I Believe the Occult Is in Error, Biblically Speaking

I believe the occult is in error, biblically speaking, because it seeks spiritual power, hidden knowledge, and supernatural guidance apart from God. The Bible does not treat the occult as harmless curiosity, innocent imagination, or merely symbolic spirituality. Scripture consistently condemns occult practices because they lead people away from the living God and into deception, bondage, and rebellion.

By “the occult,” I mean practices such as witchcraft, sorcery, divination, astrology, necromancy, spiritism, fortune-telling, tarot, séances, charms, spells, magic rituals, and attempts to contact the dead or manipulate spiritual forces. These practices may appear different on the surface, but they share a common error: they seek spiritual insight or power from sources God has forbidden.

First, the occult is in error because God alone is the source of truth. The Lord says, “I am the LORD, and there is no other” (Isaiah 45:5). He alone knows the future perfectly. He alone governs creation. He alone reveals truth without error. The occult offers secret knowledge, but Scripture teaches that true wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 9:10).

The Christian is not called to search for hidden power in spiritual darkness. The Christian is called to trust the God who has spoken clearly in His Word. Deuteronomy 29:29 says, “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us.” That means we are not free to pry into forbidden mysteries. We are to receive what God has revealed and obey Him.

Second, the occult is in error because God explicitly forbids it. Deuteronomy 18:10–12 says, “There shall not be found among you anyone who…practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer.” The passage then says these practices are an abomination to the Lord.

This is not a minor biblical warning. God was separating His people from pagan nations who sought guidance through forbidden spiritual practices. Israel was not to imitate them. The people of God were to be holy, trusting the Lord rather than consulting spirits, omens, or magical arts.

Third, the occult is in error because it is a form of spiritual rebellion. At its root, occult practice often seeks control. It wants to know what God has not revealed. It wants power without submission. It wants guidance without obedience. It wants spiritual experience without repentance.

This is why the sin of Saul is so tragic. In 1 Samuel 28, Saul consults a medium at Endor because he is desperate for guidance. But his action is not faith. It is rebellion. He had rejected the word of the Lord, and then he sought forbidden spiritual help. First Chronicles 10:13–14 says Saul died for his breach of faith because he did not keep the command of the Lord and consulted a medium.

Fourth, the occult is in error because it opens people to deception. The Bible does not present all spiritual activity as good. Scripture teaches that there are evil spiritual powers. Paul writes that believers do not wrestle merely against flesh and blood, but against “spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). John warns, “Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God” (1 John 4:1).

The occult often presents itself as healing, empowering, enlightening, or ancient wisdom. But spiritual experiences must not be judged by how powerful they feel. They must be judged by whether they agree with the Word of God. A supernatural experience can still be deceptive. A voice, sign, dream, or ritual can feel meaningful and still lead someone away from Christ.

Fifth, the occult is in error because it competes with Christ. Jesus Christ is the true mediator between God and man. He is the final Prophet, the great High Priest, and the rightful King. Christians do not need mediums, spirit guides, astrology charts, tarot readings, spells, or rituals for protection. We have Christ. We have His Word. We have the Holy Spirit. We have access to the Father through the Son.

Colossians 2:3 says that in Christ “are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” That is a direct answer to occult spirituality. The treasures of wisdom are not hidden in secret rituals. They are found in Christ. The Christian does not need forbidden knowledge because he has the revealed Christ.

Sixth, the occult is in error because it cannot save. It may promise insight, power, protection, or self-discovery, but it cannot forgive sin. It cannot reconcile man to God. It cannot conquer death. It cannot cleanse the conscience. Only Jesus Christ can save sinners.

At Ephesus, when people came to faith in Christ, many who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them publicly (Acts 19:18–19). That moment shows the proper Christian response. They did not try to blend Jesus with occult practices. They renounced the old ways because Christ was better.

Therefore, I believe the occult is in error biblically speaking. It is not merely strange, mysterious, or misunderstood. It is spiritually dangerous because it rejects God’s revealed will and seeks power or knowledge from forbidden sources.

But there is mercy for those who have been involved in the occult. The gospel is not only for respectable sinners. It is for idolaters, sorcerers, rebels, deceived people, fearful people, and spiritually enslaved people. Christ saves all who come to Him in repentance and faith.

The answer to the occult is not fear. The answer is Christ. He is Lord over every power. He disarmed the rulers and authorities by His cross. He rose from the dead. His name is above every name. His Word is sufficient. His blood is enough. His kingdom is light.

The occult leads into darkness. Christ brings sinners into marvelous light.