Groves

© Copyrighted by Karl Lohman. As long as this notice is included, permission is granted to copy and distribute this material (electronically or in print form) for individual use or for small groups. All other rights (such as use in books, periodicals, on web pages, etc.) are reserved and must be obtained by permission from the author. Contact Karl Lohman at Antioch Baptist Church, 5709 N. Broadway, Knoxville, TN, 37918 – (865) 688-0780 – Fax (865) 689-1611

While researching the word “Easter” (Acts 12:4) and its connection to the false goddess Ishtar, I was struck by how often the word “grove” was used on occult and New Age web sites.  One site used the word “grove” or “groves” 18 (6+6+6) times on its home page.  Apparently the pagan creator of this site did not realize how “archaic” these words are.

The Word Grove

In order to fully grasp the depth of the meaning of these words, I recommend a careful study (2 Tim.2:15) of their use in the scripture.  As a preview to that study, the word “grove,” in the King James Bible is used 15 times (out of the 17 total times that it occurs) in connection to the exact kind of idolatry being promoted by New Age pagans. “Groves,” on the other hand, is used 24 times in the blessed old Book, and every time it is connected to the worship of the same false gods that the Wicca and Druid worshippers are recommending to our children. 

Although these words, as used in the word of God, are resistant to simplistic definitions, I will attempt a very general definition of the word “groves.”  I believe that “groves” in the true word of God are places where pagan altars and images are displayed, and heathen religious rituals are performed.  It is quite clear that many times these places are located outdoors in (or near) a “grove” of trees (see Jer.17:1-2).  Have you ever wondered why the Environmentalists (New Age worshippers by another name) get upset when someone “cuts down” some trees (Jud.6:25-32)?  Have you ever seen a statue of Mary displayed under a tree or near some bushes?

Grove in the Versions

Interestingly, the new versions eliminate the word “grove” and its plural form from their bibles when the passages deal with idolatry.  They replace this easily understood word with “Asherah pole” (NIV), “sacred pole” (NRSV), and “wooden image” (NKJV).  Why?  The New Age “spiral goddess” worshippers talk about their “Grove of Rememberance  [sic],” “Rainbow Heart Grove,” and “Green Man Grove” not their “Asherah poles.”  The followers of Wicca don’t use terminology like “sacred pole.”  They use “The Gods’ Grove,” “The Mystickal [sic] Grove,” and “The Grove of the Green Cobra.”  The Druids don’t call their places of worship or their idols “wooden images”; they give them titles like “Hearthfire Grove,” “Peachtree Grove,” and “Virtual Grove.”  By the way, the stated purpose of the “Virtual Grove” is “[f]or those of you not in proximity to one of the groves listed [on this web site].”  In other words, a grove can be brought into your home via the computer.

The omission of “grove” and “groves” is only one of many shocking things that the new versions do that convince me that one of the fruits (Matt.7:16) of all of these new versions is an increase in New Age and occult practices here in America and around the world.  After all, who would know about how God felt about the “groves” that are being pushed today if they could not find any in their bibles?  Apparently the publishers of the NEW versions don’t care if the scripture “is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2Tim.3:16) as long as it is profitable financially (1Tim.6:10)!

Let me ask you a few questions.  If you were a pagan who worshipped your gods at one or more of these groves, would you appreciate someone reading a King James Bible or would you rather they read a new version?  Which one sheds more light on your pagan practices?  The scripture says, “The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple” (Ps.119:130).  Are the pagan practices of the people in the Old Testament and the people in the 21^st century being exposed in the King James Bible or in the new versions?  If you are an honest person, you know what the answers are.

Darkness in the Groves

Speaking of light, the harlot of Proverbs 7 was “on her corner” (vs.8) “[I]n the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night” (vs.9).  She stalked her prey at night because she knew that “…men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil” (Jn.3:19).  The word of God says, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Eph.6:12 emphasis added).  The “rulers of the darkness of this world” don’t appreciate a Bible that connects their “spiritual wickedness in high places” to the groves. 

In 1Kings 14:22-23, the God’s holy word says, “For Judah did evil in the sight of the LORD, and they provoked him to jealousy with their sins which they had committed, above all that their fathers had done.  For they also built them high places, and images, and groves, on every high hill, and under every green tree” (emphasis added).  Then one of Christian’s wrestling opponents is the New Age, Roman Catholic, Druid, Wicca, Environmentalist, grove-worshippers who want to teach your children to provoke the Lord “to jealousy with their sins.”  I’m glad that I have a Bible that exposes this kind of wickedness and God’s attitude towards it “[l]est Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices” (2Cor.2:11).

The next time some charlatan tries to persuade you with his “fair speech” to trade your sword in for one of these new versions, tell him that the creators, designers, and promoters of the New Age religious web sites know that the terminology in the King James Bible is right and all of the new versions are not.  Why is that?  The answer is simple.  Someone does not want you to know that the idolatrous practices of the pagan people as revealed in the Old Te4stament match the New Age occult practices in the 21^st century.  Stated simply, someone does not want you to know the truth and Jesus Christ said, “…thy word is truth” (Jn.17:17)!

 

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