Sacrificing to Demons

Sacrificing to the devil, knowingly or unknowingly, has been a recurring theme throughout history. One’s initial religious experiences often profoundly shape his understanding and actions. As described in various Bible passages, the challenges of God’s ancient people can shed light on our struggles today.

As Seventh-day Adventists, sacrificing to demons might seem archaic, but from the time of the ancient Israelites to modern-day times, the lure of worshiping false gods has persisted. The analogies drawn between past sacrificial rituals and contemporary behaviors are stark reminders of the dangers of spiritual complacency. So, how is it that Seventh-day Adventists continue to make sacrifices to the devil?

The following scriptures clearly show that the children of Israel worshiped false gods and sacrificed to demons:

“They joined themselves also to Baal of Peor, and ate sacrifices made to the dead. … They angered Him also at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with Moses on account of them; because they rebelled against His Spirit, so that he spoke rashly with his lips. They did not destroy the peoples, concerning whom the Lord had commanded them, but they mingled with the Gentiles and learned their works; they served their idols, which became a snare to them. They even sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons, and shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan; and the land was polluted with blood.” Psalm 106:28, 32–38

“ ‘They shall no more offer their sacrifices to demons, after whom they have played the harlot. This shall be a statute forever for them throughout their generations.’ ” Leviticus 17:7

“ ‘Lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they play the harlot with their gods and make sacrifice to their gods, and one of them invites you and you eat of his sacrifice.’ ” Exodus 34:15

“ ‘They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them. They have made themselves a molded calf, and worshiped it and sacrificed to it, and said, “This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!” ’ ” Exodus 32:8

Their idolatry led to ten of the tribes of Israel—the kingdom of or children of Israel, the northern kingdom—being taken into captivity. The two remaining tribes—Judah and Benjamin—made up the southern kingdom of Judah. When the separation occurred, Jeroboam was king over the children of Israel. Rehoboam was king over Judah and Benjamin. We read in 2 Chronicles 11 the things that Jeroboam and the children of Israel did that led to the breakup of Israel, and ultimately, their captivity.

“And from all their territories the priests and the Levites who were in all Israel took their stand with him [Rehoboam]. For the Levites left their common-lands and their possessions and came to Judah and Jerusalem, for Jeroboam and his sons had rejected them from serving as priests to the Lord. Then he [Jeroboam] appointed for himself priests for the high places, for the demons, and the calf idols which he had made.” Verses 13–15

The children of Israel thought they were worshiping an image. If you asked them, they would say, “We would never worship demons. See, this is just an image.” Just a hand-crafted calf? No, whether they recognized it or not, they were worshiping demons.

In Deuteronomy 31:16, the Lord tells Moses that after his death, the children of Israel would turn to idolatry and the worship of demons. Ezekiel predicted they would never entirely give up the idolatry they had followed in Egypt (Ezekiel 23:8). Paul gave this warning to the Jews, “Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons.” 1 Corinthians 10:20

It is easy to look back at the past and clearly see the detours and failures of the children of Israel, patting ourselves—Seventh-day Adventists—on the back, believing that we would never do as they did.  And yet, perhaps in ignorance, we are.

“Without faith it is impossible to please God. We can have the salvation of God in our families, but we must believe it, live it, and have a continual, abiding faith and trust in God. We must subdue a hasty temper and control our words, and in this we shall gain great victories. Unless we control our words and temper, we are slaves to Satan. We are in subjection to him. He leads us captive. All jangling and unpleasant, impatient, fretful words are an offering presented to his satanic majesty.” Testimonies, Vol. 1, 310

While every word we say and every action we perform can be seen as a form of sacrifice to either divine or demonic forces, a hasty temper, unkind words spoken, and actions taken without thought or control can also be seen as a form of sacrifice to divine or demonic forces. One of our greatest challenges is being mindful of our speech. Do I speak jangling, unpleasant, impatient, fretful words? Then, I am presenting myself as a sacrifice to the devil and his satanic majesty. He accepts me into his kingdom and sneeringly tells the Lord of glory that I am not a child of God because I have proven it in the way I speak.

“And it is a costly offering, more costly than any sacrifice we can make for God, for it destroys the peace and happiness of whole families, destroys health, and is eventually the cause of forfeiting an eternal life of happiness.” Ibid.

People will forfeit eternal life because they are not aware of what and how they speak.

“The restraint which God’s word imposes upon us is for our own interest. It increases the happiness of our families and of all around us. It refines our taste, sanctifies our judgment, and brings peace of mind, and, in the end, everlasting life. Under this holy restraint, we shall increase in grace and humility, and it will become easy to speak right. The natural, passionate temper will be held in subjection. An indwelling Saviour will strengthen us every hour. Ministering angels will linger in our dwellings and with joy carry heavenward the tidings of our advance in the divine life, and the recording angel will make a cheerful, happy record.” Ibid.

Even personal reflections like those shared by early Adventist pioneers such as Ellen White can provoke deep introspection. The idea that our every word and action can be seen as a form of sacrifice to either divine or demonic forces challenges us to be more mindful of our speech and conduct.

The meticulous examination of various biblical references and supporting texts underscores the gravity of our words. Whether it be the caution against engaging in divisive gossip or the emphasis on speaking with grace and kindness, the overarching message is clear—our speech wields immense power, for good or ill.

The call to align our speech with the teachings of Christ, to emulate the angels in heaven, signifies a profound aspiration towards spiritual growth and refinement. It beckons us to strive for a higher standard of communication, one that reflects the values of love, grace, and empathy.

The journey towards ceasing to sacrifice to the devil is not an easy one. It requires introspection, prayer, and a conscious effort to align our words with the teachings of Christ. But the promise of divine assistance, the transformative power of grace, and the assurance of redemption offer hope and strength along this challenging path. May we all, through the grace of God, endeavor to speak words that uplift, heal, and bring glory to His name.

Pastor John J. Grosboll is Director of Steps to Life and pastors the Prairie Meadows Church in Wichita, Kansas. He may be contacted by email at historic@stepstolife.org, or by telephone at 316-788-5559.