“There are no such things as ghosts.” That’s what I was told as a child. But don’t we Christians believe in the possibility of spirits being separated from bodies? After all, we remember Jesus’ words to the thief on the cross: “Today you shall be with Me in Paradise (Luke 23:43). We therefore understand that, while our bodies may rest in our graves until the return of Christ, the souls of those who trust in Him enter His presence when we die.

And the fact that even after his death, Samuel’s spirit was able to speak with Saul proves this to be true. Moreover, this passage makes it clear that, at least on this one occasion, a living person was in fact able to get in touch with the spirit of someone who has died. For this was no phony performance. No, when the medium made contact with the spirit of Samuel, Saul’s identity was suddenly revealed to her (verse 12) – she could only have gained such insight from Samuel, even after he was dead.

So, as Halloween approaches, what should we Christians believe and teach about the spirit world? Well, the reason that Saul had “removed” all the spiritists and mediums from his kingdom (verses 3 and 9) is because the Law of Moses specifically directed him to do this: “There shall not be found among you … a medium or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead” (Deuteronomy 18:10-11). And why not? Because, instead of seeking guidance from the spirit world, God’s people were to listen only to a prophet that God would send to them. And why? Because God said, “I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him (Deuteronomy 18:15, 18).

So while the spirit world is quite real, Christians simply have no need to communicate with departed spirits for guidance or help. For we have the Word of God given to us by the prophets and apostles to show us the way to live. And because Jesus is our Great High Priest, we can pray to the Father in the power of the Holy Spirit whenever we need protection or direction. We thus have no need to meddle around with the spirit world – so we should steer clear of it.

I Samuel 28:1-15a

Now it came about in those days that the Philistines gathered their armed camps for war, to fight against Israel. And Achish said to David, “Know assuredly that you will go out with me in the camp, you and your men.”
2 And David said to Achish, “Very well, you shall know what your servant can do.” So Achish said to David, “Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for life.”
3 Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him and buried him in Ramah his own city. And Saul had removed from the land those who were mediums and spiritists.
4 So the Philistines gathered together and came and camped in Shunem; and Saul gathered all Israel together and they camped in Gilboa.
5 When Saul saw the camp of the Philistines, he was afraid and his heart trembled greatly.
6 When Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD did not answer him, either by dreams or by Urim or by prophets.
7 Then Saul said to his servants, “Seek for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.” And his servants said to him, “Behold, there is a woman who is a medium at En-dor.”
8 Then Saul disguised himself by putting on other clothes, and went, he and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night; and he said, “Conjure up for me, please, and bring up for me whom I shall name to you.”
9 But the woman said to him, “Behold, you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off those who are mediums and spiritists from the land. Why are you then laying a snare for my life to bring about my death?”
10 And Saul vowed to her by the LORD, saying, “As the LORD lives, there shall no punishment come upon you for this thing.”
11 Then the woman said, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” And he said, “Bring up Samuel for me.”
12 When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice; and the woman spoke to Saul, saying, “Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul.”
13 And the king said to her, “Do not be afraid; but what do you see?” And the woman said to Saul, “I see a divine being coming up out of the earth.”
14 And he said to her, “What is his form?” And she said, “An old man is coming up, and he is wrapped with a robe.” And Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and did homage.
15 Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?”