Wyatt The Kid Who Became a Satanist, Part 1

It could be argued the deck was stacked against Wyatt virtually from the day he was born: two parents who’d soon split up, no discipline at either of the subsequent homes, practically no spiritual foundation.

Instead of seeking a way to surmount his circumstances, the young boy from Missouri channeled his insecurities into negative action: petty theft, small- scale vandalism, “acting out” whenever the opportunity presented itself, such as an early addiction to cigarette smoking, as well as adopting a “Goth” lifestyle of black clothing, face paint, black eyeshadow, and nail polish.

That soon escalated to drug use and more rebellion. Because he’d be up all night partying, he’d fall asleep in school, earning horrible grades. His dress, lifestyle, and demeanor further alienated young Wyatt from many of his peers, except for other “Goths” and the Satanists he eventually encountered and aligned with.

“I always felt judged by Christians and I never liked them. Even though my mom would send me to church occasionally, as a kid I never felt I belonged there,” Wyatt would later recall. “But among the Satanists and when I was involved in Wicca and witchcraft and the Goth group, I felt welcomed, I felt accepted. They didn’t judge me for my curly hair or my weirdness that I had or my music I listened to,” he added.

Eventually, Wyatt’s petty crimes and drug infractions escalated to a point where the legal system could no longer ignore him. He was sentenced to a drug rehabilitation program. Along with exercise, hikes, classes, and groups, one activity was designed to “scare straight” those in the program: a visit to a state prison. But it didn’t turn him around. Instead, Wyatt rebelled, stabbing a counselor seriously enough for him to be charged with first degree assault and armed criminal action. The sentence was 20 years in jail.

Once “in the system,” Wyatt continued to rebel, spurning his mother’s pleas to read the Bible and turn his life around. Wyatt had the “Satanic Bible,” he reasoned, and the Christian stuff wasn’t true, anyway. But one day Wyatt picked up an actual Christian Bible and began to read. What happened next stunned Wyatt—and those around him.

Reflect: Wyatt’s rebellion landed him in serious trouble. Do you know someone in a similar situation, or have you experienced it yourself? The best next step is to pick up a Bible and start reading it.

Key Bible Texts

Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished. (Proverbs 16:5 KJV)