[Linux4christians] Wake Up!

[Howard Coles Jr.]

On Thursday 29 May 2008 09:33:38 pm John R Puhalski wrote:
> I believe from scripture that for christians to be absent from the body is
> to be present with Lord and unbelievers go to a place of torment, awaiting
> judgement.  So the spirits of dead people do not just decide they are
> going to hang out in a house or attic somewhere.  Anything the world
> thinks about ghosts is likely some deception from demons and devils.
>
> It seems in the case of Samuel that God allowed him to appear to Saul.  He
> is able to do that if He choses just as He could make a donkey talk to
> Balaam, contrary to what normally happens.  Even the woman who performed
> the ritual was not expecting to actually see Samuel, so she knew that
> what she was doing was likely some kind of scam, perhaps also empowered by
> demons.
>
> I'm sure the things the world produces on tv are in some way meant to lead
> us away from the truth of the Word of God, usually in subtle ways.
>
> john
>
> On Thu, 29 May 2008, l4c wrote:
> > I know, I know...  I don't post here often.  I don't have a lot of time
> > to do so, but, today is an exception :-)
> >
> > I wanted to get an interesting topic of discussion here (believe it or
> > not I may not post but I read!) and this topic is a doosie..
> >
> > I was walking by the TV last night and saw the tv show Ghost Hunters on.
> >  This brought a fascinating question/topic to mind.
> >
> > What do Christians believe about ghosts?
> > Are there ghosts?  Are the "ghosts" the spirits of dead people?  Can
> > they be friendly?  What about Saul and the ghost of Samuel?  ..and so on.
> >
> > Well, what do you think..  And why?
> >
> > --
> > -Linc Fessenden
> >


I've stayed out of this for quite some time, but I think you're summary is a 
good one.

The reason the Witch at Endor Was so afraid when the actual prophet came up 
was because She was accustomed to dealing with "A Familiar Spirit" or a 
Demon.   All Ghosts are deceptions of the Devil, period.

Now, To all the others arguing about "soul sleep" or whatever else you may 
want to call it, there is no scriptural backing for it.

The Bible is clear, and not nearly as cloudy as some would make it.  Not only 
did Paul say that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord, 
but Jesus' parable of Lazarus and the rich man in Hell also help clearly 
reveal that we are NOT asleep in the since that we "sleep" at night.  There 
are also passages of Souls asking for revenge in Revelation, under the altar, 
etc.  So, the "sleep" that is refered to in Thessalonians has to apply to the 
Body only, and is a polite term, if you will, refering to the physical 
condition.  Why?  No Christian in the New Testament is ever Dead.  Jesus said 
that without qualification, and no where will you find the Christian refered 
to as dead UNLESS they are speaking in terms of their phyisical condition.  
When, in John 11, Jesus spoke of Lazarus' condition He had to explain what he 
meant by his sleeping.  And, again, like the Endor incident with Saul, 
Lazarus' situation was a one off resurrection that was never repeated.

I agree that those situations should not be the foundation of theology, and 
should only be used to help understand that God can, due to soveriegnty, do 
whatever He wants.  It did teach, however, that Jesus has the power to give 
new life, and that those who believe in Him are never at risk of the second 
death.  That was the lesson Jesus was trying to get through to Mary and 
Martha.

And, you are definitely right about Mainstream Media's desire to lead away 
from God, and all that is good.  You must even be careful about "family" 
oriented shows.

-- 

See Ya'
Howard Coles Jr.
John 3:16!