CHAPTER 1 -
Why people are driven into Satan worshipping?

 

 

 

 

It is possible to find certain reasons why people are driven into Satan worshipping. However, the next reasons are perhaps the most common:

 

Friends. Firstly, the effect of friends is certainly a common reason why people are driven into Satan worshipping. As the Bible says, “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.” (1 Cor 15:33), it is really possible that one is driven into many bad habits and to worshipping Satan because of others. None of us wants to look like a sissy and probably everyone wants to be accepted, and therefore the effect of others on our life can be huge. Who would really want to be refused by others: everyone longs for acceptance, appreciation and praise from other people, as Jesus stated:

 

- (John 5:44) How can you believe, which receive honor one of another, and seek not the honor that comes from God only?

 

The next verses also refer to a similar attitude. They show how we can regard praise from men as more important than praise from God, and everything only because we do not want to be driven out of other people’s connection or a gang. This is certainly true in the lives of many people:

 

- (John 12:41-43) These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spoke of him.

42  Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:

43  For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

 

Yearning of the supernatural can be one reason why a person is driven into worshipping Satan and practicing the occult. According to the Bible, God has set eternity in the hearts of men (Eccl 3:11), and if this need does not come true in a living relation to God, it is possible that we start to seek it elsewhere. Spiritualism, faith in reincarnation, and different religions are examples of this. We may turn to these because we feel empty in our soul, and because we have not experienced a relationship with God. A person like this does not understand that a supernatural, loving God exists and therefore, he or she may turn to these empty substitutes, instead of coming to the living God:

 

- (Jam 4:8) Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double minded.

 

The next text also speaks about the same issue. It speaks about how people in their emptiness turn to deceiving powers and are finally driven into a larger and larger darkness:

 

Those who walk with Me will grow in the power that is in Me. I gave all people this ability: to grow both in natural and supernatural power. Those who do not walk with Me, feel an emptiness in their soul that yearns for this supernatural power. Those who do not walk with Me turn to the devil to get power to fill the emptiness of their soul.

   I gave My power to those who are wise and mature enough to use it. The devil gives his power to those who are silly and immature enough to yield to its use. There will come a time on Earth when everyone must choose whether they want to walk with Me or to be driven into more evil than the world has ever seen. (1)

 

Seeking for power. Maybe the largest reason why people are driven into Satan worshipping is seeking for power. For if we feel insufficient and powerless, we may feel the temptation to seek for information and power from the dark side. We want to rule issues that are not in our control so that people would admire us. If we cannot experience this in normal life, we might easily turn to the imitations of Satan.

   In fact, this seeking for power is quite a similar dependence as some people have on alcohol and drugs that are used just so that people would notice how these people are harder and stronger, and they would get rid of their feelings of inadequacy. Generally, the more powerless and insufficient one feels, the deeper into the areas in question he or she probably will be driven:

 

I had wanted to be a witch. Nobody forced me to the coven. And I was willingly one of them. I wanted those powers I thought witches to have, surely because during whole my life I didn’t have any power. (2)

 

Even Anton LaVey, a man who has been the high priest of the church of Satan, has pointed out the truth about this. He states that selfish lust is the main reason why people are driven into witchcraft:

 

The white witches want to study witchcraft thoroughly, but they are not able to break away from the brand connected to it. Therefore, they call themselves white witches. (…) Anyone who pretends to be interested in witchcraft for any other reason than to get personal authority and power is a hypocrite of the worst kind. (3)

 

As comes to what the Bible teaches us about this issue, Jesus said very clearly that it would be completely useless to gain the whole world or the admiration and appreciation of people if we were to lose our soul in the process. Therefore, if His next words are true, and we in spite of all try to achieve the appreciation of others and only earthly matters of short duration, we are certainly not acting sensibly, but we are one of the biggest fools in the world:

 

- (Matt 16:26) For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

 

- (Matt 6:19-21) Lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust does corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

20  But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust does corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

21  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

 

Music (and of course literature that is not discussed here) is one huge gate to Satan worshipping. Many have said that they have been driven into worshipping Satan by black metal music; in other words music, in which occult subjects, admiration of Satan and death, self-destruction and evilness are openly pointed out.

   Music is significant because we listen to it much: it certainly has an effect on our subconscious and attitudes in the same way as the TV and magazines. Many bands are owned by Satanists, and if we listen to their music, we may begin to accept issues that we might have deemed wrong before. We will start to transform into what we are looking and listening. (2 Cor 3:18: But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the LORD.):

 

The second side of the truth is the destructive power of secular music. Harry, the high priest of the Satanists, showed me several symbols in pop music records referring to commitment to Satan worshipping and being in its bonds. (…) He told that 85% of modern heavy metal and punk bands are “owned” by Satanists. The musicians have without their knowledge sold themselves to Satan worshipping to get fame and success. Only a few of these artists really practice Satan worshipping, but most of them are very deep in it and they also lead others astray by the ungodly message of their music. (4)

 

It is also interesting that for somebody the effect of this kind of music can be similar to drugs and alcohol. In the same way as an alcoholic may get temporary relief and self-assurance by alcohol, some people may feel the same by listening to aggressive and angry music. The next story illustrates this:

 

At the same time, I broke up with my girlfriend. I almost succumbed to depression and hopelessness. I had a low self-esteem and was tremendously disappointed.

   Me and my friends started to listen to black metal that was just gaining popularity also in Finland. There was something in it.

   I became enormously enthusiastic over the new, strong and powerful music I had found, and I sought out all kinds of black metal music. It became my source of strength. I listened to violent music and devoured Satanic words. By it, I felt strong and powerful. (5)

 

The deception of Satan. When one is seeking for reasons why people are driven into Satan worshipping, the most major reason is, after all, the deception and lies of Satan. The Bible says that the devil is “is a liar, and the father of it” (John 8:44), “the prince of this world” (John 12:31) “which deceives the whole world” (Rev 12:9), and therefore we too may believe in his lies. The purpose is to separate us from God and lead us to damnation, and deception is one of the most important means. This can be seen, for example, in the next Bible verses:

 

- (John 8:44) You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and stayed not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

 

- (2 Cor 11:14,15) And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

15  Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

 

- (2 Cor 4:3,4) But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

4  In whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine to them.

 

- (Luke 8:11) Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

12  Those by the way side are they that hear; then comes the devil, and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.

 

If we believe the lie, we are deceived. In fact, each of us has been or is in this condition when God has not opened our spiritual eyes. Only when we come into God’s light, can we be gradually freed from the lies of the devil. Jessie Penn-Lewis has described this well:

 

Deceived. This word is really disgusting and very reluctantly and by being offended will a man allow it to be applied to himself, often without understanding that even more disgusting is the work of the tempter whose purpose is to keep the deceived ignorant of the truth and to prevent them from being freed from the deception. Since man is so easily deceived by that deception that rises from his own fallen nature, how eagerly do the powers of Satan want to join in the same deception without wanting to reduce it! They work eagerly to keep man in the chains of his old creation, from which come out various forms of self-deception. The powers of darkness have old and new ways of acting. They have been fit together with the character, position and conditions of the victim. The angels of Satan are full of anger, malevolence and bitter ill will towards the mankind and everything that is good, and they do not neglect to carry out their plans untiringly… (6)

 

How can we then know the truth? Is it possible?

   Jesus has already answered this question, because He said that He is the Truth and speaks true. Therefore, it is clear that if His words are true, we must turn to Him if we want to be aware. In the light of the Bible, only by Him it is possible to be freed from the lies of the devil:

 

- (John 1:16,17) And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace.

17  For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

 

- (John 8:45,46) And because I tell you the truth, you believe me not.

46  Which of you convinces me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do you not believe me?

 

- (John 14:6) Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by me.

 

Disappointment with Christianity and its representatives is one reason why people are driven into practicing the occult. This may be caused by disappointment with some person close by or disappointment with the church and “narrow-minded religion” in general. Therefore, many cannot stand any speech about faith and God, but reject it sharply and rebel against it.

  As far as imperfection in people is concerned, it is true that it appears. It is true that very few people are good examples and yet fewer can say like Paul, ”Be you followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” (1 Cor 11:1). In the same way, religion can be of the kind that does not include spiritual life, but is hypocrisy. People fought against this kind of religion already during the early church and, for example, John the Baptist said to certain people:

 

- (Matt 3:7-9) But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said to them, O generation of vipers, who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

8  Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

9  And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say to you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham.

 

As far as narrow-mindedness is concerned, it is a mistake to think that it appears only in certain places. On the contrary, everywhere where there are people, also this attitude can be seen. Sometimes those who claim to be free from it and who most powerfully preach against it are most tied to it. Paul wrote about this kind of an attitude:

 

- (Rom 2:1) Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are that judge: for wherein you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you that judge do the same things.

 

It is also good to note that not everything that people deem narrow-mindedness actually is narrow-mindedness. When it is a question of such difficult issues as homosexuality, the views regarding it are not the invention of modern people – nor have they invented it – but of an attitude they have understood from the Bible that was written almost 2,000 years ago. Many modern people do not deem this wrong, but in the light of the Word, it is quite the opposite, and from that different opinions arise. In our society, we have indeed nullified the word of God, not because of tradition as in the time of Jesus, but for the sake of polls, because we appreciate them so much. They are a greater authority than the words of Jesus and the Apostles. Jesus said about this kind of an attitude:

 

- (Matt 15:6-9) And honor not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have you made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.

7  You hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,

8  This people draws near to me with their mouth, and honors me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

9  But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

 

SEEKING PLEASURE

 

As comes to this life, it is very typical that we seek happiness and pleasure during it. Those can be such things as sex, money, property, watching TV, and sports – various things. We may use our time merely in these activities or in seeking them and not understand that when we find our life, we actually lose it:

 

- (Matt 16:25) For whoever will save his life shall lose it: and whoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

 

On the other hand, one characteristic feature of Satan worshipping is also pleasure-centeredness, which usually refers both to using alcohol and drugs, because these appear repeatedly in ceremonies. We can see the same also from the Satanic Bible of Anton LaVey. He emphasizes the significance of pleasure in Chapters one and eight:

 

1. Satan emphasizes pleasure instead of continence!

 

8. Satan emphasizes all so-called sins, because they all lead to physical, mental and emotional satisfaction!

 

However, it is good to study this issue more closely, because LaVey emphasizes it. We should study it in the light of the Bible and practical life in order to get a better picture:

 

God created sex. Firstly, it is a mistake to think that sex is an idea of the devil. This is not true: God created Adam and Eve also to be sexual creatures so that sex – as everything created by God – was called very good (Gen 1:31). Nowhere in the Bible is it said that sex between a husband and a wife is wrong: it is regarded as a self-evident and natural thing (1 Cor 7:1-5, Hebr 13:4, Prov 5:18,19). In fact, Paul warned that teachings in which people are forbidden to marry and are told to abstain from certain foods that God created are teachings of the demons and Satan:

 
- (1 Tim 4:1-3) Now the Spirit speaks expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

2  Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

3  Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God has created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

 

Actually, many things are indeed only distortions. Something may be good in itself, but it changes into something quite different by means of distortions. Those can be the next kinds of issues, for example:

 

- Perfect sexual negativity and the life of a playboy – in which a man hastens “from flower to flower” – are both distortions. On the other hand, an ordinary man can have sex with his wife even more often than a playboy with hundreds of women.

 

- Alcoholism is a distortion from the normal way of drinking alcohol. Wine is not such a bad thing, as the Bible indicates in many passages. It was used also during the times of the Bible and it is also being used now, because milk, for example, does not keep very well.

 

- Obesity and excessive eating are distortions from normal eating, and it is known that they cause many illnesses.

 

Conclusion. When Anton LaVey emphasizes the significance of pleasures, he does not point out the following important issues:

 
- Pleasure reduces. Firstly, it is good to note that we will gradually get used to any pleasure. As comes to a good spouse, sex, getting property or something similar, they lose their brilliantness. Therefore, a 40–50-year-old man who has had sex for over 20 years, does not experience it in the same way any longer: he reacts to it much more calmly and dispassionately than as a younger boy.

 

- Conclusion. The issue to be taken into account is that when drugs and alcohol are emphasized in addition to sex, if they really bring happiness, alcoholics and narcotics should be the happiest people in the world. However, it seems to be quite the contrary, because many of them lead a quite miserable life.