Assuming you were baptized by immersion for the right reasons, is there ever a need to be re-baptized? What if there was a period you feel you were not living as a Christian?

Sincerely, Wanting To Be Sure

Dear Wanting To Be Sure,

If you were baptized right the first time (see this post for proper baptism guidelines) – then you don’t need to be baptized again, even if you fell away for a period of time. Consider the case of the man who got caught up in the disgusting sin of sleeping with his father’s wife (1 Cor 5:1). The church at Corinth was told to withdraw from that man (1 Cor 5:13). Later on, that same man repented and came back to the Lord. Paul told the church that they should forgive him and his prior punishment had been sufficient (2 Cor 2:6-8). If someone can get caught up in that sort of depraved fornication and not need to be re-baptized, I think we can confidently say that no one needs it.

If someone falls away from the Lord, they must repent and return to God (1 Jhn 1:9). When they draw near again to God, He will draw near to them (Jas 4:8).

A friend of mine is a recovering alcoholic, and I have heard her speak of it as her "disease", and she has even likened it to cancer (which I privately took offense to).  I have even attended an AA meeting with her to show my support as a friend.  My question is: is it correct to call it a "disease"?  It doesn't seem like a disease to me since you cannot use willpower to conquer cancer or Parkinson's disease.  Also, I noticed that during my visit to the AA meeting, I got the feeling that AA was a substitute for religion for many of the people there… including my friend who is Catholic (she told me that she felt AA took the place of going to church).  It felt very cult-y, and the books they used were bound to look like Bibles, and they read from it as we might read from the Bible in church... I don't know your level of familiarity with this organization, but is it opposed to God's teachings?

Sincerely, Friend Of An AA Member

Dear Friend Of An AA Member,

This topic is one where it becomes very easy to wander into opinions and conjecture.  We will restrict our answer to purely the Bible’s view on the subject.  Is it wrong to think of alcoholism as a disease?  No.  All sinful behavior is a disease that infects our lives and kills us (Rom 6:23, Jas 1:15).  Some sin is so pervasive that it cannot be handled or escaped alone.  That is why it is so important that christians bear one another’s burdens and strengthen each other (Gal 6:1-2).  We also need to realize that certain things like alcohol, smoking, drugs, etc. create a physiological reaction that makes it even more difficult to recover and escape from the sin.  Jesus Himself said that there are times where the spirit of a man is willing to change but the flesh is weak (Mk 14:38).  The weakness of the flesh does not excuse the sin, but it does amplify the burden of removing the addiction.

Alcoholics Anonymous is not inherently opposed to God.  Many, many christians have used AA meetings as a helping hand to recover from addiction.  AA does not profess to be a source of religious knowledge; in fact, they are very careful to remain ambiguous in the area of religion.  Having said that, AA has been used as a replacement for attending church.  But that is nothing new… people use family vacations, fishing trips, television, music, clubs, and any number of other things as replacements for serving God.  That is a problem with the individual person, not a problem with the organization.  Every individual has a responsibility to not forsake the assembly of christians (Heb 10:25).  There is never a replacement for attending church services.

What does the Bible say about genetic predispositions to sin? Isn't it true that we are all tempted equally but in different ways?  Isn't this a slippery slope? Wouldn't a child molester be able to use this thin defense?

Sincerely, Victim Mentality

Dear Victim Mentality,

People have predispositions toward different types of sin. It takes only a short observation of people’s personalities to see that everyone is different. We all have unique struggles and temptations. Peter struggled to confess Christ (Matt 26:75). David struggled with lust (2 Sam 11:2). Paul struggled with being stubborn (Acts 26:14). Thomas struggled with doubt (Jhn 20:24-25). One brother might struggle with keeping his temper, while another never has that problem.

These predispositions don’t remove responsibility. Peter was condemned for denying Christ, and then Peter grew to have the courage to preach Christ (Acts 2:14). Judas had the same problem of denying Christ, and he never repented (Acts 1:25). Everyone has a choice. We are not all tempted equally. I have no doubt that Jesus had much stronger temptation in His life than we ever will. We are, however, never tempted beyond what we can bear, and God always provides a way of escape from sin (1 Cor 10:13). There is no excuse for living a sinful life (Rom 2:1-2).

Are tattoos a sin?

Sincerely, Waiting On Pins And Needles

Dear Waiting On Pins And Needles,

They were 100% sinful in the Old Testament – in the New Testament they are sinful some of the time. The Old Testament strictly forbade tattoos (Lev 19:28). God was so adamant about it because cutting your flesh and tattooing were common practices of pagan cultures (1 Kgs 18:26-28). Tattooing was a religious practice closely tied to Baal and other idols.

In the New Testament, we are given no specific command against tattoos. It is valuable, however, to see that for a very long time tattoos have had a negative connotation. As a christian, there are many things that we can do but should think carefully about beforehand. Just because I can do something, doesn’t mean it is a good idea (1 Cor 10:23). Tattoos are permanent, and the decision to get one shouldn’t be taken lightly.

In American culture, tattoos can (not will, but can) give a negative impression – especially if the tattoo is large or in a highly visible area. Some things to consider:

1. Tattoos are a deterrent for some employers. Are you willing to get passed over in a job application?
2. People will automatically form judgments about you based upon their first impression of a tattoo. Are you comfortable with that?
3. You must also consider what effects it will have long-term. Will you still want Tweety Bird on your shoulder when you are in the nursing home?
4. Are you ready to explain to your three-year-old why you have song lyrics on your bicep? Are you okay with your children wanting tattoos themselves?
5. Many tattoos change their shape, size, and even location with weight loss and gain. Are you ready for that “cute” bellybutton butterfly to become a condor when you get pregnant?
6. Many tattoos are of things that exude evil. Snakes, skulls, demonic signs, bad words, etc. are to be avoided at all costs.

We must always consider our influence and how it will affect others. God tells us to be wise and seek wisdom in our decisions (Pr 8:33). Whatever decision an individual makes, I recommend seeking outside counsel before getting something as permanent as a tattoo (Pr 11:14). It is not wrong for a christian to get a tattoo, but it certainly isn’t a decision to make lightly.

Is obesity a sin? What about smoking?

Sincerely, Fit As A Fiddle

Dear Fit As A Fiddle,

Physical health is important, but it shouldn’t be overemphasized. Both overeating and smoking deal with essentially the same issue – how we treat our bodies. Physical health is certainly a blessing (3 Jhn 1:2). Paul mentions that there is value, (not high value, but value nonetheless) in physical fitness training (1 Tim. 4:8). Paul told Timothy to make sure and take care of his stomach ailment (1 Tim 5:23). He also mentions that your body is a temple that ought to be used to glorify God (1 Cor 6:19-20).

On the other hand, fatness is also often associated with blessings (Pr 11:25, Pr 15:30). Everyone recognizes that a few extra pounds are a greater blessing than not enough.

The issue comes down to whether or not we care for our bodies - which are gifts from God. If someone woefully neglects their body (through gluttony, poisoning it by doing drugs or smoking, taking excessive risks of bodily injury, etc.), they are sinning. As we make decisions regarding our own health, we must be sure to avoid judging others in this area. The definition of ‘healthy’ is up for debate even among top nutritional scientists. A healthy body and lifestyle will look different for every person. All you can control is yourself. We must strive to live with a good conscience (Heb 13:18) and consider how to glorify God with our bodies.