Is looking at pornography adultery – whether it is everyday or occasionally?

Sincerely,
See No Evil

Dear See No Evil,

Viewing pornography is adultery in your heart.  Jesus makes it very clear that when you lust after a woman (or a man), you have committed adultery in your heart (Matt 5:27-28).  Though the actual sex act hasn’t occurred (physical adultery includes two becoming one flesh - 1 Cor 6:16), the attitude and character that would commit such an act exists.  Pornography is addictive, evil, and in direct opposition to all that God teaches and stands for.  Flee from it (1 Cor 6:18).

What is God’s view on opposite sex doctors?

Sincerely,
Making An Appointment

Dear Making An Appointment,

The Bible gives no specific view on opposite sex doctors.  There is debate amongst brethren over that particular issue.  The concerns that it brings up are modesty (1 Tim 2:9) and sexual purity (1 Cor 6:18).  However, very few people would consider seeing a doctor an issue of sexual morality, and dealing with nakedness in front of a doctor doesn't exactly fit the common pattern of a modesty issue.  Ultimately, this is a conscience issue.  Some people do not feel that they can in good conscience see a doctor of the opposite gender... while others will be unbothered by it.  We must be careful to always obey our own consciences (Rom 14:23) and not condemn other brethren who make a different decision in issues such as this (Rom 14:3-4).

Is a woman actually supposed to submit her husband, or is that a different religion?

Sincerely,
Ladies First

Dear Ladies First,

The Scriptures do say that a woman needs to submit to her husband (Eph 5:33), but that doesn’t mean she has to submit to all men – just the man that she chooses to trust and spend the rest of her life with.  Furthermore, just as a wife has certain responsibilities to her husband, a husband is a servant to his wife.  A godly husband must love his wife as his own body (Eph 5:28).  He must also serve her with a sacrificial love, the same type of love that drove Christ to give Himself up for the church (Eph 5:25).  Marriages are built upon love and respect; they cannot function properly without a husband receiving the respect his soul desires and a wife receiving the love that her soul yearns for.  That is why it is so important that men and women marry people who will serve God and commit themselves to a Bible-guided marriage.

Why can't women be popes or nuns or whatever?

Sincerely,
Women’s Rights

Dear Women’s Rights,

Women can be nuns, but nuns are Catholic – not christian (the pope is also not a christian, but a Catholic).  In the church, the leadership is made up only of men.  Elders, deacons, and preachers are all men (1 Tim 3:1, 1 Tim 3:12, 1 Cor 14:34).  This isn't because men are better than women; it is because men and women have different responsibilities.  Being an elder, deacon, or preacher does come with honor, but it also comes with a stricter judgment (Jas 3:1, Heb 13:17).  We all have roles to fulfill in the church, and each role is different.

I'm confused about 1 Corinthians 11.  Is it saying that a man shouldn't have long hair?

Sincerely,
Buzz Cut

Dear Buzz Cut,

God designed men and women differently… this should be no surprise to anyone that has ever dealt with the opposite gender!  Men are to be the leaders in the home (Eph 5:23) and the church (Tit 1:5-6).  Women are the heart of the family (Tit 2:4-5), and men are not complete without them (1 Cor 11:12).  Both genders are equal heirs of salvation, but they are designed with different strengths and roles (1 Pet 3:7).  One way that God signifies this is by having men look different from women.  When women have long hair and men have short hair – it pleases God (1 Cor 11:14-15).  There are varying degrees of long and short hair, but ultimately – men are to look like men, and women are to look like women.  This principle is even borne out in the Old Testament (Deut 22:5).  The teachings of 1 Cor 11:1-16 are simply teaching that a woman’s long hair is a God-given covering for her head, and men are not to have that same covering due to their varying roles in leadership.