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As we prepare to celebrate the coming of a new millennium, Christianity
may well be facing the greatest challenge in its 20 century history.
Why? Well for openers, there is a spiritual invasion sweeping
the world today, that is not from God, nor of benefit to mankind.
An invasion if you will, that is subtly changing the Biblical
and spiritual faith and philosophy of millions of people around
the world. Of course, this invasion began its assault some thirty
years ago, particularly in America which experienced a stunning
revival of the ancient world of the Occult. In fact Colin Wilson,
a recognized author and authority on the occult said, "It
would be probably safe to say there are now more witches in England
and America that at any time since the Reformation."
[1]
Not surprisingly, Pollsters such as Gallup, Roper and Greeley
jointly indicate that tens of millions of people are interested
in occult subjects and have occult experiences. Alarmingly, a
recent University of Chicago poll [2] revealed that more than
67% of Americans " now profess belief in the supernatural,"
and that 42% " believe that they have had contact with
someone who died." Indeed, we are witnessing an invasion
of the occult and what's most alarming to me is a vast majority
of Christians are either not concerned, feel no danger, and worst
of all, a growing number are beginning to accept many of its subtle
and deceptive practices.
In the Bible, in the midst of a time of great occult experiences,
the apostle Paul warned Christians,
Col 2:8 (NASB) "See to it that no one
takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according
to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles
of the world, rather than according to Christ."
Today that warning is more important than ever, for we are witnessing
an invasion of deceptive and captive philosophies the Bible calls
"doctrines of demons." Literally a demonic invasion
is upon us as we witness an onslaught of demon or occultic teachings
and experiences that are being accepted by our society as something
wholesome and good.
Now to begin we must examine this word "occult." Just
what does it mean? Well polling many dictionaries and comparing
them to God's biblical definitions derived from the Scriptures,
I would define the occult as "a system of beliefs that call
its followers to embrace teachings of life and the eternity that
deny the faith of Christianity, and extol the virtues of practices
forbidden in the Bible." Now the word, "occult,"
comes from the Latin "occultus," meaning "to cover
up, hide or conceal." Thus, occult teaching is usually the
call for involvement in things hidden, secret, or forbidden. Things
such as involving the supernatural, mystical or magical occult
powers that inhabit our space, time continuum.
Today there is a wide variation of practices in the world of the
Occult. For instance, William Kimball [3] a noted authority on
the occult says there are four basic categories in which all occult
practices fall. They are,
(1) FORTUNE TELLING OR DIVINATION - this
is the art of foretelling future events, human conduct and character.
This may include Palmistry, Astrology, Numerology, Divination
by Rod/Pendulum, Sleep Reading, and all forms of reading of tea
leaves, Tarot Cards, etc.
(2) SPIRITISM OR NECROMANCY - this is the
belief that certain people have the ability to contact the dead
or simply obtain revelations beyond the grave. This involves practices
such as Telekinesis, Table Lifting. Levitation, Spirit or Automatic
Writing, Apports, Trumpet Speaking, Materialization, etc.
(3) MAGIC, OCCULT MAGIC - This is not the
"slight of hand," trickery of magicians, but accessed
powers of superhuman spirit forces in league with the fallen angel
called Satan, or simply the Devil. This involves the practice
of Black Magic, Magical Hypnosis, White Magic, Mental Suggestion,
Magneticism or Mesmerism. Lastly we have,
(4) SATANISM, VOODOO, WITCHCRAFT, OR ANY PARTICIPATION
WITH DEMONIC FORCES - These practices involve those
who have yielded themselves to a known or even unknown relationship
with supernatural forces, powers and or beings from the unseen
world. Participation in such practices involves Astral Projection,
Clairvoyance, Colorology, Crystal Gazing, Demons, Dreams, ESP,
Eastern Mysticism, I-Ching, Meditation, Sylvan Mind Control, Occultic
Hypnosis and Altered States of Consciousness, Ouija Boards, Parapsychology,
Psychokinesis, Reincarnation, Seances, Talismans, Thought Transfer,
Wicca, Visualization, Channeling, Yoga, Holistic Health practices,
Eckanbar, Spirit Guides, Crystals, Telepathy, and all magic rituals,
spells, curses and charms.
Many Cults today which are not directly involved in the Occult,
are often the launching point to bring unsuspecting followers
into their world and power. Anti-Christian groups such Jehovah
Witnesses, Unitarians, The Unification Church, Bahai, Hare Krishna,
ECK, EST, TM, Scientology, Mormonism, Rosicrucianism, and the
all New Age Movement groups and others who teach things like Positive
Imaging, Imagination or Visualization as a way to get in contact
with God. These things are all a part of or windows into the world
of the Occult which is now storming the gates of humanity.
Now I must say at this point, I named a massive amount of philosophies
and groups that do contain many followers who are in and of themselves
fine people. Many are involved in doing good things, helping people,
serving society. However, the good that may be done by these groups
and methods of harnessing the unseen world of power cannot be
approved, simply because of the good they do. We are told in the
Bible that Satan himself and his demon agents disguise themselves
with good things. We read,
2 Cor 11:14-15 (NASB) "And no wonder,
for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 Therefore
it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves
as servants of righteousness; whose end shall be according to
their deeds."
Therefore we must not judge the value of a group, or its philosophy
simply by its outward appearance and good works. Satan's greatest
evil in the eyes of God is his desire to "be good without
God." That is good in the terms of his own mind and will,
which has clearly been revealed by God as evil and wickedness.
Now the sad thing is today, millions of people who have not the
"light of Christ" are wide open to these forces of the
unseen world in rebellion to God. Since they have not the light
of Christ, they can easily be persuaded to embrace these forces
of darkness, parading as wholesome, good and light. What's worse,
ignorant Christians today are also being deceived to accept not
the direct occult groups or organizations, but much of what they
practice has been so disguised that even some of God's elect are
being deceived to believe it comes from God Himself and is basically
good for them.
Now what can we do about it? Well, the first thing is to be foreword
and armed to know good from evil, light from darkness, spiritual
forces of wickedness from God and His truth.
To begin we must learn what God says about any and all of these
groups, and their practices we see unfolding around us. For starters
my friend know this! The Bible has nothing good, positive or praiseworthy
of any of it, even the good things it may temporarily seem to
produce. Moreover, the Word of God strongly condemns all of it
and warns anyone dabbling in it of the dire consequences temporal
and eternal. Listen to just a small portion of God's Word where
we read,
Deu 18:9-14 (NASB) ""When you enter
the land which the LORD your God gives you, you shall not learn
to imitate the detestable things of those nations. 10 "There
shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter
pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices
witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, 11 or
one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who
calls up the dead. 12 "For whoever does these things is detestable
to the LORD; and because of these detestable things the LORD your
God will drive them out before you. 13 "You shall be blameless
before the LORD your God. 14 "For those nations, which you
shall dispossess, listen to those who practice witchcraft and
to diviners, but as for you, the LORD your God has not allowed
you to do so."
Later Moses was warned by God to instruct His people,
Lev 19:31 (NASB) "'Do not turn to mediums
or spiritists; do not seek them out to be defiled by them. I am
the LORD your God."
Yet Israel turned to the world of the Occult due to the pressure
of the godless society in which they lived. In the process of
embracing the practices of the Occult, God again gave this warning
through Isaiah the prophet,
Isa 8:19 (NASB) "And when they say to
you, "Consult the mediums and the spiritists who whisper
and mutter," should not a people consult their God? Should
they consult the dead on behalf of the living?"
Well, the rest is history. God judged Israel for its idolatry
and occult involvement. Yet as time moved on and God raised up
yet another people for His pleasure, the New Testament Church
of Jesus Christ, it is similarly warned of the dangers and evil
of involvement in the world of the occult. We read in the Book
of Acts that when people turned to the one true and living God,
the Lord Jesus Christ, they turned from their sins and practices
in the world of the occult. We read in,
Acts 19:19 (NASB) "And many of those who
practiced magic brought their books together and began burning
them in the sight of all; and they counted up the price of them
and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver."
A revival of hearts ensued and people broke free from the power
of evil that had ensnared them. And, to keep them from it, God
again and again warned His people that those who would give themselves
over to the experiences and practices of the occult and its power,
would reveal a startling truth as well as suffer a judgment for
all eternity. Paul and John, apostles of the Church wrote,
Gal 5:19-21 (NASB) "Now the deeds of the
flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,
20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of
anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness,
carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you just
as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall
not inherit the kingdom of God."
Rev 21:8 (NASB) ""But for the cowardly
and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons
and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be
in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second
death.""
God wants everyone to know that evil personalities and power of
great intensity exist beyond our senses. And, anyone who seeks
to engage those powers and principalities will find themselves
under great judgment and harm. Yes, occult practice of any and
all sort is sin, for it honors Satan rather than God, and it employs
his powers rather than God's to meet their needs and to do good.
Now how does this affect those who are Christians today? The answer
is quite, for much of what is considered good and of God and being
introduced into the Church, is nothing less than evil and sin,
and comes from the world of the occult. Let me give you my estimation
of it. Today in the church there is a great movement to accept
psychotherapy as a means of treating the ailments of sin. Watch
out for anything that draws your attention for help and hope away
from the plain and perfect Word of God.
In addition, I see invading the Church, acceptance of things like
Visualization, Role-playing or Psychodrama, Meditation, Biofeedback,
Positive Confession or Possibility Thinking, all forms of Hypnosis,
Holistic Medicine, and a whole spectrum of self-improvement and
success/motivation techniques - all employed to gain the "good
life" supposedly God has waiting for all who find the hidden
secrets of life.
But this is just Satan's plan for success which is simply a thinly
veiled cover for sorcery, a Trojan Horse now inside the Church.
Men and programs like that of the late Norman Vincent Peale, Robert
Schuller, Napolean Hill, Charles Capps, Amway Motivational teachings,
"Ye are Gods" teachers such as Frederick K.C. Price,
Robert Tilton, and Kenneth Copeland to name just a few, and along
with these are the too numerous to mention, Charismatic teachers
who call up unseen forces to render personal power to any individual
who seeks it through supernatural gifting such as miraculous physical
healing, harnessing the power of unlearned words and knowledge,
controlling of Heaven to bring one personal health, wealth and
success.
Yes, without a doubt these things if sought, even in the name
of Jesus, can happen and materialize before our eyes, but the
question is, is it from God? The answer I believe the Bible teaches
is a resounding no! Now Scripture teaches that God's people are
not to fear Satan, his demons or their powers among us. Rather
we who are Christians are to stand firmly against him and his
work and be sure to not allow the occultic presence in and among
God's people. The writers of Scripture tell us,
Rom 6:16 (NASB) "Do you not know that
when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience,
you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting
in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?"
James 4:7-8 (NASB) "Submit therefore to
God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to
God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners;
and purify your hearts, you double-minded."
We are each responsible to keep our hearts and minds clean and
away from the influences of all these things and anything that
leads us into the demonic forces of evil parading as goodness
and from God. Beware of much of Satan's last ditch effort to claim
humanity, by reaching out to our young children and youth too.
Saturday morning cartoons today are filled with "windows"
into the world of the Occult, role-playing computer and board
games encourage escapism and situational ethics to pave the way
for values modification and ultimate manipulation for later embrace
of the Occult. Against such things the Bible says, "Be on
guard"( Eph. 4:14-15).
Eph 4:14-15 (NASB) "As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; 15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head, even Christ,"
Friend, there is a war going on, and it is a war for the souls
of men. As we move toward the Day of the Lord, and the Second
Coming of Christ, the Bible warns these things will increase and
become more deceitful. Now I realize what I've said concerning
the vast sweep of modern ideology and practices, may well have
touched a nerve in the church and society, but as God's servant
and messenger of truth, I must say it on behalf of God. Make sure
your life is not enmeshed in, or starting to embrace things which
God says are "forbidden." The end result is always judgment.
May you truly be found on that day of the Lord's triumphant return,
as a child of God, living in the light of His truth and goodness
as found in the Scriptures alone. But, if you have been involved
in any of these things, then right now repent and confess them
to God, call upon Christ to forgive you, and ask for His power
to cleanse and keep you from it in the days ahead. Then be sure
to rid yourself of all the materials, books, and things that are
of the occult. The Lord promises to draw near to everyone who
calls upon the name of the Lord. May God add His blessings to
these words to your heart today for Jesus sake..
HELPS & SUGGESTED READING:
ENDNOTES:
The World, the Word & You! Broadcast is a non-denominational ministry based on the historic fundamental evangelical interpretation of the Scriptures.A copy of our doctrinal statement is available upon request.These weekly radio commentaries can be heard in selected areas around the nation. Dennis Finnan has been the speaker for 16 years, and serves as General Director. These transcripts are available free of charge to all who desire them. Also available are radio cassette tapes and printed booklets of each message. A free listing of all messages is available upon request also.
For further information, reprints, or a listing of all topics, please write to our speaker, Dennis L. Finnan(wwyfin@sparc.isl.net) or visit our webpage at THE WORLD, THE WORD & YOU! BROADCAST [ http://www.isl.net/wwyweb.html ]