by Rob Lundberg
There is a lot of spiritual fervor among the religious skepticism in our culture. People will reject the Bible and the God of the Bible. People will ridicule Christianity as antiquated and passe. But let me tell you that the Christian faith is a supernatural worldview, because we worship a supernatural God. Not only that, but religion by its very nature implies the belief in the supernatural.
That being said, people who have come out the new age and the occult will tell you that some of the things they have experienced are things that will scare the wits out of the most ardent skeptic. What are we to make of all this?
Well, if you are a Christian, and a follower of Jesus Christ, the Bible has much to say about the practices of the occult. Things like praying to angels, ouija boards, fantasy role playing games with spells in a dungeon masters manual, all of these things are vehicles by which the spiritual world can invade the psyche of a person, oppress them or even go so far has have full control (demonization).
What I would like to do is share in this post what I have called over the years the Dirty Dozen of occult practices that are found in various groups and movements, even to include the new age, and (hold your breath), the New Apostolic Reformation.
In Leviticus 19:31 and Deuteronomy 18:10-18 we can clearly read and understand what God has to say concerning the various practices that are related to the weird world of the occult. As Christians we need to heed the words of the Scriptures which deal especially to the forbidding in the participation of those practices.
The particular areas of the occult in today’s society generally center around the areas of superstitions, fortune telling (palm reading, astrology, ouija boards, the I Ching, and tarot card readings), magick (as opposed to illusionists where the hand is quicker than the eye), mediumship, and spiritism. Each of these areas are dealt with in the Bible. All in all, without question, God calls all of these an “abomination in His sight.”
The following is a description or explanation of what I call the “dirty dozen” of occultism:
1. ASTROLOGY, STARGAZING: Seeking knowledge through the divination of the positioning of the stars and other planetary bodies and their supposed influence upon the affairs of human beings (Scripture: Isaiah 47:12-15; Jeremiah 10:2; Daniel 1:18-20; 2:1-49; 4:1-37; 5:7-15).
2. USING A CHARM: To cast a spell on someone, to affect by magick (Scripture: Deuteronomy 18:11; Isaiah 19:3).
3. ENCHANTER, ENCHANTMENTS: The act of influencing by charms and incantations, the practice of the magickal arts; a magickian is one who uses the human voice or music to bring another person under psychic control (Scripture: Leviticus 19:26; Deuteronomy 18:10-12; 2 Chronicles 33:6; 2 Kings 17:17; Isaiah 49:9, 11; Jeremiah 27:9; Daniel 1:20).
4. DIVINATION: Fortune telling, seeking the revelation of future events or knowledge of any nature through the arrangement or an ordering of certain events or objects. Falling under this is the I Ching (Chinese art of fortune telling) (Scripture: Deuteronomy 18:10-14; 2 Kings 17:17; Jeremiah 27:8, 9; 29:8, 9; Acts 16:16-24).
5. MAGICK/MAGIC: This is not to be confused with the slight of hand or illusion. This kind of magick has to do with the manipulation of spiritual and the natural forces to do the will of the individual in the conducting of an incantation or a spell (Scripture: Deuteronomy 18:10-14; 2 Chronicles 33:6; 1 Samuel 15:23).
6. NECROMANCY: The supposed communication with the dead for the purposes of revealing the future or the influencing of the course of events in a person’s life. This could involve the use of a oujia board, angel board, tarot or angel cards, fortune telling, etc. (Scripture: Deuteronomy 18:11; 1 Samuel 28:1-25; Isaiah 8:19; 1 Chronicles 10:13-14).
7. OBSERVING THE TIMES: Another term used synonymously with ASTROLOGY (Scripture: Leviticus 1926; Deuteronomy 10:10-14; 2 Kings 21:6).
8. PROGNOSTICATION: The attempt to foretell the future from signs and symbols. Agein this could involve the use/practice use of tarot cards or “angel cards” (Scripture: Isaiah 47:12-15; Joshua 13:22; Micah 5:12-15; Acts 16:16-18).
9. SOOTHSAYING: The attempt to foretell future events apart from the Holy Spirit (Scripture: Joshua 13:22; Micah 5:12-15; Acts 16:16-18).
10. SORCERY: The use of power gained from the assistance or control of supernatural spirits (Scripture: Jeremiah 27:9; Isaiah 47:9, 12; 57:3; Revelation 21:8).
11. WITCHCRAFT: The practice of manipulating with spirits through the use of sorcery or magick or the manipulation of the natural and spiritual forces to do your will. (Scripture: Deuteronomy 18:10-12; 2 Chronicles 33:6; 1 Samuel 15:33.
12. WIZARD* (A male witch), WIZARDRY: One who is skilled in magick or sorcery; the art or practice of a male witch, sorcery (Scripture: Deuteronomy 18:11; 2 Kings 17:17; Exodus 22:18).
*Please note that, that for some time now, the current term of “wizard” is not a welcome term for males who are involved in Wicca, as it is currently coined the term of a witch who is a traitor to the Craft.
DEFECTING FROM THE OCCULT
If you are participating (dabbling or have yourself engrossed in any of these practices, you need to break free. To escape from the occult’s snare there are several R-A-D-I-C-A-L steps that must be taken. These steps are not a process, therefore they do not have to be taken in the order in which they are presented below, but EACH STEP MUST BE TAKEN if the person is to be loosened from the tenacious bondage and grip of occult involvement.
- RENOUNCE all occult allegiances. The person in the occult has made certain commitments and vows in order to become a part of a group or to receive occult powers. To break free he/she must renounce those commitments and vows. (Scripture: Matthew 25:41; John 12:31; Revelation 9:20-21).
- ACQUIRE new relationships. The person who wishes to defect from the occult must acquire a new source for support, a new support group. It is essential that the person find people who will be supportive of him or her in their times of struggle.
a.) Seek Christian counseling, and fellowships with God’s people;
b.) Join a Bible study and prayer group;
c.) Read God’s Word (the Bible) daily for strength and encouragement (Scripture: Matthew
17:21; Acts 16:14-18).
- DESTROY ALL OCCULT OBJECTS. The person who wishes to defect must remove those things that influenced the person into the occult. These things will include music, movies, magazines, games with occult themes, occult literature and manuals, as well as any implements used in ceremonies or rituals and other reminders of the occult. (Scripture: Acts 19:18-20; Exodus 20:4; Leviticus 26:1; Deuteronomy 7:25; 11:16; Isaiah 42:8; 1 John 5:21).
- INITIATE SPIRITUAL WELLNESS. The person involved in the occult is involved in a spiritual struggle as well as a mental and emotional struggle. The person wishing to defect must seek spiritual wellness, beginning with the person placing their faith and trust in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, and in His finished work in atoning for their sins. (Scripture: Acts 4:12; Matthew 11:28: John 3:3, 16; 5:24; 6:37; Romans 10:9, 10; Ephesians 6:10-18; Hebrews 11:6).
- CLAIM Christian Values. The value system of the person involved in the occult has been changed to accept those things that are contrary to that which were formally acceptable. He must claim those values that are true which he values to replace those “values” of the occult. Begin in a study of the Word of God and claim its values for life. (Scripture: Galatians 5:15-26)
- ACCEPT Life’s Truths. Recognize that people are responsible and accountable for life’s decisions. (Scripture: Romans 3:23; 5:8; 6:23; 8:1; 10:9,10; 13:14).
- LEAVE Occult Relationships. It is not enough to destroy occult objects and seek new friends. The person must also give up contact with those involved in the occult. Find a good Bible preaching church and place yourself under the authority of the teaching of the Word of God. My prayer is that you will find a church that is sensitive to what you have come out of and it will use personnel resources in the church to encourage you and disciple you in your new life in Christ (Scripture: 2 Kings 17:21; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; Deuteronomy 18:9-12).
Nota Bene
“Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual {forces} of wickedness in the heavenly {places.} Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shieldof faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil {one.} And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. With all prayer and petition, pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints. . .” (Ephesians 6:10-18, New American Standard Bible)
“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. {We are} destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and {we are} taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete” (2 Corinthians 10:3-6, New American Standard Bible)
“the Son of God appeared for this purpose, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” (1 John 3:8, New American Standard Bible)
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