'Ghost Brothers' and 'Destination America'

Huffington Post … “Ghost Brothers is addictive.”

It has been said that the paranormal is the new normal. Take the new show on Destination America, The Ghost Brothers. This is the first paranormal ghost hunting show that features an all-black ensemble. Three black men who have known each other for a long time have teamed up. Their mission statement asserted at the outset of each show—“To show that ghosts are for real.”

“The series follows best friends Dalen Spratt, Juwan Mass and Marcus Harvey on a mission to uncover whether some legendary “haunted” houses are the real deal. All raised in religious households, Spratt, Mass and Harvey were taught that messing with the dead is dangerous business, but their own unexplained experiences piqued their fascination, driving them to find out how spooky the supernatural can be. “Ghost Brothers” is described as blending the group’s natural curiosity with comedic flair, offering a fresh, funny and unique take on the spirit world.

“We’re excited to join the Destination America family and prove that there can be a little humor in the unknown,” said Spratt. “But the best part about ‘Ghost Brothers’ is that this time, the black guys make it out of the haunted house alive!”

“Destination America is the leader in paranormal programming, and we are excited to bring diversity to this space with the very first African American ghost-hunting team on television,” said Jane Latman, general manager of Destination America. “Dalen’s, Juwan’s and Marcus’ personalities shine through in ‘Ghost Brothers,’ wearing their emotions on their sleeves in an incredibly relatable way during all of the fear, thrills and chills of investigating things that go bump in the night.”

I must confess that as far as entertainment, they are, well, entertaining. Their shared culture reveals itself in some of their mannerisms, and humor.

My concern is this—to whatever extent black folks may have avoided paranormal shows due to their being all-white, now have some of their own. In other words, blacks, and those drawn to black heritage, now have a magnet to pull them into the ever widening net of fascination with the paranormal….and all the danger that comes with fascination with the paranormal. Yet another segment of America is being brainwashed into believing that ghosts exist. As I mentioned, Ghost Bros. are already persuaded that ghosts do exist and they are passionate about persuading others, by allegedly proving it.

Rather than listening to their families wise warnings, they are rushing headlong into ‘Satan’s sandbox”.

Their gear and methodology is essentially the same…except that they prefer smart phones to do some of their video and EVP.

Unlike most other groups these guys are genuinely funny. And that has already proved to be a powerful attraction to a new audience.

I’m sure that parapsychologists and others will be cynical of their methodology but my concern is that like most investigative groups, they assume the very thing they are trying to prove—namely, the existence of earthbound spirits.

As one homicide detective said, he did not approach a crime scene with any pre-conceived notions because that could potentially cause him to overlook or mis-interpret the data/evidence….and possibly cause him to arrest the wrong person. By approaching locations with the assumption that ghosts exist, the Ghost Brothers do what most every other group does…and the data is overlooked or mis-interpreted. I truly wish that paranormal investigators would approach the data with the same caution as the above homicide detective. Where is the group that follows the consensus of historic Christianity (see last week’s blog on 100 years of Reformed Creeds) and views paranormal activity as demonic?

Destination America is certainly one of the leading paranormal TV channels, with at least 8 paranormal shows. On a popular level, they are on the cutting edge of changing the thinking of America regarding the paranormal….thanks to the quantity and diversity of ghost-driven shows.

While parapsychologists and paranormal investigators are dismissive of these shows, we cannot afford to be dismissive because they (TV shows) are what is affecting tens of millions of non-discerning people.

I find this deeply disturbing because Destination America is fast becoming the destination of America. It is both symptom and cause of our cultures exploding fascination with the paranormal. It is their mission to establish the paranormal as the new normal. Unless God intervenes, the destination of America is going to continue down the path to demonization due to the fascination with the paranormal.

This is leading to an unprecedented amount of overt demonic activity, as prohibitions regarding attempting to communicate with the dead (which does NOT imply that they must exist as some injudiciously assert) are being disregarded left and right. Ghost Brothers may be sincere but they are sincerely wrong, and are contributing to opening doors to an unprecedented amount of overt demonic activity….here in what was once ‘the Christian West’. The Christian worldview is being replaced with a highly spiritual occult worldview…which is very similar to the ancient Gnostic worldview –just re-cast in modern garb.

A few days ago I hit a milestone—I turned 60 years old. This has caused me to become reflective regarding the kind of country we are going to bequeath to our children and grandchildren. I have three children in their 20’s, and three young grandsons. What kind of country will we leave them?

As long as I’m able to write, I am determined with renewed passion to do all I can to stop this paranormal juggernaut, for the sake of our children/grandchildren. I dearly want to have as deep an impact for God’s glory in our culture before I am called to glory. Hence, I will, by God’s grace, push back against the forces which ‘Destination America” represents. Not pushing back is lazy, selfish, and God-dishonoring because, to not speak out, is essentially accommodating this evil. Then we will lay squarely on the lap of our children the noxious fruit of this fascination with the paranormal, and our indifference.

While there are many exceptions, we have become a massively selfish generation which is fixated on personal peace and affluence. May we instead weep at the graveside of our culture…and work and pray for a destination of America that is delivered from its present course by a revival of the Holy Spirit and reformation of sound doctrine.

Mark Hunnemann is the author of Seeing Ghosts Through God's Eyes: A Worldview Analysis of Earthbound Spirits. It's also available in eBook format.  

Explanation of Demons, Not Ghosts, Part 3

By Rev. Dr. Bradley Luoma

Continued from: Explanation of Demons, Not Ghosts, Part 1
Explanation of Demons Not Ghosts, Part 2

In series part’s 1 and 2 we laid the ground floor to provide discernment that ‘Ghosts’ cannot exist as one would believe.  We used multiple Biblical verses laid out to clearly demonstrate when one dies they face judgment which is either Heaven or Hell.  At the end of part 2 we indicated that this entire false belief of ‘Ghosts’ starts with invitation to the realm to contact a person.

Part 3 - Satan knows man all too well, and Satan knew back then if he could tempt Eve with “eating” an apple and getting Adam to follow Eve’s actions, then he certainly can get people to believe that loved ones can come back to visit you once deceased to provide certain “words of wisdom” or “feelings of peace” that were once held in esteem for that loved person.

To further dive into our next subject – Demon activity not Ghost activity is infestation, oppression and possession, let’s look at the slide pictured in this article.  This snapshot captured is from the 2012 film, “The Conjuring”, which is depicting Ed and Lorraine Warren on a case.   During the movie the characters lay out how Demonic forces come about or infiltrate a person(s) life.  However, they missed the reason this is occurring in the first place – invitation or a generational curse.

The reason the Demonic become activated is two-fold – invitation of a person by their own hand or a generational curse found in the blood line.  The definition of involvement refers to being engaged with or participation with something.  This also refers to an emotional or personal association with something or someone. The invitation act is the direct result of ‘actions’ of said person in the occult world as well as in other aspects, but mostly related to occult activity.

Thus meaning, the person became active due to being involved with playing in the occult realm (I.e. Ouija board, Tarot Cards, Psychic/Medium engagement, Séance, Automatic Writing, Necromancy (going to the grave side and telling a passed one you miss them and wish you could see them one more time, telling a ‘Ghost’ to come forward to make yourself known or even telling a ‘Ghost’ to use my energy to come forward) Witchcraft practices, Satanic worship, Sacrifice of human/animal or both in the name of Satan, etc…).  Realize those discussed are just a small snapshot of occult aspects, but other sins of the ‘flesh’ also result in invitation too (I.e. illegal or legal drug usage (altered mind is what they are after), murder, prostitution, rape, sexual abuse, physical abuse, etc…).

Generational curses also bring forward the Demonic on a person.  These curses are found in the blood lines passed down through the family because of acts or ‘sins of our ancestors’.  Many people do not know what ancestors did 300, 600 or 1000 years ago in pledges to Satan for money, power, love, revenge, etc…  These curses become activated through the family lines causing havoc in the subsequent generations to come.

These curses cause people to become engaged further with activities that they should not be doing.  Many of you will disagree with this, but Exorcisms have confirmed why the Demonic were there in the first place, when they claim ‘Legal Rights’ to this person because of ancestral acts.  This becomes the challenge of the Exorcist to get the Demonic to admit fully what curse or curses are upon this person.  This is part of a ‘Legal Right’ they have to the person.  The sad part of this is (yes true) that even those professed saved in the blood of Jesus Christ, can and often under attack or even possessed by Demonic forces.  That is another story for another time.

The invitation process is not always instantaneous, but it can be for the Demonic.  Basically, the Demonic become activated as they wait for people to commit great offenses (I.e. Sin).  Even though we are all born in Sin, from the flesh of Adam and Eve, the Demons watch us all as they wait to see who continues to do more acts of involvement.  

For logical purposes, realize the Demonic are assigned to people to watch them, study them and then look for the ‘gaping wound’ found in the person.  What we might consider a very small scrape, the Demonic use as a major gaping wound to come upon a person.

The activity of invitation then moves onward towards the infestation aspect.  Infestation mode is designed to cause as much influx of Demonic activity as possible.  This is not limited to but does include: banging, knocking, heavy boots walking across the floor, items moving around, growling in the open air, a mist or a vapor, orbs, shadow figures and the list can go on and on.  During this time people become more aware thus will cause people to become obsessed with finding more answers, or engaging in the wrong manner which further opens that doorway.

The next phase after the infestation aspect is in full swing is the oppression state.  During this state people start to engage in behavior that is not typical of the person.  During this phase, the Demonic will take a ‘sane’ person and turn them ‘insane’.  They will cause the person or even the person’s family to always question every single aspect of their lives, cause major fights amongst each other, severe depression is common in women, severe aggression is common in men and both can be found in young children.

During this phase the attacks upon the person ramp up.  These include but are not limited to: scratching/gouging marks in the flesh, causing one to cut themselves (blood-letting), bite marks, bruising on body in areas they did not do themselves, getting pinned down on a bed/couch/chair, both men and women can be sexually assaulted, smells of sulfur/rotten meat/rotten eggs with no known source, catatonic activity (blank stare for extended periods of time), loss of time hours or days, and partial possession becomes apparent.

Possession the ultimate goal is when the Demonic fully reside in the person.  The afflicted will exhibit behavior that is not becoming or attributed to them.  This can include but is not limited to: ripping/tearing of flesh, tearing of hair off the head, removing all nails, severe mutilation of the flesh, eating bugs, playing/eating with/of fecal matter from the body, speaking in foreign tongues, levitation of the body, multiple voices coming out of the person at once, contortion of the body, breaking of bones, twisting and bending in positions not humanly possible, markings on the flesh with symbols, words, etc… as well as other aspects.  This stage is very severe and requires Exorcism upon the person.  During this extreme phase the Demonic may not allow the person to drink or eat thus sustaining life.  This phase requires both Medical and Spiritual intervention
In our next discussion of Demons not Ghosts, we will describe how the Demonic masquerade in the ways they feel necessary to enact their plans for all mankind.

Rev. Dr. Bradley Luoma

Haunted Houses

By Lisa Grace

The term "haunted house" is a misnomer. Houses can be occupied by corporal creations or by supernatural creatures that  are mentioned in the Holy Scriptures.

The reason I bring this up is, I am currently visiting/staying at a house where my husband and I both had a visit from a supernatural creature a couple of years ago. We did not summon it (that's forbidden in the Bible) and we certainly were not expecting it. My husband had never experienced the supernatural in such a hands on way before, so this was a surprise.

We were in bed, but plenty of light leaked in under the door from the next room. We had just turned in and ended a conversation when something unseen ran across the covers, and over our bodies. It had weight, it physically made depressions, and stepping sounds, and we felt it through the comforter as it moved across the bed.

The first words out of my husband's mouth were, "Did you see that?"

We weren't scared because we know beyond 100% that the supernatural exists. We also know God is control and we have His protection.

At the time someone whom we assumed practiced witchcraft (because of the various spell books and paraphernalia related to witchcraft that we saw around the house) was currently living in the home, too. We assumed they had intentionally or unintentionally invited “it” in through their practices.

We said a prayer asking the entity to leave in Jesus’ name and peacefully went to sleep.

Now we’re back and have been here for almost ten days. The person who owned the spell books no longer lives here, and all the witchcraft items have been removed. We’ve had no visits from supernatural creatures, and I don’t expect any either. Why?

Because of my faith, and my husband’s and because any entity would be told to leave in Jesus’ name.

Now is the house haunted? No. It had a supernatural occupant that was told to leave under God‘s authority (not mine), which it did.

The problem with all these haunting shows on TV is they should be just as boring as the true life incident I related above. The creature engages you, then you command it to leave permanently in Jesus’ name.

But the truth is—paranormal seekers really don’t want these entities to leave. No, they want them to stay—and interact, even in cases where you can see the human being possessed. They treat it like it is a game, and talk excitedly about returning to interact again.

The Holy Scriptures warn about these interactions because they can lead to these evil creatures attaching, possessing, or tormenting their human hosts.

Just like a house can be occupied, so can a person or the area around them.

Keep your guard up, and call in someone who will truly drive them away. Fifteen minutes of fame is truly not worth the price you may have to pay for encouraging demonic manifestations to interact with you.

Lisa Grace is the author of the Angel Series, which is currently in movie development. To get a better idea of how the supernatural works, you can download for FREE a copy of her fictional teen thriller Angel in the Shadows, Book 1 by Lisa Grace through Amazon, B&N, iTunes, Kobo, Sony, Diesel, or Smashwords.com stores.

The Problem with Haunted Houses

By Lisa Grace

Watching the paranormal shows the first thing the homeowners/renters usually do is call a paranormal group to document or agitate the supernatural beings.

Which of course, is the wrong thing do. Paranormal groups want more connections, not less with these evil beings. They have no interest in driving them out and choose instead to communicate and attract more of them. Many plan on repeating visits, again showing no interest in helping the residents to drive them out.

If someone truly wants evil beings driven out, they call a man of God to bless the house and drive the creatures out, permanently. If the inhabitants are not saved, the creatures could come back, as those who are not saved are easy to "attach" to and to possess.

Unfortunately, doing a house blessing, fasting, anointing with oil, and praying, and then having "no activity" may lead to a peaceful dwelling place, which does not make good TV.

People pay to stay at haunted places, and they have become tourist attractions in their own right. In Jesus' times, possessed people were kicked out of town (or worse), and evil spirits seemed to migrate to caves. Not all demons are equal, some prefer to mimic past living people, others get physical, and others seem almost passive or friendly (they're not). Playing with these entities is dangerous. They can "attach" to anyone who is unsaved. Many people who work against the demonic surround themselves with a strong circle of prayer warriors who pray for protection for them continually.

Playing with these entities is dangerous and should not be treated like a game.