Who is Matt Slick?
Matt Slick is the founder and president of CARM, the Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry, carm.org. Matt was raised in a nominally Christian home. He got involved in the occult at an early age but met Jesus when he was 17. He was a pastor and now runs CARM full-time. He is married to his wife Annick and has three daughters. Matt graduated from Christ College Irvine (Lutheran) in Irvine CA, in 1987 with a Bachelor’s in Social Science. In 1991 he received a Masters of Divinity from Westminster Theological Seminary (Presbyterian) in Escondido CA.
Matt started CARM in 1995 to answer questions from critics. It grew into what it is today. As of August 2021, it’s had over 147 million visitors and supports missionaries in Colombia (miapic.org), Brazil (https://defendendoafe.com.br), Africa, and Turkey.
What is Occultism?
Occultism refers to a wide range of beliefs, practices, and philosophies that involve the study and manipulation of hidden or mysterious forces, energies, and knowledge that are typically beyond the realm of conventional understanding or scientific explanation. The term “occult” itself comes from the Latin word “occultus,” which means “hidden” or “secret.”
Some examples of the occult include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Esoteric Knowledge: Occultists often claim access to secret or esoteric knowledge that is not readily available to the general public. This knowledge may pertain to spirituality, the afterlife, the nature of reality, and more.
- Magic and Rituals: Many occult practices involve the use of rituals, symbols, and incantations to influence some spiritual or supernatural realm. This can include divination, spellcasting, and ceremonial magic.
- Astrology: Occultists often explore astrology, believing that the positions and movements of celestial bodies can influence human affairs and provide insights into one’s personality and destiny.
- Alchemy: Historically, alchemy was an occult practice aimed at transforming base metals into gold and discovering the elixir of life.
- Hermeticism: This is a philosophical and spiritual tradition based on the writings attributed to Hermes Trismegistus, who is believed by occultists to have imparted secret wisdom about the nature of the universe, divinity, and human potential.
- Tarot and Divination: Occultists often use Tarot cards, runes, or crystal balls for divination and gaining insights into the future or personal matters.
- Spiritualism: Some occult practices involve attempts to communicate with spirits, ancestors, or other supernatural entities through séances or mediumships.
- New Age Movements: Many New Age movements incorporate occult beliefs and practices, emphasizing spirituality, self-discovery, and personal transformation via other unbiblical means.
What the Bible Says about Occultism
Deuteronomy 18:9–14
[9] “When you come into the land that the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of those nations. [10] There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer [11] or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, [12] for whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD. And because of these abominations, the LORD your God is driving them out before you. [13] You shall be blameless before the LORD your God, [14] for these nations, which you are about to dispossess, listen to fortune-tellers and to diviners. But as for you, the LORD your God has not allowed you to do this. (ESV)
Leviticus 19:31
[31] “Do not turn to mediums or necromancers; do not seek them out, and so make yourselves unclean by them: I am the LORD your God. (ESV)
Isaiah 8:18–19
[18] Behold, I and the children whom the LORD has given me are signs and portents in Israel from the LORD of hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion. [19] And when they say to you, “Inquire of the mediums and the necromancers who chirp and mutter,” should not a people inquire of their God? Should they inquire of the dead on behalf of the living? (ESV)
Galatians 5:19–21
[19] Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, [20] idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, [21] envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (ESV)
Acts 19:18–20
[18] Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. [19] And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver. [20] So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily. (ESV)
Message
Matt Slick preaching at City on a Hill Church, Provo Utah, 10/1/2023
Sermon: The Christian’s war against the Forces of Darkness
When: Service is at 11AM
Where: City on a Hill Church, https://www.cityonahillut.org
Address: 105 E 100 N, Provo Utah 84606