I’m overwhelmed and thrilled to see Gen Z flocking to churches and leading in attendance. This current church-attending generation is seeking belonging and stability. Young men, driven by spiritual curiosity and hunger, are leading this resurgence to find God.
There is an enemy that is deadly to their faith. I don’t like playing in the devil’s backyard. I don’t want to think about these things. When this research came to my attention and showed 30 percent of U.S. adults are engaged in astrology, tarot and psychic readings, I felt a need to warn these new converts about those dark practices they could be engaged in and how it will easily creep into churches undetected.
The Colossian church, soon after their conversion to Jesus, had submitted to mystical practices — angel worship and praying to angels. They held to ascetic and harsh treatment, submitting to rules like, “Do not handle. Do not taste. Do not touch.” Then there was the “self-made religion,” false humility and severe treatment of the body to win victory over sin.
The Colossians had combined Christianity and Jewish legalism (dietary laws, festivals, new moons, sabbaths and circumcision). Then they added pagan and mystical ideas (occult-style “philosophy” and spiritual powers). There was a distorted view of Christ, treating Him as lesser rather than fully divine and sufficient. They were baby Christians.
This is a warning to the Gen Zs. God calls these dark practices witchcraft. Psychic experts report their readings give people reasons as to why they seek mysticism and serious guidance. They blame it on uncertainties and ways to make sense of what they are experiencing. The structured framework gives reflection and findings for a broader curiosity in mystical and reflective practices.
They attempt to sell these ideas as helping people think about their choices, emotions and direction. They also blame economic swings and the long-term effects of the pandemic. This world’s philosophy is directly in opposition to the simple message of the gospel.
I want to warn these young Christians who are searching for truth not to play with fire. You might get burned. If the “love of wisdom” is what you seek, don’t look to the psychics for answers. This is not innocent seeking. You might be playing with the devil and not even know it.
I knew a lady in Albuquerque who straddled the fence between her belief in Christ and how she carried out her life. Each morning, she opened the Albuquerque Journal Newspaper and turned to Billy Graham’s column, then to her horoscope. She believed in both. I told her on numerous occasions that she was using the devil’s medium and a mediator of light. They don’t mix.
She had a very unhappy life. She lived by the horoscope, which brought fear and the ups and downs from its predictions. She mixed it with Christ and wanted to believe what the Bible says is true. She lived in a state of continual turmoil.
The research on mystical practices immediately brought to mind Solomon’s statement that there is nothing new under the sun. Paul warned the Colossians that they had veered off from the preeminence of Christ. He is not merely a priority, but superior in authority and is the truth.
Jesus is the head of all creation and the church, signifying Christ’s unrivaled power, divine glory, and supreme position as the creator and sustainer of everything.
“And He (Jesus) is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence” — Colossians 1:18 (NKJV).
If these false teachings confront you, turn away from their empty philosophies and humanism. Paul wrote to the church to fend off false teaching and help them to resist false teachers and judge them as dangerous. He wrote to remind them of the wonderful hope they had in Christ.
Final brushstroke: Look at the church and how they view Jesus. It means life or death to you. All I know is one thing — Christ crucified. And in Him is the power and everything you need for an abundant life.
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Views expressed do not necessarily represent those of The SUN.
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