Why did Adam and Eve sin when they saw God, talked with God, and knew He created them?  How can any person with that kind of knowledge sin against their Creator?

Sincerely,
Would Have Done Better

Dear Would Have Done Better,

It is hard to fathom why Adam and Eve would sin when they had such a close relationship to God, but, then again, people sinned and rejected Jesus even after seeing Him perform miracles (Jhn 12:37).  These historical events are simply a reminder to us that sin is so very enticing, and the devil’s lies are extremely alluring.  It is best to take the advice God gave to Cain: “Sin is at the door… but you should rule over him” (Gen 4:7).

Is it okay for a christian to take protein shake?

Sincerely,
Not Stirred

Dear Not Stirred,

There is nothing wrong with a christian drinking protein shakes.  The Bible endorses healthy living and exercise.  The apostle Paul said that our bodies are temples for the Holy Spirit and that we ought to take care of our bodies because we were bought with a price (1 Cor 6:19-20).  The Bible teaches that physical exercise is profitable (1 Tim 4:8)… just not as profitable as spiritual growth.  So feel free to continue your dietary regimen and just make sure your soul gets fed, too.

When is the Sabbath?  The Bible says its the seventh day.  Why do so many keep Sunday as the Sabbath?

Sincerely,
A Day To Remember

Dear A Day To Remember,

Saturday is the Sabbath day… but christians don’t have to worry about keeping the Sabbath.  The word ‘sabbath’ means ‘rest’.  The Sabbath day was a day that the nation of Israel was told to rest, stop working, and make holy to the Lord (Ex 31:15).  This rule was so strict that a man was once stoned for collecting firewood on Saturday (Num 15:32-36).  However, this was a Jewish command, not a Christian one.  The Sabbath was part of the Old Testament law – a law that christians are no longer under (Gal 3:23-25).  We are specifically told not to let anyone bind the Sabbath on us (Col 2:16).  Christians worship Christ on the first day of the week – Sunday (Acts 20:7, 1 Cor 16:1-2).  We are not bound by the strict rules of avoiding all work like the Jews were, but we are told to treat Sunday as “the Lord’s day” (Rev 1:10).

When Jesus talked to His disciples, He said, "When you fast..."  Later, in Pauline epistles, we read about the early church, and fasting is still referred to sometimes.  As christians, my understanding is that today we are to follow the Word by its commands, inferences, or practices.  So when it comes to fasting, are we as christians to be fasting?  It's interesting to me that we are told what to do when we sing and why, what day of the week to gather together by example, but nothing that I have found has made it clear to me details about fasting.  So should we be regular "fasters" today?

Sincerely,
Snack Time

Dear Snack Time,

Fasting is a Biblical practice, but there are no specific guidelines for when to do it.  Fasting is the practice of not eating for a designated period of time.  Jesus once fasted for forty days (Matt 4:2).  Fasting is often associated with times of grief and difficult decisions (Joel 2:12).  The New Testament doesn’t require fasting, but it also shows the benefits of fasting during times of difficulty or when important decisions needed to be made (Acts 14:23).  Jesus’ disciples were noted for not fasting as often as the rest of the Jewish community (Matt 9:14), an indication that fasting doesn’t have the same level of emphasis in the New Testament.  There is a time for fasting, but it is purely up to personal discretion.

Did God create earthquakes and other disasters on this earth?

Sincerely,
Magnitude 8.9

Dear Magnitude 8.9,

God didn’t create earthquakes and other disasters; natural disasters are a byproduct of sin.  When God created the universe, He made everything good (Gen 1:31).  The world didn’t have disease, thorns, suffering, and all the other problems we see today.  Originally, Adam and Eve lived in the perfect paradise of the Garden of Eden (Gen 2:8).  It is only after Adam and Eve were cast from the Garden because of their sin that all the problems we see today began.  The first recorded earthquake didn’t happen until the days of Noah when all the world had turned to violence and evil (Gen 6:5-7).  When the world was flooded because of sin, God broke open the fountains of the deep, which would surely have quaked the planet (Gen 7:11).  The first recorded natural disaster (Noah’s flood) was caused because of sin.  It was mankind’s sin that forced God to flood the Earth to save Noah’s righteous family (1 Pet 3:20). God wanted paradise and peace for mankind, but we have warped His creation because of our sin.