The 21st June has come and gone in my home country of Australia and with it the shortest day in the year, the winter solstice. Its principle meaning for me is that it’s the birthday of a much loved niece. However to others in this country it has a far different and sinister meaning.
The winter solstice in some parts is used as an excuse to
celebrate pagan festivals and rituals. It seems that the time of year can be
intrinsically linked to dark arts. In Tasmania a festival is centred around
celebrating pagan mysticism. A much-publicised event on the calendar is a
massed nude dawn swim in the icy waters of the Derwent River at Hobart.
A cursory look at the events listed in this festival program
include many items which appear quite harmless- food and drink outlets, concert
groups. However, the program also includes many featured acts which carry a
warning – attendees may be subject to see nudity, “adult themes” (whatever that
may be) distressing content, taxidermy – and if upset one is to seek assistance
from an usher. A “mass” was advertised, “location undisclosed” (and sold out).
One of the saddest things in a fallen world is that some
people find such things attractive. Perhaps they are searching for spiritual
values. Maybe the idea of rebelling against social norms is appealing. Maybe
they are just looking for any opportunity for companionship and a good time.
There are a few common denominators to such events. They
invoke the occult, the domain of Satan. They encourage the breakdown of normal
social inhibitions e.g. by removing clothing. They mock traditional social
values and in many cases they mock Christianity.
Through these events vulnerable people can be targeted and
lured into more serious occult practices involving sexual activity, cruelty to
animals and in some cases extreme cruelty to humans.
We should not be surprised at such things. “Satan himself
masquerades as an angel of light” 2 Cor 11:14. Things can seem attractive yet
the intention is to draw people away from Godly living. “
“There is a way that appears to be right, but
in the end it leads to death. Even in laughter the heart may ache, and
rejoicing may end in grief. The faithless will be fully repaid for their ways,
and the good rewarded for theirs.” Proverbs 14:12,13
There’s an old country
saying that goes: don’t remove a fence until you know what it’s there for. God
has given moral instruction to uphold our human dignity and worth. He is the most
perfect loving heavenly Father. He imbues His children with His Holy Spirit to
guide and caution. Satan on the other hand has only one aim for humanity and
that is destruction and death.
The realm of demonic
activity which is entered through occult practices is very often unknown or
underestimated by those who engage in them, even seemingly trivial practices
such as tarot cards and fortune tellers. As Bible believing Christians we know
that the bible is full of warnings against such practices, e.g.
“Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the
fire practices divination or conjury, interprets omens, practices
sorcery, casts spells, consults a medium or spiritist, or
inquires of the dead. For whoever does these things is
detestable to the LORD.” Deuteronomy 18:10-12
“So take your stand
with your spells and with your many sorceries
with which you have wearied yourself from your
youth.
Perhaps you will succeed; perhaps you
will inspire terror!
You are wearied by your many
counselors; let them come forward now and save you—your astrologers who observe
the stars, who monthly predict your fate.
Surely they are like stubble; the fire
will burn them up.
They cannot deliver themselves from
the power of the flame.” Isaiah 47: 12-14
Basically, the occult is a door into the realm of the
demonic which can influence and, in some cases, indwell (i.e. demonic
possession). One of Satan’s biggest strategies is to convince the world that he
doesn’t exist or that the demonic realm is something to be laughed at. It is
real and influential. However, the good news is that Jesus Christ has defeated
sin and death:
“And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public
spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” Colossians 2:15
The Bible assures us of the ultimate end of Satan’s kingdom on earth.
Christians are forever on the winning team.
To those who are attracted to pagan festivals, I just say stay away.
There are many testimonies of those who have turned from involvement in the
occult to faith in Christ. If faced with an unwanted situation beyond your
capability to handle, remember to call aloud the name of Jesus Christ.
The winter solstice, like everything else in nature occurs because our
Creator God has placed the sun, moon and stars in the sky, affecting the times
and seasons of the earth in beautiful orderliness.
“Yahweh,
who gives the sun for a light by day,
and the ordinances of the moon and of the
stars for a light by night,
who stirs up the sea, so that its waves roar;
Yahweh of Armies is his name “ Jeremiah
31:35
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