Posts by Craig.Geel (Page 15)

Q.   Does the Norwegian Mass Murder by a Christian Terrorist not warn us against going overboard on our commitment to Christ? A. ‘Christian Terrorist’ is a contradiction. Relationship with Jesus always leads to repentance and away from hate and murder. 32-year-old Anders Behring Breivik confessed to the horrific bombing and shooting that left 76 dead and 96 wounded, but seems unrepentant. Breivik is cast in the mass media as a ‘Christian Fundamentalist’, but he is neither Christian nor fundamentalist. Of course the…

Q.    I would like to make a contribution to Missions. Which are suitable? I can’t decide whether to give to the Bible Society, to the Red Cross, to Gift of the Givers, to the SPCA, or to a local Mission. A. Praise the Lord for your giving heart; that’s a rare virtue in these selfish days. And it’s good, too, that you seek advice on giving. You must want to go beyond an emotional urge right into something that’s God-directed and…

Q.   What scope is there for a divorced woman in the Body of Christ? A.   Regular Seminars on The Woman’s Place in the Body of Christ are run at Golden Harvest; get to one of these anointed and inspiring weekends! Irrespective of her past, the Elders will care for any woman coming into the Body of Christ. Observing her sincere and humble walk with the Lord they will guide her, mostly through her husband, into serving the Lord and her blessed role…

Q.    In a (largely) democratic world, what place does Democracy have in the Church? A.   No place at all. Democracy relates to the will of the people; in the Church we strive to find and do the will of God. The Godhead has given all authority in this Dispensation to the Lord Jesus. He, in turn, has given Ministry Gifts to the Church to lead and direct it to achieve the Father’s will. Godly Leadership in the Church is vested in…

Q.    How dangerous is dating and how far can a Christian go with the opposite sex? A.   Sadly, Satan has hijacked the healthy drives and emotions God created for us. For every Christian this will be a challenge and whether we live in the joyous liberty of the Children of God, or in the fake joy of the devil, relates to our choice. Be warned that the fake joy of the devil will end up as a bitter enslavement that will…

Q.    As a new Christian it dismays me to see other Believers moving from one Church to another for no apparently valid reason. Why is this so? Has it always been the practice? A.   Historically, after World War 2 the world’s value system and morals took a nosedive with the emergence of ‘Free Thinking’, open promiscuity and anti-God cultures. The atrocities people faced during those terrible years and its apparent end, brought in a new code of ‘Enjoy yourself, It’s later…

Q. A LifeWay Research survey found that 44% of non-church-goers say Christians get on their nerves; 72% say the churches are “full of hypocrites,” and over 85% say one may have a good relationship with God without belonging to a church. Is this true? A. Sadly there may well be plenty of hypocrites in churches today but this is no excuse not to go. There are hypocrites at rugby and cricket too; has anyone refused to attend these matches? God…

Q.   Is Church Attendance really necessary for spiritual growth? A.   Please carefully consider these thoughts: At salvation the Holy Spirit baptised you into the Body of Christ; He knew precisely where to place you – 1 Cor 12:13. God has set you in the Body as it ‘pleased Him’ 1 Cor 12:18. Would your own choice not frustrate His purpose and grace? With whom would you share the Ministry Christ has invested in you, Eph 4:7, and upon whom would you shower…

Q. The majority of Americans believe that alternatives to church are a Biblical way to practice one’s faith. The Christian Post, Feb. 18, 2008, reports that non-church alternatives included activities at home with family (89%); house church (75%); religious TV (69%); and religious Radio (68%). Is Non-Church Worship Biblical?  A.   What a mockery of God’s teaching about the Church! As important as the family is, it is not the Church. And religious TV and Radio cannot take the place of the…

Q. Most Assemblies use chorus leaders at their meetings. Why don’t you favour Bands or Worship Teams? They produce better quality music and singing. A. Let’s consider the purpose of music in the Church. It certainly has a part to play, but what is that part? God is not interested in good music as such; He seeks worshippers and their worship. Of course music may assist us to worship the Lord, but where it becomes more than that, or even…

Q. My 81yr old Mom is in hospital with very low blood pressure. The cardiologist is not giving us much hope and we can’t decide about a pacemaker for her. What shall we do? A. If your Mom was strong and healthy before her heart problem, then a pacemaker is a viable consideration. On the other hand, if she was weak and sickly, it would only prolong her poor quality of life. If she loves the Lord, passing on would…