#STRask

Questions about whether one must choose a theological system and why God loves us.

• Is there any reason why I must choose between the Reformed, Arminian, and Molinist views? 
• Why does God love us? 

Questions about whether it’s inconsistent for a pro-lifer to say it’s okay to end life in the womb to save the mother and whether regulating abortion is any different from God regulating divorce, something he hates.

• Is it inconsistent to believe all life is sacred yet also believe it’s morally justified to end a life in the womb to save the mother?
• Is regulating abortion in order to prevent deaths from back-alley abortions any different from God regulating something he hates (divorce) to prevent worse consequences?

Questions about why Christ had to die if Old Testament believers already had access to Heaven, why we needed Jesus to be our sacrifice rather than a goat, and whether the Old Testament’s lack of discussion of the afterlife is inconsistent with the New Testament.

• If Heaven was already accessible to believers prior to Christ’s death, what purpose did Christ’s death serve?
• Why did our salvation require Jesus’ death rather than God putting our sins on a goat as the Mosaic Law commanded?
• Is the Bible being inconsistent when the afterlife is a major topic in the New Testament but we don’t see much about it in the Old Testament?

Questions about what Paul meant when he told husbands to live as if they had no wives, how the church can be both the body and bride of Christ, and correcting a church’s regular misuse of 2 Chronicles 7:14.

• What does Paul mean in 1 Corinthians 7:29b when he says husbands should live as though they had no wives?
• How can the church be both the body of Christ and the bride of Christ?
• Should I correct my church’s regular misuse of 2 Chronicles 7:14?

Questions about responding to “happy Newchrismahanukwanzakah” and whether it’s biblical to say Christians are supposed to suffer.

• What would you say to someone who wished you a happy Newchrismahanukwanzakah?
• Is it biblical to say Christians are supposed to suffer?

Questions about whether God’s justice is an emergent property as a result of creation and sin rather than an essential trait and why Christians believe in God’s promises if they can’t prove he fulfills them.

• Wouldn’t God’s trait of justice have to be an emergent property of his nature as a result of creation and sin rather than essential?
• Why do you believe in God’s promises if you can’t prove he fulfills them in a tangible way?

Questions about why it isn’t merciful to euthanize human beings as we euthanize animals and what “good” came from a specific evil that could outweigh that evil (and how God can be good if he let it happen).

• If it’s merciful to euthanize an injured animal, isn’t it even more merciful to euthanize human beings since they’re made in the image of God?
• What “good” came from this terrible evil that could outweigh the evil, and how can God be good if he let it happen?

Questions about how to respond to an atheist who rejects the Bible because it contains miracles and thoughts about churches requiring liability waivers to attend worship services.

• How should I respond to an atheist who rejects the historicity of the Bible because it contains miracles?
• What do you think of churches requiring liability waivers to attend worship services?

Questions about why Christians don’t pray imprecatory prayers (or if they do, when it would be appropriate) and who is represented by the older brother in the parable of the prodigal son.

• Why don’t Christians pray imprecatory prayers like in the Psalms (or if they do, when would it be appropriate)?
• Does the older brother in the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15 represent believers, unbelievers, or someone else? 

Questions about the unforgivable sin of “blaspheming the Holy Spirit,” what the non-elect are rejecting if God’s grace is only offered to the elect, and what it means to be baptized by the Holy Spirit.

• Is the unforgivable sin of “blaspheming the Holy Spirit” rejecting God’s offer of salvation?
• If God’s grace is only offered to the elect and is irresistible, what are the non-elect rejecting?
• What does it mean to be baptized by the Holy Spirit?