Love Thy Neighbor?

Search4Him said:

It's going to take sometime but I'm sure one day they will see the light.

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I know a lot about witchcraft and wicca, paganism because I almost became lost down that dark path and magic and fantasy is a weakness, the Devil knows how to get at me.

Most Wiccans and pagans have had a bad experience with Christianity. They think Christians are narrow-minded bigots, self righteous snobs and fanatics. They do not know what nice loving good people Christians really are. THey have problems with hard to understand passages in the Bible, and they may have gone to church and felt like the preacher was ignorant and fanatical, and they felt rejected and judged there.

However, a lot of people do not want to repent of their sins. They'll admit that they've done something wrong, but they do not want to get saved because that means if they let Jesus in their heart they will have to change their wicked ways, because Jesus will change them. So many people are ungrateful for Jesus' death on the cross.

Wiccans who want to use magic and sorcery, like someone else said, they want control and power. The reason magic is forbidden is because if that power exists, it does not belong in the hands of frail, weak, sinful human beings. The Power belongs to God. Satan might get his power from God and from people who give him power. Some white witches, by white I don't mean race I mean so-called good witches, witches that believe they are good, claim they use their magic to help people and make the world a better place. THey are blinded by Satan, victims of his deception.

You don't have to worry about your neighbors hurting their child, that is a myth that wiccans and pagans abuse children. They do not sacrifice animals or humans or children. Do not get in their face when trying to witness. Be friendly and smile, say hello and be a good neighbor. maybe once they warm up to you, you can explain what it really means to be a Christian. Remember they may have had a bad experience with Christians.

Well now, after reading all of your posts, I can say this, as with what some others were saying is that you were WAY too much up in their face about, lets just say: "religion", 2 of the things that can turn a potential friendship and relationship sour is the discussion of politics and religion, especially religion.

Instead let your lives stand as a testimony to God's power and ways. Now did you screw up? I'll be very honest, yes, yes you did.

I recently met a young man who runs a tattoo parlor, he's quite nice and I could see he and I being friends, good friends. He has the "all-seeing psychic eye" tattooed on his arm and just "eye" artwork in general on him, he has a thing for eyes, I do not know his beliefs, nor do I care, I wanted to know the quality of his inks and such and he had a friend with him another day, his friend rolled up his sleeve and showed me a pentacle, (a right-side up five pointed star).

Let me just say this, I was not in their face about their chosen designs and artwork, I was not screaming at them saying "WITCH WITCH!" or as the male term would be: "Warlock" (I personally don't know if thats even a true term per se)

Nor did I scold him for having the "all seeing eye". It was their choice to have this done, what I did do is loaned him 2 of my favorite CHristian CDs lastnight, he loved them immediately.

I am quite familiar with symbols and markings from different religions and cultures. I do not fear them nor do I fear what a person believes, instead I welcome them into my home, and into my life,. All people have a need to be accepted and loved, no matter who they are or where they are. Tell me why would the everlasting God of the universe stop and care for US? US?! His enemies, His blasphemers and killers? He shouldn't! But He has, and He has done so much for us, why can we not extend that common courtesy and love and respect (love most of all) to our fellow neighbors?

As for the whole goth thing, teens (and all people) search for something, if there's been one thing I've found in the goth scene, its this, these are some of the nicest, sweetest and funniest people; one could meet.

Why should we ignore? We should love these men and women, goth carries with it not ingrained religion of its own, there are goths who are Christian, Pagan, Wiccan, Agnostic, Atheists etcs. some may claim to be Satanists (either the younger less informed ones who just want to shock and scare) and then the actual worshippers of the self.

The point is, just love them.

They are probably really upset that you are harrassing them. They may also be very worried that you will try to tell their child that he is going to Hell.

I'm not sure what you thought you would accomplish by your actions. Did you not think they would be offended? Would you not have been offended if they behaved that way to you?

Pagans are generally pretty nice people. They generally do not push their religious beliefs on other people. Their religious practices are really no more weird than Christian ones. THey meet together to worship. They are kind to children and animals.

Paganism and Christianity are not compatible, but they are a darn sight closer than Christianity and atheism. You haven't responded to them appropriately from a Christian perspective, and I'd say it is a lot less likely now that they will ever become Christians.

I think you need to apologize, maybe in a note, with some flowers or a fruit basket.

There are witches and wizards who do blood sacrifices, even human blood sacrifices. Beware.

Go for it. Build that relationship and be a loving (not pushy) Christian influence on their lives. You know, "love your neighbor as yourself." Loves is powerful stuff & so is the influence of the Light of Christ shown in a daily life.

Search4Him said:

Thank you all for all of you advice and input! I know I freaked out some when I found out what we moved in next to. Especially with all of the things I've been reading on the internet about their beliefs. I did end up speaking to the wife a little while ago and both her and her husband were very forgiving. They even were able to laugh about it! My neighbors are not at all like the people I've read about. They both dote on their son, they take amazing care of their pets and even let my neice pet their little rat when she was outside. James still say we're to have nothing to do with them outside of neighborly pleasentries, but I would like to get to know them both a little better. So confused.
J

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The majority of people are very similar. As St Augustine said, what we all want is to love, and be loved. And then we also all have our struggles.

There are a lot of reasons that people come to different conclusions about God. THey may have had very different experiences in their lives. They may have a different perception of what they have seen and learned. Almost always there are important things we can learn from the most unlikely people. I was alking to a women recently who was involved in prison ministry, who said she was continually suprised by the things she learned from the prisoners.

We are not called to judge people, because we cannot see their hearts, and we don't know enough about their experiences and their limitations. We are called to love them. We are supposed to witness, and in a place where Christianity is already present, it is usually best to follow St Francis advice "preach the Gospel at all times, and if necessary use words".

People can also sense when you are just being friendly in order to push an agenda. You have to be interested in them simply because they are God's creatures, and worthy of interest in and of themselves - even if they never show the slightest inclination of interest in Christianity.

I can understand why you are confused, but there is a lot of nasty and ignorant misinformation circulated among some Christian groups about non-Christians. I think it comes from a kind of fear. Not all Christians are giving good advice, or speaking truth, or even being honest, unfortunately. We are all limited too.

Search4Him said:

Thank you all for all of you advice and input! I know I freaked out some when I found out what we moved in next to. Especially with all of the things I've been reading on the internet about their beliefs. I did end up speaking to the wife a little while ago and both her and her husband were very forgiving. They even were able to laugh about it! My neighbors are not at all like the people I've read about. They both dote on their son, they take amazing care of their pets and even let my neice pet their little rat when she was outside. James still say we're to have nothing to do with them outside of neighborly pleasentries, but I would like to get to know them both a little better. So confused.
J

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Tell me what sites or books have you been reading? Quite alot of "information" on certain Christian sites is nothing but a hold over from the 80's during the time of fundamentalist paranoia and lies.

Why does your husband want nothing to do with them? Just because someone practices another religion does not mean they would try to push their beliefs on you. Nor would you do so to them.

i dont think you're suppose to push Jesus onto people.. but yea, love em like their your family. This might be a tough test from God.

Well I guess i'm going to be in the tiny tiny minority of 1 in that I think telling them about Jesus straight away was the right thing to do.......if He is the most important person in our lives then surely He's the first we would wan't to talk about. I'm not saying that you should have gone in all guns blazing about the troubles with pagan religions (not saying you did) but I do think being up front about your beliefs and nailing your colours to the mast was a good thing.

Too many people are afraid of saying that they follow Christ or they only do so when they think it won't 'offend' someone......the problem with that is that the vast majority of people will take offence at the message anyway unless it is severely dumbed down, thats shown throughout the entirety of scripture they didn't kill Jesus, Peter, Paul etc because they liked what they were saying. You've got to stay true to the truth of the scriptures as you see, occasionally you'll have someone come and show through scripture that your view is wrong in which case you change but unless you are shown through scripture that you are wrong then carry on as you are......Paul said to the Ephesians in acts 20;

And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more. Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.

You have to answer to God for your conduct (hence Paul is not guilty because showing love he gave the whole council of God) therefor you act in accordance with what you know of scripture but always through love....which in this instance was telling them the truth of the cross.



No doubt most will say I am wrong but I know what I believe the scriptures teach....if someone can show me otherwise then fare enough.

Imagine if the only thing your neighbours knew about Christians was from reading Wiccan websites

I think its great to be straight up and tell them you're Christian, the same way I suspect they are straight up about being Witches. I'm also glad you let your own experiences reassure you that they love their son the same way you'd love your own kids.

Please don't be tempted to talk to their son about how you beleive he is hellbound.. it will upset and confuse him. He has plenty of time to find out about God and Jesus, and in my experience Wiccans are not averse to their kids looking into such things.

I think you should respect your husband's wishes not to get much involved with them beyond normal neighbourliness, but I'm glad you don't seem so afraid of them any more.

I do think you should "love thy neighbour".. I'm a big fan of unconditional love.