Can you please tell me if conversing with people who say they can speak with the dead is sinful. I believe it is, but would appreciated your input from the scriptures. – D.F.

There was an earlier Q&A on consulting the dead (perhaps you saw this), but I see that your question takes it to a level deeper. In that Q&A (back in 2007) I referenced Leviticus 20:27; Deuteronomy 18:11; 1 Samuel 28:1ff; 1 Chronicles 10:13; Isaiah 8:19, 19:3; and Galatians 5:20. Such passages forbid necromancy. I stated that whether or not contacting the dead is possible, God's word tells us to keep our distance.

You are asking whether is permissible even to talk to a medium in a social setting (non-occult), with or without the purpose of contacting the departed. We are called to communicate the message with those who do not know God—and I believe this includes everyone—so I don’t see how we can rule out speaking socially with mediums, witches, warlocks, Satanists, and so on. I’ve often heard of such persons coming to faith in Christ. Even though the Bible doesn’t tell us to avoid those engaged in the dark arts, keep in mind the following passages, which contain principles that may speaks to your situation.

  • … I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother or sister who is sexually immoral or greedy or an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler. Do not even eat with such a one (1 Cor 5:11). If the mediums claim to be Christians, and have been show the error of their ways, shun them.
  • Outside [the Holy City] are the… sorcerers and… everyone who loves and practices falsehood (Rev 22:15). All matters occult will exclude us from the glorious future the Lord has planned for us.
  • Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character” (1 Cor 15:33). Spending time with mediums, even if they don’t consult the dead for us, can still affect us.
  • Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” She kept this up for many days. Finally, Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her (Acts 16:16-18). Occult activity interferes with the ministry of the Word.
  • For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them (Eph 5:8-11). If anything, we should be exposing the fruitless and evil of sin, not tolerating it.

Hopefully this is enough scripture to enable you to reach your own decision in this somewhat gray area.