Psychics and the occult

[evangelist6589]

I am reading a book on this topic by apologist Ron Rhodes (one of my favs) and I have to ask what type of churches embrace this type of trash? As you know I love sending out letters to false churches and have received responses, sat down with pastors and leaders before due to the work the Lord has done in this type of apologetics ministry. Thanks..

 

[Baptist Believer]

...I have to ask what type of churches embrace this type of trash?

I am unaware of any Christian church embrace psychics or the occult (the common, popular meaning of the word).

There are individuals, most famously Bishop Pike, that engaged in seances and dabbled in occultism after the suicide death of his son, but he was eventually forced out of the Episcopal Church because of his personal conduct and lack of morality.

Where did you get the idea that there are churches like that out there?

 

[evangelist6589]

I am unaware of any Christian church embrace psychics or the occult (the common, popular meaning of the word).

There are individuals, most famously Bishop Pike, that engaged in seances and dabbled in occultism after the suicide death of his son, but he was eventually forced out of the Episcopal Church because of his personal conduct and lack of morality.

Where did you get the idea that there are churches like that out there?

Ron Rhodes but I need to read more of his book. Apparently there are those that think their psychic ability is a spiritual gift.

 

[Baptist Believer]

Ron Rhodes but I need to read more of his book. Apparently there are those that think their psychic ability is a spiritual gift.

Specifically, what "psychic ability?"

I've heard that claim against people that God uses to express "words of wisdom" or "words of knowledge." Is that what he is claiming?

 

[Jerome]

The OP already supplied us with an example in one of his previous threads:

http://www.baptistboard.com/showpost.php?p=2161722&postcount=3

http://www.firstspiritual.com/regular-church-events.html

Practice Your Reading Skills w/Angela Wills
This group gathers each Thursday at 1pm in the Great Room in the basement of the church. They practice all types of reading skills utilizing different tools i.e. tarot, oracle, pendulum, automatic writing, and more!
Join them to practice, to share and to learn.

 

[Baptist Believer]

The OP already supplied us with an example in one of his previous threads:

http://www.baptistboard.com/showpost.php?p=2161722&postcount=3

If the New Thought movement is included in the word "occult," then all health and wealth, Word of Faith, seed faith, and positive confession churches are part of that.


Okay, the link below is simply a non-Christian religious group using the word "church," not a Christian organization:

http://www.firstspiritual.com/regular-church-events.html

 

[Getting it Right]

Our service does follow a set type of protocol but, that is where any semblance of "church" ends. Each Sunday, the message is offered by a different person offering a unique view and perspective on spirituality and metaphysics. The topics are wide and varied. You are encouraged to attend a few times to truly understand the scope of what is offered and what can be received through these messages.

That is scary. That alone is enough to warn Christians to keep their distance, other than inviting these poor, misguided souls to church.

raying:

 

[Jerome]

This thread discussed encountering such practices at United Methodist and Southern Baptist churches:

http://www.baptistboard.com/showthread.php?t=82106

 

[evangelist6589]

The OP already supplied us with an example in one of his previous threads:

http://www.baptistboard.com/showpost.php?p=2161722&postcount=3

http://www.firstspiritual.com/regular-church-events.html

Spiritual science churches?

 

[annsni]

Spiritual science churches?

Those are not churches.

 

[evangelist6589]

Those are not churches.

Not technically but in the yellow pages or internet they are under that category.

None that I contact I believe to be a church at least not biblically. I avoid secondary issues as my goal is apologetics in evangelism. If I wrote a free will baptist church we would debate the cal vs Armin issue but as one can see it's not a fruitful debate.

 

[righteousdude2]

I hope the following will serve to demonstrate my caution, and concern when it comes to anything to do with the darkness or evil side of our world. I even believe it is wrong for a believer to consort and seek out daily Horoscopes. Even if a person says they do this in a fun way, it should be avoided at all costs. It can entice you, tempt you and eventually bring you down!

"But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron…" 1 Tim. 4:1-2.

“put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:11-12).

"So Saul died for his unfaithfulness which he had committed against the Lord, because he did not keep the word of the Lord, and also because he consulted a medium for guidance. 14 But he did not inquire of the Lord; therefore He killed him, and turned the kingdom over ..." 1 Chron. 10:13-14

"When you enter the land which the LORD your God gives you, you shall not learn to imitate the detestable things of those nations. 10"There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, 11or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead.…" Duet. 18:9-19

"Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God" (Lev. 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" (Lev. 20:6)

""They sacrificed their sons and daughters in the fire. They practiced divination and sorcery and sold themselves to do evil in the eyes of the LORD, provoking him to anger. So the LORD was very angry with Israel and removed them from his presence ..." (2 Kings 17:17,18)"

"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? To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn" (Isa. 8:19,20)

 

[Getting it Right]

I hope the following will serve to demonstrate my caution, and concern when it comes to anything to do with the darkness or evil side of our world. I even believe it is wrong for a believer to consort and seek out daily Horoscopes. Even if a person says they do this in a fun way, it should be avoided at all costs. It can entice you, tempt you and eventually bring you down!

As is the case with the Ouija Board, Kreskin's ESP, and similar. Avoid them like the plague.

:love2:

 

[righteousdude2]

As is the case with the Ouija Board

That board is one of the fastest selling, most popular occult/demonic toys being sold to adults and young people today. The only thing is, it isn't a toy, and it is far, far far from being harmless! Even Christians are buying this item and holding group events to contact the "spirits." Think of King Saul! :BangHead:

 

[Yeshua1]

Not technically but in the yellow pages or internet they are under that category.

None that I contact I believe to be a church at least not biblically. I avoid secondary issues as my goal is apologetics in evangelism. If I wrote a free will baptist church we would debate the cal vs Armin issue but as one can see it's not a fruitful debate.

Would say this has been going on a long time , as any here remember the "sleeping prophet" edgar cayce, who claimed to have a prophetic gift from jesus, and yet denied christianity, or that pastor who belived was Ford, who consuled psychics when his son killed himself, and went wandering out into desert to find him?

 

[JonC]

I am reading a book on this topic by apologist Ron Rhodes (one of my favs) and I have to ask what type of churches embrace this type of trash? As you know I love sending out letters to false churches and have received responses, sat down with pastors and leaders before due to the work the Lord has done in this type of apologetics ministry. Thanks..

We recently discussed churches that embraced near death experiences...you really don't need to look further to find the occult at work in contemporary "Christianity."

 

[Baptist Believer]

...or that pastor who belived was Ford, who consuled psychics when his son killed himself, and went wandering out into desert to find him?

I think you are referring to Bishop James Pike, formerly of the Episcopal Church until he was forced out for moral and theological reasons. I see no evidence that he was a disciple of Jesus, although I could be wrong. When his son committed suicide, he consulted Arthur Ford - a so-called medium - to contact his son. His death in the desert occurred after those events when he went to Israel with his latest wife (formerly his secretary with whom he had one of many affairs), and their vehicle broke down. Using that same lack of judgement that he exercised in every other area of his life, he wandered off in the desert virtually assuring he would not be found until he had died. I believe his last wife also died in the desert.

 

[Yeshua1]

I think you are referring to Bishop James Pike, formerly of the Episcopal Church until he was forced out for moral and theological reasons. I see no evidence that he was a disciple of Jesus, although I could be wrong. When his son committed suicide, he consulted Arthur Ford - a so-called medium - to contact his son. His death in the desert occurred after those events when he went to Israel with his latest wife (formerly his secretary with whom he had one of many affairs), and their vehicle broke down. Using that same lack of judgement that he exercised in every other area of his life, he wandered off in the desert virtually assuring he would not be found until he had died. I believe his last wife also died in the desert.

Thank you!
That was indeed the person speaking of, and never thought that he was really saved, but that his example shows us that satan was working in the church for awhile now!

as really evidenced by the so called revelations from the charasmatic movement and other modern day aberrations of the faith!

 

[Yeshua1]

We recently discussed churches that embraced near death experiences...you really don't need to look further to find the occult at work in contemporary "Christianity."

yes, and also see the vast theological wasteland called the modern day charasmatic movement!

As many in that have stated they are teaching what the Holy Spirit gave unto them, and really are promoting 'doctrines of demons"

 

[Zenas]

Would say this has been going on a long time , as any here remember the "sleeping prophet" edgar cayce, who claimed to have a prophetic gift from jesus, and yet denied christianity, or that pastor who belived was Ford, who consuled psychics when his son killed himself, and went wandering out into desert to find him?

Some of Edgar Cayce's beliefs were inconsistent with Christianity, most prominently his belief in reincarnation. However, I was not aware that he denied Christianity. Are you sure about this?