Copyright 1994 by the Christian Research Institute.
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"Witnessing to Witches" (an article from the Witnessing Tips column of the Christian Research Journal, Summer 1990, page 7) by Craig S. Hawkins.
The Editor-in-Chief of the
Christian Research Journal is Elliot Miller.
-------------
There are many obstacles that
can hinder us in our efforts to effectively communicate the gospel
to witches. But there are also some valuable guidelines to aid
us. Besides the preeminent need for prayer, I recommend that the
following six considerations be kept in mind.
First, witches are often offended when Christians attempt to share the gospel with them. Frequently, they perceive this as intolerance or an unwillingness to "live and let live." Furthermore, some witches have had bad experiences with the church. It's no doubt true that this is for many witches a smoke screen to rationalize their choice of ignoring the claims of Christ, their unbelief, and the immoral lifestyle they do not wish to surrender.
Regretfully, however, some
witches have been let down by the church. Consequently,
we must always be careful to point them back to Jesus, not to
Christians or the church -- for we are not perfect, nor did we
die for their sins. Let us resolve to be sensitive and tactful,
then, while presenting the gospel (2 Tim. 2:24-26; 1 Pet 3:15).
Second, while one need not be an expert on witchcraft to share the gospel with witches, one must be careful not to misrepresent their views and practices. This only fuels their frustration and sense of being misunderstood and misrepresented, as well as their stereotypical image of Christians as uninformed and ignorant people. Misrepresentation can give witches good reason to ignore your comments because "you obviously don't know what you're talking about." So, for instance, it is important not to refer to witches as "Satanists." Let us make sure we get their views straight;
then we
have a right to disagree with them.
Third, make an effort to know
what the Bible teaches in relation to the beliefs of witches and
other modern-day pagans (see, e.g., Deut. 18:9-12; Gal.
5:20; Rev. 21:8; 22:15). Use Scripture to clarify any misunderstandings
witches may have of Christianity and to offer God's perspective
on their practices. Do not assume they already understand Christianity,
for many do not.
As a case in point, many witches
have the misconception that Christians believe that God is only
transcendent -- that is, that He is separate from and beyond
the earth and universe. They wrongly conclude that the Christian
God is not readily accessible to humanity. The biblical teaching,
however, is that God is both transcendent and immanent.
Though He created all things and is not part of the creation itself
(Ps. 90:2; 102:25-27; 113:4-6), He nonetheless is immanent to
creation and humanity (see, e.g., Ps. 19:1-4; Acts 14:15-17;
17:23-28). As great and glorious as God is, He is still knowable,
personable, and approachable. And, following Paul's example in
witnessing to the pagans in Athens, our desire should be to introduce
witches and neopagans to "the unknown God" (cf. Acts
17:23).
Many witches also misunderstand
the core of Christianity and the function of doctrine within the
faith. Christ is Christianity -- the center and circumference!
And yes, Christians -- like all people -- have definite beliefs.
These beliefs, however, arise not from an obsession with doctrines
and dogmas, but from the tangible reality of the living
God who entered our world so that we might know Him. Furthermore,
one cannot truly claim to be a Christian unless one has experienced
regeneration by receiving Christ as personal Lord and Savior.
It is also critical for Christians
to recognize that besides sharing the message of the gospel with
witches, they must "live the life" and "walk the
talk." Witches need to see in the believer a living
and vital relationship with Jesus Christ and the transforming
reality of His presence.
Fourth, since most witches
will not accept what the Bible teaches regarding their beliefs
and practices, Christians can and should utilize other nonbiblical
critiques to show the inherent weaknesses of the witches' world
view. (Such critiques can be found in "The Modern World of
Witchcraft" in this journal.) When presented properly, the
Holy Spirit can use these critiques to compel witches to critically
reexamine their views and be more willing to consider the claims
of Christ and the gospel message. For good insights on how to
systematically refute and dismantle an unbiblical world view,
consult The God Who is There, by Francis Schaeffer (InterVarsity
Press), and Worlds Apart: A Handbook on World Views (Baker
Book House), by Norman Geisler and William Watkins.
Fifth, Christians can find
fertile evangelistic soil in the fondness many witches have for
allegories, myths, and fairy tales. Here we can till the depths
of the emotional and spiritual aspirations of the human soul for
joy and eternal life. In these furrows of existential longing,
lying within every person's heart, we can sow the seed of the
Word of God. These deep desires -- which are often implicitly
or explicitly expressed in allegories, myths, and fairy tales,
and derive from our being made in the image of God -- have been
effectively mined by several Christian writers, notably C. S.
Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien. For treatments of this approach, see
Myth, Allegory, and Gospel (Bethany Fellowship), edited
by John Montgomery; J. R. R. Tolkien: Myth, Morality, and Religion
(Harper & Row), by Richard Purtill; and the essay, "On
Fairy-Stories," by J. R. R. Tolkien, in Essays Presented
to Charles Williams (Eerdmans), edited by C. S. Lewis. Lewis
was quite adept at presenting the reality of the dying god myth's
fulfillment in Christ (see, e.g., his "Myth Became
Fact" in God in the Dock [Eerdmans], edited by Walter
Hooper). This Christian "myth," however, has irrefutable
historical evidence to substantiate it.
This leads us to our final
consideration. In dialoguing with witches, Christians should appeal
to the life, death, and resurrection of Christ as living, breathing,
historical fact. As opposed to myth, God did -- in fact -- enter
the world in Christ. Hence, Christianity not only offers a vital
experience and relationship with the divine -- as well as purpose
and meaning in life, it does so on objectively verifiable grounds.
If witches are going to be honest, they must stop their heel-dragging
and attend to the evidence for the claims of Christ. For helpful
discussions of these issues, read or refer them to He Walked
Among Us, by Josh McDowell and Bill Wilson, or The Verdict
of History, by Gary Habermas.
There is a common salutation
in witchcraft circles: "Blessed be!" To which we respond,
Blessed be indeed -- and preferably, for all eternity.
May they -- like Lewis and countless millions of others -- be
"surprised by joy" and realize all their heartfelt hopes
through receiving Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
-------------
End of document, CRJ0070A.TXT (original CRI file name),
"Witnessing to Witches"
release A, April 25, 1994
R. Poll, CRI
(A special note of thanks
to Bob and Pat Hunter for their help in the preparation of this
ASCII file for BBS circulation.)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
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-- founded in 1960 by the late Dr. Walter R. Martin. While CRI
is concerned with and involved in the general defense of the faith,
our area of research specialization is limited to elements within
the modern religious scene that compete with, assault, or undermine
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Astrology Halloween newage new age Star Trek Star Wars X-Files
Astrology Halloween atheism atheist cults deception new age movement
wicca witchcraft rajneesh karma crystals demons centering elizabeth
clare prophet mark prophet cut church universal and triumphant
channeling aquarius aquarian astrology Christ consciousness holistic
visualization mother earth Mother Earth Harmonic convergence psychic
Lucis Trust cumbey Constance Cumbey Maitreya Benjamin Creme Ascended
Masters Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness MSIA New Age Christ
birthing occult Pantheism Paradigm shift parapsychology Planetary
Citizens ufo ufos process theology psychokinesis punctuated equilibrium
reincarnation Berit Kjos Silva Mind Control Tara Center transcendental
meditation vedanta yoga star trek star wars x-files alien aliens
scifi science fiction UFO UFOs Roswell Crash Site wicca voodoo
doll pagan witchcraft hip cool chains balls jewelry retail mailorder
mail order ritual warlock occult gothic blood spell incantation
witch wizard collectibles scifi science fiction magic magical
mystic wind chime chimes music groom lake roswell area 51 odd
oddities Star Trek Star Wars X-Files Astrology Halloween newage
new age Star Trek Star Wars X-Files Astrology Halloween atheism
atheist cults deception new age movement wicca witchcraft rajneesh
karma crystals demons centering elizabeth clare prophet mark prophet
cut church universal and triumphant channeling aquarius aquarian
astrology Christ consciousness holistic visualization mother earth
Mother Earth Harmonic convergence psychic Lucis Trust cumbey Constance
Cumbey Maitreya Benjamin Creme Ascended Masters Movement of Spiritual
Inner Awareness MSIA New Age Christ birthing occult Pantheism
Paradigm shift parapsychology Planetary Citizens ufo ufos process
theology psychokinesis punctuated equilibrium reincarnation Berit
Kjos Silva Mind Control Tara Center transcendental meditation
vedanta yoga star trek star wars x-files alien aliens scifi science
fiction UFO UFOs Roswell Crash Site wicca voodoo doll pagan witchcraft
hip cool chains balls jewelry retail mailorder mail order ritual
warlock occult gothic blood spell incantation witch wizard collectibles
scifi science fiction magic magical mystic wind chime chimes music
groom lake roswell area 51 odd oddities Star Trek Star Wars X-Files
Astrology Halloween newage new age Star Trek Star Wars X-Files
Astrology Halloween atheism atheist cults deception new age movement
wicca witchcraft rajneesh karma crystals demons centering elizabeth
clare prophet mark prophet cut church universal and triumphant
channeling aquarius aquarian astrology Christ consciousness holistic
visualization mother earth Mother Earth Harmonic convergence psychic
Lucis Trust cumbey Constance Cumbey Maitreya Benjamin Creme Ascended
Masters Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness MSIA New Age Christ
birthing occult Pantheism Paradigm shift parapsychology Planetary
Citizens ufo ufos process theology psychokinesis punctuated equilibrium
reincarnation Berit Kjos Silva Mind Control Tara Center transcendental
meditation vedanta yoga star trek star wars x-files alien aliens
scifi science fiction UFO UFOs Roswell Crash Site wicca voodoo
doll pagan witchcraft hip cool chains balls jewelry retail mailorder
mail order ritual warlock occult gothic blood spell incantation
witch wizard collectibles scifi science fiction magic magical
mystic wind chime chimes music groom lake roswell area 51 odd
oddities Star Trek Star Wars X-Files Astrology Halloween newage
new age Star Trek Star Wars X-Files Astrology Halloween atheism
atheist cults deception new age movement wicca witchcraft rajneesh
karma crystals demons centering elizabeth clare prophet mark prophet
cut church universal and triumphant channeling aquarius aquarian
astrology Christ consciousness holistic visualization mother earth
Mother Earth Harmonic convergence psychic Lucis Trust cumbey Constance
Cumbey Maitreya Benjamin Creme Ascended Masters Movement of Spiritual
Inner Awareness MSIA New Age Christ birthing occult Pantheism
Paradigm shift parapsychology Planetary Citizens ufo ufos process
theology psychokinesis punctuated equilibrium reincarnation Berit
Kjos Silva Mind Control Tara Center transcendental meditation
vedanta yoga star trek star wars x-files alien aliens scifi science
fiction UFO UFOs Roswell Crash Site wicca voodoo doll pagan witchcraft
hip cool chains balls jewelry retail mailorder mail order ritual
warlock occult gothic blood spell incantation witch wizard collectibles
scifi science fiction magic magical mystic wind chime chimes music
groom lake roswell area 51 odd oddities Star Trek Star Wars X-Files
Astrology Halloween newage new age Star Trek Star Wars X-Files
Astrology Halloween atheism atheist cults deception new age movement
wicca witchcraft rajneesh karma crystals demons centering elizabeth
clare prophet mark prophet cut church universal and triumphant
channeling aquarius aquarian astrology Christ consciousness holistic
visualization mother earth Mother Earth Harmonic convergence psychic
Lucis Trust cumbey Constance Cumbey Maitreya Benjamin Creme Ascended
Masters Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness MSIA New Age Christ
birthing occult Pantheism Paradigm shift parapsychology Planetary
Citizens ufo ufos process theology psychokinesis punctuated equilibrium
reincarnation Berit Kjos Silva Mind Control Tara Center transcendental
meditation vedanta yoga star trek star wars x-files alien aliens
scifi science fiction UFO UFOs Roswell Crash Site wicca voodoo
doll pagan witchcraft hip cool chains balls jewelry retail mailorder
mail order ritual warlock occult gothic blood spell incantation
witch wizard collectibles scifi science fiction magic magical
mystic wind chime chimes music groom lake roswell area 51 odd
oddities Star Trek Star Wars X-Files Astrology Halloween newage
new age Star Trek Star Wars X-Files Astrology Halloween atheism
atheist cults deception new age movement wicca witchcraft rajneesh
karma crystals demons centering elizabeth clare prophet mark prophet
cut church universal and triumphant channeling aquarius aquarian
astrology Christ consciousness holistic visualization mother earth
Mother Earth Harmonic convergence psychic Lucis Trust cumbey Constance
Cumbey Maitreya Benjamin Creme Ascended Masters Movement of Spiritual
Inner Awareness MSIA New Age Christ birthing occult Pantheism
Paradigm shift parapsychology Planetary Citizens ufo ufos process
theology psychokinesis punctuated equilibrium reincarnation Berit
Kjos Silva Mind Control Tara Center transcendental meditation
vedanta yoga star trek star wars x-files alien aliens scifi science
fiction UFO UFOs Roswell Crash Site wicca voodoo doll pagan witchcraft
hip cool chains balls jewelry retail mailorder mail order ritual
warlock occult gothic blood spell incantation witch wizard collectibles
scifi science fiction magic magical mystic wind chime chimes music
groom lake roswell area 51 odd oddities Star Trek Star Wars X-Files
Astrology Halloween newage new age Star Trek Star Wars X-Files
Astrology Halloween atheism atheist cults deception new age movement
wicca witchcraft rajneesh karma crystals demons centering elizabeth
clare prophet mark prophet cut church universal and triumphant
channeling aquarius aquarian astrology Christ consciousness holistic
visualization mother earth Mother Earth Harmonic convergence psychic
Lucis Trust cumbey Constance Cumbey Maitreya Benjamin Creme Ascended
Masters Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness MSIA New Age Christ
birthing occult Pantheism Paradigm shift parapsychology Planetary
Citizens ufo ufos process theology psychokinesis punctuated equilibrium
reincarnation Berit Kjos Silva Mind Control Tara Center transcendental
meditation vedanta yoga star trek star wars x-files alien aliens
scifi science fiction UFO UFOs Roswell Crash Site wicca voodoo
doll pagan witchcraft hip cool chains balls jewelry retail mailorder
mail order ritual warlock occult gothic blood spell incantation
witch wizard collectibles scifi science fiction magic magical
mystic wind chime chimes music groom lake roswell area 51 odd
oddities Star Trek Star Wars X-Files Astrology Halloween newage
new age Star Trek Star Wars X-Files Astrology Halloween atheism
atheist cults deception new age movement wicca witchcraft rajneesh
karma crystals demons centering elizabeth clare prophet mark prophet
cut church universal and triumphant channeling aquarius aquarian
astrology Christ consciousness holistic visualization mother earth
Mother Earth Harmonic convergence psychic Lucis Trust cumbey Constance
Cumbey Maitreya Benjamin Creme Ascended Masters Movement of Spiritual
Inner Awareness MSIA New Age Christ birthing occult Pantheism
Paradigm shift parapsychology Planetary Citizens ufo ufos process
theology psychokinesis punctuated equilibrium reincarnation Berit
Kjos Silva Mind Control Tara Center transcendental meditation
vedanta yoga star trek star wars x-files alien aliens scifi science
fiction UFO UFOs Roswell Crash Site wicca voodoo doll pagan witchcraft
hip cool chains balls jewelry retail mailorder mail order ritual
warlock occult gothic blood spell incantation witch wizard collectibles
scifi science fiction magic magical mystic wind chime chimes music
groom lake roswell area 51 odd oddities Star Trek Star Wars X-Files
Astrology Halloween newage new age Star Trek Star Wars X-Files
Astrology Halloween atheism atheist cults deception new age movement
wicca witchcraft rajneesh karma crystals demons centering elizabeth
clare prophet mark prophet cut church universal and triumphant
channeling aquarius aquarian astrology Christ consciousness holistic
visualization mother earth Mother Earth Harmonic convergence psychic
Lucis Trust cumbey Constance Cumbey Maitreya Benjamin Creme Ascended
Masters Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness MSIA New Age Christ
birthing occult Pantheism Paradigm shift parapsychology Planetary
Citizens ufo ufos process theology psychokinesis punctuated equilibrium
reincarnation Berit Kjos Silva Mind Control Tara Center transcendental
meditation vedanta yoga star trek star wars x-files alien aliens
scifi science fiction UFO UFOs Roswell Crash Site wicca voodoo
doll pagan witchcraft hip cool chains balls jewelry retail mailorder
mail order ritual warlock occult gothic blood spell incantation
witch wizard collectibles scifi science fiction magic magical
mystic wind chime chimes music groom lake roswell area 51 odd
oddities Star Trek Star Wars X-Files Astrology Halloween newage
new age Star Trek Star Wars X-Files Astrology Halloween atheism
atheist cults deception new age movement wicca witchcraft rajneesh
karma crystals demons centering elizabeth clare prophet mark prophet
cut church universal and triumphant channeling aquarius aquarian
astrology Christ consciousness holistic visualization mother earth
Mother Earth Harmonic convergence psychic Lucis Trust cumbey Constance
Cumbey Maitreya Benjamin Creme Ascended Masters Movement of Spiritual
Inner Awareness MSIA New Age Christ birthing occult Pantheism
Paradigm shift parapsychology Planetary Citizens ufo ufos process
theology psychokinesis punctuated equilibrium reincarnation Berit
Kjos Silva Mind Control Tara Center transcendental meditation
vedanta yoga star trek star wars x-files alien aliens scifi science
fiction UFO UFOs Roswell Crash Site wicca voodoo doll pagan witchcraft
hip cool chains balls jewelry retail mailorder mail order ritual
warlock occult gothic blood spell incantation witch wizard collectibles
scifi science fiction magic magical mystic wind chime chimes music
groom lake roswell area 51 odd oddities Star Trek Star Wars X-Files
Astrology Halloween newage new age Star Trek Star Wars X-Files
Astrology Halloween atheism atheist cults deception new age movement
wicca witchcraft rajneesh karma crystals demons centering elizabeth
clare prophet mark prophet cut church universal and triumphant
channeling aquarius aquarian astrology Christ consciousness holistic
visualization mother earth Mother Earth Harmonic convergence psychic
Lucis Trust cumbey Constance Cumbey Maitreya Benjamin Creme Ascended
Masters Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness MSIA New Age Christ
birthing occult Pantheism Paradigm shift parapsychology Planetary
Citizens ufo ufos process theology psychokinesis punctuated equilibrium
reincarnation Berit Kjos Silva Mind Control Tara Center transcendental
meditation vedanta yoga star trek star wars x-files alien aliens
scifi science fiction UFO UFOs Roswell Crash Site wicca voodoo
doll pagan witchcraft hip cool chains balls jewelry retail mailorder
mail order ritual warlock occult gothic blood spell incantation
witch wizard collectibles scifi science fiction magic magical
mystic wind chime chimes music groom lake roswell area 51 odd
oddities Star Trek Star Wars X-Files Astrology Halloween newage
new age Star Trek Star Wars X-Files Astrology Halloween atheism
atheist
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