Biblical Position on the Occult

[Catsmeow]

I was doing a topical study using the Jewish Bible on the subject of the occult.

I came up with some interesting biblical perspectives on the occult. I felt it would be helpful to consider God's position on these issues, since they clearly impose on our daily life through the media and entertainment industries.

Acts 19:13-20

They would say, "I exorcise you by the Yeshua that Sha'ul is proclaiming!" 14 One time, seven sons of a Jewish cohen gadol named Skeva were doing this; 15 and the evil spirit answered them. It said, "Yeshua I know. And Sha'ul I recognize. But you? Who are you?" 16 Then the man with the evil spirit fell upon them, overpowered them and gave them such a beating that they ran from the house, naked and bleeding. 17 When all this became known to the residents of Ephesus, fear fell on all of them, Jews and Greeks alike; and the name of the Lord Yeshua came to be held in high regard. 18 Many of those who had earlier made professions of faith now came and admitted publicly their evil deeds; 19 and a considerable number of those who had engaged in occult practices threw their scrolls in a pile and burned them in public. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, it came to fifty thousand drachmas.

Isaiah 47:12-15  So for now, keep on with your powerful spells and your many occult practices; from childhood you have been working at them; maybe they will do you some good, maybe you will inspire terror! 13 You are worn out with all your consultations - so let the astrologers and stargazers, the monthly horoscope-makers, come forward now and save you from the things that will come upon you! 14 Look, they will be like straw! The fire will consume them. They will not save even themselves from the power of the flame. It will not be coals for warming oneself, not a fire to sit beside! 15 So much for your [wizards], with whom you have worked all your life! Each will wander off in his own direction, and nobody will save you.

Galations 5:19-21 And it is perfectly evident what the old nature does. It expresses itself in sexual immorality, impurity and indecency; 20 involvement with the occult and with drugs; in feuding, fighting, becoming jealous and getting angry; in selfish ambition, factionalism, intrigue 21 and envy; in drunkenness, orgies and things like these. I warn you now as I have warned you before: those who do such things will have no share in the Kingdom of God!

Revelation 9:20-21 The rest of mankind, those who were not killed by these plagues, even then did not turn from what they had made with their own hands - they did not stop worshipping demons and idols made of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk. 21 Nor did they turn from their murdering, their involvement with the occult and with drugs, their sexual immorality or their stealing.

Revelation 22:1415 How blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they have the right to eat from the Tree of Life and go through the gates into the city! 15 Outside are the homosexuals, those involved with the occult and with drugs, the sexually immoral, murderers, idol-worshippers, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

Isaiah 47:9-11  But both will come over you in an instant, in a single day loss of children and widowhood; they will utterly overwhelm you, despite your many occult practices and powerful spells to prevent it." 10 You were at ease in your wickedness, you thought, "No one sees me." Your "wisdom" and "knowledge" perverted you, as you thought to yourself, "I am important, and no one else." 11 Yet disaster will befall you, and you won't know how to charm it away;

I don't think I want anything to do with the occult and sure don't want a diet of it fed to my children in the form of entertainment. I guess I'm just 'old fashioned'.

[Ovedya]

Interesting is the verses you gave in dealing with the occult. Almost all of them involve the practice of the occult. This begs the question of whether or not believers can discern between knowledge and practice.

Can a believer be educated on the subjects of the occult, drugs, homosexuality, etc., and have committed the same sin as having practiced them? Paul seemed to know an awful lot about Helenism and Gnostacism, but he was never accused of having committed the sins of these perversions.

[Catsmeow]

How do you interpret this verse then?

Romans 16:19 For the report of your obedience has reached to all; therefore I am rejoicing over you, but I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil.

[Ovedya]

How do you interpret this verse then?

Romans 16:19 For the report of your obedience has reached to all; therefore I am rejoicing over you, but I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil.

In context with the preceding verses, I take this to mean that Paul wishes the saints to continue in the faith, disregarding those which taught contrary to the apostles teaching, who have caused some to stumble and leave the faith. The word in verse 19 is also rendered "guileless," which is to say that he wishes them to remain pure with regard to evil; specifically the evil of teaching contrary to the teachings of the apostles (vs. 17; 1 Tim. 1:3; 6:3-4)