My 81 year old mother spends the day with my sister and she has begun to see my father (dead these six years) and she says my deceased grandmother has also walked in and out of the room on two occasions.In performing my duties as a hospice nurse, I have had patients who reported seeing departed loved ones and even angels within hours or days of their own death. These appearances are never troubling and actually bring comfort to most of the persons who experience this phenomenon.

I know the Scriptures have many examples of the spiritual world “bumping” into the physical world. Is it possible that my family members and my patients have had similar experiences? I know that the rich man was denied the opportunity to go back and warn his brothers about the reality of hell and at the same time, we are encouraged to be hospitable to strangers because might be entertaining angels.

I am not sure how to answer my sister and mother’s questions about these things. Can you help?

A. I’m aware of a blurring of the lines between this world and the next when death is immanent.  This could explain the experiences of your terminal patients.  But I take it that your mother, sister and niece are healthy. You didn’t say whether they (both the living and the dead) are all believers, but I’m much more suspicious of things like this and believe it’s likely that these spirits are up to no good.  I say this because of the Biblical prohibition of interaction between the living and the dead. (Deut. 18:9-12).  And remember, the spirits of the dead and angels are not the same thing. They are different orders of creation.

Is it reasonable to take such a promise made to a specific group of people during a specific point in history and apply it generally
throughout all of history?

A. There are lots of verses in the Bible promising that God will not abandon us but is committed to giving us a happy fulfilling future.   It’s not necessary to take others, like Jeremiah 29:11-13, out of context.  Here are a few examples that have general application.

David said, “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desire of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4)

Jesus said, “I have come that they might have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)

Paul said, “God is working everything together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.” (Rom. 8:28)

There are a number of others in both the Old and New Testaments.

A.  Psalm 139:16 says,

All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

This means He has always known how long we’re going to live.  But it doesn’t mean that He has decided what day we are going to die or how it will happen.  Knowing something will happen is not always the same as making it happen.

He also knew in advance all the things that will be happening in the world during that time.  In other words, He doesn’t have to react to the things that happen because He already knew they were going to happen and is prepared for them.  You can not take God by surprise.

A. Orbs began showing up in photographs about 12 years ago with the advent of digital cameras and their strobe-like flash capabilities.  There is no  explanation for these circular transparent shapes that satisfies everyone.  Those who don’t believe in the supernatural say they’re caused by dust or moisture particles in the air just in front of the camera.  This explanation has been found to be unsatisfactory for  various reasons.

As you point out some who do believe in the supernatural but aren’t Christian think they’re the spirits of dead people still hovering around the living.  And there are some Christians, primarily of the pentecostal persuasion, who believe they’re angels.  Paul made a vague reference to angels who join us in worship in 1 Cor. 11:10.

To me, these explanations are also unsatisfactory.  First of all we know from the Bible that spirits of dead people don’t hover around the living, and second if we can photograph angels why can we not also photograph demons?  While it’s nice to think of angels in our midst, who decided that only good spirits could show up in photographs?  I’ve never heard anyone call them evil although I’ve seen photographs of orbs in some evil places.

In summary, these are the days of deception.   If you can’t positively confirm something in the Bible, it’s best to be skeptical.  The same goes for  gold dust, jewels, angel feathers and other such things.

I have some money available, and I feel that if I ask God to make clear to me the exact amount the pastor needs, that both of us will be spiritually stirred and lifted by it as He will then know that it is God’s plan, and I will know that God heard me, and answered my prayers, and I will be blessed by hearing God’s voice/answer.

I really expect an answer from God, as I want to be a good steward of His money. What if I give and he goes to the Congo and it is not God’s will?  Is it wrong from me to expect a reply from my Father?  I do not want to tell God what to do and how, but want confirmation and peace in Him.

A. By the way you explain the intent of your heart, I feel comfortable in saying that if you feel the Lord leading you to contribute all or part of your pastor’s expenses, you should do it, regardless of whether He tells you the exact cost of the trip or not.  And remember this.  God looks at the intent of each person’s heart in these matters.  As long as you believe you’re being faithful to His leading, He will bless you regardless of the outcome of the trip.

I realize the Apostles specified to gentiles of their day, only the most basic moral and health guidelines to follow.  St. Paul also admonished Jews not to mingle obedience to the law with Salvation.

It might have been reasonable to expect less of gentiles of that time, because of circumstances, and to simplify matters for them and the Jews.  Also, it would have been impossible at that time for gentiles to practice the law, because of various circumstances.  Is it possible that conditions being different now, Christ might want gentile Christians to practice the Jewish Law?

A. For your view to be correct, the Bible would have to contain outdated information, and that means either God wasn’t able to foresee the future or that He neglected to write an updated version.  It also means that there couldn’t be any mature believers today who don’t keep the Law.  Paul asked the Galatians, “Did you receive the Spirit by keeping the Law or by believing what you heard?” (Gal. 3:2)

While the key word for the Old Testament was obedience, the key word for the New Testament is faith.  But one thing is clear in both.  God said, “You will find Me when you seek me with all your heart.” If you want God to be real to you then start believing that He is real and apply Romans 12:1-2 in your life.  Not in a mindless obedience to the Jewish Law but in an unwavering faith that if you surrender your life to Him God will work everything together for your good. (Romans 8:28)

A. I haven’t read either book, so I can’t comment on them.  But I can say that the Church started out meeting in homes, and I don’t think the Lord ever intended for it to become anything different.  The problem started when someone decided that a church was a building with a paid pastor and a congregation.

In my opinion all this mega-church and church growth stuff we hear about is more a matter of economics than theology.  I don’t care how many professionals there are on staff and how many programs are offered, you can’t have Christian fellowship with 10,000 people.

So what do the mega-churches do?  They start a bunch of small groups with volunteer leaders that meet in people’s homes.  That’s where the real work of the Church is done.  The mega church provides administrative oversight and collects the money required to pay the staff salaries and maintain the buildings, none of which would be necessary if the small groups were independent home churches.

A. The arguments over abortion really stem from a disagreement over when life begins.  The pro-abortion side insists that life begins at birth, making abortion a medical procedure similar to removing an unwanted growth of tissue.

Those opposed to abortion are convinced that from God’s point of view life begins at conception and therefore the commandment against murder (Exodus 20:13) applies to  the pre-born. Some scriptures that support life beginning at conception are Psalm 51:5-6, Psalm 139:13-16, and Jeremiah 1:5.

A. It’s both.  Intercession is not specifically listed among the Spiritual Gifts, but is recommended as part of our worship.

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. (1 Tim. 2:1-4)

I believe the Lord calls certain ones from among the Body of Christ to make sure this happens.

When the Holy Spirit gives you specific information on how to pray for a person it’s a manifestation of the Gift of Knowledge, listed among the Spiritual gifts in 1 Cor. 12:8.

A.  Both the Hebrew and Greek words translated Pastor mean shepherd.  The shepherd’s job was to keep the flock.  That meant he was responsible for the physical well being of the sheep entrusted to him.  In the same way, a Pastor is responsible for the spiritual well being of the people entrusted to him.  But in my opinion that doesn’t mean running other people’s lives for them.  Each of us is responsible for our own life.