Biblical Warnings Against Occult Involvement
| By: Dr. John Ankerberg, Dr. John Weldon; ©2004 |
| In the past few months we’ve given warnings against occult involvement from practitioners and mental health professionals. But the bottom line for Christians is, “What does the Bible say?” This month, the authors tell us. |
Whether or not practitioners accept the categories, the data point unmistakably to the conclusion that the essence of occult practice constitutes a trafficking with demons. From this reality flow a number of other concerns: idolatry, spiritual deception, the likelihood of possession, psychological and physical harm, and the immoral, ethically consequential teachings that inevitably accompany demonic involvement or revelations. Our purpose is to simply document that God does indeed warn against the occult.
God teaches that spiritual warfare is a reality (Ephesians 6:10-18; 2 Corinthians 2:11; 1 Peter 5:8) and that supernatural manifestations are not to be accepted uncritically but to be tested by the Word of God (1 John 4:1; Revelation 2:2; Acts 17:10-12; Deuteronomy 18:20-22; Matthew 24:24, etc.). Scripture also speaks of the reality of a personal devil and myriads of demons who should be regarded as cunning enemies of both the believer in Christ and the nonbeliever (John 8:44; 13:27; Matthew 6:13; 9:34; 12:24; Luke 8:12; 13:16; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Colossians 1:13; 2 Thessalonians 2:9; Acts 16:16-18; 2 Corinthians 2:11; 11:3; 2 Timothy 2:26). Indeed, one of the devil’s tactics is to masquerade as an “angel of light” and a servant of righteousness (2 Corinthians 11:13-15).
The Scripture also warns that false prophets are linked to evil spirits and that there are “doctrines of demons” (1 John 4:1; 1 Timothy 4:1); that there is great power in the occult (Isaiah 47:9); that Satan is the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4); that the whole world lies in the power of this evil one (1 John 5:19); that demons work through people by giving them psychic abilities (Acts 16:16-19; Exodus 7:11,22; 8:7); and that Satan and his hordes are active in the affairs of the planet (Ephesians 2:2; Daniel 10:12,13,20).
In many instances, Scripture explicitly cites Satan or his demons as the reality behind occult involvement, idolatry, and false religion (Deuteronomy 32:16,17; 1 Corinthians 10:19-21; Psalm 106:35-40; 1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Thessalonians 2:9,10; Acts 16; 16-19, etc.). This is one reason why God considers occult activity in virtually all its forms as an abomination (Deuteronomy 18:912)—because it links those for whom Christ died to evil spirits who are His enemies. Thus, occult involvement will eventually lead to judgment for those who refuse to forsake it (Revelation 22:15; 2 Chronicles 33:6).
Scripture condemns by name spiritism, mediumism and necromancy (Deuteronomy 18:9-12; 2 Chronicles 33:2,3,6); various forms of sorcery and divination (Deuteronomy 18:9-12; Hosea 4:12; Exodus 22:18; Isaiah 44:25; 29:8,9; Ezekiel 21:21; e.g., astrology, Deuteronomy 17:2-5; 2 Kings 17:15-17; Isaiah 47:9-14); and magic (Acts 13:8; 19:16-19; Isaiah 47:9,12).
In their numerous forms these basic categories (magic, spiritism, divination, and sorcery) cover almost the entire gamut of occult activity. But the irreducible reality of all occultism is spiritism. Thus:
- [Spiritism]… is one of the oldest known forms of religious expression. It is also one of the deadliest where the certainty of divine judgment is concerned…. It is terminal error, since it demonstrates not only an active rejection of God, but an active embrace of his replacement. It is, as the prophets put it, “spiritual adultery,” carried to completion. It is faithlessness fulfilled.
- The extent to which a society endorses or indulges in widespread spiritism, therefore, is something of a spiritual thermometer. It can give us a rough estimate of our collective state of spiritual health…. The Bible levies its judgment against spiritism at two levels. It treats spiritism as a symptom of social decline as well as an act of personal culpability.
- All sin provokes God’s judgment. Advanced or developed sin provokes it more directly and immediately. As a social symptom, spiritism represents the final stage of a long process of spiritual decay. It is the terminal phase of our flight from God. It is terminal because God’s judgment on spiritism is not meant to admonish or correct, but to cleanse and extirpate.
- On an individual scale, the practice of spiritism is terminal because it represents an ultimate confusion of values. It trades humanity’s privilege of intimacy with God for sheer fascination with a liar who secretly hates all that is human and all that humans hold dear.[1]
In 20 years of studying spiritistic contacts and literature and the effects on the lives of spiritists, we can confirm this view wholeheartedly.
Clearly, the Scripture warns against the occult. And just as clearly, those who practice it disobey what God’s Word commands. In essence, occult activity courts deception and betrayal from the demonic realm as well as judgment from God for engaging in it, and thereby promotes spiritual evil under the guise of legitimate religious practice.
Notes
- ↑ Brooks Alexander, “What is Spiritualism… and Why Are They Saying Those Awful Things About It?” (Berkeley, CA: Spiritual Counterfeits Project, 1986), p. 3.
I am a psychic! I talk to the dead, I’m telepathic and read minds, I don’t believe Jesus was or is real and Christians are under a deception I’ve told this to some Christians and even took one to a rave some years ago. She was none the worse for ware as far as i know. She didn’t take any drugs I offered her though but she did make a pass at me which wasn’t very christian. I don’t tell many people about me summoning spirits of having guides and hearing voices which I talk to a lot of the time. I’ve taken drugs most of my adult life but they haven’t killed me, I tell lies but don’t feel guilty and I really want to go to hell, something I openly admit to. I don’t directly worship the devil, I have been accused of raping christians beliefs and molesting there faith by trying to get them involved with my beliefs like going to mediums and spiritualist churches but I haven’t been struck down. I’ve always had powers, i have argued my position to christians and even tried christianity but realised i’d get more from new age culture. I gave myself to the devil years ago to get revenge on my ex fiancé but still haven’t really suffered for it. Id like to know your thoughts on this.
It’s a shame you are what you are, you must have suffered trauma as a child for you to have taken such an abominable path. As much as you have done there is always redemption. Ask the lord for forgiveness. Throw all occult literature away. Horror movies, books, new age books, psychic books and other evil things. Drugs and occult go hand in hand and make a strong hold for sat an to sit in your life. If you wont repent for fear of gods reprisals then don’t, he will forgive you if you openly admit to your sins and ask for his forgiveness in the blood of jesus. You cant live a live of evil practice and ask for forgiveness on your death bed, you cant trick god who is all knowing and seeing. There are many Christians that will help you stop these practises, all god’s houses,are open to help people like you find peace and get rid of the devil. If you choose to remain with the devil then don’t bring it upon gods children!
You state that you have been told “You have or are molesting or grooming Christians in to occult thinking”, by that statement alone it displays what your doing. Molestation is manipulating an innocent in the involvement of something deemed sinful/wicked/evil. Rape, grooming and molestation is by definition a firm of control. Lucifer’s plan and personality is controlling, through lies, emotional manipulation, cunning, sly and all the other ungodly traits those that follow satanic/occultist ways have, that’s how people must see you. As the previous comments suggest, don’t try and entice anyone in to your clearly malevolent pursuit’s. God has wraith! Even for those that have given themselves to Heavenly Father’s adversary doesn’t mean the devil can defend you against it. That being said being a child of the devil must be your payment in itself, that and not knowing God’s grace. It must be horrible to be like you and because of that you have I’m sure some amount of pity from all God’s people.
There’s a special place in the looney bin for this freakasourus Tracy person. Seriously whacked up on Goof Balls or what! Drug Taking psychos, hallucinating nutters promoting mind altering substances, idiotic breeders of a destructive lifestyle. You’re a pretty dangerous person selling this stuff Tracy whatever your called! Firstly it’s never ever truly been proven by any real science (Don’t believe the crazy excuses and claims these people come up with in response to my comments either). If it is as you believe then we’ll all read about you in the news as you categorically prove you flowers to the world without any lame excuses or conspiracy crap you douche bag. In all man’s existence no research has any substantial proof of your claims. Firstly the very thought of such a thing to a rational mind is ludicrous! Secondly man has been on this earth for thousands of years, if such a thing existed according to all things being relative, not only would it be accepted it would be a normal every day thing! Instead it’s wrapped in conspiracy theorists, Aliens, Ghosts, demons, occult in fact everything that deviates from a normal healthy and constructive life. I’ve even heard idiots that believe there psychic babel that people suffering mental illness are psychic!! Seriously, people commit suicide due to people like you leading the weak willed down the path of Psychosis!! It’s like drug pushers, getting the innocent hooked on destructive substances that only wreak havoc on lives of the users and there families. I’ve read Most recognised religions condemn such things, some say religious people are suffering from mass psychosis but in there defence they don’t promote unhealthy beliefs or living that lead to a solitary life thinking they have super powers. According Christians (most denominations, Judaism, Islam and other mass collective God believers) there’s some versus in the Bible, Torah and Quran suggesting this type of thing are an “Abomination” to god all written before all this psychic Bull Squirt! so if God does exist and finds these idiotic people detestable as it says then who am I or anyone to argue with that statement, and by the very definition of there “supernatural” beliefs they have to acknowledge all supposed ethereal beings especially God. Attention seeking moron’s that want to push others to be the same belief of “Having Powers” is like a mental infection breeding psychotic mind-set’s, just look at them, do they look and act NORMAL to you?. Try getting a real life, a real job and contribute to society and stop living in a fantasy world!! Oh and don’t say it’s man’s evolution and the nonsense about the amount of our brains we don’t use. This crap has been circulating for a lot longer than you believe and in every case it’s been classed as demonic possession or mental illness!! so don’t point any to David Ike, Uri Geller, Rupert Sheldrake and the other idiots ” leave that to Professor X (X-Men comic book and FANTASY MOVIE reference) I “wannabe” special and have powers brigade” for proof as in actual reality they have failed every true test, if you are then claim the one million dollars offered by the Great Randi! Easy money for you then!. if you can prove it do so and everyone will see you on the news happily displaying powers, if you can’t then stick to getting a grounded life and help others do the same that could or do suffer a psychotic delusion and fall away from society because of your BS!! And just so you know, there’s no such thing as faeries, unicorns, Atlantis, Mermen, mermaids for that matter, lake monsters, dinosaurs are extinct (Again something proven), people can’t move objects with there minds (Although they would be great in construction) and people can’t fly under there own power. Oh…wait a minute, I’m receiving a message from an Alien, his name is Tihsllub..he has a message for dangerous people like you that try to dislodge reality from the lives that could be healthy and productive, the message is…”Seek a cure for your peddling deluded beliefs or go back to planet lalaland. He’ll be waiting with his spaceship at lollipop junction at 26:00hrs central “reality isn’t really reality” time!. Just to rub salt in your crazy third eye that doesn’t exist and to illustrate what you people really physically achieve: A really good friend took his own life due to idiots like you getting him into this crap!! Be warned folks this is wrong in every single way! Be grounded, seek a productive, happy psychologically healthy life, Love your partner, love your kids, love your parents and be better than this drivel and ignore it as the crud it is. If this touches one poor deluded mind and picks them out of the gutter of this kind of tripe puts them in then it’s achieved it’s goal. Prove it to science, then prove it to the world!! Then all you idiots can be once and for all be believed, if not then continue to hide in your dark corners spouting your BS drivel. Oh but wait…it doesn’t work like that, I can just turn it on or like a switch. You want to awaken your “inner you” then ignore these morons!! And I’m not working for the government, I’m not an alien trying to side-track humanity in to slavery and all the other clap trap, I’m not priest, I’m not a Super Human trying to hide to keep the powers that be a secret, I’m just a normal man, with a normal and productive life wanting only to help the poor, poor people that may have been given drugs by life’s wasters or had a hard time as a kid wanting to escape reality by eating this garbage. Embrace reality not this delusional nonsense. Have a great and productive life people assuming you listen to reality!
What a freaky deaky this tracy creep is! Seriously whacked up on Goof Balls or what! Drug Taking psychos, hallucinating nutters promoting mind altering substances, idiotic breeders of a destructive lifestyle. You’re a pretty dangerous person selling this stuff Tracy whatever your called! Firstly it’s never ever truly been proven by any real science (Don’t believe the crazy excuses and claims these people come up with in response to my comments either). If it is as you believe then we’ll all read about you in the news as you categorically prove you flowers to the world without any lame excuses or conspiracy crap you douche bag. In all man’s existence no research has any substantial proof of your claims. Firstly the very thought of such a thing to a rational mind is ludicrous! Secondly man has been on this earth for thousands of years, if such a thing existed according to all things being relative, not only would it be accepted it would be a normal every day thing! Instead it’s wrapped in conspiracy theorists, Aliens, Ghosts, demons, occult in fact everything that deviates from a normal healthy and constructive life. I’ve even heard idiots that believe there psychic babel that people suffering mental illness are psychic!! Seriously, people commit suicide due to people like you leading the weak willed down the path of Psychosis!! It’s like drug pushers, getting the innocent hooked on destructive substances that only wreak havoc on lives of the users and there families. I’ve read Most recognised religions condemn such things, some say religious people are suffering from mass psychosis but in there defence they don’t promote unhealthy beliefs or living that lead to a solitary life thinking they have super powers. According Christians (most denominations, Judaism, Islam and other mass collective God believers) there’s some versus in the Bible, Torah and Quran suggesting this type of thing are an “Abomination” to god all written before all this psychic Bull Squirt! so if God does exist and finds these idiotic people detestable as it says then who am I or anyone to argue with that statement, and by the very definition of there “supernatural” beliefs they have to acknowledge all supposed ethereal beings especially God. Attention seeking moron’s that want to push others to be the same belief of “Having Powers” is like a mental infection breeding psychotic mind-set’s, just look at them, do they look and act NORMAL to you?. Try getting a real life, a real job and contribute to society and stop living in a fantasy world!! Oh and don’t say it’s man’s evolution and the nonsense about the amount of our brains we don’t use. This crap has been circulating for a lot longer than you believe and in every case it’s been classed as demonic possession or mental illness!! so don’t point any to David Ike, Uri Geller, Rupert Sheldrake and the other idiots ” leave that to Professor X (X-Men comic book and FANTASY MOVIE reference) I “wannabe” special and have powers brigade” for proof as in actual reality they have failed every true test, if you are then claim the one million dollars offered by the Great Randi! Easy money for you then!. if you can prove it do so and everyone will see you on the news happily displaying powers, if you can’t then stick to getting a grounded life and help others do the same that could or do suffer a psychotic delusion and fall away from society because of your BS!! And just so you know, there’s no such thing as faeries, unicorns, Atlantis, Mermen, mermaids for that matter, lake monsters, dinosaurs are extinct (Again something proven), people can’t move objects with there minds (Although they would be great in construction) and people can’t fly under there own power. Oh…wait a minute, I’m receiving a message from an Alien, his name is Tihsllub..he has a message for dangerous people like you that try to dislodge reality from the lives that could be healthy and productive, the message is…”Seek a cure for your peddling deluded beliefs or go back to planet lalaland. He’ll be waiting with his spaceship at lollipop junction at 26:00hrs central “reality isn’t really reality” time!. Just to rub salt in your crazy third eye that doesn’t exist and to illustrate what you people really physically achieve: A really good friend took his own life due to idiots like you getting him into this crap!! Be warned folks this is wrong in every single way! Be grounded, seek a productive, happy psychologically healthy life, Love your partner, love your kids, love your parents and be better than this drivel and ignore it as the crud it is. If this touches one poor deluded mind and picks them out of the gutter of this kind of tripe puts them in then it’s achieved it’s goal. Prove it to science, then prove it to the world!! Then all you idiots can be once and for all be believed, if not then continue to hide in your dark corners spouting your BS drivel. Oh but wait…it doesn’t work like that, I can just turn it on or like a switch. You want to awaken your “inner you” then ignore these morons!! And I’m not working for the government, I’m not an alien trying to side-track humanity in to slavery and all the other clap trap, I’m not priest, I’m not a Super Human trying to hide to keep the powers that be a secret, I’m just a normal man, with a normal and productive life wanting only to help the poor, poor people that may have been given drugs by life’s wasters or had a hard time as a kid wanting to escape reality by eating this garbage. Embrace reality not this delusional nonsense. Have a great and productive life people assuming you listen to reality
I have been involved with the occult since a teenager. I often go to pubs and clubs where psychics do there thing, I class myself as psyxhic and i can summon spirits and guides. I often refer to the kabahl as a book of enlightenments and believe that lucifer tried to set humanity free, my third eye has shown me this and other places. I have had christian acquaintances but have tried to lead them in to my beliefs and two in to drug culture as i take drugs to open my minds eye and thought they could enjoy what i do. They refused and told me I was pretty much a child of evil and creepy. I’ve heard a witch raised a prophet from the after world which leads me to believe I’m right but have been told i use this as an excuse to practice being in to occultism. I tried Christianity but I felt it too restricting and I took up lucifurianism which means i can enjoy all the pleasures of this world without any consequence. I don’t see god in the same way and doubt Christ existed at all. Can anyone show me if my beliefs are wrong? If anyone could I’d think about it. [email protected]