The Bible is clear that Christians should avoid consulting with psychics, mediums, fortune tellers, and anyone else who claims to have supernatural abilities to predict the future or communicate with the dead. Here is an overview of the Christian perspective on psychics and fortune telling.
Old Testament Warnings Against Occult Practices
The Old Testament contains multiple warnings against occult practices like divination, sorcery, interpreting omens, witchcraft, casting spells, and mediumship. These practices are depicted as detestable to God. Consulting with mediums and spiritists is strictly forbidden (Leviticus 19:31, 20:6, 20:27; Deuteronomy 18:9-14). The prohibition against mediums and spiritists is listed alongside other grievous sins like child sacrifice, bestiality, and incest.
King Saul lost his kingdom because he consulted with a medium, which was an act of unfaithfulness toward God (1 Chronicles 10:13-14). The prophets also frequently warned the people of Israel and Judah against relying on diviners, astrologers, and mediums instead of directly seeking wisdom and guidance from God (Isaiah 8:19-20, 47:13-14; Jeremiah 14:14, 29:8-9; Ezekiel 13:6-9; Micah 3:6-7).
Overall, the Old Testament depicts the occult arts as fraudulent and useless, while also being spiritually dangerous for leading people away from trust in God. Reliance on occult practices indicates unbelief and rebellion against God.
New Testament Condemnation of Sorcery and Magic Arts
The New Testament continues the Old Testament prohibitions against magic arts and divination. Sorcery is included in lists of serious sins like adultery, theft, and idolatry (Acts 19:19; Galatians 5:19-21; Revelation 21:8). When the gospel came to Ephesus, many occult practitioners publically burned their magic books in order to follow Christ (Acts 19:17-19).
The apostle Paul rebuked Elymas the sorcerer for perverting God’s ways and urging others to turn to the occult (Acts 13:6-12). Simon the sorcerer tried to purchase the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit, which led to Peter’s rebuke (Acts 8:9-24). Revelation labels end-time Babylon as the haunt of demons, a prison for unclean spirits, and a place where the magic arts are practiced (Revelation 18:2, 18:23).
The consistent New Testament view is that sorcery, magic, divination and occult practices are incompatible with faithful obedience to Jesus Christ.
Beware of Deceptive Spirits
The New Testament contains warnings about deceptive spirits that promote idolatry and false teachings. John encourages Christians to “test the spirits” to determine if they are from God (1 John 4:1-3). Paul said Satan disguises himself as an angel of light in order to deceive people through counterfeit miracles, signs, and wonders (2 Corinthians 11:14; 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10). The book of Revelation predicts that demonic spirits will perform signs that deceive many people (Revelation 16:13-14).
Christians are exhorted to stay alert and resist the devil, not give him any foothold by participating in demonic deceptions (Ephesians 4:27, 6:10-18; James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8-9). Consulting with mediums and spiritists can open the door to demonic oppression, deception and falsehood.
Our Future is in God’s Hands
Attempting to gain hidden knowledge about the future through psychics stems from a lack of trust in God’s sovereign control. The Bible encourages believers to have faith that God knows and determines the future, so there is no need to seek out mediums. We are to follow Christ each day instead of worrying about tomorrow, since He holds the future in His hands (Matthew 6:25-34).
Rather than visiting psychics, Christians have the prophecies in Scripture to provide insight about the general flow of future events in God’s plan. Specific guidance for our lives comes through prayer and applying biblical wisdom, not psychic predictions. We can take comfort in God’s promises to lead and guide those who follow Him wholeheartedly (Psalm 32:8; Proverbs 3:5-6; Isaiah 30:21; Romans 8:14).
The Dangers of Occult Involvement
In addition to clear biblical prohibitions, several dangers accompany involvement in psychic and occult practices:
- Opens one’s spirit to demonic deception and falsehood
- Leads people away from trust in God’s wisdom and care
- Psychic predictions often fail to materialize leading to disillusionment
- Occult practices tend to gain control over a person’s life
- Reliance on psychics indicates spiritual confusion and lack of faith
- The occult seeks to gain hidden knowledge apart from God’s light and truth
- Practicing divination puts one under God’s judgment
King Manasseh in the Old Testament provides a sobering example of how involvement in the occult brought God’s judgment on the nation of Judah (2 Kings 21:1-6; 2 Chronicles 33:1-6). Consulting with mediums actually cuts people off from true fellowship with the living God.
Psychic Practices Offer Counterfeit Spirituality
Psychics and fortune tellers claim to provide clients with self-understanding, knowledge of the future, and the power to influence circumstances through magical rituals and incantations. However, the salvation and spiritual insight offered by occult practitioners proves deceptive in the end. People end up spiritually oppressed or lost in deception.
By contrast, a relationship with Jesus Christ provides true spiritual liberation and transformation. The Holy Spirit leads believers into God’s life-giving truth that sets people free (John 8:31-32, 14:6; 2 Corinthians 3:17). Rather than chasing after counterfeit spirituality, Christians can pray, read Scripture, worship God, serve others, and join faith communities to experience spiritual growth.
Our Hope is in Eternal Life with Christ
Consulting psychics stems partly from fear of the unknown and a desire to control the future. However, the Bible gives Christians an unshakeable hope in eternal life after death with Christ. We can have assurance of enjoying God’s presence and the glories of heaven for eternity once we put our faith in Christ (John 3:16; 2 Corinthians 5:1-10; 1 John 5:13). This frees Christians from anxiety about the immediate future on earth.
Rather than chasing insights from fortunetellers, believers focus on obeying and glorifying Christ each day knowing our future is secure with Him. Our sovereign God holds the future, so we do not need to resort to occultic sources of guidance and prediction. We have God’s sure promises to guide and sustain us as we walk by faith.
Speak the Truth in Love
When encountering people trapped in deception, Christians should balance speaking the truth with showing grace, patience and love. We should avoid prideful or condemning attitudes, remembering that lost people are deceived and held captive by the father of lies, Satan (2 Timothy 2:24-26).
Praying for people’s salvation and deliverance from spiritual blindness is far more effective than judgmental lecturing. And yet we cannot remain silent or endorse a practice that Scripture clearly prohibits. As you rely on the Holy Spirit and interact with humility and care, the Lord will give you opportunities to share light and truth that can set people free from darkness and deception.
Key Points
Here are some key points summarizing the Christian perspective on psychics and fortune telling:
- The Bible forbids consulting with mediums, spiritists, fortune tellers, and other occult practitioners.
- Involvement in these occult arts leads people away from faith in God.
- Occult practices open one’s life to demonic influences and deception.
- Rather than gaining true insight, psychics provide counterfeit spirituality.
- Our assurance is in God’s promises and eternal life with Christ, not psychic predictions.
- Christians should avoid involvement in psychic or occult practices as contrary to Scripture.
- Believers must share the truth with humility, prayerfulness, and Christlike love.
The occult arts clearly remain a dangerous snare today, just as in biblical times. Christians should steer clear of astrology, fortune telling, séances, tarot cards, spells, spirit guides, and anything else related to magic, divination or communication with the dead. Victory over the deceptive spiritual forces behind these practices comes through faith in Jesus Christ and knowledge of God’s Word.