<> Ask the Pastor The Rev'd Walter Snyder Q: The Bible mentions "a land flowing with milk and honey." What does that mean literally? If cows were to flow with milk from their breasts, wouldn't they be sick cows? I do not come from a country where cattle and sheep are reared. Therefore I cannot imagine how milk flows. A: As someone who spent many years in farm country, I can assure you that the milk of cattle and goats flows as it does with other mammals. Getting it involves milking or nursing. In fact, dairy cattle normally need to be milked twice daily or they experience extreme discomfort. They cannot discharge milk on their own. Flowing "milk and honey" is God's guarantee of agricultural richness and a hearty diet for the Children of Israel. Remember that they were coming up out of the wilderness, and fats and sweets are a rare treasure in an arid land. Q: Is it wrong for a Christian to listen to worldly music such as love music, rap etc.? A: Two different people have asked this, which is similar to a previous question about movies. Some say that listening to any secular music is wrong; others say, "This, but not this...." Ask yourself, "Is this a good use of time? Will it offend me, weaken my faith, or upset me? Will listening offend others, cause them to stumble, or greatly upset them?" Do what you think is right and don't worry overmuch about others' opinions, but don't intentionally offend them. Your Christian freedom is your responsibility. Q: Can a Christian claim bankruptcy? A: We are subject to the laws of the land and are told by Scripture to be good citizens. Thus, we are generally allowed and encouraged to both submit to and use the laws which pertain to us. Remember that the Apostle Paul, as a Roman citizen, appealed his case to Caesar. However, we must remember that not all laws are right according to the Scriptures, and that things are sometimes allowed which the Bible condemns. This being said, bankruptcy brings a host of problems, even as it solves others. For example, the Bible speaks of the blessing of having a good name. This blessing can be compromised or lost in bankruptcy. Tied to this is your reputation for honesty and trustworthiness. Yet there may be situations where you or your family would suffer greatly if you didn't take some form of legal protection for yourself. Often a person concerned about the things I've mentioned will attempt to renegotiate his debt, extend the payments, and work otherwise to protect his name and his credit. Whatever you do, make sure that your motives are not selfish or greedy. And even if you are allowed to ignore some or all of what you now owe others, examine the possibility of somehow, some way making full repayment. Q: This is regarding the column on premarital sex. As always, your comments are easy to understand and to the point. However, there is one area that bothers me. We tell our youth, "Wait for marriage to engage in sex," and "Wait until you are well-established and mature to get married. Don't rush into it." If item two means college before a job, then we are saying, "Wait until age 22 or 23." An advanced degree adds a couple of years to that. I do not think these two bits of advice are compatible. What do you advise about early marriages, age 18 and 19 perhaps? A: I normally advise against them, unless both parties are more mature than average and look as if they can handle the demands of establishing a new life together while continuing their studies. Much of the problem is that we don't train our young people to be this ready at such an early age. Of course, your question is based upon the assumption that people cannot learn to control their impulses and urges until they marry. I know that not everyone waits, but many have lived long lives without sex. Others wait into their twenties, thirties, or longer. I say the following not to brag, but to illustrate the blessing that God gave to me, a poor, sinful human being: The first (and only) woman I slept with was my wife. I was married two months before my thirty-second birthday. She was worth the wait. I thank God for the strength, because my flesh certainly didn't want to delay. I received the strength through Word and Holy Spirit---and because my parents taught me wisely and well. 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.