Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

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I write to you today to address the outright heresy that has infiltrated parts of the Church: the practices of "grave sucking," "grave soaking," or "mantle grabbing." These bizarre and blasphemous acts, promoted by false teachers such as Ben Lim, Sean Feucht, Georgian Banov, John Crowder, Jeff Jansen, and others, alongside books By Bill Johnson like The Physics of Heaven, are nothing short of spiritual perversion and deception.

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Let me be clear—these practices are an affront to the Gospel, a mockery of God’s holiness, and a violation of His explicit commands. Scripture is unambiguous: spiritual power comes from the Holy Spirit alone (Ephesians 1:13-14). To seek power from the graves of the deceased is absurd, offensive, and an open rebellion against the sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice and the ongoing presence of the Holy Spirit in every believer.

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Deuteronomy 18:10-12 explicitly warns us: "There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination, or tells fortunes, or interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or a charmer, or a medium, or a necromancer, or one who inquires of the dead, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord."

 

Grave soaking is nothing less than a form of necromancy—a practice God condemns in the strongest possible terms.

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Leviticus 19:31 further warns, "Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God." These so-called “Christian” practices echo the same forbidden behaviors condemned throughout Scripture, defiling those who engage in them and inviting God’s judgment.

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It is infuriating and heartbreaking that these abominations are tolerated, even celebrated, within parts of the Church. Such actions do not glorify God—they dishonor Him. Isaiah 42:8 declares, "I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other." Yet these false teachers dare to rob God of His glory, misleading vulnerable believers for personal gain.

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These practices are not harmless—they are soul-destroying lies that distract from the true mission of the Church: to preach the Gospel, make disciples, and glorify God. Paul’s warning in 1 Timothy 6:20 is clear: "Guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called ‘knowledge.’"

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As Christians, we must take a stand against these wolves in sheep’s clothing. Reject these ungodly practices, expose the false teachers behind them, and pray for their repentance. This is not a time for silence or compromise. We must be grounded in God’s Word, proclaiming the truth boldly and pointing others to Christ, the only true source of power, salvation, and eternal life.

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Brothers and sisters, let us rise up, speak out, and contend for the faith (Jude 1:3). Together, let us reclaim the purity of the Gospel, glorify Christ alone, and guard the Church against these destructive deceptions.

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With steadfast faith,

Brother John Elving