I am very sorry that you are in such emotional pain and apparently frustrated to the point of exasperation. Your disapproval of and dissatisfaction with the amount and kind of information given by God in the Bible has led you to conclude that God has not chosen well when he selected what he wanted to reveal to us and what he chose not to reveal to us. In the comments you provided you also suggested that portions of his Word are trite and poorly expressed. While I invite you to consider the unacceptable nature of your accusations against God's love and wisdom for us creatures, I also affirm that you are hurting and wish I could be of help to you.

What you say about partial information revealed in the Bible and an incomplete grasp of knowledge and understanding on the part of his people is quite accurate. The Bible itself affirms this. "We know in part and we prophesy (proclaim, preach) in part . . . Now we see but a poor reflection in a mirror; then (in glory) we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." (1 Corinthians 13:9, 12). The many questions of Job directed at God (see the book that bears his name, and ponder chapter 28 in particular) coupled with the response of the Lord to Job (Job chapters 38 through 41) impress on us that God has no intention of answering many of our questions and owes us creatures nothing in this regard. So your observation is basically correct although your attitude and appraisal of God's behavior is less acceptable. What Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 8:16-17 stands as truth.

While God has not asked me to defend his chosen course of action in this regard (nor does he need it), allow me to make these additional brief observations.

• God has revealed the really important or essential things to us with great clarity. I speak of the messages of human sin and divine grace, of our need for and our receiving a Savior, Jesus Christ, and a lot of additional information that is centered in Christ and his perfect saving work on our behalf. Since this information is so much more important and necessary than other things that may pique our interest or curiosity, we do well to be gratefully content. His primary focus is that we be and remain citizens of heaven headed for glory. When we get there, the other information can be shared with us. Besides, by limiting the information he shares us with us now, he leads us to focus on what he HAS revealed, and we are the richer because of that.
• We humans have often fallen victim to the idea that exhaustive information and knowledge solves all problems and automatically enriches our lives. While we do not wish to be advocates of willful ignorance, it should be noted that our obsession with having curiosity satisfied, searching the Internet for answers to all questions, and assuming that knowledge will solve humanity's and our own greatest problems deserves to be reconsidered. Knowledge is not always a blessing (see Ecclesiastes 1:18), while relying on God's revealed words and promises does give blessing (see Luke 11:28). Again, what God has shared with us, Christ-centered exposition of human sin and divine grace, is what meets our deepest needs.
• Let us consider ourselves amply warned that any desire to be like God (in knowledge and answered questions) is a dangerous attitude (see Genesis 3:4-7), while being faithful as creatures and forgiven sinners with all our limitations is the path of true wisdom (Proverbs 3:5-6, not at all like a "bad fortune cookie"). Let us give God all glory, rejoice in the gift of forgiveness and heavenly citizenship, entrust our limitations to him, and humbly offer ourselves as his servants and servants of each other (see Romans 12:1-5).

The main issue behind the question is motive.

If an individual kills someone who is trying to kill him or others, this is justifiable homicide. If soldiers practice atrocities or genocide in war, this is evil.

If the government executes a murderer, this is right. If it knowingly executes a good man, this is murder.

A war started for evil purposes is wrong. A war to defend the innocent is good.

It is not the number of people involved but the motive of the action that determines whether it is right or wrong. Governments can be guilty of murder, and individuals can be justified in killing.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the official name for Mormonism. Their television commercials are very appealing and family oriented, but Mormonism cannot be considered a Christian denomination.

The Latter Day Saints deny the scriptural doctrine of the Trinity. They teach that there are many gods and human beings can become gods themselves through a kind of spiritual evolution. Mormons are taught "As man now is, God once was; as God now is, man may become." Mormonism denies the scriptural teaching of justification by grace alone through faith in Jesus and teaches a system of salvation by works. They teach that people are born inherently good and have the freedom to make the right decisions. They believe that people progress by making wise use of this freedom.

Mormons practice "baptism for the dead." They believe that the spirits of the dead can accept Mormonism in the spirit world, but since they don't have a body they cannot be baptized. Since Mormon baptism is essential for spiritual progression, Mormons can be baptized in the place of a departed relative. This is the reason why Mormonism places such an emphasis on genealogy.

Mormons teach that there are three spirit kingdoms to which the spirits of the dead can go. The Celestial Kingdom is the highest kingdom and is reserved for faithful Mormons and those who die before the age of eight. The Terrestrial Kingdom is for moral non-Mormons and less "valiant" Mormons. The Telestial Kingdom is the place where most people will go after suffering for their sins. This is the kingdom of the least glory.

The Mormons accept the following as scripture: The Bible, The Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. They also consider the words of their living prophets to be scripture.

For more information about Mormonism and witnessing to Mormons visit the Speaking in Love & Truth to Mormons Web site.

It is hard to understand exactly what you are asking about because in the heading you distinguish prophecy and witchcraft but in the question you contrast spiritual gifts and psychic abilities.

There are two forms of the occult forbidden by God. One is occult knowledge. The other is occult power. When God reveals information about the future to his people, this is prophecy. There are also imitations of prophecy by false prophets who use occult means or receive appearances of Satan or his demons as a means to secret knowledge. We usually call these "fortune telling" or the occult. They can also be called witchcraft.

Witchcraft also includes occult actions such as attempting to cast spells. It seems you are asking only about occult knowledge.

God, if he chooses, can still reveal things from the future to his people. We today have no need for such additional prophecy since we have God's whole plan up till Judgment Day. Hebrews 1:1-2 seems to say the time for prophecy is over. We are often warned against false prophets in the last days, but are not promised real prophets during those times.

If we examine the record of all those who claim psychic gifts today, we find they all fail both tests of Scripture. That is, many of their prophecies fail, and their teaching does not agree completely with God's Word. For this reason we must not accept them.

In the New Testament, "spiritual gifts" refers to all the different kinds of gifts God gives his people. Those who claim the gift of speaking in tongues also do not pass the test, since their teaching does not agree with Scripture and their tongues are not languages like those on Pentecost.

The New Testament specifically lists New Testament books as Scripture. For example, in 2 Peter 3:16, Paul's letters are included in Scripture. In 1 Timothy 5:18, Luke's Gospel and Moses' writings are quoted side by side as Scripture (Luke 10:7 and Deuteronomy 25:4). Paul says his words were given by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:13).

The New Testament concludes with the book of Revelation, written by John, the last of the apostles. There could be no more apostles since there were no other living witnesses of Christ's resurrection. God's plan of salvation was complete except for Christ's promised return. If you read the last two chapters of Revelation, it is clear John is tying up the story started in Genesis 1 and 2.

Read also the questions on the canon, the authoritative books of the Bible, on this site, or essays about the biblical canon on our seminary Web site.

The memorable parable is recorded in Luke 12:13-21. You are correct to note that there are discernible similarities between the behavior of the Rich Fool and many who dedicate great energy to amass large retirement investment portfolios. There are also, however, possible key differences that need to be considered.

Allowing Scripture to explain Scripture, we learn that having large amounts of money, whether for retirement or for other purposes, is not sinful in and of itself. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, Joseph of Arimathea, and Lydia of Philippi were significantly wealthy people whose relationship with the Lord endured. Looking more closely at how Jesus concluded his lesson in Luke 12:21, we also learn the key fault of the Rich Fool: he stored up wealth "for himself" but was "not rich toward God." He was a spiritual and charitable pauper. He forfeited his soul not merely by having money, but by being cheerfully content to "take life easy" in a self-serving way while alienated from God and his needy neighbors.

So while we dare not apply this parable to all who faithfully or passionately build retirement investment portfolios, your question remains a valuable one that calls all of us to honest self-evaluation regarding crucial questions like, "How much is reasonably enough for my long-range purposes?" and (especially) "What am I to do with wealth should the Lord give it to me?" The Apostle Paul addressed the central issues of attitudes and purposes in 1 Timothy 6:6-10 and 1 Timothy 6:17-19. Admittedly, the answer to "How much is enough?" may vary from person to person, and the Bible does not provide specific amounts or formulas to allow us to calculate what is proper or improper. But too often greed and lack of confidence in divine providence -- coupled with investment counselors and financial advisors who often make more money by convincing people to amass more money with no regard for biblical priorities -- exert too much influence on zealous savers. The American culture regarding saving and spending seldom reflects the old adage attributed to John Wesley: "Make all you can, save all you can, give all you can." The first two aspects without the third is spiritually and ethically unhealthy.

Before I would weigh in on particular people's level of savings or wealth, I do well to look at their outward confession (in teaching and practice) regarding their relationship to God through Christ and regarding their support of Gospel work and worthy charitable causes. That tells me about character and integrity much more than any mere balance in a bank account.

You are asking a question that is often asked and that fills us all with strong emotions. And perhaps the reason why it is so often asked is that the Bible does not explicitly give us an answer, and we then end up emotionally dissatisfied. We rejoice at every mention of people being baptized and receiving the promises of faith and forgiveness and hearing the gospel and being brought to trust Jesus and becoming citizens of heaven. We also grieve because so many in this world do not enjoy these blessings and feel particularly bad when we could not apply the gospel to some people like miscarried or stillborn children.

Regarding miscarried children we must affirm that they, like everyone else, were conceived in an inherited sinful condition and need forgiveness to be saved. We also affirm that Christ is the only revealed Savior for all mankind, regardless of the specific circumstances that prevail from person to person. On the basis of clear Scripture, then, we understand that they need faith in Christ and that faith in Christ is given by God through the Gospel. In saying this we do not wish to be understood as saying God could not create faith in people's hearts aside from the gospel (recall the amazing work of the Holy Spirit with John the Baptist when he was still a fetus, Luke 1:41-44), or could not have devised other ways and means for doing it if he had seen fit to do so. We merely report that God throughout Scripture reveals that he works through the gospel to create faith and that this faith is necessary for personal salvation.

It would be presumptuous for us to assume that miscarried children are nevertheless headed for heaven. This idea is not based on Scripture. It is quite popular and emotionally pleasing, of course, and we fully understand the motives in adopting such a position. However, we bind ourselves to Scripture alone for doctrine and simply say that there are things we do not fully understand and cannot fully explain -- and this subject is one of those. To say it bluntly, here we are in the realm of the unsearchable judgments of God. That is where we should leave this kind of speculation.

We are given the assurance that God is a compassionate God, whose judgments are fair. "The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. . . . He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him" (Psalm 103:8-11). We make this the basis of our convictions about what is fair or not fair; whatever God does is fair and right, and good. What "seems fair" to our limited minds and emotions is not to be made the standard of truth.

The way a person seeks to respond to a question like yours tells us a lot about how that person does theology. If we limit ourselves to Scripture alone, we do not have a lot to say. We will stress what God has graciously revealed to us and admit our limitations. And we will recommit ourselves to witnessing and the support of mission work. But if we are willing to manufacture other answers that strike us as reasonable or emotionally satisfying, lots of ideas are possible. I sincerely pray that we never take that route, but commend these issues to the gracious Lord who will answer our questions when we get to glory. "For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. ?When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. ?Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." (1 Corinthians 13:9-12).

In the Old Testament the Israelites could not marry Canaanites. There is no rule in the New Testament about such marriages. Marriage is an earthly contract that does not necessarily require unity of faith. The key issue is 1 Corinthians 7:39. Literally translated it says a Christian must marry "in the Lord." The NIV translation interprets this to mean the marriage must be to a Christian. The original words may, however, simply mean the marriage must be in conformity with God's institution of marriage, a life-long committment of one man and one woman. Whether a marriage to a non-Christian is wise or beneficial is another question, but there is no clear, explicit command against it.

You have my sympathy as you strive to maintain relationships with your homosexual child and friend. I am thankful that you DO desire to maintain a relationship since that will allow you opportunity to give suitable witness to your convictions and to demonstrate parental kindness despite the spiritual plight of your loved one. I recognize that your doing this will necessarily involve awkwardness, often leave you in situations where you will be unsure of how best to conduct yourself in Christian love, and periodically arouse anger and resentment in your child and partner because of their impenitent lifestyle. And you will grieve over the inaccurate and flawed example that will be set before your grandchildren on a daily basis. You have a daily petition in your prayer life until repentance is shown.

You ask "how much of a relationship" should be maintained. There are no strict formulas to follow. Christian love is keenly alert to specific relationships, opportunities, threats, and people—and expresses itself with flexibility as long as divine truth is not compromised. You have already identified key issues and voiced proper concerns, so I suspect you will do just fine despite awkwardness and emotional pain. Perhaps all I can counsel is that you maintain clarity in your testimony as you speak the truth in love. Clarify what you cannot and will not accept and why you at the same time desire to maintain a relationship with your child. Take every opportunity your child gives you while being content when your child gives you precious little opportunity. And maintain the cheerfulness that comes with the confidence that God does not desire to be done with your child and that he does not have the limitations imposed on you. In your intercessions ask God to work miracles, to use other witnesses for the truth to interact with your child, and commend your child confidently to divine providence that can crush the rebellious spirit and make sinners open to the truth. The pressure is ultimately on God, not you, just as the power is his, not yours or mine.

Non-denominational churches may be purely congregational, not belonging to any specific organization.

But denominational churches also may be totally independent of a larger group. A Baptist church could be completely independent and congregational.

Non-denominational churches do have a doctrinal standard even if that standard is, for example, to have no doctrinal position on infant baptism.

Most non-denominational churches are Evangelical churches that want to categorize as open questions some topics that Scripture does not leave open so they can be under a bigger umbrella. They want to avoid a denominational label, but they have a pretty standard set of doctrinal views.