ANCIENT OCCULTISM IN THE CHURCH By Jeannette Haley

There’s something mysterious about the word “ancient.” Sometimes it can play on the invisible strings of your emotions, hauntingly compelling your innermost being to rise above and beyond your present state to explore the hidden and elusive secrets of the ancients; their knowledge, power, mystical monuments, inscriptions, symbols and deeply embedded spiritual beliefs and practices. After all, archeology is gaining ground in unearthing, both on land and under the sea incredible structures, beautiful works of art and sculpture, and ingenious artifacts that give rise to awe and respect. Of course, nobody in our “enlightened age,” especially “churched” people, pay close attention, or would ever be tempted to experience any of those ancient pagan gods, or those peoples’ strange experiences with “other-worldly” beings, demons, magic, witchcraft, hallucinations, curses, prophecies, idolatry or the like. Or would they?

It’s easy to cruise along in a state of smug satisfaction and tell ourselves that since we are more civilized, progressive, educated, scientific, experienced, modernized and, well, “spiritually educated” than the ancients, that we don’t have to give a second thought to the hidden dangers of the occult in our day and age. We’re smart. We even know a thing or two about the New Age and maybe one song that’s bad, even though the “Age of Aquarius” is fun music to dance to. We can handle it. After all, we even said some “sinner’s prayer” once, so we have our free ticket to by-pass hell and get into heaven. Besides, we have some “version” of the Bible lying around, churches are plentiful, even on-line ones, along with truckloads of “Christian” books, “Christian movies,” and church activities every day of the week. Why, we’ve even got “Christian” Tee shirts, hats, and jewelry. We’ve got it so together these days that there’s just no way deception, destruction or a demon could squeeze into our “sanctified” presence. Right? If you believe that, you are dead wrong!

Where do you think Satan and his demons that have plagued mankind from the very beginning have gone? If your answer to that question is anything other than “nowhere” you need to dig deeper into the Word. We are told in 2 Corinthians 4:4 that “…the god of this world has blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” The Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 2:1-2 “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience”. Peter warned, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world” 1 Peter 5:8-9. Granted, these are all familiar Scriptures, but familiarity cannot guarantee anything unless diligently applied to our hearts and lives. Paul warned in 2 Corinthians 10:12 “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”

Despite all that the Bible exposes and warns us about and judging by the spreading occultism in our churches today, no wonder there is such a nonchalant atmosphere among undiscerning Christians when it comes to veiled occultism in churches. Keep in mind “occult” means hidden, mysterious, secret, not revealed, concealed, of or relating to supernatural or supernormal powers or practices or the knowledge of them. So, from that position it’s only a hop, skip and a jump into the seemingly good, beneficial or helpful “spiritual” aspects of the occult, especially when we tack the name of Jesus or God onto it, and toss it into the mish mash of stuff labeled “Christian.” Besides, how can anything that “feels so good be bad?”

The world of the occult is so vast and far-reaching that it is impossible for anyone to be able to read, study, comprehend or remember every bizarre detail of this dark, seductive, complicated, ethereal realm. While it is unwise for Christians to remain totally clueless or ignorant concerning the spiritual dangers of the occult, what they must know is what the Bible reveals, what God commands concerning it, how to discern and test the spirit behind it in order to avoid it, or if necessary stand against it and overcome it. But once a person opens the door of their soul to it, either deliberately, or out of curiosity, or outright seduction, they will find themselves in a literal battle for their soul. Paul warned the Corinthians, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” 2 Corinthians 10:3-5. You can feel Paul’s deep concern to the point of anguish for the believers in Corinth when he wrote, “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtility, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him” 2 Corinthians 11:3, 4.

Paul laid it on the line for them, and his words are as true and relevant for us today as they were then and have been through two thousand years of church history. Speaking of “false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ,” he wrote “And no marvel, for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their work” 2 Corinthians 11:13-15. As I research some of the popular books Bible study leaders use as a basis for their “teaching” (and which attendees have to pay for) I am not only appalled that so-called “teachers” are not teaching from the Bible itself, but I’m amazed at the common denominator of shallow Bible knowledge, and I’m troubled in my spirit due to heretical teaching, veiled New Age verbiage, beliefs and practices. Topics such as “The Silence” or “contemplative prayer” have roots in Hinduism and New Age teachings. Hinduism has also crept into America’s churches through Yoga. Yoga is NOT about “exercise” but rather a means to become “yoked” to a demon. Some churches have no problem with children reading witchcraft, such as the Harry Potter books (and movies), bizarre fiction or other “magical” fantasy books. Star Wars is hugely popular with Christians who cannot discern that it is promoting not only Hinduism, but Buddhism, and Zoroastrianism. “The Force” is NOT the Holy Spirit, but a combination of Buddhism, Taoism, and Manichaeism.

Why are so many Christians today seeking to experience something “spiritual” outside of the realm of established, biblical doctrine taught by our Lord, the Apostles, and New Testament writers? The answer to that, besides ignorance, is unbelief, disobedience, lack of the fear of God (hence no wisdom), lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. But also, deep calls to deep, and when people have not been properly discipled and brought to spiritual maturity in the Lord, and when their foundation is not firmly established upon the Rock, they will have a spiritual vacuum. Therefore, if that vacuum fails to be filled with the Holy Spirit, they will seek for some sort of “spiritual” experience outside of the perimeters of God’s Word. The danger in spiritual darkness is that any “light” that Satan offers is a false light whether it is the “white light” of New Agers, “enlightenment” of the Illuminati, “new light” of the Watchtower, or “Astral light” and so forth.

Christians jeopardize themselves when they seek for signs, wonders, and spiritual experiences instead of seeking for Jesus Christ in the Word of God. Their craving for something, or anything, supernatural or miraculous and the power and “enlightenment” that accompanies it is an open door to the beguiling world of the occult. Nevertheless, many unstable souls within the Christian realm are tapping into out-of-body experiences in the “Astral Plane” (Astral Projection) where they meet with departed loved ones (familiar spirits); “aliens” (demons); “Ascended Masters” and other entities. People who practice Astral Projection report on traveling to other countries, spying on people, finding and watching different people, and gathering information from the spirit realm, among other things. God warns in Ezekiel 13:20 “Wherefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against your pillows, wherewith ye there hunt the souls to make them fly, and will let the souls go, even the souls that ye hunt to make them fly.” God warned, Micah 5:12 And I will cut off witchcrafts out of thine hand; and thou shalt have no more soothsayers.” Astral Projection also involves “soul magic,” sorcery and necromancy which, along with all other forms of the occult “shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone” Revelation 218.

The trend of trying to prove there is nothing wrong with this form of spiritism by alluding to Paul’s experience in 1 Corinthians 12:2-7 is grave error. To quote an explanation from CANA, (Christian Answers for the New Age website), “Paul says that he does not know if he was in his body or not, so the value of this as an astral or out-of-body experience is totally diminished at the very beginning of the account. Secondly, this is a revelation and experience that God initiated and gave to Paul; Paul did not seek this out or initiate it. Thirdly, Paul did not reveal what he saw because he was not permitted. This experience or visionary revelation is not the point of the passage, but is used to make another point, that Paul cannot boast of anything because he is a weak man and God keeps Paul humble through his weakness (see verses 6-10). There is no endorsement of astral travel in this passage and using it as such is a gross misuse and twisting of the passage.” A careful reading in Scripture of those who had dreams, visions and visitations from God, every one of those experiences was initiated by God, controlled by God, and in accordance with the will of God to fulfill His purpose. Professing Christians who ignore God’s warnings separate themselves from the will of God and the Holy Spirit but instead receive “another spirit” which is evidenced by their lack of love for the lost, weak (if any) testimony, lack of the fruit and gifts of the Holy Spirit. As the old saying goes, “The lights are all on, but nobody’s home.”

If we are to be God’s people, then we must separate ourselves from anything and everything that is unclean and unholy to the Lord. There can be no division in our hearts as to whom we belong, who we love, and who we serve. We cannot serve two masters, and claim we belong to Christ. Granted, Leviticus 20:26 may have been written to Israel, but it is for us as well, “And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy; and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine.” Galatians 5:19-21 warns, “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” [Emphasis added.] What we as true Christians need to remember is the same evil practices and demons that the Old Testament records are the same works of the flesh and the same demons that are very real this side of the Cross. Furthermore, God has not changed just because our culture has changed, and the world’s culture, ways, systems and fashions are in the church. He is the same Holy God who tells us, “As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy” 1 Peter 1:14-16.