#STRask

Questions about evidence in Scripture that identifies the Holy Spirit as a person rather than the transforming power of God, whether Mark 13:33 means that the Holy Spirit doesn’t know the day of Christ’s return, and thoughts on contemplative prayer and other popular spiritual formation practices.
 

Aside from translators’ use of the male pronoun, what evidence in Scripture identifies the Holy Spirit as a “person” as opposed to the transforming power of God?

Does Mark 13:33 mean that the Holy Spirit does not know the day of Christ’s return?

Can you comment on popular spiritual formation practices such as contemplative prayer, lectio divina, and the need to explore our past in order for the Spirit to work in us to remove sin?

Questions about whether perfect justice requires that the penalty be paid by the offender rather than someone else, and whether the references in Scripture to sharing in the sufferings of Christ are only about persecution for one’s faith or include things like sickness and financial hardship.
 

For “perfect justice” to be accomplished, doesn’t the penalty have to actually be paid by the offender rather than someone else?

Are the references in Scripture to ”sharing in the sufferings of Christ” only about persecution for one’s faith in Christ, or are they also about sickness, financial hardship, emotional pain, etc.?

Questions about whether to attend the wedding of someone who is into the New Thought movement and will have New Age items at the wedding location, whether one should not listen to hymns sung by Latter-day Saints, and how to respond to the Buddhist “Walk for Peace.”
 

Should I attend the wedding of my sister, who is into the New Thought movement and will have a meditation yurt, a drum circle, and other New Age items at the wedding location and is very outspoken against Christianity?

I’ve found that Latter-day Saint singers sing hymns that I like, and I get disturbed by that. Should I not listen?

How should Christians respond to the Buddhist “Walk for Peace” and the people and churches excited to see and support it?

Questions about which Bible translation to recommend to an adult who’s new to the Bible, and what resources to recommend to an unbeliever who’s interested in reading the Bible with her son.
 

Which Bible translation would you recommend to an adult who’s new to the Bible?

What resources would you recommend to an unbeliever who’s interested in reading the Bible with her son?

Questions about how to respond to the criticism that Christianity is narrow-minded and dangerous, and what to say to someone who thinks Christianity is a cult.
 

How would you respond to the criticism that Christianity is narrow-minded and dangerous?

What would you say to someone who thinks Christianity is a cult?