{"id":46375,"date":"2021-10-28T22:49:50","date_gmt":"2021-10-28T19:49:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/?p=46375"},"modified":"2025-05-20T01:01:33","modified_gmt":"2025-05-19T22:01:33","slug":"what-are-spirits-of-the-dead-mizimu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/2021\/10\/28\/what-are-spirits-of-the-dead-mizimu\/","title":{"rendered":"What Are Spirits of the Dead (Mizimu)?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Do <\/span>They <\/span>Really <\/span>Exist? <\/span>And <\/span>How <\/span>Should <\/span>We <\/span>Guard <\/span>Ourselves <\/span>Against <\/span>Them?<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

In <\/span>many <\/span>African <\/span>traditional <\/span>belief <\/span>systems, <\/span>mizimu<\/span><\/em> refers <\/span>to <\/span>the <\/span>spirits <\/span>of <\/span>deceased <\/span>individuals\u2014<\/span>souls <\/span>believed <\/span>to <\/span>return <\/span>to <\/span>the <\/span>land <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>living. <\/span>These <\/span>spirits <\/span>are <\/span>thought <\/span>either <\/span>to <\/span>return <\/span>of <\/span>their <\/span>own <\/span>will <\/span>or <\/span>to <\/span>be <\/span>summoned <\/span>by <\/span>someone <\/span>with <\/span>the <\/span>intent <\/span>of <\/span>resolving <\/span>unresolved <\/span>issues, <\/span>offering <\/span>guidance, <\/span>or <\/span>even <\/span>seeking <\/span>revenge <\/span>for <\/span>wrongs <\/span>suffered <\/span>before <\/span>death.<\/span><\/p>\n

But <\/span>what <\/span>does <\/span>the <\/span>Bible <\/span>say <\/span>about <\/span>these <\/span>beliefs?<\/span>
Do <\/span>the <\/span>spirits <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>dead (<\/span>mizimu) <\/span>truly <\/span>exist <\/span>and <\/span>operate <\/span>as <\/span>some <\/span>claim?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Biblically, <\/span>the <\/span>answer <\/span>is <\/span>no.<\/span><\/strong>
There <\/span>is <\/span>no <\/span>Scriptural <\/span>support <\/span>for <\/span>the <\/span>idea <\/span>that <\/span>human <\/span>spirits <\/span>can <\/span>return <\/span>from <\/span>the <\/span>dead <\/span>or <\/span>be <\/span>called <\/span>upon <\/span>by <\/span>the <\/span>living <\/span>to <\/span>solve <\/span>earthly <\/span>problems. <\/span>Once <\/span>a <\/span>person <\/span>dies, <\/span>their <\/span>soul <\/span>departs <\/span>permanently <\/span>from <\/span>this <\/span>world <\/span>and <\/span>enters <\/span>eternity\u2014<\/span>either <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>presence <\/span>of <\/span>God <\/span>or <\/span>in <\/span>separation <\/span>from <\/span>Him.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hebrews <\/span>9:<\/span>27 (<\/span>ESV) <\/span>clearly <\/span>states:<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201c<\/span>And <\/span>just <\/span>as <\/span>it <\/span>is <\/span>appointed <\/span>for <\/span>man <\/span>to <\/span>die <\/span>once, <\/span>and <\/span>after <\/span>that <\/span>comes <\/span>judgment.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

This <\/span>passage <\/span>affirms <\/span>that <\/span>death <\/span>is <\/span>final <\/span>in <\/span>terms <\/span>of <\/span>earthly <\/span>existence. <\/span>There <\/span>are <\/span>no <\/span>spiritual “<\/span>visitations” <\/span>from <\/span>the <\/span>dead\u2014<\/span>no <\/span>second <\/span>chances <\/span>or <\/span>lingering <\/span>presences <\/span>of <\/span>human <\/span>souls <\/span>on <\/span>earth.<\/span><\/p>\n

What <\/span>About <\/span>the <\/span>Story <\/span>of <\/span>Saul <\/span>and <\/span>the <\/span>Spirit <\/span>of <\/span>Samuel?<\/span><\/h3>\n

Some <\/span>might <\/span>point <\/span>to <\/span>the <\/span>Old <\/span>Testament <\/span>account <\/span>in <\/span>1 <\/span>Samuel <\/span>28, <\/span>where <\/span>King <\/span>Saul, <\/span>in <\/span>desperation, <\/span>sought <\/span>out <\/span>a <\/span>medium (<\/span>the <\/span>witch <\/span>of <\/span>Endor) <\/span>to <\/span>summon <\/span>the <\/span>prophet <\/span>Samuel. <\/span>The <\/span>spirit <\/span>appeared <\/span>and <\/span>rebuked <\/span>Saul, <\/span>foretelling <\/span>his <\/span>impending <\/span>death.<\/span><\/p>\n

While <\/span>this <\/span>incident <\/span>is <\/span>unique, <\/span>it <\/span>does <\/span>not <\/span>legitimize <\/span>necromancy <\/span>or <\/span>the <\/span>belief <\/span>in <\/span>roaming <\/span>spirits. <\/span>In <\/span>fact, <\/span>the <\/span>Law <\/span>strictly <\/span>forbade <\/span>any <\/span>interaction <\/span>with <\/span>the <\/span>dead:<\/span><\/p>\n

Deuteronomy <\/span>18:<\/span>10\u2013<\/span>12 (<\/span>NIV) <\/span>says:<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201c<\/span>Let <\/span>no <\/span>one <\/span>be <\/span>found <\/span>among <\/span>you… <\/span>who <\/span>practices <\/span>divination <\/span>or <\/span>sorcery, <\/span>interprets <\/span>omens, <\/span>engages <\/span>in <\/span>witchcraft… <\/span>or <\/span>who <\/span>consults <\/span>the <\/span>dead. <\/span>Anyone <\/span>who <\/span>does <\/span>these <\/span>things <\/span>is <\/span>detestable <\/span>to <\/span>the <\/span>Lord.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Moreover, <\/span>after <\/span>Christ’s <\/span>death <\/span>and <\/span>resurrection, <\/span>all <\/span>authority <\/span>over <\/span>death <\/span>and <\/span>the <\/span>grave <\/span>was <\/span>transferred <\/span>to <\/span>Him. <\/span>The <\/span>enemy <\/span>no <\/span>longer <\/span>holds <\/span>the <\/span>keys <\/span>to <\/span>the <\/span>realm <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>dead.<\/span><\/p>\n

Revelation <\/span>1:<\/span>18 (<\/span>NIV):<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201c<\/span>I <\/span>am <\/span>the <\/span>Living <\/span>One; <\/span>I <\/span>was <\/span>dead, <\/span>and <\/span>now <\/span>look, <\/span>I <\/span>am <\/span>alive <\/span>forever <\/span>and <\/span>ever! <\/span>And <\/span>I <\/span>hold <\/span>the <\/span>keys <\/span>of <\/span>death <\/span>and <\/span>Hades.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

So <\/span>What <\/span>Are <\/span>These <\/span>Apparitions <\/span>That <\/span>Look <\/span>Like <\/span>the <\/span>Dead?<\/span><\/h3>\n

If <\/span>the <\/span>dead <\/span>cannot <\/span>return, <\/span>then <\/span>what <\/span>are <\/span>people <\/span>seeing <\/span>or <\/span>experiencing <\/span>when <\/span>they <\/span>claim <\/span>to <\/span>have <\/span>encountered <\/span>a <\/span>deceased <\/span>loved <\/span>one?<\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/span>answer <\/span>is: <\/span>these <\/span>are <\/span>deceiving <\/span>spirits\u2014<\/span>unclean <\/span>demons <\/span>that <\/span>impersonate <\/span>the <\/span>dead.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The <\/span>Bible <\/span>warns <\/span>us <\/span>that <\/span>Satan <\/span>and <\/span>his <\/span>demons <\/span>are <\/span>masters <\/span>of <\/span>disguise.<\/span><\/p>\n

2 <\/span>Corinthians <\/span>11:<\/span>14 (<\/span>ESV):<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201c<\/span>And <\/span>no <\/span>wonder, <\/span>for <\/span>even <\/span>Satan <\/span>disguises <\/span>himself <\/span>as <\/span>an <\/span>angel <\/span>of <\/span>light.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

If <\/span>the <\/span>devil <\/span>can <\/span>appear <\/span>as <\/span>an <\/span>angel, <\/span>how <\/span>much <\/span>easier <\/span>is <\/span>it <\/span>for <\/span>him <\/span>or <\/span>his <\/span>demons <\/span>to <\/span>mimic <\/span>the <\/span>voice <\/span>or <\/span>appearance <\/span>of <\/span>a <\/span>departed <\/span>family <\/span>member? <\/span>These <\/span>spirits <\/span>aim <\/span>to <\/span>deceive, <\/span>mislead, <\/span>and <\/span>ultimately <\/span>draw <\/span>people <\/span>away <\/span>from <\/span>the <\/span>truth <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>Gospel.<\/span><\/p>\n

Many <\/span>cultures <\/span>end <\/span>up <\/span>venerating <\/span>these <\/span>apparitions, <\/span>believing <\/span>they <\/span>are <\/span>honoring <\/span>their <\/span>ancestors, <\/span>when <\/span>in <\/span>fact <\/span>they <\/span>are <\/span>unknowingly <\/span>engaging <\/span>with <\/span>demonic <\/span>spirits. <\/span>This <\/span>opens <\/span>the <\/span>door <\/span>to <\/span>spiritual <\/span>oppression <\/span>and <\/span>bondage.<\/span><\/p>\n

Psalm <\/span>106:<\/span>37\u2013<\/span>38 (<\/span>NIV):<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201c<\/span>They <\/span>sacrificed <\/span>their <\/span>sons <\/span>and <\/span>their <\/span>daughters <\/span>to <\/span>false <\/span>gods. <\/span>They <\/span>shed <\/span>innocent <\/span>blood… <\/span>whom <\/span>they <\/span>sacrificed <\/span>to <\/span>the <\/span>idols <\/span>of <\/span>Canaan, <\/span>and <\/span>the <\/span>land <\/span>was <\/span>desecrated <\/span>by <\/span>their <\/span>blood.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Though <\/span>we <\/span>may <\/span>not <\/span>physically <\/span>sacrifice <\/span>today, <\/span>spiritual <\/span>deception <\/span>and <\/span>worship <\/span>of <\/span>false <\/span>spirits <\/span>is <\/span>just <\/span>as <\/span>defiling.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

How <\/span>Can <\/span>We <\/span>Guard <\/span>Ourselves?<\/span><\/h3>\n

The <\/span>only <\/span>true <\/span>protection <\/span>from <\/span>these <\/span>deceiving <\/span>spirits <\/span>is <\/span>found <\/span>in <\/span>Jesus <\/span>Christ. <\/span>Outside <\/span>of <\/span>Christ, <\/span>people <\/span>are <\/span>vulnerable <\/span>to <\/span>spiritual <\/span>deception <\/span>and <\/span>the <\/span>influence <\/span>of <\/span>demonic <\/span>forces.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ephesians <\/span>6:<\/span>11\u2013<\/span>12 (<\/span>ESV):<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201c<\/span>Put <\/span>on <\/span>the <\/span>whole <\/span>armor <\/span>of <\/span>God, <\/span>that <\/span>you <\/span>may <\/span>be <\/span>able <\/span>to <\/span>stand <\/span>against <\/span>the <\/span>schemes <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>devil. <\/span>For <\/span>we <\/span>do <\/span>not <\/span>wrestle <\/span>against <\/span>flesh <\/span>and <\/span>blood, <\/span>but <\/span>against… <\/span>the <\/span>spiritual <\/span>forces <\/span>of <\/span>evil <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>heavenly <\/span>places.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

If <\/span>you <\/span>have <\/span>not <\/span>yet <\/span>received <\/span>salvation <\/span>through <\/span>Jesus, <\/span>now <\/span>is <\/span>the <\/span>time. <\/span>Only <\/span>in <\/span>Him <\/span>is <\/span>there <\/span>true <\/span>authority <\/span>over <\/span>evil <\/span>spirits <\/span>and <\/span>power <\/span>to <\/span>discern <\/span>truth <\/span>from <\/span>deception. <\/span>Those <\/span>who <\/span>are <\/span>in <\/span>Christ <\/span>are <\/span>covered <\/span>by <\/span>His <\/span>blood <\/span>and <\/span>protected <\/span>by <\/span>the <\/span>Holy <\/span>Spirit.<\/span><\/p>\n

Let <\/span>us <\/span>be <\/span>vigilant. <\/span>Let <\/span>us <\/span>seek <\/span>biblical <\/span>understanding, <\/span>lest <\/span>we <\/span>unknowingly <\/span>give <\/span>worship <\/span>to <\/span>Satan <\/span>while <\/span>thinking <\/span>we <\/span>are <\/span>honoring <\/span>God.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Hosea <\/span>4:<\/span>6 (<\/span>NKJV):<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201c<\/span>My <\/span>people <\/span>are <\/span>destroyed <\/span>for <\/span>lack <\/span>of <\/span>knowledge.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\n

May <\/span>the <\/span>Lord <\/span>bless <\/span>you <\/span>and <\/span>give <\/span>you <\/span>discernment.<\/span><\/strong>
Maranatha\u2014<\/span>Come, <\/span>Lord <\/span>Jesus.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n