Oak Hall Bible Study Q & A Panel Pt 1 4/7/14 All questions are anonymous The Panel - JC: Jacob

Cool, JM: Jordan McGirt, HW: Heather Wade. 1. Why is cursing bad? JC: 1 Corinthians 8:9. Dont do things that cause other people to stumble in their walk. Col 3:8. No Filthy Language. JM: Our culture says profanity is frowned upon. Scripture tells us to abide by laws and customs of the land. You can also potentially damage your witness because not cursing is ingrained in Christianity. Ephesians 4:29 says to not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths. This includes both cursing and putting other people down. JC: Some use Be all things to all people (Paul). In trying to be all things, Paul showed his Christianity to them, but didnt adapt his life to match theirs. Be understanding and appreciative, but show Gods light. 2. How do we stop becoming emotionally distant? JM: If were talking about growing distant from others, sometimes we dont like sharing feelings (guys especially). A psychiatric study found that people who vent live happier lives because sharing with other people gets past the difficulties. James 3 tells us to share one anothers burdens. Forgiveness comes from God, not people, but people can help you get through the healing process of forgiveness. Its important to speak out and be emotional. JC: If were talking about growing distant from everything, Christ came to give us life and life abundantly. Finding joy in the Lord helps you begin to live and grow. Depression can put you through a cycle of apathy and distance. One important thing can help you through it: pray for eyes, ears, and a heart for people and give thanks for our life. Psalms is full of thanksgivings. Some points to help you: 1). it could be worse, 2). we have Christ with us (always a foundation of strength), and 3). you have to ask to love others. Ask, it will be granted. 3. Is there anything that God cannot do? JC: I know of two things: God cant defy his nature of holiness, therefore He cant lie and He cant sin. JM: He can do anything else JC: Basically, God cant sin. 4. When it comes to inter-religious discussions, should we be objective? JC: 1 Corinthians 8:9. Christ came to set us free. Its important to consider the purpose of the discussion: if its not grounded in love and a desire to understand others, it will fail. Slanderous debates are the wrong perspective. If youre genuinely curious or want to share your faith, you have to do it out of love, not to put them down. As long as we love, we can have these discussions Should we be objective? Be understanding, but have the passion and religious fervor. Feel free to admit if their logic makes sense, but still be bold in your passion. JM: Also, when having conversations like this, dont intend to bring the person to Christ: let Christ work. Dont contradict yourself, saying well just discuss it, when youre just going to try to bring them to Christ, because thats lying. JC: Sometimes we think we need to trick people into believing, but Jesus leads them to belief. Youre a tool of Christ: let him use you. If you try to just slip it in, people can think you are cowardly. Be bold.

Also, doing it sneakily doesnt exude the security we have in Christ. God will protect us, and we need to show that we believe in Him. JM: You never know how God will lead. Sometimes you start with a discussion, and God leads it to salvation. JC: Keep in mind, if Christ does come into it, let Him in. Be passionate about it, but be understanding of their views. 5. What does the Bible say about suicide? JM: This is coming from someone who struggled with suicide: its a sin. Suicide is murder. Murder is killing without justification. There is never a good reason to commit suicide. Do you go to hell? In my opinion, since murder is a sin, and we are to repent from our sins, if you commit suicide, I believe you do go to hell. If God says someone is truly saved, I dont think hell let them commit suicide. Ive had many attempts, and Ive survived. I think its a heart issue: if your heart is truly changed, I dont think you can. JC: Also from someone who is ex-suicidal (which has failed every time), I agree with Jordan. Im not saying you wont struggle with it, but God wont let you fall to the wayside because of it. Gods hold is permanent. *Guest* Charlie: Suicide is wrong. In the case of extreme mental illness, I dont think the intention to destroy their body is clear to them. If they cant get help, or couldnt control it, I dont think a loving God could send them to hell. JC: I think thats viable. JM: Therere lots of things to consider. Was it really suicide? Did someone else drive them to that? If so, its not so much suicide. JC: If it wasnt purposeful, i.e. theyve lost all cognitive reasoning, its a different matter entirely. I have personal experience with this as well, and it can be argued either way: sometimes they hate themselves, but any logic or reasoning either way doesnt stay for long. Its a different issue if they cant really reason for themselves. *Guest* What should a friend say? Do you ever walk away? JC: First, we should always care, because we are Christians, and we should love everyone. We have to love everyone. It happens often, and its tricky. I think Christ empowers us to deal with situations He places us in. *Guest* Hannah: you dont have to be a professional: you can always help in the moment. JC: My personal experience: if Im that serious about it, DO NOT RELENT. Love, love, and keep loving. You dont have to be trained. *Guest*How do you love? JC: Be there for them. Dont relent, thats saved me many times. Christ works through many things, and thats one way hes worked with me. When people love, it shines like a light in the darkness. HW: You dont have to be there physically to help. I had a friend who messaged me often with suicidal thoughts. The only thing I could tell him was I love him, and people do care, and if he wouldnt accept that people care, I told him I was there for him and I care. JC: Handle the situation with love, tenderness, and care. *Guest* Charlie: and if theres an imminent threat, it needs to be reported. JC: Theyll be pissed at you, but if it saves their life, its worth it. You still show love for them like this, because theyll get over it, and may even thank you for it over time. *Guest* Sheyanne: And even if they seem to get over it, dont let up. Stay on it. Even if you think theyre okay, keep loving them. JC: The overarching answer: show love, like Christ loved us.

6. How do you pray? HW: People pray differently; theres not really a set way. Prayer isnt just talking to God: its allowing for a conversation. Its not always about asking for things. Dont just ask God for things, thank Him for what you already have. Hes given you life, salvation, and tons of blessings, and you can ask Him to see the blessings you dont realize. JC: Another thing: try to pray like Jesus prays. He had a constant connection with God. There are times where He went off and prayed alone, but he always had the connection, kind of like He had a Bluetooth link straight to God. Use the connection you can have with Christ. Call on the power of His name. Scripture has examples: when Christ was in the garden, He prayed for Himself, the disciples, and the world. He prayed for others, He sought direction and sought guidance. Prayer shouldnt cut you off from the world, talk about the world with God. Even though God knows how we feel, a relationship is built by communication. Talking to Him shows dedication. The more you put in, the more you get out. JM: Prayer is talking to God. Its fine to ask for things, but remember God isnt Santa Claus. God wants to hear the thoughts and desires of our heart. When we pray, were approaching the throne of God. Prayer is meant to be taken seriously, because its our time to talk to God. If you remember how serious it is, the seriousness will become evident in your prayers. JC: God wants an intimate connection with us, and prayer builds that connection. *Guest* Dream: One of my Sunday school teachers told us to always remember the ACTS of Prayer: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication. I used to think it was a list to follow, but now I see it was showing what thoughts should become a prayer: if I have a thought about adoration or confession, I pray it there and then. JC: 2 Corinthians 10:5. We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. Every thought can be made a prayer. If somethings on your mind, pray about it. God listens, no matter how long it is. God wont judge us based on our communication skills, he judges us by our heart. If your heart is earnest in prayer, God sees it, even if you dont know how to say it. 7. Does Jesus love me? JC: This is going to sound clich, but John 3:16. Its beautiful to think about. Romans 5:8 says before we were even born, while we were still sinning, Jesus sacrificed everything for us. JM: John 3:17 and following tells us condemnation doesnt mean He doesnt love us. People are condemned to hell for nonbelief, but Jesus still loves them and His heart breaks for them. There is no punishment for those who love God. JC: Ive heard people take it as love me or die, but that fails because we have the choice. If we want to reside in sin, its our decision, and God lets us live in it. If it was love me or die, then the moment you rejected Him, you would die. Its I want you to love me, but its your choice. Its true love because we choose to love. 8. What kind of music should we listen to? JM: Whatever kind you like. Its okay to listen to secular music, listening to it isnt a sin. What is a sin, however, is not doing what is edifying to the body. There are songs we shouldnt listen to, because it isnt edifying or encouraging. That should be moved away from because it tempts us to sin. It also depends on what you can handle. Some people are tempted by the slightest failings in music. Know your limits. However, as you grow in your faith, you tend to want to hear songs that uplift and glorify God. Its okay to listen to other music, but avoid songs that can cause you to struggle with sin. JC: It depends on why youre listening to it. Be renewed by transforming, do not be conformed. Dont be conformed to the music we hear: music is a blessing. Phil 4:8 tells us that if it creates bad thoughts, dont listen to it. *Guest* This applies to TV and movies, too, right?

JC: Right. It follows the same concept. If it causes negative emotion or causes you to fall, stay away from it. Theres a difference between testing your limits and putting yourself in danger. *Guest* Charlie: Also avoid being a stumbling block. I can stand secular music, but if Im around people who dont care for it, I avoid it. *Guest* Brandon: The same goes for posts on social media, too. JC: You have to live in a way thats edifying and glorifying to God. Like with alcohol: if you can stand it, then its okay, but if its going to cause someone to stumble, dont do it. 9. Why does a kind God let bad things happen? JM: Job has a lot of bad stuff happen to him, and spends the book trying to figure out why. In the end, he finds out its not our position to worry about why. In order for us to appreciate heaven, we have to know what its like to not be in heaven. If God took away all the bad, then earth is already heaven. We have to experience the way heaven isnt to truly appreciate the glorious dream that is heaven by enduring the nightmare of the world. JC: Something else: Some say, Dont bother praying for me, because God doesnt love me. Pray anyway. We all know what its like to lose things, and this question is dealing with pain. Sin is a problem in our hearts. The wages of sin is death. Understanding that God can enact pain to have a purpose for a glorious end, it doesnt mean every death of every child was God saying X is going to die. We have to understand that as humans, death is a natural part of life. Death is going to happen. Same with natural disasters: the world is corrupted with sin, thats why in the end God will give us a new Earth. Also, Satan has power over elements/disease/pain (like in Job). I think instead of Why did God do it? its Wow, this is the result of sin. We really need God. The pain should usher us close to him, because we need help, we need salvation, and we need God. HW: When we pray for it to not happen, we look in a limited scope. God knows past, present, and future. Just because we think that if it happens, its bad, sometimes it ends up being good. JC: A lot of bad happens to good people and good happens to bad people. Satan is prince of the earth (2 Corinthians 4:4). Satan isnt chilling in hell, he walks the earth and has dominion over it. Not everything is God picking and choosing, but its God letting things run their course to help show that we need Him. Satan doesnt always pick on evil, because there isnt a fight. Charlie: Not only that, but since Christ is in us, we never suffer alone. Christ knew suffering, and he suffers with us. JC: Romans 8:18 says sufferings now are nothing compared to the glory that is to come. 10. How do I test everything? JM: When it comes to testing things, heres a formula: God gives us two commandments in Mark 12:3031. He tells us to love God and love people. If youre going to do anything that violates that, you shouldnt do it. If it doesnt violate those, try it. Will what Im doing show my love for Christ? Thats the criteria I use. JC: If youre loving God and your neighbor, go for it. JM: And keep in mind, it has to show both. 11. When a verse keeps coming up, is it God speaking, or coincidence? HW: I dont think there are coincidences. We can tell from scripture that if something is repeated, its important. Even if it doesnt seem relevant, pray about it and see how God leads. JC: If its something that keeps popping up, it can be because we, as humans, dont always see things the way they should be the first time. If its something that seems bad, dont always see it as inherently bad, meditate on it. See if you can apply it to your life, and if something needs to change, then change it. God knows we can be oblivious, so maybe it is something we need to meditate on and pray about.

JM: Ecclesiastes 3:11. If something keeps popping up, Gods trying to get you to think about it. He gives us a desire to know the future. God likes to give us signs. He doesnt give us the full answer, but he does give sneak peeks.