How Neo-paganism Deceives the World and the Church

Why Nature Religions Predominate

by Bob DeWaay

…Today, not only is God’s revealed truth rejected regarding spiritual and unseen things, but human reason also is rejected. Now, having neither valid revelation from God (according to neo-pagans) we also are without valid truth from general revelation. The only category remaining is the occult (secret spiritual knowledge). This is precisely what the Serpent offered in Genesis:

Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, ‘Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’? The woman said to the serpent, ‘From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’ The serpent said to the woman, ‘You surely will not die! For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.’ (Genesis 3:1-5)

Eve rebelled, and after her, Adam. Eve added to what God said (He never mentioned “touch it”) and rebelled against what was said. She was deceived, believing lies from a wicked spiritual source (Satan). The Serpent offered secret, spiritual knowledge that he claimed would make them like God. The rejection of God and His revelation erases the distinction between the Creator and the creature and leaves the creature in spiritual darkness, unsure of what God has said. Occult knowledge comes from spiritually wicked sources and intends to destroy us. Yet neo-paganism has nothing but occult knowledge, having rejected divine revelation and compromised truth from general revelation (what can be known using our God-given senses and rationality). If Satan and evil spirits exist as the Bible says, then those who embrace neo-pagan occultism are at the mercy of these evil forces intent in destroying them. This is true despite the warm, romantic feelings that might deceptively accompany occult practices (bold mine-this is true of the pagan/papist “feels good” “holy” days with their decorated trees and eggs, imho. Please note that I’m not speaking for Bob DeWaay)…

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How the Church Becomes Pagan

Understanding that only authoritative, inerrant revelation stands as the alternative to paganism, we can see why the situation is so dire in the contemporary church. Several movements have driven clear, well articulated truth from churches. One such movement is the church growth movement. I have documented it and the other movements in previous issues of CIC. But here we shall see how they set the stage for paganism.

The seeker movement exists to please the religious sensibilities of the “unchurched.” Since the unconverted see no value in clear authoritative Bible teaching, it is pushed aside. Inasmuch as the services and ministries of the large numbers of churches that have been infected by these ideas minimize and marginalize divine revelation in Scripture, the pagan ideas of those who attend soon become the agenda of the church. The people come into the church as functional pagans and stay that way. The only possible mitigating influence has been taken away. This situation is dire and, quite frankly, sinful. (bold mine; again-imho, not speaking for Bob DeWaay, it was a “seeker-sensitive” move by the Church in Rome to “christianize” paganism -Christo-paganism- despite God’s Word warning us not to worship Him in such manner)

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