The Empty House: Freedom Without Christ?
- John D McLaughlin
- Nov 24
- 5 min read
In our last Faith & Fascia blog post, we talked about counterfeit healing and broken cisterns in New Age and Neo-Pagan practices. Today we’re continuing in that same thread and looking at another modern movement that looks appealing on the surface, but at its core is a revival of something much older—and much darker.
Jesus warned us in Matthew 12:43–45 about the principle of the “empty house.” When a spirit leaves, if the house remains unfilled, it doesn’t stay empty for long. The spirit returns—often bringing others with it. Spiritually, freedom without Christ isn’t neutral. It’s an open invitation for chaos.
And just like fascia in the body—when it’s released but not integrated, the openness doesn’t last—our souls need true filling. If we don’t fill those empty spaces with Christ, the vacuum gets filled with something else.
Today we’re going to explore how this plays out in the rise of the Divine Feminine / womb-circle movement, why it appeals, and why it’s dangerous. Then we’ll contrast it with the lasting freedom that comes only through Christ.
Empty Space Is Never Neutral
Let’s start with the fascia picture. If you’ve ever experienced fascial release, you know the body feels lighter and freer afterward. But here’s the thing: if the new space isn’t integrated—if the body doesn’t learn a new, healthy pattern—the freedom doesn’t last. Tension creeps back in. Compensations return. The openness gets filled with something else.
Spiritually, it’s the same. Deliverance or release without Christ is never enough.
Matthew 12:43–45 shows us the danger: the “house” left empty is an open door for seven worse spirits to return. Anxiety, fear, anger, doubt, pride—these familiar spirits are waiting to come back.
This is why Jesus and the apostles always emphasized not just turning from idols but turning to Christ. The Gospel isn’t about sweeping out an old house; it’s about filling it with the Living God.
The Gospel vs. the Old Gods
In Acts 19:23–27, Paul’s preaching in Ephesus threatened the worship of Artemis, the great goddess of fertility and protection. The idol-makers stirred up a riot because the Gospel was dismantling their business. Why? Because the Gospel had exposed Artemis as powerless.
History tells us Artemis was later linked with Selene (moon goddess) and Hecate (queen of magic and crossroads), forming the archetype of the triple goddess. Motherhood, fertility, moon cycles, magic, protection—all wrapped into a feminine deity package.
Sound familiar? Today, the same spirits are resurfacing under new names—womb circles, goddess rituals, divine feminine ceremonies. The language may sound modern, even empowering, but the spiritual roots are ancient. Scripture is clear: the gods and goddesses of paganism were not neutral myths. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10:20 that pagan sacrifices were to demons.
When the Gospel goes forth, false gods lose their grip. But when cultures forsake God, those spirits return—dressed in new clothes.
Why the Divine Feminine Movement Appeals
Let’s be honest—there’s a reason the Divine Feminine movement is growing. It offers things people are hungry for:
A sense of belonging in circles and sisterhoods.
A feeling of empowerment by tapping into inner strength.
A promise of healing through rituals and ceremonies.
A renewed identity through spiritual archetypes.
But Scripture calls this what it is: spiritual adultery. Exodus 20:3–5 is clear: “You shall have no other gods before Me.” Jeremiah 2:13 describes it as forsaking the fountain of living waters to dig broken cisterns that cannot hold water.
What looks like empowerment apart from Christ is actually bondage. What feels like healing apart from Christ is actually deception. And Revelation 21:8 warns that the path of sorcery leads to the second death.
Contrast that with the Gospel: Jesus says in John 15:5, “Apart from Me you can do nothing.” But Philippians 4:13 assures us, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” That’s true empowerment.
Casting Out vs. Filling
Back to Matthew 12. The danger is not just what gets cast out—it’s what fills the space afterward. Freedom without Christ is fragile.
Think of fascia again. If I help release restrictions in a client’s body, but they don’t walk it out, breathe into it, and let their body learn that new openness, the old patterns will come right back. Release without integration is incomplete.
Spiritually, the same principle holds. Casting out idols, practices, or false beliefs without being filled with the Spirit leaves us wide open for worse deception. The “empty house” principle is a warning: freedom must be filled with Christ.
Counterfeit Healing vs. True Filling
Paul warns us in 2 Corinthians 11:14 that Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. Counterfeit healing looks real. It feels soothing. It promises empowerment. But it is a broken cistern.
Womb rituals, Reiki, crystals, meditation circles—these may look harmless or even spiritual. But they are not neutral. They open doors. They are cisterns that leak. They cannot hold water. They cannot heal the soul.
True healing is found only in Christ. He alone is the Living Water (John 4:14). He alone said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). He alone can integrate, restore, and make whole.
Reflection & Application
This is where it gets personal. Who or what am I letting into my empty spaces?
Am I seeking belonging in places outside of God’s family? Am I trying to heal wounds with rituals instead of the cross? Am I trying to empower myself through mantras instead of through Christ?
Psalm 51:10–12 gives us the right prayer: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me… Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.”
The call is not just to avoid idols—it’s to let God fill every space. Mind, body, spirit. Every corner of the house.
The Gospel Invitation
Here is the good news: Christ has already done the work. He died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day (1 Corinthians 15:3–4). He offers not just forgiveness, but fullness.
Romans 10:13 says, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” If you call on Him, He will not leave your house empty. He will fill it with His Spirit. He will protect you from deception.
Closing Reflection & Prayer
The Divine Feminine may look like healing, but only Christ heals. Freedom is not just release—it is being filled with the Living God.
Let’s pray:
“Lord, fill every empty space in me with Your Spirit. Protect me from deception. Expose any cisterns I’ve run to, and lead me back to You. Thank You for being my Living Water, my true Healer, and my eternal hope. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Takeaways
The Gospel once cast out pagan gods like Artemis—and it can do so today.
When God is forsaken, those old gods and goddesses resurface in new forms.
Empty space is never neutral. Without Christ, it will be filled with deception.
Fascia illustrates the principle: release without integration doesn’t last.
Only Christ fills, integrates, and heals completely.
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