Things are changing so rapidly in the world, and even in the Church these days. There is a noticable increase of evil. False teaching continues to escalate, and the Christian must be sober and alert. People's hearts are being captured by myths and a increasing cultural elevation of the occult, and supernatural manifestation. people's worldviews and spiritual quests have have changed and understanding of 'Who God is' and 'Why Jesus came' are -- getting distorted and degraded because of lack of knowledge of what the Bible teaches. Christians are failing to Stand Firm in their faith on the truths in the bible. People are elevating teachers, and listening to false prophets and their teachings. Jesus warns in Matthew 24:11-13 - "Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. Because lawlessness is increased, most peoples love will grow cold. "But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved."
2 Peter 2:1,2 says: "But false prophets also arose among the people just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bring swift destruction upon themselves. Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned;
Someone doesn't have to look very far by a casual channel surf on TV, to see blatant occultism in programming. That's not so unusual these days. But it seems promotion of the occult is becoming more pervasive and assertive then ever.
While surfing through the channels today 3/27/08, we observed a national shopping channel offering as a 'today's special' dvd's of the Psychic John Edwards. These dvd's promoted meditation, teaching how to discover angels and guides, contacting dead loved ones, and were to instruct people how to 'tape' into energy, and were to teach people how to be psychics themselves and give psychic readings. The dvd's are suppose to be 11 hrs. of training)
During the day-long product promotion -- 27,000 sold. During his presentation other items were offered such as a Journal book with Rosary bead Cross, and artwork of 'tree of life' print. As people called in to talk with the Shopping Hosts and the Psychic John Edwards, he was doing 'psychic readings' with callers right there on the Shopping channel. Who would expect something like this to be sold on a shopping channel, let alone a 'today's special' ? which receives a lot of primary air time during the day and evening, that the special is promoted. Not only Adults are seeing this, but Children too.
What was presented to the public was the appearance of excitement, fun and life changing spiritual guidance, but in reality it was Necromancy, Divination, and Spiritism -- (Syncretism - is the fusion of different systems of belief ) along with the presentation it was combined with the use of Icons and the language of Christianity. The above mentioned practices are of the occult and not of Christianity. What became very obvious after watching this national shopping channel was; that the spiritual climate of our nation is dramatically changing. What attracts people to these modern day psychics is their persuasive demonstrations, proofs of information from a source unidentified, supernatural manifestations such as Angels and spirit guides and contacts with deceased loved ones. What is deceiving people is that these signs and wonders, this 'energy' these people are 'tapping' into is real, but is not of the Holy Spirit. This is a good example of how subtle the tactics and enticements of the enemy are.l Remember the bible states in 1 Peter 5:8 "Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. "But resist him, firm in your faith," Jesus warns us that perlious times would come, and says in Matthew 24:24,25, "For false Christs and flase prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. "Behold, I have told you in advance." Throughout the Old and New Testament, spiritism is forbidden. God instructs and warns his peple to stay away from Occult practices and teachings.
Deuteronomy 18:9-11,14
"When you enter the land which the LORD your God gives you, you shall not learn to imitate the detestable things of those nations. "There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead." 14) "For those nations, which you shall dispossess, listen to those who practice witchcraft and to diviners, but as for you, the LORD your God has not allowed you to do so."
Leviticus 19:31 "Do not turn to mediums or spiritists; do not seek them out to be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God." 2 Kings 21:6 "He made his son pass through the fire, practiced witchcraft and used divination, and dealt with mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the sight of the LORD provoking Him to anger." (Also see 2 Chronicles 33:6) Isaiah 8:19,20 "When they say to you, "consult the mediums and the spiritists who whisper and mutter, "should not a people consult their God? should they consult the dead on behalf of the living? To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn."
Anyone claiming to be a Christian should Not be involved in anything to do with occult practices, no matter how popular, no matter how 'Spiritual or real' they may see. (Not everything spiritual is of God.) We should be clothed in the armor of God of Ephesians 6:10- "Finally be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil." Listed here are scriptures you can look up that condemn these occult practices.
The Bible condemns spiritism, consulting mediums, and Necromancy: Leviticus 19:31, 1 Samuel 28:3,9, 1 Chronicles 10:13, 2 Chronicles 33:6, Isaiah 8:19, 19:3, Jeremiah 27:9, The Bible condemns Divination: Leviticus 19:26, 1 Samuel 15:23, 2 Kings 17:17, 21:6, 2 Chronicles 33:6, Isaish 2:6, Acts 16:16-20 Additional : Revelation 9:20,21, 18:23, 22:15, Galatians 5:19-21, Acts 8:9-11, 19:19
In closing, 1 Thess 5:21,22 tells us to: "Examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil." These days believers in Jesus Christ, need to be discerning, and be careful to what they are being exposed to through TV, music, books, and teachers. 1 John 4:1 says it best "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
** For Further information Websites you can visit:
Christian Answers for the New Age -
Refuge Ministries - http://www.refugeministries.cc/main.asp
Watchman Fellowship - http://www.watchman.org/
(a christian research ministry that can provide more information on John Edwards)
** For further study regarding Angels - Ron Rhodes fold-out Quick reference guide on 'Angels - What you need to know' and books
'Reasoning from the Scriptures Ministry' http://www.ronrhodes.org
** Marcia Montenegro's book "Spellbound' is an excellent book for Christian parents.