Should a Christian go ghost hunting?
I don’t think it’s a good idea to go ghost hunting in places like cemeteries or abandoned buildings for the adventure of it. But a Christian’s purpose is connected to the purpose of Jesus Christ: to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8).
What should Christians do for Halloween evangelism?
Christians should take time to inform the consciences of friends and family with biblical truth regarding God, the Bible, sin, Christ, future judgment, and the hope of eternal life in Jesus Christ for the repentant sinner. There are several different ways Christians will engage in Halloween evangelism.
Why did Christians save pagans from death?
A pagan saved from death may befriend the Christians who saved him, and he may have lost his previous friends from the plague. By saving pagans, Christians not only demonstrated the love of Jesus but also spread social influence. Stark has long found that social networks are essential to religious conversion.
How did early Christians risk their lives to save other people?
They saved children who were left to die (an early form of abortion/infanticide) and they founded the first hospitals. When early Christians risked their lives to save pagans during the plagues, they lived out the teachings of Jesus Christ, providing concrete evidence that their lives had been changed by the Holy Spirit of charity.
What do ghost hunters do?
Ghost hunters use technology and fringe science as they attempt to prove or disprove alleged hauntings of houses and other locations . Some also use occult methods and they bring in psychics, mediums, and channelers to assist with their investigations.
What are EVP devices?
EVP (electronic voice phenomena) recorders, ghost/spirit boxes (modified radios that allegedly can be manipulated by spirits), and electronic speech synthesis devices like the Ovilus should be avoided by Christians. EMF (electromagnetic field) meters probably aren’t an issue, provided they aren’t used to gain information from spirits.
Is ghost hunting a reality show?
I generally take reality shows with a grain of salt, but ghost hunters, also known as paranormal investigators, aren’t limited to television. Groups and societies that specialize in investigating paranormal claims are popping up all over the world. There’s probably at least one of them in your city. Some even claim to be Christian-based.
Can Christians be involved in paranormal investigations?
There may be a place for Christians in the world of paranormal investigation, but no one should get involved just for the thrill of it. Many of us will likely encounter the supernatural, both good and evil, at various points in our lives, but our fascination with it should be grounded in who we are in Christ.
Is the spiritual war between good and evil real?
Rejoice instead that your names are written in heaven (Luke 10:18-20 CEB). The spiritual war between good and evil is real, but getting actively involved with it just for the thrill factor or the entertainment value is never a good idea.
Why did Christianity spread in the face of persecution?
Christianity spread in the face of persecution for many reasons, but in two cases it spread in the midst of deadly plagues — because Christians risked their lives to save others.
Why did early Christians sacrifice their lives to save pagans during the plagues?
When early Christians risked their lives to save pagans during the plagues, they lived out the teachings of Jesus Christ, providing concrete evidence that their lives had been changed by the Holy Spirit of charity. Their sacrifice was a witness to those around them, and it helped spread the gospel by expanding their social networks.
How does basic care reduce mortality?
Even basic care likely powerfully reduced the death rate . As William McNeill pointed out in Plagues and Peoples, even “quite elementary nursing will greatly reduce mortality. Simple provision of food and water, for instance, will allow persons who are temporarily too weak to cope for themselves to recover instead of perishing miserably.” It is entirely plausible that Christian care for the sick would have reduced mortality by as much as two-thirds, Stark argued.
Why did Christians stand out in the second century?
lived countercultural lifestyles. They stood out because they refused to sacrifice to Roman emperors (who were considered gods) and they stood out because they cared for the sick, the orphans, and the widows. They saved children who were left to die (an early form of abortion/infanticide) and they founded the first hospitals.
How many Christians were there after Jesus’ ascension?
Historians have long struggled to understand how a small group of Christians after Jesus’s ascension — Acts puts the numbers at 120 and 5,000 — eventually outnumbered all other faiths in the Roman Empire (with an estimated population of 60 million).
Why is social network important in religious conversion?
While new believers say they are satisfied by true doctrine, friendships with other believers are also essential when it comes to choosing a faith. This is not to say that faith doesn’t matter or that the Holy Spirit is not involved in conversion — the process in each person’s heart is still a mystery — but from a social science standpoint, relationships are key to understanding a person’s decision to publicly identify with a religion.
Where did Bishop Dionysius recount the events of the Cyprian Plague?
Bishop Dionysius recounted the events in Alexandria, Egypt, during the Cyprian Plague: “At the first onset of the disease, they [pagans] pushed the sufferers away and fled from their dearest, throwing them into the roads before they were dead and treated unburied corpses as dirt, hoping thereby to avert the spread and contagion of the fatal disease.”
What does it mean to seek out ghosts?
To seek out ghosts or investigate hauntings is to encourage demonic activity. To dedicate our lives and possessions to God is to place them in His trust. Return to: Truth about Everything Else.
What are the two supernatural forces at work?
There are two supernatural forces at work among us—angels and demons. Angels are bound by God’s direction, and work only for His purpose. Demons prowl about, seeking those they can devour ( 1 Peter 5:8 ). If they can cause more harm by pretending to be the spirits of the dead, they will.
What does it mean when we submit ourselves to God?
As we submit ourselves and our property to God and live in obedience to Him, we acknowledge that our possessions are ultimately His to do with as He pleases. It’s important to remember that there are only two supernatural forces; if we experience something that is not from God, it is from demons.
Where does Jesus say after death?
Jesus’ own words in passages like Luke 16:19-31 and 23:43 show that after death, we go immediately to paradise or torment and cannot leave of our own volition. There are recorded instances of the dead coming back to earth.
Does the Bible mention demons?
The Bible does not mention demonic activity being associated with an object. It’s possible a demon could develop an affinity to an object, thus "cursing" it, but it’s not clear. The Bible does, however, mention that demons can be centered around a specific geographical location.
Who did Daniel fight?
In Daniel 10, an angel mentions to Daniel that he fought the "Prince of Persia. ". This was apparently a demon who was responsible for the area around modern-day Iran. The Bible doesn’t mention if demons are assigned specifically to political entities or if demons can "haunt" any geographical location, such as a house.
What was the purpose of the All Saints Eve ritual?
The intent was to counter pagan influences and provide a Christian alternative. But most often the church only succeeded in "Christianizing" a pagan ritual—the ritual was still pagan, but mixed with Christian symbolism. That’s what happened to All Saints Eve—it was the original Halloween alternative!
How much money will Halloween bring in?
Halloween will bring in approximately $8 billion this year. It’s a good bet retailers won’t entertain high expectations of getting $79.82 per household from the Christian market. Many Christians refuse to participate in Halloween.
How can Christians protect their children?
Christian parents can protect their children by keeping them well-supervised and restricting treat consumption to those goodies received from trusted sources. Third, Christians should respond to Halloween with gospel compassion. The unbelieving, Christ-rejecting world lives in perpetual fear of death.
Why were pagan holidays so entrenched?
Pagan holidays and festivals were so entrenched that new converts found them to be a stumbling block to their faith. To deal with the problem, the organized church would commonly move a distinctively Christian holiday to a spot on the calendar that would directly challenge a pagan holiday.
Why is Halloween called "Halloween"?
The name "Halloween" comes from the All Saints Day celebration of the early Christian church, a day set aside for the solemn remembrance of the martyrs. All Hallows Eve, the evening before All Saints Day, began the time of remembrance. "All Hallows Eve" was eventually contracted to "Hallow-e’en," which became "Halloween.".
What did the occultists believe about spirits?
They believed spirits were earthbound until they received a proper sendoff with treats—possessions, wealth, food, and drink.
What does Deuteronomy 18 say about spirits?
In fact, they denounced their former pagan spiritism in accord with Deuteronomy 18: There shall not be found among you anyone…who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead.
How to remind yourself of Jesus?
Regularly forgiving others unconditionally is one way to remind ourselves of how Jesus gave his life so that we could be forgiven. But forgiveness takes daily work. By the end of each day, try to have taken steps towards forgiving anyone who has angered, annoyed or upset you.
What does God’s word provide?
God’s word provides the blocks upon which we build our faith so it’s essential that we continually familiarise ourselves with it. Don’t be put off if you can’t read or meditate over extensive chunks in one go, a shorter verse can have as much an impact.
Why is routine important?
Routine is essential if we’re to develop a strong and substantial faith and relationship with Christ.
What is the daily routine of a Christian?
A Christ-honouring daily routine: 5 things every Christian can do every day. ’You’ll never change your life until you change something you do daily.’. John C Maxwell. When it comes to faith, we can find ourselves craving spontaneity – an unexpected intervention from God, a sudden surge of enthusiasm to tell a stranger about Jesus …
Review
Relatable. Fresh. Freeing. Saving the Saved is a brilliant book that reminds us of the truth that we are in need of a Savior, not a system. If you have ever felt like you can’t be good enough or can’t check off enough boxes, then you need to read this book.
About the Author
Bryan Loritts is the lead pastor of Abundant Life Christian Fellowship in Silicon Valley. A graduate of Cairn University (formerly Philadelphia College of Bible) and Talbot School of Theology, Bryan Loritts was recently voted one of the top thirty emerging Christian leaders.
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.