From:  Nicole Ellis
To:       heb_roots_chr@geocities.com
Subject: ancestors the past

Hi,

I hear a lot of talk about "praying for our dead ancestors", for the
sins they have committed.  I hear about prayer walks and even the
practice of "memory healing" or "theophostics".  These are occuring in
the church.  I don't find these biblical or am I missing something? I
would like to hear your point of view especially since you are
Messianic.

Sincerely interested,

Nicole Ellis

>From Eddie:
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        Nicole,

       Praying for the dead is clearly an unbiblical practice. In
Deuteronomy 18:9-14 it is written:

"When you are come into the land which the Lord thy God gives you,
you shall not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.
There shall not be found among you anyone that makes his son or his
daughter to pass through the fire, or that uses divination or an
observer of times, or an enchanter or a witch. Or a charmer, or a
consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For
all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord: and
because of these abominations the Lord thy God does drive them out
before thee. Thou shall be perfect (spiritually mature) with the Lord
thy God. For these nations which you possess, hearkened (shema) unto
observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the Lord thy
God has not suffered thee so to do".

Saul committed this sin in (I Samuel 28:3-20). In I Samuel 28:3-8 it
is written:

"Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel lamented for him, and buried him
in Ramah, even in his own city.  And Saul had put away those that had
familiar spirits and the wizards out of the land.  And the Philistines
gathered themselves together and came and pitched in Shunem: and
Saul  gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa. And when
Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid and his heart
greatly trembled. And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord
answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.
Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a
familiar spirt, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his
servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that has a familiar
spirit at Endor. And Saul disguised himself, and put on other
raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the
woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the
familiar spirit, and bring him up, who I shall name unto thee"

                                                   Eddie Chumney

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