Children and the Occult
As Christians, we must equip our children to recognize and dispel the darkness in worldly amusements and entertainment that surround them.
Neil Anderson delivers a powerful message urging parents to be vigilant and stand firm in the faith against the subtle but dangerous influences of the occult that are infiltrating the lives of children through games, media, and entertainment. He highlights the spiritual bondage and deception that children unknowingly fall into when engaging in activities like 'Bloody Mary,' Ouija boards, and other occult practices, emphasizing the need for parents to be aware and guide their children towards the truth found in Christ. Anderson stresses that despite the many temptations and dark influences in the world, Jesus is the ultimate source of freedom and light, capable of dispelling the lies of Satan and leading children to true liberation.
Text
1 Corinthians 16:13
Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith
The school administration in a Christian high school found out that nearly every student in the school had played "Bloody Mary," a popular party game among some groups of children. A common version of the game requires a child to go into a completely darkened bathroom alone, spin around six times, face the mirror, and call upon Bloody Mary to show herself. In many cases these children saw something frightening in the mirror. There was no physical explanation for seeing anything in a totally dark room. These children had unwittingly opened themselves up to the god of this world.
Bloody Mary is only one of the more "innocent" ways our children are giving Satan a foothold in their lives. Games like the Ouija board and Dungeons and Dragons are other common means by which children are introduced to the occult. The music, movies, magazines, television programs, and substances our children are exposed to create gaping doors of opportunity for Satan to seduce them. At one public high school in Southern California, 133 students were referred to the school psychologist during the first six weeks of classes because of their involvement with Satanism and the occult. Most children don't even realize the spiritual bondage they are submitting to when participating in these activities. What's worse, most parents don't either.
Children are dabbling in all kinds of occultic experiences: astral projection, table lifting, fortune-telling, astrology, crystals or pyramids, automatic writing, tarot cards, palm reading, spirit guides and blood pacts. In addition, the New Age Movement, permeating our society and our public education system today, is the source of many pitfalls. Much of the world's attempt to amuse and entertain our children leads them into darkness.
No matter how many dark doorways beckon to your children, Christ is the ultimate door to freedom. He is the truth and the light that dispels the lies of Satan and the darkness of the world. Teach yourself and your children to know and choose the truth.
Prayer:
Lord, help me equip my children to recognize and dispel the darkness in the worldly amusements and entertainment which surround them.
Sermon Outline
- I. Introduction to the Occult
- A. Definition of the occult
- B. Examples of occultic practices among children
- II. The Dangers of the Occult
- A. Spiritual bondage and deception
- B. The role of Satan in occultic practices
- III. The New Age Movement and its Pitfalls
- A. Permeation of society and education
- B. Luring children into darkness
- IV. Christ as the Door to Freedom
- A. The truth and light that dispels lies and darkness
- B. Teaching children to choose the truth
Key Quotes
“Christ is the ultimate door to freedom. He is the truth and the light that dispels the lies of Satan and the darkness of the world.” — Neil Anderson
“What's worse, most parents don't either [realize the spiritual bondage their children are submitting to].” — Neil Anderson
Application Points
- Teach your children to recognize and choose the truth to avoid spiritual bondage and deception.
- Be aware of the entertainment and activities your children are exposed to and take steps to protect them from occultic influences.
- Equip your children with spiritual knowledge and discernment to help them navigate the world and make wise choices.