EPISODE 137: Q&A

Date: 11/16/2022

Questions

I saw an article that mentioned this and wondered your thoughts. Do we need to repent of sins we commit in dreams?

    1. I cannot imagine a reason why we’d need to repent of something that happens in our dreams. 
    2. Dreams are not reality. Dreams are not willful choices or thoughts we make. They’re involuntary. 
    3. To sin is to willfully choose to either disobey or choose not to obey. But we’re not making that choice in a dream.

    How are we biblically viewing Solomon or David having multiple wives and what kind of example it is? A common response is that this was just a cultural norm for purposes of alliances and relationships? How do we respond to those who point this out as an “inconsistency or hypocrisy?

      1. Biblically we view Solomon, David, and any other non-one man and one woman marriage relationships as sinful.
      2. The Bible doesn’t praise or glorify multiple marriage partners. It will state facts (so and so had multiple wives) and will often show us the consequences of having multiple wives.
      3. So I don’t know that there’s an inconsistency or hypocrisy in the Bible. What we have is the Bible showing us all sorts of sinful decisions people — even the people of God — have made, the consequences of their sin, and why Jesus is the great Rescuer of sinners. He’s also the faithful husband to his (singular) bride — the Church. 

      I know that some people do not use the divine name because they say that it is too sacred to speak, but others say that God wouldn’t have given us his divine name if we were not supposed to use it. So I guess I’m just confused as to whether or not we should speak the divine name and wondered what your thoughts were.

        1. There’s no commandment in Scripture to not use God’s divine name — assuming the individual is meaning Yahweh. Though we are commanded to not take God’s name in vain (which would imply saying the name).
        2. Not saying God’s name became a Jewish tradition a few hundred years before Jesus was born.
          1. They believed the name was too holy to be spoken.
          2. They did use a different name for God — Adonai. 
        3. But I’d like to suggest that we — Christians — all do use the divine name of God more frequently than we may realize. But it may not be the name you’re thinking of. The apostle Paul writes this, “You should have the same attitude  toward one another that Christ Jesus had, 6 who though he existed in the form of God did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself by taking on the form of a slave, by looking like other men, and by sharing in human nature. 8 He humbled himself, by becoming obedient to the point of death – even death on a cross! 9 As a result God exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow – in heaven and on earth and under the earth – 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:5-11)
        4. According to Paul, the name above all names, the name that will be revered by all, the name that all mouths will confess is Lord, the name that all knees will bow down to — is the name Jesus. And there’s no fear in saying his name and no fear in calling out his name for those who believe in him.

        I am really struggling. I am honestly so new in truly pursuing walking with Jesus that I sometimes feel like I am too much of a failure. I feel like I don’t have the right mindset, I am not patient enough, maybe honestly not good enough. Like I am just faking it is how it can seem to me, I am doubting my own thoughts and prayers, thinking what an imposter I am. I “know” that everything I am thinking that’s negative is wrong but do I? Am I missing something? Am I fooling myself about how I am trying to change? Where do I turn? I have not felt like I have heard God guiding me and to hear so many have these interactions just seem to reaffirm my paranoia that I am unwelcome. I am attending Bible studies and really trying to dive into God’s word but those thoughts just keep bubbling up. How do we know that we are truly chosen? Maybe some just think they are and actually aren’t, how do we know? Is that how faith is? Is this normal?

          1. Not good enough / impostor syndrome
            1. I want to be sensitive here, but Scripture tells us that none of us are good enough. The apostle Paul writes, “There is no one righteous, not even one.” (Romans 3:10b) Later he writes, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)
            2. So — in a sense — all Christians are impostors. Because we’ve been declared righteous though we’re not righteous in and of ourselves. We’ve been declared to be good though Scripture says none of us are good on our own. We’re sinners who’ve been transformed into saints. Yet we’re saints who still have our old sinful self hanging around until eternity. 
            3. Yet the beauty of the Christian faith is that all that Christ accomplished and all that he is in his humanity has been transferred to us. He became our sin on the cross so we are his sinlessness. He became our disobedience so we are his obedience. His back bore the punishment that we deserve so that our backs are protected by the loving arms of our Heavenly Father. 
            4. And though this feels like we’re an impostor — because none of it has been earned — impostors we are not. We’re children of God — heirs of the eternal riches and life that Christ earned on our behalf.
          2. Additionally, I’d say to be careful to not judge your relationship with Christ by others’ relationships with him and vice versa.
            1. God has made each of us in unique ways and that means not all of our relationships with God are exactly the same.
            2. Maybe one person really experiences God’s presence or his voice through Christian music. While another does through being outdoors in God’s creation. While another does in a dense theological book. While another does working out in their garden.
            3. Having said that, there are some general practices that all Christians should do even though they won’t all have the same exact experience of God while doing them.
              1. Bible reading
              2. Prayer time
              3. Christian fellowship
              4. Serving
              5. Giving

          How do I know if I’m chosen/saved?

          1. The fact that you’re even asking this question is a good start. Not being concerned about our salvation is a sign of arrogance and a hard heart. Being concerned about our salvation is biblical. We’re told to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. Not that we’re to save ourselves but we’re to never presume on our salvation and start living an ungodly life while thinking our eternity is secure.
          2. The book of First John is a great place to start as the whole point of the letter is that the reader may “know” that they have eternal life. I’d encourage you to begin reading First John for assurance of your salvation.

          Do some think they’re saved when they aren’t?

          1. Scripture does teach that some will believe they are right with God, saved, going to Heaven, and — yet — are gravely mistaken. Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of heaven – only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. 22 On that day, many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, and in your name cast out demons and do many powerful deeds?’ 23 Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you. Go away from me, you lawbreakers!’” (Matthew 7:21-23)
          2. The question then becomes, “What is the will of God for us?” To love him with our “heart, soul, mind, and strength and to love our neighbor as ourselves” is a good starting point.
          3. There are many who think they’re going to heaven even though they don’t love God — or love God as he has revealed himself to be in Scripture — nor love others.