The Preacher’s Notebook

The Paper and Electronic Pulpit of the First Baptist Church of Mineral Springs, NC
(Delivered by E-mail and Us Postage Through Subscription as an Extension of the Pulpit Ministry of this Church)
Dr. Terry W . Preslar – PO Box 388 – M ineral Springs, NC 28108
(704)843-3858 – E-Mail: preslar12@windstream.net
Copyright (C) 2008. Terry W. Preslar All rights reserved.

Vol. II October, 2008 Special Days Edition

Halloween
A Christian Position On This Popular Holiday
Introduction
To say that there is an upsurge of occult practices in our day is
an understatement. We are in the presence of a pagan flood of
information and advertisement that seems to be never ending.
Christians are soon going to be in a minority. With the increasing
number of alternate religions and secular humanism altering our
perception of spiritual matters, we are all under the attack.
The Truth is still a powerful combatant in this battle of the mind and heart. Most of the error is through
the mis-perception of some simple Truth. The Word of God can and will correct all errors of the Occult
(Heb. 4:12) This booklet is offered to inform Christian and warn the gainsayer.
The material in this booklet has been arrived at through research that can be done by most who will apply
effort. No exotic work has been done. The author does not wish to challenge anyone who holds occult ideas
but there must be a voice in this darkness for the Truth. Hope is that many will read and be informed for
good.
Five Questions That Call For An Answer
1- Is this Holiday a Christian practice...? Many churches observe it...!
2- Should I have part in this popular festival...? It’s the season...!
3- Should I allow my family to take part...? Everybody is...!
4- Are there answers to the present secular interest in Halloween...? What agenda is behind it?
5- Will GOD expect some special response from the Christian...?
Allowing children to participate in the celebration of Halloween may appear to be quite harmless on the
surface, but the spiritual implications are far from Christian. In today’s world, fortune-telling, ouija boards,
ESP, telepathy, horoscopes, voodoo, clairvoyance, yoga, hypnosis, magic, transcendental meditation, Eastern
religions, reincarnation, metaphysics and many other practices are expressly forbidden in Scripture. They
are related to the occult and Satanic forces. The occult becomes more and more powerful with each coming
year. Therefore believers should have nothing to do with them. The occult has its heros (Anton LaVey, the
High Priest of the church of Satan, Aleister “The Beast” Crowley, who lived in the early part of this century
and a host of demonized movie and entertainment stars), its music (Heavy Metal Rock), its philosophy
(Humanism S Self-Worship & Nihilism S Self-destruction) and its “Un-Holy Day” (Oct.31st S Halloween).
Please consider the next few pages on this current and timely subject. History is openly reviling, the Bible
is clear on the matter and the LORD will speak to the heart that is honest. Note the following Scriptures:
“Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.” (Ex. 22:18)

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 “Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them; I
am the Lord your God.” (Lev. 19:31)

“So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the Lord, even against the word of
the Lord, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to
inquire of it.” (1 Chron. 10:13)

“There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or daughter to pass through
the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch. Or a
charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer (one who tries to
communicate with the dead). For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord; and
because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee.” (Deut.
18:10-12, 21:8; Lev. 20:27, 20:6)

The Bible instructs us to have nothing to do with the deeds of darkness. Both Christian and Jew are
forbidden to participate in the occult practices listed in Deuteronomy 18:10. Necromancing is the delving
into contacting the dead. God said all such practice was an abomination to Him. Some may reply, “But we
only do this in fun...we don’t practice witchcraft.” That which represents Satan and his domain cannot be
handled or emulated “for fun”. Such participation places you in enemy and forbidden territory and that is
dangerous ground.
Through the ages, Halloween has gone by various names but all have been tributes to the same dark
force, Satan. There is no place in the life of the Church or the Christian for such participation. Halloween
is a rite with pagan, demonic roots.

A Short History of Halloween

There could be a large document at this point S It seems that anything dark and wicked will find its way
into prominence. The American celebration rests upon Scottish and Irish folk customs which can be traced,
in a direct line, from pre-Christian time. Although Halloween has become a night of celebration to many,
its beginnings were otherwise. The earliest Halloween celebrations were held by the Druids in honor of
Saman, lord of the dead, whose festival fell on November 1.
It was the Druid’s belief that on the eve of this festival, Saman called together the wicked souls that,
within the past 12 months, had been condemned to inhabit the bodies of animals. They were released in the
form of ghosts, spirits, witches or elves. The Druids, an order of priests in ancient Gaul and Britain, also
believed that the cat was sacred because cats once had been human beings but were changed as a punishment
for evil deeds. From these Druidic beliefs come the present-day use of witches, ghosts, and cats in
Halloween activities.
The Christian church tried to eliminate the Druid celebration by offering All Saint’s Day as a substitute.
As Christianity spread over Europe and the British Isles, it attempted to replace the pre-existing pagan cult
worship of Apollo, Diana or Ymir, but to no avail.
Although the outward forms of such worship disappeared, the belief in these deities did not. They found
an outlet during the Middle Ages in the open practice of witchcraft which is presently enjoying a revival in
many countries, including the U.S.A. In Germany the occult is considered more prevalent than in the Middle
Ages. The deistic cults held periodic meetings known as witches sabbaths, and it is the same today with
October 31st becoming more important.
Traditional Halloween symbols appeared in the U.S. during the late 1800's. Witches, black cats, death’s
head cut from a pumpkin, candles, masks, parties and pranks were used. In rural areas, aggravating and

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destructive acts were done, such as removing gates and placing them atop barns. The same was done with
outhouses and wagons. The following symbols and customs all have Satanic origins:

A Glossery of Term & Symbols

Jack-O’-Lantern S An ancient symbol of a damned soul. “Jack-o’-Lanterns were named for a man called
Jack, who could not enter Heaven or Hell. As a result, he was doomed to wander in darkness with his
lantern until Judgment Day.”
Cat and Witch S Both symbols obviously relate to witchcraft. Druids believed the black cats were
reincarnated human beings.
Ghost and Skeleton S These relate to the belief that spirits of the dead were roaming throughout the land.
They induce fear in children.
Skull and Mask S The Druids wore masks, skulls and costumes, even offered human sacrifices on October
31st, to ward off evil spirits.
Trick-or-Treat S The Druids went from house to house asking for a contribution to their demonic worship
celebration. If a person didn’t give, their trick was to kill him. The people feared the phrase “trick or
Treat.”

Therefore, it is inappropriate for Christians to celebrate Satan’s high holy day or to celebrate with those
who practice witchcraft and use occult symbols such as witches, black cats, ghosts, Jack-o’-Lanterns, etc.
This time was intended to be a time of joy for the harvest of the fields and the close of the summer marked
a time when families would be together through the cold winter months. How far different is the message
of Halloween: an alliance with the powers of darkness and fearful bondage. No real Christian would
knowingly glorify Satan, but the devil has used Halloween as a subtle attempt to plant seeds in our children’s
hearts. How kids must get confused when they hear Sunday School teachers warn of the devil, but are
encouraged to dress up as demons, witches and ghosts.
The uninformed Christian has no idea that there truly are demonic spirits which are contacted and
activated as people call out to them in jest or in seriousness. Every act around Halloween is in honor of false
gods, which are spirits in the realm of the Satanic. Those who have been deeply involved in witchcraft and
who are now free, declare that even those who say they worship spirits of nature are in actuality contacting
the Satanic realm without knowing it. In the face of these “Perilous times” and the false message of
secularism, we see the need of the message of the Gospel.

The Occult
The Practices and the People of the Occult
There has been a rise of occult material in recent days. The R.K. Rowling books (Harry Potter) and the
R.L. Stein books (Goose Bumps) are the tip of the proverbial “iceberg.” I do not enjoy dealing with this
matter, but it must be addressed by someone with a clear head and a hope in the teaching of the Bible. As
a pastor for many years, I have been in the homes of many who don’t understand why the children of those
homes are so deep into drugs, Rock Music, and in many cases are anti-church. The reason is clear when we
take a look at the movies they watch in the home and the movie house, the music the parents use in the home
and the heros the family members have chosen. There can be only one assumption to draw — the children
of the broken hearted parents are a direct reflection of the environment that produced them. There are
exceptions and I do not intend to deny that but there are more that follow the rule than the exception.

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 It is not enough to put the children into Sunday School and hope that this one Christian teacher can do
in a thirty minute class what it has taken six other days to produce. Christian School is not much help for
many of the same reasons. We must have better homes to produce better children.
The word “Cult” and “Occult” are often interchanged, but they are not interchangeable. The word “Cult”
may include many false teachings that are not “Occult.” The word “Occult” has to do with the dark, hidden
and grisly world of Magic, Witches, Wizards, and Demonology that is being exposed in modern times as
a “wonderful little boy” who has been mistreated and now has found a place where he can be accepted. The
movie makers are common to feed us a diet of the wrong stuff and our hungry population is gobbling it up
without regard to the Bible’s truth on the matter.
There is one major text that is very telling where this is concerned (Deut. 18:9-14 “When thou art come
into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those
nations. 10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through
the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, 11 Or a charmer, or a
consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. 12 For all that do these things are an
abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out
from before thee. 13 Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God. 14 For these nations, which thou shalt
possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not
suffered thee so to do.”) This passage was taken from the start of a paragraph in verse 9 and includes the
whole paragraph. (So, it was not taken out of context). The dangers of the practices mentioned in the text
are of dark consequences.
I believe that the angels were created before the world was and therefore Satan was able to see the plan
of God for the race of mankind. It seems that he has set out to counterfeit every work of the Creator. Many
have said that they have experienced these powers and knew that the occult is real – I do not doubt the reality
of witchcraft – I only seek to obey the God that has made me and saved me.
On the matter of there not being evil, I hope to convince all who read this booklet of the reality of the
Sovereign God of Glory who has said: “I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me:
I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: 6 That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from
the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else. 7 I form the light, and create
darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things. 8 Drop down, ye heavens, from
above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and
let righteousness spring up together; I the LORD have created it. 9 Woe unto him that striveth with his
Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it,
What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands? 10 Woe unto him that saith unto his father, What
begettest thou? or to the woman, What hast thou brought forth?”
I have not taken too much of an opinion position on this matter and would rather take a more positive
tone in my study. (My opinion is not worth much in light of clear Bible). I do not believe that Christians can
be possessed by demons but we can be oppressed by the dark powers of this world and its unseen
personalities. I have endured some of this in times past when I studied deeply in this area. The Occult has
been a matter that has some attraction in the direction of learning and I read everything (I mean everything
– I try to have an “open” mind but my faith holds sure in Christ). Occult practices are a sure way to spoil a
believer’s Spiritual life of prayer, worship, and service. (“Set your affection on things above, not on things
on the earth.” Col. 3:2) The flesh is tied to this earth and will never leave but the soul is bound for worlds
beyond. To follow, for example, the teachings of Wicca would be restricted to this world but the teachings
of our Christ are of the world beyond and the only way to bridge the gap between the two is to trust the only
one that has ever come from there and went back – Christ. (“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the
Lord shall be saved.” Rom. 10:13)
I have collected a few quotations from noted reference works that address the matter of your questions.
I see no reason to re-invent the wheel – these have given the answer so completely and I hope this will help

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while we make decisions about occult matters.
Witchcraft — Magic; sorcery; demonism; occultism (Ex. 22:18; Lev. 19:26,31; 20:6; Deut. 18:9-14; 1 Sam.
15:23; 2 Kings 9:22; 2 Chron. 33:6; Isa. 47:13-15; Jer. 27:9-10; Dan. 2:10; Micah 5:12; Na. 3:4; Acts
19:19; Gal. 5:20; Ep. 5:11; 6:10-18; Rev. 21:8). The Bible makes no distinction between “white magic”
and “black magic.” Every form of involvement in spiritism is strictly forbidden. The following are the
terms used in the Bible to describe this practice:
Astrologer – one who observes the heavens, believing the heavenly bodies influence men’s lives (Isa. 47:13;
Dan. 1:20; 2:2,10,27; 4:7; 5:7,11,15).
Charmer – those who cast spells; sorcery; incantations (Deut. 18:10).
Consulter with familiar spirits – attempted communication with the dead whereby the consulter comes into
contact with deceiving spirits; seances (Deut. 18:10).
Divination – fortune telling; future telling; divining into the unknown (Nu. 22:7; 23:23; Deut. 18:10,14; 1
Sam. 6:2; 28:8; 2 Kings 17:17; Isa. 44:25; Jer. 14:14; 27:9; 29:8; Ezek. 13:6,9,23; 21:21,22,29; 22:28;
Micah 3:6,7,11; Zec. 10:2; Acts 16:16).
Enchanter – to use enchantments; spell casting; charms; communication with spirits (Ex. 7:11,22; 8:7,18;
Lev. 19:26; Nu. 23:23; 24:1; Deut. 18:10; 2 Kings 17:17; 21:6; 2 Chron. 33:6; Isa. 47:9,12; Jer. 27:9).
Familiar spirits – spirits involved with those attempting to communicate with the dead; deceiving spirits
impersonating the dead; spirits participating in witchcraft and those who are in communication with
them (Lev. 19:31; 20:6,27; Deut. 18:11; 1 Sam. 28:3-9; 2 Sam. 21:6; 23:24; 1 Chron. 10:13; 2 Chron.
33:6; Isa. 8:19; 19:3; 29:4).
Necromancy – the art of revealing future events by pretending communication with the dead (Deut. 18:11).
Observer of times – one who consults the stars; who believes the heavenly bodies have a ruling influence
over the physical and moral world (Deut. 18:10; Isa. 47:13; Dan. 1:20; 2:2).
Prognosticator – one who consults the stars in an attempt to predict the events of men’s lives (Isa. 47:13).
Soothsaying – one who divines, consults the stars; predicts the future; fortune telling (Josh. 13:22; Isa. 2:6;
Dan. 2:27; 4:7; 5:7,11; Micah 5:12; Acts 16:16).
Sorcery – the practice of witchcraft; wizardry; magic; divination; enchanting (Ex. 7:11; Isa. 47:9,12; 57:3;
Jer. 27:9; Dan. 2:2; Mal. 3:5; Acts 8:9,11; 13:6,8; Rev. 9:21; 18:23; 21:8; 22:15).
Witch – one who practices witchcraft; worshiper of Satan; nature worshiper; one who practices sorcery and
enchantment (Ex. 22:18; Deut. 18:10; 1 Sam. 15:23; 2 Kings 9:22; 2 Chron. 33:6; Micah 5:12; Na. 3:4;
Gal. 5:20)
Wizard – sorcerer; conjurer; charmer; enchanter (Lev. 19:31; 20:6,27; Deut. 18:11; 1 Sam. 28:3,9; 2 Kings
21:6; 23:24; 2 Chron. 33:6; Isa. 8:19; 19:3). (Taken from The Word of Life Bible Ency. By David Cloud)
Divination and Magic is an attempt to contact supernatural powers to determine answers to questions
hidden to humans and usually involving the future. The practice was widely known in the ancient Middle
East, especially among the Babylonians who developed it into a highly respected discipline. Ezekiel
21:21 records, “For the king of Babylon stood at the parting of the way, at the head of the two ways, to
use divination: he made his arrows bright, he consulted with images, he looked in the liver.”
The ancient Babylonians and Assyrians employed several methods. The Babylonians commonly used
hepatoscopy, divination by the liver. The liver of a sacrificial animal by virtue of being considered the
seat of life could be observed carefully by specially trained priests to determine the future activities of
the gods. For this purpose the priests underwent ceremonial cleansings in preparing to interpret the livers
which had carefully been divided into zones, each containing its own secrets. This was done before
action was taken on any matter of real gravity. Clay models of animal livers apparently used as
instructional tools in teaching the science of hepatoscopy appear in archaeological sites in Babylonia and
in Palestine.
Other methods included augury (foretelling the future by natural signs, especially the flight of birds),
hydromancy (divination by mixing liquids; see Gen. 44:5), casting lots (Jonah 1:7-8), astrology (2 Kings

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 21:5), necromancy (1 Sam. 28:7-25), observing the Urim and Thummim (1 Sam. 28:6), and by
consulting the liver (Ezek. 21:21).
The use of magic is seen often in the literature of the ancient Middle East, employed both by the gods
and by human beings. As superhumans, the gods themselves were subject to the higher power of magic.
In Enuma Elish, the Babylonian Creation Story, the god of wisdom, Ea, killed his father Apsu, god of
the fresh river waters, after reciting a spell. In the same epic, Marduk, the leader of the pantheon, went
into battle against Tiamat, goddess of the chaotic sea, with a talisman of red paste in his mouth.
Likewise, Tiamat relied on the recitation of a charm to cast a spell. To demonstrate his supreme position
in the godhead, Marduk through the magical power of his word caused a piece of cloth to vanish and to
reappear. To assure her reappearance on the earth, Ishtar, the goddess of love and fertility, donned
charms before descending to the underworld.
Similar beliefs in magic are evident from ancient Canaanite myths. The supreme Canaanite deity El
acted to heal the ill king Keret by working magic. The goddess Anath through magical means restored
the dead Baal to the earth. Paghat, the daughter of the legendary king Daniel, observed the movements
of water and of the stars.
The Old Testament often attests to the practice of magic by the Hebrews themselves, reflecting how
entrenched it was. Saul, the first Hebrew king, is said to have “put away those that had familiar spirits,
and the wizards, out of the land” (1 Sam. 28:3), but even he later sought out a necromancer (1 Sam.
28:7). Jehu responded to the question of Joram, king of Israel, as to whether he came in peace, “What
peace, so long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many?” (2 Kings
9:22). Isaiah 2:6 accuses the house of Jacob of being “soothsayers like the Philistines.” Isaiah 3:2-3
reflects that the society attaches the same importance to “the diviner,” “the skillful magician,” and “the
expert in charms” as to “mighty man, and the man of war, the judge, and the prophet...” Consequently,
King Manasseh could make public use of such services (2 Chron. 33:6). The people acted in a similar
fashion. Jeremiah 27:9 admonishes the people not to heed “your [false] prophets, ... your diviners, ...
your dreamers, ... your enchanters, or your sorcerers.” (Compare 29:8).
Although varying kinds of divination and magic are reported to have been practiced widely in ancient
Israel and among her neighbors (Deut. 18:9-14; 1 Sam. 6:2; Isa. 19:3; Ezek. 21:21; Dan. 2:2), Israel
herself was clearly and firmly admonished to have no part in such activities. “Ye shall not eat any thing
with the blood: neither shall ye use enchantment, nor observe times (witchcraft).” (Lev. 19:26). “Regard
not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your
God. “ (Lev. 19:3). “And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to
go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his
people.” (Lev. 20:6). “A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely
be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood [shall be] upon them.” (Lev. 20:27).
“When you come into the land which the Lord your God gives you, you shall not learn to follow the
abominable practices of those nations. There shall not be found among you any one who burns his son
or his daughter as an offering, any one who practices divination, a soothsayer, or an augur, or a sorcerer,
or a charmer, or a medium, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For whoever does these things is an
abomination to the Lord; and because of these abominable practices the Lord your God is driving them
out before you. You shall be blameless before the Lord your God. For these nations, which you are about
to dispossess, give heed to soothsayers and to diviners; but as for you, the Lord your God has not
allowed you so to do” (Deuteronomy 18:9-14). “Therefore ye shall see no more vanity, nor divine
divinations: for I will deliver my people out of your hand: and ye shall know that I [am] the LORD. “
(Ezek. 13:23). (Taken from Holman’s Bible dictionary)
He “...that useth divination.” (Deut. 18:9-14) — The precise import of the terms here used to express these
unhallowed practices cannot be clearly ascertained: he that useth divination, {kosaim, kesamim,} seems
a general term for the various species after specified; observer of times, {meonain,} one who pretends

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 to foretell by the clouds, planets, etc.; enchanter {menachesh,} a diviner, either by means of serpents,
or by inspecting the entrails of beasts, the flight of birds, etc.; a witch, {mecashsheph,} one who used
magical fumigations, etc.; a charmer, {chover chaver,} one who uses spells, or a peculiar conjunction
of words, or tying knots, etc.; a consulter with familiar spirits, {shoel ov,} a pythoness; a wizard,
{yidoni,} a cunning man; necromancer, {doresh el hammaithim} one who seeks enquiries of the dead.
(Ex 22:18; Lev. 19:26, 31; 20:26-27; 1 Sam. 28:3, 7, 9 1 Chron. 10:13; 2 Chron. 33:6 ; Isa. 8:19-20;
47:13; Acts 19:19; Gal. 5:20) (Taken from The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge)
Note on Deut. 18:9-14 — Was it possible that a people so blessed with Divine institutions, should ever be
in any danger of making those their teachers whom God had made their captives? They were in danger;
therefore, after many like cautions, they are charged not to do after the abominations of the nations of
Canaan. All reckoning of lucky or unlucky days, all charms for diseases, all amulets or spells to prevent
evil, fortune-telling, &c. are here forbidden. These are so wicked as to be a chief cause of the rooting out
of the Canaanites. It is amazing to think that there should be any pretenders of this kind in such a land,
and day of light, as we live in. They are mere impostors who blind and cheat their followers. (Taken from
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary)
The New Age movement is not a unified, traditional cult system of beliefs and practices, even though its
roots derive from Eastern religions and the occult. It has no official leader, headquarters, nor
membership list, but instead is a network of groups working toward specific goals--one of its main goals
is to bring to the forefront a one world leader who is called “The Christ” or “Maitreya.” Nevertheless,
it is estimated that there are as many 60 million followers of various New Age practices and/or holders
of one or more of the major beliefs of the New Age.
In his 1978 book, New Age Politics, Mark Satin cited resources of “250 New Age Books/20
Interesting Books by Some Early American Advocates of ‘New Age Politics’/50 New Age
Periodicals/100 New Age Groups.” In the 14 years since then, the publications and groups seem to have
exploded on the scene. The book Networking lists over 1200 organizations, centers, cooperatives,
groups, communities, and networks in fields ranging from health care and spiritual growth, through
politics, economics, and ecology, to education, communications, personal growth, and inter-cultural
relations. There is hardly any area of human interest that does not have some people somewhere
exploring it from a New Age point of view.
“The New Age Movement professes a broad-minded openness to all religions, but its basic
underlying philosophy represents a carefully calculated undermining of Judeo-Christian beliefs. It bears
a remarkable resemblance to the apostate world religion that H.G. Wells claimed as his own and
predicted would one day take over the world. It also fits the description of ‘The Plan’ for establishing
the new world government that is described in various psychic communications from alleged E.T.’s and
ascended masters. There is one more connection: the New Age Movement fits the description of the
Antichrist’s religion--a rejection of the Judeo-Christian God and the declaration that Self is God” (Dave
Hunt, “The Seduction of Christianity” – This book is a powerful expose of the plan that is afoot in our
day – also “Beyond Seduction”).
Douglas R. Groothuis, research associate with Probe Ministries in Seattle and author of Unmasking
the New Age and Confronting the New Age, identifies six distinctives of New Age thinking: all is one,
all is God, humanity is God, a change in consciousness, all religions are one, and cosmic evolutionary
optimism. Norman L. Geisler focuses on 14 doctrines typical of New Age religions: an impersonal god
(force), an eternal universe, an illusory nature of matter, a cyclical nature of life, the necessity of
reincarnations, the evolution of man into Godhood, continuing revelations from beings beyond the
world, the identity of man with God, the need for meditation (or other consciousness-changing
techniques), occult practices (astrology, mediums, etc.), vegetarianism and holistic health, pacifism (or
anti-war activities), one world (global) order, and syncretism (unity of all religions).
Some New Age terms are: guided imagery, reincarnation, positive thinking, human potential, holistic,

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 holographic, synergistic, unity, oneness, transformation, awakening, networking, communal sharing,
one-world/globalism/new world order (i.e., one language, one government, one currency, one
religion), cosmic consciousness, etc.
Some New Age practices are: rebirthing, inner healing, bio-feedback, yoga, I Ching, reflexology,
hypnotherapy, acupuncture or acupressure, TM, martial arts, Zen, Relaxation, Erhard Seminar
Training (est), Silva Mind Control, visualization, etc.
Some prominent New Agers are: Alice Bailey, Alvin Toffler, Dr. Barbara Ray, Benjamin Creme, Levi
Dowling, George Trevelyan, Fritjof Capra, Abraham Maslow, Barbara Marx Hubbard, Ruth
Montgomery, Shirley MacLaine, J.Z. Knight, Marilyn Ferguson, David Spangler, Jeremy Rifkin,
Norman Cousins, Elizabeth Clare Prophet, John Denver, George Lucas, and Norman Lear.
Various New Age symbols are (it should be noted, however, that the mere appearance of a New Age
symbol does not necessarily mean that person or group is associated with the New Age movement):
rainbow, butterfly, pyramid, triangle, eye in triangle/pyramid, unicorn, pegasus (winged-horse),
swastika, yin-yang (two black and white comma shapes nestled together in a circle--they are said
to represent opposites in the universe: good and evil, male and female, black and white, etc.),
goathead on pentagram, concentric circles, rays of light, crescent moon, etc.
The words of the “New Age” are derived from the idea that the world is about to enter a utopian age
of Aquarius. Astrology--the belief that the heavenly bodies affect the mundane matters of humanity--gets
a lot of attention from New Agers. It is from astrology that the “age of Aquarius” is derived. The New
Age movement seems to be a reaction to the scientific age. During a time when everything has become
so objective and particularized, the shift now is to emphasize the subjective and the whole. This shift
has focused attention on the “inner” feelings and on wholistic (or holistic) health, as well as focused
attention on global matters rather than nationalistic ones.
Athletes are using guided imagery. Graduate schools of business are invoking Zen, yoga and tarot
cards in teaching courses on creativity in business (e.g., Stanford Graduate School of Business). Stock
market gurus employ Fibonacci numbers and “wave theory” in their forecasting, both based upon
astrology. Even some churches teach that the best way to get to know God is to visualize Christ, ignoring
that visualization is a powerful occult device. (Visualizing an entity, even God or Christ, ultimately puts
one in touch with a masquerading demon.) Below are highlights of what New Agers believe concerning
their source of authority, God, Christ, sin and salvation, good and evil, and future life:
1. Source of Authority. New Agers claim no external source of authority--only an internal one (“the god
within”). They believe the individual is the standard of truth, saying that “truth as an objective reality
simply does not exist” (Shirley MacLaine, It’s All in the Playing) (cf. 2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:21; Matt.
5:18).
2. God. New Agers confuse the Creator with His creation and think that God is part of creation, not
separate from it. They borrow from Eastern religions the belief in monism--that “all is One”--only
one essence in the universe, everyone and everything being a part of that essence. But the belief in
monism is really Hinduistic pantheism (all is God). New Agers view God as an impersonal force
(e.g., the “Star Wars Force”) rather than a Person. They believe that every person and thing is
“intertwined” with God and use Luke 17:21 (“the kingdom of God is within you”) to support this
idea (despite the fact that “within you” in this passage means “in your midst”). They claim every
human has a divine spark within him because of being part of the divine essence. New Agers are
obviously part of a religion of idolatry and self-worship.
3. Jesus Christ. New Agers have created a Christ that caters to human pride and pretense. Instead of
being Savior and Lord, Christ is viewed as just another guide to self-actualization. They deny the
deity of Christ by distinguishing between “Jesus” and “Christ,” claiming that “Christ” is the cosmic
principle, or ideal. They say that Jesus was simply an unusual man, and claim that we all need to
recognize that the “Messiah is within” each of us by having our consciousness enlightened through

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 meditation (i.e., the human potential movement--cf. Jer. 17:9). New Agers believe that when our
consciousness is enlightened, we will realize we are god. They attempt to separate the human “Jesus”
from the divine “Christ,” saying that the latter dwelt in Hercules, Hermes, Rama, Mithra, Krishna,
Buddha, etc. As an example of this, New Ager Shirley MacLaine claims to believe that Jesus is
simply one of many great spiritual masters who have succeeded in tapping into their own godhood.
4. Sin and Salvation. New Agers believe that each person is god, thereby having endless potential for
self-improvement. Therefore, New Agers don’t believe in sin as the Bible defines it (man being
inherently sinful and utterly depraved--Rom. 5:12). They think that any perceived lack is merely a
lack of enlightenment. They see no need of salvation or a Saviour, since they explain away sin.
Salvation is considered to be only a more complete unification with the One, i.e., the Force, or the
impersonal presence.
5. Good and Evil. Mimicking the Eastern religions, New Agers distort the distinction between good and
evil. They believe that because “all is One,” ultimately there is neither good nor evil. They think that
a person can transcend his consciousness and go beyond the bounds of moral distinctions, so that
even murder sometimes becomes an acceptable way of serving one’s gods (e.g., Charles Manson).
6. Future Life (Reincarnation). New Agers believe in the ancient Eastern religious belief of
reincarnation--that through a long process of rebirths, man can eventually reach perfection (cf. Heb.
9:27). They sometimes place animal rights above human rights, because some New Agers believe
animals are reincarnated souls. They teach the Hindu principle of “karma”--that what a person sows
in this life, he will reap in the next life in his reincarnated state. This belief in reincarnation has led
to believing in the power of “spirit guides” or “channels”--those who allow spirits from another
dimension to speak through their bodies. These entities always seem to repeat the three-fold error:
(1) There is no death, (2) man is god, (3) knowledge of self is salvation and power (by Biblical
Discernment Ministries, August 1992 from the Word of Life Ency.).
I don’t want to sound like I am against everything – I just hope to preach and teach the Truth in every
way. It is sad that we must deal with issues like these at all. The Holy Ghost must help us to find Truth in
the maze of confusion that is so much a part of our secular day. Secular humanism has taken away our
hunger after God (“There is no God”), Evolution has taken away our dependance on God (“We need no
God”), Bible corruption and false teaching has taken away the authority of God (“I don’t believe...”).
There is a place in the heart of this modern madness that gives out the clarion call of Truth... The Gospel
is our superlative and our hallmark! Let it be said with Paul: “For I determined not to know any thing among
you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” (1 Cor. 2:2) These words limit our scope and set boundaries for
our lives but the blessing of Spiritual freedom is here while others roam far from the fold of safety and are
in the slave market of doubt. (“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also
himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death,
that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.”
Heb. 2:14-15) Hope is in Him, Joy is in Him, Truth is in Him, Love is in Him, Judgement is in Him,
Salvation is in Him. In the frantic search for spiritual answers, many come up with less than the need for
the lost soul.

“The Way To Be Born Again?”

This question is on the lips of many in this day, no matter where you are. Study these verse form GOD’S
Word on the subject of Salvation: (Romans 3:23) “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God”
Everyone is a sinner -There are no exceptions. (Romans 6:23) “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift
of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Death means sure separation forever from GOD.
Eternal Life comes by trusting JESUS CHRIST. (Romans 5:8) “But God commendeth his love toward us,

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in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” GOD loved sinners so much that HE gave HIS son
to die for our sins. (Romans 10:9) “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt
believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” To be born again, you
must believe that you are a sinner and that JESUS died for your sins, then declare that you accept HIM
as the LORD of your life. (Romans 10:13) “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be
saved.” This is GOD’S promise to you: that HE will answer your prayer of repentance and confession
by saving you.

Dear reader, if this short Bible study has lead you to see yourself a sinner, lost, and in need of salvation,
please call on the LORD now as you pray this prayer: LORD, I know I have sinned by breaking Your
laws, and now in repentance, I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe that Jesus died for my sins. I want
to be born again and receive new life in Him. I will follow Jesus as my Lord and obey Him in all that
I do. I will reject the practices of the occult and live my new life for Him. In the name of Jesus I pray.
Amen.
If GOD saved you, please write and testify of your conversion. Those who supplied this pamphlet
would enjoy rejoicing with you over your salvation and new life in Christ. We will send a FREE Bible Study
to help in your new life. Address your letter to the Post Office Box on the back page. Or E-Mail the web-site
at the given address.

The Solid Rock

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

When darkness veils His lovely face,

I rest on His unchanging grace;
In ev’ry high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

When He shall come with trumpet sound,

O may I then in Him be found;
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.

On Christ the solid Rock I stand;

All other ground --is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.

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 Topics for Study
Agnostic — Isa. 5:13; Jer. 4:22; Hos. 4:1, 6; Prov. 2:1-5; Acts 17:22-23; 1 Cor. 1:21; 1 John 5 (See
Atheism).
Apostasy — Luke 8:13; 18:8; 2 Thes. 2:3; 2 Tim. 3:1-7; 4:1-3; 2 Peter 3:3-7; Rev. 13:3-4 (See False
Prophets).
Atheism — Gen. 1:1; Psa. 14:1; Job 22:17; 19:1-6; 10:4; Rom. 1:19-28; Eph. 2:12 (See Agnostic).
Blasphemy — Ex. 20:7; Lev. 24:13-23; Matt. 9:1-8; 26:57-67; Mark 3:20-30.
Cults — Gen. 9:25; 38:16; Ex. 22:18-20; 2 King 1:2; Psa. 77:12; Jer. 2:8,27; Matt. 6:23; 2 Cor. 11:20; 1
John 3:2; Rev. 2:24.
Darkness — Gen. 1:2, 4-5; 15:12, 17; Ex. 10:21; 20:21; Deut. 5:22; 1 Sam. 2:9; 2 Sam. 22:10,12; 1 King
8:12; Job 3:4-9; 10:21-22; 23:17; 24:16; 28:3; 37:19; 38:8-9, 19-20; Psa. 82:5; 97:2; 107:10; 112:4;
Prov. 2:13; Eccl. 5:17; Isa. 5:30; 8:22; 45:19; 59:9; 60:2; Jer. 13:16; Joel 2:2; Matt. 6:23; 8:12; 10:27;
22:13; John 1:5; 3:19; 6:17; 12:35; 1 Thes. 5:5; Acts 26:18; Eph. 5:11; 6:12; Col 1:13; 2 Peter 2:4,17;
Jude 1:6,13; (Created by God) Psa. 104:20; Isa. 45:7; (Effects of) (Keeps us from seeing objects) Ex.
10:23; (Causes us to go astray) John 12:35; 1 John 2:11; (Causes us to stumble) Isa. 59:10; (Often put
for night) Psa. 91:6; (Called the swaddling band of the sea) Job 38:9; (Cannot hide us from God) Psa.
139:11,12; (Miraculous) (On mount Sinai) Ex. 19:16; Heb. 12:18; (Over the land of Egypt) Ex.
10:21,22; (At the death of Christ) Matt. 27:45; (Before the destruction of Jerusalem) Matt. 24:29 (See
Light).
Demons (Devils) — (Origin of) Matt. 9:34; 12:24; 25:41; Rev. 12:7-9; (Nature of) Matt. 8:16; Mark 5:10;
Luke 4:34; Acts 19:16; Mark 5:2-4; Matt. 10:1; Mark 1:27; Luke 7:21; 8:2; (Activity of) Eph. 6:12; Luke
13:16; Mark 5:1-20; Matt. 4:24; 8:16, 28-33; 9:32; 12:22; (Form of Practice of) 1 Cor. 10:20; Lev. 17:7;
Deut.32:17; Psa. 106:37; Rev. 9:20; Deut. 18:10-12; Acts 16:16-18; 19:13-19; 2 Chron. 33:6 (see Devil,
Satan).
Demon Possession — Matt. 8:28-34; Mark 1:23; 5:1-10; Luke 4:33; Acts 16:16-19; 1 Tim. 4:1-10.
Devil — Isa. 14:12-13; Matt. 4:10; Luke 10:18-19; Luke 11:18-19; John 8:43-44; John 12:31; Rom. 16:20;
1 Cor. 10:21; 2 Cor. 2:11; 2 Cor. 11:14-15; Eph. 4:26-27; Eph. 6:11-12; 2 Thes. 3:3; 1 Tim. 4:1; Heb.
2:14-15; James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8; 1 John 3:8; 1 John 5:18; Rev. 12:7-9; Rev. 20:10-15 (Satan).
Evil — Psa. 97:10; Prov. 8:13; Prov. 24:19-20; Isa. 1:16-17; 5:20; Amos 5:14-15; Jonah 3:8; Zec. 7:10;
Matt. 7:17; 15:19-20; Luke 6:45; John 3:19; Rom. 2:9; 12:17; 12:21; Gal. 1:4; Phil. 3:2; 1 Tim. 6:10;
James 1:13; 1 Peter 3:12; 3 John 1:11 (Destroyed) Nahum 3:19; Mal. 4:1; 1 Cor. 15:24; Col 2:15
(Fighting) Psa. 94:16; Matt. 5:39; 18:10; Luke 6:29-30; James 4:7; 1 John 5:4; Rev. 16:16 (Source)
Gen. 2:9; Ex. 11:3; Deut. 31:16-21; Judges 9:23; 1 Chron. 21:1; Job 2:7; 19:8-12; Psa. 71:20; Eccl.
7:13-14; La 3:38; Amos 9:4; John 9:2; 14:30 (Spirits) 1 Sam. 16:14; 18:10; Matt. 8:31; 8:32; Mark 1:23;
5:13; 9:18; Luke 4:33; 9:39; 11:19; Acts 16:17-18; 19:13; 1 John 4:1; Rev. 16:13 (Used by God) 1 King
22:20-22; Amos 9:4; Hab. 1:6,13; John 14:30; Acts 2:23.
Falling Away, The — Luke 18:8; 2 Thes. 2:3-12; 1 Tim. 4:1-3; 2 Tim. 4:3-4; 2 Peter 2:1-3; 1 John 2:18;
4:1 (See Apostasy).
False Gods — Psa. 115:4-8; Isa. 46:1-7; Acts 17:23; 1 Cor. 8:4.
False Prophets — Matt. 7:15-20; 24:11, 24; 2 Peter 2:1; 1 John 4:1; Deut. 18:20-22; Rom. 16:17-18; Rev.
19:20.
Fortune Telling — Lev. 19:31; Deut. 18:10-12, 20-22; Isa. 8:19-22; Isa. 44:24-25; Isa. 47:13-14; Jer. 27:9-
10; 1 Cor. 10:20-21; Gal. 5:20-21; 1 Tim. 4:1-2.
Heresy — 1 Cor. 11:19; Tit. 3:10; Matt. 7:15; Gal. 5:20; 2 Peter 2:1; Acts 20:29; Rom. 16:17-18.
Idolatry — Lev. 19:4; Deut. 32:17; Judges 16:23; 2 King 8:18; Psa. 115:4-8; Isa. 44:16-17; Jer. 23:9-14;

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 Ezek. 14:1-9; 1 Cor. 10:14; Gal. 5:19-21: 1 Sam. 15:23; Col. 3:5; (Political reasons), 2 King 10:29; Jer.
44:8; (Punished) 1 King 11:10-12; 2 King 21:11-15; 2 Chron. 10:14-16; La 1:8; 1 Cor. 6:9-10; (Results)
2 Chron. 27:2; Psa. 115:8; Isa. 65:5; Jer. 17:1; Amos 2:4; 9:4; (Destruction) 2 Chron. 15:16; Psa.
115:4-7; (God's power over), Judges 18:17; 1 Sam. 5:6; 2 Chron. 25:14; Isa. 41:7; 43:10; 46:1;
(Modern) Psa. 97:7; Hos. 4:12 (See Worship).
Magic — (witchcraft and sorcery) Ex. 22:18; Lev. 19:26-31; 20:6-27; Deut. 18:10-12, 20-21; Isa. 2:6;
47:10-14; Jer. 27:9; Mic. 5:12; Mal. 3:5; Acts 8:9-24; 13:6-12; 16:16-18; 19:13-19; Gal. 5:20.
Mark of The Beast — Lev. 19:28; Rev. 13:16-18; 14:9-11; 15:2; 16:2; 19:20; 20:4.
Occult — 1 Sam. 28:12; Job 31:24-28; Dan. 5:11; Mic. 5:12; Matt. 2:2; Acts 16:17-18; 19:18-19;
(Astrology) 2 King 17:16; Isa. 47:9; (Black magic) Gen. 41:8; Ex. 7:11-12; (Fortune telling -
divination) Gen. 30:27; 44:5; (Sorcery) Ex. 22:18; 2 King 9:22; Job 3:8; Isa. 8:19; Acts 8:9-11; 19:13
(See False Gods, False Prophets).
Satan — Prov. 20:20; Isa. 14:12-15; Ezek. 28:13-19; 1 Peter 5:8; 2 Cor. 4:4; James 4:7; Rev. 12:9; (Limited
by God), Job 1:12; 19:8-12; Luke 10:18; Rom. 16:20; Col 2:15; 1 John 5:18; (Names for), 2 Sam. 24:1;
2 King 1:2; Job 31:35; Zec. 3:1; Matt. 4:1; 4:1; 4:3-4; 10:25; Mark 1:12-13; 8:33; Luke 4:3; John 12:31;
Col 1:13; James 4:7; Rev. 12:11; (Power), Job 1:13-19; Matt. 4:8-9; 7:22-23; Luke 4:6; 22:3; John
13:27; Acts 19:19; 2 Cor. 2:11; Eph. 2:2; 6:12; 1 Thes. 2:18; 1 Peter 5:8; 1 John 1:8; Rev. 6:1-17 (See
Devil).
Unclean Spirits — Matt. 8:16; 9:32-33; Luke 8:26-35; Mark 5:12-13; 9:18-22; Eph. 6:12; 1 Tim. 4:1.
Witchcraft — Lev. 20:6-7; Deut. 18:10-12; 1 Sam. 28; Isa. 8:19-22; 47:10-14; Acts 8:9-24; 13:6-12,;
19:13-19; Gal. 5:19-21.
(Taken from “The Fresh Waters Topical Index of Biblical Knowledge” by the author)
This Periodical is printed by Gospel Publishing and Colportage, a ministry of the First Baptist
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