#STRask

Questions about what to ask a strict empiricist who claims he only believes in things he can see, the purpose behind God making people with senses that can’t find him, and thoughts on whether a particular way of introducing the topic of objective truth is adequate.

• What questions should I ask someone who claims he only believes in things he can see?
• What is the purpose behind God making animals and people with senses that can’t find him?
• Does my way of introducing the topic of objective truth encompass the main idea enough?

Questions about whether we should call a man’s partner his husband if they’re legally married and whether it’s appropriate to remove kids from a middle school youth group where a male high schooler who has socially transitioned to female is serving.

• What are your thoughts on calling a man’s partner his husband or a woman’s partner her wife if they have had a same-sex wedding?
• A male high schooler who has socially transitioned to female is serving in our church’s middle school ministry. If I pull my kids from their youth group, am I punishing them for someone else’s error?

Questions about why no one besides Matthew mentioned the resurrection of multiple people after the crucifixion, whether there were rainbows before Noah, and why Jesus told the restored demon-possessed man to tell people about his healing but commanded the formerly deaf man not to tell anyone.

• Why are there no extra-biblical accounts of the resurrection of multiple people described in Matthew 27:52, and why isn’t it mentioned elsewhere in the Bible?
• Do you think the mechanics for the creation of a rainbow did not naturally exist before God put it in the sky for Noah?
• Why do you think Jesus told the restored demon-possessed man in Mark 5 to go tell his people what the Lord had done but commanded the deaf man he healed in Mark 7 not to tell anyone about the healing?

Question about the hardest aspect of Christianity to defend.

• What is the hardest aspect of Christianity to defend?

Questions about whether Jeremiah 10:1–5 speaks against having a Christmas tree, whether celebrating Christmas is extra-biblical and we should be celebrating Israelite feasts and festivals instead, and why Zechariah was was disciplined for questioning the message he received from an angel but Mary wasn’t.

• Does Jeremiah 10:1–5 speak against having a Christmas tree?
• Is celebrating Christmas and Easter extra-biblical? Are Christians grafted into Israel and should therefore be celebrating the Israelite feasts and festivals?
• Why was Zechariah disciplined and made mute for questioning the angel’s message about his wife conceiving due to her age, but Mary wasn’t disciplined for questioning her pregnancy due to her virginity?

Questions about how persecuted Christians would have understood Psalms promising protection and rescue, whether it’s a contradiction for Jesus to say that some will be put to death but also that not a hair of your head will perish, and whether the Bible has been added to throughout the years.

• How would Christians under persecution (such as those in Rome) have understood verses like Psalm 34:19–20 that promise protection and rescue by God for righteous people?
• Is it a contradiction for Jesus to say both that some will be put to death and that not a hair of your head will perish (Luke 21:16–19)?
• Is there evidence that would contradict my coworker’s claim that the Bible has been added to throughout the years?

Question about how to respond to a teenage daughter who walked away from God because she cried out to him for years and he didn’t answer, and because she didn’t feel any different after accepting Christ as her Savior.

• How should I respond to my teenage daughter who walked away from God because she cried out to him for years and he didn’t answer, and because she didn’t feel any different after accepting Christ as her Savior?

Questions about sins of action vs. sinful character flaws and whether continued sin makes Christians hypocrites, whether Ananias and Sapphira were saved, and whether Christians aren’t practicing what they believe if they’re spending time and money doing anything but evangelize.

• What’s the difference between sins of action and sinful character flaws, and does continued sin of either form make Christians hypocrites?
• Do you think Ananias and Sapphira were saved if they had accepted Christ as Lord and Savior, despite their massive blunder/punishment?
• Given the stakes of temporary time to choose an eternal destination, why do any Christians do anything but evangelize? Why do churches have state-of-the-art equipment and buildings for a temporary time when they preach an eternal reality? It seems like they’re not practicing what they believe.

Questions about whether it’s possible Jesus has already come in a fashion similar to Elijah coming as John the Baptist, whether Jesus was an apocalyptic prophet who was wrong about the kingdom coming in his disciples’ lifetime, and what part Jesus’ resurrection plays in salvation.

• Is it possible Jesus has already come in a fashion similar to Elijah coming as John the Baptist?
• What are the arguments opposing the current view of New Testament scholars that Jesus was an apocalyptic prophet who was ultimately wrong about the kingdom coming within his disciples’ lifetime?
• What part does Jesus’ resurrection play in salvation?

Questions about whether we’re limiting God by putting him in the “box” of the 66 books of Scripture and how to respond to someone who continually talks about missing verses in the Bible and the idea that the Bible is owned by a corporation and isn’t trustworthy.

• How would you respond to someone who says we’re limiting God by putting him in the “box” of the 66 books of Scripture and we have no way of knowing all he has done or said because we’re human and can only know so much about God?
• What would you say to someone who claims to be a Christian but continually talks about missing verses in the Bible and the idea that the Bible is owned by a corporation and is not trustworthy?