Should Christians avoid fantasy literature? I’m a teen girl who loves this genre, especially the works of C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, and George MacDonald. But recently I stumbled across an article that has caused me to wonder whether I’ve been mistaken in this regard. The author said that Christian fantasy/fiction is an …
Faith Q&As
Is it wrong to defend myself if someone attacks me? What does Jesus mean when He says, “I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also” (Matthew 5:39). I’m really confused about this. Am I supposed to take this verse literally?
What’s going to happen to people who have never had an opportunity to believe in Jesus? Will they simply be condemned? All my life I’ve been taught that faith in Christ is the only path to a saving relationship with God. I still believe this, but the older I get the harder it becomes to …
Is it possible that God hates me? In Malachi 1:2-3 the Bible says that God “loved Jacob but hated Esau.” This really upsets me. For one thing, if God hated Esau, how do I know He doesn’t hate me? For another thing, if God is Love, as the New Testament says in I John 4:8, …
What does the Bible have to say about poverty and giving to the poor? I want to have a God-honoring attitude on this matter, but to be honest, as a new Christian I’ve been confused by some of the differing opinions and ideas I’ve heard. Do you consider this kind of activity to be an …
What is a “Christian nation?” I’m increasingly confused on this point. I do think believers should be deeply involved in the political process. As a matter of fact, I’m sick of hearing about “separation of church and state,” and I’d love to see America become more thoroughly “Christian” in every way. At the same time, …
What do theologians mean when they say that God is “without passions”? The other day I was doing some reading and came across this statement. Recently our pastor has been talking about the importance of living out our faith passionately, and now I discover that God Himself has no passions! This has caused me some …
Why should I believe when Christianity is so illogical and so inconsistent with what I observe in the world around me? I grew up in a Christian home, went to a Christian university, married a Christian classmate, and now have a growing family of my own. In spite of all this, I no longer consider …
Can we count on God to provide materially for His faithful children? Philippians 4:19 seems to promise that He always will. I’ve been clinging to this verse since losing my job, but it doesn’t seem to have done me and my family much good. Over the past several months we’ve lost our home, our car, …
Can you suggest any specific Bible passages that might open the eyes of my Muslim spouse to the lordship of Jesus Christ and help our children to grow in their understanding of the Christian faith? My husband has been a Muslim all his life, whereas I was born and raised in a Christian home. To …
As we search for a church to attend regularly, should we give our tithe to the churches we’ve been visiting?
How does the love of Jesus line up with the idea of a God who condemns people to an eternity of suffering? I’d become a believer in a heartbeat if it weren’t for the “mean streak” I find running through so many aspects of the Christian faith. Do you really expect me to give my …
Are Christians really obligated to keep the “law” of the tithe? I hear a lot about tithing from the pulpit of my church, and quite frankly it angers and frustrates me. How does all this fit in with everything Paul says about the new covenant of grace and the Christian’s freedom from the law? Why …
What do you say to someone who says the Bible cannot be true because it was written so long ago and has been translated by too many people into too many languages? Is there any way to be sure that we still have a handle on the message these ancient writings were originally meant to …
Are marriage and sex appropriate images of our relationship with God? While reading an article on Christian marriage I came across what I consider a pretty shocking statement. The writer began by comparing man’s relationship with the Lord to human marriage. Then he went on to say that we must “marry God” and even suggested …
What can you tell me about biofeedback? Does it have any value as a clinical tool or therapeutic technique? What about associated spiritual risks or dangers?
Isn’t a desire for significance or self-importance just another form of sinful human pride? Recently I heard a Christian leader say that God has “planted a hunger for significance in the heart of every human being.” He went on to add that this drive is behind nearly everything we do. I couldn’t help connecting this …
Does Scripture really teach the doctrine of the Trinity? If so, where? I need to know, because I’m having a crisis of faith on this point. Some missionaries from another religious group came to my door and told me that the word “Trinity” never once appears in Scripture. They said that “corrupt” theologians of the …
What’s your perspective on issues like feeding the hungry, fighting abortion, helping the homeless, and working to end slave trafficking? As Christians, shouldn’t we just concentrate on evangelism? I’m a believer, and I sincerely want to “serve my own generation by the will of God” (Acts 13:36). But I also can’t help wondering about some …
Is there any legitimate place for the arts within the biblical worldview, or is it simply a frivolous and “worldly” pursuit? How can we tell good and godly art from bad art? Our daughter is an art student at the university, and we’re worried that she’s just wasting her time and energy. More importantly, we …
