What does the Bible say about genetic predispositions to sin? Isn't it true that we are all tempted equally but in different ways?  Isn't this a slippery slope? Wouldn't a child molester be able to use this thin defense?

Sincerely, Victim Mentality

Dear Victim Mentality,

People have predispositions toward different types of sin. It takes only a short observation of people’s personalities to see that everyone is different. We all have unique struggles and temptations. Peter struggled to confess Christ (Matt 26:75). David struggled with lust (2 Sam 11:2). Paul struggled with being stubborn (Acts 26:14). Thomas struggled with doubt (Jhn 20:24-25). One brother might struggle with keeping his temper, while another never has that problem.

These predispositions don’t remove responsibility. Peter was condemned for denying Christ, and then Peter grew to have the courage to preach Christ (Acts 2:14). Judas had the same problem of denying Christ, and he never repented (Acts 1:25). Everyone has a choice. We are not all tempted equally. I have no doubt that Jesus had much stronger temptation in His life than we ever will. We are, however, never tempted beyond what we can bear, and God always provides a way of escape from sin (1 Cor 10:13). There is no excuse for living a sinful life (Rom 2:1-2).

Is it okay to live together?

Sincerely, Not Yet Married

Dear Not Yet Married,

No, it is not okay to live together before marriage. God expects two people to get married before entering into a sexual relationship (1 Cor 7:2). Our society has stopped valuing the sanctity of marriage and consequently has led many people astray into thinking it isn’t important. It is a testament to how big a societal problem this has become that we receive this question so often (see this post and this one).

Marriage is one of the first things God ever created (Gen 2:23-25). Don’t listen to the modern philosophy that living together is good for a relationship. It is a sin (1 Cor 6:18). If you truly are committed to someone – make the relationship an honest one.

Is it true that there is more than one human creator? The god of the Chinese, god of the Africans, god of the Jews…

Sincerely, National Beginnings

Dear National Beginnings,

There is only one God, and He created all of mankind. On the sixth day of creation, God made Adam & Eve (Gen 1:26). Eve is the mother of all humans (Gen 3:20). Throughout history, there have been many claims of different gods. From every nation and culture, there has arisen false gods and false creation stories. However, as Paul tells the Athenians, all such myths are from ignorance (Acts 17:30). The truth is that there is only one God, and He is Father of us all (Eph 4:6).

Is it biblical to make someone live as a hostage of conditional love? Would God make someone live alone when He Himself went through great lengths to have a relationship with man, even to the point that He wanted to drown all of humanity and start all over? I ask such questions due to the fact that there are certain religious sects that will not allow certain saints to find love after God has put asunder an abominable relationship. Here is a real situation: two dysfunctional kids, the boy just turned eighteen and the girl thirteen, and they were told they had to go into Mexico and not return without a marriage certificate. The girl grew up and realized she did not approve of the choices made for her and wanted an annulment. She was denied. This lady then went on to have multiple lovers throughout the twenty-two years of this terrible union. She eventually asked for a divorce, relinquished her parental rights, moved in with the man she was seeing, and then married him. Unfortunately, the man she was married to is not being allowed to find true love due to the fact that his spiritual peers say he cannot marry again because the woman is still his wife. Can this man have love?

Sincerely, Tragic Tale Bearer

Dear Tragic Tale Bearer,

The man is not married any longer. Yes, he has a right to remarry. Yes, this is a horrible story that punctuates why God hates divorce (Mal 2:16). So much goes wrong when people, for whatever reasons, enter into marriages hastily. Marriage is intended as a life-long agreement (1 Cor 7:39), and when it ends before “death do us part”, there is always sin involved. And wherever sin is, there is pain and suffering… even for christians (Heb 12:5-6). There is more than enough blame to grow around in situations of divorce, but ultimately we are left with the same reality – she committed adultery, and then they got a divorce. So what now?

The only reason that God permits christians to get divorced for is fornication (Matt 19:19). As you stated, that is what happened here. The man and woman are no longer married, and he has a right to find a new wife if he so chooses. Hopefully, if he ever does get married again, it will have a happier ending.

Was there ever a time that the churches of Christ taught that artificial birth control was always sinful?  Can you tell me the earliest teaching you can identify within the churches of Christ that teaches that artificial birth control is permissible?

Sincerely, History Lessons

Dear History Lessons,

Your question assumes that the title ‘church of Christ’ is the name of a denomination with a unified creed and leadership - it isn’t. The name ‘church of Christ’ is taken directly from the Bible (2 Thess 1:1). The church belongs to Christ because He purchased it with His blood (Acts 20:28). Though some groups that use the title ‘church of Christ’ are denominations, our congregation professes to only stand by the Bible and nothing else, just like the churches of the first century. Each congregation was independently led by elders and commended to the Lord’s guidance (Acts 14:23). Many people have attempted to classify these kinds of churches as another denomination (a quick Google or Wikipedia search shows the ways people have tried to define these congregations), but ultimately they are simply groups that have all independently asserted to use the Bible (and the Bible only) as their standard of measure.

The New Testament’s teachings on birth control (see this post for more on that topic) are the only place I can direct you to regarding the church of Christ’s teachings on the topic. Each individual person and congregation must study the Scriptures and rightly divide the Word concerning the subject of birth control (2 Tim 2:15)… as we seek to on any topic. There is no board of directors, theological center, or creed book that decides for us. God’s people should be beholden to His Word and His Word only. A faithful congregation turns to the Scriptures and imitates the first century church seen in the Bible. May Christ alone be our head and guide (Eph 5:23).