In a recent interview, the Rev. Dr. Arthur F. Glasser, dean of the school of world missions at the Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California, said, “Our generation has produced more new religious cults than any generation in the total history of the human race.” Another recent report indicated that 1300 new and sometimes “fly-by-night” cults have come into existence in the last 13 years.

We live in an extremely perplexing and troublesome time. The “Age of Aquarius” is upon us. According to astrologers, this is the age that will bring with it a new religious atmosphere. Although we have reasons to fear astrologers, we cannot ignore the popu­larity and influence of many cults.

Religious deception and outright rejection of Biblical Christianity mush­room in many places. Interest in religion, the occult, mysticism and Eastern relig­ious ideas has never been more popular in America than it is now in the 1970’s. In fact, religion is one of the fastest growing fields of graduate study at the secular universities today.

These facts are striking because the Protestant theologians of the 1960’s were asserting the “death of God” and the eventual decline and fall of religion. Vernon C. Grounds is quoted in Cults and the Occult In The Age of Aquarius, Edmond C. Gruss. Grounds wrote in the Christian Heritage. January, 1973, as follows:

“In their learned opinion supernatur­alism of any sort was no longer a believable option for intelligent people, just as fairy tales are incredible to a rational adult. In fact, those radicals prophesied that re­ligion as a whole seemed slated to disappear, a kind of cultural fog evaporating before the rising sun of scientific knowledge.

But to judge by the course of events in the early 1970’s those radicals are going to be exposed as false pro­phets. Religion, whether traditional Christianity or the latest brand of Spiritism is not dying out by any means; instead, it is experiencing a tremendous upsurge.”

The recent bizarre events associated with the Peoples Temple in San Francisco and in Jonestown, Guyana, South Amer­ica, have only served to confirm the judgment of those who claim that religion headed by the fanatic with charisma is on the rise.

Although we are shocked by the events in our land, we should not be surprised that such things happen. Those who are caught up in movements such as the Jonestown experience and are swept along by the leaders of these occult groups are often drop-outs from the main-line churches. These drop-outs are seeking meaning, direction, comfort and love. In fact, those who joined the Jonestown group said that they joined because they were seeking acceptance and love, and they were surprised to be so warmly received by the Jones “church”.

Time, December 4, 1978, reports that social scientists who have studied these groups agree that most cult members are in some sort of emotional trouble before they join. Such people are vulnerable to well-planned recruitment techniques.

Because they have not received the love of the truth, God sends them strong delusion and they believe the lie. (Cf. II Thessalonians 2:10-11)

T.K. Wallace investigated the ques­tion, “What’s behind the Occultism Craze?” by questioning people in book­stores which specialized in occult material. He reported in Family Weekly, February 28, 1971, the following:

“I believe there’s a master plan to the cosmos, and I want to learn it,” said one person. “I need something like horoscopes or Tarot cards to make my decisions for me,” said another. “My marriage is on the rocks. I need to find happiness somewhere,” a third told me. Still another said, “My life is dull, and I must find something exciting.”

Notice the thorough-going emphasis in the comments of these people, who are searching and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth, that life for them is a delusion. They cannot find happiness and they do not have the only comfort in life and death that the child of God has, namely, that he belongs with body and soul for time and eternity to his faithful Savior Jesus Christ.

Although we do not agree with the premillenarian eschatology of Hal Lindsy, his analysis of the contemporary situation as reported by John Dart in the Los Angeles Times, March 10, 1973, seems to explain the contemporary explo­sion of occultism:

“Satan changed his strategy about 1967… and has since sought to have the world believe in the supernatural. This helps to explain the interest in the occult, witchcraft, Satanism, as­trology, Oriental mysticism, and sim­ilar cults in the last few years.”

Cultism is also one of the signs of Christ’s coming. Jesus told His disciples that false Christs and false prophets shall arise and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible they shall deceive the very elect. (Matthew 24:24).

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We are thankful to our Covenant God that our Protestant Reformed young people are not swept along with the occult craze of our age. This is a matter of God’s sovereign, free grace which not only saves His children but also preserves them in the greatest trial. God has been faithful to our churches and has preserved our young people from this soul-destroying menace.

We should remember, however, that the way into the occult is extraordinarily easy, the way out is extremely dangerous. This should forewarn us so that we will not experiment in these areas. We are to take the message of God seriously. “And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people.’’ (Leviticus 20:6)

It ought to be clear that the danger of the occult has always existed. The Word of God which is the source of our instruction in all the events of history speaks authoritatively concern­ing these events. Today’s religious decep­tion and outright rejection of Biblical Christianity is taught in I Timothy 4:1-2:

“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their consciences seared with a hot iron.”

The stories of the Jonestown exper­ience confirm the judgment of I Timothy 4:Iff. Jones called himself the reincarna­tion of Jesus and began calling himself God—the God who made the heavens and the earth. Such blasphemy God could not long endure. God would send strong delusion into this cult so that they should believe a lie and be damned, (cf. II Thessalonians 2.)

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What is our responsibility as Cove­nant young people in these days? Although evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, we are to continue in the things which we have learned. “But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; and that from a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.’’ (II Timothy 3:14-15)