Many Americans haunted by ghosts, look to astrology – REUTERS By Ed Stoddard – Thu Dec 10, 9:23 am ET

I’ve always been a Christian. I grew up Catholic but I’m now just a Christian. Many people call it non-denominational, but it’s no different. A Christian is a Christian. Right?

To add to this, I grew up with both of my parents being born and raised in South Louisiana – Cajun Country. There is a rich heritage of food, music and beliefs. Beliefs such as Traiteurs (treaters or healers) and that someone could put the Gris-Gris (pronounced Gree-Gree) or a type of voodoo curse on you. So while I was a Christian – Catholic – I also believed in these things too, some almost as strongly as the Catholic faith.

While reading through this article it reminded me of that time. How confusing and odd it was for me. To believe that I served THE God who created the universe yet believe that someone could put a curse on me and God would not or could not do anything was completely opposite of what I was supposed to believe. As you read through the article you notice the numbers and percentages of people that have beliefs in everything from astrology, to ghost, to even mixing in Eastern and New Age religions. Yet, we are clearly instructed and told in Exodus 20:3-6:

Anything that is not of God, His Word, His Son, or His Spirit that is obeyed and yielded to is disobedience and ultimately sin. The most disturbing statement in this article is the quote from Pew researcher Alan Cooperman, where he states, “American religious folks hold a variety of views and there is overlap among their beliefs and practices. Many do not fit into simple boxes.” While I understand that “religious folks” can cover a multitude of views and beliefs in America, the article is directly siting Americans who are Christian or have a more dominant tendency toward Christianity – that just sounds weird.

Look, it’s as simple as this – either you are a Christian or your not. You can’t be a little Christian and a little New Age and a little of this and that. There is no place for it…God’s Word is clear. Jesus said in John 14:6:

Being a Christian means you believe in Jesus as your Lord and Savior and you become, as the word Christian means – a little Christ. You are supposed to reflect Him, 100%, not the other religions and beliefs and views. Getting into agreement or even having a belief other than what His Word says compromises the very things that He died for on your behalf! In fact, it nulls and voids it, hence why in Exodus it says that you and your children for generations to come will not be blessed just simply for allowing that sin in and then passing it on to your children.

Our Pastor taught us about something earlier this year that bears sharing here. In Genesis 47 we read the account of Joseph and the famine that came upon all the lands surrounding Egypt. Joseph had received favor (Godly favor) in the sight of pharaoh and when Joseph’s family (the nation of Israel) came to him asking for helping, pharaoh granted them to live, dwell and have the land of Goshen in Egypt. What’s interesting is that if you study this chapter and the next chapters, through the beginning of Exodus, out, you will notice that while the rest of the people both in and outside of Egypt were dealing with a famine, the people who served God and only his direction, (the Word of God) living in the land of Goshen, flourished! Genesis 47:27 says:

Now while that is great and definitely what we want, what you see is that the people of Israel grew and multiplied so much that they began to intermingle with the Egyptians. As they did, they of course still believed in God and His Word, but they started adopting and beginning to believe some of the Egyptian ways and beliefs. If you don’t believe that, just look at what they did when it took days for Moses to come down from the mountain where he was receiving the 10 Commandments – what did the people of Israel do? They created golden calves and golden gods to begin worshiping, assuming that either Moses left them behind or was killed by God. Now where did they learn that? These were supposed to be the people of God! The ones who were made in the image and likeness of God. Yet here they are making gods and worshiping them, knowing their core beliefs?

Christians, the time has come to stop intermingling our belief with other non-Bible beliefs! We wonder why people have a hard time believing in Christ or Christianity? What have we given this world and those looking for Him? Confusion? Misguidance? Yet we were told to be a witness and preach the Gospel. What is the Gospel? That Jesus Christ is THE way, THE truth, and THE life and that NO ONE and NOTHING provides you access to God, our heavenly Father – PERIOD! So what do you do if you have been a Christian who picked up some things from Egypt and intermingled them with your beliefs?

First, stop it and get rid of it – ditch those beliefs and things you have picked up along the way that replace or displace God, Jesus and His Word.

Second, repent and turn away from that belief – God gave us THE way through His Son, Jesus, and if we heartfully repent and turn away from those things, He is faithful to forgive us and bring us back into right standing with Him.

Third, pickup and build up your relationship with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit – read the Bible and begin placing God’s Word (His Will, Beliefs, direction, guidance, and life) back inside you. Stay focused on Jesus – let Him be first in all things…give Him the preeminence and do not let any other gods go before Him. As you do this, you begin to love God and His Word which positions you for a full return of His love and blessings that will extend to generations of your family, because the right things will be passed down. We just have to start with asking ourselves, “What do I believe? And who am I according to the Bible?”

And that is The Truth!
PD2