By Gavin Boyle
A study from Pew revealed that 30% of American adults engage in an occultist practice at least once per year, and many believe these practices provide significant insight into their lives.
“New Age practices are becoming a normal phenomenon,” pastor Mike Signorelli told the “Playing With Fire” podcast about the rise of occultism in America. “Even secular companies are provoking people to step into the spiritual realm or to believe in the supernatural in a way that, it’s like we’re moving past atheism.”
The Pew study has highlighted just how true this is as 30% of Americans consult an occult practice, such as a horoscope, tarot cards or a fortune teller at least once per year. While these practices are most common among people who are a part of the LGBTQ movement — with 54% of them engaging in a practice every year — Christians are just as susceptible to the practice as well, with 27% of religiously affiliated adults engaging in these practices yearly.
While the study also found that most people who dabble with the occult do so for fun — with only 10% believing in the practices and only 1% placing a major weight on what these practices reveal — those who do engage in the occult open themselves up to a very dangerous world.
During the pandemic, witchcraft and new age beliefs blew up on social media as those who practiced the occult promised control during a time when uncertainty reigned. While this introduced millions of people to the dangers of the demon world, leading many astray, it also provided a platform to many people who had found freedom from this lifestyle through Christ. During this time, dozens of former practitioners took to social media to warn others not to believe the lies and shared just how harmful practicing the occult can be.
“When you’re dealing with demons, at some point or the other, there’s gonna be massive destruction,” said psychic-turned-Christian Jenn Nizza. “I was demonically oppressed to the nines. I was afraid to take a shower, I was afraid to be alone, I felt presences with me all of the time.”
“Jesus… showed up. He is real. He is the son of God,” Nizza later added, explaining how turning to Christ saved her from demonic oppression. “He saved my life physically and eternally, and I [am] filled with the Holy Spirit, filled with joy.”
Even in times of chaos, Christians can take heart knowing that the Lord is in control, rather than trying to take control themselves. As our society has become more comfortable with occult practices, Christians need to be on guard to not let them infiltrate their lives and turn them from the Lord. Movieguide®’s founder Dr. Ted Baehr teaches that Christians need to discern if the content they are consuming has a Christian worldview to know if they need to protect their hearts and mind:
Developing discernment runs parallel to developing a Christian worldview. Christian interpretation of philosophies and behavior is radically different from the viewpoints of non-Christians. Any philosophy other than that which emanates from the Bible is suspect and often should be refuted, not reconciled with Christianity.
Any occult practice is abhorrent in the eyes of the Lord. Christians need to flee from these practices and help others turn from them as well. The occult is real, but it only promises a shadow of the life that Christ gives His followers.
Read Next: Jeannie Ortega: Overcoming the Occult and Finding Faith
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