#STRask

Is It Better for Christians to Worship in an Economical Space or a Beautiful One?

Questions about whether Christians are obligated by Matthew 6:19 to meet in the most practical, economical space possible and whether playing music too beautifully during worship can actually become a distraction.

• Are Christians obligated by Matthew 6:19 to meet in the most practical, economical space possible, or is it preferable to construct buildings like cathedrals that are outwardly beautiful and reflect God’s glory?
• At what point does playing music beautifully during worship actually become a distraction?

Why Is It Said That Jesus Was the First to Rise from the Dead?

Questions about why it’s said that Jesus was the first to rise from the dead if he already raised Lazarus and how to explain how Judaism and Christianity are related to someone who doesn’t know much beyond the fact that they’re two religions.

• Why is it said that Jesus was the first to rise from the dead if he already raised Lazarus?
• How would you explain how Judaism and Christianity are related to someone who doesn’t know much beyond the fact that they’re two religions?

What Should I Read to Take My Apologetics Knowledge up a Notch?

Questions about what to read to take your apologetics knowledge up a notch, how to reconcile friends’ experiences encountering ghosts with what the Bible teaches, whether you should give charitably without taking a deduction on your taxes, and whether God has moods.

• For those who have a good grasp of the basics of apologetics, what would you recommend reading to take things up a notch?
• How can I reconcile friends’ experiences encountering ghosts in a house that was used in the Underground Railroad with the Bible’s teaching that dead people can’t come back to haunt the living?
• Should I give charitably without taking a deduction on my taxes so “my left hand doesn’t know what my right hand is doing”?
• What do you think of the idea that God has moods?

What’s the Most Important Distinction I Can Make between Christianity and the Book of Mormon?

Question about the most important distinction one can make between Christianity and the Book of Mormon when talking to a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

• When ministering to a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, what’s the most important distinction I can make between Christianity and the Book of Mormon?

Will God Not Answer My Prayers if I’m Doubting He will?

Questions about why Hebrews is included in the New Testament canon if the author is unknown and whether God won’t answer your prayers if you’re doubting he will.

• If apostolic authority was an important factor in deciding which books to include in the New Testament canon as Scripture, then why was Hebrews included if the author is unknown?
• I’m beginning to doubt the efficacy of prayer since so many of my prayers don’t seem to be answered. Will God now not answer my prayers if I’m doubting he will?

Do Verses in Acts about Baptism Support a Oneness Understanding of God?

Questions about whether the fact that the apostles baptized people in Jesus’ name supports a oneness understanding of God and how to reconcile the laying on of hands to receive the Holy Spirit in Acts 8 with the idea that we receive the Holy Spirit simply by believing.

• Does the fact that the apostles baptized people in Jesus’ name support a oneness understanding of God?
• How can I reconcile the fact that the Samaritan believers in Acts 8 didn’t receive the Holy Spirit until the apostles laid hands on them with the idea that we receive the Holy Spirit simply by believing, as it says in Galatians 3:2?

Why Wasn’t God’s Rescue Plan More Immediate and Peaceful?

Questions about why God’s rescue plan wasn’t more immediate and peaceful and whether God wants us to be gullible and doesn’t provide hard evidence as proof of his claims that he’s different from all the other false religions and charlatans out there.

• Why wasn’t God’s rescue plan more immediate and peaceful?
• Does God want us to be gullible? If he knows how many false religions, charlatans, and liars there are, why can’t he give us hard evidence as proof of his claims so he’ll stand out from the others?

How Should I Respond to News of a Same-Sex Marriage?

Questions about how to respond to a friend’s enthusiastic news of a same-sex marriage, whether one should send a gift to a same-sex wedding, and whether there’s any merit to Christians withdrawing from “the world” and congregating together for the purpose of safety and shared community standards.

• What’s a winsome way to respond to a relative or friend who enthusiastically tells you their child recently married in a same-sex marriage?
• I won’t be attending my cousin’s same-sex wedding, but would not sending a gift be unnecessary and rude?
• Is there any merit to Christians withdrawing from “the world” and congregating together in their own areas for the purpose of safety and having shared community standards?

If a Murderer Accepts Christ, Then Will His Victims Never Receive Justice?

Questions about whether the victims of a murderer who later accepts Christ will never receive justice for their suffering and whether or not it can be said a person is “forgiven” if the debt was fully paid by another.

• If a murderer accepts Christ, then doesn’t that mean his victims will never receive justice for their suffering?
• If Christ paid the price for our sin, then how can it be said we’re “forgiven” since the debt has been fully paid by another and the obligation has been fulfilled?

Does Preventing a Woman’s Access to Abortion Violate Her Religious Freedom?

Questions about whether preventing a woman’s access to abortion violates her religious freedom guaranteed by the First Amendment, whether the fact that God doesn’t have parts now applies only to two persons of the Trinity, and what it means to seek the presence of God.

• How should I respond to a Jewish person who claims that preventing her access to abortion in cases where her mental or physical health would be at risk is a violation of her religious freedom guaranteed by the First Amendment?
• If God does not have parts, does the fact that Jesus is now forever incarnated in a glorified body mean that this aspect of theology proper now applies only to the other two persons of the Trinity?
• What does it mean to seek the presence of God?