The Origins of Valentine’s Day, and Q&A

On today’s Bible Answer Man broadcast (02/14/23), Hank discusses the origins of Valentine’s Day, looking at the Orthodox Church’s veneration of Saint Valentine, the Presbyter from Rome, for his martyrdom and as for all its saints, honors St. Valentine as a model of the life in Christ. According to The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church , the traditional association of St. Valentine’s Day with courtship is likely connected with certain customs of the pagan festival Lupercalia. If so, this would be another example of Christians usurping a pagan holiday and Christianizing it for the glory of Christ. Hank also answers the following questions: Why didn’t God actualize the angels in righteousness before they fell? Since Paul in 1 Corinthians 1:10 says there should not be divisions amongst believers, what does this say about all the different denominations within the body of Christ today? Could you explain the story of the fish with a coin in its mouth in Matthew 17:24-27? Would the command to obey the government in Romans chapter 13 apply to sharia law?