Spiritualism

[Teri Mc]

I correspond with inmates at Waupun correctional facility that want to write and learn about christianity. Anyway I recieved a letter yesturday from a guy that claims he is a spiritualist. He doesn't really go into what that is, except to say it is not wiccan and he is into the metaphysical. I would like to know what this is before I respond to him. He also believes in a divine creator but thinks he is far removed from us. Sometimes those of us on the list get letters from people who just want someone to write to, and sometimes from those who want to convert us. But needless to say all are in the mission field and I would like to give an intelligent response. He also says he is well versed in scripture. So any ideas, I would appreciate it.

Love in Christ

Teri

[Knight]

I'm not sure what manner of "spiritualism" this person is referring to. It sounds a little like the New Age movement. I will research this and get back to you.

[Knight]

Ok, I guess that didn't take as long as I thought it would. I found a website which illustrates the beliefs of spiritualism. (Sorry about the long post.)

Spiritualism ... What is it?

An Introduction to Spiritualism

Spiritualism is a way of life. It combines philosophy, science and religion. it covers a very wide field, and, therefore, you cannot expect to understand it without a certain amount of study. Spiritualists mainly agree on seven principles:

The fatherhood of God.

The brotherhood of man.

The communion of spirits and the ministry of angels.

The continuous existence of the human soul.

Personal responsibility.

Compensation and retribution hereafter for all good and evil deeds done on earth.

The primary object of Spiritualism today is to prove the survival of human personality after death. Death is the doorway to a new and wider life. From the day of our birth we each have two bodies, the material or earthly body, which can be seen, and the spiritual body, which is unseen during life but is a counterpart of our earthly body. These two bodies are linked by a cord. In similar fashion, before birth a baby is joined to its mother by a cord. When it is born the cord must be cut.

When we die, the cord linking our two bodies is severed. The material body returns to the earth whence it came, and the spiritual body becomes the vehicle of our spirit. We are spirit here and now - we don't have to wait until death to become spirit. Death, as a rule seems like sleep - there is no pain. When we awake, conditions seem much the same to us as before we "died." We take with us into the beyond no material possessions, such as clothes or money; they are no longer needed. But we do take our character and our individuality. In every way we are the same individuals immediately after death as before, with all our faults and virtues.

The home that awaits us in the spirit world depends upon the life we have led on earth. If we have honestly tried to do the best we can, then we need have no fear of death. We have fitted ourselves for the result which is automatic, a better, happier life where we are reunited with our loved ones and friends.

If, on the other hand, there has been more selfishness than goodness and service in our lives, we will automatically have to pay the price. This is part of the law of sowing and reaping, which is only another way of saying that effect must follow cause. It is perfectly summarised in the sixth principle which says that hereafter there is compensation and retribution for all the good and evil done on earth.

Acts of service that we have performed will naturally increase our spiritual status. Sins of omission or commission will just as naturally retard it. There is, however, no hell in which its inhabitants are condemned for eternity. Once self-realization dawns and the soul is ready to advance, there are enlightened spiritual beings who will show the way to progress.

The practical application of Spiritualism is the supreme necessity for all of us to lead the best kind of life we can on earth; to practice qualities of compassion and kindness, and to give service wherever we can.

Heaven and hell are really states of mind, not geographical locations. Even here we can live in heaven or in hell, the choice is ours. The world we inhabit after death is not far away up in the sky. It is round and about us, interpenetrating the world in which we now live. Those we have "loved and lost awhile" are not in some far-off, inaccessible place, seated on pink clouds at the right hand of God and playing harps. Very often, they are close by our side, striving to help and guide us, and loving us just as they did before passing.

The evidence reveals that love, like life, is stronger than death. It is love that proves to be the compelling force, striving to break down the barriers, which man in his ignorance has created, between this world and what is called the next, in order to achieve spirit communication. Often there is grief on both sides of the veil. There are the tears shed over loved ones who have died and the grief they experience when they try to reach us but fail to make their presence known.

There are many spheres of existence that are invisible to us because they function in a different manner from earth. Millions of vibrations of sight fail to be registered because they are beyond the scope of our eyes.

Microphones and radio receivers enable us to hear what is normally beyond the range of our ears. The telescope and television will bring into focus what is beyond our vision. The inhabitants of the spirit world are very real even though we cannot see or hear them.

There are, however, highly sensitive individuals who have developed their innate natural psychic faculties with the result that they can tune in to the spirit world and its denizens. These human television and radio sets are mediums. They become the agents through whom spirit communication is achieved.

There is nothing "supernatural" about this happening, though it is "supernormal." Everything in the universe is in accordance with natural laws. They were devised by God and God is perfect. If it was God's will that we should be ignorant about His natural laws then we would know nothing about them.

God is not only perfect but all-powerful. God is spirit. He is not an old man with a long white beard who sits on a throne in heaven. To picture God as a human being is to impose limitations. Were He human He could not be in all places at once, neither could he hear every prayer.

God is not a person but the creative universal spirit. Wherever there is life there is spirit, and wherever there is spirit there is life. We exist because a spark of divinity is within each one of us. This is a divine relationship in which God is our father and we are all His children.

We can, by our lives, fan the spark into a flame so that a greater expression of divinity is made known through us. The result will be to sustain, uplift and help us in our spiritual development. And we have the free will to reject and ignore the spark of divinity. The result is that we fail to make the progress we should and deny ourselves the beauty that life has to offer.

We do not believe in a vicarious atonement as preached in some orthodox religions. We regard Jesus as an exemplar, not a saviour. Man has no saviour but himself. We are each personally responsible for our sins and must atone for them here or hereafter. It is far more moral to acknowledge our sins and try to make amends than to try to place them on the shoulders of another. We believe that Jesus was divine, but only in the sense that we are all divine. There is a difference of degree but not of kind.

We also believe, as the Bible states, that Jesus developed his psychic faculties and was a supreme master of spiritual law. Moreover he was in close touch with the spirit world and demonstrated his survival after his death. His teaching of brotherhood, love, humility and service is the basis of Spiritualism as we know it today.

We do not claim to know everything - no one does. Knowledge is infinite and we shall always be learning. What we do maintain is that we have caught a glimmer of truth. It inspires us to search for more, rejecting anything that does not appeal to our God-given reason and accepting that which is logical and uplifting.

What makes Spiritualism unique is the evidence of survival after death that is obtainable through mediumship. Whereas most religions preach an after-life as a hope, faith or belief, we maintain that any reasonable person can prove it for himself. We do not ask you to believe what we say. What we do suggest is that you take the time to study the many books and literature on the subject and then come to your own informed conclusions.

Needless to say this is another works based belief system. They claim that eternal paradise can be earned by works while denying the deity of Christ. I could make a long list of the other problems with this belief but these two are the core. It sounds like this person needs a good dose of New Testament Truth. The good news is that they apparently believe in God. Or at least the concept of a supreme being. That gives you a starting point.

May the Lord bless your witness to this person. His will be done.

[Guest Jipsah]

We regard Jesus as an exemplar, not a saviour. Man has no saviour but himself. We are each personally responsible for our sins and must atone for them here or hereafter. It is far more moral to acknowledge our sins and try to make amends than to try to place them on the shoulders of another. We believe that Jesus was divine, but only in the sense that we are all divine. There is a difference of degree but not of kind.

[Teri Mc]

Thanks guys. Isn't it amazing how nicely these other religions cloak themselves. Back in my hey day I would have bought right into this stuff.

Love in Christ

Teri

[For Him Alone]

Teri, sounds like you have a golden opportunity to introduce this inmate to the Lord!!  :thumb:

My prayers are with you--pray that the Spirit guide your responses and watch the magic happen!

[Guest EPHRIAM777]

He also says he is well versed in scripture. So any ideas, I would appreciate it.

Love in Christ

Teri

Stay away from him...Unless he wants to turn from that and TO Christ...

Don't debate scripture with him either..IF he knows scripture he shouldn't be messing with that type stuff...!

Knowing "the way" is different than reading about "the way"...!

[WISDOM]

He also says he is well versed in scripture. So any ideas, I would appreciate it.

Love in Christ

Teri

Stay away from him...Unless he wants to turn from that and TO Christ...

Don't debate scripture with him either..IF he knows scripture he shouldn't be messing with that type stuff...!

Knowing "the way" is different than reading about "the way"...!

Excellent advice E777!  

I was going to post something similar to you Teri.  As a matter of fact I was going to email you and say it, but E777's post was timely (and done before I got home from work).  Stay away from debating with this guy.  I use to deal with their types on the old Jack Van Impe Messageboard (JVIM).  Knight gave you some very good information.  Here is a bit more from some of my old notes:

It has existed since Babylon, Phoenicia, and Egypt.  They deny a personal GOD (JEHOVAH).  They believe in Satan as their god and father.  They believe CHRIST "spiritually" arose, NOT bodily!

They DENY the vicarious sacrifice of CHRIST (atonement).  They deny the fall of man.  They deny the truth of the Bible (hate it!!).  They also deny a literal, conscience hell, and believe that all spirits are the souls of those from here.

They have a strong belief in sorcery, witchcraft (regardless what he told you about the "wicca"....and place STRONG EMPHASIS on the zodiac, seances, palm reading, "esp" (extra sensory perception), ouiji boards, crystal balls, "tea leaves reading", magic, divination, sorcery, scientology.  Yes, they're VERY "New Age".

[Teri Mc]

You guys I wouldn't pass up the oportunity to share Christ with this person. If we don't tell others about Jesus then who is in the missionfield. Here in the states most people have heard scripture but not in a way that comes alive for them. My usual approach is to research where they are coming from and showing them why it doesn't work. I just finished a long letter to him and with the Holy Spirit as a guide it came out well. Working with inmates is probably one of the easier to persuade as their belief system did not keep them out of where they are. I'm curious why would I not respond to this individual? I'm on the list at the prison just for this purpose and it has had great results. In my letter I did not use scripture but what usually happens is they in their desire to be right have to read it again to dispute it. Put a little prayer into the mix and whoops they start to get it. Anyway the lead on spiritualism was great and it was one of the easier theory to take down. So thanks Knight.

Love in Christ

Teri

[gepeto]

My friend do not be afraid of this guy. You have the truth and he does not. You may be the only Jesus he ever comes into contact with. We are told to go into all the world and proclaim the word of God. Read 2 Timothy 2:15 "Do your best to present yourself to God as one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. Be sure you are ready to share with him and don't compromise on the word. There is a time to go forth but you must be ready to face what you may encounter.