy Spirit confirms this message:

“Talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people.  He said to them: ‘You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him.  But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean.  So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection.  May I ask why you sent for me?’

 Cornelius answered: ‘Four days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me  and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor.  Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter.  He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.’  So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.’

Then Peter began to speak: ‘I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.  You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.  You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached—how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.

‘We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem.  They killed him by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen.  He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.  He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.  All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.’

While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.  The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles.  For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.

Then Peter said, ‘Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water?  They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.’  So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.”

At this point, it is Peter who is preaching to the Gentiles, not Paul.  Paul was used later as the key evangelist to the Gentile nations, but I think it is particularly important that Peter — first and foremost dedicated to ministering to the Jewish people and highly resistant to Gentiles– was the first to preach the gospel to them and accept them as fellow believers.

-Eric

“How does God talk to you?  I hear people say that they pray to God to get answers.  How does this work?”

It’s worked differently for different people throughout history.  God has spoken through burning bushes, made animals talk, spoken from clouds, and even through flashes of blinding light.  Most of the believers I’ve known describe God speaking to them in their thoughts.  Not an audible voice, but thoughts and responses to thoughts they recognize as not their own.  This has been my experience as well.

The EXTREMELY important thing to remember, however, is that having an experience like this does not automatically mean it was God speaking to you.  Sometimes we are so anxious to hear from God that we’re willing to accept almost anything as His voice.  Far too many people have been led astray by accepting false messages at face value, often resulting in heartache, fear, confusion, pain, and misery.  I speak from personal experience on this.

If you have an experience — whether like the ones described here, or something entirely different — that leads you to believe God is talking to you, test it!  Compare the message to the Scriptures, and see if it agrees or conflicts.  It’s also wise to share the message with a mature believer you trust to see what he or she thinks about it.  If the message is truly from the Lord, there should be no conflict with Scripture and no reason to be apprehensive about sharing what you’ve experienced with others.

“I became a Christian 7 years ago, however, during those times when I struggled to decide whether to become one or not, I was constantly challenged by the same thought: Why is it the the Bible is interpreted literally or figuratively depending on the point to be made? The inconsistency kept me from becoming a Christian for many years and still plagues some friends and family. Thanks!”

The Bible should not be interpreted to fit the point — the point should come from accurate interpretation of the Bible.

The question of whether or not a passage is literal or figurative comes from studying the passage itself, and especially its context and surrounding circumstances.  Specific questions should always be asked when trying to understand what a verse or passage is communicating:

1. Who was the audience?  This can be very significant, especially when something said comes in conflict with a culture, law, or belief system.

2. When was it written?  Cultures, beliefs, knowledge and practices vary wildly from era to era, and the Bible covers a span of approximately 5,000 years.  “When” plays a very big role for interpretation.

3. Where was it written?  A message given in Egypt will have very different meaning from one given in Rome, or Jerusalem.

4. Who is doing the talking?  Something Moses said is going to have a different motivation and purpose than something Jesus said, or one of the apostles, or a random king.

5. What writing style is used?  The Bible contains several different styles of writing, including poetry (think Psalms), prose (the Gospels), parables (Jesus’ teachings), and itemized lists (Numbers, Proverbs).  Determining the writing style will deeply affect what a passage is actually communicating.  For example, this issue is at the heart of the “young earth” vs. “old earth” debate that’s been at the forefront of Christian apologetics the past few years.

These are just some of the questions Biblical scholars need to address before reaching a true understanding of Scripture.  Those who pick and choose verses to serve their own purposes are not communicating Biblical truth.

–Eric

“i for a very long time have been so very in love with a man, my best friend. but in 2004 married another…. i now what to be with my best friend… i love him. i am catholic, and have been told my hole life when you marry it is for ever. and a devorce is a sin. and i want to live by god. and be happy. how can i do both….. am i a selfish person. to want to live the rest of my life with the other man. or do i live by god and make the best of my bad desison. tell me the truth, about how i am to live by god.”

The idea for a Christian is to live happy by living according to God’s will, not instead of according to God’s will…

 “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy.  My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.”  –John 10:10 (NLT)

What you’ve been told is correct — marriage is forever, and divorce is a sin, according to the Bible.  But there is cause for hope — love is a choice, not a feeling.  If you commit yourself to your marriage in obedience to God, and if your husband is just as committed, you may find your happiness growing and growing. 

Strong, healthy marriages — the kind that enrich your life and make it greater than it could ever be alone – are the result of a continuing, mutual commitment.  It’s a living thing that has to be cared for, fed, shaped, and rooted to grow and thrive.  As soon as it’s neglected, it begins to grow sick.  If neglected long enough, it may even die.  But even so, God has the ability to raise the dead back to life — even in a marriage. 

–Eric

“What are your view on Hailie Selassie and the Rastafari movement?  Is it possible that he really was a second coming of Christ?”

The Rastafari movement was/is a false doctrine.  In no way, shape, or form does Emperor Selassie resemble the prophecies regarding the Second Coming of Christ.

–Eric

“Can you list basic belief differences between someone who is catholic and someone who is christian? Are the Sunday services different? etc.”

First of all, Catholics are Christians.  They believe in Jesus as Messiah — God in the flesh and Savior of all mankind through His crucifixion and resurrection.  That is the gospel message, and Catholics embrace it as truth.

The Catholic church is much larger, much older, and therefore has many more traditions than Protestant churches.  The elaborate rituals, prayers, dress, and practices are mostly done to honor God to the utmost level they can manage.  Other practices, like Catechism and confession, are intended to keep believers accountable and living in right relationship with God. 

One of the reasons for the Protestant movement (which broke away from the Catholic church in the 16th century) was the belief that the church had become too powerful and more like a government than a place of worship.  Another reason is that Catholic doctrine tends to want to “micromanage” the Christian faith.  There are rules for who can be a saint, what to eat, what to pray, what Bible to use, how to worship, how to repent, and how to serve.  The Gospels include none of these restrictions, which is why the Protestant movement rejected them. 

Another issue of contention is the lofty status given by the Catholic church to Mary (Jesus’ mother) and Christian saints, and the practice of praying directly to them, as well as to angels.  The Catholic explanation is that these acts are no different than asking another Christian to pray for you. 

Another major difference in beliefs revolves around baptism.  Catholic doctrine suggests that anyone — including infants — who is not baptized will not be accepted into heaven.  The Catholic church also does not baptize by immersion, but usually by sprinkling, which changes the symbolism of baptism radically.  Immersion is a picture of death, burial, and resurrection — both of Christ, and of the believer (through being ‘born again’), and is the literal interpretation of Scripture.  Sprinkling is a picture of anointment, a way to identify or ‘mark’ a person as a child of God.  Neither of the Catholic doctrines regarding baptism are Biblical.

–Eric

“I’m a P.K. (preacher’s kid) and have been surrounded by religion my whole life.  I’ve considered myself Christian even though I’ve been away from church for 10 years.  Now I have a family of my own and I realize it takes more than ‘being good’ to be a commited Christian.  How do I figure out what’s holding me back without over-analyzing everything?”

You’re right in saying that it takes more than “good” behavior to be in right relationship with God.  You’ve also experienced for yourself that faith by association doesn’t work, either — even for the family of a preacher.  So what does work?

The one desire of God’s heart from the beginning of creation was to have close, meaningful relationships with all of mankind.  Every single one of us!  The kind of intimate parent-child relationship only happens on a one-to-one basis, and with complete and consistent honesty. 

Our choice to live on our own terms instead of on His creates a break in our relationship with God.  It is up to us to approach Him and admit that it’s our fault that we’re separated from Him.

The next step is to ask Him for forgiveness, and ask Him to accept us back into His family as His child.  This has to be sincere, and straight from the heart.  No relationship can be healed with magic words or just going through the motions.  You have to mean what you say, and only you and God will know if you really do.

The only obstacle left to clear before being totally and eternally reunited with God is holiness.  The problem is, people don’t live holy lives.  The Hebrews/Israelites/Jews have spent several thousand years proving that even if we’re given a set of rules and guidelines to follow, our innate desire to be in charge of our own lives makes living a holy life almost impossible. 

The good news is that God sacrificed His own holiness on our behalf, so our unholy lives are covered by His righteousness.  But God won’t force Himself on us — we have to ask for His sacrifice to cover our shortcomings.  But like the good father He is, He will always say yes.

 Now our relationship with God is re-forged, what’s next?  Basically, we spend the rest of eternity building up and growing that relationship.  Intimacy doesn’t happen overnight — it takes time, energy, and effort.  And no one else can do it for us.  I mean let’s be honest — how close can you get to someone else through a third person?

There are many, many different ways to develop closeness and comfort with our heavenly Father and because each relationship is unique, there is no single “right” way to do it.  Just be absolutely certain that whatever methods you choose, you’re getting to know the REAL God.  Here are some suggestions that many people have had success with:

1. Spend quality time with God.  Time and focus (or attention) is essential for any relationship.  It’s what relationships feed on, and need to grow.  Cut off the attention, and the relationship will wither and die.

2. Develop relationships with other Christians.  Jesus told His disciples that whenever three or more gather together in His name, He will be there.  We can see His heart, character, and love reflected in the lives of other believers.  Plus, we need others to keep us on track and to make sure we’re getting to know the real God.

3. Get familiar with the Bible.  The Bible is simply the best resource on earth for getting to know who God is, what He wants, how He feels, how He thinks, and how He works.  The more we read, listen to, study, and memorize the Bible, the better we’ll know God.

4. Serve.  Serving in some form of ministry — whether it’s mission work, teaching, singing, playing music, mowing the lawns or working in the office — enables us to experience God on a level of intimacy that just isn’t possible sitting in church on a Sunday morning.  It’s one thing to hear about God.  It’s another thing to emulate Him by putting our faith into action and letting His love flow through us to others.

Clovis Hills offers a 3-week class called GROW every month that goes into much more depth to help Christians build up their own relationships with God.  If that sounds interesting to you, just contact the church office or write it on a communication card.

–Eric