Spiritualism is the belief that the spirits of the dead can communicate with the living, usually through a medium. The Bible does not endorse this belief but rather warns against it. Here is an overview of what the Bible says about spiritualism:
Attempting to contact the dead is forbidden
The Bible prohibits trying to contact the spirits of dead people. Passages like Deuteronomy 18:10-12 forbid many of the practices associated with spiritualism, such as sorcery, witchcraft, spell-casting, mediumship, and consulting the dead. 1 Chronicles 10:13-14 indicates that King Saul died because he disobeyed God by consulting a medium. The book of Leviticus gives reasons why contacting the dead is forbidden:
I am the Lord your God…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)
God wants His people to rely on Him rather than seeking supernatural guidance from the spirit realm.
Supernatural knowledge comes from God
Spiritualists believe the dead have access to supernatural knowledge. But the Bible teaches that omniscience belongs to God alone. Consulting spirits for secret information is arrogantly attempting to rob God of His divine prerogative.
For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor? (Romans 11:34)
Do you not know? Do you not hear? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to dwell in. (Isaiah 40:21-22)
God may choose to reveal hidden things to His followers, but not through forbidden spiritualistic activities. Divine secrets come through prayer, Scripture, godly counsel, and the inner working of the Holy Spirit.
Supernatural power belongs to God
The supposed supernatural feats of spiritualist mediums are not from God. When Pharaoh’s sorcerers seemed to match some of Moses’ miracles, they did so by demonic power, not from the true and living God (Exodus 7:11, 22). Spiritualists may think they channel divine energy, but the Bible associates mediumship with dark spiritual forces.
The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders. (2 Thessalonians 2:9)
Miraculous displays by spiritualist mediums do not prove the involvement of the Holy Spirit. Satan and his minions have power for counterfeit signs and wonders.
Spiritualists cannot actually summon the dead
The spirits that respond during seances are not souls of the deceased. Jesus taught that after death God’s people go to heaven (Philippians 1:23) and the ungodly go to Hades (Luke 16:23), and there is a great chasm separating the two (Luke 16:26). The dead cannot freely traverse this divide.
The spirits contacted by mediums are likely demons posing as departed loved ones. The Bible warns that Satan disguises himself as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14) and that demons propagate false doctrines through deceitful spirits (1 Timothy 4:1). Mediums are deceived into thinking they talk to the dead when in reality they consort with demons.
Jesus has power over the spirit world
Spiritualism fails to recognize Jesus Christ’s absolute authority over the spirit realm. Jesus has power to summon angels (Matthew 26:53) and to cast out demons with a word (Mark 1:25-26). He healed people of illnesses caused by demon possession (Matthew 12:22, 17:14-18). He rose from dead, conquering death forever and proving all who trust in Him will also resurrect (1 Corinthians 15). Jesus’ supremacy over the spirit world is total. His name causes demons to tremble and flee (James 2:19). No séance can disturb or summon someone protected by Christ’s sovereign power.
The Holy Spirit guides believers
Spiritualism offers counterfeit guidance from the spirit realm. But Christians have access to the guidance of the Holy Spirit who lives in their hearts (Romans 8:9, 26-27) and reveals God’s wisdom to those who seek it (Ephesians 1:17). Trusting the Holy Spirit for supernatural guidance allows believers to close the door on demonic spiritualistic deception.
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. (John 16:13)
Test the spirits
The Bible warns that many false prophets have gone out into the world (1 John 4:1). Therefore Christians must test any spirit that is not the Holy Spirit. Spirits promoting ideas contrary to Scripture or glorifying anything other than Jesus Christ are false, demonic spirits (1 Corinthians 12:3). Spiritualists who attribute power to any other spirit are under deception.
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. (1 John 4:1)
No one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:3)
Avoid spiritualism
In summary, the Bible clearly warns against all forms of spiritualism. Attempting to contact the dead is forbidden, along with conjuring supernatural knowledge, power or phenomena from any spiritual source other than the Holy Spirit. Jesus alone has absolute power and authority in the spiritual realm. Rather than opening the door to demonic deceit through spiritualism, Christians are to rely on the guidance of the Holy Spirit who lives within all believers.