Any books debunking the bible?

Question: Are there any books written on the Bible's flaws and show how the parts that were made up?

My Reply:

DiVinci Code....oh wait, the Bible and historical records proved that book to be a fluke.

I'll tell you what...check into this book:

"Evidence for Christianity" by Josh McDowell.  It's a long book (700-some pages), and it's an educated-read, but it's full of historical evidences for the Christian faith...and it also talks about the books used in making the Bible, the books left out, the historical evidences discovered that prove the Biblical accounts, etc.  Also, it's not all just from a Christian point of view, for it has several (and many) mentions from secular journalists, historians, etc.  I think you'd like it.
 It's soft cover, medium-sized, and really thick, about $15 anywhere, and totally worth the read.

 

McDowell, Josh, "Evidence for Christianity: Historical Evidences for the Christian Faith", Thomas Nelson, Inc., 2006.

---Pastor Andy G.

Good Bible Reads For Teen Issues?

Question:

I’ve been going through some things lately (teenage things), like betrayal, boys, family problems, and yes, sex, (but I am a virgin) :)

I was just wondering if you could tell me some good passages for me to read in the Bible, or chapters or whatever you call them?  I just feel like God is the only one that can help me.

My Reply:

First of all, congratulations on keeping your virginity!  Such can be difficult to do these days as a teen.
I have some suggestions for good Bible reads (they're long ones), but I'd suggest reading Psalm 22 first, then Psalm 139.

---Pastor Andy G.

Jehovah's Witnesses versus Atheists

Question:
What is the difference between Jehovah's Witnesses and Atheists? Don't they both NOT believe in God?

My Reply:
JW's believe in "a" god, and believe they are the only ones who are worshiping the correct God (the Lord in the Bible). Yet they misinterpret the Bible and choose to skip over the scripture/passages that don't agree with their beliefs.

So technically speaking, JWs are not Christians, for they separate themselves from Christians and recognize them/us as subjects for conversion to their (mis)understandings.  But JWs are also not Atheists, for they do believe in "a" God.  Some even claim Christ's name, but focus more on His teachings for good works than His doings and free gift of salvation.  Here's a good link to help understand more about JWs.

Atheists, on the other hand, have CHOSEN not to believe in (a) God at all. It's not that they don't know, for those are "agnostics". And it's not that they're trying to find out, for those are "seekers".  Atheists are people who CHOOSE not to know, while also rejecting and fighting everything that points to the possibility of God's existence.  Here's a good link to help understand more about Atheism.

---Pastor Andy

Should I Buy the Old or New Testament First (audio format)?

Question:
I am buying the scriptures on CD and listening to them on my to and from work. I am almost done listening to the Book of Mormon. I am going to buy my next set of CD's in a few days. 

Which would be best to listen to first, the Old or New Testament?  I have studied all the books of scriptures when I was a teen.

My Reply:

I'd suggest getting both, actually.
When I first started off reading the Holy Scriptures, I first read the New Testament. Afterwards, I commented that it was actually a little difficult to understand everything, due to there being so much reference to the Old Testament.

So why not go with the Old Testament first? Because I've also found that it's easier to understand the Old Testament once your eyes have been opened to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the letters in the New Testament.  In other words, in order to better understand one, you need to read the other.  It's like only buying half of a novel.  You can't understand any of it if you don't have all of it.

Since you have yet to read any of them, I'd suggest you begin with the Gospels in the New Testament. But once finished with the New Testament, listen also to the Old.

---Pastor Andy

A little about "Dear Pastor Andy"

The other day, I received a comment. I would just publish it in the comment section, but I prematurely deleted it.   After praying about it some more, I came to the decision of responding to it in a main post.  The responder's name was not given.

Question:
The "Questions" that you respond to seem like they are fabricated by you. Also, you use the Bible to back every answer you give.  Not everyone considers the Bible to be fact, therefore you are only preaching to the choir and nobody else. People who are on the fence of believing/non-believing will be scared off by your lack of common sense.
Also, stop selling yourself out to advertisements like the Kindle. 


My Reply:
First, I would like to thank your for your comments and suggestions (this was the second one).  I'll answer each question separately:

1. "Fabricated questions": I assure you, the questions asked on here are not fabricated, but actual questions that have been asked to me throughout my 15+ years in ministry.
2. Preaching to the choir: Sure, maybe for some questions, but trust me, the choir still needs preaching to, also.
3. The Bible is my only resource: Actually, the Bible's not my only source, but it is my main source. That's because the Bible is where the Truth is. Most of the questions on here are about God, and for such questions, the Bible is the only place for the correct answer (unless of course we're talking about archaeology, research, or physical evidences, whereas I'll often refer back to other books also, then list them below). You'll also notice I often share personal experiences and testimonies. Now there are some questions on here not pertaining to God or the Bible, and yes, I do reply with reference to God's Word. But this should be expected from "Another source for answers about God, Jesus, Christianity, the Bible, Theology, and life" and the host of the site being a Pastor (or any devout Christian). In other words, since Jesus is the center of my life, everything answered here is done so through the lens of the Bible and from a Christian perspective. Now, you are correct in saying that many today don't believe the Bible as Truth (and unfortunately, this is true even among many within the Church itself), and this IS a HUGE problem (and an issue I've been fighting in the Church for some time). But regardless of what people believe, the Bible IS still the Truth.
4. People on the fence / non-believers: If I was Elijah, or the only Christian proclaiming the Word of God, and all the other Christians in the world were hiding in caves, then I can see the need for me to change my approach. But thank God I'm not. With that in mind, each time I post, I pray that readers may be blessed by what they read, or at least that they'll wrestle with it some. Either way, my hope is that if they don't fall to their knees and ask Jesus into their lives at that moment, then they'll either apply my replies, and/or go and get a second opinion from somebody they know (who knows Jesus personally) about what they read from my site, giving God an open door to speak through them, too. I'm also a man of simple, everyday words (which may be why my replies appear so similar to the style of the questions), not fancy, educated words, making it easier for people of many ages and levels of faith (or lack of) to better understand. Also, if you'll notice, a huge number (majority?) of the questions on here are asked by non-believers and people on the fence, most of which ask about the Bible.
5. Too many Kindle Ads: I didn't realize the overkill of Kindle ads. Thank you for pointing that out. I like to include ads for products that I believe in, support, and/or have benefited from myself, and Kindle was one I was very excited about when it was first released. But you make a good point, so you may notice that I've since deleted them (and replaced them with some other products I think my target audience could benefit from). Hopefully it's no longer overkill, but thanks again for pointing that out.

---Pastor Andy

Where Did Cain's Wife Come From?

© 2010 Answers in Genesis

Question: In the bible it talks about Eve bearing 3 sons but it also says that eve and Adam were the only two ever to have no earthly father or mother, so when Cain went to live in nod, where did his wife come from?

My Reply:

Yes, the Bible does talk about Eve bearing 3 sons, but it also tells us that they had many other sons and daughters. And being the 1st parents created, Adam and Eve surely made many and many children!

Remember, Adam lived a really long time, and I doubt they only had 1 child a year...they were commanded to fill the earth with people (paraphrased), so I don't doubt the Lord caused Eve to give birth to like, quintuplets or something, at least several times in her life.
Also, we don't know how old Cain and Abel were when the murder took place...so it could've been well over enough time for other children to grow old enough to move away. 

I used to wonder why Cain was afraid of being killed after being sent away. I read recently that these other sons and daughters no doubt knew their brother Abel. So their wanting to kill their other brother Cain would be due to their knowing of what he did to Abel (or more if he ticked them off beforehand).  So Cain's wife was either a sister, niece, or child of a niece (or child of the child of a niece).  That information though is not explained basically because it's not needed to understand the lineage of the patriarchs, the experiences of God’s people, or the prophesies or lineages connected to the promised Messiah, Jesus Christ.  Plus, everybody connected with Cain died in the flood anyway, so there's no need to go back and figure out her part of Adam's lineage.

---Pastor Andy

Dinosaurs and Smoking Pot

Questions:  I have 2 questions:

1. Are dinosaurs mentioned in the Bible?
2. Is Smoking weed bad? 

My Reply:

Well then I've got 2 answers:

1. Are dinosaurs mentioned in the Bible?  Actually, yes, they are...and there are dinosaurs around today, also.  But the dinosaurs in the Bible weren’t named the same as we know them today.  For you won’t see them mention a Triceratops, whale, or Alligator.  Instead you’ll read names like “big fish, behemoth, or leviathan".  I’ve actually answered a question like this before.
2. As for smoking pot, yes, it's bad.  Granted there are some medical uses for the leaf, smoking it for any other reason can do more damage than good.  And among all those reasons, one you've gotta figure: the reason you get high from natural drugs (those made from plants) is because such plants are armed with a poison of sort, originally meant as a defense mechanism against animals, bugs, and such predators. So yeah, it makes you high, but it's originally on there to keep you away from it.  I’ve actually blogged on pot, and I think you'll get a kick out of it.

---Pastor Andy

I believe in Jesus and God, but I also make a lot of sins

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Question:

My parents don’t go to church, so then I can’t (not SO I cant) but they just don’t go, but they believe.  I tend to sin a lot (never stolen anything, or killed a human, but I tend to lie but I try not to).  I pray a lot and ask for forgiveness.  I’m only 15. Is there a big chance that I go to hell?  I just get worried sometimes.

My Reply:

In the Bible, we're told of a woman who was literally caught in the act of adultery, being brought to Jesus for judgment. After Jesus shamed her accusers, He forgave the woman for her sin. But we have to remember what He said after that: "Go, and sin no more." In other words, I've forgiven you for this sin, now stop doing it.
Liars are not good representations of Jesus, are they? Then stop doing it...don't try to stop...stop!
As for church, I can understand being a Christian and not going to church, but Jesus did call us to be a Christian community, united in Him. If you're not going to church, are you at least meeting with other Christians to worship as a united community?  You need to find a church and get involved. Among the great many things, they also serve to keep us in check, help us from sinning, and support in prayer. Talk to your parents and tell them that you all need to go to a church. It could be near home or a little distance, but you really should go (use Acts 2 if you need).

---Pastor Andy

Recommendations for a book for bible study?

Question:

I'm looking for something that has scripture and maybe questions for discussion. We're a bunch of 20-25 year old girls who meet once a week. Thanks for you help!

My Reply:

In terms of books in the Bible:

My wife & I went through the book of Joshua (Bible), which is a great book for young leaders, teaches to consult the Lord before every big decision, and fulfillments of promises. It also ends with a great note.

Judges was a fun one, also, for in it, God calls several different people (and different kings of people) to serve Him and rescue His people. It also explains that throughout most of the time then, there was no king and so everybody did as they thought was right. So it's a good comparison with issues of the world/Church today.

1 Corinthians seems to touch on many issues that are great discussion-starters, for it talks about problems within the walls of the Church, and among its people. It starts with conflict, goes into bad representation of God, talks about death and resurrection, and even how to worship (or how not to).
(feel free to email me...I've written a Bible Study for it I'd be happy to email you...free, no strings).

Non-Bible books:
-Max Lucado: "Facing Your Giants"
-Gary Chapman: "The 5 Love Languages"
-Lee Strobel: "The Case For..." (faith, Christ, Easter, Christmas...)
-"Influencing Like Jesus"

---Pastor Andy

Faith Alone?

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Question:

Many Christians claim that "faith alone" saves and that there's no need to lead a righteous life.  I just want to ask them all, "are you sure you shall be saved?"  I am more than sure that their case will be worse than that of atheists. They're just using Jesus to promote sin!  They think that a simple faith in Jesus is the greatest thing a person can do on earth; it is by "GRACE" a person is saved and not by "FAITH". If a person is to receive God's grace, he should be righteous and should be following the words of God. By following the words of God alone one can prove his "faith" in God. It is not "knowing" Jesus' sacrifice that saves, but following the path he has shown that leads to salvation by grace of God through Jesus. Unless there is true faith (evidenced by following Jesus' words), no one can attain salvation. God is a righteous God and he loves righteousness.
The criminal who died with Jesus and saved is an example for a person receiving God's grace through repentance. It was his repenting mind that brought him salvation; not his faith. Faith without repentance and obedience means nothing. Hence, do not mislead people by letting them live in sin without fear of God since Jesus has died for them. No one shall be saved that way; the sacrifice of Christ is for those who truly repent and obey God.

My Reply:

My friend, I hear you, but I think you've combined salvation and discipleship into one.  We are saved by grace through faith in Christ Jesus. But it doesn't stop there, and this is what I believe you're arguing.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer has a book called "The Cost of Discipleship", that I think you'll like, for it talks about this. Many Christians today promote what Bonhoeffer calls "cheap grace". They accept Jesus, but continue in their sinful ways. They figure they're saved, nothing can harm them, back to business. But this isn't what salvation's about.
Salvation in Christ is what Bonhoeffer called "costly grace", for to be called by Christ is to be called to come and die...to follow in His footsteps, even to the cross (if needed). 
I did a Bible study the other day where I learned that the word used for Peter's denial of Jesus is the same word that's used for when Jesus said that in order to be His disciple, one must first deny himself.  Same word, same type of denial, same impact.  Those who practice costly grace understand this.  Those who practice cheap grace might say they do this and agree with you, but obviously don't practice it.

James said faith without works is dead, and one of the main frustrations in the early Church was idle Christians. Unfortunately, we still have a similar problem in the Church today.

So yeah, you're on target, but I think you need to reword your question. Check out that book, too (linked below).

---Pastor Andy

I Feel Like I'm Wasting Away

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Dear Pastor Andy, I feel like I'm wasting away my youth/20s, and need advice on how to live it in a more fulfilling way.

OK, this is going to be lengthy. If you get to the end of this and proceed to give me some advice I would like to thank you very much. 

So the story is I'm a 21 year old woman who's gone through some pretty tough times. I was the slightly chubby and extremely awkward girl who had a very difficult time going through puberty. I tried to get over that and spent 2 years of my life (from 14-16) devoted to school. I would call that period in my life achievement #1 . I am probably most proud of myself when considering ambition and drive. It was a thrilling intellectual journey although socially unfulfilling. 
Achievement #2 happened probably from when I was 15 to late 16. I gained more confidence about myself than I ever had before and I finally formed a social group. It was probably one of the happiest moments of my life, having friends and feeling at least comfortable with my looks and etc.
The dark parts happened afterwards and since then I would relate that to being caught in a dark and turbulent tornado, excuse the dramatics but thats really how it was. The truth is I developed a very embarrassing condition in which I was unable to control my flatulence. I attribute all the misgivings from my depression to my suicidal thoughts to my anxiety attack and the pushing away of family, friends, and etc to this very problem. I would go deeper into my sob story but then that would require me to write a novel. 
I know that what I have gone through was necessary, but I do regret spending the those years in which I should've been crazy and living it up... 18, 19, 20, and 21...miserable, depressed, detached and etc etc etc. I have sought help and while I have not been able to figure out exactly what is medically wrong with me, I have somewhat sort of reclaimed enough control where I am able to go to school without too much fear again. Socially though, this mysterious medical problem has left me mentally very weak and worn. I have had to reclaim all those simple things I used to take for granted...like looking people in the eye, or looking your own mother in the eye or making casual conversation with the cashier...or enjoying outings with your friends. Or even feeling relaxed and safe in your own home. I feel tired and sorry that I had to spend all that time so tormented.
My 22nd birthday is approaching and before I know it I'll be 30 and then i'll be 35, 40. I'll wake up one day and there it is. Retirement. I don't want to become an old lady who has spent the majority of her life awkward and miserable. Putting this strange medical problem of mine aside, I really just want a few suggestions on trying to prevent this regret that might creep up on me later in life. 
On a lighter note, there might be an achievement #3. I defied my parents and went to art school. It hasn't really given me or anyone else real fulfillment yet but it's a possibility. If I could take this further and make this a full fledged achievement I would try to create a story or a movie that would move or inspire people in a deep way.
They say you can't have it all, so maybe I'm being greedy. What I want to happen before I turn too old for anything to happen is to be in a loving relationship a couple of times (I have not been in a relationship for obvious reasons), to help others, to be able to find those things I thought I lost...home, comfort, family, true friends..
And a curious thing I have not been able to do is enjoy my feminity. I have always been extremely embarassed about attracting attention whether good or bad, so I haven't been into shopping or having fun being a girl. A lot of times its a question of who I would be dressing up and feeling pretty for? And why. I once tried to dress up and embrace the girlier side in me last year but I got treated pretty horribly by one of my teachers who probably thought I was an airhead who wasn't serious about art school. It's a problem I'd like to fix as I know I won't be young forever and I want to be able to feel beautiful without having that be the only thing that comes across when I communicate with people.

My Reply:

Wow, what a life's journey you've had so far! Granted time is moving fast, you are still only about 22, and have a lot of time before you have to worry about 40 (not that pushing 40 is much to worry about though).
All throughout your life though, all I hear is sadness, and trying to fulfill the void with life's accomplishments. And as you enjoyed some for a little while, the joy never lasted. So you want something to fill your void, and you want direction in your life so you can stop feeling so worthless. Is this right?
Here's what I suggest:
1) Come to know Jesus Christ (I'm serious here). If you've never prayed, then imagine Jesus asking, "How are you today?" Then after you answer, imagine Jesus asking, "No, really...how are you today? Tell me what's going on." Then tell Him everything you just said here (and whatever else you're feeling, experiencing, and fearing). It may feel like you're talking to a wall or thin air at first, but trust me, He's listening to every word.

2) If you don't have a Bible, get one. Any Christian bookstore will have them and anybody at them is more than happy to help you find the perfect one. (They may even help you get started on reading it if you ask.) Carry it with you everywhere. Read a chapter a day from it (anywhere in it), and pray about anything you don't understand.

3) Get connected with a church. You'll need to be around others who know what it's like to have lived a broken life, such as yours, and who've given themselves to Jesus. People who will love you where you're at, and who you won't have to prove yourself to.

How will this help you? 
1) You've got a void that you've tried to fill, but no matter how hard you've tried, can't. Jesus will fill that void permanently, if you ask Him to.
2) You want direction in your life. As you begin to pray, keep your eyes open for daily answers to your prayers. And as you continue to be filled with joy, learn to listen as you pray...prayer is meant to be a 2-way conversation between you and God. So as you ask the Lord for direction and guidance, He'll answer, take you places you've never been, and introduce you to people you never knew.

At the age of 21 (1993), I hit rock bottom. About that same time, I accepted and came to know Jesus Christ. My life's never been the same since, and I'd never go back.

I'll pray for you, too.

---Pastor Andy

What's the difference between the Quran and the Bible?

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My Reply:

A lot of people may think that because both the Bible and the Quran claim the name of God, that they're very much the same.  But there are really a lot of differences between the two.  Some of these differences between the Bible and the Quran are:


-The Bible was written by evangelists and scribes inspired by God.
-The Quran was written by generals inspired by greed, power, and conflict.

-The Bible was written 500 years before the Quran, and speaks of the Truth.
-The Quran was written later, supposedly based upon the Bible, yet contradicts the Bible, even claiming the Bible to be corrupt.

-The Bible tells of Jesus being the Messiah who died on the cross, was resurrected 3 days later, and ascended into Heaven.
-The Quran tells of Jesus falsifying his death on the cross, walking around 3 days later claiming to have died, and of Him ascending into Heaven.

-The Bible's books are categorized in chapter and verse.
-The Quran is categorized only by verse (or is it only by chapter? Or maybe it’s every 10 verses.)

-The Bible has many styles in its writings (letters, prophesy, prayers, history, songs, wisdom, laws, Gospel, etc.)
-The Quran is basically written in the form of the Bible's Proverbs (wisdom), and instructions (do this, not this, accept these people, not those people, trust these people, hate and don’t trust these people, etc.)

-The Bible is the Word of God, telling of God’s history with and among His people.

-The Quran is a word of humans, meant to persuade, advise, and tell of Muhammad’s history among his people.

-Muslims don't consider translations of the Quran holy. Only the original language to them is holy.

-The Bible is Holy regardless of the language it's in (you've also got to figure, God created all languages).

-The Bible is Truth-based.

-The Quran is more opinion/advise-based.

-In the Bible, Jesus says not to trust anyone who comes after Him claiming to be the Messiah, for such will only be false prophets.
-The Quran says to believe Jesus and to trust the Gospels.

…just to name a few.

 ---Pastor Andy

What Happens When We Go To Purgatory?

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Dear Pastor Andy, when does a soul stay in purgatory? For example, if a soul becomes  a ghost, then does that mean it's in purgatory?

My Reply:

First off, let's start with your question about ghosts. Understand, there's no such thing as a friendly ghost or a ghost that used to be human, OK? During and a little after college, a friend and I researched "ghosts". We visited cemeteries at night, went to friends' homes that were haunted, etc. and experienced using our spiritual eyes to sense and "see" them. In my research, I learned that all ghosts are demons, and their goals include tormenting people, causing people to kill themselves, possessing people, deceiving people, and confusing them into believing that God either doesn't exist or is not in full control after all. They didn't do this with me, but it was interesting to listen to other people talk about them as if they were dead children or people from the past who were lost between worlds, or who God lost track of and can't or won't help. And from my own experience in battle against them, they're totally evil, completely empty of any goodness, and cold.

The Bible (both testaments) also talks about demons and what they do, and nowhere do we read of them being friendly or former, dead people - they're always referred to as fallen angels, unclean spirits (again though, not previously sinful people), tormenting spirits, evil spirits (and similar names), and demons. They are fallen, evil angels that followed Satan's rebellion against God and lost. They've already been judged, and are bitter and even more ticked off because of this, and are now battling against God's people (they've lost their foothold and are now fighting to regain turf). OK, so they're not your former relatives who didn't make it to Heaven.

Now about your question pertaining to Purgatory: I was reading from the "Story of Christianity: Volume 1: The Early Church to the Reformation", and it says that the infamous St. Augustine was the one who originally suggested the possibility of a place of purification for those who died in sin, where they would spend some time before going to Heaven. But Pope Gregory (590-604 A.D.) turned it into doctrine.

The idea is that those who die in the faith and communion of the Roman Catholic Church, but haven't offered satisfaction for all their sins, will go to purgatory before they attain their final salvation, and their living friends and relatives can help them out of purgatory by offering "masses" in their favor. And to claim authority for this, Gregory claimed that the Crucified Christ appeared to him while celebrating mass.

However, nowhere in the Bible does it even suggest such a thing. I mean, the RCC uses Revelation 21:27 ("There shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie..."), but if you keep to the theology of what Christ accomplished on the cross and in His resurrection, as well as keep this text in context, then you understand this verse is talking about those who have accepted Christ and are saved by His shed blood through repentance and faith in Christ - their (our) names "are written in the Lamb's Book of Life". But remember, the Catholicism is a religion based on penance and works, not faith as the Bible teaches.

Now, what about the part about being able to buy the salvation or our relatives stuck in purgatory? I've looked on a couple Catholic websites and one claims that the "stipend" is only $5 bucks, but that some people like to pay more. Either way, it's assumed that they take it from Luke 12:59, where Jesus talks about the need to reconcile with brethren in the faith, and if we don't then they'll surely take us for every penny we have. But the Catholics, as I'm understanding it, took it way out of context and use it as support to this idea of paying to get your relatives' through Purgatory quicker.

Purgatory's not actually accepted by every Christian anymore though, for Protestants rejected it beginning in the 16th century, led by a lawyer-turned-Catholic monk, Martin Luther. Martin Luther is known as the founder of the Christian reformation. His intentions though were to just correct the church's practices, not form a separation or moment. See, in his days (and up to then), the church was corrupt - the Pope in his day threw big parties for his friends, spending almost all the Church's money - and as we've seen already, much of what they pushed wasn't in line with the Scriptures. If you'll look up Martin Luther's 95 thesis, which were complaints against the church, you'll see him mentioning the problems with this that he exposed to the public. But instead of the Pope recognizing the church's wrong and thus repenting and correcting it all, he falsely accused Luther to be a heretic (several others throughout history had attempted to do the same, and they were all burned publicly). And the only reason that Luther escaped prosecution was because of his friends in high places (no doubt from when he was a lawyer).

So to answer your question, Purgatory is NOT real, it's NOT Biblical, and people DO NOT get stuck in it when they die. Its origin came from a (famous) Catholic Bishop (Augustine) and was made doctrine by Pope Gregory in the 4th Century, due to a misunderstanding of the Gospel, and it's currently upheld and supported by the misuse and misinterpretation of Scripture.

Read the Bible daily, take notes, examine yourself often, the church more often, and don't be afraid to ask questions. If their answers go against what Scripture says, pray about it and what you should do. For in the case, the Bible teaches that there's 1 of 2 places to go: Heaven or Hell, but no purgatory. But regardless of which one you go to, you'll be there for all eternity, and the decision of your destination depends on your decision whether or not to follow Christ here in the life.

---Pastor Andy

Confused About Faith and God

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Question:

I want to believe but it's so hard for me to believe in God. A while back I had a lot of faith in my religion (Christianity) and I was the happiest guy in the world because I always felt there was someone who truly loved me no matter what. I would do my best to keep the commandments and in doing so I felt that I was doing the right thing and so no matter how much I would go through I wasn't worried because according to scripture, God would help me get through it. I would even go to church by myself because my mom was an Evangelical Christian and I was LDS so I would sit by myself in church, however I never felt lonely. Recently I lost my faith due to everything that goes on in this world. For example, the Bible says the Earth is only 6,000 years old but I know better than that and I know evolution was the means by which Humans came into existence but then again I had a friend who believed that god used Evolution to create Humanity. In conclusion I don't care if I have to blindly follow my religion because having faith in God made my life soooooooo much better! Even if there is no God I'd rather believe than not. I need advice on how I can gain faith.

My Reply:

So let me get this straight...you were solid in your faith when it came to going through anything in your personal life, and you lost your faith when it came to questions about things outside your life but in the rest of the world?
My friend, I see that your problem was recognizing Christianity as a religion where you had to do things in order to feel holy, and how you feel as your confirmation of God's existence. But being a Christian is about being in a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, and because of this relationship, you are already ARE holy (regardless of how you feel).
There are problems in the world simply because we live in a world tainted by sin. Check here to help with another view on this, as well as other questions: http://www.answersingenesis.org/
The LDS' idea about God and Jesus is also tainted by sin, which may also be what helped you get to where you are now. Have you tried talking with your mom about Jesus? Try reading her Bible (not the book of Mormon). For example, look at John 14:6, and compare that to what the LDS said about Jesus.
To be perfectly honest, if questions about the world are what caused you to fall out of faith, I have to wonder what kept you in the LDS faith for so long?  For example, have you ever seen the golden plates?  History says nobody but Smith has. Have you done research on events and places in the book of Mormon? Archaeology has and continues to prove and give evidence to the Holy Bible and its events, cultures and locations, but nothing has been proven or discovered in terms of the book of Mormon. So what (other than the feeling of God's presence) kept you involved with the church of LDS?  And with so little to base your LDS faith on, why such difficulty in believing in God through Christianity?

---Pastor Andy

Proof of Jesus

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Question:

This question has been unanswerable by Christians, do you have the guts to give this one a straight answer?  Their are like (lets say) 1,000 different religions in the world (actually a lot more). Each religion is no more valid than Harry Potter. In other words, each religion is as invalid as any other religion.
Here's the odd thing, Christians believe that if you choose to believe Jesus, you're saved.  But if you choose another religion to believe in, you're doomed, disregarding all your virtuous acts!
It is the exact same thing as putting 1,000 tennis balls in front of you. The only difference is that each ball is marked with a different number. Only one tennis ball is the correct one (suppose ball 24), if you choose the wrong ball, you're doomed! So basically, Christians believe that by blindly choosing the right ball, you are saved! How hilarious!
And don't tell me that there's any proof to your bible. If you really believe there's proof, then Jesus would've just appeared for everyone to see, but he hasn't!  The truth is that you believe that the Bible is true and every other religion is false with no basis at all. You just choose one ball and make up your mind that it's the correct ball with nothing to back it up.

My Reply:

Interesting analogy with the tennis balls. You're right to say that one would have to be the right one, and all the others would be wrong...at least you acknowledge the existence of A truth. That's further than most critics.
But now, in the case of the balls, let's say #24 is the right ball. Christians aren't the ones blindly choosing the balls, everybody else who believes that all the balls are also true are the ones choosing blindly. We Christians believe the right ball has been revealed to us, and so go to pick that ball.
 Now, as for Jesus appearing before tons of people for them all to see: Jesus actually did, only you weren't there to see it. After His resurrection, He appeared to over 500 people at a time (I don't know if they were all clustered in one place or because He's omni present, He appeared in different places). But the point is, we can say, "Oh, well that's what the Bible says." Yeah, but when the apostles preached and wrote their letters about Jesus' resurrection, those 500+ people were still living, and could've disproved their story at any time. But they didn't. In fact, nobody was able to disprove their message, or even prove them wrong. They could only argue with them to confuse their listeners, which they did.
And it's not only Gospel writers who talk about this, but even secular writers of and just after their time have written about the resurrection, the faith, the followers, the beliefs, and the events that go with them.
Basically, if you don't want to believe in anything about Jesus, then base it on the evidence, not personal disbelief. But the evidence all points to Jesus' resurrection.

Check out Josh McDowell's book: "Evidence of Christianity". It's a long read, but no doubt has some of the answers to your questions explained.  Or if you want a shorter book, then check out Lee Strobel’s book, “The Evidence for Christ”.

---Pastor Andy

God and Forgiveness

Question:

God forgives all sins, but what about a broken covenant?  I know God will forgive us our sins when we repent but what about if you break a covenant...such as getting remarried after a divorce...and you were the one being unfaithful...are you forgiven for committing adultery by getting married again?
After all... a marriage is a covenant between the couple and God...bringing them together as one flesh.

My Reply:

In terms of breaking covenants, the Israelites broke God's covenants time and time again, but the Lord never left them...though they did endure some trials during their time of getting back right with the Lord.
Let's look at scripture:
Remember the woman who was brought to Jesus in John 8:1-11? She was caught literally in the act of adultery. Jesus didn't condemn her, but notice He also told her to sin no more (or don't do this again)...and she was forgiven.
The Apostle Paul also talks on remarriage in 1 Corinthians. Basically, he suggests that the "unmarried" (thought to be those who were divorced) should remain unmarried. But if they're burning with lust, then it's best that they marry. But Paul also says that your new spouse should also be a believer in the faith.
 But it's not in remarriage that you're forgiven, nor is the making of a new covenant to cover up the past broken one a means of setting things right. God demands your heart...He always has. And the fact that you're even asking this question shows that you have every intention of giving it fully to Him.
 I would suggest though, you and your fiance’ engaging in pre-marital counseling by your pastor/priest before marrying, and keeping a Christian counsel throughout your marriage with whom you may consult should doubt or the temptation to cheat ever again arise.

---Pastor Andy

Are Angels Real?

Question: Are angels real? Have you seen one? What was it like?

 My Reply:

Yes, Angels are real.
I'm not sure if I've seen one before, though. I say I'm not sure because there were situations before where somebody out of nowhere helped out, then vanished. I never got a good look at them though. Could it have been an angel? Yeah, I believe so.

The Apostle Paul also mentioned that we may come across angels anytime and never know it.

Can our Leaders ever be Trusted?

Question:
Can character be changed? Can there be a return to good character if one fails Jesus? If so, how? As we look to our future, we know that our leaders will fail us somehow. So should we trust, and if so, what in?

My Reply:
According to the Bible, the only quality of being "good" is accepting and being in a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. All the other stuff you mentioned are nice, but they don't constitute somebody who's "good" in God's eyes, and should thus be judged about the same as those who don't have those characteristics.
The parable of the Prodigal Son tells us that even when we fall away, even far and to the point of basically giving God the middle finger, He's awaiting our return, and when we do, He'll welcome us with open arms, even reinstating us to full-blown heirs.

The Bible tells us that King David was "a man after God's own heart". He was a great leader, but he was also human, and humans fail. Our leaders today: though many are liars, even those who aren't will fail us some time during their time in power, just as David did his people.  I think that looking at the story of Daniel might help in answering your question: Daniel supported his leaders and prayed for them, the kingdom, and himself in serving them. But He believed in and trusted God.  Also in the history of Daniel, his devout loyalty to the Lord influenced many of the kings/leaders and their decisions in leadership.

---Pastor Andy

Why Didn't Jesus Prevent His Own Crucifixion?

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Question:

Jesus turned water into wine and raised Lazarus from the dead. Wouldn't common sense dictate that he turn the crucifix into a horse that he could ride away on and escape or turn the crown of thorns into a more comfortable hat (or at least something along these lines)?
I’m not very learned when it comes to the Bible (I haven’t read it, but I did see Mel Gibson’s movie and have heard several recounts from friends).  But I DO know that whenever Jesus encountered a problem (no wine at his friend’s party, he turned water into wine AND when his friend died he raised him from the dead)…my friend told me that Jesus solves all problems, but it seems that his biggest gaffe was not solving the problem of his own murder!

My Reply:

Although Jesus could have prevented His crucifixion, He didn't because it was the whole reason He came in the first place.
In His crucifixion, He took upon Him the sins of the world (yours, mine, everybody's!). But most of all, He had to be crucified (the worst way of dying in that time, also the most cursed way according to the Hebrew Law) in order to be resurrected, which is His main purpose. It was the only way we could be with Him for all eternity.
So today, people see His crucifixion as weakness, but it was actually Jesus' great strength, for He LET Himself be crucified. Jesus loves us enough and wants us to be with Him so badly that He paid the price that we couldn't pay...it's the power of genuine love.  All we have to do now to actually be with Him is to accept His invitation whole (or broken) -heartedly.

---Pastor Andy

Same Gods In Both Testaments?

Question: Why do I always get argued against when I say that the Jewish God is different from the Christian God?

My Reply:

Probably because the Jewish God is the same as the Christian God...they can't be different, for if so, then Christianity would be void.
Before Nero burned down Rome and blamed it on the Christians, Christianity was actually recognized as a sect of Judaism.  Jesus was a Jew.  I suppose you could say that Christianity is an upgrade from Judaism, since Christianity is its fulfillment.

Also, if you look at the Old Testament, you’ll see that everything points to Jesus Christ and all that happened in the New Testament pertaining to Him and what He did on the cross.

So they're not different gods, but One in the same. If they weren't, then Christianity couldn't be real.

Now, if you were to say that the Muslim god is different from the Christian God (another popular discussion topic), then you would be correct.

---Pastor Andy