In today's Article we will be going over some of the basic beliefs and practices of Wicca, as well as cover the topic of witchcraft in the bible. I will also show how these thoughts and actions go against Biblical doctrine. Let's get started.
Today there are approximately one to three million adherents to the Wiccan religion. The modern version is said to be founded by a man called Gerald Gardner. Wiccan's will claim that the magic they practice isn't evil. This is a very popular trend nowadays, partially in thanks to Disney and other media. I'm referring to "white" magic, that is the idea that there is a magic that isn't evil. The bible declares woe to those that call evil good and good evil (Isa 5:20).
Wiccan Beliefs
Wiccan's are Polytheistic, that is they believe in a god and goddess pair, goddess worship is mentioned in the bible; ancient Israel worshiped a goddess refereed to the queen of heaven, though that was not a good thing (Jer 7:18). Wiccan's like the Hindu's believe that the god/goddess is in everything. The bible tells us that there would be those that would worship the creation instead of the Creator (Rom 1:23-25).
Concerning the afterlife Wiccan's are also similiar to Hindu's in that they believe in Reincarnation; that is until they reach what they call the summer land, the Wicca equivalent to Nirvana. Wiccan's worship the Triple goddess who is represented in the Maiden, the Mother, and the Crone; this goddes is worshiped in three of the four moon phases. The wiccan male god also known as the horned god is based on other gods such as Cernunnos, Caerwiden, Herne, Pashupati, and Pan, and is usually pictured with an erect phallus and antlers/horns. Wiccan's are also known to worship other deities that are usually Celtic or eastern such as Shiva.
What I find particular interesting is that although they claim that they don't believe in/worship the devil but they do believe the Serpent to be a symbol of their goddess. We know the devil is identified as a serpent in the bible (Rev 20:2). So Wiccan's will have to forgive me if I am a little skeptical that they don't worship Satan, especially because the male god that they worship is depicted with horns and the hindquarters of a goat. So is it a coincidence that Satan is portrayed by the world the exact same way? Wiccan's do not have a sacred Authoritative book like us Christians.
Wiccan Practices
The Wiccan motto is if it harm's none, do what you will. The question then arises what is their definition of harm? Without an authoritative source such as the bible people's definition of harm can be quite subjective. Sodomites will claim they don't hurt their lovers, and some smokers will claim that smoking doesn't hurt anyone. Christian's do not seek to do their will but God's (Mat 26:39, 2 Cor 5:15).
So what kind of Magic practices do Wiccans conduct. Well, they assemble inside a magic circle and cast spells of coarse. Some of the magic item's that are associated with Wicca include the broom, a chalice, a wand, the cauldron, a book of shadows, candles, a dagger, a boline, and incense. Wiccan's also use things like pentagrams, tarot cards, and runes. They also practice divination, astrology, as well as psychic readings.
Other unusual practices done by Wiccans is the great rite, which is a symbol of sex between the god and goddess. It is performed by plunging a ritual knife (representing the male) into a chalice (represents female). Then there is the fact that some Wiccans worship in skyclad (naked). Please refer to my post on chastity and worship for more info about this.
Crime and Punishment!
So what does the bible tell us about the gravity of the sin of witchcraft? Well, in the OT it was a crime punishable by death (Exo 22:18, Lev 20:27). It was because of those abominations that God drove out the inhabitants of the land from before the children of Israel (Deu 18:9 -12), it was also why God removed Israel from out of his sight (2Ki 17:17-18, Isa 2:6). It was because of things like observing times, using enchantments and dealing with wizards that God brought such evil on Jerusalem (2Ki 21:6 -12).
The act of consulting with those that have familiar spirits is so serious that it is one of the reasons why king Saul was killed
(Lev 20:6,1Sa 28:7,1Ch 10:13 -14). The New Testament declares witchraft as a work of the flesh and that it results in one not inheriting the kingdom of God (Gal 5:20 -21), it is further warned in the book of Revelation where it tells us that sorcerers will have their part in the lake of fire (Rev 21:8).
See also 2Ki 23:24, Isa 47:8 -15, Nah 3:3-6
Where are Magician's or Sorcerer's Mentioned in Scripture?
Now let's go over a few places in the bible that mention's those that practice magic. In Gen 41:8 we see that the Pharaoh of Egypt called the magicians so that they could interpret his dream, though they were unable. We see the magician's of Egypt imitating some of the Miracles which Moses did but were unable to bring forth lice (Exo 7:11-12, Exo 8:7, Exo 8:18-19). Daniel was seen as far superior than the magicians and astrologers of king Nebuchadnezzar realm (Dan 1:20).
Next we have God instructed Israel through Jeremiah not to hearken to their sorcerer's, dreamers, enchanters, etc which tell them they aren't going to serve the king of Babylon (Jer 27:9). In the New Testament there is the account of a man called Simon who bewitched the people of Samaria with his sorcery (Act 8:9 -11), and of Barjesus the sorcerer who was struck blind for trying to keep a deputy from the faith (Act 13:6-11).
See also Dan 2:1 -2, Mal 3:5, Rev 22:15
Who was Balaam?
I thought now would be a good time to tell the reader who was this guy called Balaam in the bible? Balaam was a prophet in the Old Testament who lived around the Time of Joshua. He was hired by Balak king of the Moabites to curse the Israelite's (Num 22:6-7), and though he didn't curse them it was through his counsel that the Moabites managed to cause Israel to sin against the Lord in committing Idolatry (Num 31:16, Rev 2:14). Balaam was eventually slain by the sword in Jos 13:22. He will forever be know as the guy who was rebuked by his donkey (2Pe 2:15-16).
See also: Jud 1:11
What about Divination?
There are many popular types of divination nowadays including palm reading, tarot cards, and dozens more. The question is are they right or wrong to do? The bible calls divination an
abomination (Deu 18:10-12), which means God abhors or detest them. We are not to trust them because there is such things as lying divination and a false vision (Jer 14:14, Eze 13:6 -9). We see that the spirit of divination opposes God because it was casts out by Paul by using the name of Jesus in
Act 16:16 -19. See also: Zec 10:2
A bit more on Witchcraft
What final points would I like to cover regarding the topic of witchcraft? Well, let's see. There is enchantments and observing of times being condemned in Lev 19:26. We see that rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft in 1Sa 15:23. We see in 2Ch 33:6 that king Mannasseh wrought much evil by using witchcraft, enchantments, dealing with familiar spirits and wizards, etc.
There is the instance of the astrologer's and soothsayers being summoned by King Belshazzar but they could not read the writing on the wall (Dan 5:7 -8). The bible is clear that the Devil can work signs and lying wonders, and that people would be deceived by sorcery (2Th 2:9, Rev 18:23).
In conclusion Wiccan's may pretend to be doing good but the bible tells us that even Satan can be disguised as an angel of light, and his ministers as servants of righteousness (2 Cor 11:14-15).
The bible tells us not to regard those that have familiar spirits or to seek after wizards (Lev 19:31) and we would do well to heed that warning. This is because we know that those things which the gentiles sacrifice to they sacrifice to devils, and we certainly cannot partake of God's table and the table of devils
(1Co 10:20 -21).
Other Relevant Verses: Num 23:23, 2Ki 9:22, Ecc 10:11, Isa 8:19-20, Isa 19:3, Isa 29:4, Isa 44:25, Eze 21:21-23, Mic 3:6 , Mic 3:11, Mic 5:12, Rev 9:21
References: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Wicca
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