The Teachings of the Spirits
The teachings of the spirits have been a subject of fascination and intrigue for many. Their teachings relate to God, Jesus, humankind, sin, salvation, heaven, and hell. These teachings are transmitted through human spiritists. Interestingly, there is a global consistency in the core doctrinal themes shared by spirits from different parts of the world. The following is a brief overview of some of these teachings.
The Bible
Psychics who speak for the spirits say that the Bible is only one of many sacred books in the world, including the Muslim Koran, the Hindu Vedas, and modern “channeled” texts such as The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ and The Course in Miracles. The spirits indicate that the Bible should be interpreted symbolically or esoterically, encouraging seekers to uncover hidden spiritual meanings within its verses. Occultists such as Edgar Cayce, David Spangler, George Trevelyan, and Sylvia Browne have promoted this perspective and warned against a literal interpretation of the Bible, which they claim can lead one astray.
A Different Jesus
The spirits consistently challenge traditional Christian views of Jesus Christ. They reject Jesus’ absolute deity, virgin birth, and bodily resurrection from the dead. Instead, they present Jesus as a divine prototype and suggest that all human beings can embody the Christ, making them divine as well. Psychics claim that Jesus came only to impart spiritual wisdom to humanity, not to die for their sins. Other psychics claim that Jesus had to pay off karmic debt through reincarnation before becoming the Christ.
Distorted Views of God
The spirits present a variety of concepts of God. Some embrace a pantheistic concept, viewing God as an all-encompassing, impersonal force. Other spirits promote the idea of a dual-entity God, including both a Father and a Mother God. These spirits describe God as both male and female.
Human Beings Are God
A core tenet of the spirits is a belief in the inherent divinity of human beings. They assert that human beings are perfect in their nature and share an essential connection with God. Each person has a divine spark. The spirits reject the concept of sin, claiming that such an idea is a mere illusion.
Salvation from Sin Unnecessary
The spirits teach that human beings do not need salvation because they are constantly progressing toward perfection and are essentially already divine. The idea of needing to be saved from sin is considered absurd. Instead, the spirits teach that salvation involves becoming aware of one’s inherent divinity and recognizing one’s oneness with God. Human beings should renounce guilt and live by feelings rather than rules.
There Is No Death
The spirits offer a reassuring perspective on death, portraying it as a transition from physical life to the spirit world, free of judgment and punishment. They claim that there is no such thing as death, only a false belief in death. All people can look forward to the continuation of existence beyond the physical realm.
There Is No Devil
The spirits consistently deny the existence of the devil, attributing the concept to a projection of the human psyche. There is no malevolent spiritual entity responsible for evil in the world.
Heaven and Hell Reinterpreted
Some psychics portray heaven as an idyllic realm of eternal beauty and continuous personal growth where spirits maintain their individual identities and enjoy diverse activities. Other psychics say that heaven is a multidimensional world with different levels where individuals reside based on their level of spiritual evolution.
Still other psychics say that the terms heaven and hell refer to one’s eternal companionship in the afterlife. Heaven represents the eternal companionship of like spirits where there is harmonious fellowship. Hell represents the eternal companionship of like spirits where there is discord and negativity. There is certainly no punishment in hell.
Earthly Life as a School
The spirits characterize earthly life as a school, emphasizing the importance of learning lessons and evolving spiritually during our short lives. The concept of karma plays a central role, with actions and choices determining one’s future experiences and progress. There is said to be a “pre-incarnation planning process” in which individuals choose their life circumstances and experiences to facilitate spiritual growth on earth.
Conclusion
The nature of the teachings of the spirits gives us a clue as to their true origin. Think about it for a moment. What source might teach that the Bible cannot be taken literally, that human beings are not fallen in sin, that human beings do not need a Savior, that there is no death, and that there is no eternal punishment in hell? I believe the answer is Satan, for “there is no truth in him… he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44). The fallen angels, or demons, who serve under Satan’s leadership promote “teachings of demons” (1 Timothy 4:1). This is why 1 John 4:1 urges us: “Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God.” We “test” the spirits by measuring their teachings against the Bible, which is our barometer of truth.
For more on the biblical problems with psychic phenomena, I invite you to consult my article, “A Christian Assessment of Psychics and Ghosts,” posted here at the John Ankerberg Show website.
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