Recently the pastor’s wife asked me to call her ‘pastor’, too.  She said it shows respect to her because she was also called.  Should you call the pastor's wife ‘pastor’ because she told you, or should it be because GOD puts it in your heart?

Sincerely,
Name Tag

Dear Name Tag,

Regardless of how anyone (including the pastor’s wife) feels, she should never be called ‘pastor’.  Pastors, also known as ‘elders’ and ‘overseers’, are always men.  1 Tim 3:1-7 and Tit 1:5-9 outline the requirements for becoming a pastor.  One of those requirements is that he be a husband of one wife (Tit 1:6, 1 Tim 3:2).  That would naturally exclude all women from ever being pastors.

Considering that the verses we’ve just highlighted are exceptionally easy to find and very clearly outline the rules for leadership, we here at AYP would like you to consider the real possibility that your current congregation doesn’t pay attention to the Scriptures.  God clearly condemns those who replace the Bible with the traditions of men (Col 2:8).  We recommend that you read “Finding The Church” and “Preacher Interrogation” to help you as you take a serious look at the faithfulness of your current church.  After talking to the pastor’s wife and asking her about those verses, we would love to hear back from you to know what she said.

I am curious to know your thoughts on what the Bible shows us to be the best nutritional choices for our bodies.  What about diets that more closely match those during the life of Christ?  We are surrounded by so many chemically-altered foods.  Thank you.

Sincerely,
Organic Origins

Dear Organic Origins,

God has given mankind dominion over the earth (Gen 1:26-28).  That gives humans the freedom to alter and adapt our food supplies and crops however we see fit.  Whether or not genetically altered foods are healthy is an issue for science and not the Bible.

God says very little about the health of the human body.  Paul says that exercise is useful, but only minimally so in comparison to spiritual matters (1 Tim 4:8).  God also says that all food is clean and should be accepted with thanksgiving (Mk 7:19, 1 Tim 4:3-4).

In regard to food, the only thing that God clearly condemns is gluttony.  Gluttony brings poverty (Pr 23:21).  God says to “put a knife to your throat” if you are given to gluttony (Pr 23:2), which is another way of saying be careful about not letting food control you.  The only clear Biblical command on the subject of eating is “moderation”.

Why do Baptists believe in eternal security and the Methodist don’t?

Sincerely,
Pondering The Protestants

Dear Pondering The Protestants,

The idea of ‘eternal security’ is a doctrine accepted by many of today’s Protestant churches.  Eternal security is the teaching that once you are saved, you can never be lost.  It is based off of the teachings of John Calvin (read “Calvin And Sobs” for a more in-depth look at the doctrine of Calvinism).  Methodists don’t subscribe to that teaching, but the Baptists do.  Although, neither the Baptists nor the Methodists are God’s church, in this case, the Methodists are right.

God very clearly teaches that someone can lose their salvation.  Heb. 3:12 tells us to be watchfull, or we will fall away from the living God.  Heb 6:4-6 talks about those who crucify Christ again.  Even after someone has been enlightened and tasted the blessings of salvation, they can fall away.  You have the freedom to choose or reject God (Mk 7:9).  1^st Corinthians chapter five is an entire chapter dedicated to someone who had turned his back on God and had once again immersed himself in a life of sin.  Even the apostle Paul said that he himself had to live faithfully or face rejection (1 Cor 9:26-27).  We will only be eternally secure when we get to heaven; until then, continue to fight the good fight.  Live so that on your deathbed, you can say what Paul did – “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness” (2 Tim 4:7-8)

My question is regarding the needy, specifically panhandlers and homeless folks, and our obligations per the Bible to help them.  Hebrews 13:2 says that we may be entertaining angels without knowing it.  Matthew 25:35-39 also sounds like it is encouraging helping those in need, but where do we draw the line?  Are we obligated to give to everyone with their hands out?

Sincerely,
Wallet Watcher

Dear Wallet Watcher,

Christians must always do what they can to help the poor (Pr 14:21), but they must also balance that with the importance of not supporting laziness (Pr 21:25).  This becomes a constant battle as christians interact with the homeless and panhandlers.

Matt 25:35-39 is not applicable in this issue because it is specifically dealing with needy brethren, but there are other verses that we should consider.  Pure and undefiled religion is to care for widows and the fatherless in their distress (Jas 1:27).  When we have pity on the poor, we are pleasing to God (Pr 19:17).  If we don’t listen to the cry of the poor, our prayers will be hindered (Pr 21:13).  God blesses those who care for the poor (Pr 28:27).  God puts immense emphasis on having compassion for those less fortunate.

God also tells us not to support someone who won’t work.  If someone won’t work, neither should they eat (2 Thess 3:10).  Someone who will not provide for his own is worse than an unbeliever (1 Tim 5:8).  Some people are financially destitute because they simply will not work for a living (Pr 24:30-34).

When giving out money to help the poor, a christian must make sure that they are actually helping the people.  Some people (especially people in third-world countries) are willing to work but are unable to find work.  Other people are willing to work, but health problems keep them from doing so.  And yet others are working but aren’t able to make enough to sustain themselves.  In all of these circumstances it would be a wonderful thing to help someone financially.  Unfortunately, some panhandlers are simply vagrants that are wasting their money on alcohol and drugs and have chosen a lifestyle of poverty – in that case, you would be wrong to help support them. You must use wisdom to decide in each individual case whether you will give and how much you will give.

Should a pastor prepare his own sermons or buy them on-line?  What is the common practice?

Sincerely,
Pulpit Prep

Dear Pulpit Prep,

We get our sermons at IKEA; you have to assemble them yourself… but they cost less.  In fact, we got a great deal on a book of sermons at Amazon – click here to buy your own copy of the Bible!

All joking aside, we can’t tell you what the “common practice” is; we can only tell you what should be done.  Preachers and pastors (read “Elders” to find out what a pastor is; a preacher is simply someone who preaches) should be searching the Scriptures daily to see God’s Will (Acts 17:11).  They should be studying to show themselves approved, rightly handling God’s Word (2 Tim 2:15).  Anyone who preaches needs to hold firmly to the sound words of the Bible (2 Tim 1:13).  A preacher needs to be immersed in the Word of God in order to be fully equipped for the work at hand (2 Tim 3:16-17).

None of this specifically excludes buying your sermons on-line… but if you are doing all that work anyway, you might as well just write it yourself.  This way you don’t need to go back and double-check and fix a store-bought sermon to make it Biblically accurate.  We here at AYP have a hard time seeing the preachers of the first century being really happy about a preacher paying for a sermon that he should have studied for and wrote himself.  Seriously, it smacks of laziness (Pr 21:25).