What is a séance?

Answer

The term “séance” originates from a French verb meaning “to sit.” In French, it commonly refers to a gathering where individuals come together, seated, to enjoy a performance or other form of entertainment. In English, since the mid-19th century, the term has been specifically linked to the occult. A séance typically involves a small group of individuals, including a spiritualist or medium, who seek to make contact with deceased spirits. Interestingly, participants at séances do not always remain seated.

Séances are not a recent phenomenon. The attempt to communicate with the dead is not unique to modern Western society. References to mediums and spiritists can be found in the Old Testament (1 Samuel 28:3;2 Chronicles 33:6;Isaiah 8:19;Isaiah 19:3), and the New Testament also mentions occult activities “But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:”, (Acts 8:9). Throughout the Bible, engaging in communication with the spirits of the deceased is explicitly prohibited (Leviticus 19:31;Galatians 5:20).

The sole instance in the Bible of a “séance” occurs in 1 Samuel 28. King Saul, in a moment of desperation, sought the services of the medium of Endor to contact the spirit of Samuel who had passed away. Surprisingly, the séance was successful—Samuel appeared to the medium, causing her to scream in fear and astonishment (verse 12). Her reaction to seeing Samuel suggests that she typically relied on deception or anticipated a “familiar spirit” to convey a deceitful message. However, in this particular case, God permitted it.

Samuel was summoned, and he even chided Saul for “bringing me up” (verse 15).

Satan is known as “the father of lies” «Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. », (John 8:44) who “masquerades as an angel of light” «And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. », (2 Corinthians 11:14). This makes a séance a serious and spiritually dangerous matter. Satan and his demons take pleasure in deceiving people. A séance offers them a prime opportunity to impersonate a deceased loved one and speak falsehoods to the living. A medium, someone who professes to be a channel of communication between the earthly realm and the spirit world, is either using trickery and deception to earn a living, or he or she is in contact with a familiar spirit— which is a demon or unclean spirit intent on deceiving.

Since the Bible prohibits communication with the dead, we should steer clear of séances. Seeking communication from a spirit is not a mere parlor game or trivial pastime. Personal demonic forces are genuine, and they actively seek to harm us (John 8:44;1 Peter 5:8). Instead of engaging in the occult, we should clothe ourselves with the full armor of God and stand against the forces of darkness «Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. », (Ephesians 6:11).