Question:

My family is in a big war, there is no peace. My dad is paranoid. I feel like commiting suicide and I’m only 17. My family is Muslim, but I’ve recently converted to Christianity, but I’m struggling to keep my faith. Please help me.

- Amanda

Answer:

You need to let go of all the emotions that keep you captive to your past. Emotions don’t let your faith work and that may be the reason why you’re struggling to keep your faith. It’s not about how you feel like, it’s about what is good for you and what is true about you. You’re so important for God that He died for you - what does that tell you about your value? Can you waste all that in a suicide? It doesn’t make sense. Come to the church today and speak to the pastor about how you can use your faith to fight the evil thoughts that dance around your mind. Don’t wait for tomorrow. Regarding your family, I think you need to leave that side of your life on hold for a while so you can focus on yourself first. Once you’re strong and firm in your faith and with yourself, you can then start helping them.

Question:

Is sex before marriage a sin before God?

-Linda

Answer:

Yes. Sex was created by God to be present inside a marriage. Once you take marriage out, it becomes a lust, a way to get diseases and be broken heartd.

Question:

I am saved, baptized in water and in the Spirit. I want to be a pastor, but what should I do? Should I wait? Please guide me!

- Amos

Answer:

You can only wait - there’s no other choice here. When God finds you ready, He’ll call you. For now, you need to show God you’re ready. Souls must be a priority in your life - not your love life, not being a pastor, nor being an assistant. If you keep on focusing on titles so you can serve God, you’ll never be called. Stop waiting to be an assistant to be helpful in the church. Save souls now. When you’re in the supermarket, talk about Jesus to people. When you’re in the church, instead of being there just to be there, look for ways to help out, even if it’s to clean the floor of the church. If you choose how you want to serve God, you’re still not ready.

Question:

I have a problem. I have been married now for 4 years. I dated my husband very little time and I got pregnant. I love my husband very much, but there’s a problem: he has little education. He is lazy, has no sence of style, has no comprehention of anything. I have to be “his legs” in other words. It’s like I have another child. He’s 4 years younger than me and I try to talk to him but he just doesn’t care about anything. He has no desire to interact with his kid and that drives me crazy! I have to do all the bill paying, I work all day, I go to church (which is the only sanity that I maintain), I have to make all doctor appoints for him, I have to explain everything to him in baby words so that he can understand, I carry all the responsibilities plus cooking, cleaning, laundry, even fixing things around the house! Now I’m ready to move on to opening a store but I don’t want to do this all by myself. I don’t want him to enjoy the luxuries and not work for anyting. He does go to church with me but he doesn’t pray like he should. I asked if he wanted to fast together and he looked at me like I had three heads. He wants to enjoy a good life, but he doesn’t want to work. I feel like the reason why he goes to church is because he gets to go out somewhere.

My problem is that I fear that if this continues I’ll have to file for a divorce. He gets a day off a week and he can’t bring himself to pick things up off the floor. I am physically exhausted and I am very stressed out. I am with the kids 7 days a week and I work 5 days a week. What should I do?

- Anonymous

Answer:

You married a man whom you feel is not compatible to you, now you need to make yourself compatible to him. It’s no use for you to look down on him now. Be a wife and help him as the Lord instructed you to do… be a suitable helper. It’s not your husband’s fault that you’re both so different - stop blaming him or making him feel small, but instead, help him be the husband you wish him to be.

Question:
Bishop, I’ve been through many problems in my marriage. My husband is alcoholic, and he beats me up whenever he gets home drunk. I’m so bitter about the whole situation that I have even considered filing for divorce. Apart from beating me up frequently, he also cheats on me. Is it a sin to divorce him? I can’t bear it anymore.
- Joana M.

Answer:
Joana,
God does not approve of divorce. But, because many people no longer value marriage nowadays, God teaches us that in case of adultery, either the wife or the husband can file for divorce.

I cannot advise you to divorce, for it’s a personal decision, which depends entirely on your faith. However, I think your life is at risk because of your violent and unfaithful husband. Apart from the violence, there is also the possibility of him transmitting diseases to you.

Use your intelligent faith!

Question:
Bishop, my husband and I have a doubt: is oral sex a sin?

Thank you for the guidance.
- Amanda

Answer:
The Word of God does not speak about it in detail, but I’d say it all depends on your faith. If your conscience accuses you, it’s because it’s a sin for you. If your conscience does not accuse you, it’s because it’s not a sin. What is your faith?

Question:
Bishop Macedo, good evening! I’m a businessman; I’m 26 years old and single. I came from another church where I used to talk a lot to my pastor. I’d ask him many questions but, in order not to displease me, he always said everything was fine. I asked him if it was a sin to masturbate and he said that it was not a sin as long as I did it once in a blue moon.

Bishop, I’ve been attending the UCKG for 1 year and I would like to know if this is true. Is it a sin to masturbate? I’d like to thank you in advance because I know that you will tell me the truth.
- Paulo

Answer:
Paulo, the problem is that masturbation is more of an addiction. It’s not about the act per se, but the dirty thoughts that you have when you are masturbating – and that’s a sin! You should do some kind of physical activity or practise sports in order to minimise the pressure. Masturbation is not the root of the problem; it’s rather the lustful thoughts that make you have the desire to masturbate. Therefore, keep your mind clean and masturbation will not be a problem for you anymore.

Question:
Bishop, my name is Danny and I would like to ask you for some advice. I met a person, a while back, who hurt me very much. He did terrible things to me and ultimately betrayed my trust. Since then, I’ve carried this pain with me and I know this isn’t the right thing to do. I do not want to lose my salvation but I’m not able to forgive him. Please help me. What should I do?
- Danny A.

Answer:
Danny, one of the most helpful ways to forgive someone is to pray for them. The pain you are feeling has no effect on this young man, only on yourself. You are only feeding the feeling that’s inside you. In the end, you are the only one who’s going to suffer!