Our government is in the process of reviewing tens of millions of documents about UAPs (formerly known as UFOs) to declassify for release. Some already have been released, including videos of objects moving in the sky in unnatural ways. While these aren’t convincing enough so far to prove anything, they continue to stir belief that we’re not alone in the universe.
At the same time, a story emerged that certain pastors were being prepped in private meetings with government-adjacent people to help churches process the coming “crisis of faith” created by the existence of alien life. It’s unclear if any such briefings came from actual officials or more informal sources. In any case, I sure didn’t get invited. It seems to be coming from some not-so-credible sensationalistic Charismatic types.
Nearly 4 ½ years ago, I gave a Sunday message on aliens. At the time, some may have thought it strange for me to do so, but with everyone now talking about the possibility of alien life, I think it would be helpful to revisit the topic. The majority of Americans believe aliens definitely or probably exist. It’s even higher for those under 30 years old. It’s hardly just the fringe belief of
sci-fi enthusiasts anymore.
So putting aside unsubstantiated claims, kook conspiracies, & potential cover-ups, what are the facts we’re dealing with? Are the vast majority merely misunderstood natural phenomena
or misinterpreted manmade objects? Quite possibly. In 2021, the government released a report saying that such unidentifiable things are not evidence of alien spacecraft. No confirmed proof has been found of life anywhere except on Earth.
God certainly made the universe, designed everything with perfect precision for conditions for life to exist on earth, & crowned creation with humans as the pinnacle of His creative work as intelligent beings made in His image with personhood. But since Scripture doesn’t say, we’re free to ponder. With that biblical worldview, we don’t expect alien life to exist. Out of all the planets, He chose Earth to be the place He makes Himself at home & does things (Is. 66:1,
1 Kings 8:27). Yet, the earth & humans aren’t the center of the universe. God is!
If aliens do exist, it doesn’t change Christianity because it wouldn’t contradict the Bible. Whatever aliens there might be, God made them, too. He’s the creator & ruler of everything,
& He would love them as well! If they’re intelligent, then most likely they’d also be created in God’s image, which isn’t a physical thing, but a spiritual thing, including rationality & capacity for interaction with Him. We’d then assume they’re moral creatures too who have God’s Law revealed to them both on their consciences & through communication.
We’d want to know if they’d kept God’s Law or broken it & become fallen like us. Most science fiction portrays aliens invading the world with hostile intent. Sometimes humans welcome them as benevolent saviors with utopian visions, but it usually turns out disastrously. It would be naïve to automatically assume they’d be benevolent.
What did God do for us in our fallen condition? He sent His Son to earth to become human to carry out His plan of redemption. But did Jesus die for all creatures on all other worlds? It seems more likely that He wouldn’t show up as Jesus in human form, but in their particular form with a name in their language. If otherworldly persons needed redemption, I believe God would do for them what He did for us because He’s not only the same yesterday, today & forever,
He’s the same here, there, & everywhere!
But much of the speculation on alien life has turned to the idea that maybe these are not creatures from another place, but another dimension. In one of my Dec. 2023 “Unleavened” posts, I mentioned: “Apollo 16 astronaut, Charles Duke, who became a Christian a few years ago, is not alone in his belief that alien sightings are actually demons (fallen angels) because they can appear as angels of light (2 Cor. 11:14).” Recently, Vice President Vance agreed,
“I don’t think they’re aliens. I think they’re demons….” Popular megachurch & online pastors, Josh Howerton, & the late John MacArthur say much the same thing.
Dr. Hugh Ross, a respected astrophysicist & founder of “Reasons to Believe,” has stated that the strongest evidence for demonic activity comes from UFO encounters, noting a high statistical correlation between such experiences & involvement in the occult. He views these phenomena as interdimensional (consistent with biblical descriptions of angels/demons) rather than physical extraterrestrial visitors.
The Bible certainly never portrays angels as riding around in spaceships. However, some have pointed out that Ezekiel was given a vision of cherubim (angelic creatures who aren’t messengers appearing as men) that could vaguely be compared to a spacecraft (Ezek. 1).
What if spiritual creatures were to manifest in a physical way? What if they were composed not of physical substance, but otherworldly material, light, or energy that appears as spacecraft? Could people be misinterpreting what they’re seeing? It’s possible, but it doesn’t seem to be purposeful. When God sent angels as messengers, they clearly appeared in human form.
Should we be viewing such phenomena through the lens of Ephesians 6:12: “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places”? We’re really not clear on what it means for such evil entities to be involved in “heavenly places.” Would that include the “heavens” above–the sky & “outer space” realm? Satan is called “the prince of the power of the air” (Eph. 2:2). This may indicate that he exercises some authority over the unseen spiritual realm surrounding the earth. If it’s demonic deception, could they be impersonating aliens to cause fear, confusion, & distraction from Jesus & the actual supernatural?
While it’s interesting to speculate, it should never descend into foolish & stupid arguments
(2 Tim 2:16). We’re also admonished not to be deceived or get sucked into what may be myths & endless speculations (James 1:16, 1 Tim. 1:4). Until there’s better evidence, I remain agnostic & skeptical, though I acknowledge we have much to learn. Still, what I keep my eyes on the sky for is the return of Christ (Luke 21:27-28)!