Today's question: Is There a Biblical Argument for Christians to use Self-Defense?

Find resources mentioned at michaelincontext.com.

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A great question prompting a candid discussion about performative prayer, gossip, and the Biblical instruction to bear one another's burdens.

Q: My question has to do with the idea of asking others to pray for whatever. I follow several Christian social media groups, for example. I find myself overwhelmed by the requests for prayer, often for “Unspoken needs” as “God knows.” I have been dealing with a serious cancer for 5 years and I know the prayers of many have been pivotal.

On the other hand, I find myself wondering why we ask others to pray when we are able to pray for our concerns ourselves.

Q: The Bible says we will have an accounting for everything on the day of Judgement. If we are saved aren’t we spared from all the sins we’ve committed with Jesus standing by our side stating HE took our sins? Or are we still given an account of our life both good and sinful?

Along with this is- what about all the horrible sins committed by Christians while they were Christians- ie slavery, treating or mistreating others? Is there no accountability? What if a Christian insisted you do something you did not want to do, for example, a sin like abortion?

A number of terms become part of our vernacular as believers. We use these terms freely among fellow believers, non-believers, seasoned Christians, and those new to the faith. But we seldom stop to define these terms, which is why we love today's question:

What is Sanctification?

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We've got a lot of new Ask Dr. E's listeners around these parts and we thought we'd give Michael 10 minutes to tell you a little bit more about himself and how he came to know the Lord.

Do you have a question for Dr. E? Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at [email protected].

Q: My question is about the L in TULIP - limited Atonement. I have had trouble wrapping my mind around this and reconciling it with some of scripture. RC Sproul's term definite atonement has helped me and I think it is probably a more accurate term. But would like to hear what Dr. E has to say about this doctrine and scripture to support it.

Head to our show notes for all of the resources mentioned in Dr. E's answer.

Do you have a biblical or theological question for Dr. E?  

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Q: Jesus breathes on the disciples (John 20:22) and they receive the the Holy Spirit. Seems like creation account when He breathed life into Adam. It seems like a picture of we’re dead in our sins but when forgiven because of the cross, we receive new life, abundant and eternal life and the Holy Spirit dwells within us.

Why does John 20:23 seem to imply Jesus also conferring power to forgive sins to the disciples. Only God can forgive and Jesus spends first 17 chapters building the narrative of His oneness with the Father in all the I AM statements.

What is the point of conferring power to forgive in v23? This seems out of place giving all Jesus does to secure our forgiveness by dying on the cross and being resurrected. How should we think about this?

Q: In light of Elon Musk's twitter purchase, Shane Claiborne posted, "If people of faith practiced the biblical Jubilee, there would be no billionaires. Every generation was to forgive debts, free slaved, and redistribute property. (Leviticus 25) It was God's Way of systematically dismantling inequality." Is this for real?

Q: "Moreover, your little ones who you said would become a prey, and your sons, who this day have no knowledge of good or evil, shall enter there, and I will give it to them and they shall possess it." (Deuteronomy 1:39)

Is "no knowledge of good or evil" a call back to the tree of knowledge of good & evil in Eden? This seems like language that would've brought that to an Israelite's mind immediately. I'm very curious about what Moses may have been telling them by using it, which may not be immediately obvious to us.

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Q: Why would God tell Moses that none of Aaron's descendants who had physical defects could come near to present offerings to the Lord (Lev. 21:16-24) but Jesus would later interact with, heal, and even touch the lame, blind, and crippled?

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