Do Clones Have Souls?

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Question:

Cloning may still have its "debugging" before it gets to be fully operational, but leave that to the experts, what we tackle here is the spiritual repercussions.  So what do you think, does an entity made to exist through cloning have a soul?

My Reply:

That's a question I've often wondered about, too.
If we look at comics for the answer, I'd look at Spiderman during the cloning series...the clones had "souls", for they each thought they were the real guy.  But then, those may have just been their programmed memories.  Either way, if real-life clones become people, then the question is whether or not they would have souls.  MY thought is that they would, but I'd doubt they'd be connected in any way 
to that of the original, like the TV shows and movies suggest.


The Bible does mention a similar situation in the book of Ezekiel.  The Lord brought him out into the middle of a valley full of dried human bones.  There, God asked Ezekiel if these bones could live.  Do you know what Ezekiel answered?  "Sovereign Lord, you alone know."  Then God rebuilt the bones into bodies, binding them with ligaments, flesh, and skin.  Then God told him to prophesy.  When he did, Scripture says that breath entered them, they came to life, and stood up, a vast army.


Scripture doesn't say whether or not they were really like individual people who continued to live on.  But it was a great visual-aid for helping Ezekiel gain hope and understand the coming Messiah's accomplished work in rebuilding His Kingdom and the sending of the Holy Spirit into His people.


So would a cloned person actually have a spirit/soul in it, would it just be a breathing piece of meat, or would it be as a zombie is a good question.  I think the only answer I can give is, "Sovereign Lord, you alone know."

---Pastor Andy

Do You Believe In Ghosts?

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Question:  Do you believe in ghosts?

My Reply:

Do I believe they exist? Yes. Do I believe in them? No, meaning that they're not ghosts as we know from media or hype...they're demons. There's no such thing as a friendly ghost. Their main goal is to get people to become confused about God, and thus lose their faith in God.

If we believe ghosts are dead people, then we're saying God doesn't know what He's doing, God doesn't see all that goes on, or one may assume that even dead people can continue to torment the living, thus questioning God's promised judgment.
They may tell you things or cause you to believe that they're protecting you. This is also how bad people prey on their victims...they work on them through trust.

My point is, yes, they exist...I know this for a fact. But they're not something to mess with, become interested in, or "believe in".
Demons lie, and have no truth or good in them.

---Pastor Andy

Trying To Figure Out Reincarnation

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Question:

I have heard non-religious folks say that energy doesn’t come from nothing, and that when you die, it is like your energy is released back into the earth. I think many religions with the belief of "reincarnation" actually share this similar idea...in a way, religions with a belief in reincarnation could be sharing fundamental ideas, because in both, there is some sort of cycle, like a recycling of energy.  In reincarnation, it is believed that the energy or soul, or whatever, is concentrated to "reappear" in another body: human, dog, cricket, etc... but what if the energy is actually released equally to the ground, plants, air, etc? Maybe the idea of reincarnation is partly right. What do you think? Do you think this energy releasing thing that non-religious people believe is similar to the reincarnation belief? Thanks.

My Reply:

Do I believe in reincarnation? No.
Do I believe in resurrection?  Yes, but the 2 are not the same (nor are they close).

Hindus believe in reincarnation in the sense that it's not something to glorify, but something to dread, or an ongoing hell. As I understand it, their hope is to one day stop reincarnating and finally go to whatever they consider to be like heaven or something, and the only way they can do this is by selfish works/deeds. As for things you jump into, that's why they often won't kill roaches or eat cows...because they believe such may be former relatives.

New Agers and the non-religious, on the other side, see reincarnation as something to glorify, a continuous of life in the physical world, like the "spark" or "energy” you mentioned. But in terms of things they jump into, instead of hearing that one was a sacrificed dove or squashed bug, you'll usually hear them say they were somebody of valor (or tragedy) in their "past lives".
I suppose they believe this because they can't (or won't) believe in a spiritual God who wants them to spend (a non-worldly) eternity with Him, who offers salvation freely through grace, should they accept it, versus selfish (or charitable) deeds/works. And though some may in fact believe in a spiritual being who is in charge of the way things work, it's not the Lord.

Christians (meaning those of us who have an intimate relationship with God through Jesus Christ), on the other hand, believe in resurrection. We're told that we'll die physically, but spiritually, we'll go to be with the Lord, and one day in the future, our bodies will be resurrected (but as resurrected bodies), as was Jesus' at His resurrection. We also believe that the Body and Spirit are one, not separate as those who believe in reincarnation believe.

So to reincarnate is to become carnate again...return to life in the physical, fleshy world. I suppose this could also mean plants, for even the Native Americans' religions often talked of the spirits of the trees (though I don't think they believed such were spirits of their ancestors).

But resurrection in the Christian sense is to live again, only in a completely non-fleshy world.  And honestly, among the 2, I suggest focusing your attention on this one.

---Pastor Andy

Mother needs advice

Question:

I have a 21 Year old son, and he wants his 18 year old girlfriend to move in my house.  As Christians, what should we do when something like this comes along? I feel like sometimes I am too harsh, but at the same time, I feel like I am doing the right thing since they are not married but want to live together.  HE says that her mother doesn't want her living at her house and she has no place to go.  I have put my foot down and we have gotten into many arguments, but still he has gotten me to give in a few times and I've let her spend the night a couple of times.  And now he says that if I don't let her stay here (live here), he is leaving with her and tells me they have no place to go…should I let him go even if he makes it seem like they have no place to go?

My Reply:

I suggest that first you pray.  I'd also like to suggest talking with the girl's parents. See if the girlfriend's really telling it like it is. It's possible that either she or your son's feelings are clouding their judgment and they're saying this to be together. Maybe her parents really did kick her out, or maybe they didn't. You should find this out before taking her in. And if you do decide to let her in, then talking with her parents may help you learn if there's anything you need to know about her first.
As for your son leaving, I really doubt he'll leave, or if so then not for too long. He's probably bluffing a threat (guilt-trip) to get you to give in.
Remember too, if you should let her in, be sure they understand the rules of the house (you're in charge, what you say goes, separate rooms, not permission for sex, etc.). You should also talk with them about what should happen if they break up. Is she out on the streets, or does she continue to live there? You may also suggest she pay rent for the room and help with costs around the house, since technically speaking, she's not your daughter, she is 18, and she is another mouth to feed…just a thought.
Either way though, pray about it first. And if the Lord suggests these things, then ask Him to go before you in the conversations, preparing for the right time and all.

---Pastor Andy

Cuss at the Devil?

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Question: 

Is it OK to swear at the devil?

My Reply:

Have you ever seen the last Star Wars movie (Return of the Jedi)? At the end, the evil emperor tempted Luke to feed on his anger...look at the hopelessness and do what he can to destroy him (the emperor). He actually coaxed Luke to do it, too. Then Luke grabbed his light saber and attempted to strike him down, only to be stopped by Vader.
I think that swearing at the devil is something he wants us to do...he wants us to get mad at him and want to destroy him, for it feeds our anger to where we lose our focus. Our focus should be on the Lord, and it is HE who will deal with the devil, and has! That's why the devil has no power over you ;)
So what to do when you're ticked at the devil? Look to Jesus in the Gospels for this one...He fought off the devil's temptations and attacks with the truth of scripture.
I also find it's a good idea to not give the devil credit for his works (like giving credit to bin laden...he's proud of it and gladly accepts the credit).
So to answer your question, yeah, it's ok to, but is it good to? I'd suggest keeping your focus on the Lord, and let HIM deal with the devil.

---Pastor Andy

Why Did God Send Jesus?

Question: Why did God send Jesus?

I've never understood why. If He wanted to forgive our sins, why not just forgive them? Why make His son (or Himself, depending on which you think Jesus was) suffer and die so that He could forgive us?

My Reply:

It's all about a relationship with God as it was in the beginning:

1. In the beginning, God walked in the garden with His creation
2. Sin entered the picture, separating us from God.
3. All throughout the Old Testament, God tried wooing His creation back to Him, but everybody continued to push Him away and sinned against Him. (If you'll notice, the prophets and patriarchs had a close relationship with the Lord in the way that Adam and Eve did, but even with Moses, the Lord wanted to communicate with the people, but the people begged Moses to be their mediator instead).
4. The punishment of sin is death. The purpose of the Law was to show us where we sinned, thus bringing us to our knees in repentance and hopes of reconciling the relationship with God. But instead, people lost their hope and passion in trying to fulfill the Law.
5. God sent Jesus to accomplish what we couldn't.
6. Jesus, being the perfect and last blood sacrifice, forgave us of our sins, all the way back to the first one committed.
7. Jesus' resurrection allows us to come to Him through faith in Him.

 The whole point was reconciliation, and also so that we may once again approach Him, and be in the type of relationship that He had with humans as in the beginning.

--To your question of why not just forgive us?  God did forgive the Israelites, MANY times, even when they didn't deserve it. But when they got it, they took advantage of it. You don't take advantage of those you truly love.
God wants us to love Him back. He wants us to be with Him for all eternity, but because we WANT to be with Him. That's what makes salvation so confusing...all you have to do is repent and accept the invitation. But as you can see, many still prefer to reject God.

---Pastor Andy

Do you ever get pissed at Jesus?

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Question:

Do you ever get pissed at Jesus, like when you think about all the death and suffering that has stemmed from "Jesus"?

  

My Reply:

I don't understand the part about it stemming from Jesus, but either way, getting mad at Jesus is OK. Believe it or not, yelling at, cussing out, raising your fist, etc. in anger or frustration can qualify as prayer, for it's communication with God (of course, if you cuss God out, there's no saying how He'll communicate back).  ;)
Check out Psalm 88 sometime and see how David cried out to God in anger and frustration. He really lets God have it! But even his anger soon turned to praise.
Don't be afraid to ask God the hard questions...and no, He doesn't like to be called names, but then, He's God...and He's God enough to take it.

---Pastor Andy

Can Christians forgive the dead past?

Question:  Can Christians forgive the dead past, and if they will not, are they really Christians in the ethical and spiritual sense?  For example, I forgive all the persecutors and murderers and enslavers of my Irish Catholic ancestors who did all these wonderful "Sermon on the Mount" things (sarcasm) in the name of Bible-Believing Protestantism.  

I renounce and condemn all the persecution, murder, enslaving, etc that Catholics have done in the name of the Prince of Peace to Protestants, Jews, Orthodox, Pagans, etc. and I ask all the spiritual descendants of the persecuted in the name of Catholic Christianity.  

I also ask all atheists, etc. to join in condemning the mass murders and persecutions done in our lifetimes in the name of antitheist "human progress" and persecution of religious people.

Aren't you tired of the same old bigotries repeated over and over?  Can people say something positive about "those people'?  If not, then why expect "those people" to say or believe anything good about you and your "kind"?  Let's all join together to agree that we will not spread slanders about other groups, races, religions or theologies or options but "Do to others what you will others to do to you."  Check out your sources before condemning other groups and find out if "they" really teach that error or do that evil thing; use primary sources and not 'hate-mongers".  

I join Jesus in spiritually washing the feet of all.

My Reply:

Dude, I totally hear you. Too many negative and worldly people (past and present) have infiltrated the Church (the Body of Christ), spreading poison with their bitterness and divisions, justifying their actions as righteous. We need to remember not only to treat others as we wish others to treat us, but as Christians, we're to remember that Jesus COMMANDED us to love one another as He's loved us, as well as the importance He laid on unity in Him among one another.

Here's a thought on your question:
Jesus said that oaths and vows are considered void at the time of death, so therefore I think held grudges should be also.  But now, technically speaking, when we recite the Lord's prayer, we ask God to forgive us in the exact same way that we forgive others. So wouldn't holding onto unforgiveness for somebody, whether dead or alive be ethically (and theologically) incorrect anyway?

---Pastor Andy