Are Ghosts Real?

Sure, you can sit in your bed, slowly pull the covers over your head, and tell yourself, "There's no such thing as ghosts. There's no such thing as ghosts," but just saying something over and over again doesn't make it true. Nothing ever becomes reality, simply by repeating it alone. We, as human beings, have very little control over reality. However, we, as believers, know who does control reality. God spoke the earth into existence (Genesis 1:6-8), so only He can speak something and really make it reality. So, what do God's words (God's spoken reality) say about ghosts?

There are a couple of different ways of thinking about ghosts, but the most common way is to think of ghosts as being the spectres of dead people that roam along the earth. These spectres do not have the same understanding of the world around them as the living do, and they typically have trouble communicating with those to whom they appear. So, does the Bible, God's Word, show there are disembodied spirits of the dead that can roam the earth?

Let's take a look at a story that at first glance appears to confirm there are such things as ghosts. In 1 Samuel chapter 28 king Saul asks a witch if she can "consult a spirit," so that he can speak with the dead prophet Samuel. The witch tries to bring up the spirit of Samuel. "When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out at the top of her voice," clearly shocked at the results of her witchcraft (1 Samuel 28:12). Saul asked her what she was seeing, and the witch responded, "I see a ghostly figure coming up out of the earth...An old man wearing a robe is coming up," (1 Samuel 28:13-14). It's interesting that Samuel is wearing clothes, and is described as looking like an old man (Something I imagine is hard to do, if you don't have a body or flesh on your body). Upon hearing what the witch said, and seeing for himself, "Saul knew it was Samuel, and he bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground," (1 Samuel 28:14). At this point Samuel speaks, but he doesn't groan or growl like ghosts in fiction tend to do. Samuel clearly says to Saul, "Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?...Why do you consult me, now that the Lord has departed from you and become your enemy?" (1 Samuel 28:15-16). This old man appears to be very aware of to whom he's speaking, and aware of his and God's relation to him.

Saul may have confronted a witch, but you
should not follow his example (1 Chronicles 10:13)

What we see in this text in light of the ghost-stories many of us have heard seems to imply that the prophet Samuel appeared before king Saul and the witch as a ghost, however further examination reveals this is not true. In this passage we see a dead man appeared before the living and seemed to be like a ghost. Unlike a spectre, Samuel was fully cognizant, capable of intelligible speech and aware of with whom he was speaking. He also wore clothes, had a body and had flesh. In addition to this, take note of how the author of this text always refers to Samuel as "Samuel" and not "Samuel's ghost," or "Samuel's spirit."

Now, let's take a look at another text in Scripture where people saw what they also believed was a ghost. In the gospel of Mark in chapter 6 the disciples were at sea caught in a terrible storm. Jesus was not with His disciples at the time. He was back on shore, but He saw His disciples struggling against the storm. "Shortly before dawn He went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, but when they saw Him walking on the lake, they thought He was a ghost. They cried out," (Mark 6:48-49). Upon seeing how terrified His disciples were, Jesus said, "Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid," and then "He climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. [The disciples] were completely amazed," (Mark 6:51).

"What kind of man is this? Even the winds
and the waves obey him!" (Matthew 8:27)

There are a lot of similarities between these two passages. The disciples and the witch cried out at the sight of someone they thought was a ghost. The person they thought was a ghost is never referred to as a ghost, by the author. Both Samuel and Jesus have bodies, are fully cognizant, capable of intelligible speech and aware of with whom they are speaking. It seems that just because a person may call something a ghost does not necessarily mean that it is one, especially not if God doesn't call it a ghost. When people who are dead appear before the living on earth in the Bible, these events are described exactly as they sound; dead people in physical and real bodies appearing before the living on earth.

Biblically speaking, there's no such thing as ghosts (the spirits of the dead roaming the earth). We can rest assured in Jesus's words that those who believe in Him and then die are carried by the angels up to God's presence (Luke 16:22). They don't make any detours. Also, nothing in all of creation will ever be able to seperate those who are in God from Him (Romans 8:38-39). Those who do not believe in Christ are buried and are sent to hell (Luke 16:23). The dead tend to stay dead, and if anything about that changes it is because of the Lord. It is God who can raise the dead, and He holds the keys to death itself, (Revelation 1:18).

So, the next time you're in your bedroom alone on a dark night, and you're afraid ghosts are going to get you, believe you don't have to be afraid. In fact, you don't have to be afraid, even if you think there are monsters under your bed, skeletons in your closet, phantoms in your attic or elephants in your room. The reason why is because there is a spirit (yes, a ghost, surprisingly) with you. After Jesus ascended into Heaven away from the earth, He sent down a spirit (the Holy spirit) to strengthen and lift up His disciples (John 15:26). God has sent His Holy Ghost to comfort you and help you. The Holy Spirit has been given to all of those who obey and earnestly seek Christ (Acts 5:32). We, as believers, have nothing to fear because "the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline," (2 Timothy 1:7). Pulling a bed sheet over your head can't give you lasting courage, but the Holy Ghost will give you the strength you need to overcome all your fears for Christ's glory.

You're my hope, You're my peace

Ironic in a way

I'm no longer afraid

And the Ghost is to blame

- MercyMe

Sources

• The Bible (New International Version)
• Got Questions: Ghosts/Hauntings
• Never Forsaken Painting: Abraham Hunter
• MercyMe:Ghost