The Bible says, “Touch not My anointed, and do him no harm”.  My question is: when is it a legal issue?  If the anointed is a child molester and a murderer, should his behavior be reported to the leaders of the church?

Sincerely,
Pressing Charges

Dear Pressing Charges,

The verse you are referring to (1 Chr 16:221 Chr 16:22
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
22 [Saying], Touch not mine anointed ones, And do my prophets no harm.  

WP-Bible plugin) has nothing to do with reporting a murderer or other heinous criminals.  1 Chr 16:221 Chr 16:22
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
22 [Saying], Touch not mine anointed ones, And do my prophets no harm.  

WP-Bible plugin (it is also mentioned in Ps 105:15Ps 105:15
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15 [Saying], Touch not mine anointed ones, And do my prophets no harm.  

WP-Bible plugin) is specifically talking about how God took care of the nation of Israel.  The preceding verse (1 Chr 16:211 Chr 16:21
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21 He suffered no man to do them wrong; Yea, he reproved kings for their sakes,  

WP-Bible plugin) mentions how God forbid other kings and nations from attacking Israel.

If someone has committed a serious felony, you should do more than report them to the leadership of the church – you should report them to the authorities.  God specifically sets the government in place to bring to justice people who having chosen to destroy others’ lives (Rom 13:3-4Rom 13:3-4
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3 For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. And wouldest thou have no fear of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise from the same: ⁴ for he is a minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is a minister of God, an avenger for wrath to him that doeth evil.  

WP-Bible plugin).

For many years I have been disabled with constant pain from osteo-arthritis.  I have asthma and struggle with major depression.  I have pain in my knees, feet, neck, head, spine, etc.  Each day I can barely function, walk, or stand up for very long.  I am 54-years-old and have a lot of fatigue.  I don’t have a job because of all the pain and trouble breathing in hot and humid weather.  I feel weak and frail.  I have to be careful how I move, or I might hurt myself.  I move slowly and do everything slowly.  I have prayed to be healed physically, emotionally, and mentally.  What does God think of people who are disabled with pain… people who are sick… who can barely function?  What does God expect me to do in this world… when I can barely get through each day?  Please answer me soon.  Thank you.

Sincerely,
No Stranger To Suffering

Dear No Stranger To Suffering,

Do what you can – and don’t worry about the rest.  God has a lot to say about those who are sick and ill in this life.  Sickness is a result of Adam and Eve’s sin in the garden of Eden (Gen 2:17Gen 2:17
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17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.  

WP-Bible plugin).  Sickness and pain are not what God wants for us; they are the consequences of our choices.  God will eventually remove all sickness, pain, and death when we get to heaven (Rev 21:4Rev 21:4
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4 and he shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more; neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more: the first things are passed away.  

WP-Bible plugin).

When Jesus walked this Earth, He showed constant compassion for the sick (Matt 14:14Matt 14:14
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14 And he came forth, and saw a great multitude, and he had compassion on them, and healed their sick.  

WP-Bible plugin).  Jesus is the same today, yesterday, and forever (Heb 13:8Heb 13:8
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8 Jesus Christ [is] the same yesterday and to-day, [yea] and for ever.  

WP-Bible plugin).  You may never know this side of heaven why it is that you’ve had to suffer, but know that it wasn’t because God doesn’t have compassion.  There is some reason why He has told you “No” when you’ve prayed to get better.  Paul had a physical ailment that he prayed God would remove, and God didn’t give him what he asked for either (2 Cor 12:7-92 Cor 12:7-9
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7 And by reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted overmuch, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, that I should not be exalted overmuch. ⁸ Concerning this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. ⁹ And he hath said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for [my] power is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  

WP-Bible plugin).  Paul learned to trust in the Lord more because of his illnesses and how dependent it made him.  Your illness has the potential to draw you nearer to God as well.  God only holds us accountable for what we are capable of doing (2 Cor 8:122 Cor 8:12
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12 For if the readiness is there, [it is] acceptable according as [a man] hath, not according as [he] hath not.  

WP-Bible plugin).  If you are ready to work, but are unable to because of sickness, God understands.  Do what you can: write letters of encouragement to others (1 Thess 5:141 Thess 5:14
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14 And we exhort you, brethren, admonish the disorderly, encourage the fainthearted, support the weak, be longsuffering toward all.  

WP-Bible plugin), read your Bible for encouragement and comfort (Rom 15:4Rom 15:4
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4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that through patience and through comfort of the scriptures we might have hope.  

WP-Bible plugin), continue to go to services when you can because your example will do wonders for others (Heb 10:24-25Heb 10:24-25
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24 and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works; ²⁵ not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting [one another]; and so much the more, as ye see the day drawing nigh.  

WP-Bible plugin), and stand fast in your convictions and morals (1 Cor 16:131 Cor 16:13
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13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.  

WP-Bible plugin).  We don’t know how or when, but the Lord will cause your circumstances to turn out for good (Rom 8:28Rom 8:28
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28 And we know that to them that love God all things work together for good, [even] to them that are called according to [his] purpose.  

WP-Bible plugin).

I have been a christian for twenty years.  After being saved for one year, I began to fall into pornography.  It was very bad after a few years, and then it began to get better and better over the years.  But still, every month or even two weeks, I commit a sin in this area.  Was I really saved?  And if so, how do I have true repentance?  Please help.

Sincerely,
Lost One

Dear Lost One,

If you properly followed God’s commands to receive salvation (Read “What Must I Do To Be Saved” for more details), then you were saved.  However, you are right that this sin is deeply entrenched in your life, and you need permanent repentance.  We are told that a powerful tool in defeating sin is confessing our sins to one another (Jas 5:16Jas 5:16
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16 Confess therefore your sins one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The supplication of a righteous man availeth much in its working.  

WP-Bible plugin).  Sin likes to be kept secret (Jhn 3:20Jhn 3:20
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20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, and cometh not to the light, lest his works should be reproved.  

WP-Bible plugin), and bringing it to light by making it public goes a long way in defeating habitual sin.  A very popular way of getting this sort of accountability is by using accountability software that forwards your browsing history to a friend or trusted individual.  Companies like x3watch and CovenantEyes make accountability software, and many struggling pornography addicts have found it to make a huge difference.  If you want to defeat sin, you must expose it.  Confess your sin to others, and you will begin to see change.

Are the people who protest against abortion and homosexuality wrong in the way that they go about protesting?  I understand that these things are sinful in God’s eyes, but aren’t people wrong by making them feel attacked?

Sincerely,
End Doesn’t Justify The Means

Dear End Doesn’t Justify The Means,

It would be wrong to physically attack someone while protesting (two wrongs don’t make a right – Rom 12:17Rom 12:17
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17 Render to no man evil for evil. Take thought for things honorable in the sight of all men.  

WP-Bible plugin), but it should also be noted that very few abortion and homosexuality protestors are violent.  Abortion is murder (Rom 1:29-32Rom 1:29-32
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29 being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malignity; whisperers, ³⁰ backbiters, hateful to God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, ³¹ without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, unmerciful: ³² who, knowing the ordinance of God, that they that practise such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but also consent with them that practise them.  

WP-Bible plugin), and homosexuality is a sin (Rom 1:26-27Rom 1:26-27
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26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile passions: for their women changed the natural use into that which is against nature: ²⁷ and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another, men with men working unseemliness, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was due.  

WP-Bible plugin); christians should oppose these with every fiber of their beings.  Violent protestors receive a lot of coverage in the mainstream media, but what isn’t covered are the thousands of peaceful and honorable protestors who are simply trying to stand up for the innocent lives of the unborn and the sanctity of marriage.  Unborn children have souls and are distinct people (Lk 1:44Lk 1:44
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44 For behold, when the voice of thy salutation came into mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.  

WP-Bible plugin) and marriage is the bedrock of all healthy civilization (all the way back to Adam and Eve – Gen 2:24Gen 2:24
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24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.  

WP-Bible plugin).  Yes, violent protesting is wrong, but be sure not to paint all protestors with the same mass-media tainted brush.

My husband is a christian who added a Satanist to his facebook friends list.  I guess he knew him in basic training.  So my question is: should he have done this?  I mean, he thinks he can win this guy over, but I don’t think so.  I just think he is thick-skinned and evil.  I had a nightmare about him.  My husband deleted him from facebook for me.  Should he have added this guy in the first place?  This is a man who has Satan as his profile picture.  Thanks for your time.

Sincerely,
Pitch The Pitchfork

Dear Pitch The Pitchfork,

You wrote, “He thinks he can win this guy over, but I don’t think so.”  The whole issue is one of wisdom and discretion.  You are worried that bad company corrupts good morals (1 Cor 15:331 Cor 15:33
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
33 Be not deceived: Evil companionships corrupt good morals.  

WP-Bible plugin), and your husband is trying to make sure that his light shines for all to see (Matt 5:16Matt 5:16
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16 Even so let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.  

WP-Bible plugin).  Both opinions are perfectly valid and Bible-based.  The question is over which one is more applicable in this circumstance… that is a matter of opinion, not doctrine.  You and your husband must decide what is best, but remember that this isn’t an issue of right and wrong.

A youth pastor is going to different families in the church and saying that he thinks two particular teens are having a homosexual relationship.  He has not talked to the youths themselves or their parents.  What kind of action would you suggest be taken in regards to this youth pastor?

Sincerely,
Not A Gossip Girl

Dear Not A Gossip Girl,

Homosexuality is a sin (Rom 1:26-27Rom 1:26-27
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile passions: for their women changed the natural use into that which is against nature: ²⁷ and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another, men with men working unseemliness, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was due.  

WP-Bible plugin), and to slander someone with such an accusation is a heinous crime indeed.  We are never to gossip or slander people (Pr 10:18Pr 10:18
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18 He that hideth hatred is of lying lips; And he that uttereth a slander is a fool.  

WP-Bible plugin, 2 Tim 3:32 Tim 3:3
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3 without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, no lovers of good,  

WP-Bible plugin).  The Scriptures teach that if we believe someone is living a sinful lifestyle, we should talk to them individually first before escalating the issue and exposing their sin to others (Matt 18:15-17Matt 18:15-17
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15 And if thy brother sin against thee, go, show him his fault between thee and him alone: if he hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. ¹⁶ But if he hear [thee] not, take with thee one or two more, that at the mouth of two witnesses or three every word may be established. ¹⁷ And if he refuse to hear them, tell it unto the church: and if he refuse to hear the church also, let him be unto thee as the Gentile and the publican.  

WP-Bible plugin).  There are multiple reasons for this:

1. You might be wrong and have misunderstood the situation.
2. Individual confrontation keeps a situation as private as possible and, therefore, allows people to save face.
3. It avoids gossip and making a situation larger than it needs to be.
4. God says to do it this way (most importantly!).

This “youth pastor” (that title alone tells us there are further problems at your congregation – we recommend you read “What’s In A Name?” and “Elders”) is completely wrong in not confronting the individuals personally.  If he is right, then their souls hang in the balance.  If he is wrong, then the situation could be corrected privately the way God intends.