What do Christians think of people like Sylvia Browne or John Edward?

Question

Do you think they are 'evil' or do you think they might be on to something?
Do you think God would actually give certain people these 'special' insights?

Note to little Miss VanHalen:
This is a question only. It is not designed to 'change your mind', oh ye of large paranoia.

Answer 1

Most might think they are 'occultist'. The souls they are contacting are not of Heaven. That sort of thing. My take
is the majority of the time you hear comments like that, it
is from people that haven't experienced anything like it. Their
only life experience is what they have read or were taught
from the Church and the Bible.

I find John Edward enjoyable to watch. Personally, and I am a recovering Born Again Christian, I do believe in what John
does. I have experienced some physic events, so I can
challenge other BAC's that believe he is a 'satinist'. That's
a bunch of DOO-DOO. You have to experience it, or be
open to the fact that not everything that isn't on the 700 Club
is evil.

Honestly, my wife, who still is high and mighty from time to time,
is now coming around to see that John Edward isn't 'EVIL'.
He addresses God, and has his faith. Either she's coming
to her senses, or I'm wearing her down. LOL

Answer 2

I don't know about John Edward, but I love Sylvia Browne. I do believe that God gives people special gifts like that. Sylvia Browne has helped the police solve murder cases and find missing children.

Answer 3

The majority of the year-to-year predictions of Sylvia Browne never came true, therefore, as a reasonable person, I don't believe in her abilities or that her advice to people on talk shows is necessarily true or good. (See lists of predictions on wikipedia.org "Sylvia Browne").

I don't know anything about John Edwards.

As a Christian I know of a few verses to aid believers in the discernment of a true prophet:

"If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a miraculous sign or wonder, and if the sign or wonder of which he has spolen takes place, and he says 'Let us follow other gods and let us worship them,' you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer" (Deut. 13, 1-3)

"You may say to yourselves, 'How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the Lord?' If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken." (Deut. 18, 21-22).

"But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought tem - bring swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute." (2 Peter: 2, 1-2).

Answer 4

I don't know about Sylvia Brown, but if you're referring to the John Edward from television, I think he truly has those powers. How he was granted them though, is another story.

The Bible specifically states that Shaytan can perform false miracles that would deceive the very elect if that were possible. Therefore, I think his abilities are diabolical in nature.

Answer 5

Nah, don't think they're evil but what they do does border on shady. They are very, very adept at 'reading' people, though. And by that, I mean they can pick up on almost imperceptible clues (from body language, facial expressions, etc.) that the people give them while they're doing their readings. Sylvia's much better at it than John Edward is.

Answer 6

Remember that when you watch TV, it is edited they show only the parts that glorify these people's gifts. The whole concept of the dead being among us is non-Christian. Spirits exist but they are either angels or demons, people are not part of the invisible realm.

Deuteronomy 18:10
There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch.

No one is waiting to be saved when they die.
Luke 23:43 Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."

Answer 7

I'm a christian & I think they're fun to listen to for entertainment purposes, & who knows, they may be onto something. Just because we might think they're flaky doesn't mean they actually are. They may be more right than we are who seem to be led around by our noses by members of the clergy.

Answer 8

if people really watched these shows, hey would have noticed that both Sylvia and John are very stong believers in God..

Answer 9

The fears taught in Christianity are alive and well. That is what motivates this paranoia.

Answer 10

i think they are on to something i believe that we all have the ability some are in touch with it way more than others. i think we want to call in intuitions. I'm sure you have felt deja vu or something unusual in your lifetime. the bible says don't seek a soothsayer. if you ask someone your future what's the purpose of living and learning, there's no excitement to that.