I am seeing a guy who has been married before.  His wife was unfaithful, and they divorced.  My mother is not supportive whatsoever because of the fact that God hates divorce.  But from reading, I understand that God permits him to remarry.  Am I correct?

Sincerely,
Cautious Courting

Dear Cautious Courting,

God absolutely hates divorce, but your boyfriend had every right to get a divorce.  Mal 2:16 makes it clear that God finds no pleasure in divorce.  Every divorce that has ever occurred has been caused by sin.  Divorce destroys families, hurts countless people, and leaves people with years of emotional damage.  God never intended for husbands and wives to split (Gen 2:24).

However, God does allow for divorce when fornication has occurred (Matt 19:9).  Your boyfriend had every right to divorce his spouse because fornication hardens the hearts in the marriage (Matt 19:8).  Your boyfriend is free to remarry.

I have a problem.  I am in a christian school, and almost every teacher there uses terms, that if you pay attention, are questioning if the students really have faith in God.  They will ask if I am a christian, and if so, to prove it.  So I'm using an opportunity, a project assigned to me in Bible class (we are making a devotional), that gives Biblical reasons for why this is wrong, so maybe I could use the Bible to show them. I can’t find any verses on the subject!  Could you help me out?  Thank you.

Sincerely,
No More Questions

Dear No More Questions,

There is nothing wrong with someone asking you to prove why you are a christian.  The Scriptures teach that we should always be ready to give a reason for the hope that is within us (1 Pet 3:15).  There may be an issue of decorum and diplomacy when a teacher is constantly peppering their students with questions like this, but it isn’t inherently wrong.  Christianity is based off of the evidence that God gives us (Heb 11:1).  Even though we don’t see God, proof of His existence is abundantly provided in both the Scriptures and the world around us (Rom 1:20).  Reasoning and deliberating over the evidence is something that God finds pleasing (Isa 1:18).  All of Christianity is based off of truth (Jhn 14:6).  It is important that every christian be able to solidly defend their beliefs (Php 1:16) against the trickery and wiles of the devil (Eph 6:11).  Know the truth, and the truth will set you free (Jhn 8:32).

I have been married to my husband for ten years.  My husband lies to me about big and small things.  Last year, we lost our house because he wasn't paying the mortgage, even though all the time he was telling me he was.  I found out about the situation by being served court papers while he was at work.  That is just one example of many.   A couple months ago, he lost his job because he lied about things at work.  I don't know what to do.  He tells me he is looking for work, but I know he isn't.

We've been to counseling, but it doesn't help because he agrees to everything the counselor says but then doesn't put anything to practice.  It hurts, and I have no idea what to do.  I pray for him and for us, but I also know my husband needs to want to change.  I feel disappointed and lonely.  Any suggestions or biblical wisdom for me?

Sincerely,
Not A Liar, Liar

Dear Not A Liar, Liar,

Your situation is very difficult, and there are no easy answers we can provide.  You may need to seek counseling for yourself even if your husband won’t go.  A lying spouse is tremendously hard to overcome because all successful marriages are based upon trust.  Lying destroys relationships (Pr 26:28).

Until he wants to change, all you can do is establish yourself in truth.  Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling (Php 2:12).  Behave in a godly way, and don’t accept anything that will compromise your morals… your uncompromising stance for godliness is your greatest tool to affect your husband (1 Cor 7:12-16).  You have no right to divorce him – as awful as lying is, it isn’t a divorce-worthy offense (Matt 19:9).  However, you do have the right to plant your feet and accept nothing less than the truth in your marriage (Pr 23:23).

I would like to thank you for this service.  Please be patient while I ask three questions.

When Paul encourages those "yoke fellows" in Philippians 4:3 to "help those women which labored with me in the gospel", how were the women laboring with Paul?  I have read Wesleyan and Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentaries, and both allude to the women mentioned as "laborers"… but in a limited scope based on 1 Tim 2:11-12.  JF-Brown states that they were limited and alluded to them being in a less prominent sphere; which brings me to my next question:

Is there Scriptural support for women being in a prominent sphere in ministry (i.e. teaching, preaching, apostleship, etc.)?

My last question is: does 1 Tim 2:12 refer to women in a ministerial role at a church?  I anxiously await your reply.

Sincerely,
What About The Ladies?

Dear What About The Ladies,

The church is full of women that are faithful, zealous, and needed servants.  Paul mentions women ministering to others’ needs in Php 4:3, Rom 16:1, and Rom 16:3 – just to name a few.  We have the example of Lydia being a servant to the church (Acts 16:14).  We also have the example of Priscilla teaching and converting (Acts 18:24-26).  We don’t know exactly what the women of Php. 4:2-3 were doing to help Paul, but we know they were working hard.  They are many ways to help the cause of Christ, and it never specifies what specific things Euodia and Syntyche were doing to help the church.

Having said that, we do know what they weren’t doing.  Paul specifically mentions that women are to keep silent in the church assembly (1 Cor 14:34-35).  Women are not supposed to serve as public teachers in the worship service because men have the responsibility to lead the church in public teaching.  Elders (Tit 1:5-6), deacons (1 Tim 3:12), and preachers (2 Tim 2:2) are all required to be men.  1 Tim 2:12 specifically prohibits christian women from teaching christian men in a congregational forum.

I heard someone teaching that we are little gods.  Is this true?

Sincerely,
Demi

Dear Demi,

We are not "little gods".  The Scriptures state that we are children of God (Jhn 1:12) and that we are sons of God (Gal 3:26), but that is very different from being deity ourselves.  Mankind was designed in the image of God (Gen 1:27), and we have souls that are eternal in nature (Eccl 3:21), but the Scriptures never state that we are god-like beings.  To be a god, you must have no beginning and no end (Ps 90:2).  Only the one, true God has always been and will always be (Heb 13:8).