...We Answer

Not every answer might comply with everybody's way of seeing things. Then I kindly ask you to hold it with Paul, who said in 1 Corinthians 13 that we now see in part. All of us answering here, stick to the basic faith statements as defined in the Apostle's Creed, yet further to that we know that there are also Biblical topics not related to salvation itself, that different people understand and see differently. So please keep this in mind in case you "stumble" over a certain answer - we would like you to be blessed by the challenge of different aspects!

Answer Set 15

Question: Dear Polly, I will enter His gates with thanksgiving in my heart. I will enter His courts with praise.................. We thank God for what He has done, is doing and going to do in our lives. We also praise Him for what He has done, is doing and going to do in our lives. So, is there a difference between thanksgiving and praise? Please explain to me. Thanks and God bless you, Polly
Love, Chris

Answer from Polly: Hi Chris.... good question and I think I can answer.... Sometimes thanksgiving is nothing more than good manners; something we were taught as a child; we say thank you to God for His blessings as we would say thank you to Mom and Dad for our allowance. The Hebrew word for praise actually means 'to make a show; to boast; to celebrate' as in Psalm 150:1-6. Praise is interchangeable with worship and the Greek word means to prostrate oneself in homage. Bottom line: Thanksgiving is thanking God for something He has done and praise is the act of verbalized worship or adoration that declares or acknowledges God for 'who He is' and not for what He has done.

Question: Is Deuteronomy 18:9-12 a good scripture to use for Halloween?

Answer from Polly: Deuteronomy 18:9-12 is a good scripture to use AGAINST Halloween. Anything that has to do with witches is against the Lord's will. It is hard to separate the costumes for Halloween and leave out the witches and devils so it is best to leave the entire celebration alone. Halloween has strong roots in paganism and glorifies darkness of the world rather than the Light of Jesus Christ (Romans 13:12). Christians' struggle is against the dark world (Ephesians 6:12) and we must keep ourselves from being polluted by the world (James 1:27b, Ephesians 5:11-12).

Question: What the bible says about selfishness?

Answer from Polly: The basis of everything evil and un-Christ-like is selfishness. Selfishness will remove us or separate or distant us from God by putting our own desires ahead of God. Sinful nature is selfishness and is the opposite of love and humility and does not rely on God but on its own worth. Selfishness is linked with pride of the wicked and their thoughts have no room for God (Psalm 10:4) and God will have nothing to do with them (Psalm 101:4-5). Selfishness means to love the world and not the Father (1 John 2:15-17) and please only themselves (Romans 15:1-4, 1 Corinthians 10:24, Philippians 2:3) and what comes from within a man's heart (greed/selfishness) makes a man unclean (Mark 7:21-23). So to counteract selfishness we live by the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-25), sow generously (2 Corinthians 9:6) and give until it hurts and God will provide (Luke 6:27-38).

Question: What does the bible say about obtaining wealth?

Answer from Polly: Jesus said not to store up treasures (wealth) here on earth where moth and rust will destroy it and where thieves will break in and steal it. But store up treasures in Heaven; where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:19-21). Man may think that he is the one obtaining or producing the wealth of the earth but God says He is the One who gives man the ability to produce wealth (Deuteronomy 8:17-18). Dishonest money dwindles away (Proverbs 13:11, 10:2, 21:6); 'moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work, this is a gift from God' (Ecclesiastes 5:19).

Question: What does the bible say about idioms / figure of speech / expressions?

Answer from Polly: An idiom is a manner of speaking that is natural to native speakers of the language to convey an emphasized message that is easily understood by the people of a particular culture or training. A perfect example would be the parables that Jesus spoke in all of the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John). Remember that Jesus asked; 'why is my language not clear to you' (John 8:43-47), explaining that if and when you become a believer that you will understand the gospel of Christ. He did not actually mean that you should hate your father and mother but that you must put Christ first above all else including family (Luke 14:26-27). He used a figure of speech to explain how you must put him before wealth (Matthew 19:16-26). The book of Proverbs is literally filled with expressions, figures of speech and 'proverbs'; wearing judgment and discernment around your neck (Proverbs 3:21-22); the wicked eat the bread of wickedness (Proverbs 4:17); spare the rod/you hate your son (Proverbs 13:24); a quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping (Proverbs 19:13); an undeserved curse is like a fluttering sparrow (Proverbs 26:2); and the old saying that a little bird told me comes straight out of Ecclesiastes 10:20.

Question: What does Isaiah 43:10-11 mean...10) Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me. 11) I, even I, am the LORD, and apart from me there is no savior. This verse confuses me about Jesus. Please help me understand what God is trying to say. Thanks!!!!!

Answer from Polly: Israel was still disobedient, spiritually blind and deaf and still not believing God's prophets (Isaiah 42:20, 48:8). God challenged the nations to bring witnesses (pagan idols) to try and prove that they could predict the future (Isaiah 41:21-23). Then He said that the Israelites, as His witnesses (Isaiah 43:12, 44:8) and His chosen servant (41:8-9), would demonstrate that He is the only God (43:10). He existed before and god (wooden/golden idol) was made and He will continue to exist long after the last idol perishes. The Lord's deliverance of Israel also showed that He is the true God. He is her only Savior and no one can oppose His plans. God's revealing His plans and saving His people could not be duplicated by any foreign god (idol). Israel's existence witnesses to His sovereignty and eternity. No on can reverse what God puts into action or thwart His plans (Job 42:2).