It can be very enticing when someone claims to have special power, knowledge, access to secrets. And when that person ties such a “gift” to God or the Bible, even Christians may consider that source to be spiritually sound.
Let’s think further by looking at a couple of books written by the famous psychic Sylvia Browne (1936–2013; hereafter referred to as SB). Note that her communication with “the other side” also makes her a medium, technically. Most of what follows here would apply to assorted psychics/mediums. I’m noting specific pages of SB’s books as documentation. The books are: The Other Side and Back (hereafter called Other) and Past Lives, Future Healing (called Past).
A cursory frolic through the pages soon explained the public’s attraction: (1) There are many claims of SB’s super-knowledge—past, present, and future. Of course, we want answers! And (2) There’s much fluffy religious wording that feels good, that assures us we’re all OK spiritually.
Here are some specifics from the two books:
- SB thinks she was born with the “gift,” that her family has a 300-year psychic legacy. Her psychic grandma, in particular, mentored/encouraged her (Past, p 12). But we should remember that some people might be exposed to occult subjection simply because others invited the darkness into the home. If they don’t recognize it as such—and renounce it—they’re likely to be drawn in deeper. Then deeper.
- SB was raised Catholic, with some other influence too (Other, p. xxiii). She tells us how to make our own holy water to purify a dark space (Other, p. 178). That seems powerful and spiritual. (Though a Catholic priest would surely denounce this. And by the way, there’s no such thing as holy water.)
- While making numerous biblical statements (ex: “God created us all”), SB also makes outright anti-scriptural statements (ex: she rejects the idea of sin, calling it a “cruel concept”; Other, p. xxiv, xxv). She also admits to drawing from assorted religions (Past, p. xii). She can see everyone on the other side all together, joyful in the rituals/worship of all religions (Other, p. 273). Which equals: since what SB “sees” must be true, then anything contradictory in the Bible must not be.
- SB says, “There is no such thing as death” (Other, p. xxvi). There’s a right door and a left door into the other side. Those entering the left (that is, the dark side) cycle through other reincarnations (causing trouble; after all, they’re “dark”). And there’s typically a 100-year break between our reincarnations (Other, p. 26). But eventually the dark-side ones get pulled over “into the white light of the Holy Spirit” (Other, p.188–189). There’s apparently no danger that a person could be lost.
- SB “promises” that it’s “absolutely safe” to attempt to regress and revisit our own past lives in order to resolve current trouble that’s a carry-over (Other, p. 140–148).
- SB had a “constant companion”; that is, a spirit guide (Other, p. xxii). Dead loved ones and our spirit guides can visit us, SB says, but it’s easier for the dead loved ones to do so (Other, p. 24).
- Everyone on the other side is age 30. If your dead grandma has to rush to your aid, she’ll try to appear as the age you remember her being. But if she doesn’t have time for that, she might appear as age 30 (Other, p. 25).
- There are multiple instructions on how to contact a spirit guide or dead loved one (including asking God to surround you with the Holy Spirit… and you’ll feel the warmth/light). That’s just one example of how SB tries to legitimize these occult practices as God-approved. SB says that when you attempt contact, a figure will step forward. Even if you’ve asked to speak to a specific entity, “welcome whoever shows up” (Other, p. 27–29). But what if you do that and wonder whether it’s just your imagination? It might be. No matter, SB says. “The feelings of peace and well-being… will still be very real” (Other, p. 29). Feeling is significant enough?
- To get what you want, write a letter. And include statements of how worthy you are. Address it “to God, to the universe, to your Spirit Guide, to your Angels—whoever makes you feel most intimately connected to your own divine power” (Other, p. 37).
- SB’s formula for divine guidance: Ask a question. Tell whatever is your “Higher Power” that you’re ready for an answer. Accept the first response (Other, p. 56). Oh my. That is so unreliable—and dangerous! Most of us are naïve about the occult, about dark mischief. Thanks to popular Christian books, even Christians are absorbing the idea that we can routinely receive direct revelation. But any old happy thought that pops to mind isn’t necessarily from the Lord; it can be reflecting our own desires/fears… or worse. See my “Ask the Holy Spirit to Tell You?” post.
Many case-study sections of the two books depict SB acting as a psychologist, a counselor—often just making the client feel understood/cared for, validated/valued. This suggests that we’re hungry for someone to tell us we’re terrific, that we should trash bad thoughts about our wonderful selves, and—more wildly—that a current problem we’re having could trace back to a previous life. (Like, I’m overly shy now because I was publicly embarrassed in the 1600s.) So when psychics/mediums seem to have special power/knowledge about—and possibly control of—virtually every spooky thing, that’s pretty impressive.
The overall theme seemed to me an exact combo of “Selfism and Sorcery” that’s so popular now.
Some psychics are just frauds, as has been exposed many times through the ages. They’ve learned about the client ahead of time (easier now than ever!). And/Or they have a practiced cleverness, through past experience, at guessing certain things. But what about those times when a psychic’s prediction came true? Or when a medium really seemed to be channeling a dead loved one? When someone express skepticism or caution, the client’s response will often be, “But it worked!” Uh… Demons have certain knowledge (though not all knowledge). A psychic/medium (or anyone who has opened occult doors) may actually be receiving their information from the dark side. Yikes!
Instead, if we intend to stay on the Lord’s path… well, let’s zero in on some Scripture:
Matthew 24:24 says false prophets “perform great signs and miracles.” Old Testament penalty for those practicing sorcery/spiritism was severe (Exodus 22:18; Leviticus 20:27). The Lord calls such practices “detestable” (Deuteronomy 18:12). They were part of pagan Egypt and pagan Canaan, but not part of the Lord’s way. King Saul had rightly expelled mediums from the land. But then when God didn’t answer him when he wanted, he resorted to a medium. King Saul’s rule/life was cut short because he did that (1 Samuel 28; 1 Chronicles 10:13, 14). And the condemnation of such practices carries throughout the Bible (see Revelation 22:14, 15).
So if the Bible is true (2 Timothy 3:16, 17), then we should remember that—contrary to what SB claims: (1) humans are not divine; (2) we’re not God’s children until we accept Jesus; (3) we’re not to dabble in anything that smacks of sorcery, fortune-telling, trying to contact dead people or spirits; and (4) the world religions can’t mix with true Christianity since the foundations are at odds.
SB does confess to not being 100-percent accurate (Other, p xxiii). Sadly, it doesn’t take a psychic to see that she got that right.
