Ask the Pastors
Do you have a question about Seeking the Lord, Building Relationships, or Committing to Serve? Is there something you've wondered about, but didn't really want to ask? You can use the form below to ask the question anonymously and we will post the question and answer here. There may be others with the same question!
Submitted Questions & Answers (click on question)
Question: I haven't heard anything about the rapture. Is that a decision not to emphasize it very much in your ministry? Not complaining--just curious.
ANSWER:
Do not worry I am very much for the rapture of the church. Actually I get asked whether I am a pre-trib rapture (rapture before the tribulation period) or post trib rapture (rapture after the tribulation period). I usually tell people that I am a pro rapture believer. That means I am for the rapture, whenever it happens. Passages like 1 Thess. 4 are great passages dealing with the rapture. The reason that I have not covered it, is because it has not come up in any Bible books that I have preached through yet. It is very hard preaching only one time a week to cover many different subjects. That is why I like preaching through books because usually when you preach through books of the Bible you will cover most major topics. Thanks for the question!
Question: Question: In today's reading in 1 Cor, Paul speaks about women needing to wear head coverings to pray. How do we justify not doing this today as I do know some denominations that require this?
ANSWER:
As you’ve probably seen in illustrations from biblical time, both men and women wore robes. These loose fitting garments occasionally made it hard to tell women from men. In addition, women wore head coverings (or shawls) in the Corinthian church as a sign of gender and marital status. These head coverings represented the respect she had for her husband as the head of the home.
If a woman prophesies in church without this sign of being under male authority, in this case a head covering- i.e., if she prophesies while dressed like a man- she is in effect negating the distinction between men and women that God has ordained from creation (paraphrased from Thomas Schriener in “Head Coverings, Prophecies and the Trinity: 1 Cor. 11:2-16”).
In our society (and in our church), head coverings are not widely used to show the differences in genders. Some denominations still use the head covering practice. There’s nothing wrong with their choice to do so. But for our church and denomination, the reason behind the head coverings (showing respect to male headship) is still practiced without the wearing of head coverings.
So the manifestation of the principle is different, although the principle (male headship) still exists. Women who pray and prophesy still do so in a manner that shows respect and submits to male authority in the church.
-Sandra Peoples
Master of Divinity, Women’s Studies
Question: In the Old Testament we repeatedly see a God who deals with sin. Whole people groups are condemned to destruction, prophets rise to inform the kings of their sin and consequences, and miracles of punishment are meted out (pestilence, famine, drought, etc). Jesus still deals with sin, and his disciples followed, but also focused clearly on reaching all people groups. Today, anyone who claims disaster is punishment for sin is ridiculed, even by mainstream Christianity. Does the Bible give us guidance on what is chance, and what is punishment, or has God simply changed his mind about how to work in the world?
ANSWER:
Thank you for the question and certainly we need to pray for those recovering from this tragedy in Haiti. God does still work in this world. Understand that God does not like sin, He hates sin and sin He will judge always. We see sometimes these events happen, floods, earthquakes, and tsunamis. These are all events that remind us that creation moans as a result of sin in this world, a reminder that even creation needs to be reconciled and fixed. I believe that we must be careful not to presume what is God’s judgment. Was God judging churches when they were wiped out in hurricane Katrina? Where missionaries judged in Haiti when they were killed? The comments by Pat Robertson were ones in which I cannot agree with for two reasons. First, historically he is very inaccurate. He is building his comments on Haitian folklore not historical fact. Secondly it is dangerous to think that you speak for God on this issue. Yes, God did use prophets in the Old Testament to confront kings and nations with their sin. These were men in which God appointed, God called and God gave the words to speak. For us today to attempt that is dangerous if not called to speak for God.
Does God hate Haiti? No, if God hated the Haitian people then there would be no missionaries there, there would be no outpouring of relief efforts and people coming to their aid. Instead what this is an example that God desires the salvation of every person. That we all every one of us stands of the brink of eternity and that we are all called to repent and believe in the gospel. Thanks again for the question.
Question: How should we deal with people of other Christian denominations? Some are very similar, while others are very different, ranging from when they determine Jesus will reign in the millennial kingdom, to how baptism is to be handled, to whether prayers are only to God or also to saints, to whether speaking in tongues (public or private) confirms the Holy Spirit in us, to whether women should preach, or whether gay people are permitted to serve in the clergy. Do we consider other denominations to be wrong, heretical, and to be avoided, or do we trust that their leadership has carefully and prayerfully studied the scriptures and come to conclusions that while different, are just as valid as our own. (I assume here that Southern Baptist leadership has prayerfully and carefully considered their positions on these and other matters.)
ANSWER:
The first question we should ask and answer is “How should we deal with people?” How should we treat the non-believer who treats us with hostility and resentment over our faith? Peter reminds us in 1 Peter 3:15 that we should not only be ready to give a reason for our hope in Jesus, but to do so with “gentleness and reverence”. When we lose that gentleness, we lose our audience.
So our dealings with believers should also be met with gentleness and
reverence: gentleness towards the person we are speaking to, and reverence towards the God we represent in those conversations. As Southern Baptists, how should we deal with people of other denominations? We should deal with them as brothers and sisters in Christ. The most important thing in the world is what people believe about the person of Jesus Christ. Should we make a big deal over differences of opinion on when Jesus will return?
Absolutely not, because it doesn’t change the message. Should we be willing to speak up when a denomination chooses positions that are the opposite of God’s will? Absolutely. In the instance of gay clergy, we should definitely speak up (as should people within that denomination) regarding their disagreement with Scripture.
Southern Baptists have carefully considered their positions, which are included in the Baptist Faith and Message, and which have been updated at various times for clarification. If a denominations takes a position that is contrary to Scripture, then they likely arrived there not through prayer, but through compromise. That should be the concern of every believer.
Our desire is not the destruction or downplaying of other denominations, but the magnification of our Savior. We won’t be Baptist, Methodist, or Catholic in Heaven…we’ll be adopted sons and daughters of a merciful God.
Question: Mark 3:22 says, "And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, 'He is possessed by Beelzebub! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.'" Knowing that the Messiah had come, couldn't Satan have arranged for a demon possessed man to "cast out" demons in an attempt to lure people away from Jesus? Or is Jesus saying that Satan's domain is one of anarchy, and the demons could never work together long enough to work out such a deception?
ANSWER:
Thanks for the question. This is an interesting thought and I will try my best at providing an answer. First remember that Jesus may not have been the only person casting out demons. We do see in the book of Acts others beside Jesus having this ability. Second when a demon is cast out there is always a positive response. For example in Mark 5:19-20 the man whose experienced the work of Jesus went out and told others. So God receives glory for this work, I think even then the demons would not want God to get more glory. Third the logic of Jesus is sound in verses 23-27 of Mark 3. No matter if Satan can distract for a little while the destruction and defeat is always certain.
At the same time Satan does use other things, events and people sometimes to distract others from Jesus…however when one rightly looks at Christ then you see the one who says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life and no one comes to Father but through Me.” So if even if Satan made up this plan, all his other plans have failed and will always fail! Remember God will never share His glory with another, victory is certain!
Question: What does the Bible say about the use of medication?
ANSWER:
The best passage of Scripture on this subject comes in 2 Kings 20:1-7 (which you should read quickly). This is the account of King Hezekiah who was told by Isaiah that he would die. Hezekiah prays to the Lord, and Isaiah returns to say that Lord heard his prayer and that Hezekiah would live. Why did the Lord strike the king with an illness only to take it away after one prayer? Hezekiah was King of Judah, and I think the Lord wanted to see if Hezekiah would rely on doctors and human effort for his healing, or if he would rely on God. He chooses to seek God for a solution, and then it’s brought to him. What kind of disease did he have? We’re not sure, but it developed in a boil and was life threatening, possibly a version of the plague that was killing the Assyrians to the north.
In verse 7 it says that Isaiah told the doctors to lay a lump of figs on the boil, a medication, and he recovered. This may seem like a pretty simple solution, but I believe the solution was only presented after Hezekiah prayed. And it’s not the only time a simple solution has given big results. Alexander Fleming is attributed with discovering penicillin in 1928 to fight off bacterial infections. But records show that in 1875 people in rural England were using bread with blue mold, the type used to create penicillin, to fight off bacterial infections.
So when we pray, we should ask God for the healing. I once heard a man pray that God would heal “by miracle or by medicine”. God has given us the opportunity to use medications to improve our lives, and there is biblical evidence that medication was used, and approved, by God.
Question: During times of grave illnesses, how do you keep spirits up of a believer, but is going through depression?
ANSWER:
Thanks for the question. Certainly times of illness can bring us down emotionally. Depression is also another tough issue that many people struggle with in their lives. I will say that coming out of depression can be a struggle but is extremely possible with faith in Jesus Christ. I am going to do my best here to give you some practical advice but please know there are no quick answers. It will require much prayer, much patience and learning to deepen your faith in Christ.
First, when dealing with a friend pray for their joy in Christ. Pray that God will lift their spirits, heal their body from the illness. Do not discount the power of prayer in this.
Second, do not try to fix them be there for them. Learn as a friend when you need to listen and when you need to speak. Sometimes the best thing a friend can do is listen to the person.
Third, you might want to help the person find some Christian professional counseling. Sometimes this is very helpful and I will strongly suggest going to a counselor who is a Christian and will counsel from Scripture.
Fourth, help the person realize who they are in Christ. Help them know that God loves them, that Jesus died for them and that in Jesus they have everlasting life if their faith is in Jesus.
I hope this helps in some ways. I will spend time today praying for you and your friend. Thanks again for the question.
Question: When life has removed joy from your life, then what should you pray to have your joy restored?
ANSWER:
I have found the Christian life is very hard…often very hard. Certainly there are times in life that are tough. One of my former students recently lost their five day old child. There only child, just five days old suddenly passed away in his mothers arms. As Christians we are not immune to life’s problems, and struggles. Many people in the Bible struggled with pain and hardships. David in the Old Testament, lost a child, had a son that tried to kill him, people try to overthrow his kingdom. Job who lost everything…
Here are a few practical points on this matter:
1. Remember what God has done in your life:
Turn to Psalm 40:1-5
I think there is something here in David’s statement. There is faith in God and there is a remembrance of what God has done in David’s life. Notice there is a remembering on how God has worked:
v.2-3, 5
2. Remember that trials have a purpose:
James 1:2-8
James is clear that trials cannot be avoided, they are going to come and that God has a purpose in those trials. Someone once said a faith that cannot be tested is a faith that cannot be trusted. When we look at trials the response needs to be not why has this happened but what is God teaching me? When God’s people go through personal trials, they discover what kind of faith they really possess. Trials not only reveal our faith; they also develop our faith and Christian character.
3. Remember God loves you
Romans 8:35-39.
As believers in the moments of pain, hard times, tribulations this brings us joy, this brings us comfort to know that nothing will take us out of God’s hands. That God’s love for us has not changed, that He is a Father who cares, He is a Father who restores. So to answer the prayer question, it is many prayers of placing yourself, your life, your happiness back in who you are in Christ.
Question: The Bible tells us we are not tempted beyond what we can bear. Is it possible to live a sinless life if we could resist all temptation or is the world corrupt enough that we occasionally choose a lesser of two sins?
ANSWER:
It is not possible to live a sinless life because at our very core is a nature to sin, a nature to disobey and live for ourselves.
Romans 3:9-12 says, “What then? Are we better than they? Not all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin. As it is written: There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good no, not one.”
It is not possible to live a sinless life also because the standard set by God is complete holiness, no sin…period. Not even one lie and that is something that no human can do. Only Jesus was sinless because He was fully man, fully tempted, but never sinned because He was also fully God.
Question: If Jesus knows all things past, present and future, why would He tell the leper to tell know one about His healing, knowing He would spread the news and hinder his ministry because He had to stay out in lonely places?
ANSWER:
Often the question is asked, why God would do something knowing ahead of time we would disobey. For instance, why did God create Adam and Eve if He knew they were going to sin anyway? Why does God tell us to love our enemies when He knows we will not always do that? Understand that yes, God knows all these things and God created us with free will, we are not robots. He has given us the freedom to make decisions. So the real fault lies not on Jesus but on the leper, he disobeyed. We must understand God is not going to change His standards, His expectations for us; the standard is set, complete obedience. What we gather out of this is that even though we fall short in His standard He still loves us to offer up forgiveness through His Son Jesus.