But more importantly, should we?
I started watching Surviving Death, a documentary series on Netflix about near-death experiences. After a few episodes, it featured psychic mediumship. Although I find near-death experiences fascinating, I’m less interested in watching stories about mediums.
Not that I don’t believe in mediums. A medium uses psychic abilities to communicate with the dead — otherwise known as necromancy. People have consulted mediums for thousands of years. I, myself, have entertained the thought of talking with my best friend who passed away years ago.
In the Bible, King Saul inquired of the Lord but when God did not answer him immediately he sought the counsel of a medium.
The Philistines assembled and came and set up camp at Shunem, while Saul gathered all Israel and set up camp at Gilboa. When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid; terror filled his heart. He inquired of the Lord, but the Lord did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets. Saul then said to his attendants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, so I may go and inquire of her.” (1 Samuel 28:4–7 NIV)
Some mediums are accused of being frauds and faking their connection with dead loved ones. However, I don’t doubt that they are talking with spirits. What I doubt, is the fact that these spirits are humans who have passed away.
According to the Bible, those who have died rest until Jesus resurrects them. Death is described as a sleep-like state, with no activity of the consciousness. The dead don’t live, think, or speak.
For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing. (Ecclesiastes 9:5 NIV)
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom. (Ecclesiastes 9:10 NIV)
It is not the dead who praise the Lord, those who go down to the place of silence. (Psalm 115:17 NIV)
God does not allow the dead to talk to the living, so mediums are likely communicating with spirits. But just because a spirit may tell the truth doesn’t mean it’s a good spirit. Any spirit not from God comes from Satan.
And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. (2 Corinthians 11:14 NIV)
Because the spirits who talk with mediums are satanic necromancy — and this is detestable to God.
Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. (Leviticus 19:31 NIV)
When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord. (Deuteronomy 18:9–12 NIV)
God doesn’t want us to seek mediums because He wants us to depend directly on Him. Mediums consult the dead, but we have Jesus — a living intermediary. Using mediums is a form of idolatry. When we seek mediums to consult the dead we are seeking other powers.
When someone tells you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? Consult God’s instruction and the testimony of warning. If anyone does not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn. (Isaiah 8:19–20 NIV)
Although we don’t live under the penalties of the Old Testament law it still shows us God’s character and desires. He doesn’t want us to open ourselves to demonic activity in our lives. He desires us to resist the devil and seek Him.
While the desire to talk to loved ones who’ve passed may offer a sense of comfort God Himself wants us to turn to Him in our grief and sorrow.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort. (2 Corinthians 1:3 NIV)
I look forward to the day when I will be able to reconnect with my friend in heaven. Until then I will seek my comfort in God.