TRICK- The Increasing Influence of Satanic Principles in Society and the Apostasy of Christianity

Recently I was grocery shopping when I stepped over to the makeup aisle. I was speechless at the sight of a display, featuring a makeup kit boldly called Rituals, featuring a demon-horned headband to wear as an accessory. The makeup is Ouija shaped; the boxes have a singular eye at the top. The names include words like Spellbinding and Alter. It is no longer enough that something appears to be dark or “witchy”, no. Now society is making the dark arts mainstream before our very eyes. But it wasn’t long ago that I would’ve been interested in purchasing these very items myself.

Have you noticed that the Halloween season has become increasingly darker, sinister and earlier every year? The costumes scarier, the decor more realistic. The symbolism, such as blood splatters and evil eyes, that used to be subtle is now no longer hiding anything. This post is about the satanic influences that have slipped under our noses for far too long, under the guise of the occult holiday and now we are living in a society that is quicker to accept its principles than Christianity. A society that wants us to take our eyes away from the Lord and his Eternal gift of life and focus on worldly pleasures and sinfulness. Because the ultimate goal of the devil is to deceive us into doing evil deeds and trading our eternity with Christ for the lake of fire. 

Since I was a child, I had always been drawn to the darkness. Vampires, horror movies, gothic lifestyles, and anything spooky or Halloween. I had space dedicated to one of the above in my home. Cutesy figurines of demons & ghosts, endless novels on the subject and even gothic bakeware. Along with other charms, including depictions of Egyptian gods and symbols of their worship, and dream catchers. After decades of this mindless obsession, God finally got through to me: I suddenly realized how these things were worshiping the dark and in no way bringing glory to our God. 

But these objects and symbols came to me so earnestly, so smoothly, that before I could even realize it, I was numb to the realizations of what they represented. It was the soft and cuddly witchcraft in the children's movies I watched growing up. It was the mainstream tv shows at 13 that showed a softer side to demons that made me sympathize. It was at church when I was 15 that watered down the affiliations to the secular world, where I was introduced to a gothic lifestyle that all but swallowed me up; that same path led one of my dear friends from that era deeply into satanism today. 

1 Peter 5:8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

These same types of shows my generation watched growing up have now been made into darker horror that even in my prime of loving all things related to dark, they scared me for their realistic depictions of outward satanic worship. I see now, God was starting to work on my heart and my conscience was telling me, something is wrong with this. But I didn’t want to believe the things I’d been doing wholeheartedly for my lifetime- downright celebrating all things “spooky” and evil- was wrong.

It didn't turn wrong overnight, though. Society used to collectively look down on what they used to perceive as occult until it subtly grew more and more into our daily lives. Tarot. Astrology. Spell casting. Spiritualism. New Age. Crystals. Wicca. You couldn't cast a yo-yo today in any popular retail chain without hitting something to do with one of these topics.

Deuteronomy 18:9 When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. 10 Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, 11 or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. 12 Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord; because of these same detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you. 13 You must be blameless before the Lord your God.

I don't believe Christians should partake in Halloween. And this is an opinion that has caused me outright to lose friendships and ruffled the feathers of those left behind. It’s no secret that Christianity is increasingly viewed as a defunct mindset. It’s shunned, looked down upon as if something is wrong with that person. Modern society will have you believe that it is incorrect to live such a way, and at every turn is pushing witchcraft, new age, tarot, astrology and “spiritualism” that is nothing more than the belief you can find answers within yourself. 

Another big thing that personally ensnared me for years was the Law of Attraction which is an occult view that if you focus on something long enough- wealth, wants, desires of this world- the universe will deliver. Left and right, people have sought answers for God’s miraculous gifts of life in earthly, worldly explanations. This universe that some believe delivers- is rampant with a darker power who does nothing but trick and deceive. 

Ephesians 6:11 “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.”

As Christians, are called to love one another. We are not to judge, cheat, lie or steal. We are to be beacons of hope for Christ, being fruitful and sharing his gospel of forgiveness with all. But that doesn’t mean we get a free pass to partake in sinful acts. Christianity has long been watered down to appeal to all types, but in the process, it has started to condone certain sin. As a whole, the church doesn't make waves or bold statements condemning the uprise of massive cults and man-made super religions. A top religion in the world even changed the Ten Commandments. It also stands behind Halloween celebrations, turning them into cutely themed Harvest Parties.

So now we must ask ourselves: Is Halloween such an act of sin? Whom does it bring glory to?

3 John 1:11 Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God.

I do not wish to come off as righteous- in fact, the opposite. I am a terrible sinner who is accepting Jesus’ gift of forgiveness. I was worshiping evil in my home for decades and I didn’t even realize it. I am praying for grace and for these acts, for I embraced something I should have shunned and would like to help others in the same situation. 

And if others choose to still partake in these things, we cannot judge them as we are not the judge. But we can and will continue to pray that God shows us all the way.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.