QUESTIONS FROM THE "STATE YOUR CASE" SERMON SERIES

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If someone was once a Christian but later walks away from the faith, will they be saved?
This question gets tossed around Christian circles quite often.  At County Line we believe someone can walk away from their faith.  Among other support Scriptures, we point to Hebrews 6:4-6 where it indicates someone can fall away from their faith.  Now, you would have others say, "You cannot lose your salvation under any circumstance."  I like to explain it this way.  Some people believe God holds you with an open hand and you can jump out any time you want.  Others believe God holds you by the back of the shirt and will never let you go.  I really don't get caught up in this argument because here's the bigger picture...If someone is obviously rejecting Christ in their life who once confessed Him as Lord, there is a problem.  Whether he lost his salvation, or never had real salvation, doesn't matter.  The fact is, he is still rejecting Christ and needs someone to reach him.  I also say, "If someone is truly saved, why would they ever walk away from it?  No matter what we face, life is better clinging to God than pushing Him away."

Can someone repent of their earthly sins while standing at the final judgment?
Again, some would say, "yes," others would say, "no."  County Line would say, "no."  We believe the end will occur in a twinkling of an eye and those who lived with Christ as Lord will go to heaven and those who did not will go to hell.  I don't say that harshly, just stating it simply.  For more information, read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.

If blood from bulls and goats cannot wash away sins, where did all of the people in the Old Testament go when they died?
There is evidence in Scripture that those in the Old Testament who had faith in God went to heaven.  If you remember, Elijah and Moses are said to have been talking with Jesus during the transfiguration.  If they didn't go to heaven, where did they come from?  Randy Alcorn wrote a great book entitled, "Heaven."  In his book he talks about an intermediate heaven that exists now and a new heaven that will exist after Christ comes back.  What Jesus did on the cross, covered all of humankind for all time.  Prior to His death, for those who believed, and after.  Hebrews 9:12 says, "He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption."

If we believe in Him and will have eternal life with Him, then what is the judgement?
The judgement is the final assessment of our lives.  This is talked about in various places in Scripture, but in Matthew 25, Jesus gives a pretty detailed description of what this day will be like.  Basically, there will be people who think they are in, but will be surprised.  The difference between both groups who call Christ Lord, will be how they lived their lives.  Did their beliefs show up in their actions?  Read Matthew 25:31-46 and see what you think.

Isn't the bridge illustration also known as the grand canyon figure?
I have never heard it referred to as such, but that may be true.

What evidence is there to support our country as a Christian founded country, rather than a country founded with a higher spiritual being?
For an exhaustive history of our Christian heritage, go to http://www.wallbuilders.com/.  This is solid and accurate information.  Very informative.

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS SUBMITTED NOT RELATED TO SERMON

What is the significance of when County Line receives communion?
Historically at County Line communion has been taken quarterly.  There is no particular reason for this other than we believe it should be done, but if it is done too often, it becomes ritualistic and loses meaning.  However, we are looking at the possibility of offering communion monthly.  I've been convicted recently that once a quarter may not be often enough.

Is the practice of foot washing taught as part of communion?
While Jesus washed the feet of His disciples as an act of servanthood, we are not commanded in Scripture to practice foot washing.  The Church of God does encourage the practice of foot washing on Maundy Thursday before Easter as a reminder of what it is to be a servant like Jesus.  County Line has offered this at times throughout its history.

Can I be friends with a kid at my school if he is gay?
Absolutely.  Just because we believe the gay lifestyle is wrong, does not mean we should treat homosexuals in a disrespectful manner.  Like Christ, we should love all people and treat them kindly.  I think it would be tremendous for you to be a Christian who accepts this person as a friend.  They need to see a Christian that doesn't throw stones at them.  Just because you disagree about lifestyle, doesn't mean you cannot be friends.  I hate to say this, but the only caution I would have is that you not allow them to convince you the homosexual lifestyle is OK, and that you are careful not to experiment with homosexuality.  Talk to your parents and let them advise you as well.

What do you know about Rob Bell's stance on heaven and hell?
I'm assuming this question is a result of Rob's new book, "Love Wins."  I want to be up front and say I have not read the book.  I would like to read the book to get an understanding of where he is coming from.  To be honest, from what I know of Rob Bell and things he has said, I believe he is solid and holds to the same convictions as we do.  Rob is a guy who loves to ask the questions no one else will dare to ask in the church world.  I've also heard from his own mouth in interviews and sermons at his church that he has been unfairly attacked and that he does believe in a literal hell and literal heaven.  If you listen closely to the questions he asks, he does not advocate the question, he simply asks the question.  From what I have read and heard so far, he does a good job answering the questions in the way we would expect.  He just takes the readers and listeners on a different path than most pastors.  I would encourage you to read his material for yourself and make your own judgements rather than listening to critics.

What was the most powerful point that you heard during the Case for Christianity event?

It is difficult for me to narrow down one point as the most powerful.  The talks were full of insightful information.  I think an interesting point was the fact that women discovered the empty tomb.  This was talked about in his "Criterion of Embarrassment" section.  The fact that testimonies from women were not considered reliable coupled with the fact that the writers went ahead and admitted it was women who found the empty tomb, speaks volumes.  (The fact that women's testimonies were not reliable does not reflect the views of Jesus by any means)  So I guess, to me, that was the most powerful point.

Why should we pay for the sin of Adam and Eve?

When God created Adam and Eve He gave them dominion over the earth and the animals that walked upon it.  They were the first representatives of all mankind.  In fact, after the fall, it says in Genesis 3:20 that "Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living."  So because the sinful nature had entered Adam and Eve and she was now the mother of all the living, we too would all be born with a sinful nature.  But to answer your question, we didn't have to pay for the sin of Adam and Eve, Christ did.  Christ paid for their sin, so when we leave this imperfect earth, we may live with God as Adam and Eve once did in the Garden of Eden.  Not a bad gift.

Who or what created God?
This is maybe the most difficult question to answer.  Our minds are incapable of grasping the answer.  The answer is that before God created the earth, time did not exist.  There was no beginning and end to things.  Because our lives are so dominated by time, we cannot even come close to grasping this.  Everything we do has a beginning and an end.  Our day starts with the sun coming up and it ends with it going down.  We go to a meeting and it has a start time and an end time.  We are born and we die.  Everything is based on time on this earth.  So to image a period when there was no time and therefore no beginning to God, is beyond our comprehension.  But I often look at creation and the complexity of nature and our human bodies and ask, "Is it really possible we are all here by chance?"  Simply by looking around one must come to the conclusion, "It takes more faith to believe there is no God than to believe there is."

Do angels have wings?
According to the Bible, certain angels appear to have wings.  In Isaiah chapter 6 verse 2 we read, "Above him were seraphs (types of angels), each with six wings."  We also read in Ezekiel 10:12 that cherubim angels have wings.  There are other accounts of angels where we don't hear anything about wings.  So the short of the answer is, "Yes, some angels have wings, some do not."  As to why angels have wings...hopefully we will find out in heaven!

Why, if everyone is supposed to be equal in God's sight, are women not supposed to be pastors in a church?

This is obviously a hotly debated topic in the church world.  You will hear strong arguments on both sides.  A passage people often refer to in regards to women in the church is 1 Corinthians 14:33-35 which says, "As in all the congregations of the saints, women should remain silent in the churches.  They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says.  If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church."  Now, upon reading a passage like that, you could take it at face value and say, "What more is there to say?"  There is also a passage in 1 Timothy 2:12 that says, "I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent."  The problem with taking passages like this and making universal statements regarding women is because you must read Scripture in light of the entire Bible.  If this is true universally, then why were women permitted to speak in other places in the New Testament?  Why were women taught how to prophesy and proclaim the Gospel properly?  In situations like these, you have to consider the cultural background during the time of the writing.  In the letter the Corinth, Paul was speaking a great deal about orderly worship and against speaking in tongues without an interpreter.  There was obvious disorder happening and evidently, the women of that church were at the center of it.  In the Timothy passage, Paul is writing strongly against false teachers.  The women of that church may have been susceptible to the false teaching and therefore were teaching incorrectly.  To think Paul was making a universal statement is being to narrow in our thinking and goes against the entirety of Scripture.  To think God created one gender to be of lesser value is absurd.  He created both men and women in His image.  Christ gave us a remedy for the curse Adam and Eve suffered after they sinned.  Yes, a man should be the spiritual leader of his home, but not the dominant lord.  God made Eve as a helper, not an indentured servant. So at County Line and other Church of God churches around the world, women are free to be teachers and pastors.  This is a very short answer to a very complicated issue.

If God knows what is going to happen, why would He let us do things to hurt the ones we love?

When God gave us a free will, He gave us the free will to love and to reject.  Because we have a sinful nature, we are at times, going to hurt others.  God could have created a bunch of robots who were forced to love Him, but is that true love?  Because He gave us the choice to do good and to love, He had to give us the freedom to do wrong.