As a Christian, I do believe ghosts are real

Whether it is around a campfire, at a friend’s sleepover or watching another Netflix horror film, we have probably all seen, shared or listened to ghost stories.

Ghosts are everywhere…or at least on our screens. TV series like Ghost Hunters and videos on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube which show haunted houses and claim they have caught ghosts on camera have accumulated millions of views.

A recent study quoted by The Guardian newspaper claimed that around a third of people in the UK believe in ghosts. Spooky regional surveys (such as those conducted by The London Dungeon) reveal figures can reach up to 46% in London and 54% in Norwich.

But, as Christians, what do we make of ghosts? Do we dismiss them as fantasy, or fear them as demonic? What is the biblical and theological view, if there even is one?

A spiritual realm

I was recently asked in an interview whether I believed in ghosts, to which I answered “yes”, explaining that I thought ghosts could be either departed spirits of human beings or be confused with demonic spirits. Perhaps naively, I thought this was a reasonable position to take as a Christian. However, I received a swift backlash from Christians saying it was unbiblical and asking how I could believe such things.

So, let me explain why I believe that ghosts really do exist.

Christianity isn’t materialism. The Bible clearly teaches about the existence of a spiritual realm, about God, angels, Satan, demons, human souls and spirit. There are also some more fun and fantastical elements, like the Nephilim – mysterious, giant-like beings briefly introduced in Genesis 6:1–4.

The most compelling argument for the existence of ghosts is that the Gospel writers talk about them

As Christians we shouldn’t shy away from such things but be comfortable and confident in them, even if we might hold them lightly. After all, we do believe in the mystical and wonderful - Jesus who walked on water, calmed storms, cast out demons, raised the dead, and was taken from a hillside up to heaven.

Paul teaches us: “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against …the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12). So, the Christian position is certainly not that there is no such thing as a spiritual world. There is.

Dealing with the demonic

Some argue that ghosts are demons - or perhaps a demon pretending to be a human spirit. I believe that there is biblical evidence for this; that demons can purposely seek to hurt, harm and control humans. But I also believe in ghosts who do not fit this mould. They are somehow trapped or confused and simply lost with no particular evil intention.

A ghost, as I understand it, is the spirit of a human that has somehow returned to where it should not be; it is not at rest. If you were to encounter a ghost, my sense would be that, as a Christian, you could say to it: “You don’t belong here; go in peace, rest until Christ calls you.” If a demon, then perhaps get a priest and a trained exorcist can be assigned.

If we look at their beginnings it may help us understand more. Humans are created by God from the earth, and God gives us the breath of life. Genesis 2:7 says: “Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.”

As Christians, we believe in the mystical and wonderful - Jesus who walked on water, calmed storms, cast out demons, raised the dead

Demons are evil spiritual beings who are opposed to God. While there is no definitive biblical teaching on where they come from, the widely accepted understanding is they are fallen angels. The book of Revelation describes a conflict in heaven in which the dragon (Satan) and his angels are thrown down to earth. In Matthew 25:41, Jesus speaks of “the devil and his angels”, giving the clear indication that there is a hierarchy to the spiritual world.

So far, I’ve established there is a spiritual realm, there are demons, and human beings have a spirit. But ghosts are a leap. How do they exist?

The issue starts to hit problems when we think about what happens after death. When someone dies, do they jump through time to the day of judgement, when all shall face God? In such a case, ghosts are probably not real; I can’t really see them slipping through God’s hands.

On the other hand, do they go to a holding place for the dead, such as Hades? In this case, perhaps there is some room to allow for ghosts.

Even if we assume that ghosts are human spirits, the Bible explicitly forbids contact with the dead (Deuteronomy 18:10-12). But why would scripture ban something if it couldn’t be done?

What Jesus said

The most compelling argument for the existence of ghosts is that the Gospel writers talk about them - and even record Jesus speaking about them. When Jesus walked on water, the disciples were afraid, and we are told that they thought it was a ghost.

In one of His first resurrection appearances, Jesus stands before the disciples and they are afraid. Jesus responds: “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have” (Luke 24:39).

It is important to note that He does not say: “I’m not a demon”; instead, He specifically tells them that He is not a ghost. Clearly, Jesus knows the difference between the two things and believes the disciples do too.

Luke presents the resurrection not as Jesus becoming a ghostly spirit or mere apparition, but as a physical bodily event. He can be touched. He has flesh and bones. He eats. The resurrection is bodily, and that is also our hope as Christians.

In this time of Halloween, when fear and fun can mix in some uncomfortable ways, let us remember that we need not be afraid. Believing in ghosts is not important, but believing in the resurrected Jesus is. He has conquered the forces of evil, defeated Satan and all his demons and He makes a way for us!

Read an alternative view here