Sunday School Lesson 33 -Occultism Is Evil

MEMORY VERSE: “Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver.” – Acts 19:19

BIBLE PASSAGE: Proverbs 1:10-19

INTRODUCTION: Cultism can be traced to the ancient Egyptians. The Egyptians had many magicians who practiced occultism and used occult means to acquire more powers. These magicians belong to groups that kept their activities secret (Ex.7:11). The spread and explosion of cultism to other nations of the world happened for diverse reasons. Cultism is otherwise known as secret cult or secret society.

LESSON OUTLINES:

1. DESCRIPTION AND CONSEQUENCES
2. COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM

1. DESCRIPTION AND CONSEQUENCES

• A cult is a group of people who have extreme beliefs and ideas which only members have access to.
  Cultism is an association or organisation of people whose membership, initiation, policies and activities are done secretly.
  The activities are carried out at odd hours of the day and are at variance with the accepted norms of the society.
  Cultism cuts across all spectra of society. However, the youths are the most vulnerable.
  Occultic groups use signs and symbols such as green ribbons on berets, cross bones, human skull, axes and so on. They usually adopt some handgrip as means of mutual recognition among the members.
• A child of God must not allow anything or anyone to lure him/her into joining a cult group (Ps.1:1).Just like fornication, and all uncleanness or covetousness, cultism should not be named at all among believers (Eph.5:3).
• COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM

A. Scripture warns us against fellowshipping with them (Eph.5:11) because their activities have negative effects on both members and non-members.

a. The activities of these cults take various destructive forms which include:
i. Consumption of alcohol and hard drugs that tend to give false courage.
ii. Stealing, Violent behaviours, Killing, Use of guns and dangerous weapons, Torture, Sexual harassment, Stripping to the pants, Flogging,
iii. Making destructive cult marks on the bodies of new members with red hot swords during initiation (Rom.3:15-18).
b. Regardless of the motives for setting up or joining a cult group, it is shameful to imagine the evil they perpetrate and the destruction they cause to themselves and their victims (Eph.5:12; Rom.6:21).

B. To avoid being lured into cultism, a Christian must take the following precautions:

1. Stand firm on your faith and do not allow situations or circumstances to dictate your position in Christ. This can lead one into bondage (Gal.5:1).
2. Dissociate yourself from friends, class/course/room-mates, family members, etc. whose ways of life are suspicious. Let them know your stand in the Lord (Prov.1:10; 1Cor. 15:33).
3. Let your fellowship with God and the brethren be strong (Matt.22:37-39). Spend your spare time with godly people (Heb.10:25).
4. Avoid misrepresentation of your person. Let people see you as a genuine child of God in your mode of dressing, use of language/slangs, gestures, etc. (2Cor.6:17-18).
5. If you are already a cultist, you must be ready to cut ties with the group and believe that Jesus can save you. It is important to seek counsel from a matured Christian. You must confess your sins, renounce your membership and accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour (Rom.10:9-13; Prov.24:6).

CONCLUSION: Shun cultism. It only leads to destruction of lives and destinies.