“‘Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God.”- Leviticus 19:31
If you’ve talked to a fundamentalist Christian about mediumship you might have heard this verse. Keep in mind Leviticus is the same group of books of the Bible (the Pentateuch) that tells you to stone your children for talking back, says eating shellfish is an abomination, and says that menstruating women are “unclean”. How many of us live by the book of Leviticus? A show of hands, please.
A little background on me. I was raised in the church since before I could walk or talk. My grandfather was the pastor. I was baptized (total immersion), receive the Holy Ghost (that’s what we called it), and spoke in tongues at the age of 13. I’ve read the Bible cover-to-cover. I’ve studied church history and Bible history. I once thought the Jesus Seminar was the work of the devil because they dared question every word of Jesus spoken in the synoptic gospels. I had a website called “Counsel for the Defense” where I was an amateur Christian apologist. So yeah. Been there, done that.
First, let’s look at a biblical perspective on the consultation of mediums. Practically speaking much of the “Old Testament” (Jews hate this term, BTW) was about the purity of Israel, keeping Israel separate as a nation, keeping Israel as a nation. These were laws given with a very specific purpose. “Do not be like the nations around you.” Also, the books were written not by God, but by the priestly class. Have you ever noticed they told you not to consult with mediums, but it was OK for them to talk to the dead? It was OK for them to interpret dreams. King Saul consulted the Witch of Endor because his priests couldn’t get him satisfactory answers from beyond. King Saul first consulted dreams, prophets, and the Urim and Thummin (basically like your pendulums used by spiritists today. All of these were methods of contact the beyond. How is a prophet any different from a medium other than in name? Saul went to the Witch of Endor because he knew she could truly contact Samuel (not an evil spirit) and she did. She made the connection. Yes, Saul lost his battle and committed suicide but perhaps it was because of his hypocrisy. Notice the medium was fine. The medium was not punished by God.
Then, we have Jesus. In one of His highest moments, the transfiguration, we have Jesus talking to two very dead people, Elijah and Moses. Uh, that’s being a medium, folks.
Paul, says to test the spirits by the spirits. The mediums I’ve seen have delivered nothing but loving, comforting, healing messages. No demons would ever deliver these types of messages. Test the messages? What are they? Are they loving, healing, life affirming?
1 John 4 1 Dear friends, do 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.
1 Corinthians 12 7-11. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
Now, let’s look at it practically.
When we “die” we don’t become some evil entity. We don’t go to sleep. We are the same person we were before our bodies ceased to function. If I can talk to my loved one while she’s here, why am I forbidden to talk to her after she is in spirit? I’ve heard some Christians say it’s OK for them to talk to their loved one directly but they’d never consult a medium. Oh, I can talk to her, I just can’t go to a medium to talk to her? Give me one good reason besides what you believe the Bible tells you. We all have the ability to connect with spirit, but some of us have more ability than others. You consult your preacher. You ask for intercessory prayer. Why would it be wrong to ask someone who has more ability to be the conduit between you and your loved one you can no longer talk to physically?
The proof is in the pudding. A good medium reading can be more healing than several years of traditional grief therapy. Knowing that your loved one is still right here, has forgiven you, loves you, still participates in your life gives you the strength to carry on until you see them again. What thing that is so life affirming and so healing could possibly be “evil”?
I respect everyone’s right to believe whatever you want to believe. But, I would encourage you to base your belief on common sense, facts and your heart rather than a handful of verses plucked out of an ancient book. What does your heart say to you about mediumship? How is mediumship impacting people in the world?
We are spirit beings. We don’t cease to be spirit beings because we are encased in flesh. When a medium works for us, her spirit is connecting with our loved one’s spirit talking in a way we can no longer do with our tongues and ears. Spirit connecting to spirit is never wrong. Mediums do holy work, serve spirit, and serve humanity. Some of my favorite people are mediums and I honor their gift.
