#STRask

Questions about engaging people who use Jesus to promote liberal politics without delving too deep into politics and whether or not it’s a stretch to apply Jesus’ admonition to love others to government regulations.

• How can I engage with a belief system that uses Jesus to promote liberal politics without delving too deep into politics?
• Given that we have a say in our government, is it too far a stretch to apply Jesus’ admonition to love others to government regulations?

Some additional thoughts on whether or not step-siblings can marry and Bible reading, then a question about applying the “taking the roof off” tactic to our culture’s belief that we can choose our gender.

• Additional thoughts on the question of whether or not step-siblings can marry and Bible reading
• Would applying our culture’s standards of gender to race be a good way of using the “taking the roof off” tactic?

Question about how to more fully understand, accept, and have confidence in the fact that it’s by grace and not by works that we’re saved.

• How can I more fully understand and accept the fact that it’s by grace and not by works that I’m saved so that I can be fully confident in my salvation?

Questions about whether one can validate rioting by pointing to Jesus’ actions cleansing the temple and whether or not the biblical command against incest applies to step-siblings.

• Can one legitimately validate rioting by pointing to Jesus’ actions in John 2:13–16?
• Biblically, can step-siblings marry?

Questions about what Jesus meant by “gods to whom the word of God came,” whether Jacob was engaging in sex slavery, and how the authors of Scripture knew what was said in various private conversations.

• In John 10:35, to whom is Jesus referring when he talks about “gods to whom the word of God came”? 
• How is Rachel and Leah giving their servants to Jacob to bear children for them in Genesis 30:1–13 not sex slavery?
• How did the authors of Scripture know what was said in private conversations where they weren’t present?

Questions about what to ask a pastor to determine if he has progressive Christian beliefs and why anyone would say “no one has perfect theology” when we can’t know whether or not that’s true.

• What are some questions you would ask a pastor to determine whether he has embraced the beliefs of the progressive Christian church?
• Why is it said “no one has perfect theology” if there’s no way to know whether or not that’s true?

Questions about whether there’s a second chance for salvation after death and how there can be no sin in Heaven if we’re all sinners by nature.

• How should I respond to someone in my Bible study who claims there’s a second chance for salvation after death?
• If we’re all sinners by nature, how can there be no sin in Heaven?

Questions about using a vaccine created from cells from aborted fetuses and whether one must keep “toxic” parents in one’s life in order to honor them the way God commands.

• Is it immoral for a Christian to use a vaccine created from cells from aborted fetuses (and are there ethical objections to taking the COVID vaccine)?
• Do I need to keep my toxic parents in my life in order to follow what the Bible says about honoring our parents?

Questions about responding to the claim that it’s our subjective opinion that there is objective truth and whether it’s a fallacy to say Christianity is bad because Christians did bad things.

• How should we respond if someone says it’s our subjective opinion that there is objective truth?
• Is there a fallacy label for when someone claims Christianity is bad because Christians did bad things?

Question about how to transition from being an apologist to an evangelist when the person you’re talking to starts thinking about converting. 

• How do you transition from being an apologist to more of an evangelist when the person you’re talking to starts thinking about converting?