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Laura, I’m a Christian who follows vegetarian and holistic medicine. I’ve been attending a class at my local health and wellness center on Reiki. Recently, I attended training to become a reiki leader.
About three weeks ago, during my prayer time, I started having miserable thoughts about myself and others.
I started thinking, “You are unlovable. Your husband is going to find another woman and leave you. You are a failure as a mom”. Now, no matter what I do I can’t get these thoughts to stop. I don’t understand. My husband is a wonderful, godly man who loves me. We have a great marriage. My kids are flourishing.
Yes, I struggle with anxiety sometimes, mostly induced by my own family members mistreating me. But I am not a doom and gloom person. Something has changed. I’m scared that I can’t make these horrible thoughts stop, and it’s becoming worse every day.
Last week it started happening in my dreams. I dreamt two witches were fighting over me. I woke up in a sweating panic.
I’ve heard you say that God says to stay away from the occult, and I know there is evil in the world. But I’m not involved in anything even close to worshipping the devil, or black magic. Why is this happening to me?”
Oh, my precious sister. You have been deceived the same way Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden.
Satan’s deceptions, treacheries, scams, and schemes never change. They are always formed around the same lie. “This won’t hurt you. This is good for you. It will feel, taste, and smell wonderful. It will help you relax and enjoy life. It will help you find your true self. Come on, just a little nibble won’t hurt.”
It’s a lie.
And that is why our loving Father God says, “Don’t. It’s dangerous, child. Trust me. I’m trying to protect you. Stay far away from it.”
In Deuteronomy 18:10-12 it explains.
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; (NIV).
The modern forms of these practices can be very confusing. In our quest to become “open minded”, kind and loving to ALL people, it’s very easy to be deceived.
If you are a Christian, anything that contradicts God’s teaching is in hostility towards God. An obstruction to the Holy Spirit. An adversary of Jesus.
And that’s where this woman found herself. She had never been taught what is involved in today’s modern spiritual quest. And she was lured into a dangerous spiritual practice that is in direct contradiction to God’s teaching.
This explanation from one of my favorite Bible websites is excellent.
“The Bible has a lot to say about witchcraft. Witchcraft and its many cousins, such as fortune-telling and necromancy, are Satan’s counterfeits to holy spirituality. The Bible expressly condemns all forms of witchcraft.
Since early times, people have sought supernatural experiences God did not endorse. We don’t need to fear Satan’s power, but we should respect it and stay away from it.
"When someone tells you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead-on behalf of the living?” Isaiah 8:19
When we follow those words to their logical conclusion, we could also ask, “Why seek any power apart from the source of all real power? Why seek spirits who are not the Holy Spirit?”
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This includes something that looks innocent like reiki. Which is rooted in a New Age healing technique that uses different symbols and hand positions to supposedly channel energy from the universe. (The term itself means “universal life energy.”) The New Age is the old Satan enticing us to meet our needs for tranquility, community, wealth, significance and immortality.
So how do we know where to draw the line? How can a Christian know what is off limits?
First, understand the occult.
Definition: matters regarded as involving the action or influence of supernatural or supernormal powers or some secret knowledge of them. 2
Examples (but not limited to): astrology, witchcraft (including wicca), black arts, fortune telling (black and white), Ouija boards, tarot cards, spiritism. This includes most of the new age practices which are rooted in other religions.
Second, recognize the characteristics of those involved in the occult based on Paul and Barnabas’s encounter in Acts 13:6-10.
They are false prophets who deny the basic doctrines of Christianity: the deity of Christ, the fall of man into sin, heaven, hell, salvation, and the atoning work of Christ on the cross.
They seek to influence other people, particularly those in positions of power, to turn them from the faith (verses 6-7).
Third, they do everything in their power to keep the true gospel of Christ from being spread, opposing His ministers at every turn (verse 8).
When the truth of the gospel is curtailed, watered down, or flatly rejected, Satan and his demons rejoice.3
Why does it matter?
God clearly explains in 1 Timothy 4:1 that the rise of interest in the occult is a sign of the end of the age:
“The [Holy] Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons”
The current interest and practice of occult activities is higher than ever.
Antonio Pagliarulo, explains in his NBC news article, why the significant increase and interest in paganism and witchcraft. He states:
I am one of a million-plus Americans who — whether proudly, secretly or dabbling through the power of consumerism — practice some form of witchcraft. Witchcraft, which includes Wicca, paganism, folk magic and other New Age traditions, is one of the fastest-growing spiritual paths in America.
This trend has created space for recognition and representation. The proliferation of witchcraft reflects two timeless and universal urges: the need to draw meaning from chaos, and the desire to control the circumstances around us. With the dire catastrophes brought on by climate change, wars, and the loss of rights, it’s not surprising that witchcraft appeals to those seeking to mend what’s broken in ourselves and the wider world. 4
Notice his reasons why:
A need to draw meaning from the chaotic life
The desire to control life circumstances
Why did Jesus sacrifice His life for us? Those are 2 of the main reasons.
When we believe in Jesus, we obtain access to God’s wisdom, discernment, and holy peace. That allows us to experience comfort, protection, and guidance us by the One who created us. Isn’t that what we are really seeking. The abundant life He gives. He enables us to live for Him and with Him, by the power of His Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8; John 14:26).
A thief (satan) comes only to rob, kill, and destroy. I came so everyone would have life and have it fully. John 10:10-11 (CEV).
Every Christian must ponder this for themselves. The Holy Spirit is MORE than eager and capable to help you to understand what is dangerous, and what is holy. If you ask and are humble enough to listen.
Here’s a prayer:
Lord, if there is anything unholy, demonic, unworthy, and dangerous in my house, my family, or my daily living, reveal it to me. I’m humbling myself before you and I’m listening. I want to honor you above all else. I cannot participate in unholy behaviors and serve you at the same time. It’s impossible. Show me where my sensitivities have grown dim. Help me to see where I thought something is “innocent” when it isn’t. Satan hides, he deceives, he lures, and he looks very innocent. Protect me and my family for anything associated with the occult. And we will glorify you in the process. Thank you, Jesus for loving me so much that you desire to protect me, even when I don’t think I need or believe something is wrong. Amen.
[3] Ibid, Got Questions
It feels blurry because pharmaceuticals are also labeled magic.
English translations usually render pharmakeia as “witchcraft” (KJV, NIV) or “sorcery” (RSV, NEB).