Living Single:

Mar. 2004 Please tell me what the Bible say about a CHRISTIANS LIVING SINGLE MARIE Dear Marie; Marriage is commended throughout scripture as a good thing. But there are a few verses that deal with those that remain single. These verse do not condemn those that remain single. They actually say that for some, it's a good thing. Here are the verses that I found: 1 Cor 7:8-9 I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I [single]. But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn. 1 Cor 7:32-35 But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord: But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife. There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.

  Nazareth:

Mar. 2004 Hello Just F.Y.I. In the new Testament =Mark 1:9-11 Jesus of Nazareth of Galilee, well there never existed a place named Nazareth in Christ time on Earth, the town was not built until 121 AD The Scripture is Wrong i worked there as a Construction Engineer in 1988 for 6 years we Rebuilt the Hotels Power Plant & waste water system there is a bronze plaque on an old town water well states when it was first settled it was built by a Roman Garrison we even found Roman coins When we dug Down 8 feet to install new water pipes, no coins were dated before 125AD The British Museum People were working there also at the time and Confirmed some of the Artifacts Found were not before 125AD to 130AD it was nothing but a waste land there with no water supply and no good soil for growing crops in jesus time. R.P.C. Dear RPC; A brief search at the library confirmed for me that there is ample archaeological evidence that Narareth did in fact exist at the time of Jesus (along with detailed descriptions of the water system from that time). Just because you personally did not find any coins dating past 125 A.D. is not sufficient reason to doubt scripture. Digging for water pipes is not a very good way to make an archaeological conclusion. I hope that you will do a little research, you will find that the Bible is very reliable and has been substantiated time and time again through archeology. "Archaeological investigations... --have revealed that the area was a major cult center 8,000 years before the time of Christ." David Keys, Archaeology Volume 56 Number 6, November/December 2003 "The existence of Nazareth in Jesus’ day had been doubted by critics—until its name showed up in a first-century synagogue inscription at Caesarea. ... As hard evidence from the past, "the very stones cry out" the reliability of the Biblical record. It is amusing to note that many of the last century's most trenchant critics of Jesus and the New Testament refused at first even to consider the result of archaeology, so counter to their opinions was it's evidence! Today, I can't imagine anyone, friend or foe of the faith, would be stupid enough to hold so foolish an attitude. At the 2,000th anniversary of Christianity, then, we should be ready to tell everyone that the sum total of the literary, historical and archaeological evidence from the ancient world dramatically supports the New Testament record on Jesus. Those who claim it does not are sadly misinformed, tragically closed-mined, or dishonest." History, Archaeology and Jesus by Paul L. Maier; professor of Ancient History at Western Michigan University

  Fornication:

Mar. 2004 Hello Sir, Is it wrong for clergy to perform a Christian marriage ceremony when he knows the couple is living together and blatantly going against God's law---fornication? The church is to be a beacon of light-showing people the wrong and right way to live in obedience with God's commandments. Why do so many pastors refuse to address and confront the situation of living together with the couple? (I happen to be a worship leader and I sing for a lot of weddings in several Christian churches. When I know the couples are living together I ask them if their pastor is aware of this situation and nine times out of ten they say it has not been a problem. Quite frankly I'm flabbergasted! Where are the pastors who refuse to marry these people? Sure, maybe they can go down the street to another church but at least that pastor has done his job!! I ask these couples why they are being married in the church----they tell me they are Christian. I'm beginning to think nobody knows anymore that obedience is part of the relationship with the God whom they worship! Just before writing you I looked up fornication on the internet just to make sure the Bible I know , hasn't changed! (Just a lame joke. God is an unchanging principle). I found numerous passages on your website and others clearly stating that fornication is wrong. Sorry to say, I think the majority of pastors are out for a "popularity contest" and are watering down the law and only preaching the Gospel because everybody likes the love and cozy feeling of God loves everyone. Where is the "go and sin no more" other half of the story! I really want to know what you think but then again, I know nothing about you -the "God" you believe in. But, your Web site is solid. Jean PS I an MS Lutheran but sing at ELCA Lutheran Churches Dear Jean; Thank you for viewing the web site and taking the time to write. The subject you bring up is a touchy one. Is it sinful for a couple to live together as man and wife without being married? I think the Bible is very clear that sex outside of marriage is a sin. So, yes, it is sinful. Now for the touchy part. If you are a pastor and know that a couple is involved in fornication, then you have two choices... 1) don't marry them and allow them to continue in that sinful state, or 2) marry them and legitimize their relationship. Some pastors will only perform marriages for members of their church. I think this is a very good practice because if they are members, they fall under the church authority and can be counseled and/or disciplined for their sinful behavior prior to any talk of marriage. If the couple is not a member of a church, then they probably ought to have a civil wedding and be done with it. For these couples, it's not really a question of whether or not the pastor will perform the marriage, I think the bigger issue is whether or not anyone has talked to them about the issue of sin their life (we all have to deal with that) and the fact that Jesus paid a heavy price for sin. Repentance, redemption and forgiveness is really what needs to be discussed at that point.

  Women Ministers:

Feb. 2004 Hello there, i stumbled across your website by mistake and have found it so revealing and very helpful but i have a question. This is about women ministers- go does this mean that what Joyce Meyer et al is doing is not good as she is the leader of her church? The reason why i ask is because i have just started going to church and the minister is a woman Take care.... Thank you for your email. I'm sorry it has taken me a while to get back with you. I have listened to Joyce Meyer on the television and I have friends that think she is great. However, as is often the case, TV evangelists show their true colors in the books that they write. She has made some pretty outrageous statements. Many TV or radio personalities are wonderful, Bible teachers that stick right to the scriptures. However, the vast majority are not. A good source for helping to weed out the good from the bad is the Christian Research Institute (www.equip.org). They listen/read very carefully the materials that these ministries put out and then report whether or not they are falling within the orthodox beliefs of Christianity. This would be a good place to research some of the beliefs of Joyce Meyer (you might be surprised). As for attending a church that has a woman pastor. I'm sorry, I just wouldn't do it. I'm sure your minister is a very nice lady and all, but I just think God has been so clear about this in his word. It seems that women pastors (generally speaking) have a much looser, liberal view of the Bible. This is clear first of all because they have to come up with some way to explain away the Bible verses that speak against having women pastors. As I have pointed out in other emails, George Barna recently reported that 85% of the women pastors surveyed, did NOT hold to a Biblical world view (you can read the full study at Barna Research Online). I do not want to be taught by someone that does not hold the scripture to be completely true. I hope this answers your question. God Bless.

  Child Support:

Feb. 2004 What does the Bible say about a man how does not support his family, but claims to be a Christian? I believe I have read something about this somewhere in the Bible. My Daughter is having such a hard time whth Her X husband not paying child support and she does not make enough money to support her Child without his help . I think the verse you are looking for is in 1 Timothy: 1 Tim 5:8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. 2 Th 3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

  Pride:

Feb. 2004 pride? good..bad?? The more I study the Bible the more I come to understand how destructive pride can be. Ultimately, pride is the underlying root of all sin. It was pride that brought about the fall of Satan Isa 14:14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Click What does the Bible say about...Pride to see the verses about pride.

  Marriage Separation:

Feb. 2004 Here is my dilemma for which I do need good counsel on. My second husband and I were married 4 years ago. I was married before and was divorced due to infidelity on my ex-husband's part. I just want to establish that marring the second time was not in sin. My husband is from Australia, we met over the internet and spoke on the phone for 9 months before he came over to America. We fell in love over the internet. There were some conditions I told my husband before we got married that I knew I would not be able to alter since I have children from my first marriage and one of those conditions was that I would not live in Australia since I have children here. If he was willing to come here and stay here then I was at peace with that. He came over here. However when he applied for permanent residency they did not ask him for his birth certificate, his pass port was enough. They gave him a work card and SS number. Then we were waiting for the interview for permanent residency. When we finally got the letter to come in they asked for a birth certificate. My husband still felt the passport was enough. But sure enough when we got there the first thing she asked for is his birth certificate, she also asked him if he ever had a different name and my husband said no, however he did change his name. Also they asked him if he had ever been married before and he said no. So after we left Chris new he had perjured himself....and felt he would have to go back. The job he has now wants him to open a branch over there.....So he is going. I have a 11 year old Child who does care about Chris, but who is also very close to her real father who live in the same town as we live. My pastor said the I have to think of the child, if that means staying here and letting my husband go, who will probably never come back...I feel so torn, my marriage to this man has been very rocky. However we have been getting marriage counseling and things were improving but now are rocky again because of the move to Australia. My husband does want us to go....My daughter is now torn in her feelings and I feel this could really hurt her any way we take this. What do you think? Can you give me any clear advice? Diana Dear Diana; You are right, this is a very difficult situation. I can only imagine how torn you must feel. I don't want to give you advice because I certainly don't feel qualified to influence such a tremendous decision in your life. But I would be happy to provide you with verses of Scripture that might help shed light on the matter and help you with your decision. First you asked whether your second marriage was a sin or not. Based on the following scriptures, I would say "no" it is not sinful to remarry in your situation: Mat 19:7-9 They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery. Here Jesus is talking about a man divorcing a wife due to fornication (unfaithfulness) but I see no reason why the reverse would not also apply. If your first husband was unfaithful, then I don't think it was a sin for you to remarry. Concerning whether or not you should move to Australia, I would like for you to have a look at the following scriptures: 1 Cor 7:10 And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: Rom 7:2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. Jesus said: Mat 19:4-6 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. Sometimes we have to make hard decisions and the best choice will always be to follow God's leading. I have found that if I follow the Lord's directives, even if it's against the advice of friends and family, I won't regret it. God has a way of blessing us when we are honestly seeking his will in our lives: Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. I hope you spend a great deal of time in prayer over this decision and I will pray for you also. Please send me an email and let me know what you decide. God bless.