What Is a Pagan?

“You’re just an unbelieving pagan!”

“You know, don’t you, that Halloween is a pagan holiday?”

“King Cyrus was a pagan, but he was used by God.”

“Christmas trees are pagan.”

In Christian circles, we seem to like to throw around the term “pagan.” Linguistically it’s come to be synonymous with “heathen” or “unbeliever.” But historically, the term has a more specific meaning. Paganism is an actually religious belief (or maybe anti-religious belief) and not simply a posture of unbelief. What, then, does it mean to be pagan?

What Is a Pagan?

Historically the phrase was used to refer to someone who was a “non-combatant.” It also was a reference to those who were villagers. It’s no surprise, then, that the term began to be used to refer to anyone whose religion was not Judaism, Islam, or Christianity. And it was also connected to the folk religion that was often present amongst the common villagers.

The Century Dictionary from 1897 gives an interesting definition:

“Pagan and heathen are primarily the same in meaning; but pagan is sometimes distinctively applied to those nations that, although worshiping false gods, are more cultivated, as the Greeks and Romans, and heathen to uncivilized idolaters, as the tribes of Africa. A Mohammedan is not counted a pagan much less a heathen.”

In the early 1900s, though, it began to be used to describe a specific type of religious belief — that which is often associated with Wicca. Paganism was often equated with unbelief. Because of this, it can be difficult to nail down the central beliefs of paganism. What makes someone a pagan? Is it simply unbelief, or is there a set of beliefs (or even anti-belief) that makes one a pagan?

Typically, paganism is associated with polytheism. There is often a belief in pantheism as well. Most believe that the universe is all interconnected; they recognize the divine in nature. The divine will be worshipped in many different forms — frequently in the form of a goddess. This might sum up the basic beliefs of paganism the best:

“Paganism is not based on doctrine or liturgy. Many pagans believe 'if it harms none, do what you will'. Following this code, Pagan theology is based primarily on experience, with the aim of Pagan ritual being to make contact with the divine in the world that surrounds them.”

This list may also be a helpful summary:

- The physical world is a good place, one to be taken pleasure in by everyone.

- Everyone is considered to be part of this Mother Earth.

- Divinity reveals itself in every facet of the world.

- Every being, man and animal, is a derivative of the Divine. As such, all are gods and goddess.

- Most pagan religions do not have gurus or messiahs.

- Doctrine is superseded by one’s own responsibility.

- Solar and lunar cycles are significant in pagan worship.

What Does the Bible Say about Paganism?

First and foremost, the monotheism of the Bible does not square with the polytheism of paganism. Central to biblical belief is that “the LORD our God, the LORD is one.” God battling the non-existent but culturally enslaving idols is one of the principle themes of the Old Testament.

Secondly, the type of worship condemned in Romans 1:22-27 could serve as an apt description of paganism. They worship and serve the creation rather than the Creator. This is fundamental to all idolatry — and thus, at its root, paganism is a type of self-worship.

Next, the concept of “Mother Nature,” which is a key component of paganism, is contradicted by the first pages of the Bible. Their love and care for creation, however, is not contrary to Christian belief. It is bestowing upon the physical world the status of god that is problematic with a biblical worldview.

Some of the darker elements of paganism would also be against Scripture. While not all of those who claim paganism would devolve into some of the more deadly forms, Deuteronomy 18:9-12 is still informative for things like divination:

“When you come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord. And because of these abominations the Lord your God is driving them out before you."

In Colossians, also, Paul spoke against the observing of seasons and new moons and such. Though not the same as the modern forms of paganism, the Colossian heresy likely had some similar elements. And these practices, Paul says, are null and void because of the finished work of Christ. A denial of the work of Christ is the key issue with paganism and the Scriptures. It’s an entirely different worldview.

Jeremiah 10:1-5 shows the foolishness of idolatrous worship of things that we create with our own hands.

"Hear the word that the Lord speaks to you, O house of Israel. Thus says the Lord: 'Learn not the way of the nations, nor be dismayed at the signs of the heavens because the nations are dismayed at them, for the customs of the peoples are vanity. A tree from the forest is cut down and worked with an axe by the hands of a craftsman. They decorate it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so that it cannot move. Their idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field, and they cannot speak; they have to be carried, for they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of them, for they cannot do evil, neither is it in them to do good.'”

How Should Christians Respond to Paganism?

There is much we can learn here by the way the Early Church responded to the paganism that was rampant in the Roman Empire. First, they refused to participate in those practices which directly contradicted Scripture or their own conscience. This doesn’t mean that if something has a pagan origin (like having a Christmas tree), that you’re participating in the works of darkness. But it does mean that if a present practice has a present meaning attached to paganism, we shouldn’t participate.

Things which are seemingly innocuous like reading a horoscope, playing some of those social media games, or referring to the weather as “Mother Nature” are ways in which we’re subtly surrendering a biblical worldview. We do best not to participate.

Secondly, early Christians developed their own practices and rituals in order to disciple fellow believers. This doesn’t mean that we need to create entire sub-cultures, but rather we must think about the formation of our people.

Lastly, they gently and lovingly confronted the paganism within the culture. You can see a picture of this in Acts 17 when Paul spoke on Mars Hill. He was bold in truth but also sought common ground and lovingly confronted their idolatry. Tim Keller speaks of a “yes, but no, but yes” strategy that “resonates with yet defies the culture around you.” This might be a good strategy as our culture becomes increasingly “pagan.”

But it’s also not an entirely one-to-one comparison. Christianity was a minority religion in its early days within the Roman Empire. Christianity in the West holds (or at least at one point held) a different position. Here, I believe the way God responded to the idolatry within the land is informative.

God’s strategy against idolatry is to exalt His fullness at the expense of idols. We see this throughout the prophets. They would consistently point out the emptiness of idols and then point to the fullness that is found in God. If Christianity is true, then pagan religion will ultimately be found wanting. It’s good for us to build relationships with our neighbors and when they begin to experience some of that emptiness, we can lovingly point to the fullness of Christ.

How Can We Pray for or Evangelize to Our Pagan Friends and Family?

The ultimate goal isn’t for someone with a pagan worldview to adopt a biblical worldview. It could be argued that demons have a tremendous worldview. They are not polytheistic (James 2:19), but they certainly are not in a right relationship with God. The chief aim, then, is to have a relationship with Christ.

Evangelism, then, is similar to how it is with any other belief system. We listen. We learn. We ask good questions. We put a pebble in the shoe. And when given the opportunity, we proclaim the fullness of Christ. We pray for our pagan friends that God will open their eyes. We pray that the emptiness of their beliefs would be exposed — but that in the midst of this the kindness of God would lead them to repentance. 

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