Demystifying satanism

 In the past few years we heard of individuals who died mysteriously after having been offered lifts. 
Recently, we have heard rumours about people claiming to have witnessed snakes spitting money and birds talking. In one incident it was alleged that a certain individual was lucky enough to pick up US$400 supposedly lost by someone else. However, his luck turned into misfortune as that money kept coming back into his pockets after using it to purchase different items.
 Of late, schools have been the target points for the manifestations of satanic activities. It has been reported that two children at one mission school were left bleeding after an encounter with satanists. These are just but a few examples of the manifestations of satanism in our country. Otherwise a lot is happening behind closed doors.
But what exactly is satanism?  Well, satanism is not a new age phenomenon. It is as old as Satan himself. Because satanism has assumed new different meanings over time, the subject has become too broad. However, in the context of manifestations of satanism in Zimbabwe it should suffice to define satanism as the worship of the devil or devotion to the work of Satan.
 Satanism has the devil as the object of worship, satanists as his worshipers and demons as the spirit guides of satanists who are human personalities. Satanism does not only refer to the direct worship of Satan by his avowed followers but it also includes all forms of evil magic like divination, sorcery, soothsaying and witchcraft. Divination and soothsaying are basically the acts of discovering or guessing something unknown or telling the future through evil spirits. Sorcery and witchcraft refer to the performing of magic to make bad things happen. Most of the above-mentioned manifestations are through the branch of satanism called witchcraft.
Glaring characteristics of satanism include opposition to all that is of God, eating of human flesh and drinking of human blood, human sacrifices and the desire to lead devoted Christians away from Christ.  Major reasons why people choose to worship Satan is the lure of money and the desire for power to control or manipulate other people and the hunger for esoteric or secret knowledge.
Churches and satanism
Some people are blaming the mushrooming of churches as the cause of the prevalence of satanism in Zimbabwe. My own opinion is that if churches are to blame it is not because of the mushrooming of churches and prophets. Churches are to blame because of two reasons: firstly because Satan targets churches as they are the only institutions which directly resist him, and secondly because there is an intensification of prayer in Zimbabwe which is causing the adversary to be exposed. According to the Scriptures Satan normally works under cover disguising himself as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14,15). This means that Satan’s first and foremost strategy is deception. Thus any obvious manifestation of the works of Satan, like turning people into animals, could mean that either something went wrong in the devil’s scheme of things or that intense prayer in the atmosphere has exposed the works of Satan.
 In the same vein, blaming one particular church for the increase in satanism cases might be unwarranted because Satan is everywhere. Moreover, witches and wizards might be taking advantage of rumours against churches to peddle their evil works under cover of churches.
However, churches may reduce their blameworthiness by concentrating more on building up the spirits of members with God’s word and not giving out or selling church brand articles like towels and bracelets that can be abused to act like charms or fetishes.   
Why satanists may target schools?
The main reason is that pupils are highly unsuspecting. Satan wants to spread his evil influence through gullible vessels. In Acts 16 a damsel, young lady, was used unknowingly in divination and she made money for her masters. Young people are quick to spread things around, evil or good. Moreover, students are in need of many good things like money, nice cellphones, dresses and food. Satan always lures people by promising everything nice.
 Defences against satanism
Earnest prayer is our first line of defence against satanism. Fervent prayer thwarts Satan’s work like nothing else. Parents must pray for their children’s protection by pleading the blood of Jesus Christ over them. Students can thwart Satan’s attacks by forming prayer and Bible study groups or by becoming serious members of scripture unions. Children must be advised not to accept anything from strangers or picking things that are suspicious.
 Finally, every believer young or old must know that we can submit to God and resist the devil in the name of Jesus (James 4:7). Resisting the devil is not a matter of spiritual maturity but of our position in Christ.
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