Pastors, leaders, and Christians take tough questions and provide biblical and experiential answers. Copyright https://www.christianity.com 2025, Christianity.com Wed, 16 Apr 2025 07:19:26 -0400 https://www.christianity.com/wiki/christianity-qa/how-do-i-deal-with-grief-a-conversation-with-my-dad-in-heaven.html https://www.christianity.com/wiki/christianity-qa/how-do-i-deal-with-grief-a-conversation-with-my-dad-in-heaven.html Dr. Roger Barrier and Brie Barrier Wetherbee It has been just over a year now since my beloved father, Dr. Roger Barrier, went to be with the Lord. What you will find in this article are the questions I ask in my grief, and the answers I’ve found as I dove into some of my dad’s teaching about grief and comfort. Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:30:00 -0500 2025-04-16T07:19:26-04:00 https://www.christianity.com/wiki/slideshows/is-trump-the-beast.html https://www.christianity.com/wiki/slideshows/is-trump-the-beast.html Judy McEachran https://www.christianity.com/author/judy-mceachran/ The book of Revelation describes a beast unlike any other rising from the sea, with ten horns, seven heads, and the power of a dragon. It commands global influence, speaks blasphemies, and wages war against God’s people. Throughout history, people have compared figures like Nero, Napoleon, and even modern politicians to this apocalyptic figure. Recently, some have drawn parallels between the beast and President Donald Trump. But do these comparisons truly hold up? While Trump has been a polarizing leader with immense influence, does he align with the biblical description of the beast, or is this a case of political speculation rather than prophecy?Who Is the Beast?Revelation 13,17 and 19 provide multiple descriptions of the beast. Revelation 13:1-8 provides the most detailed description: The beast rises from the sea, possessing ten horns and seven heads, and the dragon (Satan) empowers it. It possesses characteristics of a leopard, a bear, and a lion, symbolizing a blend of different, powerful entities. The beast demands worship, speaks blasphemies, and wages war against the saints. In Revelation 17, the beast is associated with a harlot representing a corrupt world system, and it ultimately meets its destruction at the hands of Christ in Revelation 19.Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Brandon Bell/Staff Thu, 20 Feb 2025 10:30:00 -0500 2025-04-16T07:19:26-04:00 https://www.christianity.com/wiki/christian-life/why-is-there-so-much-pain-in-the-world.html https://www.christianity.com/wiki/christian-life/why-is-there-so-much-pain-in-the-world.html Sophia Bricker https://www.christianity.com/author/sophia-bricker/ Why is there so much pain in the world? It’s a question that haunts many of us, especially when faced with personal loss and global suffering. This article explores the complex reality of pain through the lens of Scripture, addressing the effects of a fallen world, human free will, and God’s redemptive power. Discover how, even in the midst of our deepest struggles, God’s love, presence, and hope remain steadfast. Tue, 11 Feb 2025 09:00:00 -0500 2025-04-16T07:19:26-04:00 https://www.christianity.com/wiki/christianity-qa/biblical-principles-to-overcome-your-financial-fears.html https://www.christianity.com/wiki/christianity-qa/biblical-principles-to-overcome-your-financial-fears.html Brie Barrier Wetherbee Dear Roger and Brie, I can hardly check the news, go to the grocery store, or get a tank of gas without huge anxiety. My family and I are barely making it financially after the last four years of inflation. And now? We’re facing the addition of tariffs that will increase the prices of foreign goods—many of those have been the cheapest available.I don’t know what to do. It’s not just the economic situation; it’s the deep fear I feel about it every day. I know God says He will provide for our needs, but I can’t see that right now. Please help me!Sincerely, Lynne(Brie) There’s not one of us who escaped the impact of inflation over the past four years. With two kids in college, one daughter getting married, and buying $6/dozen eggs, we are stretched beyond I could have imagined! I understand where you’re coming from—and I’ve been struggling with financial anxieties, too.My dad, Roger, was one of the best stewards I’ve ever met. He was extremely careful with finances, walking with biblical principles and trusting God to provide. When I was a child, I remember him counting out dollar bills from a white envelope to pay for supper. The other day, Mom found his financial logbooks, and I was totally inspired!So today, I’d like to share the financial principles he lived by, as well as the practical application he used daily. They’ve helped me greatly, especially during the economic uncertainty we’re experiencing. I know they’ll help you!(Roger) How can we survive economic setbacks? Do you fear the economic future of our country? There are only two approaches for meeting future financial needs including emergencies.One way is to save a part of every dollar of income that comes into our hands to meet those needs.Another approach is to spend all we make as we make it.Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/lovelyday12  Tue, 04 Feb 2025 16:30:00 -0500 2025-04-16T07:19:26-04:00 https://www.christianity.com/wiki/christianity-qa/why-is-satan-depicted-as-a-goat.html https://www.christianity.com/wiki/christianity-qa/why-is-satan-depicted-as-a-goat.html Ashley Hooker https://www.christianity.com/author/ashley-hooker/ Goats are stubborn. They like to do their own thing with no shepherd or farmer guiding them. All the goats my family had wore collars with bells on them, so we knew where they were. They liked being free to do their own thing. Herding them was close to impossible. So are these characteristics similar to Satan?  Tue, 04 Feb 2025 10:45:00 -0500 2025-04-16T07:19:26-04:00 https://www.christianity.com/wiki/christianity-qa/is-it-true-that-there-are-no-good-people-on-earth.html https://www.christianity.com/wiki/christianity-qa/is-it-true-that-there-are-no-good-people-on-earth.html Greg Grandchamp https://www.christianity.com/author/greg-grandchamp/ Believers and non-believers alike each want to suppose we are good people, don’t we? Oh, we know we mess up sometimes. We know we do things we shouldn’t. But overall, we’re good people. The thing is – where exactly does good fall between, oh…say, Mother Theresa and Adolf Hitler? Where on that imaginary line is that point where we can call ourselves good? Fri, 31 Jan 2025 11:05:00 -0500 2025-04-16T07:19:26-04:00 https://www.christianity.com/wiki/slideshows/why-does-a-good-god-allow-us-to-suffer-so-much.html https://www.christianity.com/wiki/slideshows/why-does-a-good-god-allow-us-to-suffer-so-much.html John Stange https://www.christianity.com/author/john-stange/ Over the course of any given week, you don’t have to look far to find examples of suffering. At present, I’m friends with people who are experiencing suffering in areas of physical health, mental health, relationships, and finances. When I read or watch the news, I encounter stories of natural disasters, wars, acts of terrorism, and other forms of difficulty on a national and global scale. While there is much that is beautiful on this planet, we’re also surrounded by suffering and we never really know when a particularly difficult season of suffering may emerge in our own lives.When I was just emerging as an adult, this was a concept I really struggled with. To be more specific, I guess I should say that I didn’t necessarily struggle with why suffering existed in this world in a general way, but I often struggled with the concept of suffering in my own life. I wondered why God would allow me to suffer when I was doing my best to trust Him, follow Him, and obey Him. I now have a better understanding of why that is the case and I’ll elaborate on that shortly.That being said, many people in this world would probably admit that they wrestle with the presence or concept of suffering. It can be hard for them to consider God “good” when they’re wrestling with the fact that He’s clearly allowing people to suffer in all kinds of ways.So what is the answer to this question? If God is good, why is there so much suffering in this world?Photo Credit: Pexels/Joanne Adela Low Tue, 28 Jan 2025 10:00:00 -0500 2025-04-16T07:19:26-04:00 https://www.christianity.com/wiki/bible/does-the-bible-say-the-earth-is-flat.html https://www.christianity.com/wiki/bible/does-the-bible-say-the-earth-is-flat.html Tim Pietz https://www.christianity.com/author/tim-pietz/ Many skeptics—and even some Christians—point to a long list of Bible passages that refer to the earth as having “four corners,” passages that refer to the earth being stationary, passages that refer to the sun moving, etc. to suggest that the Earth is flat. But is this really what the Bible implies? Tue, 07 Jan 2025 08:30:00 -0500 2025-04-16T07:19:26-04:00 https://www.christianity.com/wiki/sin/what-are-the-seven-deadly-sins.html https://www.christianity.com/wiki/sin/what-are-the-seven-deadly-sins.html Lori Wildenberg https://www.christianity.com/author/lori-wildenberg/ While many of us can name the seven deadly sins (pride, envy, wrath, gluttony, lust, sloth, and greed), we may not understand why they are considered deadly. What does the Bible tell us about these particular sins? Mon, 30 Dec 2024 08:30:00 -0500 2025-04-16T07:19:26-04:00 https://www.christianity.com/wiki/christianity-qa/what-is-the-seal-of-god-and-what-does-it-have-to-do-with-the-end-times.html https://www.christianity.com/wiki/christianity-qa/what-is-the-seal-of-god-and-what-does-it-have-to-do-with-the-end-times.html Britt Mooney https://www.christianity.com/author/britt-mooney/ Looking through the Scripture, we can piece together what it means to have the Seal of God and what it teaches us about our heavenly Father. Fri, 06 Dec 2024 11:55:00 -0500 2025-04-16T07:19:26-04:00