Christian Doctrine, Tithing & Baptism Biblical Q&A List

Churches navigate diverse views. Some emphasize restrictions in Paul’s pastoral epistles, while others highlight females who exercised powerful spiritual authority in Scripture, like Deborah, Priscilla, and Junia.

Speaking in tongues is described in the New Testament as a supernatural gift of the Holy Spirit to speak in unlearned human or angelic languages. In the early church, it acted as a miraculous public sign to onlookers. Regarding its modern use, Christian traditions differ: Charismatic and Pentecostal groups teach that all spiritual gifts remain fully active today, while cessationist traditions believe these miraculous sign-gifts naturally concluded once the biblical canon was completed.

Praying in tongues is described as a believer's individual spirit praying directly to God, bypassing rational cognitive understanding to articulate mysteries inspired by the Holy Spirit. Scripture distinguishes this private devotional prayer, which serves to build up the individual's soul, from a public message in tongues. A public word in tongues must always be accompanied by an inspired interpretation to edify the entire church gathering.

Though the word is not in Scripture, the biblical narrative clearly reveals One supreme God eternally existing in three co-equal, co-eternal Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Baptism is an outward public testimony of internal faith, representing the believer’s spiritual burial and resurrection with Jesus Christ, demonstrating absolute loyalty and obedience.

Tithing is the Old Testament practice of giving ten percent of one's agricultural increase or income to support the Levitical priesthood and temple ministry. Under the New Covenant, believers are not legally bound to a fixed ten percent mandate; rather, Jesus and the Apostles call us to a higher standard of voluntary, highly generous, and proportionate giving based on how God has blessed our lives.

While modern believers are free from Old Testament legal mandates, tithing remains a beautiful, time-tested spiritual template for systematic giving. Practizing a tenth as a regular giving baseline demonstrates our humble trust in God's provision, supports the local church, and helps us combat greed. Under grace, our giving should be cheerful, purposeful, and highly open-handed.

The Bible provides powerful assurance of eternal security, showing that those who are truly saved are permanently sealed by the Holy Spirit. This perspective emphasizes that salvation is entirely a work of God's grace, and Jesus promises that no one can snatch His sheep out of His hand. He who began a good work in you is fully faithful and powerful to complete it and keep you from falling.

Christian traditions navigate this topic with different views. While Reformed theology holds that a genuine believer can never lose salvation, Arminian and other historical traditions highlight scriptural warning passages. These warnings caution believers against willfully walking away, falling from grace, or ship-wrecking their active faith. Both views call believers to trust God completely while pursuing persistent, holy obedience.

These three traditions share core historical ecumenical creeds (the Trinity, the deity of Christ, the Resurrection, and biblical authority). They differ in organizational leadership structure (the papacy vs. regional bishops or local elders), historical church traditions alongside Scripture, sacraments, and theological details of salvation.

Prayer is not about changing God's mind, but aligning our heart with His will and entering into an active relationship with Him. While God is sovereign, He has ordained that certain outcomes occur in response to the faithful prayers of His children.

God speaks primarily through His written Word, but also guides us through the inward witness of the Holy Spirit, godly counsel, and providential circumstances. Hearing Him requires quiet reflection, continuous obedience to His revealed will, and a surrendered heart.

Inward prompts from God always align with the Holy Scriptures, bring deep spiritual peace, and encourage righteousness and humility. Thoughts from our own head or anxiety are often hectic, fearful, or self-centered.