“I’m dating someone who’s not a Christian. People at church think it’s a big deal, but I don’t. Thoughts?”

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 3:11, “For no one can lay a foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” Christ should be the foundation of every relationship because it’s the only sure foundation. If a relationship is not mutually built in Christ, then what is it built on? Attraction? Happiness? A likeable personality? Hopes and dreams? And if so, what happens when appearance changes with age—you become unhappy or bored, disputes and arguments arise, or some of your hopes and dreams are never fulfilled, and then what? When Christ is the foundation, though your relationship will be tested, it will stand the test of time because it isn’t built on what fades, but on what stands eternally. Praying for you!

Lt. Felix Padilla III
Cincinnati, Ohio

“I don’t think it’s important to go to church. Is it really a big deal?”

D.L. Moody was quoted saying, “Church is as vital to a disciple as a transfusion of rich, healthy blood is to a sick man.” Throughout the Bible, Scriptures tell us that we should not neglect meeting together, (Hebrews 10:25) but we are to continually encourage each other in our faith. Is it a big deal? It sure is!

It’s important to continually encourage each other in our faith. The body of Christ is the Church. WE ARE THE CHURCH—not a building. Paul speaks of this in 1 Corinthians 12:12 (NIV), “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.”

God created us from the very beginning of time to be in relationship with Him and designed us with unique gifts for a common purpose—to worship Him. If God has truly created and designed us for this purpose as the body, how could we not want to gather in His name and worship Him in Spirit and in Truth (John 4:24)?

Captain Michael Hanton
Kansas City, Missouri

“Is doubting God a sin?”

That’s a great question! If sin is a willful decision to move away from God’s way for life, then doubting is not a sin. Doubting is when we have questions about God, and that’s perfectly good and normal in our Christian faith. God made us, and He knows we don’t know the full story of His plan for all of creation, so our questions are no surprise to Him. I’ve come to realize that doubt can be good, because it can help me leave behind wrong views of God. We can have questions about God, without falling all the way into skepticism and unbelief. That’s why someone smarter than me once said, “The opposite of faith is unbelief, not doubt.” We find answers (historical and scientific evidences) that drive us to the Gospel. God is big enough to see us through our doubt!

Captain Abby Miller
Tampa, Florida