AboutJohn of AllFaith Expertise I'm happy to discuss all aspects of Christianity, biblical doctrine, prophecies etc. If you are wondering what the Bible has to say about any topic just ask.
I have experience with many denominations. If you wish to know what a specific group teaches be sure and specify that. If you want my personal views let me know. My take on some topics is a bit different. Most questions are answered from a Baptist perspective unless you specify differently. I welcome standard biblical questions as well as matters not so easily discussed. I'm open minded and non-judgmental.
See some of my questions and answers at allfaith.com/questions
A Statement to Students about Plagiarism any why I answer questions:
Plagiarism is a crime.
Plagiarism can end careers, lead to expulsion from school, the loss of financial aid, and can even result in fines and imprisonment in some cases. Its not worth it!
Despite this a small percentage of those who ask questions at AllExperts, Yahoo Answers etc. copy and paste our answers as their own, often without giving credit. This is plagiarism. Its not worth it!
We all know that one can google a homework question and in many cases find an easy response, but so can your teachers! Many teachers are aware that some students do this and catch their cheating students.
To read more about this go to the following link. Its a conversation between one such teacher from a respectable institution of learning and me: where she writes: ...I have had over 20 students copy your work in the past 3 months...
Understand that if you plagiarize you are cheating your instructors, your answerer, your fellow students, everyone who respects you... and ultimately yourself. Its just not worth it!
Please use our answers to help in your research, not to replace it.
Learn, don't cheat.
Experience I hold an MA in Religious Studies from JKFU, three Christian ordinations and a degree in Interfaith counseling. I have spent time as an evangelist, a missionary, a teacher etc. I am the owner of allfaith.com. I have studied these and related topics for over 35 years and am happy to share with you.
Education/Credentials I hold an MA in Religious Studies from JKFU, three Christian ordinations, a degree in Interfaith counseling, plus the School Hard Knocks.
Expert: John of AllFaith Date: 7/5/2008 Subject: christian living
Question QUESTION: John,
Does the bible consider it a "sin" to live with people that are not Christians? I am renting a temporary room in a ladies house, I don't believe she is Christian, and she is very rude and mean to most of the girls there. I feel the spirit is grieved there. I don't know what I am supposed to do, I will be leaving soon, and am going as fast as I can. Thank you for any direction and support. Could you also say a prayer for me that I will remain strong, and beable to get moved soon? I don't know if God wants me to try to be friends with this lady, or try to witness to her.
thank you.
Leah
ANSWER: Hi Leah,
There are biblical guidelines here:
II Cor. 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Taking such admonition in a balanced way is important.
Some Christians are more strict in matters of "separation" than others. Some seek to avoid all contact with unbelievers while others seek to "be in the world but not of the world" in other ways.
Sharing a dorm etc. with a non-believer is not necessarily a sin. Christians are admonished to live peacefully with everyone as best they can. If this situation is destructive however then getting away from it is certainly a good idea.
I don't think we are called to "be friends" with unbelievers. We are to be witnesses to everyone by living lives of love and kindness. The best way to accomplish this in any given situation must determined on a case by case basis.
I join with you in prayer that God will grant you guidance in this matter.
John of AllFaith
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: John,
Excellent answer! This helped so much. I wanted to put a rating, but it would not let me so I will ask a follow up and hopefully then I can.
question 2: I know that in the book of Galatians, Paul spoke about casting out of the body of Christ, anyone or anything that would preach a gospel at variance, of the one he was. Modern Christianity today has so many people who preach a version of the gospel, but it is obviosly somewhat at variant of the real thing. Why do people not see this as a threat to Christianity? There is one bible program where the man is revealing it, but most people just let it go. Should we not as true believers be a bit more concerned of what this is doing to the world in the name of Jesus?
thank you for any opinion and may God bless you.
Leah
Answer Hi Leah,
I'm always happy to help as I can ;-)
I long ago turned off my ratings option here. I am here to offer my best help according to my ability. Ratings are, in my opinion, a distraction to that end, but I always appreciate it when people take the time to drop thank you notes. Thanks!
Part of the difficulty with Christian unity is that no one has the authority or knowledge to honesty claim to hold or define "the real teachings" so making such determinations only adds to division within the Church. Even in Catholicism where the Pope is granted this authority there is vast disagreement among Catholics and the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Anglicans and the Protestants separated themselves in protest of such authority.
There are certain teachings within large segments of the Church that have no scriptural basis, and in some cases that directly violate the teachings of the Bible in my opinion. Some Christians of course reject certain things that I believe as well. For instance most modern Christians do not observe the biblical Sabbath while others point to the clear biblical commands to. They point out that no where is Sunday set aside as a holy day in the Bible like the Sabbath is. This is only meant as an example.
In local congregations it is important that there be basic unity under the teaching authority of the pastor. Otherwise there will be chaos and dissension. While it would obviously be preferable if all Believers agreed on all things, its simply not realistic.
Well meaning, equally devout and knowledgeable Believers simply come to different conclusions. You say for instance, "...Should we not as true believers be a bit more concerned of what this is doing to the world in the name of Jesus?" but are you aware that our Master is not named Jesus? His name is Y'shua (or Yeshua, or Joshua). For some Christians, 'lifting up the name of the Master' is not done when a name not his own is being lifted up. Again, this is just an example. Christians are a very diverse lot!
Having many denominations and teachings therefore adds to the breadth of the Christian Faith. When the time comes we will all learn and realize the one truth. Until then, I believe it is preferable to embrace what Baptists and others refer to as the "Priesthood of all Believers," the understanding that each of us will stand or fall before God based on His holy judgment and that none of us have the right to judge others or define their beliefs.
