Should a Christian watch scary movies/horror movies?

Movies are a powerful medium, and they have a profound impact on
culture. And the sad truth is that many movies these days, including
those outside the scary "horror" genre, are either completely
antithetical to Christian values or at the very least are at odds with
God's divine standard of holiness. As for most horror movies, their
"entertainment" value often lies in their ability to titillate our
youthful desire to be scared witless. The gruesome means by which
moviemakers attempt to shock our consciences usually involves an
abundance of carnage and bloodshed. The problem is, however, that it
takes more and more to shock seared consciences these days, which
means the level of depravity is continually on the rise to accommodate
our increasing desensitization to hard-core gore and evil. All things
considered, true Christians would likely find it difficult to enjoy
the majority of today's horror movies.

Let's consider the horror movies that delve into the supernatural
realm with a particular focus on demonic activity. Scripture makes it
clear that our earthly struggle is "against the powers of this dark
world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms"
(Ephesians 6:12). Christians are keenly aware of the evil reality of
demons and how every moment of their very real existence is spent
trying to "steal, kill and destroy" (John 10:10) or to otherwise
separate us from our Savior. As such, this is a subject that should
hardly be taken lightly; neither should it be considered a form of
"entertainment." If something would offend Jesus Christ, it should
offend His children in whom His Holy Spirit resides.

As we mature in our Christian walk, sin and evil should bother us more
and more all the time. We are to be beacons of light in an
ever-darkening world, striving to live a life that is holy and
pleasing to God (Romans 12:1; 1 Thessalonians 2:12). Scripture tells
us to be moral and pure, abhorring what is evil and to have our minds
focused on things which are noble and pure, lovely and admirable,
excellent and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8), and that "whatever [we]
do, do it all for the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31). These
verses should guide us daily in everything we do, including the movies
we choose to see. How can it be possible to "take captive every
thought to make it obedient to Jesus Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5) when
we are at a horror movie laden with murder and mayhem and,
essentially, being entertained by the very sins that Jesus Christ died
for?

Now, notwithstanding the above, it should be noted that there are some
Christian moviemakers who actually produce horror movies, albeit not
the bloodlettings referred to above. Realizing that evil is a very
real part of our existence on earth, they feel it is not only possible
but responsible to make a horror movie that accurately depicts the
reality of the dark forces of evil with which Christians' constantly
struggle. Certainly if such a movie could help the audience appreciate
the depth of our worldly struggle between good and evil, then such a
movie could indeed be congruent with a Christian paradigm. Better yet,
how beneficial would it be if such a movie could even point to our
need for a Savior?

In deciding what movies to watch, perhaps it would be wise to heed the
words of the apostle Paul in his second letter to the Corinthians: "Do
you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you?" (2 Corinthians 13:5
emphasis added). As Christians, we of course know that the Spirit of
Christ resides in our hearts (Romans 8:9). He is with us wherever we
go. What if, however, rather than occupying a place in our heart,
Jesus Christ walked beside us so that we could literally see Him every
moment of the day? What effect would this have on our behavior? What
if when we went to the movies, for example, we saw Jesus Christ
sitting beside us – watching the movie that we took Him to? Knowing
the divine character of our holy and sinless Savior, and knowing the
sanctity He places on the very life He died to give us, what sort of
movie would we feel comfortable taking Him to?

Should a Christian listen to secular music?

Many Christians struggle with this question. Many secular musicians
are immensely talented. Secular music can be very entertaining. There
are many secular songs that have catchy melodies, thoughtful insights,
and positive messages. In determining whether or not to listen to
secular music, there are three primary factors to consider: 1) the
purpose of music, 2) the style of music, and 3) the content of the
lyrics.

1) The purpose of music. Is music designed solely for worship, or did
God also intend music to be soothing and/or entertaining? The most
famous musician in the Bible, King David, primarily used music for the
purpose of worshipping God (see Psalm 4:1; 6:1, 54, 55; 61:1; 67:1;
76:1). However, when King Saul was tormented by evil spirits, he would
call on David to play the harp in order to soothe him (1 Samuel
16:14-23). The Israelites also used musical instruments to warn of
danger (Nehemiah 4:20) and to surprise their enemies (Judges 7:16-22).
In the New Testament, the apostle Paul instructs Christians to
encourage one another with music: "Speak to one another with psalms,
hymns and spiritual songs" (Ephesians 5:19). So, while the primary
purpose of music does seem to be worship, the Bible definitely allows
for other uses of music.

2) The style of music. Sadly, the issue of music styles can be very
divisive among Christians. There are Christians who adamantly demand
that no musical instruments be used. There are Christians who only
desire to sing the "old faithful" hymns. There are Christians who want
more upbeat and contemporary music. There are Christians who claim to
worship best in a "rock concert" type of environment. Instead of
recognizing these differences as personal preferences and cultural
distinctions, some Christians declare their preferred style of music
to be the only "biblical" one and declare all other forms of music to
be unwholesome, ungodly, or even satanic.

The Bible nowhere condemns any particular style of music. The Bible
nowhere declares any particular musical instrument to be ungodly. The
Bible mentions numerous kinds of string instruments and wind
instruments. While the Bible does not specifically mention drums, it
does mention other percussion instruments (Psalm 68:25; Ezra 3:10).
Nearly all of the forms of modern music are variations and/or
combinations of the same types of musical instruments, played at
different speeds or with heightened emphasis. There is no biblical
basis to declare any particular style of music to be ungodly or
outside of God's will.

3) The content of the lyrics. Since neither the purpose of music nor
the style of music determines whether a Christian should listen to
secular music, the content of the lyrics must be considered. While not
specifically speaking of music, Philippians 4:8 is an excellent guide
for musical lyrics: "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is
noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,
whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think
about such things." If we should be thinking about such things, surely
those are the things we should invite into our minds through music and
lyrics. Can the lyrics in a secular song be true, noble, right, pure,
lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy? If so, then there is
nothing wrong with a Christian listening to a secular song of that
nature.

However, much of secular music does not meet the standard of
Philippians 4:8. Secular music often promotes immorality and violence
while belittling purity and integrity. If a song glorifies what
opposes God, a Christian should not listen to it. However, there are
many secular songs with no mention of God that still uphold godly
values such as honesty, purity, and integrity. If a love song promotes
the sanctity of marriage and/or the purity of true love—even if it
does not mention God or the Bible—it can still be listened to and
enjoyed.

Whatever a person allows to occupy his mind will sooner or later
determine his speech and his actions. This is the premise behind
Philippians 4:8 and Colossians 3:2, 5: establishing wholesome thought
patterns. Second Corinthians 10:5 says we should "take captive every
thought and make it obedient to Christ." These Scriptures give a clear
picture of the kind of music we should not listen to.

Obviously, the best kind of music is that which praises and glorifies
God. Talented Christian musicians work in nearly every musical genre,
ranging from classical to rock, rap, and reggae. There is nothing
inherently wrong with any particular style of music. It is the lyrics
that determine whether a song is "acceptable" for a Christian to
listen to. If anything leads you to think about or get involved in
something that does not glorify God, it should be avoided.

Is joking a sin? What does the Bible say about telling jokes?

Joking is an interesting topic and difficult to paint with one broad
brush. Biblically speaking, joking itself is not regarded as sin,
although in some instances, it certainly can be. Proverbs 18:21 tells
us that "the tongue has the power of life and death, and those who
love it will eat its fruit." James 3:3-12 compares the tongue to a bit
in a horse's mouth, a ship's rudder, and a fire. The tongue is a
powerful thing, and words can either bring great life or great hurt.
There are ways to joke that edify. "A cheerful heart is good medicine,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones" (Proverbs 17:22). The Psalms
are full of references to laughter, which is what good joking
produces. But there is also a way to joke that is demeaning and
harmful, and we are called to "not let any unwholesome talk come out
of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up
according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen"
(Ephesians 4:29).

Our words should always honor God and communicate that we value that
which He has made. The best way to know whether our joking is
bordering on the sinful is to seek the Holy Spirit and ask for His
conviction. He can make us sensitive to when a joke is appropriate and
when it may not be. If there is any doubt in our minds, or if our
consciences are being pricked by our joking, it is probably best to
forego it. There is also the issue of making others stumble, which we
can easily do with jokes that we may feel are perfectly innocent, but
which others see as offensive or hurtful. Our liberty should never be
exercised at the expense of another's conscience (Romans 14:13-17).

Occasional jokes and jesting, if they are appropriate, are probably
for the most part innocent. But there are those who make jokes so
often that they can hardly say a sentence without it containing a joke
of some sort. This is hardly the most appropriate lifestyle for a
Christian, however, as we are told to "live soberly, righteously, and
godly, in this present world" (Titus 2:12). As with all "gray areas"
in the Christian life, seeking God's wisdom regarding our speech is
the most profitable way to go (James 1:5).

How should a Christian view comedy?

There are many who believe Christianity to be very sober and without
much fun and laughter. This is certainly not the case. God made each
of us with our many emotions so we could fully experience and
appreciate the entirety of His creation. He encourages us not only to
find joy in the things He has given us, but also to find joy and
laughter in His very presence (Psalm 4:7; 16:11; 32:11).

One only needs to look around to see the joy, and even humor, that God
built into the world. From the duck-billed platypus to the lumbering
hippopotamus to the antics of monkeys, we see plenty of living things
that bring laughter and amusement. God gave us the ability to laugh,
whether in joy, at a funny situation, or even at a good joke.

That being said, however, there are plenty of things the world finds
funny that are not pleasing to God. There are many stand-up comedians
and comedy movies that capitalize on the darker, raunchier side of
humor to get cheap laughs. As Christians, we are to fill our minds
with the things that are noble and admirable (Philippians 4:8), and to
rise above crude joking (Ephesians 5:4). This type of impurity, even
in the name of humor, is not in line with the attitude God calls us to
have—one of holiness. The Scriptures are an excellent filter to use
when we consider which things are pure and which are unclean.

Everything God does is loving and good. But, as humans, tainted by
sin, we often find ourselves laughing at the expense of others. These
types of ridiculing jokes are questionable at best, as they do not
show charity and love to those around us. Seeking to garner laughs in
a spirit of unkindness and derision is not a godly activity.

So, how should a Christian view comedy? At its essence, there is
nothing wrong with comedy. There are certainly plenty of things to
laugh at in our lives that are pure and praiseworthy—in fact, there
are a good number of Christian comedians and clean comedic movies.
Genuine humor is a godly thing, and the Lord wants us to be joyful
(John 15:11). However, we should exercise great care when we go to a
comedy movie or stand-up comedy show, always asking ourselves if the
comedy in which we choose to participate would be pleasing to the Lord
and have a positive influence on our Christian walk.

Is it wrong for a husband and wife to have separate bank accounts?

For various reasons, couples want separate bank accounts. Money is the
number-one cause of problems in marriage, and because the issue of
finances is the most common source of arguments in marriage, engaged
couples would do well to take the time to decide how these things will
be settled prior to entering into marriage. The Bible speaks very
clearly about the joining of a man and a woman (Genesis 2:24; Matthew
19:5; Ephesians 5:25-33), and those verses all show that the two shall
become one entity, with the man as the spiritual leader and the woman
in submission to him. This is the principle which should be brought to
bear upon the issue of finances in general and separate bank accounts
in particular.

A couple who are truly "one" will be one in all areas of their
marriage. Most importantly, they will be of one mind regarding
spiritual matters. Men are called to be "priests" of their homes (1
Corinthians 11:3), which means that they are to be the spiritual
leaders and to bring together the family to serve the Lord. Wives are
to submit to their husbands' leadership, helping to bring up children
in the "training and instruction of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4). In
parenting, as in all things within a marriage, unity and harmony are
essential.

This unity of spirit is to be present in temporal matters as well,
where husband and wife are again to be of one mind and one heart. This
means that money and possessions are seen as belonging to both
partners equally. Just as there is no "your child and my child," there
should be no distinction between "my money and your money." All is
shared equally in a true partnership, and no partnership is more equal
than two people united in Christ. Therefore, there is really no reason
to have separate bank accounts. Usually the situation of separate bank
accounts occurs when there is a severe issue with trust, and in such a
case there are greater problems in the marriage than just where the
money resides. Lack of trust is deadly to a marriage, and if it
exists, prayer is crucial to seek the wisdom of the Lord (James 1:5)
on how to resolve this. The Bible says that we are one with our
spouses, and so we should be resolved to show this unity to our
children, our friends, our church, and the watching world. Where
conflict over money exists, there is an opportunity to grow in love
and most importantly in trust to bring together the entire family for
God's purpose.

Is a backsliding Christian still saved?

This is a question that has been debated endlessly over the years. The
word "backslider" or "backsliding" does not appear in the New
Testament and is used in the Old Testament primarily of Israel. The
Jews, though they were God's chosen people, continually turned their
backs on Him and rebelled against His Word (Jeremiah 8:9). That is why
they were forced to make sacrifices for sin over and over in order to
restore their relationship with the God they had offended. The
Christian, however, has availed himself of the perfect,
once-and-for-all sacrifice of Christ and needs no further sacrifice
for his sin. God himself has obtained our salvation for us (2
Corinthians 5:21) and because we are saved by Him, a true Christian
cannot fall away so as not to return.

Christians do sin (1 John 1:8), but the Christian life is not to be
identified by a life of sin. Believers are a new creation (2
Corinthians 5:17). We have the Holy Spirit in us producing good fruit
(Galatians 5:22-23). A Christian life should be a changed life.
Christians are forgiven no matter how many times they sin, but at the
same time Christians should live a progressively more holy life as
they grow closer to Christ. We should have serious doubts about a
person who claims to be a believer yet lives a life that says
otherwise. Yes, a true Christian who falls back into sin is still
saved, but at the same time a person who lives a life controlled by
sin is not truly a Christian.

What about a person who denies Christ? The Bible tells us that if a
person denies Christ, he never truly knew Christ to begin with. 1 John
2:19 declares, "They went out from us, but they did not really belong
to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with
us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us." A person
who rejects Christ and turns his back on faith is demonstrating that
he never belonged to Christ. Those who belong to Christ remain with
Christ. Those who renounce their faith never had it to begin with. 2
Timothy 2:11-13, "Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him,
we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him.
If we disown him, he will also disown us; if we are faithless, he will
remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself."

Did Jesus go to hell between His death and resurrection?

There is a great deal of confusion in regards to this question. The
concept that Jesus went to hell after His death on the cross comes
primarily from the Apostles' Creed, which states, "He descended into
hell." There are also a few Scriptures which, depending on how they
are translated, describe Jesus going to "hell." In studying this
issue, it is important to first understand what the Bible teaches
about the realm of the dead.

In the Hebrew Scriptures, the word used to describe the realm of the
dead is sheol. It simply means "the place of the dead" or "the place
of departed souls/spirits." The New Testament Greek equivalent of
sheol is hades, which also refers to "the place of the dead." Other
Scriptures in the New Testament indicate that sheol/hades is a
temporary place, where souls are kept as they await the final
resurrection and judgment. Revelation 20:11–15 gives a clear
distinction between hades and the lake of fire. The lake of fire is
the permanent and final place of judgment for the lost. Hades, then,
is a temporary place. Many people refer to both hades and the lake of
fire as "hell," and this causes confusion. Jesus did not go to a place
of torment after His death, but He did go to hades.

Sheol/hades was a realm with two divisions—a place of blessing and a
place of judgment (Matthew 11:23; 16:18; Luke 10:15; 16:23; Acts
2:27–31). The abodes of the saved and the lost are both generally
called "hades" in the Bible. The abode of the saved is also called
"Abraham's bosom" (KJV) or "Abraham's side" (NIV) in Luke 16:22 and
"paradise" in Luke 23:43. The abode of the unsaved is called "hell"
(KJV) or "Hades" (NIV) in Luke 16:23. The abodes of the saved and the
lost are separated by a "great chasm" (Luke 16:26). When Jesus died,
He went to the blessed side of sheol and, from there, took the
believers with Him to heaven (Ephesians 4:8–10). The judgment side of
sheol/hades has remained unchanged. All unbelieving dead go there
awaiting their final judgment in the future. Did Jesus go to
sheol/hades? Yes, according to Ephesians 4:8–10 and 1 Peter 3:18–20.

Some of the confusion has arisen from such passages as Psalm 16:10–11
as translated in the King James Version: "For thou wilt not leave my
soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see
corruption. . . . Thou wilt show me the path of life." "Hell" is not a
correct translation in this verse. A correct reading would be "the
grave" or "sheol." Jesus said to the thief beside Him, "Today you will
be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43); He did not say, "I will see you
in hell." Jesus' body was in the tomb; His soul/spirit went to be with
the blessed in sheol/hades. Unfortunately, in many versions of the
Bible, translators are not consistent, or correct, in how they
translate the Hebrew and Greek words for "sheol," "hades," and "hell."

Some have the viewpoint that Jesus went to "hell" or the suffering
side of sheol/hades in order to further be punished for our sins. This
idea is completely unbiblical. It was the death of Jesus on the cross
that sufficiently provided for our redemption. It was His shed blood
that effected our own cleansing from sin (1 John 1:7–9). As He hung
there on the cross, He took the sin burden of the whole human race
upon Himself. He became sin for us: "God made him who had no sin to be
sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God"
(2 Corinthians 5:21). This imputation of sin helps us understand
Christ's struggle in the garden of Gethsemane with the cup of sin
which would be poured out upon Him on the cross.

As Jesus neared death, He said, "It is finished" (John 19:30). His
suffering in our place was completed. His soul/spirit went to hades
(the place of the dead). Jesus did not go to "hell" or the suffering
side of hades; He went to "Abraham's side" or the blessed side of
hades. Jesus' suffering ended the moment He died. The payment for sin
was paid. He then awaited the resurrection of His body and His return
to glory in His ascension. Did Jesus go to hell? No. Did Jesus go to
sheol/hades? Yes.

What will we be doing in Heaven? What will we do in Heaven?

In Luke 23:43, Jesus declared, "Truly I say to you, today you shall be
with me in paradise." The word Jesus used for "paradise" is paradeisos
which means "a park, that is, (specifically) an Eden (place of future
happiness, paradise)". Paradeisos is the Greek word taken from the
Hebrew word pardes which means "a park: - forest, orchard" (Strong's).
Jesus said, "Today you shall be with me "en paradeisos," not "en
nephele" which is Greek for "in clouds." The point is that Jesus
picked and used the word for "a park." Not just any park but "the
paradise of God" or park of God (Revelation 2:7) which for us will be
a place of future happiness. Does this sound like a boring place? When
you think of a park, do you think of boredom?

Jesus said, "You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you
shall serve" (Matthew 4:10). It's interesting to note that Jesus did
not say "praise and serve." Even the briefest examination of the word
praise in the Bible quickly shows it's a verbal thing and is for the
most part singing. Worship, however, is from the heart. Worship
manifests itself in praise. Serving God is worship, and Scripture is
clear we will serve God in heaven. "His servants will serve Him"
(Revelation 22:3).

We are unable to fully serve God in this life due to sin, but in
heaven "every curse will no longer be" (Revelation 22:3). We will not
be under the curse of sin any longer, so everything we do will be
worship in heaven. We will never be motivated by anything other than
our love for God. Everything we do will be out of our love for God,
untainted by our sin nature.

So what will we do? My favorite thing is to learn. "For who has known
the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor?" (Romans 11:34),
"in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge"
(Colossians 2:3). God is the "the high and lofty One who inhabits
eternity" (Isaiah 57:15). God is bigger than forever, and it will take
eternity "to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth and length
and depth and height, and to know the love of Christ" (Ephesians
3:18-19). In other words, we will never stop learning.

God's Word says we won't have to be in His paradise alone. "I shall
fully know even as I also am fully known" (1 Corinthians 13:12). This
would seem to indicate that we will not only know our friends and
family, we will "fully know" them. In other words, there is no need
for secrets in heaven. There is nothing to be ashamed of. There is
nothing to hide. We will have eternity to interact with "a great
multitude, which no man could number, out of all nations and kindreds
and people and tongues" (Revelation 7:9). No wonder heaven will be a
place of infinite learning. Just getting to know everyone will take
eternity!

Any further anticipation about what we shall do in God's eternal park,
heaven, will be far surpassed when "the King shall say to those on His
right hand, 'Come, blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared
for you from the foundation of the world'" (Matthew 25:34). Whatever
we will be doing, we can be sure it will be wonderful beyond our
imaginations!

What is Heaven like?

Heaven is a real place described in the Bible. The word "heaven" is
found 276 times in the New Testament alone. Scripture refers to three
heavens. The apostle Paul was "caught up to the third heaven," but he
was prohibited from revealing what he experienced there (2 Corinthians
12:1-9).

If a third heaven exists, there must also be two other heavens. The
first is most frequently referred to in the Old Testament as the "sky"
or the "firmament." This is the heaven that contains clouds, the area
that birds fly through. The second heaven is interstellar/outer space,
which is the abode of the stars, planets, and other celestial objects
(Genesis 1:14-18).

The third heaven, the location of which is not revealed, is the
dwelling place of God. Jesus promised to prepare a place for true
Christians in heaven (John 14:2). Heaven is also the destination of
Old Testament saints who died trusting God's promise of the Redeemer
(Ephesians 4:8). Whoever believes in Christ shall never perish but
have eternal life (John 3:16).

The apostle John was privileged to see and report on the heavenly city
(Revelation 21:10-27). John witnessed that heaven (the new earth)
possesses the "glory of God" (Revelation 21:11), the very presence of
God. Because heaven has no night and the Lord Himself is the light,
the sun and moon are no longer needed (Revelation 22:5).

The city is filled with the brilliance of costly stones and crystal
clear jasper. Heaven has twelve gates (Revelation 21:12) and twelve
foundations (Revelation 21:14). The paradise of the Garden of Eden is
restored: the river of the water of life flows freely and the tree of
life is available once again, yielding fruit monthly with leaves that
"heal the nations" (Revelation 22:1-2). However eloquent John was in
his description of heaven, the reality of heaven is beyond the ability
of finite man to describe (1 Corinthians 2:9).

Heaven is a place of "no mores." There will be no more tears, no more
pain, and no more sorrow (Revelation 21:4). There will be no more
separation, because death will be conquered (Revelation 20:6). The
best thing about heaven is the presence of our Lord and Savior (1 John
3:2). We will be face to face with the Lamb of God who loved us and
sacrificed Himself so that we can enjoy His presence in heaven for
eternity.

What does hell look like? How hot is hell?

We cannot know exactly what hell looks like or how hot it will be.
But Scripture does use some descriptive language of hell, and that
gives us an idea of what hell will be like. It is sure to be a place
of torment, which the Bible often pictures as fiery. For the purposes
of this article, the terms hell and lake of fire are used
interchangeably.

Some interpreters take the Bible's descriptions of hell to be
symbolic. The reason is that (for example) hell cannot be both fire
(Matthew 25:41) and outer darkness (Matthew 8:12). However, even if
the descriptive language is symbolic, the place itself is real—and the
reality will no doubt be worse than the symbols.

The scriptural descriptions of hell are meant to emphasize the torment
and suffering that will be experienced by those sent there. The "fire"
may picture the wrath of God that is experienced by unbelievers in
hell, whereas the "outer darkness" may picture the alienation from
God's love, mercy, and grace. Whether the vivid language is symbolic
or literal, we can be assured that hell is a terrible, terrifying
place. Possibly the most terrifying aspect of hell is its duration.
The suffering is eternal. It has no end. For us, here and now, the
concept of hell should drive us to the cross of Christ. It is only by
repentance and faith in Christ that we can be saved from the wrath to
come.

Here are some of the passages that describe hell:

Matthew 25:41, "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from
me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil
and his angels.'"

Matthew 8:12, "But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside,
into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

2 Thessalonians 1:6–9, "God is just: He will pay back trouble to those
who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as
well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in
blazing fire with his powerful angels. He will punish those who do not
know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be
punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence
of the Lord and from the glory of his might."

Revelation 20:10, 15, "And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown
into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet
had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and
ever. . . . Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of
life was thrown into the lake of fire."

Romans 2:8, "But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the
truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger."

Matthew 25:30, "And throw that worthless servant outside, into the
darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

Hell, although we do not know exactly what it will look like, will be
a place of unending suffering and torment from which there will be no
escape. Therefore, now is the day of salvation. Now is the day for all
to repent and believe the gospel. Now is the day for us to proclaim
the good news that Christ has come to save sinners who trust in Him
for forgiveness. Those who look to Christ now will be saved from the
wrath to come (1 Thessalonians 1:9–10).

Do I have to confess my adultery to my spouse?

Whether or not to confess the sin of adultery to one's spouse is a
dilemma for many Christians who have had the unfortunate experience of
the sin of adultery. Worldly "experts" usually encourage adulterers to
keep their mouths shut about their infidelities, proclaiming worse
damage will be done by confessing. The problem with this is that it
stifles one's conscience and doesn't allow for the restoration of
relationships that confession is intended to encompass. James 5:16
says, "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each
other so that you may be healed."

The apostle Paul wisely stated, "So I strive always to keep my
conscience clear before God and man" (Acts 24:16). Although adultery
is a sin against God, first and foremost, the Bible also says that our
bodies do not belong to ourselves, but also to the one we are married
to (1 Corinthians 7:4). The physical act of sex is the symbol of the
way a married couple becomes one flesh when God joins them together in
marriage (1 Corinthians 6:15-16). For these reasons, a person who has
committed adultery should pray and allow the Holy Spirit to lead him
or her, confessing the infidelity at the appropriate time.

A guilty conscience will not go away simply by trying to ignore it. It
may, in fact, lead to psychological and even physical problems. As
difficult as it would be for anyone to tell their husband or wife that
they have been unfaithful, it is necessary not only for the integrity
of the marriage, but also for the relationship between the person and
God, so that their conscience may be clear and they will be able to
live a holy and blameless life.

What does the Bible say about keeping secrets?

A secret can be difficult to keep and equally difficult to share. Yet
life seems to run on secrets, from concealing birthday presents to
obscuring a difficult past to protecting the whereabouts of an
important political figure. The Bible teaches, indirectly, that
secrets can be either good or bad, but it does not clearly delineate
the right and wrong uses of secrets.

Throughout the history of Israel, political and military secrets are
mentioned without pronouncing any moral judgments for or against them
(e.g., 2 Samuel 15:35-36). However, in the story of Samson and Delilah
(Judges 16:4-22), Samson reveals the source of his strength, an act
which, based on the aftermath of his admission, was awfully stupid. It
was a secret he should have kept.

Esther's story provides a positive example of someone who kept a
secret. Her decision to hide her nationality (Esther 2:20) became an
integral part of God's plan to save His people (Esther 4:13; 7:3-6).
The same story also supports the morality of revealing a secret that,
if kept hidden, would cause great wrong or serious harm (Esther
2:21-23).

Proverbs, the central book among the "wisdom literature" of the Bible,
is the most explicit about secrets. Chapter 11 says that "a man of
understanding holds his tongue. A gossip betrays a confidence, but a
trustworthy man keeps a secret" (v. 12-13). So, keeping a secret can
be noble. But secrets kept for the wrong reason earn a person the
title of "wicked," for "a wicked man accepts a bribe in secret to
pervert the course of justice" (Proverbs 17:23), and "whoever slanders
his neighbor in secret, him will I put to silence" (Psalm 101:5).

One type of secret is always wrong: trying to hide sin. "He who
conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and
renounces them finds mercy" (Proverbs 28:13). When it comes to our
sin, God wants full disclosure, and He grants full forgiveness (Isaiah
1:18).

Of course, there's no use trying to hide our sin from God. Nothing can
be kept from Him. He is "the God of gods . . . and a revealer of
secrets" (Daniel 2:47, NKJV). Even our "secret sins" are exposed in
His light (Psalm 90:8). "For nothing is secret that will not be
revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to
light" (Luke 8:17).

God Himself keeps some things—probably many things—hidden from us:
"The secret things belong to the LORD our God" (Deuteronomy 29:29).
Jesus asked several people to keep miracles He had done secret. For
example, Jesus healed two blind men and told them to "see that no one
knows about this" (Matthew 9:30). When Job realized the immensity of
God's knowledge, he spoke of "things too wonderful for me to know"
(Job 42:3).

We can conclude that God does not consider keeping a secret to be
sinful in and of itself. There are some things that people should know
and some things they should not. God's concern is how secrets are
used, whether to protect or to hurt.

REASONS EVERY CHRISTIAN SHOULD WIN SOULS THE IMPORTANCE OF SOULWINNING

1. BECAUSE GOD COMMANDS IT
Soulwinning is not an option. It is not a spiritual gift. It is not a
church growth program. It is a clear, unequivocal, unavoidable command
of God.

2. BECAUSE THERE IS A HELL
Psalm 9:17 still says, "The wicked shall be turned into Hell and all
the nations that forget God." Revelation 21:8 still says those without
Christ will have their part in the lake that burns with fire and
brimstone.

3. BECAUSE WE KNOW HOW TO ESCAPE HELL
Imagine a man having a cure for cancer and keeping the news to
himself. Imagine seeing someone about to be run over by a car and not
trying to warn him. How much worse it is for those of us who know the
only escape from eternal damnation to keep it from those desperately
in need of this truth.

4. BECAUSE SOULWINNING IS THE DECENT THING TO DO
1 Corinthians 15:34 says: "Awake to righteousness and sin not; for
some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

5. BECAUSE THERE IS A HEAVEN
What a wonderful blessing it will be to be reunited with loved ones
for eternity. What a privilege it will be for us to see those living
forever in Heaven, to whom we have given the Gospel of Christ.

6. BECAUSE IT GLORIFIES GOD
John 15:8 says:"Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much
fruit; so shall ye be my disciples." There are those who say that our
prime motivation is not to win people to Christ but to glorify God. I
do not disagree with them, but I must remind them that the Bible
clearly says God is glorified when we bring forth much fruit.

7. BECAUSE IT ENCOURAGES BELIEVERS
When we win people to Christ, bring them to church, or share their
testimonies with others, believers are encouraged and uplifted. Iron
sharpens iron and our testimony encourages others to do the same.

8. BECAUSE IT PERPETUATES TRUTH FOR THE NEXT GENERATION
The Lord Jesus tells us that believers are like wheat and unbelievers
are like tares. Wheat must be planted every season. It never
regenerates itself. Weeds grow automatically. It takes nothing for
wrong to prevail and evil to predominate. It takes great effort for
righteousness to be perpetuated.

9. BECAUSE IT IS A TIMELESS PRINCIPLE
Even a casual reading of the Word of God will convince you that it has
always been right for people who know God to tell people who don't
know God about God. Remember, it is an Old Testament verse that says,
"He that winneth souls is wise."

10. BECAUSE WE MUST FACE JESUS AT THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST
"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every
one may receive the things done in his body, whether it be good or
bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we
are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your
consciences." 2 Corinthians 5:10–11 (emphasis mine)

11. BECAUSE OUR HANDS WILL BE STAINED WITH THE BLOOD OF THE LOST WE DON'T TELL
"When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest
him no warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way,
to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but
his blood will I require at thine hand." Ezekiel 3:18

What does the Bible say about shyness/being shy?

Webster's dictionary defines shyness as "the state of being timid,
easily frightened, reserved, bashful, and shrinking from contact with
others." For the Christian, shyness can be overcome by relying on the
Holy Spirit. The Bible explains this in 2 Timothy 1:7 (TLB): "For the
Holy Spirit, God's gift, does not want you to be afraid of people, but
to be wise and strong, and to love them and enjoy being with them."
The Holy Spirit is given by God to those who place their faith in the
sacrifice of Jesus Christ as payment for their personal sin. The real
key is learning to be filled with, and under the control of, the Holy
Spirit. Meditating on Ephesians 5:17-21, Ephesians 4:30, and
Colossians 3:16 will be helpful to those who are struggling with
shyness.

Oddly enough, shyness can actually be a form of pride. Fear of what
people will think about us and being overly concerned for the opinions
of men (Ephesians 6:6-7; Proverbs 29:25) can be reflection of
obsession with self. But the Bible says we are not be worried about
the opinions of men, not to fear what men think about us or even what
they say about us if we're doing what we know is right. In fact, if we
are striving to live godly lives, we can expect not to be liked (2
Timothy 3:12).

Timidity, shyness and bashfulness are basically fear, and fear is the
opposite of faith. We overcome fear through faith from God (Hebrews
11:6) and love from God (1 John 4:18-19). Faith and love from God come
from saturating the heart, mind, and life with the Scriptures
(Colossians 3:16; Romans 10:17). For sanctifying ourselves (John
17:17) and overcoming fear, doubt and confusion, the power of the Word
of God is unequaled (Psalm 19; 2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Besides becoming a Christian, learning to live under the control of
the Holy Spirit, replacing fear and pride with faith and love from
God, and saturating our minds with Scripture, we can add one more
ingredient to overcoming shyness. The world calls it "self esteem" and
"self-image," but those are not biblical terms. The Bible explains it
as living out the identity of who we are in Christ. Meditating through
Ephesians 1, we see all that we are in Christ. Shyness is about us,
but true Life is about Christ, who is our Life according to Colossians
3:4.

When fear or self-consciousness keeps us from reaching out to other
people, that is a reflection of self-centeredness and pride. Starting
a conversation and showing interest in others can be an expression of
genuine love. When we're filled with God's power and motivated by
love, we'll be able to reach out to others in a way that makes them
feel appreciated. Then the emphasis is on others instead of on
ourselves, and we can begin to live in freedom, self-sacrifice and
love for others.

What is the difference between the Rapture and the Second Coming?

The rapture and the second coming of Christ are often confused.
Sometimes it is difficult to determine whether a scripture verse is
referring to the rapture or the second coming. However, in studying
end-times Bible prophecy, it is very important to differentiate
between the two.

The rapture is when Jesus Christ returns to remove the church (all
believers in Christ) from the earth. The rapture is described in 1
Thessalonians 4:13-18 and 1 Corinthians 15:50-54. Believers who have
died will have their bodies resurrected and, along with believers who
are still living, will meet the Lord in the air. This will all occur
in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye. The second coming is when Jesus
returns to defeat the Antichrist, destroy evil, and establish His
millennial kingdom. The second coming is described in Revelation
19:11-16.

The important differences between the rapture and second coming are as follows:

1) At the rapture, believers meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians
4:17). At the second coming, believers return with the Lord to the
earth (Revelation 19:14).

2) The second coming occurs after the great and terrible tribulation
(Revelation chapters 6–19). The rapture occurs before the tribulation
(1 Thessalonians 5:9; Revelation 3:10).

3) The rapture is the removal of believers from the earth as an act of
deliverance (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17, 5:9). The second coming includes
the removal of unbelievers as an act of judgment (Matthew 24:40-41).

4) The rapture will be secret and instant (1 Corinthians 15:50-54).
The second coming will be visible to all (Revelation 1:7; Matthew
24:29-30).

5) The second coming of Christ will not occur until after certain
other end-times events take place (2 Thessalonians 2:4; Matthew
24:15-30; Revelation chapters 6–18). The rapture is imminent; it could
take place at any moment (Titus 2:13; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1
Corinthians 15:50-54).

How can I recognize the guidance of the Holy Spirit?

Before Jesus ascended to heaven, He told His disciples that He would
send one who would teach and guide all those who believe in Him (Acts
1:5; John 14:26; 16:7). Jesus' promise was fulfilled less than two
weeks later when the Holy Spirit came in power on the believers at
Pentecost (Acts 2). Now, when a person believes in Christ, the Holy
Spirit immediately becomes a permanent part of his life (Romans 8:14;
1 Corinthians 12:13).

The Holy Spirit has many functions. Not only does He distribute
spiritual gifts according to His will (1 Corinthians 12:7–11), but He
also comforts us (John 14:16, KJV), teaches us (John 14:26), and
remains in us as a seal of promise upon our hearts until the day of
Jesus' return (Ephesians 1:13; 4:30). The Holy Spirit also takes on
the role of Guide and Counselor, leading us in the way we should go
and revealing God's truth (Luke 12:12; 1 Corinthians 2:6–10).

But how do we recognize the Spirit's guidance? How do we discern
between our own thoughts and His leading? After all, the Holy Spirit
does not speak with audible words. Rather, He guides us through our
own consciences (Romans 9:1) and other quiet, subtle ways.

One of the most important ways to recognize the Holy Spirit's guidance
is to be familiar with God's Word. The Bible is the ultimate source of
wisdom about how we should live (2 Timothy 3:16), and believers are to
search the Scriptures, meditate on them, and commit them to memory
(Ephesians 6:17). The Word is the "sword of the Spirit" (Ephesians
6:17), and the Spirit will use it to speak to us (John 16:12–14) to
reveal God's will for our lives; He will also bring specific
Scriptures to mind at times when we need them most (John 14:26).

Knowledge of God's Word can help us to discern whether or not our
desires come from the Holy Spirit. We must test our inclinations
against Scripture—the Holy Spirit will never prod us to do anything
contrary to God's Word. If it conflicts with the Bible, then it is not
from the Holy Spirit and should be ignored.

It is also necessary for us to be in continual prayer with the Father
(1 Thessalonians 5:17). Not only does this keep our hearts and minds
open to the Holy Spirit's leading, but it also allows the Spirit to
speak on our behalf: "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our
weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit
himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And
he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the
Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will"
(Romans 8:26–27).

Another way to tell if we are following the Spirit's leading is to
look for signs of His fruit in our lives (Galatians 5:22). If we walk
in the Spirit, we will continue to see these qualities grow and mature
in us, and they will become evident to others as well.

It is important to note that we have the choice whether or not to
accept the Holy Spirit's guidance. When we know the will of God but do
not follow it, we are resisting the Spirit's work in our lives (Acts
7:51; 1 Thessalonians 5:19), and a desire to follow our own way
grieves Him (Ephesians 4:30). The Spirit will never lead us into sin.
Habitual sin will cause us to miss what the Holy Spirit wants to say
to us through the Word. Being in tune with God's will, turning from
and confessing sin, and making a habit of prayer and the study of
God's Word will allow us to recognize—and follow—the Spirit's leading.

Can a Christian be a model? Is a modeling career something a Christian can consider?

As Christians, our goal is to please the Lord. So, with that goal in
mind, we should prepare ourselves for careers that are rewarding to
ourselves, beneficial to others, and, most especially, pleasing to
God. It could be possible that the Lord would allow a Christian to
pursue a career in modeling, but, generally, He has a higher calling
for His people. Romans 12:1-2 says, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers,
in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices,
holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not
conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by
the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve
what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." The question
for the Christian to decide is whether modeling is consistent with our
command to offer our bodies to God and whether such a career is "holy
and pleasing" to Him.

The whole purpose of the book of Romans is for Christians to know the
truth of how we should live, the truth about what God expects of us,
the truth about God and His judgments of our way of life. The first
eleven chapters are about righteousness—the unrighteousness of fallen
sinners, our need for God's righteousness, and His provision of that
righteousness through Christ. When we get to chapter 12, the first
word is "therefore." Having built the case that we have been redeemed
by God out of our hopeless, sinful state, it is obvious that our
calling is to be different from the world and no longer to buy into
the lies of image-obsessed cultures.

There are some sad realities in the world of modeling. Many aspiring
models work at minimum-wage jobs waiting for their big break, which,
for most, never comes. The lifestyles of fashion models is also a
reason for concern. There is a considerable amount of drugs and
immoral behavior in the fashion industry. Young women are often used
and abused by those in power. The highly competitive nature of the
industry leads to greed, dishonesty, and cutthroat tactics. Those
whose living is dependent upon the success of a designer, fashion
house, or product line are at the mercy of these tactics. While it may
be possible for a Christian to be in this world and not be affected by
it, 1 Corinthians 15:33 warns us, "Do not be misled: 'Bad company
corrupts good character.'"

God is very concerned about how we use or abuse our bodies. "Do you
not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you,
whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought
at a price. Therefore honor God with your body" (1 Corinthians
6:19-20). Christians are not to try to look like the world; rather, we
are to be a special, purified people (Titus 2:14), people who are set
apart as belonging to the Lord. Christians should be well dressed and
appropriately fashioned, not to bring the focus on ourselves, but so
that we can go about the work God has for us without being overly
concerned about our appearance. Women, especially, are exhorted to
dress modestly (1 Timothy 2:9), and, since only the most successful
models are given the choice of which clothes to model (unless the
model wants to remain unemployed), it is hard to see how the modeling
industry is compatible with a Christian worldview and dressing
modestly.

Romans reminds us that Christians are to be set apart from the world,
especially aspects of the world which are ungodly. Once we have
accepted Christ and pledged our lives to Him, then we are ready to do
some real modeling, because there is no greater calling in this world
than to model Christ.

How can I overcome an addiction to internet porn? Can addiction to pornography be defeated?

Studies show that terms relating to porn are by far the most commonly
searched-for terms in the internet search engines. Every day,
literally millions of people do searches related to the porn industry.
The powerful imagery of internet pornography is highly addictive. Many
men (and women) have been caught in the snare of internet porn and
find themselves helplessly addicted to its visual stimulation. This
results in uncontrollable lust, an inability to experience true sexual
intimacy in marriage, and often intense feelings of guilt and despair.
Pornography is the #1 cause of masturbation, sexual assault, and
sexual deviancy. Most importantly, pornography is offensive to God,
and is therefore a sin that must be confessed, repented of, and
overcome.

There are two primary aspects in the battle to overcome an addiction
to internet porn: spiritual and practical. Spiritually, addiction to
pornography is a sin that God desires you to overcome and therefore
will enable you to do so. The first step is to make sure you have
genuinely placed your trust in Jesus Christ as your Savior. Without
salvation through Jesus Christ, there is no possibility of a true and
lasting victory over pornography: "Apart from me, you can do nothing"
(John 15:5).

If you are a believer in Christ and are struggling with an addiction
to internet porn, there is hope and help for you! The power of the
Holy Spirit is available to you (Ephesians 3:16). The cleansing of
God's forgiveness is available to you (1 John 1:9). The renewing
capacity of God's Word is at your disposal (Romans 12:1-2). Commit
your mind and eyes to the Lord (1 John 2:16). Ask God to strengthen
you and help you to overcome pornography (Philippians 4:13). Ask God
to protect you from further exposure to porn (1 Corinthians 10:13),
and to fill your mind with things that are pleasing to Him
(Philippians 4:8). These are all requests that God will honor and
answer.

Practically speaking, there are numerous tools to combat an addiction
to internet pornography. There are good programs available at
www.X3pure.com and www.PornAddiction.com. There are several quality
internet filtering programs that will completely block your computer
from accessing pornography, such as Covenant Eyes. Another fantastic
tool is available at www.X3Watch.com. X3watch is accountability
software. It tracks your internet browsing and sends a report of any
objectionable websites you have visited to an accountability partner
of your choosing. Your temptation to view internet porn would be
greatly reduced if you knew your youth pastor, parent, friend, pastor,
or spouse would receive a detailed report about it. There are also
quite a few good books on overcoming porn addiction: Every Man's
Battle: Winning the War on Sexual Purity One Victory at a Time by
Stephen Arterburn, Pure Freedom: Breaking the Addiction to Pornography
by Mike Cleveland, and The Game Plan by Joe Dallas.

Do not despair! An addiction to internet porn is not an "unforgivable
sin." God can and will forgive you. An addiction to internet porn is
not an "unconquerable sin." God can and will enable you to overcome
it. Commit your mind and eyes to the Lord. Commit yourself to filling
your mind with God's Word (Psalm 119:11). Seek His help daily in
prayer; ask Him to fill your mind with His truth and block unwanted
thoughts and desires. Take the practical steps listed above to keep
yourself accountable and block access to internet porn. "Now to Him
who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine,
according to His power that is at work within us" (Ephesians 3:20).

What does the Bible say about oral sex?

Oral sex, also known as "cunnilingus" when performed on females and
"fellatio" when performed on males, is not mentioned in the Bible.
There are two primary questions that are asked in regards to oral sex:
(1) "is oral sex a sin if done before marriage?" and (2) "is oral sex
a sin if done within a marriage?" While the Bible does not
specifically address either question, there are definitely biblical
principles that apply.

Is oral sex a sin if done before or outside of marriage?
This question is becoming increasingly common as young people are told
that "oral sex is not really sex," and as oral sex is promoted as a
safer (no risk of pregnancy, less risk of sexually transmitted
diseases*) alternative to sexual intercourse. What does the Bible say?
Ephesians 5:3 declares, "But among you there must not be even a hint
of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity...because these are
improper for God's holy people." The biblical definition of
"immorality" is "any form of sexual contact outside of marriage" (1
Corinthians 7:2). According to Hebrews 13:4, only the "marriage bed"
is pure and undefiled. According to the Bible, sex is to be reserved
for marriage. Period. So, yes, oral sex is a sin if done before or
outside of marriage.

Is oral sex a sin if done within a marriage?
Many, perhaps most, Christian married couples have had this question.
What makes it difficult is the fact that the Bible nowhere says what
is allowed or disallowed sexually between a husband and wife, other
than, of course, any sexual activity that involves another person
(swapping, threesomes, etc.) or that involves lusting after another
person (pornography). Outside of these two restrictions, the principle
of "mutual consent" would seem to apply (1 Corinthians 7:5). While
this text specifically deals with abstaining from sex/frequency of
sex, "mutual consent" is a good concept to apply universally in
regards to sex within marriage. Whatever is done, it should be fully
agreed on between the husband and his wife. Neither spouse should be
forced or coerced into doing something he/she is not completely
comfortable with. If oral sex is done within the confines of marriage
and in the spirit of mutual consent, there is not a biblical case for
declaring it to be a sin.

In summary, oral sex before marriage is absolutely a sin. It is
immoral. It is in no sense a biblically acceptable alternative to
sexual intercourse for unmarried couples. Within the confines of
marriage, oral sex is free from sin as long as there is mutual
consent.

*While oral sex is safer than sexual intercourse in regards to
sexually transmitted diseases, it is definitely not safe. Chlamydia,
gonorrhea, herpes, HIV/AIDS, and other STDs can be transmitted through
oral sex.

YOU DEFRAUD PEOPLE AT WORK, ON INTERNET OR IN THE CHURCH. What does the Bible say about restitution?

Restitution is a biblical concept, and there are passages in both Old
and New Testaments that reveal the mind of God on this subject. In the
Old Testament, the Israelites were under the Law, which specified
restitution in a variety of circumstances: "If a man steals an ox or a
sheep and slaughters it or sells it, he must pay back five head of
cattle for the ox and four sheep for the sheep. . . . A thief must
certainly make restitution, but if he has nothing, he must be sold to
pay for his theft. If the stolen animal is found alive in his
possession—whether ox or donkey or sheep—he must pay back double. If a
man grazes his livestock in a field or vineyard and lets them stray
and they graze in another man's field, he must make restitution from
the best of his own field or vineyard. If a fire breaks out and
spreads into thornbushes so that it burns shocks of grain or standing
grain or the whole field, the one who started the fire must make
restitution. . . If a man borrows an animal from his neighbor and it
is injured or dies . . . he must make restitution" (Exodus 22:1, 3-6,
14).

Leviticus 6:2-5 covers other situations in which the stolen property
is restored, plus one fifth of the value. Also of note in this
passage, the restitution was made to the owner of the property (not to
the government or any other third party), and the compensation was to
be accompanied by a guilt offering to the Lord. The Mosaic Law, then,
protected victims of theft, extortion, fraud, and negligence by
requiring the offending parties to make restitution. The amount of
remuneration varied anywhere from 100 to 500 percent of the loss. The
restitution was to be made on the same day that the guilty one brought
his sacrifice before the Lord, which implies that making amends with
one's neighbor is just as important as making peace with God.

In the New Testament, we have the wonderful example of Zacchaeus in
Luke 19. Jesus is visiting Zacchaeus's home, and the people who know
the chief publican to be a wicked and oppressive man are beginning to
murmur about His associating with a sinner (verse 7). "But Zacchaeus
stood up and said to the Lord, 'Look, Lord! Here and now I give half
of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of
anything, I will pay back four times the amount.' Jesus said to him,
'Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a
son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was
lost'" (verses 8-10). From Zacchaeus's words, we gather that 1) he had
been guilty of defrauding people, 2) he was remorseful over his past
actions, and 3) he was committed to making restitution. From Jesus'
words, we understand that 1) Zacchaeus was saved that day and his sin
was forgiven, and 2) the evidence of his salvation was both his public
confession (see Romans 10:10) and his relinquishing of all ill-gotten
gains. Zacchaeus repented, and his sincerity was evident in his
immediate desire to make restitution. Here was a man who was penitent
and contrite, and the proof of his conversion to Christ was his
resolve to atone, as much as possible, for past sins.

The same holds true for anyone who truly knows Christ today. Genuine
repentance leads to a desire to redress wrongs. When someone becomes a
Christian, he will have a desire born of deep conviction to do good,
and that includes making restoration whenever possible. The idea of
"whenever possible" is crucially important to remember. There are some
crimes and sins for which there is no adequate restitution. In such
instances, a Christian should make some form of restitution that
demonstrates repentance, but at the same time, does not need to feel
guilty about the inability to make full restitution. Restitution is to
be a result of our salvation—it is not a requirement for salvation. If
you have received forgiveness of sins through faith in Jesus Christ,
all of your sins are forgiven, whether or not you have been able to
make restitution for them.

How should a Christian view self-esteem?

Many define self-esteem as "feelings of worth based on their skills,
accomplishments, status, financial resources, or appearance." This
kind of self-esteem can lead a person to feel independent and prideful
and to indulge in self-worship, which dulls our desire for God. James
4:6 tells us that "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the
humble." If we only trust in our earthly resources, we will inevitably
be left with a sense of worth based on pride. Jesus told us, "You
also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say,
'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty'" (Luke 17:10).

This does not mean that Christians should have low self-esteem. It
only means that our sense of being a good person should not depend on
what we do, but rather on who we are in Christ. We need to humble
ourselves before Him, and He will honor us. Psalm 16:2 reminds us, "I
said to the Lord, 'You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good
thing.'" Christians attain self-worth and esteem by having a right
relationship with God. We can know we are valuable because of the high
price God paid for us through the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ.

In one sense, low self-esteem is the opposite of pride. In another
sense, low-self-esteem is a form of pride. Some people have low
self-esteem because they want people to feel sorry for them, to pay
attention to them, to comfort them. Low self-esteem can be a
declaration of "look at me" just as much as pride. It simply takes a
different route to get to the same destination, that is,
self-absorption, self-obsession, and selfishness. Instead, we are to
be selfless, to die to self, and to deflect any attention given to us
to the great God who created and sustains us.

The Bible tells us that God gave us worth when He purchased us to be
His own people (Ephesians 1:14). Because of this, only He is worthy of
honor and praise. When we have healthy self-esteem, we will value
ourselves enough to not become involved in sin that enslaves us.
Instead, we should conduct ourselves with humility, thinking of others
as better than ourselves (Philippians 2:3). Romans 12:3 warns, "Do not
think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of
yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith
God has given you."

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UPDATE: This is alarming!!!! See again. 3,000 Civil Servants has been
sacked by imo state government. And yet again 700 staffs of FCMB has
been reported sacked few hours ago.

Click link for details:
https://www.naij.com/699186-massive-shake-okorocha-sacks-3000-civil-servants-imo-state.html

http://naija247news.com/2016/01/breaking-fcmb-sacks-over-700-workers/

Don't wait to be sacked before having a PLAN B. There are NO JOBS, NO
RESCUE coming....more companies - Oil industries, Banks, Telecoms,
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How to Be a Good Wife

Being a good wife is not easy, even if you have a near-
perfect husband. To be a good wife, you have to be able to
communicate effectively, to keep your romance alive, and to
be your husband's best friend while maintaining your own
identity. If you want to know how to do it, just follow these

1. Express your feelings and needs effectively. Your
husband doesn't have clairvoyant powers. If you want
something, ask. If something is wrong, say so. Don't drop
hints or figure he'll "come around" or you'll never get
anything done. If you want to be able to express how you
feel, you should be able to speak with a positive tone and
to listen to what your husband says instead of being
accusatory. Here are some ways to do it:
•Send "I messages." Instead of accusing him of not
meeting your needs, focus the conversation on
yourself. For instance, tell him, "I feel ignored when I
don't see you until 6:30 every night."
•Listen to what he says. When he tells you something,
repeat what he said back to him so that he knows you
understand. For example, "I hear you saying that you're
worried about finances, and that's why you've been
working late."
•Avoid passing judgment. Let him finish what he's saying
before you respond. After he's done talking, offer a
solution. For instance, say, "I'm willing to live on a
tighter budget if that means that I get to see you more often

2. Pick your battles. Some issues are worth fighting
about, and some aren't. If you spend all of your time
nitpicking your husband about minor problems that don't
really matter, then he's not going to listen to you when
major issues come up.
•Criticism can destroy a relationship. As long as the
dishes are clean and unbroken, for instance, don't nag
your husband about how to load the dishwasher "the
right way." Let him do things his own way. Don't sweat
the small stuff.
•Avoid criticizing your husband without doing it
constructively. Remember to try to be calm and
rational, as strong emotions can easily turn a
discussion into an argument. If you criticize every little
thing he does, then he will quickly tune you out.
•You should praise your husband for the things he does
right much more than you argue with him about things
that he does wrong. This will make him much more
likely to listen to you, and much happier to be around

3. Be understanding when you discuss an issue with
your husband. Fight right. Don't let anger take over
because it may cause you to say things that you will regret
later. Even when you don't agree with your husband, you
need to respect his opinion and his viewpoint. To be a
good wife, you need to understand that you may never
agree on certain issues. No couple has an identical set of
morals and beliefs, which means that both of you will
need to learn to cope with occasions where you just can't
resolve your opinions.
•Talk to him at the right time. Don't just spring your
problems on him whenever. Avoid bringing up
problems before dinner, while he's paying bills or when
he's immersed in a stressful situation, like fixing a
problem with your car. And never, ever start an
argument in front of your children.
•When you're wrong, admit it. You need to learn to
respond to arguments and remain rational so you can
recognize and apologize when you've made a misstep.

4. Talk to your husband, not about him. Never talk to
your friends or your family and say negative things
about your husband if you're not communicating with him
first. Talking about your husband behind his back is
disloyal. When you get married, your first loyalty is to your
partner, not to your birth family or your social group.
•Complaining about your husband to your friends and
family will not only not solve any of your problems, but
it will also make them view your relationship in a more
negative light.
•Your friends and family may think they know what's
best for you, but they don't know your relationship as
well as you do and may unintentionally give you bad advice