According to a study conducted by the Barna Group called “Teens and the Supernatural,” three out of every 10 teenagers have played the Ouija board, had their palms read, and eight out of 10 have read horoscopes.
Maybe these numbers do not shock you. But while these activities may seem innocuous, below the surface there lurks an extremely dangerous and powerful world—something Scripture refers to as “the powers of darkness.”
Take, for example, the Ouija board, a game young people have played for decades. Manufactured by Parker Brothers, the game combines numbers and letters around a pointer that mysteriously indicates answers to questions players ask. Even Parker Brothers cannot explain how the pointer moves. That’s because the game taps into spiritual forces outside the realm of human control.
Another “pastime” with dark undertones is horoscope reading.
According to one survey, 29 percent of Christian teens said they did not see anything wrong with it. Eighteen percent said they read horoscopes, but do not think it really predicts the future. And another 8 percent said they read it, but feel guilty about it.
Just like the Ouija board, the horoscope can also be dangerous—a dangerous first step into the world of the occult. One woman, Barbara Gardner, writing in Today’s Christian Woman, explained how reading horoscopes sucked her into a dangerous pattern that led to astral projection—also known as “out of body experience”—palm reading, and fortune-telling. She ultimately attributed the breakup of two of her marriages to her obsession with occult activity.
And the list goes on, from seemingly innocent activities like yoga (which is steeped in Eastern mysticism) and playing video games with demonic themes, to more obviously sinister things like communicating with spirit guides. Beyond that, many popular films, TV shows, and books have minimized the seriousness of dabbling in the occult, movies and shows like Goosebumps and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. No wonder many kids find the spiritual world harmless at best, or deeply intriguing at worst.
A representative of the Barna Group said: “Teens give the supernatural world the same treatment as any other aspect of their lives. They cut and paste supernatural experiences and perspectives from a variety of sources . . . Most of all, they are motivated by their desire to find out what works for them and what feels right.”
The Barna report also indicates that the teens who feel like their lives have spun out of control are the ones most likely to dabble in the occult. But instead of gaining control, they are relinquishing control to powers more terrifying than they can imagine.
Far from being harmless activities, Ouija boards, palm-reading, and horoscopes are really gateways into a world that is Satanic at its core, and directly opposed to God’s commands.
There is a reason that Isaiah 8:19 says, “When men tell you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God?” And if you really want to know what God thinks of all those who tell fortunes or who inquire of the dead, read Deuteronomy 18.
So, parents, be alert when it comes to your children and the occult. Talk with your kids honestly about it. And always, always point them to the source of true power and love and acceptance—Jesus Christ Himself.
_________________________________________________
From BreakPoint®, June 2, 2008, Copyright 2008, Prison Fellowship Ministries. Reprinted with the permission of Prison Fellowship Ministries. All rights reserved. May not be reproduced or distributed without the express written permission of Prison Fellowship Ministries. “BreakPoint®” and “Prison Fellowship Ministries®” are registered trademarks of Prison Fellowship
Comments
This is a very important story. Horoscopes are very dangerous and so are Tarot cards. When I was a young boy I went to a gypsy for a Tarot reading. As the witch lady was reading my cards, I felt an evil presence in the room and I could feel a demon emerging from her crystal ball. The demon then attacked me and crawled up my bum. To cure this demon affliction I had to get baptized, pray to the Holy Spirit, and eat the entire book of Ezekial. Finally the demon has come out of my bum and I encourage youngsters to STAY AWAY from the occult lest you too be attacked in such a manner.
Whethor believers are aware of this or not, new age has crept into the churches. As the rudiment of the world place the focus on seeking after the spirits, so do wayward believers place the focus on seeking after the Holy Spirit. They are ignoring the role of the Holy Spirit that is in us as He seeks to testify of the Son to glorify the Son as we are led by the Spirit in us to do also, but nowadays, the focus is on seeking after the Holy Spirit as the world does in seeking after other spirits. Those that rest in Jesus, knows the Holy Spirit is in us as promised by coming to Jesus to be Our Saviour, thus not only are the invitations to come to the Son are His commandments for salvation, but also to avoid false prophets and false spirits as there are spirits in the world. This is important so as to be found abiding in Him when He appears to gather those that are ready and keeping the faith in Him. The only Way to relate to God the Father is through the Son and that is Whom the indwelling Holy Spirit is pointing us to. As the Bride is to Jesus, the Bridegroom, let us not be distracted by anything else in His name that would take our eyes off of Jesus to "spirits" coming and going in the worship place for other spirits would seek to steal the spotlight off of Christ thus fulfilling the role of the spirit of the "anti-christ" which means "instead of Christ", and scriptures says that the indwelling Holy Spirit seeks to testify of the Son to glorify the Son, thus the call to "strive ye to enter through that strait gate" is clearer as the day approaches.
Let us relate to God the Father through the Son for He wasn't kidding when it is written,"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." Believe it or not, this is how He will judge the House of God. John 5:22For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: 23That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him." Yes, the Holy Spirit is God, but because there are other spirits in the world, the only Way to approach God the Father is through the Son, and the indwelling Holy Spirit is leading us to keep our eyes on Jesus for He, the Bridegroom, shall be appearing soon. Otherwise, how can one stand apart from the world when we seek after the Holy Spirit as the world does after other spirits, and yet we know that Jesus is not of the world? By resting in Jesus, we are bearing witness that we know Him for He is in us and abides in us for ever as promised.
Don't think for a minute that this "new age" stuff is harmless. It is real, it goes against God, and it is harmful to your children. Pay attention and protect your children. AMEN.
Stay away from anything of the occult, hypnotism, course of miriacles, tarot, horroscope..
Read the book written by Moira Noonan.....