My mother, a very good christian woman, went on to be with the Lord about a year ago.  This happening, I started attending her church.  The pastor there resigned.  He has been preaching at local churches.  I have been going to hear him.  He is truly a man of God.  My mother’s church doesn't currently have a preacher.  I am a new christian; I have prayed about this, and my question is: am I wrong to go to where he is preaching?  I don't feel wrong, but I have others who tell me that I have “preacher religion”, but I don’t know where to go.  Can you give me some insight?

Sincerely,
Visiting

Dear Visiting,

There is nothing wrong with going and visiting other faithful congregations to hear a preacher speak (you called this man a ‘pastor’; if all he is doing is preaching, he is a preacher – not a pastor).  Go right ahead and visit as long as you consider three principles:

1. He is a sound preacher that is faithfully preaching the truth and nothing else.  We recommend reading “Preacher Interrogation” and comparing his preaching to the simple questions we lay out in that article.
2. You are remaining a faithful and involved member of a congregation.  The Scriptures don’t ever give examples of “roving” christians.  Christians are supposed to be active and involved in helping a local congregation to grow, flourish, and serve God (Eph 4:16).  We are supposed to be servants in a local church (Rom 16:1).  If you are always visiting, you aren’t really involving yourself in the life of a local congregation.  There is a balance.
3. Make sure that the church you are attending is faithfully following God’s Word.  Not all churches are equal.  Jesus warned that there are many false teachers that are “wolves in sheep’s clothing” (Matt 7:15).  We recommend you read “Finding A Church” and compare the verses in that article to the behavior of any congregation you attend.

If you consider these principles found in the Scriptures, you will make a healthy decision.

5 minutes a day 5 days a week - a year of Bible Wisdom

Why do the majority of Christian/Non-denominational/Protestant (Evangelicals especially) base a majority of what they talk about on Malachi 3:10?  Why is there such an importance placed on giving money to a church, TV program, or some charity?  When all we see are rich pastors walking around in $500 suits and a big gold and diamond encrusted ring? Okay, so I understand that God gave us what we have, and we are to share the fruits of our labor, but some pastors teach as if this is the ONLY thing in the Bible.  What about compassion for the penniless?  Oh, right, then they'll bring up the little old lady that gave her last two pennies and how magnanimous of her that she gave all she had, and we are only being asked to give 10%; how positively horrible of me.  Doesn't God know that I am broke?  Doesn't He understand that if I don't pay my rent, I end up homeless?  Doesn't He understand that you can't squeeze blood from a turnip?  Okay, so a miracle will happen?  But how am I supposed to believe that God *wants* me to be financially well-to-do?  I should think He has more pressing issues (like forgiving a sinful world) than whether or not I am going to have a financial breakthrough.  Am I wrong, because it seems to me Jesus never asked for money, neither did any of the twelve (with the exception of Judas and the thirty pieces of silver); in fact, weren't they poor and only had the clothes on their back and what they could carry with them?  Didn't Jesus tell them that this is how they were to live?

Sincerely,
Money Mad

Dear Money Mad,

You are absolutely 100% right.  A large portion of evangelists today teach what is called “the prosperity gospel”.  Mal 3:10 is one of their favorite verses because it is so easy to twist out of context.  Yes, God blesses us when we obey Him.  Yes, God blesses us when we contribute financially to His work… but those blessings aren’t always financial.

James tells us that the poor are often the most spiritually rich because they have learned to trust in God for their daily needs (Jas 2:5).  The church at Laodicea was financially wealthy, and that was their downfall because it led to pride and a sense of self-sufficiency (Rev 3:17).  The riches that really count are spiritual ones (Matt 6:19-21).  These preachers that tell people to “give so that they can get” are snake oil salesman.  They are of the same character as the Pharisees who “devoured widows’ houses” (Mk 12:40).

If this is the type of church that you are attending… there is a better and more godly way.  Yes, we should give of our finances… but that isn’t the totality of the Bible message – it isn’t even the majority of it.  We would be happy to help you get in touch with a faithful congregation in your area that teaches the truth.  After all, the church is supposed to be the pillar and ground of the truth (1 Tim 3:15) – not the pillar and ground of the financial world.  E-mail us (askyourpreacher@mvchurchofchrist.org) with what part of the world you live in, and we will do our best to get you in contact with a congregation in your area.

5 minutes a day 5 days a week - a year of Bible Wisdom

Were there dinosaurs during Noah's time?

Sincerely,
Question-o-saurus

Dear Question-o-saurus,

We have every reason to believe that there were dinosaurs during Noah’s time… and that Noah put them on the ark along with the other animals.  Noah was told by God to put two of every kind of animal on the ark (Gen 6:19-20).  This would have included the dinosaurs.  Noah probably put young, smaller dinosaurs on the ark considering they would fit better, and they would be better prepared to live long lives and repopulate after the Flood.

Another reason that it is likely dinosaurs lived during Noah’s time is all the dinosaur fossils we find.  Most of the fossils that are found today were created by the cataclysmic flood of Noah’s day.  Ever wonder why there are so many fossils?  Millions of dead creatures were covered in dirt, water, and lava when the Flood happened.

And last, but not least, dinosaurs are spoken of in the book of Job – which was written after the flood of Noah’s day.  Job talks about two creatures: the Behemoth (Job 40:15-24) and Leviathan (Job 41:1-34) that both match the description of dinosaurs perfectly.  Since Job lived after the Flood, it means that dinosaurs were still alive after Noah’s time.