There is a growing fascination with the supernatural and spirituality. According to the 2024 Gitnux Market Data Report, the global spirituality industry is estimated to be worth over 2.27 billion dollars. Spirituality is defined by Market Business News as a set of beliefs and practices related to the search for meaning and purpose in life. This includes exploration of the inner self and connection to the universe, divine, or higher power. Supernatural, according to the Oxford Languages Dictionary, is attributed to some force beyond scientific understanding or the laws of nature.
What causes people to seek out spiritual and supernatural practices?
There are many reasons people could be drawn to spirituality and the supernatural. Many are on a journey, looking for love, identity, purpose, higher powers, healing, and ways to better themselves. Hollywood and modern culture are also probable contributors to the fascination with spirituality and the supernatural. From Harry Potter, Twilight, Lord of the Rings, Stranger Things, X-Files, and many others, interests have been sparked to learn more.
Dr. Michael Heiser, author of Supernatural and The Unseen Realm, told Lexham Press that he believes people enjoy an escape from the ordinary. He also points out that the Bible says in Ecclesiastes 3:11, that God has put eternity in our hearts, suggesting that this is why people seek things beyond our natural world.
In the video below, spiritual practitioners and attendees gather at a unitarian church in Naples, Florida for what is called “Spirit Fest.”
Should Christians seek spiritual and supernatural practices?
There are over 45,000 denominations within the Christian faith, according to Live Science, therefore many opinions, doctrines, and theologies surrounding their beliefs about the supernatural. While there are believers who are very liberal in what they think are acceptable practices for Christians, others find certain spiritual or supernatural practices to be morally wrong, unbiblical, and dangerous.
Some sects of Christianity believe that the supernatural occurrences that took place in biblical times, such as recordings from the book of Acts, ceased. These are called cessationists. An opposing view to cessationists’ is charismatics’. Charismatic comes from the Greek work charisma, which means “gift of grace” and pertains to spiritual gifts endowed by the Holy Spirit to build up the Church and spread the Gospel. The charismatic church believes that the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit are for today and are very much at work in the world.
The Bible mentions 9 gifts of the Holy Spirit in 1 Corinthians 12.
1 Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed.2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3 Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit,10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
In this passage, the apostle Paul tells the Church not to be uninformed about these gifts, which come from God. They are considered supernatural and require the Holy Spirit to receive and operate. He also goes on later in this chapter to instruct believers to earnestly desire the higher gifts (1 Corinthians 12:31). Then in 1 Corinthians 14:1, he says to pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts.
The reason people might become wary of the supernatural may be because Satan is said to counterfeit all the things of God, that includes spiritual gifts. He also disguises himself as an angel of light according to 2 Corinthians 11:14, so something may appear to be well intentioned, but It takes discernment of spirits, one of the spiritual gifts of the Holy Spirit, for a person to be able to distinguish if the operation of a gift is through the Holy Spirit, or another spirit, like say, a demon masquerading as an angel of light.
In the following clip from the episode, From witchcraft to worship: A Journey of Redemption, on the Wunmi Bello show, an ex-witch, who now calls herself Sarah the Misfit, explains how Satan and demons can operate in ways that mislead people.
Occultism
In religious studies, occultism refers to secret or forbidden realms of knowledge and power, often identified with divination, spiritism, and sorcery. The occult practices occultism, and is different than a cult, which is a small religious group that is not part of a larger and more accepted religion and that has beliefs regarded by many people as extreme or dangerous. The Bible prohibits occult practices in several places including Deuteronomy 18:10-20. The Message translation of the Bible says in Leviticus 19:31, “Don’t dabble in the occult or traffic with mediums; you’ll pollute your souls. I am God, your God.”
Christian Research Institute classified the following practices as being in connection with occultism.
Divination- astrology, numerology, psychic powers, tarot cards, horoscopes, palm reading, psychic reading. Divination counterfeits divine revelation with misdirection from false gods.
Spiritism- seeking information or guidance from the dead, aliens, ascended masters, angels or deities from non-Christian religions, spirit guides, Ouija boards, automatic writing, and mediums. Spiritism counterfeits prayer, the Christian’s means to talk to with God.
Sorcery- also known as magick (not the same as performance magic), science or art to cause a change using the human will (without natural means), spells, rituals, tools, and the aid of spirit beings. Sorcery counterfeits spiritual gifts given by the Holy Spirit, God’s will with human will, and divine sovereignty with world forces rather than God’s power.
Photos from metaphysical supply stores, which sell items commonly used for spiritual and supernatural practices, in Fort Myers and Bonita Springs, Florida. From top left to bottom right: sign with fortune-telling terminology, tarot cards and instruction books, evil eye charms, book display, stones with power descriptions (Sally Couillard)
Witchcraft
The #witchtok hashtag on Tik Tok had over 42 billion views last year, making it obvious that accessing witchcraft related information is not difficult. Hudson Leva also reported that the witch community was not at all fringe, but a place where modern-day witches could build a positive and welcoming spiritual community. This begs the question, is the world normalizing witchcraft? Christianity.com describes witchcraft generally as the practice of using and manipulating supernatural or magical powers, often with the intention of influencing events or people. Practices include, but are not limited to casting spells, performing rituals, divination, and communicating with other spirits or deities. These are exactly the types of videos you will find, if you search the internet using the #witchtok hashtag.
In the following interview John Martinez shares from his perspective, the dangers of witchcraft. John was born into Brujeria, a Latin American and Caribbean sect of witchcraft. Although he had one foot in the Church for years, everything changed when he was water baptized. John had a supernatural deliverance from porn, drugs and alcohol when baptized, and that was when he left his past life of Brujeria practices to serve God.
Audio of John Martinez on witchcraft and his coming to Jesus
John refers to several items as being idols in the interview. He explains that certain tools such as, crystals, cards, candles, and sage are commonly used in witchcraft as part of spells and rituals that can bring about power, protection, success, or other desired outcomes. Christianity.com advises that anytime you try to manipulate situations through objects, such as crystals, you are participating in the occult, and that an idol can be anything you place above God, so seeking healing, protection, or power from crystals can be placing them as idols in your life.
The following video shows some displays and items such as crystals, tarot cards and books on spiritual practices for sale at local metaphysical (relating to the transcendent or to a reality beyond what is perceptible to the senses) supply stores in Fort Myers and Bonita Springs, Florida.
New Age
While witchcraft may seem like an obvious no-no for Christians, New Age practices could be more questionable. The New Age movement spread through the occult and metaphysical communities in the 70’s and 80’s. A recent Pew Research study showed that 62% of US adults and 61% of all Christian adults, hold New Age beliefs, including one or more of the following, reincarnation, astrology, psychics, and the presence of spiritual energy in physical objects. Christianity Today’s article, The Shamanized Jesus, explains that the New Age acknowledges Jesus in a spiritual hall of fame, which also includes Buddha, Krishna, Lao Tse, and others. New Agers can pick and choose which gods they want to adhere to and often believe themselves to be gods or goddesses. Worship of elements, nature, and self are common. This ultimately is paganism, and something the Bible strictly prohibits.
While some may feel that Christians and those in the New Age can coexist and even overlap, Robert Marzono asserts in When Two Worldviews Collide, that these are truly opposing paradigms. Nicole Watt testifies to the dangers of New Age practices, and that you cannot straddle the fence and be both Christian and involved with New Age in, I Was a New Age Healer. Then I Realized I Wasn’t the One Doing the Healing. Nicole mentions ouija boards, clairvoyance, psychics, mediums, and reiki in her story of coming to Jesus when the demonic attacks and conviction from practicing New Age became too much to bear any longer.
In the following audio, Eveangie Cher, the CEO and founder of Save All Children International, and activist for children, animals, and the Earth, shares her perspective on a few practices that are controversial to many Christians and the Church. Eveangie is not part of a local church, however she does believe in God and Jesus.
Audio of Eveangie Cher on spiritual practices and items that some churches find controversial
Chakras
Eveangie brings up chakras, a part of the metaphysical body, and a term often heard in both New Age and yoga communities. Medical News Today reports that in both Hindu and Buddhism, chakras are believed to be energy center points within the body, which run from the top on the head to the bottom of the spine. There are 7 chakras, also known as energy channels, or prana, where spiritual energies are said to intersect. Medical News Today also writes that there is no scientific evidence that supports the existence of chakras however, many argue that they correspond to physical body parts, mainly the nervous system. Medical News Today says that a number of practices that people use to balance or unblock chakras do have confirmed health benefits.
Photos from Pexels.com left to right: by 1)KoolShooters, 2)Mikhail Nilov, 3)KoolShooters
Bodo Balsys, founder and teacher at The School of Esoteric Sciences says that information about chakras is garbled, because it’s the most dangerous topic to be talked about and that no enlightened person would dream of revealing this sacred information. He also states in the video below that the awakening of powers through the chakras is like giving matches to a child in a gun powder factory. Along with dangers from tampering with chakras, Bodo Balsys talks about dangers of wrong yoga practices.
Yoga
One of the most sensitive issues related to controversy in the Church, is the practice of yoga. The headline of a story published in The New York Times from 2012 states, Yoga Class Draws a Religious Protest. There are countless others like this. So, what do these religious people find to be wrong with yoga? The Christian Research Institute (CRI) outlines a couple of sides to this controversy in the article Do Yoga Exercises Work With Christianity? The CRI proposes that yoga is inherently Hindu and cannot be Christianized. In the audio posted below, Janet Swanson says that yoga means “to yoke” and that the poses are a form of bowing down to other gods. That is why some Christians disapprove of the practice and believe it can be an open door to the enemy.
Many Christians have no issues with yoga, and see it as a way to exercise, stretch and relax. The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) and Deepak Chopra, a leading voice within the New Age movement, believe otherwise. The articles, The Great Yoga Debate and Is yoga religious, outline another controversy surrounding yoga, one between the HAF and Chopra, called the “Take Yoga Back” campaign. This is an argument over the roots, spirituality, and ownership of yoga. The only thing both sides seem to agree on is that yoga is more than just exercise and has powerful spiritual attributes.
In the following audio clip Janet Swanson, who has been a Pastor and Worship leader for about 30 years, shares advice, wisdom, and experiences regarding spiritual and supernatural practices, both good and bad. Janet hosts a podcast titled One Voice Makes a Difference, and is the author of A Throne Room View and One Voice.
Audio of Janet Swanson on discerning spiritual practices and the supernatural
Navigating the spiritual and supernatural realms
Christian Learning notes that receiving the Holy Spirit is the first step in answering God’s call to walk in the supernatural, which is the approach that the apostles took when they received the Holy Spirit and his power on the day of Pentecost, proceeding Jesus’s ascension. Faith, prayer, a surrendered life to God, motivation through love, and a desire for spiritual gifts with passion, is what Christian Learning suggests as key ingredients for successfully pursuing the supernatural.
Ephesians 6:11-12 says to 11put on the full armor of God, that we will be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness, and spiritual hosts of wickedness. The apostle Paul goes on to tell us what this spiritual armor consists of- a belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, shoes having put on readiness given by the gospel of peace, a shield of faith to quench fiery darts from the enemy, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God (Ephesians 6:14-17).
Photos from Pixels.com left to right: by 1) Pixabay 2) Jonathan Borba 3) Maria Pop
Spiritual Discernment
The spiritual gift of discerning of spirits, comes from both understanding of the Bible and intimate personal relationship with God. Jennifer Eivaz, author of Seeing the Supernatural: How to Sense, Discern and Battle in the Spiritual Realm told Christian Post, that “anytime one deals with the supernatural there is a degree of messiness, because people don’t know how to handle it with maturity, but God gives us grace for the journey.” She explains in her book, What to Do With Things You Discern, that the Holy Spirit can cause us to discern between good and evil spirits by our senses (eyes, ears, smell, taste, touch) and through emotion. Eivaz refers to Hebrews 5:14 which reads, but solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil. She claims that learning to discern spirits takes practice, maturity, community, and accountability.
Where can Christians grow in spiritual gifts?
Charisma News writes that churches that embrace gifts of the Holy Spirit (Spirit-filled or Spirit led) and manifestations of the gifts are radically different than those that do not, and that most Christians don’t know the difference. A Spirit-filled church is a place where the Holy Spirit leads, and man gets out of the way, where God’s presence is so thick that human intellect can’t fully process what’s happening, and revival and miracles occur.
Photos from a Spirit-filled church called CIDRA Church in West Palm Beach, Florida during worship from left top, down, to right: 1) a man lifts a hand in praise 2) prophetic painting 3) a man blowing the shofar 4) a girl dances with silks (Sally Couillard)
Below is Twitter List of Holy Spirit led churches, ministries and Christian leaders.
Holy Spirit led churches, ministries, and Christian leaders
Being led by the Holy Spirit
Teena Hall, a graduate of Global School of Supernatural Ministry and author of The Covering and the Light, says that Christians should not avoid the supernatural, but also not strive for encounters. She said she has witnessed a lot of “shenanigans” in the charismatic church, and it’s not ok to do whatever you have an impulse to do. She says many are led by emotions and impulses and need to learn how to subject these things to the Holy Spirit. Teena says our gifts and encounters should also be subjected to the Holy Spirit. Listen to more from Teena in the audio below, where she talks about being led by the Spirit, discerning spiritual and supernatural practices.
Audio of Teena Hall on being led by the Holy Spirit and pursuing the supernatural
Closing
There are so many controversial practices within the realm of spirituality and the supernatural. Covering all of them, or even the ones brought up in this article in depth, would be a much longer expository. For Christians there are some clear boundaries that the Bible gives to safeguard against spiritually harmful practices. There are also many gray areas in the spiritual and supernatural world, that may take understanding the Bible, guidance from the Holy Spirit, and spiritual discernment, to discern the darkness from divine.
Sally JC Journals 
I find the whole subject intriguing,however, the Bible is clear concerning this subject matter. This digital age has made it much easier to skirt the many subtopics making it hard to realize when you are astray. similarly, the enemy has new ways to entice us mortals. I find in this new age of digital learning It is extremely hard to live a straight and narrow life, according to the Bible. As artificial intelligence is in its infancy, I believe things will just become harder and harder to live a straight and narrow line as so much can be plagiarized or mimicked all from the dark side.
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