A few weeks ago you answered a question about inter-faith marriages.  You listed four possible outcomes to the described situation; three of which you labeled as "BAD" and only one as "GOOD."

The first two outcomes are below:

1. She eventually converts and obeys the gospel, becomes a christian, and is saved (GOOD).
2. You eventually convert and obey the Catholic church, and you are both lost (BAD).

Your response implies that Catholics are not Christians and that Catholics are not saved.  I realize that there is only one truth, but many denominations obey the gospel.  Truth is not limited to one denomination.

Where in the Bible do you find that there is only one church that is "properly" Christian?

Sincerely, Accepting Our Differences

Dear Accepting Our Differences,

Where in the Bible do you see there being more than one church that is properly Christian? The burden of proof lies upon those who wish to add churches to God's design. Paul said there was only one church, one doctrine, and one God (Eph 4:4-5). Jesus always referred to His church, not His churches (Matt 16:18). Jesus is head of the church – one head, one body (Eph 5:23). The truth is nobody even fathomed the idea of anything but one church in the first century.

When you write that ‘truth is not limited to one denomination’, you treat that assertion as an established fact… when in reality the opposite is true. Multiple religions are condemned in the New Testament. Any practices other than New Testament practices are condemned (2 Thess 2:15). Christians are warned against warping, altering, and perverting God’s established teachings for His church (Gal 1:6-9, Rev 22:18-19). Furthermore, we are promised that many will claim to have served Christ in this life and will be turned away as false Christians on the Judgment Day (Matt 7:21-23).

The practices of the New Testament church are laid out simply in the New Testament. Any congregation that wants to serve Christ need merely look at the church of the Bible and mimic its behavior (see our post here for further details on finding a faithful church). If a congregation wants to ensure its place as part of Christ’s body, it must submit to Christ’s teachings alone. There can be no man-made creeds, no human ideas and theologies, no statements of faith – just the Bible.

The Catholic church is not the same as Christ’s church, therefore Catholics are not Christians. The Catholic church accepts the pope as it’s head, placing his authority above the Bible. Their practices fit perfectly with Paul’s definition of what false religion looks like: forbidding marriages and abstaining from certain foods (1 Tim 4:1-3). Catholic priests expect to be called ‘father’, a practice in direct contradiction to the Scripture (Matt 23:9). The church of the Bible looks nothing like the Catholic church – you cannot be both a Catholic and a Christian.

James 1:6 says that we must ask in faith without any doubting.  I can't help but doubt when I try to ask God for something.  How can I stop the doubt?

Sincerely, Doubting Myself

Dear Doubting Myself,

Practice makes perfect. Your problem is the same as the man who begged Christ by saying, “I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mk 9:24). You have enough faith to ask God for help- but are feeling inadequate in the level of your faith. This is normal. There is no quick answer for increasing your faith; it only comes through time and struggle.

Faith is hearing what God says and then acting loyally upon those words (Rom 10:17). We increase that faith through learning God’s will (Acts 16:4-5) and then daily working for God (Jas 2:17). As we suffer for the Gospel, we grow as well (Rom 5:3-4). Continue to pray – the best prayers in the Bible come from those who are in the habit of praying (Dan 6:10). Time matures everything, even our faithful prayers. As you see your prayers answered, you will find yourself doubting less and trusting more.

I am a christian and have a hard-earned doctorate in a prestigious field.  My peers and colleagues think that the idea of God is antiquated and ludicrous.  Meanwhile, christians at my church have little education, menial jobs, and minimal interest in esoteric matters.  This may sound cruel, but I would be embarrassed to bring my colleagues to services.  I am ashamed of my discomfort but am still unwilling to invite my professional friends to church.  Why can't christians seem smarter?

Sincerely, Between a PhD and a Hard Place

Dear Between a PhD and a Hard Place,

You are assuming God defines ‘smart’ the same way as you do. God doesn’t care about esoteric debates and controversial questions – in fact He mocks those who build their lives upon such things (1 Cor 1:20, 1 Tim 6:4).

God defines ‘smart’ as those honest and humble enough to seek Him (Lk 8:15). The intelligent person seeks the truth regardless of whether it is fashionable, impressive, or easy. The intelligent person makes sacrifices in this life, so they might have treasure in the next (Lk 9:23). The intelligent person confesses Christ openly, so Christ will confess him openly before God (Lk 12:8).

‘Smart’ is in the eyes of the beholder. Your colleagues know much more about the ways of this world and academia than the average person does. Yet, does this make them smart considering this world is passing away (2 Pet 3:10)? If I place all of my trust in the knowledge and power of man, will I not be considered a fool before God on the Day of Judgment? Is that not the message of the parable of the rich man (Lk 12:18-20)? It is not the brethren who are dumb but the overly-educated scholastics who deny the need for God.

God says that very few scholars of this age will obey the gospel (1 Cor 1:26)… this makes you a very rare and special gift to your colleagues. You are numbered among the few of academia that have realized the importance of eternal wisdom. This makes your responsibility to your peers all the more poignant. You have a rare opportunity to shine brightly for God’s Word in a world that tries to suppress it. Do not hide your light (Lk 11:33).

I'm a christian woman in my late twenties, and I am unmarried.  In high school and college, I always seemed to be dumped by guys who went after the less moral girls.  Now, I'm wondering if my piousness was worth it.

Sincerely, Staring Down Thirty

Dear Staring Down Thirty,

Better to be single and going to heaven than married to an idiot who only was interested in you for your licentiousness. The reality of your situation is unfortunate. We live in an age where people are attracted to low moral standards in women. This means that good, faithful, pure women (such as yourself) get overlooked by much of the male population. Understandably, that same group of men is of an amazingly low quality, but that doesn’t remove the sting of rejection. Solomon said that he had seen people suffer for doing the right thing and prosper for doing the wrong thing (Eccl 7:15), but he’d choose morality anyway (Eccl 12:13). You have felt the bitter edge of religious suffering, but many treasures are stored in heaven for your faithfulness (Matt 6:20).

It is often difficult to be content in our circumstances when we wish they were different, and yet that is what God says we should do (Php 4:11). At thirty, your life is far from over! You have a reputation for righteousness, and that will serve you well (Pr 22:1). Pray about it, continue to serve God, put His will first, and you never know what tomorrow may bring (Matt 6:33-34). God promises that He will work all things together for good in your life (Rom 8:28).

One of my friends just left her husband for another man.  It has become a big problem between us.  She said that their "attraction was too great to deny."  She has always been somewhat of a flirt.  She says that it's just her nature.  I don't understand!  Would God make someone to be a natural cheat?  If so, do I have a "nature" that would make me do something wrong?

Sincerely, Instinctively Angry

Dear Instinctively Angry,

Your friend is using an age-old excuse for sin. There is no such thing as an “attraction too great to deny”… just people who wish to follow their lusts instead of their morals. God specifically states that He doesn’t allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able to bear, and that there is ALWAYS a way of escape from sin (1 Cor 10:13).

We all have predispositions toward certain behaviors. Flirtatiousness, temper problems, laziness, depression, cowardliness, alcoholism, etc. are all temptations that pull stronger on some people than on others. You may never struggle with depression, but your temper may always be an issue for you. This is not an excuse for bad behavior, but simply a reality of life. Even as far back as Adam and Eve, God has not accepted excuses for sin (Gen 3:11-13). Your friend has chosen her own lusts over serving God. Instead of fighting against a predisposition towards flirtation, she succumbed to it. She had a choice, and she chose poorly (Gen 4:7).