CIR KBs

Christians in Recovery Knowledge Base article

Should a Christian gamble or play the lotteries?

Should a Christian gamble or play the lotteries?

No. For every winner, there are always losers. In the case of lotteries there are sometimes hundreds of thousands or millions of losers for every few winners. The winner gets his gain by hurting others, even though the loser has chosen to put himself at risk.

God’s Word teaches that we are to love others more than ourselves. When we do things that hurt others, we violate that principle. It is sin. Lest we think that no one is hurt by gambling, it would be enlightening to talk to professional counselors who have dealt with people who have gambling addictions. Ask about the wives, husbands, and children of gamblers. These are the real losers.

Our Bodies Belong To God

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What does God think about smoking?

What does God think about smoking?

God considers the human body His sacred Temple. The literal, flesh and blood bodies of people have been considered the Temple of God since the Holy Spirit came to dwell within believers, in Jesus Christ, at Pentecost (Acts, chapter 2).

Even nonbelievers are, potentially, the Temple of God. He is against anything that defiles (or harms) His Temple. He loves His creation called man, and has gone to great lengths–particularly in giving Old Testament Law–to instruct in what should and should not be consumed by the flesh body.

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What does the Bible say about suicide?

What does the Bible say about suicide?

The fact that God loves each person completely and individually is proven in Psalm 139:13, where it says, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.” He knows each one of us intimately and desires that each one of us spend eternity in His presence. His heart breaks over the pain we suffer in this life, but He promises us eternal life, free from all of life’s burdens, through Jesus Christ.

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What do I say to a gay loved one?

What do I say to a gay loved one about his lifestyle and God’s Word?

We encourage you to, above all, show the love of Christ. Do not allow yourself to get involved in heated debates. That only brings hurt and anger, which closes doors on the truth. Secondly, do not focus on the behavior. It is not the act of homosexuality that God wants to change. It is the heart that is closed to the truth of God’s Word that needs to be changed. You can convince someone to change his behavior, but that gets him no closer to Heaven. It is the condition of the heart that needs to be changed and then the behaviors will naturally follow.

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Is it possible to be a gay Christian?

Is it possible to be a gay Christian?

Homosexual temptation, like any temptation, is not sin in itself. Sin is giving in to the temptation by participating in the homosexual act or fantasizing about it. In Romans chapter 1, homosexuality is referred to as perversion. Many people believe that they were born homosexual and can do nothing to change it. According to Scripture, every person is born with a sin nature! We each have a propensity toward different types of sin but are called by God to leave our sin nature behind. First Peter 2:11 says, “Dear friends, I urge you…to abstain from sinful desires which war against your soul.”

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Are people homosexual from birth?

Are people homosexual from birth?

In the world of scientific theory, the thinking on this issue is split down the middle. Some studies show that genetic, hormonal abnormalities may cause a predisposition to homosexuality. But, there are just as many studies that show that thinking is erroneous. At this time, there is no commonly accepted scientific theory about this issue.

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What is wrong with homosexuality?

What is wrong with homosexuality?

A whole lot of things, but mostly this: It’s an abomination to God. He said this not once, not twice, but several times…and it wasn’t all in one breath, but was spread out over 1,500 years. In the beginning, God created man and then He created a woman to be man’s helpmate. I imagine that if God had thought homosexuality was okay, then he would have created another man…or just two women. But He didn’t, so that’s the beginning.

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How Should I Pray?

People describe prayer as speaking with God. How does one do this?

Many denominations ascribe a formula or method to prayer or even offer pre-written prayers to recite. Jesus did give an example of how to pray when He recited what is commonly referred to as the Lord’s Prayer. In Matthew 6:9-13, Jesus said, “This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be your name, Your kingdom come; Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”

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What is the difference between white and black magic?

What is the difference between white and black magic?

What is the difference between white and black magic?

I have heard this basic differentiation: Black magic is intended to cause harm and is evil; white magic seeks to heal, not harm. While that may be true, you have to ask the simple question, “What is the source of the power?” If it is anything but the power of Almighty God, then it is to be avoided at all costs.

God will never allow himself to be degraded to the point of being summoned to cast a spell or to levitate an object. I can promise you that will never happen. So, right away, you can rule out most “magic” as being of the devil.

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What is witchcraft?

What is witchcraft?

Witchcraft, also called black magic, is the evil use of supernatural powers. Webster’s defines witchcraft as the act or instance of employing sorcery, especially with malevolent intent: a magical rite or technique. Witchcraft calls upon the powers of the devil much like a believer prays and believes in the power of God.

If you believe in God, and believe in what the Bible says, then you must believe in the powers of evil as well. You cannot take one side and then completely discount the other side. So, evil power is real and witchcraft is the use of it.

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