The Paranormal Christian, Bridging the Gap Between Unusual Experiences and the Biblical Worldview, Book I: The Calling

By Richard Lewis

Can a Christian be possessed? Do God's angels and Satan's demons dwell unseen among us, engaged in spiritual warfare? Are ghosts and spirit manifestations real? How about aliens and UFOs?

If you believe in the Bible, you already have faith in the unseen. Unusual experiences are a testimony of sacred Scripture and the gateway to understanding the power of God in your life. Just like in biblical times, mysterious forces are still at work today. The paranormal world isn't merely scary hauntings and occult legends.

In The Paranormal Christian, journalist Richard D. Lewis explores his own true spiritual journey and real stories of others to correlate supernatural phenomena and the biblical worldview-without compromising either.

In this book, you'll discover:

• How to trust your intuition and consciously tune into The Voice every day.
• A mystical examination of the Bible and the history of paranormal and psychic phenomena and prophecy within Christianity.
• A guide to discerning between the presence of positive and negative entities.
• True stories of hauntings, spiritual healing and miracles performed by the Holy Spirit.
• How to protect yourself against the horror of The Swarming - even in your most vulnerable state.

You can believe in the Holy Bible as the word of God orchestrated by divine intention and trust the wisdom of the supernatural worldview of the Bible writers and the fact that the mystical never left us. It's time to bring paranormal back into the light where it belongs. If you are searching out real answers for the Church, you will find them here.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Zoran Press
• Release date: Dec 8, 2020
• ISBN: 9781735626406

Book preview

Preface

The following is a report of paranormal occurrences in my life and in the lives of many others. Thank you for joining me on this journey. My prayer is that you will be transformed by this account, and through it, gain a greater understanding, awareness, and appreciation of the unseen universe operating right around you, even as you read these words.

This book is not meant to frighten, although there will be scary moments. But as the Lord tells us, fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you¹. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind². It is with that absolute soundness of mind I embark upon sharing this adventure with you.

But some of you may already be asking, why is a Christian writing about the paranormal? To you I say this—

Why not?

First off, I realize the word paranormal may be polarizing for some. And that is exactly why I chose it. Webster’s defines paranormal as "not scientifically explainable: supernatural."

Why should the supernatural be a taboo subject? After all, the supernatural is deeply ingrained in our Christian faith. Christianity not only correlates to paranormal possibilities, it is a belief system that corresponds to both logic and faith—and finds validation in science. Contrary to the popular opinion of many in academia, true science and the Bible do not have to be at odds.

The natural is the baseline, along with all that is understood and not understood, of math and science. But the supernatural is also inherent to our worldview—or at least it should be—as it most certainly was to the biblical writers. Christianity is a mystical religion.

Jacob had a vision where he saw a ladder that reached from earth to heaven with angels ascending and descending upon it³. The Scriptures tell us the angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and He delivers them⁴. In fact, the Bible tells us there are literally hundreds of millions of holy angels⁵, if not more, and that God will command His angels to watch over us⁶. But the Bible also tells us there are evil forces: Rulers, authorities, cosmic powers of the unseen world⁷. Spiritual beings operate around us at all times.

This is my story. In it, you will see the Lord has allowed me a glimpse into this unseen world, where I have experienced both the light and the darkness. I say this not in audacity: Rather, I hope to proceed with all due caution. It is not my intention to be irresponsible or reckless in the telling. But like the Apostle Paul said, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord⁸ in the pages to follow. And although I feel compelled to tell you these things, as Paul also said, I will not boast, except of my weaknesses⁹. For like the great Apostle, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited¹⁰. Perhaps, many such thorns were given me.

If I do any good with this work, it is all to the glory of God. Any special insight, revelation, or blessing you receive from reading this, it all comes from Him. I have been very blessed in my life, but even during challenging times, it is amazing how God turned it all around for the good. And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose¹¹.

My experiences, and the experience of others recorded in this book, have led me to believe the paranormal is more ordinary than many people realize. Even if you have not personally encountered the strange, the mystical, miraculous, or frightening, I bet you know someone who has. Every family has such stories to tell—myths, legends, yarns.

At the core of family folklore and urban legends is almost always some grain of truth. But the paranormal encounters that I experienced, and those my interview subjects have told me about, are not just dusty old tales passed down through the cobwebs of our collective memories. These things happened, and continue happening, to people every day.

By the way, my experiences do not make me or anyone who has had similar encounters special. At least, no more special than anyone else, for indeed, every person is special to God. So much so, he gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life¹². That promise goes for every person across time—even other inhabitants of the universe—if they exist.

Yet, what exactly do we believe? Take The Nicene Creed, for example, which tells us God is the maker of all things visible and invisible. And that our Lord Jesus Christ was begotten of the Father before all worlds came into existence. Similarly, Saint John tells us Christ was with God in the beginning, and through Him all things were made¹³. Those beliefs mean that through Jesus, all worlds were made.

Let’s take another look at John 3:16. "For God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."

The Greek word κόσμον, translated into English above as world, is literally kosmos (Strong’s Greek 2889). "For God so loved the kosmos" (from which we get the word cosmos). It is not just the world, but an ordered system designed by God. The cosmos is the universe—a complex and orderly system that God created and loves. Shouldn’t Christianity, then, have a cosmic perspective? After all, Jesus is Lord of the cosmos—Lord of the created universe!

It should come as no surprise then, when Pope Francis touched on the possibility of baptizing space aliens (Martians) in a speech given May 12, 2014, in which the pontiff said, Who are we to close the doors to the Holy Spirit? Francis pointed to Saint Peter, who once said, Who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?¹⁴.

But do ETs really exist? Angels are extraterrestrial, so the answer would have to be yes. What about biological alien entities? People see UFOs and suffer abduction syndrome. Are those sightings and experiences coming courtesy of beings from distant worlds? For the full discussion on UFO encounters, I must refer you to Book II. There is so much going on in the paranormal world around us, we will have plenty to discuss before we venture out into distant galaxies. Angels, demons, mysteries of the occult, prophesy, paranormal activity, and psychic phenomena will all provide a rich array of topics to consider here in Book I. Are you ready?

To begin, the natural exists by design, in harmony with the supernatural, along with occasional incursions of the preternatural. Things really do go bump in the night.

Evil is a real and present influence operating in the world. But the assortment of mysterious forces may not necessarily be relegated to only a simple, good-versus-evil construct. The complexities, the subtle nuances, may be surprisingly more diverse than people realize.

When I speak of the paranormal, I am speaking of the broad range of phenomena and experiences that may span from the supernatural to the preternatural. Classically speaking, the supernatural arrives by operation of God and His divine agency, such as the work of angels or the Holy Spirit. Preternatural or negative miracles would consist of phenomena caused by demons. But some phenomena may also arise from other beings such as ghosts—beings that may or may not be overtly evil in intent. I would consider such phenomena preternatural as well. But what of the apparition of a departed loved one, like your mother or father? Can our dead relatives even visit us? Many Christian scholars do not believe in ghosts and insist our departed loved ones cannot return to us.

The Bible actually supports the belief in ghosts, implicitly anyway.

The saints in heaven are just as real and alive as they were in their earthly life. As Jesus said, of God, He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to Him all are alive (Luke 20:38, NIV). Jesus drew this truth from the account of Moses, when the Lord told Moses, I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob¹⁵. Our God is a God of the living.

The Bible even records how the ghosts of Moses and the Prophet Elijah appeared to Jesus and the disciples, Peter, John, and James at the Transfiguration. Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus¹⁶.

Also, the ghost of the Prophet Samuel appeared to King Saul¹⁷. Granted, Samuel was conjured by a medium, but God allowed it.

And when Jesus walked on water, the disciples thought He was a ghost. But when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, ‘It is a ghost!’ and they cried out in fear¹⁸. And when Jesus appeared in the midst of them following His Resurrection they were also terrified, thinking He was a ghost.

While they were talking about this, Jesus Himself stood among them and said to them, Peace be with you. They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. He said to them, Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have. ¹⁹

Notice how Jesus said, A ghost does not have flesh and bones. He did not discount the idea of ghosts. He didn’t say, There’s no such thing as ghosts. Clearly, the Apostles believed in ghosts, and perhaps even Jesus did too.

Also, we have the witness of my own eyes and ears and the eyes and ears of people around the globe and across time, dating back to the prehistoric religions of the ancients. Belief in ghosts permeates practically every society and culture on the planet.

And while the Bible does not promise it, I do believe God allows some measure of grace in granting human spirits permission to communicate with us, such as the deceased parent who visits in a dream to let us know they are okay.

Indeed, that experience is far too common among Christians to ignore. Almost every person I meet, who has lost a parent or sibling or child or spouse, tells stories of their loved one appearing in a dream, at their bedside, and so on. God can and does allow such things. And why wouldn’t He? The Bible—the Word of God—does not say otherwise. In fact, the communion of saints, affirmed in the Apostles’ Creed, includes both the living and the dead. And in the ancient church, the saints prayed for the dead and many traditions, such as Eastern Orthodox Christians, Catholics, and many others still do so today.

In antiquity, certain pagans baptized for the dead, and the custom may have even extended into some early Christian communities. Note that Paul mentions the practice in his first letter to the Corinthians. Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them?²⁰.

Many theologians sum up ghostly experiences as simply being demonic in nature but that view is an oversimplification of the phenomena. True, some paranormal activity may be explained by demons, but not all of it.

There is no settled doctrine in the Catholic Church on the appearance of ghosts. Some say human souls may manifest but only those in purgatory, who in some cases have appeared to living saints and others requesting prayer. Some Catholics say the souls in heaven are barred from contacting us but others disagree. Saint Thomas Aquinas said, according to the disposition of Divine providence separated souls sometimes come forth from their abode and appear to men²¹. Faithful throughout the ages have reported visitations by departed Saints, and the Bible itself marks the possibility in the appearances of Moses and Elijah at the Transfiguration of Jesus²².

Doctrine aside, I believe God does allow angels and saints to interact with us, and it seems even discarnate human spirits occasionally visit our earthly realm. I question scholars who insist that only demons can affect the material world and talk to us. Why if something unnatural happens, must it be demonic? Such a belief is like saying Satan can do something God cannot—as if the devil were more powerful than God.

So while the source of mysterious phenomena varies and cannot always be overtly determined, for the sake of ease, I will simply refer to all of it in the popular context and language of this modern era: it is the paranormal, and Christianity is a paranormal religion.

But by no means do I wish to denigrate the supernatural.

Clearly, the supernatural is superior to the preternatural and can even upend the natural. Although the natural was born from the supernatural, it stands to reason that most miracles of God are orchestrated from within the natural. If God regularly violated His own natural laws, chaos would ensue. Thus, among those of us who believe, there should be little doubt that the supernatural can overcome the natural. It is not only a matter of faith but also of biblical history: at times, the supernatural does overpower the natural. Such was the case when Jesus rebuked the storm.

And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke Him and said to Him, Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing? And He awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, Peace! Be still! And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.²³

Aside from the miracles Christ performed in His earthly life, He even hints that we believers would be able to do the same or even greater works through our faith in Him.

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.²⁴

Many in mainstream Christianity have become so locked into certain dogmas and interpretations that they ignore what seems to be new, not realizing it may actually be ancient. We dismiss any new discoveries and revelations along the way that seem to conflict with our current understanding, rather than allowing such knowledge to inform our understanding.

Just because a group of accomplished theologians reached a consensus opinion on something does not make it true. Many of the understandings to which evangelicals cling with conviction are not more than a century old. And even the ancient confessions of the church must be considered—yes, with a respectful awareness of the weight they carry—but also with this realization: Those beliefs are still only the reasoned understandings of men. They are not Scripture.

There is a saying, which some attribute it to the great theologian and orator Charles Spurgeon, that states, If it’s new, it’s not true; if it’s true, it’s not new. Well, what if that which seems new, and therefore suspect by some, is not really new at all? Besides that, and quite frankly, as my stepdaughter Yuni, reminded me, just because something is old does not make it true.

In reality, many diverse opinions and beliefs existed among members of the early church. Some beliefs were shut down by majority rule, counsels, and edicts—in many, if not most cases, perhaps rightly so. Nevertheless, maybe we actually lost some of the good stuff along the way. Further, perhaps there are truths that are still out there, just waiting to be discovered, recovered, or rediscovered.

We must remember the ancient caution from Jesus not to eat the yeast of the Pharisees²⁵. We should respect our religious leaders, of course, but not blindly follow teachers simply because they are learned and have impressive credentials.

Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.²⁶

I hear it all the time—pastors on the radio or television, shutting down people who have honest inquiry—declaring certain their own rigid opinions as the authority of truth. I am no theologian but sometimes religious leaders get it wrong. After all, they are only human.

We must keep an open mind to truth and new understandings. The Bible is not a closed document, sealed shut, locked for all time in such a way that only the theologian can reveal its secrets. The Bible is a living document that speaks with the power and clarity of the Holy Spirit to every seeker who opens it! God is still speaking today, and your relationship with Christ is a personal one between you and Him. But what about you? he asked. Who do you say I am?²⁷. Needless to say, your relationship to the church and other Christians is very important, and the theologian does provide critical exegesis. But ultimately, faith comes down to you and God. It is my hope this work will enhance your ability to tune in to Him.

I say do not fear new knowledge and the expansion of awareness—it all points back to God. The diaspora of beliefs, opinions, and experiences concerning religion and mysticism across all time can be traced back to the creator God. And I believe it all correlates to our Bible, a most paranormal book indeed!

Rather than avoid this topic, there should be great joy among Christians in the validation that all the amazing things we read about in the Bible are true. And just like in biblical times, mysterious forces are still at work today, all around you. There are spiritual entities who are good and holy and others who most certainly are not. Such beings exist, and they operate in your life, whether or not you choose to acknowledge them.

Perhaps, this unseen universe is a lot more varied than many in mainstream Christianity realize. Just take a look at the diversity in the natural world, from the macro to the micro to the subatomic. I propose this multiplicity merely demonstrates the complexity, majesty, and glory of our heavenly Father and the amazing wonder that is creation.

As you embark on this journey with me, I trust you will come to a greater understanding that we really do live in a wondrous universe, orchestrated by divine intention. It is an almost indescribably vast aggregate of cosmic forces, laws, and nature, with amazing galactic wonder and beauty, which seamlessly blends with the mysterious forces of an unseen universe. And it all somehow emanates from a great, cosmic, infinite being, one of power and love and personal intent and concern, that resonates all the way down to you and me and to every living creature on Earth.

Throughout this book, you will find many references to the Holy Scriptures. Again, I am no theologian. What I am is a believing Christian and lifelong student of the Bible. I believe everything the Bible says is true. I hold to the centrality of Christ and honor the traditional confessions of the church. But some of my conclusions may not be in accordance with the opinions of many in mainstream Christianity. Some of the things I have to say may even stir up controversy in the church, and that reaction is okay. The truth of the Scripture never changes; however, our understanding of the Bible does sometimes evolve or expand as our awareness grows. I welcome the spirited discourse and debate this book may encourage in the church.

We must always seek the truth and understand that truth does not threaten faith. Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life²⁸. The church should be a paragon of truth.

Some people wrongly believe the church originally taught the earth was flat, but this is not the case. The ancient Greeks understood the earth was round and by the church age it was widely known. This truth may even have even been known to the ancient Israelites and made its way into the Hebrew Bible (our Christian Old Testament), or maybe not. The Prophet Isaiah did say God sits above the circle of the Earth²⁹. Did Isaiah know the earth was a globe?

The original Hebrew word for circle is transliterated chug³⁰, is argued by many scholars to mean sphere or globe. But it may simply mean circle. Perhaps, by Isaiah’s time, approximately 740 BC, the influence of the Greeks had already reached the Israelites. Some have implied the prophet revealed divine inspiration on the spherical nature of the earth here. But the Hebrew people may have simply thought the earth was a flat, round disc, like giant coin topped with a domed vault. Either way, we know for a fact the earth is a sphere, but the earth is also round, a circle—so there is no contradiction in Isaiah’s writing. Whether the Israelites or even Isaiah himself thought the earth was flat, God’s truth prevails. His word inspires but also transcends the humanity of the authors whom he chooses to illuminate.

About 400 years ago, Galileo Galilei came under scrutiny of the Inquisition for his views on heliocentrism, even though the Bible never said the sun revolves around the earth, as some in the church wrongly insisted. The Book of Job, our most ancient of all Bible texts, has an interesting part where Job writes that God suspends the earth over nothing³¹.

This sparks the imagination, as our shimmering blue world does hang in the blackness of empty space, held in place by the gravity of the sun—but literally suspended over nothing—just like the Bible says.

There are many Scriptures believers will have differences of opinion, texts which do nothing to challenge the centrality of Christ or other essential matters of faith. Likewise, I do not believe any of my conclusions on the paranormal contradict the essentials, curious as they may be to some in the church. So I must resist any biblical scholar who tries to refute what I have learned from my research and experience and a lifelong of study and devotion. Yes, I have always been curious about the unexplained, but the most important thing in all of this is nurturing a relationship with God.

Like Peter and John said, Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to Him? You be the judges!³². Moreover, I, like they, cannot help speaking about what I have seen and heard!

I believe in Our Lady, Blessed Saint Mary, as a real and present guiding spirit, not because I am a member of the Roman Catholic Church (I am not) but because I have seen her.

I am actually a member of the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod, and we do trace our roots to the ancient, Catholic Church. I for one, find much to admire in the traditions and legacy of the church, passed down over the ages.

And of course, I also believe in angels, and I have seen them too. They are as real as you and me!

If I tell you ghosts are real, it is because I have also seen them. If ghosts do not fit into your theology or worldview, it will be difficult for you to enjoy full agreement with this work. We may have a debate on exactly what ghosts are, but you cannot prove to me they do not exist based on an overly rigid interpretation of Scripture. As I argued earlier, if anything, Scripture supports a belief in ghosts. But even if the Bible does not speak about a thing does not necessarily refute its existence.

Of course, I am not saying all of my conclusions are correct—perhaps some, maybe many of them are wrong. But my thoughts are given here with kind intent and faith and reason to the best of my current understanding, for your enrichment and enjoyment, to provoke thought and discussion.

By the way, I have only scratched the surface here, providing what amounts to little more than a brief survey of some of the more commonly reported paranormal experiences. Some, I have been witness to. Others are gleaned from interviews, current events, and classic examples that relate to the applicable topic being discussed and usually correlating to the Bible in some way.

There is much more to this story than I could ever capture in a single volume. The chapter titles and associated topics alone, if discussed separately, could easily fill up many volumes each.

But please beware: This is not a game. As I have said, the paranormal world is real. Involvement in the occult is dangerous. It is very easy to open doors that are hard to close. Always seek first the kingdom of God³³, and if the Lord allows you to witness the extraordinary, count yourself blessed. But if you are one called to deal with the preternatural, tread carefully. Great suffering may follow the one who dabbles carelessly in the unseen realm.

This is my story, my personal journey, as a paranormal Christian. Along the way, I also share candid glimpses into the experiences of many others. Where it concerns people known to me, either casually or intimately, I have chosen in some cases to change the names to protect their privacy, for various reasons. In other cases, I simply give the real name.

I also share mystical experiences of others unknown to me except by report, both classic and recent. Where determination is unclear as to whether or not the account is fact or fiction, I leave it to you to decide for yourself. And of course, don’t assume something is paranormal before ruling out the normal first. As always, I advocate a healthy skepticism but strive to keep an open mind either way.

Again, I have attempted to tie everything together into a biblical worldview because I do believe it all correlates. So you will find what I consider to be relevant quotations from the Bible throughout this volume from various translations.

In whatever way this book is a success, may it be to the glory of God. Any shortcomings are mine alone.

May God bless you and keep you as you embark upon your own personal journey.

—Richard D. Lewis

Written at 3:04 a.m. on a Good Friday.

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and

they follow me. I give them eternal life, And

they will never perish, and no one will snatch

them out of my hand.

John 10:27-28

Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV)

Prologue

The Spiders

A tiny spider descends from the ceiling. It shimmers with light. Vibrant rainbow colors radiate across it. The creature is pure, light energy—delicate almost. It has all the feminine beauty of any orb weaver garden spider, spinning an intricate web. And like the beautiful and gentle-looking garden spider, it comes with a dire purpose—to feed.

The spider drops down to ground level. And moves toward me. I cannot see it now, nor can I move. I am paralyzed—half asleep—but my eyes are wide open. An unseen shadow slithers over my toes then pours over my shins. It climbs up over my knees and moves around my whole body, engulfing me like a blackened vat of dirty motor oil, bathing me.

I am tingling all over, enveloped by sexual energy—the precipice of untold gratification—if only I surrender to The Swarming.

It takes an intense focus of will to not succumb to the creature’s seduction. It is a bit like trying to stay awake when the warm comfort of sleep begins wrapping you like a blanket—and before you know it, you melt away. Only this is 10 times worse. Imagine if surrendering to sleep brought on an unwanted, full-body orgasm in the dreamscape.

Just give in. Just…surrender.

Let the spider feed.

No, I can’t—I won’t!

At least it is showing me its true form this time. Often incubi/succubi spirits will masquerade as an attractive lover or maybe even your spouse.

The electricity is pulsating around my whole body now—all my nerve endings are being stimulated. The sensation is simultaneously wonderful and terrifying. A cosmic rape that you only mind a little.

Surrender.

Noooooooo!

I sit upright in bed, rising with a defiant roar.

Every hair on my body stands on end. My skin is gooseflesh. The unholy succubus is still swarming me, even now, in the cold, sweaty, waking reality of my darkened bedroom. I immediately begin reciting a modified version of Psalm 23 as I spring out of bed.

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. You make me to lie down in green pastures. You lead me beside still waters. You set a table for me in the presence of my enemies. My cup runneth over. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life. And I will dwell in the house of the Lord, forever.

I move purposefully toward the bathroom—I say the prayers—raising the mason jar of clear water into the air. Soon it will become Holy water. The battle will be joined once again.

The succubus was not the first spider to try to capture me. Nor the first to try and feed on me, sexually. My abduction happened long ago, when I was a child, but I remember it like it was yesterday. I was only six years old, but I recall every slimy detail. That is what happens when you are abducted. The trauma—it sears the memory across your brain’s hippocampus, neocortex, and amygdala. The sights, the sounds, the sensations—the words, the pain, the fear—they linger like ghosts in the attic. Like a movie reel on repeat.

The two-mile trek up Pine Street to East Market in Greensboro, North Carolina is a long one on foot, especially for skinny, six-year-old legs. It was during these and many such walks as a young boy when I first heard The Voice. Sometimes I missed the