The Biblical Definition of Occult Practices Explained

What is occult practices?

The Bible explicitly prohibits occult practices as supernatural activities that defy God’s authority and seek power through forbidden means.

Deuteronomy 18:10-12 lists specific examples, including divination, sorcery, interpreting omens, and communicating with the dead, declaring such acts an abomination to the Lord. These practices are framed as part of the pagan customs surrounding Israel, which God commands His people to reject. By engaging in these acts, individuals align themselves with spiritual forces and systems opposed to divine truth.

The prohibition of occult practices is rooted in their connection to idolatry and spiritual rebellion. They represent a refusal to trust God’s sovereignty and a desire to manipulate unseen forces for personal gain. This defiance undermines the covenant relationship God establishes with His people, prioritizing human ambition over obedience to His revealed will.

Theological Implications of Occult Practices

The biblical prohibition of occult practices underscores their fundamental rejection of God’s sovereign authority as revealed in Scripture.

Deuteronomy 18:10-12 explicitly condemns practices such as divination, sorcery, and communicating with the dead, labeling them an 'abomination to the Lord.' This passage frames such acts as remnants of pagan idolatry that Israel must abandon to remain faithful to its covenant with God. By seeking power or insight through these means, individuals prioritize human ambition and spiritual autonomy over trust in divine providence, effectively substituting God’s will with alternative spiritual systems. The text emphasizes that these practices distort true spiritual discernment, which in Scripture is rooted in obedience to God’s commands and reliance on His revealed wisdom through prophets and priests.

Practicing the occult is a serious spiritual risk because it breaks the covenant with God and aligns people with opposing forces. This contrast highlights the biblical emphasis on discernment grounded in humility and submission to divine authority.

Biblical Prohibitions and Modern Context

The Bible’s warnings against occult practices remain relevant when considering modern spiritual trends that seek power or insight apart from God’s revealed will.

Ancient practices like divination and sorcery, condemned in Deuteronomy 18:10-12, find parallels in today’s tarot readings, astrology, and séances, which similarly claim access to hidden knowledge or supernatural forces. These modern forms, though culturally distinct, share the same spiritual danger of displacing trust in God with reliance on human manipulation of the unseen. The verse explicitly lists such acts as an ‘abomination to the Lord,’ a principle that extends to any practice that substitutes divine authority with alternative spiritual systems.

Galatians 5:19-21 further underscores the seriousness of these acts by categorizing them alongside other behaviors that exclude individuals from God’s kingdom. This alignment with spiritual rebellion - whether in ancient or modern guise - reflects a deeper theological conflict between human autonomy and divine sovereignty. The Bible’s consistent prohibition invites believers to reject all forms of occult practices, choosing instead to trust in God’s wisdom as the sole source of true spiritual discernment.

Why Occult Practices Matters Today

Deuteronomy 18:10-12’s warnings against occult practices remain urgent for modern believers, challenging us to examine where we seek spiritual authority.

These verses explicitly condemn divination, sorcery, and communication with the dead as 'an abomination to the Lord,' exposing the spiritual danger of substituting divine truth with human manipulation of unseen forces. Today, practices like tarot reading or astrology echo these ancient temptations, offering counterfeit wisdom that distracts from God’s revealed Word. By rejecting such practices, believers affirm their trust in God’s sovereignty and resist systems that prioritize human autonomy over covenantal obedience.

Contemporary followers of Christ must actively guard spiritual integrity by grounding their lives in Scripture and relying on the guidance of the Holy Spirit, rather than seeking answers in spiritually autonomous systems. Deuteronomy’s call to 'not practice what the Lord your God has forbidden' (Deuteronomy 18:12) invites a proactive commitment to aligning with God’s kingdom purposes, even in a culture that normalizes occult influences.

Going Deeper

To deepen your understanding of the biblical stance against occult practices, consider exploring related themes such as spiritual warfare, discernment, and ethical boundaries in modern spirituality.

Exploring these areas involves examining Ephesians 6:11-12 on spiritual warfare, 1 Corinthians 2:10-13 on the Holy Spirit’s role in discernment, and Galatians 5:19-21 on ethical boundaries in modern spirituality. These passages highlight the importance of relying on God’s armor, the Spirit’s guidance, and the pursuit of spiritual maturity to resist practices that contradict His Word.