Hi.  I don’t believe in ghosts, but I do believe in demons, and I believe they get mistaken for ghosts sometimes.  Is this possible, and if it is, is it wrong to be a demonologist?  I know that demonologists sometimes provoke them to try and get evidence for skeptics by doing EGPs (electronic ghost phenomena).  Does it say anything in the Bible about provoking demons, even to try and prove their existence?  Thank you.

Sincerely,
Demonologist

Dear Demonologist,

The Bible tells us that demons are no longer allowed to interact with humans in the way that they did in earlier biblical times.  When Jesus’ disciples were sent out to preach and perform miracles, they came back ecstatic that they were casting out demons (Lk 10:17).  Jesus told them that they were vanquishing Satan and his demons, and Satan was being cast down because of what they were doing (Lk 10:18).  Jesus and His disciples permanently destroyed Satan’s minions’ ability to possess people.  Once the demons were cast out – they were cast out for good (see the case of the demons cast into pigs as an example – Mk 5:11-13).  Thanks to Christ, we don’t have to worry about this issue today.  Satan and his demons have been bound by the work Christ did two thousand years ago (Lk 11:20-22).

Demons do exist, but studying them in the scientific realm would be as fruitful as studying angels in the scientific realm.  Both are spiritual beings and do not conform to scientific study (Eph 6:12, 1 Cor 3:1).

My wife of thirty-five years has been battling cancer since 1998.  In 2007, she was told that she was terminal.  She has recently lost over 120 pounds, has no desire to eat, then loses what she does eat.  Doctors have tried everything; two doctors have recommended that she smoke marijuana.  Besides it being illegal in Florida, spiritually, she feels uncomfortable.  We have searched through the Scriptures with no avail. Please help.

Sincerely,
Struggling Spouse

Dear Struggling Spouse,

We are so very sorry for your suffering; we here at AYP cannot imagine how difficult this trial is for you and your wife.  We will do our very best to give you the Bible answer to such a sensitive question.  There are two things to consider:

1. The Bible says that we should obey the laws of the land (Rom 13:1-4).  If something is illegal – it is illegal.  The Lord would have us abide by the laws of the government, even when those laws are difficult to follow.
2. There is nothing inherently wrong with trying to reduce your wife’s discomfort.  Pr 31:6 specifically said that it is appropriate for a dying person to receive ease from their pain.  You can feel completely comfortable giving legal painkillers to your wife as she endures these difficult final stages of suffering.

We know that these two principles do not necessarily make your choices easier, but hopefully, that clarifies the doctrinal struggle you have been having.

I am confused because some people say it is not bad to listen to music that says nothing bad, but some say all you should listen to is gospel music.  Which one is true?  Could you still listen to music that doesn’t say bad words or a bad message?  What does the Bible say about it?

Sincerely,
A Musical Ear

Dear A Musical Ear,

There is nothing wrong with listening to music of any type as long as it:

1. Does not teach or profess evil ideas (such as drunkenness, promiscuity, immorality, violence, etc.)
2. Is not full of foul or crass language (Eph 4:29).

Bad company corrupts good morals (1 Cor 15:33), and bad music is a form of bad company.

Having said that – any other type of music is perfectly permissible.  Jesus even used music as an example of general happiness in the parable of the prodigal son (Lk15:25).

As for gospel music – you might find it interesting to know that some christians believe exactly the opposite of what you have been told.  There is debate amongst christians over whether or not religious music should be used as a form of entertainment.  Read our post “Should The Hip Hop Stop?” for another AYP reader’s perspective on “christian” music.

Where in the Bible does it say that an animal that hurts a person should be killed?

Sincerely,
My Dog Got Lead Poisoning

Dear My Dog Got Lead Poisoning,

You are probably thinking of the Old Testament law that commanded an ox to be put to death if it gored someone.  That verse is found in Ex 21:28-32.  Though not strictly applicable to christians today because we live under the New Testament, the Old Testament laws are holy and good (Rom 7:12) and can serve as a good rule of thumb for how to deal with violent animals today.

Thank you for the time and energy and effort it takes to keep this site up.  You are heaven-sent!  May the Lord bless each of you that do this for His will and keep you in peace and health and safety.  I would like to ask a question, please.  Can the devil read our minds?  Does he know our thoughts as God does?  Can he hear our prayers, even if we pray silently?  A lady testified in church last Sunday and said she prays silently at her nighttime prayer, so the devil could not hear what she had to say.  Can the devil read our minds, and do you have scripture to prove it, please?

Sincerely,
Not A Mind Reader

Dear Not A Mind Reader,

Satan cannot read your mind, but he can attack your mind.  The devil is exceptionally cunning and wiley (Eph 6:11).  He uses his trickery to deceive us, but he doesn’t know your inner thoughts.  On certain occasions, the devil has placed thoughts within minds (Jhn 13:2), but he cannot see into our hearts.  If the devil could read minds and hearts, he never would have wasted time tempting Jesus (Matt 4:1).

God is the only one to be noted to have the ability to see into our hearts (Acts 1:24) and read our minds (Lk 11:17).  Aside from God, the only one who knows your mind is you (1 Cor 2:11).  The devil may be very clever… but he doesn’t know the depths of your soul.

I have some concerns and questions.  First of all, I’m married and am a minister. Recently, my wife began a journey to seek God, and some things she is telling people are kind of far out there.  I have faith in the Lord and know He can do anything, but what I’m puzzled about is that she is telling people that God said she was sent here and once was an angel and that she was the commander of God’s army.  Not only that, but all her siblings are angels (one was a seraphim angel, one was this, one was that).  But I have been talking and walking with God my whole life.  He tells me one thing and tells her something different.  Then, one day, I tell her God told me to tell her to basically stop lying.  She was standing right in front of me and said God said that I was a sinner and to repent.  Then, an hour passes, and she then said God said that He had forgiven me because I didn’t know and had no wisdom.  I was led to tell her the story of the Nephilim.  She  said she was sent here like Jesus and John the Baptist.  This is starting to cause a situation where I don’t know what to do.  How can God lead me one way and lead her another?  I know from the Word many things.  She also said, like John, the Lord took her memory, and now it’s coming back to her.  I need some direction.  I cant fight her anymore, but what she says I am responsible for.  I’m the husband.  I need to know what the Scripture says about this whole matter.

Sincerely,
Conflicting Reports

Dear Conflicting Reports,

You are both expecting the Lord to speak to you directly, but He speaks to us through His Word.  John warned that adding and subtracting from the Scriptures is wrong (Rev 22:18-19).  Paul warned that we should not go beyond what is written in the Scriptures (1 Cor 4:6).  He also said that if even an angel from heaven (which your wife claims to be) were to preach another gospel, they would be condemned (Gal 1:8).  Contrary to what many churches teach, God doesn’t speak directly to us when we go to Him in prayer.  He does answer our prayers, but not with words.  The book of Jude says that we have all of God’s words handed down to us, once and for all, in the Bible (Jude 1:3).  Just because you feel something in your heart, doesn’t make it true.

Religious confusion happens because we take our ideas and ascribe them to God.  That is why your wife has one religious view, and you have another.  God is not the author of confusion (1 Cor 14:33)… people are.  All religious confusion comes from selfish desires, individual ideas, and jealous factions of mankind (Jas 3:16).  When we serve God according to our own ideals, we are zealous but not knowledgeable, and zeal without knowledge is useless (Rom 10:1-2).  The only way to find unity is to use the Bible as our only guide – nothing more.  God only created one standard (Eph 4:1-6); if we want unity, we’ve got to do things His way.  Ask your wife to show you book, chapter, and verse in the Bible that proves she is a reincarnated angel… we have a pretty confident feeling that she will be at a loss for honest words.