Question:  I think Jesus was a good moral teacher.  But I disagree with some of the things He said.  What should I do?

Answer:   You should simply remember that Jesus is God and you are not! The Bible is the Word of God! In 2 Timothy 3:16, we read that “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” (NKJV)  So, debating with other people about how we should live is not going to be the same as debating with God.  Because there is really no debating with God.  He is God!  He’s almighty, all-knowing, all-powerful…. We are not.  So, He’s definitely going to be wiser than all of us.  Period.

However, if you listen to the politically correct teachings in the world today, you will hear many ideas that man calls right but that Jesus says is wrong.  For example, the world will call it narrow-minded and intolerant to say there’s only one path to Heaven.  But Jesus says in John 14:6, ” I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me.”  You can’t be much clearer than that.  So, on the question, How many ways to Heaven? — who are you going to believe?  A human who will always be imperfect, or our perfect Lord and Savior, Jesus?

And, when those who consider themselves wise in their own eyes tell you there is no such thing as being “born” a second time, refer them to Jesus. For Jesus says in John 3:3, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” And, He goes on to tell us how to be born again in verse 16 saying, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

The bottom line is, the Bible tells us that man will often only want to believe what is right in his own eyes. (See Proverbs 14:12)  But God’s Word already tells us the way He wants us to live.  He tells us what is right and what is wrong.  Many will want to reject His teachings and define their own ways of right and wrong. Don’t be intimidated into following after them. Instead, listen to Jesus. Don’t think you can argue with Him and win. Accept that the popular saying is true:   “Your arms ARE too short to box with God!”

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Question: Why is it that so many people call themselves Christians, yet they take opposite stands on many of today’s social issues?

Answer:  Many of these people are Christians in name only.  If you question them about their beliefs, you’ll find that they don’t actually believe God’s Holy Word.  They simply pick and choose the parts of the Bible they like and dismiss the rest.  They believe that Jesus was a good religious leader.  However, they don’t understand that they need to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. They may not want to live their lives the way God commands us to live in order to please Him.

Therefore, when it comes to taking a stand on today’s social issues, true Bible believing Christians will desire to follow God’s Word. In John 14:15, Jesus says, “If you love Me,  keep my commandments.” ( NKJV)  Believers will agree that if God calls a behavior sin, it is sin. Period.  No matter how many laws are passed or how many people vote for it, if God says it’s wrong, then it is wrong.  Each one of us will stand before God one day and answer for our sins.  If we haven’t accepted Jesus as the only One who died on the Cross to take the punishment we deserve for our sins, we will not go to Heaven.  (Read John 3:16).

If you are calling yourself a Christian, you need to start reading the Bible to find out if you are living as God wants you to live.  Feeding the poor, helping needy children, and doing other good works are wonderful things.  But they do not make you a Christian.  Jesus says in Matthew 7:22-23, “Many will say to me in that day ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’  And then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!”

Romans 1:18-32 details why we all should feel guilty when we disobey God and embrace sin.  It also tells us of the destructive results that come from embracing sin.  So if you see someone who is calling themselves a Christian while also being unrepentant in approving of things that God calls sin, take notice.  You should pray for the discernment of God’s Holy Spirit to know if they are really Believers. In Matthew 7:20, Jesus says, “Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”

So make sure you’re not a Christian in name only.  As the common saying goes: if you were on trial accused of being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict?  Be sure, by accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.  Understand that Jesus took the punishment we all deserve when He was put to death on the cross.  Ask Him to forgive you of your sins.  Praise God that Jesus rose from the dead on the third day and lives with our Father God in Heaven!  Commit to living your life to please Him while we’re on this earth.  And, rejoice in knowing that as true Christians, we’ll be able to join Jesus in Heaven one day!

Follow me on Twitter: @valclarksplace

Question:  How can I help my child maintain Christian values when challenged at school?

Answer:  Those who want to change long-standing moral beliefs in our society know that the easiest place to start is with those easiest to influence.   The old saying, “the hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world,” can be true.   Any parent, teacher, or child care worker will tell you that children are like little sponges ready to “soak up” whatever they are exposed to.  That’s why children can be quicker than some adults to learn the latest dance craze or  technology  device.  So whoever becomes the first ones to teach them what to believe will possess a great deal of influence in these young lives.  As Christian parents, we are the ones who should make sure our children know what they are to believe.  We cannot afford to leave this teaching to others who may not share our faith.

Unlike in decades past, American schools no longer reinforce traditional Judeo-Christian values.  Today, they teach such things as sex outside of marriage is fine as long as you use birth control.  At some schools, they’ll even tell you how to get the birth control or actually provide it for you.  Also, they might teach students that if they believe the biblical values taught them by their parents, they are being naive and old-fashioned.  Since most young people spend a great deal of their lives in school, the values these “institutions of learning” teach really do matter.  Christian parents must stay aware of what values their children are being taught in school and discuss these issues at home.

There are many examples of schools trying to force Christian students to hide or change their beliefs.  For example, a Christian student at the University of Wisconsin was told by her professor to remove all religious references from her class project.  (See the story:  http://www.christianheadlines.com/blog/college-student-told-to-remove-religious-references-from-project.html) Legal Counsel representing this student had to remind school officials that students still have their First Amendment right to religious freedom even while they are attending public schools and universities.

High school Christian class valedictorian have also faced instances of push back when they wanted to include their faith in their speeches.  Several have been threatened with having their microphones cut off and worse if they gave credit to God in their speeches.  Jeremy G. Dys writes about this in his article titled, “When ‘God’ is a bad word at graduation.” (Read it here:   http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2015/06/11/when-god-is-bad-word-at-graduation.html?intcmp=obinsite.)

Of course, plenty of Christian students make it through school with little or no real problems expressing their beliefs in school.  For example, students are still allowed to have student-led Bible Clubs alongside other clubs at school.  A school in California even welcomed Bible clubs held at their school, attracting even some gang members who attended and wanted to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior.  They no longer wanted to be in the gangs.  (Read:   http://www.christianheadlines.com/blog/gang-members-being-converted-through-california-schools-bible-classes.html.)

Christian students should be taught to not be surprised or feel defeated when faced with opposition to their faith in school.  Jesus warned in Luke 21:17, “And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake.” (NKJV)  And, when challenged concerning your faith, pray to God for wisdom to know what to do.  For Jesus promised in Luke 21:15 that He “will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist.”  Amen!

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Question:  Why won’t more Christians speak out about what God’s Word says concerning today’s social issues?

Answer:  Many times they don’t want to speak out because they are afraid of the backlash they might receive.  Stories of Believers receiving harsh consequences for speaking out about social issues are spreading quickly through the Christian community.  Believers are seeing the punishment be even more severe when they not only speak up about their beliefs but live out their faith by refusing to follow the anti-Christian demands of others.

Take the case of U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Monifa Sterling. While stationed at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina,  Sterling was convicted at a court-martial for disrespecting an officer.  She had refused to remove a plaque from her desk that said, “No weapon formed against me shall prosper.”  This popular scripture comes from the verse in Isaiah 54:17.  Sterling believes she has a Constitutional right to keep these words on her desk.  She is appealing her conviction under the protection of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.  (Read her story http://www.christianpost.com/news/marine-convicted-for-failing-to-remove-bible-verse-that-says-no-weapon-formed-against-me-shall-prosper-139626/ )

There’s also the case of the Christian bakers who decided to speak up and take a stand for their biblical beliefs. Even though they had been serving gay customers, they refused to make a wedding cake specifically for a gay marriage. They refused because of their religious beliefs since the Bible clearly teaches that God created marriage to be between one man and one woman only.  But recently the Colorado Court of Appeals ruled that this family-owned bakery cannot refuse to make wedding cakes for same-sex marriages.  (See the story here: http://www.christianheadlines.com/blog/colorado-court-rules-against-christian-cake-maker.htm )

Retaliation can also come in the form of bad grades in school.  A student at Polk State College in Florida was given zeroes by her professor for not writing her essays to agree with his beliefs on her religion.  For example, he would ask questions such as: “Why does Christianity and its male gods seek to silence these women (in this case, nuns)?”  He expected the student essays to reflect his belief that Christianity is false, violent, and oppressive to women.  (See story http://www.wnd.com/2015/05/christian-girl-given-zero-grades-for-her-beliefs/ )

These cases represent just a few of the ways Bible-believing Christians who speak out and stand firm for their beliefs may encounter negative responses.  These Christians may have avoided their problems by just obeying when they were told to “just be quiet and get with the program”.  But they were right to follow the commands of God and not those of sinful man. Like them, all Believers must stand strong for God’s Word.  We must remember that Jesus warned in Matthew 24:9,  “Then they will deliver you up for tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.” (NKJV)   And, the Apostle Paul says in 2 Timothy 3:12, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecutions.”  Famed Pastor Greg Laurie does a great job of teaching about this in his writing:  Christians: Stand your Ground. (See http://www.wnd.com/2015/06/christians-stand-your-ground/ )

So, the next time you feel afraid to speak up about what you believe, remember that God is our protector. Pray for the guidance of His Holy Spirit to know when to speak up.  Make sure that your words and actions reflect the love of God to others.  Show kindness, stand strong, and know that the only real program Believers need to “get with” is God’s!

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Question: Are today’s Christians being too judgmental?

Answer:  What some call unfair judging is often just Christians following God’s command.  In Matthew 28:19 – 20, Jesus says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you…” (NKJV)  The Bible tells us in 2 Timothy 3:16 that “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness…”  In other words,  teaching others about the way God wants us to live our lives, in order to please Him, is part of what God wants us to do.

But those who choose not to live by God’s Word often don’t even want you to speak the Word to them.  They don’t want to hear the truth.  In fact, 2 Timothy 4:3-4 says “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.”

Fighting against the truth is a constant pursuit of those who choose not to live for the Lord.  One very common tactic they use against Believers is to actually attempt to quote Scripture they think will intimidate the Believer.  The most common verse they use is Matthew 7:1:  “Judge not, that you be not judged.”  But what they don’t do is include the next few verses.  Jesus warns Believers about being hypocrites for judging others when they haven’t considered their own sins. And He goes on to say in verse 5: “…First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck out of your brother’s eye.”  In other words, Christians need to admit, ask forgiveness for, and turn away from our own sins in order to be ready to help others turn away from their sins.

In the end, Christians know that the ultimate judgment will come from God.  The Bible tells us in Romans 14 :10, “…For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.”  Verse 12 says, “…each of us shall  give account of himself to God.” And, as the Apostle Paul says in Acts 17: 30-31, “(God) commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man (Jesus) whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”

Our sins make us all unworthy of spending eternal life in Heaven, and instead condemn us all to Hell.  The Good News is that by asking God to forgive you of your sins, turning away from your sins, and accepting that only Jesus Christ willingly died on the Cross to take the punishment we deserved for our sins, you will be saved.  Only with Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, will you be ready to stand before Almighty God at the time of His final judgment!

Judgment Day is coming.  Will you be ready?

Follow me on Twitter: @valclarksplace

Question :  What do I do when family and friends make fun of my Christian beliefs?

Answer: Remember that being ridiculed, called names, and ignored is nothing new to those who follow Jesus Christ. In today’s politically correct culture, it’s considered out-of-step with the times to live our lives according to God’s Holy Word.  When we say things like, “God created marriage to be between one man and one woman only,” or that “children are gifts from God and it is wrong to abort them,” unbelievers react like we are out of our minds.  They find it strange that we can actually believe such things.  As the Bible says in 1 Corinthians 1:18, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (NKJV)

Also, the world will warn us that if we continue to hold to these beliefs, we’ll risk being called unintelligent and backwards instead of being seen as progressive in our thinking.  After all, nobody wants to come across as dumb in front of others.  Little do they know that God would say that it is them who lack knowledge and that it is them who fail to be wise.  Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”  When they choose to ignore God’s Word and instead do what is right in their own eyes, they’re saying that they know better than God!  Most certainly, they do not!  But, as Romans 1:22 says, “Professing to be wise, they became fools…”  So, as they promote their sinful behaviors, they need to know they are dishonoring their Creator.  And, God will not be mocked!

Therefore, Believers should take comfort in knowing that Jesus said, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.” (John 15:18)  We must not lose hope.  Instead, we must continue to pray for the salvation of our loved ones and friends.  We must continue to show them the love of Christ and not forget that before each of us accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we were lost just like them.

So, the next time you are attacked for your Christian beliefs, stand strong in God’s Word!  Say to them as Paul said in Romans 1:16, “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes…”  Amen!

Follow me on Twitter:  @valclarksplace 

Question:  How should Christians fight back in today’s spiritual battles?

Answer:  Start by recognizing when you’re in one.  For example, you’re in a spiritual battle when your rebellious teen refuses to stop hanging out with the crowd that’s always in trouble despite your warnings.  Or, when your spouse is constantly arguing with you about every little thing and threatening to divorce you, you’re facing a spiritual battle.  When your boss is telling you to lie to your clients to get them to buy your product or be fired, you’re in a spiritual battle.  When you just can’t seem to stop your addiction to porn, you’re facing a spiritual battle. The way to fight back against spiritual attacks remains the same as always.  As Ephesians 6:10-20 tells us, we must make sure that each day, we are putting on the “whole armor of God.” (v.11 NKJV) In other words, we must remember that our God is all-knowing and all-powerful. He can protect us and help us through any situation. Believers must be “strong in the Lord and in the power of His might” (v.10)  Christians must take all these battles to the Lord in prayer! (v.18)

But Believers know that the spiritual battles we face are not just confined to those we interact with every day.  We are facing spiritual battles as Christians in our communities and nation as well.  Our country is moving fast towards taking away our constitutionally granted religious freedoms.  For example, public schools don’t want students to mention Jesus in their class assignments. (See the story here)  High schools preview the speeches of their class valedictorian to make sure they don’t mention Jesus in giving credit for their success.

Spiritual battles are also being waged using our government.  For example, some Christian employers, whose faith teaches that abortion is wrong, are being forced by law to pay for health insurance to cover  their employees’ birth control – including those forms that lead to the baby being aborted. (Story here) Private, Christian owned  businesses which service weddings are being sued if they won’t provide their services for same-sex weddings. (Story here)   These Christians are being forced to support lifestyles God’s Word calls sin. The Bible teaches that God created marriage to be only between one man and one woman, as Jesus reminds us in Matthew 19:4-6. Being forced to support any other definition of marriage would be to force Christians to support sin.

Be discerning as you listen to media figures, politicians, celebrities, those in academia, and others who tell you that standing strong for your biblical values makes you a hater of others or shows your lack of intelligence.  They will say that you need to “get with the times.”  They may even threaten your job
like they did recently to a Marine who was convicted for failing to remove a Bible verse she found encouraging from her computer.    (Story here)  Don’t let them intimidate you into going along to get along!  As Paul warns us in Ephesians 5:6: “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.”  So, don’t let them deceive you into supporting them in their sins and betraying God.

Stand strong in God’s Word and believe in the power of prayer.  And be victorious over the spiritual warfare in your life!

Follow me on Twitter:  @valclarksplace

Question:  Why are so many Christians supporting cultural trends that go against God’s Word?

Answer:  Because today, too many Believers are satisfied with being “Sunday Christians.”  The rest of the week they are fine with not letting the Word of God interfere with their love affair with sinful, worldly ways.  This behavior goes directly opposite to what Jesus said in John 17:14-26 about Believers being in the world but not of the world.  If, indeed, you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, His Holy Spirit lives inside you.  His Spirit guides you and convicts you when you embrace sin.  Some Believers ignore these convictions or make excuses for why they are supporting things that they know are wrong.

These Believers think they are innocent if they aren’t committing the actual sins themselves.  For example, some parents will allow their adult children and the person with whom they are cohabitating share the same bedroom when they come for overnight visits.  They allow this because they fear their children will reject them or think their ways are too backward.  Some Believers will look the other way when their business partners decide to cheat on the company taxes so they won’t lose too much of their yearly profits.  Many Christians will support political candidates, activist groups, or celebrities who openly promote and want to legalize lifestyles  and actions the Bible calls sin. They prefer to support the sins in return for the social acceptance and financial gains.  But, if you support these people, you are still guilty before God.  If you read Romans 1:18-32, you will see the list of sinners also includes those who “….approve of those who practice them (sinful behaviors).” (NKJV)

Yet, these Christians continue to turn their backs on Jesus when they embrace the sinful behavior of others.  They prefer to have the approval of family, friends, and society rather than being obedient to God’s Word.  The Bible tells us in Matthew 26:14-16 and 27:3-5, that Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver and regretted it to the point of ending his own life.  When Believers choose to support the sins of others in return for their approval, acceptance, and rewards, they are also betraying Jesus.  One day, they too will regret it.  For each of us will stand before our Holy God and give an account for our actions.

If you have turned your back on Jesus for whatever has become your “30 pieces of silver,” know there is still forgiveness in Christ! “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)  Turn away from supporting sin and embrace our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!  Choose to do and support only what is pleasing to Him!

Follow me on Twitter: @valclarksplace

Helpful Links:

Focus on the Family  www.focusonthefamily.com

Crown Financial Ministries  www.crown.org

The Christian Broadcasting Network   http://www.cbn.com

World Magazine   http://www.worldmag.com