Modern Satanism - Part 3: How The Enemy Destroys Identity, Innocence, And Hope (But Christ Brings Freedom) Series

Modern Satanism - Part 3: How the Enemy Destroys Identity, Innocence, and Hope

(But Christ Brings Freedom)

May 4, 2025

Dr. Bradford Reaves

Crossway Christian Fellowship

Genesis 1:27; John 10:10; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 1:24-32; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

Today, we step into a sensitive, yet vitally important topic. Some sermons are heavy because the truth demands it. We are living in days when evil no longer hides in the shadows but parades proudly in the streets — literally. Yet as we address these issues today, I want to be crystal clear: our mission is not hatred or condemnation. It is truth, spoken in love. The highest form of love is not silent tolerance, but bold truth that leads to repentance and redemption. With that I want to be clear that we are going to talk about very sensitive and graphic topics. If these topics bother you or if there are young children here I want to warn you of the content of this message.

From the very beginning, God established what is right and what is wrong, not to oppress humanity, but to bless it. His commands are not arbitrary rules; they are loving boundaries meant to protect life, dignity, and flourishing. These establish a culture of human existence in a manner that is within Divine intention and under Divine Blessing. The enemy of God and you is actively tearing down these boundaries to destroy God’s creation. When we violate these boundaries — whether personally or culturally — the consequences are not liberation but devastation.

In today’s world, licentiousness is paraded as freedom, when in reality, it is bondage. We have come to a point where almost nothing is considered off-limits. Movements that once lurked on society’s fringes now demand celebration — LGBTQ ideologies, the normalization of pedophilia under the guise of “minor-attracted persons,” the rise of “furry” identities, and more. These are not merely cultural phenomena. They are spiritual battles that are ancient in origin, demonic in nature, and rooted in a rebellion that stretches all the way back to Eden.

At the core of this rebellion is an assault on the imago Dei — the image of God stamped upon humanity. From the Garden of Eden, Satan’s goal has been the same: to distort, to defile, and to destroy the image of God in mankind. What we are seeing today is not simply a culture war but it goes much deeper into a spiritual war championed by our culture as the ultimate victory. And if we fail to recognize the spiritual roots of these movements, we will never engage the battle in the power and truth of Christ.

Sadly, the American Church today is largely Laodicean — lukewarm, self-satisfied, and blind to its spiritual poverty. In some places, it has even crossed the line into overt demonic deception, welcoming doctrines of demons under the banner of love and inclusivity. Here are a few examples of the results of Laodicean Christianity in the US:

In 2023, multiple churches across the United States—including the Cathedral of Hope in Dallas—held a ‘Blessing of the Abortion Providers’ service. Ministers stood behind the pulpit, hands lifted high, praying for abortion doctors and clinic workers, asking for ‘God’s anointing’ over the work of ending unborn lives. Some churches even posted banners reading ‘Abortion is Sacred.’

In a survey conducted in 2022 by Probe Ministries, 60% of professing ‘born-again’ Christians between the ages of 18–39 said they believe Buddha, Muhammad, and Jesus all offer valid paths to God. Even more staggering, some pastors today openly teach from the pulpit that Christ is ‘one of many ways’ to heaven. At one well-known mainline Protestant church, a pastor recently said, ‘Jesus is our way, but not the way.’

In early 2024, a major church in North Carolina made headlines for offering classes on ‘Christian Tarot’ and ‘Meditative Witchcraft,’ promoting them as ‘spiritual exploration pathways.’ Promotional material invited people to ‘deepen their faith’ by exploring occult practices historically condemned by Scripture (Deuteronomy 18:10-12).

But hear this clearly: No matter how dark the days may become, the cross still stands. The blood of Jesus is still sufficient to redeem, restore, and rescue. Every captive heart can still be set free. Today, we expose the darkness not to gloat over it, but to extend the light of Christ into it. The message of the Cross is this: “Come out of the darkness. There is hope, there is forgiveness, there is a new beginning in Jesus Christ.”

Jesus came "to seek and save the lost" (Luke 19:10) and that includes all of us. Every one of us has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Every one of us needs grace. And every one of us is loved beyond measure. But as shepherds and as believers, we cannot remain silent when the enemy wages war against the souls of this generation. We must expose the darkness, offer the hope of the Gospel, and fight for truth with compassion.