Why should Christians avoid practices condemned in Deuteronomy 18:12 today? Standing on Deuteronomy 18:12 “For whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these abominations the LORD your God is driving out the nations before you.” What Exactly Is Being Forbidden? The surrounding verses (18:10-11) identify practices God calls abominations: • Child sacrifice • Divination or fortune-telling • Sorcery and witchcraft • Interpreting omens • Casting spells • Consulting mediums, spiritists, or the dead God’s Character Demands Purity • He is holy—utterly separate from evil (Leviticus 19:2; 1 Peter 1:15-16). • He knows and rules the unseen realm; dabbling in counterfeit powers insults His sovereignty (Isaiah 46:9-10). • What He calls “detestable” never becomes acceptable with time or culture. Why These Practices Still Matter to New-Covenant Believers • They invite fellowship with demonic powers instead of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 10:20-21; 2 Corinthians 6:14-17). • They proclaim distrust in God’s guidance, seeking hidden knowledge outside His Word (Isaiah 8:19-20). • They break the first commandment by exalting other powers as functional “gods” (Exodus 20:3). • They produce works of the flesh that shut people out of God’s kingdom (Galatians 5:19-21). • They harm our witness, confusing light with darkness (Matthew 5:14-16). New Testament Echoes • Paul confronted Elymas the sorcerer: “full of all deceit,” “enemy of all righteousness” (Acts 13:6-10). • A fortune-telling spirit was cast out in Philippi; profit was no excuse to keep it (Acts 16:16-18). • Believers in Ephesus burned occult scrolls worth fifty thousand drachmas (Acts 19:18-20). The Better Way: Living Set Apart • Fill your mind with Scripture, not horoscopes (Psalm 119:105). • Seek the Spirit’s leading; He “will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13). • Guard your home: remove books, games, or media that glorify magic or spiritism (Acts 19:19). • Stay connected to a Christ-honoring church community (Hebrews 10:24-25). • When tempted by curiosity, remember the cost: “the cowardly, unbelieving… and sorcerers… will partake in the lake that burns with fire” (Revelation 21:8). Conclusion: Why Abstain? Because the same Lord who judged Canaan still reigns. What He once labeled an abomination remains so. Choosing obedience keeps us in fellowship with Him, protects us from spiritual bondage, and shines gospel light into a dark world. |
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