#STRask

How Do You Convince a Former Christian That Jesus Is God?

Questions about how to convince a former Christian that Jesus is God, whether Jesus’ human nature was created, and what the Bible means when it says Jesus is the firstborn.

 

• How do you convince a former Christian that Jesus is God?
• Is it wrong to describe Jesus’ human nature as created, and how should I respond to a Jehovah’s Witness who says that a firstborn, if not the first to be born, must be a member of the group he is preeminent over?

Do You Need to Forgive God?

Questions about whether we ever need to forgive God in order to heal our emotions, whether it’s unbiblical to tell someone he needs to forgive himself, why poor people were allowed to offer a flour sacrifice without blood, and whether it’s wrong to call out one another’s sins.

 

• Is it true that sometimes we need to forgive God in order to heal our emotions?
• Is it unbiblical advice to tell someone he needs to forgive himself?
• If there is no forgiveness without the shedding of blood, why were poor people allowed to offer flour as a sin offering in Leviticus 5?
• What would you say to a pastor who said we should let the Holy Spirit change people and not call out one another’s sins?

What Progressive Christian Teachings Should I Look Out For?

Questions about what progressive Christian teachings one should look out for and whether John 16:12–13 provides justification for the views of progressive Christians.

 

• I’ve been hearing about progressive Christianity and wondering what I should look for when it comes to unbiblical teaching.
• Some progressive Christians and churches cite John 16:12–13 as justification for their views. If that passage doesn’t mean what they say, what does it mean?

How Do We Know Moses Interpreted His Experiences of God Correctly?

Questions about how we know the biblical authors (Moses, etc.) interpreted their subjective experiences of receiving revelation from God correctly as opposed to Mohammed or Joseph Smith and how to respond to the idea that we can have different truths and both be right.

 

• All supposed revelation of religions involves a subjective experience of receiving that revelation, so how do we know the biblical authors (Moses, the prophets, etc.) were interpreting their experiences correctly as opposed to Mohammed or Joseph Smith?
• How should I respond to a meme claiming that your truth is not my truth and we can both be right?

How Is Biblical Inspiration Different from Automatic Writing?

Questions about how biblical inspiration differs from automatic writing, whether or not we don’t know who wrote 74% of the New Testament, signing a man-made statement of faith, and how, if the Word of God is powerful, someone who taught it faithfully can go rogue theologically.

 

• How is divine inspiration of the Scriptures different from the automatic writing they have in cults?
• It really does not bother you that you don’t know who wrote 74% of the New Testament? It could have been anybody.
• Is it okay for me to comply with a new requirement for clergy in my denomination to pledge fidelity in writing to its statement of faith?
• If the Word of God is powerful, how can a preacher who once taught the Word faithfully go rogue theologically?

How Is God Just If So Many Wrongs Go Unpunished?

Questions about how God could be just if so many wrongs go unpunished, an objection to God punishing people in Hell, and whether God’s promise to meet all our needs according to his riches in Christ Jesus is referring to physical needs, spiritual needs, or both.

 

• The cross only upholds justice between God and man, but where is justice among men? How is God just if so many wrongs go unpunished?
• An infinite being existing outside of the time and space he created will set us on fire if we don’t let him be called King of our planet? Is that usual behavior for deities?
• Is God’s promises to meet all our needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus referring to physical needs, spiritual needs, or both?

Is the Principle of Double Effect Legitimate When It Comes to Abortion?

Questions about the legitimacy of the principle of double effect when it comes to abortion and saving the mother’s life, whether laws should protect the unborn baby at the expense of the mother’s life, laws for non-viable pregnancies, and changing pro-choice areas vs. leaving.

 

• Is it just a cop-out to cite the principle of double effect when the unborn baby dies as a result of saving the mother’s life?
• What should lawmakers do when it comes to situations where the mother has to choose between her life and her baby’s life? Should she be forced to carry the baby and die as a result?
• Do pro-life abortion policies make it difficult for doctors to assist pregnant patients because they have to wait until the mother is in danger to address non-viable pregnancies?
• Is it better to stay in an area that’s historically pro-choice and try to change it or move to a pro-life area?

What Biblical Principles Should Guide How We Vote?

Question about what biblical principles should guide how we vote.

 

• What biblical principles should guide how we vote?

Should We Only Study the Truth in the Bible and Not Learn About Other Beliefs?

Questions about whether we should only study the truth in the Bible and not learn about other beliefs, whether the apologetics approach is contrary to the warning in 2 John 10, and the biggest change STR has seen in the types of questions asked over the years.

 

• If people who are trained to identify fake currency only study the real currency, should we therefore only study the Bible and not learn about other beliefs?
• Isn’t the apologetics approach contrary to 2 John 10, which tells us not to let anyone in our home who has an opposing view?
• What’s the biggest change STR has seen in the types of questions asked over the years?

When Does a Human Receive a Soul?

Questions about when a human receives a soul and how to respond to someone who rejects science, reason, philosophy, and objective morality in her effort to defend abortion, saying that pro-lifers just want to control women.

 

• When does a human receive a soul? In the zygote stage, the cells haven’t differentiated yet, and some become the placenta, but the placenta doesn’t have a soul, so why would the zygote?
• Should I give up trying to persuade someone who rejects science, reason, philosophy, and objective morality in her effort to defend abortion, saying that pro-lifers just want to control women?