Every October, haunted house attractions pop up across the country, drawing millions of thrill-seekers. But beyond the entertainment value, a serious question remains: can houses actually be haunted? Popular culture says yes, but what does Scripture teach?

As Reformed Christians, we’re committed to sola scriptura—with Scripture alone as our ultimate authority. Let’s examine the question through the lens of God’s Word rather than popular movies or personal experiences.

 

ARE HAUNTED HOUSES REAL? WHAT SCRIPTURE SAYS

The Bible is remarkably clear about what happens when people die. Ecclesiastes 9:5-6 tells us “the dead know nothing,” and they “have no more portion forever in anything that is done under the sun.” This isn’t a poetic metaphor—it’s a straightforward statement about the state of the dead.

Jesus Himself clarified this in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31). Notice there’s a “great chasm” between the living and the dead that cannot be crossed. The rich man cannot return to warn his brothers, despite his desperate desire to do so. If departed souls could freely roam the earth, this parable makes no sense.

Paul reinforces this teaching in 2 Corinthians 5:8: to be “away from the body” is to be “at home with the Lord.” For believers, death means immediate presence with Christ, not wandering around old houses. The Westminster Confession of Faith summarises this beautifully: “The souls of the righteous, being then made perfect in holiness, are received into the highest heavens.”

The biblical picture is consistent: the dead do not return as ghosts. They’re either with the Lord or separated from Him. They’re not haunting houses.

 

THE REALITY OF SPIRITUAL WARFARE

This doesn’t mean the spiritual realm is inactive. Scripture clearly teaches spiritual warfare is real. Ephesians 6:12 reminds us we wrestle “against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” 1 Peter 5:8 warns us our “adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

The Gospels record numerous encounters with demonic forces. In Mark 5:1-20, we see demons seeking habitation, desperately begging Jesus not to send them out of the region. This shows evil spirits are real and active.

However—and this is crucial—Scripture also teaches demons are created beings under God’s absolute sovereignty. In the book of Job, Satan must ask permission before touching Job’s life. 1 John 4:4 assures believers “greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.”

RC Sproul emphasised this point: we must never allow our experience to override Scripture’s clear teaching. The Reformed tradition has always maintained God’s sovereignty extends over all spiritual forces, limiting their activity according to His purposes.

 

UNDERSTANDING “HAUNTED” PHENOMENA

So how do we explain reports of supernatural activity in houses? The Reformed approach suggests several possibilities:

Natural Explanations First: Many supposed hauntings have natural causes. Old houses settle, creating unexplained sounds. Electromagnetic fields can cause feelings of unease. Infrasound—sound waves below human hearing—can trigger anxiety and the sensation of being watched. Psychological factors like suggestion, fear, and cultural conditioning play enormous roles.

Demonic Deception: Where genuine supernatural activity occurs, Scripture suggests it’s likely demonic deception rather than the return of departed souls. 2 Corinthians 11:14 warns us “Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.” Demons are skilled deceivers who might impersonate the dead to lead people away from biblical truth.

Importantly, biblical demonology focuses on the oppression of people, not the haunting of places. Houses aren’t possessed—people are. The target is always human souls, not real estate.

The Danger of Seeking the Supernatural: Deuteronomy 18:10-12 strictly prohibits consulting spirits or seeking supernatural phenomena. Isaiah 8:19 asks pointedly: “Should not a people inquire of their God?” When we chase after supernatural experiences, we’re looking in the wrong direction.

John MacArthur’s cessationist perspective reminds us God has given us His complete revelation in Scripture. We don’t need additional supernatural encounters to know His will.

 

ARE HAUNTED HOUSES REAL? A GOSPEL-CENTRED RESPONSE

What should Christians do when confronted with claims of haunting?

• Take concerns seriously while maintaining a biblical framework. Fear is real, even when its object isn’t. People need pastoral care, not dismissal.
• Investigate natural causes. Most “supernatural” phenomena have natural explanations. This isn’t scepticism—it’s biblical wisdom that values truth.
• Address the underlying spiritual needs. Often, fascination with the supernatural reflects a deeper hunger for meaning and connection with the divine. The Gospel provides what people are truly seeking.

1 Corinthians 10:13 promises us God provides a way of escape from every temptation. Romans 8:38-39 assures us nothing—including spiritual forces—can separate us from God’s love. Believers have authority in Christ over demonic forces, not through dramatic exorcisms, but through the ordinary means of grace: prayer, Scripture, and Christian fellowship.

 

LIVING IN BIBLICAL CONFIDENCE

The Reformed tradition offers profound comfort here. We don’t need to fear haunted houses because Scripture teaches us they don’t exist. We don’t need to seek supernatural experiences because we have God’s complete revelation in His Word.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 declares Scripture is sufficient for “every good work.” This includes understanding the spiritual realm. We have everything we need in God’s Word.

Christ’s victory over evil is complete. Colossians 2:15 tells us He has “disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame.” 1 John 3:8 reminds us “the reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.”

As Christians, we’re called to “test everything; hold fast what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21). This means examining claims about the supernatural through Scripture’s lens, not accepting them based on popular culture or personal experience.

 

CONCLUSION: ARE HAUNTED HOUSES REAL?

Are haunted houses real? Scripture reassures us, no. The dead do not return as ghosts, and houses cannot be haunted by departed souls. While spiritual warfare is real, it targets people, not places, and operates under God’s absolute sovereignty.

This biblical understanding brings tremendous peace. We can walk confidently through this world, knowing our sovereign God rules over all spiritual forces. We don’t need to fear things that go bump in the night—we have the light of God’s Word to guide us.

Instead of chasing supernatural thrills, let’s find our satisfaction in the greatest supernatural reality of all: that the Creator of the universe has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ. That’s a truth worth haunting our thoughts day and night.

 

ARE HAUNTED HOUSES REAL? RELATED FAQs

What about the Salem Witch Trials? Were those real supernatural events? The Salem Witch Trials (1692-1693) were a tragic example of mass hysteria, false accusations, and judicial failure rather than genuine supernatural activity. Reformed theology recognises that while demonic activity exists, it operates under God’s sovereignty and biblical parameters. The trials violated clear biblical principles about testimony, evidence, and justice (Deuteronomy 19:15). Most Reformed scholars view Salem as a cautionary tale about the dangers of superstition overtaking biblical discernment.

• How big is the market for haunted/horror entertainment, and why should Christians be concerned? The global horror film market was valued at USD 112.01 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow to USD 195.35 billion by 2033, showing massive cultural influence. From a Reformed perspective, this industry often serves as Satan’s tool to normalise occult practices, desensitise people to evil, and create fascination with darkness rather than light. Scripture calls us to think on “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right” (Philippians 4:8), not to feed our minds with content that glorifies fear, death, and the demonic.
• What about “Christian ghost stories” or testimonies from believers who claim to have seen departed loved ones? While these testimonies may reflect genuine grief and longing, they contradict Scripture’s clear teaching about the intermediate state. Reformed theology holds such experiences are either natural psychological phenomena (grief hallucinations are well-documented) or potentially demonic deception. The Westminster Confession states the dead are either in glory or punishment, not visiting the living. Christians should find comfort in Scripture’s promises about reunion at the resurrection, not in alleged appearances that bypass biblical teaching.

How should Reformed Christians respond to Halloween and “haunted” attractions? Reformed Christians should exercise biblical discernment regarding Halloween activities. While some may participate in harmless community events focused on costumes and candy, engaging with haunted houses or occult themes contradicts Scripture’s warnings about having “no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness” (Ephesians 5:11). The Reformed principle of Christian liberty allows for different convictions, but wisdom suggests avoiding entertainment that glorifies evil or creates unnecessary spiritual confusion.

• What’s the difference between biblical “unclean spirits” and modern ghost stories? Biblical unclean spirits are fallen angels (demons) who serve Satan and oppose God’s kingdom. They are created beings under divine sovereignty, not departed human souls. Modern ghost stories typically portray the spirits of dead humans, which contradicts Scripture’s teaching that the dead do not return. Reformed demonology emphasises demons may impersonate the dead to deceive people, but they’re fundamentally different entities. The Bible never presents human spirits as capable of haunting locations after death.
• Can Christians living in formerly “haunted” houses expect spiritual attacks? Reformed theology teaches us demons target people, not places. A house itself cannot be inherently evil or permanently tainted by previous occupants’ activities. However, if a believer moves into a home with a history of occult practices, they should cleanse it through prayer, Scripture reading, and removing any occult objects. The believer’s authority in Christ (Luke 10:19) and God’s sovereignty over all spiritual forces provide complete protection when living in biblical obedience.

How do Reformed Christians explain the Witch of Endor incident in 1 Samuel 28? The incident where Saul consults the medium at Endor is often misunderstood as biblical support for ghosts. Reformed scholars generally hold one of two views: either God sovereignly allowed Samuel’s actual spirit to appear (a unique divine intervention), or the medium was shocked because she expected demonic impersonation but God sent the real Samuel. Importantly, this passage condemns necromancy as sin (1 Samuel 28:3, 9) and shows God’s displeasure with seeking supernatural communication outside His prescribed means. This exceptional event doesn’t establish a pattern for the dead returning.

 

ARE HAUNTED HOUSES REAL? RELATED FAQs

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