Question:
As a believing young person how should I dress to attract the opposite sex?

Answer:
That which is on the inside is most important. We should be looking deeper than clothes. “Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price” (1 Peter 3:3, 4).

We should not try to attract, but dress modestly (1 Timothy 2:9). If God is preparing someone for us, He will lead that one to us if we live for Him (Proverbs 7:6-27).

Question:
It has been stated that Christians are different from unsaved individuals as found in this present world.
A. Why is this true?

B. In what ways might we be different?

C. Will this always feel correct to be different?

Answer:
A. Christians are different because:
(1) We have the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13).

(2) We have a new nature in Christ (Colossians 3:9,10).

(3) We have heavenly home (John 14:2, 3; John 17:14-16).
B. The ways Christians are different:

(1) Dress (1 Timothy 2:9).

(2) Show fruit of Spirit (Galatians 5:22, 23).

(3) Different goal. The Lord had no earthly “roots” (Matthew 8:20).
C. Will this always feel correct to be different?We will feel different, for we are different than the world, because we are called to a heavenly calling (Hebrews 3:1).

Question:
This question pertains to my job in the law firm. Is a mentally insane (either “temporary” or “permanent”) person guilty for their sins that they commit? From God’s viewpoint, are they responsible to pay the consequences and confess it to the Lord or to the one they wronged? My question stems from the acquittals recently of those who have claimed insanity and have been found not guilty by a jury. They definitely committed a crime but did not have to pay the consequences for it. I would like to know what God thinks about that.

Answer:

When we read Scriptures like Exodus 21:12 to the end of the chapter and chapter 12 we see that every wrong deed from the most to the least serious is a responsible act that must result in a penalty for the criminal according to God’s holiness. And throughout the Word of god we are taught that everyone is responsible to God for the things that he says and does. In Genesis 9:5-6 when God placed government into the hands of men He established capital punishment for the murderer. In Romans 13:1-4 the same truth is found. God has always held everyone responsible for their crimes and He still does. I do not know of one verse in the Bible where insanity mitigates a crime. In fact, I don’t even know of one verse where it is ever mentioned in connection with the judgment brought upon a criminal.

In every case in Scripture the evildoer was to be punished according to the severity of his crime. Restitution, sometimes even four and five times above the original loss, was always required. And there were several crimes which required the death of the evil doer. It was very expensive for the criminal under God’s holy law, even to his ultimate loss, life itself. When we consider all of this, I think it is clear that punishment upon the criminal was what God required and He required it in every case. NOTHING could take away the guilt of the evil doer. He had to pay according to God’s law. And to my knowledge insanity was never an issue in any case we read of in Scripture. Also, I don’t remember any Scripture that indicates that God inflicted punishment as a deterrent, though it is reasonable to think that it was to some would-be criminals. No. However much or little crime there was, God had in view His appropriate punishment for the criminal. Everyone was responsible to God for his actions.

Where does all this leave our present criminal justice system…………………? But then what can we expect in a godless nation?

Thank God for His grace and love in providing a full, perfect salvation for those who come to God in repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ!!

Question:
Why are there so few messages spoken on what the Bible says about specific problems we encounter in the world today (for example, drugs, alcohol, violence, wars, etc.)?

Answer:
First of all, the best ministry is the positive, life-changing ministry concerning the Person and work of Christ. The more each one of us has Christ before us, keeping His infinite love and infinite sufferings for us always in the forefront of our minds, the more we will be kept from yielding to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, and from involvement in the evil that surrounds us.

But if some in the assembly are aware of the specific problems like drugs, alcohol, sexual sin, etc., coming into the assembly, or even those in the assembly directly exposed to people involved in these things, ministry from the Scriptures concerning these problems is certainly appropriate. In recent years there has been public ministry at the Iowa and Pennsylvania Conferences and at the Minnesota Young People’s Conferences on the importance of maintaining sexual purity. There has also been ministry in the Words of Truth publication in recent years on sexual sin, social drinking, dealing with the violence around us, serving in the armed forces, wars, politics, and voting, and other relevant issues of life. (If you would like to subscribe to the bimonthly publication: Words of Truth write to Christian Literature, 27 Edinboro Lane, Reading, PA 19605.)

Question:
At the passover, they were to eat only unleavened bread. Why then, do we use leavened bread in Remembrance meeting? Isn’t that a type of the passover supper?

Answer:
God’s people today are not under the law: “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ” (John 1:17); “For ye are not under the law, but under grace” (Romans 6:14). It was the law that commanded the godly Israelite to refrain from using leaven, but we have no such command today.

The Passover feast (Exodus 12:14) does remind us of the Lord’s Supper, for just as the Israelites came together to remember their deliverance from judgment by the blood of the lamb, so we too eat the Lord’s supper to meditate on our deliverance from eternal judgment by the blood of the Lamb. But I believe the type ends there. We don’t kill a literal lamb and eat it, like they did, and we don’t eat bitter herbs either (Exodus 12:8). The Lord chose to only use bread and wine because they would symbolize His body and blood. So the important thing is that we do use some kind of bread. The Lord did not specify unleavened or leavened bread, for it is Christ Himself that is typified in the bread which we break (see 1 Corinthians 10:16; 11:23, 24).

Question:
Is there anything wrong with inviting the so-called “laboring or traveling brothers” to come and minister?

Answer:
“A vision appeared to Paul in the night; “There stood a man of Macedonia and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia and help us. And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavored to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them” (Acts 16:9).

Receiving a vision is not quite the same as receiving a letter or phone call; but perhaps the principle is the same. The “laborers” often receive such invitations, or at least subtle or not so subtle reminders of how long it has been since they have last visited a certain assembly. Of course, the servant of the Lord must always be before the Lord as to what He would have him to do, what assemblies he should visit and when, what he should minister at each assembly, etc. But if an assembly is having a particular problem and desires ministry directed toward the problem, it would seem particularly appropriate to notify one or more of the “laborers” for their prayer and consideration of a ministry visit.

Question:
What does it mean when it says keeping God’s commandments would add length of days, and long life to thee? It won’t actually lengthen your life, will it?

Answer:
I assume you are referring to Proverbs 3:1,2. I will quote that passage, along with a New Testament reference which is similar to it: “My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments; for length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee” (Proverbs 3:1, 2). “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honor thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth” (Ephesians 6:1-3).

First of all, we must consider who the writer of Proverbs is specifically addressing. We know that it was the nation of Israel who was given God’s holy commandments (see Exodus, chapters 19 & 20; Romans 9:4). Along with the commandments, God promised certain blessings if they were obedient to His law, and certain curses if they were disobedient to His law (see Deuteronomy 27:11-28:68).
The Gentile nations were never given the law (see Romans 2:14a; Ephesians 2:11,12), and the Church of God is also “not under the law” (See Romans 6:14). It stands to reason then that if we are not under the law, we cannot claim title to the blessings the law promised (or the curses either!!)
However, seeing as how God saw fit to mention (in Ephesians 6:2, 3) the commandment to honor one’s father and mother, with the promised blessing of wellness and long life to the obedient child, we can surely expect some application to ourselves. I do believe that if a child is obedient to his/her parents, and this because of owning the Lord’s authority in this relationship, there will be much blessing, which may include a long life. We know that there is no guarantee, for many a godly child in this Church period has been taken to glory by sickness, accident, or martyrdom. But generally speaking, we know that a life of obedience usually carries with it good health and longevity. And let us remember that the opposite has also held true; a life of rebellion and careless living has often ended prematurely.

Question:
Is there anything wrong with having our meeting hall fixed up very nicely (such as having bouquets of flowers and potted plants)? Don’t we see to it that we have nice homes and if we have businesses that we try our best to have them kept nicely?

Answer:
I believe it is quite appropriate to have the hall looking nice (painted and in good repair); and who could object to having plants and flowers, reminders of the power, wisdom, and glory of the Creator (Matthew 6:28-30)?

 

However, as with all things, there must be a proper balance here. For example, if there are saints in the assembly who cannot afford to paint and repair their own homes, or are needy in other ways, the assembly should be at least as much concerned about helping those poor believers as about making the hall look nice.

Question:

Romans 8:16,17 says, “The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God, and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ, if so be we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.” Why are we heirs if we suffer with Him? What does it mean to suffer with Him?

Answer:
Let me begin by quoting an excerpt from Mr. W. E. Vines’s commentary on Romans: “This (if so be that we suffer with Him) is not to be taken into such close connection with the phrase “joint-heirs” as to make that position conditional upon our suffering with Him here. The word EIPER, “if so be,” indicates here that to suffer with Christ is characteristic of believers generally. True Christianity is, in one way or another, a suffering quantity in this world.”

I believe Mr. Vine is saying that we are not heirs because we suffer with Christ, but that because we have believed on Christ, we will necessarily suffer with Him. Suffering with Christ is thus the fruit of being a child and an heir of God.
Take “good works” to further illustrate this truth. We know that good works has nothing to do with our becoming a child of God, but Scripture maintains that good works will characterize the one who is truly saved (Ephesians 2:8-10; Titus 3:5,8). If one professes faith in Christ, but does not manifest any good works, his so-called faith is called dead (James 2:20, 22) and cannot save him. Likewise, if one professes to be a child and an heir of God, and never experiences “suffering with Christ,” we would be justified in questioning the reality of his/her profession.
I believe this subject becomes clearer when we consider the second part of your question: “What does it mean to suffer with Him?” Scripture speaks elsewhere of suffering FOR Christ (Acts 5:41; 9:16; Philippians 1:29), but here alone do we read of suffering WITH Him. To suffer FOR Christ involves incurring the hatred and persecution of the world as we testify of Christ. But I believe suffering WITH Christ has a much broader scope. When our Lord walked the earth we know that He suffered greatly as He testified for the Father. Men ridiculed Him and eventually put Him on the cross because of His witness of the Father. Thus, He suffered FOR Him (the Father). But can we say that His suffering was confined to being persecuted on account of His testimony to the Father? When we read of Him prophetically in Isaiah 53 as a “man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief,” is this speaking solely of what He felt when enduring the hatred of an ungodly world? I don’t think so. I believe it is also referring to the sorrow and grief which He experienced when His holy nature constantly witnessed evil (in every shape and form) and the terrible effects of sin (such as disease, demon-possession, and death). (Ed. It also hurts the Lord, and His people when souls show by missing meetngs that they have turned from Him today.) We (who are children of God) have His holy nature, and as we walk in this world which is so contrary to God, we will indeed suffer as we see the ravages of sin, and in that way we will be suffering WITH Him. If one never suffers with Him in this way, we can be sure that the Divine nature is absent (He is NOT a child and heir of God).

Question:
We live in an era where criminals and criminal activity are increasing; this is a reality. My question is, should a Christian own a gun as a form of protection against crime?

Answer:
A few verses that apply generally are: “Casting all your care upon Him, for He careth for you” (1 Peter 5:7). “My [the Lord’s] strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). “God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted [or tried] above that ye are able; but will with the temptation [or trial] also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13). “A prudent man foreseeth the evil and hideth himself; but the simple pass on and are punished” (Proverbs 22:3).

In contrast, a person with a gun may tend to be more careless and self-confident, and less dependent upon the Lord for safety and protection. More specifically, in Ezra 7:6, 21, 22 and 8:21-23, 31 we find Ezra leading a group of Israelites back to Jerusalem from the Babylonian captivity. He reports, “I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way [that is, highway robbers], because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek Him, but His power and His wrath is against all them that forsake Him.” As a result, he later reports, “The hand of our God was upon us, and He delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in wait by the way.”
Two modern day illustrations of depending upon the Lord in a time of danger were presented. A Christian man, when confronted on the street by three men who stuck a gun in his ribs and demanded his money, calmly said, “I am a child of God and you can’t touch me.” The three men fled without the money. Two Christian teenagers who were sisters were jogging in a park in Minneapolis, Minnesota when a man came out of the bushes and grabbed one of them. While the other sister ran off to get help, the endangered one, with a knife held to her throat, said to the attacker, “The Lord is protecting me: Jesus loves you.” The man released her unharmed.
It was mentioned that we (men especially) might tend to fantasize about being a hero or responding in a “macho” kind of manner in such situations. But it would be far better to fantasize about praying for help, calling upon the Lord Jesus, or finding a way to escape when confronted with such danger.As a final point, loaded guns in the home have been the cause of all too many accidental deaths and injuries to family members–probably a far greater number than the number of robberies prevented by such guns.

Question:
Can women answer questions, if asked, in a Bible study or Sunday school class in light of 1 Corinthians 14:34?

Answer:
1 Corinthians 14:34 is not referring to a Bible study or Sunday school, but is speaking of “assembly meetings.” The verse says: “Let your women keep silence in the churches,” which means when “the whole church be come together into one place” (verse 23). Just because a meeting is held in the meeting hall, does not mean it is an “assembly meeting.”

“Assembly meetings” are special times the assembly is told in the Scriptures to gather together, and we have direction for only four “assembly meetings” in the Word.

“When ye [the assembly] are gathered together” is mentioned regarding (1) the Lord’s supper (1 Corinthians 11:18-26); (2) prayer (Matthew 18:19,20); (3) ministry from the prophets (1 Corinthians 14:23-29); and (4) discipline (1 Corinthians 5:4-13). These special “assembly meetings” are meetings when the assembly depends on the Spirit of God (not gifts) to lead in worship, prayer, etc. And the women are to keep “silent” (i.e. not address publicly) in these meetings.
Since the Sunday school and the Bible study are not mentioned as special assembly gatherings, they are not “assembly meetings.” However, many assemblies have found it very profitable to have these “activities of the assembly” to give opportunity for the use of the gifts of teaching, etc. in a weekly Sunday school and Bible study for the profit of all. The Sunday school work with the children is where women are specially fitted, and the older women are “teachers of good things” and “teach the young women” (Titus 2:3, 4).
God has an order for His work to be done, and all is to be “done decently and in [that] order” (1 Corinthians 14:40). God says that His order for man and woman is not changed because of our place in Christ, nor because of the gifts He has given each of us.
God has given man and woman distinct and special places in creation, and the Lord wants us to show these distinct places in public when “praying and prophesying” (1 Corinthians 11:2-10). “I will therefore that men pray every where…Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence” (1 Timothy 2:8-12). God has given woman the place of being “the glory of man,” and God has given man the place of being “the image and glory of God” (1 Corinthians 11:7). Man’s place is to represent God when praying and prophesying, and woman is not to usurp man’s God-given place by teaching and praying in public in the presence of men.So in answer to the question: A well-taught sister knows she is not under law and she may be free before the Lord to ask a question, but may have difficulty answering a question where men are present for she does not want to usurp man’s authority by teaching. She would gladly “teach” if there are no men present, or if she is in a home Bible study setting as Priscilla, with her husband Aquila, instructed the eloquent Apollos in the privacy of their own home. May the Lord give each of us a desire to be guided by the Word as to what, how, and where we speak, so that we are truly the Lord’s servants by being guided by His Word in His precious work.

Question:
Does God have a specific wish for each of us as to whether we should marry and whom we should marry?

Answer:
In Matthew 19:12 and 1 Corinthians 7:25-34 we see that the Lord has specially gifted certain individuals with the ability not to marry, so that they might be more free (as the bachelor Apostle Paul certainly was) to care “for the things that belong to the Lord” (1 Corinthians 7:32). Every young man and woman should be before the Lord as to His will in this matter of marriage.

As to whom we should marry, the Bible provides two basic, fundamental guidelines: “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers” (2 Corinthians 6:14); “She is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 7:39). Does this last verse mean that God doesn’t care whom I marry, as long as I marry another believer and that both of us are sincerely desirous of having Christ be the Lord–the Boss–of our lives?
When Abraham sent His servant to the country of his relatives to find a bride for Isaac, the servant prayed for the ability to identify the precise woman whom the Lord had appointed for Isaac (Genesis 24:14). And the Lord clearly and plainly showed the servant His choice (verses 15-27). The servant exclaims, “I being in the way, the Lord led me to the house of my master’s brethren” (verse 27). If we are always “in the way” of the Lord, always seeking His perfect will and not our own, we will find Him leading us clearly and plainly in the direction of His will.

Question:
Is it wrong to be involved with believers outside the fellowship in helping with evangelization, etc.

Answer:
It is certainly not wrong to “Go…into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15), for this is the Lord’s great commission to every believer. It is not wrong to work together with other believers in getting the gospel out praying together and to pass out the tracts and invitations to a meeting where the gospel of God’s grace through Christ to lost sinners is clearly preached.

God has called every believer with the “high…holy…and heavenly calling” (Philippians 3:14; 2 Timothy 1:9; Hebrews 3:1). A calling whereby “ye are called in one body” (Colossians 3:15) to work together as directed by the Head of the body, even Christ.

The Lord desires to direct us as members of “the one body.” Any gift He has given to us is for the good of the whole body of Christ: “For the perfecting of the saints, in view of the work of the ministry, in view of the edifying of the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12, JND translation).
God’s plan is that the evangelist should not only draw souls to Christ for salvation, but that he should then introduce them to the assembly (the “two or three gathered unto His name” Matthew 18:20) where God has provided the pastors, teachers, and other gifts to care for them and to cause them to grow in the Lord’s things. Salvation is only the beginning of what God has for the believer, and He has given sufficient gifts in every assembly for the blessing of souls (1 Corinthians 1:7; Matthew 18:20). What a privilege it is to function in the assembly, seeking to be led of the Lord, showing forth “the one body,” for the edifying of all.
One problem some have found in working with believers outside the assembly in evangelization comes after souls are saved. What church is the convert going to be directed to, the assembly or the church of the believers you are working with? Another problem many find if they try to work with believers outside the fellowship is that they are told how to do things. It would not be right to be under the direction of anyone, or any group of believers (other than the Lord), in our service for Him. The assembly has no authority to direct the Lord’s servants (the Lord does through His Word), and each one of us answer only to the Lord Himself as to what we do. “To his own Master he standeth or falleth… Everyone of us shall give account of himself to God” (Romans 14:4, 12).We thank the Lord for wherever (and by whomever) the gospel is preached, even if it is “of envy and strife” (Philippians 1:15, 16). But if we are going to please the Lord, we must follow the direction He gives us in the Word, which has in view the function of His assembly in connection with His work.

Question:
Is there any order of service for the different meetings of the assembly? Should not the Remembrance meeting be before the Sunday school, or is it not found anywhere in Scripture?

Answer:

Acts 20:7-12 tells about the disciples coming together on the first day of the week to break bread. The order of events given in this passage is (1) Paul preached, (2) there was the breaking of bread, and (3) Paul talked till break of day. So in this case, the breaking of bread both preceded and followed ministry. This is one of many areas where liberty is left to each individual assembly to arrange things as are most suitable for the assembly.

For example, many years ago Sunday school preceded the Remembrance meeting in the Baltimore Assembly. Then, for very practical reasons agreed upon by all in the assembly, the order was switched, and has remained so up to the present.

Question:
Why do we listen to music?

Answer:
It is entertaining and we enjoy it. We listen to escape, and we get positive encouragement from Christian music. The Scriptures encourage us not only to listen, but to: “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord…Serve the Lord with gladness: come before His presence with singing” (Psalm 100:1, 2). The psalmist David said: “I will be glad and rejoice in Thee: I will sing praise to Thy name, O Thou most High” (Psalm 9:2). “Praise ye the Lord. Sing unto the Lord a new song, and His praise in the congregation of saints” (Psalm 149:1).

Likes for music are individualized, but our music can often be heard by others. So we should consider when we listen to music that we do not provide any “occasion of stumbling” to our brother (1 John 2:10). “If meat [or music] make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend” (1 Corinthians 8:13).The best music is linked with the outpouring of the heart. And the Lord says: “My son give me thine heart” (Proverbs 23:26). Ask ourselves: “What is this song doing in my heart?” We should be a singing people, and all music is lawful, for we are not under law, but we should be sure that the music we listen to is “profitable,” and that we are not brought “under the power of” the music itself. (1 Corinthians 6:12).

Question:
How can music affect your mind and life?

Answer:
While a great deal could be said on this topic, let us focus on one point. Notice Colossians 3:16: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” In this verse singing is a wonderful means of teaching, learning, and remembering. If the words express verses or truths of Scripture, are positive and uplifting, then music can affect our minds and lives in a most positive and uplifting way. Equally, if the words of the music we listen to express blasphemous, immoral, sinful ideas and actions, then our minds and lives will be instructed and affected accordingly. Listening to music that glorifies evil will deaden our sensitivity to evil. In contrast, the Holy Spirit exhorts us, “Abhor that which is evil” (Romans 12:9).

Question:
What is Christian music?

Answer:
“I will sing with the spirit, I will sing with the understanding also” (1 Corinthians 14:15).

It is important to understand the words, and the words determine whether the music is Christian or not. “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:19).
Our music should be such that gives honor to God so we can sing it “to the Lord.”

Question:
What is the difference between someone singing a solo/duet/trio and having a choir sing a selection during a gospel service?

Answer:
Instead of trying to answer that question directly, let us see if the Scriptures have anything to say about smaller groups of singers performing for the entire congregation. In Exodus 15, “Moses and the children of Israel” sang the song of triumph: later in the chapter, Miriam and the women of Israel sang a responsive type of song, with the women singing the verses and Miriam singing the chorus (verse 21; similarly 1 Samuel 18:7). In Judges 5, Deborah and Barak sang a duet. In 1 Chronicles 25, families of the Levites were appointed as temple musicians. In the New Testament, the disciples gathered at the institution of the Lord’s Supper, concluded by singing a hymn together (Matthew 26:30). In the early assemblies, the singing of psalms and hymns was clearly used as a means of instruction as well as worship: “Teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Colossians 3:16). That’s why we learn to sing so many songs and choruses in Sunday school. It is easier to remember Bible verses and Bible truths if they are linked with a particular melody and rhythm. In Revelation 5:8, 9, the 24 elders (considered to be resurrected saints) “sang a new song.” Also in Revelation 14:3 and 15:3 we find large companies singing together.

Putting all of this together, there was much congregational singing in the Old Testament, though not exclusively that; and the New Testament pattern seems to be almost exclusively congregational singing, or else a singer teaching hymns to the rest of the congregation. There doesn’t seem to be any definite scripture either forbidding or encouraging the use of small singing groups in certain meetings such as gospel services, so we want to avoid being legalistic one way or the other. The important thing is that the consciences of all in the assembly be considered and that the matter not become a source of strife and conflict in the assembly. It would certainly seem to be appropriate for a soloist or small group to teach the congregation new songs that have never been sung before; but again, there should be agreement in the assembly as to the appropriate time and way of doing this. “Let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40).
Something to consider with regard to having small groups sing at gospel meetings: while the music may be beautiful, it is often difficult to understand the words when others are singing. So at the very least, copies of the words should be handed out to the congregation. On the other hand, congregational singing forces, or at least encourages, each one to look at the words in the book, so the Holy Spirit can work through the “eye-gate” as well as the “ear-gate.”

Question:
Is it okay to listen to music that may not be Christian, but not have any wrong words in it, such as love songs or classic rock?

Answer:
“As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart” (Proverbs 25:20).

David’s music refreshed Saul, made him “well, and the evil spirit departed from him” (1 Samuel 16:23). Music can be very helpful to soothe and quiet our emotions.

Question:
Shouldn’t an assembly be very concerned about saving the lost? Should we have an outreach ministry to try and reach lost souls?

Answer:
Very definitely. The Apostle Paul commends the Thessalonian assembly: “From you sounded out the word of the Lord…in Macedonia and Achaia” (1 Thessalonians 1:8). No doubt, the exhortation to Timothy, “Do the work of an evangelist” (2 Timothy 4:5) may be applied to every believer in Christ and thence to every assembly of believers. Many assemblies or individual believers are engaged in outreach ministries such as mailing gospel tracts to the bereaved (from obituaries) or to the general population (from telephone books), having home Bible studies or neighborhood Bible classes for children, door-to-door gospel work, and visitation or services at jails, missions, hospitals, and nursing homes.

Question:
Christians do not have any commandments to follow in order to go to heaven, but do they have any commandments to follow once they are saved?

Answer:
“All the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself” (Galatians 5:14).

The first commandment is, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16: 31). The second commandment is to “Love the brotherhood” (1 Peter 2:17).
“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another” (1 John 4:10, 11). “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous” (1 John 5:3).
We do not need to run from God’s commandments, but we should be like a team of oxen working together and enjoying all of God’s wonderful things. “Who giveth us richly all things to enjoy” (1 Timothy 6:17).
What a contrast are “the pleasures of sin” which are only “for a season” (Hebrews 11:25), and we know that that season will soon end. We need an understanding of what Christianity is. It is knowing a Person, even the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour, Lord, and Friend. Paul said: “I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day” (2 Timothy 1:12).

Question:
How old should you be to be in fellowship?

Answer:
The Bible does not give us any direct instruction on this point. Luke 2:41-52 tells about Jesus at the age of twelve, in the temple, listening to the teachers and asking questions, and also showing subjection to His parents. More important than age is whether the young person gives definite evidence of being saved, shows genuine interest in spiritual things, behaves responsibly at home, at meeting, and at school, and is obedient to his or her parents (Ephesians 6:1).

Question:
What do you do when people ask you why you don’t have fun? (Satan’s definition of fun.)

Answer:

Satan would have us to believe that we do not have fun, or do anything fun. Satan keeps the world from believing that Christianity is something to be desired. But the Apostle Paul says: “All things are lawful to me, but all things do not profit; all things are lawful to me, but I will not be brought under the power of any” (1 Corinthians 6:12, JND translation).

Christians are not under law, but we should make sure that what we do is profitable, and that we are not controlled by anything but the Lord.

Question:
What is wrong with this statement? “Christians are people who don’t!”

Answer:
The wrong with the statement that “Christians are people who don’t!” is that a believer in Christ is “not under the law, but under grace” (Romans 6:14, 15). God put the children of Israel under the principle of law, “Do this and thou shalt live,” but God has put believers today under the principle of grace. We no longer have to do God’s law, but grace “constrains” (draws) our hearts so we want to please the One who loves us (2 Corinthians 5:14, 15).

Christians are people who do! “Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men” (Colossians 3:23). We are not restricted under the law, but we do for the Lord by seeking to show Christ to the unsaved and the saved.
Someone asked: How can a believer be lifted up spiritually when he is having a down day, and another believer brings him even lower? This question made us ask ourselves if our verbal communication and non-verbal communication is lifting up fellow believers or not. We are either a help or a hindrance.Another person wondered: Does being under grace mean that we can do anything we want? No! Far be the thought. “God forbid. How shall we that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” (Romans 6:1, 2). God’s wonderful grace is no excuse to sin. “I…am dead to the law, that I might live unto God” (Galatians 2:19). “Brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another” (Galatians 5:13).

Question:
Where should I go (or not go) in order to meet someone of the opposite sex? Why?

Answer:
We should not go to bars or nightclubs to meet our mate for we are to “abstain from all appearance of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:22).

We may meet him/her at Christian groups, retreats, conferences, or concerts. Abraham’s servant found Rebekah at the well (Genesis 24:12-20), and the Lord will lead us, if we wait on Him (Psalm 27:14), to the one who is able to refresh us with the water of the Word (Ephesians 5:26).

Question:
As a believing young person what should I look for in choosing someone to date?

Answer:
God tells the believer: “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?…or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?” (2 Corinthians 6:14,15). “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3).

Every date is a potential marriage, so in choosing a person to date we should look for a person who enjoys the Lord’s things, which is a sign they are saved.