“How Christian Is Easter?”

For years I have known these facts and resisted change for the sake of the children in the family who would be highly disappointed not to receive an Easter basket loaded with goodies. But out of concern for their long-term spiritual state, I raised the question to them this year. While explaining to the granddaughters that it was not pleasing to God that we have Easter baskets, they totally agreed! Much to my surprise and relief there will be no baskets this year!

From the Internet

Praise the Lord for His Word and understanding. I have been questioning Sunday services and Christian holidays most of my life. Thank God you confirmed what I knew in my spirit but couldn’t put words to. Bless you and amen!

From the Internet

“Good Friday–Easter Sunday: It Doesn’t Fit With the Bible!”

I have known the truth about three days and three nights for years now, but most people have been raised in one denomination or another and have been taught myths about many things biblical or spiritual. It is somewhat difficult to convince them of the truth about things they think they have known or have been practicing all their lives. Some even know the truth, but because their parents and family believe and practice otherwise they just go along with the myths, which is not what God would have them do.

From the Internet

Thanks from around the world

Thank you very much for sending The Good News magazine. This is a great information resource for me to know my Bible and world events. May God bless you and your ministry for all the things you are doing for Him!

Reader in Myanmar

I am truly thankful for everything I have been receiving from you. You have been incredibly helpful and indeed sweetly enlightening in my life—you must know that. 

Reader from Mexico

Thank you for your continuous gift of The Good News. I am a Muslim, but many of your articles are very informative. I read some of your articles on life after death. The scientific point of view was not touched upon in your articles. In a country where scientific knowledge is growing day by day, your articles will be more impressive if written in a style rich in arguments from the current scientific discoveries. However your efforts of spreading spiritual knowledge are appreciated.

Reader from Pakistan

Thank you, and we’re glad you find The Good News helpful in your studies. Science can’t prove what happens after we die, so we must rely on the revealed Word of God for guidance on that subject. However, one thing many people point to when discussing what happens after death are near-death experiences, where a person claims to see visions of heaven or hell or has a conversation with a dead loved one. We discussed some of the scientific research that’s been done on near-death experiences in an episode of Beyond Today called “Near-Death Experiences and the Bible,” which you can watch free online by searching for “near-death experiences” at beyondtoday.tv.

Cancel my subscription

Although you are kind enough to send me a free subscription to The Good News, I have decided to decline your offer. Quoting rightwing columnists does much for me to answer your credibility. And this has nothing to do with biblical prophecy. You fail to mention that President Obama is getting out of unnecessary wars that we so recklessly fell into because of the Bush administration. 

I am convinced that the world thinks less of our country because we cause so much destruction in these wars. I know you believe this is a Christian nation. It is a nation primarily of Christians but remember: One of the reasons our great country was founded was because of freedom to believe whatever we want. So, to make a long story even longer, please remove my name from your mailing list. P.S. Please give me a citation in the Bible that condemns homosexuality.

Reader from Seattle, Washington

We’re sorry to hear you no longer wish to receive our magazine. Our purpose is not to offer a perspective that is either right-wing or left-wing, but to view news and trends from a biblical perspective based on the Word of God. As for your comment about us believing America to be a Christian nation, that is not accurate. While the country was founded in part on biblical principles, it never embraced true Christianity—and has since widely turned its back on God despite professing Christianity.

To answer your request for a biblical reference showing homosexuality to be wrong, read Genesis 19:1-25; Jude 7; Leviticus 18:22; Leviticus 20:13 and Romans 1:20-28. On the hotly debated topic of gay marriage, consider Jesus Christ’s own statement about marriage: “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?” (Matthew 19:4-5).

Later the apostle Paul wrote, “Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).  “Homosexuals” here refers to practicing homosexuals—not converted Christians with same-sex attraction who are struggling to remain pure in their thoughts and actions, whom we are to treat with compassion. It is those who won’t repent of sin of whatever type who are condemned. Yet Paul offers hope to the repentant, stating: “And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11).

Learning about the Sabbath

Through the literature and information you have provided for me through the years, I have been convinced and in some way thrilled to know that now I am observing the true day that the living God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel had sanctified. I have been praying to God to give me a job so I can work Monday to Friday so the Sabbath could be free for me to attend the gathering to worship the Lord. I have now been offered a job working Monday to Friday with a lot of spare time in between as well. I was brought up in a God-fearing Christian family, but I have now realized that we were in a denomination that was worshipping on the wrong day. I feel so blessed thanks to your wonderful messages and literature. Keep up the wonderful work. Thank you so much and be blessed.

Reader from Sydney, Australia

I finished reading your Sabbath booklet. I have just started this new path in my life to follow God and His Word. I have been reading the Bible, going to church on Sunday and even got baptized. Now I am reading that the Sabbath is not on Sunday! So by this I am not keeping a commandment? My church I just started going to only has Sunday services. After reading this booklet, now I feel like it is wrong to go there on Sunday as it’s not the Sabbath. Any help with this matter? I read that we must not break one commandment or it’s the same as breaking them all. Please, any help you can give on this I would really appreciate. I’m trying to be the best Christian I can, and I just started on this path. I am 38 years old and just found the Word of God. I do not want to be the seed that fell on the rocky ground. I want to walk in God’s true word and way.

From the Internet

As you saw from the booklet Sunset to Sunset: God’s Sabbath Rest, the Bible is quite clear that the Sabbath is the seventh day of the week, not Sunday, the first day of the week. As you saw from the quotes in the booklet, most major denominations even admit this. You can find a complete list of our Sabbath-keeping congregations online at www.ucg.org/churches, as well as contact information for faithful ministers who can help with your questions. We hope to see you on a Sabbath soon at the congregation nearest you!

Wanting to make a donation

We would like to make a donation as we enjoy the magazine and other publications you print and distribute at no charge. What address should we use for this purpose? Thank you and may God continue to bless your good works.

Reader from Indiana 

Readers can find a list of addresses of our offices on our contact page. Those who wish to become coworkers in this worldwide work can send donations to the office in their country of the country nearest them (We also accept online donations). We deeply appreciate the support of those who help us in this work of sharing the gospel with people in all nations.