The
Truth in Print Vol. 28 Issue 6, July 2022
A
Publication of the Valley church of Christ,
2375
W. 8th Street, Yuma, AZ 85364 (928-782-5058)
Website
Address ~ http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com
THE
SATANIC TEMPLE
Human “traditions” begin from
the imaginations of man’s own hearts. Systems are developed and passed down ---
some claiming to be religious and some denying that they are religious in
nature. Here’s one that uses the name Satan but deny the existence of Satan and
that they worship Satan.
The religion of Christ says:
1Jn
3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning.
For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works
of the devil.
Near the close of last year, I
wrote two articles titled “God, Man, the Devil and the World” emphasizing the
need to get Satan, that old serpent the Devil, in our conversations and
replies. No doubt the immorality associated with “woke” and LGBTQ is straight
from the Devil himself! Studying about Satan and the course of this world
separated from God in Christ enables Christians to answer with scripture –- the
one thing I’ve found that people do not want to hear is just that, what God’s
Word says about homosexuality, lesbianism, fornications, and the injustices of
this present-day movement. Why is that? Because God’s Word is a discerner of
man’s thoughts and intents: Heb 4:12 For the word of God is living and
powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division
of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the
thoughts and intents of the heart.
It’s like quoting the verses
that follow Jo 3:16 and hearing sudden silence:
Joh
3:19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and
men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Joh
3:20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the
light, lest his deeds should be exposed.
Joh
3:21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be
clearly seen, that they have been done in God."
THE SATANIC TEMPLE TRADITION IS NOT TO
BE CONFUSED WITH “RELIGIOUS SATANISTS”
One thing that is pointed out is TST should be
disassociated from what is called “traditional Satanism” where the worshippers consider
Satan to be a supernatural being worthy of worship. These groups claim, of
course, to be in contact with the Devil whom they praise and worship. The TST
is not the same as The Church of Satan.
Did
Satan consider himself worthy of worship? In the Devil’s temptation of Jesus,
which was a complete failure (Cf. Ja 1:13), he knew Jesus was God in the flesh
and yet he sought to tempt Christ to worship him.
Mat 4:8 Again, the
devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms
of the world and their glory.
Mat 4:9 And he said to
Him, "All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship
me."
Mat 4:10 Then
Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'YOU SHALL
WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND HIM ONLY YOU SHALL SERVE.'
In
Revelation the worship of demons and magical arts go together (Rev 9:20-21).
The demons’ king is mentioned in Rev 9:11. Mankind in general worshipped the
Dragon who was Satan (Rev 13:4). We read about Devil Worship, which is what
Satan desired in his efforts to try and destroy the church – it was Satan who
gave the beast of the sea (Rome) authority, and they worshipped the emperor.
The False Prophet is second beast in Rev. 13:11-15 --- he had an image made for
their worship of the emperor (Rev 16:2; 20:4).
THE SATANIC TEMPLE AND OTHER CLUBS
OFFERED AT VARIOUS SCHOOL LOCATIONS
Early
in the year (2022) we saw how TST grasped notoriety by seeking club status in
an Illinois district (Cf. https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/after-school-satan-club-illinois-concern-parents-superintendent).
We
read that parents of kids at the Jane Addams Elementary School in Moline were
outraged after learning that a Satan club was made available via flyers placed
in the lobby and share on social media.
The
article stated,
“The Satanic Temple
says on its website that it operates the clubs ‘at select public schools where
Good News Clubs also operate.’" This was said to be “legally allowed by
Bd. Ed. Policy.” Some parent had contacted TST because they wanted a choice of
different view point than the Child Evangelistic Fellowship Club, it said.
HERE IS WHAT THE SATAN CLUB OFFERS
CHILDREN
The
club's flyer said children are offered science projects, puzzles, games, arts
and crafts projects, and nature activities. It came with a cute little pic of a
professor wearing a cap and horns. How inviting!
Points
on their Club flyer state:
Parents, your child
will learn…
•
Benevolence
& empathy
•
Critical
thinking
•
Problem
solving
•
Creative
expression
•
Personal
sovereignty
Their
Satanic Club flyer says…
•
The
Satanic Temple is a non-theistic religion that views Satan as a mythical figure
representing human freedom.
•
After
school Satan Club does not attempt to convert children to any religious
ideology.
•
Instead the Satanic Temple supports children to
think for themselves.
•
All
after school Satanic Clubs are based on a uniform syllabus that emphasizes a
scientific, rationalist, non superstitious world view.
Before
leaving this “clubs” for all point, things need to be said about the
immoralities in many clubs. Those who head gay clubs and push gender
identification are degenerate themselves --- one can’t start or promote such
and be righteous. Now the students are working for the teachers, and both
teachers and students are corrupt (Pro 20:11). Don’t think for a moment that those
“kids” will not corrupt your own child (I Cor 15:33). They are recruiting
parents’ children and parents often aren’t even aware when it is taking place!
They are working for the Devil! Public schools need to get rid of the clubs
that promote sexual preference and gender preference – and focus on teaching!
What business is it of public schools to even be offering on their bulletin
boards a smattering of religious clubs!
THE SATANIC TEMPLE WEBSITE NOTES THE
MISSION OF THE GROUP — WHICH IS NATIONWIDE — IS TO:
•
"encourage
benevolence and empathy,
•
reject
tyrannical authority,
•
advocate
practical common sense,
•
oppose
injustice, and undertake noble pursuits."
The
group also says its fundamental tenets are as follows:
•
"One
should strive to act with compassion and empathy
toward all creatures in
accordance with reason."
B.L.:
That would be man’s reasoning not God’s, for they state on their site:
•
“We
Satanists are thus our own “Gods,” and as beneficent “deities” we can offer
love to those who deserve it and deliver our wrath (within reasonable limits)
upon those who seek to cause us—or that which we cherish—harm. …”
B.L.:
I wonder just how long it takes children to start perceiving that belief?
•
"The
struggle for justice is an ongoing and necessary pursuit that should prevail
over laws and institutions.“
•
"One’s
body is inviolable, subject to one’s own will alone."
•
"The
freedoms of others should be respected, including the freedom to offend. To
willfully and unjustly encroach upon the freedoms of another is to forgo one’s
own."
They
answer the question “Do you worship Satan?” In an FAQ section, the Satanic
Temple group says on its website in response to the question "Do you
worship Satan?":
•
"No,
nor do we believe in the existence of Satan or the supernatural."
It
goes on:
"The Satanic
Temple believes that religion can, and should, be divorced from superstition.
As such, we do not promote a belief in a personal Satan. To embrace the name
Satan is to embrace rational inquiry removed from supernaturalism and archaic
tradition-based superstitions."
(B.L.)
SOME DEFINITIONS:
1.
“Rational” is defined by the American Heritage Dictionary: 1. Having or
exercising the ability to reason.
COMPARE
THE BIBLE CONCERNING GOD:
Rom 1:20 For the
invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being
understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so
that they are without excuse:
1) Rom 1:20 “Understood”
[G3539 noieō] to exercise the mind (observe), that is, (figuratively) to
comprehend, heed: - consider, perceive, think, understand.
2) Ps. 14:1-2 says the
fool has said in his heart there is no God. Here such stated fools practice
abominable works.
2.
“Supernatural” is defined by the American Heritage Dictionary: 4. Of or
relating to the immediate exercise of divine power, miracles.
COMPARE
THE BIBLE WITH “ATHEISTIC” RELIGION (no God or gods).
Psa 33:6 By the
word of the LORD the heavens were made, And all the host of them by the breath
of His mouth.
Psa 33:7 He gathers the
waters of the sea together as a heap; He lays up the deep in storehouses.
Psa 33:8 Let all the
earth fear the LORD; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of
Him.
Psa 33:9 For He
spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.
Note:
God’s divine power stated here is not believed in by TST.
3.
“Supernaturalism” is defined by the American Heritage Dictionary: 2. Belief in
a supernatural agency that intervenes in the course of
natural laws.
COMPARE
OUR BELIEF IN THE BIBLE:
We
believe in God at the Flood and understand why He destroyed all but eight souls
(2 Pet 2:5). We believe in God’s destruction of Sodom and understand why he
destroyed those practicing perversions (2 Pet 2:6) – there will always be so
called science that seeks to find some other explanation for the miracles of
the Bible.
The
Angels they claim not to exist, the Bible says will cast the children of the
wicked one into a furnace of fire (Matt 13:36-42).
4.
“Superstition” is defined by the American Heritage Dictionary: 2a. A belief,
practice, or rite maintained by ignorance of the laws of nature or by faith in
magic or chance 2b. A fearful or abject state of mind due to such ignorance or
irrationality.
COMPARE
THE BIBLE:
God’s
Word says Satan is real:
Gen 3:1 Now the serpent
was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he
said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the
garden?
Rev 12:9 And the great
dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which
deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were
cast out with him.
THE SATANIC TEMPLE’S “DEITY” BAPHOMET
Since TST enjoys status with the IRS as a “church”
they have access to public spaces. At times their featuring Baphomet has caused
quite a stir – especially at holiday season. It is described as a winged goat
creature, and was depicted as a babe in a manger at Christmas time at the
Illinois Capitol Rotunda (See
https://www.breitbart.com/faith/2021/12/20/satanic-temple-display-features-deity-baphomet-as-babe-in-manger/
DR. SUSAN BERRY 20 Dec 2021).
“In April 2019, TST announced the Internal Revenue Service
(IRS) had recognized it as a “church” with tax-exempt status. This
acknowledgment will help make sure The Satanic Temple has the same access to
public spaces as other religious organizations, affirm our standing in court
when battling religious discrimination, and enable us to apply for faith-based
government grants.”
“Despite its designation as a “church,” TST is
non-religious and states on its FAQ page that it does not worship Satan:
[N]or do we believe in the existence of Satan or the
supernatural. The Satanic Temple believes that religion can, and should, be
divorced from superstition. As such, we do not promote a belief in a personal
Satan. To embrace the name Satan is to embrace rational inquiry removed from
supernaturalism and archaic tradition-based superstitions. Satanists should
actively work to hone critical thinking and exercise reasonable agnosticism in
all things. Our beliefs must be malleable to the best current scientific
understandings of the material world — never the reverse.”
The
freakish image of two young children with the Baphomet statue is certainly not
as they say “…a beautiful work of art – there is nothing to be afraid of.” (See
https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-33682878, Decoding the symbols on Satan's
statue, By James Morgan, BBC News, Washington DC)
Concerning
Baphomet and children this statement:
“We hope children will see this as a beautiful work of art - there is nothing
to be afraid of. That's what the children symbolise," says Greaves.
"The goat's face
has a neutral expression. It's not demonic, ferocious or monstrous - as people
make it out to be - if you look at without the cultural baggage."
But do children really
have nothing to be afraid of from Satan?
"I don't think children
approaching the monument without being primed by propaganda will find anything
horrific about it," says Greaves.
"But we're about
not indoctrinating children. For the most part children are forced into
religion. That's something we definitely don't care to do."
THE SATANIC TEMPLE’S “HELL HOUSE” A
PARODY
TST has been known also for their Hell House.
One explanation offered showing a Hell House stated:
“The Baphomet statue is
seen in the conversion room at the Satanic Temple where a "Hell House"
is being held in Salem, Massachusett on October 8, 2019. - The Hell House was a
parody on a Christian Conversion centre meant to scare atheist and other
Satanic Church members.”
THE SATANIC TEMPLE SUPPORTING PRIDE
MONTH AND PERFORMING “UNBAPTISMS”
From a recent Fox News article: Idaho Satanic Temple drops
out of 'family-friendly' Pride Month event after offering 'unbaptisms'
(https://www.foxnews.com/us/idaho-satanic-temple-pride-month-event-unbaptisms)
The article
stated:
The Idaho chapter of The
Satanic Temple (TST) withdrew from a Pride Month event for families and
children after other sponsors dropped out following local news reports on the
temple's intention to offer renunciations of Christian baptisms.
"We are so excited
to announce that we will have a booth and be participating Coeur D'Alene's
‘Pride in the Park’ event next Saturday, June 11th from 10am-3pm!," Idaho
TST wrote in now-deleted Facebook post reported on by NBC affiliate KOBI.
"We will have merchandise for sale, be offering support to our community
and performing unbaptisms for those interested! Just know, Satan loves you for
you! Hail Satan!"
The
"family-friendly" celebration, called "Pride in the Park," was
hosted by the North Idaho Pride Alliance (NIPA) in Coeur d'Alene on Saturday.
COMPARE
THE BIBLE:
1Co 6:9 Know ye not
that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived:
neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers
of themselves with mankind,
1Co 6:10 Nor thieves,
nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the
kingdom of God.
1Co 6:11 And such were
some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in
the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
CONCLUSION:
The
Bible clearly teaches that the world separated from God in Christ are deceived
by and identify with Satan:
2Co 4:3 But if our
gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
2Co 4:4 In whom the god
of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light
of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto
them.
Who is of the devil?
1Jn 3:7 Little
children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous,
even as he is righteous.
1Jn 3:8 He that
committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For
this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of
the devil.
1Jn 3:10 In this the
children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth
not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
1Jn 5:19 We know that
we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
THE
THING OBVIOUSLY MISSING IN MATERIALISM IS THE VALUE OF THE SOUL.
God
created man in his own image thus each person has an eternal spirit within the
physical body (Gen 1:27-28, 2:7). Some, though possessing one are undiscerning
of their eternity.
Mat 16:24 Then said
Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself,
and take up his cross, and follow me.
Mat 16:25 For whosoever
will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake
shall find it.
Mat 16:26 For what is a
man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what
shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Luk 12:16 And he spake
a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth
plentifully:
Luk 12:17 And he
thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where
to bestow my fruits?
Luk 12:18 And he said,
This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I
bestow all my fruits and my goods.
Luk 12:19 And I will
say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine
ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
Luk 12:20 But God said
unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose
shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
Luk 12:21 So is he that
layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
Jesus
commissioned the Apostles to preach the Gospel to every creature:
Mar 16:15 And he said
unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every
creature.
Mar 16:16 He that
believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be
damned.
Peter
preached the Gospel as recorded on Pentecost in Acts 2. They asked and were
told what to do to be saved. They were told to repent and be baptized for the
remission of their sins. Scriptural baptism is immersion for the forgiveness of
sins.
Act 2:36 Therefore let
all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus,
whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
Act 2:37 Now when they
heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the
rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
Act 2:38 Then Peter
said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus
Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy
Ghost.
Act 2:39 For the
promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even
as many as the Lord our God shall call.
Paul
wrote of Christians:
Col 1:12 Giving thanks unto
the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the
saints in light:
Col 1:13 Who hath
delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the
kingdom of his dear Son:
Col 1:14 In whom we
have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Col_2:12 Buried with
him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the
operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
Baptism
puts one into Christ:
Gal 3:26 For ye are all
the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
Gal 3:27 For as many of
you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Baptism
is into Christ’s church, the “one body”:
1Co 12:13 For by one
Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles,
whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one
Spirit.
This is the “one baptism” spoken of in Eph 4:5.
Eph 4:4 There is
one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your
calling;
Eph 4:5 One
Lord, one faith, one baptism,
Eph 4:6 One God
and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
FORGIVENESS AND THE HOPE OF AN ETERNITY IN
HEAVEN IS THE OFFER OF CHRIST’S LOVE! IT IS AN OFFER FROM GOD AND SO UNLIKE,
“HAIL SATAN!”
1Pe 1:3 Blessed
be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant
mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus
Christ from the dead,
1Pe 1:4 To an
inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in
heaven for you,
1Pe 1:5 Who are
kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in
the last time.
Valley Church of Christ
2375 W. 8th Street, Yuma, AZ
85364
(928) 782-5058 ~ http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com
Sunday Services – Classes ~10:00;
Assembly 10:50 am; Evening: 6:00 pm.
Wednesday evening – 7:00 pm
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learn more call, visit or visit our website at: