How should a Christian respond to evidence of paranormal activity?

If the alleged super-normal psychic phenomena of spiritism must be investigated let it be done in the Name of the Lord, and tested by the word of God. We urged a well-known Baptist minister who has been ensnared by it, to put three questions to these spirits.

Then to whom shall we turn? The spiritist claims to be able to tell us, and, so persistent is his claim in these days, that we must consider it. But let us be very careful from what standpoint we do consider it. We are pressed by the great apostle of it, Sir A. Conan Doyle, to obey the Bible and "test the spirits." But the way in which he would have these spirits tested is not the way pointed out to us in the Book which will preserve us from every snare if only we are subject to it. We must be careful here, for there is a very great desire to investigate the phenomena of spiritism. It is a fascinating pursuit, and in its fascination lies its danger. I noticed in the evening paper yesterday that a proposal had been made that a committee should be formed by the churches in Scotland for this purpose, and similar projects are on foot in England. There can be only one end to that. Many years ago the Psychical Research Society was formed by prominent scientists and men of letters for the purpose of putting to scientific tests the phenomena of spiritism, and they have only proved that, though probably the greater percentage is fraud and trickery, yet beyond all that, there is reality in it. The mediums do more or less get into communication with spirits, and many of these investigators have become spiritists — convinced by their tests that communication with the unseen is possible, which we do not deny; they are deceived as to what these spirits are, because they ignore the only test that can bring out their true character.

Sir A. Conan Doyle urged you to try the spirits, and backed up his plea by quoting Scripture: an old device that; but how shall we try them? By joining in these mediumistic practices? No, for that would be to do what God says is an abomination to Him. We can test them by the doctrines they bring, and 1 John 4 gives us that test as the one and only test, and by that test they are proved to be not the spirits of the departed, but seducing spirits, demons. "Now the Spirit speaks expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils." 1 Tim. 4. We have already considered some of these doctrines; we need not consider more. But whether these doctrines come via Sir Conan Doyle or the Rev. Vale Owen, or whoever else, and however much they disagree in minor points, they all agree in denying the Gospel of the grace of God. They deny the Deity of Christ, His Lordship as Man, and His precious blood that alone can cleanse our sins. There is no need for repentance towards God, nor faith in our Lord Jesus Christ; there is no judge external to us, and it is not true that the name of Jesus is the only name given under heaven by which men can be saved. The whole truth of Jesus Christ coming in flesh and the purpose of His coming are denied. They are not the spirits of the dead that communicate such anti-christian doctrines as these, but they belong to that vast legion of fallen spirits under Satan's leadership, who are the enemies of God and good, and of Christ and men. They are from the bottomless pit, and they have a king over them whose name is Apollyon.

It will always be found that these false prophets, anti-christian teachers, actuated by evil spirits, attack the precious truths contained in the statement "Jesus Christ come in flesh." Their doctrines attack or seek to undermine the very foundations of the Christian faith, being specially aimed at the Person of the Son of God. We need not be in personal touch with the spirits to test them; the utterances of the false prophets through whom they speak are readily available, and clearly disclose to the matured Christian their true origin. Modern spiritism can thus be tested; it is neither necessary nor desirable for believers to attend the seances to try the spirits; the utterances of the mediums bear eloquent testimony that the spirits who speak through them are not of God. Although the personal anti-christ has not yet come, the spirit and power by which he will speak was already in evidence in the days of the early church.

Now, it may be that, on reading the foregoing quotation, the reader feels disposed to ask what possible application it can have to professing Christians? We ask, in reply, Are there any Christians who are in the habit of going to the performances of wizards, magicians and necromancers? Are there any who take part in table-turning, spirit-rapping, mesmerism, or clairvoyance? If so, the passage which we have just quoted bears, very pointedly and solemnly, upon all such. We most surely believe that all these things which we have named are of the devil. This may sound harsh and severe; but we cannot help that. We are thoroughly persuaded that when people lend themselves to the awful business of bringing up, in any way, the spirits of the departed, they are simply putting themselves into the hands of the devil to be deceived and deluded by his lies. What, we may ask, do those who hold in their hands a perfect revelation from God, want of table-turning and spirit-rapping? Surely nothing. And, if not content with that precious word, they turn to the spirits of departed friends or others, what can they expect but that God will judicially give them over to be blinded and deceived by wicked spirits who come up and personate the departed, and tell all manner of lies?

We cannot attempt go fully into this subject here. We have no time, for anything of the sort. We merely felt it to be our solemn duty to warn the reader about having anything whatever to do with consulting departed spirits. We believe it to be most dangerous work. We do not enter upon the question as to whether souls can come back to this world; no doubt, God could permit them to come if He saw fit; but this we leave. The great point for us to keep ever before our hearts is the perfect sufficiency of divine revelation, what do we want of departed spirits? The rich man imagined that if Lazarus were to go back to earth and speak to his five brethren, it would have a great effect. "I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house; for I have five brethren; that he may testify to them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham says to him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham; but if one went to them from the dead, they will repent. And he said to him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead." (Luke 16:27-31.)

If you have fallen into the trap, it will be best to repudiate the false gift and confess the matter to God without delay. The unclean spirits will not merely deceive but will also defile those persons who have spiritual fellowship with them. The danger is great and we must not underestimate the powers of darkness to intrude even among those professing to be outside the religious world.

It is a constant fact in the ways of God that He gives counterchecks. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth. The form of holiness cannot be received as of God if it be not founded on the truth, nor what is presented as the truth if it be unholy, nor one who presents truth itself as a minister of God if he be unholy. So pretended miracles, or apparent works of power, if used to confirm what is not the truth of the word, are to be at once rejected. I may be unable to explain them: that alters nothing; they are not of God. He can only give testimony to the truth. Let the sign be one of real power, as we have seen in Deuteronomy 13, if it deny the Lord or His word, it condemns the worker, but does not deceive him who knows the Lord and walks with Him. This supposes the truth known, the testimony of the Lord, in the word received (and that is our case), or else a heart deceived by falsehood, which, of course, cannot discern.

You see, if the spirit of your friend could make an appearance of himself out of the ectoplasm, I fail to see why a spirit that was determined to deceive you could not have done the same. I know it was not the spirit of your friend at all. You will gather from what I have said that while I admit people are subjected to a good many bogus seances, I am strongly of the opinion that there is also actual contact with spirits. The only question is, Who are these spirits? You do not know who they are. A serpent spoke to Eve; that was the devil (Rev. 20:2). The legion of demons identified themselves with the man that was possessed by them, and used him as their mouthpiece (Mark 5). You are no match for them.

It is very easy to say, I do not believe the facts, but plenty of other people know they happen, and at any rate the superstition is there if the facts are not facts. There is no difficulty in distinguishing such things from real miracles; but the things to be accounted for are there. It is quite idle to say it is in dark places - I do not doubt or question that certain of them are - not spiritism. If a man finds to-day he has no warts when he had yesterday, and you tell him he is living in an ignorant condition, he may say, May be so, but I have no more warts; and if he has been among the more enlightened, he may reproach them with spiritism, a great deal of which none of them has explained yet. If you ask me, I say a great deal of it is deceit; but there is that wherein there is power, not of man, and certainly not of God. Of what, then, but of Satan? In their infidelity all is of Satan, to shut out God more completely in another way.

People sometimes set themselves to seek with earnestness some outward evidence of the action of the Spirit of God, but we ought always to remember that it is quite possible to have exhibitions of power that are superhuman. They may be above the power of man, and yet not be the power of God. There is a spiritual world, spiritual agencies, evil powers; and men who clamour and cry in anxiety of heart for outward evidence, for miracles, for something that will arrest people's attention, may get what they seek no doubt, only not from the Holy Spirit of God, but from evil spirits who will simulate what is of Him.