The New Paganism
by Dr. Phil Stringer (Florida)
"For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God
to the pulling down of strong holds" (2 Corinthians 10:4)
ISRAEL’S SPIRITUAL CYCLE
The history of the Old Testament nation of Israel is a never-ending cycle
which goes something like this:
• Israel is blessed by God and pledges faithfullness.
• The next generation is seduced by the religions of the gods of the
Canaanites.
• Israel rebels against God.
• Israel is judged until it repents and is delivered.
The stories of the Judges, the United Monarchy, and the Divided Monarchy read
like a broken record.
At first glance it is puzzling to see how the nation of Israel could keep
making the same mistakes over and over again. Nevertheless, it should be
remembered that the Canaanite gods represented an entire culture of
self-indulgence and child sacrifice! Man’s sinful nature found great sympathy
with the Canaanite way of life, just as it rebelled against the culture of
self-discipline, responsibility, and morality connected with the worship and
laws of Jehovah.
The children of Israel were warned in the strongest possible terms to avoid
the worship of other gods.
• "Thou shalt have no other gods before me" (Exodus 20:3).
• "Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, for I the Lord thy God am a
jealous God" (Exodus 20:5).
• "Make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard
out of thy mouth" (Exodus 23:13).
• See also Genesis 35:2; Leviticus 19:4; 26:1; Psalms 16:4, 44:20, 59:8;
79:6; 81:9; 97:7; Isaiah 42:17; Joel 3:12; Jonah 2:8; Micah 5:15; Habakkuk
1:16; and many others.
The children of Israel had been specifically warned about the false gods and
wicked culture of Canaan (Leviticus 18:25-30 and Deuteronomy 18:9-14). In fact,
the Lord was so concerned about the influence of false Canaanite gods and their
self-indulgent wicked culture that Israel (in one of the most highly criticized
events of the Old Testament) was ordered to exterminate the Canaanite tribes! It
was possible for Canaanites to turn to the true God and be accepted in Israel
(see the stories of Rahab and Ruth), or they could flee Canaan. Nevertheless,
Israel was not to ignore the threat their violent and immoral culture
represented. Unfortunately, Israel never obeyed God’s instruction and was
constantly tempted to the lifestyle of the Canaanites.
Some of the most prominent Canaanite gods were:
• Baal -- of the Philistines (known as Merodach by the Babylonians): Baal,
known as the Lord of Heaven, was worshiped by both ritual immorality
and child sacrifice (II Kings 16:7, 21:6). These acts were supposed to
cause Baal to bestow prosperity upon his worshipers.
• Ashteroth -- goddess of the Philistines (known as Ishtar in Babylon and
Venus in Greece): Ashteroth was worshiped by ritual immorality; both
men and women paid temple prostitutes for their immoral acts. Ashteroth
would then bless the crops and grant fertility to the women (who could
then keep the children or sacrifice them to Baal as they chose).
Consumption of alcohol was also part of the worship ceremonies.
• Chemosh -- national god of the Moabites: Chemosh was especially
worshiped by child sacrifice, primarily the offering of a first-born son (II
Kings 3:26-27). Contrast this with Christian teaching. Humans must offer
their first-born son to satisfy the power of Chemosh; Jehovah offered his
only begotten Son to satisfy His sense of holiness of us.
• Molech -- national god of the Ammonites (also known as Milcolm):
Molech was worshiped by offering children as burnt sacrifices -- the
children of Israel were especially warned about the religion of Molech
(Leviticus 18:20-21 and 20:2-5). David has often been criticized for
making the Ammonites pass through the fires of their own brick-kilns
after he conquered Ammon (II Samuel 12:30-31). But it should be
remembered that these were the same brick-kilns in which they had
burned their children. This punishment, harsh as it was, was just.
• Dagon -- another god of the Philistines, considered to be half man-half
fish: Dagon was worshiped by drunkenness and acts of violence and
rape against non-Philistines. It was the statue of Dagon that was
destroyed when the Ark of the Covenant was placed in the same building
with it (I Samuel).
RELIGION DETERMINES CULTURE
Religion, then as it is now, was more than just idle theological speculation.
Religion determined culture. The Canaanite religions were designed to conform to
the sinful nature of man. Religious excuses were designed for drunkenness,
violence, and all forms of immorality. Child sacrifice was given religious and
cultural justification. This appealed to the self-indulgent. After all,
providing the resources, care, time and training for infants is a great burden
to the self-centered (and a great privilege to the God-centered).
Paganism is not confined to the ancient religions of Palestine. In the 1990's
in the United States of America, a new paganism is obvious. There are those
leaders and groups who demand government approval and support for their immoral
activities and government protection from any natural consequences. Acts of
immorality and violence are worshiped just as sincerely (if not formally) in
some segments of our society as they were in ancient Palestine. Legalized
abortion (the most technologically sophisticated method of child sacrifice) has
made it possible for 33 million human beings to be sacrificed to the god of
"choice"!
A non-stop Culture War raged between the false gods of the Canaanites and the
truth of Jehovah. Prophets (true and false) thundered their message and
individuals made their decisions. Open warfare often broke out. We do not live
in a theocracy today. Our Culture War is not to be decided by acts of violence
(though more and more violence is being directed at Christians.) Ours is a
Culture War of ideas -- God-centered values versus the self-indulgence of the
new pagans.
"(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but might through God
to the pulling down of strongholds); Casting down imaginations and every high
thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God and bringing into
captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ" (II Corinthians
10:4-5).
As the United States abandons it Christian culture, the role of paganism is
becoming more and more open in American life. The June 21, 1993, issue of
Christianity Today carried a full-page ad for Sadigh Gallery. Included among the
many idols of gods and goddesses available from the gallery were statues of Baal
and Ashteroth.
Today, you can order a child’s coloring book entitled "The Many Faces
of the Great Mother." The first picture of children to color is the goddess
Ashteroth.
In the fall of 1993, the Girl Scouts of America changed their oath of
allegiance lessening the emphasis upon God. One of the stated reasons was to
make it easier for girls from pagan families to join the Girl Scouts.
Watchword, a publication of the American Baptist Churches, printed an article
which told of a woman being made to feel better about her abortion. She had been
praying to God asking him to remove her feelings of guilt. A friend suggested
that she pray to the mother goddess who would approve of her
"sacrifice."
In November, 1993, the World Council of Churches sponsored a "Re-Imaging
Conference." There more than 2,000 women declared their liberation from
Christian orthodoxy. They offered prayers to the goddess Sophia (alternately
described as the goddess of wisdom and the goddess of lesbianism). This was
followed by another such conference in Dallas that included prayers to Sophia
and representations of witchcraft and Hinduism. This conference also concluded
that there is no sin, that it is blasphemy to call God "He," and that
the doctrine of the Trinity is an attack upon women.
In the basement of the United Nations building is the United Nations Society
of Enlightenment and Transformation. This society provides an outlet for uniting
pagan and occult groups to influence the world.
The Olympics have always featured some form the trappings of paganism.
However, the 1994 Winter Olympics carried these trappings much further. Prayers
to Zeus and honor given to Vettas (spirits worshiped by Vikings) were given
special prominence. According to CBS, worshiping Vettas is just another way of
expressing concern about the environment.
The opening ceremonies for the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta were replete
with references to pagan gods, including ritualistic dances to
"summon" the gods of the world’s five major cultures to be present
during the games. A replicated temple of Zeus was also included, with honor
given the pagan ancient Olympic games which have served as the pattern for the
modern Olympiad.
There is a growing "politically correct" movement to limit
children’s Halloween costumes for fear that modern witches will be offended.
Columnist Mike Royko reported receiving this letter from a witch (November 3,
1993):
You ask why should we be sensitive to the feelings of witches? My reply:
Witchcraft or Wicce is a legitimate, nature-based religion practiced by many
people both in America and abroad, and should be accorded the same respect as
Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, etc.
The witch portrayed today at Halloween is the Goddess in her crone aspect.
She signifies the dying year and the wisdom that comes with age.
It was only after the onset of Christianity that the Pagan Wise-woman
became a figure of fear and hatred.
So there is, as you can see, a very good reason to be sensitive to the
feelings of witches like myself.
The U.S. Army has redesigned its chaplain’s crest. The cross and the Jewish
Star of David have been removed and replaced with pagan symbols of nature
worship.
Many, many more examples could be given. Paganism is moving mainstream in
America.
In Psalm 106:34-42, the Lord described the influence of paganism upon Israel:
34 They did not destroy the nations, concerning whom the LORD commanded
them:
35 But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works.
36 And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them.
37 Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils,
38 And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their
daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was
polluted with blood.
39 Thus were they defiled with their own works, and went a whoring with
their own inventions.
40 Therefore was the wrath of the LORD kindled against his people, insomuch
that he abhorred his own inheritance.
41 And he gave them into the hand of the heathen; and they that hated them
ruled over them.
42 Their enemies also oppressed them, and they were brought into subjection
under their hand.
Dr. Phil Stringer is Executive Vice President of Landmark
Baptist College, Haines City, Florida
