"The second is this: evil spirits have introduced the knavery of appearing as spirits of the departed and, with unspeakable lies and cunning, of demanding Masses, vigils, pilgrimages, and other alms."
Martin Luther, Smalcald Articles, Part II, Article 2: The Mass.
I came across a discussion on whether there is a Lutheran position on ghosts. I remembered this passage from Luther, as it was something I had stumbled across while researching other references in The Lutheran Confessions for this blog. I was really surprised when I saw it, because I had actually been teaching this for about 20 years, before being ordained and before finding the citation. I think this topic is more important than the attention generally granted to it. My wife, Anita, pointed out, "Isn't it the position of Martin Luther?" "Yes, in fact it's in the Confessions." "Then blog on it." Anita is in charge of common sense in our home.
If you have been following this blog then you know I believe in angels and demons, and why. If not, the post on angels and demons is below. My last post was on spiritual warfare. Luther understood spiritual warfare well, maybe as well as anyone can since the First Century. He could see that demons masquerading as the ghosts of those dead would be a logical tactical, strategic ploy to bring confusion. The experience would be very real, and thus accepted outright by the person experiencing it. But having an experience is not in itself an explanation of what it is.
We can't be sure what happens when we die. Some references in Scripture support "soul sleep" without consciousness until The Resurrection. Some references of Paul support our spirit leaving the body and going to be with God in Christ in Paradise. What is not supported is that the ruin of the human (C. S. Lewis' description in his "The Great Divorce") exists on earth in a see-able form that can interact with its surroundings. Yes, the Witch of Endor called up Samuel. But she called him from "the place of the dead." He was not just hanging around.
The story is told of a shrine built in what is now France to the Archangel Michael for his veneration. I came across it during research for a St. Michael and all Angels festival sermon. The monk built the shrine after the archangel Michael appeared to him and told him to build the shrine and to promote his veneration far and wide. This the monk did - both. That wasn't Michael! How do I know? It's not that hard. Jude wrote that when Michael confronted Satan over the body of Moses he would not even condemn in his own power or name, but rather challenged, "The Lord rebuke you!" Michael means "Who is like God?" The question is rhetorical. No one. The Revelation to St. John makes it clear that angels reject veneration outright. But there is one spiritual being we know of who does in fact seek the veneration and devotion due only to God.
I am convinced that Luther was correct. I do not doubt for a moment the experiences people have that are understandably attributed to ghosts. But having an experience is not in itself an explanation of what it is. If Luther is correct, the reason for such a deception would be to deceive on the nature of life, death and eternal life (as opposed to "afterlife"). That is why the discussion is worth having, and that is why it is important to keep God's Word in the place where it belongs; in the center. Getting this wrong can have dire consequences.
But we are never alone.
"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are of God; for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God; every spirit which confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit which does not confess Jesus is not of God. This is the spirit of antichrist, of which you heard that it is coming, and now it is in the world already. Little children, you are of God, and have overcome them; for he who is in your is greater than he who is in the world." I John 4: 1-4
