Why do I feel like I am being led down a good path, but yet, I still feel like I am being tested as I go forward?

Sincerely,
Treading Carefully

Dear Treading Carefully,

Trials are a part of life, and when you do the right thing, you are bound to have them.  The Bible says that God never tempts us to do evil (Jas 1:13).  God never purposefully puts us in a situation with a desire for us to sin.  The devil wants to devour you with sin, but God never does (1 Pet 5:8).  However, God does put us in situations in order to find out what we are made of.  God tested Abraham when He asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac (Gen 22:1).  God put Abraham in a position where he could succeed or fail – but the key is that God wanted him to succeed (Gen 22:14-18).  Abraham was tried by God (Heb 11:17), so God could bless him.  God may put us in circumstances that are difficult, but His desire is always to benefit us.

     Should a preacher drink alcohol, and what Scripture backs that up?

Sincerely,
Unfermented

Dear Unfermented,

Preachers are held to the same standards as all other Christians – so let’s talk about what the Bible tells us all about alcohol.  God never specifically condemns all alcohol, but He does condemn ‘strong drink’ (Pr 20:1), drinking parties (1 Pet 4:3), and drunkenness (Rom 13:13).  Almost all alcohol that is consumed today would fall into the category of ‘strong drink’ because our alcoholic beverages are artificially fermented to increase their alcoholic content (unlike the wine of Jesus’ day – read “That’s Just Grape” for further details on the wine Jesus drank).  We would all do well to heed the words of Pr 23:31-32 and avoid alcohol as much as is possible.  It is NEVER okay to get drunk.

     Why are my finances not blessed?

Sincerely,
Broke

Dear Broke,

People suffer for various reasons:

1. Sometimes we suffer for our own sins (Gal 6:7-8).  Financially, it could be that someone isn't a good steward (Pr 24:3-4), or they haven't been working hard and diligently to earn and save (Pr 21:5).
2. Sometimes we suffer because of others’ choices (Like David’s sufferings at the hands of Saul – 1 Sam 20:1).  Robbery, fraud, even accidental things like fires and natural disasters can affect your finances.
3. Sometimes we suffer in order to glorify God through our suffering and recovery (Like the blind man – Jhn 9:2-3).  Some people are used by God to show how it is possible to be content without much money, and are used as an example to all that there is more to life than possessions.

    Is it okay for a Christian to file for bankruptcy?  Wouldn't that be basically the same thing as lying since you've signed legal documents promising to make payments for the life of the loan?  I know of someone who rationalized "letting the bank have the house" even though the house is worth a lot less now.  What does the Bible say about this?

Sincerely,
Money Management

Dear Money Management,

Bankruptcy is never “okay”, but there are mixed reviews on whether or not it is a sin.  Bankruptcy always involves pain and suffering, and regardless of whether it is a sin, filing for bankruptcy is never an easy road.

Some folks point to verses that talk about keeping your word (Matt 5:37) and being a faithful steward (1 Cor 4:2) as prohibitions against bankruptcy.  Probably the strongest condemnation can be found in Ps 37:21.  There can be no doubt that God desires us to pay our debts and to hold ourselves accountable for the management of what resources He gives us.  However, that isn’t the only side of the story.

What about when the debt is too large to ever repay?  The Bible clearly talks about such circumstances – our debt of sin being the greatest example.  Verses like Lk 7:40-42 and Matt 6:12 emphasize the value of forgiving debts and helping those who are in a financial bind.

So, what we are left with are two Bible principles.  Those who are borrowing should be careful to not be reckless or spend lavishly that which they haven’t earned themselves, and they should seek to faithfully and diligently repay their debts because that is what good stewardship is.  And secondly, when there is opportunity for a lender to show mercy to an honestly struggling debtor, that is a blessing as well.

    Okay, I'm wondering about the Key of Solomon.  I know it can be used for evil, but is it possible that it can be good?  As in, is it okay in God’s favor in the accounts you use it for, trapping a demon during exorcism?  Please, I must know!

Sincerely,
Keyed Up

Dear Keyed Up,

The Key of Solomon is a book of magic written in the 14^th or 15^th century – it has nothing to do with Solomon, and it is completely against the Bible.  In Acts 19:19, Christians burned their books of magic once they were converted, a pretty clear indicator of how God feels about such things.

On a secondary note, demon possession no longer exists, and exorcism doesn’t either.  Read “My Own Personal Demons” for a detailed explanation of how demon possession ceased.