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Tithing
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July 12, 2005
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The Question...
I have looked in vain for a sound biblical teaching on Giving. My local church teaches tithing as God’s way, although it is rarely explained why. Scriptures used to support the practice of tithing are all taken from the OT and it worries me that this teaching is not (explicitly?) taught in the NT. The NT has a lot to say about Giving but is curiously silent about tithing. I would be interested to know what the Rev. SS believes the Scriptures teach (especially the NT) concerning Tithing.
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Covenant of Life or Covenant of Works?
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November 11, 2002
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The question...
I frequently hear God's covenant with Adam referred to as both a covenant of life as well as a covenant of works. One OPC pastor we knew prefered to use covenant of life to covenant of works, since man has always been saved by God's grace. I prefer to use covenant of life since Adam was promised life upon obedience. I've heard some say we need to use both covenant of life and covenant of works - not one in exclusion to the other. Is there liberty in this area?
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Is Christian Education a Must?
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September 13, 2002
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The question...
Dear Rev. Schlissel,
If there are no Christian schools in a particular region, and if home schooling is not an option because both parents believe themselves inadequate for the task, is the local public school, though not ideal, a justifiable alternative for parents in such a case? Can churches rightly keep from church council membership a man who sends his children to the local public school? And one final question, when the cost of Christian education becomes prohibitive--forcing a mother with young pre-school children to enter the workforce to make ends meet--can the public system be considered preferable to such a scenario?
Wondering in North America
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Mourning
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August 28, 2002
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The question...
Dear Rev.Schlissel,
We recently lost our mother and when we came to church, the first Sunday
after our loss, one of the elders approached us and shook our hand. One of
his first sentences to us was, ‘You shouldn’t grieve but have an intense
desire to be with her in heaven.’ It is true that our hope is in the
resurrection of Jesus, but somehow his words did not comfort. Can you comment?
Grieved—and offended
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Israel's Sufferings
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August 21, 2002
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Dear Rev. Schlissel,
We read the history of Israel in the Bible with great sadness. From Joshua
and Judges on, they fell away so often. Sometimes it seemed as if the Church
in the Old Testament would not continue to exist. But even after the Bible
was completed, the Jews suffered: during the Middle Ages, and then World War
II-- even today. Is all this suffering to bring Israel to Christ-- or is it
punishment? I would like to see an explanation, please. Thank you.
Sincerely
Mr. John Vandebeld
Dunnville, Ontario
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Getting Cut Off
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August 21, 2002
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The question...
Dear Rev. Schlissel,
In Acts 3:23 it states that “every soul that does not heed that prophet
shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.” What is the meaning
of the phrase “be utterly destroyed from among the people?”
AK
MI
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Single Women and Adoption
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August 21, 2002
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the questions...
Dear Rev. Schlissel,
I’m a Christian woman in my 40’s and have yet to be married. Do you think it is biblical for single women to adopt? After telling fellow-Christians of my desire to adopt a child, I’ve met with different responses than I had anticipated. I thought adoption was a great mercy. And one of my favorite verses is John 14:18 where Jesus said He would not leave me an orphan. Great men like A.H. Franke and George Mueller started orphanages. How do we minister to orphans? If you have some verses I would love to hear them.
SN
TX
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Is There a Perpetual Apostolate
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August 21, 2002
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The questions...
Dear Rev. Schlissel,
We enjoy reading your articles. We hope you can help us with a theological question. Why do Reformed churches believe that the office of apostle no longer exists? We can’t find a scripture that says “no more apostles.”
Ned & Diane Cox
(Received via e-mail)
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Christians and Vegetarianism
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August 21, 2002
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The question...
Dear Rev. Schlissel
Is it all right for a Christian to become a vegetarian?
Green in Ontario
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Baptism and Election
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August 21, 2002
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The question...
Dear Rev. Schlissel:
We confess in the Heidelberg Catechism that the baptism of our covenant
children seals to them the washing away of sins through Christ's blood
and Spirit. We also confess that God preserves His elect. How is it
then that some of God's children reject Him and break covenant? Can God
break His promise to preserve His elect? What is the relationship
between being a member of the church and covenant and being one of God's
elect?
JB
ON, CA
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Does Controversy Over Creation matter
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August 21, 2002
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The question...
Dear Rev. Schlissel,
When the subject of Creation comes up, invariably someone will say, This doesn't have anything to do with my salvation. How can we respond in a concise way which will not burden them with a lengthy explanation and turn them off?
Co Van Dorp
Kalamazoo, MI
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The Status of Israel
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August 21, 2002
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The question...
Dear Rev. Schlissel,
In this day of death, tension, and increased trouble in the Middle East, it seems appropriate to ask for your take on Acts 3:23, especially as it relates to:
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Civil Disobedience
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August 21, 2002
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The question...
Dear Rev. Schlissel,
What is the Christian position regarding civil disobedience? Is there ever justification to engage in civil disobedience? My question arose while thinking of Hitler's extermination of Jews and others during WWII. For the most part, the German people seemed to acquiesce in Hitler's atrocities. Only a few dared to show any kind of civil disobedience and those who did paid for it with imprisonment and death.
PJS
Michigan
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Who Should Catechize?
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August 21, 2002
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The question...
Dear Rev. Schlissel:
I belong to a Reformed church in the western United States. A friend of mine in the church has decided to homeschool his children, as my wife and I also do. Homeschooling has become more common in Reformed churches, as you probably know. Perhaps this has occasioned the difficulty I am writing to you about.
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Evangelism
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August 21, 2002
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The question...
Dear Rev. Schlissel,
My church seems to be more introverted than outgoing. Any growth it experiences seems to come from either the birth of children (and may God be praised for that), or from other Reformed people moving into the area. There seems to be no desire to share the Gospel with the immediate neighborhood. Preaching reflects this. Could you comment on the Reformers’ attitude on local evangelism?
VD
Ontario
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Birth Control
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August 21, 2002
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The question...
Dear Rev. Schlissel,
Would you please address the topic of birth control? Do Scriptural principles teach that it is always categorically wrong for Christians to practice any birth control? Permanent forms of birth control? Is it a denial of the Lordship of Christ to say: “Lord, I love the children you have given us and praise you for them, but physically and emotionally and all around, I just can’t handle any more”? My husband and I have been fruitful and have more than “multiplied.” All our children are under thirteen. We also homeschool. Each day I rely on God’s grace, but the thought of yet another little one terrifies me. If controlling birth is okay, is a “permanent” solution permissible?
Quivering with a quiverfull in California
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The Ten Commandments and Church
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August 21, 2002
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The question...
Dear Rev. Schlissel,
Our minister is opposed to the public reading of the Ten Commandments each Lord’s Day in a worship service. Should we be concerned?
Fretting in Philadelphia
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Church Growth
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August 21, 2002
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Dear Pastor Schlissel,
Re: church growth. Why do some congregations grow considerably faster than others? Locally I have asked that question a number of times. The standard response is as follows: People like to visit a church where they will hear what they want to hear. They have itching ears! Truly Reformed ministers preach what people must hear, a truly Biblical message. Visitors presumably don't like that and after one or two Sundays don't show up anymore.
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Another Set of Questions on Infant Baptism
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August 21, 2002
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The question...
Dear Rev. Schlissel,
I have a few questions about infant baptism. I was raised up as a Pentecostal and now I am Christian Reformed. I have difficulties understanding a few areas.
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Question on Infant Baptism
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August 21, 2002
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The question...
Dear Rev. Schlissel,
I have two questions for you. First, what made you change from Judaism to Christian Reformed? Why not Pentecostal?
Secondly, how can I explain infant baptism from Scripture. I myself believe in infant baptism but have a hard time explaining it to others. They always respond with the verse, Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved (Mk16:16). I reply, What about the passages where whole families were baptized? They ask, How do you know there were any babies there? Furthermore, when I ask the pastor, Where does it say in the Bible that circumcision takes the place of baptism?, they don't even know how to explain it. Is it something you just have to believe because it is nice and a great comfort, or are we missing something in the Bible?
Name withheld
Ontario, CANADA
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Is the Church Calendar Biblical?
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August 21, 2002
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The question...
Dear Rev. Schlissel,
Is the church year (or liturgical calendar) biblical?
Pondering,
El Paso, TX
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Television, the Internet, and Christians
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August 20, 2002
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The question...
Dear Rev. Schlissel,
In what way has our television culture changed the church (the Christian community; Christians)? And, secondly, what do you perceive to be the Internet’s long-range impact on the Christian community since it is seemingly becoming (has become?) the communications tool du jure of our culture today and for the foreseeable future?
Tuned In in Niagara
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Questions on the Lord's Supper
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August 20, 2002
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The question...
Dear Rev. Schlissel,
There are a number of different positions taken by a variety of confessionally Reformed denominations on the subject of participation in the Lord’s Supper in the local church. Some argue for a “closed communion,” reasoning that local elders can supervise only their own members. Some churches allow for a “close” or “supervised communion” which allows visitors participation following an interview of sorts with the elders of the church. Other churches allow anyone who confesses the name of Jesus Christ to participate. On this issue, what saith the Scriptures?
Mr. K.
Toronto
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Preaching at Funerals
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August 20, 2002
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The question...
Dear Rev. Schlissel,
I would very much appreciate it if you would answer the following question(s). It is a concern that has been bothering me for a long time. Because it involves death and funerals, when emotions run high, it is not a topic that I have dared to ask local pastors. Moreover, it is the types of sermons that local pastors have preached at local funerals that have been my concern.
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What's so Amazing About Grace?
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August 20, 2002
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The question...
Dear Rev. Schlissel,
Without meaning to be blasphemous, a non-professing member of a Reformed church asked this question: Since God is all knowing, He knew that Jesus Christ would win the battle over Satan on the cross. So what's so amazing about that kind of grace? The outcome was never in doubt.
How does one answer this?
Wondering in Ontario
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Some Questions on Calvinism
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August 20, 2002
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The question...
My school is doing a project on religions. Our group has selected Calvinism as it's research topic. I was wondering if you could briefly answer a few questions that I have.
1) What are the means of grace for Calvinism?
2) What sacrements are there?
3) What connection does Calvinism have to other religions?
4) What is Calvinism's overall religious theory?
5) What are the services like?
Thank you very much for answering these questions.
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Eschatology
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August 20, 2002
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The question...
Dear Rev. Schlissel,
When discussing the end times, I've heard a person describe himself as neither pre-mil, post-mil or a-mil but “pan-mil,” meaning, “it will all pan out at the end.” Without getting into a defense of a particular end-times position, since Jesus Christ will come again at the consummation of history as He promised, is it important to have a theology worked out and defended for the end times beyond this basic truth, and if so, why?
BR
Canada
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The Role of the Church Toward the State
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August 20, 2002
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The question...
Dear Rev. Schlissel,
What is the role of the church toward the state, firstly, and secondly, what is the role of Christians toward the state in terms of witnessing (for example), or actually pursuing a career in politics?
Active in Ontario
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The Spirit in the Old Testament vs. the New Testament
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August 20, 2002
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The question...
Dear Rev. Schlissel,
There are very few references to the work of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament. The Spirit seems to take on a much more significant role in the New Testament, from Pentecost forward. Was the Holy Spirit at work during the Old Testament era, and if so, how? And how is the Spirit’s role different in the New Testament era?
Ontario
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Cremation
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August 20, 2002
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The question...
Dear Rev. Schlissel,
Does the Bible have anything to say about cremation as opposed to burial?
Ontario
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Concerning Jepthah's Sacrifice
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August 20, 2002
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The question...
My question concerns the story of Jephthah which is found in Judges 11. Did Jephthah really sacrifice (kill) his daughter on the altar? I would appreciate knowing your interpretation of the passage. Thank you.
Kalamazoo, MI
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