This week's SRY question takes us in a new, and interesting direction where there are often more questions than answers. The idea of ghosts has been around as long as we can remember. From ghost stories around a campfire to tons of movies, the idea of ghosts has been around for awhile!
From the Bible's perspective this is what we know. Humans are both temporary, and eternal. Humans have a lifespan, and our physical bodies can't last forever. Humans also have a spiritual nature as we are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27) and even though our physical bodies are temporary our spiritual nature (or souls) go on to live forever. I'll answer some questions about heaven and hell in the next few weeks (it was the most asked about subject)
In our culture ghosts are almost always considered to be dead people still trapped, or roaming around the earth on some kind of mission. Ghosts seem to want something from us but never seem to make it very clear what they want. (ever watch the movie Sixth Sense?)
The Bible seems to indicate that after our death we exist immeadiatly in a new reality (heaven or hell) right away. Jesus speaking to a soon to die criminal said, "today you will be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43). Jesus also seems to tell a man that those who are dead do not return to earth and speak with people, even those people they love very much. (Luke 16:19-31) There are a couple of exceptions in the Bible where those long dead have returned to share a message (Moses, Elijah, Samuel) that God wanted them to, but that seems to be by God's direction not the will of the person.
So if ghosts do exist (plenty of complelely sane people insist on seeing them, although I'm not one), then what are they, and what is their purpose? I personally don't think they are the dead trying to communicate with us. I wonder if ghosts aren't the spirit world (demons) using their power to frighten, confuse or fascinate people. Please remember that this is my opinion only and I wish the Bible shared more on it. People today are more fascinated than ever about death, ghosts, and spirits (the TV shows Medium and Ghost Whisperer...Horse Whisperers...Dog Whiperers...what's next!?)
It's possible that the fascination and mystery with ghosts distracts people from understanding the truth about God and the spirit world. The Bible shares a fair bit about angels and demons and the truth of their existance. Do people bother to look at the Bible and read what it says? (maybe some do)
Well gang, in all these things you realize that I probably have as many questions as you have and maybe more. What are your thoughts about this?