HEY MIKE! My girlfriend and most of her friends believe in ghosts. They claim they’ve seen several and that there’s historical evidence proving they exist. How can they be real? Are they demons trying to trick us, or are they angels trying to get a message across to us? Or could they be the souls of lost people? Help me!
— R.L., Oakley, Calif.
Despite the fact that we live in physical bodies, according to the Bible, we’re also spiritual beings who are influenced by a nonmaterial world: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12).
The Scriptures refer to the word spirit in three different ways:
• the Holy Spirit (see Acts 1:16, 2:4, 10:44-48; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 2 Thessalonians 2:13)
• souls of human beings (see Romans 8:16; Hebrews 4:12)
• beings other than God, such as angels and evil spirits (see Mark 9:25; Acts 19:12-17; Revelation 18:2)
As for what your friends claim to have seen, I don’t know whether they simply have overactive imaginations or have just seen something they can’t explain. But to answer your question, R.L., spiritual beings are real.
It’s also important that you explain to your girlfriend that the media’s “ghostly” portrayals of someone’s long, lost grandmother haunting that creepy old mansion on the edge of town is absolutely wrong.
Death marks the end of our earthly existence and is final. Once a person dies, his or her spirit cannot roam the streets as a lost soul. It is only through Jesus Christ that we are brought back to life — eternal life with Him! “For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death” (1 Corinthians 15:22-26).
Here’s one more thing I want you to understand: I don’t know what “ghost-hunting” activities your friends have participated in, but opening yourself up to evil spirits is deadly stuff. This involves such occult practices as channeling, visiting mediums, holding séances or playing around with Ouija boards.
These activities involve interaction with demons. Those who “communicate with the dead” are not dealing with friendly little “Yodas” or E.T.-type critters that want to help them have awesome lives. These spirits are evil and use any kind of deception they can to gain control of a person’s mind, body and soul. A demon’s goal is to separate men and women from God and send them into eternal darkness (hell).
Demonic spirits always take more than they give. So tell your friends not to fool around with this stuff. Once they invite a demon to lunch, there’s a good chance it won’t be leaving.
HEY MIKE! I've become friends with this girl at church, but I'm scared that I'll lose ehr if I try to turn this into a relationship. Any ideas?
— E.K., Cheyenne, Olka.
How would bringing romance into your friendship improve things? More importantly, are you sensing that she wants you to be more than a friend?
It sounds as if the two of you have a good thing going. You've known each other for a while and enjoy hanging out together. You're both free to have fun without the awkwardness of being a couple. What's more, you're learning how to relate to the opposite sex — which, I hope, is your goal at this point in your life. (You're not looking for a wife yet!)
My advice: Stick with friendship.
