Necromancy
Necromancy
There was a book written some time ago by Ricky Joyner in which he claimed that in a series of visions he among other things, talked to saints who had died. Isn't this necromancy? I think that he justified it by saying that Moses and Elijah appeared with Jesus, both of which were dead, and Samuel, though dead, appeared to Saul. "God is not a god of the dead, but of the living and all are alive to Him" is another verse that is used to justify talking to the dead. Is that the correct interpretation of that verse, and is necromancy only forbidden then for consultation or from getting advice form the pagan dead?
Last edited by Guest on Wed Dec 31, 1969 7:00 pm, edited 0 times in total.
Reason:
Reason:
When God forbid necromancy (communication with the dead), He includes it in a list of other occult practices (Deut.9-12/ cf.Isa.8:19). From this fact we might deduce one of two conclusions: 1) God considers communication with the dead to be a strictly occult, pagan practice; or 2) God only objects to communication with dead people when it is done as an occult practice.
Any attempt to contact a person who has died, by whatever means, would seem to be a variation of forbidden necromancy. Saul did this when he sought to speak to the dead Samuel, and he was severely punished for doing so (1 Chron.10:13). It is unclear whether praying to the dead saints (as Roman Catholics believe in doing) would fall into this category. It might not, since the Catholic practice does not seek any two-way communication with the dead, as they expect no audible response to their prayers. However, the practice of praying to the saints is vain, since the saints are not omnipresent, and cannot be expected to hear the prayers of Catholics around the world, who may be simultaneously praying to them.
Jesus was not seeking to contact Moses and Elijah. We are simply told that He was praying (He only prayed to God) at the time they were sent. This was something initiated by God, not Jesus, and Rick Joyner's visions (if authentic) might also fall into the same category. Though we are forbidden to attempt contact with those who have died, God is free to initiate such contact, if He wishes.
I don't mean to credit Joyner's claims. I have not always agreed with him on a number of subjects in the past, and am not convinced that he is a prophet. However, even if I have some suspicions about him on other grounds, I do not know that we could blame him if God were to initiate a vision to him, in which he conversed with people from the past.
Any attempt to contact a person who has died, by whatever means, would seem to be a variation of forbidden necromancy. Saul did this when he sought to speak to the dead Samuel, and he was severely punished for doing so (1 Chron.10:13). It is unclear whether praying to the dead saints (as Roman Catholics believe in doing) would fall into this category. It might not, since the Catholic practice does not seek any two-way communication with the dead, as they expect no audible response to their prayers. However, the practice of praying to the saints is vain, since the saints are not omnipresent, and cannot be expected to hear the prayers of Catholics around the world, who may be simultaneously praying to them.
Jesus was not seeking to contact Moses and Elijah. We are simply told that He was praying (He only prayed to God) at the time they were sent. This was something initiated by God, not Jesus, and Rick Joyner's visions (if authentic) might also fall into the same category. Though we are forbidden to attempt contact with those who have died, God is free to initiate such contact, if He wishes.
I don't mean to credit Joyner's claims. I have not always agreed with him on a number of subjects in the past, and am not convinced that he is a prophet. However, even if I have some suspicions about him on other grounds, I do not know that we could blame him if God were to initiate a vision to him, in which he conversed with people from the past.
Last edited by Guest on Wed Dec 31, 1969 7:00 pm, edited 0 times in total.
Reason:
Reason:
In Jesus,
Steve
Steve