[AI translation] A month ago, when we were talking about the dangers of many superstitions here in the sermon, I promised to talk about the most dangerous superstition in particular: spiritualism. Let us now try to throw the light of God's Word on the problem of spiritualism.Someone may say to himself: is it worth wasting time on such nonsense, no one in his right mind believes in it, it is all a tickle for the nerves of enervated souls. Well, if you have never had a problem with spiritualism, thank God for that. Unfortunately, however, there are far more people infected and bound by spiritualist theories and practices than we think. For example, a woman in black, who was mourning the loss of her recently buried son, and the sadness of it was evident on her face, was approached in the street by a complete stranger who said, 'I see you are in mourning, madam. Come with me, I will take you to a place where you can meet the dead, talk to them, hear their voice again, find comfort." Sad, grieving people are always there, always will be, and so the most terrible temptation, the most tender, the most touching compassion, lurks before them.
But is spiritualism really as pernicious a temptation as the churches generally say it is? Why are they so opposed to it? It is because it is the darkest of all superstitions, the most dangerous, because it teaches the very opposite of what God has revealed in Jesus on the most essential question of salvation. As we know, spiritualists are concerned with the things of the afterlife, with the inhabitants of the afterlife and their effects on the earthly world, and have developed a whole theory to explain the effects of the afterlife. Well, in the Bible story we read, Jesus is also concerned with the problems of the afterlife. He tells us about two people whose afterlife after death after their earthly life is instructive. From this teaching of Jesus we learn some authentic, fundamental truths about the afterlife.
Jesus speaks unambiguously and emphatically about the two people in the story, one of whom will be saved after death and the other of whom will be damned. He tells us this fact: "And it came to pass that the beggar died, and was carried away by the angels to Abraham's bosom; and the rich man also died, and was buried. And in hell his eyes were lifted up." This is a brief allusion to things which no words could better explain. Let us not now speak of the state of one and the state of the other; the fact is that God always teaches in His revelation that human life continues after death in two directions: either in a state of joy, light, happiness, tranquillity, fulfilment, or in the opposite of all these. And which direction it continues in for each person is finally decided for him at the moment of death. This is also very clear from this story. So there is nothing at all in the Bible about what is the main premise of all spiritualistic thought, namely, that the dead are in some intermediate state where there is a possibility of making amends for missed opportunities, of repenting and atoning for sins committed, of grasping the grace not received, and thus of obtaining the salvation that is promised. Jesus never spoke of such a possibility of redemption, such a temporary, intermediate state before salvation or damnation, the Bible never taught it, so let no one count on it!
So there is no purgatory, no transmigration of souls, no reincarnation after death, no reincarnation. Many mysteries could be understood by it, but however much it might fit into our system of thought, it is not true, it is not true! Oh, it would be a very convenient position to look upon this earthly life as giving back to man what I had done in my previous life, and to look upon my sins now as making reparation for what I have done in this world in my next. It is a terribly deceitful belief when spiritualism says: live as if you will be born again, and for all that you have done here you will either be rewarded or suffer penance in your next life. Do you see the satanic idea in that? Here it is: seemingly a warning for good, but in reality a distraction from the fact that salvation or damnation is decided here on earth, so there is no new beginning! Behold, in this story too, it is precisely the case that the soul in torment in a state of damnation wants to do something that can no longer be done. This is the picture that Jesus paints of the rich man: "And in hell he lifted up his eyes in torment, and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom, And he cried out, saying, 'Father, Abraham! Have mercy on me, and send Lazarus away, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue, for I am tormented in this flame." (Lk 16,23-24) It expresses the passionate longing of a human soul for God, the realization that nothing can give relief but forgiveness of sins, that nothing is needed any more but grace. So it is precisely what was never needed before, in earthly life. Oh, now he knows what that one thing is, he would give anything for it, but... too late! No new beginning, no reparation, no reincarnation - too late! Oh, what a terrible word that is, too late! Perhaps all the anguish of damnation is in it: too late! This dreadful reality is captured by Jesus in these words, "And Abraham said, My son, remember that thou hast taken away thy goods in thy life, even as Lazarus also took away his sorrows; now this is consoled, and thou art tormented." (verse 25) So it is in that "great in-between", between light and darkness after death, between above and below, that there is no more to pass through by penance, repentance, supplication, or any manipulation.
It is here, then, that we must reflect, here that we must hear the call, here that we must utter this supplication, "Father, have mercy on me." Because beyond death it is too late! Do you see now why spiritualism is a dangerous superstition? Because it makes you postpone your decision. God's Word always stresses today: 'Today, when you hear His word, do not harden your hearts' (Heb 4:7c) Today, here, now, repent of your sins, accept forgiveness, lay hold of your salvation, believe in Christ - that is God's message. "Be ready at all times, for in the moment you do not think, the Son of Man will come." (cf. Mt 24,44) These are the words of Jesus. Jesus has given us eternal life through his death on the cross and his resurrection. So it is unnecessary for us to be born again, because we can do nothing to atone for anything, we can do only one thing: we can acknowledge with great, humble gratitude that someone else has atoned for us, has redeemed everything for us: Jesus Christ. And through His blood, in true repentance, we are cleansed of all our sins, freely, by grace, now, here, today! You too! This is what Jesus teaches, this is what Jesus Christ gives!
What we see next in this story is that that soul in torment in damnation has quite spiritualistic thoughts. "I beseech thee therefore, Father, send him away to my father's house, for I have five brethren, that he may bear witness unto them, that they also may not come into this place of torment." (verses 27-28). He desperately wants one of the dead to go back to his earthly house to his brothers and sisters, to the relatives he has left behind, and to admonish them if he cannot be helped. So someone from among the dead should make known to those on earth the things of the afterlife. Behold: pure spiritualism! This is exactly what spiritualists want: to summon the souls of the dead and to negotiate with them, to get information from them about the things of the afterlife. And indeed, astonishing things do happen at such spiritualist gatherings, so-called seances. For example, a glass moves over the letters of the alphabet and spells out the exact answer to a question; a table that has barely been touched rises up and makes one of its legs thump; furniture floats freely in a room or space, a knock is heard, a typewriter starts writing mysterious text on its own, certain persons, so-called mediums, fall into a trance and in this unconscious state start talking, answering questions that have been asked... All these mysterious phenomena are attributed by spiritualists to the appearance of otherworldly spirits, they believe that through the medium they come into contact with the souls of the dead, that is, that here indeed the otherworldly world of the dead has some influence on the world of men on earth. I've had someone say to me, "Please, I'm convinced that my husband's spirit appeared at the séance because he was talking about things that no one in the world knew about except him and me."
So is there such a thing as "someone from the dead going to them?" Well brethren, let me say on the authority of Jesus' words, No! No such thing! Behold, here in the story, this rich man comes twice with this spiritualistic suggestion that one of the dead should go back to his brothers, and both times he is met with the strongest opposition, with a prohibition: 'Abraham said to him, "They have Moses and their prophets, let them listen to them. And Amah said, 'Not so, Abraham, my father, but if any of the dead come to them, they will repent! And he said unto them, If they will not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, if one shall rise from the dead" (Luke 16.29-31) Our departed loved ones are in God's hands, and who would dare to presume to call a soul to a rapport before God, to force him to confess. Those whom God has called out of this world cannot be recalled or summoned by occult practices.
How, then, can we explain the phenomena in which spiritualists believe that spirits from beyond the grave appear? A large part of them can be explained and understood on the basis of simple psychological facts, the effects of man's so-called unconscious world. It is not the ghosts of the dead who appear through the medium in his trance state, but certain influences, intuitions, signals, which emerge from the subconscious of the medium himself, because this subconscious world of the medium is connected with the subconscious world of one of the participants in the séance. It is from the subconscious of that other person that the medium senses, sees memories, impressions, experiences of the deceased relative, takes this, sees this, hears this, speaks about this, so that the other person sitting there recognizes the dead person. In fact, it is a psychological phenomenon which can be scientifically controlled, but which is used and manipulated by demonic forces, by the powers of the underworld, to corrupt the human soul, to destroy the human nervous system and to turn man away from God.
It is a characteristic feature of all spiritualism that here, in the story, the idea of going back from the dead to the living on earth is also present: it is in hell that someone comes to mind. It is as if the Lord is warning us that this whole idea is a hellish idea. Satan's invention. Not for nothing are there so many round, definite prohibitions in Scripture: "For the Lord hateth all that do these things..." (Deuteronomy 18:12) Do you understand? The Lord hates him who does these things. Not only does he hate his sin, he hates himself! No other sin in the Bible has such a serious statement. Well, then, whoever wants to be hated by the Lord should continue his spiritualistic or spiritualist practices. It is the biblical King Saul who is invoked by spiritualists as having invoked the spirit of the prophet Samuel. Well, yes, indeed! And he did fall into utter despair, almost madness. There are indeed examples of necromancy in the Bible, but not really examples to follow! And whoever, in spite of God's clear prohibition, dabbles in these things, is exposing himself to the forces of Satan, to the powers of chaos.
Do you see why spiritualism is the most dangerous superstition? Because it promises salvation, and it is salvation that it plays upon the believer! Therefore it is a deadly danger! Do not tolerate it in yourselves or around you! I know the power with which Satan holds his victims through spiritualism, yet there is deliverance! The Gospel of Christ is in fact the great news of victory, that the battle between the kingdom of God and the power of darkness has already been decided: Jesus Christ has won. So no one need remain under the spell of the dark powers, a victim of superstition: whoever believes can experience the victory of Jesus! And through faith in Jesus, it is his! The first step of deliverance from bondage is always a sincere, thorough confession of sin. Anyone who has ever been infected with spiritualism, whether out of curiosity, play or serious, who has ever practised it or is practising it now, should confess, deny, deny openly, because until then the infection will always remain in his soul. We read in the Word: the blood of Christ cleanseth from all sin! (cf. 1 John 1:7) From that too! And only the blood of Christ cleanses from it. Only in this way can we break out of the bondage of damnation and enter into the freedom of God's children!
So let us pray, for now is not too late:
Though my heart is heavy with sin and pain,
Satan is trying my life: I will not despair.
Though the weight of my sin be great, Yet to thee will I come:
Thou art the hater of sin, But thy mercy is everlasting.
My strength is small, and sin is strong:
Thou canst and wilt help me, So help me in my trouble.
(Song 461 verses 1-3)
Amen
Date: 13 September 1959.