Reason and Individual Freedom of Thought Sounds So Reasonable

This week an article about the rise of Satan worship caught my eye. The article pointed out:

• Satanists are not merely mystical eccentrics wearing black Gothic garb, sacrificing animals and operating in shady and secret societies.
• They are now ordinary people who call themselves ‘secular’ and praise reason and the individual freedom of thought.
• Just this month, a member of the so-called Satanic Temple was allowed to make an opening prayer to Lucifer at a local council meeting in Alaska.
• The Satanic Temple (TST) is a fairly new organization. Founded in 2013, it fights for political change by pointing out the ostensibly preferential treatment Christianity enjoys in politics. TST has seven chapters in the USA and Europe, and claims a membership of 100,000.
• The article can be accessed at: https://www.rt.com/op-edge/357523-what-hell-satan-worship-america/

If you were to do an internet search on the topic of Satan worship, you will get a surprising number of hits. As the author of the noted article stated: “They are now ordinary people.” In other words, the worship of the “Prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2) is becoming more widely accepted.

For me it is interesting to note the perspective this movement promotes. The worshipers of Satan promote “reason and individual freedom of thought.” Should this approach be a surprise? It sounds so reasonable. However, we only have to go back to the Garden of Eden where Satan offered the first couple the very same options. Satan is always willing to promote human reason and freedom of thought.

As members of the body of Christ, God has opened our minds to recognize the futility of worshiping Satan.

Why is such worship futile? Let’s note some truths about Satan revealed in the Bible:

• He was a murderer from the beginning seeking to overthrow God and seeking to influence man to sin which would lead to his death (John 8:44)
• There is no truth in him (John 8:44)
• He is a liar (John 8:44)
• He is a predator seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8)
• His name is Satan which means adversary. He opposes God and His plan of salvation.
• He foists himself off as an angel of light when in fact he is a bringer of darkness (2 Corinthians 11:14).
• He promotes sin, rebellion, and evil of every sort.
• He is a created being with limited power—greater power than human beings—but limited in comparison to his Creator.
• He has deceived the whole world (Revelation 12:9)
• His ultimate goals are to topple God from his throne and to eradicate every vestige of God from existence.

The Bible reveals Satan for the evil creature that he is and as one considers what is revealed about him in the scriptures there is little upside in his worship.

Yes, there are many stories of people who have sold their souls to the devil in order to achieve some worldly purpose. It appears that some do yield themselves to the powers of darkness and they do get what they want, but at what price?

It seems that Satan and the demonic world are gaining influence at this time and we will see the devastating results as we come to the end of the age.

We as God’s people can avoid this whole negative trend as we seek God. Note what the Apostle James tells us, “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” This is reassurance that as a result of our relationship with God and Jesus Christ, Satan has no power over us.

Enjoy the blessing of a Sabbath rest.

Gary Smith