I have a question that I'm not exactly sure how to word, so I will try my best.  I know that "socially" speaking, cutting is seen as a bad thing or a "mental problem", but this just doesn't help me.  I've struggled with using this as a means of coping for a long time, and as hard as I try, I still find myself being drawn to, or even almost missing, cutting myself.  Are there any verses in the Bible that might help when I'm in those tough situations?  I'm assuming there aren't any verses or stories of people cutting themselves, but I just want something to relate to...

Sincerely,
Recovering Self-Injurer

Dear Recovering Self-Injurer,

‘Cutting’ is a type of self-injury that is sinful.  Cutting involves physically abusing your own body.  Here are some verses to consider the next time you feel the urge to harm yourself:

1. The Bible says, “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matt 22:39)… would you injure another human being with that type of behavior?  If you wouldn’t do it to your neighbor, you shouldn’t do it to yourself.
2. Your body is a temple to God (1 Cor 6:19).  Your human body is a vessel designed to be used to the glory of God.  Present your body as a living sacrifice to God (Rom 12:1) – you have no right to harm what doesn’t belong to you.  You belong to God; when you cut yourself, you damage God’s property.
3. Cutting is a coping mechanism, a learned behavior that is used to deal with various stresses that life brings.  Cutting is a replacement for trusting in God.  God wants us to turn to Him when things get difficult (Matt 11:28).  Cutting is a bad behavior that needs to be replaced by healthy coping mechanisms – like prayer (1 Thess 5:17).

Cutting is an addiction that can become all-consuming if you let it.  Don’t try and go it alone.  Christianity is built off the idea of help.  God helped us in sending His Son (Jhn 3:16).  There is no shame in turning to others as you struggle with this burden.  That is what other christians are for (Gal 6:2).

I've enrolled in a drawing class as part of getting my Associates in Fine Arts.  Last week, the teacher mentioned that toward the end of the quarter, we will do figure studies, which will include a model coming in to pose nude.  The teacher mentioned that if anyone has religious qualms toward that part, to come see her.  That got me thinking, is this sin or putting myself in a sinful situation?  If it is more of a personal choice or what feels comfortable, I really don't mind.  I've always loved art, and the human form is a very common subject in various styles of art.  I just want to feel confident in my decisions; as far as what God expects, what are the choices I should be making?

Sincerely,
Art Student

Dear Art Student,

It would be a sin for you to look at and paint a nude model.  Though more socially acceptable, nude paintings are essentially low-tech pornography.  The only person you should ever see nude is your spouse (Eph 5:31, 1 Cor 7:1-2).  Go ahead and tell the teacher that you do have religious convictions that make it impossible for you to take part in that section of the curriculum.

5 minutes a day
5 days a week
1 New Testament in a year

There are 261 weekdays in a year, and there are 260 chapters in the New Testament. By reading one chapter, Monday through Friday, you will read the whole New Testament by the end of the year. The Daily Cup series is to help with that goal.

Happy Studying!

"The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup." -- Psalm 16:5

Click here for a pdf of the study schedule - CLICK HERE

Who opens your heart to receive Christ as Savior?  Is the answer simply 'God'?

Sincerely,
Looking For A Key

Dear Looking For A Key,

Yes, the Lord opens our hearts to heed the message of salvation (Acts 16:14), but there isn’t anything miraculous in it.  He opens our hearts because His message is true, and those who seek truth are drawn to it.  God promises that if we seek truth, He will open the door for us (Matt 7:7).  When people are honest and legitimately hungering for truth – God promises they will be filled (Matt 5:6).  God chose a particular type of person for salvation… the kind of person honest enough to listen and obey the Bible (Jas 1:25).

When you join a local assembly, what is expected from the pastor and the church to know if it is the church that Christ built?  I heard one particular preacher say that it is “his church”, but I thought that no man built the church, only Christ.

Sincerely,
Ownership Issues

Dear Ownership Issues,

A local church is part of Christ’s church if it teaches what Christ taught and attempts to act as Christ would have it act.  The church is supposed to stand by and stand for the truth (1 Tim 3:15).  Here are several basic truths that every faithful congregation should get right:

1. The church should properly teach what it takes to become a christian – read “What Must I Do To Be Saved?” to learn what the Bible says about salvation.
2. The church should properly worship God.  There are five things that God has asked us to do to worship Him: pray (1 Thess 5:17), sing (Col 3:16), publicly dwell upon His Word (1 Tim 4:13), take the Lord’s Supper on Sunday (Acts 20:7), and take up a collection for the Lord’s work (1 Cor 16:1-2).  Any church that does more, or less, than these things as a part of their worship… isn’t Christ’s church.
3. The church should have a proper structure.  Every church that belongs to Christ is independent – they are only subservient to God.  Each church is led by its own elders (Acts 14:23); any congregation that has a headquarters in some other city or is given rules and laws by some governing body other than themselves is not led by Christ.

Those three areas are the most basic components to a faithful congregation.  If a church is doing these things, you are most likely in a congregation that properly serves Christ.