Question: “Pastor!! Tell the truth, what will happen to us Catholics who have heard the truth but still want to go back to our church?”

Answer: “One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written: “As I live, says the LORD, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.” So then each of us shall give account of himself to God” (Romans 14:5-12, NKJV).

While the worship days and foods of these Scriptures are dealing primarily with ceremonial types, the principle taught here is applicable to this question. One day we will have to give an account of ourselves to God. Then He, who alone can read the heart will judge the decision of everyone individually based upon whether or not we were honest with Him. Whether we were persuaded of the truth and chose not to follow it, only God can truly discern. We cannot judge one another, but only try to help each other to know Christ as our personal Savior and friend. He is my very best friend and it is my hope that Jesus Christ will be your very best friend too. I am fully convinced from the Word of God that Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath, which is the seventh day or Saturday, and I choose to worship Him on the day of which He is Lord.  

Question: Looking at 1 Timothy 4:3, does it clash with Ellen G. White’s teachings on health reform?

Answer: “And God said, ‘See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food’” (Genesis 1:29, NKJV).

This verse in Genesis indicates that God’s original plan for our food was a vegetarian diet. 1 Timothy 4 when studied carefully is actually encouraging us to get back to God’s original diet:

“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith [God’s Word, Romans 10:17], giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils” (verse 1);

“Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron” (verse 2);

 ”Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain [hold oneself off, refrain] from meat [foods], which God hath created [fabricated, founded, (formed originally)] to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth” (verse 3).

“For every creature [original formation, product (created thing)] of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving” (verse 4):

“For it is sanctified [consecrated] by the word of God and prayer” (verse 5).

Each of the bolded words are taken from the Greek New Testament translation of the original words. The food that God originally created for us is to be received with thanksgiving and prayer, the food that is consecrated by God’s Word is found in Genesis 1:29. After the flood God permitted mankind to eat flesh food, but it was not part of God’s original diet and we will not be eating animals in heaven because there will be no more death (Revelation 22:4). Everything God originally created for food (the Genesis diet) is good and nothing to be refused so don’t hold yourself from it, especially in these last days when disease in animals is so prevalent.

Therefore, since Ellen G. White’s writing are a lesser light pointing toward the greater light of the Word of God, her teachings on health reform would be in harmony with these Scriptures. (For a more detailed study on this you may go to our free downloads on our web site (lbm.org) and look for the Bible Study 101 outlines.)  

Question:  “Why do people close their eyes when praying, is it biblical?

Answer: “To you I lift up my eyes, O you who are enthroned in the heavens! As the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the LORD our God, until he has mercy upon us” (Psalm 123: 1, 2, NRSV).

“And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner” (Luke 18:13, KJV).

The first Scripture indicates that our eyes should look to God; the second verse, that we are not worthy to look to God. When we close our eyes in prayer we recognize our unworthiness, like the publican. We also free ourselves from any distractions so that our minds can be focused on looking to God as indicated in the first Scripture. 

                                                                                                                                                                      Question: “Pastor what do you say about the wearing of treasures (jewelry) and the braiding of hair?”

Answer: “Do not adorn yourselves outwardly by braiding your hair, and by wearing gold ornaments or fine clothing” (1 Peter 3:3, NRSV).

“Also that the women should dress themselves modestly and decently in suitable clothing, not with their hair braided, or with gold, pearls, or expensive clothes, but with good works, as is proper for women who profess reverence for God” (1 Timothy 2:9, 10, NRSV).

Both of these Scriptures, in context, contrast the wearing of jewelry with the modest dress of a godly woman—as if the two were in opposition. The book of Revelation does the same thing (compare Revelation 12:1 and Revelation 17:1, 4). God is the source of life, love and eternal happiness. Therefore, the Bible instructs women to adorn themselves in such a way that people are led to reverence God. Jewelry and expensive clothes direct attention to self. Decent, suitable, yet modest clothing are worn by godly woman because they long to live in such a way as to direct attention to God. 

Question: “Pastor—is there anything wrong with sporting activities like soccer?”

Answer: “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come” (1 Timothy 4:8, NIV).

This Scripture translation of 1 Timothy 4:8 is comparing physical training with godliness. It indicates that sporting activities have some value. For example, they give us the physical exercise that our bodies need. They offer a needed break from mental activity. They can also help us vent stress and the pent up energy of youth. Yet when compared to godliness, physical exercise is less valuable. Godliness is much more valuable because godliness helps us in this life and the life to come. Sporting activities and godliness is like comparing $20 to $1000; the $20 is valuable, but if we have to choose between the two, we would be much wiser to take the $1000. In my personal life, sporting activities have some value. I lift weights, run, play ball and swim. I spend time in physical activities because I know it will benefit my body and mind and I spend even more time in exercising godliness, because I know it will benefit me now and eternally.

Question:  Some of my friends said that if we don’t praise God three times a day, that we are not real Christians and we will not be saved in the second coming. Is it true?

Answer:  We cannot limit our praise to God or try to make it fit a certain number of times per day and call this salvation. This is legalism. We are not saved or lost because of how many times a day we praise God. What we want is a relationship with Jesus Christ that brings us into a continual attitude of praise. Praise is a fruit of salvation, it is not the way we are saved. We are not saved by praising God, but rather we praise God because He is our Savior. Praise, then, is no longer a duty we perform three times a day in order to be saved; it is the continual response of thankfulness to God for His love to us.  

The Continual Sacrifice of Praise

“By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name. But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased” (Hebrews 13:15, 16).

In Christ, God has given the ultimate sacrifice, the very best, which is to bring forth from us the sacrifice of praise. The more we dwell upon the love of God, the more we realize the gift of heaven, the more continual and spontaneous will be our praise to God. In saying this, Paul is again drawing us to the reality of faith in Jesus from the symbols/types of the earthly sanctuary.

In the Torah (the first five books of the Bible), specifically in Numbers and Leviticus, the “daily” (Strong’s #8548) is identified with the earthly sanctuary service. The sacrifices for sin, incense, lamps of light, shewbread and ministration of the priests were all identified as “daily” or “continual” (#8548) aspects of the sanctuary service (Leviticus 6:13; 24:2; Exodus 28:29; 29:42; 30:8; Numbers 4:7).

The earthly sanctuary and its divine ordinances all pointed to Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice, incense, light, bread and priest (Hebrews 7:27; Ephesians 5:2; John 1:9; John 6:51; Hebrews 7:24). Therefore the earthly sanctuary was God’s method of pointing us to entire dependence in Him. This is why the same word, “daily,” which means the “continual,” is found throughout the Bible in verses that direct us into close relationship with God. Here are a few examples:

1)    In Psalm 40:16, we are to say “continually [#8548], the Lord be magnified.”   

2)    In 1 Chronicles 16:11, God longs for us to “seek His face continually” [#8548]; “to give Him thanks; make known His deeds among the people; to sing unto Him, to glory in God and remember His marvelous works” (see 1 Chronicles 16:8-12). 

3)    When we look to God instead of man, “His praise shall continually” [#8548] be in our “mouths” according to Psalm 34:1.

4)    God’s “loving-kindness” and “truth” is to “continually [#8548] preserve” us (Psalm 40:11).

5)    And God alone is to be our “strong habitation” where we “continually [#8548] resort” (Psalm 71:3).

The entire sanctuary service was designed to point us to a continual relationship with Jesus Christ as our Savior, spiritual lover and best friend. 

Question:  “How can we know if we are acting according to God’s will? A teacher told me that we cannot know if we are doing right or wrong to His will.”

Answer:  Here we find two opposing religious views. One view says that you can please God and the other says it’s impossible. In the book of Hebrews, both of these views are laid out side by side. The deciding factor between the two is faith. Those who have faith move beyond their own doubts and fears and believe what others assume is not possible. One looks to God by faith and says yes, we can know right from wrong. We can live in a way that pleases God. The other looks at self with all its weakness and says no.

“By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:5, 6).

This same truth is touched upon in the last chapter of Hebrews in relation to having a “good conscience” towards God. 

“Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly. But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner” (Hebrews 13:18, 19).

There is probably nothing that brings peace to heart and soul more readily than a conscience that lives honestly before men and God. Amid the turbulent elements that were ever seeking to destroy his labors and life, Paul rejoiced that he was enabled by the grace of God to live according to a good conscience (2 Corinthians 1:12). This was his testimony when brought before the enemies of the gospel (Acts 23:1). Living with a clean conscience gave Paul a powerful testimony because he could speak truthfully to the conscience of every man (2 Corinthians 4:2). Conscience is the voice of God to our souls; it is the co-perception we have with God concerning the truth given to us by the Holy Spirit. The Bible warns us that in the end of time many will depart from the faith and have their conscience “seared with a hot iron” (1 Timothy 4:1, 2). Yet those who hold fast to the Word of God and choose to honor their conscience, refusing to have it “seared” or compromised can rejoice in the message of the following verses:

“Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen” (Hebrews 13:20, 21).