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Most people find uncertainty uncomfortable. We prefer to be sure of things, if at all possible. This is very obvious in a medical setting: it is common for people to feel relieved when given a serious diagnosis (such as cancer or HIV infection) – simply because they find it easier to cope with...

So what do you think is the right interpretation?

How much cultural engagement is appropriate for Christians? The answer to this question depends to some extent on the culture (both inside and outside the Church). A century ago, many churches in the West frowned upon activities that today would be considered pretty innocuous (at least in the...

Which passage/verse are you referring to?

Acts 26:17,18 Here we have a concise summary of Paul’s mission, straight from the mouth of Jesus: “I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are...

If you look into geology (especially tectonic plate theory) you find that the continental plates are quite distinct from the ocean basins. The continents may move around, parts of them may get temporarily submerged (like the Mediterranean Sea, currently), but they don't change into deep ocean...

It's because I read my Bible that I can recognise my Shepherd's voice when I hear it. It was while reading the Bible that I met Him for the first time. Most Christians without a Bible would do almost anything to get hold of one.

Why did Jesus appear to Paul in such an unusual and dramatic way? (Acts 26:12-14) He says, “I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant…” (verse 16) It wasn’t just to give Paul his personal ‘ticket to salvation’. Jesus wanted him for a reason - He was calling him into His service. He...

Acts 26:12-14 Can you pinpoint a specific day (or even a time) when you became a Christian? I've been told that only about one-third of us can do so. That’s still quite a lot of people. But even these apparently sudden conversions don’t often happen completely ‘out of the blue’. There was...

I don't think that all of those beliefs are 'plainly contradicted' by the words of Jesus. Those who die lost can never be saved - Luke 16:26 A Second Coming - Matthew 24:30,31 The apostles' words have Christ's authority - Luke 10:16 People are called to faith (normally) through evangelism -...

Too many of these 'proof-texts' for God having a physical body are reports of visions. It cannot be assumed that these equate to physical reality - otherwise we would also have to say that Jesus is literally a Lamb with seven eyes and seven horns... There are other possible explanations for the...

So is God not a person? (Because He has no body) It is perfectly possible to lie to and grieve a mentally challenged person (whether they understand what you have done or not). Is a lie only a lie when the hearer is aware of it? We don't lie to inanimate objects because truths and untruths are...

One of the most boring parts of the book of Leviticus is the section dealing with ‘leprosy’ (Leviticus 13 & 14). The visibility of disorders and blemishes of the skin makes them a cause of shame and embarrassment in all societies, but why should this condition be singled out and dealt with in...

Over the centuries, divisions have developed within the Church for a variety of reasons: doctrinal disagreements, personal rivalries, ethnic and cultural differences, alternative styles of worship and patterns of church government. ..... The fragmentation of the Church is one of those...

Holiness is a much-misunderstood concept. It conjures up images of solitary hermits shutting themselves away from the distractions (and also the needs) of the world, or of self-righteous Pharisees condemning lesser mortals for their failures (Luke 18:11,12). But Biblical holiness is not a...

Aren't we fortunate that we can! It means that food should never be made into an issue. "For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." (Romans 14:17)

Judaism is famous for its dietary laws. The basis of these is a list of the animals that the Israelites could and could not eat (Leviticus 11) - although there are many other rules as well. Much ingenuity and speculation has gone into working out the possible reasons why certain animals were...

“Although the whole earth is Mine, you will be for Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” (Exodus 19:5,6) Israel’s calling and rescue from Egypt was not purely for her own benefit, but was part of God’s plan for restoring the whole world to Himself. As a result of her ‘special...

He's a fictional character - but his creator was a good writer and did her research, so she was careful to give him an authentic Jewish name.

But that's the problem - what draws attention in one culture wouldn't cause anyone to bat an eyelid in another. In some parts of the Muslim world, modesty = nothing less than a full burka. In other parts of the world, bare breasts are normal everyday attire and don't cause the local men to lust.