A lot of Christians our age have a lot of questions from God and the Bible. With help from ChristianAnswers.Net and the "Teen Devotional Bible: New International Version", I made a little FAQ (Frequently Asked Question) page for the common questions that teens... well all people have! If you don't feel comfortable asking your family, pastor, me or you don't know where to look, maybe this page can be of some help to you. If you have any questions that aren't listed here, go ahead and e-mail me and I'll do my best to answer them for you.
Common Questions
Verses: 2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Timothy 3:16-17
Yes. Everything in the Bible is true. God spoke to men and told them to write the Bible. These men were sinful and made mistakes, so you're probably wondering why God would want people like that writing His word. It's pretty simple, God told them what to write and how to phrase it. Even though Moses wrote down the first five books of the Bible, God was the one who was the real author.
Verses: Genesis 4
Okay, before I answer this one, let's back up a little bit. God had just created people, Adam and Eve had to sons. Cain killed Abel, and was driven out to the city of Nod. Then it speaks of his wife. Well, since the only people on the earth were Adam, Eve and their kids, Cain probably married one of his sisters. Ewwww, gross, I know. But that's the only thing anyone can really come up with.
Why does God make bad things happen to good people?
Verses: Romans 2:28
God does not make bad things happen. In the garden of Eden, was it God who sinned and ate the forbidden fruit? No. When the Jews were out in the desert with Moses, was it God who didn't do what was right? No. Some times bad things happen because people sin or refuse to listen to God. Other times like people getting in an accident or people who are sick happen too. Is that God's fault? No. Is it the person's fault? No. God has never created anything bad and he never causes anything bad to happen either. But what He does do is help us through our hard times (Deuteronomy 31:6).
There's also an old saying: If God brings you to it, He'll bring you through it.
Am I good enough to get to heaven?
Verse: Romans 3:23; 6:23
No. No one is good enough to get to heaven. If they were good enough, then why did Jesus have to die for our sins? I'm not good enough, you're not good enough, your Pastor isn't, my pastor, our parents; we're just sinners. I mean if we were able to get to heaven by being good, how many good things would we have to do to make up for the bad? Since heaven is perfect and for only perfect people, then that means we wouldn't be allowed in because of our sins. But because of Jesus making the ultimate sacrafice and dying for our sins, we are allowed in if we know Him as our Lord and Savior.
Does the Bible match up with Science?
A lot of evolutionists and atheists try to use Science to disprove the Bible. But our Awesome God has once again proved the Bible to be true!
The Bible was written over two thousand years ago, before modern science. And yet even before modern science and before Columbus discovered that the earth was round, it was already told in the Bible. Cool, huh?
Does the Bible mention Dinosaurs?
Verse: Job 40:15-24
Yes it does. In your Bible flip to Job 40:15-24. It can be very confusing to read, but if you take your time and study it, you will find that God talks to Job about the Behemoth. See right now God is telling Job how powerful He is and how He alone created a powerful beast. The verses decribe a very big and tall creature, which was known as a dinosaur. You're probably saying, "Hey, what kind of a looney are you? Dinosaurs lived 65 million years ago, way before the first man walked the earth!"
Well, that's what evolutionists say. I don't listen to them; do you know all their "ideas" are just theories. We have the Word of God to back us up. And who says that dinosaurs and man didn't live at the same time? Since God is all powerful, and since His Word is true, don't you think we should be believing Him?
Verse: Luke 22:54-62; John 21:15-25
What do you mean "lose" it? If you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, read His Word, pray, and go to church, how can you lose Salvation? But what you're probably wanting to know if there is anyway you could loose God forever? The answer would be "no".
Remember Peter? He denied Christ three times. Does that mean you can deny Him and still be a Christian? Not quite. If you truly know Him and love Him dearly, then you wouldn't do something like that. If you did and want Jesus back, then tell Him. Ask for forgiveness. God loves you and will forgive you.
I think I'm a Christian, but sometimes I'm just not sure. How can I know that I'm really God's?
Verse: Romans 8:35-39
Every once in awhile I have these problems too. Sometimes I sin and I think, "That's it, God hates me now!" That is wrong! You have to understand that you can't lose God by sinning, or even try to get God's love by earning it! There is only one way to be God's child and stay God's child. By asking Jesus Christ into your heart and life, asking for forgiveness and truly repenting. Then once you're His, you're His. Yes you can fall away and it's not good to do that, but you are still God's.
Even if you are a Christian, you have to remember that God wants you completely. Not just on Sundays or when the mood strikes you. If you want Him completely, you have to give of yourself completely over to Jesus.
If God has forgiven me, then why do I still need to ask for forgivenss?
Verse: 1 John 1:9
Even after a person is forgiven, they still sin. It's a part of out sinful human nature. So as we grow, we still need to ask God for forgiveness. That way we can grow and know Him better. Don't worry, there's nothing that that God can't forgive!
God doesn't need us, so why did He make us?
Verse: Acts 17:25; 1 John 4:8; Deuteronomy 6:5
Good question! Let me be blunt, God didn't make us because He needed us. Acts 17:25 frankly says that God does not serve anyone. He wasn't lonely, because He had the Holy Trinity (Genesis 1:26) and tons of angels to keep Him company. So it wasn't that.
Even though He didn't need us, God created us because He loved us! Cool, huh? That someone could love you even before you were created. It's hard to imagine that someone could love you even if you didn't exist. 1 John 4:8 talks about His love being everlasting, and that is so true! Then there is that famous verse, John 3:16, doesn't that just say it all?
One more thing, it's God's plan. We can't always understand what His plan is or why He planned it, but this is just how God wanted it. He wanted us to know His love, and He wants to know our love. Try reading Deuteronomy 6:5, Matthew 22:39, and Ephesians 2:10. These are verses all about loving God and following His plan.
Sometimes I get ticked at God, is that okay?
Verse: Genesis 18:16 to 19:38; Exodus 20:12
Yeah, it's okay to get mad, but how mad do you get? God understands emmotions because He created them, and has them (Check out Genesis 18:16 to 19:38. God got angry with Sodom and Gomorrah because of it's sin). It's fine to get angry, God wants you to be honest with Him. But you have to remember that God has feelings like anyone else. If you go screaming your head off at Him, don't expect Him to really take that lightly. God is like a Father to you, actually if you know Him personally, He is your Father. But would scream, rant and rave at your earthly father? If the answers "no", then you shouldn't do it to God either. God is your Dad, and He deserves to be honored and respected too, even if you aren't getting what you want.
Is it okay to doubt God and His ways?
Verse: Job 1-42
YES! I think every Christian goes through times in their lives' where they doubt God and His ways. Try reading the book of Job. Job lost his kids, money, he had boils all over him, his wife told him to "curse God and die", and his "friends" blamed him for his troubles. Job questioned God, pleaded and begged, he doubted God and maybe even asked Him where He was. Job trusted God, but in a way he doubted Him too. Finally at the very end God spoke and asked Job a bunch of questions about who was really in control!
God will not leave you! He understands how hard it is to face life's troubles, that's why He wants You to come to Him when you have problems. In Matthew 11:28-40, Jesus asks us to come to Him when were are burdened or weary. Try memorizing Proverbs 3:5-6 that way you'll be able to trust Him in everything!
God doesn't answer my prayers like He's supposed to!
Verse: John 14:13-14; Philipians 2:5; Romans 8:26-27
How is He supposed to answer prayers? He's the creator of the universe and wiser than all of us put together. Give God some credit, He know's what He's doing.
What are you asking for? If you're asking for a $1,000,000 then you probably won't get it. But if you're asking for help for your finances to provide for your family, then God will help you. God knows what you want, but He's going to give you what you need.
If you're praying for a loved one or a friend, God hears your prayers. Continue praying because God hears your prayers. But you have to remember that God always answers prayers! Not always yes, sometimes no, and sometimes He answers them when He wants to!
What's God's will for my life?
Verse: Jeremiah 29:11-14, Jeremiah 1:5-8, Philipians 2:13
Okay... God created each and every person for a special reason. What's His purpose for you? That's something you need to find out. I can't really give you the answers to this one, but God can. There are several ways to find out. Pray, read the Bible, spead time with other believers, go to church, read "how to" books by Christian authors, etc. The list goes on, but what do you feel called to do? Some people are meant to be like Billy Graham, while God works through others "behind the scenes".
Whatever God has planned for you, it's something very special. You might be thinking, "Yeah, but I can't do anything neat, so God can't use me." If God can't use you, then why did He create you?
Yes and no. When it comes to Jesus, morality, purity, salvation, sinning and things like that, yes take it literally! But back then in the Bible times people had figures of speech too. Like when we say, "I feel like a million bucks!" or "I have a million things to do today!", we know those are just expressions. Like when Jesus said that if our arm or eye causes us to sin, then we should cut it off or pluck it out. Well, He didn't really mean to start hacking away at ourselves. He just meant that sin is hurtful and that when we trust Him, we should live our sinful ways behind us (Mark 9:43-47).
You're smart and I really believe that you know what's a saying and what's not. Try cross referencing verses, or getting an "A to Z, Topical Bible", that way if you want to know about something, whether it's true or not, you can find out there.
If God is truly a loving God, then why does He send people to Hell?
Verse: Romans 6:23
God is a loving God! What more can He do to show His love? His Son, Jesus died for everyone's sins. That means He died for your's, mine, the Christians, Muslims, Atheists, Jews, Greeks, Devil Worshipers, everyones! He died for the people who will never even come to know Him! Jesus warns us so many times in the Bible what will happen if we don't accept Him.
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.", Romans 6:23. Jesus paid the price and has done everything He could, now it's your turn.
Verse: Ephesians 4:5-7
Through out the Bible, God proves Himself to us that Jesus is the only way to know Him. Jesus himself says in John 10:30 that He and the Father are one. Then in John 14:6 He said He was the way, the truth and the life! You can't have a personal relationship with Him through Mohammed, Buddah, New Age, whatever... it doesn't work that way. It can't. Jesus is the only way. If there wasn't, why did He have to die for us?
Verse: Genesis 2; Leviticus 20:13
Yes it's wrong! Take a look at how God created mankind. It was man and woman. Not woman and woman, or man and man, but man and woman!!!!!!!!! You may think I am bigoted, but I'm not. I don't hate gay and lesbians, but I do hate their live style. It's wrong, immoral, sickening, evil, nasty... I could go on forever! Don't believe me, go do your own research in God's Word. You won't find anything that backs up homosexuality. In Leviticus it goes as far as saying that it's an abomination and that they should be put to death. That was how they were judged back then. What does it say in the New Testament? God came up with a new way of judging them; Jesus.
So yes, homosexuality is wrong, no matter how you look at it!
More are coming soon!!!!! If you have questions that aren't listed here, go ahead and e-mail me and I'll answer your questions.