An Article of Faith

With Halloween coming up this Saturday God’s Word has something to say about the dangers of occult involvement:
“When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, be very careful not to imitate the detestable customs of the nations living there. For example, never sacrifice your son or daughter as a burnt offering. And do not let your people practice fortune-telling, or use sorcery, or interpret omens, or engage in witchcraft, or cast spells, or function as mediums or psychics, or call forth the spirits of the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD. It is because the other nations have done these detestable things that the LORD your God will drive them out ahead of you. But you must be blameless before the LORD your God. The nations you are about to displace consult sorcerers and fortune-tellers, but the LORD your God forbids you to do such things.” (Deuteronomy 18:9-14 NLT.)
This passage of Scripture lists nine occult practices to avoid: (1) making child sacrifice to false gods; (2) predicting the future or seeking hidden treasures through the aid of divining rods, pendulums, and other occult means; (3) guiding one’s affairs by the stars; (4) using Ouija boards, crystals, etc.; (5) practicing sorcery; (6) placing oneself into a trance or attempting to alter one’s state of consciousness; (7) attending séances; (8) mixing potions; and (9) becoming a spiritualist medium, or one who attempts to communicate with the dead.
People involved in these types of occultic activity are not entrusting their lives, present or future, to God but rather seek to rule their affairs through forbidden means (The Apologetics Study Bible). The ironic thing about the occult is that those who participate in it are deceived into believing that they have control over the evil spirits, when in actuality, the evil spirits have control over them.
“The term occult,” writes James Walker, “comes from the Latin occultus, referring to that which is hidden. In a general sense, the term occult can be applied to any attempt to gain supernatural knowledge or power apart from the God of the Bible. The word is generally used to describe secret or mysterious supernatural powers and magical rituals. Occultic groups typically exhibit the following distinctive characteristics: (1) Secret knowledge or wisdom can be attained using techniques that transcend the five human senses; (2) Such techniques usually involve contact with supernatural forces or energies. (3) The goal of obtaining such power is to exercise control over events, humans, or natural forces.” (The Concise Guide to Today’s Religions and Spirituality.)
“A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.” (Ephesians 6:10-18 NLT.)
Jessie J. Charpentier Sr. is pastor of Jenkins Memorial Baptist Church in St. Martinville.