What is the Occult.
What is the Occult from a Christian Perspective?
The occult world is all around us in all its vast diversity. The word “occult” is one of the most diverse words in its meaning. The English word is actually derived from the Latin word “occultus,” which means secret, mystery, clandestine, hidden. The hidden matter refers to secret or hidden knowledge.
However, when applied to the real world of culture, language, interpretation, and meaning the word “occult” has different meanings to different people. Thus one group's reference to the occult may be a totally different subject compared to another group. In this book we'll look at the occult world from a Christian viewpoint. In terms of revealing certain practices in the occult we'll use some descriptions from the occult world itself.
The occult from a Christian perspective
The occult from a Christian perspective is firstly , any practice, activity or entity which serves the role for tapping into the spirit world that is outside the biblically authorized spirit realm. Secondly , it is any practice, activity or entity which has spiritual symbolic value that is outside the biblically authorized spiritual practices or activities.
In the above definition I've given two broad categories that define the occult from a Christian perspective. Notice that the bible is the only authority that is the basis for distinguishing the occult. It is not some Christian leaders gathering to decide what is and what's not the occult.
Neither is it some super-spiritual person that comes out to say, “The Lord told me…” The bible is our only standard. All other voices need to use the bible in verifying and confirming their accounts. This is particularly the case with the second part of the definition of the occult.
For example, the act of wearing lipstick and makeup is not an occult practice. Some Christians like those in the Deeper Life denomination believe it is. It does not have spiritual symbolic value, that is, it's not a representation for any activity of spiritual value. It does not serve to elicit any energy in the spirit world.
As you will learn in this book symbolism is a major characteristic of the occult world. Most occult groups are obsessed with symbolism to the extent that they're literally governed by symbols. In Christianity we have our own symbols such as Holy Communion, anointing oil, and laying on of hands. Very few of them, like Holy Communion, are fundamental to our everyday Christian lives.
Not so with the occult world. They have numerous symbols that are fundamental to their spiritual practices and activities. To understand any particular occult group one has to focus on the symbols used and what they represent spiritually to that group. There are many general symbols yet they can represent somewhat different purposes to different occult groups.
We can now move on to dissecting the definition of the occult given above. In research it is known as operationalizing a definition or concept. It's making the definition practical so that it can easily be understood and used for evaluating matters in the real world.
Part 1 of the occult definition: any practice, activity or entity which serves the role for tapping into the spirit world that is outside the biblically authorized spirit realm
“The highest heavens belong to the Lord , but the earth he has given to man ,” Psalm 115:16 (emphasis added).
The heavens or the spirit world, or the unseen world, are a restricted territory to us human beings. They belong to the Lord. The spirit realm is forbidden territory for us. God has prohibited us from accessing the spirit world. It belongs to him. However, God gave us something else that is also very precious: the earth. The earth belongs to us. That's why we play such a big role in determining the state and destiny of this world.
God can easily come down and clean things up here on earth but he has constrained himself to the heavens. When it comes to earthly matters he works through us. He does not bypass us. When Christ returns he'll take back the earth and will be the one in charge. We'll be under him, under his government.
Thus our primary business is here on earth as the scripture above says. If the heavens were not so restricted to us we'd be able to see, hear and talk with the spiritual beings that exist in the spiritual world. These beings are God's angels on one side and the fallen angels, including Satan, on the other side. They exist in the spirit realm even if we can't see them.
Thus the scripture above is clear that the spirit realm is forbidden territory for us. You'd expect this to easily be obvious yet it's not. In body of Christ we have sincere people claiming to have fellowship with Mary, some contacting angels, others contacting the saints and the dead, some practicing Yoga, others bombarding evil spirits and calling it biblical spiritual warfare, and so on. My book Major Spiritual Warfare Principles: Biblical Do's and Don'ts of Warfare has more detailed info on this topic. Please see the book's Chapter 3, “Heavenly Access: Prohibited and Permitted Areas.”
Below is a summary from the book's chapter:
Prohibited Areas – spirit beings we have no authority or permission to have access to in the spirit realm:
1. Satan and his fellow fallen angels,
2. God's angels,
3. Spirits of fellow human beings (dead or living humans).
Exception for Heavenly Access - Exceptional areas we've authority or permission to have access to in the spirit realm:
1. Casting demons out of people possessed by evil spirits,
2. Christians' access to heaven, God's throne: access to God himself.
If you've unanswered questions on this topic I'd recommend you read chapter 3 in my book on spiritual warfare.