Sermon Tone Analysis

BEGINNINGS

Cult researcher Richard Abanes wrote, “The developmental history of Satanism is a long and twisting path that winds back through centuries of witchcraft, superstition, religious folklore, and ancient paganism”

“It was a blending of these elements by persons seeking to fight Christianity’s growing theological and moral influences (c.

A.D. 400s-1600s) that led to the birth of Satanism, which has since come to represent the ultimate expression of rebellion against God”

Aleister Crowley (1875-1947) - Self-fulfillment and self-indulgence highlighted his life

Crowley wrote two books, The Book of the Law, and Equinox, which is foundational to modern Satanism

Anton LaVey (b.

1930) - He said his Church of Satan was to be “a temple of glorious indulgence that would be fun for people . . .

But the main purpose was to gather a group of like-minded individuals together for the use of their combined energies in calling up the dark force in nature that is called Satan”

CATEGORIES

“Satanism is a form of religious belief and expression holding to the worship of Satan, whether Satan is defined as a supernatural person, a deity, the Devil, a supernatural force, a natural force, and innate human force, or, most commonly, the self”

1) Religious Satanists - are members of satanic churches like Anton LaVey’s First Church of Satan

“They advocate egotism, indulgence, and the acquisition and use of personal and political power, have well-defined theologies and authority structures, and recruit members openly”

2) Traditional Satanists - are very secretive and usually involved in a satanic or occultic group

3) Self-Styled Satanists - make up their own garden variety of Satanism based on the books they have read on the subject

4) Outlaw Satanists - worship the Devil and are involved in drugs, vadalism, violence, and heavy metal music

“The members are usually young (fifteen to twenty-five), socially alienated, and held together by a charismatic leader.

Meetings are generally sporadic and lack any coherent theology; the rituals . . .

tend to be slapped together from movies and books on black magic”

5) Dabblers - usually made up of young people who are not completely committed to Satan but experiment with occult-related games (Dungeons and Dragons, Ouija Boards), heavy metal music with satanic lyrics, and satanic literature (The Satanic Bible)

6) Psychotic Satanists - are mentally deranged individuals who claim to hear voices and claim to get direction from Satan

BELIEFS

(1) Man Is Chief

Their highest priorities are self-fulfillment, self-indulgence, self-exaltation, and hedonism

a) God is the Creator - “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” ()

b) God is infinite - God has no beginning and no end ()

c) God alone is self-existent - ()

(2) Jesus Is A Myth Or Shameful Failure

They argue that he is a fabricated figure with no historical basis

Anton LaVey claims, “Christ has failed in all his engagement as both savior and deity”

a) Non-Christian witnesses - Jewish historian Flavius Josephus (Antiquities 20.9.1), Roman historian Cornelius Tacitus (Annals 15.44), and Roman historian Suetoius (Life of Claudius 25.4)

b) The Bible says it’s accounts are based on eyewitness testimony ()

c) reads, “For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty”

John wrote, “In righteousness He judges and makes war . . .

His eyes were like a flame of fire . . .

out of His mouth goes a sharp sword . . .

And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron” ()

(3) God Is Explained Variously

“There is no God . . .

no supreme, all-powerful deity in the heavens that cares about the lives of human beings.

There is nobody up there who gives a [expletive].

Man is the only God”

Researcher Craig Hawkins wrote, “Within this framework, some Satanists believe the balance of power will remain the same with neither side dominating or conquering the other; others hold that Satan will eventually conquer God”

“God is viewed as a contemptible, weak-willed, spineless, maudin chump, a cosmic bore and “nerd” of infinite proportions”

“This powerful force which permeates and balances the universe is far too impersonal to care about the happiness or misery of flesh-and-blood creatures on this ball of dirt upon which we live”

However, God created humankind (; ; ) and all humans are morally responsible to Him ()

a) Endless trouble and distress () b) Condemnation ()

c) Separation from God’s presence () d) Weeping and gnashing of teeth ()

e) Destruction () f) Eternal punishment ()

(4) The Bible Is Oppressive And Full Of Contradictions

Satanists refer to the Bible as a “stupid book of fables”

Most Satanists believe the Bible and all other holy books are not authoritative, including The Satanic Bible

Christian doctrine has become outmoded and unbelievable, even to the most feebleminded.

One wonder, “How is it possible for people to be so stupid as to believe the lies they are taught by ministers and priests?”

reads, “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free”

Scripture tells us, “The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes” ()

reads, “Who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry.

The LORD gives freedom to the prisoners”

Paul wrote, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage” ()

It is true that the Gospels for instance have some apparent contradictions

(5) There Is No Sin

They believe that instead of concerning themselves with sin they should rather seek self-fulfillment and self-indulgence in their lifetime

a) Sin is missing the mark () b) Sin is likened to us going astray ()

c) Sin is transgression () d) Sin is a trespass ()

a) Blinding () b) Deceiving () c) Debasing ()

d) Corrupting () e) Debilitating ()

(6) The Afterlife Is Explained Variously

a) The afterlife does not exist - our present life is all we have

b) Through reincarnation we will have an eternity of physical rebirths to satisfy our carnal ways

c) Satan will defeat God and allow Satanists to spend eternity in his great kingdom of hell

d) God will defeat Satan and cast all Satanists into eternal torment, but they choose to follow the Devil in this life anyway

Scripture reads, “Those who believe in Him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God” ()

But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him” ()

“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying.

There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away” (Rev.

21:4)