Once upon a time, in a small village nestled deep within the woods, lived a peculiar woman named Eliza. Unlike the other villagers who followed the teachings of the Church, Eliza believed in a different kind of power. She considered herself a witch, dealing in magic and spells, which often put her at odds with the community. Eliza's journey as a witch who believed in Christ began when she was a young girl. Growing up, she felt a distinct connection to nature and the spiritual realm. She discovered her unique abilities to influence the elements and heal people with her touch.
She discovered her unique abilities to influence the elements and heal people with her touch. Yet, she remained conflicted due to her upbringing in a devout Christian household. Her parents instilled in her the virtues of love, compassion, and forgiveness that Christ preached.
Is it OK to be friends with a witch?
While there are noble elements of the Wiccan religion, there are also elements that do not harmonize easily with the Christian faith.
While there are noble elements of the Wiccan religion, there are also elements that do not harmonize easily with the Christian faith. (Dreamstime)
Rabbi Marc Gellman, Tribune Content Agency God SquadQ: My background in Christianity was in the Catholic Church with summers at the Nazarene (Vacation Bible School). As an adult I belong to a Charismatic Church, and one of the things I did, because I felt God compelling me to, was to end a longtime friendship with a friend who became a Wiccan. I missed her, but felt right by God. -- From S
A: I get many repeat questions, but I have never received a question about whether it's OK to have a friend who's a witch. The Bible is quite clear and quite severe on this question. We read in Exodus 22:18, "Thou shalt not let a witch live." Now I do not believe in witches and I am definitely NOT advocating violence against anyone, particularly men and women who say they are witches. There are tragic echoes of this biblical bigotry in the witch burnings in Europe and America in the 15th through 18th centuries. Biblical teachings sadly share much blame for these acts of murderous superstition and largely anti-female bigotry.
The textual truth of the biblical verses on witchcraft are not actually so clear. The original text in Exodus and a parallel text against witchcraft in Deuteronomy 18:9-10 may not actually refer to people who cast spells and curses but to those who engaged in preparing various herbal medicines. Whatever those texts actually mean, the biblical condemnations of witchcraft/herbalism come from an ancient pre-scientific time filled with ancient pre-scientific superstitions. I cannot defend how these texts were used over time to justify murder. Part of what it means to be religious in our time is having the courage and discernment to enable one to sift through an ancient book and keep those teachings that are timelessly true while leaving behind those teachings that are just human bigotry masking the actual words of God.
However, while letting go of witch burning as a morally repugnant vestige of our faith, I think you did the right thing in cutting off your friendship with your Wiccan friend.
There are elements of Wiccan religion that just do not harmonize easily with the teachings of your Christian faith. Wicca was formed in 1954 by Gerald Gardner, a retired British civil servant. It has no fixed sacred scriptures. Some Wiccans worship witchcraft and Satanic rituals, some worship a pantheism of a Moon Goddess and a Great Horned God. There are elements of being a Wiccan that are spiritually noble and we ought to have the honesty to lift up those elements for praise. It is generally a faith that respects the spiritual integrity of the earth but from a pagan perspective, not from a biblical one. The actual content of Wicca is quite obscure and complicated by many secret practices. However, it is definitively a pagan faith that does not worship a single biblical God who created all life and a moral code.
Christians and Jews do not believe the same things about Jesus, but we are close enough to allow fruitful interfaith dialogue. The same is not true with your Wiccan friend. This would inevitably cause difficulties in your friendship because of your deep faith in Christianity. Not all friendships can survive deep differences of belief. If your heart tells you that this friendship is over, trust your heart, but consider sending her a nice Halloween card this October.
Some final, final responses to what sport is most like life.
-- From K: There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games. Ernest Hemingway wrote that what they have in common is that you can perish if you participate.
-- Marc Gellman: If this is true, I have never ever participated in a sport!
-- From P in Harrisburg, Pa.: I right away thought of wrestling. I'm not talking professional wrestling. I'm talking about amateur, which involves high school and college kids. Here are some reasons: 1. Teamwork effort. If you lose, it hurts the team by not adding to the score. 2. You have to work hard to succeed, both physically and mentally. You have to learn your moves and when to use them. 3. You learn a lot of discipline, and how to act when you lose. 4. The match can be slow and boring, then all of a sudden a lot of action. 5. You are out there on your own with everyone watching your every move. If you lose, you not only hurt yourself, but the team. If you win, you are the hero.
-- Marc Gellman: And (how could I have forgotten this) wrestling is mentioned in the Bible. Jacob and Esau wrestle in the womb, and as a result Jacob is called Israel which means, "one who wrestles with God and man and prevails."
(Send ALL QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS to The God Squad via email at [email protected]. Rabbi Gellman is the author of several books, including "Religion for Dummies," co-written with Fr. Tom Hartman.)
(c) 2019 THE GOD SQUAD. DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, LLC.
However, they sternly warned her against exploring her magical abilities, fearing it would lead her astray. Despite their admonitions, Eliza couldn't help but feel drawn towards the mystical world that seemed to exist alongside her Christian faith. As she grew older, Eliza began to experiment with her powers in secret. She would retreat to the woods to meditate and commune with nature, seeking guidance and understanding. It was in these moments of solitude that she realized her magic was not separate from her faith in Christ but rather an extension of it. Eliza's belief in Christ taught her that love and kindness were the ultimate forces in the world. And through her magical abilities, she saw that love could manifest in healing, protection, and transformation. She found solace in the idea that her powers were a gift from God, intended to be used for the betterment of others. However, the village was not as accepting of her beliefs. As word spread of her practices, she became an outcast, shunned by the very community she grew up in. The villagers feared her power and considered her a threat to their religious order. The Church, notably, regarded her as a heretic, condemning her for embracing both witchcraft and Christianity. Despite the adversity, Eliza remained steadfast in her faith and unique path. She continued to practice her craft, helping those in need and seeking to spread love and understanding amidst the chaos. She often found herself caught between the worlds of witchcraft and Christianity, struggling to reconcile her two identities. It was through her journey that Eliza discovered the true power of acceptance and embracing one's authentic self. She came to understand that her abilities as a witch did not contradict her beliefs in Christ but rather enhanced them. She saw that magic and faith could coexist, as long as they were rooted in love and used for the greater good. In the end, Eliza's journey as a witch who believed in Christ taught her the importance of staying true to oneself, even in the face of adversity. She became an advocate for understanding and unity, urging others to see past their differences and embrace the interconnectedness of all things. Through her actions, she aimed to bridge the gap between the realms of the mystical and the divine..
Reviews for "The Power of Cross: A Witch's Quest for Redemption in Christ"
1. John Doe - 1/5 stars
"The journey of a witch who believes in Christ" was a complete disappointment for me. I thought that the concept of a witch having faith in Christ could have been an interesting and unique idea, but unfortunately, the execution fell completely flat. The story lacked depth and failed to effectively explore the complex themes it attempted to tackle. The characters were underdeveloped and their motivations felt forced and unrealistic. Overall, I found the book to be a tedious and unsatisfying read.
2. Jane Smith - 2/5 stars
I really wanted to like "The journey of a witch who believes in Christ" as I found the premise intriguing. However, I was left disappointed with the novel. The storytelling was disjointed and inconsistent, making it difficult to connect with the characters or become fully immersed in the plot. The author's attempt to blend witchcraft and Christianity felt forced and confusing. The book lacked a cohesive and well-structured narrative, leaving me ultimately unsatisfied with the overall reading experience.
3. Sarah Thompson - 2/5 stars
"The journey of a witch who believes in Christ" had the potential to be a thought-provoking exploration of the intersection between witchcraft and Christianity, but it fell short of my expectations. The plot was slow and meandering, and the characters' journey lacked a sense of purpose. The author's attempt to reconcile these two seemingly opposing belief systems felt forced and unconvincing. I struggled to find enjoyment in the book and felt that it failed to deliver on its promising premise.
4. Michael Johnson - 1/5 stars
I was incredibly disappointed with "The journey of a witch who believes in Christ". The book was poorly written and lacked a clear direction. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it difficult to care about their journeys. The author's attempt to blend witchcraft and Christianity felt forced and ultimately confused the central message of the novel. Overall, I found the book to be a tedious and unfulfilling read.