Hope in the World

Dear Victorious,

The world seems to be in miserable shape. Problems are all around us. Political leaders just seem to shower us with rhetoric. And religious leaders, one after the other, just fail and disappoint us. Honestly, where do you see hope in the world?

Eva N. - Fremont, NE

Dear Eva,

Of course I see hope in the world. Lots of it. But let's be clear, there is no hope without God. All hope is grounded in Jesus Christ. That said, I see hope in several places, but can cite two that are especially encouraging.

First, I see great hope in tomorrow's leaders. There are young people coming up today who are full of potential and promise. They're focused on God. They're authentic. They genuinely love others. I'm so encouraged when I get the privilege of working with them and see who we're turning this world over to in the next generation. Pray for them. They're hope for tomorrow.

Second, I see great hope in the willingness of God's people to repent. More and more I see people stepping out of denial, facing their demons, and engaging in the spiritual warfare that God Himself calls us to. These people are not who they want to be, and don't live the way they want to live. But they're willing to get honest about why and look in the mirror for personal accountability. In my own personal ministry, I mentor people like that and I've never been busier. There aren't enough hours in the day for me to meet the demand these people have for coaching. They're ready to take the bull by the horns and make some hard decisions for the sake of God's Kingdom. Pray for them. They're hope for tomorrow.

Changing the Face of Christianity

Dear Victorious,

You've endorsed this thing called Changing the Face of Christianity, and said it's necessary because the face of Christianity is so tainted by the behavior of the Christians. So why haven't you done something to change the so-called face of Christianity? I mean, why aren't you its champion?

Heather B. - The Colony, TX

Dear Heather,

The truth? Because I'm such a loud-mouthed, opinionated oaf with near zero skills in diplomacy that nobody will listen to me. I tried to do it. Honestly I did. But even in my own church, my efforts ended up looking more like divisiveness sent from Satan than leadership sent from God. There are better men (and women) out there for this job than me. If there's a role for me in a public campaign like that, it has yet to be discovered. Until then, it seems best that I be supportive of the people who can provide the effective leadership that campaigns like this require.

Outsourcing

Dear Victorious,

I've heard that you're involved in the outsourcing industry. Isn't that somewhat hypocritical of you? I mean, look how many U.S. jobs have been shipped off shore. How could you?

Martin V. - Plano, TX

Dear Martin,

Yes, it's true. I've worked in the outsourcing industry for years. Presently I have a consulting contract with an international IT and business services provider. That contract has a large focus on that firm's outsourcing business.

So it is hypocritical? To be honest, I've wrestled with that. But I've found peace with it ... after significant prayer and contemplation on the matter. The thing is offshoring flourishes and has done such damage to America because of a defect in the moral character of Americans. Let's face it, Americans, in general worship a false god known as "the best deal." If we can get more for less, we always assume that's best. It's been "the American way" for a long time now.

Outsourcing isn't what destroyed the jobs in America. In fact, outsourcing was invented in America and flourished here for decades. Many Americans had good jobs in outsourcing before the notion of offshoring ever turned up. So what happened? American greed, chasing more for less, found cheaper labor overseas and was willing to sell its soul to the devil for dollars.

I can assure you of this, I work in the outsourcing industry. But morally I would never, and still don't, propose offshoring as a strategy. Sending a job to a third world country must do more than labor arbitrage --- or I won't be involved in it. I focus on what is known as "transformational outsourcing," where fundamental business improvement is gained through process engineering and exploiting of technological advances. Granted that cheaper labor helps sweeten the deal. But if cheaper labor is the deal, I won't be involved. I'd rather be unemployed with my outsourcing industry contemporaries. Seriously I would!

I was traveling a week ago, and needed a shoe shine at the airport. Imagine my surprise to find that a shoe shine was $5.00. Good heavens, a scoop of ice cream costs $5 at the airport! Yesterday I was in WalMart and a pack of 10 Bic Pens was $1.00. Good heavens, how can they even make pens for that? The point is, things ought to cost more than they do. At $5 for a shoe shine, or 10 cents for an ink pen, someone isn't making a living wage. But we Americans rarely think of that. We just think the cheapest deal is the best deal. Until that mindset changes, jobs will continue to migrate to cheaper labor markets.

My prayer is that one day Americans will stop being so greedy that we'll be willing to pay a living wage to people who provide us with goods and services. I hope you'll pray that too!

Mean Dad

Dear Victorious,

I grew up in a home where my father was a tyrant. Seriously. He was a monster of a father and has never loved me the way he should. That was years ago of course, and he's said he's sorry. But I can never forgive that man for what he did to me and how he treated me. The facts still speak for themselves. Nevertheless, my mother expects me to visit them and apparently just pretend that nothing happened. I wouldn't mind visiting her, but have no desire to even be in the same city as that man. How can I make Mom understand that what she's asking is unreasonable?

Claire D. - Los Angeles, CA

Dear Claire,

I'm going to assume, since you read my blog, that you identify yourself as a Christian. And if that is the case, you have a much more serious problem than your mother's expectations of you. I'm talking about the unforgiveness that you have toward your father. He may have done all sorts of despicable things to you. But he isn't doing them now. He's apologized. And you need to forgive him.

I'm not saying that you need to embrace the man and be in intimate relationship with him. But you do need to forgive him and get to a place where you can be civil with him. In fact, the Bible says that if you don't forgive those who sin against you, then neither will God forgive you! (Matthew 6:14-15). Moreover, Jesus said that God doesn't even want us to worship Him until we've done our part to reconcile all of our relationships. (Matthew 5:23-24)

The thing is, you can draw firm boundaries with your father. You can stay in a hotel when you visit. But he is your father and God expects you to honor him. (Matthew 15:4, 19:19 & Ephesians 6:2) Holding on to bitterness and resentment, especially when the man has apologized, is just uncalled for. God expects you to forgive your father for his transgressions against you.

In other words, stop making an issue of the past. And start trusting God to lead you into a better future.

New Year's Resolutions

Dear Victorious,

I'm curious. Do you have any New Year's resolutions? And what has been your experience with them in the past? Have you been able to keep them?

Keith C. - Monroe, LA

Dear Keith,

I don't make New Year's resolutions any more. There are always things I'd like to see changed in my life. Mostly those are my responses to situations I encounter - such as physical pain or conflict. But I have learned that I cannot simply make a resolution or resolve to change my own thinking.

I can only be transformed by the renewing of my mind through time spent in God's Word and time spent walking with God, live life on His terms. I used to make New Year's resolutions - and every single one of them, year after year, ended in utter failure. It was very disheartening. I find it is very freeing now not to make resolutions. I just take those things to God and trust Him to work out my righteousness in His timing and in His ways.

Sad Christians

Dear Victorious,

It seems that Christians are always talking about the joy and happiness and peace and serenity that God gives them all. Where then do Christians go who are sad and depressed?

Lana T. - Indianapolis, IN

Dear Lana,

They go to their knees and pour their hearts out to their heavenly Father. They go to their Bibles and seek comfort in His word. Christians aren't always a happy lot. In fact, there are times when it is heart-breaking to be walking this Christian faith out. There are times when it is painful.

But we have the model of Jesus. There were times when Jesus wept over the dilemma He found Himself in. There were times when He was so stressed that He sweated blood. And always, we see Jesus turning to His Father in prayer, in meditation. It is what God's people do. They walk through the sadness, not around it or over it. And they walk through it holding His hand.

Gender Re-Assignment

Dear Victorious,

Does the Bible have anything to say about sex change surgery? Wouldn't that be a sin in God's eyes?

Tyndall R. - Roanoke, VA

Dear Tyndall,

There are a couple of places in the Bible that come to mind, but the first and clearest is in Deuteronomy 22:5. It says there that a woman should not wear men's clothing, nor should a man wear women's clothing. It goes on to say that God "detests anyone who does this."

From a Christian perspective, God knew each of us before we were even formed in our mother's womb. And He has a perfect plan for each of us for all of eternity. He put us on this earth and asked us to have a human experience. To some, He asked us to live that human experience as a man, and to some as a woman. Those gender assignments? They're part of God's will for our lives.

People who believe they're, for example, a woman trapped in a man's body, are confused. They're lost. They're ignorant of God's love and of who they are in Christ. They've been badly deceived. There is no such thing as a man trapped in a woman's body or vice versa. People who have those feelings should be ministered to just like anyone else who is lost.

For those who've already had the gender re-assignment medical procedures, repentance is always possible. It is not an unforgivable sin. But it is sin and should be regarded that way.

Christian Gossip

Dear Victorious,

Does the Bible have anything to say about gossip? I know most religions consider it a sin, but I wonder what the Biblical basis is for it. I have to admit that I like gossip because it's interesting to hear about other people's lives. I also think that gossip could have a benefit in that it could help make us aware of other people's needs, prayer for them, etc. I've got a friend who says that no good can come of gossip. Who's right here?

Cinda R. - Dallas, TX

Dear Cinda,

Your friend is right. The Bible has a great deal to say about gossip - and none of it is positive. Look at Proverbs 11:13, 16:28, 18:8, 20:19, and 26:20 & 22. Then look at Romans 1:29 and 2 Corinthians 12:20. The Apostle Paul puts it, in Romans 1:29, right up there with murder, envy, slander, deceit, jealousy, selfish ambition, etc.

I think the heart of the matter here is the intent. If you really cared about someone's needs and wanted to assist them or pray for them, there are better ways to get and convey the information. Word of mouth is not how something should be communicated. So examine the heart of the person telling the gossip and the heart of the person seeking the gossip.

We may find the tidbits of other people's lives to be interesting and entertaining. But if we are discussing someone else to feed our own selfish desires, what good could come of that? We need to stay as far from gossip as possible. And when gossip is passed to us, we need to stop the passing. It goes no further than me. The dictionary defines gossip as "idle talk." Philippians 4:8 tells us to focus on things that are excellent and worth of praise. Idle talk not included.

Bedroom Spat

Dear Victorious,

Let me just put this straight to you: my husband refuses to make love to me any more. When I ask why, he says it's because of the way I treat him. I know we have our differences, but I thought the Bible says married people shouldn't withhold sex from each other unless they agree on it and only then for a temporary period of time. How can I make my husband see how wrong he is about this?

Laura T. - Overland Park, KS

Dear Laura,

Yes, the Bible does say that husbands and wives shouldn't use sex as a weapon or bargaining tool. Fasting from sex should only be undertaken by mutual agreement. However, it sounds like you are focusing on the law and not on the heart of the matter.

Sex is not the basis for a marriage relationship. Rather it is the celebration of the marriage relationship. So ask yourself if you husband has a relationship that is worth celebrating? He's told you he doesn't like the way you treat him. What does that mean? How do you treat him?

You cannot be obstinate and difficult throughout the day and then expect a spouse to make love to you at the end of that day. Are you submitting to and respecting your husband like you would Christ Himself? Do you give your husband respect and unconditional love and support?

You may ultimately need marriage counseling. But if you're looking for a Biblical solution, check your heart and your motives. It's quite possible that a prayerful, loving wife would be incredibly attractive to your husband.

Holiday Blues

Dear Victorious,

I know that "Jesus is the reason for the season" and all that. But it just seems that every year at Christmas time I end up with the "holiday blues." And I honestly don't know why. Any advice for someone like me?

Anita R. - Burlington, VT

Dear Anita,

Of course I have advice for people like you. In fact, I think I answered this question not long ago. (See http://dearvictorious.blogspot.com/2010/11/holiday-depression.html.)

I'm not a clinician, but certainly if you live in Vermont the weather is gray and cold this time of year. I know many people experience some depression during that time of year. You may want to talk to your doctor about that.

Weather aside though, I suspect that the greatest reason people experience depression during the holidays is that Christ not at the center of their celebration and activities to prepare for the celebration. Consider that you were shopping, wrapping, decorating, cleaning, baking, planning, sending cards and doing other holiday preparations ... all for Jesus. Do you suppose your outlook might be any different?

Busy-ness is a subtle enemy of serenity. Don't let it rob you of yours.

Believing Well

Dear Victorious,

I've been a believer as long as I can remember. In fact, I can't remember a time when I didn't believe in God. But I meet people who haven't believed for so long, and somehow they seem to believe better than I do. I'm not sure how this is possible. Maybe it's just my perception, but it often seems that others have a much stronger faith than me. Could that be true?

Donna D. - Red Oak, TX

Dear Donna,

Certainly someone could have a stronger faith than you. But more than likely, they've just had a more dramatic faith experience than you did. Typically there are about four different stages to belief.

1. We see it as impossible to believe and we think of it as we might think of a fairy tale.
2. We investigate the facts but are still unconvinced. The facts don't overwhelm us. We may even want to believe, but just can't.
3. We encounter the truth personally and it overwhelms us. In Christianity, we encounter Christ personally on this issue, and He begins to provide the belief.
4. We commit ourselves to Jesus and to serving Him, then begin to fully understand and live the reality of what we believe.

So here's the question. Given that you've believed "for as long as you can remember," have you gone through these four stages of belief? Has Jesus Christ Himself given you your belief? Or was it given to you by your parents?

People who grow up in good Christian families tend not to have such dramatic faith experiences. Nevertheless, there comes a time for all of us when we have to take Jesus on a personal level. He shows Himself to us as individuals and we begin to have our own personal faith experience instead of the one our parents had.

Financial Peace University?

Dear Victorious,

I think you've blogged before about Dave Ramsey. But I'm wondering about his Financial Peace University. Our church is offering it and my husband and I need some help like that. Would it be okay to take that course at our church?

Nelda R. - Ponca City, OK

Dear Nelda,

Yes, I think it is find for you to take Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University course. I object to Mr. Ramsey's unloving, hateful remarks on his radio show. And I don't understand why America's pastors - who make him rich by peddling his wares in their churches - don't stand up and take him to task for his ungodly behavior. Nevertheless, his course is Biblically based and the financial principles he teaches are godly and worth your time and effort.

Santa Claus

Dear Victorious,

How should Christian parents handle "the Santa Claus" issue? It seems that most Christian parents play along and give their kids the Santa Claus story until they're old enough to understand. Is there any room for this from a Biblical perspective?

Carly A. - Waco, TX

Dear Carly,

No, I don't think there is. Santa Clause, the Tooth Fairy, the Easter Bunny and other mythical characters have no basis in Biblical truth. They may be fun and seem harmless. But let's face it, they definitely obscure the true meaning of the holiday.

How does a child, for example, learn about Christ's birth and grasp its significance when he's sitting on Santa's lap and expecting Santa to come down through the chimney? Similarly, how does a child learn the significance of Christ's resurrection when he's waiting for the Easter bunny to show up with candy?

I don't want to seem like Mr. Scrooge here. But I'm convicted of the fact that playing along with these seemingly harmless cultural games makes it very possible to walk through the entire religious holiday without ever having any focus on God at all. When I look at religious celebrations in the Bible, they were definitely centered on God. And there was no room for distractions.

My own children have never been told about Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny. They've always known that Dad & Mom were the source of the treats on those holidays. And while we may watch the Christmas stories on TV, we watch them in the same context that we watch cartoons. In other words, we draw the line at any pretense that these mythical characters are real.

Prison Population

Dear Victorious,

I've read that the U.S. has more people imprisoned than any other country. How is this possible? I mean why would that be?

Margaret C. - Petaluma, CA

Dear Margaret,

From what I've read, the U.S. has about the same per capita crime rates as other industrialized (western) nations. Statistically, the U.S. incarcerates more of its criminals though, and for longer periods of time. Of course, studies have also be done on recidivism rates - to show that the U.S. has many repeat offenders who get incarcerated more than once in their life time.

There are plenty of experts who can shed light on this subject. But as a Christian, I think its more a reflection on who Americans are rather than how our government (and its penal system) works. Americans are selfish. We have entitlement issues. We're very myopic in our view of the world. We seldom experience real consequences from our poor choices as a nation. We're more blessed than any other nation on earth, and we take that blessing for granted.

The U.S. could incarcerate far fewer of us if more of us principled men and women of integrity. But as a people, we've put integrity pretty low on the list. And when we do that, crimes start to look acceptable. Moral failures start to look normal. And the stigma that comes with criminal convictions and incarceration fades into the background.

Godly Politics?

Dear Victorious,

What do you suppose God thinks of politics in America? I mean, is there a way for it to be godly? Or are we just fooling ourselves to think that we could have a Christian government?

Dean K. - Cuyahoga Falls, OH

Dear Dean,

If you look back at the Old Testament and how governments came about, God always intended to be our King. He didn't want any other kings to be appointed or presidents to be elected. It's the most pure form of what is known as a theocracy. That's a form of government where God (or a god) is recognized as the supreme civil ruler.

It's heart-warming to look democracy and relate it Christian values and virtues. But it really does fall short in that it doesn't recognize the authority of God in everything. If it did, for example, all of our written law (i.e., congressional bills) would be based on Biblical principles. All of our government decisions would be made with prayer and fasting.

The purest form of theocracy that we see today is found in the Islamic states, where civil law defers to the religious law. In places like England, the Queen is head of both church and state. There is no separation, technically speaking. But of course you could hardly call England a theocracy. It functions much like our form of democracy.

So, to answer your question, I suspect that God takes a dim view of American politics. There is certainly a lot of evil present in the political scene. And it's worth noting that this is not the form of government God had in mind when He rescued the Israelites and made them His people.

Military Gays

Dear Victorious,

Don't you think it's a good idea to keep gays out of the military? I know they are talking about revoking the "don't-ask-don't-tell" policy. But seriously, gays would represent a distraction for most of the soldiers who are straight. Why can't our government see that gays don't belong in the military?

Earl V. - Haltom City, TX

Dear Earl,

No, I don't think it's a good idea to discriminate against anyone because of sin patterns in their life. Of course the military wouldn't allow drug addicts to serve - but only in the context of that addiction being an impediment to them doing their job. If the government could prove that homosexuality is an impediment to someone going their job, then I might be able to go along with keeping that particular gay out of the military.

But to cast a judgment on a whole people group is not only unfair, but it probably is tantamount to shooting ourselves in the foot. I've known some gays and they are often incredibly bright, capable people. As you know, I believe the Bible is clear that men and women are to fight the temptation to same-sex attraction just like they fight the temptation to steal or murder. But like I said, discriminating on the basis of someone's sin seems pretty unwise - even to a conservative like me

Studying Philanthropy

Dear Victorious,

I started following you on Facebook and see you making posts about philanthropy. (You were impressed recently with Oprah's giving this year.) But what good is it to follow philanthropy? I mean if you're not a philanthropist yourself, can you really learn anything by watching others give?

Mellege R. - Sydney, NSW, Australia

Dear Mellege,

I'm not sure I would agree that you or I are not philanthropists. The dictionary defines a philanthropist as anyone who is in the habit of performing charitable or benevolent actions. Society tends to take note of those who give in measures that impress us. But the true measure of a philanthropist might quite possibly just be someone who wades into the social ills of life and makes a difference. That being said, I am a philanthropist.

What can we learn from watching the philanthropy practices of others? I could fill a book answering a question like that. Many people give out of their excess. Others give out of their sacrifice. People give to different causes. And the gifts that are given may or may not have any real, tangible impact. I don't know about you, but I'd like to understand how I can give more effectively. I'd also like to know how to refine my giving so that it's in the best context possible.

There are several things that can be observed in the philanthropy of others. For example, it's been proven that financial donors are much more willing to cough up cash for dramatic emergencies than they are for prevention. Why is that? Is it possible that giving in tragedies is more rewarding? Or is it simply that the impact of giving in a crisis is more measurable? These are questions that deserve an answer. And frankly, there are many more questions just like them.

God expects His people to be cheerful givers, and to assist the poor, stand up on behalf of the needy, do unto others and all that stuff. It behoves us to be thoughtful about our obedience to God in this area. Said differently, if it's going to be done, let's be sure we do it well. The only way we can be sure we're doing anything well is if we study what we're doing and make refinements as learning is captured.

I encourage you and everyone else to start viewing yourselves as philanthropists. And start becoming a student of philanthropy. I'm pretty sure you'll be surprised at how much you don't know.

Virgin Again

Dear Victorious,

I was a chaperon with our church's youth group summer camp this past year. The speaker was very charismatic and the teens all seemed to rally around whatever it was he was talking about each day. But one of the things he spoke of puzzled me. I've asked several of my friends about it and still can't seem to get my head around it. He said that even if someone had lost their virginity, they could reclaim it and be a virgin for their future spouse anyway. How could such a thing be possible?

Elias O. - Lubbock, TX

Dear Elias,

Physically such a thing would not be possible. However, spiritually, emotionally, mentally and every other way but physically, it would be possible if there were sincere repentance on the part of the fornicator. Fornication (sex before marriage) and adultery (sex outside of one's marriage) are both sexual sins that can be repented of. When true repentance and turning from these sins occurs, God restores the condition of the heart and blesses the future of that heart. I believe this would have been the context which your youth retreat speaker was referring to.

1 Corinthians 13

Dear Victorious,

I liked your post about love the other day. Have you ever thought about writing a book that would explain 1 Corinthians 13 virtues and attributes of love?

Nona P. - Charlotte, NC

Dear Nona,

No, I haven't. I think such a book would frankly run on forever. It would be a never-ending litany of everyday life experiences in all our relationships ... looking at how love would be in each one of them. I think it would be far more productive if each of us would grasp 1 Corinthians 13 and start making our own lists of what love is and isn't, as well was what love does and doesn't.

How about it? Any of my readers care to send me their own list of things love is and isn't, and does and doesn't ... based on 1 Corinthians 13? I'd love to read them and promise to share the best ones in my blog!

Fear of China

Dear Victorious,

I'm new to your blog but did some searches and found you talking about how China doesn't share America's values, etc. Being a second generation Chinese-American, I'm particularly interested in what America thinks of China. It would seem that the American relationship with China has never been better. So what if they don't really share our values? Is there really something to fear here?

Su Lin - Redwood City, CA

Dear Su Lin,

I'm not sure that there is anything specific to fear regarding America's relationship with China. Quite frankly, the Bible tells Christians to live without fear. So even if China were to take over the U.S. and rule it, I couldn't be afraid. That said, the relationship that we have with China is quite complex. Quite honestly, the only thing about it that I fear is that America hasn't spent near enough time in prayer about that relationship. Are we responding to China in God-honoring ways? Frankly, I worry that we're not. And I worry that the reason we're not is because we're deceived by capitalism.

The trade and other dimensions of our relationship with China seem to be dominated by capitalism. At best it is a greed-based system that has always favored the rich and oppressed the poor.

Don't get me wrong. I think capitalism is okay. I just don't think we should let it define foreign policy. I also don't think we should let it define domestic policy either. And I suspect that if we prayed and sought God's wisdom on how to relate effectively with China, He wouldn't tell us to do it with capitalism.

Sordid Past

Dear Victorious,

Okay, you always come off as being so righteous. It seems that you possess all the Biblical wisdom one could ask for. And certainly your decision-making abilities seem so profound. How could anyone be this smart or this lucky?

Adam R. - Frisco, TX

Dear Adam,

I'm afraid you've misread me. The truth is that I am an ignorant sinner who can't find his way out of a paper bag! I spent hours and hours each week reading my Bible, searching for context and trying to find practical application of Biblical principles as God reveals them to me in His Word.

I am a born-again Christian ... with a sordid past. Quite frankly, if I shared my testimony here you'd be surprised at how sordid it is. As a matter of fact, before I came to Christ, my character was quite devoid of anything even resembling virtue. I was a liar, greedy, selfish, manipulative --- you can see where this is going. Simply put, I'm a hopeless sinner in desperate need of a Savior. If I didn't have that Savior, I cannot imagine that I would even still be alive today. Surely my own sinful ways would have destroyed me.

Please don't think I'm any better than the worst sinner in the world. I'm not. And that's the truth.

True Meaning of Christmas

Dear Victor,

We always see these heart tugging TV shows and movies, and even songs that talk about "the true meaning of Christmas." What is the "true meaning of Christmas?" I mean, I know the Christmas story of Christ's birth. But is that what Christians should make of it?

Deborah N. - Pineville, AR

Dear Deborah,

The world has spent an extraordinary amount of time and money trying to explain the "true meaning of Christmas." In a nutshell, the world tries to put it in a box of feelings, heart-warming and inspiring of happy tears. The thing is that any definition of the meaning of Christmas that isn't focused on Christ is a lie. As Christians, we shouldn't fall for that deception.

The true meaning of Christmas is simple. Mankind is comprised of people who are born with an innate bent towards sin. Even the best and most righteous of us naturally drift toward evil. As such, we are headed for spiritual death --- life without God, our Maker. But God, in His infinite love and grand grace, sent us a Savior, Jesus Christ. Without Jesus, our lives would have absolutely no basis for hope ... ever.

So we celebrate Christ's birth as we celebrate the birth of eternal hope, and access to eternal life. Really, I don't think there is any other meaning for Christmas than that. In fact, anything else we try to ascribe to it would undoubtedly just dilute the real meaning.

Career Guidance

Dear Victorious,

I'm a senior in high school and one of my friends turned me onto your blog. I especially like this blog, where we can ask questions. I feel as if I'm talking to my dad sometimes when I read it! (Only I think you might be smarter than my dad.) Anyway, I'm looking at college next year and really just don't know what I want to do with my life. Is there a Biblical way to go about picking a career? How should Christians decide about their professions in life?

Ricky E. - Houston, TX

Dear Ricky,

First of all, I doubt very much that I'm smarter than your Dad. When we're teen-agers, we just don't tend to think that much of our parents' wisdom. As you get older, you'll realize that your parents are most likely the smartest, wisest people that you know. (Really!) At any rate, your question is a very good one. It encourages me to see young people like you asking questions like this. It tells me there is great hope for the future that will be in your hands!

So, how should Christians go about picking a profession, deciding on a career, etc.? Actually there is very solid Biblical criteria. I could blog about that for a couple of days at least, but I'll try to put it succinctly here for you. So here's the drill:

1. Realize that true Christ-followers don't have their own careers. They obediently follow Christ wherever He may lead them. That could look like what the world calls a career. But it may not. Either way, our focus is to follow Christ. Are you willing to do that? Even if He calls you, for example, to be poor?

2. Identify and examine your spiritual gifts and aptitudes. How has God wired you and gifted you? What kinds of work in life would make the best use of those attributes? (If you don't know your gifts, take a spiritual gifts assessment.)

3. Finally, realize that in today's society, very few people work in one career or profession their entire life. In fact, it is much more common now for people to have multiple "careers" throughout their lifetime. And very often, they will not be working in a career that their education would have pointed them to. A good example might be all the music majors who work in the IT business.

It's good that you're asking the question. Pray that God will reveal His perfect will for you in His time, and commit yourself to waiting on the Lord. In the meantime, do the next right thing that you can think of to do. And trust God with the details.

Love is ... And does ... And doesn't ...

Dear Victorious,

I know what the famous chapter in 1 Corinthians 13 about love. It's a beautiful definition of love. But in everyday life, it seems easier said than done. What's a practical way to look at love and actually be able to live it out?

Tina T. - Rockville, MD

Dear Tina,

Well, the easiest thing I can think of would actually be a homework assignment for you. Seriously. Sit down with your Bible, a pen, and some paper. Read 1 Corinthians 13. And then start thinking of situations in your life where someone didn't show you that kind of love. And start thinking of situations in your life where you didn't show someone else that kind of love. And then starting writing it out.

Make it a project, as if God had asked you to "finish 1 Corinthians 13 for Him." Here are some examples that come to mind:

Love does hold it over my head and keep putting me down when I forget its birthday.
Love doesn't drag up all my mistakes from the past when we're in an argument.
Love, doesn't get mad when someone else at the last of ice cream and didn't put it on the grocery list (to buy more).
Love picks up the litter that it walks over in the parking lot at the mall.
Love returns the shopping cart to the store or the cart corral at Wal Mart.
Love doesn't cut the expiration date off of coupons so it can try to use them.
Love drives within the posted speed limit - even when there are no cops around.

Are you getting the picture here? Certainly you've been on the receiving and giving end of love that didn't do its job. So list out those situations. In fact, make it a running list and keep jotting things down as the Holy Spirit brings them to mind.

WikiLeaks

Dear Victorious,

This thing with WikiLeaks seems to be getting out of hand. And it seems to polarize people in that some are okay with it and some are upset about it. What is the appropriate response? Is there a Biblical principle that would be applicable here?

Don D. - Katy, TX

Dear Don,

Yes, I do think there are some Biblical principles that would be applicable relative to the dilemma the world seems to have on its hands with WikiLeaks. Basically we've got one man who believes that forcing transparency among the world's super powers is somehow a virtuous thing to do. There is no question that transparency is a virtue. But forcing it upon anyone is less than righteous.

Consider, for example, if someone got hold of your diary and your checkbook --- and published them both on WikiLeaks. The internal communications of the U.S. government for example, are tantamount to the government processing its thinking. That's a pretty close parallel to your diary ... where you process your thinking. Perhaps publishing the private thoughts of individuals or a government are not particularly wrong. But it is not particularly right either. It's a forced transparency. Otherwise known as a violation.

Biblical principles like respecting those in authority over us, submitting to the government's that God installs over us and treating others as we would like to be treated ourselves - are all applicable here. I believe that WikiLeaks is wrong on several levels. Free speech is a good thing. But it doesn't not give you freedom to do what you want with the speech of others.

Christmas Story

Dear Victorious,

Christmas is coming and every time I hear the Christmas story, I wonder how much of it could be true. Frankly, some of it seems rather irrelevant. I mean, is the fact that Jesus laid in a manger really a pertinent point? Are manger scenes, the shepherds watching the star or the wise men bearing gifts really the point? I hate to sound cynical, but it just seems to be a bunch of hype. In your opinion, what is about the Christmas story that really matters most?

Franklin S. - Albuquerque, NM

Dear Franklin,

I'm not sure if I understand your point. What question are you asking here? My sense is that you don't really even have a question - but rather you have somewhat of a beef with all the data points involved. To be clear, the most important elements of the Christmas story can probably be defined in two ways. First, it's the story of God coming to earth in a human form, amidst the humblest of circumstances. Second, it's the fulfillment of generations of prophecy. Finally, it's the massive paradigm shift that mankind needed to resolve our problem with sin.

The manger, the shepherds, the donkey, the star, the wise men, and other data points are just the circumstances. Consider, for example, how the story might look if God had waited until 2010 to come. Joseph and Mary might have been traveling on a budget airline, in the coach section. They'd be begging the hotel for a room - in a city that was sold out. Or maybe they'd have ridden into town on a motorcycle. The wise men would have brought diapers and baby clothes or toys. The shepherds might be replaced with call center representatives ... who saw the news of Christ's birth on Facebook.

I'm not trying to be cute here. But if all these absurd sounding circumstances were what we had to deal with --- the story would be exactly the same. We would still have God coming to earth in a human form, amidst the humblest of circumstances. We would still have the fulfillment of generations of prophecy. And we would still have the massive paradigm shift that mankind so desperately needed to resolve our problem with sin.

The real point of Christmas starts with the fact that we are hopeless sinners who are in dire need of a Savior. And it ends with the fact that God loved us so much that He provided that perfect Savior. Everything else is really just the circumstances. And truth always transcends the circumstances.

Lonely Holidays

Dear Victorious,

We moved to a new city almost a year ago. All of our close friends and family live more than a thousand miles away. With the holidays approaching, we can't afford to go home to see them, and I'm becoming really depressed about facing the holidays alone. I know, you're going to tell us to get plugged into a local church. We've done that already, but still don't have any friendships that feel like family. Can you make any recommendations? I mean, if Jesus were in a situation like ours, what do you think He would do?

Dinah E. - Elkhart, IN

Dear Dinah,

I like the way you've asked this question. So here's the thing. Jesus would stop making it all about him. Seriously, your perspective seems to put you at the center of Christmas. Frankly, Christmas is not about you. It never has been. Your impending depression is a result of you placing yourself at the center of Christmas, and focusing on what you don't have.

So what could you do? Make a list of all the people you know at work, school, church or even in the neighborhood that may not have family close by. You don't have to know them very well. If you know their name and they know yours, that's close enough.

Now, invite every single one of those people to your home for Christmas dinner. You provide the meat or other main dish and ask every one of them to RSVP and get each of them to bring something to contribute to the meal. Get someone with a guitar to lead some caroling. Or get some party games to play. Put the football game on TV. Go around the room and have everyone introduce themselves, and tell the group what their favorite Christmas was like.

Basically the strategy you want to deploy here is to see yourself as ministering to the neighbors and acquaintances that you've got in this new city. You're not the only one who has nowhere to go for the holidays. So be a solution for all those other people. The best way to get out of a pity party is to throw a party.

Enough Faith?

Dear Victorious,

I've been a Christ-follower for many years now. I actually can't remember any time in my life when I wasn't. Lately I've been involved in some discussion in a small group about faith. How do you know if you have enough faith? What would be the definition "enough faith?"

Marti K. - Ponca City, OK

Dear Marti,

I believe the best definition of enough faith might be better stated as an effective faith. By that I mean a faith which results in changed behaviors. People with an effective faith, for example, make decisions not based on circumstances, popular opinion or even what seems wise and prudent. Rather effective faith causes decisions to be made against who God is, what God promises, and who we are in Christ.

Don't worry about having enough faith. Frankly, none of us can decide to have faith or to make a decision to have more faith. Faith, especially an effective faith, is simply the result of an intimate relationship with God. Matthew 6:33 tells us to, "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and all His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you." Spend your time and focus making pursuit of God and His righteous ways your highest priority. When you do, all the faith in the world will be "added unto you."

Honoring Parents

Dear Victorious,

I know the Bible says that we are to honor our parents. From a practical perspective, how exactly do we go about doing that?

Keith C. - Flower Mound, TX

Dear Keith,

As children, we do that by being obedient and respectful to them. As adults, we do that by living the virtuous values that they taught us. I believe that also includes that in their declining years, we make sure that they are taken care of and provided for.

Hypnosis

Dear Victorious,

Is there any place in the Bible that addresses hypnosis? I mean, is it Biblical or okay for Christians?

David E. - Oshkosh, WI

Dear David,

I'm not aware of any place in the Bible that specifically references hypnosis by name. However --- the Bible is very clear about a broad category that I believe would include hypnosis. The definition of hypnosis is an artificially induced and altered condition and control of the mind. So it is the turning of one's mind over to another medium. It could include a loss of consciousness and a manipulation of one's mind and thinking. This is not Biblical.

Deuteronomy 18:10-12 says, "Let no one be found among you ... who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord ..." This scripture reference is broad enough to include the practice of hypnosis. Similar scripture references like this can be found in Leviticus 19 & 20, Exodus 22 and Isaiah 8.

Frankly, I think this makes it pretty clear. Hypnosis is ungodly and should not be entertained by Christ-followers.

Illegal Immigrants

Dear Victorious,

What, in your opinion, should be the posture of born-again Christians toward illegal immigrants in our country?

Ellen P. - Boise, ID

Dear Ellen,

To begin with, the posture of born-again Christians toward anything should always be based on the Bible. I think the Bible provides us with two clear principles that would apply and help shape our response toward illegal immigrants:

1. Love them. Have mercy on them and compassion toward them.
2. Hold them accountable. They are law-breakers ... and must face the natural consequences of their active or inactive choice to become illegal immigrants.

Beyond this, perhaps our government should look at the immigration process that we have to see if there to streamline the immigration process so that desperate people seeking a better life aren't as likely to resort to breaking the law to get here or stay here. And perhaps a Christian response could include looking at our government's process and being champions for change as it may be needed to make it more fair, more reasonable, etc.

Rate the Religions

Dear Victorious,

You've blogged before on Islam, Catholicism, Judaism and other religions. I know you think these are all false religions because they worship a different God than Christians do. But I wonder, are there some religions that are more false than others?

Andy W. - Mesquite, TX

Dear Andy,

Yes, I think there are. Islam, Catholicism and Judaism all start with the same God that Christians worship. But then they add to Him or take things away from Him to make up an entirely different. Still, an element of the god they worship is shared in the actual one true God.

On the other hand, there are entirely different religions that don't worship a god that has any dimension of the one true God in it. Examples that come to mind are the B'hai and Unitarian Universalist religions. Generally speaking, they think don't define their god very narrowly at all. In fact, their notion of god is very plural and all-encompassing. They think god is in everything. Perhaps the most outrageous religion I know of though is the Hindu religion. They have more than 600,000 different gods. Can you just imagine?

With many other false religions, I see their belief (i.e., their "god) on a sort of a spectrum. You could move them up or down that spectrum to get to the one true God. So it may not be a stretch for them to come to Christ. You'd just have to refine their definition of who God is. On the other hand, the Hindus aren't anywhere on that spectrum. In order to come to Christ, they'd have to completely throw away everything they've ever believed about any god.

So yes, there are some religions that are more false than others. But notice which ones are advancing the most in the world these days? It's not the Hindus. Rather one of Satan's most successful tactics is to take some semblance of the truth, pervert it and then it proliferates. Consider that Christians, for example, have no problem marrying Catholics or Jews. They don't really believe their gods are all that different. The Bible calls this deception. It's considerably more dangerous to the Christian faith than something like the Hindu religion. So said differently, the religions that are the most false are not the ones we should worry the most about.

Doesn't Compute

Dear Victorious,

You seem to believe that Christianity is the way to go. But as you look at Christianity today, is there anything that gives you cause to pause? I mean is there anything that doesn't compute for you?

Valerie N. - Lucas, TX

Dear Valerie,

Most certainly there is, but it is always on the part of the Christians themselves. I believe Jesus' plan for our lives is rock solid and that always computes. But I continue to be amazed that self-professed Christians can apparently read the same Bible I do and come to such different conclusions than I do.

For example, many western Christians today live luxurious lives. Really nice homes, cars, entertainment, etc. They live really, really good lives. But it amazes me that they can enjoy all the trappings of wealth --- and be so indifferent to the suffering of the poor around them. How can we Christians live so well when so many - even other Christians - are not? This doesn't compute for me!

Seriousness of Sin

Dear Victorious,

I teach a Sunday School class of adults, and my wife and I participate in a home cell group. Inevitably, when the discussion is about sin, people tend to gloss over the issue. For instance, one of the members of our group wanted to confess something. When she did, the others in the group basically trivialized the sin, telling her that "everyone has done that," or that she "should beat yourself up." I'm a sinner too, but I somehow have the sense that we aren't really understanding the seriousness of sin. What do you think?

Adolph N. - Grand Island, NE

Dear Adolph,

I think that when you say you "somehow have the sense," it is a case of the Holy Spirit convicting you of a Biblical truth. Sin is way more serious than most of us realize. While God is willing to forgive all sin, His disposition toward any sin is extreme, to say the least. Today, we have Jesus serving as the "scapegoat" - having taken our sins upon Himself and intervening for us with God.

If it were not for Jesus standing between us and God, we would still be experiencing the natural consequences of God encountering our sin. For a look at what those natural consequences are, look in the Old Testament at how God dealt with sin. For example, in the book of Leviticus we have the incident where two of Aaron's sons (who were ordained priests) burned incense at the altar, in the temple - in addition to doing everything else God told them. It would be tantamount to our pastor lighting a scented candle in addition to everything he did for a church service. But God had given specific instructions, and the burning of incense was not included. So Aaron's sons were being disobedient - not following God's instructions. In response, God immediately flashed fire from the altar killed them both by fire! The congregation had to carry their charred, dead bodies out. God takes sin that seriously.

Listen to your conscience. It is the sound of the Holy Spirit showing you one of God's truths. Sin is incredibly more serious than any of us can probably comprehend. We should spend more time trying to develop a proper regard for sin. In other words, we should try to view sin the way God does. It is the most detestable, reprehensible thing known to God. It should be viewed the same way by His people.

Obeying God

Dear Victorious,

What's the best way to go about obeying God? As a Christian, I want to obey Him but I often find that I don't. So I want to be more disciplined in that regard. Can you suggest some things I could do that would help me grow in obedience to Him?

Connie F. - Middleburg Heights, OH

Dear Clara,

It's good that you want to grow in your obedience to God. However, the fact of the matter is that humans are not capable of fully obeying God. Our sin nature gets in the way and wrecks even our best intentions. None of us is humanly capable of obeying God. Therefore, obedience is the result of a relationship with God. So if you want to grow your obedience to God, seek Him first. Grow your relationship with God. You will find that the obedience follows the relationship.

Bearing Fruit

Dear Victorious,

Jesus said, "I am the vine, you are the branches." I get that. But He loses me when He talks about bearing fruit, not bearing fruit or even bearing good and bad fruit. What exactly does this mean?

Angie P. - Waxahachie, TX

Dear Angie,

I can seem a bit complicated. Jesus is the vine and we are the branches is really the background for the notion of bearing fruit. What is this so-called "fruit?" It's the love of God being played out in people's lives. So if you're volunteering at the library, feeding the homeless, teaching a Sunday school class, etc. --- these are all the "fruit" that Jesus was speaking about.

Think about trees that bear fruit. Often the type of tree cannot be ascertained until it produces fruit. In other words, the fruit is the certain evidence of the tree's real identity. In the same way, the "fruit" that we bear is the certain evidence of our real identity (as Christians). Consider this verse:

"He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful." - John 15:2

What Jesus was saying here is that the "fruit" really matters to God. And if any of us doesn't mature spiritually enough to ever bear fruit, then He will conclude that we don't belong on the tree (Jesus) and we will be cut off (never acquire our salvation).

Concise Letters

Dear Victorious,

I've noticed that the letters you print here are pretty succinct and to the point. Frankly, I find that hard to believe.

Thor M. - Charleston, SC

Dear Thor,

Yes, I would find it hard to believe too. Some of the letters I receive go on for even more than a page or two. It's almost as if someone wants to share their entire life story ... around a simple question. So I just pull the key question out and use that in this blog.

Church Shopping

Dear Victorious,

We've been shopping around for a new church home. After visiting several churches, we're just more confused than ever. We find a church that looks good and we think that we'll like it. But as we become more familiar with a church, we begin to see things about it that we don't like. I know, maybe we're being too picky or maybe we have unrealistic expectations. Still, I find it hard to imagine committing myself to a church with so many flaws that these churches seem to have any more. What do we do?

Xenia P. - Ft. Collins, CO

Dear Xenia,

A church doesn't have to be perfect to advance the cause of Christ. It doesn't have to be perfect for God to use it. And you're right about having unrealistic expectations. Rick Warren, a pastor and famous Christian author, says that there are no perfect churches. Further he says that if you find a church that you think is perfect ... you definitely should not go there because you're not perfect and you'd contaminate it!

The thing is you'll never find a perfect church. So rather than looking for what's wrong with each church you check out, consider looking for what's right at that church. In what ways do you see God moving in that church? In what ways do you see evidence that the people in that church love the Lord above all else and love others (both inside and outside the church)?

If you're looking for another church, I'm not going to ask why. That's between you and God. But let's just suppose that you had God's permission or leading to leave the last church you were in. Then I would expect God to have another church in mind for you. So ask Him. "Lord, is this the church you have for me? Is this where you want me to to engage?" Then listen to His answer.

God Knows Me

Dear Victorious,

I know that God knows even the number of hairs on my head. He knows everything about me too. But I have to confess that I'm not sure what difference it makes. If God is my creator, then what does it matter that He knows such and such about me?

Steve A. - Alliance, OH

Dear Steve,

It's true that there is no knowledge which God does not possess. In contrast, there is extensive knowledge that mankind will never master. On a personal level, God knows my every move. He knows all of my thoughts. He hears my every word.

God is intimately familiar with my methods, my values, passions, priorities, etc. He fully understands my thought patterns and the processes I use to make decisions. Perhaps the hardest to grasp is the fact that God knows the future ... anything that is yet to come about in me.

Perhaps the most important thing for us to realize when it comes to God knowing me is the extent to which He knows me. Aside from knowing what I know about myself and what others know about me, God knows what nobody else knows about me. And He knows things about me that I don't even know about myself!

So what does all this matter? I suppose there are lots of answers to a question like this. But for me, it means that God loves us. Consider when you are attracted to someone. What do you do next? You get to know them. It's a natural pattern for relationships. The more highly that we regard someone, the more we want to know about it. So the fact that God knows so much about me is a good indication of how He regards me.

Baptism

Dear Victorious,

My husband and I have been married for five years, and joined a non-denominational church this past summer. When we took the membership class, they stressed the importance being baptized, and twice we've been contacted to try and schedule us for baptism. I was baptized as a child - before I could even walk. And my husband gave His life to Christ when he was a teen-ager (in a church that didn't do baptisms). So if we're both already saved, why would we need to be baptized now?

Dorothy V. - St. Paul, MN

Dear Dorothy,

Often there is confusion about baptism. People, and even some denominations, believe that baptism is necessary for salvation. That is not a Biblical view. Nevertheless many credible denominations (such as the Catholics) hold fast to it. This results in things like infant baptisms ... because the belief is that baptism is necessary for salvation and the parents or grandparents want to secure that salvation for their child as soon as possible.

So if you were baptized as an infant, it was because your parents or grandparents or whomever was involved in that baptism had an inaccurate understanding of what baptism is. The Biblical truth about baptism is that it is an outward expression to acknowledge what has already been accomplished. Your salvation is secured when you make a conscious decision to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior and pledging yourself to seek Him and obey Him for the rest of your life.

While baptism doesn't accomplish your salvation, it is a very important act of humility, obedience and respect on our part. It is one of the most significant signs of true repentance (Matthew 3:6) and it publicly identifies the believer with Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:19).

Often Jesus' own baptism is a reference point for the fact that baptism isn't needed to secure salvation. Jesus was perfect, had never sinned and actually is God. So you have to ask yourself why Jesus would get baptized. He didn't need to be saved. To help understand the significance of baptism, I think it's helpful to look at what happened when Jesus was baptized.

"When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as He was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, (saying), 'You are my Son, whom I love; with You I am well pleased.'" - Luke 3:21-22

Can you just imagine? Heaven was opened? The Holy Spirit came on Jesus in bodily form. And an audible voice from heaven declares God's love for Him. And God says, "... with You I am well pleased." I don't know about you, but I like to think that my own baptism does the same thing. Heaven rejoices, and God is well pleased.

Sign up for your church's baptism at your earliest convenience.

Holiday Depression

Dear Victor,

The Christmas season is upon us and I can just feel the depression coming on. Every year I get to feeling so low and so sad that I can hardly stand it. I know other people to do; apparently this is a common phenomenon. Why do people, especially Christ-followers, suffer such bouts of depression during the holiday season? Why can't we just be happy and enjoy the season?

Kendra L. - Monroe, LA

Dear Kendra,

The truth is that I don't really know why people get depressed during the holidays. I understand that depression typically has two causes, (1) chemical imbalance, physiological; or (2) situational, affected by circumstances. Personally I suspect there are some mistaken diagnoses, where things that are situational or circumstantial get treated as if they were physiological. Nevertheless, it seems obvious to me that depression which only hits during the holidays is not physiological. It is not the result of chemical imbalances.

So what are some possible causes for depression that hits only during the holidays? There may be many, but I suspect they all have their root in our belief system. Simply put, we may be believing lies and/or not believing truths. For example, we are told by our culture that Christmas is all about family and love. Frankly, that's a lie. It's all about celebrating the fact that Jesus was born to save my wretched, hopeless soul. Moreover, if my family is dysfunctional, just because it's Christmas doesn't mean they suddenly stop being dysfunctional. Only now I have a different expectation of them.

Another example (of a lie we're believing) is the notion of friends during the holidays. The images we have are friends ice skating together, exchanging big, exquisitely wrapped gifts, singing around the open fire, sharing hot cider, etc. Again, my friends and friendships are what they are. But we may have different expectations of them during the holidays, which don't get met.

An example of a truth I'm not believing, which could contribute to depression, is the fact that I am a sinner without hope of salvation. That's the truth, and that truth makes the birth of Christ all that much bigger and more meaningful to us. If, on the other hand, I still think I'm "a pretty good person," then I have denial about who I really am --- and little or no sincere appreciate for who Jesus is and what He did for me.

Keeping Sabbath

Dear Victorious,

I know you blogged not long ago about the sabbath and how Christians should regard it. I don't understand what the big deal is. It seems that if we usually go to church, and don't go to work on Sunday that should meet the criteria (for Biblically observing the sabbath). But you're saying that it's more complicated than that. Where can I find a list of things not to do and things to do?

Alvin P. - Andrews, TX

Dear Alvin,

It's not about what we can or cannot do. It's about treating the day as holy. God didn't create the Sabbath with a list of things to do or not do. But ... He put guidelines in place that would prevent His people from doing anything that would distract us from the holiness of that day.

Read Exodus 20:8-11, and notice that God blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. He instructs us to observe or practice the Sabbath day and keep it holy. So the reason we're not to work or engage in any of our regular activities is that God wants us to be still and focus on Him.

I think most Christians in America are probably failing to keep God's command to observe the Sabbath and keep it holy. Aside from church attendance for an hour or two, most of us go about or regular activities on the Sabbath. We think nothing of doing laundry, house work, yard work, shopping, etc.

For a contrast, consider God's intent. Look at Exodus 16:29-30. This is the story of where the Israelites had escaped from Egypt and were first in the desert. They had no food, so God put in place a plan that would last for 40 years ... of His providing daily manna (bread) that would cover the ground in the mornings like dew. The Israelites were to go and gather that they needed each day, and only what they needed each day. But on the sixth day, they were to gather twice as much. God did not want the Israelites to even pick up bread off the ground on the Sabbath day that He declared holy.

To make an analogy in our modern day lives, if there were free food sitting on your lawn on the Sabbath day of rest, God would not want you to pick it up. Similarly, you wouldn't be doing any grocery shopping, house work, yard work, etc. In fact some theologians would even consider sports to be "off limits" on the Sabbath.

Why would God take such a position with His people? It's not because these things are so bad; but rather it is because they take away from the holiness of this special day. Remember, His command for us is to keep it holy.

Sins of the Fathers?

Dear Victorious,

I've heard that the Bible says God will punish us for the "sins of our fathers," even to the third or fourth generation. This doesn't seem logical. How could a loving God do such a thing as punish me for something I clearly did not do?

Yvette I. - Rockford, IL

Dear Yvette,

You might be misunderstanding that. I think there are a couple places where such language is used in the Bible. But in both contexts, it isn't God punishing people unfairly. Rather it is the people experiencing the natural consequences of the poor choices made by their parents, grandparents, etc.

Mental health professionals readily point to trends in addiction, divorce and other "sins of the fathers." Basically the poor choices made by my parents are likely to be repeated in my life as well. In such case, we both suffer.

Conversely, if my parents chose righteousness and pursuit of God, I am much more likely to do the same. So the blessings of righteousness are also carried on to the third and fourth generations (though the Bible doesn't state that this way).

Look at Exodus 20:4-5 and notice that the first time God made this statement, He was talking about being a jealous God. He said that His punishment would endure to the third and fourth generations, but similarly His blessings would endure to a thousand generations!

Suffering for Jesus

Dear Victorious,

Is it true that Christians need to suffer for Jesus? I read passages like 1 Peter 4:1-2, and frankly they scare me. What are we to make of this?

Mort D. - Sparks, NV

Dear Mort,

No it is not true that Christians need to suffer for Jesus. What Peter is pointing out in that passage is the fact that we must arm ourselves with the same attitude that Jesus had to suffering. Jesus didn't want to suffer any more than you or I would. But He was willing to suffer if that were necessary to fulfill God's will for His life. You and I need to be just as ready --- should it ever be necessary.

After God's Heart

Dear Victorious,

When God called King David a "man after my own heart," what exactly did He mean by that? How can we become people after God's "own heart?"

Cela C. - Houston, TX

Dear Cela,

Look at King David's life, including some of the Psalms he wrote. The man made mistakes and sinned. But he had a humble repentant heart. He learned from his mistakes. And through it all, he trusted God. Moreover, he freely worshipped God with all his heart.

So if we want to learn from David's model, then we don't focus on our mistakes and our sin. It is not the absence of those things that make us men and women after God's own heart. Rather it is the willingness and readiness to repent when we do sin. It is the willingness and ability to consistently learn from our mistakes; and it is an enduring faith that will make us people after God's own heart.

God's Laws

Dear Victorious,

I've grown up in church, attending my whole life. But I've gotta tell you that as I look through the Bible, God's laws just seem to be an annoying list of "do this" and "don't do that." For the most part, they seem to be only relevant for the Old Testament people anyway. Jesus said He came to complete the law, so doesn't that really mean the law is finished and we need not worry about it?

Franklin B. - Tulsa, OK

Dear Franklin,

No, that's not what it means. God's laws revive us, make us wise, bring joy to our hearts (as we obey them), give us insight, warn us and reward us. God's laws are guidelines for healthy living and serve to light our pathway as we go. They point at danger to warn us and at success to incent us.

There is nothing irrelevant about God's laws for today's people. Re-read Matthew 5:17-18 and notice what Jesus said about God's laws. There is no part of them that should be disregarded until "everything is complete."

Mormonism

Dear Victorious,

Is Mormonism really a cult?

Ted R. - Sandusky, OH

Dear Ted,

I don't think Mormonism would meet the common understanding that we have in modern society of a cult. However, if you look up the word "cult" in a dictionary, you'll see that it can be any religion that is false. So in that sense, Mormonism, Unitarianism, Catholicism, Judaism, Islam, and many others would qualify as cults.

God is defined as the Trinity of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Nothing gets added to that or taken away from it. The only Holy Book we have is the Christian Bible - of the Old & New Testaments. Nothing gets added to that or taken away from it. This is the only true religion. Everything else is false (and therefore a cult).

Religions like Mormonism and Islam tend to be demonized by conservative Christians. They're treated as if they're some terrible brain-washing cult that takes hostages or something. That's not a fair representation of who they are. In fact, it exposes the ignorance of the Christians who think that way!

Put Mormonism in the same category as Catholicism. Neither have an accurate view or definition of who God is (so are worshipping a false god).

Unfaithful Spouse?

Dear Victorious,

Is there a way to know if your spouse is faithful? I don't have any reason to believe my husband is cheating on me. But if he ever did, I just couldn't handle that. What can a Christian woman do to protect herself in a situation like this? I know my husband is human, so there's always a risk that he could fail me.

Diane V. - Colleyville, TX

Dear Diane,

Here's the thing, if you're the Christ-follower that you tell me you are, then you have to trust Jesus for your security. You're right in that your husband and every other person whom you may have a relationship with could fail you. After all, they're only human. But Jesus is not. He is God. And He is sufficient for any pain you might suffer when humans fail you.

You seem to be suffering from something that hasn't happened. (We call that "worry.") Stop it. Embrace the relationship you have with your husband. Invest in it. And don't spend even a second trying to figure out a "Plan B" for when that relationship hits difficult spots. Instead, spend your time drawing close to God. He is your "Plan B" for all your relationships.

Tipping

Dear Victorious,

I don't like the fact that we are expected to tip the server at the restaurant, the cab driver, the dry cleaner, the barista at the coffee shop, etc. It just seems to be a never-ending siege of people who have their hand out. I think there's somewhere in the Bible where it says employees should be paid a fare wage. I don't think I should have to make up the difference when they're not. Is there some Biblical position I could take on this?

Vernon T. - Taos, NM

Dear Vernon,

Yes, there is a position on tipping that's Biblical --- but you're probably not going to like it. There are several places in Scripture that talk about the fact that people should be paid a living wage for the work that they perform. There is a plentiful supply of general Scripture references, such as those verses dealing with treating people fairly, doing the right thing and so forth.

But several verses specifically speak to employers about paying their workers a living wage ... the true value of their work in the present economy. Luke 10:7 says that "... a worker deserves his wages ..." and Romans 13:7 says, "... give everyone what you owe him." Then 1 Timothy 5:18 tells us that, "... a worker deserves his wages ..." Finally, James 5:4 says, "The wages that you failed to pay the workmen ... are crying out against you."

That all being said, the reality is that many employers don't do this. Some assume that with tips the salary that they pay will add up to a living wage for their workers. They're shifting the burden of proper payment to their customers. In other cases, the employers just don't care and don't make any assumptions about what their people will earn.

I would say that it is sinful for employers not to pay their workers a living wage (as defined by the market value of the work they perform). So what are good Christians to do for those who are being sinned against? Matthew 7:12 and Luke 6:31 tell us to treat others as we would like to be treated.

So, putting all this together, what's the best Biblical position for a Christ-follower to take? I'd say acknowledge that their employers are sinning against them and commit yourself to being the most generous tipper that you can afford to be.

Christian Character

Dear Victorious,

Is there one characteristic of Christians that you think stands out among the rest? I mean is there one thing about Christians that is so different from non-Christians as to be unmistakable?

Kalen N. - Duncanville, TX

Dear Kalen,

Yes, I think there is. In fact, I think there are several. They're such remarkable features or personality traits because they're so uncommon in our society as a whole.

First and foremost would be the ability to hold your tonuge. Proverbs 10:19 tells us not to speak too much. Ironically it is a human trait to want to be heard, to want to share our thoughts. But the supernatural contols its tongue and spends way more time listening than it does talking.

The second one that comes to mind is forgiveness. Matthew 18:21-35 describes an inexhaustible level of forgiveness. Turn the other cheek and forgive seventy times seven would be the hardest level of forgiveness to offer. Jesus was in effect saying that we may have to keep forgiving and forgiving the same offensive behavior in others. But never are we to get to a place where we say, "That's enough. I'm not forgiving you any more." This isn't possible on a human level. The pain can run too deep and the desire for justice too strong. But the supernatural never stops forgiving. It doesn't matter what the offense.

Driving Out Fear

Dear Victorious,

I know the Bible says that perfect love drives out fear. Does that mean if fear is still present that perfect love is not present? Isn't the level of fear in someone really then a measure of their relationship with God?

Carl V. - Fort Worth, TX

Dear Carl,

No, I don't think that's what it means. 1 John 4:18 says, "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear ... The one who fears is not made perfect in love." On the surface, this would seem to suggest that the presence of fear equals the absence of Christ. That is not the case. Perfect love is the love of Jesus Christ that dwells within His followers. When someone commits their life to Christ, submits to and obeys Him, they are filled with His perfect love.

Now the perfect love of Jesus Christ overwhelms the fear that tries to occupy us. It doesn't say that the fear will disappear. Rather it will be driven out, overcome, put in its place. No longer will fear be legitimate decision criteria. No longer will fear have any power over us. Mind you, fear will still be present and still try to persuade us that it is in charge. Fear will lie to you and tell you that it is strongest and that you must obey your fears. But perfect love recognizes those lies for what they are. Perfect love says, "Do it afraid!"

Frankly, a total absence of fear might sooner equal the absence of common sense or a level of ignorance about the real, practical risks. But those who are truly in Christ Jesus can see the risks and not be intimidated by them. They know that their faith --- and His grace, will be sufficient to mitigate the risks that they know are very tangible.

Perfect love drives out fear. To be sure, fear will always want to drive out Christ's perfect love. But it never will. (It just doesn't seem to know that!)

Hearing God

Dear Victorious,

Recently our pastor preached a sermon on hearing God. He basically said that if you never hear God speaking to you, then maybe you don't really have a relationship with Him. That seems like a pretty nasty way of putting it. I've been a Christian for a very long time, and God simply doesn't speak to me like He does to other people. But that doesn't mean I'm not a Christian!

Shayla V. - McKinney, TX

Dear Shayla,

I think I might know the church you're going to. My pastor preached a similar sermon recently! In all candor, look at what the preacher said here. He wasn't saying you're not saved. He wasn't saying you're not a Christian. He was saying that if you don't hear God speaking to you, then perhaps you aren't listening as well as you think you are.

God has plenty to say to His children. He is our God and we are His people. He has guidance and direction for us every single day of our lives. If someone isn't getting that from Him, then the most logical place to look is at how effective their relationship with God really is.

Don't take offense to what has been said. But understand that God wants to speak to each and every single one of His children. If you're not hearing Him, then just accepting that and living with a status quo is not the right response. Instead, you should be examining your ways to see how you can become a better listener.

Celebrity Watch

Dear Victorious,

I know you've blogged about Susan Boyle and other rich and famous people. Is there anyone that is on your radar screen right now? What celebrities are you paying attention to these days?

Gene O. - Billings. MT

Dear Gene,

There are a few of them on my radar right now. I don't usually watch celebrities (defined as rich and/or famous people) because they have influence on our society that is powerful. Americans particularly like to follow rich, famous celebrities. As such, we often copy their behaviors, adopt their values, etc. So while I may think, as a Christian, that someone is despicable as a human being - I nevertheless recognize their influence in our society. So who's on my "watch list" these days?

Lady Gaga - Meteoric rise to fame, seemingly an overnight sensation. Doesn't seem to have as much musical talent as she does a shrewd head for business and a laser-sharp focus on executing against a well-thought plan.

Donald Trump - Continues to expand his influence to more areas of our lives.

Miley Cyrus - Stands behind the innocent girl-next-door image that she claims for herself ... while gyrating in sexy music videos with skimpy clothing that suggest anything but wholesomeness.

Hillary Clinton - Lost a national election and yet became one of the most powerful women in the world, overnight, working for a man she claimed was incompetent and unfit for the job he has.

These are just a few that come to mind. Basically I watch rich and famous people and their interaction with society. Said differently, I pay attention what they do with their massive level of influence. Will they use it for good of all ... or for the good of themselves? Are their motives selfish, or genuine and sincere? And of course, if they're professing to be righteous - do they walk the talk?