* This is a place for seekers, skeptics, believers and unbelievers to explore questions and study the bible. Christian Apologetics is not an apology for, but rather a defense of the Christian faith.
* But in your hearts set Christ apart as holy [and acknowledge Him] as Lord. Always be ready to give a logical defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope that is in you, but do it courteously and respectfully. (1 Pet 3:15)
* Having faith in Christ is not like taking a blind leap into the dark; It is stepping out of darkness, into light. Under topics in the right column, select a category to find answers to specific questions.
* Register to participate in blogs and receive a weekly audio email.
* The Audio Commentary Reading Plan will take you through the bible in three years. Click on red links to hear audio teaching.
* But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”(Matt 4:4)
* ”A good lie will have travled half way around the world while truth is putting on her boots.” Mark Twain (1835-1910)
* Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. (1 John 4:1)
* Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. (2 Tim 4:2-4)
michael@testthespirits.net - Michael Hoover – Leesburg, VA - 615-708-3960
larry@testthespirits.net - Larry Shirley - Nashville, TN
admin@testthespirits.net - for any web related problems or questions.
God bless you
Sinner’s Prayer: Jesus, I’m a sinner. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins, forgiving me and giving me eternal life. I repent and receive You as my Lord and Savior. Take control of my life and make me the kind of person You want me to be. Amen
Our Father: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
Gloria Patri: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen
Nicene Creed (Profession of Faith): We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in Being with the Father. Through Him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation He came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit He was born of the Virgin Mary and became man. For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilot; He suffered, died , and was buried. On the third day He rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures; He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and His kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son He is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Prayer to the Holy Spirit: Come oh Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of thy faithful and enkindle in them the fire of thy divine love. Send forth thy Spirit and they shall be created and thou shall renew the face of the earth. Oh God who by the light of the Holy Spirit did instruct the hearts of the faithful grant us by the same Holy Spirit to be truly wise and ever rejoice in His consolations .We ask us through Christ our Lord.
Grace: Father, thank you for this food. We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
What makes the bible so special?
Hasn’t the New Testament been changed since it has been copied and recopied throughout history?
Was there really a talking snake?
Shouldn’t Christians be more tolerant?
How can anyone believe the New Testament account of the life of Jesus, seeing it was written long after his death?
Where did Cain’s wife come from?
There are so many interpretations of the bible, so why should I believe yours?
Is the big bang theory biblical?
Does archaeological evidence prove the bible?
What is sin?
How do archaeological discoveries relate to events in Scripture?
Is God a man or woman?
What are the dead sea scrolls?
How can we be sure we will go to heaven?
Why is the existence of Jewish people objective evidence that the bible is true?
If jealousy is a sin, does God sin when He is jealous?
Why do Christians appeal to fulfilled prophecy to show that the Bible is God’s word?
Isn’t evolution a fact?
Why aren’t the books of the Apocrypha found in Protestant Bibles?
If God can’t be tempted, how was Jesus tempted?
How do you know God exists?
Why do bad things happen to good people?
Isn’t the God of the Old Testament a God of hate while the God of the New Testament is one of love?
How can a good God allow evil in the world?
How do we know Jesus ever existed?
If God doesn’t answer my prayers, is my faith not real?
Did Jesus claim to be God?
Is money the root of all evil?
Can Christians lose their salvation?
Aren’t there legitimate objections to the virgin birth that make it unbelievable to us today?
Can Christians be possessed by demons?
How do we know Jesus rose from the dead?
Should we judge our leaders’ teachings?
How do we explain the contradictions in the resurrection story?
Can Satan control our thoughts?
How can miracles be possible?
What does it mean to take the bible literally?
Were the biblical miracles magic tricks which fooled the simple, primitive people?
Can I inherit a generational curse?
What makes the biblical miracles superior to those claimed by other religions?
How do we explain the existence of our universe?
Is human cloning ok?
Don’t all religions basically teach the same thing?
Is Jesus the only way?
What are the origins and beliefs of Islam?
If we can’t see God how can we be sure he exists?
Is Islam compatible with Christianity?
How can we trust the bible?
What makes Christian conversion valid and can it be explained psychologically?
Is it ever ok to lie?
What hope does Christianity offer the world?
What does omnipresent mean?
Isn’t Christianity just a crutch?
Do all religions lead to God?
How does a person become a Christian?
Why do bad things happen to good people?
Why should I become a Christian when the worst hypocrites are in the church?
Is stem cell research ok?
What happens to people who never hear of Jesus?
Is same sex marriage ok?
Should abortion be allowed in certain situations, like rape or incest?
Is birth control ok?
Will God not accept me if I’ve lived a good life?
What is the problem with pornography?
Are Christians guilty of circular reasoning?
Is suicide the unforgivable sin?
Aren’t the genealogies of Jesus given in Matthew and Luke contradictory?
What is Scientology?
Is God omnipotent (all powerful) but not all loving?
Is God all loving but not omnipotent?
Why would a good God allow natural disasters?
Why does Matthew attribute a prophecy to Jeremiah that was actually given by Zechariah?
Is Mormonism a Christian denomination?
Doesn’t Mark disagree with the other three Gospels about Peter’s denial of Jesus?
What do Buddhists believe?
Don’t the Gospels give contradictory reports as to the time Jesus was crucified?
Are Jehovah’s Witnesses Christian?
How could Jesus have remained in the tomb three days and three nights if He was crucified on Friday and rose again on Sunday?
Is Mormonism Christian?
Are the two accounts of the death of Judas contradictory?
What is a cult?
Where do dinosaurs and other extinct animals fit into the bible story?
Is the Allah of Islam the God of the bible?
Were the days in Genesis 24 hours or an unspecified period of time?
Is Seventh Day Adventisim Orthodox?
How could all the animals fit into the ark?
How were people saved who lived before the time of Christ?
Do Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 contain two contradictory accounts of creation?
If Christianity is true why have Christians killed so many in Jesus’ name?
How can we know Jesus rose from the dead?
Why pray if God already knows what we need?
Do I have to forgive people who refuse forgiveness?
What’s wrong with Wicca?
What is the Occult?
What is the new age movement?
What’s wrong with Astrology?
Are bible codes credible?
Is there a Gospel in the stars?
Is baptism necessary for salvation?
Does the book of James teach that we are saved by works?
Can a Non-Christian be saved by marrying a Christian?
Do women really have to be silent in the church?
Is the New Testament Anti-Semitic?
Is speaking in tongues the evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit?
How old will we be in heaven?
Will there be sex in heaven?
Will there be animals in heaven?
Are there degrees of reward in heaven?
Does hell really exist?
Are there degrees of punishment in hell?
What does 666 mean?
Is 1,000 a literal number in the bible?
Who is the Antichrist?
Which generation is “this generation” referring to?
What do Hindus believe?
Is capital punishment biblical?
Is the bible outdated in its views on homosexuality?
Should Christians celebrate Christmas?
Should Christians celebrate Easter?
How should Christians respond to Halloween?
Does Satan transform himself into a dragon?
Doesn’t the bible support polygamy?
What happens to little children who die without receiving Jesus as their Savior?
Can anybody know when Jesus will return?
What must I do to be saved?
How can I be certain that I’ve not committed the unforgivable sin?
What does it mean to say the Holy Spirit is in you?
Does Jesus really live in people’s hearts?
Can people be argued into the kingdom of heaven?
How do I know if I’m in a good church?
What are some secrets of effective prayer?
Why is it so crucial to pray ‘Thy will be done?’
Why do people end their prayers with the word Amen?
Does Isaiah 53:3 guarantee our healing today?
Why do Christians worship on Sunday rather than on the Sabbath day?
How much should we tithe?
Is being ‘slain in the spirit’ consistent with a biblical worldview?
Is the ‘binding and loosing’ of demons biblical?
Does the Devil have access to our minds?
Is Satan always the cause for sickness?
Can demons have sex with people?
Does the bible promote slavery?
Is cremation consistent with the Christian worldview?
Will Heaven be boring?
Can chance account for the universe?
What makes Christianity different from other religions?
Is there evidence for life after death?
Can God create a rock so heavy that He cannot move it?
You don’t find the word Trinity in the bible, so how is it biblical?
Does the bible claim Jesus is God?
Did Jesus claim to be God?
What credentials back up Jesus’ claim to Deity?
Do the Gospel accounts contradict one another?
What does it mean to say that Jesus ascended into heaven?
If sex is natural and a gift from God why do Christians call it sin?
Was Christianity influenced by ancient pagan religions?
Is the virgin birth miracle or myth?
Is annihilationism biblical?
What is purgatory?
Is the Qur’an credible?
Are there Apostles and Prophets today?
Is the new world translation of the bible credible?
Is the book of Mormon credible?
Can reincarnation and resurrection be reconciled?
What is the New Age Movement?
If the earth’s rotation in relation to the sun gives us evening and morning, how do we account for the first three days of creation? The sun was created on the 4th day.
Is apologetics really necessary?
(Cited Resources: The Bible Answer Book 1 by Hank Hanegraaff, The Bible Answer Book 2 by Hank Hanegraaff, The Bible Answer Book for Students by Hank Hanegraaff, Answers to tough questions by Josh McDowell)