Welcome to Tuesday!!! Need a distraction from the political season? Who ya gonna call?
Ghostbusters!!
#1 for 3 weeks on Billboard's hot 100, "Ghostbusters", would be the only #1 hit for Ray Parker Jr. As a studio musician, he had played with many of the biggest acts from the 70's and 80's , but it would be the 1984 theme song from "Ghostbusters" that would propel him to iconic status in the '80s. Along with the movie, "Ghostbusters" would elevate a discussion of the spirit world that permeates our entire cultural landscape.
Many treasured classics of literature elude to the possibility of a spirit world that is not seen in our physical realm: ghosts, if you will. William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, and Stephen King all have masterfully created characters that have been the bane of children and adults alike who are trying to get a good night's rest, yet keep hearing "bumps in the night". These spirits trend to the evil side and beget all sorts of havoc on the protagonist of the story as well as reader's imaginations. "Reality" television has birthed a new generation of ghost hunters and stories that feature the unnatural and unexplainable. From a business perspective, it is easy to see that the spiritual realm is a money making endeavor. From voodoo to New Age, from psychics to mediums, the "spirit world" and strange occurrences combine to ensure that there is a monetary value associated with making contact with the spirit world.
This is a worldview that is dangerous for Christians to dabble too closely. The Bible is very clear that when a person dies, they are done with this world. (2 Corinthians 5:8) However, a 2006 George Barna Survey of 4000 teens found that 73% of the youth surveyed had “engaged in at least one type of psychic or witchcraft-related activity, beyond mere media exposure or horoscope usage.” One tenth had participated in séances. Nine percent had visited a supposed medium or spiritual guide."
Ghostbusters!!
#1 for 3 weeks on Billboard's hot 100, "Ghostbusters", would be the only #1 hit for Ray Parker Jr. As a studio musician, he had played with many of the biggest acts from the 70's and 80's , but it would be the 1984 theme song from "Ghostbusters" that would propel him to iconic status in the '80s. Along with the movie, "Ghostbusters" would elevate a discussion of the spirit world that permeates our entire cultural landscape.
Many treasured classics of literature elude to the possibility of a spirit world that is not seen in our physical realm: ghosts, if you will. William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, and Stephen King all have masterfully created characters that have been the bane of children and adults alike who are trying to get a good night's rest, yet keep hearing "bumps in the night". These spirits trend to the evil side and beget all sorts of havoc on the protagonist of the story as well as reader's imaginations. "Reality" television has birthed a new generation of ghost hunters and stories that feature the unnatural and unexplainable. From a business perspective, it is easy to see that the spiritual realm is a money making endeavor. From voodoo to New Age, from psychics to mediums, the "spirit world" and strange occurrences combine to ensure that there is a monetary value associated with making contact with the spirit world.
This is a worldview that is dangerous for Christians to dabble too closely. The Bible is very clear that when a person dies, they are done with this world. (2 Corinthians 5:8) However, a 2006 George Barna Survey of 4000 teens found that 73% of the youth surveyed had “engaged in at least one type of psychic or witchcraft-related activity, beyond mere media exposure or horoscope usage.” One tenth had participated in séances. Nine percent had visited a supposed medium or spiritual guide."
1 Samuel 28:7-21
In this instance, many theologians agree the "Samuel" in this passage could have easily been a demon that we read so much about throughout scripture. For more on ghosts in the Bible Answers In Genesis has an outstanding article...just click on the link:
In Ephesians 6, Paul details the battles that we will face against the evil one as well as the armaments we can use to defend ourselves. He tells us exactly who our enemy will be as we put on the whole armor of God. Verse 12 says: "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." This battle of the spiritual realm is detailed entrancingly in Frank Peretti's fictional work This Present Darkness and its sequel Piercing the Darkness. The Notes recommends that you read these books with caution and during the light of day as they bring the spiritual battle between God's angels and the evil one's demons in such a realistic, thought provoking manner.
Realize that this battle is not only for men's souls, but against the worldview that we hold dear as Christians. That worldview is deeply impacted by the leadership of our country at every level. As we go through Halloween and the coming week, please take time and measure up those ballot initiatives and candidates for which we will be voting one week from today. Vote against those things that would cause darkness in this world and cause spiritual wickedness in high places. Pray and then vote. And remember:
"if it's somethin' weird and it don't look good, who ya gonna call?"
'Til Tuesday
Loving HIM by loving you,
Randy
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