The main story that seems to come up with Christians is the story of Saul. I’ve done my best to read and study his story. I would encourage everyone to do the same.
Note, before I read and study I always pray this: “God please lead me to understand what I should understand. And condemn me when I’m wrong so I know I need to change. But give me strength and knowledge when I am on the path you want for me.” This is important so that I will not be manipulated by my own ego or the world, which includes religious leaders. We must come open and humble if we want the truth. I believe with pure intentions, the Holy Sprit inside of us will guide us correctly. It will also light up and recognize even when our modern day scripture has been badly interpreted or manipulated.
Saul was consistently disobedient. For instance, he was told to utterly destroy all Amalekites; kill every man, woman, infant, ox, sheep, etc. But he didn’t. Now, you probably wouldn’t say: ‘It’s bad to NOT KILL’. In fact I’m sure most of us go through out the day not killing people and that’s a good thing! Which proves this story isn’t as black & white as some people act it is, using certain scriptures from it just to push their agenda is in fact manipulative.
The point of this story is, when God asks you to do something, you do it! No matter how crazy it may seem. You don’t question and come up with your own plan. But it also points out that just because someone in the Bible was told to do something crazy, doesn’t mean you are to do the same. Details matter and PERSONAL communication with the Holy Spirit is essential.
1 Chronicles 10:13-14 ‘So Saul died because he was unfaithful to the Lord. He failed to obey the Lord’s command, and he even consulted a medium instead of asking the Lord for guidance. So the Lord killed him and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse.’
Saul knew he was wrong to see a medium INSTEAD of going to God. He even dressed in a disguise, which again shows that God has always made a way for us to know if something is good or bad, but that’s for another discussion.
Once again Saul was unfaithful to God. He didn’t obey God’s commands. And INSTEAD of asking GOD for guidance, he went to a medium. In my opinion, the medium wasn’t the issue, just like not killing people is not the issue. IT’S NOT GOING TO GOD 1ST!!!
I deeply feel we should never seek anyone’s counsel OVER God’s! He is our authority! Holy Spirit tells me, if God is calling you to do something or not do something, but ANYONE else tells you different, that’s a problem! DON’T seek out answers from people 1st, but from God. I personally see us ALL do this every day. We call our friends before we pray. We google, go to doctors, or even religious leaders before we pray. Even the most faithful Christians will seek counsel and answers from a different source before God. What’s important is in this story is 2 things: Don’t seek council from anyone over God, period. And 2, He is our one and true authority. Saul’s story is also a story about when God wants you to do something, even kill, for example: Abraham and sacrificing his son… It’s not about what you are doing, it’s about what GOD has called you to do and are you faithful to HIM over all others.
In 1 Samuel 28, what pops out the most for me is how often the scripture is described as Saul asking the medium to ‘BRING UP’ Samuel. Meaning, this medium doesn’t just naturally see spirits or spirits are coming to her, but that she takes some kind of ‘action’ to get a spirit up. This is interesting to me because all the times something has happened to me, IT HAS HAPPENED TO ME! I haven’t asked for it. Or taken any action. In those times I ask: “In Jesus name, leave me if you are demonic!” As believers we know, Jesus’ name is powerful! If something is demonic, it will dissipate. Or God will guide me to leave or even send help. At least for me, this has been my experience. Maybe this is because of my pure intent and connection with our Creator and Savior. Maybe it’s because of my strong faith in the power of Jesus. And to be honest, this use of Jesus’ name is a practice all humans should do. But that discussion is for another time.
Spiritually Sensitive people will naturally see spirits because it is a gift from God. It is how He made them and are called to be. They do not need to take any kind of ‘action’ to get a spirit up. However they will often have to take action to shut them off for a break and set boundaries.
Spiritually Sensitive people who are Christians have a deep relationship with our Creator and Savior. They will do their best to make sure they honor Him by being humble, not taking credit and do their best to remove their ego and projections. I personally BEG God to help me honor Him no matter the sacrifice.
Spiritually Sensitive people are often very young when they begin to see or communicate with spirit. Fair question: Do we really think a toddler knows what actions to take to ‘bring up’ the dead? I would say no.
Other Spiritually Sensitive people will experience this gift after an event that brings an Spiritual Awakening. But note, most, if not all, Spiritually Sensitive people will often not want the gift because of all the judgment and fear mongering that comes with it from RELIGIOUS PEOPLE. Let’s keep in mind who killed Jesus.
I believe it’s important to note that the text says that Saul asked her to “Bring him up”… it DOESN’T say “SHE brought him up”. Judging by her reaction of screaming, she was shocked by it. In my opinion, this may be more proof that she may have not been a Spiritually Sensitive Person but a medium like the text claims. There is a difference.
Psalm 115:17 ‘The dead do not praise the Lord, nor do any who go down into silence.’
What if when the Bible speaks of the dead in some text that it’s of the people who do not have eternal life? I’m still unsure if specifically Samuel had eternal life at this point? (I can’t find that fact in the Bible.) And conjuring the dead, can only be people that do not have eternal life; spirits who are NOT at a sleep peaceful state with Jesus; these could be spirits who belong to the devil. Because those who HAVE eternal life ARE NOT DEAD.
What if you are a person who did not conjure the dead, but that the spirits with eternal life are coming to you?
What if they are guardian angels?
What if you try to ignore it, but God told you to use the gift He gave you?
What if the messages you pass along are aligned with following the teachings of Jesus and other Biblical stories/scripture?
I don’t believe my God given gift is demonic, but I do believe the devil is playing. Not in those who are close to God and following His calling, but in those that judge, cause division, use fear and ask others to hide or not use the gifts God has given them or be who God made them to be.
Let’s dive into Deut 18:9-13 ‘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 their 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; because of these same detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you. You must be blameless before the Lord your God.’
– One who uses divination (Heb. “qōsēm qĕsāmîm,” “a diviner of divinations”). The practice of divination is the attempt to MANIPULATE the environment through mystical and spiritual means to CONTROL the future. It is an attempt to GAIN DIVINE CONTROL over circumstances, essentially MAKING ONESELF GOD.
– One who practices witchcraft (Heb. “mĕ’ônēn”). This refers to the exercise of magical powers to ADVANCE ONESELF OVER OTHERS.
– One who interprets omens (Heb. “mĕnaḥeš”). This refers to the practice of interpreting divine signs of events using certain objects, gaining knowledge of the future, which would allow one to gain ADVANTAGE OVER OTHERS.
– A sorcerer (Heb. “mēkaššēp”). Sorcery is the practice whose adherents claim to have the power to perform magical incantations to CONTROL circumstances.
– One who casts a spell. The Hebrew literally reads “one who ties a knot” (Heb. “ḥōbēr ḥeber”), implying that casting a magical spell BINDS PEOPLE to that which is being said, such as a curse, thus effecting CONTROL OVER people.
– A medium (Heb. “šō’ēl ‘ôb,” “he who asks of a dead spirit”). This person was what is called a “necromancer,” one who communicates with the dead in order to obtain secret information, and GAIN PERSONAL benefits.
– A spiritist (Heb. “yiddě’ōnî),” “a knowing of a spirit”). This is similar to the medium with an emphasis on the knowledge of how to perform the magical arts. Again, the goal would be to GAIN ADVANTAGES over others.
– One who calls up the dead (Heb. “šō’ēl ‘ôb”). This could be a general term for necromancers, including mediums and spiritists just mentioned.
-The Israelites were prohibited from performing any of these pagan practices because whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD.
Each of these practices had the intent to manipulate, control, harm and have unfair advantages over others. So if you’re intent is to do any of these things in any manner, you are engaging in divination. You’re acting with a God-complex. You’re acting with evil intent.
God’s desire for the earth to be filled with love and mutual service. To love and worship one God- Only Him! God gave freedom to humans to make choices—without choices there can be no real love. God desires the best for humans, and their best comes when they love and serve one another and HIM. These selfish pagan practices with evil intent lead people to live in ways that are evil. We still see these evil intentions in business, charities, churches, communities, friendships and families. May this be a reminder to us all.
This is one of the reasons I feel strongly about not taking any payment for my God given gift. I feel strongly money can quickly taint things so very quickly. It’s also why having good intentions is so important in all you do! That our intentions should come from a deep desire to help others for no personal benefit.
But can we also put Deuteronomy in some context?! These rules were all put into place for a specific time and people. I don’t know ANYONE who follows the old ways! Just the diet and clothing requirements are close to impossible in our culture today.
So let’s move on to the New Testament, because really, that’s what we should be focusing on as Christians. Jesus is our game changer!
Galatians 5 teaches, Christ has set believers free from the bondage of fleshly habits and desires. Verses 19–21 lists many fleshly practices, which include sorcery / witchcraft.
Some feel the Greek word behind sorcery is “pharmakeia,” from which we have the English word “pharmacy.” Through the use of mind-altering potions and medicines ancient sorcerers induced themselves and others into altered states of consciousness, in which they claimed to communicate with spirits to gain special knowledge. This would prove that sorcery is NOT the same thing as seeing spirits. Sorcery AGAIN shows you must have ‘action’, in this case, mind-altering potions or medicines to alter your state of consciousness to communicate with the dead. That is not something I practice! Actually, this is a good reminder of why I have chosen to not take several of the medicines that are mind-altering that the US medical field want me on because of my intense daily pain. I have instead made sure GOD is my ultimate authority and physician, allowing HIM to lead me. This has significantly improved my overall health!
If one believes in this interpretation, it’s only logical they should feel just as passionate to tell others to not take mind-altering drugs (legal or not) equally to condemning them for seeing spirits. But I doubt these judgments are equally distributed, and therefore making the person hypocritical and invalid.
The better idea is to encourage individuals to have a strong relationship with God and ask Him to lead for guidance, AND THEN HAVE FAITH IN THE HOLY SPIRIT! There is nothing wrong with gathering information. Often times the Holy Spirit will lead us to different helpers. But ultimately, we must always allow God to be our one and true authority.
Another opinion is, the Greek word pharmakeia used in Galatians 5 is fairly general and may define it as: “witchcraft, magic, the use of spells and potions of magic, often involving drugs–a magic spell.” It is a fact that witchcraft and magic in the Greek world often involved the use of drugs. Meaning, if one were to use and administer drugs for the sole purpose of creating a mind-altered state, then maybe one could be judged to have violated the command not to be involved in pharmakiea.
But before we begin to judge, let’s first look at the log in our own eyes… Have you ever taken anything or done anything to solely alter your mind? Have you ever given and done anything to someone else to solely alter their mind? Then let’s see who should cast the 1st stone when it comes to this topic.
I personally have taken antidepressants and anti anxiety prescriptions. I have also gotten high and drunk in my younger years for the sole purpose to create mind-altering experiences. It was most likely the minimal amount of times compared to the average, but nonetheless I did do it. I was also a bartender so I have also administered. As I get older and mature I realize how much I don’t want to be apart of that because I want my mind, body and spirit to be clean and clear. And the more I become authentically me, following the calling God has for my life, I dramatically see the depression and anxiety dissipate. But in no way do I think I am practicing magic, witchcraft, spells or potions.
According to some commentary, The New Testament, repeatedly ties the word “pharmakeia” and its different forms to the seduction and deception that Satan and his demons work upon people to lure them away from God. If my gift is encouraging myself and others to be closer to God, we are obviously talking about 2 different things.
Also in some commentary it claims Paul (Saul) wanted nothing whatsoever to do with sorcery because of his personal experience. He felt it opened him up to deception that would lead him away from Christ and ultimately to eternal hell. Which again, brings me to all my earlier points. I am NOT engaging in sorcery which I think I have made clear in detail no matter which interpretation you choose.
But let’s talk about real world concepts….
Catholicism is just one of the religions that teaches praying to passed people: saints. I do not believe all Catholics are devil worshipers or warped by demons. I personally don’t do this practice. I believe I don’t need anyone or anything to speak to God whenever or however I want. But, I do believe God has used the saints just like angels to do His work and seeing them or speaking to them is not demonic. I also believe these spirits are not dead, but alive.
I also talk to my Grandma periodically. Especially the 1st year after her passing. But now mostly when things occur that remind me of her. She died a terrible death and had a difficult life. She was one of the significant people of my life. I don’t find this very uncommon with people who have lost a loved one. If you feel anyone who speaks to spirits are demonic, you have to put this in that category. Same with MANY people when they go into their older age. My husband’s Grandma use to talk about her passed husband like he was in the room. I doubt she is acting demonically, but according to that black and white judgement many Christians have, they would too have to claim they are demonic in their practices. That they have somehow brought up the dead.
What also came to mind is the movie October Baby, a Christian-themed drama. It is the story of a woman named Hannah, who learns as a young adult that she survived a failed abortion attempt. She then embarks upon a road trip to understand the circumstances of her birth. October Baby was inspired by a YouTube video chronicling the life experiences of abortion survivor Gianna Jessen. She locates the nurse, who assisted in the abortion, and they have an emotional encounter while the nurse describes the circumstances behind not only her birth, but that of her twin brother, whom she knew nothing about. Hannah’s adoptive parents go through their own pain and suffering, deciding to tell her the details of her brother, who died months later. Her physical collapse makes it clear that her past still haunts her. And not just physically. “I feel dead inside,” she confesses in her journal. “I have so many unanswered questions. … Something is missing. Why, God, do I feel unwanted? Why do I feel I have no right to exist?” She specifically feels and knows someone is missing from her. She has visions and dreams of her brother who is clearly passed. Is she too demonic? I think she is going through something that most can not possibly relate to.
I had a brother that died in miscarriage. He would have been my only full blooded sibling. He would have been less then a year older then me. I started speaking to him since I was able to speak. I knew him as Brad. But I kept my relationship quiet because at one point I was made fun of at daycare for having an imaginary friend. My mom and dad never talked about him because of how painful the experience was. So I didn’t get any ‘ideas’ from them growing up. I didn’t know or ask questions about him until I was older. That’s when I found out he existed and his name was Bradley. My mother said she would see him periodically, but after she gave birth to me, she stopped seeing him. We both had the exact description of him right down to his clothes. I don’t see him much any more after giving birth to my miracle child, Hayden. I think it’s because I don’t need him as much, but also because he is now a guardian angle for Hayden. I was never encouraged to see spirits (more discouraged) and I have never encourage it for Hayden. However, Hayden has also seen Bradley who he refers to as ‘Uncle’. He too describes him exactly the same. It is no coincidence we all have similar experiences and descriptions without ever conversing with each other about him.
As I learn more about Angels from the Bible, I am understanding more how Bradley is a gift from God. But my personal Angelic experiences and knowledge are for a different time.
What I can tell you is this isn’t bad or demonic. It isn’t something I’ve ever looked for or asked for. When I was getting abused, 2 things would happen. Either Angles or God would come to comfort me and help me survive. If you have never been abused, I don’t expect you to get it. But you can’t expect me to change the truth of what happened to me. That would be gaslighting and abusive. It would be the denial of God’s power and miracle.
Just because someone else’s opinion/interpretation of the Bible is different than mine, doesn’t mean I am less or wrong. It also doesn’t mean they are more or right. The Bible is the LIVING WORD. It is supposed to be received differently depending on the person and the season they are currently in. But this can only occur when someone has a close PERSONAL relationship with God, which I have.
I don’t expect anyone to do anything different in their life. I have faith that God does a great job of that if they’re willing to listen. I do pray others would consider not going down the rabbit hole of judging everyone else. When we do that, we all should expect hell and have no hope, because we are all so very far from perfection.
Ultimately we know Galatians 5:14-15 stops us from even going there… ‘The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.’ Again, I see the devil at play in most of these theology conversations that forget this basic command.
In conclusion, INTENT IS EVERYTHING! Anything can become evil if the intent is to use it for evil. Anything can become an idol if you worship it over God. Before pointing fingers, maybe there is something you need to self reflect…. What do you use for evil? What do you put before God? Is your intent pure and holy?
If you are someone who is Spiritually Sensitive, I hope this helps. You are so very loved by me and our Creator!
The Healing Haren 