What Does the Bible Say About Psychics?
The Bible is clear and consistent in forbidding attempts to contact the dead, seek hidden knowledge through supernatural means, or participate in occult practices. From Old Testament prohibitions to New Testament warnings, Scripture presents psychics and similar spiritual intermediaries as dangerous, deceptive, and incompatible with faith in God. For believers, the question is not simply whether psychics can reveal information—it is whether the source of that information honors or opposes the Lord.
1. How Does the Bible Define Forbidden Practices?
The Bible groups psychic activity with other occult practices, such as:
Divination – Seeking knowledge of the future or hidden things through supernatural means.
Necromancy – Attempting to contact the dead for information or guidance.
Sorcery – Calling on spiritual forces apart from God to influence events.
Deuteronomy 18:10–12 calls these practices “an abomination to the Lord.” This prohibition applies not only to ancient pagan rituals, but also to modern forms such as tarot readings, mediumship, astrology, or visiting psychics for guidance.
2. Why Are Psychics Spiritually Dangerous?
The Bible warns that not all supernatural signs come from God. Jesus said that false prophets and false messiahs would perform “great signs and wonders” to deceive, if possible, even the elect (Matthew 24:24). This means some psychic abilities—whether real or staged—can mislead people into trusting voices opposed to God.
Scripture also teaches that Satan disguises himself as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14–15). A psychic’s message might sound comforting or appear insightful, but the source could be a spiritual force opposed to the truth of the Gospel. For this reason, the Bible consistently warns believers to avoid these practices altogether.
3. What Does the Bible Offer Instead of Psychic Guidance?
While psychics promise insight into life’s mysteries, the Bible offers something far greater—direct access to God through prayer, His Word, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Biblical prophecy, unlike psychic prediction, is rooted in God’s truth and leads people toward righteousness, not away from Him.
For Christians, seeking guidance from psychics is a rejection of God’s appointed means of revelation. The Bible provides:
God’s Word – Sufficient for teaching, correction, and equipping for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16–17).
The Holy Spirit – Leading believers into truth and conforming them to Christ’s image.
The Church – Offering counsel and discernment within the body of believers.
Turning to psychics for guidance undermines the sufficiency of God’s revelation and the completeness of salvation in Christ.
4. How Does This Relate to the Gospel and the Kingdom of God?
The Bible’s rejection of psychics is not just a rule to follow—it is part of the larger story of God reclaiming His people from darkness. In Christ, believers are transferred from the dominion of darkness into His kingdom of light (Colossians 1:13–14). Seeking spiritual truth outside of Him is a return to the bondage from which the Gospel frees us.
The kingdom of God is built on trust in the King, not on secret knowledge from other spiritual sources. Christians are called to live by faith in God’s promises, not by chasing hidden messages from the spiritual realm.
Conclusion
The Bible leaves no room for believers to engage with psychics or other occult practices. These activities are spiritually dangerous, deceptive, and contrary to the truth of the Gospel. God calls His people to seek Him directly, trusting His Word and Spirit for guidance. In Christ, we have the ultimate source of truth, peace, and hope—far surpassing anything a psychic can offer.
Bible Verses About Psychics
Deuteronomy 18:10–12, “There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord.”
Leviticus 19:31, “Do not turn to mediums or necromancers; do not seek them out, and so make yourselves unclean by them: I am the Lord your God.”
Leviticus 20:6, “If a person turns to mediums and necromancers, whoring after them, I will set my face against that person and will cut him off from among his people.”
Isaiah 8:19, “And when they say to you, ‘Inquire of the mediums and the necromancers who chirp and mutter,’ should not a people inquire of their God? Should they inquire of the dead on behalf of the living?”
Jeremiah 27:9–10, “So do not listen to your prophets, your diviners, your dreamers, your fortune-tellers, or your sorcerers, who are saying to you, ‘You shall not serve the king of Babylon.’ For it is a lie that they are prophesying to you, with the result that you will be removed far from your land, and I will drive you out, and you will perish.”
Matthew 24:24, “For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.”
Acts 16:16–18, “As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and us, crying out, ‘These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.’ And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, ‘I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.’ And it came out that very hour.”
2 Corinthians 11:14–15, “And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.”
