Are Ghosts Real?

Yes and No

The common definition of a ghost is:

The spirit of a dead person, especially one believed to appear in bodily likeness to living persons or to haunt former habitats.

According to the scriptures, this is not possible:

Ecclesiastes 9:5-6 - For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing; they have no further reward, and even the memory of them is forgotten. Their love, their hate and their jealousy have long since vanished; never again will they have a part in anything that happens under the sun. (NIV)

Job 7:8-10 - The eye that now sees me will see me no longer; you will look for me, but I will be no more. As a cloud vanishes and is gone, so he who goes down to the grave does not return. He will never come to his house again; his place will know him no more. (NIV)

Another definition however is:

A demon or spirit.

It is apparent from Jesus’s ministry that demons are able to possess people and animals (Matthew 8:28-32), and that they can wander around (Matthew 12:43-45). If a demon can wander around it can certainly haunt a place.


Some ghosts are tricks or deceptions by other people, some ghosts are imagined by susceptible people especially during the division between sleep and awaking, and some ghosts are demonic activity, but dead people do not appear as ghosts.


If you are ever troubled by a ghost, there is a simple and 100% effective way to get rid of it. Call out the name "Jesus":

Acts 2:21 - "And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." (NIV)

This method works no matter where you are, no matter what you are doing, and no matter how awake you are. Even if you are tongue tied and can’t get the words out, it still works.

Let Christ’s name become instinct to you, and you will never be troubled by demons, because they are terrified of Him and will flee even at the very thought of it. The name "Jesus" is the most powerful word there is.

Parents, teach this to your kids and they will never again be troubled by nightmares, or noises, or shadows in the night.


James :)

In Response to Dr. James Dobson's Recent Comments...

Dr. James Dobson has recently made some statements that might be interpreted as though he is encouraging Christians to vote for a 3rd party candidate if certain candidates are nominated by the republican party. See the article here.

This is a sensitive topic about which I am greatly concerned. As Christians, our responsibility is to seek God’s guidance on who we should vote for, through prayer.

I understand that a position for life and the sanctity of marriage and Godly family values is important, but we can only influence our candidates by supporting them, and praying for them, not by abandoning them.

Beware of placing too much focus on the issues instead of the person’s character. In the past I have heard such outlandish statements as "I would vote for the devil himself if he was against abortion." My friends, this is not right. We have the ability to chose whom God would chose, but we also have the ability to rise up in our own self-righteousness and say "I won’t vote for you because of this…", and go against the will of God.

In the past, self-righteousness has caused many Christians to abandon their schools, government and fellow citizens, and turn inward to their churches and private programs, leaving the world in the hands of the enemy to corrupt and spoil. Christians have been reaping the consequences of this for many years.

Dr. Dobson is right that we should not "compromise" our Christian values, but we need to be careful that we don't confuse "self-righteousness" with "not compromising".

The truth is that there is not one candidate who does not error somewhere in the position they express. We will not find a candidate in some 3rd party who is any more perfect than the ones we are discussing, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Don’t forget that God is able to turn the erring heart. Let God guide your vote.


James :)

Aren’t religion and government supposed to be separate from each other?

Yes. Absolutely. The government should remain separate from the church.

As Thomas Jefferson stated in his now famous letter to the Danbury Baptist Association dated January 1, 1802:

"Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legislative powers of government reach action only, and not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, thus building a wall of separation between church and State." 1

The government is supposed to stay out of the religious convictions of the people and our representatives. It is, in fact, unlawful for the government to say to an elected representative: "You cannot vote this way because such a vote is based on your religious convictions." To do such a thing is a violation of that man or woman’s religious freedom and the "free exercise thereof".

"The separation of church and state" is not a barrier prohibiting people in government from being religious, it is a barrier prohibiting people in government from making laws that establish or prohibit religion. The government may only make laws and take legal action based on a person’s wrong or immoral deeds, not their beliefs or the expression of those beliefs (in their voting). This is the very heart of "freedom of speech".

The problem today is that people misinterpret Jefferson’s letter as meaning a government leader is supposed to "check their religion at the door" when they take office. Many self-serving individuals go so far as to demand complete disregard of one's moral convictions when you fill a position of government, in other words they want you to vote the way they think is right, not the way you think is right. This was NOT what Jefferson meant by "the separation of church and state".

According to author David Barton:

"In Jefferson's full letter, he said separation of church and state means the government will not run the church, but we will use Christian principles with government." 2

If you are a Christian holding a government office, you have a moral obligation to express yourself and to vote the way God wants you to vote. Don't ever let the opinions or desires of others sway your convictions. Yes, the church is supposed to be separate from the government, but it is never supposed to be separate from the governed. Establishing God's kingdom on earth means placing the government upon HIS shoulders (Isaiah 9:6), especially in this day and age. As God's representatives we should always vote for righteousness.


James :)