Modern Witchcraft

[ViaCrucis]

You've managed to make it sound very definitive and conclusive, but I don't believe that is so.You see you seem to have a secular view of magic and protection. If I were to give a secular perspective then I would have to say Ido believe in magic also. But from a spiritual perspective it is the power of God. So in a way God is magic because to us people on the world, we can not do such supernatural things, so it is "magic" to us. And for every gift from God the enemy has a counterfeit. The enemy has powers and witchcraft is powerful in the wrong hands.

Epesians 6:
12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.../NLT

Oh waitaminute, Epesians says that we struggle against mighty powers of the dark world!

So, pray tell, how is it like you say, that there is no such thing as magic and that they can not touch us.They sure can. Witchcraft is dangerous and not to be made light of to babes and children in Christ.

Basically, the difference between satan's magic and God's magic (power) comes in the source that the power comes from. Is it darkness or is it light? Is the source dark? Is the source light? Is the source evil? Is the source God?

The enemy has a counterfeit for almost everything good of God. Some of it is technological! Material things. Dungeons & Dragons is too risky to play with. It does not give God any glory so a Christian can not play it in faith. You with me?

Anything not done in Faith, is sin. (Romans 14:23). So if you are in Christ and sin, would one still have protection from the Lord? If one knowingly committs a sin like dabbling in the occult and witchcraft then He has walked there himself and away from his Lord. So wherein is his protection now?

And this is an inherently unbiblical worldview.

You are acting as though God and the devil are somehow in a competition, each has power, and that the world is a battleground between the forces of good and evil. That good and evil are two equal-opposite cosmic powers.

If we believe in Christ, then we also believe in a defeated devil. The devil is not an evil god, the devil is a mere rebellious creature. Scripture says, "Resist the devil and he must flee" and "Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world."

"Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery." - Hebrews 2:14-15

"And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him." - Colossians 2:13-15

"Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you." - Luke 10:9

If we walk into the trap of sin to make shipwreck of our faith, yes we leave Christ. But that's a very different thing than

That you think games like Dungeons & Dragons are "too risky" only tells me that you need to remember, and take to heart, what St. Paul has written in 2 Timothy 1:7.

In the great "battle hymn of the Reformation", Dr. Luther penned the lyrics,

Und wenn die Welt voll Teufel wär'
und wollt' uns gar verschlingen,
so fürchten wir uns nicht so sehr,
es soll uns doch gelingen.
Der Fürst dieser Welt,
wie sau'r er sich stellt,
tut er uns doch nicht;
das macht, er ist gericht't;
ein Wörtlein kann ihn fällen.

And though in this world with devils filled
Threatening to devour us
We shall not fear
We shall yet succeed.
The prince of this age
Grim as he appears
Is powerless against us,
For it is done, he is judged,
One little word shall fell him.

"one little word", German, ein Wörtlein, "a word-ling" a tiny little word, the smallest word, kann ihn fällen. What is the littlest word that even can make the devil fall and fail, with what little word is the devil slain? "Liar", tell the devil to his face, "Devil, you lie"--and he is rendered mute, powerless, he is felled.

St. Peter says the devil is like a roaring lion seeking to devour. Why does Peter choose to describe the devil as a roaring lion wandering about? Because a single, lone, roaring lion--without pride--is a scavenger. This is not the king of the jungle here, this the regal lion king ruling his pride; this is the outcast lion, the weak and loner lion who picks off flesh from carcasses. A lone, hungry lion can still be dangerous; but against the protection of the shepherd the lion is powerless and the flock are safe. If we leave the safety of the shepherd, we could end up as dinner. But as long as we are under the care of the shepherd, then why should we fear?

All I'm seeing from you is that the shepherd is weak, that the lion can sneak in through the fence and the shepherd is somehow too blind to notice and can just pick us off one by one. But we are all weak little lambs, which is why we have a strong shepherd, who beats down that old devil every time.

The devil is a liar, don't listen to his lies.
When the devil comes at you, tell him he's a liar, resist him, run to Jesus.

If you think playing a game of make believe about goblins and elves, or reading a book about child wizards somehow gives the devil power over you, then you need to go back to the foundations of your faith and seek to build those up. Christ is stronger.

Iesous Christos Nika.
Jesus Christ wins.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[Divide]

You are acting as though God and the devil are somehow in a competition, each has power, and that the world is a battleground between the forces of good and evil. That good and evil are two equal-opposite cosmic powers.

Don't add words to what I said. I said nothing about them being equal. In fact, I flipped over to th last chapter and guess what? God wins.

"...God and the devil are somehow in a competition, each has power, and that the world is a battleground between the forces of good and evil.../ Isn't this what the Bible describes? Geez.

If we believe in Christ, then we also believe in a defeated devil. The devil is not an evil god, the devil is a mere rebellious creature. Scripture says, "Resist the devil and he must flee" and "Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world."

I think you're out of your mind. The devil is not evil? Let me huess, because satan is just a mischevious child we don't even need to resist him to make him flee? So hey everybody let's embrace witchcraft since Jesus will protect us?! You. Are. Out. Of. Your. Mind.

You should repent from such an attitude.

 

[Divide]

Feel free to point out that it's nonexistent woo. False religion, false spirituality. But to treat it like it represents some kind of actual power in the universe, and that the devil is anything but a lying coward--it becomes detrimental to the faith of the Christian.

If witchcraft is nonexistant and doesnt exist then what do these scriptures mean?

Revelation 21:8
Leviticus 20:6 19:31
2 Chronicals 33:6
Galatians 5:19-20
Micah 5:10-12
Deuterotomy 18:10-14


There's actually a bunch more too but I think this is enough. It certainy does exist or else the Lord would not have wrote that in His book. So no fortune tellers, ouiji boards, spells, or love potions. Everyone needs to repent of those things and throw away anything associated with it.

 

[Wings like Eagles]

Just another example of not being real or a threat:

Attacked by sorcerers. Hindus harass Christian villagers. Beaten by Muslim husband.

Sep. 28, 2023 | Togo New Believer Attacked by Sorcerers [15] prayers in [1] nation have been posted for Abraham. A young Christian in Togo was severely beaten recently by local sorcerers who were angry that he had become a follower of Christ. Abraham, who lives in a village where sorcery and...

www.christianforums.com

 

[Aaron112]

Don't add words to what I said. I said nothing about them being equal. In fact, I flipped over to th last chapter and guess what? God wins.

Yes, and until then, people lose. The largest money drain /robbery/ in the world deceives the whole world according to Revelation 18 (witchcraft and sorceries deceive the whole world - not less but all) ....

 

[Divide]

Yes, and until then, people lose. The largest money drain /robbery/ in the world deceives the whole world according to Revelation 18 (witchcraft and sorceries deceive the whole world - not less but all) ....

Yeah Brother, I noticed something in scripture. It said the word medicine in a passage so I went to the original language and there it was, Sorcery and withchcraft....

So the witch doctors have taken over the world. Pharmeceuticals are the biggest industry on earth. An dit's all tied in to witchcraft.

 

[ViaCrucis]

Don't add words to what I said. I said nothing about them being equal. In fact, I flipped over to th last chapter and guess what? God wins.

And that victory is already won.

"...God and the devil are somehow in a competition, each has power, and that the world is a battleground between the forces of good and evil.../ Isn't this what the Bible describes? Geez.

No. It doesn't. It describes God's great love for His creation and His desire to save and renew it. There's no contest between God and the devil. The devil can't thwart God's plans.

The devil has always been a loser.

I think you're out of your mind. The devil is not evil?

Of course the devil is evil. What the devil isn't is an evil god. The devil is an evil rebellious creature.

Let me huess, because satan is just a mischevious child we don't even need to resist him to make him flee? So hey everybody let's embrace witchcraft since Jesus will protect us?! You. Are. Out. Of. Your. Mind.

Now you're putting all kinds of words into my mouth.

You should repent from such an attitude.

It seems weird to be told to repent of something I haven't done.

If witchcraft is nonexistant and doesnt exist then what do these scriptures mean?

Revelation 21:8
Leviticus 20:6 19:31
2 Chronicals 33:6
Galatians 5:19-20
Micah 5:10-12
Deuterotomy 18:10-14


There's actually a bunch more too but I think this is enough. It certainy does exist or else the Lord would not have wrote that in His book. So no fortune tellers, ouiji boards, spells, or love potions. Everyone needs to repent of those things and throw away anything associated with it.

All of the terms used in these passages refer to Pagan practices--ritual drug making, soothsaying, divination, necromancy, etc. Things forbidden of God's people. Both Old and New Testament.

And I believe I've been clear that such things are forbidden.

What I don't believe is that Pagan practices are effectual.

Psychics do not know the future.
Mediums cannot talk to the dead.

It is impossible to learn the future or gain special knowledge about the world by studying astrology, or by throwing dice, or by reading the entrails of animals, or any other form of divination.

These are ritual practices forbidden, but there is no power in them.

In the same way that idols of wood and gold are not actual gods who can hear and see, so neither practices associated with false gods can do anything.

"Their idols are silver and gold,
the work of human hands.
They have mouths, but do not speak;
eyes, but do not see.
They have ears, but do not hear;
noses, but do not smell.
They have hands, but do not feel;
feet, but do not walk;
and they do not make a sound in their throat."
- Psalm 115:4-7

Claiming that witchcraft is "real", in the sense that there is an actual mystical power being tapped into is the same as saying that idols are real gods.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[ViaCrucis]

Yeah Brother, I noticed something in scripture. It said the word medicine in a passage so I went to the original language and there it was, Sorcery and withchcraft....

So the witch doctors have taken over the world. Pharmeceuticals are the biggest industry on earth. An dit's all tied in to witchcraft.

Medicine is good, and physicians do a good work. Jesus Christ is Himself called the Great Physician, and He says "it is not the healthy who need a physician, but the sick", He came as the Physician for our souls, to call us to repentance and the salvation found in Him (Luke 5:31-32).

We need the pharmakon athanasias, the medicine of immortality, of His body and blood, broken and shed for us, as St. Ignatius writes in his letter to the Ephesians.

Pharmakeia, in the negative sense, refers to ritual drug making, the use of substances for pagan ritual practice. In the positive sense it refers to real medicine--good medicine. And it is written in the book of Sirach (embraced as Scripture by most non-Protestant Christians), "The Lord made medicines from the earth, and the sensible person does not reject them." (Sirach 38:4), in the Septuagint version the Greek word for medicine here is pharmaka.

This is why, from the beginning of my time posting in this thread, that one cannot simply force their concept of "witchcraft" onto the Bible. Pharmakeia does not mean "witchcraft" in the way you understand it; it refers to the practice of making elixirs/drugs/medicines. In a negative sense it referred to drugs for ritual use, as in pagan ritual. In the positive sense it simply refers to making medicine, and its related words pharmaka/pharmakon, simply mean "medicine".

Please study more.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[Divide]

And that victory is already won.

Yes, the victory is already won, but the Lord has seen fit to leave us here for a bit amongst the tares so that we must walk it out in Christ. Does work out your salvation with fear and trembling mean anything? Is the spiritual war real? WIll there be war in Heaven?

Do we play a part in it? Or are we to go home and sit on our Blessed ass urances after we walked down the isle and gave our lives to the Lord? What does "Occupy" mean?

Do you understand that the greatest percentage of Christians are non-participatory? Most wont read their Bible or pray as they should? How big would you estimate the percentage of Christians who have a close enough relationship with the Lord to have the knowledge to enjoy the benefits of protection from evil forces?

Our mission is to learn to love in a world filled with evil, liars, murderers and snakes and some of bring witchcraft and curses with them. And we are to love care for and help the people while clinging to the Lord lest we die in the evil of this world.

I once made the mistake (?) of praying for the Lord to teach me how to love others as He loves me...and within 2 days I had the most obnoxious character in the neighbrohood taking interest in being friends with me! [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse]! What a trial.

We have to walk it out. The only thing we need to do for evil to triumph is to do nothng. Witchcraft is very real. Curses are real. They can be overcome! But we can't deny the dangerousness of witchcraft and fringe occultish stuff that you say is no big deal and it has no power. Those fringe things like D&D, fortunetellers, dreamcatchers and all that stuff IS the Lie. It sucks you into evil and sinning through enticement of pleasure or whatever. Put that in your pipe and smoke it.

Oh it's only old pagan ritual stuff so it don't mean anything...? That may be the origins of it but those people were worshipping other gods and sacrificing children and stuff. It is evil at it's core. So leave the crap of this world alone.

 

[Divide]

Yes, and until then, people lose. The largest money drain /robbery/ in the world deceives the whole world according to Revelation 18 (witchcraft and sorceries deceive the whole world - not less but all) ....

Yes! People should spend their D&D time learning about spiritual warfare instead of poo-pooing it. Maybe your great great grandma was a witch and you didn't even know it. You might have a generational curse upon you. (visited upon the 3rd & 4th generation or something like that).

But! Whatever we Bind on earth is bound in Heaven So...makey up some binding prayers or search on youtube for some. Bind the generational curse and all of the spirits to the pit or to the feet of Jesus and renounce them, renounce their curse and bind it by prayer in the courts of heaven by the blood of Jesus and in the name of Jesus.

Why go through all that trouble? (LOL!) Maybe life will get better for you?! Your ex wife may come back, you'll get another good job, a new dog, financial blessings. Why was all those bad things happening in my life? Some curse from great great grandma or some witch that you dont even know who seceretly dont like you so went home and cast spells and curses upon your life? (I've heard multiple tesimonies of this happening to people.)
Bind that loudmouth witch, break her power in the name of Jesus! That my friends, is spiritual warfare.

 

[timewerx]

Yeah Brother, I noticed something in scripture. It said the word medicine in a passage so I went to the original language and there it was, Sorcery and withchcraft....

So the witch doctors have taken over the world. Pharmeceuticals are the biggest industry on earth. An dit's all tied in to witchcraft.

I think the witchcraft part is in the marketing of obscenely expensive pharma products.

They make you believe it's worth ending up in huge debt over.

 

[ari.sketch]

these modern witchcraft talk reminded me of a story shared by an American sociologist/pastor Tony Campolo.

In one of his trip - and if I remembered correctly, to somewhere in southeast Asia (so, quite possibly Indonesia), he met one of his work colleague (a western guy) who had become a Christian since they last met,
upon learning that the guy is now a Christian, Tony asked him, "I didn't know you became a Christian?"
And the guy replied, "Tony, if you'd seen the stuff I've seen, you become a Christian, too ... in self-defense."

that could be seen as a tongue in cheek view of the situation, but also quite real.

 

[ari.sketch]

I also like to point out, as Christians, when we walk in the light, darkness can not touch us,

when we walk with God, the enemy can NOT touch or harm us,

problems begin when we step off the light, when we open the door to attacks from the enemy.

and there are ways in which the enemy may use as an entry point to attack us

if anyone is interested to know more on the subject, I highly advise listening to someone like Derek Prince or a well known and established pastor/speaker

 

[Wings like Eagles]

I also like to point out, as Christians, when we walk in the light, darkness can not touch us,

when we walk with God, the enemy can NOT touch or harm us,

problems begin when we step off the light, when we open the door to attacks from the enemy.

and there are ways in which the enemy may use as an entry point to attack us

if anyone is interested to know more on the subject, I highly advise listening to someone like Derek Prince or a well known and established pastor/speaker

While I agree with most of what you posted, please see post #84 as example of another reality that many of our brothers and sisters are having to deal with.

 

[Aaron112]

Jesus , the LIGHT of the world, always walked in and remained LIGHT,
and the enemy not only touched Jesus, but brutally beat and stoned and crucified Jesus ,
and it was planned by the Father and Jesus
exactly
FOR OUR SINS

 

[Aaron112]

What do you think about witchcraft, magic, and sorcery? Do you think it is used today? If so, how is it relevant to us Christians? Is there any room for Christians to dabble? If you don't think it has modern application, when did it become irrelevant?

It has been used , as written in Scripture,
to deceive the whole world,
including pastors, priests, and whole congregations worldwide, daily.

 

[Aaron112]

Every facet of the music industry is controlled or directly influenced by satanic forces. (I should say was… it has changed since my involvement) But even though it has changed ….I can guarantee satan still has direct involvement …..something that powerful and influential ….you don’t relinquish.

Music, commerce, religion, politics, medicine, stock market, hollywood, entertainment.. all the flesh, all the carnal world, trying to bring everyone down to the pit, and succeeding popular.

 

[Aaron112]

.....we need to be aware of it and know how to fight it.

In regards to using evil spirits, still very prevalent in some parts of the world, especially where my family originate - Southeast Asia.

This has long been quite common, though usually out of sight, hidden, on purpose,
across the usa.

 

[Divide]

if anyone is interested to know more on the subject, I highly advise listening to someone like Derek Prince or a well known and established pastor/speaker

Derek Prince is contributed in part to my conviction about spiritual warfare and demonic forces. Derek speaks a lot about demonology and spiritual warfare! God Bless him for messages.

There is so many spirits, Derek says. A spirit of infirmity, a spirit of cancer, a spirit of disability (insert type here), A spirit of death. I've hear soo many testimonies about people being raised from the dead and from different people. Even Andrew Wommack's son died for 4.5 hours or thereabouts, had a toe tag and everything. Andrew refused to accept that his son died so he prayed and the boy is alive and well today. They can't all be lying. So it is true.

I guess basically what Andrew did was to cast out the spirit of death from his son.
And Jesus is the way the truth and the life. So if that's true, let's peek at the real vs the counterfeit. The Lord has Angels. Innumerable I think. Some are Cherubim, some are Messengers, some are Arch Angels. So there is rank among them and they have many facets to the angelic part of the Kingdom.

Then you have man. We have what is it? 5 fold ministries? Evangelists, Prophets, Pastors, Teachers and apostles? Something like that.

So then there is the enemy, the Satan. And they have all sorts of ranks of evil spirits also. Take a look at this passage:

Ephesians 6:10-18
10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.[e] 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.[f] 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere..../NLT


So they do have power and are evil. strategies of the devil? Sounds dangerous. Fiery darts? (I dunno exactly what those are but this passage is describing all of the tools that we need to put on, in order to be effective Christians. This is a real war. It is a spiritual war and the spiritual warring part is usually in the spiritual realm.. But Jesus gave us aithority to do all that He did and more. .

In the gospels there is deaf & dumb sprit described or named. Spirit of death. Spirit of Doubt. Spirit of unbelief, Spirit of divination (Witchcraft). So I guess you could say that we were born into a war that we didn't start. We are behind enemy lines.. And they do have power to attack us.

Our remedy is to put on the full armor of God.
First we het the helmet of Salvation.
Then the belt of truth.
The body armor of God’s righteousness.
the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: (who even reads their Bible? Not many apparently.) So they are unarmed. No sword. Each soldier is told how to suit up. What pieces of armor and clothng to wear. Every day.

Don't forget about our radio! Which is Prayer. We have an open Hotline to the Throne of God. We could call in an air strike from heaven like Elijah did! (expectant, Fervant prayers.)

There was at least one spirit that the disciples could not cast out. Jesus said to them, this kind only goes out by prayer and fasting...

So it was a powerful spirit. And if you missed your morning quiet time with God and your reading of His Word, then you're rushing out the door to work without your proper armor setup. Ephesians doesn't say, put on the armor of God if you want to. It sounds more like an order or command to me.

How bout that guy in Acts who got beat up by a strong Spirit and had to run naked and bleeding from the house. I know Jesus and I know Paul, but who are you?

There will be christian men who lose by being ill prepared. And when a Christian falls from the Lord's high place, he fals far enough to hurt him and then it is even harder for him to ascend again. Sort of like mountain climbing. ( I Loved living in Colorado!) Except this is the mountain of God.

Look up some Derek Prince videos on Youtube. He has very many on there. Derek sadly passed away some years ago but he is still teaching. Praise the Lord!

I pray for wisdom and understanding a lot. And Discernment. God will give you the knowledge you seek. Pray about it. Witchcraft is very real and they have their own heirarchy too, witches, warlocks, voodoo and all that. Leave all that stuff alone until you have prayed it out.

God don't need Babes in Christ as much as He needs mature Christians who walk in their authority. I joined the Service! I feel like a Corporal, lol.

 

[Wings like Eagles]

​

The Unseen Realm - documentary film with Dr. Michael S. Heiser​

Watch this on youtube.

.