This Sunday we aired a wonderful conversation, recorded recently, with well-known ABC TV personality Caroline Jones. Caroline talked about her career, her finding faith and joining the Catholic Church, and the deep grief and doubt she experienced at the loss of her father. Part of Caroline's journey through grief involved her visiting a spirit medium--something she says she probably wouldn't do again, but something she doesn't particularly regret.
Now, given the Bible's clear warning against such things (we've put some verses below if you'd like to follow it up), we had a dilemma - do we edit it out, or do we air it and open the topic up for discussion? In the end we have decided to leave Caroline's comments in and let them stimulate discussion on the topic. Caroline shares many other things worthy of talkback in the interview too, so I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Some (tough!) verses for further reflection:
Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God. (Leviticus 19:31)
I will set my face against the person who turns to mediums and spiritists to prostitute himself by following them, and I will cut him off from his people. (Leviticus 20:6)
Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in [a] the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, 11 or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. (Deuteronomy 18:10, 11)
When men tell you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? (Isaiah 8:19)
Dear friends, 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)
The following passages may also be worth reviewing: Acts 16:16-18, Galatians 5:19-20.
• What do you think of this notion of consulting spirit mediums for advice or guidance? Have you ever done so and regretted it? Do you do so now and have no qualms about it? Tell us what you think.
• Your thoughts on grief and suffering - if you've lost a loved one, were you, like Caroline, surprised at the depth of your grief?
• Did your faith in God waver? Or did it go deeper?
• What were the positives that came out of your grieving?
• Did the loss of a loved one, or a great crisis in life, put you onto a spiritual search? What forms did that take?
Comments (2)
I would like to share my story of the dangers of the New Age and dabbling with spirit mediums. I was a Methodist ministers son, and when I was younger and very naive I went to a seance. After that, I was in a serious motorbike accident in which I nearly died. I was lucky to come out of a coma and lucky to live. Later, a friend told me that I had predicted this would happen. I didn't know what he was talking about until he explained that I'd been to a seance, and come out talking of how I'd heard I was going to have a serious accident that I would only just come out of alive. I then remembered the seance, which I had done with my brother in law who was a spirit medium. I feel that God removed His protection from me and allowed me to have this accident as a warning of the consequences and dangers of this area of spirituality. Since then I have come back to faith in Christ and want people to know how dangerous it is to deal with spirit mediums.
Posted by Ian | October 4, 2009 11:53 PM
Posted on October 4, 2009 23:53
The Lord God is Creator of all things, nothing is unknown to Him. We dishonour God when we consult mediums; it is not an act of a believer, and we are told clearly from the many passages in the Bible, not to do so.
When I was a sweet young woman,I was fascinated by the occult, and must tell you that I did actually have a true reading from a clairvoyant about an incredible future event.
I studied astrology, palmistry, numerology, and could interpret people's drawings.
Because of my known ability, men and women from the large company inwhich I worked, came daily, asking me to read their drawings and their palms.These people came un-asked by me, and like the medium that Caroline Jones described, with the utmost integrity I interpreted their drawings and read their palms, and hopefully, gave them some comfort.
Unlike Caroline's medium, it had never been my intention to have people come to me in such a way, and I didn't encourage it or promote it at all.
My uncanny ability began to give me great dis-ease, as I felt that this powerful force(that I did not understand)was absorbing me. I stress that everything I did was with love and integrity and the best of intentions for others. It was not a power-trip or advantageous to me in any way...
The grave misgivings I had about my astounding psychic ability, led me to advise people that I no longer 'did it', and indeed, I retreated(with foreboding)from the occult, completely.
I am a devout Christian now, thanks to God's grace, and know that my sins have been forgiven because of my repentance and the sacrifice of our blessed Lord Jesus.
I believe a very powerful spiritual force was at work in me, one that would draw me and others away from the living God. Our trust and dependence has to be in God alone. All is well, all manner of things will be well. Hallelujah!!
Betty Sealey
Posted by Betty Sealey | September 28, 2009 3:49 AM
Posted on September 28, 2009 03:49