I am a born again christian, and I find myself unemployed just like a lot of others in this country and world.

I am having a hard time getting another job and have tried since early April.  I was always taught that God would protect and help His own, so now I am becoming fearful of losing everything and the house as well.

My question (I guess) is: why would God allow the suffering and ruin of His children?  I am beginning to feel like a failure in life and to God.

Sincerely,
Will Work For Food

Dear Will Work For Food,

Suffering occurs for multiple reasons.  Good people suffer because it makes them stronger and increases their hope and desire for heaven (Rom 5:3-4).  God uses trials to mold us into the people we ought to be (Heb 12:6-7).  God never promises that we will be wealthy in this life, but He does promise to take care of us (Ps 37:25).

As long as we live on this planet, we will suffer.  Sin introduced death (Gen 2:17), disease (Matt 4:23), violence (Gen 6:11), heartache (Pr 13:12), bitterness (Acts 8:23), etc. into this world.  This world is full of all sorts of terrible things, but God promises if we live faithfully, He will cause even the hardest circumstances to turn out for our good (Rom 8:28).  Ultimately, our hope and peace isn’t in this world (Heb 11:13-16).  Hang in there, draw close to God, and may His Word be your strength in this time of need (Ps 119:28).

Is pornography bad?  Why is it so popular?  Is it wrong to watch if you’re married?  Where can I find a verse on this matter in the Bible?

Sincerely,
See No Evil

Dear See No Evil,

Pornography is sinful, and it is popular because it is sinful.  Pornography is based upon lusting after people you aren’t married to (Matt 5:27-28).  Pornography is a lie that substitutes sexual fantasies for genuine marital love.  Pornography is wrong inside a marriage because it corrupts the marriage, and it is wrong outside of a marriage because it destroys any chance of healthy relationships.

I have a question about "honor your father and your mother".  Some parents seem to use this as a weapon when kids are not listening to their parents or misbehaving.  I seem to get different meanings of what this really means.  I do thank you for your time.  God bless!

Sincerely,
Ain’t Misbehavin’

Dear Ain’t Misbehavin’,

Children are told to honor their father and mother at all ages (Eph 6:2-3). The word ‘honor’ means ‘to esteem highly’.  Parents deserve respect and kind treatment from their offspring.  As parents reach old age, children show honor by caring for their parents’ needs (Matt 15:4-6).  Until independent adulthood, honoring your parents is shown through respectful obedience (Eph 6:1).  No Scripture should ever be wielded “as a weapon”, but regardless of how the verse is used, that is what it means.

Are there degrees or measures of religious faith?  Is faith a gift from God, or do we generate faith from our own soul and heart?  Why do some people seem to have more faith than others?  Thank you.

Sincerely,
Learning To Be Loyal

Dear Learning To Be Loyal,

The ability to be saved through faith is a gift from God (Eph 2:8), but faith is something we are responsible for.  Faith comes from hearing what God says and then acting upon it (Rom 10:17).  Jesus rebuked the disciples for their lack of faith (Matt 14:31)… which means the amount of faith we have is our responsibility.

Some people have no faith (Rom 3:3), others have little faith (Matt 6:30), and some have great faith (Matt 8:10).  Some people have more faith than others because they have worked harder to cultivate faith in God.  It is our duty to increase in faith and service to God.  One of the simplest ways to measure our faith in God is by looking at our behavior (Jas 2:18).  How we live is a reflection of our loyalty to the Lord.  It is impossible to please God without an active and practiced faith in Him (Heb 11:6).  We must study, learn, and apply God’s Word daily.

I am a committed christian, and I accept Christ as my Savior, but I don't understand some of the things God does to people who do not believe, and I believe this is holding me back from truly feeling Him in my heart.  These are some of the things I do not understand: there are truly great people out there who do not know Christ or do not believe.  Those who are brought up believing something else are innocent, for they have no choice. To them, it is like someone trying to convert you to Buddhism; you would not convert because you were brought up believing something else, and the consequence is to burn in hell for all eternity.  The human mind can’t even conceive of eternity; that’s the most horrifying thing I can imagine. God is like our father, but could you send your son to burn in hell, even if you could do something about it?  Please help me understand this; my faith most likely depends on this.  Thank you.

Sincerely,
Voice For The Lost

Dear Voice For The Lost,

There are several things to consider when wrestling with the issue of the lost going to hell.  The first thing to remember is that God doesn’t send people to hell – we choose to go there.  Sin is a choice made by responsible adults (see the story of the first sin in Gen 3:1-7).  When we sin, we die (Rom 6:23).  God didn’t make us spiritually dead; He created us with spiritual life (Gen 2:7).  God originally wanted all mankind to live eternally with Him in the Garden of Eden (Gen 2:8)… we are the ones who chose to break that perfect pattern.

God says that everyone has the opportunity and freedom to choose Him – regardless of what background we come from.  The very universe screams of the nature of God, so all are without excuse (Rom 1:20).  We all have a responsibility to seek out God, and He promises that all those who seek Him will find Him (Matt 7:7, Matt 5:6).  God never condemned us to hell; we did it to ourselves.  God has offered a payment for our souls through His Son Jesus Christ’s blood (Jhn 3:16).  Jesus is a road back to God (Jhn 14:6), a road we don’t deserve (Rom 5:8).  All of us have rebelled against God (Rom 3:23), and God in His infinite mercy gives us a second chance.

When we start thinking in terms of “God opening the way to heaven through His love” instead of “God condemning almost everyone to hell”, then we begin to get a proper picture of the way God views eternity.