Yahoo! Answers is a place where you can ask real questions and get real answers on any topic. It’s a community-based service where you jump in and share answers to questions you know while other people answer your questions. Topics range from scientific questions with definitive answers like, Why does helium make your voice sound high?” to not-so-serious questions with opinionated answers like, “Who is the best rock guitarist ever?”
How does this relate to trends in Christian communication?
Well, there is a Religion & Spirituality section where people are asking just about every spiritual question imaginable:
- How can I feel God’s presence in my life?
- Do you believe that Jesus Christ’s descendants are among us?
- What do you believe about the afterlife?
In some ways it’s kind of sad the way people are looking to unknown strangers for the answers to life’s deepest questions. But this is the trend in our culture today. Surveys show that people are more likely to believe “someone like me” than an expert or authority figure who may have an agenda. So, this is an opportunity for Christians to present the truth to people who seem to be genuinely seeking truth.
This is not small potatoes either. Last month Yahoo! Answers reached 10 million answers only 5 months after its launch. Additionally, Yahoo! now includes Answers in its regular search results, which gives it a huge audience. Type any of the following questions into yahoo.com and you’ll see Yahoo! Answers in the results:
- Why does God have to be continuously praised?
- Why is Islam such a violent religion?
- How did animals repopulate the world after the “Great Flood”?
When you head over to Yahoo! Answers, here are a few words of advice:
- Speak lovingly. Many non-Christians have a stereotypical belief that Christians are close-minded and arrogant. Don’t fuel that belief.
- Be brief. People aren’t looking for a six-page theological dissertation. Try to answer the question in just a few sentences.
- Include a link. When you post an answer, there is a place where you can enter your source. Post a link to a relevant Christian web page on the subject, or even a Christian forum where that question is being discussed. Yahoo! Answers is not designed for dialog. By posting a link, you give people a chance to explore the question further in a Christian setting that does encourage dialog and relationship building.
- Beware of using too much religious jargon that may confuse a non-believer.
- Avoid arguments. They are ineffective in this setting. Gently state the truth in love as I mentioned before, and give the Holy Spirit a chance to work.
After you’ve visited Yahoo! Answers, post a comment about your experience. What do you think of the questions being asked there? Did you post any answers? Do you think you’ll visit Yahoo! Answers regularly in the future?
In His Service,
Paul Steinbrueck
OurChurch.Com
22 Comments
Hi All, it’s going to take you a few minutes to read this so I’m in no rush for your answer or immediate reply. I just needed some spiritual advice many times when I was looking for the answer God keeps putting you in my spirt for the past few years when I tried looking for the answer that I search for or a path of what I can do understand. sorry to worry you. This year is 7 years I’m baptized. I hardly get to go to church because I work night shift most of the time and many Sundays and the Sundays that I am off i usually am to drained anyway. That should be the case because the lord is our refuge he gives us strength. Due to this I don’t get much spiritual guidance as daily I read my Bible my Bible or play it on my app and listen to the verses play. I make the stuff that I manage join and pray many times. I just know you are the person I should speak to about this. Somehow I can sense that pure and calm and caring spirt you have. I can see reflection of God in you. Don’t get me wrong pastor as well. I just don’t have pastors number but I really feel I should direct this to you.
You know when I got baptized I was the last one to walk in and all of a sudden there was a violent gush of wind that swept through the pool on a hot sunny day and there was no wind before that point or even after it reminded of the I think it’s in acts where they were praying in the top room and the violent gush of wind came down as a form the holy spirit and the all the disciples starting talking in tongues. 4 other people went before me but it never swept in that fashion I felt the presence heavily. The gazebos started to towards the pool the chairs started rumbling being pushed by the wind.
Since then I’ve been experiencing heavy spiritual feelings. I can now sense someone if they hurt or they in pain or the feeling comes heavily in my chest when something is not going well or something bad is about to happen it comes so strong that I start breathing heavily like I’m physically feeling that voice that feeling inside me. I tell you once I had a thought in my mind that a lady from work I knew was crying like a vision and then I call her back and she answers the phone crying she’s in pain in hospital I didn’t even know she admitted until that point.
I walked in town once and then a name came in my mind on busy Friday afternoon where there’s 1000s of people walking in town I said our loud Noluthando and the lady in front of me said yes.
My colleague saw what happened I didn’t know why I said her name at that time.
A few weeks ago my battery was being stolen from my car so during my shift I had that feeling telling me inside me something is wrong I go to the car press the alarm and did not activate the battery was gone but it is like the spirit was wrestling with me inside telling amazing part is I only parked there 30 minutes prior.
When something bad is about to happen I already know I can already sense it I feel like I can’t control it it’s to strong especially when it wrestles with me. Is there something I need to do is there something I’m not doing i don’t know i searched for the answer in the Bible but I’ve been guided to you.
I even sensed a death like the spirit leaving as i was praying for one my agents husband then she sent her message that his gone. Not long before
I messaged and told her Jesus will heal him. It just happens. Uncle natson it happens daily hourly every minute i just highlighted some things it would be impossible for me to type all out here.
I prayed for wind a few times while I was home uncle natson the winds picked up. I prayed for rain a few times and the rain came without me seeing any weather forecast. It’s like I already knew the rain was coming.
Uncle natson I can ask the spirit questions like when is your birthday month and I get the the answer.
I can ask the spirit yes or no questions which I learnt how to do and I get the answer and every time I’m correct and people get a shock of the life and I always get the question how did you know from people. I just know I just don’t know why. I don’t know what I must do. I don’t know how must I use it. I’m a sinner I’m human I will never be perfect I’ll never be perfect I know the Bible says we are striving for perfection. Uncle natson how can I control this. Is there something I need to be doing. I just feel I’m not in complete control of this. It feels like gifts it seems like gifts I’ve Googled and search the Bible I can’t find the answer. If you can help me I would appreciate it
The above text was sent to my spiritual father in church. Is there any advice you have for me
Hi Sash, I have never heard of anyone who has received gifts from the Holy Spirit like the ones you’ve described. What I do know is that God gives gifts so that he can be glorified. So, my only advice is that if you receive some sort of premonition on supernatural knowledge, first pray and ask God if it is from Him rather than from an evil spirit. Second, if it is from God, then look for an opportunity to tell the people involved that it came from Jesus, ask them if they know Jesus or would like to Him.