Articles
Superstition and False Anxiety - 2
Curses (hexes, jinxes, spells, bad luck); superstitions (black cats, the number “13,” a broken mirror, sidewalk cracks); other-world connections (séances, necromancy, Ouija boards; channelers); future discernment (crystal balls, palm-reading, tarot cards, astrology); spiritual visitations (ghosts, haunted houses, demon possession). These are things of curiosity, phobia, nightmares and even amusement (Halloween, Disney’s haunted house and scary movies). But are they real? Are beings from the spiritual dimension frequenting this material world in tangible ways? Are hostile, unseen forces directing our fate? Does Satan have miraculous ability to afflict and torment mankind? If the answer to these questions is “yes,” I would expect the world to be a much worse place than it is. If the answer is “no,” then what gives life and power to such notions?
There’s no question that many believe in various mystical phenomena. In the distant past, when men were ignorant of the properties of physics, mental dysfunction and other unexplainable natural phenomena, occultism was rampant. But in the Western world where science has debunked mythology and explained the physics, physiology and psychology behind what we experience in the material creation, superstitions have waned. But be advised: as post-modernism has exchanged the rational for subjective feelings and made “truth” a matter of personal preference, a resurgence in occult fiction is bound to resurface.
Consider this observation on the occult from Wikipedia: “Another feature of occultists is that … they often openly distanced themselves from Christianity, in some cases … even adopting explicitly anti-Christian stances. This reflected how pervasive the influence of secularization had been on all areas of European society. In rejecting Christianity, these occultists sometimes turned towards pre-Christian belief systems and embraced forms of Modern Paganism, while others instead took influence from the religions of Asia, such as Hinduism and Buddhism. In various cases, certain occultists did both. Another characteristic of these occultists was the emphasis that they placed on ‘the spiritual realization of the individual,’ an idea that would strongly influence the twentieth-century New Age and Human Potential Movement. This spiritual realization was encouraged both through traditional Western ‘occult sciences’ like alchemy and ceremonial magic, but by the start of the twentieth century had also begun to include practices drawn from non-Western contexts, such as yoga” (entry on the Occult).
When we consider Satan’s pre-Christian influence in the world, there was no more dominant vehicle than idolatry. Gentile nations had almost completely given themselves to idols; each culture had their own self-conceived gods complete with statues, temples, worship, sacrifices, lore and dogma. Yet notice some failures of these demonic systems to produce anything approaching true supernatural power:
Pharaoh’s magicians. When Aaron’s rod turned into a serpent, Pharoah’s magicians “did in like manner with their enchantments” (Ex 7:11). It seemed like a wash until Aaron’s serpent ate theirs. Similar actions follow (Ex 7:22; 8:7), but when the third plague fell upon Egypt – lice – “the magicians so worked with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not … Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, ‘This is the finger of God.’ But Pharaoh’s heart grew hard, and he did not heed them” (Ex 8:18-19). The sorcerers and magicians admit that they are no match for true, divine power. The most reasonable explanation is that they were able through sleight of hand to match God’s works, but God “upped the ante” until their deceptions could not keep pace with true miracles.
Baal’s prophets. If ever a case could be made for some kind of miraculous, satanic power that could be channeled by his devotees, surely it would be the great showdown on Mt. Carmel (1 Kgs 18). Satan held sway over Israel at this time through Baal and Asherah at the instigation of Jezebel. Elijah proposed a physical contest which would reveal who had true power – Jehovah or Baal (18:20-24). Why these false prophets ever agreed to this is puzzling, unless they were true believers and had bought into their own deceptions hook, line and sinker.
Baal’s prophets cried out till noon, dancing and shouting and even lacerating themselves in their frenzy to conjure a response. “But there was no voice; no one answered” (18:26). If Satan did have any supernatural ability, any miraculous power at all, surely he would have vindicated his own prophets by displaying something. What was the response? Nada, nil, zilch, zero, nothing, nobody home. Elijah taunted them: “Cry aloud, for he is a god; either he is meditating, or he is busy, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened” (18:27). Again, it appears that all Baal’s prophets had going for them was deceit.
Nebuchadnezzar’s sorcerers. When God revealed to Nebuchadnezzar the succession of future world empires and the eventual establishment of a heavenly kingdom, the king was so troubled that he demanded his council of magicians to tell him what he dreamed so that he could trust their interpretation of it (Dn 2:3-9; seems Nebuchadnezzar is already skeptical of their abilities). Under pain of death and corresponding promise of “gifts, rewards, and great honor,” the counsellors were completely stymied and forced to confess their impotence: “There is not a man on earth who can tell the king’s matter; therefore no king, lord, or ruler has ever asked such things of any magician, astrologer, or Chaldean. It is a difficult thing that the king requires, and there is no other who can tell it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh” (2:10-11).
I think this admission summarizes the issue well. The currency of the occult is the naivete, ignorance, mental weakness and superstition of those who are unguided by divine revelation. Shrewd magicians and charlatans know how to exploit desperation; they stoke fear of the unknown; they engage in pure fantasy by affirming the presence of departed human spirits. Balaam had no access to demonic power to curse Israel. Simon deceived the Samaritans for a time – until Philip came along working real miracles. The Ephesians made a bonfire out of their books of magic when they learned the gospel. We should not be vexed by voodoo or worry about witchcraft: “Rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Mt 10:28). Respect for God strips Satan of all his power over us, most deadly being our free will surrender to his temptations.
