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.