Spiritual Forensics

Imagine it’s the year 4017 and you’re observing an archaeologist who’s just uncovered and translated a reference to a great city that was named LONDON. He finds in it an almost casual mention of The London Eye and a puzzling description. Apparently, ‘people would get into the Eye and have all London revealed to them.’ 

At first, he’s boggled – “Whose Eye was it? Why is it written in upper case as if a name? How can people enter an eye? What happened to those who entered the Eye that enabled them to see?” 

He’s being very mindful (or so he thinks) by considering all the available information contextually. He knows they had cyber information systems. “The Eye couldn’t have been for information retrieval or been a computer.” Another idea starts formulating in his brain around one of his favourite subjects. “Perhaps it was part of a belief system?” he thinks. “Yes! It’s a primitive, unknown belief system!” This idea excites him, and he allows it to unfold into a full theory. 

Obviously, as this city was technologically advanced and had good information storage and retrieval systems, it was addressing another societal need. He uncovers information which showed that the times were very uncertain. “These people needed certainty, and so they developed an oracle to aid them in seeing all things in their great LONDON.” He goes about piecing together other obscure references to The Eye, and they just confirm his suspicions. 

This Eye dominated the skyline. “They must have used hover technology or created a huge building to accommodate it.” 

Those who wished to enter had to pay. He decides, “It must have been some form of offering to achieve favourable results! Yup, it was an oracle.” 

Our archaeologist sits down excitedly, quite giddy with the prospect of the imagined academic accolades he’ll receive. He begins to write down an in-depth analysis of the ritual oracle that once dominated a city called LONDON. 

The Eye - London

The truth – The Eye is in reality a mechanical device – a huge Ferris wheel with observation pods.

Do you see how easily a working, seemingly viable theory can be developed on REAL evidence that has nothing to do with the truth or reality? 

Like our future archaeologist, we all have confirmation biases and pet beliefs. And we all have strategies for defending and maintaining them. We like stories that tell us that we assessed things correctly and that we have certainty of what it has always been. We can take good science, and by moving it out of context, we can ‘prove’ anything to defend our beliefs. 

The good news is that we can correct our assumptions. And we can assess, reject and replace any erroneous assumptions that we’ve accepted from others. Let’s find out how…

Forensic Science 

We can learn a lot from Forensic Science on coming to sound conclusions. The discipline uses a broad spectrum of science and technology to investigate a crime scene and establish what happened, based on the evidence collected - the facts. This procedure gives an accurate picture when the information, the evidence, is seen in context. 

Forensic Science and a Dastardly Deed! To understand this, let’s join detectives at a crime scene – a hotel room. They’re making careful assessments based on years of training. Accompanying them is a special team of forensic experts gathering samples for analysis. The crime scene contains skin, hair, body fluids, DNA, and the fingerprints of guests, visitors, hotel maintenance staff, room service and the cleaning staff - this doesn’t implicate them in the crime. 

Forensics incorporates many branches of investigation: anthropology, palaeontology, psychology, pathology, botany, chemistry, etc. Our detectives will take all the facts that emerge, the crime scene, and all the factors to reach a definite conclusion. This must be credible – there’s no room for assumption. 

We expect a thorough investigation into solving a crime. In the same way, we apply valid principles to find and live in truth, free from confirmation biases and assumptions. 

Confirmation Bias 

We All Do it. We have a strong belief or theory, and we find evidence that agrees with and confirms our beliefs. 

No one wants to be wrong, or worse, place belief in something wrong. We don’t want to force a square peg into a round hole. 

We want Truth. 

In fact, we’re advised that “God is Spirit, and if we follow Him we must do so in spirit and in the truth of reality.” See John 4:24. 

Overcoming Bias 

God is all truth, so we don’t need to fear asking the hard questions or examining facts that seem to contradict what we know to be the truth. Doing so is a way of seeking Him to know the truth of reality. His invitation to each of us – “Carefully and thoroughly look for Me, and I’ll be found by you.” “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13. And He promises, “I will show you great and mighty things you do not know” Jeremiah 33:3. 

It’s the revelation and understanding of everything taught to us by the One who made everything. 

Truth through proof 

Spiritual Forensics applies the same principles we expect detectives to use. We examine the complete picture and establish proof. When we examine all the facts, we reveal hidden layers and weave together evident and hidden evidence. Evidence will equal conclusion, not the other way around. Let’s see this in action… 

Applying Forensics 

We’re with John and Jane. When they started their spiritual journey, they accepted everything that they were told. They assumed that it would be valid. As time went on and their experience and knowledge grew, they began to be concerned by something that they were told was a truth: “Healing and other spiritual gifts were for the early church to get them started. But now, those things aren’t needed anymore in the established church.” It troubled them. Was it true? They asked themselves, “God said in Romans 11:29 that the gifts and His call can never be withdrawn. If someone is seriously ill, regardless of when, God will want to heal them." And so, they applied Spiritual Forensics to get to the truth. 

So, what did they do? 

As expected, they prayed for God’s guidance and received it. They studied the biblical record on healing and spiritual gifts, and they found that healing is a part of God’s gifts throughout the time span of the bible. Certain bible texts leapt out at them as if energised. In particular, they found that as a sign from God, believers, in the name of Jesus, “will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover,” and “…the prayer of faith will save the sick.” Mark 16:17-18, James 5:15. They realised that if healing from God happened throughout the bible regardless of when, and it was a sign from God to all believers, then what they were told wasn’t true – healing from God had not passed away. 

They continued investigating and found many books quoting recent miraculous healings across the world. And then, they began to meet Christians who had personal experiences of divine healing. Soon, they learnt how healing from God works and applied it in their lives. They then became members of a church prayer team who prayed for the sick effectively. 

John and Jane had carefully examined all the evidence. They found that what they’d been told wasn’t true. They then accepted the truth and applied it. 

The great advantage of seeking truth and not confirming pet theories is that we experience the fullness of the Way in spirit and truth of reality with all its amazing power. And seeking truth rather than confirmation of theory also releases us from the need to defend our theory with all the unhealthy emotional patterns that drive that. 

We can rest in the truth of reality, confirmed in evidence placed eternally and purposefully by a Creator who knows we are seeking and who wants us to find. 

Accurate forensics requires a passion for the whole truth, a desire to see the whole picture. So, beyond the understanding and establishing of what truth is, we also need to know how to apply what we know in context and allow the confirming tangible signs to underscore the truth. In so doing, we operate in the full spirit and truth principle, and we can live a fuller, more effective life.

The starting point in spiritual forensics is a sound knowledge base. I have co-authored 'Empowered: Bible verses for Pastors, Leaders and Counsellors.' It’s an exhaustive treasury of the most relevant Bible verses for every area in life where you will need to apply spiritual forensics for yourself or the people you serve. It’s designed to guide you quickly and easily to the most relevant Scriptures for your work, to help others and for your own life. You’ll find hundreds of carefully curated Bible passages organised into over 100 subjects for yourself and the people you minister to that will empower you in everyday living and give you the foundation for every situation you apply to in spiritual forensics. To obtain your copy, click the button below, and please use the free resources available by subscribing. 

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