Questions and Answers

We do not believe God requires us to use only the terms Yahweh and Yahshua in reference to the Father and Jesus Christ, as if only these two terms spelled and pronounced exactly correctly constitute the only "true" names of God and Jesus Christ.The original text of the Bible contains not only Hebrew but also Greek, Aramaic and Chaldean. The references to God that are included are from those languages.

Even in the Hebrew it isn't possible to be precisely accurate, because the consonantal pronunciation (YHVH or YHWH) has been lost. Also, since the original Hebrew writings included no vowels, we don't really know the vowels that should go between the consonants or even whether the name has two or three syllables (for example, whether Yahweh, Yahuweh or Yehowah).

Furthermore, there are no ancient manuscripts of the New Testament that have Hebrew names for God in place of the Greek names.

Christ used the name for God that was commonly understood by His audience. It is reasonable to assume that the apostles in Acts 2 used commonly accepted terms as they spoke in different languages to those from various regions who were hearing the truth of Jesus Christ's role for the first time.

As to His own name, the Oxford Dictionary records that "Jesus" comes from the Latin Iesus, which comes from the Greek Iesous, which is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Yehoshua or Yeshua (Joshua).

An important question to ask people who have expressed concern that Yahweh is the only name that we may use when addressing God is, "Why is He called by several names in the Bible?" Elohim, El, Yah, Eloah, Elyon, Shaddai, Adon, Adonai and Adonim are various Hebrew expressions for our Father.

Moreover, the question above presumes that the name Yahweh refers exclusively to God the Father. While this name in the Hebrew Old Testament could refer to the Father, it often referred not to the Father but to the One who would later be born as Jesus Christ (see John 1:1-3,14; 1 Corinthians 10:4).

Studying about and meditating on all the names and descriptions of God that we have been given in the Bible helps us better grasp the awesome greatness, power and holiness of God—both Father and Son.

This study requires translating into our own languages. Following the logic that it is appropriate to use only Yahweh and Yahshua, it would be inappropriate to address our Maker as "Father" and our Messiah as "Savior." It is not sound reasoning to believe that God expects us to speak in our own languages (which He divided at Babel), yet when it comes to saying His name, we are supposed to say only Yahweh and Yahshua, even though we may be from America, French Guiana, Borneo or Togo.

If you would like to learn more about God, go to www.gnmagazine.org/booklets. Then scroll down to the booklet Who Is God? You can read it online or request a personal copy by mail.

Answer: We should ask ourselves several questions to determine whether or not we should celebrate a religious holiday. For example: Is it commanded by God in the Bible? Do we see examples of it being kept by God's people in the Old and/or New Testaments? What is the history of the observance of a given holiday? Do its roots lie in pagan worship, which God commanded His people not to imitate in their worship of Him?

The word Easter is mentioned only once in the King James Version of the Bible in Acts 12:4. Scholars recognize that this is a mistranslation of the word pascha, the Greek form of the Hebrew word meaning "Passover," as it is now rendered in the New King James Version. "Easter," as is noted in The Companion Bible margin, "is a heathen term, derived from the Saxon goddess Eastre, the same as Astarte, the Syrian Venus, called Ashtoreth in the Old Testament."

Easter not only lacks biblical authority, but it was brought into "Christianity" to replace God's commanded festival. Trying to justify this, religious leaders gave this festival a Christian meaning—the celebration of Christ's resurrection. As wonderful as Christ's resurrection is, the Bible tells us to annually commemorate His death (Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 11:24-25). The Bible says nothing about using rabbits and Easter eggs to remember Christ's resurrection.

Therefore, those of us in the United Church of God, publisher of Vertical Thought, keep the biblical Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread, as Jesus Christ and the early New Testament Church did. We do not celebrate Easter.

Given the history of Easter, it is quite understandable why so many people today think of Christianity as only a celebration of what Christ has done for us, instead of the honorable quest to live godly lives.

If you would like to know more of the facts about Easter and other holidays, request our free booklet Holidays or Holy Days: Does It Matter Which Days We Keep? Additional information about God's annual Holy Days is also presented in our free booklet God's Holy Day Plan: The Promise of Hope for All Mankind. You can read these booklets online or request printed copies by going to www.gnmagazine.org/booklets.

Answer:The subject of homosexuality has caused a great deal of confusion for many. It is a controversial subject in our society, but it is not a new question for the Church of God. The early New Testament Church dealt with it.

Scripture clearly shows that homosexual behavior is sin. You may befamiliar with 1 Corinthians 6:9-10. The Amplified Bible adds clarity: "Do you not know that the unrighteous and the wrong doers will not inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived (misled): neither the impure and immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor those who participate in homosexuality... will inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God."

Another plain New Testament passage that addresses the subject is Romans 1:26-27.

Paul, in 1 Corinthians 6, goes on to state: "And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God" (verse 11,NKJV).

That is, members of the Church of God in Corinth had committed some or all of the sins listed—including homosexual conduct—but later converted and turned from their sin. This verse shows that homosexual behavior can be overcome. Of course, it is surely better to refuse something that is sin rather than to have to repent and change from it later.

Sin begins with temptation to do what is wrong. One practical necessity is to avoid exposure to material that typically provokes sexual temptations, including pornographic literature and sexually explicit television programs and movies. Paul's practical advice to the Corinthians is applicable—run away from factors that bring on temptations. "Flee sexual immorality" (1 Corinthians 6:18).

Equally important is the necessity to put uplifting information and images into our minds (2 Timothy 2:22). Select your reading material and entertainment wisely.

The apostle Paul candidly spoke of his ongoing struggle against human nature in Romans 7:14-25. Overcoming doesn't mean that we're always able to put aside temptation, never to experience it again. To the contrary, it's more common that we have to battle against familiar temptations repeatedly.

The necessity to fight this battle shouldn't discourage us, for, as Paul brings out, we can count on victory through Jesus Christ. The battle against sin must be fought largely in the mind, before temptations give way to sinful thoughts and, eventually, sinful actions.

Think on Paul's words from 2 Corinthians 10:4-5: "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. "We must all control our sexual desires.

Answer: The New Age movement is very broad and therefore not easily defined. It is a humanistic movement (that initially spread through occult communities in the 1970s and 80s) rather than a philosophy with a specific set of beliefs. Still, there are some general issues that seem to be consistent throughout.

The "New Age" referred to is the Aquarian Age where man is supposed to evolve spiritually. In this, the focus is very much on man rather than on God. Man is considered divine, inherently good and in need of reaching his potential internally.

Man is also to be in harmony with nature. This plays out as more than just being careful and responsible. It can actually be a form of spiritism. Nature is considered to be spiritual as well. Overall, this movement is characterized by moral relativism and universal tolerance. Each person is to find his or her own reality and, through tolerance, produce peace and love. Regrettably, about the only thing that is not tolerated is the true God.

New Age philosophy incorporates elements of pagan worship including Eastern mysticism, astrology, palm reading, crystal healing, pyramidology, Western European paganism (Wicca), Native American spiritism, pantheism and nature worship. It sometimes includes linking up with aliens in an intergalactic consciousness. Some forms do acknowledge a cosmic Christ—that Jesus was a yogi and that he was trying to show us all how to be "Christs" like him. Some New Age practices also include psychic powers like levitation and efforts to contact the spirits of the dead. There is an emphasis on the acquisition of mystical knowledge.

There are many dangers here. For one, the New Age worldview is unbiblical and false, leading people away from the truth of God. For another, the occult practices mentioned above are really dabbling with evil spirits. Demons pose as the spirits of the dead, and they are also the ones supplying the power behind occult supernatural acts, often at first unbeknownst to the occult practitioner.

Moreover, the New Age movement runs directly counter to God's instruction. Notice what God told the Israelites when they entered the Promised Land. He had given them His laws and made it clear how they were to live. The people of the land they were entering had their own religious practices. God's warning to Israel was: "Take heed to yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them [the native people], after they are destroyed from before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, 'How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise'" (Deuteronomy 12:30).

He then told them: "Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it" (verse 32). The same instruction applies to us today. We are not to engage in or adapt any of the religious practices of the peoples around us into our worship of God.