This episode we answer these questions:
1. When a Christian dies, does his/her soul go to heaven immediately, as I have been led to believe my entire life, or when we die are we in a holding pattern until Jesus returns? And if we are in a holding pattern, are we conscious? What about those bodies that have been cremated? I want to believe that those who have gone before me are in Paradise with Jesus. But, I have heard references in OCC sermons that that is not the case. Where was Lazarus during the 4 days?
2. What are the purposes of the sacraments? Why does Scripture command these practices and give such a serious tone about applying them in a worthy manner?
3. Once you have been baptized and accepted Christ as your Savior, even if you convert to another religion, do you lose your salvation? I was always told that you can never lose salvation once baptized and accepting Christ.
4. Should tithing always go to a church or can it go to support an overseas missionary or another ministry? What if it's only once in a while? I always want to help others but am unable to go above tithing at the moment so what's a girl to do?
5. Would it be possible to discuss amillennialism, pre- millennialism, post millennialism and any other millennialism I am not aware of?! I know it's a deep subject matter, and the most important thing is that we will dwell with the Lord forever, but this has always confused me.
6. In my religion history class, we are learning that the Bible isn' t always meant to be interpreted literally, and that many of the stories have a different goal other than to provide historical accounts (i.e. to show the characteristics of God). I have always had in my mind that the Bible is made up of many different kinds of literary styles, but thinking of stories that I thought might be historical as a story mostly just to convey the character of God is a whole different method of thought. How do I balance believing that the Bible is the direct word of God and the new things I am learning that what seems to be a historical account may not actually be historical?
