Sorted by date Results 101 - 106 of 106
Q: I don’t believe in forgiving people who have hurt us. If anything, we ought to pray that God will punish them for what they’ve done. Forgiving someone who’s hurt you doesn’t do any good, in my opinion. A: Let me ask you a question: Does refusing to forgive someone who has hurt you do any good? Absolutely not—and in fact, almost nothing has a greater potential for evil. Look at it this way. Suppose someone hurts you, and you refuse to forgive them. What happens inside of you—in your mind and heart? The answer is simple: Anger and bitterness g...
Q: I know I’m supposed to feel guilty when I sin, but I can’t say that I really do. I guess that’s why I’ve never felt any particular need for God. Why should I worry about this? A: One reason you should be concerned about this is because you are guilty when you sin—whether you feel guilty or not. The Bible solemnly warns, “People are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). You see, feelings aren’t always a reliable test of the truth. I may be convinced that nothing is going to happen to me if I walk down a dar...
Q: We usually go to church every week, but our neighbor seems to be involved in church activities all the time. Does God look down on us because we also enjoy doing other things? A: No, God doesn’t look down on you just because you enjoy activities that aren’t directly related to your church (as long as they’re honorable). Remember: Jesus was attending a wedding celebration when He performed His first miracle (see John 2:1-12). At the same time, I can’t help but wonder what place God actually has in your lives. Do you see Him as someone you thi...
Q: I’ve tried to talk to my cousin about Jesus, but she says it doesn’t really matter what we believe about God as long as we’re sincere. What can I say to her? A: I’m thankful you’re concerned for your cousin, and I hope you’ll continue to pray for her and tell her about Jesus. The most loving thing we can ever do for anyone is to point them to Jesus Christ. One approach might be to remind her that sincerity alone isn’t enough in life. Suppose, for example, you had a deadly virus, and after examining you the doctor said take any medicine you...
Q: I’ve been watching a video series on the Old Testament recently, and it seems like hardly anyone back then lived a good or moral life. If the Bible is true, why did so many people in the Bible live sinful lives? Why are they even in the Bible? A: You’re right; the Bible doesn’t gloss over the faults of those whose lives it records. If it did, we might wonder if the Bible was really accurate and could be trusted. But it can be trusted—and one reason is because of its honesty about human nature. Why does the Bible tell us about the sins of...
Q: I don’t have any problem until I get around some of my old friends, who always tempt me to do things that mess up my life. They just laugh when I tell them to stop. Why do they keep pushing me like this? A: One reason they keep pressuring you, I suspect, is because they don’t want to be told that they’re actually on the wrong road in life. In other words, they’re convinced they are right and everyone else is a fool. But the Bible warns, “A violent person entices their neighbor and leads them down a path that is not good” (Proverbs 1...
