Why I'm not a witch

The Question:

Why am I not a witch? Although this may seem to be an odd question to ask of a believer in Christ, it is a question that needs to be answered, as some practitioners of wicca and neo-paganism seem to assert that you can be a witch and a Christian also. Or conversely, that witchcraft/paganism is a superior religion due to its presumed antiquity.

The Answer:

Colossians 2:16-17 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.

Lately, I've been studying the Temple worship in Jerusalem before its destruction in 70 AD, and now understand more about the types and shadows that prefigured Christ and His atoning sacrifice. In meditating upon that truth, I have come to realize that there are types and shadows of Christ in many other religions as well, pointers, if you will, to the ultimate truth.

Genesis 1:14-15 And God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth." And it was so.

For example, the pagan year and festivals closely parallel the religious year of the Jews as they are both based on a lunar calendar. When God created the world, He set signs and seasons to remind us of Him. Down through the centuries the meanings of these signs and seasons have been lost and only echoes now point to the true God.

We also see shadows of Christ in the "Golden Rule" - "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" - in various forms in many belief systems. And the many other parallels that writers have pointed out over the years. Why serve shadows when you can serve the reality they point to - which is Christ?

Modern witchcraft (wicca) and neo-paganism lay claim to antiquity and therefore presume pre-eminence over the belief in Jesus Christ. However, since Jesus is the "lamb slain from the foundation of the world" (Revelation 13:8), whatever shadowing belief that lays claim to antiquity must be only an echoing of truth if it does not lead to Christ.

Hebrews 4:14-16 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Jesus, who was tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin, was offered the "personal power" promised by witchcraft/paganism when He was tempted by satan at the beginning of ministry. It was presented as a glowing shortcut, an alternative way to accomplish His purposes. How did He respond?

Matthew 4:2-4 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."

Jesus answered, "It is written: `Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.' "

Sympathetic magick basically holds that like calls forth like. The tempter, satan, was trying to get Jesus to magickally call forth bread from stones shaped like baked loaves. Now Jesus was hungry, He had been fasting for 40 days and nights. So why didn't He use the power of magick to meet His physical needs?

Later He multiplied the five loaves and two fishes to feed 5,000 on one occasion. On another occasion, He did the same thing for 4,000, after thanking God for them. (Matthew 14:17-21) What was different this time?

Job 23:12 I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.

First of all, Jesus did nothing at the command of satan. Secondly, He did nothing supernaturally to gratify His own needs. And thirdly, He regarded the Word of God higher than His necessary bread. Therefore, the route of magick was not open to Him.

Matthew 4:5-7 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: "`He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'"

Jesus answered him, "It is also written: `Do not put the Lord your God to the test.' "

The second test involved requesting help from spirit beings to fulfill His purposes. Again Jesus refused to submit to occult practices to achieve His goals. Now, Jesus was made a little lower than the angels when He came to earth as a man, and technically He, as the Son of God, could still command them I suppose. But as our example as the Son of Man, He refused to obey satan's command or to resort to practices that could be questionable.

The verse that satan quoted stated that HE, that is, GOD, will command HIS angels … and Jesus being obedient to the Word of God did not usurp God's authority in commanding angels, just as we are not to usurp God's authority over spiritual beings, or attempt to manipulate spirit beings, good or bad, for our own ends.

Matthew 26:53 "Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions (72,000+) of angels?"

Indeed, even on the cross, dying as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, Jesus would not presume to command angels, but could have ASKED His Father to send them to His aid.

Colossians 2:18-20 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions. He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow. Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules:

This Bible extract follows our lead passage about the religious shadows that preceded Christ. The Apostle Paul correctly identifies the worship of or undue regard and attempt to manipulate spirit beings as an ungodly notion contrary to the leading of Christ. Moreover, this unspiritual practice will "disqualify" you for the reward and honor that would otherwise have been yours for following Christ.

Matthew 4:8-10 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me."

Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: `Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.' "

Another shortcut was offered to Jesus - an offer that satan must have felt "he couldn't refuse" - a way to immediately procure the rule of the entire world. The problem with this route is that it entails mutiny or rebellion against God, which the Bible defines as the sin of witchcraft.

1 Samuel 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king. (KJV)

The only thing Jesus had to do was render obeisance and worship to satan. All the kingdoms of the world, and their splendor, would have been His, not only material wealth, but personal power beyond the reach of most. Again this mode of action was totally refused and Jesus declared that God alone is to be worshipped.

Matthew 4:11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

After Jesus temptation and refusal to obey the devil, the devil left him and angels came to minister to His needs. The writer of Hebrews (1:14) tells us the God sends HIS angels to minister to the heirs of salvation. If we refuse to command the angels and decline to try to manipulate spirit beings, God Himself will command them to minister to our needs.

Since Jesus has refused the route of magick, the manipulation of spirit beings and witchcraft in pursuit of personal power, so do I. Thus I am not a witch. I do not chase shadows, but walk in the reality of the light of Christ.

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