Witchcraft Goes Mainstream Part 5

This concludes my 5-part series about Wicca Witchcraft, its explosive growth worldwide, Harry Potter, and the Bible. For those who remain undecided about whether Harry Potter is contributing to today’s witchie trend, this Press Release from Ed Hubbard, CEO of “Witch School” (an Internet school teaching Witchcraft), is significant:

(PRWEB) July 15, 2005 — In 1997, a young mother wrote a book called “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone,” and it was published. Little did she know, nor could she imagine how much the world needed Harry Potter and his wonderful story. J. K. Rowling created a phenomenon that brought magic to the forefront of human thought and unwittingly reopened a new round of an ancient battle, Christianity’s battle to destroy witchcraft in all its forms. Harry Potter has rekindled interest in beliefs that were already growing in the United Kingdom and United States for more than fifty years, and that belief is a faith called Wicca.¹

Ed Hubbard correctly states that Harry Potter has “brought magic to the forefront of human thought,” has “rekindled interest” in Wicca, and has renewed “an ancient battle” between Christianity and Witchcraft. As stated in previous posts, this writer abhors hatred and witch burnings. Our Pledge of Allegiance promotes “liberty and justice for all” – and so does God. He defends free choice. Witches have a right to be Witches. But, as Mr. Hubbard informs us, Harry Potter has “reopened a new round in an ancient battle.” The battle is on – big time.

I will conclude this series with some brief thoughts about Wiccan beliefs, Jesus Christ, and the Bible. Wiccans might say, “So what? We don’t believe the Bible!” Yes, I know. Believing or not believing the Bible is part of the battle. The fact is: Wicca has no real source of authority beyond personal opinions and experiences. Christianity has more – an ancient Book containing real prophecies fulfilled in real history. No other religion can touch this.

700 years before Jesus Christ was born, Micah predicted, “O Bethlehem, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall He come forth to Me who is to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth have been of old, from everlasting” (Micah 5:2). Bethlehem – it happened as predicted. When we compare the Old Testament with the New, we find hundreds of predictions fulfilled in Christ: He would enter Jerusalem on a donkey, be betrayed by a friend for 30 pieces of silver, be rejected by men, condemned, mocked, crucified, buried in a rich man’s tomb, and rise from the dead (see Matthew 21:1-5; Psalm 41:9; Matthew 27:1-10, 32-35; Isaiah 53; Luke 24:44-49). Again, Wicca has opinions, but Christianity has a Savior who fulfilled real prophecies in history. Wiccans also have a Savior. They just don’t know it.

Wicca teaches that nature is God (or the Goddess). Wiccan Silver Ravenwolf writes, “We see everything on our planet as a manifestation of the Divine”.² “We’re tree huggers,” said a Wiccan woman who called into a radio show I was on. Respecting nature is commendable, but giving nature Deity status goes too far. Paul declared that the sin of Pagans is that they “exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever” (Romans 1:25, italics added). Bottom line: Butterflies are pretty, but they aren’t God Almighty.

Witchcraft teacher Oberon Zell-Ravenheart founded “The Church of all Worlds,” one of the oldest Pagan churches in America. Members at his church often greet each other by saying, “Thou art God,” or, “Thou art Goddess”.³ Wiccan Scott Cunningham confirms, “It is the processes at work within the Wiccan – the blossoming of the consciousness of the Goddess and God within… – that constitutes true Wicca”.⁴ According to the Bible, this You-Are-God idea originated from Satan. Tempting Eve to eat the forbidden fruit, the serpent said, “Your eyes will be opened and you will like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:5). Are we really Gods? When I take a good look into any mirror, the truth seems obvious.

Wiccans believe in reincarnation, yet the Bible says, “It is appointed to man once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). They don’t believe Satan exists; yet God’s Book warns about “the devil that deceived them” (Revelation 20:10). Witches don’t think they need a Savior, but the Bible says Jesus Christ is the “Savior of the world” (1 John 4:14).

A battle is raging between Witchcraft and Christianity. Both can’t be right. In this article, I have attempted to show that, biblically speaking, Wiccan teachings are total illusions. Yet I want to stress something to every Christian reading this. Winning an argument is only half the battle. The real struggle is to win the heart of a Wiccan. We should respect them, dialog with them, and do our best to show them a better way. Ultimately, it’s up to God to work His miracles. To Wiccans I say, stop looking at Christians who often mess up, and don’t use them as excuses for your unbelief. Check out Jesus Christ Himself.

I will conclude by adapting these familiar sentences found on wall plaques sold in Christian bookstores:

“How much do you love me?” Said a Witch to Jesus Christ. “This much,” He responded. Then He stretched out His arms and died.

1. http://prweb.com/releases/2005/7/prweb261778.htm
2. Ravenwolf, Teen Witch: Wicca for a New Generation , p. 4. Llewellyn Publications, St. Paul, MN (1998).
3. http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usxx&c=trads&id=4241
4. Cunningham, The Truth About Witchcraft Today , p. 146. Llewellyn Publications, St. Paul, MN (2001).