Not Opposite—Inverted: How the Occult Rewrites Jesus’ Parables

Average Christians assume Satan’s lies are the opposite of God. Todd & Laura argue they’re usually inversions—mirror images close enough to pass for truth. In this episode, we unpack how the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14–30) gets twisted by occult frameworks (allegory, gnosis, “divine spark,” levels, reincarnation) and how that drift shows up in church culture as corporate metrics, positivity-at-all-costs, and self-help “stewardship” that quietly centers you instead of Christ.

We contrast parable vs. allegory, show why Jesus’ parables always point back to the Kingdom through the King, and offer a practical discernment grid for spotting parallel lies—from New Age “energy” language to prosperity takes that turn stewardship into self-advancement. We also talk shepherds, wolves in sheep’s clothing, the Church of Laodicea, and why real elders should know their flock well enough to spot predators before the tidal wave hits.

You’ll learn:

• Why inversion (not contradiction) is the enemy’s favorite tactic

• How occult readings reframe the talents as “hidden power” instead of the gospel of the Kingdom

• A simple checklist to test vibes/“energy” talk, secret-knowledge claims, and level-up spirituality

• How to keep the focus on becoming in Christ, not performing for Christ

Listen in, sharpen your discernment, and keep the main thing the Main Character.

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Scripture (ESV formatting preferred in show notes):

• Matthew 25:14–30 – Parable of the Talents

• Matthew 13 – Parables, wheat and tares, “secrets of the Kingdom”

• John 10:3–5, 27 – Shepherd’s voice; sheep know Him

• John 14–17 – Upper Room discourse; union, fruit, “apart from Me you can do nothing” (cf. John 15)

• John 18:20 – “I have said nothing in secret”

• Revelation 3:14–22 – Laodicea (“neither hot nor cold”)

• Genesis 2–3 – Two trees, fall, serpent’s inversion

• 1 Peter 4:17 – “Judgment begins at the household of God” (alluded)

• 2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Corinthians 3:13–15 – Christ’s assessment of believers’ works/fruit (alluded)

People / Works / Concepts Mentioned:

• Aleister Crowley; Anton LaVey; Helena Blavatsky

• Kabbalah/Kabbalism; Hermeticism; New Age / New Thought; Law of Attraction; “energy” language

• Prosperity/wealth-building takes on the parable (generic)

• Articles critiqued: occult-mysteries.org piece on the talents; a Medium article applying Kabbalistic frames

• Cultural reference: World War Z (the “tenth man” illustration)