I've seen good examples in many Christian marriages in my congregation, and I think to myself, "Maybe I can find a wife like that and have a marriage as excellent as theirs.”  But later, I've learned how I am when I interact with women.  I've lessened my communication with women of the world by only sharing the Gospel with them and only with a sister with me.  But with the sisters in the church, I've learned of their characters, which I cannot endure.  I've seen this in sisters from my congregation and other congregations just by being in their presence and holding a conversation with them.  I've been told that it will take time for their characters to become noble, but it’s as if they're unwilling to let God build them into the women He wants them to be.  I have no mold for a woman, and I've learned that it is impossible to uphold a relationship with a woman who is in the church but refuses to be godly.  Now I'm at the point where I've decided to remain single and not find a mate due to the fact that there are unwilling, unrepentant sisters with immature souls unwilling at heart to become a helpmeet.  As a man who has decided to remain single, how can I, a Christian man, live a single life in a world filled with so much temptation?

Sincerely,
Man Of Maturity

Dear Man Of Maturity,

Up front, we’d like to say that your opinion of Christian women is far too low.  You either are hanging out around the wrong people, or you are seriously underestimating the greatness of godly women.  Having said that, Jesus answered your question about how a man can live a single life.  When Jesus’ disciples told Him that the best thing to do is to remain unmarried, Jesus answered by saying, “Not all men can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given.” (Matt 19:10-12)
Most men are built for marriage and aren’t designed to live their entire lives single.  If you aren’t able to comfortably live a single life faithfully to God, then God’s protection against fornication is for you to seek marriage (1 Cor 7:1-2).  However, in order for that to happen, you are going to need to start raising your opinion of women and, most likely, be a little more honest with your own shortcomings.

    In a Catholic school, is it moral to withhold a teacher's security of tenure even if the teacher had continuously and satisfactorily served that school for more than a decade?

Sincerely,
A Teacher

Dear A Teacher,

We aren’t in the habit of giving advice to schools run by the Catholic church because the Catholic church doesn’t use the Bible anyway.  We give Bible answers here at AYP, and the Catholic church doesn’t use the Bible as their standard.  We recommend you read our article “Catholics Or Christians?”.

     Should I continue to attend a church that I don't believe is teaching the right things even though my husband is a member there?

Sincerely,
Wondering Wife

Dear Wondering Wife,

Though the Bible says to respect your husband (Eph 5:33), that respect is in subordination to the Lord.  It is important to obey God before man (Acts 5:29).  We must each work out our own salvation with fear and trembling (Php 2:12).  Solomon made the mistake of honoring his wives before God, and he lost everything because of it (1 Kg 11:4).  If the church you are currently attending is not faithful to God’s Word, you must choose a faithful church over your husband.

Giving excuses – is it a form of sin?

Sincerely,
I Can Explain

Dear I Can Explain,

Excuses can be sinful if you are using them to avoid doing what you ought.  For example, if you have promised to do something – you should stand by your word (Matt 5:37) and not make excuses to avoid a commitment you have made.  There are sins that we commit and sins that happen when we omit doing what we ought.  If you know of something that you ought to do, and you make excuses to avoid doing it, that is a sin (Jas 4:17).

      My question concerns the very end of the Book of John when Jesus appeared before the disciples after rising from the dead.  The disciples were fishing, and Jesus was on the shore.  He told them to cast the net on the side of the boat, and they caught the fish.  “Come to shore and eat,” He said, and Jesus told Peter to come with Him, and told Peter how he would die.  Jesus told Peter than John will remain behind.  Jesus said, "If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me."  My question: is John still alive today?  Jesus literally said that John would remain until He comes again.  Then it says in the Word that this disciple would not die.  It didn't say that this disciple will not die by crucifixion or some other cause.  It didn't say that this disciple would die of old age.  The Word literally says, “This disciple would not die.”  Is it possible that John is still alive and waiting for Christ to come again?  Can you give me your take on this Scripture?  Thanks.

Sincerely,
Older Than Methuselah?

Dear Older Than Methuselah,

To understand what Jesus meant in Jhn 21:22, we need the next verse.  Jesus simply told Peter, “If I will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?”  There was confusion over this in the brotherhood because the word went out that John would live until the return of Christ, but Jesus was simply making the point to Peter that he didn’t need to worry about what would happen to others but to worry about himself.  Jesus didn’t say he would live until the return; He simply said, “If”.