As quoted in a recent commentary, “The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life released a report on December 9, 2009, titled “Many Americans Mix Multiple Faiths.” The report shows that many Americans now “blend Christianity with Eastern or New Age beliefs such as reincarnation,” and that significant numbers of all major religious groups (including evangelicals) report having supernatural experiences like seeing ghosts and contacting the dead through spirit mediums”
The first thing about this report that comes to mind is authority. Who or what gives anyone the authority to create their own beliefs? If I create my own religion am I not making myself GOD? And if I claim to be Christian, that implies I believe what Jesus taught, the scripture His Father GOD inspired, and the witnesses (apostles) that testify to what He said. So what does the Bible say about these “added” beliefs or practices?
Reincarnation;
“Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: “
Just once. I won’t be coming back to evolve to a “higher level”.
Fortune Tellers, Consulting Mediums, and the Occult;
Deu 18:10 There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer
Deu 18:11 or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead,
Deu 18:12 for whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD. And because of these abominations the LORD your God is driving them out before you.
1Ch_10:13 So Saul died for his breach of faith. He broke faith with the LORD in that he did not keep the command of the LORD, and also consulted a medium, seeking guidance.
Rev 21:8 But for the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, their part shall be in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death.”
The Jewish people under the law (the 1st Biblical Covenant/Testament), were commanded to stone other Jews who practiced these things.
As seen and implied throughout the Bible, when we die here on earth, our soul/spirit goes to one of two places. Heaven to be with the Lord and waiting to be joined later with our new body, or hades/hell awaiting the final great White Throne Judgment with a final destination in the lake of fire. (Rev 20). We do not hang around the earth haunting places or people. Those events, and Aunt Mary being channeled by a medium, are manifestations of demons.
“2Co_5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
Luk 16:22 The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried,
Luk 16:23 and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.
Rev 6:9 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne.
2Ti 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts;
2Ti 4:4 and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside unto fables. “
Forgivenman 