Inquiry: Does God sleep? Psalm 121:3-4 says that “…He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep,” and yet in Psalm 44:23, the Psalmist pleads, “Awake, why sleepest though, O LORD?” Is there a contradiction?… Does Our Creator Ever Sleep? | Answering the Atheist
Over the past few weeks, I’ve been engaged in three separate discussions on the use of instrumental music in worship. One of the folks I am conversing with asked me to consider Psalm 87 and a possible application to the church. I am confident that his inquiry is honest. I am equally confident, having studied the text, that it does not authorized the church to use instrumental music. Let’s consider the text here.
First, may I suggest that you read through Psalm 87. It will take just a minute or so, since it is only 7 verses long. Keep your Bible open so you can refer back to the content of the Psalm. I’ll reference it verse by verse as we study.
Does Psalm 87 Authorize Instrumental Music in the Church?
In Jesus’ response to the rich young man, what was the sixth command in His list of commands? Was it “love thy neighbour as thyself” (Matthew 19:17-19), “defraud not” (Mark 10:19), or did He only give five commands (Luke 18:20)? Is there a contradiction?
Jesus and the rich young man | Answering the Atheist
As I prepared to write an article this past week, I saw a quote which resulted in the original topic being put on the shelf, and this article about the true gospel being penned instead. The quote comes from an essay entitled “Ecclesial Deism,” written by Bryan Cross, a former Protestant who converted to Catholicism. In his essay, he wrote:
Never Lost: The True Gospel Survived Every Attempt at ApostasyThe Mormons believed that the true gospel was recovered in the early nineteenth century by Joseph Smith. I believed, as a Reformed Protestant, that the true gospel was recovered in the early sixteenth century by Martin Luther.
Were the men or angels inside the tomb sitting (Mark 16:5; John 20:11-12) or standing (Luke 24:3-4)? Is there a contradiction?
What the women found in the tomb | Answering the Atheist
The apostle John, recording a discourse of Jesus before the people of Judea stated:
…even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue… (John 12:42)
The religious leaders of the Jews are often portrayed as a crowd of unbelievers, and rightly so, for that was the manner of most. And yet, John speaks of some who did believe in Jesus. As we look in the gospel accounts, we will see occasional references to these rulers who believed, most of whom did not openly display their faith in the Lord.
Even Among The Rulers – Jewish Leaders Who BelievedWhere did Moses receive the Ten Commandments? Was it on Mount Sinai (Exodus 31:18; 34:4, 32; Leviticus 26:46; 27:34; Nehemiah 9:13) or on Mount Horeb (1 Kings 8:9; 2 Chronicles 5:10; Malachi 4:4)? Is there a contradiction?
Sinai and Horeb: The Truth About the Giving of the Law | Answering the Atheist
The words in our title today were spoken by Jephthah, a judge in Israel. This man made a foolish vow to the LORD, stating,
Jephthah’s Vow: A Promise Made to the LordIf You will indeed deliver the people of Ammon into my hands, then it will be that whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the people of Ammon, shall surely be the LORD’s; and I will offer it up as a burnt offering. (Judges 11:30-31)
What did Judas do with the silver? Acts 1:18 says that he bought a field with it, but Matthew 27:5 says he threw it on the ground. Is there a contradiction?
Judas’ 30 Pieces of Silver | Answering the Atheist
Many notable events in the life of David are recorded in the Scriptures. Perhhaps the two which most define his life were battles with giants. In the first, he slew Goliath, the great champion of the Philistines. This event displayed his great faith in God, and was the first of many successful battles he would fight. In fact, there is no indication in Scriptures that he lost even one conflict. Every time he stepped on a battlefield, he walked away.
However, when David came face to face with another giant, he was unprepared. He entered the arena with a foe he should have ruled over (Genesis 4:7), but instead he would suffer a defeat that would haunt him for the rest of his life. He lost, not to a man of brute strength, but to the unlawful desire of his own heart.
David and Bathsheba – The Giant That Brought David Down