Witchcraft in the Church

Natsumi Lam said:

Why does God call some things abominations?

Why then did Saul die for going to a medium?

The bible also says you will be defiled by them.

The Lord will set His face against them.

A medium is to be put to death.

And the list goes on.

For something u believe is a fairytale...God is very passionate about it ....shouldnt we be also?

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There are a great many things that the Bible calls an abomination --- many of these things are routinely ignored by modern Christians.

Exodus 34:

9th commandment

26 “Bring the best of the firstfruits of your soil to the house of the Lord your God .

10th commandment

“Do not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk.”

27 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write down these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.” 28 Moses was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant—the Ten Commandments.


Note: In the passage above all bolding and italics are mine. It is also worth remarking that this is the oldest of the three versions of the ten commandments and the only version to self identify as "the Ten Commandments".

JackRT said:

There are a great many things that the Bible calls an abomination --- many of these things are routinely ignored by modern Christians.

Exodus 34:

9th commandment

26 “Bring the best of the firstfruits of your soil to the house of the Lord your God .

10th commandment

“Do not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk.”

27 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write down these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.” 28 Moses was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant—the Ten Commandments.


Note: In the passage above all bolding and italics are mine. It is also worth remarking that this is the oldest of the three versions of the ten commandments and the only version to self identify as "the Ten Commandments".

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You might want to also consider the extent to which old commandments either were or were not ignored by the various Christian personages we find represented in the New Testament, and why.

Just saying! As for cooking a young goat in its mother's milk, we might want to ponder more deeply about what all of that kind of thing was about in the first place. I personally don't cook lamb chops in that way and wouldn't see the need to do so. I mean, who would do such a thing anyway?

Dave-W said:

Actually it is in there. It became clear to them that her power was gone. You cannot lose a power that you never had.

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The text reads, "But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities."

Did the spirit give them hope of profit because it could actually divine the future? Or because it gave the false appearance that it could?

The text doesn't tell us. So, no, it's not in there. Not unless one makes certain assumptions.

And, again, seeing as the devil is a liar, why should my assumption be that he is truthful and is there divining the future to help people make money? Shouldn't my assumption be, as the Scriptures themselves teach us, that he is a liar? Lying, deceit, deception--those are the things he does.

-CryptoLutheran

Natsumi Lam said:

Why do we armour?

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A Mighty Fortress, 3rd stanza:

"And though this world, with devils filled,
Should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed
His truth to triumph through us:
The Prince of Darkness grim,
We tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure,
For lo! his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him."

Our spiritual armor are the gifts and things of God--truth, faith, justice, peace, salvation, the Gospel. Against these things the devil cannot stand.

It is with these things that we know that God's truth shall triumph through us, that we tremble not before the devil and his grim rage. For, indeed, one little world shall fell him.

The 4th stanza from the same hymn:

"That word above all earthly powers,
No thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours
Through Him who with us sideth:
Let goods and kindred go,
This mortal life also;
The body they may kill:
God’s truth abideth still,
His Kingdom is forever."

-CryptoLutheran

Natsumi Lam said:

Doesnt mean the devil wont attack because we fight eph 6 says.

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I haven't suggested the devil doesn't attack. In fact I've talked about the fact that the devil is a liar throughout this entire thread.

I've said we shouldn't ascribe god-like power to the devil.

Massive difference.

-CryptoLutheran

Natsumi Lam said:

Being a liar is more passive then an attack.

Just making sure you are aware attacks arent passive.

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The lies of the devil are to destroy our faith and hope in Christ. That's hardly passive.

-CryptoLutheran

I know a church leader who used to be Wiccan. I'm sure she would have somw good insight I should ask about sometime. It would be good to know.

I had a student many years ago who was Wiccan. She really didn't talk about it, she just wanted to be left alone to practice her faith. I never saw her attack Christianity in any way, but I certainly saw certain Christians--particularly fundamentalist Christians--insult her criticize her when they found out that she was Wiccan (something she generally did not discuss for that reason).

Natsumi Lam said:

Hi Family,

On occasion, pastors come across members of their church who are wolves in sheeps clothing: who are praying against, casting spells and practicing magick to divide and conquer a house of God.

How would you approach this situation as a pastor?

~Nat

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Discernment comes with wisdom. Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.

But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Biblically speaking, discernment comes by experience from your walk with Christ. Even as I can discern who is walking thru my home, whether it is my wife or my children, by the way they walk, the way they plop into the furniture, or rummage thru the fridge. Also little nuances that can only be learned thru a relationship. I also know Christ. The way he talks. His likes, dislikes, concerns. I can 'tell' when it's not him.

When we get to spiritual concerns, sometimes we are ignorant to what is actually going on. I constantly remind myself that we need to take our own beliefs, our own ideas, and shoot them in the head like a zombie before they bite someone else. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. What we believe to be correct, might be incorrect about the current situation, even if it is correct in another situation.

It may be a season of renewal, where an act of faith is required to win souls. Where an open rebuke could lose a soul to the kingdom of God. You will come across individuals that are receptive to God that come at you as an accuser, and enemy. That is why it is always important to take it to God. Let you Lord and Master direct your steps. It is not your authority in the first place that you enact. It is Christ's authority. Ask permission. Ask for guidance.

Remember, sheep draw wolves, and Jesus did not come for the already saved. He came for them wolves. It is our job to protect the sheep from the wolves, but as long as we know who the wolves among us are, and keep the flock safe, we can keep the wolf in the presence of God, and let God deal with the wolf.

The time might come to remove the wolf from the flock, but let God make that decision, and obey your God in faith when the time comes for you to act.