Ghost

<<spirit>>

light” (Jn 10:10; 2 Cor 11:14). These so-called ghosts disquieten and frighten people. Such undesirable mirages may be the product of an overactive imagination, or part of the grieving process whereby the evil spirit realm seeks to deceive and hold people in bondage through the alleged disembodied spirits of deceased human beings. The Bible teaches, after death comes judgement and there is no possibility of remaining on earth as a ‘ghost’ to haunt and hold people in fear (Heb 9:27). Those attempting to contact the dead do so through spirit guides or familiar spirits; the Bible forbids any involvement with mediums and such practices which are an expression of evil powers (Lev 19:31, 20:6,27; Deut 18:9-14; Isa 8:19-21; Eph 6:12). Halloween dabbles in this wrong spirit realm.

Folklore considers ghosts are the souls of dead people appearing to the living. Such impressions are evil spirit beings, (which along with God’s angels can interact and appear in our physical world) impersonating a deceased person or exhibiting unhuman qualities.

The disciples initially thought it was a ghost when they saw Jesus walking on the water (Mk 6:49). After Jesus had risen and supernaturally appeared to them in a locked room, again their reaction was ‘this is a ghost’ (Lk 24:37). On neither occasion does He take the opportunity to challenge their cultural beliefs, denying their existence but stated, “A ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have” (Lk 24:39).

Many people, instead of seeking the truth about the spirit world by communing with God and studying His Word, allow themselves to be led astray by human reasoning.

In the past the Holy Spirit (who together with the Father and Son makes up the Godhead) was sometimes called the Holy Ghost.

See also: evil spirits, Halloween, Holy Spirit, spirit realm, witches/witchcraft.