Here The Doctor is shown making some adjustments to the powerful super computer located deep within the sub-basement of his super secret Command And Control Center
Well, The Doctor has certainly been hard at work here at his Worldwide Command And Control Center. To help respond to the overwhelming number of questions and comments that The Doctor receives here on a daily basis, he has enlisted the aid of an advanced super computer.
This PC-on-steroids is so powerful that it causes power outages for miles around whenever it’s switched on. So with that, let’s get to your Bible questions for today while The Doctor attempts to hold off his angry neighbors…
I live with a family of four but I'm the only Christian in my family. My mom keeps on saying to me, "keep your Christian life quiet [or] people will get mad at you"
Before we get into answering your question, The Doctor wishes to say that he was also living at home with his parents when he first became a Christian. And like you, The Doctor’s parents said much the same things to him when he first started reading the Bible and going to church. Since The Doctor was the only Christian in his family (as you are now), he understands exactly where you are coming from.
The Doctor believes that most parents are genuinely concerned for their teens and really do want the best for them. The problem is that “the best” often means one thing for a Christian youth and something very different for a non-Christian parent. For example, it’s probably fair to say that all parents want their children to become successful, right? Well, it’s possible that a non-Christian parent sees Christianity as something that will keep their children from becoming a “success” as they understand it. This could account for your Mom’s statement about “keeping your Christian life quiet.”
We should also remember that part of a parents’ role is to protect their children from things that they feel may be harmful. Sometimes a parent may see their child’s relationship with Jesus as a mistaken indication that their child is involved in some kind of weird cult. Or a parent who misunderstands Jesus’ teachings may fear that their child will turn into some kind of “religious fanatic.”
Again, The Doctor strongly believes that most parents are looking out for their children’s best interests as they understand them. It’s just that -as non-Christians- your parents may not really understand what a relationship with Jesus is all about.
Now you may not realize it but you have a really great opportunity here. Because you are the only Christian in your family, you have the opportunity to show your family what real Christianity is all about! Think of it: the God of the universe has given you both the honor and responsibility of being His representative to your family.
Since you are the only Christian in your home, it’s probably safe to assume that you are known as “the religious one” in your family, right? While some people might look on this as a negative thing, this is actually something that is very, very good. You see, it’s important to be known as “the religious one” because you will be the one that your family and friends will turn to whenever a problem, difficulty or crisis situation occurs.
When trouble comes, members of your family will turn to you in the hope that you -as “The Christian”- have the hotline to the God who can help them. And because you are the only one in the family who knows the God who is all-powerful over every situation, you will have a tremendous opportunity to communicate the love and truth of Jesus Christ!
Because of this, The Doctor would encourage you to pray daily for your family. Ask God to show them their need for Christ. Do your best to be polite and respectful to your parents- remember the 5th commandment! You might also invite them to church, perhaps for some special event. And don’t forget to read your Bible regularly so you will have a good understanding of God’s Word. This way you can always be ready to explain why you believe what you believe (see 1 Peter 3:15-16).
But I have another question. Since my parents sort of disapprove of my Christian life should I keep it quiet from them and just share it with my friends? Like should I do my devotions when they are not home and when they are not around? They really look at me weirdly when I do that
Well, it’s important to do your best to make sure you honor and respect your parents. Romans 12:18 also tells us, “Don’t quarrel with anyone. Be at peace with everyone, just as much as possible.” Remember also that your faith will be clearly seen by your actions, your speech and the choices that you make. You see, anyone can read the Bible and do devotions but it’s a God-honoring lifestyle and attitude that will really make the most impact on your family. Your parents are likely to become less disapproving of your spiritual beliefs when they see for themselves the positive impact that your relationship with Jesus is making on your life.
Your commitment to Christ is probably fairly new to your parents and it may take some time for them to get adjusted, especially if they are not religious people themselves. The Doctor suggests that you set aside some time each day and find a quiet private place to read your Bible, do your devotions and pray. If you can do this, then you should be able to spend some uninterrupted quality time with God and not have to be concerned about weird looks or anything like that. Remember that it’s the reality of Jesus in your everyday life that will really have the greatest impact.
Finally, The Doctor would encourage you again to pray for your parents. Ask God to give you the wisdom to handle your relationship with your parents in a way that honors Him. Ask for God’s blessings on your parents and ask Him to help you to be the best son or daughter you can be. A well-known Christian of the 13th century named Francis of Assisi summed it up like this: Preach the gospel at all times and if necessary, use words.
What do you know about fasting? What are the reasons for fasting and for how long?
Ok, “fasting” refers to the voluntary act of going without food or water for a period of time. Most of the fasting seen within the Bible was done to help people take on a more humble attitude towards God. People did this by denying themselves and seeking to put God ahead of legitimate needs like eating or drinking (see Ezra 8:21 for an example). In other cases we see people fasting to reflect their sadness (1 Samuel 31:11-13), repentance (Jonah 3:5) or a desire for God’s direction (Esther 4:16).
There were also different kinds of fasts. For example, people fasted from eating completely (Ezra 10:5-6) or partially (Daniel 10:2-3). Fasts could last a day (Judges 20:26), a week (1 Samuel 31:13) or even as long as 40 days (as in the case of both Moses and Jesus). In most cases, Biblical fasting also included a strong emphasis on prayer. However, it should be pointed out that the Bible also tells of God’s great displeasure with people who fasted with the wrong attitudes. For example, Jesus once rebuked the Pharisees for their hypocrisy in drawing attention to the fact that they were fasting (see Matthew 6:16-18 for the story).
A similar thing happened in the Old Testament where the prophet Isaiah recorded the comments of some people who were upset when God didn’t seem to notice the fact that they were fasting. In Isaiah 58:3-5 the Lord told these people exactly why He took no notice of them- their fasting meant nothing while they still carried their ungodly attitudes! He then went on to describe the kind of fasting that He really was looking for…
“No, the kind of fast I want is that you stop oppressing those who work for you and treat them fairly and give them what they earn. I want you to share your food with the hungry and bring right into your own homes those who are helpless, poor, and destitute. Clothe those who are cold, and don’t hide from relatives who need your help” (Isaiah 58:6-7).
So when it comes to fasting, the real question is “why am I fasting?” Fasting can be worthwhile but only if it’s done with the right attitude for the right reasons. You should also keep in mind that it may be medically unwise for certain people to fast so you must also take that into consideration. The best thing is to prayerfully seek God directly and ask Him what He would have you do with regards to fasting.
Do you have a question for The Doctor? Just send it to the email address above- you’ll get a personal reply and you just might see it answered here.