#STRask

Would the Gospel Be Good News if Hell Didn’t Exist?

Questions about whether the gospel would be good news if Hell didn’t exist and what to say to someone who responds to evidence for Christianity by saying, “The Bible’s bad for society,” and doesn’t seem to be interested in the evidence.

• Would the gospel be good news if Hell didn’t exist?
• What should I say to someone who responds to the evidence I offer for the truth of Christianity by saying, “The Bible’s bad for society,” and doesn’t seem to be interested in the evidence?

What Questions Could I Ask Someone Who Doesn’t Seem to Have True, Saving Faith?

Questions about what questions to ask someone who claims to be a Christian but doesn’t seem to have true, saving faith and when to stop trying to convince someone who denies some essentials of the faith that he needs to be saved. 

• What questions could I ask someone who seemingly has a said faith rather than a true, saving faith?
• At what point do I stop trying to convince my grandfather, who denies some essentials of the faith, that he needs to be saved?

Is Genesis 1–11 Historical or Mytho-History?

Questions about whether Genesis 1–11 is historical or mytho-history, why Jesus referenced people “we know never existed” like Adam and Eve, Noah, and Moses, and whether there’s a method by which we can establish which things we can agree to disagree on.

• Is Genesis 1–11 historical or mytho-history, and aren’t there significant theological implications if the Fall as described in the Bible didn’t happen?
• Why did Jesus reference people we know never existed like Adam and Eve, Noah, and Moses?
• Is there a standard method by which we can establish which things we can agree to disagree on and which things we can’t? 

Does Numbers 12:6–9 Indicate God Doesn’t Always Speak Clearly?

Questions about whether Numbers 12:6–9 indicates that people don’t always hear God clearly when he is speaking and how one should approach the staff of a Christian school that’s promoting mindful meditation and teaching “how to hear from God” using mystical methods.

• Does Numbers 12:6–9 indicate that sometimes people don’t hear God clearly when he is speaking?
• How would you approach the school staff at a Christian high school that’s promoting mindful meditation and teaching “how to hear from God” using mystical methods?

In What Way Has Jesus Overcome the World if There’s Still Suffering and Sin Here?

Questions about in what way Jesus has “overcome the world” (John 16:33) if we still have tribulation, suffering, and moral decay here and whether John’s falling in fear at Jesus’ feet in Revelation 1:13–18 indicates Jesus severed his personal, earthly relationship with John.

• In what way has Jesus “overcome the world” (John 16:33) if we still have tribulation, suffering, and moral decay in many countries?
• John was one of Jesus’ best friends, so why does he fall in fear at Jesus’ feet in Revelation 1:13–18? Has Jesus severed his personal, earthly relationship with John?

How Can Romans 13:3 Be True When Some Governments Persecute Christians?

Questions about how Romans 13:3 can be true when some governments imprison and kill Christians and whether it’s better for high schoolers to go to a Christian school with hypocritical Christians or a public school where people reinforce an ungodly worldview.

• How can Romans 13:3 be true when some governments imprison and kill Christians?
• Is it better for high schoolers to go to a Christian school where hypocritical Christians are hurting their walk with the Lord or to go to a public school where people will reinforce an ungodly worldview?

How Can I Explain the Trinity to a Muslim?

Questions about how to explain the Trinity to a Muslim in a way that helps him understand the oneness of God, whether one could say the Trinity is similar to a person who has multiple personalities, and whether God ever demonstrates the virtues of hope and thankfulness. 

• How can I explain the Trinity to a Muslim in a way that helps him understand the oneness of God?
• Could one explain the Trinity by saying it’s similar to a person who has multiple personalities?
• God both encourages and demonstrates most virtues, but does God ever hope, and is he ever thankful?

Why Didn’t Jesus Fully Heal the Blind Man the First Time He Laid Hands on Him?

Question about the greater message Jesus meant to convey when he healed the blind man at Bethsaida in two stages in Mark 8:22–26.

• What greater message did Jesus mean to convey when he healed the blind man at Bethsaida in two stages in Mark 8:22–26?

Why Do You Need to Work so Hard to Defend Christianity if It’s True?

Questions from non-believers about why we need to work so hard to defend Christianity if it’s true, whether we’re just pushing the truth we chose on others while keeping them from evaluating it, and how many other gods we ruled out when determining Christ is the one true God.

• Why would you need to put all this work into apologetics if this were really the one truth?
• If Christianity were true, would you have an apologetics website?
• I don’t feel like your material brings me closer to truth; I feel like you’re picking truth without me and then making a profession out of cleverly keeping me from evaluating it.
• In determining Christ is the one true God, how many others did you rule out?

STR Ruined the Experience of Corporate Prayer for Me

Questions about how to handle being aware of people misusing Scripture or misunderstanding how God works during corporate prayer, whether Jesus’ followers would have understood his references to the cross and being crucified, and whether it’s sinful to debate extra-biblical speculations.

• When praying corporately, how do I handle being aware of people misusing Scripture or misunderstanding how God works now that I’ve learned where they’re going wrong?
• Would Jesus’ followers have understood his references to the cross and being crucified before it happened?
• Is it sinful to think about or debate extra-biblical speculations about things like whether or not life exists on other planets?