The Bible consistently prohibits mediums and spiritists across both covenants. Leviticus 19:31 commands Israelites not to consult them, while Leviticus 20:27 prescribes death by stoning for practitioners. Deuteronomy 18:9-14 lists mediumship among abominations forbidden in the promised land. The New Testament continues this stance, with Galatians 5:19-21 including sorcery among works of the flesh and warning practitioners will not inherit God’s kingdom. These prohibitions reflect God’s exclusive authority as the sole source of spiritual guidance, protecting believers from what Scripture portrays as demonic deception rather than genuine contact with the deceased. Understanding these biblical warnings offers important context for handling spiritual matters today.
Key Takeaways
- The Bible explicitly forbids consulting mediums, classifying it as an abomination worthy of severe punishment including death by stoning.
- Both Old and New Testaments consistently prohibit mediumship, with warnings that practitioners will not inherit God’s kingdom.
- Biblical theology views mediumship as spiritual unfaithfulness to God, who alone should be consulted for spiritual guidance and truth.
- Scripture portrays mediumship as interaction with demonic forces rather than genuine communication with the dead or divine sources.
- Engaging with mediums caused both individual and communal defilement, threatening the holiness and covenant identity of God’s people.
What the Bible Says About Mediums and Spiritists?
The Bible addresses mediums and spiritists with consistent disapproval across both Old and New covenants, viewing such practices as spiritual dangers that draw people away from God.
Leviticus 19:31 commands Israelites not to regard mediums or familiar spirits to avoid defilement, while Leviticus 20:27 prescribed death by stoning for those practicing mediumship.
The Law warned Israel to avoid mediums and familiar spirits, declaring such practices worthy of the severest judgment.
Deuteronomy 18:9-14 lists consulting mediums among abominations forbidden in the promised land.
Isaiah 8:19 questions why people would seek mediums and spiritists instead of inquiring of God directly.
The New Testament continues this stance, with Acts 16:16-18 recounting Paul commanding a spirit of divination out of a fortune-teller in Jesus’ name.
Galatians 5:19-21 includes sorcery among the works of the flesh, warning that practitioners of such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Revelation 21:8 names sorcerers among those consigned to the lake of fire, facing the second death.
Scripture consistently portrays mediumship as linked to demonic deception, urging believers toward self-control against such influences. Many of these texts were preserved and transmitted in Hebrew and Greek through centuries of manuscript tradition.
Why God Forbids Mediums and Spiritists?
Understanding what Scripture says about mediums naturally raises the question of why these prohibitions exist with such force throughout biblical history. The biblical texts point to several interconnected reasons.
First, consulting mediums violates God’s exclusive authority as the sole source of spiritual guidance, representing what Scripture calls spiritual “prostitution.” Second, these practices were integral to pagan religious systems, and Israel was commanded to remain distinct from surrounding nations. The long development of the biblical canon over many centuries reflects how these distinguishing commands were reinforced across Israel’s history, from the early monarchy through the post-exilic period, shaping communal identity over time.
Third, mediums were understood to interact with demonic entities rather than the dead, exposing practitioners to hostile spiritual forces. Fourth, the practice produced both individual and communal defilement, compromising the holiness required of God’s people.
The severity of prescribed punishments, including the death penalty, reflected the gravity of this covenant violation. Those who engaged with mediums faced not only capital punishment but also being “cut off from his people,” indicating both divine judgment and removal from the covenant community. Deuteronomy 18:9-14 explicitly lists practitioners of witchcraft and sorcerers as abominations to God, underscoring the profound moral offense these practices represent in God’s sight.
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