#STRask

Questions about whether it’s biblical to refer to God as the Divine Mother and tactical ways to respond to someone who says he’s offended by your views.

• Is it biblical to refer to God as the Divine Mother?
• What are some tactical ways to respond when someone says he’s offended by my views?

Questions about whether Jesus is evil because he drowned babies in the flood, why Scripture talks about “innocent blood” being shed when no one is innocent, and whether the context of the Suffering Servant passage in Isaiah really points to Jesus. 

• How would you respond to the meme that claims Jesus is evil because he drowned babies in the flood?
• Why does Scripture talk so often about “innocent blood” being shed when everyone is born in sin and no one is innocent?
• How can Jesus fulfill the prophecies of the Lord’s Suffering Servant when it seems like Isaiah isn’t talking about something that far in the future?

Questions about whether demons and fallen angels are the same spiritual beings (and if so, why angels don’t possess people) and why Hell wouldn’t bring Satan pleasure.

• Are demons and fallen angels the same spiritual beings, and if they’re the same, why don’t angels possess people like demons do?
• If Satan is able to able to work evil in people’s lives in Hell, wouldn’t being in Hell be something that brings him pleasure?

Questions about how to tell the difference between the conviction of the Holy Spirit and the accusation of Satan and whether there’s a biblical argument for using violent force in defense of family and home.

• How can I tell the difference between the conviction of the Holy Spirit and the accusation of Satan?
• Is there a biblical argument for the use of violent force in defense of family and home?

Questions about whether killing skin cells (which have human DNA) is murder, how to know when to stop engaging someone who is antagonistic, how to graciously decline to engage in a discussion with someone who just wants to argue, and what to do when you hear Christians misinterpret and misquote Scripture.

• If a human being begins at fertilization, and killing an embryo would be murder, then when I scratch my skin and kill human skin cells (which have human DNA and might develop into full human beings through cloning), is that also murder?
• How do you know when to stop engaging someone who is antagonistic?
• How do you graciously decline to engage in a discussion with someone who just wants to argue?
• What do you do when you hear Christians misinterpret and misquote Scripture?

Question about whether or not there’s a conclusive way to differentiate designed things from undesigned if some designed things appear undesigned and some undesigned things appear designed.

• Since some designed things appear undesigned, and some undesigned things appear designed, how can we reasonably conclude that what creationists interpret as design actually is design?

Questions about what to say to a Wiccan who says her beliefs are proved by the efficacy of her spells, how to explain people having spiritual experiences outside of Christianity, and recommended materials for teaching elementary-aged kids critical thinking.

• What would you say to a Wiccan who says her beliefs are proved by the efficacy of her spells?
• How do we explain the fact that people have had spiritual experiences outside of Christianity?
• What materials would you recommend for teaching elementary-aged kids critical thinking skills?

Questions about how God guides, comforts, empowers, etc. through the Holy Spirit and advice for Christians who want to work in Hollywood.

• What are the ways God guides, comforts, empowers, etc. through the Holy Spirit?
• What advice would you give to Christians who want to work in Hollywood?

Questions about whether we should pray for our suffering to end or simply that it accomplishes its purpose, what kind of influence Satan has on our sin, and whether general revelation is enough to lead to salvation.

• Since God has a good purpose for the bad things we’re going through, should we pray for those things to end or simply that they accomplish their purpose?
• What kind of influence does Satan have on our sin?
• Is general revelation enough to lead to salvation, or is putting your faith in Christ the only way to the Father?

Question about how to help a Mormon see that the works he does will not earn his salvation.

• How can I help a coworker, who’s a former Catholic and now a Mormon, see that the works he does will not earn his salvation?