Fascination with the paranormal is not something that’s on the fringes of society, says Dr. Jeremiah Johnston. Instead, dabbling in the darkness has become a cultural phenomenon evidenced in things like scary movies, psychic consultations and witchcraft.

            “Human beings are spiritual beings,” Johnston says. “We hunger for the spiritual, but when we’ve sent God out the door, we mock the Christian faith. We buy into the lies and become entrapped and confused.”

            Johnston illustrates the prevailing confusion by pointing out that some psychics and others working in the paranormal industry claim to be Christians. “The paranormal is a slippery slope,” Johnston says. “Once you open the door to the spirit world, it will only affect your life negatively.”

            Johnston says that Christians must compare what they see in the world with the truth of God’s Word. He gives these points:

  1. We need to recognize that the paranormal is attractive and has become normal in our society.
  2. It preaches a false gospel, makes promises it can’t keep, and will always bring the participant into bondage and confusion.
  3. Only Jesus Christ can set us free. Only in Him can each of us experience lasting peace and can know the truth.

Believers are instructed in I John 4:1 to “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.” Also, they are instructed in I Timothy 4:7: “Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.”

Johnston warns that the things God forbids can seem appealing. “How do we respond to the fascination – and even attraction – with the paranormal world around us?” he asks.

Johnston reminds listeners that Satan masquerades as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14), and that we are to be sober-minded since “the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (I Peter 5:8).

He answers a question from Jaden through AskJJJ.com about doubting one’s salvation. Johnston reminds him that when believers have thoughts that don’t align with the Bible, we can “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5).