The following questions were sent to me by
an individual whom I’ll simply refer to as Nathan. They were sent in two parts
and obviously with the intent of proving that the religion revealed by the
inspired apostles of
Christ in the first century, the Gospel of Christ or the New
Testament was one that was meant to
advance itself by physical warfare. It
seemed somewhat strange to me that the approach taken would center in the
persecution of witches. I did notice
that his first identification in his E-mail address was “psychosematicatticinsane.”
Later he identifies himself as Nathan.
To the many out there who are involved with witchcraft such is insanity
for man is to worship God. And the only God to be worshipped and how to worship
Him is clearly set forth in the New Testament which is His will for all of
mankind.
Nathan writes:
>Dear
Bob W. Lovelace,
Christianity persecuted so called
"Witches" for what they thought were sacrifices, though they never
happened. Well Exodus 22.18 says, Thou shalt
not suffer a Witch to live. Whosoever lieth with a beast shall surely be put to death. He that sacrificeth
unto any god, save unto the LORD only, he shall be utterly destroyed.
If it was wrong for the Witches to do it, why
is it okay for Christians to do it?<
NATHAN:
The verse you cited above is from the Mosaic
Law which was God's law to the Jews long before Christianity. However
"witchcraft" is still condemned by God in the New Testament ( the will of Christ for all men) as well. Notice the word
"witchcraft" in the following passages:
Galatians 5:19-21,
“Now the works of the flesh are manifest,
which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, [20] Idolatry,
witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions,
heresies, [21] Envyings,
murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of
the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they
which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”
>And one more thing, Why is it that, if
Christianity is such a good natured, every one must be nice to each other, Thou
shalt not kill, kind of religion, that Christianity
must pursue the conquering and domination of all other religions, whether it be
through death and destruction, or anything else? Why is such a wonderful religion only out to
conquer and dominate the world?
Sincerely,
Nathan<
NATHAN:
Friend, what you "think" is
Christianity is not what is revealed in the New Testament at all. First, true
Christians are not out to conquer the world by using "man's methods"
of warfare, etc. Notice the following statement by Jesus during His personal
ministry and just before His crucifixion:
John 18:36,
“ Jesus answered, My
kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my
servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my
kingdom not from hence.”
Nathan, Christ's kingdom is a spiritual
kingdom and as such it does not have "physical boundaries" such as
that which the nations of men have. Christians can be found throughout the
world in almost every place, but there are not physical boundaries that make up
the
Further, the apostle Paul taught that we do
not use "carnal warfare" to bring those who are lost into the
kingdom:
2 Cor. 10:4,
“(For the weapons of our warfare are not
carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)”
The “sword” Christ intended Christians to
use is the Word of God which is the sword of the Spirit. And the reason for
using it is because the Gospel, God's Word, is the power of God unto salvation. When so called
"Christians" seek to make Christianity a political matter and thereby
desire to try
and control nations and
governments they err in
so doing. I hope you'll appreciate my willingness to tell you that such
is not true Christianity. Notice this verse:
Ephes. 6:17,
“And take the helmet of salvation, and the
sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:”
Thank you asking and I hope that you'll take
time to read the New Testament.
Sincerely,
Bob
W. Lovelace
>
Dear Bob W. Lovelace,
If Christianity is so hateful towards Pagans
and Witches, then why, did the apostle ( his name
escapes me) go to a Witch to ask
advice?<
NATHAN:
Friend, please consider that you and I need
to understand how God, the Creator, feels about things. Witchcraft is an
"abomination" to God. Please consider that man's ways and thoughts
are not God's ways and thoughts. Notice what the prophet Isaiah said about the
difference between God's ways and thoughts and man's:
Isaiah 55:8-9,
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. [9] For as the heavens are higher than the
earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your
thoughts.”
Nathan, I think a good example of how God feels about witchcraft is the very
verse you yourself chose in your prior question you sent, i.e. Ex. 22:18 where
God's law given through Moses to the Jews said that they should not suffer
(allow) a witch to live.
Exodus 22:18-20,
“Thou shalt not
suffer a witch to live.
[19] Whosoever lieth
with a beast shall surely be put to death.
[20] He that sacrificeth
unto any god, save unto the LORD only, he shall be utterly destroyed.”
Nathan, you might spend some time thinking
seriously about the fact that in that very passage "witchcraft"
appears in context right along with such perverse things as "beastiality." And like I said, witchcraft is condemned
in the New Testament, Christ's will, as well. Under the New Covenant Christians
don't "kill" people for being witches rather they strive to show them
their "ways" are not God's ways, and that their false ways lead to
eternal death rather than eternal life with God. Remember that Paul said that
those who practice such things shall not inherit the
Galatians 5:19-21,
“Now the works of the flesh are manifest,
which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, [20] Idolatry,
witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions,
heresies, [21] Envyings,
murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of
the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they
which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Nathan, I believe that your reference to one
who went to a witch for advice would be that occasion when King Saul, the king
of
1 Samuel 28:6,
“And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the
LORD answered him not, neither by dreams nor by Urim, nor by prophets.”
Also notice, Nathan, that prior to this Saul
had "done" what the Lord required and all such who practiced
witchcraft had been put to death.
Nathan, when Saul disguised himself and went
to the witch for advice even the witch at Endor
herself (not knowing at first that she was talking to Saul) admitted that she
was lucky to have escaped the penalty of death:
1 Samuel 28:8-9,
“And Saul disguised himself, and put on
other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by
night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and
bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee.
[9] And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest
what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and
the wizards, out of the land: wherefore then layest
thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die?”
Nathan, what does this mean? It means that
Saul was practicing that which he knew God did not approve of when he went for
her advice in his life! And because of this sin and others his kingdom and life
were taken from him. Nathan, the lesson
here is in the PENALTY Saul paid for doing this. And look at what that penalty
was:
1 Chron. 10:13,
“So Saul died for his transgression which he
committed against the LORD, even against the word of the LORD, which he kept
not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to enquire
of it;”
God had strictly forbidden the Israelites to
have anything to do with divination, sorcery, witchcraft, mediums, spiritists, or anyone who consults the dead (Deut.
18:9-14). In fact, sorcerers were to be put to death (Exodus
Now, doesn't this explain how
"God" feels about such?
Nathan, practitioners of the occult have
Satan as the source of their information not God. God does not reveal his will
to them. Instead he speaks today to man through the word of Christ, the Bible.
Friend, I don't know how old you are or anything about you but I would
appreciate very much the opportunity to help you learn more about God's word
and how you can avoid making the same fatal mistake that King Saul made.
Perhaps your inquiry has come at a time when you need to know about God and His
word and how to order your life to please Him.
Sincerely,
Bob W. Lovelace
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