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There are many obstacles that can hinder us in our
efforts to effectively communicate the gospel to witches. But there are
also some valuable guidelines to aid us. Besides the preeminent need for
prayer, I recommend that the following six considerations be kept in
mind.
First, witches are often offended when Christians attempt to share the
gospel with them. Frequently, they perceive this as intolerance or an
unwillingness to “live and let live.” Furthermore, some witches have
had bad experiences with the church.
It’s no doubt true that this is for many witches a smoke screen to
rationalize their choice of ignoring the claims of Christ, their
unbelief, and the immoral lifestyle they do not wish to surrender.
Regretfully, however, some witches have been let down by the
church. Consequently, we must always be careful to point them back
to Jesus, not to Christians or the church -- for we are not perfect, nor
did we die for their sins. Let us resolve to be sensitive and tactful,
then, while presenting the gospel (2 Timothy 2:24-26; 1 Peter 3:15).
Second, while one need not be an expert on witchcraft to share the
gospel with witches, one must be careful not to misrepresent their views
and practices. This only fuels their frustration and sense of being
misunderstood and misrepresented, as well as their stereotypical image
of Christians as uninformed and ignorant people. Misrepresentation can
give witches good reason to ignore your comments because “you
obviously don’t know what you’re talking about.” So, for instance,
it is important not to refer to witches as “Satanists.” Let us make
sure we get their views straight; then we have a right to
disagree with them.
Third, make an effort to know what the Bible teaches in relation to the
beliefs of witches and other modern-day pagans (see, e.g., Deuteronomy
18:9-12; Galatians 5:20; Revelation 21:8, 22:15). Use Scripture to
clarify any misunderstandings witches may have of Christianity and to
offer God’s perspective on their practices. Do
not assume they already understand Christianity, for many do not.
As a case in point, many witches have the misconception that Christians
believe that God is only transcendent -- that is, that He is
separate from and beyond the earth and universe. They wrongly conclude
that the Christian God is not readily accessible to humanity. The
biblical teaching, however, is that God is both transcendent and
immanent. Though He created all things and is not part of the creation
itself (Psalm 90:2, 102:25-27, 113:4-6), He nonetheless is immanent to
creation and humanity (see, e.g., Psalm 19:1-4; Acts 14:15-17,
17:23-28). As great and glorious as God
is, He is still knowable, personable, and approachable. And, following
Paul’s example in witnessing to the pagans in Athens, our desire
should be to introduce witches and neopagans to “the unknown God”
(cf. Acts 17:23).
Many witches also misunderstand the core of Christianity and the
function of doctrine within the faith. Christ is
Christianity—the center and circumference! And yes, Christians -- like
all people -- have definite beliefs. These beliefs, however, arise not
from an obsession with doctrines and dogmas, but from the tangible
reality of the living God who entered our world so that we might know
Him. Furthermore, one cannot truly claim to be a Christian unless one
has experienced regeneration by receiving Christ as personal Lord
and Savior.
It is also critical for Christians to recognize that besides sharing the
message of the gospel with witches, they must “live the life” and
“walk the talk.” Witches need to see in the believer a living
and vital relationship with Jesus Christ and the transforming reality of
His presence.
Fourth, since most witches will not accept what the Bible teaches
regarding their beliefs and practices, Christians can and should utilize
other nonbiblical critiques to show the inherent weaknesses of the
witches’ world view. (Such critiques can be found in “The Modern
World of Witchcraft” in this journal.) When presented properly, the
Holy Spirit can use these critiques to compel witches to critically
reexamine their views and be more willing to consider the claims of
Christ and the gospel message. For good insights on how to systematically refute and dismantle an
unbiblical world view, consult The God Who is There, by Francis
Schaeffer (InterVarsity Press), and Worlds Apart: A Handbook on World
Views (Baker Book House), by Norman Geisler and William Watkins.
Fifth, Christians can find fertile evangelistic soil in the fondness
many witches have for allegories, myths, and fairy tales. Here we can
till the depths of the emotional and spiritual aspirations of the human
soul for joy and eternal life. In these furrows of existential longing,
lying within every person’s heart, we can sow the seed of the Word of
God. These deep desires -- which are often implicitly or explicitly
expressed in allegories, myths, and fairy tales, and derive from our
being made in the image of God -- have been effectively mined by several
Christian writers, notably C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. For treatments
of this approach, see Myth, Allegory, and Gospel (Bethany
Fellowship), edited by John Montgomery; J.R.R. Tolkien: Myth,
Morality, and Religion (Harper & Row), by Richard Purtill; and
the essay, “On Fairy-Stories,” by J.R.R. Tolkien, in Essays
Presented to Charles Williams (Eerdmans), edited by C.S. Lewis.
Lewis was quite adept at presenting the reality of the dying god
myth’s fulfillment in Christ (see, e.g., his “Myth Became Fact” in
God in the Dock [Eerdmans], edited by Walter Hooper). This
Christian ”myth,” however, has irrefutable historical evidence to
substantiate it.
This leads us to our final consideration. In dialoguing with witches,
Christians should appeal to the life, death, and resurrection of Christ
as living, breathing, historical fact. As opposed to myth, God did -- in
fact -- enter the world in Christ. Hence, Christianity not only offers a
vital experience and relationship with the divine -- as well as purpose
and meaning in life, it does so on objectively verifiable grounds.
If witches are going to be honest, they must stop their heel-dragging
and attend to the evidence for the claims of Christ. For helpful
discussions of these issues, read or refer them to He Walked Among
Us, by Josh McDowell and Bill Wilson, or The Verdict of History,
by Gary Habermas.
There is a common salutation in witchcraft circles: “Blessed be!” To
which we respond, Blessed be indeed -- and preferably, for all
eternity. May they -- like Lewis and countless millions of others --
be “surprised by joy” and realize all their heartfelt hopes through
receiving Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. |