Apostasy

There can be little doubt that we are in the Great Apostasy described in Sacred Scripture, foretold by the Prophets. Read this article, which may also be found at: www.spiritdaily.com



IT'S CREEPING INby Alan Yusko
There is a new movement of apostasy attacking the church in these last days. It is the acceptance of the occult. It is a slow process but the occult is being presented and is slowly being accepted by professing Christians. The best example is the demonic Harry Potter books and movie. Many in the professing Christian church have enjoyed the material and actively encourage others to do so. It is not limited to just laymen. There are well-known pastors and teachers who have accepted the demonic Harry Potter.
People seem to believe the lie that the occult is nothing more than make-believe and harmless fun. The fact that acceptance or involvement with the occult is an abomination to God is not considered. Here is what the Bible says concerning the occult:
Deut 18 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.
As you can see there is no room for debate. The occult with its spellcasting, witchcraft, divination etc is all an abomination to God. The Satanic and occultic garbage is not harmless fun. It is deadly dangerous and will be avoided and rejected by all those who belong to and love the Lord Jesus.
The apostates, on the other hand, call themselves Christians, yet they love and partake in the occult. I have heard from such people. These people try to justify their occult and dare to call those against their "occultic fun" nasty names such as legalist, Pharisee etc.
I believe a person who gets involved with the occult and then attempts to justify his sin, is not saved. I do not believe a saved person will commit and enjoy something that is an abomination to God. The occult is an abomination and involvement in it cannot be justified. It is not harmless fun or entertainment. People who attempt to justify the occult are not saved. It is as simple as that.
1 John 2 3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
HOW THE DEVIL SUCCEEDED WITH ROCK MUSIC
Lets look at rock music. There was a time when the church knew this music was from the devil and was not an acceptable form of worship. However, today in 2002, Satan has completely succeeded in getting his demonic music accepted in "church" circles. In fact professing Christian young people now are so apostate that they freely listen to secular rock with no care or concern. How did this travesty happen? Did the devil do it over night? Or was it a slow process?
Rock music was accepted into the church in a very slow way. It started slowly in the late 1970's through to the 1990's. Here is how the devil did it:
In the world of biology, we are given the example of a frog that when placed into boiling water, will immediately jump out. However, if that same frog is put into a bowl of cool water which is slowly heated by a Bunsen burner, the frog will eventually boil to death.
Rock and roll is like the frog and the water. The term "rock and roll" means fornication. It is a street name for sexual immorality. It has wrecked the lives of many teenagers through suicide, drug abuse, immorality, perversion, Satanism, etc. Sadly, we live in a day where many Christians and church leaders have allowed this demonic music into their churches claiming that the music is holy and sanctified because the lyrics are changed to include some 'religious' words.
Rock first came into the church and it was immediately rejected by many who love the Lord. Back then it was a complete imitation of the secular, just as it is today. Yet the tare-rebels argued that it was different from secular music because it used assorted "God" words mixed into the lyrics. In the early days, everyone agreed that secular rock was evil. In those early days the rebels considered religious rock as an acceptable alternative to secular rock. From that position all kinds of foolish arguments were given to justify this evil music. It was said that the only way to reach young people was to get them into the church by playing their rock music. The Bible was not considered sufficient for this "modern" generation. In order to win the youth and bring young people into church, the rebels argued, that religious rock music was required.
Unfortunately, many believed this lie from the devil. Liberal pastors believed this lie and allowed this evil music into the church.
Today people have gone so apostate that there is no difference between secular and religious rock music. The rebellious young people listen to both. Listening to secular rock music is very acceptable today with the rebellious and the apostate.
THE PLAN FOR THE OCCULT
The same thing is happening today with the occult as it did with rock music. Satan is working through his tares to bring in occultism and make it acceptable in 'religious' circles. Harry Potter has great blessings from the devil. Both children and adults have enjoyed reading the books and going to the movie. Even so-called Christians have 'enjoyed' Harry Potter. For example, we are aware of a professing Christian lady who read the Harry Potter books. She also encouraged her 9 year old girl to do the same. This lady attends a liberal church and considers herself to be a Christian. There are many professing Christians in churches like that lady. They think nothing of partaking in occult evil and it is all considered harmless fun. To God, however, it is an abomination.
John 14 15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
John 14 23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
CONCLUSION
Where is the discernment in the church? Are Christians losing their ability to discern the difference between good and evil? Demonic rock music made it into the liberal churches with the full blessings of professing Christians. Now the occult is packaged to be harmless fun and entertainment and is slowly gaining acceptance in the liberal churches. The very fact that demonic rock music even made it into the church, is proof of the moral and spiritual decline affecting the church. Will the same slow process occur with the occult? I would say yes, but it will not be as slow. Rock and roll has prepared the hearts of the rebellious and acceptance of the occult will be a simple matter.
Christians who love the Lord should be aware and warned of this situation. The days we live in are days of apostasy and falling away. Many people are choosing to fall away from the Lord rather than to draw near unto Him. While professing Christians accept the occult and rock music, they also attack those who do not conform to their perverted false faith that allows such actions.
2 Thess 2 3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
We are being invaded by hard rock, acid rock, punk rock, new wave, rap, and heavy metal music under the guise of religious rock and roll. In fact, todays "modern" and "liberated" young person freely listens to all the secular rock and roll without concern or conviction for his sin. What is next on the apostasy scene? Here is the answer: Acceptance of the occult. The devil has made major inroads with the occult with the Harry Potter fad. Expect more occultism to be popularized and justified by so-called Christians in the days to come. I use the term "so-called" because all who accept this hellish garbage are not really saved Christians. There are Satanic false Christian tares who are being mightily used by the devil to wreck havoc from within the professing Christian church.
2 Tim 4 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
It is interesting to note in the above verses that people who seek after rock music and the occult are satisfying their own lusts. They have willingly turned away their ears from the truth and are seeking the lies from the devil. Men must make a choice between God or the devil. It is sad but many (the majority) are choosing the devil over God!
Matt 7 13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. 15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Whose side are you on reader?