What does genuine biblical “leadership” look like? “Leadership” in general is an idea that seems to be getting a lot of promotion these days. Whether I’m at church, in a bookstore, or at work, it seems the assertion that “everybody needs to be a leader” is always being pushed. I’m not sure if this is …
Family Q&A
Why should I accept Christianity as the “one true religion?” I’m put off by the intolerance of most Christians. I might become a believer myself if you people weren’t so narrow-minded. Can’t you see that there are many different pathways to spirituality – like Hinduism, Buddhism, and Wicca – and that no path is better …
Am I saved by faith or good works? As a new Christian, I was relieved to hear that salvation doesn’t depend on works, but solely on God’s gift of grace. But then someone told me that “faith without works is dead” and that God cares as much about my actions as He does about my …
How is it possible for both men and women to be made in the Divine Image when the Bible speaks of God primarily in masculine terms? I’m wondering if all the talk I’ve been hearing about the biblical basis for equality between the sexes is just an attempt on the part of liberal theologians to …
What do you think about the current emphasis on communal living in some Christian circles? We’re seriously worried about a couple of close friends of ours. Over the past year they’ve become increasingly obsessed with the idea of creating “community.” Now they want us to sell our home, move with them to a rural area, …
How can I regain my childhood faith? I was brought up as a Christian but stopped believing in God a few years ago. More recently, I’ve been feeling as if something is drawing me back to the faith of my childhood. My fear is that this is purely a matter of sentiment and emotion and …
Does God view me as “inherently evil?” I recently heard a pastor use this phrase in a sermon on the doctrine of “total depravity.” It’s been bothering me ever since. In the first place, I think it’s unbiblical. Scripture says that God made mankind in His own image, and that everything He made was inherently …
I heard that Focus on the Family doesn’t recommend gender-neutral Bible translations. What translations does Focus recommend?
How can I get a kid at my school to stop picking on me? He’s constantly harassing me and making my life miserable. Can you tell me what to do about this?
What’s so bad about “Dungeons and Dragons?” My friends and I really enjoy it. We’ve been at it for about a year and a half now. By this time our characters and storyline have become pretty involved and complex. My parents aren’t happy about this. They complain that the game is taking up too much …
Does the Bible really say that gambling is wrong? I realize that it’s one of those activities – like dancing and playing cards – that religious conservatives have traditionally been “against.” But I’m not convinced that there’s any solid biblical basis for their opposition to what I regard as innocuous games of chance.
Do you have any advice for me as I attempt to help my elderly mother protect her financial assets and make sure her wishes will be carried out after her death? Wills, trusts, partnerships, probate, power of attorney — I know next to nothing about them. How should we plan her estate?
Should Christians be involved in lawsuits?
Is there always a risk of suicide in depression? My spouse has struggled with depression on and off for years. She has a prescription for medication, but she doesn’t always take it faithfully. Sometimes she seems so low that I begin to worry that she may harm herself in some way. Do you think I’m …
What are some of the most important financial concerns for a newly single adult with kids?
What do I say to a friend who has had a miscarriage? I can tell she’s really hurting, and I’d like to reach out to her somehow. The problem is, I’m afraid of putting my foot in my mouth. I’ve never been through an experience of that kind myself, so it’s difficult to put myself …
How can I be healed from the sexual trauma I experienced while growing up? Hardly anyone knows that I was a victim of sexual abuse during my childhood and adolescent years – not once, but several times. Now I’m married with children of my own, and to most outsiders I appear to have it all …
Do you have any advice or school recommendations for someone who wants to pursue a career in Christian psychology and counseling? I’m looking for colleges and universities that offer degree programs in this field from a distinctly biblical perspective.
Are the entertainment media really as powerful as we’re often led to believe? The argument is regularly made that violence in society is directly attributable to violence in movies, television, and popular music. Is this really true? I’ll admit that I’m skeptical. It’s hard for me to believe that people actually go out and commit …
Should we let our 16-year-old girl spend time with an older guy? He’s 25 and very involved in our church praise band. For the last year he and my daughter have had a fun brother-sister type relationship. He’s very likeable and held in high esteem at our church, but for some reason my mother’s intuition …
