[metmom]

I didn't say that I didn't think that believers who have died are not alive in heaven. But when they died here on earth, they are dead to us.

We are prohibited from contacting the dead.

Deuteronomy 18:9 When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. 10 Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, 11 or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. 12 Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you. 13 You must be blameless before the LORD your God.

[Quix]

They know good and well what you meant.

They are being absurd or obtuse or both—evidently for sheer unwarranted, useless, mystifying cussedness.