Ghosts and Christians

Over the past few years, my wife and I have been watching the Sci-Fi Channel’s "Ghost Hunter" series. For us, watching the trials and adventures of TAPS (The Atlantic Paranormal Society) has been an entertaining and thought-provoking experience. I enjoy "Ghost Hunters" because they truly seem to be trying to be rational, yet open to every possibility. They don't go in trying to prove that a place is haunted. Rather, they try to see where they can explain, in material terms, the so-called paranormal activity. I respect the sober and cautious manner in which they approach their work. They recognize that there are risks involved with the use of Ouija boards, and seem to agree (generally) with a Biblical view of demons (Demonology FAQ's). This gives me the sense that they are not trying to hype or exploit the supernatural like so many other show does.

But where does that leave a Believer? Aren't we told that ghosts don't exist or that communication with such beings are strictly forbidden? Are we not repeatedly warned to avoid spiritualism in any form?

Let's start with what the Bible has to say. As highlighted by the folks over at Got Questions, there are several passages in Scripture that may shed some light on ghosts and haunting. Let me quickly retell their findings and add some of my own:

• In 1 Samuel 28:7-19, King Saul seeks a woman with a familiar spirit (demon) to inquire of Samuel about what to do. That she actually manages to communicate with the dead shocks her (v. 12) indicating to me that it did not previously happen.
• In Matthew 17:1-8 and Mark 9:4, Peter, James and John see Moses and Elijah with Jesus for a brief period of time. Dead people from the past can, at least on some occasions, be seen by the living.
• In Luke 16:19-31 Jesus tells the story of the rich man and Lazarus. In this story we learn of there being two compartments for the dead until the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11f.). Also in the story the rich man asks for Lazarus to be sent back to warn the living. Abraham says it would do not good because if they will not believe God's written word, they will not believe though one should rise from the dead.
• Luke 24: 36-43 tells about how the disciples reacted when Jesus greeted them after the Crucifixion. He surprised them by suddenly showing up, thinking He was a ghost. "He said to them, 'Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.' When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, 'Do you have anything here to eat?' They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence.
• 1 John 4 tells us that there are a variety of spirits, many of which are not to be trusted.
• Hebrews 12:1 tells us that there are many witnesses to our daily lives (this probably means angels of some kind, but it's not entirely clear to me what is being referred to here).
• Ephesians 6:12 indicates that there exists invisible, fleshless "powers" throughout the "heavenly realms".
• 1 Timothy 4 indicates that there are deceiving spirits and there are demons.
• God finds detestable the "practice of divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead." Deuteronomy 18:11-13.

As you can see, the Bible does not appear to be silent on the topic of ghosts. That said, I'm struggling to put together a coherent argument based on the Bible. But here's the general principles:

1. One or more non-physical dimensions exists which are overlapping of, adjacent to, or perhaps parallel to the physical world.
2. Various spiritual beings inhabit these dimensions (some seem to be good, others evil, and others still of unknown alignment).
3. Human spirits continue on after death and may be able to interact on some level with the living.
4. Because we can't necessarily tell what these beings want, we should avoid them, turning only to God for spiritual connections.

According to the Bible, the spirit of a Believer goes to heaven, while unbelievers go to Abraham’s Bosom, Sheol, Hades, Purgatory, or Hell (depending on your background and biblical interpretations). What and where exactly these places are, I am not sure. But it seems to me that According to one perspective, "Purgation involves purification of sins and these include worldly attachments. It is the souls with worldly attachments that manifest as ghosts on earth. Other souls also manifest in different ways mostly in dreams. Their purpose is the same i.e. to have prayer/masses said on their behalf." On this view, it seems likely that one form of purgatory might be an after-life existence fettered to a cherished place or thing in the physical world. Thus, it seems not unlikely that human spirits could remain unable to "move on" until they have completed some form of penance. Beyond that, I can not make any dogmatic statement concerning the fate of a lost soul (for I do not really know or understand what Hell is, beyond "a separation from God and an acute knowledge of that separation").

While I do not hold that there is a conflict between the belief in ghosts and basic Christianity, the Bible's admonition to avoid contact with spirits not of God seems sound and reasonable. If I accept that saved souls go to heaven, that leaves me with the likelihood that unsaved souls become ghosts (obviously, there are a few exceptions (Matthew 17:1-8, Mark 9:4, 16:19-31), but intentionally seeking out these spirits seems to be unwise at best, because we do not even begin to know what their motivations are.

Need we fear these spirits though? Absolutely not. We, disciples of Christ, have power over evil spirits (Matthew 10:1). We can, also, be comforted by the fact that our existence after we die will not be eternal one of moaning, chain-rattling undeath. Rather, our spirits will meet with Christ in heaven.