The Rising Prominence of the
Occult in American Society
by Dr. Phil Stringer (Florida)
"For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be
received with thanksgiving:" (1 Timothy 4:4)
* * *
THE OCCULT IN MAINSTREAM AMERICAN SOCIETY
There are always those individuals in every society who involve themselves in
the "occult arts." These may involve trying to manipulate
"invisible forces" for personal gain, or it may involve open
witchcraft or even Satanism. When America’s culture was predominantly
Christian, such individuals were on the fringes of America’s culture. During
the Culture War, however, they have moved to the mainstream of American society.
Military chaplains are now trained about how to meet the spiritual needs of
military personnel involved in witchcraft groups. The First Church of Satan has
IRS-granted 501(c)(3) tax exempt status (meaning that they are recognized by the
government and are not required to pay taxes). Occult groups advertise and
recruit openly.
Many people are lured into the occult by the promise of supernatural power
and success. Advertisements promoting this appeal are common in popular
magazines. These ads promise everything from "automatic mind control,"
to how to gain "power, wealth, and love."
The Scriptures make it clear that the Old Testament Canaanite pagan culture
was an occult culture. The Old Testament is clear in condemning any occult
activity on the part of the people of God.
Deuteronomy 18:9-14 both condemns occult activity and lists several examples
of occult practices:
9 When thou art come into the land which the Lord they God giveth thee,
thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.
10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his
daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of
times, or an enchanter, or a witch,
11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirts, or a wizard, or a
necromancer,
12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and
because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before
thee.
13 Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD they God.
14 For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of
times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not suffered
thee so to do.
OCCULT PRACTICES
This list of occult practices is worth a careful study.
Abomination of the Nations
The first "abomination of the nations" mentioned is, "There
shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or daughter to pass
through the fire ...."
This relates to the New Paganism and abortion and should serve as a reminder
that child sacrifice is a basic occult practice, and modern-day abortion is just
a sophisticated form of child sacrifice.
Divination
The second occult practice mentioned is divination. This refers to the
concept of trying to foretell the future by contacting spirits or using
supernatural power. Modern day fortune-tellers, Ouija boards, tarot cards, and
kabbala are examples of divination today.
Observer of Times
The next phase is "an observer of times." This practice includes
modern day astrology -- the idea that certain times are somehow mystically good
for some activities and somehow bad for other activities. Astrologers are
referenced frequently in the book of Daniel as part of the pagan culture of
Babylon. They are also mentioned in Isaiah 47:13-14:
13 Thou are wearied in the multitude of thy counsels. Let now the
astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save
thee from these things that shall come upon thee.
14 Behold, the shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall
not deliver themselves from the power of the flame: there shall not be a coal
to warm at, nor fire to sit before it.
The Lord’s attitude toward astrology and other "time"-oriented
"mystic arts" is clear. He is offended when you trust supernatural
mystic forces instead of Him. The modern pseudo-science of
"biorhythms" also fits into the category of observers of times. One
only has to look at the average daily newspaper to be reminded how common
astrology is in America.
Enchanters
The next phrase is "an enchanter." This refers to someone who tries
to "cast spells" to perform miracles. A biblical example of
"enchantment" is seen with the magicians at the court of Pharaoh (see
Exodus 7:11, 22). That some of these enchantments worked and that miracles were
actually performed is seen in Exodus 8:8. II Timothy 3:8 makes it clear that
these magicians (two of whom were named Jannes and Jambres) were practicing
demonic powers and that they were in rebellion against God: "Now as Jannes
and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt
minds, reprobate concerning the faith."
The popularity of "spell casting" programs and books shows how this
occult practice has influenced American culture.
Witchcraft
The next term mentioned is "witch." The Bible refers to a
practitioner of the "magic or mystical arts." It can rightfully be
used of a male or female and of anyone who practices any occult arts. The Bible
mentions witches and witchcraft nine times, always in condemnation. In Old
Testament Israel, the death penalty was the punishment for witchcraft. In the
New Testament, witchcraft is mentioned as a work of the flesh (Galations
5:19-20). Witchcraft is connected with immorality, (Galatians 5:19-21, II Kings
9:22, and Nahum 3:4). Interestingly enough, the Bible compares any attitude of
rebellion toward God with witchcraft (I Samuel 15:23).
Witchcraft has been growing in acceptance in the United States. Witches are
now accepted as chaplains in the United States. Some witchcraft groups have
achieved IRS 501(c)(3) tax exempt status (for example, WICCA). Many old time
pagan g roups have been revived under the name witchcraft. Many witchcraft
groups operate openly in American society.
Charmer
The next term is Charmer. The term charm refers to the manipulation of mystic
forces by using specific statements written, sung, chanted, or by specific
chemical potions. Acts 19 refers to such charms among the people of Ephesus.
After observing a mighty work of the Holy Spirit in Ephesus, the people
destroyed their "charms." Acts 19:18-20 says, "And many that
believed came, and confessed, and showed their deeds. Many of them also which
used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men:
and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of
silver. So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed."
Any public library in America today contains books of charms and spells which
can be checked out by the general public.
Consulter with Familiar Spirits
The next phrase is "a consulter with familiar spirits." This refers
to a person who communicates with demonic sprits. Often a person will develop a
relationship with a specific demonic spirt or spirts. These spirits and the
person become "familiar" with each other, hence the term familiar
spirit. This term is mentioned 16 times in the Bible, and the practice is always
condemned. The Bible gives us an extended look at a woman with a familiar spirit
in I Samuel 28.
King Saul, in obedience to the Lord had "cut off" all those who
openly practiced consulting with familiar spirts. This had driven the practice
underground. When the Lord would no longer communicate with Saul because of his
disobedience (I Samuel 28:5-7), Saul became desperate to know the future. When
he discovered that some of his aides knew of a woman with a familiar spirit
operating in the village of Endor, he was willing to consult with her in order
to get a supernatural revelation of the future.
Sault and two other men disguised themselves and went to this woman. They
asked her to bring Samuel up from the dead. The woman went into her rituals
expecting to conjure up a spirit (a demon), and she went into shock when Samuel
actually appeared.
The sin of consulting a familiar spirit was one of the two reasons that the
Lord slew Saul, according to I Chronicles 10:13: "So Saul died for his
transgression which he committed against the LORD, even against the word of the
LORD, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar
spirit, to inquire of it."
The modern-day channeling movement, many of the reincarnation stories, many
of the ghost, UFO, and haunting stories involve familiar spirits. You do not
have to look very hard to see the role of familiar spirits in modern society.
They play a role in the concept of the "Force" in the Star Wars
movies. The author of the popular children’s book Jonathan Livingston Seagull
claims that it was dictated to him by a familiar spirit.
Wizards
The next term is "wizard." This term particularly refers to the use
of magic and sorcery. The word magic refers to two previous terms, enchanter and
charmer. The word sorcery refers to the use of drugs in combination with
supernatural forces (see Revelation 9:21 and 18:23). The word pharmacy is taken
from one of the roots of the word sorcery. The drug menace in American society
is often combined with occult activity.
Necromancers
The next term is "necromancer" which refers to the attempt to
contact the dead. This is the only time this term is used in the Bible.
Modern-day spiritualism, seances, and Ouija boards are all a form of necromancy
and are all increasingly common in America today.
* * *
The Lord is very clear in condemning all these practices. There have always
been individuals who were in rebellion against God and involved in the occult in
the United States, but they were always on the fringe of American society. For
30 years these people have been moving into the mainstream of our society.
Many societies have developed cultures totally dominated by the occult.
Ancient pagan cultures, tribal cultures, etc. are often recognized as being
occult cultures. However, such cultures are not limited to ancient time. Nazi
Germany was an occult society (see The Occult Reich by J.H. Brennan, The Spear
of Destiny by Trevor Ravenscraft, and the material on Houston Stewart
Chamberlain in Rise and Fall of the Third Reich by William Shirer). It is
entirely possible for the occult to dominate a culture in this day and age.
Of course, open Satanism is possible and is on the rise in the United States.
A number of Satanic organizations operate openly, and the Satanic Bible by Anton
LaVey has been a best-seller. Revelation 13:4 tells about a time (the
Tribulation period) when the whole world will worship the Dragon (Satan) and the
anti-Christ. Revelation 13:4, "And they worshiped the dragon which gave
power unto the beast: and they worshiped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the
beast? who is able to make war with him?" All of the occult activity today
is designed to prepare the world for the worship of the dragon, the eventual
one-world culture, and government in rebellion against God.
The Scripture is very clear in proscribing a test for all the spiritual
activity in the world. I John 4:14:
1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are
of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus
Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the
flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have
heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater
is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
Christians should be careful never to be confused about occult and
supernatural forces. They should recognize the activity of Satan and demons.
They should recognize what is happening to the culture around them.
Dr. Phil Stringer is Executive Vice President at Landmark
Baptist College, Haines City, Florida
