Brad Alles

This series of blogs continues to examine occultic practices.  People cast spells, predict the future, and contact the dead?  What is a biblical response to these practices?

Deuteronomy 18:9-13 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; because of these same detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you.  You must be blameless before the Lord your God.”

It is clear that sorcery, witchcraft, and casting spells is not part of God’s will for us.  In the teachings of magick (not the magic of stage performers who perform sleight of hand), there are 5 elemental forces: earth, wind, fire, water, and spirit.  When incantations or rituals are performed, people can manipulate these forces so that the person can make them do his or her bidding.

Obviously, one cannot manipulate these forces no matter what one says or does.  You can set a fire ablaze with a match, but you cannot command the element by saying certain words.  Yet beyond the natural world of earth, wind, fire, and water, there are supernatural forces of angels and demons.  And this is why God forbids the use of magick: it is a way to engage the demonic realm.  And the lie that is told is that we can control these spirits.

The Apostle Paul says the works of the sinful flesh are obvious, and lists witchcraft as one of them (Galatians 5:20).  In Acts 19:17-20, new converts repented of their sorcery and burned their scrolls publicly.  God wants to free us from the work of the devil, and Jesus’ perfect life and sacrificial death on the cross does just that.  Don’t turn from God and play with the tools of the devil.