The Bible Line - August 3, 2021

Sonya, Rincon, GA -  I was wondering if there is a “right” way to share my faith? Does this involve quoting scriptures and going over the path of salvation every time? I ask because I recently had the opportunity to share my faith while on a plane flight and I wonder if I did it properly. I was reading my Bible and the man seated next to me started asking me questions about what I was reading. He told me that he wasn’t religious but respected those who were. He believed that religion is what people use to explain what they can’t understand, he gave the example of a solar eclipse. I explained to him that the Bible is so much more than that, it is the foreshadowing of Jesus coming to earth to pay for our sin with his death and burial and by his resurrection give us a path to eternal life. This man then told me about an experience that he had after taking a drug. He said he felt that he was locked in a room and able to change the channels on a TV to watch whatever he wanted by just snapping his fingers, but that he couldn’t speak to anyone, he couldn’t communicate to anyone, he was just desolate and alone. I told him that this loneliness he experienced reminded me of what Jesus experienced on the cross, (not to say that Jesus would ever take drug), but that Jesus was cut off and unable to communicate with God when he was sin on our behalf and that the definition of suffering is the inability to communicate with God. Was this an accurate way for me to communicate the gospel to him? He seemed moved by our conversation. I happened to have a pocket Gideon Bible which I gave to him. He said that was very meaningful to him. Was it proper for me to speak to him?

Question from a live caller - Pastor John MacArthur openly declares that he is a five point Calvinist. Does Calvinism line up with the Bible? 

Alberto, Savannah, GA - In a video, Daniel B. Wallace recommends the NET Bible as the best bible because of its elegance. But that a Bible like the ESV is more formal and thus better suited for studies. What does Pastor Carl think is best?

Gloria M. - A friend of mine pointed out that there is a Locust tree in the Middle East - a type of berry tree and so John The Baptist actually consumed fruit and honey instead of grasshopper type stuff and honey? What are your thoughts about this?

Sarah, Naples, FL - My husband and I are on two different stages of our spiritual walk with the Lord. We recently accepted Christ as our savior in the past couple of years. However I’m finding difficultly navigating my walk with the Lord and navigating my marriage in a way that honors God. For example, My husband does not think he needs to tithe 10%, I do. We have one sole income for our household as I stay home to raise our children. Although I’ve expressed my concerns with the feeling of being disobedient by not properly tithing, I don’t know what to do. (My husband is not willing to read scripture or listen to sermons about tithing.) Would it be crossing the line to take it upon myself to tithe with our money, knowing it may upset my husband? I am trying to be a submissive and understanding wife but I don’t want to disobey my creator. Is this a matter of prayer and patience? How can I go about this?

Adora, Beaufort, SC - My friend and I have felt the need to do an in depth study of the book of Isaiah but we haven’t been able to find one. If you know of any would you please let me know.