Witch Christian

The influence of the occult is becoming more and more prevalent in our world. At one time the idea of a witch was only associated with fairy tales. But today witchcraft is a growing form of spiritualism, which even touches teens in Christian schools.

The personal experience I am about to share with you illustrates how real of a threat the occult is to our faith and especially to the faith of our kids.

In the mid 90’s I was nominated for a volunteer position as a peer counselor for a small group of ninth grade girls. The idea was to give the teens the opportunity to have an adult they could touch base with to talk about issues in their life.

My group consisted of Julie, Sara, Breanne, Marci, and Roni. The school administrator suggested the one hour meeting each week, be based on the book 1 John . For the first couple meetings the girls seemed to keep personal questions to themselves. There was no discussion of anything more than concern over school things: homework, tests, and up-coming events.

The third week arrived and with it 1 John , Chapter 3. The girls ventured a question about the devil, then the occult. This was to launch a discussion which would stretch through many weeks.

“How do we know a person is into Witchcraft, Satanism, or New Age?” Julie asked.

“By what they do: Jesus has told us we will know them by their fruits…or deeds.” I answered.

“But Miss Hoover, what is wrong with these new beliefs? I mean I know what the Bible says to keep away from them, but what is really wrong with them?” Breanne asked.

“The fact God has called them an abomination should be enough reason to flee from these beliefs.” I answered. “But to explain a little more to you, all cults and forms of the occult will destroy you, not only spiritually, but mentally, physically, and financially. In some cases as with witchcraft and Satanism, socially.”

From there the girls brought many questions about the influence of the occult in popular music, films, books, and clothing. Each week we took one of these items and discussed it.

This meant I spent time checking out videos I wouldn’t have even considered watching and reading some books I had to wonder why on earth the girls thought were good.

The month of June came quickly and with it the end of school. The girls spent the last session excitedly talking about summer plans of vacations and summer jobs (like child sitting) Sara dominated the conversation with her discourse of having two jobs of caring for neighbor’s pets. And the one job was the care of a menagerie of creatures. Roni asked, “What are you doing Miss Hoover?”

“Working day care for Summer Camp and sneaking off in a couple weeks for a week of fishing.”

My fishing trip came and I was back at the school working early morning day care for the Summer Camp. One of my jobs was preparing the billings for families using day care.

I was in the process of tallying up the receivables for July when Roni came busting into my make-shift cramped little office.

“Hi Roni, What brings you school?” I asked knowing she did not have any younger siblings and that she lived about ten miles from the school.

“I need to talk to you Miss “H”!” Her voice had such a tone of desperation I looked up laying my pen down.

“Okay, why don’t you sit down?”

“Thanks” she said drawing the only vacant chair up close to my desk.

“Are you in some kind of trouble?” I asked

“No. But I have this really good friend who I think is in a bunch of trouble.”

“Oh? What kind?”

“Miss H, can a person be a witch and a Christian too?”

That question took me by surprise. I paused for a couple minutes. “No. Why do you ask?”

“ “cause my friend who”s moving to Sacramento, she goes to church and reads her Bible and…she claims she’s a witch. She said it was passed down to her, from her grandmother that it is passed only to every other generation…and only to the third child born in each family.”

“Roni, that sounds like superstition. Maybe she’s just was teasing you when she told you she was a witch.”

“She can make things move in mid-air and make things burn too and stuff like that.”

“Have you seen her do these things?” I asked realizing this was definitely a serious situation.

“Not the burn…just move stuff like papers, keys, and pencils.” Roni answered her face was pinched tightly.

“Roni, do you remember what we talked about in our small group meeting: the third chapter of First John ?”

She shook her head “no”, adding, “No, I don’t”

I reached for the Bible on the shelf over the desk turning to First John ; I let Roni read from the seventh verse.

She began in a quiet, hesitant voice:

“Dear Children, don’t let anyone lead you down the wrong path. Those who do what is right are holy, just as Christ is holy. Those who do what is sinful belong to the devil. They are just like him. He has been sinning from the beginning. But the son of God came to destroy the Devil’s work.” She looked up at me.

“Why don’t you read verse ten?” I suggested.

She nodded her acceptance of my suggestion. “Here is how you can tell the difference between children of God and the children of the devil. Those who don’t do what is right, do not belong to God. Those who don’t love their brothers and sisters do not belong to him either.”

She said silent for a few minutes, “I mean…she’s not into blood sacrifices, spells or that kind of stuff.”

“Roni, just moving things around in mid air?” I asked. She nodded yes. “By whose power do you think she does these things? Do you think God gives her this power?”

“Um…well, I never thought of it that way…I guess not. God hates witchcraft, right?”

I nodded yes. “So do you see that it isn’t possible for a person to be a Christian and also profess being a witch? The Devil is the enemy of God, and witches make deals with the Devil to get these paranormal abilities. And what is sad, is those who make these deals, including your friend, will come out cheated.”

“What can I do to help her?” Roni asked.

“Pray for her and if you feel led by the Holy Spirit, talk to her about the fact she can’t profess Christianity and witchcraft too. A person just can not be a Witch Christian.”

Roni nodded, getting up to leave. “Thanks. Gotta get the bus, and get back before lunch, mom and dad want to go somewhere.”

“Do you have bus fare?” I called watching her hurry down the front walk to the school.

“Yeah, baby sitting money!” She called back to me as she looked over her shoulder and waved good bye.