Ask Your Preacher - Archives
Was Mary Married?
Thursday, June 09, 2016My question is: my pastor on more than one occasion preached that Mary, the mother of Jesus, had Jesus out of wedlock. That makes Jesus illegitimate (God forbid). Matthew 1:24 tells us that Joseph married Mary. How do I go to this pastor, or should I ignore it?Sincerely,
Defending Her Honor
Dear Defending Her Honor,
The Scriptures tell us to test the spirits to see whether they are from God (1 Jhn 4:1). If a religious leader is wrong, he needs to be corrected. It is important to make sure that you aren’t simply misunderstanding this man, but if he is saying that Mary had Jesus out of wedlock, he is wrong. As you said, Matt 1:24-25 clearly states that Mary was married to Joseph before Jesus was born. If this man truly seeks the truth, he will welcome a conversation with you about the subject.
All In The Family
Wednesday, June 08, 2016Hi, my question to you is regarding the Bible… this might sound crazy, but I have not read the Bible, so could you please tell me if sleeping with your first cousin is a bad thing from the Bible’s point of view? I read that Joseph and Mary were first cousins and married. So, is it wrong? Is it a crime? Is it a sin? Thank you!!!Sincerely,
Kissing Cousins
Dear Kissing Cousins,
The Bible never condemns marrying your first cousin. Even in the Old Testament, the prohibition only extended as far as aunts and uncles (Lev 18:12-14). First cousins are the closest permissible kin to marry. There is no sin in marrying your first cousin.