#STRask

Why Would an Omniscient God Test Hezekiah to Know What Was in His Heart?

Questions about how the death of David’s son squares with Ezekiel 18:20, what 2 Chronicles 32:31 means when it says God tested Hezekiah’s to know what was in his heart, and financing the wedding of a child who may marry an atheist.

• How does 2 Samuel 12:13–14, where King David is told his child will die because of his sin, square with Ezekiel 18:20, which says the one who sins will die and the child will not share in the guilt of the parent?
• What does it mean in 2 Chronicles 32:31 when it says God left Hezekiah in order to “test him and know what was in his heart,” when God is omniscient?
• Should we finance the wedding of our daughter who is not practicing her faith and may marry an atheist?

Now God Suddenly Cares about Unborn Babies?

Questions about God suddenly caring about unborn babies, whether it’s hypocritical to support freedom of choice for the vaccine but not abortion, and responding to the argument that an aborted fetus has not died because it doesn’t receive a death certificate.

• After God murdered Bathsheba’s newborn, killed the firstborn sons of Egypt, sent bears to murder children, and commanded Joshua to kill the kids in Jericho, now he suddenly cares about unborn babies? 
• Is it hypocritical to support freedom of choice in the vaccine debate but be against freedom of choice in the abortion debate?
• How can we respond to the argument that an aborted fetus has not died because it does not receive a death certificate?

Why Isn’t the Sabbath a Universal Commandment?

Questions about responding to the objection that the New Testament mistranslated and misrepresented the Hebrew Bible and why the Sabbath isn’t a universal commandment like the other nine.

• How can I overcome the objection from Torah-only people that the New Testament mistranslated and misrepresented the Hebrew Bible?
• What about the Sabbath commandment makes it not a universal one like the other nine?

What Can Parents Do to Ensure Their Children Continue in the Faith?

Questions about what parents can do to help ensure their children continue in the faith and whether Christians should be concerned by the fact that near-death experiences so often don’t seem to match Christianity.

• What can parents do to help ensure their children continue in the faith?
• Should Christians be concerned by how often near-death experiences don’t seem to match Christianity?

Was Jesus “Woke”?

Questions about the claim that the point of Old Testament justice is the protection of the poor and powerless and whether Jesus being “woke” proves it’s a good thing.

• What’s your response to a church bulletin that said, “The point of Old Testament justice is the protection of the poor and powerless; it recognizes that the rich and powerful never come to the table equal and neutral because they own the table”?
• How would you respond to the claim that being “woke” is simply being aware of racial and social justice issues, and that Jesus was woke, therefore it’s a positive trait?

Will There Be Things We Don’t Like in Heaven?

Questions about whether we will have individual preferences (i.e., things we don’t like) in Heaven and when it’s okay in apologetics to simply say, “I don’t know, but the Bible teaches it.” 

• Will we have individual preferences (i.e., things we don’t like) in Heaven?
• When is it okay in apologetics to say, “I don’t know, but the Bible teaches it”?

What Do You Wish You Had Known about Apologetics Work?

Questions about how to steer the conversation in a Bible study towards discussing the text in context and whether there are things Greg and Amy wish they had known about apologetics work before getting into it.

• Do you have tips on how to humbly steer the conversation in a Bible study towards properly discussing the text in context?
• Are there things you wish you had known about apologetics work (or becoming a published author) before getting into it? 

How Can We Square God’s Desire for All to Be Saved with the Existence of Hell?

Questions about God wanting all to be saved, taking seriously a profession of faith from a child, whether it’s better to be in a church with good doctrine that lacks community or vice versa, and whether Christians should be looking for the signs in the stars mentioned in the Bible.

• If God wants all to be saved, how does this square with Hell or annihilationism, and does his perfect justice prevent him from getting what he most desires?
• When do you take seriously a profession of faith from a child?
• All else being equal, is it better to be at a church where you agree with every single doctrine, but the community isn’t close-knit, or a church where the community is terrific, but you disagree on some non-essentials?
• Are the signs from the stars (mentioned in Genesis 1:14, Jeremiah 10:2, and Luke 21:25) ever specified, and should we as Christians be looking for them?

Did God Tell Abraham to Sin?

Questions about whether God told Abraham to sin when he told him to sacrifice Isaac and how so many angels could fall if God is so loving and Heaven so great.

• Did God tell Abraham to sin when he told Abraham to commit child sacrifice?
• If God is so loving and Heaven so great, how is it possible that so many angels fell from Heaven to follow Satan? 

Responding to “Denying You’re Racist Proves You’re a Racist”

Question about how to respond to the Kafka trap claim that denying you’re racist proves you’re a racist.

• How would you respond to a “social justice warrior’s” Kafka trap claim that “any white man denying he’s racist just proves he’s a racist”?