Welcome to NCC's Got Questions page!

We are so excited to be able to provide absolute truth in a world where it seems in short supply today, where opinions are spoken as "truth" but are subject to "change without notice". We hope to be of much help to you in your search for the truth. We also hope this biblical truth truly blesses you as it has blessed us.

Even though the answers you find here are good for information purposes, we strongly encourage you to look up any scripture references and check the information you receive here by your own personal study of the bible. It is only through your reading of God's Word that you will grow in wisdom and truth.

Note: Because we are Christian based and for the sake of the youth who may visit this page we can not publish any post containing offensive language. Thank you for your support!

Does God forgive those who have been sexually assaulted by gay and stratight people?

Forgiveness is for sinners

Assault is by deffinition and act of agression perpetrated by one person or group of people upon another person or group

Therefore, the Sinner is the one making the assault and the person being assaulted is a victim of the crime. God does not hold victims of cirmes accountable for the acts perpetrated upon them. What He does require is that those who are victims forgive the person or persons who committed the act against them.

Is Astrology bad for us as Christians ?

The Bible has much to say about the stars. Most basic to our understanding of the stars is that God created them. They show His power and majesty. The heavens are God’s “handiwork” (Psalm 8:3; 19:1). He has all the stars numbered and named (Psalm 147:4).

The Bible also teaches that God arranged the stars into recognizable groups that we call constellations. The Bible mentions three of these: Orion, the Bear (Ursa Major), and “the crooked serpent” (most likely Draco) in Job 9:9; 26:13; 38:31-32; and Amos 5:8. The same passages also reference the star group Pleiades (the Seven Stars). God is the One Who “fastens the bands” of these constellations; He is the One who brings them forth, “each in its season.” In Job 38:32, God also points to the “Mazzaroth,” usually translated “constellations.” This is thought by many to be a reference to the twelve constellations of the zodiac.

The constellations have been tracked and studied for millennia. The Egyptians and Greeks knew of the zodiac and used it to measure the beginning of spring centuries before Christ. Much has been written of the meaning of the zodiacal constellations, including theories that they comprise an ancient display of God’s redemptive plan. For example, the constellation Leo can be seen as a celestial depiction of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah (Revelation 5:5), and Virgo could be a reminder of the virgin who bore Christ. However, the Bible does not indicate any “hidden meaning” for these or other constellations.

The Bible says that stars, along with the sun and moon, were given for “signs” and “seasons” (Genesis 1:14); that is, they were meant to mark time for us. They are also “signs” in the sense of navigational “indicators,” and all through history men have used the stars to chart their courses around the globe.

God used the stars as an illustration of His promise to give Abraham an innumerable seed (Genesis 15:5). Thus, every time Abraham looked up at the night sky, he had a reminder of God’s faithfulness and goodness. The final judgment of the earth will be accompanied by astronomical events relating to the stars (Isaiah 13:9-10; Joel 3:15; Matthew 26:29).

Astrology is the “interpretation” of an assumed influence the stars (and planets) exert on human destiny. This is a false belief. The royal astrologers of the Babylonian court were put to shame by God’s prophet Daniel (Daniel 1:20) and were powerless to interpret the king’s dream (Daniel 2:27). God specifies astrologers as among those who will be burned as stubble in God’s judgment (Isaiah 47:13-14). Astrology as a form of divination is expressly forbidden in Scripture (Deuteronomy 18:10-14). God forbade the children of Israel to worship or serve the “host of heaven” (Deuteronomy 4:19). Several times in their history, however, Israel fell into that very sin (2 Kings 17:16 is one example). Their worship of the stars brought God’s judgment each time.

The stars should awaken wonder at God’s power, wisdom, and infinitude. We should use the stars to keep track of time and place and to remind us of God’s faithful, covenant-keeping nature. All the while, we acknowledge the Creator of the heavens. Our wisdom comes from God, not the stars (James 1:5). The Word of God, the Bible, is our guide through life (Psalm 119:105).

I feel stuck in a loveless marriage, I really don't have feelings for my husband and may never have. What does God want me to do...?

This is a very difficult place to be and I can hear this person’s pain and feelings of loneliness. To answer the very last part of the question first and then move on to the first part, God loves us completely. His desire is for us to live out our lives with complete joy. What you are looking for is a feeling that is based on outside circumstances. God tells us throughout His Word that his love for us is complete and consistent. It is complete in that His love really is all we need to live a life full of joy and yes happiness. It is consistent in that His love for you never changes. He doesn’t love you more when you do something right or loves you less because you have done something wrong. Yes, we all sin, but God’s love for us is not directed by what we do, but by who He is. The Bible tells us, Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love (1 John 4:8). How do we know this to be true, the very next verse tells us, This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him (1 John 4:9).

We need to rest in that truth. No matter what is happening around us, rest in the truth that God loves you and He has and will do whatever it takes to bring you through these tough times. So, as we look into the answer to the first part of your question, trust that God will be with you and will carry you through living out what He calls us to do.

I have counseled many couples, both unmarried and married, through tough times and one thing I hear from them in those tough times is, “I just don’t think I love him/her anymore.” The problem with most people in this situation, and with many people that say they love this person is, they get confused between love and passion. Love is not a feeling. Sometimes feelings are present with love, but not always. Gary Smalley and John Trent wrote a book entitled, Love is a Decision and they point out that we must choose to love. What most people confuse for love is this deep feeling they have when they are around someone. I have had people come into my office after dating for a week and say, I love this person. My typical reply is, no you don’t. There is no such thing as love at first sight. Love is something you grow into passion is something you feel because a person stirs those feelings inside of you.

Now don’t miss understand me, the passion one feels when they first meet someone and also for many months and years to come is not a bad feeling and unimportant. I believe this passion is very important in a relationship and vital for people that are married. This is what stirs romance in a marriage. But you see, passion will come and go, it is a roller coaster ride. There are times this passion is very strong and other times it is very weak. No one could live in a constant passionate life 24/7. That would be exhausting. What happens in many marriages is this passion dies out for one reason or another and the couple thinks loves has left.

So back to the question, does God want you to remain in this marriage. In short, yes. If you want to see what the Bible says about that click here to see a previous questioned answered in regards to divorce. But, I do not think it has to be as you put it, “stick it out” and be unhappy? Get counseling with your spouse and learn about the part that both love and passion plays in a married relationship. There is so much needed to be worked through in your marriage and it sounds like you need someone else, a third party, to help you get through it. You are more than welcome to contact us at the church and setup some counseling. Also, there is a worksheet online that will help you to understand Biblical love. It is on our website nccworship.com on the sermon page under articles entitled God Is Light.

Why is the idea of UFO's and E.T's so heavily rejected in Christianity?...

The Bible does not say if there is life on other planets. It simply says that God created the heavens and earth and put man on it. But this silence on the subject does not require that earth is the only place with life on it. But then again, this doesn't mean there is life out there, either.

Let me propose some reasons why I believe there is no life on other planets. Now, I should tell you that these reasons are simply exercises in biblical theology.

The Bible says there is one Trinitarian God. Jesus was God in flesh (John 1:1,14; Col. 2:9; Phil. 2:5-8), second person of the Trinity, and died for our sins (Romans 5; 1 Pet. 2:24). If, there were other beings on other planets that have sinned, then they would need a redeemer. God would have to die for them as well.

Only God can forgive sins. Jesus is God in flesh (John 1:1,14; Col. 2:9), is forever a man (1 Tim. 2:5; Heb. 7:17, 21) and died for the sins of people here on earth (Rom. 5:8). Therefore, I conclude that the only members left in the Trinity to die for the sins of another race would be the Father and the Holy Spirit. But this doesn't seem credible since the focus of the Trinitarian effort in this world has been for the Father to elect a people (Luke 18:7; Rom. 8:33), the Son to redeem them (John 6:39; 17:9,24; Rom. 5:8; 1 Pet. 2:24), and the Holy Spirit to fill, guide, and indwell them (Acts 4:29-31; John 16:13; Rom. 8:9-14). The focus of their effort has been this world and the redemption of mankind, not anywhere else.

Second, if there were life on other planets, would it be possible that they never sinned and don't need a redeemer? I think this question can be answered by the Bible where it says that creation is groaning, waiting for its redemption at the return of Christ (Rom. 8:22). That would mean that all of creation was affected by the fall. When Adam sinned, the ground was cursed and death entered the world. If that is so, then any other beings out there that were made in God's image, would have fallen too since they would be part of creation. I don't see how they could escape the effect of the fall. They would be sinners too and need a redeemer. Then they would fall under the first objection above.

Third, there are only two options available to explain our existence. Creation and evolution. I have studied the theory of evolution and do not believe it is a viable option to explain how we got here. I do not accept evolution for two reasons: The Bible says God created life on earth; that means it did not evolve. Second, the problems of spontaneous life formation are so immense that it is impossible. Also, missing links abound. The fossil record is spotty at best. DNA mutation theory is insufficient to account for life form development. And more.... But this paper is not a refutation of evolution.

In conclusion, the Bible gives us no reason to believe that there is life elsewhere in the universe. In fact, the Bible gives us several key reasons why there cannot be. Yes, there are many strange and unexplainable things that take place. There is no reason, though, to attribute these phenomena to aliens or UFOs. If there is a discernable cause to these supposed events, it is likely spiritual, and more specifically, demonic in origin.

In Egypt they have a "son of God" called "Horus". In Christianity "Jesus" is the son of God. There seems to be many similarities, how can this be?

It is difficult to respond to a question without specifics, but what I will do is layout some claims that are published and respond to them.

Was born of the virgin Isis (Mary) on December 25th in a cave/manger with his birth being announced by a star in the East and attended by three wise men.

I have found no reference to a cave/manger -- Frazer [Frazer, J. G. Adonis, Attis, Osiris. 1961, pg.8] has Horus born in the swamps, and knows nothing about a star or Wise Men, of any number.

First, it is true that Egyptian legend has Horus being born to Isis. But where did the trailing name of “Mary” come from? No mention in any Egyptian literature links the name Isis to the name Mary. Isis was also not a virgin. No account of Horus’ birth makes this statement. Isis was not a virgin, but the widow of Osiris, another Egyptian god who conceived Horus with Isis. Horus was supposedly born during the month of Khoiak (Oct/Nov), and not on December 25th, a fact which does not help their claim of marrying the stories of Horus to Jesus anyway because the Bible never assigns a birth date to Christ.

When stories detailing the birth of Horus are examined, there is no star or three kings who come to visit him. Trying to link this to Christianity fails in any event as the account of Christ’s birth in Matthew has magi (wise men, not kings) coming to Jesus with their actual number not being stated.

At age 12 he was a child teacher in the Temple, and at 30, he was baptized, having disappeared for 18 years.

Horus becoming a teacher at age 12 (mimicking Jesus’ account at the temple as a youth) is nowhere to be found in accounts of Horus. The only accounts remotely related to Horus and water are the stories told of Osiris (his father who is sometimes combined in ancient accounts with Horus to form one individual) whose body was cut up into 14 pieces by his enemy, Set, and scattered throughout the earth. Isis supposedly found each part of the body and after having Osiris float in the Nile, he came back to life or became the lord of the underworld, depending on which account is read. In any event, stating that Horus was “baptized” is simply playing fast and loose with Christian terminology and is another obvious attempt to link mythology and the Bible.

He had 12 disciples, two of whom were his "witnesses" and were named "Anup" and "AAn" (the two "Johns"). Egyptian religion scholars know of none of this.

There are not any statements to the effect that he had 12 “disciples.” According to the Horus accounts, Horus had four semi-gods that were followers and some indications of 16 human followers and an unknown number of blacksmiths that went into battle with him.

He was crucified between two thieves, buried for three days in a tomb, was resurrected. None of these three can be found, either.

The claims of Horus being buried for three days and resurrected are not to be found in any ancient Egyptian texts either. There is no mention of a burial for three days and no mention of his physically coming out of a grave in the same physical body he went in with and never dying again. And there is certainly no account of Horus dying for others as Jesus did.

From what I have found in all circumstances is that stories about Horus in comparison to Jesus came in modern times not historical accounts. In reference to the validity of Jesus I would recommend reading the book entitled, The Case for the Real Jesus by Lee Strobel. Also The Case for Christ by the same author. This will help you understand why we trust the validity of what the Bible claims about Jesus.

If I divorce will I be in sin for the rest of my life? Also, what if I remarry someday, will I be committing adultery?

First of all, no matter what view one takes in the issue of divorce it is important to remember the words of the Bible from Malachi 2:16a: “I hate divorce, says the Lord God of Israel.” According to the Bible, God’s plan is that marriage be a lifetime commitment. “So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate” (Matthew 19:6). God realizes, though, that since a marriage involves two sinful human beings, divorce is going to occur. In the Old Testament, He laid down some laws in order to protect the rights of divorcees, especially women (Deuteronomy 24:1-4). Jesus pointed out that these laws were given because of the hardness of people’s hearts, not because they were God’s desire (Matthew 19:8).

The controversy over whether divorce and remarriage is allowed according to the Bible revolves primarily around Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:32 and 19:9. The phrase “except for marital unfaithfulness” is the only thing in Scripture that possibly gives God’s permission for divorce and remarriage. Many interpreters understand this "exception clause" as referring to "marital unfaithfulness" during the "betrothal" period. In Jewish custom, a man and a woman were considered married even while they were still engaged “betrothed.” Immorality during this "betrothal" period would then be the only valid reason for a divorce.

However, the Greek word translated “marital unfaithfulness” is a word which can mean any form of sexual immorality. It is can mean fornication, prostitution, adultery, etc. Jesus is possibly saying that divorce is permissible if sexual immorality is committed. Sexual relations is such an integral part of the marital bond “the two will become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:5; Ephesians 5:31). Therefore, a breaking of that bond by sexual relations outside of marriage might be a permissible reason for divorce. If so, Jesus also has remarriage in mind in this passage. The phrase “and marries another” (Matthew 19:9) indicates that divorce and remarriage are allowed in an instance of the exception clause, whatever it is interpreted to be. It is important to note that only the innocent party is allowed to remarry. Although it is not stated in the text, the allowance for remarriage after a divorce is God’s mercy for the one who was sinned against, not for the one who committed the sexual immorality. There may be instances where the "guilty party" is allowed to remarry - but no such concept is taught in this text.

Some understand 1 Corinthians 7:15 as another “exception,” allowing remarriage if an unbelieving spouse divorces a believer. However, the context does not mention remarriage, but only says a believer is not bound to continue a marriage if an unbelieving spouse wants to leave. Others claim that abuse (spousal or child) are valid reasons for divorce even though they are not listed as such in the Bible. While this may very well be the case, it is never wise to presume upon the Word of God.

Sometimes lost in the debate over the exception clause is the fact that whatever “marital unfaithfulness” means, it is an allowance for divorce, not a requirement for divorce. Even when adultery is committed a couple can, through God’s grace, learn to forgive and begin rebuilding their marriage. God has forgiven us of so much more. Surely we can follow His example and even forgive the sin of adultery (Ephesians 4:32). However, in many instances, a spouse is unrepentant and continues in sexual immorality. That is where Matthew 19:9 can possibly be applied. Many also look too quickly to remarriage after a divorce when God might desire them to remain single. God sometimes calls a person to be single so that their attention is not divided (1 Corinthians 7:32-35). Remarriage after a divorce may be an option in some circumstances, but that does not mean it is the only option.

A person who gets a divorce for a reason other than the reasons listed above, and then gets remarried has committed adultery (Luke 16:18). The question then becomes, is this remarriage an "act" of adultery, or a "state" of adultery. The present tense of the Greek in Matthew 5:32; 19:9; and Luke 16:18 can indicate a continuous state of adultery. At the same time, the present tense in Greek does not always indicate continuous action. Sometimes it simply means that something occurred. For example, the word "divorces" in Matthew 5:32 is present tense, but divorcing is not a continual action. It is my view that remarriage, no matter the circumstances, is not a continual state of adultery. Only the act of getting remarried itself is adultery.

God hates divorce (Malachi 2:16), and God is merciful and forgiving. Each and every divorce is a result of sin, either on the part of one spouse or both. Does God forgive divorce? Absolutely! Divorce is no less forgivable than any other sin. Forgiveness of all sins is available through faith in Jesus Christ (Matthew 26:28; Ephesians 1:7). If God forgives the sin of divorce, does that mean you are free to remarry? Not necessarily. God sometimes calls people to remain single (1 Corinthians 7:7-8). Being single should not be looked at as a curse or punishment, but rather as an opportunity to serve God more wholeheartedly (1 Corinthians 7:32-36). God’s Word does tell us, though, that it is better to marry than to burn with passion (1 Corinthians 7:9). Perhaps this sometimes applies to remarriage after a divorce.

So, can you or should you get remarried? I cannot answer that question. Ultimately, that is between you, your potential spouse, and most importantly, God. The only advice I can give is for you to pray to God for wisdom in regards to what He would have you do (James 1:5). Pray with an open mind, and genuinely ask the Lord to place His desires on your heart (Psalm 37:4). Seek the Lord’s will (Proverbs 3:5-6) and follow His leading.

It is distressing that the divorce rate among professing Christians is nearly as high as that of the unbelieving world. The Bible makes it abundantly clear that God hates divorce (Malachi 2:16) and that reconciliation and forgiveness should be the marks of a believer’s life (Luke 11:4; Ephesians 4:32). However, God recognizes that divorces will occur, even among His children. A divorced and/or remarried believer should not feel any less loved by God, even if their divorce and/or remarriage is not covered under the possible exception clause of Matthew 19:9. God often uses even the sinful disobedience of Christians to accomplish great good.

What does the Bible say about women in ministry?

Answer: There is perhaps no more debated issue in the church today than the issue of women serving as pastors / preachers in ministry. As a result, it is very important to not view this issue as men versus women. There are women who believe that women should not serve as pastors and that the Bible places restrictions on the ministry of women, and there are men who believe women can serve as preachers and that there are no restrictions on women in ministry. This is not an issue of chauvinism or discrimination. It is an issue of biblical interpretation.

1 Timothy 2:11-12 proclaims, “A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent.” In the church, God assigns different roles to men and women. This is a result of the way mankind was created and the way in which sin entered the world (2 Timothy 2:13-14). God, through the Apostle Paul’s writing, restricts women from serving in roles of teaching and/or spiritual authority over men. This precludes women from serving as pastors, which definitely includes preaching to, teaching, and having spiritual authority over men.

There are many "objections" to this view of women in ministry / women pastors. A common one is that Paul restricts women from teaching because in the first century, women were typically uneducated. However, 1 Timothy 2:11-14 nowhere mentions educational status. If education was a qualification for ministry, the majority of Jesus' disciples would not have been qualified. A second common objection is that Paul only restricted the women of Ephesus from teaching (1 Timothy was written to Timothy, who was the pastor of the church in Ephesus). The city of Ephesus was known for its temple to Artemis, a false Greek / Roman goddess. Women were the authority in the worship of Artemis. However, the book of 1 Timothy nowhere mentions Artemis, nor does Paul mention Artemis worship as a reason for the restrictions in 1 Timothy 2:11-12.

A third common objection is that Paul is only referring to husbands and wives, not men and women in general. The Greek words in the passage could refer to husbands and wives. However, the basic meaning of the words refers to men and women. Further, the same Greek words are used in verses 8-10. Are only husbands to lift up holy hands in prayer without anger and disputing (verse 8)? Are only wives to dress modestly, have good deeds, and worship God (verses 9-10)? Of course not. Verses 8-10 clearly refer to all men and women, not only husbands and wives. There is nothing in the context that would indicate a switch to husbands and wives in verses 11-14.

Yet another frequent objection to this interpretation of women pastors / preachers is in relation to women who held positions of leadership in the Bible, specifically Miriam, Deborah, Huldah in the Old Testament and Priscilla, Phoebe in the New Testament. This objection fails to note some significant factors. In relation to Deborah, she was the only female judge amongst 13 male judges. In relation to Huldah, she was the only female prophet among dozens of male prophets mentioned in the Bible. Miriam's only connection to leadership was due to her being the sister of Moses and Aaron. The two most prominent women in the times of the Kings were Athaliah and Jezebel - hardly examples of godly female leadership. Most significantly, though, the authority of women in the Old Testament is not relevant to the issue. The Book of 1 Timothy and the other Pastoral Epistles presents a new paradigm for the Church, the body of Christ, and that paradigm involves the authority structure for the Church, not for the nation of Israel or any other Old Testament entity.

In the Book of Acts, chapter 18, Priscilla and Aquila are presented as faithful ministers for Christ. Priscilla's name is mentioned first, likely indicating that she was more "prominent" in ministry than her husband. However, Priscilla is nowhere described as participating in a ministry activity that is in contradiction to 1 Timothy 2:11-14. Priscilla and Aquila brought Apollos into their home and they both discipled him, explaining the Word of God to him more accurately (Acts 18:26).

In Romans 16:1, even if Phoebe is considered a "deaconess" instead of a "servant," that does not indicate that Phoebe was a teacher in the church. "Able to teach" is given as a qualification for elders, but not deacons (1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:6-9). Elders / bishops / deacons are described as the "husband of one wife," "a man whose children believe," and "men worthy of respect." Clearly the indication is that these qualifications refer to men. In addition, in 1 Timothy 3:1-13 and Titus 1:6-9, masculine pronouns are used exclusively to refer to elders / bishops / deacons.

The structure of 1 Timothy 2:11-14 makes the "reason" perfectly clear. Verse 13 begins with "for" and gives the "cause" of what Paul stated in verses 11-12. Why should women not teach or have authority over men? Because "Adam was created first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived." That is the reason. God created Adam first and then created Eve to be a "helper" for Adam. This order of Creation has universal application in the family (Ephesians 5:22-33) and the church. The fact that Eve was deceived is also given as a reason for women not serving as pastors or having spiritual authority over men. This leads some to believe that women should not teach because they are more easily deceived. That concept is debatable, but if women are more easily deceived, why should they be allowed to teach children (who are easily deceived) and other women (who are supposedly more easily deceived)? That is not what the text says. Women are not to teach men or have spiritual authority over men because Eve was deceived. As a result, God has given men the primary teaching authority in the church.

Women excel in gifts of hospitality, mercy, teaching and helps. Much of the ministry of the church depends on women. Women in the church are not restricted to public praying or prophesying (1 Corinthians 11:5), only to having spiritual teaching authority over men. The Bible nowhere restricts women from exercising the gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12). Women, just as much as men, are called to minister to others, to demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), and to proclaim the Gospel to the lost (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; 1 Peter 3:15).

God has ordained that only men are to serve in positions of spiritual teaching authority in the church. This is not because men are necessarily better teachers, or because women are inferior or less intelligent (which is not the case). It is simply the way God designed the church to function. Men are to set the example in spiritual leadership—in their lives and through their words. Women are to take a less authoritative role. Women are encouraged to teach other women (Titus 2:3-5). The Bible also does not restrict women from teaching children. The only activity women are restricted from is teaching men or having spiritual authority over them. This logically would include women serving as pastors / preachers. This does not make women less important, by any means, but rather gives them a ministry focus more in agreement with how God has gifted them.

What does the bible say about tattoos, good or bad?

Tattoos are on everyone today. Well at least it seems like it, I mean seriously, today not only do Bikers and Sailors have them but also Doctors, Lawyers, Politicians, and yes, even Pastors. In the past they had very specific meaning but today it seems tattoos have personal meaning to the person with them and most people like them because they look cool. As you might know we as Christians have turned from ourselves and our sin (or anything that is against God) to worship the Living God through Jesus Christ and now that we have turned to follow God, He has also Given us His Word (the Bible) to teach us about how we can follow Him. This question comes from a person that desires to follow God though His Word, so this is a Great question! Now let’s take a look at what the Bible says about tattoos.
The Bible mentions the marking of our bodies in two places. One of those places is in the Book of Revelation and that refers to the Mark of the Beast or a mark that people will have the option to take that will allow them to buy and sell goods during the time of tribulation (the end of the World, see Revelation 13:6). Now we don’t have to worry about that one as Christians because we will not be on earth during that time. We will have been taken to Heaven at the Rapture (see 1 Thessalonians 4:16-5:2). Because Christians will not be on earth when this takes place the only verse that mentions tattoos that would apply to us is found in Leviticus 19:28 which says, “Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD.”
Now at first glance it would seem that we are not supposed to get tattoos but, as you know Bible students, we must always read the Bible in its original context. Now let’s take a look at that verse with its surrounding verses in Leviticus 19:26-30 which says “Do not eat any meat with the blood still in it. Do not practice divination or sorcery. Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard. Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD. Do not degrade your daughter by making her a prostitute, or the land will turn to prostitution and be filled with wickedness. Observe my Sabbaths and have reverence for my sanctuary. I am the LORD.” When we look at the surrounding verses we see that God was instructing the Jewish people to be set apart from other pagan religions. These pagan religions had tattooing and cutting the edges of their beards as religious practices. So if we used this verse to say that tattooing is wrong we must then say that so is trimming your beard! Tattooing in itself was not wrong it was its association with idols and pagan religions that made it bad. In today’s culture in America this is not the case so it is not really possible (according to the Bible) to say that tattoos are a sin in today’s society.
That being said I would like to point out a verse that might helps us address this question in closing. 1 Cor. 6:12, "All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything." We must remember that in Christ we are a new creation and that we have been justified by God through Jesus sacrifice on the cross. This makes everything lawful for a Christian but that does not mean that it is profitable. Now let me share my opinion for what it is worth (you decide). I myself have many tattoos and like them very much but as I have matured in Christ I wish I had never got them. Not because I regret there design (in fact some of them are Bible verses) but because I want my life to be a spectacle to the World so that they might see the wonders on my Savior and Lord, Jesus. There are people that recognize tattoos as being “ungodly” (which I disagree with) but I would be sad if my tattoos ever prevented me from ministering to someone in the name of Jesus. I understand that God could also use tattoos to minister to people but I can still minister to people with tattoos if I myself had none. So, if you are a Christian and thinking of getting a tattoo ask yourself if you could live with it for the rest of your life, but also ask if it is a good witness for Jesus Christ.

What does the Bible say about abortion? Not murder but abortion or killing unborn children?

The Bible never specifically addresses the issue of abortion. However, there are numerous teachings in Scripture that make it abundantly clear what God’s view of abortion is. Jeremiah 1:5 tells us that God knows us before He knits us in the womb. Psalm 139:13-16 speaks of God’s active role in our creation and formation in the womb. Exodus 21:22-25 prescribes the same penalty for someone who causes the death of a baby in the womb as the penalty for someone who commits murder. This clearly indicates that God considers a baby in the womb as just as much of a human being as a full-grown adult. For the Christian, abortion is not a matter of a woman’s right to choose. It is a matter of the life or death of a human being made in God’s image (Genesis 1:26-27; 9:6).

The first argument that always arises against the Christian stance on abortion is, “What about cases of rape and/or incest?” As horrible as it would be to become pregnant as a result of rape and/or incest, does that make the murder of a baby the answer? Two wrongs do not make a right. The child who is a result of rape/incest could be given up for adoption to a loving family unable to have children on their own – or the child could be raised by its mother. Again, the baby should not be punished for the evil acts of its father.

The second argument that usually arises against the Christian stance on abortion is, “What about when the life of the mother is at risk?” Honestly, this is the most difficult question to answer on the issue of abortion. First, let’s remember that this situation is the reason behind less than one-tenth of one percent of the abortions done in the world today. Far more women have an abortion because they do not want to “ruin their body” than women who have an abortion to save their own lives. Second, let’s remember that God is a God of miracles. He can preserve the life of a mother and a child despite all the medical odds being against it. Third, it is never medically necessary to intentionally kill a baby inside the mother's womb. There is a vast difference between trying to save a mother's life, resulting in a baby's death, and intentionally ending the life of a baby in a mother's womb. Ultimately, though, this question can only be decided between a husband, wife, and God. Any couple facing this extremely difficult situation should pray to the Lord for wisdom (James 1:5) as to what He would have them to do.

Over 95% of the abortions performed in the world today are with women who simply do not want to have a baby. Less than 5% of abortions in the world today are for the reasons of rape, incest, or the mother's health at risk. This is an utmost evil. Even in the more difficult 5% of instances (rape, incest, life of mother at risk), abortion should never be the first option. The life of a human being in the womb is worth every effort to allow a full-term birthing process.

For those who have had an abortion – the sin of abortion is no less forgivable than any other sin. Through faith in Christ, any and all sins can be forgiven (John 3:16; Romans 8:1; Colossians 1:14). A woman who has had an abortion, or a man who has encouraged an abortion, or even a doctor who has performed one – all can be forgiven by faith in Jesus Christ.

Is it bad to smoke marijuana? Should we stop as Christian's? Will effect our relationship with the Lord?

The Bible does not directly address any form of illicit drug use. There are no express prohibitions against cocaine, heroin, ecstasy (MDMA), or methamphetamines (Meth). There is no mention of marijuana, peyote, magic mushrooms, or acid (LSD). Nothing is said about huffing, snorting, dropping, smoking, shooting, licking, or any other method of ingestion. This is not to say, however, that recreational drug use is permissible. On the contrary, there are several very clear biblical principles that place drug use well outside the realm of acceptable behavior.

To begin with, Christians are under a universal mandate to respect and obey the laws of the land (Deuteronomy 17:2; Ecclesiastes 8:2-5; Matthew 22:21; 23:2-3; Romans 13:1-7; Titus 3:1; 1 Peter 2:13-17; 2 Peter 2:9-11). The ONLY instance in which we are allowed to disobey the laws of the land is when the laws violate any divine imperatives (Daniel 3 and 6; Acts 5:29). There are no other exceptions to this rule. Contrary to popular belief, simply disagreeing with a law does not constitute a license for breaking that law.

Many have argued that marijuana does not warrant prohibition. They contend that smoking pot in defiance of the law is justifiable on these grounds and in light of (what they perceive to be) the hypocrisy of outlawing weed while allowing nicotine and alcohol consumption. Those who argue this point may be sincere in their conviction, but they are mistaken nonetheless. Heartfelt disdain for the law does not justify impunity towards it, as our Lord Himself made clear. While rebuking the Pharisees for turning the Law of Moses into an excessively oppressive yoke, Christ still required His disciples to submit to their unfairly harsh demands (Matthew 23:1-36, especially 1-4). Dutiful submission to authority and patient perseverance through unjust suffering and/or perceived unfairness (1 Peter 2:18-23) is God’s high standard for us – even if that means having to abstain from marijuana in compliance with “unfair” legislation.

Not only are we to submit to authority for submission’s sake, born-again Christians are further constrained by a mandate to live above reproach for the sake of the Gospel (1 Corinthians 10:32; 2 Corinthians 4:2; 6:3; Titus 2:1-8; 2 Peter 3:14). Needless to say, criminality is highly reproachable.

Obviously this first principle does not impact drug users living in nations like the Netherlands where recreational drug use is legal and permissible. There are, however, more universally applicable principles. For example, Christians are all required to be good stewards of what God has entrusted to us, regardless of our national identity (Matthew 25:13-30). This includes our earthly bodies. Unfortunately, illicit drug use is an extremely effective way to destroy your health, not just physically, but mentally and emotionally as well.

Beyond stewardship, as Christians our bodies are not our own. We “have been bought with a price” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20), not “with perishable things like silver or gold . . . but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ” (1 Peter 1:17-19). Having bought us with His own life, Christ has delighted to create in us something entirely new, something somewhat bizarre. By indwelling us with His Spirit He has turned us into organic temples of sorts. So now, caring for our health is not just a matter of good stewardship. It is a matter of reverential piety. To pollute or harm our bodies is to desecrate the House of God (1 Corinthians 3:16-17). This is both wondrous and terrifying.

Another biblical principle concerns our susceptibility to deception. As fallible creatures we are prone to delusion. And being as we are the objects of God’s intense affection, His enemies are our enemies. This includes THE enemy, the Devil, the father of lies (John 8:44), a most formidable and determined adversary. All of the apostolic exhortations to remain sober-minded and alert (1 Corinthians 15:34; 1 Thessalonians 5:4-8; 2 Timothy 4:5; 1 Peter 1:13; 4:7; 5:8), are designed to remind us that we must be vigilant against the wiles of the Devil (1 Peter 5:8) who seeks to ensnare us through deception. Sobriety is also important for prayer (1 Peter 4:7), as is obedience to God (Isaiah 1:10-17).

In summary, the Bible teaches us that, “denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world” (Titus 2:12).

I wanted to know if it's ok to donate blood?

Obviously, since the Bible was written at a time when giving blood was impossible, the Bible does not directly address this question. Since the Bible does not specifically say, a decision of this nature can only be made between a person and God. We should prayerfully consider what God would have us do in regards to giving blood to help others. If we feel led to give blood, then there is no reason we should not. If we do not feel led to give blood we should not feel guilty about it and should not allow ourselves to be coerced.

It should be noted that the Jehovah’s Witnesses refuse to donate blood or receive blood transfusions because of a misinterpretation of Acts 15:28-30 in which the Apostle James tells the Christians in Jerusalem to explain to the Gentile converts the prohibitions regarding foods they were to avoid: “You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals” (v. 29). This was based on the dietary laws from Genesis 9:4; Leviticus 3:17; 7:26; 17:12-14; 19:26; Deuteronomy 12:16,23; 15:23; 1 Samuel 14:34 and Ezekiel 33:25). The Jehovah’s Witnesses have taken the phrase “abstain…from blood” completely out of context and applied it to blood transfusions, an interpretation which was clearly not intended.

(From a young member...) Did Dinosaurs Really Exist?

According to the Bible dinosaurs first existed around 6,000 years ago. God made the dinosaurs, along with the other land animals, on Day Six of the Creation Week (Gen. 1:20–25, 31). Adam and Eve were also made on Day Six—so dinosaurs lived at the same time as people, not separated by eons of time. Dinosaurs could not have died out before people appeared, because dinosaurs had not previously existed, and death, bloodshed, disease and suffering are a result of Adam’s sin (Rom. 5:12,14, 1 Cor. 15:21–22).

Representatives of all the kinds of air-breathing land animals, including the dinosaur kinds, went on board Noah’s Ark. All those left outside the Ark died in the cataclysmic circumstances of the Flood—many of their remains became fossils.

After the Flood (around 4,500 years ago), the remnant of the land animals, including dinosaurs, came off the Ark and lived in the present world, along with people. Because of sin, the judgments of the Curse and the Flood have greatly changed the Earth. Post-Flood climatic change, lack of food, disease, and man’s activities caused many types of animals to become extinct. The dinosaurs, like many other creatures, died out.

The Hebrew word commonly translated ‘dragon’ in the KJV (Hebrew: tan, tannin, tannim, tannoth) appears in the Old Testament some 30 times. There are passages in the Bible about ‘dragons’ that lived on the land: ‘he [Nebuchadnezzar] has swallowed me like a dragon’ (Jer. 51:34), ‘the dragons of the wilderness’ (Mal. 1:3). Many Biblical creationists believe that in many contexts these could refer to what we now call dinosaurs. Indeed, Strong’s Concordance lists ‘dinosaur’ as one of the meanings of tannin/m.

In Genesis 1:21, the Bible says: ‘And God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarmed, after their kind.’ The Hebrew word here for ‘sea monsters’ (‘whales’ in KJV) is the word translated elsewhere as ‘dragon’ (Hebrew: tannin). So, in the first chapter of the first book of the Bible, God may be describing the great sea dragons (sea-dwelling dinosaur-type animals) He created.

There are other Bible passages about dragons that lived in the sea: ‘the dragons in the waters’ (Psalm 74:13), ‘and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea’ (Isa. 27:1). Though the word ‘dinosaur’ strictly refers to animals that lived on the land, the sea reptiles and flying reptiles are often grouped with the dinosaurs. The sea-dragons could have included dinosaur-type animals such as the Mosasaurus.

Job 41 describes a great animal that lived in the sea, Leviathan, that even breathed fire. This ‘dragon’ may have been something like the mighty 55-foot (17 m) long Kronosaurus, or the 82-foot (25 m) long Liopleurodon.

There is also mention of a flying serpent in the Bible: the ‘fiery flying serpent’ (Isa. 30:6). This could be a reference to one of the pterodactyls, which are popularly thought of as flying dinosaurs, such as the Pteranodon, Rhamphorhynchus or Ornithocheirus.

In the book of Genesis it reads...

In the book of Genesis 1:27 it reads...
"So God created human beings in his own image."
My question is does that mean God created us in his image in appearance ( humanoid)? , In his image as far as qualities( soul,knowledge)? or both?



On the last day of creation, God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness” (Genesis 1:26). Thus, He finished His work with a “personal touch.” God formed man from the dust and gave him life by sharing His own breath (Genesis 2:7). Accordingly, man is unique among all God’s creations, having both a material (body) and an immaterial (soul / spirit) part.

Having the “image” or “likeness” of God means, in the simplest terms, that we were made to resemble God. Adam did not resemble God in the sense of God’s having flesh and blood. Scripture says that “God is a spirit” (John 4:24) and therefore exists without a body. However, Adam’s body did mirror the life of God, insofar as it was created in perfect health and was not subject to death.

The image of God refers to the immaterial part of man. It sets man apart from the animal world, fits him for the “dominion” God intended (Genesis 1:28), and enables him to commune with his Maker. It is a likeness mentally, morally, and socially.

Mentally, man was created as a rational, volitional agent—in other words, man can reason and man can choose. This is a reflection of God’s intellect and freedom. Any time someone invents a machine, writes a book, paints a landscape, enjoys a symphony, calculates a sum, or names a pet, he or she is proclaiming the fact that we are made in God’s image.

Morally, man was created in righteousness and perfect innocence, a reflection of God’s holiness. God saw all that He had made (mankind included) and called it “very good” (Genesis 1:31). Our conscience or “moral compass” is a vestige of that original state. Whenever someone writes a law, recoils from evil, praises good behavior, or feels guilty, he is confirming the fact that we are made in God’s own image.

Socially, man was created for fellowship. This reflects God's triune nature and His love. In Eden, man’s primary relationship was with God (Genesis 3:8 implies fellowship with God), and God made the first woman because “it is not good that the man should be alone” (Genesis 2:18). Every time someone marries a wife, makes a friend, hugs a child, or attends a church, he is demonstrating the fact that we are made in the likeness of God.

Part of being made in God’s image means that Adam had the capacity to make free choices. Although he was given a righteous nature, Adam made an evil choice to rebel against his Maker. In so doing, Adam marred the image of God within himself, and he passed that damaged likeness on to all his children, including us (Romans 5:12). Today, we still bear the image of God (James 3:9), but we also bear the scars of sin. Mentally, morally, socially, and physically, we show the effects.

The good news is that, when God redeems an individual, He begins to restore the original image of God, creating “the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness” (Ephesians 4:24; see also Colossians 3:10).

Do you think God has mercy on people who are gay...?

Do you think God has mercy on people who are gay because of being molested and traumatized as children? Do you think if they believe they love Jesus but ignore that command they will enter into Heaven because of God's mercy?



That is a great question. In order to answer that question we need to first define why the Bible say’s people become gay, or commit any other sin for that matter. I would first like to start out by saying that God does not single out gay people to bring his wrath to. Rather His wrath is death and death is the penalty of sin. In other words sin is any thought or action that breaks Gods Law (1 Corinthians 15:56). Now I know that in the past some Christians have demonized people that are homosexual and that is a shame, so let’s level the playing field if you would. So to level this field we must point out that we don’t all sin in the same way but we all sin and in Gods economy all sin is equal (James 2:10). “What do you mean we all sin,?” You might ask? Well the Bible says in Romans 2:15 that Gods Law is written on our hearts and that our consciences bears witness to this. An example would be that we all know lying is wrong. How do we know this? Well it is because it is written on our hearts by God and it is also written down in His word which is the Bible. This now leads us to ask the question why do we then break God’s Law? We find the answer to this question in Romans Chapter 1. Romans one tells us that God’s attributes or characteristics and power are clearly seen through His creation and this is done so that we would worship Him (Romans 1:20). But instead of worshiping God our foolish hearts were darkened (by our own desires) and we began to worship the creation rather than the creator (Romans 1:25). And as we do this God then gives us over (because we chose it) to the lust of our hearts (Romans 1:24), degrading passions (Romans 1:26), and a depraved mind (Romans 1:28). The result of all these things is ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS (Romans 1:29) which includes being gay (Romans 1:27). Now life is difficult at times and we are faced with situations that are harmful to us and sometimes the things that harm us can lead us to even more destructive behavior. Molestation is a traumatizing and horrible act that wrecks many lives and that is a fact. But it is also a fact that those who believe in Jesus have been born again (John 3:3) and we are a new creation in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17). We have been made new but it is for a purpose and that purpose is to do good works for Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:10). Someone who is born again cannot ignore Gods commands because the Bible says that God is working in us to conform us to His will (Hebrews 13:2) and we know His will is not homosexuality or any other sin for that matter. Christians are a new creation in Jesus and our old self is dead and we are to walk in the newness of life. So because we are in Christ and a new creation we do not go on sinning they way we did before we knew Jesus and that is evidence of our salvation. In closing 1 John 3:4-10 say’s this about those who go on sinning and proclaim to be Christians:



“Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him. Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.”



If we are truly born again we cannot go on sinning or we do not live in it, although we stumble at times.

Why do bad things happen to good people?

First of all, it is possible that God has reasons for allowing evil to exist that we simply cannot understand. In this the Christian can have confidence in God knowing that His ways are above our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). As the Bible says, the just shall live by faith (Hab. 2:4).

Second, God may be letting evil run its course in order to prove that evil is evil and that suffering, which is the unfortunate product of evil, is further proof that anything contrary to God’s will is bad, harmful, painful, and leads to death.

God gave Adam dominion over the world (Gen. 1:28). When he rebelled against God, he set in motion an entire series of events and changed the very nature of man and creation. Both were affected by sin. Creation was no longer a paradise, but bore thorns and thistles (Gen. 3:17-18; Rom. 8:22). People became sinful (Rom. 5:12; Eph. 2:3), who were haters of God (Rom. 3:19-12), etc. The only conclusion to such a situation is death. Jesus said, "And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened" (Matt. 24:22).

Sin is rebellion against God and His created order. But God has not left us alone in this fallen world. He continued to enter this world, pointing us to Himself, to truth, to morality, purity, and love. He used the evil of the world (liars, perjurers, the envious, etc), to bring His Son to the cross so that we might have the opportunity of eternal life. In this, God has not stepped away from fallen creation, but has stepped into it by becoming Jesus. God works within the fallen world to affect change and He uses fallen people to accomplish His will. In this, He is proving His sovereignty over evil, suffering, and rebellious people, proving that sin and evil are utterly futile, and that He is worthy of honor and glory.

A third possible reason it is quite possible that God uses the suffering to do good. In other words, He produces patience through tribulation (Rom. 5:3). Or He may desire to save someone through it. Take for example, the account of Joseph who was sold into slavery by His brothers. What they did was wrong and Joseph suffered greatly for it. But, later, God raised up Joseph in Egypt to make provisions for the people of that land during the coming drought of seven years. But not only was Egypt saved, but also so was his family and brothers who originally sold him into slavery. Joseph finally says to them, "You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good" (Gen. 50:15-21). Of course, the greatest example of God using evil for good is the death of Christ. Evil people brought him to the cross, but God used that cross as the means to save the world.

But then we must ask, if this is true, are we working against God by working against evil and suffering? No, we are not. God says he does not want us to sin and suffer. But it is simply true that God can use evil despite of its apparent despicable nature.

God is in the world using the world and its failures for His glory and the benefit of those who listen to Him. But then, what about those who seem to innocently suffer with no benefit resulting? What about the woman who is raped, or the innocent by stander who is killed by a stray bullet. In both cases, the victims and families suffer nothing but pain and loss. What good can this possibly be?

I think that the answer is two-fold. One, ultimately, no one is innocent. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23) and are by nature children of wrath (Eph. 2:3). There is none innocent. Though this is biblically accurate, it does not satisfy the question emotionally. Why do little babies suffer for things they have not done? I must acknowledge that I do not know. Ultimately, we must trust God who knows the beginning from the end and sees the grand picture. He will have the final word and He will be vindicated.

Conclusion

Suffering is the result of human sin. The world is not the way that God created it and because of that, all are vulnerable to the affects of sin in the world. Why does one person suffer and another does not? Why do catastrophes happen to some and no others? It is because sin is in the world. But there will come a day when the Lord will return and cleanse this world of all sin and all suffering.

"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away" (Rev. 21:4).