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Genuine Repentance After Occult Involvement
What does genuine repentance look like when someone comes to Christ out of occult involvement? In this episode of Contending for the Word Q&A, Doreen Virtue explains the difference between worldly sorrow and godly sorrow, the biblical meaning of repentance, and the fruit that accompanies a life changed by Christ.Listen or Watch
Genuine repentance is not merely regret over the consequences of sin. It is a Spirit-worked turning from sin to God through faith in Jesus Christ. When the Lord opens a sinner’s eyes to the seriousness of sin against a holy God, there is godly sorrow that leads to repentance and life (2 Corinthians 7:10).Those who have been saved out of occult involvement are called to turn away from idolatry, false spirituality, and self-rule and to trust in Christ alone. While only God knows the heart, Scripture teaches that genuine conversion bears fruit. Galatians 5:16–24 contrasts the works of the flesh with the fruit of the Spirit, reminding believers that the Holy Spirit produces increasing love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.Christians should also pray for those who have recently come to faith out of spiritual darkness. They need to be grounded in God’s Word, rooted in the local church, and strengthened by Christ in the midst of spiritual warfare and opposition. True believers persevere not through their own strength, but through the grace and power of Jesus Christ.Scripture References
- 2 Corinthians 7:10
- Psalm 139:23–24
- Galatians 5:16–24
- Matthew 13:1–23
- 1 John 2:19
Doreen Virtue holds a Master’s degree in Biblical & Theological Studies with highest honors from Western Seminary (56 units / 2021), and an MA in Counseling Psychology from Chapman University. Prior to being saved by God‘s grace and mercy in 2017, Doreen was a psychotherapist specializing in women’s issues, rated in the top 15 most influential living spiritual teachers by Watkins, and the top selling new age author in the world. She was born and raised in new thought churches which she attended for 33 years, before segueing to new age and Wicca in 1991 while touring with a mind-body-spirit conference organization. Before her salvation, Doreen frequently appeared on Oprah, CNN, The View, Coast to Coast and other liberal secular media. After the Holy Spirit convicted her of her sins, while she read Deuteronomy 18:10-12, Doreen repented and gave her life to Jesus as her Lord and Savior. Doreen has been helping professing Christians to identify and avoid new age and new thought deception. Doreen volunteers in discipling women who’ve been saved out of New Age in a private Facebook group. Doreen was a speaker at the Answers in Genesis 2025 women’s conference at the Ark Encounter. She has been featured on American Gospel 3, American Gospel TV, Daily Wire, Moody Radio, Spillover, Christianity Today, Cultish, New York Magazine, Spiritual Counterfeits Project, Servants of Grace, and other Christian media.
