False and True Worship: How the Occult Reveals the Truth of Catholicism Part 3

I love hearing people's testimonies of radical conversion to Christ. Recently, I found a Youtube channel featuring many young Christians' stories of being delivered from drugs, sinful relationships, and--relevant to this blog series--witchcraft and the occult, coming into new life in the Lord.

However, I notice a common thread among these stories: many grew up Catholic, went through the "motions", and now have genuine, personal relationships with Jesus.

I am not discrediting the authenticity of these conversions at all; certainly it is a glorious thing to reject evil, and accept Christ! I do find it concerning that ritualistic churches--mainly Catholic or Orthodox--are generally viewed as spiritually meaningless, empty, and thoughtless, lacking true intimacy with God. Many Christians would even dare say these churches are idolatrous.

No doubt have there been--and continue to be--many Catholics in history who have been legalistic, pharisaical, and joyless, using religion as a weapon against others. I don't blame those who left the Church for feeling the way they do.

Still, as I explained in Part 2, sinful, imperfect members of Christ's Body do not invalidate the objective goodness of His precepts and their true Source. People certainly must be held accountable, and re-educated on what it means to follow His Law and be in relationship with Him. Still, Christ did not come to abolish the Law (Matthew 5:17), but to fulfill it. And then He introduces the New Law, ratified by the shedding of His Blood.

But this New Law does not deny man's embodied nature. Rather, creation is elevated and truly becomes a means for God to share His power and life with His children.

Sacraments and Sacramentals: Not Magic, but Touch-points to God

Baptism. Confirmation. Reconciliation. Anointing of the Sick. Marriage. Holy Orders. The Eucharist. All are visible, effective signs of an invisible, spiritual reality, and instituted by Christ Himself (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1131), which can be found in the Scriptures.

God deems that nature become touch-points for His children to come to know Him, as rational creatures living in a material realm. The waters of Baptism "unleash" and signify the Blood of Christ shed two thousand years ago washing away the sins of an individual in the present day. The physical union between man and woman open to new life is made sacred with lifelong vows they make to each other in the presence of God and others, symbolizing the covenant between Christ and the Church. The man who receives Holy Orders is a living icon of Christ the Servant and Head, whose masculinity images the Father as the true, primal source and head of all creation.

Rituals are necessary to remind us that natural things--water, bread, wine, union of male and female--have been blessed by God and that all creation belongs to Him. Of course, He relates to us outside of ritualized actions. But these are the most real and ensured ways through which He pours out His grace, so that in our embodied nature, we can know for certain that we have encountered Him and He with us.

Even nature is ritualistic: spring, summer, fall, winter. Animals have mating seasons. They abide by these "rules" and "rhythms" in order to live. How much more for us, who are biologically animals but also endowed with an immortal soul?

The sacraments and consecrated objects are not magic. They are all about the God who has initiated the gift of His divine life, and wants to sanctify and elevate our nature with this gift. We do not grasp these gifts as Adam and Eve did, but receive them through the authority God bestows on His Church. They are tangible responses to the Divine life that He already pours out.

It is easy think these religious activities are vain, empty works. But the vanity and empty show lie in the heart of man, not the rituals themselves. For it is these things that Christ instituted and gave to the Church as necessary for our journey to Heaven, as reminders of the goodness of our embodied nature, and the glory which awaits us beyond.

Hearing "I absolve you from your sins" after confessing your deepest, darkest secrets--yes, even witchcraft--will empower you to live in freedom, knowing your blame has been wiped clean by Christ's sacrifice. The oil on your head and the words of the rite signify that He is especially intimate with you in your suffering and prepares you for Heaven, as you lay dying.

Attending Mass makes present the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, and you are able to receive His entire self, now living in glory in Heaven.

None of these are based on emotions, which are fleeting. Of course, having beautiful, emotional, spiritual experiences is not objectively wrong; they certainly aid in the journey of faith and are a part of our humanity. But, when concrete expressions and tangible ceremonies are administered in the way God ordained through His Church, it does not matter if one does not "feel" anything. He is faithful to dispense His grace and unite Himself to us. The question is in our disposition to receive and allowing Him to transform us.

When we truly know the true Source and Agent behind all of these actions, we grow deeper in love with Him as His grace pours into our souls.

A Final Note

Jesus Christ is the most transcending definition of a sacrament. He takes on human nature, and atones for sin by being a sacrifice on the cross, so that man could literally see and know how much God loves the world (John 3:16). As said in Part 2, He enters into the system of Justice that is embedded in human nature--which He designed Himself--and fulfills it on behalf of fallen mankind in the most perfect act of worship and religion: the sacrifice of His entire self. Such is perfect religion, which is simultaneously perfect relationship. And He invites us to participate in this eternally generous gift, with our whole person, body and soul.

The Church and the Sacraments bring an eternally glorious, more dignifying life, than witchcraft and the occult could ever do. The difference between the two is that the truest, and most perfect Source is given the honor that is due to Him, according to His design of our nature. In turn, we become more and more like Him and tangibly know His love in our lives. We become participators in His perfect act of worship to the Father!

There is no shame and condemnation in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). If you, or someone you know has been involved in occult activities, know that there is forgiveness and freedom. You can trust God with whatever you are trying to fix. That will certainly not involve shortcuts, nor will it be easy. But He is the true, lasting joy and life that you are seeking.

He invites you, "Come to me, all you who are weary and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28-30). What your entire personhood longs for--body and soul--can be found in Christ and His Bride, the Church.