What Does the Bible Say About Spiritualism?

By Pastor Vinnie

You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. John 8:32

Spiritualism is any religious belief that is based on the idea that the “dead exist and have both the ability and the inclination to communicate with the living.”[i] Spiritualists generally contend that they can connect with the dead and communicate messages back to loved ones who are living. Spiritualism is hotly critiqued as being erroneous teaching that most religious and scientific authorities believe is propagated for profit rather than a real spiritual gift. While that could in fact be true in many cases; perhaps there is something even more sinister at play. Let us see what the Bible has to say.

Moses, the very first writer of the Bible, had some strong words about engaging the dead or Spirits. Here are just a few of the key samples:

“Do not turn to mediums or necromancers[ii]; do not seek them out, and so make yourselves unclean by them: I am the Lord your God.” Leviticus 19:31

“If a person turns to mediums and necromancers, whoring after them, I will set my face against that person and will cut him off from among his people.” Leviticus 20:6

“When you come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord. And because of these abominations the Lord your God is driving them out before you. You shall be blameless before the Lord your God.” Deuteronomy 18:9-13

So we see in the Bible right off the bat God is quite serious about not talking to the dead, spirits, or even mediums (Spiritualists who claim to speak to and on behalf of the dead). The reason Moses seems to suggest is that because such practices lead other nations to heinous actions – like even sacrifice their own children to these spirits. The God of the Bible was so outraged by these actions he evicted the other nations off his land and gave it to the Israelites with a warning he would do the same to them if they to sank to such evil levels as participating in the religious practices of the Pagans.

According to King Solomon, no good can come from speaking to the dead because the dead don’t know anything to tell you. “For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten” (Ecclesiastes 9:5). His Father King David says even if we could speak to them they would not have any messages from God for us anyways, “For in death there is no remembrance of you; in Sheol[iii] who will give you praise?” (Psalm 6:5)

A central theme in the early narratives of the prophet Daniel is that God’s wisdom working in Daniel is better than all the combined wisdom of the Spiritualists of Kings Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar. In the Book of Daniel, Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar repeatedly in times of urgent need call upon all the royal “wise men, enchanters, magicians, or astrologers”, who offer no hope and trustworthy direction. Yet when the Kings seek out the wisdom of Daniel and his Hebrew prayer group, God shows up in mighty ways and not only predicts the truth in the current crisis they face but foretells the whole unfolding of the history of the nations correctly to them (see Daniel chapters 2-6).

The Old Testament is consistent in its messaging that the dead have nothing of value to tell the living, and that God has forbidden communication with them because it is a part of the false religious systems of the pagans that often lead to vile immoral acts. Whatever seeks to talk to man from the “other side,” God has deemed dangerous, unclean, and contagious.

I have come into the world as a light so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. John 12:46

In the Book of Revelation in the New Testament, John does not at all mince words on this issue when he lumps sorcerers with idolaters and all liars who are headed to the lake of fire and the second death (See Revelation 21:8). The Apostle Paul likewise is clear when he says “Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.” (Ephesians 5:11).

The New Testament also seems to try to warn us that the “Spirits” and those claiming to speak for them may actually be trying to trick and deceive us. Consider the following passages:

“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1

“For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.” 2 Corinthians 11:13-15

“And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.” Revelation 12:9

“The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.” 1 Timothy 4:1-2

So we could surmise that certain teachers, especially those who claim to talk to the dead, might actually be getting their messages from Satan or his demons. The New Testament writers go as far as to say that Satan himself is not above showing up in your life as a teacher[iv] of light to deceive you. It is no wonder that God was so firm with Moses in telling him that under no circumstances should we be talking to or messing with such dark practices or religions. Story after story of demon possession in the Bible shows that mankind is no match for dealing with demons and that these powers of darkness can actually suck us in and even torture us spiritually if we go down the path of entertaining their powers.

But there is GOOD NEWS.

There is a name all demons fear. There is power all foul spirits cower at. There is a power that even Satan will be forced to bow to.

“The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” Luke 10:17

“Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”  Philippians 2:9-11

“When he [JESUS] arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. [Notice the connection to the dead the live among the tombs[v]]  They were so violent that no one could pass that way.  “What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?” Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding. The demons begged Jesus, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.” He said to them, “Go!” So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water. Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all this, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men.” Matthew 8:28-33

I am the way and the truth and the life.
John 14:6

As the great Tasha Cobbs song says, “There is power in the name of Jesus
To break every chain, break every chain, break every chain… I hear the chains falling.”

Darkness has no power over you that can’t be broken by the power of the Name of Jesus. We don’t need fellowship with darkness when we have the light from Heaven. The dead can tell us nothing worth hearing since we have a King who already conquered Death! AMEN!

Here is a playlist of beautiful music that will inspire you to trust JESUS has the power and the victory in your life over every darkness and evil spirit. Jesus is the Victory. Jesus is the chain breaker:

1. Break Every Chain 2. In The Name Of Jesus 3. SHEMA 4. What A Beautiful Name

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Related Links:

What Is Victory?

From Harlot to Holy

The Reserve Of Courage

Footnotes:

[i] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiritualism

[ii] Necromancy is the practice of drawing magical powers, casting spells, or otherwise engaging in witchcraft by the power of the dead. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Necromancy

[iii] The Grave

[iv] The word angel literally means messenger

[v] This is my note.