Paganism is no longer lurking in the shadows—it’s front and center in our culture, and its influence is growing rapidly. From children’s television programs to social media trends, witchcraft is being normalized and celebrated. But as Christians, we must recognize this for what it is: a dangerous spiritual deception that leads people away from God.
Jenny Weaver, a former practitioner of witchcraft who is now a Spirit-filled Christian and ministry leader, has been sounding the alarm for years.
“I think media has done a good job of pushing something to the point where it’s now normalized,” she says. “We have shows as early as day care age promoting witchcraft and sorcery—’It’s OK boys and girls, say these spelling words with us.’ And it’s so ABC, preschool witchcraft, that it gets into the hearts and the minds of people, including the people in church.”
The Bible is clear about witchcraft. In Deuteronomy 18:10-12 (MEV), God commands, “There must not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or who uses divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination to the Lord.” Yet, despite this clear warning, modern culture is embracing these practices under the guise of empowerment and self-expression.
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Pastor Greg Locke and others have been vocal in exposing the dangers of witchcraft, reminding Christians that these practices open doors to demonic influence. The rise of neo-paganism and witchcraft in the West is a symptom of a society drifting away from biblical truth. As Christianity declines in the U.S. and U.K., paganism is filling the void, with U.S. pagans expected to triple by 2050.
The appeal of witchcraft lies in its promise of power, healing and connection to nature, but Jenny Weaver warns that it’s all deception. “And people who are not really connected with the Lord and don’t understand, they’re easily deceived. And the Bible talks about even the very elect will be deceived. And so, people are going to a whole other source. That’s what they’re wanting. They want a healing crystal because they don’t understand that Jesus is the healer and there’s no other source that you can go to except through Jesus.”
Social media platforms like TikTok are fueling this trend, with hashtags like #WitchTok accumulating billions of views. What once was hidden in secret is now being marketed as trendy and empowering, drawing in young people and even unsuspecting Christians.
Pop stars like Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande and Lana Del Rey bring an explosion of witchcraft into the mainstream, blending occult themes into their music and public personas. From referencing spells and astrology in their lyrics to openly embracing mystical practices, they have helped normalize witchcraft for millions of fans. This influence is especially concerning for young audiences who may see these practices as harmless fun without realizing the spiritual deception at play. The Bible clearly warns against such practices, yet the allure of these celebrities can lead people away from God and open them up to spiritual attacks.
As Charisma News has previously reported, speaking on astrology and tarot cards, Grande says its “kind of a tool to help us hear what we need to hear sometimes, and kind of look forward with hope and awareness.”
As believers, we must take a stand. Witchcraft is not harmless entertainment or a tool for self-discovery—it is a gateway to spiritual destruction. The apostle Paul reminds us in Ephesians 6:12, “For our fight is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, and against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”
We must return to the truth of Scripture and teach our children and churches to discern the difference between God’s power and the enemy’s deception. Now is the time to be vigilant and prayerful, standing firm against the rising tide of paganism that seeks to infiltrate our homes and churches.
The battle is spiritual, and the answer is Jesus. Let’s cling to Him and reject anything that leads us away from His truth.
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James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.
