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Intro

Today we are finishing up the Hard questions series. We have discussed quite a few things over the last few weeks, some were awkward, some were difficult, some may have been controversial, but I hope that my goal of discussing these with respect, and Biblical backing was achieved. Well tonight is going to be a little different. Tonight its going to be all about questions that you had.

Over the last couple of weeks yall filled out some questions that you had and I am going to do my absolute best to answer them for you. Yall did a great job and truly did come up with some great questions so lets jump in.

How can you tell if a pastor is a fake or if they preach lies

This is a great question, the Bible even actually speaks about being careful of who we listen to, and learn from.

Matthew 7:15–20 NIV

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

This can be a difficult thing to tell. One thing that I always encourage is for you to match up what anyone is saying to what the Bible teaches. That includes me. I dont always get everything perfect. I make mistakes. I do my best to limit them, however don’t take me at my word. Take my words and match them up to the Bible.

How was God created?

There are some things in the Bible and about God that we just will never truly be able to understand. This is one of those things. We have never lived outside the concept of time. However the Bible in Genesis shows that God created time, when it says evening and morning were the first day. So we believe that God was not ever actually created but has always existed. In fact in the Old Testament the name for God is simply I Am. Meaning God has always been, and will always be. So how was god created? He wasn’t John 1:1

John 1:1–3 NIV

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

How do you calm yourself when the world is crazy?

This question and the next few I am going to try to answer the best I can, however I am not a mental health professional. I can try to help explain what works for me, but everyone is different. The world is indeed a crazy place, there are a few things that we can do to try to keep ourselves calm. First memorize some Scripture that pertains to your life.

Proverbs 18:10 NIV

The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.

This reminds me that I can always turn to God when im feeling overwhelmed. Generally its at these times that I realize I may not have been praying recently and I just need to stop for a second and talk to God. Let Him know how im feeling and sometimes taking that moment can actually help tremedously.

Secondly having good friends that you can talk with. We are not made to do life alone, in order to make it through life we need each other. Do not underestimate the value of a good friend.

Third have a hobby, something you enjoy doing. For me when I was in highschool it was soccer. I would go and kick a soccer ball as hard as I could when I would get frustrated.

Do people try to be something different because of trauma?

For this question again I am not an expert on this topic. Doing some research it does appear that there are potential links between people that struggle with Gender identity and trauma that they have dealt with in their past. However that does not mean that this is always the case. Each person is different and each person will have their own reasons for struggling with different issues. So in short maybe, but not always.

What makes people gay?

Again this is something that I do not have a degree in, there are many people with much more knowledge about this than I. Having said that I do believe that there are people that are born with tendencies to potentially be attracted to different things. We see that even in straight relationships, some people prefer athletes, others may prefer blondes, or brunettes. You may prefer brown eyes, some one else may prefer blue or green. However the best question I have ever heard on this topic was from a gentleman who struggled with same sex attraction, and he asked does this mean I have to give up my desires to follow Christ. The pastor responded yes. However that is no different than we all have to give up our desires to follow Christ. Whether that desire is to go out and have sex with any person on the street, or that desire is to get black out drunk, Christ tells us that we have to give up ourselves in order to follow Him.

Matthew 16:24–26 NIV

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?

How do you have a relationship with a Christian man?

Im not really sure what the meaning behind this question is. Im not sure if it is like how to find a Christian man to have a relationship with. If that is the question than it involves a lot of communication. I would suggest that before any actual relationships start that you begin by being friends first. In High school and middle school you dont have to be pressured into defining a relationship as a boyfriend or girlfriend. Just enjoy being friends and spending time with each other. See where it goes from there.

If you are asking what should a relationship with a Christian man look like. Then for this I would suggest that it be a relationship that puts God before each other. There are boundaries set in place to make sure things dont go too far. Guys remember we spoke a few weeks ago. Yall are the ones that should be making sure those boundaries are made and enforced. Also you should be pushing each other closer to God and not pulling them away from God.

Is it better to comfort someone who has sinned by bringing him into the church or protect those in the church from the sinful man if they are a danger to the people around them?

I would say that this one really depends on the type of danger that you are referring to. Our goal is to always make sure that everyone is safe, while we have fun, and dig into the Bible. So if the danger is a physical danger where there have been threats made to harm people, I would suggest coming and talking to myself or another leader, and we would find a way to set up some time probably one on one to do some Bible studies or something similar.

If the danger your referring to is something along the lines of they may expose people in the church to inappropriate things, well obviously if we find out about anything being done inappropriately we will address them, but we all do things that are inappropriate at times, and we are all sinners. So we are not going to prevent a sinner from coming in just because of the fact that they are a sinner.

The Bible commands us to confront our brother in Matthew, and it also tells us to turn the other cheek. When do you confront and when do you submit?

The passage that this question is referring to is Matthew 5:38-41

Matthew 5:38–41 NIV

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.

This passage is part of the sermon on the mount, in this passage Jesus completely flipped everything that the Jewish people believed upside down. The Jewish culture was a very works based culture where they had to go and make sacrifices, and they would go as far as counting how many steps they would take on the Sabbath to make sure that they werent working. Jesus took this culture and made pointed out to them that it was not just the action that was sinful but the heart and intent behind the action. So in fact they could be sinning even if they did not complete the action.

This same premise continues with this portion of the sermon on the mount.

The statements when it is speaking of turning the other cheek and an eye for an eye, handing over your coat, and going 2 miles were actually legal arguments that would be made. In fact when it mentions turn the other cheek a slap on the cheek was actually an insult in that day and you could actually sue the person who slapped you. So in these instances it is important to understand the historical significance. I believe that we can actually do both. Confront the person and turn the other cheek.

So this passage in my opinion does not mean that we have to be door mats and let people walk all over us, however its more about an attitude of trying our best to live out Romans 12:18

Romans 12:18 NIV

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

So yes if you have been wronged absolutely you can approach that person to try to correct that feeling of being wronged, but this passage was actually talking more about putting aside our own offences so that we can repair relationships. Also we see following this passage it goes into talking about loving our enemies. So again I do not believe confronting someone and turning the other cheek are mutually exclusive, but are more about the loving our neighbor, and not necessarily taking them to court for offenses that we feel.

Why do People look for identity in other things?

This question is one that is very difficult to answer, because for every person the answer could be different. Some are looking for approval, because they may feel like no one likes them, or that they arent good enough. Others are looking for ways to fit in, and so they try to make themselves something that they may not actually be, or do things they may not like or agree with just to try to be friends with a certain group. So this one I honestly cant answer, just because there is no one answer. It is going to be a case by case basis.

What does the Bible say about how parents treat their children?

So yes the Bible does say some things about how we should treat our children, it is actually right below the passage where it tells children to honor their parents.

Ephesians 6:1–4 NIV

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise—“so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

So this tells us that we should Obey our parents, even when it is not easy. However it does also give the command that parents are not to provoke their children to anger. Which is what exasperate means. If you believe that your parents are not treating you appropriately you have to be careful in how you handle it. Because just like we have talked about with other issues, how you say something can influence the way someone responds. If you just jump in and say Well the Bible says not to provoke your children, and you’re making me angry right now so you are wrong.

Thats not the right way to handle it. You also have to make sure that the things that are making you upset, arent just things you want to do that they are not allowing due to household rules.

Now with that being said, if there is a situation where you feel unsafe, or in danger, or that you are being hit, or abused. Please please please come and speak to me. Our priority will be to keep you safe. I cant promise not to tell anyone but I can promise to only tell someone that will get you help.

Conclusion

Phew That was a lot. I hope tonight helped answer some of your questions, even though I couldnt go real deep into any of them due to time, and others because I am not knowledgeable enough about the subject. But if you ever have questions that you would like for us to answer. Or if you have any concerns or game ideas or anything like that. You can drop ideas or concerns into that box at any time, I check it every week.

Guys we are all going to stay in here for a bit.