Question:  Why is homosexuality an abomination, but Deuteronomy 21:15 talks about polygamy as though it is a perfectly accepted practice.

Answer:  Deuteronomy 21:15 reads, “If a man has two wives, the one loved and the other unloved, and both the loved and the unloved have borne him children, and if the firstborn son belongs to the unloved…”  This verse seems to give a tacit approval to polygamy.  Let me answer the question in two parts.  I believe homosexuality is disapproved (especially in light of Romans 1) because it is a reversal of God’s created order.

Regarding polygamy, I am copying Hank Hanegraaff’s answer for you.  It is from his website, equip.org:

“Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh?’ So they are no longer two, but one” (Matt. 19:4–6).²

Polygamy, the practice of one man having multiple wives, was common in antiquity. Though practiced in the Old Testament, polygamy was never God’s perfect plan.

First, the ideal pattern of monogamous marriage of one woman and one man was established early in Genesis: “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh” (2:24). Moreover, this very passage was quoted by both Jesus and Paul in defense of the sacredness and exclusivity of monogamous marriage (Matt. 19:3–9; 1 Cor. 6:15–17; cf.1 Cor. 7:2).

Furthermore, the Bible explicitly condemns the polygamy of Old Testament kings (Deut. 17:17). Likewise, New Testament elders and deacons are called to be “the husband of but one wife” (1 Tim. 3:2, 12; Titus 1:6). Just as the requirements for church leaders set the standards of morality and spiritual maturity for all believers, so too the admonition against polygamy for the kings of Israel demonstrates the danger of this practice for all.

Finally, God’s disdain for polygamy is seen in its consequences. The Old Testament clearly reveals the familial strife and temptations that accompany the practice. Solomon is the quintessential example of one whose legacy of faithfulness was compromised because of his polygamous behavior. Despite his world-renowned wisdom, Solomon’s peaceful and prosperous rule ended in idolatrous scandal and civil strife, for “his wives turned his heart after other gods” (1 Kings 11:4).

For further study, see Gleason Archer, Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1982).

— Hank Hanegraaff

Angels are neither male nor female.  They are asexual beings.  However, all the names of angels in Scripture are male names.

I think aid or empower are strong words.  I think our prayers to God can result in God sending angels to our aid.  I don’t know of any place in Scripture where we are instructed to pray on behalf of angels so that their work can be more fully accomplished.

Though God knows what is going to happen, God also knows how we are going to be involved in the process.  Consider the example of Abraham and Sodom and Gomorrah.  The angels told Abraham what was going to happen to Sodom and Gomorrah.  Abraham interceded on behalf of the cities.  The cities weren’t saved, but Abraham’s nephew, Lot and his two daughters escaped.  Genesis 19:29 records, “So when God destroyed the cities of the plain, he rememberedAbraham, and he brought Lot out of the catastrophe that overthrew the cities where Lot had lived.”

God heard Abraham’s prayers.  God spared Lot.  Your prayers are incredibly significant.

Question:  Can Satan read your thoughts or just hear your spoken words?

Answer:  We must be careful not to attribute to Satan attributes that belong to God.  God is omniscient–meaning He knows all things.  Satan does not.  Satan only knows what he can find out, or what he has already learned.  God is omnipresent–He is able to be everywhere at all times.  Satan is limited spatially.  He can only be one place at a time.

Therefore, you can deduce that Satan cannot read your mind.  He can hear what you say, but you cannot assume that he is listening to everything you say.  I even question his ability to listen to more than one person at a time.  I may be wrong on that, though.

You can pray for someone else, but ultimately they must decide to dress themselves for battle.

Question:  What if you were baptized as an infant and when you were 7 you were baptized so that you could try the juice cups (communion).  Are you still saved?  Do you still need to be baptized?

Answer : Your salvation is not dependent upon your baptism.  Baptism follows salvation, and is based on one’s belief in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Therefore, your question has more to do with what constitutes salvation than the connection between your two baptisms and salvation.  Regarding rebaptism, I encourage anyone who has received Christ to be baptized again after receiving Christ.  However, it is not essential to salvation; it is only an act of obedience that follows salvation.

Question:  Please comment on 1 Corinthians 15:29.  Can you be baptized for the dead?

Answer:  1 Corinthians 15:29 reads “Otherwise, what do people mean by being baptized on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf?”  Paul is addressing two ridiculous notions:  First, the Corinthians were doubting the resurrection.  Second, being baptized for the dead.”  So Paul is in effect saying, “How ridiculous would it be to be baptized for the dead, when you don’t even believe in the resurrection!”  Both are ridiculous notions.

Therefore, Paul is not encouraging baptism for the dead.  He’s simply pointing out two equally ridiculously held beliefs by the Corinthians.

Question:  I know that Scripture tells us to go and make disciples of men, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Is there anything that prevents me, as the spiritual head of my household, from baptizing my family personally?

Answer:  Nowhere in Scripture is baptism relegated to ordained clergy.  Anyone who is a believer can baptize another believer.  Here at Grace, minister typically baptize.  However, that is not set in stone–it is simply our practice.

Question:  So I was taught by a Catholic friend, that asking the saints to pray for you is the same as asking your friend to pray for you.  Is that a different opinion?  How do you feel about that?

Answer:  Praying to the saints has several problems.  First of all, it assumes that some human beings have attained a better status than others.  The Bible clearly teaches that we come to God by grace, not by our own merits.  Second, it assumes that saints are focused on what’s happening on earth, when in fact they are worshiping Jesus.  Third, it assumes that we have to go through someone else in order to get to Jesus.  When Jesus died on the cross, he opened the way for us into God’s throne-room.  Our prayers can have the same effect as any other person’s.  Finally, we are told to ask other believers (who are alive) to pray for us.