It’s almost Christmas time and outcome the Scrooge films again recounting how Ebenezer encountered the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future, changing him from a mean old miser to a generous philanthropist.
People throughout the centuries have toyed with the paranormal, whether it be through mediums, fortune tellers, séances, trances, Ouija (spirit) boards or a whole host of other ways to try to communicate with the dead. This has often led to vulnerable people being taken advantage of, especially if they have recently become bereaved. Charlatans are everywhere, always ready to make a quick buck at someone else’s expense. Thanks pexels.com
I have heard of several people who believe they have had good experiences of mediums telling them information that only their dead loved one would know. Whether this is just good guesswork, I wouldn’t like to say. I have also come across many others whose experience of spiritualists or clairvoyants has been described as “rubbish”.
According to Wikipedia, spiritual warfare is the Christian concept of fighting against the work of preternatural evil forces. It states that ghosts are the souls or spirits of dead people or non-human animal beings which seem able to appear to the living. The bible tells us that ghosts are fallen angels trying to deceive humans.
The paranormal is a fascinating area for many people and Hollywood is full of terrifying films which get ever more horrific. I well remember going to see Dennis Wheatley’s “The Devil Rides Out” in the mid-1970s and that frightened me so much I have never watched anything remotely scary since!
Graham – I presume that part of your theology training involved studying evil and the many ways it can manifest itself. What does the bible say about people trying to communicate with their dead loved ones? Do you have personal experience of dealing with cult or Devil-worship behaviour? What’s involved in exorcisms and have you been involved with any which have been successful?
Rev Graham replies:
In the world we are living in, Carol, it can be argued that people believe more in Hollywood ghosts and phantoms than angels and Holy spirits. However, if we went back to the middle ages and beyond, there would have been a greater belief and understanding about the dark side of the spiritual world alongside a clear contrast in relation to the Holy Spirit of God.
When we look at various historical books, novels and poetry, good and evil quite naturally reside and are very common. All ruling powers and church authorities seem to favour godliness over evil as seen in the judgements on witches and certain influential forces and individuals throughout history. However, within such judgments there will have been a particular bias and corruptness which existed in the pursuit and maintenance of any ruling powers.
In the Bible we read about the trees of Life and Knowledge which represent good and evil. Satan, also known as the Devil, is a fallen angel who is full of pride and envy and is the one who exists as the archetype of all ungodly paranormal experiences. We observe evil at work in the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, the confusion of King Saul when trying to contact Samuel via the medium of Endor (1 Samuel 28:1-25) and many others who have tried to control or dictate to God’s supernatural power.
In regards to the activities of the paranormal, you have mentioned, Carol, that ghosts may be fallen angels and people engage with mediums, fortune tellers, spiritualist, séances, trances and Ouija boards. I have heard it said recently by a famous ex-musician, that the music industry is in itself under satanic influence which also, in a measure, will include Hollywood and all social, TV and radio media.
Within our modern society it seeks to influence us all to believe that there is only a neutral paranormal activity which represents the earth’s power and purpose that is exclusive from a God or Satan figure. The bottom line concerning the power of God is that He wants to bless all His creation with His love and goodness. This compares with demonic powers which want to destroy and bring confusion and illness to all peoples. So, for a moment, we will consider a Godly and Ungodly paranormal which compares with a contemporary, naïve and Western paranormal.
Godly Paranormal
When studying Christian theology, the Bible portrays God as one who has the supernatural powers that relate to all life situations as exampled in Acts 17: 28: “In Him we live and move and have our being.”
God has the power to instruct his angels to intervene in situations which represent a godly paranormal experience. As Christians we have to be very careful not to try and defeat ungodly paranormal in our own strength as some have done as found in a reading from (Jude 1: 8- 10). The only way to control paranormal forces is by not allowing them to have an influence over us in the first place.
To maintain the power of God within us, it is vital to wear daily the whole armour of God as instructed in Ephesians 6: 10-18 which enables us to withstand all the fiery darts of the evil one. In the book of James 4: 7 we have some wise advise which we can adhere to “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you” and in Ephesians 4:27 “do not give the devil a foothold” to influence our thinking and acting.
Thanks freebibleimages.org
Ignored Paranormal
In all my pastoral experiences which have included teaching and preaching within a church context, there has been those who truly believe Christ as their Lord and Saviour and embrace all that is heard and expected from them. Conversely, there are those within a church gathering who are seeking, learning and not fully believing.
When officiating at a funeral service within community, especially these days, there will be a majority of people who do not believe at all in a paranormal, alongside those who embrace knowingly or not an ungodly paranormal, some who are agnostic and then a small number of Christian believers.
The point I want to make is that, alongside any godly or ungodly paranormal activities, many in the world generally are quite ignorant of superpowers which are at work in everyday life and therefore are without any self-awareness of the extent of the dark side of life compared with the all-powerful light of Christ.
In many of my visitations and pastoral support which I have undertaken over the years, I have had the privilege of being able to listen to the various normal and heartfelt concerns which people have. In such settings I seek a wisdom and compassion from the Lord to reflect God’s love and light. Hopefully, people may want to see, feel and embrace that for themselves. My constant prayer is that people may move from a position of spiritual ignorance to one of personal faith in Christ and to know personally a presence and comfort of a Godly paranormal.
Ungodly Paranormal
Whether we are fully aware or not, the reality of life includes an unhealthy influence from demonic forces which co-exist under the sovereign control of God Almighty (1 John 5: 19). The actions of demons are very devious and secretive and tempt us to think that they are in control of life (John 8: 44). It is a fact that people will always be interested in a paranormal which represents good or evil, either in a very devout form or in pure ignorance, but for the majority they will want to avoid any ungodly paranormal activity.
Within the Christian tradition there is a distinct ministry of exorcism, as you asked Carol, that only a few people are called to. Their purpose is to represent Christ and a godly paranormal and bring healing and restoration to those affected by an ungodly paranormal.
Thanks freebibleimages.org
In the Bible there are many occasions when Jesus, the Apostle Paul and the disciples have cast out demons and prayed for peoples’ healing and freedom. In the course of my own ministry, I have been involved with others to pray for a release from any demonic influence and control and personal healing and in some measure I have seen God work in miraculous ways.
Each one of us is influenced by our upbringing, cultures and relationships. Where there is hurt, injury and separation it requires prayers of deep faith for people to experience forgiveness of their transgressions and then to forgive those who have transgressed against them and being released from the powerful bonds of evil.
There are certain situations whereby it is only through prayer and fasting that the forces of evil are bound and released from an individual who wants to leave behind any further intent and desire for a life affected by an ungodly paranormal.
Heed the Warning
The Bible gives clear instruction that, in the end times, many people will depart from the Christian faith and in turn devote themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons. (1 Timothy 4: 1)
It is important, then, by knowledge or ignorance not to get involved in any of the activities you referred to, Carol, such as “innocent Halloween”, ghosts, mediums, fortune tellers, spiritualists, séances, trances, Ouija boards and the like.
As a Christian, it is important to remember that our struggles are not against “flesh and blood” but it is against “the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6: 12).
In regards to what the Bible says about contacting the dead and the ungodly paranormal, we find in Leviticus 19: 31 it says “do not turn to mediums or necromancers; do not seek them out and so make yourselves unclean by them”.
In Deuteronomy 18: 10-11 we read: “Let no one practise divination or sorcery, interpret omens and engage in witchcraft, or cast spells, or who is a medium or spiritist, or consults the dead”.
As Christians we seek to live a normal life of devotion and faith in Christ and when we feel, for whatever reason, under spiritual pressure, then it is important to remember that: “The one who is in you/us is greater than the one who is in the world” (1 John 4: 4).
- So follow a Godly paranormal through the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
- Do not be ignorant of any paranormal.
- Avoid any involvement in ungodly paranormal
Signposts
Premier Lifeline – premierlifeline.org.uk – 03001110101
Deliverance Ministry Church of England
Graham
Explore to Inspire 
