What Does The Bible Say About Ghosts?

What does God’s word have to say about ghosts? Could they be the souls of the dead walking around? Shadows or echos of the past? Is there any Biblical evidence that ghosts are real? Well, these are tough questions, but I’ll try my best to show what the Bible tells us about what happens to us after we die and about the spiritual entities walking the earth.

Let’s start with a quick concordance search on the word ghost, just to see if the term even shows up.

Jesus was mistaken for a ghost when he walked across the water:

“When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭14:26‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

The Holy Spirit is sometimes referred to as the Holy Ghost in some translations.

And finally a medium at Endor brought back Samuel’s spirit from the dead (although from the text it sounds like she was just as surprised by it herself so maybe she was a charlatan and not expecting it to work):

“Then the woman said, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” And he said, “Bring up Samuel for me.” When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice; and the woman spoke to Saul, saying, “Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul.” The king said to her, “Do not be afraid; but what do you see?” And the woman said to Saul, “I see a divine being coming up out of the earth.” He said to her, “What is his form?” And she said, “An old man is coming up, and he is wrapped with a robe.” And Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and did homage.”
‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭28:11-15‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

The Bible doesn’t really talk about ghosts much. The situation with Samuel is rather unique, and even back then practicing what was considered witchcraft was against the law. The medium at Endor actually accuses Saul of entrapment at first. Saul was also in serious trouble for dabbling in witchcraft.

Where does that leave us? Well, let’s turn our investigation into what the Bible says about what happens to us when we die.

“And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment,”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭9:27‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

The Bible says that directly after we die we are judged. Jesus tells a parable about a rich man and a poor man who both die:

““Now there was a rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, joyously living in splendor every day. And a poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores, and longing to be fed with the crumbs which were falling from the rich man’s table; besides, even the dogs were coming and licking his sores. Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom; and the rich man also died and was buried. In Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and *saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried out and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭16:19-25‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

In Jesus’ parable both the rich man and the poor man die and are immediately placed in their separate “holding cells” after death. I can get into what these locations are in a different study, since it is rather complicated and will lead us into a tangent and away from our goal at hand.

Back to what happens when we die:

“then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.”
‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭12:7‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

“Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt.”
‭‭Daniel‬ ‭12:2‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5:10‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

“Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine. The soul who sins will die.”
‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭18:4‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

“For the living know they will die; but the dead do not know anything, nor have they any longer a reward, for their memory is forgotten. Indeed their love, their hate and their zeal have already perished, and they will no longer have a share in all that is done under the sun.”
‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭9:5-6‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

I could go on and on, verses about death are rather endless, the last two verses I think really drive home the idea that souls are not left on earth after they die. God takes back the soul of the person who passed and that person then faces judgement.

But so many people have witnessed ghosts and supernatural activities, what could that be?

Well, there are many theories, only one of which I believe. First, I’ll explain why they are not angels as someone I know suggested.

What do we know about angels?

For starters, there are many instances in the Bible were angels looked like regular humans and people were surprised to learn the strangers they helped were actually angels. In fact we are told:

“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭13:2‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

God sends guardian angels to protect His people:

“For He will give His angels charge concerning you, To guard you in all your ways.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭91:11‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

“The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, And rescues them.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭34:7‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

“Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭1:14‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

We know angels not disguised as humans are actually frightening, but in every case shown in the Bible they say “do not be afraid”.

“The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭1:30‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

“But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people;”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭2:10‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

“For this very night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood before me, saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has granted you all those who are sailing with you.’”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭27:23-24‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

We are also told that we aren’t suppose to trust any supernatural being that claims to be from God because even Satan is an angel of light:

“No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭11:14-15‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭4:1‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

If ghosts aren’t dead souls, or angels, what are they? Well, what other malevolent beings happen to walk the earth? Ghosts scare and disturb. The belief that ghosts exist suggest an alternative afterlife to what is preached in the Bible. What supernatural beings would want to scare you and lead you away from God?

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6:12‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

“Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”
‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭5:8‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

“You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭10:21‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

“You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.”
‭‭James‬ ‭2:19‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

“And He healed many who were ill with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He was not permitting the demons to speak, because they knew who He was.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭1:34‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

“Those who had seen it reported to them how the man who was demon-possessed had been made well.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭8:36‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

“And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2:1-2‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

We are warned constantly that Satan and HIS angels are roaming around here on earth. The Bible calls Satan the prince and the power of the air. When Christ was tempted in the desert Satan offered Him the kingdoms of the world. Such an offer couldn’t be made if they didn’t belong to Satan.

The Bible says our fight is not against flesh and blood, and I think a part of that includes the manifestation of ghosts. Ghosts are not from God. If they are not from God there is only one other supernatural force they could be from.

Praise be to God who has already one the war against evil, and because of Whom we have nothing to fear.

“But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;”
‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭3:14-15‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

Being a Better Homebody

In Chinese family, or at least a simple way of saying family for beginner learners, is 家人 (jiaren). As a new Chinese learner I loved learning this word because it’s a mix of the word home 家 and people 人. Later I was told Chinese doesn’t work this way and you can’t always separate the characters like this expecting a deeper meaning, but I still like the idea of your family being your home people.

I bring this up because I realized that I make this distinction between those in my home (or metaphorical home) and those outside of my home. Those outside of my home get the overly polite me who is trying to avoid confrontation, or who tries her best to have civilized polite debates.

Those in my home get the real me… and the real me can be pretty blunt and harsh.

C’s Bible study had us memorizing Proverbs 15:1, a gentle answer turns away wrath. I immediately started applying it in my head to debates on social media or when talking with customer service reps etc. It took a lot longer for me to realize it applies to my people at home too.

I have every excuse in the book for being unpleasant at home. I’m exhausted, I’m lonely, I just need a place where I can be myself etc, but really they are just excuses not to try and be better. Yes, family are the people you can be yourself around, but do you really want yourself to be a blunt, rude, downright harsh individual?

The Bible tells us, “Kind words are like honey— sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.”

Proverbs 16:24 NLT

Kind words are good for the soul! They don’t just turn away wrath, they are good for the body. We are told that as a new creation we should clothe ourselves in kindness:

“Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.”

Colossians 3:12

We are told to live a life that shows others what we believe:

“So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do. Then the name of our Lord Jesus will be honored because of the way you live, and you will be honored along with him. This is all made possible because of the grace of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ.”

2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 NLT

I always thought about this is an outside of my home command, but all that changes with a kid. I now have someone in my home who I want to lead to Christ. Someone who is watching me all the time and who mimics my behaviors. Suddenly I’ve realized that I don’t want who I am to change around family in the sense that I feel I can set aside kindness. When I type kindness into the search engine of my Bible app I find that it’s often used to describe Jesus. Isn’t that who I’m supposed to try and imitate?

I’m teaching C that a gentle word turns away wrath. In order for him to really learn this I have to practice this at home as much as I try to practice it with strangers.

 

 

The Beauty of Aging

Do you love beautiful, old, abandoned buildings? I know I do. Elegant old architecture made almost more beautiful covered by overgrowth, a tree growing through the middle. There is a haunting beauty in crumbling places.

God has made everything beautiful for its own time.

My mom and I were talking recently about the art of aging gracefully. This seems to have gone completely out of style. Aging, that is. Everyone is so obsessed with youth it seems that aging, even if it’s graceful, has to be hidden at all costs.

The Bible says, “Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained by living a godly life.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭16:31‬ ‭NLT‬‬

A crown of glory! Gray hair! There is an entire industry set up around hiding that crown of glory, among other signs of aging.

When Ecclesiastes says that God makes everything beautiful for its time, couldn’t that mean us too? Isn’t there a beauty in 40 that wasn’t there at 20? What about 60 or 70? There is a beauty to smile lines, evidence of a life of laughter and smiling. There is a beauty to hands that have worked so hard to care for a family, worked to support their loved ones. There is a beauty to that crown of gray hair gained by living a godly life. It’s not the same beauty that comes with youth, but that’s kind of the point isn’t it? That each year has its own beauty in and of itself.

God has hidden eternity in our hearts. We can watch our reflections change to see time passing, and maybe that desire to stay young is really that hidden knowledge that while the body ages it hides eternal souls inside. Maybe what you see doesn’t reflect how you feel, and that’s okay because if you believe the Bible then you know there is so much more to life than what we are living down here.

While the world rallies around youth, I think it’s important to remember that there is value, wisdom, and yes beauty, in age as well.

 

 

Sharpening My Aim

How is a child like an arrow?

Sounds like a riddle from Alice’s Mad Hatter. If you had asked me a few weeks ago I probably wouldn’t have had an answer. How can a child be like an arrow? The thing about arrows, if you want them to hit the mark you have to aim them true.

It’s the same with children.

If you want your child to hit the mark, if you want that little baby to grow up into a strong Christian who loves the Lord and shines His mercy and love to the world, you have to aim that child true.

Kind of makes this whole parent gig extremely weighty. It’s up to you to aim your child towards God, hope, and salvation.

This really isn’t a popular path either.

This is a path that’s filled with trials, ridicule, scorn, and rejection. Christianity may still be the majority when it comes to religious representation, but that’s not taking into account the abundance of denominations and their theological differences. It doesn’t take into account the churches that have fallen away from the Bible and are teaching messages itchy ears want to hear instead of the truth. When you start weeding away all that’s represented by the majority you discover that following God’s Word as the only authority becomes quite the little minority.

It’s a small target to aim for, over the long distance of time.

This verse came up in two different studies, which really highlighted its importance for me. That, and I’ve been thinking about Isaiah 55:6, “Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near.”

‭‭

Seek the Lord while you can find Him.

This verse implies there will come a time when you won’t be able to find the Lord. When it’s too late and He’s no longer near. It really highlights the importance that we can’t wait until we aren’t so busy. We can’t put off seeking God when it fits into our schedule, and we can’t put off teaching our children about God until we think they are ready.

It’s not easy, aiming an arrow true. Thankfully God promises to give me strength and wisdom when I ask.

I finished both Bible studies! Momstrong this morning and the sample of Grit&Grace this evening. I’ll be starting something new tomorrow! Spending time in God’s word has really helped a lot. I have a lot more learning and growing to do, but I’m excited for it.

 

 

Why I Turn to Scripture

It seems that everything is relative these days. Everyone is “living their truth” and everything, from literature to your own actions, is open to interpretation by everyone.

However, the Bible is pretty clear that its meaning is not open to individual interpretation. The Bible makes some pretty lofty claims, which you either have to accept completely or not; there is no halfway with the Bible.

I’m not saying this to be confrontational. There is a sense of security in knowing there is something in this world that doesn’t change. Something that is solid and immovable.

The psalms say “The grass withers and the flowers fade but the Word is the Lord stands forever.”

There is a hymn that goes “On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.” I sang this often as a child but didn’t really appreciate the idea of God and His word being a solid rock until recently. Change can be exciting and good, but when it comes at you quickly and everything feels like it’s changing at once, you feel a little unstable, sinking into stress and anxiety.

Having a baby definitely did that to me. My whole world changed and nothing, including my own body, was the same. You never really think about how adding another person into your family changes everything, including your relationship. Then we moved!

My world was feeling extremely unstable. That was when I finally decided to seek God. The Bible is right, as it always is, that when I am weak I finally allow God to work in my life.

In a world where everyone claims life to be shades of gray, the Bible stands firm. There is right and wrong and it is not open for interpretation. There is one God and it’s not open for interpretation. Jesus said “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but through Me.” The Bible also says, “So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.” Hebrews‬ ‭6:18-19‬ ‭‭

It is incredibly assuring to know that we have an unchanging hope that can anchor our souls and a refuge in an all powerful unchanging God. This is why I turn to scripture when my world feels like it’s unstable. God’s promises are unchanging.

 

 

As Iron Sharpens Iron…

… so a good friend sharpens a friend (Proverbs 27:17).

Would you believe I am painfully shy? If you know me in person I know this seems extremely doubtful, but it’s true.

Throughout most of my childhood I could barely stand interacting with cashiers much less approach anyone to become friends. When I was 16 I went to my first real away from home camp. There the owner of the camp brought all new campers to the highest point on the island and told us that we had the rare opportunity to reinvent ourselves that week. No one there knew who we were yet. There was no history, no labels, we could attempt to be the people we admired and no one would know the difference.

That week I worked extremely hard to be warm and friendly and outgoing.

It helped a lot, and it was something I kept up when I got back to “real life”. I got my first job, and eventually got into college, and the roller coaster of growing up kept throwing me into situations where people were always present so I could continue to practice this skill of being outgoing.

Then I finished grad school for the second time and was unemployed for a year. The shyness started creeping back in. I got my teaching job in Louisiana and met some of the best people which brought me out of my shell, until we moved.

It’s been two years of working at home and living in cities far away from family and friends and that shyness is definitely looming. I know I need friends. Physical, close by, in person people I can talk to and call up for help and confide in. I need this! It’s just SO hard to shake off the apprehension of going out into new situations to meet these potential new friends. When you were the kid who couldn’t look cashiers in the eye while paying for your candy bar, venturing out to a mommy and me gym and striking up conversations feels like an impossible task. Trying out new churches when your husband works nights and won’t be with you suddenly makes the term “shrinking violet” make so much more sense. I swear I can feel my body collapsing in on itself as I try to make myself smaller and smaller so I can sneak away.

Fighting this battle at 16 seemed hard, but at 37 it feels impossible!

This is where I have to take a deep breath and remember I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. He tells me pretty clearly that I need friends. God isn’t going to give me a command without standing by me and giving me the strength to follow it out.

Deep breath, another sip of coffee. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.