Why were the people of Nineveh so willing to turn and repent after Jonah prophesied that their city would be destroyed?  How did he prove to them that he was a prophet of God?  Do you think God chose Jonah to complete this assignment, knowing he would try and run, and in the process, also cause the sailors who threw him overboard to believe in God?

Sincerely,
Waterlogged

Dear Waterlogged,

As far as we know, there was only one sign associated with Jonah – the miracle of his survival in the belly of the fish (Matt 12:39-40).  Jonah’s survival made him a living, breathing sign of the power and might of God (Lk 11:30).  When the Ninevites saw Jonah walking around alive and well in their city, they quickly listened and obeyed his preaching (Jonah 3:4-5).  It is impossible to speculate on exactly why God chose Jonah and when God chose to use the fish as His prophetic sign to the people of Nineveh… but suffice it to say, God can cause all things to work together for good (Rom 8:28).  Jonah’s flight from Nineveh can be compared to Joseph’s enslavement – man meant it for evil, but God used it for good (Gen 50:20).

In the Bible in Isaiah 19:19-20, what exactly is this “altar” or “pillar?” Is it possible that it can be referring to a pyramid?

Sincerely,
Pointedly Asking

Dear Pointedly Asking,

We don’t know for sure what the altar or pillar was, but it may have been an altar set up by a Jewish man named Onias during the days of Ptolemy.  In chapter nineteen, Isaiah prophesies that Egypt will be destroyed (Isa 19:1).  Nobody knows for sure whether this refers to the conquest of Egypt by Piankhi or to the conquest by Esarhaddon.  In either case, when Assyria attacked Egypt, Judah was on the side of Assyria, and God’s people left their mark on that land by building altars to Jehovah in Egyptian territory.  That is the most likely fulfillment of Isa. 19:19-20.

If you are not doing what God has instructed, is Satan your father?

Sincerely,
Who’s Your Daddy?

Dear Who’s Your Daddy,

In Jhn 8:44, Jesus says that those who follow the lusts of the devil have become his children.  Children emulate their parents.  When we are children of God, we show respect for our heavenly Father (Heb 12:9); when we follow sinful ways, we are showing respect for the devil.  In short, we act like the family we choose to love.

I was told that the Holy Spirit is not here to make us feel good.  In my limited knowledge, I believe that the Holy Spirit can make us feel good.

Sincerely,
Peppy

Dear Peppy,

The Holy Spirit came to bring us the Bible (Eph 6:17), comfort through that Word (Jhn 14:26), and salvation (Tit 3:5).  When we obey the teachings of the Bible, we enjoy the blessings of the Holy Spirit, blessings which will bring us joy and long-term happiness.  The Holy Spirit didn’t specifically come to make you feel good, but joy is a symptom of a life well-lived in the Holy Spirit’s teachings (Rom 14:17).

Hi, everyone at Ask Your Preacher.  Is it all right for a christian to dress as Goth, Punk, Emo, Metal, or Hip-Hop?

Sincerely,
Alternative And Edgy

Dear Alternative And Edgy,

We have a lot of freedom in what clothes we wear as long as those clothes are:

1. Modest
2. Send the right message about who we are

Whatever your fashion style, immodest clothing is wrong (1 Tim 2:9).  Both men and women need to be very careful to not dress provocatively and inappropriately.

The second issue is that how we dress is a reflection on our character.  Whether we like it or not, all of us have a reaction to someone who has a gigantic skull tattoo on their neck… clothes may not make the man, but they do make people think about the man.  Everything we do should be for the glory of the Lord (1 Cor 9:23).  Whatever your fashion sense is, just make sure it sends the right message.

Ever since I was little, I have been fascinated by witches.  I am a christian; I always have been.  I believe in God (as well as love Him).  I believe that Jesus died on the cross for my sins and that He rose from the dead.  I have my doubts about other things but never this.  I’ve never read the Bible, but I know that witchcraft is evil in His eyes.  I have NEVER practiced it.  I merely find it interesting, but I do NOT follow it nor believe in it.  I love the Harry Potter books, but again, as you can see, I’m in the same boat.  I like witches, but I’d never practice the craft.  I want to know if I’d end up in hell.  I feel the same way about astrology.  I even wear a Capricorn necklace that I got for my sweet sixteen.  But again, I don’t believe in any of it… just as a hobby.  It’s been driving me crazy, and I don’t know what to do.

Sincerely,
Toil & Trouble

Dear Toil & Trouble,

Astrology, mysticism, séances, horoscopes, palm reading, witchcraft, etc. are all sinful.  God condemned that behavior in the Old Testament (Isa 47:13-14).  King Saul was put to death by God for seeking a woman that practiced divining (1 Chr 10:13).  Any Jew that was found visiting a ‘medium’ or ‘spiritist’ would be cut off from His people (Lev 20:6).  In the New Testament, astrology is just as roundly condemned.  Paul cast out an evil spirit that was fortune-telling (Acts 16:16-18).  When someone became a christian, they confessed sorcery as evil, and many of them burned their books of the magical arts (Acts 19:18-20).  If we want wisdom, we should seek it from God (Jas 1:5).

You mentioned that you haven’t read the Bible.  All faith in Christ is dependent upon the Bible (Rom 10:17).  It seems like you have an honest heart and a real desire to know what is right – two things that matter a lot to God (Lk 8:15).  Please feel free to ask any more questions as they come up, or if you would like us to set up a Bible study for you with a faithful church in your area, just let us know.