Ask Dr. E: Recent Episodes
Michael Easley
Dr. Michael Easley answers your biblical and theological questions each week. Call or text us at 615-281-9694 or email us at question@michaelincontext.com with your question.
Full Question: What was Christ’s purpose in going and proclaiming to the saints in prison? What are 1 Peter 3:18 and 1 Peter 4:4 all about?
Links Mentioned: Constable’s Notes Did Jesus Spend Saturday in Hell? Read the show notes here. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Full Question: I’m afraid I committed the unpardonable sin and blasphemed the Holy Spirit. What can I do to get the Holy Spirit back? Have I messed up so badly that God won’t forgive me? What does it mean to blaspheme, grieve, and quench the Holy Spirit? How are they different and what scripture backs this up?
To read the show notes, click here. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Full Q: I have now lived in NYC for a year and a half, and I've felt very stagnant and alone in my faith. I've never not believed in Christ and that he died for us, or in God. I somehow always have the battle of "doing good works." meaning, I haven't done much at all to learn, and I keep sinning. With everything online nowadays (especially tiktok), I keep seeing messages being spread on the end being near.
I know fear does not come from the Lord, but I sin and sin, ask for forgiveness and still have fear, because of this, if Jesus will take me into His arms because my thoughts are telling me im taking advantage of His forgiveness. I've been lazy in finding a Christian community, lazy in studying my Bible, and lately have only been thinking about death. When I commit a 'big' sin, I usually cry the next day about it and beg for forgiveness. I don't know how to hear what he wants me to do.
To read the show notes, click here. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Full Question: A friend of mine, in Chattanooga, is upset because his Baptist church is starting to allow women to baptize. They have only men as elders and deacons, but he is afraid this could turn into other things. I argue that the New Testament is silent on this, and should not make a difference. But now, I’m second guessing that and would love to know your thoughts!
To read the show notes, click here. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Full Q: My second child (19) has turned her back on the Lord and is "reconstructing" her world view. She has stopped attending Church. She has gone distant with all her Christian friends from childhood. She has moved out and is living with her boyfriend. My question is this: should I cut off all financial support, including the tuition I am paying from the 529 I already funded?
Links Mentioned: Resources from Dr. Jay Burns To read the show notes, click here.
Full Q: Has The Lord's Prayer been misinterpreted ... Does the line “give us today our daily bread” mean daily food or the bread of life? Does the Greek word epiousios used in the prayer have another possible meaning?
To read the show notes, click here. To watch clips on Youtube, click here. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Full Q: What’s the difference between anglican and evangelical? I was looking into Logos & answering their quiz questions on how to determine what type of study software I should get.
To read the full show notes, click here. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Full Q: I’ve heard both John MacArthur and Francis Chan teach we must fully surrender to Christ’s lordship in our lives in order to receive the gift of salvation. How could someone be mature enough at the point of salvation to fully know what it means to follow Christ without time for sanctification to occur?
Links Mentioned: The Moody Handbook of Theology by Paul Ens To read the full show notes, click here. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Full Q: Can you please explain a few terms that I am hearing more frequently and direct me to some Biblically sound resources to learn more? Reformed-In the context of -“She has come out as being reformed.” Calvinism, and Arminian.
Links Mentioned: What is Reformed Theology? Ask Dr. E Ep. 141 What is TULIP and How Does it Relate to Calvinism? Ask Dr. E Ep. 142 To read the full show notes, click here. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Short Summary: What does the TULIP acrostic mean, how does it relate to John Calvin/Calvinism, and what is the history behind it all?
To read the full show notes, click here. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Full Q: Reformed theology seems to be creeping into many churches and denominations. I’ve always associated “old earth”/nonliteral 6 days of creation, limited atonement, amillennialism, infant baptism and replacement theology to be tenets of reformed doctrine but since these positions are not widely accepted by some of the so-called reformed churches, I’m not clear now on what is meant when someone says they are reformed. So, what is reformed theology?
Links Mentioned: Heidelberg Catechism To read the full show notes, click here. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Q: Hello Dr. Easley, I'm trying to understand the term, "experiential worship”. Can you help me understand?
To read the full show notes, click here. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Question: Why do exorcisms seem to be predominantly in the domain of the Catholic Church? Do Protestants in general not believe possession can happen anymore, and if we do, are the Catholic methods the best practices? This may be too big of a question for the "Ask Dr. E" podcast but it's been on my mind and heart a lot lately.
Links Mentioned: Angels Elect and Evil by C. Fred Dickason To read the full show notes, click here.
Q: If Satan was cast out of Heaven, can we (being believers after death and during our eternal lives in heaven) also be cast out of Heaven? If we struggle with pride, selfishness, and greed now, what’s to say we are or aren’t going to be capable of falling like Satan?Read the full blog post here. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Q: Could you explain the concept of "testing God with your offerings"? Does God "return favors" to us? Where is the line with the prosperity gospel in regards to offerings? Resources Mentioned: Joyce Baldwin- Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi Lewis Sperry Chafer- Systematic Theology Craig A. Blaising, “Malachi,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures Read the full episode blog post here. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
I’ve often heard churches and pastors tell believers that the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) is binding on all believers. It is often the explicit or functional mission statement of churches. That all seems good. But I have wondered… If this is the case, why is it so difficult to find any Epistles clearly repeating this command or commanding Christians to evangelize and baptize disciples directly? We see passages like 1 Peter 3:15 calling for a life of faithfulness that provokes outsiders - and to be prepared to defend our hope. But in my reading, it is difficult to find one verse from Paul or Peter compelling people to evangelize to make disciples actively. Instead, most of what I read focuses the believers on loving one another and living and suffering well in the world. Maybe I’m missing something, but I’ve wondered if the Great Commission is incumbent upon all believers in every local church - why didn’t Paul and the other writers clearly command us? Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com. Read the full blog post here.
Q: I don’t see anywhere in the Bible where after the description of Jesus sharing bread and wine during the Passover meals that it says that this should become a ritual… As in something that you do in church or at a gathering. I’ve often wondered why we don’t just do this at home every day. It’s like when we break bread at suppertime and have our drink why don’t we just say it and remember that Christ died for us broke his body and shed his blood for us. Does it have to be something that we do in church? When did communion and church become a thing? And how do the Scriptures support what we do?
Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Read the full blog post here.
Q: You always say we must take the word at its word. We don’t add or take away. You say not to worry about what we “think” it means, but what it does mean. A few weeks ago you mentioned that the Proverbs 31 woman was not really about what a woman should want to be but was about wisdom. This was a little surprising to me because since I’ve read it as a little girl it seems very cut and dry. It’s a lot less ambiguous than some of the verses and books of the Bible. I never looked at this passage as a burden. I always loved the fact that God took time to show us this amazing reflection of what I believe so many women do and are.
The ‘woman’ is used as a personification throughout wisdom literature. Solomon is using this personification of wisdom to teach his son, and us, what it looks like to choose wisdom or wickedness. It would not be a negative thing for a woman to dedicate herself to living out Proverbs 31, but this is simply using wisdom.
Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Read the full blog post here.
Question: What do you think of Christians using pronouns for themselves and others who demand we address them with their preferred pronouns? I feel like by using pronouns for myself and others; I'm conforming to the culture and, in turn, humoring those individuals that identify as they/them and other opposing pronouns that don't line up with their biological sex. I don't want to make them feel disrespected, but at the same time, I don't want to conform to their false truth. I want to tell them the truth in love. Read the full blog here. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Before the fall, God invented sex as a form of intimacy to be a blessing within marriage. Therefore, we have always been sexual beings. It is important to know that within God’s purpose, it is not sin, but outside of this purpose, it is sin. Sexual intimacy is a gift of God to a husband and wife, and it is a wonderful blessing.
Check out the blog post here.
Resources Mentioned: Ed Wheat- Intended For Pleasure Sandra Glan and Bill Cutrer- Sexual Intimacy In Marriage Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Q: If everything happens for a reason, and things are predestined to happen, then why do we pray? How does prayer change things? I struggle with this area in my Christian life, and I think partly because I don’t understand and don’t know if my prayer makes a difference. Resources Mentioned: The Handbook To Prayer By Ken Boa Andrew Murray- With Christ in the School of Prayer Arthur G. Bennett- The Valley of Vision Michael J. Easley- Interludes
Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com. Check out the blog post.
Q: How Do I Know if I Am Actually Growing?
Resources Mentioned: The Handbook To Prayer By Ken Boa
Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Read the Blog Post
What does it mean to “lift up your horn” like in 1 Samuel 2:1a: “Hannah prayed: My heart rejoices in the Lord; my horn is lifted up by the Lord.”?
Resources mentioned are all in our Show Notes.
Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Q: After listening to your episode on women in pastoral leadership (which I completely agreed with), I was wondering if you could answer another question from the same passage… Scripture seems a little unclear on the service position of a deacon, at least compared to the office of an overseer/elder. So, were deacons an actual “office" in the first church, or were they simply servants/volunteers as the word denotes? Does verse 11 actually mean “women“ instead of “their wives“? If it does mean “their wives," why would elders’ wives not have any parameters also?
Find resources &. more in our Show Notes. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Q: I have a question about Heaven. I have a desire to have a home near water. It doesn’t matter if it is an ocean, river, or mountain lake. I would also like it to be big enough to host people for dinner or as a retreat. My dad had a desire to have a big home where the whole family could gather and we would have plenty of room for everyone. He went to Heaven before he was able to have that house.
My question is do you think our home in heaven will be our dream home? I know we’ll be completely satisfied with Jesus, but I just wonder if our longings on earth will be fulfilled in Heaven.
Visit our Show Notes for resources mentioned in this episode. Have a Biblical or theological question? Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Today's question is a follow-up to our recent episode about infant baptism. Based on comments Hanna and Michael both made during that episode, the question:
Health, cultural or traditional reasons aside, should Christian parents have their sons circumcised for religious or theological reasons?
Do you have a biblical or theological question? Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Q: Regarding the "lost sheep" and our Good Shepherd Who goes after even one: is that referring to unbelievers, or to someone who has strayed from the flock, and do they both "know His voice"?
A great question! Do you have a biblical or theological question? Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Q: Why are censuses usually considered a sin in the OT? For example, 2 Samuel 24:9-10 says, “Joab gave the king the total of the registration of the troops. There were eight hundred thousand valiant armed men from Israel and five hundred thousand men from Judah. David’s conscience troubled him after he had taken a census of the troops. He said to the Lord, 'I have sinned greatly in what I’ve done. Now, Lord, because I’ve been very foolish, please take away your servant’s guilt.'"
Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
“Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.” Matthew 16:28
This week's question:
Can you please put into context the meaning of Jesus’s comment found in Matthew 16:28: “Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.” This is also found in Luke 9:27 and Mark 9:1, so must have been pretty significant to those that heard it.
Find resources mentioned at michaelincontext.com.
Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
"And if you are willing to accept it, John himself is Elijah who was to come." Matthew 11:14
Q: Wait a minute, was John the Baptist Elijah? A question more than a few careful students of scripture have pondered. Hear Dr. E's answer in this episode.
Do you have a biblical or theological question? Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Q: Why did God create people who would reject Him?
A complicated question with an answer that's perhaps simpler than you'd think.
"If we say that God created man to destroy him, we make God capricious and malevolent. If we say man has complete free will, we brush up against the doctrine of election/predestination..."
Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Today's question: Is There a Biblical Argument for Christians to use Self-Defense? Find resources mentioned at michaelincontext.com. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
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?
Do you have a question for Dr. E? Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
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 question@michaelincontext.com.
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? Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
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. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
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?
Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Q: Why do some Christian denominations practice infant baptism while others only practice believer baptism? What do practitioners believe infant baptism does/does not mean or accomplish?
Dr. E answers: How do you reconcile moments when you lack faith or don't trust God?
We can't overstate that we are fallen creatures in a fallen condition. We're going to doubt. I don't want to say it's normal and we should be okay with it, but I will say it's normal and it's okay.
He loves you and me when we fail. God can handle our doubtful prayers.
Faithfulness is the objective, not success.
Q: What's so wrong with the instruction to "ask Jesus into your heart?"
Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Q: Are (or why are) issues like homosexuality and transgenderism "hills worth dying on" for believers? Can't we agree to disagree with, for example, the Episcopalians, over differing interpretations of Scripture?
Don't let the culture define your identity in Christ. I'm going to defend the scripture. Christians are afraid to say, "I'm not mad at you, I don't hate you, but that's not what the Scripture says." Be loving and kind to your friends but don't back down.
Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Part 2 of Dr. E's answer: Q: I'm looking to buy a new Bible. What do you recommend? Let's talk about translations, cross-references, footnotes, and other features within a Bible: what's best? What's helpful for personal study, and what might be extraneous?
Q: I'm looking to buy a new Bible. What do you recommend? Have you ever wondered what the difference is between all of the options for binding styles or materials used in available Bibles? Does it make a difference? What makes a Bible last longer, or makes it easier to use? Dr. E shares practical tips for what and where to look for a new Bible.
This week's question comes from a caller wondering about legalism, separatism, earning God's approval, being judgmental. Dr. E offers advice on how to reframe the Christian life from living by a set of rules to living by the discipline and leading of God's Word, God's Spirit, and God's People.
Q: I grew up in a legalistic Baptist church... My question is about separation—[the church I grew up in] taught separation: you should stay away from the wrong people, wrong habits, wrong places, a list of do's and don't's. Of course, they used Scripture to back it up, but I just always battled and am re-thinking everything I believe. I don't want to be legalistic and judgmental, I want to quit earning God's approval. I'm having a hard time recalibrating my thinking, I don't want to live by a list of do's and don't's. Do you have a biblical or theological question? Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Q: I’ve always thought community happens when you embrace the people God has put in your life and you choose to do life together with them. Some insist that you should join a “community group” with your church to properly do life with fellow believers. I find it difficult to join a group of people you don’t have anything in common with when you have people in your life already that you don’t see enough. I’d love your thoughts on this! Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Q: Does spiritual warfare take place here on earth? Or in a spiritual realm? Or both? Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Q: What are your thoughts on Young Life and its role in collaboration with local churches? Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Q: My question centers around the Holy Spirit. Given the diversity of conflicting views, what is the correct view. Is the baptism of the Holy Spirit separate from regeneration? When the word says "be ye filled" is this one filling of possibly many? What can we expect of the Holy Spirit as comforter? Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Q: What does the scripture say about children that die without making a decision to follow Christ? i.e. a 4-6 year old? Is there an age of innocence? When does volition occur?
Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Q: I am confused about Matthew 24:28 regarding vulture/carcass. Does it have anything to do with the Revelations and the great feast where all the birds are called? Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Q: If one is an apostate, using the textbook definition of that, can that person still get saved? I have been told by someone very educated in apologetics that there is no return from that. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Q: Where was Jesus (both God and man) during the time after His death and before His resurrection? Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Q: Who were the Nephilim (first in Genesis 6) and what role did they play in the Old Testament? It also references lowercase sons of God. How is this differentiated from Jesus, the one and only Son of God? Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Q: Could you please offer any advice or wisdom you might have on what to say to a friend who is deep into a "christian" cult. I feel good about defending, explaining and preaching what the Bible and the Gospel actually say. And I also feel pretty good on explaining what I find very problematic on his beliefs. So I am mostly interested in any general tips on interaction. How do I navigate a meeting with a former Christian acquaintance who is fully in a cult? We have talked a bit on and off lately on the phone wanting to catch up in person. When that happens I know it may be a bit of a friendly Bible/theology shootout. I want to tell him in love that he is in a very dangerous spot and that its not just about my side being right. If you can share any similar experiences and tips, I would deeply appreciate! Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Q: My question is what is your interpretation as to what the Bible says about women leading in the church? My almost 11 year old daughter has a relationship, understanding and hunger for God and His word that is incredible. I have felt/ believed for many years that there is a special calling and anointing on her life. She, in the last year, has declared that she “wants to be a preacher” - A few Sundays ago she visited a Baptist church with a friend and in that sermon heard that “women should not be preachers” based on 1 Timothy - I have researched, we have talked about it but agreed we (her and I) would “dig in” and figure it out. I want to lead her in the right way and I don’t want to allow doubt to be planted that could confuse her or keep her from Gods will in her life. What are your thoughts on this matter? Lastly, I found this article yesterday as I look for insight and understanding. I have attached the article. https://www.relevantmagazine.com/culture/yes-women-are-called-to-lead/
Resource mentioned: https://cbmw.org Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Q: Can you speak on the topic of Angels? Are they amongst us / Do they take on human form? People say they encountered an angel...is that true? Or are we unaware when we interact with them? Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Q: My father recently died very unexpectedly and quickly from a brain tumor following his brain surgery. We rejoice that he is completely healed. I'm wondering if my father can see earthly happenings. I received several sympathy cards that said he could. I'm still trying to understand and find truth in this. My son was married in my parent's backyard before my father died. We are having the wedding reception this weekend. Will my father be able to see this from heaven? Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Q: WHAT WAS CHRIST’S PURPOSE IN GOING AND PROCLAIMING TO THE SAINTS IN PRISON? Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Q: According to an article in Christianity Today, polyamory is the next pastoral sexual frontier. My son and daughter-in-law are polyamorous. They have been married 9 years and have two kids, they each have significant others, and these individuals are part of their family unit. They spend time with the kids and are with the family much of the time, including overnight. My daughter-in-law's parents, like me, have a huge issue with this lifestyle choice. If we host a family event, we do not include the "extras," we've also let them know that we choose not to interface with these individuals at events hosted by others, as we can't see how to do that without condoning or appearing to condone this choice. While both were raised in Christian homes, neither claim belief in God and are both adamantly opposed to religion, specifically Christianity. Dr. Christopher Yuan joins Dr. E to answer this question. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Q: Jesus forgave two people in the Bible before He went to the Cross – what gave Him the power to forgive sin before He went to the Cross? Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Q: Did God the Father turn His face away from Christ when He was on the cross? I've heard He did this in quoting Psalm 22, to fulfill its prophecies, but I've seen entire theologies built around this "cosmic abandonment" around this idea that Christ was separated from God while He was on the cross, but I don't know where that claim is substantiated in Scripture. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Q: How do you reconcile judging right from wrong without being judgmental? How do you speak the truth in love without condoning what is so biblically wrong? I feel like a bad witness for Jesus Christ because I am looked down upon by those in and outside the church. If my position is judged the moment some meet me, how am I going to be that example for who I truly am in Christ and in Him alone? Why does my flesh need approval and acceptance by others in the Church? Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Q: What are Michael's thoughts regarding Old Earth vs. New Earth? This is a question I’ve had for some time, being someone who has traveled and seen the Grand Canyon and other places that are supposed to be millions or billions of years old, and yet Scripture seams to teach the earth is more like thousands of years old. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Q: Should Christians practice yoga? Yoga's origin in pagan hinduism, yet many Christians practice it everyday. Is yoga a form of pagan worship that should be avoided, or is it personal preference? Is this comparable to Daniel's refusal to be defiled when he avoided the king's meat, is it 'legalism' to denounce yoga? Many churches offers yoga within their walls and this continues to grow. Are we headed down a dangerous path?Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Q: My husband and a trusted spiritual advisor had arrived at different view of the trinity - instead of three separate persons as one God, they believed there are three aspects of the one God. I was not taught that growing up and I can't understand how they arrived at this conclusion. My husband died in 2019 and I asked the spiritual advisor, who is a very intelligent man, who Jesus was praying to in the Garden before being crucified and he replied, "Himself." I can't wrap my head around this. Could you explain? Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
What can I do to get the Holy Spirit back? Have I messed up so badly that God won't forgive me? Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
My question is about hearing from God. It seems to be a trend among popular bible studies and teachers today–hearing from God–quite a bit. Even my Sunday school class at church is doing a video series from a very popular christian author who talked about how God still speaks the same today as He did in the Old Testament through dreams, through burning bushes, etc, and I found that to be unbiblical. My understanding through studying the word is that God spoke in the Old Testament because we didn’t have the scripture yet, the inspired Word of God, and we didn’t have the Holy Spirit yet. And that, yes, today the Holy Spirit can speak to us but our primary means of hearing from God is through His word, the Bible. I just want to make sure I have a correct understanding of that, and I was hoping you could Biblically walk me through that to make sure I understand about “hearing from God.” Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Q: My brother’s attending a church where they are using a Bible called The Mirror Bible. I was just wondering if you had any ideas about this Bible, what you know about it. I have some concerns about it and wondered if you did, or if you’ve looked into that, I’d appreciate your help.
Q: I was listening back to an episode of Ask Dr. E and you were talking about oppression, or demonic or evil spirits, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit not allowing that. I was wondering if there was a differentiation between the old covenant and the new covenant. We seem to see evidence that the devil was given permission with Job and with Peter, “Satan has asked to sift you like wheat but I have prayed for you,” is what Jesus had told Peter, so I was wondering – is there that differentiation between the Testaments or the covenants, and the permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit?
Q: We mentor and are friends with many young adults that say they abstain from (premarital) sex but will spend the night at each other’s homes or go on vacation together and share a hotel room. I would love to hear a theological point of view of why you should not live with your spouse before marriage, spend the night at each other’s places, and/or share a hotel room while on vacation together if you are abstaining from sexual relations. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Call or text us at 615-281-9694 or email question@michaelincontext.com with your question for Dr. E.
Q: Does the Bible say that to raise my children biblically, under God's design, I have to spank my child?Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Q: How do you reconcile Luke 6:29 and have healthy boundaries with those who use you for their own personal gain and hurt you because they just can?
How do you reconcile obeying God in denying oneself and taking up your cross daily, and protecting oneself from those who use this passage of scripture against you; once again for personal gain?
"Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either." Luke 6:29 Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
When Jesus was on earth, could He only do what the Father asked Him to do? Since He was fully God and fully man, was He able to do miracles on His own? Was He able to look at the heart of man on His own or was it always through the power of the Holy Spirit or His Father who would communicate with Him because of their special connection? Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Q: I’m stuck in Leviticus chapters 10 and 11: what should my takeaway be? Resource cited: Holiness to the Lord, Allen Ross. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Q: How do I get started reading the Bible? Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Why does it seem that church leaders are often so silent in regards to abortion laws and pro-life issues?
Q: Will the church be going through the tribulation?Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Q: How will rewards and leadership work in heaven? Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Short of heresy, is it ever okay, and if so when, to leave my church and look elsewhere to worship? Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Q: Was God at work throughout history among ancient people groups other than the Israelites? If He was—do their ancient writings line up with ours?
Q: Who were the saints that were raised in Matthew? Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Q: I’VE BEEN READING A LOT ABOUT THE ISRAELITES LATELY AND I WAS CURIOUS IF THERE WAS SALVATION FOR ANY OF THE OTHER PEOPLE GROUPS THAT WERE ALIVE DURING THAT TIME, OR IF ALL OF THE OTHER PEOPLE THAT WERE ALIVE DURING THE ISRAELITES TIME WEREN’T SAVED BECAUSE THEY WEREN’T PART OF THAT GROUP?
Q: Battles loom large over the definitions of inerrancy and infallibility. What do these terms really mean when it comes to specific verses? For instances, some will say it’s an error when the Bible uses round numbers for how many are in a tribe, or for the number of people killed in a battle. When the text uses specific numbers in other places, or when one gospel account has Jesus calling for a single donkey to be brought to Him and He says, “bring it to me” – versus calling for a donkey and the foal of a donkey – “bring them to me.” Or they’ll cite the last two verses of 2 Chronicles, which duplicates the opening verses of Ezra exactly but cuts off the command of Cyrus mid-sentence, losing the gist of his command. Obviously God didn’t inspire the writer of chronicles to do that, there was an error of transmission over the centuries, and part of Ezra was copied into Chronicles. I’ve heard good theologians say, and I tend to agree, that scripture is accurate and dependable enough for the purpose for which its intended, but to insist that every word, every description, every story is perfect down to the molecular level leads to unnecessary controversies.
When we are secure [in our salvation], can we walk out of the hand of God volitionally or are we in His hand securely once we belong to Him?
Q: I've been studying the different dispensations for a while and seem to get caught up in Ephesians 1:10 where the KJV renders the word "dispensation" but in the NASB it's "administration." what is the correct rendering in this word and does dispensationalism have a place for study and application here in 2020?
Q: I HAVE A QUESTION REGARDING THE ISRAEL TRIPS. ONE OF MY HESITATIONS IS THAT I FEEL LIKE I’M STILL SO IGNORANT ABOUT THE CONFLICT AND THE SITUATION OVER THERE, AND I JUST WANTED TO KNOW IF YOU COULD SUMMARIZE EVERYTHING AT A MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVEL, SIMPLIFY IT, AND DISCUSS THAT OR SHARE BOOKS YOU’D RECOMMEND BEFORE SOMEONE DOES THAT TRIP. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Q: WHAT IS YOUR VIEW ON CALVINISM? IS THE EVANGELICAL CHURCH BECOMING MORE CALVINIST? Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Q: It said in Genesis Cain took a wife from the Land of Nod. How did the people in Nod come into existence when God only created Adam and Eve who bore Cain and Abel at that time. Did they all come from Adam and Eve since they were the first creation? Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Q: I recently came across a study called “breaking the bonds of familiar spirits” and I wanted to see what your knowledge is on this. It seems a lot of scripture that I’ve found speaks about sorcery, divination, etc. or people talking about experiences where there could be curses in their family or generational addictions, a few different things there, at first I hadn’t heard this term before so I wanted to figure out what scripture actually says about this? Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Q: What are Dr. Michael Easley's top book recommendations? To see all of Michael's recommendations with links: https://michaelincontext.com/ask-dr-e-episode-10/ Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Q: I began my eldership at Central Bible Church in Fort Worth on Jan 1, 2021. We are studying the qualification of "one-woman man" for eldership. The topic I am studying is "an elder can never have been divorced" Can you give me your thoughts on this? Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Q: The Bible talks about having faith when you pray, what if you don't believe God will answer you when you pray?
Q: Why does God seem so different in the Old Testament compared to the New Testament? Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Q: Article: Has Homosexuality Always Been in the Bible A friend sent me this article and I’m VERY interested in Dr. Easley’s thoughts as I am raising my girls and want to educate them appropriately on this topic. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Q: I would think there are certain beliefs you have to have to truly be a genuine believer in Christ. One has come up recently that some of my dear Christian friends seem to be taken with and that is that they don’t believe there is a literal hell. I’m glad to be in Christ and saved from hell and I can’t understand not believing in that, and I think that would change a few things in life – maybe how you look at sin – so I just wanted your thoughts. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Q: How do Ephesians 2:8-9 and 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 go together? This states that our works will be revealed when we stand before the judgment seat - specifically what we have done in the body whether good or evil. Are we to "receive what is due"? That's a daunting thought.As believers, if our sins are as far as the east is from the west, is it only our good works that will be revealed at the judgment seat? How can the peace of God guard our hearts and minds in Christ when we know that the judgment seat is coming and still live in the Romans 7 tension of knowing what we ought to do but being unable to do so?Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
What do you think about Jephthah's vow to sacrifice whatever came out of his house in return for his victory in battle that resulted in the sacrificing of his daughter? Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Q: Why did God give Israel so many weird, specific laws like not to boil a young goat in its mother's milk? Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
A local pastor named Josh wrote in and shared a man in his community he's been meeting with, who is an atheist. They've been getting coffee and having lots of "lively discussions." This man pointed the pastor to a series of articles he wrote, called "the false prophecies of Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel." In these writings, he points to some of the more obscure prophecies and posits that history nowhere mentions the fulfillment thereof. He, therefore, comes to the conclusion that all Old Testament prophets are proven false, Jesus is a fraud, and Christianity has been exposed as a sham. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Q: Jesus says I am with you always. So why, in dire situations, doesn't He show up corporally? Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Q: WOULD LOVE YOU TO HELP US UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENS TO THOSE WHO DENOUNCE THEIR FAITH AND WALK AWAY LIKE JOSHUA HARRIS AND NOW, SADLY, MARTY SAMPSON. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Q: Can prayer change God's mind or His plans for you? Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Q: Since I heard you teach on Moody Radio as President of Moody Bible, I have been studying mostly from NASB. I preferred it to all other versions before I heard you, but when I heard your reasons for preferring it over others I was even more convinced it was the best. Even when the ESV seemed to be the “chosen” one by our beloved Dr. Lutzer I stuck with my NASB. The past few weeks I have been studying Romans 7:14 thru chapter 8. I like how the ESV Is written for these verses. Do you still think the NASB is the closest to the original text? Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
I believe that Jesus Christ died for all men. I don't believe that we are predestined–that He selected a few and died for the few. That would be like being on the cross and saying, “oh wait, i’m not dying for you. I'm just dying for these folks over here.” So i have a hard time with that concept. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
In the Old Testament, they drew lots to determine God’s will… why don’t we do that now? Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.