Former witches, now Christians

[Debp]

I just read some testimonies of former witches and wiccans.  Their stories were pretty heavy, probably too heavy to post here.  Some were driven even to attempt suicide before getting delivered by Christ.  They said the spirit world of the devil and demons is definitely there and it's important not to open any doors to it.  One man is now a pastor and tries to help others in witchcraft, new age and liberal church beliefs.   His ministry is www.refugeministries.cc

An important thing to note:  They say Wicca is the fastest growing religion among teenagers!!

[HimAll4]

An important thing to note:  They say Wicca is the fastest growing religion among teenagers!!

Frightening thought!  But it makes sense.   I think "Christianity" has become so watered down it doesn't satisfy.  We are literally too ashamed to stand for the Truth and minister that Truth to this lost and dying world.  They need fed, and not just coffee and doughnuts.

[Debp]

Christians can and should yield to the Holy Spirit in their lives.  This is a reality.  Perhaps alot of teens don't realize that walking with the Lord in our daily life is real....not just doctrine.

[nChrist]

Hello Debp,

YES - the devil is alive, well, busy, and quite real. The devil is just as real as CHRIST, but they are obviously opposites - one from DARKNESS and one from LIGHT. As Christians know, JESUS CHRIST is the LIGHT!

This will probably sound like I'm paranoid, but I firmly believe that various kinds of exposure to DARKNESS is very dangerous. In fact, it's many times like playing with fire for young people. The devil is still quite able to snare and devour, just as he's always been able to.

SO, I view many types of dark material as if they are poison, and they really are. We really don't know how the devil will use them or what the final result will be for the person who experimented in the dark with the devil. This I would repeat again - the devil is quite real, and his power is quite real. The devil even has some power over Christians from time to time, especially the babes in CHRIST who are not strong in the LORD.

I wish that all Christians did know that there is spiritual warfare going on all around us every day, and the opposing powers are MOST REAL. The one side is darkness and death versus the other side of LIGHT and LIFE. One side is very adept at using temporary pleasures to woo the victim into the snare. There are many times even signs and wonders of the powers of darkness because the power is real - not imagined. There really is a BOOGIE MAN in the dark, and he's quite real. He's known in the Bible by many names, and his powers should be unquestioned by human beings, especially Christians.

I would hope that most Christians know that we are not free from the power of the devil in this short life. Our LORD and MASTER, JESUS CHRIST is obviously much more powerful than our adversary and HIS, but the devil is still capable of harming us or robbing us of some of our joy. This is why Christians are warned from the Bible to put on the "WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD". In and of ourselves, we don't have any strength. Our strength is ONLY in JESUS CHRIST. As a result, Christians should not play games with the devil or run in and out of his traps as some sort of a challenge for GOD to protect us. The devil is a great thief, and he is quite capable of robbing Christians. He can't rob us of our Salvation, but he can rob us of some of our strength and joy in CHRIST.

I hope that I put my thoughts in a way that they can be understood in the way that I meant them. If not, please understand that my basic thought is that even strong Christians should not play with the devil in any way. There is also good reasons why we shouldn't stand on a railroad track with a train coming and asking GOD to protect us. GOD is quite capable of protecting us and defeating the devil in any situation that GOD wants to, but that doesn't mean that HE will protect us from our own stupidity in all cases. Maybe my last thoughts made things even worse for those trying to understand this post. I hope not.

Let me simply say that I know where the fire is, and I don't want to walk through the fire, nor do I want my children or grandchildren to walk through the fire.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Ephesians 1:11-14 NASB  also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory. In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation--having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory.

[Soldier4Christ]

Amen, brother. Purposefully exposing ourselves or letting our children to be exposed to the things of the devil is simply asking for trouble.

[Debp]

Hello Debp,

YES - the devil is alive, well, busy, and quite real. The devil is just as real as CHRIST, but they are obviously opposites - one from DARKNESS and one from LIGHT. As Christians know, JESUS CHRIST is the LIGHT!

This will probably sound like I'm paranoid, but I firmly believe that various kinds of exposure to DARKNESS is very dangerous. In fact, it's many times like playing with fire for young people. The devil is still quite able to snare and devour, just as he's always been able to.

SO, I view many types of dark material as if they are poison, and they really are. We really don't know how the devil will use them or what the final result will be for the person who experimented in the dark with the devil. This I would repeat again - the devil is quite real, and his power is quite real. The devil even has some power over Christians from time to time, especially the babes in CHRIST who are not strong in the LORD.

I wish that all Christians did know that there is spiritual warfare going on all around us every day, and the opposing powers are MOST REAL. The one side is darkness and death versus the other side of LIGHT and LIFE. One side is very adept at using temporary pleasures to woo the victim into the snare. There are many times even signs and wonders of the powers of darkness because the power is real - not imagined. There really is a BOOGIE MAN in the dark, and he's quite real. He's known in the Bible by many names, and his powers should be unquestioned by human beings, especially Christians.

I would hope that most Christians know that we are not free from the power of the devil in this short life. Our LORD and MASTER, JESUS CHRIST is obviously much more powerful than our adversary and HIS, but the devil is still capable of harming us or robbing us of some of our joy. This is why Christians are warned from the Bible to put on the "WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD". In and of ourselves, we don't have any strength. Our strength is ONLY in JESUS CHRIST. As a result, Christians should not play games with the devil or run in and out of his traps as some sort of a challenge for GOD to protect us. The devil is a great thief, and he is quite capable of robbing Christians. He can't rob us of our Salvation, but he can rob us of some of our strength and joy in CHRIST.

I hope that I put my thoughts in a way that they can be understood in the way that I meant them. If not, please understand that my basic thought is that even strong Christians should not play with the devil in any way. There is also good reasons why we shouldn't stand on a railroad track with a train coming and asking GOD to protect us. GOD is quite capable of protecting us and defeating the devil in any situation that GOD wants to, but that doesn't mean that HE will protect us from our own stupidity in all cases. Maybe my last thoughts made things even worse for those trying to understand this post. I hope not.

Let me simply say that I know where the fire is, and I don't want to walk through the fire, nor do I want my children or grandchildren to walk through the fire.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Ephesians 1:11-14 NASB  also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory. In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation--having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory.

Yes, I definitely agree that Christians or other people should not open any doors to the evil one and his demons.  In posting the website with the testimonies of former witches/wiccans, I hope some will read them and realize that the occult is nothing to mess with.  The testimonies also show the delivering power of Jesus Christ....even when people are deep in darkness.

[Okie]

There is so much in our everyday lives that go back to rituals of Darkness that even the best Christians  do things that go back to paganism and don't even know it.
Wish upon a star.
Carry a rabbit's foot.
How about a lucky fishing hat or golf shirt?
Then the one so many don't even think about. Make a wish and blow out the candles.
Don't walk under a ladder or cross the path of a black cat.
Many of the seemingly harmless jesters go right back to Dark Rituals.
You really have to watch what the designs are on clothing and jewelery to. Old Satan is trying to get to us as hard as he can. We can never let our guard down or he will slither right on in.

[nChrist]

Hello Okie,

You make some excellent points. I was just thinking that even our days of the week are named after pagan gods (i.e. Monday, Tuesday, etc.). There are a lot of everyday things that have ties to other gods. You are right, most Christians don't have a clue in most cases, and most Christians have no intention to give any honor or worship to a pagan GOD by calling today Thursday. "Thursday" for me is just another day to worship GOD, and "Thursday" belongs to GOD - just like all 7 days of the week and every day of the year.

I think that the important thing for all Christians is to honor, worship, and praise GOD 24/7. I would further say that everything in CREATION belongs to GOD and HE will do with it as HE pleases. This will include the ending for the devil and the devil's hosts. Things do get fairly complicated in many cases, and I'll use an example of a person worshipping a tree. I have no problem in admiring a tree and enjoying beauty, but I have uppermost in my mind that GOD made the tree and I'm looking at GOD'S Handiwork. So, there's nothing in the tree for me to worship, rather the CREATOR of that tree. We should know that some people use trees and other things for evil purposes in their worship of other GODS, but that has nothing to do with me. I can look at and admire GOD'S Handiwork any time I want to with no guilt of any kind.

The point I would like to make is that almost everything has some connection to something bad. It really depends on the person and their intended purpose. SO, I would simply say that there is nothing wrong or evil about me looking at a tree or saying that today is Thursday. There would be countless examples. I know who the MASTER is, and I worship HIM alone. The story changes when people start worshipping other masters with a little "m" and use things, objects, or portions of nature in their worship of false gods and the devil. For Christians, that tree and Thursday belong to the ONE and ONLY ALMIGHTY GOD - not the devil.

In short, I rest in CHRIST 24/7 and will for eternity. SO, I wouldn't care how the days are named or what order they come in. For me, they all belong to GOD and I belong to GOD. I was in police work for 25 years and saw some real satanic ceremonies that involve some common and ordinary things used in extraordinary ways while calling upon and honoring the devil. In fact, the ceremonies and rituals were for the specific purpose of worshipping and praising the devil. There's no way that a Christian should even play-act at such things. BUT, this doesn't mean that I should fear looking at a tree or calling today Thursday. The same would be true for me becoming unglued or afraid over some superstition like a black cat crossing my path. I could really care less about the black cat unless it attacks me. On the opposite side of the coin, I know that satanists have rituals involving all kinds of animals, including cats. Humans are also the victims of some rituals by satan worshipers.

I won't be involved in any rituals or ceremonies to other gods, and I don't plan to avoid looking at black cats or trees.     Reason is good, but we can take fear too far.  The fall of man was due to disobeying GOD and eating a forbidden fruit, but I have no fear of eating fruit. I will simply give thanks to GOD for it.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Romans 11:33 NASB  Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!

[HimAll4]

There is so much in our everyday lives that go back to rituals of Darkness that even the best Christians  do things that go back to paganism and don't even know it.
Wish upon a star.
Carry a rabbit's foot.
How about a lucky fishing hat or golf shirt?
Then the one so many don't even think about. Make a wish and blow out the candles.
Don't walk under a ladder or cross the path of a black cat.
Many of the seemingly harmless jesters go right back to Dark Rituals.
You really have to watch what the designs are on clothing and jewelery to. Old Satan is trying to get to us as hard as he can. We can never let our guard down or he will slither right on in.

Excellent post!  (Where's the 'thumbs up' smiley when you need it?)

[Faithin1]

Reading this thread reminded me of two dangerous incidents I participated in with a group of friends.  One while in high school, and one in college.  Although we had all been raised in Christian churches, we simply didn't realize what we were doing.  We were 'raised' as Christians, but did not really have a personal relationship with Jesus at that time.  The incident in high school involved a Ouija board.  We had a portrait of my ancestors that had been in my dad's family for many years.  We were trying to 'communicate' with the little girl in the portrait.  In college, we were experimenting with marijuana and decided to 'bring back' Jimi Hendricks (of all people).  I won't elaborate (pure blasphemy).  However, it involved hard rock music and candles.  Suddenly, all of the candles began to flicker in unison with the beat of the music, never missing a beat.  We all were frightened beyond description, and never delved into anything like that again. 

Needless to say, each of these incidents could have opened very dark doors.  I am convinced God saved us from ourselves, realizing we were ignorant.  I shudder when I think of what could have transpired.  Praise the Lord, all who have remained friends are saved, and truly have personal relationships with Jesus.  One is a minister now and can't believe we actually did that. 

I mention these experiences as a warning to teenagers and young adults visiting this forum who may think it's harmless to experiment with darkness.  It is extremely dangerous.  I am sure there are many who were not as blessed to have survived youthful stupidity.  I thank the Lord, He renewed my spirit, and brought me into the Light.  Never entertain the devil!

[Soldier4Christ]

Never entertain the devil!

AMEN!!

[Jemidon2004]

My wife was a professing wiccan for 8 years before she became a christian. She is a great example of persistance when it involves conversion. For years she keppt blowing off Christ and was actually an avid person against christianity. but one person who cared enough about her to keep slowly reminding her that God loves her, over time that made the difference.

Joshua

[Debp]

Reading this thread reminded me of two dangerous incidents I participated in with a group of friends.  One while in high school, and one in college.  Although we had all been raised in Christian churches, we simply didn't realize what we were doing.  We were 'raised' as Christians, but did not really have a personal relationship with Jesus at that time.  The incident in high school involved a Ouija board.  We had a portrait of my ancestors that had been in my dad's family for many years.  We were trying to 'communicate' with the little girl in the portrait.  In college, we were experimenting with marijuana and decided to 'bring back' Jimi Hendricks (of all people).  I won't elaborate (pure blasphemy).  However, it involved hard rock music and candles.  Suddenly, all of the candles began to flicker in unison with the beat of the music, never missing a beat.  We all were frightened beyond description, and never delved into anything like that again. 

Needless to say, each of these incidents could have opened very dark doors.  I am convinced God saved us from ourselves, realizing we were ignorant.  I shudder when I think of what could have transpired.  Praise the Lord, all who have remained friends are saved, and truly have personal relationships with Jesus.  One is a minister now and can't believe we actually did that. 

I mention these experiences as a warning to teenagers and young adults visiting this forum who may think it's harmless to experiment with darkness.  It is extremely dangerous.  I am sure there are many who were not as blessed to have survived youthful stupidity.  I thank the Lord, He renewed my spirit, and brought me into the Light.  Never entertain the devil!

Thanks very much for sharing this!!

[Debp]

My wife was a professing wiccan for 8 years before she became a christian. She is a great example of persistance when it involves conversion. For years she keppt blowing off Christ and was actually an avid person against christianity. but one person who cared enough about her to keep slowly reminding her that God loves her, over time that made the difference.

Joshua

Praise God!!  This gives us all hope to never give up on a person.  God is able to bring them to Himself, although it might take time.

[Lioness]

I recently had to leave a church because they found nothing wrong with the Harry Potter series. How can Christians condone the reading and enjoyment of such materials when these books are sooo against what God says is acceptable? These things are damaging people...how can a church that is supposed to care about the condition of the souls of men promote such things? It is so disheartening. Anyone have any answers?