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Who Are the “Spirits” in Spiritualism?
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The grace of God alone has power to exalt man. Left to himself, his
course must be downward.
Appeal to the Pleasure-loving
To the self-indulgent, the pleasure-loving, the sensual, spiritu-
alism presents a less subtle disguise. In its grosser forms they find
what is in harmony with their inclinations. Satan marks the sins each
individual is inclined to commit and then takes care that opportu-
nities shall not be wanting to gratify the tendency. He tempts men
through intemperance to weaken physical, mental, and moral power.
He destroys thousands through indulgence of passion, brutalizing
the entire nature. And to complete his work, the spirits declare that
“true knowledge places man above all law”; that “whatever is, is
right”; that “God doth not condemn”; and that “all sins ... are inno-
cent.” When people thus believe that desire is the highest law, that
liberty is license, that man is accountable only to himself, who can
wonder that corruption teems on every hand? Multitudes eagerly
accept the promptings of lust. Satan sweeps into his net thousands
who profess to follow Christ.
But God has given sufficient light to discover the snare. The
very foundation of spiritualism is at war with Scripture. The Bible
declares that the dead know not anything, that their thoughts have
perished; they have no part in the joys or sorrows of those on earth.
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Furthermore, God has forbidden pretended communication with
departed spirits. The “familiar spirits,” as these visitants from other
worlds were called, are declared by the Bible to be “the spirits of
devils.” See
Numbers 25:1-3
;
Psalm 106:28
;
1 Corinthians 10:20
;
Revelation 16:14
. Dealing with them was forbidden under penalty of
death.
Leviticus 19:31
;
20:27
. But spiritualism has made its way into
scientific circles, invaded churches, and found favor in legislative
bodies, even in the courts of kings. This mammoth deception is a
revival in a new disguise of the witchcraft condemned of old.
By representing the basest of men as in heaven, Satan says to
the world: “No matter whether you believe or disbelieve God and
the Bible, live as you please; heaven is your home.” Saith the Word
of God: “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put
darkness for light, and light for darkness.”
Isaiah 5:20
.