Ready for a big word? Hermeneutics. I know, I know – it sounds like a weird aerobic workout trend involving leg kicks and rubber bands. But it’s actually the one-word answer to your question. Hermeneutics refers to the process by which we interpret the Bible (or any text). Take the text you point to in your question: the first chapters of Genesis. “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth…”

Let’s face it: we don’t like to admit that we are wrong. If you’re anything like me, you will do just about anything to justify your behavior in one way or another. This can affect a range of things and include excuses such as “I was totally right to yell at my brother, he was being a jerk” or “its okay to have a beer with friends once in a while, most teenagers drink a little bit anyway” or even “It’s really not that big of a deal if I look at porn once in awhile. It’s natural to have curiosity.” This is not an exhaustive list, but I think you get the picture. We love to justify our sin by normalizing it…

This is a question I struggled with myself a couple of years ago. I would read verses in Scripture that would talk about predestination or election and become confused by how this could be. I would think to myself: “I am a free person, and I make my own choices”. This idea went against what I thought or assumed the Bible taught about salvation. Not to mention I didn’t think it sounded fair. How can God choose to save some but not others?

Every day, we face decisions—whether it’s what to wear, where to go to college, how to find a job, or how to build relationships with others. I often hear Christians talk about listening to God’s voice when they make decisions. But, how can they be sure it is really God speaking?

“What is the difference between mercy, grace, and compassion?”

These three virtues are very similar and oftentimes go together, but they each have their own unique concepts. Let’s take a deeper dive into each of them. Mercy withholds punishment even when it is deserved. It’s saying, “You deserve ___ but I won’t give it to you.”  And who else has shown us this attribute any better than Jesus Himself…

“I’m trying to become more like Christ, but I feel like I’m losing my own identity. How can I be more like Jesus, but still be me?” Maybe you’ve felt this way before. It’s pretty obvious looking at creation that God loves variety. Even within mankind, there are as many differences as there are people. Even so-called identical twins have subtle genetic differences between them. So, if you feel like you are losing your personal identity as you follow Christ, perhaps you’re trying to be something that God never intended you to be…

“Why Does God Allow Evil & Suffering?”

This is one of the oldest and most significant questions in history. Is a good God compatible with a world full of evil? This is the famous, “Problem of Evil,” and it is by far the most common reason that people give for rejecting Christianity. One helpful way to approach this question is to split it into the logical problem of evil, and the emotional problem of evil…

I’m very blessed to have been raised in a Christian family. I became a Christian when I was about four years old. At the time I definitely didn’t fully understand what Jesus’ sacrifice meant, I just knew I needed him as my Savior. Since then, I’ve learned much more about God, and He has taught me many lessons.  One night when I was seven, I woke up in the middle of the night to my parents talking loudly and my brother crying. It turns out my brother, who was three, had a seizure…

“Is it a sin for someone who doesn’t have a job to not tithe?”

Let’s start with a bombshell: I don’t think it’s a sin for ANY Christians not to tithe.*record scratch* “Wait, what?? You’re telling me I don’t have to give money to church? Aren’t you a pastor??”I guess we’d better define some terms. In the Old Testament, to “tithe” meant to give 10% of your produce or livestock to support the worship in the temple (but it was likely closer to 20%, when everything is accounted for)…