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One of the fastest growing religions in the United States is Wicca. In a recent survey, “nearly 2.8 million people now identify with dozens of new religious movements, calling themselves Wiccan, pagan, or “Spiritualist,’ which the survey does not define.”

“Wicca, a contemporary form of paganism that includes goddess worship and reverence for nature, has even made its way to Arlington National Cemetery, where the Pentagon now allows Wiccans five –pointed star symbol to be used on veteran’s gravestones.

--USA Today March 9, 2009 p. 6A; Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

Sometimes called witchcraft, Wicca theology includes the worship of a god and goddess. The first commandment warns God’s people away from having other gods. As we move further and further from our Christian roots, Christians will have to learn to live, as the Hebrews did, among a people who reject their God.

A survey by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life discovered that many people who call themselves Christian also have practices considered New Age or Cultic. Pew says “two in three adults believe in or cite an experience with at least one supernatural phenomenon” These include: 26% who find ‘spiritual energy’ in physical things; 25% believe in astrology; 24% in reincarnation; and 23% who believe that yoga is a ‘spiritual practice.’

Al Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY believes “this is a failure of the pulpit as much as of the pew to be clear about what is and is not compatible with Christianity and belief in salvation only through Christ.”

--USA Today, December 10, 2009 p. A2 Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

The Bible clearly states there is one truth, one way to salvation and anyone, even an angel preaching a contrary message is not only wrong but accursed in heaven. (see Acts 4:12; John 14:6)

Our message needs to be as clear as a bell. Making sure we aren’t tickling ears, we need to preach the gospel truth, that people will hear.

Galatians 1:8-9 (NASB) “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! (9) As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!”

William Falk, editor of The Week, a weekly news wrap up of local and international news, comments on the newest self righteousness related to food. “Food is the new religion. . . Secular sophisticates have jettisoned traditional beliefs about sin and sanctity, so they fulfill their instinctual need for purity and redemption through what they eat.”

Falk recounts a visit to the local Whole Foods store and notes the confident, self-congratulatory air surrounding the shoppers. Locally grown food, the sign announces. Grass-fed beef has a maximal animal-welfare rating of 5, signifying what, Happy cows? Whole-bean, Fair Trade coffee beans locally roasted are in the coffee aisle. A section of supplements proclaim their beneficial effects.

“Shoppers are paying double what groceries cost at Stop N’ Shop. But how much purer we all are, how oxidant-free! How much longer we’ll live than the wicked masses! We are The Chosen. Give us this day our artisanal, gluten-free bread and our goji berry juice, and may our carbon footprint be small. Amen”

We need to remember that it is not what goes into our mouths that make us pure, it is what comes out! Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

The Week, March 29, 2013 p. 3

Matthew 15:18 (ESV) But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.

Some Japanese people are having plastic surgery to alter their palms. Since they believe that the lines on their palms govern their lives, they are turning to a simple 10-minute $10,000 operation to change their fate. Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

ISA 44:15-17 HCSB It serves as fuel for man. He takes some of it and warms himself; also he kindles a fire and bakes bread; he even makes it into a god and worships it; he makes an idol from it and bows down to it. 16 He burns half of it in a fire, and he roasts meat on that half. He eats the roast and is satisfied. He warms himself and says, “Ah! I am warm, I see the blaze.” 17 He makes a god or his idol with the rest of it.

Spiritualist Ewan Irvine is protesting the firing of a school bus driver in Dundee, Scotland. The driver refused to pick up a group of schoolchildren waiting at a bus stop because he had a premonition “that something bad would happen” if he did. His sixth sense told him he’d regret picking them up. Irvine says the driver was right to heed his premonition. He said, “rather be safe than sorry.”

What do you do when you get that feeling that something bad is about to happen? Is there a Christian way to combat it? We cannot know everything about the supernatural. We need to be discerning and not make decisions based on strange feelings and forces. Rely on God for direction, and protection. —Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

The North Texas Church of Freethought looks like any other church on the one Sunday each month that it meets. At their gatherings, members enjoy discussions of history, morals, personal and social problems, listen to music and learn about inspiring scientific breakthroughs. “Our services are educational, entertaining, and thought-provoking,” states the church’s website.

For children there is “Sunday School” where children go while parents attend the services. Instead of Bible stories taught as fact, this Sunday School helps youngsters cope with classmates who believe in God.

Phil Zuckerman, professor of sociology and secular studies at Pitzer College in California, describes the phenomenon of atheist churches like this: a “small subset” of those people who have lost their faith in a supernatural being still want the community spirit and behavioral norms that go with religious experience.

https://www.economist.com/erasmus/2018/05/16/the-elusive-phenomenon-of-churches-without-god

Attempting to duplicate the community aspects of a church family, these assemblies practice the outward aspects of a church service, without the divine power, or the Holy Spirit led inspiration that powers the Christian Church. They are really involved in holding to a form of godliness without the power. —Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell.

Amanda Yates Garcia is a witch. No, she doesn’t wear a pointy black hat or ride a broom, but her business is booming in Southern California. She sells her magical services to clients struggling with heartache, aging, work stress, or other emotional problems. Her hour-long “elemental divination” sessions start at $150, during which she offers “tarot, scrying, pendulums, runes” and other forms of “intuitive counseling.” Witches like her are thriving in Southern California, along with empaths, mediums, energy workers, and other healers.

When people desert the truth; the real source of life, comfort, enlightenment; they are liable to fall for anything. Jesus calls those who are struggling to come to Him. —Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell.

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

It has long been said by theologians that man is created to worship, and if they won’t worship the one true God, they will fabricate something else to worship. Hence the plethora of false and fringe religions that have arisen over the years. However, it is one thing for some people to believe in these false/fringe religions, and for them to receive public acceptance and recognition.

One of the strangest is the church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster (or FSM), that has adherents all over the world. They believe that “an invisible and undetectable monster made of spaghetti and meatballs created the universe after drinking heavily, and that his ‘noodly appendages’ hold great power.” Its followers wear colanders on their heads. We would look on this and describe it as what it is: a delusional, false and fringe religion. However, due to a ruling by the Alaska Supreme Court, that rendered a previous decision by the Kenai Borough Assembly to limit the groups that could bring invocations, unconstitutional, a local leader of the FSM church was invited to bring a Pastafarian invocation. He concluded his prayer to the assembly asking that the FSM provide “satisfaction in the perception of accomplishment and allow them true relaxation and an ample supply of their favorite beverage at the end of this evening’s work.”

https://www.foxnews.com/us/pastafarian-pastor-leads-opening-prayer-before-alaska-government-meeting

It is sad to see that such false and fringe beliefs are on the rise, and being given public recognition, while true Christianity is in decline, and is being marginalized in the public arena. But God did let us know that this was coming. Shouldn’t be a surprise, really.—Jim L. Wilson and Derick Wilson.

The coming of the lawless one is based on Satan’s working, with all kinds of false miracles, signs, and wonders, and with every wicked deception among those who are perishing. They perish because they did not accept the love of the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a strong delusion so that they will believe the lie, so that all will be condemned—those who did not believe the truth but delighted in unrighteousness.