as it is written, "THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;
Romans 3:10 NAS77
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 3:23 NAS77
I do not believe there is a shred of difference between the self-proclaimed satanist and the fluffy cookie-baking granny down the street when it comes to being lost. They are both deluded thinking their form of religion -apart from the Cross- will save them. Granny is counting on being nice, benevolent and pleasant. The other is counting on Beelzebub. Both are hedging their bets that perhaps they will be found good/evil enough to satisfy whatever determines their eternity.
Neither has assurance. How do you persuade Granny that her chocolate chip cookies will be deemed satisfactory? You can't. She lives by an ambiguous "I hope" with no assurance.
My experience is with a coven of witches and warlocks. Yup, even in small town America. I spent a few months interacting with various members of the group. This was my observation based on this small sample:
- Shock factor: I can't look into their brains to see the mouse on the wheel but it seemed the group liked to see the reaction of other folks. Being a witch is the ultimate counter-culture expression on a town full of traditionalist.
- Attention factor: I found them to be insecure and, while denying it verbally, wanted attention even if it was negative. They would dress like freaks and then scream, "What are you looking at?" when you looked.
- Association factor: Like the Island of Misfit Toys. They are looking for someone to validate their feeling that they are different and misunderstood.
- Post-Christian society factor: Society has been working overtime trying to convince the world that traditional Christianity - the Gospel of Jesus Christ - is outdated and irrelevant. Outside of small pockets of progress the church has done little to counter this.
- Grieving the Holy Spirit: In spite of what you have may heard, even the most ardent Arminian believes nobody comes to Jesus and confesses Him as Lord and Savior apart from the convicting work of the Holy Spirit. I believe Grace to be resistible to an extent. If a person's election is true then ultimately they will find mercy at the foot of the Cross. We are in no position to foresee to what depths a person will stoop until they resist no more. I am confident that the arm of God is longer than the depth of my depravity.
Whether the person has flour dust on their apron or cat blood on their cloak God's Word can pierce through the darkness and reach their hearts.