Every new year brings natural occasions of reflection and resolution.
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Q. Please comment on the practice in many churches of dedicating infants and children in a church service ceremony. Is there a Biblical basis for this practice? A. I see…
Q. Lately some friends have begun attending a church that doesn’t have membership; a person who simply attends is considered a member. Is this right?
A. In the last few decades an increasing number of churches have gone this route, particularly so-called megachurches. The Bible doesn’t specifically use the word member concerning local churches, and I am not going to judge those churches that do not have what we might call formal membership. However, I believe a positive, Biblically harmonious case can be made for it.
Q. Two verses, 1 Samuel 16:7 and 16:12, seem to contradict each other. Please explain.
A. Samuel was to anoint a new king to take the place of wicked King Saul. God instructed Samuel to go to Jesse the Bethlehemite to find a king among his sons. Verse 7 says that the Lord warned Samuel not to evaluate the sons by their looks, “for the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” After God indicated that the sons, one by one, were not whom He had in mind, verse 12 says that there was one son left, “so he sent and brought him [David] in. Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good looking. And the Lord said, ‘Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!’”
President Barack Obama on Thursday praised the Supreme Court’s ruling on same-sex marriage as a “victory for American democracy” but clashed with his African host over gay rights, yahoo.com and…
A petition urging the Obama administration to ban the teaching of creation and intelligent design in U.S. schools was recently filed on the White House website. Written by an individual…
World News June 21: A substitute teacher believes he was fired because he’s a member of an international religious organization that distributes Bibles. Read more about this and other news.
World News June 18: The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals has issued an order that the Department of Justice must respond to a rehearing request regarding the legal status of a German homeschooling family. Read more about this and other news.
World News June 14: Southern Baptists expressed their “opposition to and disappointment in” the membership policy of the Boy Scouts of America. Read more about this and other news.
World News June 11: Two prominent civil rights groups have filed a lawsuit against the National Security Agency. Read more about this and other news.
World News June 7: The number of churches that were dismissed from Presbyterian Church (USA) last year has increased by fivefold compared to 2011. Read more about this and other news.
World News June 4: Southern Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers are active in seven states responding to damage from floods, tornadoes, and other disasters on the eve of hurricane season. Read more about this and other news.
World News May 31: Most voters don’t approve of the U.S. Justice Department’s investigation of news reporters. Read more about this and other news.
World News May 28: People concerned about the Boy Scouts’ membership policy are seeking alternative groups to join. Read more about this and other news.
World News May 24: Oklahoma Baptist disaster relief workers were in action immediately after the tornado hit. Read more about this and other news.
Q: I have a question about the belief some have that each Christian has a personal guardian angel that watches over and protects us through life. Is this belief true?…
Q. Please comment on Psalm 2:12, which mentions “kissing the Son.” A. The phrase “kiss the Son” is figurative language, referring to the actual practice in the time of the…
World News May 21: The U.S. Supreme Court agreed Monday to take up a case involving a New York town’s policy regarding prayers presented before public meetings. Read more about this and other news.
World News May 17: The IRS will soon face more than controversy and Congressional hearings over its discrimination of pro-life and conservative groups. Read more about this and other news.
World News May 14: An IRS campaign to apply additional scrutiny to conservative groups included those focused on government spending, the Constitution, and several other broad areas. Read more about this and other news.
World News May 10: A House committee has launched an investigation in response to the trial of the abortion practitioner charged with multiple counts of infanticide. Read more about this and other news.
World News May 7: In a huge victory for pro-life advocates taking on the controversial HHS mandate, the Obama administration is giving up its effort to force a Bible publisher to obey it. Read more about this and other news.
C. H. Spurgeon Banner of Truth Trust, 316 Pages, Hardcover, $28.00 Many of us have been blessed by published sermons and commentaries from the “prince of preachers.” Here is a…
Jim Geyer Ambassador International, 192 Pages, Paper, $12.99 A pastor shares insights he received from two blessings in life—having godly parents and being raised on a farm. Accountability, brevity of…
Banner of Truth Trust, 123 Pages, Softcover, $14.00 A letter came to Baptist churches in England and Wales asking them to send representatives to a meeting in London in 1677…
World News May 3: A California megachurch pastor who has recently come under fire for his views on homosexuality has declared that he will not be intimidated. Read more about this and other news.
World News April 30: President Obama addressed the nation’s largest abortion provider Friday, criticizing pro-life laws. Read more about this and other news.
World News April 26: Southern Baptist chaplains report that an SBC website has been blocked at military installations around the nation. Read more about this and other news.
World News April 23: Congress is now far more aware of the Kermit Gosnell story, the abortionist on trial for murder in Philadelphia. Read more about this and other news.
World News April 19: Well-known gospel soloist George Beverly Shea, 104, died Tuesday evening following a brief illness. Read more about this and other news.
World News April 16: An idea for a national day of prayer and fasting, which began in a column just several days ago, has now become a national movement. Read more about this and other news.
World News April 12: A Michigan high school canceled a speech by former Sen. Rick Santorum after teachers became outraged over his opposition to gay marriage. Read more about this and other news.
World News April 9: Soldiers in the U.S. military have been told in a training briefing that evangelical Christians are the No. 1 extremist threat to America. Read more about this and other news.
World News April 5: A portrait of Jesus that had adorned a southern Ohio public school district building since 1947 has been taken down. Read more about this and other news.
World News April 2: Edith Schaeffer, 98, went to be with the Lord on Saturday, March 30. Read more about this and other news.
World News March 29: Florida Gov. Rick Scott has stepped into the fray concerning a professor who told students to write the word “Jesus” on a piece of paper, throw it on the floor, and stomp on it. Read more about this and other news.
World News March 26: Pastor Saeed Abedini, a U.S. citizen of Iranian descent imprisoned in Tehran, tells of the torture he has endured for his faith as well as the joy that comes with forgiving his perpetrators. Read more about this and other news.
World News March 22: Redefining marriage to include same-sex couples would jettison the rationale and logic behind prohibitions on polygamous marriages, according to several friend-of-the court briefs. Read more about this and other news.
World News March 19: The island nation of Cyprus made headlines, and rattled markets across the Western world, by announcing a raid on private bank accounts this week. Read more about this and other news.
World News March 15: The archbishop of Buenos Aires, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, has been selected as the next Roman Catholic pope. Read more about this and other news.
World News March 12: Leaders at this past week’s National Religious Broadcasters conference warned that Christians may soon be forced to practice civil disobedience. Read more about this and other news.
World News March 8: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s unmanned Predator B drone fleet has been custom designed to identify civilians carrying guns and track cell phone signals. Read more about this and other news.
Q: Is it wrong to invest time in genealogies, family trees, etc.? I refer to Titus 3:9. A: Titus 3:9 reads, “But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about…
Q: In reading the book of Daniel, I came across something that appears to be contradictory. Daniel 12:11 says 1,290 days, while my understanding from being taught Daniel and Revelation…
World News March 5: The Department of Justice is saying that children do not need—and have no right to—mothers. Read more about this and other news.
World News March 1: John Freshwater got a day in court as his latest attempt to get reinstated as a schoolteacher was presented in oral arguments before the Ohio Supreme Court. Read more about this and other news.
World News Feb. 26: Tim Tebow has backed out of speaking at First Baptist Church of Dallas, saying he “needed to lay low and steer clear of controversy.” Read more about this and other news.
World News Feb. 22: Sen. Marco Rubio met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Shimon Peres in Jerusalem on Wednesday evening. Read more about this and other news.
World News Feb. 19: China’s Christians felt a noticeable rise in persecution in 2012 as the Communist government began the first of a three-phase plan to eradicate unregistered house churches. Read more about this and other news.
World News Feb. 15: For a German family that fled to the U.S., the Justice Department is arguing that educating one’s own children is not a fundamental right. Read more about this and other news.
World News Feb. 12: Pope Benedict stunned the Roman Catholic Church on Monday when he announced he would stand down, the first pope to do so in 700 years. Read more about this and other news.
World News Feb. 8: The Department of Justice has developed a white paper outlining the circumstances under which the U.S. can conduct a drone strike against an American citizen. Read more about this and other news.
World News Feb. 5: The National Black Prolife Coalition has lobbied to have its Twitter account restored after the social media company yanked the group’s Tweeting privileges. Read more about this and other news.
World News Feb. 1: Frank S. Page issued comments on the current focus on the Boy Scouts of America. Read more about this and other news.
World News Jan. 29: The Boy Scouts of America is reportedly on the verge of changing its policy on homosexuals. Read more about this and other news.
World News Jan. 25: The head of a Messianic Jewish ministry says it’s too early to know just what kind of government might emerge from Tuesday’s surprise election results in Israel. Read more about this and other news.
World News Jan. 22: Open Doors has confirmed the death of two Christians in North Korea. Read more about this and other news.
World News Jan. 18: The Alabama Supreme Court has ruled that “unborn children are persons with rights that should be protected by law.” Read more about this and other news.
World News Jan. 15: A public school teacher has filed a civil rights lawsuit after she was forced to remove all religious content from her classroom. Read more about this and other news.
DVD Vision Video, 105 Minutes, $16.99 Like it or not, Regular Baptists must recognize that Chuck Smith has had a profound effect on evangelical and fundamental Christianity since the 1960s….
Albert Mohler Bethany House, 222 Pages, Hardcover, $22.99 Albert Mohler is one of those writers whose familiar name compels the reader to take notice, no matter the topic. This book…
John MacArthur Thomas Nelson, 328 Pages, Hardcover, $29.99 A reader might wonder what could be said about evangelism that would differ from what numerous other books say on soul-winning. MacArthur…
Elmer Towns and Ben Gutierrez, eds. B&H, 368 Pages, Hardcover, $39.99 Here is a very attractive, nicely laid-out book with more than 150 full-color photos, maps, illustrations, charts, introductions to…
Dave Barba Journey Forth, 132 Pages, Paper, $13.00 This book gives hope and practical, Biblical help for those in ministry who are discouraged, lonely, financially stressed, physically afflicted, rejected, or…
World News Jan. 11: A pastor’s withdrawal from President Barack Obama’s inauguration ceremony has left Christians lamenting over what they see as a new era of religious intolerance. Read more about this and other world news.
World News Jan. 8: A report in WorldNetDaily notes that Barack Obama’s criticism of congressional efforts to protect the faith-based values of military chaplains is disturbing on many levels. Read more about this and other world news.
World News Jan. 4: Tens of thousands of Americans have committed to support Hobby Lobby on Jan. 5 after courts have refused to issue a ruling stopping the HHS mandate. Read more about this and other news.
Q: What does “born of water” in John 3:5 mean? A: Several views exist. Some believe it refers to water baptism, meaning that a person needs to be baptized in…
Q: We’re convinced Jesus never married, contrary to what some attention-getting liberals have advanced lately, but what about His disciples? And if any of them were married, how could they…
World News Jan. 1: Hobby Lobby will defy the Obamacare mandate that health insurance for its employees cover “abortion-inducing drugs.” Read more about this and other news.
World News Dec. 28: It was a bad Christmas for Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani, the Church of Iran pastor who has been returned to jail on an earlier charge. Read more about this and other news.
World News Dec. 21: A federal appeals court sided with two colleges in a decision related to the ongoing court challenges to the Obama administration’s birth control mandate. Read more about this and other news.
Ron Rhodes Harvest House, 340 Pages, Paper, $17.99 Another book that would greatly help believers grow in their knowledge of the Word, particularly in eschatology, it defines more than 350…
Rick Horne Shepherd Press, 192 Pages, Paper, $13.95 Here is great Biblical guidance for parents who are struggling in this area. One author, Dave Harvey, writes, “Rick Horne knows teens—the…
Eric J. Bargerhuff Bethany House, 173 Pages, Paper, $12.99 This interesting book cites 17 commonly misused Scripture passages and explains their true meaning. But first the work tells why Scripture…
Gordon D. Fee and Robert L. Hubbard Jr., gen. eds. Wm. B. Eerdmans, 834 Pages, Hardcover, $40.00 This voluminous edition uses respected Biblical scholars to provide background information and commentary…
Robert D. Jones Crossway Books, 208 Pages, Paper, $14.99 Conflicts in a person’s life can happen anywhere and can take on any form. Those we love and those around us…
David W. Jones and Russell S. Woodbridge Kregel Publications, 201 Pages, Paper, $13.99 Yes, the prosperity gospel is still alive and well. Jones and Woodbridge show that in our economically…
World News Dec. 18: Christians, including Christian leaders, are pondering the tragedy of last week’s mass killings in a Connecticut grade school. Read more about this and other news.
World News Dec. 14: Twenty-five same-sex couples exchanged vows in a group wedding ceremony at First Baptist Church in Seattle Dec. 9. Read more about this and other news.
World News Dec. 11: The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to take up two cases that could either lead to the legalization of gay marriage nationwide or affirm the right to protect traditional marriage. Read more about this and other news.
World News Dec. 7: A United Nations treaty to ban discrimination against people with disabilities went down to defeat in the Senate on Tuesday. Read more about this and other news.
World News Dec. 4: The Supreme Court took no action Monday on historic cases involving same-sex marriage. Read more about this and other news.
World News Nov. 30: The U.N. General Assembly voted Thursday in favor of Palestinian statehood. Read more about this and other news.
World News Nov. 27: Another challenge to the Affordable Care Act can continue, the Supreme Court has ruled. Read more about this and other news.
World News Nov. 23: This year will see an unprecedented move by the big boys of retail to open their stores earlier than ever on Thanksgiving Day. Read more about this and other news.
World News Nov. 20: A federal court on Friday stopped enforcement of the Obama administration’s abortion pill mandate against Tyndale House Publishers. Read more about this and other news.
World News Nov. 16: President Barack Obama will be taking the oath of office on Jan. 21, and atheists want him to do so without mentioning “God” and without a Bible.
World News Nov. 13: Could it be that Mitt Romney might have won last week’s election or at least received more votes than he did? Read more about this and other news.
Q. Are churches required to use bread without yeast in observing the Lord’s Table? A. Churches use a variety of elements in Communion bread, but those who insist on unleavened…
World News Nov. 9: Christians and conservatives in general found virtually nothing to cheer about in the elections of the past week. Read more about this and other world news.
World News Nov. 6: The IRS says it is not auditing churches, because it does not have the authority to take away churches’ tax-free status. Read more about this and other news.
Tim LaHaye, Thomas Ice, Ed Hindson, gen. eds. Harvest House, 313 Pages, Paper, $14.99 This book is a great resource on the pretribulation Rapture, the position held by the GARBC….
Fred Moritz Faithful Life Publishers, 133 Pages, Paper, $12.99 Those in fundamental Bible-believing Christianity will appreciate this historical account of one of its mission agencies. The story begins in the…
Dan Story Kregel Publications, 203 Pages, Paper, $13.99 Whatever one’s view on this hot topic, the reader should find this book thought-provoking. Dan Story considers questions like, Is Christianity to…
DVD Vision Video, 58 Minutes, $15.99 Africa, once called “The Dark Continent,” changed dramatically when David Livingstone came to its shores. Considered one of the greatest of gospel missionary pioneers…
Steve Zollos Shepherd Press, 202 Pages, Paper, $13.95 Telling sons the facts of life is daunting, and many Christian dads end up doing nothing (research indicates 60 percent). This book…
Brian H. Cosby P & R Publishing, 150 Pages, Paper, $12.99 Brian Cosby, in youth ministry for more than a decade, calls churches to gear youth ministry back to solid…
World News Nov. 2: In an unprecedented move for Southern Baptist Disaster Relief, all large-capacity mobile kitchens in the fleet east of the Rocky Mountains have been asked to mobilize in response to Hurricane Sandy. Read more about this and other news.
World News Oct. 30: As cities up and down the East Coast were preparing for Hurricane Sandy, Southern Baptist Disaster Relief leaders were preparing for a large-scale response. Read more about this and other news.
World News Oct. 26: An urgent request from the CIA annex for military back-up during the attack on the U.S. Consulate and subsequent attack several hours later was indeed denied by U.S. officials. Read more about this and other news.
World News Oct. 23: A 23-year military intelligence veteran is casting strong suspicion on weekend statements from Barack Obama’s re-election campaign that talks with Iran are imminent. Read more about this and other news.
World News Oct. 19: A group of Texas cheerleaders may continue to display Biblical-themed banners during high school football games, a judge says. Read more about this and other news.
Q. Please explain Matthew 7:1 in relation to our need to exercise discernment. A. The familiar verse is, “Judge not, that you be not judged.” It is often used to…
Q. Recently I heard that a certain cult teaches we can become gods, based on Psalm 82:6 and John 10:33 and 34. Please comment. A. The Bible nowhere teaches that…
World News Oct. 16: About 25 to 30 Christian college students were massacred at a university in northeastern Nigeria, causing Christians to pray for a “change of heart” among the Islamist group Boko Haram. Read more about this and other news.
World News Oct. 12: A school district will pay hefty legal fees after a federal appeals court decided that the district committed viewpoint discrimination by not allowing a Christian club to remain part of a school’s activities program. Read more about this and other news.
World News Oct. 9: A man who can rightly be called an American hero was memorialized at the Coronado Naval Air Station Chapel in San Diego on Sept. 20. Read more about this and other news.
World News Oct. 5: A college student who claims he once had same-sex attractions but became heterosexual after conversion therapy has filed a lawsuit against California. Read more about this and other news.
World News Oct. 2: Thousands of conservative Christians gathered Saturday on Independence Mall in Philadelphia to pray for the future of the United States in the weeks before the presidential election. Read more about this and other news.
World News Sept. 28: Could you imagine going to jail for your faith? A recent report warns that it could happen. Read more about this and other news.
World News Sept. 25: Chick-fil-A has cleared up rumors that it has revised its charitable donation policy to exclude “anti-gay” groups. Read more about this and other world news.
World News Sept. 21: A so-called Gospel of Jesus’ Wife isn’t sending shock waves through the Christian world as some publications have reported. Read more about this and other world news.
World News Sept. 18: Missouri lawmakers have ignored the warnings of the Obama administration and overrode their governor’s veto to enact religious exemptions to the abortion pill mandate. Read more about this and other news.
World News Sept. 14: Anti-American protests erupted across the Middle East Friday, following weeklong demonstrations outside of several U.S. embassies and a 9/11 attack on the U.S. Consulate in Libya. Read more about this and other news.
World News Sept. 11: Iranian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, who was sentenced to death in his country for his Christian faith, has been acquitted of apostasy charges and released from custody. Read more about this and other news.
World News Sept. 7: After excluding God from their platform, Democrats hurriedly rewrote their convention platform Wednesday amid criticism to add a mention of God and declare Jerusalem the capital of Israel. Read more about this and other news.
World News Sept. 4: Rev. Moon Sun-myung, who founded a global religious movement, died Monday at his Unification Church complex east of Seoul, South Korea. Read more about this and other news.
World News Aug. 31: Republicans approved a party platform at their national convention Tuesday that would ban all abortions and gay marriages and reshape Medicare. Read about this and other world news.
World News Aug. 28: A federal appeals court has determined a federal judge was right to throw out a lawsuit challenging President Barack Obama’s decision to force taxpayers to fund embryonic stem cell research. Read more about this and other world news.
World News Aug. 24: Texas officials are vowing to cut off funding for Planned Parenthood. Read more about this and other world news.
World News Aug. 21: The joint study from two conservative groups, Liberty Institute and the Family Research Council, reveals proven hostility toward Christianity in the U.S. Read more about this and other news.
World News Aug. 17: Authorities took a gunman into custody in the wake of a shooting Wednesday at the headquarters of the Family Research Council in Washington, D.C. Read more about this and other news.
World News Aug. 14: Mitt Romney’s announcement that Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan is his VP choice is getting widespread approval within the conservative community. Read more about this and other news.
World News Aug. 10: In the wake of tragedy among the Sikh community, Christians have an unprecedented opportunity to reach out with the gospel. Read more about this and other world news.
World News Aug. 7: A major evangelical Christian gathering is set to take place in Charlotte, N.C., the day before the Democratic National Convention. Read more about this and other world news.
World News Aug. 3: According to the Support Chick-fil-A Facebook page, more than 550,000 people committed to visit the fast-food restaurant Wednesday. Read more about this and other world news.
World News July 31: Reaction has been strong following Monday’s announcement that the Democratic Party plans to adopt support for gay marriage. Read more about this and other world news.
World News July 27: Thousands of Christians are mobilizing efforts to support Chick-fil-A. Read more about this and other world news.
World News July 24: While police are still investigating the motive behind Friday’s shooting at a theater in Aurora, Colo., some Christians are convinced of the real source: evil. Read more about this and other news.
World News July 20: After a confidential two-year review, the Boy Scouts of America on Tuesday emphatically reaffirmed its policy of excluding gays. Read more about this and other news.
Thomas E. Bergler Eerdmans Publishing, 281 Pages, Paper, $25.00 The cover letter accompanying this book summarizes it best: “Pop worship music. Falling in love with Jesus. Mission trips. Wearing jeans…
Gloria Vermaas Goering Xulon Press, 472 Pages, Paper, $24.99 A longtime member of one of our GARBC churches has produced an unpretentious yet unique book: Gloria Goering kept a record…
Eric W. Gritsch Eerdmans Publishing, 158 Pages, Paper, $25.00 The vitriolic attitude of Martin Luther toward Jews has shocked many who have read the great reformer’s writings, such as On…
Robert P. Lightner Grace Acres Press, 86 Pages, Paper, $11.95 From a respected author in our circles comes this short but helpful study on the epistle of James. Charts and…
Dan Phillips Kregel Publications, 315 Pages, Paper, $17.99 Why did the early Christian church thrive despite not possessing what we Western Christians have materially? The author calls attention to believers’…
Tom Nelson Crossway Books, 221 Pages, Paper, $15.99 This book challenges readers to make work a divine calling, not just a way to make a living. It shows the Biblical…
World News July 17: A legal expert is urging Mississippi to stand strong against a lesbian couple’s demand to use state facilities for a commitment ceremony. Read more about this and other news.
World News July 13: Episcopalians approved a churchwide ceremony Tuesday to bless same-sex couples. Read more about this and other news.
World News July 10: The public’s perception of the military since the repeal of “Don’t ask, don’t tell” is being manipulated by the U.S. Department of Defense, says the director of a chaplain alliance group. Read more about this and other news.
World News July 6: The Baptist church in Georgia that produced Fireproof and Courageous received thousands of people for its annual Independence Day celebration. Read more about this and other news.
World News June 29: Christians are reacting to this week’s Supreme Court announcement on ObamaCare. Read more about this and other world news.
World News June 26: In a widely watched Swedish homeschool case, two parents and their child are closer to being reunited. Read more about this and other world news.
World News June 22: Several major happenings took place in the past week’s national conclave of the Southern Baptist Convention. Read more about this and other world news.
World News June 19: General Mills is supporting homosexual marriage, leaving critics surprised at its abandonment of traditional values families. Read more about this and other world news.
D. A. Carson Eerdmans Publishing, 186 Pages, Hardcover, $24.00 “Far from bringing peace, the new tolerance is progressively becoming more intolerant, fostering moral myopia, proving unable to engage in serious and…
Byron Forrest Yawn Harvest House, 190 Pages, Paper, $11.99 In the foreword, John MacArthur calls attention to the role that fathers in Bible times played in the lives of their…
Paul Chappell Striving Together, 222 Pages, Paper, $12.95. Practical help for deacons comes in two parts. Part 1 covers qualifications, duties, relationships, and the deacon’s wife. Part 2 gives practical…
This guide should provide help for all involved. It includes topics such as strategy, recruiting, determining location and facilities, and monetary issues.
Stephen Viars Harvest House, 247 Pages, Paper, $12.99. This book offers help in viewing past sins, missed opportunities, and hurt memories and dealing with them Biblically so the person can…
Robert L. Sumner Biblical Evangelism Press, 265 Pages, Paper, $12.00 Some time ago the Baptist Bulletin reviewed Sumner’s first book by this title. In the book Sumner, editor of The…
World News June 15: More than 6,000 people took part in a webcast on Monday to launch a program to help people who want to leave their jobs in the abortion industry. Read more about this and other world news.
World News June 12: A coalition of groups seeking to overturn Washington State’s same-sex marriage law received twice as many signatures as needed for a referendum in November. Read more about this and other world news.
World News June 8: Gov. Scott Walker easily survived his recall election brought on by organized labor in Wisconsin by winning 54 percent of the vote. Read more about this and other world news.
World News June 5: A measure to ban abortions based on the sex of a child failed to earn enough support in the House. Read more about this and other world news.
World News June 1: A federal appeals court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act in a unanimous ruling Thursday. Read more about this and other world news.
World News May 29:A “new rainbow coalition” made up of Christian pastors and leaders gathered on Capitol Hill to support traditional marriage. Read more about this and other world news.
World News May 22: An influential African-American evangelical pastor says that many black Christians are in an “adulterous” relationship with President Obama over the issue of same-sex marriage. Read more about this and other world news.
World News May 18: A new pastor in St. Clair, Mo., doesn’t play softball, but members of his church do. Or at least they did until their pastor’s bisexuality prompted a boycott. Read more about this and other world news.
World News May 15: Leaders of some of the nation’s largest religious denominations say they are distressed and saddened by President Obama’s support for gay marriage. Read more about this and other world news.
World News May 11: North Carolina voters approved a constitutional amendment defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman. Read more about this and other world news.
World News May 8: Tennessee lawmakers are now backing Christian student groups at Vanderbilt University. Read more about this and other world news.
World News May 4: Iranian officials have sentenced a human rights attorney to prison, putting the pastor he was working for in greater danger. Read more about this and other world news.
Q. Please explain what two curious statements mean Biblically: “Many who are first will be last, and the last first” (Matthew 19:30; cf. 20:16); and “Many are called, but few…
World News May 1: As many as 100 high school students walked out of a national journalism conference after Dan Savage, an anti-bullying speaker, began attacking the Bible. Read more about this and other world news.
World News April 27: Students at an elementary school in Phoenix, Ariz., will be allowed to pass out fliers promoting a Good News Club after-school program as the result of a settlement. Read more about this and other world news.
World News April 24: Chuck Colson, who became a Christian amid the Watergate scandal and later an advocate for the spiritual transformation of prisoners, died Saturday. Read more about this and other world news.
C. John Collins Crossway Books, 192 Pages, Paper, $15.99 The title notes perhaps the latest in a series of evangelical questionings of Bible doctrines that Christians have simply accepted in…
Jay Lucas Reliance Media, 269 Pages, Paper, $14.95 Society, American society in particular, is very conscious of individual and group rights, so much so that it has contributed to chaos…
Mark Hitchcock Harvest House, 198 Pages, Paper, $13.99 Prolific prophecy author Hitchcock presents a new work to answer the question of the curious, Who is the Antichrist? He begins with…
Eric Kress and Paul Tautges Kress Biblical Resources, 205 Pages, Paper, $14.99 This book is an excellent verse-by-verse commentary on Lamentations, intended to help Biblical counselors, among others. Included are…
David A. Norris iUniverse, Inc., 180 Pages, Paper, $16.95 Norris presents 15 principles that liberated mankind from the politics of tyranny, and contends that schools stopped teaching the American belief…
Joy Mielke AuthorHouse, 107 Pages, Paper, $11.99 Mielke shares the account of her grandfather, who served in China as a missionary from 1913 through 1938, and then at home until…
World News April 20: Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer has signed into law a bill that allows classes that focus on the Bible and its influence on western civilization. Read more about this and other world news.
World News April 17: The National Organization for Marriage explains why it has endorsed Mitt Romney for president, even though his state was the first to legalize same-sex marriage. Read more about this and other world news.
World News April 13: In response to the political battle for female voters, the exchange elevated to “mommy bashing” when Hilary Rosen leveled a blow at Mitt Romney’s wife. Read more about this and other world news.
World News April 10: A school under fire for changing “God Bless the USA” to “We Love the USA” reversed course after drawing a backlash and legal threats. Read more about this and other world news.
World News April 6: President Obama gave an ultimatum on a pending U.S. Supreme Court case, saying that if the justices overturned his healthcare law, it would amount to “judicial activism.” Read more about this and other world news.
World News April 3: For the first time, the U.S. military has hosted an event specifically for atheist and agnostic soldiers at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. Read more about this and other world news.
World News March 27: The U.S. Supreme Court has begun hearing arguments in the lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. Read more about this and other world news.
World News March 23: The abduction of a 7-year-old is being called one of the worst cases of government abuse ever committed against a homeschooling family. Read more about this and other news.
World News March 20: The White House is in talks with faith groups about the administration’s contraception mandate. Read more about this and other world news.
World News March 16: A Christian minister at Southwest Minnesota State University was threatened with a citation for trespassing. Read more about this and other world news.
World News March 13: A New York imam has declared that he will start a campaign on April 22 to make the April 26 birthday of the Muslim prophet Muhammad a national holiday. Read more about this and other world news.
World News March 9: Franklin Graham has said if the government passes an edict forcing him to hire employees who do not share his Christian outlook, he will “break the law.” Read more about this and other world news.
World News March 6: After vicious storms ripped through the South and Midwest, stories of survival and God’s protection have begun to emerge. Read more about this and other world news.
World News March 2: A state lawmaker is proposing to allow nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and nurse midwives to perform abortions as a way of expanding access to the procedure across California. Read more about this and other world news.
Q. I have met some believers recently who say that to truly be spiritual, one must know the original languages of the Bible (Hebrew and Greek). Please comment. A. If…
Q. I have some questions about Adam and Eve when they sinned. Where was Adam when Eve was tempted? Also, why does Adam apparently get the blame for their sinning,…
World News Feb. 28: Kentucky Baptists were victorious in their effort to stop seven casinos from entering the state when a bill fell short of the votes it needed in the state Senate. Read more about this and other world news.
World News Feb. 24: A Southern Baptist Convention task force has recommended that the SBC keep its name, but introduce the descriptor “Great Commission Baptists.” Read more about this and other world news.
World News Feb. 21: The contraceptive mandate harms not only Baptists and other religious adherents, but all Americans, says a Southern Baptist ethicist. Read more about this and other world news.
World News Feb. 17: Conservative Christian groups are outraged that a school decided a lunch a preschooler’s mother prepared was not healthy enough and replaced it with chicken nuggets. Read more about this and other world news.
World News Feb. 14: President Obama announced a change in the way that employees of religious organizations will receive free contraceptives, but it fell short of what is needed to protect religious liberty. Read more about this and other world news.
World News Feb. 10: A resurgent Rick Santorum has been declared the winner in three states. Read more about this and other world news.
World News Feb. 7: A surprise announcement by the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation to reverse its decision to fund Planned Parenthood has pro-life groups and advocates shaking their heads. Read more about this and other world news.
World News Feb. 3: Wycliffe Bible Translators is in hot water over new Bible translations they have worked on that purport to avoid offending Muslims. Read more about this and other world news.
World News Jan. 31: A former Eastern Michigan University student has the right to present her religious discrimination suit to a federal jury, ruled the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. Read more about this and other world news.
World News Jan. 27: Tens of thousands of pro-lifers joined together Jan. 23 for the annual March for Life that followed a weekend of pro-life events in the Washington area. Read more about this and other world news.
World News Jan. 24: Christian and pro-life groups are decrying President Obama’s order that health care plans must cover contraceptives, including abortion-causing drugs. Read more about this and other world news.
World News Jan. 20: Should a Christian church be allowed to practice its faith in all of its activities? Not according to a New Jersey judge. Read more about this and other world news.
Hannah Farver Moody Publishers, 269 pages, Paper, $12.99 Well written by a young woman, for young women (college age and younger), this book shows an unusual depth of wisdom; the…
Stephen and Alex Kendrick B&H Publishing, 257 Pages, Paper, $14.99 The back cover reads, “From the New York Times best-selling authors of The Love Dare comes a strong resolution of…
Arno Froese Olive Press, 253 Pages, Paper, $12.95 People just about everywhere are watching with keen interest as nations like Egypt and Libya are deposing longtime dictators and supposedly attempting…
Francis Chan David C. Cook, 186 Pages, Paper, $14.99. “There is a big gap between what we read in Scripture about the Holy Spirit and how most believers and churches…
Lisa Grote, ed. Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company, 242 Pages (workbook), Paper, $49.95 A virtual textbook, the large workbook includes assessment of needs, leadership issues, training scenarios, sample policies, checklists, applications,…
David R. Stokes Steerforth Press, 350 Pages, Hardcover, $27.00 The value of this book is historical; it is a detailed account of the trial of J. Frank Norris, leading fundamentalist…
World News Jan. 17: As the Republican voting moves South, the religion of front-runner Mitt Romney may be an inescapable issue in many voters’ minds. Read more about this and other world news.
World News Jan. 13: The United States Supreme Court has delivered “a knockout blow to the White House in the cause of religious liberty.” Read more about this and other world news.
World News Jan. 10: Police have arrested New York City councilman and pastor Fernando Cabrera and six others on charges of “criminal trespassing.” Read more about this and other world news.
World News Jan. 6: Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum won a plurality of support from evangelicals in the Iowa GOP caucuses Tuesday. Read more about this and other world news.
Q. Why do we worship on Sunday instead of Saturday? Is it true that Sunday worship originated in Roman Catholicism? A. It may be true that some people trace the…
World News Jan. 3: With changing social trends and approaches to tying the knot, the church’s message on marriage is going to have to be repackaged for 2012. Read more about this and other world news.
World News Dec. 30: Since 1998, WORLD magazine has selected one Christian who has stood up against ungodly trends. This year WORLD has chosen Alan Chambers, president of Exodus International. Read more about this and other world news.
World News Dec. 28: On Christmas Day, police across China tear gassed and beat Christians for worshiping at “unofficial” Christmas services. Read more about this and other world news.
World News Dec. 23: Several defectors from North Korea have noted their sympathies for the North Korean people, who they say will be forced to cry over their leader’s death. Read more about this and other world news.
World News Dec. 20: The battle over a nativity scene in Athens, Texas, reached new heights this past weekend when up to 5,000 supporters flooded the town square. Read more about this and other world news.
World News Dec. 16: Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reaching out to Christians with warm wishes. Read more about this and other news.
Calvin R. Stapert Eerdmans Publishing, 192 Pages, Paper, $15.00 Increase your knowledge and appreciation of this magnificent oratorio, so much a part of the Christmas experience for many. Includes a…
DVD Unusual Films (BJU Press), 135 min., $18.36 This video tells the story of a young man in the Roaring ’20s who dreams of playing baseball in the big leagues….
Matthew C. Hoskinson Bob Jones University Press, 228 Pages, Paper, $22.95 For many years Regular Baptist Press has published a well-received book written by Dr. Robert Gromacki, Salvation Is Forever,…
Brian C. Brewer, ed. Judson Press, 174 Pages, Paper, $17.99 A press release for this book says that we are living in a post- denominational age in which church membership is…
Roger N. McNamara Xulon Press, 156 Pages, Paper, $14.99 Troubling news about tragic sins committed against children comes to us constantly, it would seem, demanding that we do all we…
Q. In Genesis 3:22, God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil.” Many theologians say “Us” is the Trinity: God the Father,…
Dr. Carl A. Moeller and David W. Hegg Moody Publishers, 152 Pages, Paper, $13.99 Following Christ can be deadly in many parts of the world, yet Christian churches thrive in…
Stephen Ong Chambers Press, 178 Pages, Paper, $8.00 Ong answers questions such as, What causes leaders to go bad? How can one prevent bad leaders from coming to power? Why…
Charles Anderson WinePress Publishing, 208 Pages, Paper, $16.95 A church planter with Baptist Mid-Missions tells of his experiences in sharing Christ on a 2,160-mile hike.
Andrew Himes Chiara Press, 344 Pages, Paper, $16.95 Many people probably don’t know that evangelist and editor John R. Rice had a black sheep in his clan—the author of this…
Michael J. Peck Baptist Church Planters Couple’s Edition ($7.95), Leader’s Edition ($19.95), DVD ($39.95) Some time ago Michael Peck came up with a premarital counseling set, From This Day Forward,…
Q. When the Hebrews left Egypt, they took their herds with them. Why didn’t they eat their flocks instead of complaining and receiving manna? Also, how long did they receive…
Q. Recently I was introduced to some literature by a group that says believers should petition angels. The group says that angels are our best friends and want to help…
Joe Dallas and Nancy Heche, general editors Harvest House, 501 Pages, Paper, $19.99 In the introduction the authors tell of their own experience with homosexuality. Joe Dallas, who has led…
Kenman L. Wong and Scott B. Rae IVP, 288 Pages, Paper, $24.00 A statement on the back cover challenges the reader, “Is business just a way to make money—lots of…
Tim Pawlenty Tyndale House, 301 Pages, Hardcover, $26.99 Yes, he was a successful two-term conservative governor of his liberal home state, Minnesota. Yes, his name is becoming known nationally as…
Give Them Grace: Dazzling Your Kids with the Love of Jesus Crossway, 216 pages, Paper, $14.99 Give Them Grace will resonate with all parents who have ever felt hopeless in…
L. Duane Brown Faithful Life Publishers, 222 Pages, Paper, $15.99 Here’s a book that purposes to focus on this one aspect of eschatology—the word “apostasy,” what it means and what…
Q. People in our fundamental circles believe that the so-called sign gifts in the early New Testament church, such as speaking in tongues, ceased and are not for today. On…
Leland Ryken Crossway, 265 Pages, Paper, $15.99 Here’s another tribute to the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible, “the most influential English translation” (as the front cover states). Leland…
Brian G. Hedges Shepherd Press 302 Pages, Paper, $15.95 The pastor of a GARBC church has put into words important how-to principles for spiritual growth and maturity. In the introduction,…
Norman L. Geisler Bethany House 173 Pages, Paper, $14.99 As this review was being written, the world had just experienced one of the worst earthquakes in history (Japan’s largest since…
David W. Bebbington Baylor University Press 315 Pages, Paper, $39.95 Every Baptist needs to know what Baptists believe and practice, but they also should know Baptist history. Here is a…
Another evangelical pastor has written a liberal coming-out book, a sad trend that is becoming an annual rite of spring. Last year Brian McLaren surprised nearly no one with A…
Q. In Acts 23 or 24, Paul talks to his accusers in either Aramaic or Hebrew—it depends on which translation one reads. What is the difference, and why don’t the…
Q. Please comment on “unworthy” in 1 Corinthians 11:27. I’ll admit I sometimes am afraid of taking the Lord’s Supper unworthily. A. If you are a believer and are walking…
Q. Please comment as to who the “angel” is in Revelation 2:1. A. Revelation 2 and 3 include messages the Lord gave to the seven churches of Asia in existence…
Douglas R. McLachlan’s book highlights numerous principles of historic fundamentalism that are the foundation of what a fundamentalist should believe.
William J. Petersen & Ardythe Petersen Tyndale, 690 Pages, Paper, $19.99 It’s doubtful they’re exaggerating when the publisher says on the back cover that this work is “the largest collection of…
Mark Hitchcock Harvest House, 184 Pages, Paper, $12.99 A number of predications are circulating these days concerning the Lord’s return and the end of the world. Even some professing believers…
John Crotts Shepherd Press, 138 Pages, Paper, $13.95 “Satan has taken over the local churches.” “Churches are irrelevant, at best.” “Churches today are nothing but victims of false doctrines, the…
Mark Hitchcock Harvest House, 237 Pages, Paper, $13.99 Part 1 of this book has 10 chapters for “10 Amazing Fulfilled Prophecies.” Included is “the greatest prophecy ever given” (chapter 4)….
Q. Legalizing polygamy has been in the news lately. If it’s wrong, why did so many Old Testament believers practice it? Why did they go unpunished? A. In the Dispensation…
Nathan MacDonald Wm. B. Eerdmans 156 Pages, Paper, $16.00 Beginning with a consideration of God’s promise to His Chosen People of a new land “flowing with milk and honey,” this…
DVD Vision Video, 42 minutes, $19.99 This year hails the 400th anniversary of the King James Version of the Bible. Still a best seller, the KJV is considered the greatest,…
T. David Gordon P & R Publishing, 190 Pages, Paper, $12.99 The book’s title and cover more or less reveal the thesis, along with the initial statement on the back…
David and Betty Weinberger Association of Messianic Home Educators 40 Pages, Hardcover, $22.00 With the observance of our Lord’s death, burial, and resurrection ap-proaching, this beautifully illustrated story deserves consideration….
Michael J. Peck Baptist Church Planters 115 Pages (Couple’s Edition), Paper 124 Pages (Counselor’s Edition), Paper $29.95 for set of two couple’s books and one counselor’s edition Married people who…
My wife works at a learning center that, among other things, teaches students reading skills. The center start this emphasis with its youngest students, preschoolers, and continues to the oldest, who are in…
Q. Just when did Satan fall? Why did God allow Satan to fall, and why did God even create Satan in the first place? A.To consider when Satan fell (see…
Austin Hill and Scott Rae Northfield Publishing (Moody Publishers), 153 Pages, Paper, $14.99 With the economy the way it is, and with the current U.S. administration increasingly being regarded as…
Jim Newheiser and Elyse Fitzpatrick P & R Publishing, 224 Pages, Paper, $14.99 Here’s another book that somewhat relates to the current economy, since many young adults are living at…
J. Steven Hunt Reedy Press, 138 Pages, Hardcover, $49.95 + $4.00 S&H Western Baptist Bible College (now Corban University) was part of the former GARBC approval system of colleges. This…
Mosab Hassan Yousef SaltRiver (Tyndale House), 265 Pages, Hardcover, $26.99 As the jacket states, this New York Times best seller is “a gripping account of terror, betrayal, political intrigue, and…
Here are some book recommendations to help you, and perhaps your church, think through congregational worship and the accompanying issues. Gordon MacDonald’s Who Stole My Church? Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2007…
Q. Please comment on Exodus 11 and 12, where the “death angel” supposedly killed the firstborn of any families who didn’t have blood sprinkled on their doorposts on the night…
Q. After Job’s intense suffering, the Bible says he was given more than he had before his trials began, including seven sons and three daughters. Were these through his first…
Is Earth young or old? This question can’t be avoided in the subject of origins, and Coming to Grips with Genesis is most welcome to the discussion.
RICHARD TEACHOUT EBPA, 100 Pages, Paper, $5.00 suggested donation In both an article and a book review, the last issue of the Baptist Bulletin addressed the subject of the believer’s…
ROBERT L. SUMNER Biblical Evangelism, 60 Pages, Paper, $8.00 This latest of Sumner’s books is a much-needed reminder concerning the necessity of the Holy Spirit’s aid in all that we…
ArtisansInBrass, $20.70 (includes shipping and handling) It isn’t often that we come across a high-quality, unique musical production that would merit inclusion in this space-limited review column, but here is…
Q. Recently I came across a person who insists that Baptists are the only true church because only Baptists can trace their heritage to John the Baptist. Is this Scriptural?…
JULIANA MORGAN, Pleasant Word, 69 Pages, Paper, $11.99 Every woman loves a good love story. Juliana Morgan has produced a Bible study on the Old Testament book of Ruth that…
Q. We are currently in Ezekiel in Sunday School, and I am stuck (I teach the adult class). I have a problem knowing which judgments and prophecies in the book…
Q. Every now and then in Scripture, I read about God asking people questions. Why would God, Who knows everything, bother to ask people things? A. It is true that…
World News June 30: The Supreme Court refused Monday to safeguard the right of a Christian student group to associate with fellow believers who subscribe to their religious beliefs about sexual conduct outside of marriage. Read more about this and other world news.
Q. In Exodus 2:18, the priest of Midian and father of Zipporah (wife of Moses) is named Reuel. In Exodus 3:1, the father-in-law of Moses is Jethro. Is this the…
Q. Why should we oppose the “prosperity gospel” in the light of 3 John, verse 2? A. The verse reads, “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things…
Q. Do you think the pontiff at Rome could be the Antichrist? A. Some people believe that the pope is indeed the Antichrist, regardless of who is holding that office…
Q. Please explain what the apostle Paul meant in 1 Corinthians 5:5. A. The verse reads, “Deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his…
Q. Is Jericho also known in the Bible as the City of Palms? If so, I thought Jericho was destroyed by Joshua and not rebuilt until the time of Ahab…
Q. Is the story told in John 12:1-8 the same as the one in Matthew 26:6-13? I read a study that says so, but the account in Matthew says that…
Q. Please explain what Revelation 3:10 means. A. The verse reads, “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which…
Q. In Luke 9:1–6, Jesus told His followers not to take various necessities with them when they went out to minister. Why did He instruct differently in Luke 22:35–38? A….
Q. In Genesis 44:5, it appears that Joseph practiced divination. I can’t imagine Joseph, the godly man he was, being involved with such. Also, I am puzzled by Genesis 6:3,…
MARK R. LEVIN, Threshold Editions, 256 Pages, Hardcover, $25.00 Making the top of best-seller lists, this book is truly a challenge to America, especially when Christians/conservatives have seemingly lost their…
ANNIE CHAPMAN and HEIDI CHAPMAN BEALL, Harvest House, 222 Pages, Paper, $11.99 Interestingly, the idea for this book came not from a woman but from a man, Heidi’s father-in-law, so…
A Literary and Theological Analysis of Ezra A. PHILIP BROWN II, BJU Press, 288 Pages, Paper, $22.95 The Old Testament book of Ezra is one of the Bible books that…
Q. There’s a section of 1 Corinthians 15, verses 39-44, that simply doesn’t make sense to me. Please explain. A. Looking at the whole context of 1 Corinthians 15, we…
Q. What did Jesus mean when He told His disciples to “fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell,” if the soul never dies? Also,…
ROLLAND McCUNE, Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary, 443 Pages, Paper, $15.99 Quite a number of systematic theology works exist, but this one will especially interest fundamentalists, as the producer is of…
PAUL TAUTGES, Day One Christian Ministries, Inc., 144 Pages, Paper, $10.00. This valuable and nicely designed book by a fundamental pastor is filled with helpful insights on how to help…
TERRY JAMES, Harvest House, 292 Pages, Paper, $13.99 Many seeing a subtitle like Is the United States in Bible Prophecy? would want an immediate yes or no to the question. The…
Q. Taking the view your group does on dispensationalism, premillennialism, and the pretribulational Rapture, I sense that you don’t believe in peacemaking in the world today. This is unfortunate. Don’t…
Q. First Corinthians 15:51 and 52, apparently referring to the Rapture, link that great event with a sounding of the last trumpet. In Revelation 11:15-19, the last of the seven…
Q. Why does Revelation 5:6 speak of seven Spirits, when there is only one Spirit? A. The “seven Spirits” should be regarded as “sevenfold Spirit,” rather than seven separate Spirits….
Q. Why did Nicodemus come to talk with Jesus during the night? A. Nicodemus appears three times in the Gospels; you are referring to the first time, recorded in John…
MATT WAYMEYER, Kress Christian Publications, 146 Pages, Paper, $14.99 One of the practices of Reformed groups in general is infant baptism. Here is a new book that critiques this practice,…
COLLIN HANSEN, Crossway Books, 160 Pages, Paper, $22.99 We GARBC Baptists are not Reformed in theology, yet we should not be oblivious to what adherents to this belief system uphold….
DAVID JEREMIAH, Thomas Nelson, 273 Pages, Hardcover, $22.99 With so many upsetting events currently taking place in our world, the question posed in this title surfaces repeatedly. Unfortunately, people in…
What do you get when you cross a Bible, a commentary, an atlas, a Bible handbook, an Old Testament and New Testament introduction, and a systematic theology? One big book!…
G. K. BEALE, IVP Academic, 341 Pages, Paper, $26.00 If you’re studying the subject of worshiping anything that is a substitute for God, you’ll surely want to obtain this volume….
BARRY HANKINS, Eerdmans Publishing, 288 Pages, Paper, $20.00 Add this book to your reading of fundamentalist history. This reviewer knew that Schaeffer had a fundamental background with Carl McIntire, but…
BRAD CUMMINGS, Infinity Publishing, 352 Pages, Paper, $18.95 Before answering 40 arguments that people use against the resurrection of Christ, Cummings (a member of one of our GARBC churches) lays…
The Berean Call, 50 Minutes, $12.50 Recently, an increasing number of voices have expressed concern over the virtual disappearance of effective, exhortative preaching in churches and the proliferation of pop…
Q. When one searches for information in Scripture on Jesus’ childhood, why do we find so little? One would think that more of Jesus’ example as a youth would be…
Q. Is it right to call Jesus the “Lily of the Valleys” and “Rose of Sharon”? A. Song of Solomon 2:1 presents a conversation between two lovers: the man (most…
God’s Strange Work DAVID L. ROWE, Eerdmans Publishing, 249 Pages, Paper, $24.00. Prophetess of Health RONALD L. NUMBERS, Eerdmans Publishing, 417 Pages, Paper, $33.00. No, we’re not in a vendetta against…
SUSAN BENISH and BARBARA LIVDAHL, EDS. (LINDA BECK, author of original ed.) National Church Library Association, 100 Pages, Paper, $35.00. A manual such as this is a must for churches….
Vision Video, 36 Minutes, $19.99. James O. Fraser (1886–1938) was a British man who was studying engineering but felt called of the Lord to join the China Inland Mission as…
Q. I’ve always been under the impression that the Antichrist will be a Jew. Is this correct? A. The belief that the Antichrist will be a Jew comes from several…
Gary W. Long, ed. Particular Baptist Press (417-883-0342), Hardcover, $33.00 A large gathering of Baptist historians marked the 300th anniversary of the Philadelphia Baptist Association (reported in the October 2007…
John Hartog II Trafford Publishing (www.trafford.com), 204 Pages, Paper, $19.49 Here’s another book by a respected servant of the Lord in our Fellowship, one who has taught for a number…
Kenneth J. Spink Xulon (www.xulonpress.com), 200 Pages, Paper, $14.99 It’s a delight to consider for review books written by people in our Association; Kenneth Spink is a pastor of one of…
AUBREY MALPHURS and STEVE STROOPE Baker Books, 221 Pages, Paper, $16.99 Here is a take-the-meat-and-leave-the-bones type of book, as it tries to help a broad spectrum of churches. Readers might…
JAMES R. ADAIR Discovery House, 160 Pages, Paper, $8.95 Here is a biography concerning one of the past sound influential preachers of the airwaves whom this reviewer grew up on…
OLIVIA and KURT BRUNER Center Street, 192 Pages, Paper, $12.99 Is your child a video game addict without your realizing it? Many parents might be utterly surprised to find an…
ROBERT L. SUMNER Biblical Evangelism Press (5717 Pine Dr., Raleigh, NC 27606), 335 Pages, Paper, $9.95 Robert Sumner has done it again! He has produced another homey yet scholarly work…
BROTHER ANDREW and AL JANSSEN Revell, 272 Pages, Paper, $14.99 We know it’s hard, but by reading this book a person will get a much better idea of just how…
Acton Institute (www.acton.org), 120 Pages, Paper, $10.00 Here is another book on a hot topic today: environmentalism. The book approaches the issue objectively when so many people do not. Note…
PAUL CHAPPELL Striving Together (www.strivingtogether.com), 48 Pages, Paper, $1.50 This reviewer hasn’t seen a book or booklet on this currently pertinent subject, so this short publication has the potential of…
DAVID F. WELLS Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 253 Pages, Hardcover, $25.00 Fundamental Baptists generally don’t consider themselves Protestants. That label is left for groups that “protested” and came out of…
Sign of the New Covenant in Christ THOMAS R. SCHREINER AND SHAWN D. WRIGHT, EDS. B & H Publishing Group, 364 Pages, Hardcover, $19.99 This interesting book covers just about…
Q.What is a proper Christian response to people who claim Christmas and other Christian celebrations are pagan? A. First, if we are honest, we are forced to acknowledge that aspects…
Q. I can’t understand 2 Corinthians 8:3. It appears that these believers, giving “beyond their ability,” were going into debt, and the Bible forbids indebtedness. A. The verse reads, “For…
Q. How does one answer an amillennialist to prove Christ will reign a literal thousand years on earth? Revelation 20 clearly says so, but that is only the beginning of…
(DVD) Iowa Family Policy Center (www.ifpc.org), 3 minutes, $7 suggested donation It’s only three minutes long, but this DVD sends a powerful message concerning the importance of exercising our citizenship…
Understanding the Meaning of Every Prophetic Passage TIM LAHAYE and ED HINDSON, GEN. EDS. Harvest House, 557 Pages, Hardcover, $24.99 If you have ever thought it would be great to…
Because Marriage Lasts a Lifetime MARTHA PEACE and JOHN CROTTS P & R Publishing, 120 Pages, Paper, $9.99 Tying the Knot Tighter was produced out of a concern that couples…
The Journey of a Pilgrim DVD, Vision Video (www.visionvideo.com), 42 minutes, $15.99 Here is a short but interesting and informative documentary on the man who will probably live on as…
A Biblical Handbook for New Testament Missions DWIGHT TOMLINSON and PAUL CHAPPELL Striving Together (www.strivingtogether.com), 201 Pages, Paper, $14.95 This book might interest you if you are not particularly acquainted…
Shepherd Press (www.shepherdpress.com), 188 Pages, Paper, $13.95 Many Christian parents are familiar with Tedd Tripp’s valuable earlier book Shepherding a Child’s Heart. Now comes this sequel. Why did the authors…
HAROLD J. SALA Harvest House, 269 Pages, Paper, $12.99 A book like this can be used greatly in minds that might otherwise be swayed by the bombardment of media stories…
THOMAS WHITE, JASON G. DUESING, and MALCOLM B. YARNELL III, EDS. Kregel, 261 Pages, Paper, $18.99 The editors and back cover reviewers are Southern Baptists, but most Baptists in leadership…
Q. Why do believers, including Bible characters, have disagreements, when they all are supposedly indwelt by the same Holy Spirit? One would think that all of us would be in…
DVD, Baptist Bible College & Seminary (www.bbc.edu), $11.75+3.00 shipping To observe the school’s 75th anniversary, BBC&S has produced this DVD to highlight the ways God has blessed the school in…
(DVD) GRIZZLY ADAMS (www.grizzlyadams.tv), $19.95 While this is not a religious production, its importance is high. It could help save the life of someone in your home or church. The…
EMILIE BARNES Harvest House, 192 Pages, Paper, $10.99 Believers need to act the best they can in various social situations, and this book offers a Christian context in manners and…
CHRISTOPHER CONE, GEN. ED. Tyndale Seminary Press (www.tyndale.edu), 492 Pages, Paper, $29.00 Christopher Cone is president of Tyndale Theological Seminary and Biblical Institute. The school, located in the Dallas–Fort Worth…
ROBERT PHILIP Banner of Truth (www.banneroftruth.org), 588 Pages, Paper, $19.00 If a statement on the back cover is true—that “there can be few Christians who changed the life of nations…
PETER A. STEVESON Journey Forth (www.bjupress.com), 136 Pages, Paper, $11.95 Author Peter Steveson taught personal evangelism at Bob Jones University for a number of years, and this book is a…
Increased relationship problems, financial burdens, emotional stressors, and social challenges in tandem with decreased physical wellness, vocational satisfaction, and mental health—who couldn’t use some sort of secret formula to make…
Q. Is marriage a covenant? A. I assume you are not asking about so-called covenant marriage, which has been in the news. In contrast to a “traditional” marriage in which…
“More Love to Thee” SHARON JAMES Banner of Truth Trust, 241 Pages, Hardcover, $24.00 This is the biography of the writer of one of our most-treasured hymns, “More Love to…
Sallman’s Head of Christ DVD, Vision Video (www.visionvideo.com), 47 minutes, $15.99 (VHS, $2.99) This is a fascinating documentary concerning one of the most beloved, recognized, and distributed portraits that has…
ROBERT L. SUMNER Biblical Evangelism Press (www.biblicalevangelist.org/store), 191 Pages, Paper, $9.85 A Bible study on the book of Nehemiah would be enhanced by this work, which focuses on the ten…
Q. Which of these two words should we use—“sin” or “sins”? Is there any difference between the two? A. A fine passage to observe is 1 John 1:8 and 9:…
Q. How did the word “Easter” get into Scripture? Easter has pagan connotations. A. Acts 12:4 is the single use of the word “Easter” in Scripture (KJV). The Greek pascha…
Q. Explain Matthew 22:13 and 25:30, where a person is said to be cast “into outer darkness.” Was the person a Christian? In Heaven, will there be a Hell for…
Q. I’m concerned about coming in last, if that is the right way to put it, when it comes to Hebrews 12:1 and 2. It would seem that not all…
Q. Biblically, how does one witness to a Jehovah’s Witness? A. Your question reminds me of a story told by a pastor. A church member asked him how to witness…
Q. (1) Who was Jesus referring to when He said, “Get behind Me, Satan” in Matthew 16:23? (2) What did Jesus mean when He called Judas a “devil” in John…
Q. Did Adam and Eve ever repent after their sinning in the Garden of Eden? A. Initially they didn’t, of course. The Biblical account shows them hiding, covering up, excusing…
Q. I recently watched an evangelism training video that uses the Ten Commandments to reach people. One of the trainers says that if the persons being witnessed to have used…
Q. With the ugly happening at Virginia Tech recently, I see capital punishment being attacked with new vigor in the newspapers and on TV and by politicians. Please tell me…
Q. Is there such a thing today as the gift of discernment? I’ve heard people talk about it, as though only certain believers have that gift. Or does every Christian…
Q. I don’t know how prevalent it is in our group, but lately I’ve noticed more evangelical churches using such fund-raising methods as bazaars, bake sales, car washes, door-to-door selling,…
Q. What does the phrase “from faith to faith” mean in Romans 1:17? A. Romans 1:17 is the last verse in Paul’s introductory material of his letter to the Roman…
Q. Ephesians 4:8 says Christ ascended on high. The next verse, Ephesians 4:9, says He first descended. What does this descending mean? A. First, let’s establish the context, which is…
Q. Please explain Matthew 16:27 and 28. It seems that Jesus was talking about the Second Coming. Is this right? If so, how could He accurately say that some standing…
Q. In Exodus 1:15–21, was it right that the midwives lied? It seems that God honored what they said. A. The occasion of this passage is the predicament the Children…
Q. What does the word “Selah” mean in the book of Psalms? I’ve noticed that in church, during Scripture readings in unison, people don’t know whether to say it or…
Q. Every now and then I’ve heard speakers appealing to unbelievers to trust Christ because they’re lonely. Also I can think of a few songs that have that theme. Is…
Q. What does one say to a person who doubts that insurance is Biblical, believing it is a sign of distrusting God and also a form of gambling? A. There…
Q. In Mark 5:19 Jesus told the demon-possessed man of Gadara to tell his friends what had happened to him, but in Mark 5:43 Jesus told the friends of the…
Q. How did animals find their way to the ark before the Flood? How did they survive all that time in the ark? After the Flood, how did these animals…
Q. When I was young and before I became a believer in Christ, I took a vow that I would never leave the church I grew up in or its…
Q. I heard someone say the wise men were into astrology. I’ve been taught that astrology is sinful. Please comment. A. First we need to make sure we know the…
Q. A born-again Christian I visited with the other day believes that we have just one nature, based on Romans 6:6 and 2 Corinthians 5:17, which say that old things…
Q. What about a new movement or thought among Christians known as transformation? Is it Biblical? A. Is it Biblical? should be our constant question today with so many new…
Q: I would appreciate your explanation of the Parable of the Tares (Matthew 13:24-30). It appears that the Lord directed the reapers to gather the tares, or weeds, before they…
by Norm Olson Q: What did the Jews and early church offer in training compared with churches today? For example, they obviously didn’t have Sunday School. Are there things we…
Q: Was Elimelech right or wrong in moving his family to Moab in Ruth 1:1-5? A: Bible scholars hold varying views on this question. Ruth 1:1-5 simply states that during…
Q: Why did Christ curse the fig tree in Matthew 21:19? A: This account is also found in Mark 11:11-14 and 19-26. A person is going to have trouble with…
Q. What should people like me do who have asked Jesus to be our Savior and yet continue to doubt our salvation? A. You need to go on a purposeful,…
Q. In 1 Timothy 2:8 does “men” mean “males” or “mankind” in general? Does “lifting up holy hands” indicate something we should be doing? A. The background of 1 Timothy…
by Norm Olson Q: When a Christian dies, does the soul go directly to Heaven (later to be reunited with the resurrected body to appear for judgment/rewards), or does the…
Q. Does Colossians 2:10, which says that Christians are complete in Christ, contradict Genesis 2:18, which implies that being married completes a person? A. When a person is regenerated, made…
Q. If the “sons of God” in Genesis 6 came from the lineage of Cain when fallen angels supposedly entered their bodies and married the daughters of men, and if…
Q. It appears that both Jerusalem and Bethlehem are called “the city of David” in the Bible. Please comment. A. Yes, in 2 Samuel 5:6 and 7 we read, “The…
Q. Recently I heard that Christians shouldn’t use the word “Palestine” to describe Israel and the Holy Land. A. The term “Palestine” is a bit like the celebration of Halloween,…
Q. Since Jews haven’t accepted Christ as having come and as being their Messiah, why aren’t they still sacrificing animal offerings today? A. There are several factors. First, having been…
Q. Please comment on an editorial from a denominational magazine that criticizes what we Regular Baptists hold to eschatologically. The writing by this editor in chief criticizes the popular Left…
Q. Please comment on 2 Peter 3:11 and 12. Does the verse mean we can actually cause Christ to come back earlier than otherwise divinely planned? A. The verse reads,…
Q. What does 2 Corinthians 6:3 mean when it says we aren’t supposed to give offense in anything? A. First, I’ll mention what the verse doesn’t mean. It doesn’t mean…
Q. Is there a difference between the words “conversion” and “regeneration”? A. We commonly use “conversion” and “regeneration” to refer to the “new birth,” the moment an individual experiences salvation….
Q. Is it Scriptural for a pastor to lead more than one flock at a time? I’ve known of some smaller (usually rural) churches that share the same pastor. A….
Q. Is corporal punishment (as in spanking) truly Biblical; and if it is, how do we answer all its opposition? A. Corporal punishment is certainly Biblical, and parents are, in…
Q. What is the basis for people’s believing in purgatory? A. “Purgatory“ comes from a Latin word that means “to purge.” Roman Catholicism defines it in its catechism: “All who…
Q. What stance should we believers take toward the recent tsunami, its toll on lives, and all the suffering? Some people in that part of the world don’t even want…
Q. Do pastors and other Christian workers, such as missionaries and teachers, need a definite call from God to go into their fields of ministry? If so, how does one…
Q. Please comment about the conscience. I have heard that we should not let it be our guide, as the saying goes; but what is it, and what value does…
Q. What does Luke 17:21 mean when it says that the kingdom is within a person? A. Luke 17:20 and 21 read, Now when He [Jesus] was asked by the…
Q. Why was Sarah not punished for her laughing over the news that she would have a son, while Zacharias was struck dumb for a similar response? A. The accounts…
Q. Does the Bible offer any clue as to why so many differences of thinking and religious denominations exist even among true born-again Christians? A. Jesus once said to the…
Q. Please comment on the seeming difference between the God of the Old Testament and of the New Testament. In the Old Testament He seems foreboding, distant, stern, vengeful, overbearing,…
Q. The Ten Commandments and other Bible verses promise long life to people who obey God. Why then do some who have obeyed not get to enjoy this promise? I…
Q. Romans 12:20 says that when a believer acts kindly toward an enemy, coals of fire are actually heaped upon the enemy’s head. Please explain. Doesn’t that hurtful result negate…
Q. Will people sin during the Millennium? A. You have asked an interesting and important question. The Millennium, which is the one-thousand-year reign of Christ on earth after the great…
Q. Several psalms contain the heading “A song of degrees.” What does that mean? A. You’re referring to Psalms 120—134. Four of these psalms are attributed to David, one is…
Q. While I was studying 1 Timothy in Sunday School, the term “elect angels” came up. After searching, I could find no other use of the term in the Bible….
Q. Is the unpardonable sin the same as the “sin unto death”? A. The unpardonable sin and the sin unto death cannot be the same. To answer this question we…
Q. In the New Testament it seems the act of water baptism appears rather suddenly. We read about John the Baptist, the disciples, and then the early New Testament church…
Q. Romans 16:13 mentions a man named Rufus, and the apostle Paul wrote as though Rufus’s mother was also his own mother. Were the two men related? A. No, Rufus…
Q. Why don’t Baptists believe in displaying crucifixes in the home and church? Couldn’t these serve as a good reminder of what Christ did for us on the cross? A….
Q. On the morning Jesus rose from the dead, Mary Magdalene met the Savior in the Garden near the tomb where Jesus had lain. Jesus told her not to touch…
Q. Why did Jesus’ disciples go back to Galilee after the Resurrection, when they would be going back to Jerusalem for Pentecost? How did they get up there so quickly?…
Q. John 18:40 describes Barabbas as a robber, and Matthew 27:38 calls the two men on the cross on either side of Jesus thieves (KJV). Are these two words, “thieves”…
Q. The parable found in Luke 16:1‒9 seems so dishonest. For example, what is so great about what the steward did? Also, what is the “unrighteous mammon” all about? A….
Q. In 2 Kings 25:16 what does the word “Sea” refer to? A. The sad context of this verse is the fall of Jerusalem under King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. The…
Q. How did the wise men know that the star represented the Messiah? Why did they, as pagans, travel all that distance? Where did we get the name “magi” for…
Q. What does the Bible mean when it refers to the Son of God as “begotten”? A. This word, combined with the word “only,” indicates “unique” or “one of a…
Q. I’m confused about this whole matter of when Christ was born: why do people say Christ was born in 4 B.C. if “B.C.” means “before Christ”? Also, I have…
Q. Are the miracles of Satan through his cohorts, as recorded in Revelation 13, real, or are they just sleight-of-hand imitation deceptions of real miracles? A. Revelation 13 deals with…
Q. Why did David pick out five stones instead of just one before he met and killed Goliath? Was it a lack of faith on his part? A. The account…
Q. John 1:18 says that no one has seen God at any time. I have no problem with that statement, but what do I tell a skeptic who points out…
Q. Why did King Solomon have numerous wives, when Deuteronomy 17:17 prohibited kings from having many wives? A. The first part of the verse reads, “Neither shall [a king] multiply…
Q. How should believers Biblically treat all the public opinion polls we’re being bombarded with these days? A. Polls, while they can be bothersome and skewed, are not necessarily the…
Q. Please explain Ecclesiastes 10:19 in the light of other Scripture passages dealing negatively with money. A. You are probably thinking of passages such as Matthew 6:19: “Do not lay…
Q. Please comment on so-called generational curses found in the Bible. Are they in force today? Were they fair to those whose parents sinned? A. First let me point out…
Q. The Old Testament character Samson appears in Hebrews 11, the great hall of faith chapter. He scarcely seems qualified as a candidate for this honor. Please comment. A. Your…
Q. In Ezekiel 36:25 God told Israel He will sprinkle them with water to removed their uncleanness. Since sin can be removed only by blood, to what uncleanness is God…
Q. Please explain 2 Corinthians 11:8, where Paul said that he robbed churches. I thought thievery is sin. A. In this portion of his second letter to the Corinthian believers,…
Q. I recently read a booklet that said spiritual giants of the past lived an average of only 35 years because they burned out for God. The book promoted burnout…
Q. I came across Romans 11:26 the other day. This verse has me stumped. Does it really mean that every last Jew living at the time of Christ’s return is…
Q. Luke 5:2 records that the disciples washed their nets. Why were they doing that when their nets would have been in the water all the time anyway? A. The…
Q. Is there any truth to the idea that certain numbers are significant in Scripture, such as the number seven’s being the perfect number? A. Certain numbers do have Scriptural…
Q. Jesus was circumcised on the eighth day after His birth. A Christian author I recently read wrote that Jewish circumcision in this case was a “cultural preference,” as was…
Q. Is it wrong for Christians to use the word “X-mas”? A. Scripture doesn’t address the specific issue. But shouldn’t we believers use every opportunity to name the name of…
Q. How could the Devil take Jesus places during the Temptation? How could they be near the pinnacle of the temple and then later on the mountain, when the Bible…
Q. Regarding Hebrews 13:2, is it possible that we could at some time have an angel visiting our house and not know it was an angel? Would an angel ever…
Q. I’m enclosing a page I read from a Southern Baptist devotional that makes this statement: “Christians today are the new Israel (Rom. 9:6–8).” Please comment. A. The “amillennial” and…
Q. A church without a pastor was given Jeremiah 3:15 not long ago as an encouragement. Was offering this verse legitimate in this context? A. The verse reads, “And I…
Q. In the Bible we find words like “sin,” “wickedness,” and “evil.” Are these terms interchangeable, or do their meanings differ? A. First, let me comment on the words “evil”…
Q. Should we apply 2 Chronicles 7:14, even though tied with Israel, to America’s spiritual decline as so many do? A. In context, the passage obviously concerns Israel, which had…
Q. What are deaconesses? If legitimate, what is their role? Should Regular Baptist churches have them? A. First, the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches has no “official position” on…
Q. Colossians 4:10 (KJV) refers to Mark as being Barnabas’s sister’s son, which to me would make him a nephew of Barnabas. But I heard a preacher say he was…
Q. Did Jesus ever baptize anyone? My impression was that He didn’t, but I came across John 3:22. A. John 3:22 reads, “After these things Jesus and His disciples came…
Q. Please comment on Matthew 17:52 and 53, which says that people were coming out of their graves and seeing people upon Jesus’ death. A. Verses 51–53 read, Then, behold,…
Q. How could someone tear out a roof, as recorded in Mark 2:1‒12? That seems outlandish. A. Roofs of houses in that time were flat and made of materials that…
Q. Did the writers of Scripture know they were being inspired of God as they wrote? I’m not asking if they were inspired; we know they were. Also, please deal…
Q. If Lot was vexed by living in Sodom, as the Bible says, why didn’t he get out of there? How could he be considered righteous? A. Writing under inspiration…
Q. Please comment on the prophetic implications of the recent tragedy in America. A. Many people are asking your question. An item in USA Today on September 24 notes that…
Q. How do you reconcile Matthew 16:18b with Revelation 3:16? A. Matthew 16:18b reads, “On this rock [Jesus Christ] I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall…
Q. What does Proverbs 11:1 mean? A. The verse reads, “A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is His delight.” I have heard people…
Q. Why did Jesus not do similar miracles to feeding the 5,000 (see Luke 9:12–17) on occasions when the disciples would have to buy food to eat (John 4:8)? A….
Q. I’m concerned about criticism being made about the doctrine of the coming rapture of believers. The critics call the event “secret.” They also say that it is a new…
Q. Could Jesus have sinned? (I’m not asking, Did He sin?) A. Your question could be answered in one simple statement: Jesus is God; therefore, He could not have sinned….
Q. On what basis did Pontius Pilate, from his vantage point as an unbeliever, insist that he found no fault with Jesus? Also, why did Jesus mostly keep silent when…
Q. I’m totally serious in asking this question: Can we Christians anticipate having our pets with us in Heaven, since Heaven is a place of total joy and happiness? A….
Q. Please help me with 2 Corinthians 6:14. I know it deals with business partnerships, but how inclusive is this verse? A. The principle of separation on the part of…
Q. Please explain Proverbs 30:21–23. I can’t make sense of this passage. A. This passage in the Bible’s book of wisdom reads, “For three things the earth is perturbed, Yes,…
Q. As I read 2 Timothy 1:6, I am wondering what Timothy’s gift was that the apostle Paul referred to. A. In the context of his letters, Paul’s spiritual father/son…
Q. Someone asked one of the newspaper social columnists if it were all right, on the basis of Matthew 1:25, for couples to live together before or without marriage. In…
Q. In recent days I’ve been seeing Malachi 4:5 and 6 cropping up in literature dealing with present-day families and child rearing. Is this a correct use, context-wise? A. The…
Q. Why is God never mentioned in the book of Esther? A. The word “God” is not found in the book. Likely it is because the Jewish people living at…
Q. Jeremiah 33:20 and following state God’s promise that a descendent of David will reign forever on his throne. Why is this reign not evident? Could it be that England’s…
Q. What does John 8:15 mean? I thought Jesus is the coming judge. A. He is. Jesus had just encountered the Pharisees, who had attacked His record. So Jesus pointed…
Q. Recently I heard someone speak on Proverbs 1:20‒33, relating verse 28 of the passage to salvation. If that is correct, how can it harmonize with Romans 10:13? If a…
Q. What is the difference between cherubim and seraphim? A. Both classes are God’s special angels. Other than to make this distinction, attempts to distinguish them have been rather feeble….
Q. Does the Bible address the issue of cliques, such as in local churches? A. Yes, the apostle Paul, in his first letter to the church in Corinth, mentioned the…
Q. I work with a large number of Muslim families. We sometimes engage in religious discussions. Muslims view Jesus as a prophet or messenger from God but not as God…
Q. I was reading Matthew 27 in my Bible. Verse 9 mentions Jeremy [Jeremiah] the prophet, but I noticed that in the center margin there is a reference to Zechariah…
Q. In Zechariah 1:8, is the man on the red horse Jesus Christ? Also, the first several chapters speak of the Angel of the Lord; do they refer to Jesus…
Q. Concerning the Fall (Genesis 3), why would it be the serpent’s fault that Satan entered into it? (The serpent was cursed.) What does the Bible mean when it says…
Q. Please comment on Psalm 30:5b. I’ve heard various ideas on it, such as weeping over souls in witnessing situations, which will result in people being saved, and in our…
Q. When will the earth finally be destroyed—during or after the Tribulation or after the Millennium? A. Second Peter 3:10 reads, “But the day of the Lord will come as…
Q. At Christmas, we often think of angels, but with the Holy Spirit indwelling the believer during the Church Age, do believers still need, require, and receive help from angels?…
Q. I have a question about 1 Corinthians 5:1. Was this prohibition based on the Old Testament law? If so, I thought we are not under the law’s prohibitions. A….
Q. Did God, or does God, love the Devil, since the latter is a created being and God loved His creation? A. It would appear that the answer to your…
Q. Please comment on 1 Corinthians 1:17. Doesn’t it seem that Paul was giving credence to the idea commonly held today that baptism is unimportant? A. In this verse the…
Q. What is the meaning and significance of the expression “for obedience” in Romans 1:5 and 1 Peter 1:2? Is it speaking of Christ’s obedience or the apostles’ or ours?…
Q. I’m confused about this whole matter of whether some sins are worse than others. Please comment. A. In one sense all sin is equally bad in God’s sight. It…
Q. Please comment on John 2:17 as it relates to the Old Testament. How did it come about that the disciples remembered the passage? A. Evidently the Jews knew Psalm…
Q. Our GARBC Articles of Faith state under VIII (Salvation) that Christ is now enthroned in Heaven. Is this correct? I thought that Christ will be enthroned after the Tribulation,…
Q. Someone told a terminally ill friend of mine, a believer, that she should demand a healing from God to show she meant business and also to demonstrate boldness “before…
Q. I came across an incident in Jesus’ suffering that I had overlooked. It is found in Mark 14:51 and 52. Please comment. A. Only Mark’s Gospel includes this incident….
Q. I was under the impression that Solomon wrote Proverbs, but what about the names of Agur and King Lemuel in chapters 30 and 31? A. There are differing views…
Q. Does Titus 3:9 teach that it is wrong to pursue and trace our ancestry or family tree? A. Anything is wrong if it becomes an obsession, time waster, or…
Q. Please explain 1 Kings 19:20 in the light of passages such as Matthew 3:18‒22; 10:37; and Luke 14:26 and 27. A. The setting of 1 Kings 19:20 is God’s…
Q. Does the Bible really allow for a person to give blood or receive blood transfusions? It seems that the Bible is meticulous about putting a high value upon human…
Q. Is there Scriptural evidence that Satan can heal today? A. We need to understand a couple of truths about Satan in regard to your question. First, there is only…
Q. Why did God send an angel to Mary to tell her that she was going to have a baby? A. In Bible times God often used angels to take…
Q. I see nothing in Scripture that commands me to be a member of a church. What is your opinion? A. I point out lovingly that it is not my…
Q. Matthew 18:18 has put a question into the minds of our church group. Can you help us understand this verse? A. As with any passage of Scripture, we must…
Q. People in the Bible, such as Abraham, had more than one wife. Why did God allow such a thing? When did the practice begin, and when did it end?…
Q. Matthew 7:14 and Matthew 11:30 seem to contradict each other. Please explain. A. There is no contradiction. Matthew 7:14 warns that following Christ can be difficult. Matthew 11:30 states,…
Q. During the Kingdom Age, will King David literally sit upon the throne as a risen being in Jerusalem assisting Jesus? A. A number of Scripture references speak of David…
Q. Please explain Hebrews 10:22. Does it in any way pertain to water baptism? A. No, it does not. But first we must note the context of the verse, which…
Q. Please explain the “sop” the writer John mentioned as it related to the Last Supper. Why didn’t the other Gospel writers mention it? A. During His last observance of…
Q. In Luke 15, were the ninety-nine sheep lost or saved? A. Some people have acquired the idea that this passage refers to believers who are out of fellowship with…
Q. Please comment on Paul’s decision in Romans 11 concerning the relationship between the salvation of the Gentiles and Israel’s disobedience. He seemed to say that Gentile Christians owe their…
Q. I am baffled by the phrase “because of the angels” in 1 Corinthians 11:10. What does it mean? A. The context of 1 Corinthians 11:10 is God’s divine pattern…
Q. Titus 1 mentions some people who were extremely rebellious. Were these people believers or unbelievers? A. Only God knows hearts. I would hate to give a blanket statement and…
Q. Why did God tell Joseph and Mary to go to Egypt with Jesus when He could have taken care of His Son in Bethlehem just as easily? In other…
Q. It seems that Scripture often uses the phrase “last day(s).” I am wondering what it means in John 6:40. A. You are correct in your observation that Scripture frequently…
Q. Please comment on the word “vicar.” I have a friend whose church uses it, and I think I have seen the word in the Bible. What does it signify?…
Q. I would like to know about the unpardonable sin. A. The unpardonable sin occurred when Jesus Christ was living on earth (Matt. 12:14–37). Israel’s religious leaders were about to…
Q. As a retired nurse I am very troubled over Romans 14:12 in relation to individuals with severe learning disabilities, such as Down’s syndrome. Also I speak of those who…
Q. According to Numbers 20:22–29 and Deuteronomy 32:50–52, God punished Aaron by not letting him enter the Promised Land. Why did He punish Aaron for the incident at the waters…
Q. We appreciated your answers to the questions that were asked in the April 1997 Baptist Bulletin on the book of Job. The question we would ask is, Could it…
Q. Please comment on how we should cope with Satan. The Bible in some places tells us to be bold in dealing with him. In other places, such as Jude…
Q. I am confused over Revelation 7. Who does the chapter refer to, Jews or Gentiles? Also it sounds as though they are saved during the Great Tribulation. I thought…
Q. I have an acquaintance who believes that a speaker (pastor, Sunday School teacher, and so on) is sinning if he doesn’t include the gospel in every message. Does the…
Q. If smoking is wrong, why did God create the tobacco plant in the first place? A. Your question is particularly relevant to our times, as smoking is again the…
Q. Please explain Isaiah 45:7. It sounds as though God is responsible for evil. Also, I have a question about Acts 27:35 and 36. Was this communion? A. Isaiah 45:7…
Q. Please comment on Job 1:6 and 7. Where did the event recorded in these verses take place? Does Satan normally associate with the “sons of God”? Does God regularly…
Q. Please comment on the various kingdoms of the Bible, as they are somewhat confusing. For example, I want to know the difference between the “kingdom of God” and “kingdom…
Q. I am confused about Hebrews 9:27. It seems to contradict Christ’s raising of Lazarus from the dead. Lazarus surely must have died twice. A. We must be extremely prudent…
Q. Acts 4 (vv. 36, 37) reveals that Barnabas, a Levite, owned land. I thought Levities were forbidden this privilege. A. The Levites, the priestly tribe, were under many restrictions…
Q. I was curious as I read the short book of 2 John. Has the “elect lady” mentioned in it ever been identified? A. Interestingly, the “elect lady” of 2…
Q. Please comment on Luke 2:36–38. Was Anna 84 years old, or had she been a widow for 84 years after 7 years of marriage? A. Verse 37 reads, And…
Q. Why are our churches getting away from the beauty of the four Gospels? What are the Gospels for, if pastors neglect this section of the Scriptures? A. I am…
Q. In 1 Chronicles 3:6–9, I came upon something I am wondering about. Did David have two sons named Elishama and two sons named Eliphelet? That would seem very strange….
Q. Lately I have come across some Christians who believe our society should grant the death sentence to people who are guilty of various sex crimes, such as adultery and…
Q. Please comment on Psalm 23:4. Does this verse refer to the time just before our physical death? Also, is it true that God dispenses a special grace upon believers…
Q. Why don’t Baptists practice the washing of one another’s feet? John 13:2–17 seems to indicate this was Jesus’ intention for us. A. When we compare the overwhelming support in…
Q. Is it Scriptural for a church to hire an unsaved organist if it does not have one in its congregation or to bring in unsaved people to perform musically?…
Q. Please comment on the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25. If it refers to the second coming of Christ after the Tribulation and not to the rapture…
Q. Have I been wrong in assuming that the cock crowed three times, since Peter denied His Lord three times? Mark 14:72 indicates that the cock crowed only two times….
Q. Please comment on just who was responsible for Christ’s death. Were the Jews entirely accountable? A. The idea that one group of people (the Jews) killed Jesus is an…
Q. Please comment on the two passages, John 4:24 and Ephesians 5:18. Do they refer to the Holy Spirit or to something else? A. John 4:24 reads, “God is a…
Q. A sentence that truly puzzles me is found in Luke 17:37, where the King James Version uses the word “eagles,” but other versions use the word “vultures.” Why is…
Q. Please comment on the Old Testament practice of polygamy, especially since 2 Samuel 12:8 seems to indicate that God gave David even more women than he had previously. Surely…
Q. Why did God seemingly wait so long to send Jesus Christ to be born? A. God promised a Savior to Adam and Eve, the first people who lived on…
Q. Revelation 3:5 speaks of names being blotted out of the Lamb’s Book of Life. Please explain how such a thing could happen. Also Revelation 20:12 refers to other books…
Q. In Luke 12:4 and 5, the Lord tells us whom to fear and whom not to fear. This teaching also appears in Matthew 10:28 in almost the same words….
Q. In light of the importance of trials taking place across America for a number of serious slayings, is capital punishment Biblically wrong if the person who committed the crime…
Q. When we pray, are we to talk only to God the Father, or can we pray to Jesus and the Holy Spirit too? Also, what does 1 John 4:1…
Q. I am a 16-year-old high school student. My best friend believes that a person must be baptized to be saved. Is baptism necessary for salvation? Is baptism necessary for…
Q. Please comment on the so-called sinner’s prayer in Luke 18:13. Should we pray this kind of prayer for salvation today? A. The “sinner’s prayer” is part of one of…
Q. In 1 Peter 2:12, what does the “day of visitation” refer to? A. First Peter 2:12 states, “Having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against…
Q. Please comment on the matter of backsliding. Is this sin not an Old Testament phenomenon? A. The words “backsliding,” “backslider,” and “backslidings” are indeed found only in the Old…
Q. Now that coffee is at last listed with the other drugs, I would like to have your thoughts on how Christians handle this categorization. Nearly all the Christians I…
Q. Why does Mark 15:32 say what it does? I thought one of the robbers repented. A. The second part of Mark 15:32 reads, “And they that were crucified with…
Q. Please comment on Matthew 12:40, the part that says Jesus would be three days and three nights in the grave. If this statement is true, and if Jesus rose…
Q. In Luke 18, why did Jesus say to the rich young ruler that only the Father in Heaven is good, when He (Jesus) also is God and, therefore, is…
Q. Is it Scriptural for us to baptize people who have no intention of joining our local church? Are baptism and church membership prerequisites to taking communion? Can a local…
Q. We all know Scripture verses that show the vengeance of God toward unbelievers (2 Thess. 1:7‒10; Rev 16:8‒11; also Old Testament incidents and illustrations). But 1 Thessalonians 4:6 seems…
Q. Who are the two witnesses listed in Revelation 11? A. Revelation 11 teaches that God will during the last half of the Tribulation to denounce the sins of the…
Q. I’ve been thinking about the story of Jesus’ birth lately. Wasn’t it cruel of God to force Mary to go 90 miles in her advanced pregnancy on a donkey…
Q. On the cross Jesus Christ asked the Father why He had forsaken Him. How did the Father do that? Also, why did Christ have to “take on our sins”?…
Q. What is “praying in the Spirit” in Jude 1:20? A. First, I should comment on what praying in the Spirit is not. We live in a day when people…
Q. Does the Bible set any guidelines regarding the Christian use of computer dating services to find a future spouse? A. The Bible doesn’t mention this modern-day invention, of course,…
Q. How did racial groups originate, and why did God divide people into races? A. Genesis 10:1–32 indicates that all nations originate in Noah’s sons. Japheth’s sons have been associated…
Q. I am puzzled. First John 3:9 really hit me, and I don’t know how to reconcile this verse with 1 John 1:9. Please help. A. First John 3:9 states,…
Q. What does the phrase “Try my reins and my heart” in Psalm 26.2 mean? A. Ancient languages had no vocabulary for certain concepts relating to man’s emotional and soulish…
Q. If God didn‘t send His Spirit until Pentecost, what does Haggai 2:5 mean? A. This question gives us an opportunity to review the differences between the Holy Spirit’s work…
Q. Please explain why Hebrews 9:22 states that “almost all things are by the law purged with blood.” Why doesn’t it say that all things are purged with blood? A….
Q. As America’s government continues to pursue godless and immoral policies, is there a point where we should abandon involvement in our political system, initiate an alternative, or flee the…
Q. Please help me. I’m confused about Genesis chapter 6, which refers to sons of God marrying the daughters of men. Were these sons angels? A. You’re not the only…
Q. I have acquaintances who belong to a church that doesn’t require baptism before a believer becomes a member of that church. Is that practice right? A. Some denominations take…
Note: About five years ago I dealt with the subject of cremation in this column. Since then I have received numerous requests to run that particular answer again, in addition…
Q. What are the Biblical grounds for leaving a church? If a church is doctrinally sound but the leadership is corrupt, and if members took steps to correct the situation…
Q. Lately I’ve been listening to a preacher on the radio who claims that eating pork is wrong for Christians. Please comment. A. I will begin by stating that a…
Q. I’ve never seen or read the Apocrypha, but does this writing have any value for us today? A. Your question is particularly relevant at this time because a major…
Q. To whom was the gift of “tongues” a sign? Has (or is) speaking in tongues been an evangelistic tool, such as bridging a language barrier in preaching the gospel?…
Q. Would, or did, the Lord require or accept the sacrifice vowed by Jephthab—his daughter? A. Judges chapter 11 is one of the most debated passages in the Bible. Before…
Q. I’m confused by the term “church fathers.” I have wondered about men like Thomas a Kempis. Were these individuals believers? Are they our spiritual fathers in some way? (I…
Q. A Christian friend believes in a mid-tribulation Rapture because of 1 Corinthians 15:52. Is this last trump one of the seven judgment trumpets? Also, please comment on Revelation 22.2–5….
Q. To whom does the phrase about teachers who tickle people’s itching ears refer? If it refers to modernists, how can this statement be true? Their churches are practically empty….
Q. Does Proverbs 11:14 mean the more counselors you go to, the better it will be for you? How does this verse harmonize with Scripture passages that teach it is…
Q. One of your recent publications stated Belshazzar was the grandson of Nebuchadnezzar, but the Bible calls Belshazzar Nebuchadnezzar’s son. Which is correct? A. Both are correct, depending on how…
Q. Matthew 27.51–53 tells about people who came out of the graves after Christ’s death and witnessed to others. Did this actually happen? Who were these people, and what happened…
Q. I know someone who smokes and drinks. He says these habits are all right as long as he does them in moderation. He thinks that the Bible backs him…
Q. Is there, or isn’t there, healing in the atonement? Why or why not? A. Your question has been the object of much controversy over the centuries, including the present,…
Q. I have several questions about the book of Ezekiel. First, how could Ezekiel 4:14 mention Daniel when Daniel came after Ezekiel? Second, does Ezekiel 38:8 refer to Russia (Gog)?…
Q. Please explain Luke 9:27, which says that some will not taste death until they have seen the kingdom of God. Is that those who are destined for Hell? A….
Q. Is the writer being sarcastic when, in Proverbs 18:16, he writes that a bribe does wonders and that it will bring a person before men of importance? A. Whenever…
Q. What does Psalm 2.12 mean when it talks about kissing the Son, “lest he be angry”? A. The whole verse reads, “Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and…
Q. Isn’t there a contradiction between Psalm 37:25 and the account of Lazarus in Luke 16:19–31? A. In Psalm 37:25, David observed, “I have been young, and now am old;…
Q. Jesus showed His divinity by doing miracles. One miracle was changing water into wine at Cana for a wedding feast. From this act, can we conclude that drinking is…
Q. Please comment on Psalm 133, where David said that unity is like oil running down the beard of Aaron. That certainly doesn’t seem “pleasant” or “beautiful.” A. Let me…
Q. How do you explain King Nebuchadnezzar’s use of the term “the high God” and his freedom in verbally recognizing God’s dominion (Dan. 4.2), when twelve months later he continued…