Please click here to listen to “a conversation about Christ cut short” between Tom and Kim onsite at the London Psychic Expo

Cory McKenna, Chris Wood and I traveled to the London Psychic Expo this past Saturday, October 3^rd. The Psychic Expo was held downtown at a popular local event centre called Centennial Hall. We were, in a sense, “breaking new ground” for The Cross Current Ministry. No neutral turf here; we ventured right into an enemy stronghold: All three of us at the site acknowledged a feeling of some sort of demonic presence and resistance.

Our main objective, as always,  was to preach the Gospel, focusing on salvation and eternal life fulfilled only in Christ. In addition, our approach this time stressed biblical prophecy and its fulfillment of past and future events. All three of us had some interesting encounters and learned quite a bit about psychic phenomena and the occult. By definition, psychic/occult practices pertain to mental phenomena that go beyond normal sensory stimuli, using magical arts to help disclose secret or hidden realities. Seekers and/or adherents partake in occult practices to discover their own personal past, present, and future “realities”.

It was so tragic to see just a sampling of the vast number of people throughout the world today who are “seeking reality, direction and purpose in life in all of the wrong places”. Self-centeredness certainly blinds the eye, plugs the ear and hardens the heart to the reality of God, to the true sense and purpose of life and to the eternal reality to come: “This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart.” EPHESIANS 4:17-18 KJV.

The occult is such an abomination to God: “…There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch… For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord…” Please read all of DEUTERONOMY 18:9-14 KJV.

There continues to be a cycle of exploitation which traps the vulnerable, the ignorant and the hurting: It was sickening to see the promoters displaying their occult books and paraphernalia for profit and gain at the expense of others entrapped in this form of darkness. This reminds me of the two accounts in the book of ACTS: In ACTS 13:6-12, it tells of a Jewish sorcerer by the name of Barjesus. Barjesus (a.k.a. Elymas) sought to keep a local government official by the name of Sergius Paulus from coming to faith in Christ. Paul rebuked Barjesus and called him a “child of the devil” and an “enemy of all righteousness”. God blinded Barjesus which later was a factor in the government official coming to faith. In ACTS 16:16-20, a woman (who through “divination” and “soothsaying”; i.e., forecasting future events) was used by her masters for their monetary gain. Paul rebuked the evil spirit in her in the name of Jesus, and she was delivered (v.18). Through the power of God in me, I will more intentionally use that power to rebuke the enemy of all souls (1^st JOHN 4:4).

I was reminded once again at this psychic fair that there are so-called Christians who partake in occult practices. It is shameful to see “Christians” embracing their religious liberties, individuality and independent thinking over God’s will and purpose for their lives. Many seek charismatic leaders to help shape and expand their identity of self and of God (2^nd TIMOTHY 4:3-5). In the name of love, tolerance, accepting and being accepted, many are willing to please all people, compromise their faith, worship at different shrines and embrace worldly idols. This often takes many into the occult and far beyond. We see manifestations of this in the professions and practices of churchgoers who espouse “New Age” teachings, secular humanism, Universalism, various idols of materialism and a variety of other non-biblical teachings (MATTHEW 22:29; JAMES 4:4-7). Sadly, there is often no warning, correction or discipline from those who should love and be concerned the most; i.e., the family and the Church (EZEKIEL 3:18; JAMES 5:19-20).

My fervent hope and prayer for those reading this blog is of a two-fold nature: First, if you are at all involved with things of the occult, please flee from that which would bring you spiritual harm and jeopardize your eternal future (EPHESIANS 5:11-12; HEBREWS 10:26-31). Finally, if you are truly free in Christ, then please avail yourself to God in order for Him to use you as an instrument and work to reach out to those who are on “the broad road that leads to destruction” (GALATIANS 6:1-9).

Shalom in Christ,

Tom Briggs

Since interviewing my good friend Trent Herbert for our series on abortion called Family Planning, the Lord has really been moving me to get more involved with the pro-life movement. Truthfully, I can’t think of any issue we face today as a Church that’s more deceptive and demonic than this one.

In January 2007, I had the privilege of being part of a street witnessing conference in Las Vegas called “City Invasion” (see a cool Vegas open air shot here and a one-to-one witnessing shot here!). One of the street teams spent the day reaching out at a local abortion clinic and then spent the night sharing testimony about it. Late that evening their team leader, a very well-known pro-life activist, preached a life-changing message about the sanctity of life and the demonic connection between baby sacrifice and abortion. I have to confess that, though I’d interviewed Satanists on a couple of occasions, I had never made that connection before.

I take great joy and confidence in knowing that the Lord has brought TCC together for His glory. He has given us a very clear vision of bringing glory to His Name in Canada by unifying His Church in His Gospel and helping pastors equip all Christians under their care to be His witnesses. As it was with Nehemiah, this is the “wall” that the Lord has called us to build…and we must persist in building the wall to fulfill our call.

I say all that to say this: though I won’t be coming down off the wall to focus solely on pro-life issue, I DO believe that preaching the Gospel of new life in Christ is intrinsically connected with this issue. That means I also believe it’s my responsibility to more regularly speak up for those who quite literally can’t speak for themselves – and I pray that any other Christ-followers reading this post will commit to doing the same. In fact, why not start with us at the pro-life rally we’ll be supporting with Trent and his team this Saturday, November 15th?

For more information, check out our online calendar here.