Reading Time: 3 minutesQuestion 08111 Hypnosis occupies an unusual space in both medical practice and popular perception. It is used by some healthcare professionals for pain management, phobia treatment, and habit change, while it also features in stage entertainment and is associated in many people’s minds with the idea of surrendering control of one’s will to another person….
Reading Time: 3 minutesQuestion 08112 The existence of angels is affirmed throughout Scripture with such consistency and matter-of-factness that the biblical authors clearly regarded it as beyond question. Angels appear in almost every major section of the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, and are involved in some of the most significant events in redemptive history. The question of…
Reading Time: 3 minutesQuestion 08108 The question of whether meditation can open doors to demons is one that requires careful definition, because the word “meditation” covers an enormous range of practices, and the biblical answer depends entirely on what kind of meditation is being discussed. Scripture itself commends a form of meditation, while the practices most commonly associated…
Reading Time: 3 minutesQuestion 08110 Martial arts encompass a vast range of disciplines with very different histories, philosophies, and purposes. The question of whether they are spiritually dangerous cannot be answered with a blanket statement, because the category includes everything from Olympic judo and boxing to practices deeply embedded in Eastern religious philosophy. A biblically informed answer requires…
Reading Time: 3 minutesQuestion 08106 Fear of the demonic is something many Christians experience, and it ranges from a mild unease about the unseen spiritual world to a paralysing anxiety that Satan or his agents might harm them, their families, or their spiritual lives. The question of whether believers should be afraid of Satan and demons is one…
Reading Time: 3 minutesQuestion 08107 Few things stir parental concern more deeply than the thought that their children might be vulnerable to spiritual attack. The instinct to protect is God-given, and Scripture does not dismiss the reality of spiritual opposition. But the question of how to protect children from spiritual attack requires careful biblical thinking, because the answers…
Reading Time: 4 minutesQuestion 08104 This question arises frequently in Christian circles, particularly where the influence of charismatic and deliverance ministry culture is strong. It is a question that requires careful biblical thinking, because the answer has significant pastoral consequences. If genuine Christians can have demons that need to be cast out, then the church needs a deliverance…
Reading Time: 4 minutesQuestion 08105 Deliverance ministry occupies a prominent place in certain charismatic and Pentecostal circles, often presented with the expectation that dramatic results should follow dramatic prayers. When nothing visible seems to happen, the person seeking help can be left confused, discouraged, or burdened with the suggestion that their own faith was insufficient. The question of…
Reading Time: 3 minutesQuestion 08101 This question comes up frequently in pastoral conversations, and it deserves a careful answer that avoids both the extremes of dismissive indifference and superstitious overreaction. The Bible does not address horror films directly, because the modern entertainment industry did not exist in the biblical world. What Scripture does address are the principles that…
Reading Time: 3 minutesQuestion 08102 The question of whether Christians should read books about demons and the occult requires a distinction that is often overlooked: there is a significant difference between reading about the occult in order to understand and resist it, and reading occult material out of curiosity, fascination, or a desire for forbidden knowledge. Scripture addresses…