<> Ask the Pastor The Rev'd Walter P. Snyder This week we have a series of questions from one person, many of which have universal appeal. Q: How do you know you are a Christian? A: You know that you are a Christian if you know that you are a sinner who is forgiven by the sacrifice of the God-man Christ Jesus. Q: How do you know someone else is a Christian? A: Finally, I don't know. I have to take a person's word and his actions at face value. What does he confess and what fruits does he exhibit? Q: What does the Bible say about adoption? I ask because my husband adopted my daughters from a previous marriage. The biological father and his wife reentered our daughters' lives when they were in early teens. These people are causing a problem. They claim the adoption was not legal, that it is not recognized by God. They say God does not recognize adoption; they are the parents and we are not. This is so painful. I know I am wandering and not being clear here. Please help us. A: Adoption is usually spoken of favorably. It is the means by which children are protected in the absence of loving, caring parents. It is also one of the most beautiful illustrations of what God has done for us in Christ: He has adopted children of the devil and made them his own. Q: If you adopt a child is that against God? A: In and of itself, no. Q: If you adopt a child does God say that the adoption is not valid once the child reaches a certain age? A: No. Parents, whether natural or adopted, are for a lifetime. Thus, God sets no statute of limitations on "Honor your father and your mother." Q: If you adopt a child from a spouse's previous marriage, does that mean you are still the stepparent and the biological parent is still the parent? I have been told this is the Biblical point of view. A: I'm not sure about all the state and national laws. Basically, I know that the law considers the adoptive parent(s) to be the real parent(s). I speak from experience here: I adopted my wife's daughter, and she is my daughter, by law and by love. As for the Biblical reference, they may be confusing this with levirate marriage, wherein a man would marry his brother's widow and his children would be the dead brother's heirs. The story of Judah and Tamar in Genesis and the book of Ruth deal with such marriages. Q: If you have a terminal illness and do not receive healing when you pray does that mean you are not a true believer? Does God heal all people and desire to heal all people of all illnesses? Does this mean that if you are not healed you are not a Christian or are not believing hard enough? A: If so, it means that most Christians will only die of accident or extreme old age. God doesn't promise that he will always grant earthly blessings, including health. He doesn't take pleasure in our infirmity, yet sometimes he allows us to be stricken, either as a matter of discipline or so that we might be examples of patience in tribulation. Remember, "His strength is made perfect in weakness." Q: What about people who attack other people's Christianity "in the name of Christianity"? This recently happened to me. They quoted a verse from the Bible, "According to their fruits you will know them." Then they asked, "What fruit?" in reference to me. They say they doubt I ever was a Christian and certainly am not now. A: The "fruits of the Spirit" include love, joy, peace, kindness, gentleness, self-control, and the like (Galatians 5:22-23). It sounds like these people may actually be following Galatians 5:19-21, exhibiting "the works of the flesh," including "hate, bickering, jealousy...divisions...and the like." Q: Is it right to judge others, whether or not they are Christians, what their hearts are, etc.? A: If you judge, you should expect to have the same standard applied to you. Thus, Christians may have to judge (discern). However, this shouldn't be done by guesswork or by our own standards. Rather, it should be based upon tangible evidence (what people say and do). My answer to your previous question is a "judgment" based upon the evidence presented. If you have truly expressed the situation, then I stand by this Biblically based judgment. Q: Is it right to cause disharmony and discord? A: Only if it is to shake up complacent sinners. Even then, such an action should be a last resort. We shouldn't look to do such as a punitive action against another. That's it for now. You can submit questions by mail to "Ask the Pastor," PO Box 1080, Jasper, Texas, 75951; E-mail xrysostom@aol.com; or just stop me on the street. Walter Snyder is the pastor of St. Paul and Faith Lutheran Churches in Jasper and Woodville and coauthor of the book "What Do Lutherans Believe? A Study Guide in Christian Teachings for Adults." Copyright (c) 1998 by Walter P. Snyder Permission is granted by author to reproduce or retransmit this by any means, provided that its content is not altered, that this notice of copyright and permission is included, and that no financial gain is realized.