What is popularly known as ghost hunting and real exorcism, involves the investigation and attempt to prove the reality of paranormal phenomena. Often, the various electronic devices such as cameras are employed in the operation of ghost hunting who come from all walks of life and religious adherence, including Christianity.
Christians certainly have not been immune to experiencing paranormal phenomena in their lives. However, Christians claim that the guide book on righteous living is the Holy Bible in which is found the answers to the seemingly inexplicable. Nevertheless, in the quest to understand paranormal phenomena, often the believers cannot be distinguished from the unbelievers as both groups are found seeking answers in the same ways and sources--ghost hunting and real exorcism.
All spirit beings, are either good or evil. They are angels in the kingdom of God, the holy angels, or in the kingdom of Satan, the fallen angels that rebelled against God, including Satan himself, also known as the Serpent, the Dragon, and Beelzebub (King James Bible, Revelation. 12.7-9, 2 Peter. 2.4, Luke 15.10, Matthew. 12.24). Man also has a spiritual body that is either under the influence of evil or good (1 Thessalonians 5.23). It is no wonder that people experience paranormal phenomena and seek help through ghost hunting and real exorcism.
In summary, there's no neutral or middle ground when it comes to paranormal phenomena. There are no grey or fuzzy areas when it comes to ghost hunting and exorcism. The Bible, from cover to cover, always compares and contrasts only two sides. A person is either with Jesus or he is against him (Matthew 12.30). He drinks from the cup of the Lord or the cup of devils and partakes of the table of either the Lord or the table of devils (1 Corinthians 10.21). His name is written in the book of life or it is not written (Revelation 20.15). Every spirit in existence is either holy, serving Christ, or unholy, being against Christ (1 John 4.1-3). This is the first truth to grasp when seeking understanding of paranormal phenomena, ghost hunting, and exorcism.
This truth gives rise to the question of whether the spirits that ghost hunters and those who believe in exorcism investigate are good or evil? Among some of the things they are said to be are visiting spirits of the deceased and poltergeists. Our article, Spirits of the Deceased, (coming soon) simply and thoroughly explains the great and terrible deception behind contact with the dead, a question the Bible puts to rest. Concerning the other spirits, it can be said assuredly that they are all evil based on what is consistently seen in biblical scripture regarding ghost hunting, paranormal phenomena, and exorcism.
Haunted and enchanted buildings and places are the residences of spirits that frequent them in various ways and forms. They may appear to be a deceased person who is seen and/or heard, usually in a certain location of the building or at a regular and specific time. Sometimes these beings claim to hold valuable information or to have messages for the living and those in the "natural" realm. In order to get their messages, cooperation with them is required. This may be anything from the use of a Ouija board, to the performance of a seance, to the employment of a psychic medium through which the spirit will speak.
Nowhere in scripture can the holy angels of God ever be found haunting any place, thing or geographic area for no apparent reason, causing fear and confusion. They do not cause this type of paranormal phenomena. They are never seen being summoned by the will of man; in other words, they are not chased by ghost hunters. There's never any mention of them emitting an odor of sulfur, as is reported being the case found by ghost hunters and those who practice exorcism. Although they are seen appearing in the form of man (Hebrews 13.2), it's clearly stated that that is the case. They are never seen possessing or even temporarily using a man's body as a medium in any way. On the contrary, they never fail to make themselves visible whether in angelic or mortal form whenever they are dispatched to deal directly with a man. They are never seen just showing up to make things move or happen without reason and shrouded in mystery. Even the holy angel in the scripture of St John 5.3-4 that troubled the water, acted with a clear purpose which was for the healing of the first person to step into the pool after its troubling. No one is seen being afraid of the angel, attempting to talk to him, summon him, worship him, or see or hear him. The servants of God in biblical scripture never had to participate in ghost hunting to obtain a message from a holy angel. The angel always spoke clearly in the deliverance of his message. He made known his purpose for appearing, and usually never showed up again. If he gave any instructions, they were clearly understood by the recipient. His messages were always in agreement with God's word, and in some way, glorified the Lord. God's angels are seen announcing the deliverance of Israel, God's people, announcing the birth of the Christ, God's Son, and rescuing the righteous, God's servants. Otherwise, their work remained and still remains invisible and inaudible to man. These truths are in sharp contrast to the paranormal phenomena that exists because of the activity of unholy spiritual beings, also known as demons and devils.
Should the scriptural examples be the basis for doctrine concerning paranormal phenomena, ghost hunting, and exorcism? Yes, because in the scripture of II Timothy 3.16, the apostle Paul taught the Christian that, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness."
Scripture speaks against the actual activities of ghost hunting and exorcism even more forcefully through direct commandments and prohibitions. Among these activities is the attempt to capture proof of the existence of spirits through technology. Again, these spirits have been established as evil beings. Such proof includes the taking of photographs of spirits. It's interesting to learn that the Bible identifies all idol gods as being devils and therefore evil spirits (1 Corinthians 10.19-20). What have idols to do with the evil spirits that ghost hunters investigate? Everything, as it's seen in scripture that God commanded the absolute destruction of any and all images and pictures of any kind of evil being (Exodus 23.24, Leviticus 26.30, Numbers 33.52, Deuteronomy 7.5, 2 Kings 23.24, Jeremiah 8.19).
It might be said there's no wrong in attempting to photograph the spirits during ghost hunting as long as they're only for the purpose of proving paranormal phenomena without the "use" of religion. However, there's always a "reason" to overstep what God has said. These commands were given to the children of Israel, God's people, of whom Christians are, as they moved into the land of Canaan where pagans had lived and set up images of evil beings. Israel could have easily reasoned that there was no need to destroy the images since it meant the destruction of artifacts which were monetarily and culturally valuable. Instead, they did as they were told and broke, cut, smashed to pieces and burned the images and pictures of devils and "ghosts" as God had said. They did not do ghost hunting and they never performed an exorcism. Whenever they did not obey this commandment of the Lord, they could not escape the influence of evil which remained because of their disobedience. They could not escape evil paranormal phenomena.
Those who practice ghost hunting and exorcism also desire and attempt to record the voices and sounds of evil beings. Again, it's interesting to see how Jesus prohibited evil spirits from speaking out. He did not want their voices heard, no matter what their message was. What is more is that it's seen that Jesus' followers did likewise, and forbade evil spirits to speak. How will a Christian persist to do the opposite of the author of Christianity, Christ himself? In the scripture of St. Luke 4.33-35, it's recorded that, "...There was a man which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice, saying, Let us alone. What have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? ...And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace (be silent)....
The same truth may be read in St. Mark 1.23-25.
It should be remembered that holy angelic beings in service to God have the express purpose of ministering to those who are saved from their sins through their obedience to Christ. In the first chapter of the book of Hebrews, Paul gives instruction specifically on the holy angels of God. Verse 14 is where he writes, "Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of The word of God says these holy angels are sent forth, not summoned. They have a declared purpose which is to serve them that serve Christ. There is no ghost, spook, thing that goes bump in the night, poltergeist, demon, devil, or so-called "departed" spirit that ministers to the people of God in the Bible. Why would God have them to suddenly start being involved in paranormal phenomena?salvation?"
The word of God says these holy angels are sent forth, not summoned. They have a declared purpose which is to serve them that serve Christ. There is no ghost, spook, thing that goes bump in the night, poltergeist, demon, devil, or so-called "departed" spirit that ministers to the people of God in the Bible. Why would God have them to suddenly start being involved in paranormal phenomena?
Ghost hunting almost always leads to the anti-biblical practice of exorcism which is nothing but witchcraft. Will a man disobey God in pursuing ghost hunting and yet use God's power in exorcism? "Exorcism" is very simple to explain according to God's word which reveals his method. Jesus, being God himself, expelled demons and put them to flight by his word alone. His followers, having no power of themselves, cast devils out by the power that's in his name. However, it must be noted and understood that exorcism can and does take place in the name of false Christs. Jesus warned saying, "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name, and in thy name have cast out devils, and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work iniquity (wickedness) (St. Matthew 7.22-23). This is the terrible deception to which one exposes himself if he practices ghost hunting and exorcism.
Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits, the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but, who are ye? And the man in whom the evil spirit was, leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus, and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified (The Acts 19.13-17). All who continue to practice ghost hunting and exorcism in response to paranormal phenomena willfully sin against God.
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