Indulgence in Demonic Influence

1 Corinthians 8:4-6 - About eating food offered to idols, then, we know that “an idol is nothing in the world,” and that “there is no God but one.” 5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth—as there are many “gods” and many “lords”— 6 yet for us there is one God, the Father.

1 Corinthians 10:14,18-21, 28-29 - 14 Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. 18 Look at the people of Israel. Do not those who eat the sacrifices participate in what is offered on the altar? 19 What am I saying then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, but I do say that what they sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God. I do not want you to participate with demons! 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot share in the Lord’s table and the table of demons. 28 But if someone says to you, “This is food offered to an idol,” do not eat it, out of consideration for the one who told you, and for conscience’ sake. 29 I do not mean your own conscience, but the other person’s.

HOW ARE YOU OFFERING YOUR TIME AND MONEY, AND WITH IT YOUR HEART AND MIND TO DEMONIC INFLUENCES?

1 Corinthians 8:8-13 - 8 Food will not make us acceptable to God. We are not inferior if we don’t eat, and we are not better if we do eat. 9 But be careful that this right of yours in no way becomes a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if someone sees you, the one who has this knowledge, dining in an idol’s temple, won’t his weak conscience be encouraged to eat food offered to idols? 11 Then the weak person, the brother for whom Christ died, is ruined by your knowledge. 12 Now when you sin like this against the brothers and wound their weak conscience, you are sinning against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food causes my brother to fall, I will never again eat meat, so that I won’t cause my brother to fall.

1 Corinthians 10:23-24, 31 - 23 “Everything is permissible,” but not everything is helpful. “Everything is permissible,” but not everything builds up. 24 No one should seek his own good, but the good of the other person. v31 - Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for God’s glory.

SUMMARY: WHATEVER YOU (INDULGE IN) DO IT FOR GOD'S GLORY & THE GOOD OF OTHERS.

PATTERNS OF DEMONICALLY INFLUENCE IDOL WORSHIP:
-WORSHIPING CREATED THINGS; “IDOLS” or "FALSE GODS"
-QUESTIONING SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP AND AUTHORITY
-MAKING THE SACRIFICING IN THE WRONG WAY OR TO THE WRONG THINGS.
-MISUSING SPIRITUAL GIFTS FOR PERSONAL GAIN
-SEXUAL IMMORALITY: FROM DRUNKEN ORGIES, TO DEVALUING GOD’S MARRIAGE COVENANT, TO PRACTICING HOMOSEXUALITY.

AMERICAN “IDOL” INDULGENCES-{Time & Money Annually}
• Phones (1460hrs (28hrs/wk); $800/person
• Entertainment (Movies & TV) (1095 Hours(21hrs/wk); $1200/person)
• Social Media (730hrs (14hrs/wk)
• Video Games (364hrs (7hrs/wk); $200/person)
• Sports (260 Hours (5hrs/wk); $500/person)
• Money & Materialism (260hrs (5hrs/wk); $5000/person)
• Dining Out (223 Times a Year (4.3/wk); $3,000/person)
• Sex/Pornography (78hrs (1.5hrs/wk); $100/person)

AMERICAN IDOL INDULGENCES VS CHURCH
• Church (52hrs (1hr/wk); $1200/per household

Neo-paganism is a modern spiritual movement that seeks to revive and adapt ancient pre-Christian religious practices, often emphasizing polytheism, nature reverence, and seasonal rituals.

KEY CHARACTERISTICS OF NEO-PAGANISM:
• Idolatry: Worshiping false gods, idols, or images.
• Nature Worship: Reverence for creation rather than the Creator.
• Occult and Magical Practices: Engaging in sorcery, divination, or other supernatural pursuits outside of God’s revelation.
• Immoral Rituals: Practices like child sacrifice or temple prostitution.
• Worldly Priorities: Focusing on materialism or worldly concerns rather than God.

PRACTICING PAGANS IN AMERICA:
1990 - 8,000
2008 - 340,000
2018 - 1.5 Million

ESTIMATES OF A BIBLICALLY BROADENED VIEW OF PAGANISM IN AMERICA:
• Self-identified Pagans (0.4-0.6%): Approx. 1.33 million to 1.99 million people.
• Members of Progressive Mainline Denominations (3.3%): Approx. 10.96 million people.
• Progressive or Cultural Christians (12-18%): Approx. 39.84 million to 59.76 million people.
• New Age & Syncretistism within Christianity (10-12%): Approximately 33.2 million to 39.84 million people.