Are Ghosts Real?

“But they were startled and terrified and thought they were seeing a ghost.” –Luke 24:37

As the holidays approach, I am often asked this question.  First let’s define what a ghost is, usually people think a ghost is a disembodied spirit/soul of a person who has died that wanders the earth.  The idea of the supernatural and ghosts have fascinated so many today. The popularity of television shows like “Ghost Hunters,” “Fact or Faked,” and “Ghost Adventures.”  So what should Bible believing Christians think about ghosts?

     First of all, there are two types of ghost sightings.  One in which the person feels glad they were “visited”  by what appears to be a deceased loved one, and the other type sight or thought of a ghost gives a feeling of fear in the person or persons who encounter it.  If you or someone you know tells you an old ghost tell it gives you a feeling of the need to leave.  That is a flight response driven by fear.  When an angel of the Lord comes to people they always remind them to not be afraid (Luke 2:10, Matt. 2:20). 

     In addition to causing fear, the sight of a ghost causes confusion.  When God’s agents appear to his people it is always 100% clear they are sent from God and their message is unmistakable.  In our culture today many people are seeking out a ghost experience thought EVP’s, heat cameras, and other technologies.  The hope is to document and prove the supernatural.  As Christians we do believe in the supernatural, and we have some clarity about what is out there.  In the event that you are dealing with something that is not clearly from God, and/or causing great fear instead of comfort, it is most likely of demonic origin.  Demons being fallen angels governed by Satan (Matthew 12:22-28).  
     The Bible does record an encounter with what appears to be a dead man’s soul in 1 Samuel 28:7-21, but the spirit that speaks as the deceased “Samuel” says that King Saul and his sons would die the next day, which didn’t happen some of Saul’s sons survived.  This fact leads me to conclude that King Saul was not speaking to the dead prophet, but a demon who was posing as Samuel. 

     So to answer the question, no, I don’t believe in ghosts, but I do believe in demons.  I also would point you to Hebrews 9:27, reminding you that when we die we face judgment, not wandering around the land of the living.  Let me leave you with a warning and an encouragement.  The warning is this, avoid seeking encounters with spirits (Deut. 18:10, Isaiah 8:19) it will not end well.  And remember God is greater than any demon (1 John 4:4)!

What does Paul mean when he says to hand someone “over to Satan?”

“I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.” -1 Cor. 5:5

“Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, so that they will be taught not to blaspheme.” -1 Timothy 1:20

When Paul speaks of handing individuals over to Satan, it is startling and scary. What does it mean to be delivered to Satan? It sounds so unforgiving and harsh. In both places, Paul is encouraging local churches to do this ancient practice. The word “handed over” or “delivered” means to hand over, to give over, to commit. It is not just a possibility to be handed over to Satan it can be a reality! God does hand people over to Satan at times to accomplish His will. It is the ancient practice of church discipline or disfellowship. A practice that many modern churches have stopped. The concept is being cut off from any association of the saints of God and the Lord’s Table. Being part of a local church provides an insulation, protection, and blessing from Satan and the world.

Even unbelievers share in the splash effect of protection and blessing as they deal with or are involved with believers. For example in Gen. 18, we see Abraham seeking to save Sodom and Gomorra if only ten people were found righteous. Think about it, God would spare a city of thousands whose wickedness has provoked God’s judgment if only ten righteous people could be found. So the biblical principle shows that a nearness to and involvement with true believers of God provides a layer of protection and blessing. To hand someone over to Satan is to expose him or her to the evil and wickedness of the world unprotected, with the goal of restoring their soul. Handing someone over to Satan is the atomic bomb of rebuking. The goal is always restoration to fellowship and forgiveness.

Is Bigfoot Real?

Recently, I was witnessing to a young man who was full of questions.   The questions mostly centered on the pop culture obsession with the paranormal.  One question he had was on the existence of Bigfoot or Sasquatch.  While Bigfoot does make for interesting television shows, how would Christians think about these creatures?  Many document eyewitness accounts exist for Bigfoot.  These eyewitness accounts come from creditable individuals and even skeptics.  While many claim to have had an encounter or seen the beast, no body or genetic proof of the beast exists.  Without the smoking gun, some Bigfoot researchers have concluded that they could be inter-dimensional beings or aliens.  I would argue that Bigfoot may be a demonic deception to distract the people from the truth of the Gospel. 

In the documentary film “Sasquatchand Us,” one former skeptic gives an account of searching for big foot all night.  He drove well over 100 miles into the woods in the Pacific Northwest, and he knocked a stick against a tree three times all night.  The hope was that an answer would come in the form of three knocks.  After a whole night of failed investigation, he drove back to his home.  When he arrived, he heard in the woods surrounding his home three knocks.  He said that he knows something was “toying” with him at that point.  In another encounter, a woman shot a Bigfoot.  When the Bigfoot was hit it simple vanished like a hologram. Other witnesses in the film discuss how sightings of Bigfoot follow family bloodlines.  So if grandpa saw one, you have a much better chance of having an “encounter.”  Many who see Bigfoot also see UFO’s.

Think about it, think of all the financial resources, time, and energy that has gone into finding these beings.  All the resources and discussion going into finding Bigfoot is not being used to spread the gospel.  Even the “The Patterson/Gimlin Bigfoot Film” from 1967 praised as one of the greatest proof of Bigfoot’s existence is shrouded in controversy.  But the film is claimed to be a hoax by many, including one man from North Carolina who claims to have sold Patterson the ape suit. The lack of genetic proof coupled with the controversy over the “existing” evidence supports the fact that Bigfoot is really just a distraction from the truth of the gospel.  Our American culture’s obsession with the paranormal seems to be on the rise as the Church loses her voice in the public square. 

Is Sex Before Marriage All Right for Christians?

“But sexual immorality and any impurity or greed should not even be heard of among you, as is proper for saints” –Ephesians 5:3

The short answer is no!  Let me be clear, I am talking about a relationship between a man and a woman.  While sex is an expression of love, a gift from our Creator, a pleasure for men and women to enjoy, and it also should be combined with deep commitment. That is one reason why the Bible tells us that the sexual relationship is to be confined to marriage.  God has been very clear on this, and I strongly urge you to reconsider any position that allows for sex outside of marriage.  Your heart is deceptive and you can easily justify doing something that is wrong.  And in this case you will later regret.

Ephesians 5:3, a command is given against any sex outside the bounds and commitment to marriage.  The principles that are found in Ephesians 5:3, is given for our own good on multiple levels- physically, emotionally, socially, and spiritually. God’s commands on sex within a committed marriage are intended to preserve/protect the family. The family is the basic essential unit of any society! In addition to our protection, Exodus 20:14 reminds us that sex out side of marriage is adultery.

For those who have not committed this sin, pray that you stay pure for your mate.  And for those who have broken this command understand there is forgiveness for you if you seek it.  Pray for healing, seek God’s grace, and love yourself enough to stop.   Remember 1 Corinthians 6:18,  “Run from sexual immorality! “Every sin a person can commit is outside the body.” On the contrary, the person who is sexually immoral sins against his own body.”

Book Review: Strangers Next Door - Immigration, Migration, and Mission

Dr. Payne has delivered and eye-opening look at the issue of international immigration, the shifting of the church to the majority world though successful mission work overseas, and how that effects mission at home now.  The United States receives the most international immigrates each year by far!  With the United States receiving 20% of the international immigration each year, this book points out the need to be intentional in meeting migrant people who have moved in down the street.  They may look different, sound different, and even think different than many of our churches do, but the reality is we have a charges to reach the ends of the earth with the gospel all while never leaving the United States.

We sometimes forget that William Carry, the father of modern missions, and the missionaries that followed him God blessed and gave their faithfulness some success.  We have now reached a point where countries like China and Africa are sending missionaries out all over the world!

The real life stories of reaching Nepal via Baltimore, with Nepal considered among the world’s least reach peoples and they are living in Baltimore, Maryland.  We need a vision to see migration and the Great Commission and this book sheds light on this subject. The issues covered in this book blurs the line between domestic and international missions.

Strengths of the book:

The author shines a light on the reality of international immigrants in our neighborhoods and their need for the gospel.

And then being able to reach a part of the world that international immigrants are still maintaining connation with.

We have a HUGE opportunity to reach the international students who are most likely from a country with a high number of unreached people groups!

Remembering Aunt Karen

“I thought I could describe a state; make a map of sorrow. Sorrow, however, turns out to be not a state but a process.”

― C.S. Lewis, A Grief Observed

Aunt Karen entered into eternal rest in the arms of her Savior, Jesus Christ, Friday morning, July 11, 2014, after a long battle with cancer.  Karen was 54 years old. Karen loved her Savior and family. She loved us all through her amazing country cooking skills! As she sipped on her Mountain Dew, she would fry eggs to perfection, make amazing sausage gravy, cook the best peas you've every tasted  or beat you at a game of Rook. She was a long time member of Willow Springs Baptist Church. Former employer of Levi Strauss for over 20 years. She was beloved by the Lord and will be deeply missed by her family.

Preceded in death by mother, Norma Sue Severs.

Survivors: ex-husband, Steve Beeler of Luttrell; daughter, Keyla Beeler of Knoxville; father, Everett W. Severs; and sister: Deborah  and Jack Tyler, Fall Branch; brothers, Chris and Lisa Severs of Karns, Jeff and Linda Severs of Powell; special friend, Shirley McLain;  Nephews, Travis and Becki Tyler of Elizabethton, Ryan Severs of Knoxville, and Christopher Severs of Jacksonville, North Carolina, Luke Severs of Powell; Nieces, Tiffiney Tyler of Kingsport, Jessica Severs of Powell and cousins; She is also survived by several beloved great nephews and great nieces.

I wanted to write about my aunt as part of my process of the grieving.  Our family will dearly miss her, because we had spent so much time with her over the last five years especially.  Over the last six years or so, due to unfortunate events, Karen lived with my parents.  During this time she became very close to my children like a second Mamaw. She made many trips to Indiana for all the major events in our lives like my seminary graduation, the birth of all my children, holidays, birthdays, and baby dedications.  In addition to this she also came up many times to help us, for example when Becki was on bed rest before and after Asher was born.

I loved her dearly, and the grief is more than I thought it would be.  I find great comfort in hearing her tell me about how she repented and placed her complete trust in Jesus Christ for her salvation.  She told me that she was "saved during a regular Sunday Morning at a little baptist church off Unaka Avenue in JohnsonCity, Tennessee".  We all tried to prepare ourselves for what is coming, and I knew that she was going to pass soon.  Being in the ministry for nearly 12 years now, I have stood by many bedsides and watched people slip into eternity.  Karen fought her cancer hard, she had stage four lung cancer for two years!  The average life expectancy rate is about 9 months for stage four lung cancer.  I want to share with you what I learned from my Aunt.  Without her help I would have no idea how to make homemade sausage gravy, dice veggies with ease, or make peas that taste amazing.  I learned from her and I thought I would give a little window into what she taught me/us.  Here goes:

Karen you taught us how to…

    Love passionately,

    Forgive completely,

    Work Happily,

   Cook correctly,

    Laugh heartily,

    Serve sacrificially,

   And fight fervently!

"Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints." -Psalm 116:15

I love you, Aunt Karen and will miss you always, until we meet at Jesus' Feet!

How Does the Church Become the Church in a Culture and Time as this?

“From one man He has made every nationality to live over the whole earth and has determined their appointed times and the boundaries of where they live.” –Acts 17:26

This summer we have seen decisions and much discussion on the new sexual revolution, religious liberty and racial issues. This has left many in the church with their head spinning. We ask, “How do we respond?” I believe that it is not faithful to respond by saying, “everything is falling apart!”. We are American who are dealing with problems in our time and culture. We are no more wicked or better than the generations that preceded us. And at least one generation in the past was worse, remember when God only found one family living for him then He flooded the world!!!!! So things have actually been worse before.

• Understand and believe that God only created one race of humans and only died for one race of humans. I wish I could say that the church and our nation is all healed over racial issues, but the shooting in Charleston, South Caroline recently proved that wrong. The young man had a demonically fueled hatred for those of a different skin color, which breaks my heart, because the Bible does not teach hate for differing skin colors. The Bible makes clear in the verse above that we all came from one race and that Jesus died for one race. 

• Be Prepared to Receive the Sexual Revolution Refugees. The sexual revolution that is before us has placed the church in a unique position. Never before have we been so opposite the culture in our understanding of sexual ethics and expectations. The sad reality is that to chase our own fulfillment through sex or any means in the ends is empty (Ecclesiastes 2:1). We must be prepared to be welcoming but not affirming of those who struggle in these areas. We are called to lead by example a life lived for Christ as the way.

• Remain faithful to what we have been handed down. With the cultural sand shifting beneath our feet, we now find that there will be many more opportunities for persecution than any time in recent memory in the United States. This is not all bad, in our afflictions we will be filling up what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ. We will also see those who are nominal Christians fall away form the church, bring about a purification. As one believer recently told me, “Christians are a lot like tea bags, we are most useful in hot water!”