One of the greatest challenges that we have as African Christians is that we are immediately
related to the Spiritual world. And especially with respect to the African Traditional Religions.
And the power base of that is often related to the witch doctor in his witchcraft. Now,
I understand there has been an effort to avoid using the word witch doctor or witchcraft,
and instead speak about the African medicine man. But that's where the challenge really
is. It's because it's such a mixture where we are coming from. Therefore, Christians
find it difficult to know how to relate to this entire world. One of the challenges is
often are these powers that are in witchcraft real? Or are they just imaginations that human
beings seem to have? Is it mere deception? Like people who are playing magic or tricks?
But beyond that, it is the dark side of things, the evil one: Satan, and his involvement.
Evil spirits and demons and so on... So invariably you find that Christians wrestle with this
issue. How are we to deal with it? There is a lot of syncretism whereby even
those who are genuine believers will none the less, perhaps at birth - when they have
a child - or round about marriage, or when they lose a loved one, will still want to
understand what they should do. And often you find that witchcraft is indeed somewhere
very close to them, as it is being suggested by other religious people.
How should believers relate to this? I think it's crucial oft us to realise that this is
nothing new. When you go through the old testament you find that of of the areas that God was
very adamant, with respect to the children of Israel, was that they were not to engage
in witchcraft. In fact, if anybody was found genuinely guilty of it that person was to
be stoned to death. That's how hard the writings of the Old Testament go as far as witchcraft
is concerned. In the New Testament we find similar examples.
This time not so much with individuals being stoned to death. But clearly, the Bible speaking
in terms of individuals being delivered from the acts of darkness. Witchcraft included.
One of the examples we have is in Acts chapter 16 where we are told in verse 16: "As we were
going to the place of payer, we were met bu a slave girl who had a spirit of divination
and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and us, crying out, "These
men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation." In
other words, she knew the truth. She knew who they were. "And this she kept doing for
many days. Paul having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, "I command
you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And it came out that very hour."
We are clearly seeing here: 1. That it was a spirit. And it was an evil spirit that finally
had to be cast out. 2. There were real, extraordinary powers, that this woman had. And consequently,
it's not just deception. It is real power. Dark power - quite OK - but real power none
the less. And so what should be our response? 1. To
have nothing to do with this. It's part of the works of darkness. 2. To genuinely believe
that because we are God's children, God has ultimate power, even over these dark powers.
So we need not be afraid of them. Absolutely no fear. We ought to know our God is absolutely
sovereign. And then 3. We should share the Gospel, the good news of the Lord Jesus Christ,
with individuals who are still in bondage to witchcraft. We should say to them "there
is forgiveness and there is deliverance through the Lord Jesus Christ." They should turn away
from all that they have embraced in this dark world and come clean before Jesus. Trusting
in his finished work. I hope if you are one of those individuals, struggling with this
whole area, you will bear those truths in mind, and consequently trust in Christ. Trust
in the triune God and have no fear of witchcraft whatsoever.