Channeling is the practice of purportedly communicating with spirits or entities from other realms or dimensions. It involves someone (the channeler) going into a trance state and allowing themselves to be used as a vessel for these entities to speak through them. The entities being channeled can range from angels and spirit guides to extraterrestrials, nature spirits, or even the dead. Channeling has become quite popular in New Age and occult circles.
The Bible contains several verses that directly address practices like channeling. Let’s take a look at what God’s Word says about this topic:
1. Channeling is an abomination to God
In Deuteronomy 18:9-12, God specifically warns the Israelites not to partake in spiritism, witchcraft, or sorcery. He considers these practices “detestable” and an “abomination.” Verse 11 mentions those who “cast spells” and verse 12 talks about those who “practice sorcery” or “consult spirits.” The original Hebrew words used here refer to attempting to communicate with the dead and spirit beings. God makes it abundantly clear that He despises these sorts of practices.
“When you come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord. And because of these abominations the Lord your God is driving them out before you.” (Deuteronomy 18:9-12)
2. Channeling opens one up to demonic deception
One of the main issues with channeling is that there is no way to verify the true identities of the spirits being contacted. These entities often claim to be angels, spirit guides, the dead, or even Jesus Christ himself. However, the Bible warns us that Satan and demons are deceivers who can appear as “angels of light” in order to lead people astray (2 Corinthians 11:14).
When channelers make contact with the spirit world, they are exposing themselves to demonic forces that specialize in deception and counterfeiting. These demons can cunningly mask themselves as benevolent helpers or even departed loved ones. But their true agenda is to deceive people and draw them away from God and toward occult bondage.
“And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.” (2 Corinthians 11:14-15)
3. We are not to attempt to communicate with the dead
Some people are drawn to channeling as a way to communicate with deceased friends or family members. However, the Bible explicitly prohibits trying to contact the dead. Passages like Deuteronomy 18 and Isaiah 8:19 make it clear that God considers mediums and those who “inquire of the dead” to be engaged in abominable practices.
In the story of the witch of Endor (1 Samuel 28), King Saul desperately asked a medium to call up the deceased prophet Samuel. While Samuel did appear, the story paints Saul’s actions in a negative light. His inquiring of the dead was an act of outright rebellion against God. This passage demonstrates that any supernatural information obtained from the dead does not override what God has already revealed in His Word.
“And when they say to you, “Inquire of the mediums and the necromancers who chirp and mutter,” should not a people inquire of their God? Should they inquire of the dead on behalf of the living?” (Isaiah 8:19)
4. Channelers place their trust in spirits rather than God
As Christians, the Bible tells us to rely on the Holy Spirit for guidance, insight, and discernment – not disembodied spirits that we know nothing about (1 John 4:1-3). When someone chooses to place their trust in channeled entities over the counsel of God’s Word, it is a form of idolatry. They are elevating the advice of unknown spirits over the eternal truth found in Scripture.
Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us to trust in the Lord completely and not lean on our own understanding. But channeling is the opposite of trusting in God; it shows a lack of faith in God’s ability to help, heal, and communicate with us directly.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)
5. Channeling can open one up to spiritual attacks
In addition to deception, channeling can also open people up to direct spiritual attacks and harassment. When engaging in spirit communication, one loses spiritual protection and becomes vulnerable to anything from mild oppression to full-blown demonic possession (see Mark 5, Luke 4:33-36).
The Bible indicates that spirits channeled through mediums are often “unclean” or demonic spirits that can enter and control those who give them access (Luke 8:29). Even in the case of King Saul, an “evil spirit from the LORD” began to torment him after he disobeyed God and consulted with a medium (1 Samuel 16:14-23).
Rather than obsessively seeking supernatural experiences through channeling, Christians are called to stay sober-minded and vigilant against our adversary the devil who prowls around like a lion seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8-9).
6. Channeling can become spiritually addictive
While channelers often start out casually, the practice can become addictive over time. Many ex-channelers have reported sensing the presence of spirits wanting to speak through them outside of formal channeling sessions. The allure of supernatural power and hidden knowledge drives people to seek more and more contact.
This spiritual addiction can severely damage one’s relationship with God. His Word tells us to avoid even the appearance of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22), yet channeling deepens one’s involvement with demonic spirits. It is difficult for the Holy Spirit to minister to someone who is obsessed with communicating with unknown entities.
7. Channeling glorifies spirits rather than God
The Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit will only glorify Jesus Christ in our lives, not bring glory to Himself (John 16:14). But channeled spirits invariably seek to draw attention to themselves rather than point people to the Lord. Even if they claim to be Jesus or angels, their focus is on sharing esoteric spiritual wisdom rather than convicting people of sin or teaching them to follow God’s Word.
Glorifying any spirit being other than the true God is dangerous from a biblical perspective. We are told repeatedly to place our faith in God alone and not be led astray by false gods, prophets, or teachers – regardless of the supernatural feats they perform (Deuteronomy 13:1-4).
8. Channeling appeals to our sinful desire for hidden knowledge
A driving motivation behind channeling is the desire to obtain secret or advanced spiritual knowledge from these entities. However, the Bible warns against chasing after mystery knowledge as Eve did in the garden when she ate the forbidden fruit, hoping to gain new wisdom. The apostle Paul also warned Timothy to avoid “contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge” (1 Timothy 6:20).
As Christians, we are called to renew our minds with the open truth of God’s Word, not chase after secret or forbidden insights through spirit communication (Romans 12:2). Any truth these entities reveal can likely also be found in Scripture, minus the dangerous deceptions they seek to interweave.
9. We have the Holy Spirit to guide and teach us
As born-again believers, we have access to the Holy Spirit who Jesus called the “Spirit of Truth” (John 14:17). He guides us into all truth and teaches us all things, directly convicting our hearts without any need for a trance or channeling state (John 14:26, John 16:13).
We do not need to seek direction from unknown entities when we have the Holy Spirit actively ministering to our spirits. His still small voice brings wisdom, clarity, and discernment in accordance with the Scriptures. Any counsel from channeled spirits will only serve to confuse, mislead, or dilute the pure wisdom He seeks to impart.
10. Channeling undermines faith in the sufficiency of Scripture
At its root, channeling contradicts biblical teachings on the sufficiency of God’s Word. Passages like 2 Timothy 3:16-17 tell us Scripture is “breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
We do not need to look outside of the Bible for additional spiritual guidance and insight. God’s Word contains everything we need for life and godliness. Consulting spirits through channeling implies that the Bible is not enough and must be supplemented.
Rather than seeking hidden teachings, our focus should remain on studying the Scriptures which God has already provided to thoroughly equip us for every good work.
Conclusion
In summary, the practice of channeling clearly goes against biblical teachings. While it may seem exciting and spiritually powerful, channeling is actually spiritually dangerous. At its core, it represents a denial of God’s sufficiency and an embrace of deceptive spirits.
Rather than looking to channeled entities for guidance, wisdom, or supernatural experiences – we as believers must keep our eyes fixed on Jesus Christ as revealed in Scripture (Hebrews 12:2). We can be confident that the Holy Spirit will lead us into all truth if we faithfully abide in God’s Word.