Can a person just ask for the gifts of the spirit or claim them?  How do you know if they are real?

Sincerely,
Trying To Be Gifted

Dear Trying To Be Gifted,

Real gifts of the Holy Spirit allowed people to perform real miracles.  In this context, a ‘miracle’ is defined as an act that is obviously supernatural in origin.  Examples of miracles are: raising people from the dead (Acts 9:40-41), healing leprosy (Lk 5:13), speaking in foreign languages without being taught (Acts 2:4-11), etc.  The gifts of the Holy Spirit were given to the apostles (Acts 2:1-4), and the apostles were able to pass on these gifts to others by laying their hands on them (Acts 8:18).  The apostles were the only ones with the ability to pass on the gifts.  Therefore, when the last person that the last living apostle laid hands on died… the gifts ceased to exist.  God intended for this to happen.

The miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit were needed to spread the Gospel in the beginning.  Miracles were used as a proof that what the disciples said was truly God’s Word (Acts 8:6).  Jesus’ miracles proved that His preaching was true (Acts 2:22).  However, now we have a written account of both the miracles and the teachings, and we believe through the Bible, which records those miracles (Jhn 20:30-31).  The apostle Paul warned that eventually the miracles would cease because we would have the perfect Word of God (1 Cor 13:8-10).  You cannot receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit any longer.  Now, the only gift that the Holy Spirit offers us is salvation – and that is more than sufficient.

Why do we worship on Sunday (which is the first day of the week) instead of worshipping on the seventh day of the week (which is the Sabbath), a day that we must keep holy?

Sincerely,
Weekend Wonderer

Dear Weekend Wonderer,

The Sabbath was a holy day for the Jews, not for Christians.  The Old Testament has a myriad of laws that are no longer binding in the New Testament: animal sacrifice, clean and unclean foods, and various festivals… just to name a few.  2 Cor 3 is an entire chapter devoted to explaining how the Old Law has been surpassed by the New Law.  2 Cor 3:3 especially clarifies the issue when it states that our law is “not in tables of stone”, a direct reference to the Ten Commandments that were written on stone tablets.

Gal 3:24-25 makes it clear that the Old Law was a tutor to bring mankind to Christ, but now that Christ has come, we are no longer under that tutor.  The Sabbath is a part of that Old Law.  In the New Testament, christians meet on the first day of the week to worship and take the Lord’s Supper (Acts 20:7).  In short: different covenants, different days.

Our pastor has recently started studying books on John Calvin – the 5 steps (TULIP).  I don’t agree with a lot of its content and statements.  What are your thoughts?

Sincerely,
Taking A Step Back

Dear Taking A Step Back,

There is a reason you don’t agree with a lot of the content – it disagrees with the Bible.  A while back, we wrote a large post dealing with the five steps of the TULIP theory.  The post is entitled “Calvin And Sobs”, and it will give you a detailed answer to your concerns.

The short answer is that John Calvin believed that all humans are born sinful and incapable of doing anything pleasing to God.  This goes directly contrary to the Bible’s teachings.  The Bible commands us to turn to God (Acts 3:19), a command that makes absolutely no sense if we are incapable of choosing to do good.  Furthermore, Calvin taught that once you were saved, you could never be lost.  This also is false.  Heb 6:4-6 clearly states that we can fall away if we stop being faithful.

Calvinism destroys the hope for the lost, and it removes the importance of a lifetime of service to God.  It is in direct contradiction to the Biblical teaching that all can be saved in Christ (Jhn 3:16).

Is neutral witchcraft that won’t harm, curse, or effect anyone in any way against the Bible, and if it is, why?

Sincerely,
Something’s Brewing

Dear Something’s Brewing,

There is no such thing as “neutral” witchcraft that won’t affect anyone.  Anything that is wrong always hurts someone – even if it just hurts you.  Anything that departs from God is sin (Ps 18:21).  Witchcraft, by design, places your trust in the occult.  Witchcraft, of any type, is always wrong (1 Sam 15:23).  We must choose whether we trust witchcraft to guide our life or whether we trust God to guide it (Matt 6:24).  When Paul preached in Ephesus, many of those who practiced magical arts converted, burned their books, and confessed their sins (Acts 19:17-20).  That is the only proper way to deal with witchcraft… burn the behavior up and never practice it again.

Recently the pastor’s wife asked me to call her ‘pastor’, too.  She said it shows respect to her because she was also called.  Should you call the pastor's wife ‘pastor’ because she told you, or should it be because GOD puts it in your heart?

Sincerely,
Name Tag

Dear Name Tag,

Regardless of how anyone (including the pastor’s wife) feels, she should never be called ‘pastor’.  Pastors, also known as ‘elders’ and ‘overseers’, are always men.  1 Tim 3:1-7 and Tit 1:5-9 outline the requirements for becoming a pastor.  One of those requirements is that he be a husband of one wife (Tit 1:6, 1 Tim 3:2).  That would naturally exclude all women from ever being pastors.

Considering that the verses we’ve just highlighted are exceptionally easy to find and very clearly outline the rules for leadership, we here at AYP would like you to consider the real possibility that your current congregation doesn’t pay attention to the Scriptures.  God clearly condemns those who replace the Bible with the traditions of men (Col 2:8).  We recommend that you read “Finding The Church” and “Preacher Interrogation” to help you as you take a serious look at the faithfulness of your current church.  After talking to the pastor’s wife and asking her about those verses, we would love to hear back from you to know what she said.