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Witchcraft

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by ivienna, Jun 12, 2006.

  1. ivienna

    ivienna New Member

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    What are the forms of witchcraft and what does God say on this subject? I know that it is an abomination to God but I want to know all forms that could possibly fall under that category? Could you please state all the forms witchcraft... Thanks! :thumbsup:
     
  2. Scarlett O.

    Scarlett O. Moderator
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    The bible has a lot to say about dabbling in the supernatural and there are several words in the bible connected with what you are talking about. There is something just as bad than witchcraft, according to the bible. But that's just my opinion and I'll add that at the end. Here are the types of occultisms found in the bible.

    • witchcraft
    • divination
    • enchantments
    • mediums
    • sorcery
    • spiritists
    Here are some references for you to look at.

    Deuteronomy 18:10 and 18:14
    2 Kings 17:17 and 21:6
    2 Chronicles 33:6
    Nahum 3:4
    Acts 8:9 and 19:19
    Galatians 5:20
    Revelation 18:23

    God basically says that these practices are deceitful and death-worthy.

    Why?

    Someone else said it better than I can. "Only God has a right to understand the realm of the supernatural." I can't remember who said that. It was from someone's website. But I'll go even further than that. I believe that only God has a right to manipulate the supernatural. We, as humans, can't manipulate the supernatural, but that's the deceit of witchcraft....many humans who delve into it believe they can.

    Well, I said that there is something just as bad, according to the bible and in my opinion, than witchcraft. In 2 Samuel 15, when King Saul disobeyed God and kept some of the "spoils of war" for himself....this is what happened in a conversation with Saul and Samuel.

    Saul: "Hi, Samuel. Good morning and God bless you. I have done exactly what God told me to do."

    Samuel: "Oh really? Then what are these sheep noises and cow noises I hear?"

    Saul: "Well.....we did keep some of the animals....but just to make sacrifices to God with! We destroyed everything else."

    Samuel: "Shutup!! Would you like for me to tell you what God told me about you last night?"

    Saul: "...feel free."

    Samuel: "You used to be a pathetic nothing....then God made you king over all of Israel. Then God gives you a task....to completely kill and destroy His enemies, the Amalekites. And you! You brazenly did not complete the task as God described it."

    Saul: "All I did was to spare their king and my soldiers spared some stupid animals for sacrificing SO WHAT?!?!"

    Samuel: "Do you think that all God is interested in is sacrifices as much as He is interested in your listening to Him and obeying His voice?
    Obedience, simply listening and obeying is better than a lavish production of a sacrifice.
    For rebelling against God by disobeying Him is just the same as the sin of witchcraft and stubborness before God is just like idolatry."
     
  3. IronWill

    IronWill New Member

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    Necromancy
    Communicating with Spirits(can fall under the above)
    Spellcasting
    Divination(palm reading, horoscopes)


    Not sure exactlly what you're wanting to know here.
     
  4. gekko

    gekko New Member

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    rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft

    (anyone have the reference?)
     
  5. donnA

    donnA Active Member

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    astrology
    automatic handwritting
    tarot card reading
    card reading to tell the furture (non tarot card reading)

    to add to what Scarlett said, God does not reveal Himself or His will for us through these methods, when we use these methods we are involved in the spiritual world, but not with God, with satan. Satan is the father of lies, and a deciever, nothing you find out through these methods can be the truth. It might have enough truth mixed in (just like satan in the garden of eden) to look good, look right, to keep people interested. But it isn't of God, no matter what.
     
  6. Scarlett O.

    Scarlett O. Moderator
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    Oh, Gekko, MY BAD....I cited 2 Samuel in my above post, but it's 1 Samuel... 1 Samuel 15:22-23 :flower:

    Sorry
     
  7. Helen

    Helen <img src =/Helen2.gif>

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    Witchcraft involves, in its generic sense, any attempt to influence or be influenced by supernatural forces other than God, and through any other means other than prayer and direct communication with God. Thus it includes shamanism, sorcery, trances, TM, and even prayers to 'saints' as is done in the Catholic church.

    In a more specific sense, witchcraft, or Wicca, as it is now known, involves the use of specific rituals and spells, often within a defined group or 'coven', to achieve one's own desires by influencing or controlling unnatural 'forces.'

    That's off the top of my head. I did some counseling with high school girls involved in Wicca a number of years ago and did quite a bit of studying about it then.
     
  8. Gwyneth

    Gwyneth <img src=/gwyneth.gif>

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    what is ............

    automatic writing ? Donna mentioned it in her post.
    Gwyneth:wavey:
     
  9. donnA

    donnA Active Member

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    Gwyneth, it is when a person loosely hold a pen on a piece of paper and and consentrates and begins writting, suposedly guided by spirits. There have been whole spiritually based books written like this, all pointing away from God of course.
    http://www.crystalinks.com/automatic_writing.html

    helen, you reminded me. They claim witchcraft is a earth/nature religion. I would need to read to say more about that, I am sure there are others here who know about it.
     
  10. IronWill

    IronWill New Member

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    Ehhh...I'll be back shortly to address that more fully.
     
  11. saturneptune

    saturneptune New Member

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    The spells that I cast are done by twitching my nose. Wicca? I thought that was some kind of lawn furniture.
     
  12. IronWill

    IronWill New Member

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    Wicca claims to be a nature/earth based religion, this is true. They believe in a goddess and a god(The Lord and Lady, the Horned god and goddess, and a few other names/titles). But beliefs vary from coven to coven, and from trad to trad. If you want to get into all the different types of witchcraft, that is a very, very long list. I can give you some, but not all of that list if that is what you are looking for. Wicca and witchcraft, although sometimes interchangeable, are not always interchangeable. There are those who are engaged in witchcraft, who refuse to be identified with Wicca and merely call themselves witches.
     
  13. donnA

    donnA Active Member

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    Iron will, I knew you would come along with more info. thanks
     
  14. JamieinNH

    JamieinNH New Member

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    Many years ago, I was in Wicca. The one thing I liked and miss is the outdoor fellowship.

    Now, if we can get our Baptist church to meet outdoors for Sunrise services more than once a year I would be all set.... :)


    Jamie
     
  15. Marcia

    Marcia Active Member

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    I used to be an astrologer and had many Pagan and Wiccan clients among others. I talk about this in my ministry and have an article on it that I first wrote in 1995 (but have updated since) that is at
    http://cana.userworld.com/cana_wicca.html

    I think Helen said this on page 1 -- there is generic witchcraft, which is a term that can refer to various occult practices such as casting spells, making and using magical potions, contacting spirits, divination, etc. And there are the modern religions of Witchcraft and Wicca (not always the same thing acc. to their followers). When the word "witchcraft" is used in the Bible, it refers to the generic term. There is no Hebrew word for "witchcraft."

    I discuss the various terms for the occult practices listed in Deut. 18:10-12 in my book coming out from Cook Sept. 1st, SpellBound: The Paranormal Seduction of Today's Kids. It's already listed on Amazon, CBD, and Barnes & Noble.

    (I was asked to write this book so don't ask me questions about how to get a book published! I don't know! :smilewinkgrin: )
     
  16. IronWill

    IronWill New Member

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    *nods* Excellent article Marcia!
     
  17. Marcia

    Marcia Active Member

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    Thanks for reading it, IronWill! :wavey:
     
  18. DorthyMontine

    DorthyMontine New Member

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    gekko...


    what meaneth this bleeting of sheep in mine ears?...

    Yep, it is what Samuel said to Saul when Saul disobeyed the Lord...

    The scripture reference is in 1 Samuel 15, specifically...verse 23
     
  19. ivienna

    ivienna New Member

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    Great article Marcia! :thumbs: I think I have to give the link to your page to a friend of mine. I believe that what he's practicing is also a branch of occultism but he kept on insisting that it's from God. The more I tell him that it's from the other side, he keeps on affirming that he knows that it is from God. He claims that he receives direct orders from Him and he mentioned a lot of events in his life which according to him, proves that it is really from God. He calls them gifts and he uses it for God's service.

    He told me openly that he practices reiki and that it helps him a lot in a number of ways. He told me that he uses it to understand people and situations. I am really concerned about this friend of mine. He has told me a lot of things which I can't even enummerate but I know for sure that it is not from God.

    Oh and there was one instance that he explained to me that witchcraft is not satanic, just what marcia mentioned in the article. He does believe firmly in God but does not grasp the existence of Satan.

    I am really concerned with my friend and I want to win him to Christ. How can I convince him that what he's doing is not of God? What will I say? I already brought him to church and have a pastor counsel him about salvation but he insisted that he thinks he already has a relationship with Christ and that he is "directly" serving under him.

    The creepy part is, he keeps on convincing me that I am very special to God and that he has given me gifts and talents that I don't use for him. The question is, do we refer to the same God? :confused:
     
  20. Marcia

    Marcia Active Member

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    Thanks for reading my article! I have an article on Reiki here
    http://cana.userworld.com/cana_reiki1.html

    I wrote it because so many Christians started asking me about in the late 90's and I could not find a shred of info on it from a Christian source. I knew about it way back around 1980 because that is when the first established training center for Reiki started, and it was in Atlanta, which is where I was, learning astrology at the time. So I knew what it was but there was no info on it for Christians, so I wrote the article.

    There are many people who practice the occult and claim to know God or Christ. This is not uncommon. It sounds like you have done all you can -- you can't make people see the truth. You pray and present the truth and pray again if they reject it. Keep praying for him. Many Christians do not realize how much the occult draws from Christianity and mimics it. Many occultists believe in a mystical Christ who was a master in the Gnostic or occult sense.

    Based on what you say here, I would say no, he is not referring to the God of the Bible. This is possibly Satan's attempt at confusing or seducing you. The Christian has gifts given by God through the Holy Spirit and of course, we have talents we are born with, but I am thinking your friend may be talking about mystical or psychic type gifts, or talents that fall in the New Age/occult realm like Reiki. Those are not gifts from God. Keep in mind James 1.17, "every good and perfect" gift is from "above," from God. Gifts from God reflect his character and nature and are used for His glory.
     
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