What About WICCA or Witchcraft?
The oldest evidence of goddess worship, known by many as
the Old Religion, is found on the island of Malta.
Goddess worship is a female centered religion that sees
the woman like the earth as a nurturer. As of old, the
goddess worshippers of today worship the creation, not
the Creator. These religions are pre-Christian and do
not believe they are satanic, in fact, they see
themselves as an alternative to Christianity. The
revival of goddess worship began in earnest in 1948 with
the archaeological discovery of the gnostic texts.
Through these texts comes the claim of many that there
is a Christian background for goddess worship. Let us
clearly state that Gnosticism was one of the worst
heresies facing the church during its first two
centuries. They preached that the body is evil and
salvation is found by the spirit escaping the body
through secrets found in Gnosticism; they denied
salvation through Christ. (John 14:6 "Jesus saith unto
him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man
cometh unto the Father, but by me.").
Many of those who "follow the Old Religion" are known
today as WICCA. Many of the followers claim to be
witches, and most of the goddess worshippers in our
society are women.
The top of the goddess chain is held by the Mother
Goddess and her male consort the Horned God; both of
whom are considered eternal. He is associated with the
sun which was believed to die and be reborn while she is
the "triple goddess": maiden, mother, crone. These
representing the three phases of the moon: waxing, full,
waning. Members practice magic and divination [the
knowing of the past, present, and/or future through
astrology, channeling, crystal balls, tarot cards and
other occultic practices.) We are specifically warned
against these abominations in Deuteronomy 18: 10-12,
"There shall not be found among you any one that maketh
his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or
that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an
enchanter, or a witch. Or a charmer, or a consulter with
familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all
that do these things are an abomination unto the
Lord:...." The Lord has given us Christians the Trinity,
a triune Godhead, which is here mocked by satan in an
unholy trinity revolving around a false female god.
[Galatians 6:7, "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for
whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.")
Some covens and/or individuals belong to Algare,
Alexandrian, the American Order of the Brotherhood of
WICCA, Church and School of WICCA, Church of Circle
WICCA, Covenant of the Goddess, and the Witches
International Craft Associates.
Some feminist, lesbian, or homosexual covens will allow
both male and female members. Lesbians who follow WICCA
tend to explain themselves from an anti-Genesis point of
view. They claim that by Adam having been created first
and Eve as his designated helpmate Christianity
propagates male supremacy. The words superior and
inferior are not used in the Bible to compare men and
women. We call upon God to help us, so does it then hold
that He is inferior to us? I don't think so! Now, to all
who will quote Paul, remember the word used to wives is
submissive. Jesus was submissive to the Father on earth,
"obedient unto death", but not inferior or a slave; He
was never not God and therefore always one with the
Father and the Spirit. To be one with is to be equal to.
Also the husband is commanded to love his wife as Christ
loved the church. Our Savior died for that church. As
you can see the Bible, beginning in Genesis puts neither
the man or the woman under the other's foot to be
abused. This argument by WICCA for WICCA is
disingenuous.
There is no single definition or statement of beliefs by
which all covens agree to abide. This makes it very
difficult for others, but there are principles that fit
almost all who stand as witches:
I) "Creed of experience"- experience is considered
superior to doctrine. It is based foremost on a
"mystical experience' wherein one has a sense of being
one and in harmony with all life. In Ephesians 2:14 we
are told of Jesus, "For he, himself is our peace, who
has made the two one, and has broken down the middle
wall of partition between us:"
II) Toleration-(the value of)-It is essential to
tolerate a diversity of belief and practice in dealing
with humanity and the planet earth. It is a divine right
in their belief system to have the freedom to
experience, think, believe and act as one wants to.
Their core belief is one that there is no right or wrong
religion or morality. Truth is relative to you and your
needs at the time. Truth for me therefore is not
necessarily truth to you, but both are truth. The same
principal applies to their concept of morality. This
goes back to the WICCA concept of polytheism as they
hold there can be no one truth or one faith that can
answer all human needs. When we look to the Bible, first
in Exodus 20:2-4, God commands that there is no other
god before Him, no graven images to be made. He alone is
God. Jesus tells us that He "is the way, the truth and
the life", clearly there is one truth. Lastly, Jesus
says in Matthew 7:7, "Ask and it shall be given unto
you; seek and you will find; knock and it shall be
opened unto you." Can there be a human need outside
those parameters?
III) Sin-They do not accept that there is sin as
Christians do. There is no salvation needed, just
harmony with mother earth. Wiccan Rede, "As it harms no
one, do what you will.." The goddess brings both light
and dark, comfort and pain. The goddess as the crone is
responsible for the dark side of life and wants
sacrifice. One is to experience all which includes some
evil without consequence. In fact, most witches deny the
existence of Satan and claim not to worship him. Granted
they are not directly kneeling to Satan by name, but by
worshipping false gods they give in to Satan's will. As
we are told in the Gospel of John, chapter one, verse 5:
"And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness
comprehended it not." The Word is available to those
lost in WICCA, but they do not see their own need and,
consequently, they continue to wallow in darkness. These
are not our enemies, but lost sheep that need to be
herded back to the flock. We are but sheep dogs that
need to awaken those about us to the darkness they are
in so that they wi1 be prepared to hear the voice of
Jesus our Shepherd. John 10: 9, 11, Timothy 2:26: "I am
the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved,
and shall go in and out, and find pasture. I am the good
shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the
sheep. And that they may recover themselves out of the
snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his
will." The Bible tells us "the wages of sin is death"
and "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves
and the truth is not in us." (1 John 1:8) Therefore
there must be salvation for eternal life. 1 Timothy
4:10: "...That we have put our hope in the living God,
Who is the Savior of men, and especially of those who
believe." Satan is called by God "the father of lies,"
what better lie to deceive with than that he doesn't
exist? Remember Matthew 10:25, "If the head of the house
has been called Beelzebub, how much more the members of
his household
IV) Animism-"Life Force" is in all creation including
rocks, flowers, mountains, grass and goes from
single-celled amoebas to human beings. The entire earth
is living and held to be holy, a manifestation of the
goddess and god. Jesus tells us "No one is good--except
God alone." (Luke 18:19) So, how can rock, mountains,
cats, dogs, and people that can't even be good be holy ?
V) Pantheism--The world is divine as it has the "Life
Force." (Animism), consequently, all humans are divine
says WICCA theology. This is the same lie Satan used in
the garden to deceive Eve; some things never change
(Satan is an angel, a created being, not a creator). We
humans are also created beings, created by God Genesis
1:7, "So God created man in his own image, in the image
of God created he him; male and female created he
them"), it is illogical to expose a belief
wherein the created is equal to the Creator. I John 3:2,
"......But we know that when he appears, we shall be
like him ...."Like does not mean equal to. John 1:3,
"Through him all things were made; without him nothing
was made that has been made"; that folks includes You
and Me. "There are two sure things in life, 1)there is
only one true God, and 2) you're not Him"*
Both magic and divination are important to the WICCA
devotee. Astrology, the using of stars, moon, and
planets to predict the future is a common tool. In many
cases they will seek out-of-body experiences and altered
consciousness by chanting, drugs, dancing, hypnosis,
meditation, and sex magic. All are taught ritual
incantations; many will choose the route of channeling,
that is, inviting spirit possession: a situation
duplicated when entering a trance which is found to be
for them a religious high point. At that point they seek
to draw down the goddess and/or god and to be possessed
by them. Necromancy ("divination through communication
with the dead") according to Webster's dictionary and
psychic powers are fostered; many witches will and do
still cast spells. It is their belief that all people
have the necessary powers inherently born into them and
merely need to be developed. The energies needed come
from the "Life Force" which is in each of us.
Consequently, none of these things are considered in
WICCA to be super-natural and thus another roadway to
denying the existence of Satan is paved. We refer you
again to Deuteronomy 18:10-12. As to the future, the
knowing of what's to come, Deuteronomy 29:49 tells us
"The secret things belong unto the Lord our God..."
Channeling, spirit possession, Ephesians 6:12 puts it
all together by saying: "For our struggle is not against
flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the
authorities, against the powers of this dark world and
the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."
Lastly sex magic is shown to be against the will of our
Lord God in Ephesians 5:3, "But among you there must not
even be a hint of sexual immorality, or any kind of
impurity ...."
In some covens the group will believe that the goddess
and god require sacrifice. They do not know that the
only sacrifice ever needed was already given for us.
Ephesians 5:2, "...just as Christ loved us and gave
himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice
to God."
Some Bible verses to aid in your witnessing to a member
of WICCA:
-
Deuteronomy 18:10-12
-
Leviticus 19:26, 31; 20:6
-
2Kings 17:10-17; 21:1-6; 23:4-7, 24: 2
-
2Chronicles 33:6
-
Acts 13:6-12; 16:18
-
Galatians 5:20
-
Revelations 9:20
Some specific verses on god & goddess worship would be:
Verses that will help you witness against human
divinity:
-
Deuteronomy 6:4
-
Isaiah 43:I0, 11; 44:6-8;45:6,6,14,22 46:9
-
Jeremiah 10:10,11
-
Mark 12:12-31
-
1 Timothy 2:5
-
James 2:19
-
1 Corinthians 6:45; 10:20
-
Galatians 4:8
As to demonic spirits, please see the following
-
Leviticus 17:7; 20:6
-
Deuteronomy 32:17
-
Psalm 106:36-39
-
1 Corinthians 10:20,21
-
Revelations 9:20,21
TERMS:
Mother Goddess -- known by names Aphrodite, Artemis,
Astaroth, Astarte, Athene, Brigit, Ceres, Cerridwen,
Cybele, Diana, Demeter--, Briga, Gaia Hecate, Isis,
Kali, Lore, Lilith, Luna, Persephone, Venus.
Astaroth -- Greek, Roman moon goddess.
Ishtar -- Babylonian, Assyrian moon goddess
Diana -- Goddess of moon and hunting, protectress of
women Greek called Artemis)
Hecate -- Goddess of earth and Hades, associated with
sorcery. Hounds crossroads
Horned God -- Adonis, Apollo, Baphomet, Cernunries,
Dionysis, Eros, Faunus, Hades, Horus, Nuit, Lucifer,
Odin, Osiris, Pan Thor- Woden
Adpois -- Aphrodite's favorite, killed by a wild boar,
and according to myth permitted by Zeus to spend several
months here on earth. Associated with the cycle of
vegetation.
Apollo -- The brother of Artemis, this was the Greek and
Roman god of light, music, poetry, healing.
Horus -- The god seen by the Egyptians as a falcon and
thought to be the brother of Isis.
Odin -- Scandinavian god of war and wisdom, poetry, and
knowledge. To the Anglo-Saxons of Britian he was known
as Woden
Thor -- Scandinavian god of thunder and rain
Osiris -- Egyptian, husband of Isis, father of Horus,
resurrected king and judge of dead.
Pan -- Ancient Greek god of the forest, pasture, flock.
and shepherds
Isis -- Goddess of fertility, originally an Egyptian
goddess, but she was later adopted by the Greek and
Romans
magic -- synonymous with sorcery
Coven -- Basic social unit of witches, numbering between
three and thirty, the ideal number is thirteen, also
called groves or circles
* quoted from a Living Epistles t-shirt