[First posted June 23,2012, this is the last of our series proving through the Hebrew Scriptures that the devil, evil spirits and ghosts do not exist and are human creative inventions, part of myth and legend:
- Ask the Rabbi: Saul and the Spirit Medium – 3
- Ask the Rabbi – Saul and the Spirit Medium – 2
- Ask the Rabbi: 1 Samuel 28:1-25/Saul and the Spirit Medium —Admin1.]
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When we were still evangelical christians, we learned that the dead could not come back as “spirits.” We were taught to attribute ghost-visitations [that people swear they have experienced] to demons who could disguise themselves in the form of the dearly departed. Appearing as ‘familial spirits’ demons are not frightful and people tend to be less fearful and therefore easily fooled; thus, demons are able to gain entry into the deluded person’s life. We categorized these demons as “deceiving spirits” according to Christian teaching on the hierarchy of fallen angels.
Why did we believe in the existence of Satan and demonic beings? Because they were so prominent in the New Testament. So we merely passed on what we learned. If God is the author of the New Testament who are we to question the existence of fallen angels who challenge the Son of God all through his ministry on earth?
The demonic intrusion in people’s lives and how to address it is actually a specialized ministry in Christianity. There are ‘experts’ who study such “phenomenon” and record their findings. They write books, produce videos, hold conferences, appear in talk shows, give tips on how to combat levels of demonic influence, from oppression to possession.
Christians are warned against buying innocent-looking souvenirs [Buddha statues, Indonesian puppets and masks that look demonic] because they have pagan origins. Cabbage dolls are said to be made by people who attach demonic spirits to each doll. Catholic statues/idols that have been venerated have similar demons. Parents are warned against allowing their kids to celebrate Halloween, read Harry Potter books; mess with ouija boards or spirit of the glass; listen to the music of heavy metal rock bands like KISS [knights in satan’s service], black sabbath, etc. The same people who think fengshui devotees are deluded do not think the same way about their own superstitious beliefs because it is supported and in fact promoted by the New Testament scriptures.
Dr. Neil Anderson of Bondage Breaker fame has book after book and conduct conference after conference, teaching people how to combat the forces of darkness, real demons as well as “inner demons” [addictions, unforgiveness]; here are two sample advertisements for his books:
- “Victory Over the Darkness emphasizes the importance of believing and internalizing the cardinal truths of Scripture as a base from which to renew the mind and fend off Satan’s relentless attempt to convince us that we are less than Christ empowers us to be.”
- “Satan knows he can block your effectiveness as a Christian if he can deceive you into believing you are nothing but a product of your past, subject to sin, prone to failure, controlled by your habits. Winning Spiritual Warfare provides a practical, step-by-step guide to overcoming the strategies of the devil. In clear, easy-to-understand terms, author Neil Anderson shows you what you can do to experience the full victory and freedom that Christ purchased for you on the cross.”
TV evangelists, preachers and teachers relate stories similar to this: a mother who had been informed that her soldier-son had died in Iraq heard a knock on the door, it turned out to be her son in uniform; having been taught about demonic spirits in disguise, she mouthed the “formula” —- ” begone In Jesus’ mighty Name!” and if that didn’t work, she was to say “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus” repeatedly.
Another story went like this: A newly-widowed grandma was fixing dinner, when she placed the food on the table, she saw her dead husband sitting at his regular place so she said “I know you are not my dead husband, you are a demonic spirit, in the name of Jesus, get away from this house . . . .”
A daytime talk show host invited people who perform exorcisms and asked them specific questions about how they go about doing it. Skeptical from beginning to end, he ended with this question: “If you have already exorcised a person, why do you have to keep repeating it, doesn’t the first time work?”
What do we make of such stories? What do we make of the gospels where Jesus is portrayed as interacting with Satan and demonic spirits? Who would not be frightened if the Son of God Himself appears defeated as a man during his earthly ministry?
Should we wonder why Paul in his epistle to the Ephesians talks about the spiritual armor for Christian warfare because he says man’s 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. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you may be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
If the New Testament is Truth, then Paul’s admonition makes sense in a world dominated by Satan and demons.
Talk about bondage breaking, here’s a gospel truth placed in the mouth of Jesus of John 8:32:
“You shall know the truth
and the truth shall set you free.”
We have discovered the truth in the Hebrew Scriptures and that truth has set us free from one among many false beliefs:
- that God created angelic beings
- who could sin and rebel against Him,
- whose evil powers almost equal His,
- who are allowed by God to oppress mankind.
There is only one being created in the image of God and endowed with free will according to the Hebrew Scriptures, and that is man.
How do we now resolve the one incident in the TNK about Saul, the necromancer, and the dead Samuel’s spirit? To add to the Rabbis explanations in “Ask the Rabbi,” here is our conclusion: Saul violated a Torah prohibition in his desire to hear from God about his fate; God indulges him and he probably regretted knowing the bad news.
Just like Saul, people who continue to choose their way instead of God’s way, continue believing in scriptures that contradict foundational teaching in the TNK, God will probably release them to go the way they consistently choose to go. Recall the Pharaoh who repeatedly hardened his heart, refusing to believe the messages delivered by Moses:
Who is YHWH that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know YHWH and besides, I will not let Israel go.
He reaches the point of no return: God hardens Pharaoh’s heart.
If people insist on going against God’s clear instructions, they might just get their way but at the cost of the consequences of disobedience which could take many forms . . . including experiencing the occult promoted by the New Testament scriptures to which they would rather subscribe than adjust their belief system to YHWH’s original revelation in the TNK.
Bind up the TESTIMONY, seal the TORAH among my disciples . . .
And when they say to you seek those who are mediums and wizards, who whisper and mutter, should not a people consult their God? Should they seek the dead on behalf of the living? To the TORAH and to the TESTIMONY!
If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. . . they will pass through the land, greatly distressed and hungry; and when they are hungry, they will be enraged and will curse their King and their God, and turn their faces upward; then they will look to the earth, and see trouble and darkness, gloom of anguish; and they will be driven into darkness
(Isaiah 8:16-22)
And so be it.
