Out of body experience(OBE)

1. What is an ‘Out of Body’ experience?–17th
March2017
“I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether
it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows.”(2 Corinthians 12:2).
An "outof bodyexperience"(OBE) canbe definedasthe processof transientlyseparatingthe
consciousness(spirit)fromthe physical body,suchthatthe personandworldare observedfromoutside
of the body.OBE's are alsoknownasastral projections.There are severalwayspeopleperceiveanout
of bodyexperience,includingdreams,daydreams,andmemories. Anoutof bodyexperience,also
knownas astral projection,issupposedtobe the phenomenonwhenaperson'sconsciousnessis
detachedfromthe physical bodyandtravelsorexistsoutside of the body. Duringthese experiences,
the personisaware of hissurroundingsandisoftenaware of what isbeingsaidaroundhim.
People have reportedhavingoutof bodyexperienceswhile underthe influenceof drugsor inducedby
some sort of trauma, as well asneardeathexperiences.Astral projectionistaughtthroughbooks,the
internet,andreligioustechniques.Anoutof bodyexperience issaidtobe clearerthana dreamor
daydream.Those whopractice astral projectionsclaimthattheirsensesare enhanced,allowingthemto
see andfeel withmore clarityandwithoutphysical constraint.The originsof outof bodyexperiences
are unknown.However,OBE'shave beenpracticed orexperienced formanyyearsinseveral different
cultures.The NewAge Movementiswidelyknownforpromotingandusingthispractice.
Againwe can learnthat out of bodyexperiencesare soughtafterbythose whodesire knowledge or
powerinthe spiritual realm,endeavortohelppeople,are curious,orwantto be entertained.Insome
cases,people actuallyseekOBE'stocause harm to others.Forthe most part, an outof bodyexperience
isdesiredfora spiritual reason,suchasreachinga higherlevel of consciousnessorenlightenment.
As forChristiansitisimportantto knowas to whatthe Bible teachus aboutthis phenomenon.
Accordingto some,outof body experiencesare saidtobe justifiedinthe Bible,citingseveral scriptures.
Unfortunately,those interpretationshave beentakenoutof contextortheyfail to addressthe culture
of thattime. Inthe Bible,anoutof bodyexperience isregardedasanoccultpractice.The greatest
evidence againstOBEisthatGod's people didn't"perform"them.Inall of the scripturesmentioning"in
the spirit"or "caught upin the spirit,"the people didn'tseektohave anout of bodyexperience.Instead,
God came to specificpeople,revealingspecificthingsforaspecificpurpose.These eventsoccurredto
glorifyGodand reveal Hislove forHispeople.The people didnotseektohave anout of body
experience forpersonal gainortoget clarityaboutthe worldor God.
At thispointone mayinquire aboutwhatisstatedin 2 Corinthians12:1-4, “Imust go onboasting.
Althoughthere is nothingto be gained,I will go on to visionsandrevelationsfrom the Lord. 2
I know a
man inChrist whofourteen years ago was caughtup to the third heaven. Whetherit was in the body
or out of the body I do not know—Godknows.3
AndI knowthat this man—whetherin the bodyor
apart fromthe bodyI do not know, but Godknows— 4
wascaught upto paradiseandheard
inexpressiblethings,thingsthatno one is permitted to tell.”

2. ThisScripture isoftenusedtosupportout of bodyexperiences,butitcannotbe properlyusedthisway.
In Jewishcosmology,there are three heavens. The firstheavendealswiththe atmosphericregionThe
secondheavendealswiththe regionof outerspace. The thirdheavenisGod'sdwellingplace. So,when
Paul saysthat he knewsomeone who“wascaughtupto the third heaven,”he wasspeakingabout
enteringintothe dwellingplace of God. What isimportantisthat it occurred eitherinthe bodyor out
of the body,of which Paul didnot know. Also,itispossible thatthisoccurrence Paul speaksabout,
whichisprobablyabouthimself,mightverywellbe inreference tothe instance when he wasstoned
and leftfordeadas statedin Acts 14:19, “Then some Jews came from AntiochandIconiumand won
the crowd over. They stoned Paul anddragged himoutsidethe city, thinkinghewas dead.”
The Bible tellsusthatwe are to avoidany occultpractices.Unlessone canproduce clear proof of one’s
‘Outof Body’experience’,Astral projectionisjustsuchanevent.Essentially,itamountstowhatthe
Bible callsdivinationandsorceryandisto be avoided. Inaddition,itmayverywell openupindividuals
to demonicoppressionsince itisinviolationof the Scripturesandisdabblinginthe spiritual realmina
mannernot approvedbyScripture. We can learnfrom Leviticus19:26,“Do not eat anymeat with the
bloodstill in it.Do not practice divinationorseek omens.”
People mayargue thatthere'sno harm inhavingan outof bodyexperience.However,inthe Bible,it's
clearthat we are not to participate inoccultpractices.Outof the bodyexperienceswere notpartof the
teachingsof God.Out of bodyexperiencescouldbe definedasdivination,sorcery,interpretingof
omens,engaginginwitchcraft,orcastingspells.Those whoperformOBEmaybe referredtoasmediums
or spiritists.Overall,these practicesare calleddetestable inthe eyesof God as we read from 2
Chronicles33:6, “He sacrificedhis children inthe fire inthe ValleyofBen Hinnom,practiced divination
and witchcraft,soughtomens,and consultedmediumsandspiritists.He didmuch evil in the eyes of
the LORD, arousinghisanger.”
As Christiansif we dabble inwhatisnotstatedinthe scriptures,asa resultthere couldalsobe
emotional,physical,mental,and/orspiritual harmassociatedwithOBEpractices.Since OBEisnot
condonedbyGod,it wouldleadusto believethatthere isanotherforce behindthesephenomena.
Therefore asChristianswe shouldkeepinmindthatwe are to be prepared,self-controlled,setonthe
hope giventous,obedient,andnotconformto ourevil desires aswe learnfrom 1 Peter 1:13,
“Therefore, with mindsthatare alert and fullysober,set yourhope on the grace to be broughtto you
when Jesus Christis revealed at hiscoming.”We needtoclearly understand:Canthishappenif we
separate ourselvesfromourbody?