From Witchcraft to Christ Growing up in a family deeply entrenched in witchcraft, my understanding of spirituality was vastly different from those around me. I was raised to believe in the power of spells, curses, and magic. My upbringing in this environment shaped my perspective on life and the supernatural. As a young child, I witnessed countless rituals and ceremonies performed by my family members. These ceremonies often involved sacrifices, incantations, and the summoning of spirits. It was a normal part of my everyday life and I never questioned it.
I know this sounds old-fashioned, but memorizing Scriptures is a valuable practice. The more truth we have stored up inside of us, the faster it bubbles to the surface right when we need it.
Let s dig in and really begin helping our kids to recognize what the world is communicating to them and to be armed with enough truth to be battle ready for the world they face. The believable detail of the early chapters is replaced with the sort of summarising brevity that is indicative of someone who wasn t really there doing what she claims to have been doing.
It was a normal part of my everyday life and I never questioned it. Magic and witchcraft were deeply ingrained in my identity. However, as I grew older, I started to question the effectiveness and purpose of these practices.
What does the Bible say about witchcraft / witches?
The Bible has a lot to say about witchcraft. Witchcraft and its many cousins, such as fortune-telling and necromancy, are Satan’s counterfeits to holy spirituality. The Bible expressly condemns all forms of witchcraft.
Since early times, people have sought supernatural experiences God did not endorse. The nations that surrounded the Promised Land were saturated with such practices, and God had stern words for His people concerning any involvement with them. Deuteronomy 18:9–12 says, “When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord.”
God takes witchcraft very seriously. The penalty for practicing witchcraft under the Mosaic Law was death (Exodus 22:18; Leviticus 20:27). First Chronicles 10:13 tells us that “Saul died because he was unfaithful to the LORD; he did not keep the word of the LORD and even consulted a medium for guidance.” In the New Testament, “sorcery” is translated from the Greek word pharmakeia, from which we get our word pharmacy (Galatians 5:20; Revelation 18:23). Witchcraft and spiritism often involve the ritualistic use of magic potions and mind-controlling drugs. Using illicit drugs can open ourselves up to the invasion of demonic spirits. Engaging in a practice or taking a substance to achieve an altered state of consciousness is a form of witchcraft.
There are only two sources of spiritual power: God and Satan. Satan has only the power that God allows him to have, but it is considerable (Job 1:12; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 20:2). To seek spirituality, knowledge, or power apart from God is idolatry, closely related to witchcraft. First Samuel 15:23 says, “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.” Witchcraft is Satan’s realm, and he excels in counterfeiting what God does. When Moses performed miracles before Pharaoh, the magicians did the same things through demonic power (Exodus 8:7). At the heart of witchcraft is the desire to know the future and control events that are not ours to control. Those abilities belong only to the Lord. This desire has its roots in Satan’s first temptation to Eve: “You can be like God” (Genesis 3:5).
Since the Garden of Eden, Satan’s major focus has been to divert human hearts away from worship of the true God (Genesis 3:1). He entices humans with the suggestions of power, self-realization, and spiritual enlightenment apart from submission to the Lord God. Witchcraft is merely another branch of that enticement. To become involved in witchcraft in any way is to enter Satan’s realm. Seemingly “harmless” modern entanglements with witchcraft can include horoscopes, Ouija boards, Eastern meditation rituals, and some video and role-playing games. Any practice that dabbles in a power source other than the Lord Jesus Christ is witchcraft. Revelation 22:15 includes witches in a list of those who will not inherit eternal life: “Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.”
We don’t need to fear Satan’s power, but we should respect it and stay away from it. First John 4:4 says, “Greater is He who is in you, than he who is in the world.” Satan can create much havoc, harm, and destruction, even in the lives of believers (1 Thessalonians 2:18; Job 1:12–18; 1 Corinthians 5:5). However, if we belong to the Lord Jesus Christ, there is no power that can ultimately defeat us (Isaiah 54:17). We are overcomers (1 John 5:4) as we “put on the whole armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes” (Ephesians 6:11). When we give our lives to Christ, we must repent. This repentance should include renouncing any involvement with witchcraft, following the example of the early believers in Acts 19:19.
Isaiah 8:19 says, “When someone tells you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living?” When we follow those words to their logical conclusion, we could also ask, “Why seek any power apart from the source of all real power? Why seek spirits who are not the Holy Spirit?” Witchcraft and its many counterparts promise spirituality but lead only to emptiness and death (Micah 5:12; Galatians 5:19–21). Only Jesus has the words of life (John 6:68).
Witchcraft is real. Very real. As a Christian parent, having an understanding of the inherent dangers can help you have those difficult, but vital, conversations with your children. It can help you know how to navigate questions that come up and ask questions that could reveal some surprising influences that your child might not have even recognized.
I felt a longing for something more meaningful and authentic. This search eventually led me to explore different religions and spirituality outside of witchcraft. I delved into the teachings of various spiritual practices, including Buddhism and Hinduism. During my exploration, I came across Christianity. At first, I was hesitant to consider it as a legitimate spiritual path, given my strong connections to witchcraft. However, something about the teachings of Christ resonated with me. The message of love, forgiveness, and redemption intrigued me. I began attending Christian services and reading the Bible. The more I learned, the more I realized that Christianity offered the spiritual fulfillment I had been seeking. Through prayer and reflection, I came to understand that my previous practices were not aligned with the teachings of Christ. Transitioning from witchcraft to Christianity was not an easy journey. I faced resistance from my family and friends who were deeply rooted in witchcraft. They viewed my new beliefs as a betrayal and tried to dissuade me from pursuing this path. However, I remained steadfast in my faith and continued to pursue my relationship with Christ. As I embraced Christianity, I experienced a profound transformation in my life. The love and grace I found in Christ replaced the fear and uncertainty I had felt with witchcraft. I learned to find solace and guidance in prayer, rather than relying on spells and magic. Today, I consider myself a follower of Christ and no longer identify with witchcraft. My journey from witchcraft to Christ has been a transformative experience, both spiritually and personally. It has taught me the power of love, forgiveness, and redemption, and the importance of seeking truth and authenticity in one's spiritual journey..
Reviews for "From Witchcraft to Christian Ministry: A Remarkable Transformation"
1. John - 2/5 stars - "From Witchcraft to Christ" was not what I expected at all. I was hoping for a detailed exploration of the transition from witchcraft to Christianity, but instead, I found the book to be filled with religious preachings and personal anecdotes. It felt more like a religious conversion book rather than a scholarly examination. Overall, I was disappointed with the content and would not recommend it to someone looking for a serious exploration of witchcraft and its relationship to Christianity.
2. Sarah - 1/5 stars - I found "From Witchcraft to Christ" to be extremely biased and one-sided. The author seems to have a complete disdain for witchcraft and portrays it as an evil practice without considering any alternative perspectives. The book lacked depth and failed to provide any meaningful analysis or critical thinking. I was hoping for a balanced and nuanced view, but all I found was a narrow-minded perspective. I would not recommend this book to anyone seeking an unbiased exploration of witchcraft and its relationship to Christianity.
3. Lisa - 2/5 stars - As someone who practices witchcraft, I was intrigued by the title of this book and was hoping for a thoughtful discussion. However, "From Witchcraft to Christ" was filled with stereotypes and misconceptions about the craft. The author painted a picture of witchcraft that is far from accurate, relying on outdated beliefs and misinterpretations. Additionally, the author's conversion to Christianity seemed forced and unconvincing. I believe readers looking for a genuine exploration of witchcraft and its relationship to Christianity would be better off looking elsewhere.