Is pyramidology part of or at least have anything to do with the occult?  I heard about this from an article I read about Charles Taze Russell, founder of the Bible Students, which later became known as the Jehovah's Witnesses.  He preached about Armageddon and the second coming of Christ.  In order to prove his point, he used pyramidology, also sometimes known as pyramid power.  This predicted a certain date for these events.

Sincerely,
Watching That Tower

Dear Watching That Tower,

Pyramidology is the study of pyramids to predict future events such as the return of Christ, world wars, the formation of modern Israel, etc.  This type of philosophy is scoffed at by scientists and theologians alike.  Many Jehovah’s Witnesses are unaware of their founder’s beliefs in pyramidology because it was renounced and scrubbed from their history books in 1928 by Joseph Rutherford, Charles Taze Russell’s successor… yet this sort of mixed-up philosophy is part of the mindset that created the Watchtower Society.

God says that the Bible contains all that we need to know about life and godliness (2 Pet 1:3).  The law of the Lord is perfect (Jas 1:25); we don’t need inscriptions on pyramids and hieroglyphic predictions to find the will of God.  The gospel is God’s power for our salvation (Rom 1:16).  Trust in the alignment of the pyramids is occult.

I was born in a Jewish home as an only child, and since I became a christian (baptism), my life has had such supernatural turmoil since I received Christ some twenty years ago – I am 45... I lived a life of lust and other various sin – soon, a "born-again christian" by the name of ‘Stormy’ witnessed Christ to me; I had an out-of-body experience and have since heard a few directives from angels, or God, seemingly directly.  "You are a priest" is one that sticks in my mind.  I currently do not live the life of a "priest"; I work and struggle to make sense of supporting myself.  I am really having a hard time making sense of who I should be in Christ.  I can't escape what I have been shown; there is no doubt about a creator, but I just don’t know how to properly serve Him.  I read the Bible in short glossy sessions, but I still don't see a clear direction.  I don't know how to be a priest; I do know how to be scared and worried.  I am currently working after spending some fifteen years on the streets.  I kind of wish Jesus would have taken me away somewhere.  I just don't know what I should be doing.  My life just seems to be a “wanting-to-die-get-it-over-with” kind of existence.  I feel lost again, but now knowing about hell.  A few opinions would help… prayers, too.

Sincerely,
Looking For Hope

Dear Looking For Hope,

It sounds like you have had a very tumultuous life and a very confusing religious journey.  Thankfully, the Bible has answers that will give you stability and peace.  Paul specifically says to ignore visions and the words of angels (Gal 1:8).  The Bible is all you need to find life and godliness (2 Pet 1:3).  The truth can be found in the sum of God’s Word (Ps 119:160).  Put all your previous religious experiences aside and start reading the Bible in meaningful, studious sessions.  When we take the Bible as our guide and place all our trust in it – confusion goes away (1 Cor 14:33).  Faith comes by hearing God’s Word (Rom 10:17).  We recommend that you read the posts “What Must I Do To Be Saved” and “Down With Denominationalism” to help clarify what God would have you do.  Both of those posts are full of verses and should give you an idea of where to start.

Furthermore, we would be happy to get you in touch with a faithful congregation in your area that could have Bible studies with you.  Having someone to teach you the gospel step-by-step can be immensely useful (Rom 10:14).  If you would like that, e-mail us at askyourpreacher@mvchurchofchrist.org.

Does it matter what religion you are as long as you worship the right god because all the Ten Commandments say is to ‘worship no other gods’?  And if it does matter, how do you know you have the right religion?

Sincerely,
Looking Around

Dear Looking Around,

It does matter what religion you are – it matters more than any other decision you will ever make.  Jesus said that He is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and no one comes to the Father except through Him” (Jhn 14:6).  This single statement by Christ nullifies Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, etc.  Jesus is the only one that offers salvation to mankind.

But the Bible takes it one step farther.  Paul condemned the Jews because they worshipped God without knowledge (Rom 10:2).  He also warned that there would come a day when false teachers infiltrated Christ’s church and started teaching things contrary to Scriptures (2 Tim 4:2-4).  Paul told the first century christians to watch out for the “falling away” (2 Thess 2:3).  Division and false teaching in the name of Christ is a very common thing.  There are tens of thousands of different religions in America that refer to themselves as “Christian”… yet God says there is only one true faith (Eph 4:4-6).  So how can you know whether a church is Christ’s church?

Jesus says that we can know them by their fruits (Matt 7:15-20).  A church is faithful if the way they worship, preach, and live is in accordance with Christ’s teachings.  A faithful church keeps Christ’s commandments (Jhn 15:14).  Most churches today have added all sorts of things to their worship (from rock bands to belly dancing) and leadership structure (popes, community boards, franchised churches, etc.) that were never intended by Christ.  We should never add to God’s Word, and we should never take away from it (Rev 22:18-19).  A faithful church should be able to give you book, chapter, and verse for everything they do.  We recommend the posts “Down With Denominationalism”, “Finding A Church”, and “Preacher Interrogation” for further information on what questions to ask.  If you would like us to help point you in the right direction of a congregation in your area, please e-mail us at askyourpreacher@mvchurchofchrist.org, and we will do our best to put you in contact with a Bible-founded congregation.

I am being told by a professor that parts of Christianity are borrowed from Zoroastrian ideas.  I don't personally find this to be true.  Now he is asking me this question: why is it hard to believe another religion helped to shape biblical tradition?  Can you please help me to provide a clear answer?  The answer that the Bible is the infallible Word of God just won't do for him.

Sincerely,
Proof Texter

Dear Proof Texter,

The exact opposite of what your teacher said is true – the Bible has shaped other world religions.  Tell your teacher that the Bible has evidence that it was divinely written.  No other religion has proof that it is from God, only the Bible.  The Bible specifically says that there is only one way to God (Jhn 14:6).  The Bible claims exclusivity and divine origin.  We recommend you print off and present your teacher with a copy of our post “Who Wrote The Bible?”; that post is chock-full of evidence that God wrote the Bible.  If the Bible is divinely written, then it is crafted by God – not crafted by man’s religions.

What do you do when your teen son tell you that he is the devil?

Sincerely,
Dodging Pitchforks

Dear Dodging Pitchforks,

Start praying he is wrong.  Of course, it is impossible for him to actually be the devil, but when people live sinful lives, they become children of the devil (Acts 13:10, 1 Jn 3:8).  The devil has only one tool at his disposal – lies (Jhn 8:44).  The greatest antidote to lies is truth.

Ask your son to reason with you and explain why he thinks he is the devil.  God is a big fan of calm, rational discourse (Isa 1:18).  We have no idea how likely it is for you to get your son to do this… but it never hurts to try.  Many times when people have to explain their beliefs, the nuttiness of their position becomes apparent to even them.  Darkness hates being brought to light (Jhn 3:20).  Ask your son to explain why he believes what he does; chances are, you won’t have to prove him wrong… he’ll do that himself.