A while back I started a series on my facebook about different theological questions. I stopped because mainly because I could find many people, even friends who couldn’t think systematically (there is a difference between being able to remember conclusions form systematic theology and employing systematic theology.). Because it was they didn’t understand that type of thinking it ended up either being people reiterating whatever someone else’s study had concluded or they would deflect. Not only that but I have issues with keep time frames and this particular thing is something I have wrestled with for about 3 years.
Why is this an issue? Well here has been a rise in the idea of paranormal investigation. Thanks to shows like Ghost Hunters, Paranormal State, and Ghost Adventures, there has been a rise in the awareness of these groups. Grant of Ghost Hunters is a professing Christian but their show (especially in the early seasons) dabbles with various pagan beliefs. Paranormal State is a mixture of Catholicism and mysticism. Ghost Adventures also seems to play to mysticism. So what exactly is an Evangelical to think?
I have never addressed this in the blog, but I have experience with exorcism. I interned and worked in the Personal Ministry for my bible college (Personal Ministry = a mix of counseling and exorcism). I spent two years working for William Sudduth who is a full time speaker and exorcist (http://www.ramministry.org/). In fact if you look at Bill’s first book you will see my name in the acknowledgements (http://www.amazon.com/So-Free—Depth-Deliverance-Healing/dp/0800794192/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1298575931&sr=8-1#reader_0800794192 it’s on page 14). So, I have some experience. Not only that but through my life I have experienced things that could be explained as a haunting.
When I was about to go to Bible College, a friend of mine at the time was going to a local college. She and her roommate started having weird things going on. The TV would go on and off, so would the radio, incense would burn in a holder without being lit. It started to really freak her out. So, I offered to come clear the room and bless it. I did this and it stuck for about 4 months (I told the girls not to do anything sinful in the room as that was a way to reopen the door to the spirit… needless to say.). Looking back now, the issue was that there was something attached to my friend’s roommate.
About 8 years later, I saw an episode of Ghost Hunters at a couple’s house we knew from our then church. Traditionally you are taught in Pentecostal circles that anything like a ghost etc, is really a demon. So, I was interested in their methodology. I also began reading up on some websites and have watched almost all their seasons. I listen to a semi-regular podcast to keep up on things in that world. I even watched some of Paranormal State and Ghost Adventures but they annoy me for various reasons. All this made me wonder about the possibility of human spirits being resident.
Scripturally you need only look to Samuel 28:3-19, and Mark 9:2-8. In both cases you have two dead guys talking to someone. Samuel speaks to Saul and Moses speaks to Jesus. Not only that but the verses for talking about mediums that suggest that the writer believes them able to speak to the dead Duet 18:20, Lev. 19:31, 20:6, 20:27. The NT doesn’t directly deal with this but only makes statements implying that the body dies, not the spirit. There are those verses that contradict (2 Cor 5:1-9) and traditional belief of ascension after death. Some brothers believe that those who reside on earth still, are those who haven’t heard the message of Christ. Namely in this case, ingenious people. I don’t know if that is valid or just a way to get around the tradition of it. Whatever is the case, I do think to some degree it is possible for a human spirit to still reside in this world. I don’t have the answers as to why but I think there is enough evidence to say that not every “Ghost” is a demon.
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