THE RISE OF PAGANISM

 

 

Mystery Babylon and The rise of modern paganism

By Don Koenig

The Bible says that in the last days there will be a falling away from the true faith to doctrines of demons. The book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ tells us that in the end time a woman riding a Beast will appear (this pagan god riding a beast of burden is today displayed all over Europe as one of the symbols for the European Union). The woman on the Beast in Revelation is Mystery Babylon. The Beast according to Daniel and Revelation will come out of the area of the Roman empire. It will be the last Gentile world empire before the return of Christ. The woman on the Beast is described as a harlot, she is the world religious system led from Rome. She is identified as a harlot because she retains the name of God but has been infiltrated by pagan Babylonian doctrines of demons. She rides on the back of the last Gentile world empire but the Beast that will arise in the last days will hate her and devour her.

As a foreshadow Hitler used the Roman Church to get into power but documents now tell us that after the Jews were killed, Christians were to be next. In the same way, the world leader that will rise in Europe will get guidance and direction from the Vatican. (She will control all world religion in the end time.) However, in the end, the world leader (Antichrist) will claim to be above anything called God and seek to kill all those who will not worship him as God. When Satan indwells the Antichrist he will throw off anything identified with Christianity and Judaism, and paganism will rise to power in the world.

Many wonder how satanic religion could come to power in this day and age. We think we are too sophisticated to worship demons, practice witchcraft or be in the occult. However, if you examine the beliefs of world religions and the "new age/new spirituality" movement you will see that the demonic deceptions of neo-paganism and eastern philosophies have already infiltrated the whole world and most of what is called Christianity.

Some say paganism is not satanic since most pagans claim they do not worship Satan. However, adoration of any god or goddess outside of the true God of the Bible is idolatry and is satanically inspired. The belief that spiritual power can come to an individual outside of the God of creation through self-effort, by forces in nature, or from spirits separated from the biblical God, descends from the mystery religion of Babylonian paganism. In the final analysis, they all worship what is created instead of the Creator.

All world religious beliefs not founded on the absolute truths of the Bible have descended from Mystery Babylon and can therefore be described as religions from Babylonian paganism. Those who claim they are not pagans because they are not witches do not understand this common root and source of all polytheistic and pantheistic beliefs. The Bible says there is nothing new under the sun. There is nothing new in witchcraft, "New Age/New Spirituality" or in eastern polytheistic religions because they all came from the same root source. All these beliefs originated from Babylonian mystery religion that goes back to the rebellion against God at the tower of Babel over 4,000 years ago.

The "New Age/New Spirituality Movement" is a loose collection of many things that have pagan roots. This modern pagan movement is nothing more than ancient paganism put in a new package. The polytheistic religious of the East and those in "New Age/New Spirituality" beliefs and witchcraft all have a common root source in ancient Babylon and they share the common polytheist and/or pantheist beliefs of the mystery religion that began at Babylon.

Most "New Age" leaders have now rejected the term "New Age" they call themselves part of the "New Spirituality" movement. However, be assured, no matter how much they like to deny being "New Age", this "New Spirituality Movement" contains the same beliefs of "New Age" doctrine and Babylonian paganism. It just has a refined title. The "new spirituality movement" is a more refined pagan movement for those who rejected certain silly practices that were identified with the "New Age" movement. This "New Spirituality" concept or movement is the latest effort to make polytheistic and pantheistic beliefs acceptable to the mainstream public.

There are a few core beliefs that unites all the various forms of modern paganism but there are many common themes.

The "New Age" or "New Spirituality" movement in a nutshell:

• We are all powerful spirit beings
• We pre-existed before our present lives on earth
• Reincarnation
• Pantheism
• Worship of the creation rather than the Creator
• The human species will evolve into its Christ consciousness or God state
• God is a force, everyone and everything is part of this creative force
• Because God is in everything, collective thoughts create reality
• The mother earth is part of the force and she is a living entity
• If human abuse of mother earth continues she will have to defend herself with severe natural upheavals
• We must reduce our population and eliminate all the negative thinking people (Monotheistic fundamentalism) by education or removal
• Some in the "New Age" believe that our parent species are alien life forms. They say these aliens planted us here sometime in the past and that they are due to return. This belief will set the world up for the great deception

 Some popular doctrines of demons, mystical practices, "New Age" or "New Spirituality" names, and themes: (many are in churches)

• Getting in touch with your inner self
• Inner healing
• Signs and wonder ministries
• The course in miracles
• Contact with ascended masters
• Contact with aliens
• Soul travel
• Out of body experiences
• Near death experiences
• Spirit Guides
• Yoga
• Positive confession
• Possibility thinking
• Your words have power, so you can speak things into existence
• Imaging
• Evolution
• Visions from Mary
• Apparitions related to Mary
• Crying statues
• Slaying in the Spirit
• Laughing, barking and other strange out of control behavior claimed to have come by the power of the Spirit
• Schools claiming to be Christian that teach one how to become a prophet
• Witchcraft
• Shamanism
• Altered states of consciousness
• Hypnotism
• Collective consciousness
• Tolerance for forbidden practices
• Reaching Christ consciousness
• Sweat lodges
• The lord Maitreya
• The Krishna
• Maitreya Buddha
• Imam Mahdi
• Dalai Lama
• The power of positive thinking
• Gaia
• The reincarnation of Christ in another body
• There are many paths to God/all religion leads to God
• Unity
• Mormons
• Masons
• Scientology
• Zen Buddhism
• We are about to evolve to a higher life form
• Animal rights and elevation of other species to the level of human beings
• Alternative lifestyles
• Rejection of Judo Christian morality and beliefs
• There are no moral absolutes
• Vegetarianism, health food, organic food products (as a higher life style)
• Holistic healing, alternative medicine (taken to mystical extremes)
• Psychics, remote viewers, channelers, astrologers, fortune tellers
• Team concepts (to replace individualism)
• Personality typing or profiling
• Diversity training
• Correct thinking people/right thinking people
• The basic goodness of man
• Personal gurus
• Self improvement seminars
• Outcome based education
• It takes a village
• You can be anything you want to be
• Abortion, birth control, family planning, the right to choose
• Alien encounters
• Harry Potter books and movies
• Psycho therapy
• Reincarnation
• Dominionism
• Word of Faith
• Latter Rain movement
• New apostolic reformation
• Joel’s Army
• Manifest Sons of God
• Replacement Theology
• Supersession Theology
• The force
• Wizards
• Edgar Casey
• Pyramid power
• Crystal power
• New Spirituality
• Kabbalah (also Qabalah, Cabala, Qaballah, Qabala, Kaballah)
• "The Secret"
• Alternate lifestyles
• Communism disguised as social justice
• All paths lead to God
• Contemplative prayer
• Centering prayer
• Spiritual Reformation
• Emergent church or Vintage Christianity (some concepts)

Many Christians identify with a few of the bullets listed above and a few of them may not necessarily be demonic. However, it certainly is demonic if it conflicts with the absolute truths of biblical Christianity. "New Age" or "New Spirituality" beliefs have infiltrated the liberal main line Protestant churches. Some "New Age" beliefs have even infiltrated many Evangelical and Pentecostal churches. (For example - so called ongoing movements of the spirit such as the laughing movement, the anointing of God is on me/slain in the spirit movement, the speak it into existence "Word of faith" clones, and the traveling circus healing gurus can hardly be distinguished from methods and practices used in the occult "New Age"/"New Spirituality" movement)

Now some of the leadership of the purpose driven seeker friendly church growth movement are pushing paraphrases of the Bible that have "New Age" terms (i.e. "The Message") and teaching in popular books that God is in everything and everyone (pantheism). They also teach psycho therapy from theories of psychology as truth.

The largest Protestant denominations have large numbers of their membership and leadership in the occult organization known as the Masons (whether the individual member actually is aware of its occult roots, teachings and practices or not).

The latest movement among the young that still identify with Christianity is the Emerging church movement. It has incorporated Eastern pagan altered state techniques and mysticism as a replacement for sound biblical theology.

Many Catholic practices are also pagan and parallel "New Age" theology. Most Catholics will not have any problem embracing any doctrine said to come from a Mary apparition or the so called vicar of Christ (the Pope). Unfortunately most Catholics do not embrace the scriptures as they ought and follow traditions of men instead of the word of God; They make the sacrifice of the atonement of Jesus insufficient and leave themselves wide open to demonic deception.

Just a few pagan practices in the Roman Catholic Church:

• The rituals and practices of a priesthood to intercede and rule over the laity
• A infallible vicar of Christ
• Rote prayer
• The Rosary (rote prayer to Mary for intercession)
• Scapulars
• Indulgences
• Worship of Mary (in reality this pagan demon god with child pre-existed Mary and was known in the Old Testament as the Queen of Heaven)
• Holy Rituals
• Sacraments
• Holy water
• The mission, practices, and methods of the Jesuits
• Eucharistic Christ (The bread and wine becoming the body and blood of Christ whenever conjured up by a priest)

Signs of the time

Paganism and Satan worship is the final form of religion before the second coming of Christ. Halfway through the tribulation the world rejects Judaism and Christianity. All remaining believers are told to come out of Babylon (Rev 18:4). At that point in time persecution by pagans begins in earnest against the believers of Jehovah/Jesus all over the world.

Modern paganism is on an exponential rise and is now found in all religions. It even has great influence in the forming of the new European super state. Paganism has taken over so much of our government in the US and Canada that the real God of creation cannot even be acknowledged in our schools, courts and public places. Pagan practices are now being set up, practiced and enforced at every level of society including in many of our churches.

It is obvious to the astute that there are many in high places who are pushing modern paganism as the answer to the world's problems. If you doubt the power of these modern pagan idealists look at what has happened in Europe. There are now 28 nation states in the EU. This is not the final configuration but a new Roman Empire will reemerge in some form under a central government and a single constitution. Many who said Europe would arise as a world power were laughed at just a couple of decades ago. Now look a decade or two in the future and honestly tell me that a world government will not be implemented by these same brand of idealists. After all, The EU is just a pilot project or working model of the one world pagan socialist utopia that they envision.

We are seeing what the prophets said would happen in the last days. It would be foolish to think that we are not living in the times that were written about when we can actually see political and religious leaders dancing to the end time script of evil puppet masters. Political and religious Mystery Babylon is ascending to the center stage and it is happening in this prophetic generation.

 

The Pagan Revival

PART I

Who Are Pagans? The History and Beliefs of Paganism

Pagans are generally described as those holding religious beliefs other than those of the main world religions. Learn the origin, history, and traditions of paganism as we explore what pagans believe and practice today.

• Christianity.com Editorial Staff
• 2019 23 Sep

So who are pagans? Learn about the origin, history, and traditions of paganism as we explore what pagans believe and practice today.

Pagan Definition

Pagan; Paganism: "a person holding religious beliefs other than those of the main world religions; a religion other than one of the main world religions, specifically a non-Christian or pre-Christian religion."

According to Merriam-Webster, the term “Pagan” comes from the Late Latin word paganus, which was used at the end of the Roman Empire to identify those who practiced a religion other than Christianity, Judaism, or Islam. Early Christians often used the term to refer to non-Christians who worshiped multiple deities. In Latin, paganus originally meant “country dweller” or “civilian;” it is believed that the word’s religious meaning developed either from the enduring non-Christian religious practices of those who lived far from the Roman cities where Christianity was more quickly adopted, or from the fact that early Christians referred to themselves as “soldiers of Christ,” making nonbelievers “civilians.” 

Origin and History of Paganism

According to patheos.com, Paganism represents a wide variety of traditions that emphasize reverence for nature and a revival of ancient polytheistic and animistic religious practices. Some modern forms of Paganism have their roots in 19th century C.E. European nationalism (including the British Order of Druids), but most contemporary Pagan groups trace their immediate organizational roots to the 1960s and have an emphasis on archetypal psychology and a spiritual interest in nature.

Paganism is simultaneously a prehistoric and postmodern religion-it is as ancient as the fertility symbols associated with the veneration of gods and goddesses tens of thousands of years ago, while its newest forms have emerged as recently as the mid-20th century. Broadly speaking, Paganism encompasses two key characteristics: 1) religious and spiritual practices concerning the worship of, or devotion to, the earth, the natural world, and/or the manifest physical universe; and/or 2) belief in spiritual beings: goddesses, gods, nature spirits (fairies, elves, power animals), and ancestral spirits.

Pagan Beliefs

Wikipedia.com lists the following two primary elements of pagan beliefs.

Polytheism: One principle of the Pagan movement is polytheism, the belief in and veneration of multiple gods or goddesses. Within the Pagan movement, there can be found many deities, both male and female, who have various associations and embody forces of nature, aspects of culture, and facets of human psychology. These deities are typically depicted in human form and are viewed as having human faults. They are therefore not seen as perfect, but rather are venerated as being wise and powerful. Pagans feel that this understanding of the gods reflected the dynamics of life on Earth, allowing for the expression of humor.

Animism: A key part of most Pagan worldviews is the holistic concept of a universe that is interconnected. This is connected with a belief in either pantheism or panentheism. In both beliefs, divinity and the material or spiritual universe are one. For pagans, pantheism means that "divinity is inseparable from nature and that deity is immanent in nature".

Click here to learn more about Animism: definition and examples.

Pagan Rituals

Photo from Flickr of Pagan festival

As also described on Wikipedia.com, Pagan ritual can take place in both a public and private setting. Contemporary Pagan ritual is typically geared towards "facilitating altered states of awareness or shifting mindsets." In order to induce such altered states of consciousness, pagans utilize such elements as drumming, visualization, chanting, singing, dancing, and meditation. American folklorist Sabina Magliocco came to the conclusion, based upon her ethnographic fieldwork in California that certain Pagan beliefs "arise from what they experience during religious ecstasy."

Paganism's public rituals are generally calendrical, although the pre-Christian festivals that Pagans use as a basis varied across Europe. Nevertheless, common to almost all Pagan religions is an emphasis on an agricultural cycle and respect for the dead. Common Pagan festivals include those marking the summer solstice and winter solstice as well as the start of spring and the harvest.

 PART II

2006 November-December

Douglas S. Winnail

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Everyone has heard of Harry Potter. You may even know a few Wiccans who worship "the goddess." Yet few realize that a pagan revival is extending to where you might least expect it—to churches calling themselves "Christian"!

What is the real significance of the growing interest in witchcraft, wizards and neopaganism?

A young boy, wanting to make new friends, casts a spell to become popular. A teenager, seeking peace in a troubled relationship, prays to the "mother goddess" for help. A harried businessman, hoping to escape life's pressures, retreats to the forest to connect with ancient tribal deities who promise him relief from stress.

What do these people have in common? They are participating in a growing trend—the revival of pagan belief and practice—which is on the rise not only in North America, but also in the United Kingdom, Western Europe, Australia and other "Westernized" nations where this would have been unthinkable just decades ago. Disenchanted with the emptiness of materialistic society, millions of seekers are looking to non-Christian and non-traditional religions for answers to fundamental questions: What is the purpose of life? Who or what is God? What happens after death?

Countless millions no longer consider biblical religion an option. Many "are no longer seeking solace for their souls in the arms of Christianity… today's most popular forms of spirituality are those associated with the occult, neopaganism and witchcraft" (Fantasy and Your Family, Abanes, pp. 108–109). Ironically, the Bible itself predicted long ago this modern "revival" of paganism—and warned of its shocking future consequences. We need to understand the significance of this trend, and where it is leading!

Dimensions of the Revival

Practically everyone is familiar with the "Harry Potter" series of books, describing the spell-casting adventures of young people in a British boarding school for witches and wizards. Author J. K. Rowling's books are merely the most visible of the recent books, movies and television programs popularizing witchcraft and "Wicca." Although many parents and teachers praise the "Potter" books for encouraging a surge of interest in reading among schoolchildren, evidence suggests that quite a few young readers are interested in more than just reading. In fact, countless young Potter fans "are becoming interested in learning how to cast spells and do real witchcraft, just like their hero… Wicca devotees and other occult practitioners… are hailing the Harry Potter series as a prime recruitment tool" (Abanes, xi). One neopagan Web site happily proclaims, "It is good to see that the best selling series of books in the world is such a positive tale about witches and wizards" (ibid., p. 133). Commentators also note that witchcraft is "the fastest growing religion in America" and that "as many as 10 million book buyers in America regularly purchase neopagan literature" (ibid., p. 117).

In the last several decades, Wicca and neopaganism have gained surprising influence in nominally "Christian" churches, where one might not normally expect to find workshops on astrology, tarot card reading, channeling and goddess worship. "Some witches and neopagans are now senior pastors of large denominational churches. It is an event unprecedented in the history of Christendom" (Abanes, p. 265). Wicca and neopaganism is also surging in popularity on some college campuses, even those associated with "Christian" denominations. One professor, a self-proclaimed lesbian feminist witch, "is spearheading a campaign to turn Christianity into nothing less than a neopagan, goddess-worshipping religion" (ibid., p. 269).

The United States, though founded by individuals who were inspired by a biblical worldview, has been drifting toward paganism for some time. Several decades ago, noted Jewish author Don Feder wrote that America "is no longer a Christian (or Judeo-Christian) nation… animated by the ethical vision of the Bible, with its special emphasis on honesty, hard work, caring and self discipline. Instead we are evolving the type of Canaanite culture (unrestrained hedonism, ritual prostitution, child sacrifice and the civic virtue of Sodom) that my ancestors encountered at the dawn of moral history… A nation will have one God or many. Ours is increasingly polytheistic… The gods of late twentieth century America include the doctrines of radical autonomy, of absolute rights divorced from responsibilities, of gender sameness, of self-expression which acknowledges no higher purpose, of moral relativism and sexual indulgence" (A Jewish Conservative Looks at Pagan America, pp. 10–11). Noting that "ideas have consequences" (ibid., p. 12), Feder observed that the burgeoning interest in witchcraft, the occult and neopaganism is directly related to political, philosophical and moral trends—from radical feminism to unrestrained hedonism—which have challenged traditional American values.

The story is similar in the United Kingdom, where "Wicca has become the fastest growing religion in the UK" (Abanes, p. 159). Paganism is even on the rise at Scotland's oldest university, the University of St. Andrews, founded in 1413 and long considered a key center of Scottish religion. University officials there recently agreed to give the St. Andrews Pagan Society equal access to college buildings and granted the society permission to hold its rites on campus, in spite of protests that this was "another example of the whole human rights and equal opportunities agenda gone mad" (The Times, June 14, 2006).

News reports recently featured a British Unitarian vicar who "moonlights" in his spare time as a Druid, and celebrates ancient pagan festivals. Web sites across the U.K. advertise a full calendar of witchcraft festivals in England, Scotland and Wales, as the pagan revival spreads across Britain, just as it continues to spread in other countries.

Reasons for the Revival

Several key factors are fueling the revival of paganism. In an attempt to cope with a world full of pressures and problems, more and more people are escaping into the fantasy world created by our modern entertainment-driven society. Television programs featuring clever and attractive witches glamorize witchcraft, and the phenomenally successful Harry Potter novels and films continue to fuel the growing interest in witchcraft and the occult.

These entertainment fads have coincided with significant social trends that have altered the intellectual and spiritual landscape of our modern era. Particularly since the 1960s, radical social reformers have preached a gospel of "do your own thing"—satisfy your senses in whatever way you wish, as long as it feels good and seems right to you. This approach fits well with the basic tenet of Wicca that recognizes no absolutes—no fixed right or wrong—and insists there is no unchanging standard of good or evil (Abanes, pp. 113, 142). Popular interest in witchcraft, and the emerging worship of a "mother goddess," can be seen as "the next logical step after feminism" (ibid., p. 130). Just as the feminist movement challenged a male-dominated society, the increased visibility of witches and the worship of a mother goddess are a direct challenge to what some perceive as male-dominated religion oriented toward "God the Father."

In an era when so many are recognizing the moral and intellectual bankruptcy of modern materialism, the "mainstream" religions are no longer popular destinations for those seeking spiritual fulfillment. Instead, dissatisfied seekers are turning to paganism and the occult. Mainstream churches have seen a mass exodus of millions in recent decades (Abanes, p. 108). In our world where so many feel themselves powerless to influence events around them, some turn to witchcraft and spell-casting in an effort to gain control over their lives and the lives of others. Alienated people, feeling disconnected from modern society, are turning to neopaganism to "get in tune" with the spirit of the universe (ibid., p. 130).

The modern pagan revival is a widespread and shocking phenomenon. But it pales into insignificance when compared to the many other pagan customs that have spread around the world—and into the world's religions—where they are accepted by nearly everyone!

Relics of Paganism

Although it is easy to look with concern at the dangers of witchcraft and the folly of pagan nature worship, many find it harder to look at their own religious traditions. Few today seem to understand—or care—that pagan rites and festivals are at the root of many traditional holidays in the Western world. Billions of professing Christians look to Easter as the most important festival of the year. Yet non-Christian literature also reveres Easter as "the most important lunar-derived festival of the pagan year" because it commemorates the "spring celebration of the goddess Eostre or Ostara" at the time of the Spring equinox when the hours of daylight begin to exceed the hours of darkness (The Pagan Book of Days, Pennick, p. 11).

By doing a little research, you can discover that "Ostera is a pagan German goddess… of fertility and rebirth" and that "to reveal the origins of the Christian celebration of Easter, we need look no farther than Ostera's image"—which is associated with eggs and rabbits, symbolizing fertility and rebirth (Celebrate the Earth: A Year of Holidays in the Pagan Tradition, Cabot, p. 113). Other sources remind us that "the word 'Easter' is not a Christian expression… the word comes from the name of a Pagan Goddess—the goddess of Spring. Easter is but a more modern form of Ishtar… another name for Semiramis of Babylon" (Babylon Mystery Religion, p. 152).

In Protestant countries, few seem to realize that "Halloween parties are a modern expression of the pagan festival of the remembrance of death and the departed" (Pennick, p. 19). The Festival of the Dead—called Samhain—falls on November 1, marking the beginning of winter and a time when pagans feel they can communicate with spirits of the dead. In Roman Catholic countries, these pagan festivals live on under new names. November 1 has become an "All Saints Day" that celebrates departed saints, and November 2 has become an "All Souls Day" that remembers souls not yet elevated to sainthood (ibid., p. 18).

Christmas has been described as "a wonderful amalgam of religious traditions, ancient and modern, Pagan, Zoroastrian, Jewish, Mithraic, and Christian" (Pennick, p. 133). Though its December 25 date is supposed to celebrate Christ's birth, neither the date nor the customs surrounding it have anything to do with Jesus Christ or biblical religion. Rather, the festivities of the Christmas season "represent the old paganism which Christianity failed to extinguish" (Christmas Customs and Traditions, Miles, p. 161). December 25 is the approximate time of the winter solstice (the shortest day of the year), and has long been sacred in pagan religions. "In the Roman tradition it was the festival of Sol Invictus, the Undefeated Sun" and in ancient Egypt the "sky goddess Nut was said to give birth to the sun at the winter solstice" (Pennick, p. 20). The Christmas customs of merry-making and gift-giving come from the pagan Roman festival of Saturnalia, with its greeting of "Bona Saturnalia," and also from the Roman new year festival of Kalends on January 1, which was associated with riotous behavior (Pennick, p. 139).

Considering all this, you might then ask, "How and when did professing Christians come to observe December 25 as the birth of Jesus Christ?"

Historians acknowledge that the earliest December 25 celebration of Christ's birth "took place at Rome about the middle of the fourth century… The first mention of a Nativity feast on December 25 is found in a Roman document known as the Philocalian Calendar, dating from the year 354 [ad]… From Rome, Christmas spread throughout the West, with the conversion of the barbarians" (Miles, pp. 20–21). The Bible, of course, does not mention the date of Jesus' birth. "The real reason for the choice of the day [December 25] most probably was, that upon it fell the pagan festival" that celebrated the rebirth of the sun (ibid., p. 23).

Hoping to encourage pagans to embrace the Roman Catholic faith, clerics sought to adapt pagan customs into their religion by giving them new names. Pope Gregory I, writing in 601ad, urged Augustine of Canterbury to allow the pagan Anglo-Saxons to retain the outward forms of their old festivals, but to practice them with a new meaning (Miles, p. 179). As one author concludes, reflecting on the Pope's letter, "We see here very plainly the mind of the ecclesiastical compromiser" (ibid.).

The evidence of history indicates that the early Roman Church adopted and adapted popular pagan practices in an effort to spread the "Christian" faith, through "the clothing of heathen customs in a superficial Christianity" (ibid., p. 19). Historian Will Durant acknowledged this plainly when he wrote, "Christianity did not destroy paganism; it adopted it… the Greek mysteries passed down into the impressive mystery of the Mass. Other pagan cultures contributed to the syncretist result. From Egypt came the idea of the Trinity… the adoration of the Mother and Child, and the mystic theosophy that made Neoplatonism and Gnosticism and obscured the Christian creed… From Phrygia came the worship of the Great Mother… Christianity was the last great creation of the ancient pagan world" (Caesar and Christ, p. 595).

Warnings and Dangers

But what does God say about these human efforts to adapt and incorporate pagan customs into Christianity? What does Scripture clearly reveal about dabbling in witchcraft and neopagan practices? The Bible records that when the ancient Israelites left Egypt, and were about to enter the Promised Land, God warned, "do not inquire after their gods, saying, 'How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise.' You shall not worship the Lord your God in that way; for every abomination to the Lord which He hates they have done… Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it" (Deuteronomy 12:29–32).

Scripture also records God's command: "When you come into the land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone… who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord" (Deuteronomy 18:9–14). The Bible clearly forbids dabbling in witchcraft and the occult and idolatry, but the Israelites ignored these instructions. Israel incurred God's wrath because its people "practiced witchcraft and soothsaying, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger" (2 Kings 17:17).

Some will dismiss these warnings, saying that these events happened long ago and are not relevant today. Besides, how can witchcraft be evil when "do no harm" is the motto of witches today, and modern mediums show compassion by helping people receive messages from their deceased relatives? And if an ancient pagan festival puts us in touch with the seasons and cycles of nature, what is the harm?

However, the Bible condemns these practices for specific and sound reasons. Books, films and television shows about witches and wizards awaken curiosity and stimulate interest in the occult. The growing acceptance of paganism and witchcraft blinds and desensitizes people to the evils and dangers of making contact with the spirit world. Passively absorbing the Wiccan philosophy that there are no absolutes is to embrace a dangerous deception. To chant and pray to a mother goddess is simply idolatry—which God views as a serious transgression (see 1 Samuel 15:23; 1 Corinthians 6:9; Galatians 5:19–21; Revelation 21:8). To continue to practice ancient pagan customs under a different "Christian" name is to perpetuate practices that were used to honor pagan gods. When these practices replace festivals that God commanded to be observed forever (see Leviticus 23), people lose sight of the real God and become ignorant of His plan and purpose for human life!

This is why God warned His people through His prophets, "Learn not the way of the heathen" (Jeremiah 10:2, KJV). In light of the revival of paganism, and the growing popularity and acceptance of witchcraft—especially among the young in modern nations descended from ancient Israel—it is important that we listen to the prophetic admonitions in Scripture. Long ago, God warned His chosen people, that "evil will befall you in the latter days, because you will do evil in the sight of the Lord" (Deuteronomy 31:29). God foresaw a time in the future when His people would "deal treacherously" with Him "for they have begotten pagan children" (Hosea 5:7). A modern biblical scholar comments that this passage indicates "a generation has grown up to whom God is a stranger"—which is an accurate description of our modern age (Eerdman's Bible Handbook, p. 439).

The prophet Jeremiah warns, in a prophecy relevant today, that "because your fathers have forsaken Me" and have "walked after other gods" and "each one follows the dictates of his own evil heart, so that no one listens to Me," God will bring a "great disaster against us" (Jeremiah 16:10–13). The Bible indicates that because of our willingness to forsake His instructions and laws and dabble in witchcraft, the occult and pagan idolatry, the modern descendants of ancient Israel will suffer severe consequences (see Jeremiah 9:12–16; Hosea 8, 9, 10). The current revival of paganism is significant, because it is symptomatic of an end-time condition that will bring punishment from God before it is brought to an end at the return of Jesus Christ. We all need to heed these prophetic and timely warnings—and avoid being drawn into this pagan revival!

 

 

February/March 1999 Herb Hirt

 https://israelmyglory.org/article/early-christians-in-a-pagan-world/

Early Christians in A Pagan World

Recently, my daily newspaper began a weekend feature page on religious events in the community, including an interfaith calendar detailing the religious holidays for the coming week for the various faiths. The faiths represented on the calendar include the monotheistic religions—Christianity, Judaism, and Islam—as well as eastern religions—Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikh, and Baha’i. But it also refers to a religion as “Earth based,” which worships on certain days at certain times of the year following a celestial calendar, as well as on other special days. “Earth based” is a generic modern term for what we traditionally have called “paganism”—religions that worship the creation and the forces in it. While paganism was repressed for many centuries in Christian societies, it is now back as a protected religion in our pluralistic religious world. How do we, as Christians, deal with pagans and paganism? The answer is found in the pages of the New Testament, where the early Christians lived in the midst of a pagan world. This article examines a few instances from the New Testament and first century history to see how Christians approached and battled paganism in the Roman Empire.

Paul’s Experiences with Paganism
Early Christians and Jews shared a belief in the one true God, as opposed to Roman paganism. Therefore, in the first few decades of the church, Christianity was considered a sect of Judaism because, like the Jews, they were monotheists. In this regard, Christian missionaries first had to proclaim to the pagan world the concept of monotheism before they could proceed to the gospel. This is clearly seen in Paul’s missionary preaching to pagan audiences. When Paul and Barnabas visited Lystra, a pagan town (Acts 14:8–18), Paul healed a cripple. The people then began to worship him and Barnabas as the incarnations of the Greek gods Hermes and Zeus and wanted to offer sacrifices to them. Paul declared that he and Barnabas were not gods and that the people should worship the one true God. He explained that God had been providing the rains and seasons all these years, yet they had falsely attributed them to their pagan gods and worshiped them. Paul proclaimed that there is one true God who is apart from creation and to whom all people are responsible which is essentially the Judeo Christian world view—and that He was willing to forgive them of their past ignorance.

On Paul’s second journey, he went to Athens, the Greek philosophical center, where he encountered intellectual pagans (Acts 17:16–34). Paul was grieved because he saw that the city was full of idols. After teaching in the marketplace, he was given the opportunity to explain his teaching before the Areopagus, the council that determined who could teach in Athens. Paul preached a marvelous sermon, even quoting pagan writers, to move the Athenians from their view of god (Zeus) to a knowledge of the one true God. In conclusion, Paul spoke of the judgment of the world by one who was raised from the dead, and at this point his audience scoffed. The idea of the resurrection caused a stir because Greek philosophical thinking was dualistic; it taught that the spirit world was better than the physical world. In dualistic thinking, why would anyone want to be resurrected? This is counter to the Judeo Christian belief that the physical world was created good, and that God intends believers to live forever in real bodies (albeit glorified). As a result of this philosophical skepticism, there were few converts in Athens.

During Paul’s third missionary journey, he spent two years teaching in Ephesus (Acts 19:8–41). Ephesus was a pagan city centered around the worship of Diana (or Artemis), the earth goddess, whose temple was considered one of the seven wonders of the world. After hearing the gospel, those saved out of the occult burned their magic books (which would be valued today at about $5,000,000). This turning from pagan worship hurt the Ephesian economy so much that the silversmiths, who would have made the idols and tools of pagan worship, staged a riot against Paul and the Christians.

A number of lessons can be learned from these accounts. First, the preaching of essential truths of the Judeo-Christian worldview is the basis for pagans to receive the gospel. Second, in battling paganism, the Lord is able to save those who are bound in Satan’s grip through the power of the gospel. Many pagans are bound to Satan by fear and lies. They need to hear the truth and experience God’s liberating power. Third, when people are converted out of paganism in great numbers, we should expect opposition to arise from society because of financial loss, not because of the issue of truth.

Christianity in the Late First and Early Second Centuries
The first persecution of Christians by Rome occurred during the reign of Nero (54–68 A.D.). To divert suspicions that he had a fire started to destroy a district in Rome where he wanted to build, Nero blamed “a class hated for their abominations,” the Christians (Tacitus, Annuls, xv.44). The Romans had believed much misinformation about Christians. The Roman public considered the Christians’ worship of the unseen God as atheism, and the Lord’s Supper (the Love Feast) was thought to consist of cannibalism and sexual orgies. The Romans also considered Christians anti-social because they stopped participating in community pagan feasts and attending the theater, where sacrifices were made to the gods. Many Christians died during Nero’s persecution, including Peter and Paul. It did, however, give believers an opportunity to testify concerning their faith. Tacitus wrote that Nero’s cruelty led to a feeling of pity for Christians because the Romans viewed this persecution as more Nero’s personal vendetta than anything the Christians had done wrong. As a result of Nero’s persecution, Christianity was recognized as a religion distinct from Judaism, although still a sect of Judaism. Unlike Judaism, however, Christianity was considered a cult and was not sanctioned by the empire.

While even Augustus Caesar was called “The Son of God” by some in his empire, Augustus and the other sane emperors in the first century did not directly claim divinity for themselves. Rome still considered itself to be the remnant of a Republic and did not want to be ruled by a tyrant. This did not preclude Emperor Domition (81–96 A.D.), however, from referring to himself as “Lord God” and demanding veneration. While his subjects grudgingly complied, Jews and Christians could not comply. Domition taxed the Jews harshly, and Christians, when found, were exiled or executed. It is probable the Apostle John was exiled to the island of Patmos during this time (Rev. 1:9). Eventually, Domition’s own political rivals assassinated him.

A more revealing picture of the attitude of the Roman Empire toward Christianity during this time is found in letters of Pliny the Younger, the Proconsul of Bithynia and Pontus (111–112 A.D.), to Emperor Trajan concerning the judiciary aspects of handling Christians and the emperor’s response. Pliny asked for advice concerning lists of supposed Christians being given to the authorities so that those named might be arrested. Pliny first detailed how he was presently handling the situation and then asked for Trajan’s opinion. Pliny’s practice was to ask people so charged whether or not they were Christians. If they replied in the affirmative, after the threat of capital punishment, they were sentenced to death, unless they were Roman citizens, in which case they were sent to Rome for trial. This affirms that simply being a Christian was understood as an offense to the empire and was a crime worthy of death.

Pliny went on to describe how he dealt with those who were named as Christians and then recanted their faith. The test of Christianity was not only to worship the emperor, but to curse Christ. Pliny wrote, “All who denied that they were or had been Christians I considered should be discharged, because they called upon the gods at my dictation and did reverence, with incense and wine, to your image which I had ordered to be brought forward for this purpose, together with the statues of the deities; and especially because they cursed Christ, a thing which, it is said, genuine Christians cannot be induced to do.”

After further investigation, Pliny found that all the Christians were doing was meeting in fields together, singing hymns to Christ, and binding themselves together to do good. Even though the Christians were committing no crime, Pliny punished them for belonging to a secret society, which was outlawed. Pliny also observed that the pagan temples “which have been almost deserted” due to the influence of Christianity were beginning to be frequented again.

Trajan responded that Pliny was basically doing well because there was no “fast rule” that could be applied to Christians. He suggested that Christians were not to be hunted like criminals, but if they were found, they should be punished, unless they recanted by worshiping the gods. He also advised Pliny not to pay attention to anonymous lists of Christians because they would probably implicate many good pagans.

We learn from these letters that the Roman rulers were essentially ignorant of the practice and beliefs of Christians, other than that it was a “foreign superstition” and viewed as a secret society, which was suspect. We also learn the situation of Christians at that time. If they held fast to Christ and refused to worship the pagan gods and the emperor, they were executed for no reason other than refusal to comply with the dictates of the empire. This attitude continued largely unchanged for the next two hundred years, until a Christian named Constantine became emperor and proclaimed that Christianity would be the primary religion of the empire.

Summary
Our post-Christian, Western society appears to be headed toward a pagan religious outlook—if we are not there already. Many pagan groups are claiming that the world needs to return to the pagan religious worldview that was present before Christianity, and then the “New Age” of spiritual enlightenment will come. This refers to paganism as practiced in the Roman Empire. It does not mean that everyone has to be pagan but that there are many equally valid ways to come to God, and people can worship as they want. Just as in the first century, Christians today and in the future will not incur the wrath of society simply by worshiping Jesus, but by proclaiming that He is the only God and the only way of salvation and refusing to be part of the general pagan culture. In this way, Christians will have to again learn to be anti-social—not in the sense of hating pagans, but in the sense of being committed to worshiping the only true God, no matter what the cost. The Book of the Revelation pictures a time during the Tribulation when the entire world will come under a Roman-type empire in which the emperor will demand that everyone worship him as God. As a result, many saints will be killed for refusing to bow the knee to anyone but the one true God, just as in John’s day.

So how do we, as Christians, react to paganism in our society? First, we must clearly understand the teaching of Scripture so that we are not led astray or do not mix any aspects of paganism with our faith. This does not mean that Christians should avoid contact with pagans for, as Paul said, then we would have to leave the world (1 Cor. 5:10). The challenge for believers is to be in the world but not of it (John 17:14–17). Second, we must, in love, proclaim the gospel—which is the power of God for salvation—to free those trapped in bondage to Satan. Paganism shows no love or grace, and pagans will not experience these godly characteristics unless they come in contact with believers who exhibit them. Third, Christians must be willing to suffer for their faith. As our world becomes more pagan, true believers will be marginalized and out of step with society. While this may seem like a negative development, we should not forget that it was in the context of a pagan society that Christians in the first century, through the power of the Holy Spirit, evangelized the entire Roman Empire within two generations. Jesus said, “I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Mt. 16:18).

Herb Hirt (1954 - 2012) was former Dean of the School of Biblical Studies at Philadelphia Biblical University (now Cairn University).