Family Q&A

Why do Christians need a church wedding and a piece of paper from the state to make their marriage “official”? My girlfriend and I are both dedicated believers and we intend to spend the rest of our lives together. We’ve been wondering why we should bother applying for a marriage license. Isn’t marriage a private, …

What should I do about my boyfriend’s “party friends”? He’s a great guy, and we’re considering a long-term relationship, but he insists on maintaining his connections with this group of people despite the fact that I totally disagree with everything about their lifestyle, behavior, and beliefs. My boyfriend and I try to embrace clean, positive, …

How should I talk to my child about the images of naked women she saw at her dad’s house?

Should we allow our adult son to bring his same-sex partner to family gatherings? This makes us extremely uncomfortable, and we’re also afraid that it may be harmful to the younger children in the family. What do you think we should do?

What should I do if I suspect my teenager might be gay? Our son has always been “different” from his peers, and for as long as his mother and I can remember he’s shown no interest in engaging with members of his own sex – either younger or older. He definitely feels more comfortable spending …

How can I deal with the “baby blues”? The birth of my child was one of the highlights of my life. However, in the weeks since that mountaintop experience I’ve found myself struggling through a dark valley of depression and emotional exhaustion. Is this normal? What can I do about it?

Can I volunteer at your headquarters in Colorado Springs?

Where do I find information about blended/step families?

I just got a pop-up ad when I went to the Focus website. It advertised something I wouldn’t expect Focus to support. Did Focus on the Family originate these ads? How can I stop the ads from popping up?

I’m changing my address. Will I get my next magazine and/or newsletter without interruption?

No Value

What is See You at the Pole? When does it take place?

Where can I find online information about today’s Focus broadcast? And can I hear past shows online?

Can you please remove your Facebook posts from my account?

How do we explain God’s command to slaughter the Canaanites in the Old Testament? I’m a Christian, but I have serious issues with the doctrine of scriptural infallibility, especially where the Old Testament is concerned. I’m particularly disturbed by the accounts of divinely authorized genocide and “Holy War” recorded in Numbers, Deuteronomy, and Joshua. When …

What’s the difference between an “unbeliever” and a person who simply has honest questions about God? I believe in the Bible, and I have often told friends and family that God can do miracles and even raise the dead. Nevertheless, when things get tough, I find it hard to trust in the Lord. Though I …

Where does homemaking fit into the Bible’s teaching on work and labor? I’ve always been happy in my role as a stay-at-home wife and mother. Then I heard a series of messages about the role of productive labor in God’s plan for mankind. Since then I’ve been having doubts. I spend my time preparing meals, …

If God is fair, just, and loving, why is there so much suffering in the world? I want to believe in His goodness, but the injustices of life have convinced me that, if He does exist, He must not care very much about what goes on in this world. Just recently, my neighbor, a good …

If God is all-powerful and all-loving, why doesn’t He do something about the mess on earth? I used to consider myself a person of faith, but the hopeless and sad state of our suffering world has left me questioning whether God cares or even exists. Can you say anything to change my mind?

Why would God “choose” the Jewish People? I’ve tried to examine Christianity with an open mind and give the Bible a fair hearing. Quite frankly though, its whole foundational premise suggesting that the Jews are God’s chosen people seems to discredit the whole religion for me. I mean seriously; a book, written by Jews, claiming …