Wicca: Satan’s Little White Lie
Introduction: Goddess worship, Wicca, witchcraft and other occultist practices are more and more part of our main stream American culture. Chaplains in our prisons are required to facilitate witches, warlocks, and druids, just as much as any other religion. Wicca is also a religion that has infiltrated schools all across the country, drawing young people in by the thousands.
You remember from last week’s sermon how liberalism has led to the building of a chapel on the grounds of Chapman University in Orange, California (A Disciples of Christ college) to be used for worship. If you recall, the University allowed a group of Wicca (witchcraft) followers to bless the grounds of the chapel because their group was going to be allowed to use it too. This serves as an example of how far away today’s culture is drifting away from the truth of God’s Word.
Since it is very evident that paganism, witchcraft and other magic is growing in popularity, it is important that we understand this dark craft from a biblical perspective and keep ourselves pure from its seductive influences. There is much that we could say about the demonic world. It is not our aim to give these unclean beings that inhabit our world very much honor or fear. The blood of Jesus Christ binds every unclean thing and they cannot enslave born-again Christians against our will. There is much ignorance, however, on the part of many Christians, about exactly what the Bible says about this subject. Tonight we will seek to expose the craft for what it really is and give you the equipment that you need to answer people Biblically with regard to this subject. We know that if something is opposed to the cause of Christ, that Satan is behind it.
As we contrast Wicca with Christianity today you may find many of the Wiccan beliefs reminiscent of many New Age beliefs. Both belief systems are very similar.
I. History
A. Wicca – a nature religion
To begin, we must know that Wicca began as an “Earth” religion. That means that Wiccans worship nature as a divine image. Because of this belief that nature is divine, many Wiccans are strong environmentalists. They celebrate cycles of the sun and moon and often worship outdoors. Wiccans also believe that all plants and animals in the world are equal and will often say a prayer of thanks before doing something as simple as pulling a carrot out of the ground.
Wiccans often refer to the planet earth as a “goddess” or “Great Mother.” However, Christians know that the only being worthy of worship is the Creator and not the created. God is a supernatural being who is immortal, eternal and all-powerful. He alone is to be worshipped. The plants and the trees are not to be worshipped. They are God’s creation, created for our benefit. Animals are not to be worshipped. We read in the book of Genesis that we are to treat them with respect and be good stewards of these things, but they are created for our benefit.
Genesis 1:28-29
Genesis 9:3-4
We are not to worship plants or animals. They are not gods. They are created for our benefit. We are to worship the One who created all of these things.
Deuteronomy 4:39
Romans 1:25
Jude 24-25
B. Wicca – a pagan religion
Wicca is a “Pagan” religion. Webster’s dictionary defines a “pagan” as anyone who does not acknowledge the God of the Bible.
Christians, of course, believe in the One Supreme God who is the first and only source of all existence.
Romans 1:20 says, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – His eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.”
II. Beliefs and Practices
Wicca is anti-authoritarian. That means that they refuse to have any centralized authority.
Wiccans create their own beliefs by mixing and matching various views and practices in order to build their own religion.
A. Personal Experience
Wiccans draw many of their beliefs from personal experience. If it happened to you and you believe in it, then who is anyone to judge?
This is a dangerous thing because personal experience can become more important to us than truth.
2 Corinthians 11:14 says that, “Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.” Since that is true, then personal experience cannot be our ultimate authority because Satan is deceptive and can fool us into thinking that darkness is light – he is very good at what he does. You can have a personal experience that feels good and feels right to you, but it is a counterfeit to the real thing.
Wiccans belief that truth is subjective or relative; the only way you can know any kind of “truth” is through feelings or emotions.
The key ethical principle in Wicca is called the Wiccan Rede: “Do what thou will, but harm none.” Wiccans believe they must follow their conscience. Unfortunately, when the enemy takes up residence in one’s heart the conscience becomes dulled.
Another ethical principle Wiccans subscribe to is called the “Three-fold Law of Return.” This is sort of like karma times three. You remember karma: whatever you do will either come back to you at some point whether good or bad. Well, this Wiccan code teaches that whatever you receive you are allowed to return it three-fold.
For example, if someone gave a good Wiccan $5 then the Wiccan would feel obligated to give that person $15 in return. But it can also mean that if someone punches you one time you can, in turn, punch them back three times. If someone hurts you in some way, Wiccan teaches that you have the right to hurt that person three times worse in return. Doesn’t that seem to throw the theory of the Wiccan Rede (“Do what thou will, but harm none.”) out the window?
Doesn’t the way Jesus teaches sound much more fair and loving? (Read Matthew 5: 38-42). The Scriptural thought prohibits all retaliation and personal vengeance. Jesus does not want His people to be doormats, but He does call for His followers to deny self and refuse to insist on personal rights over the well-being of others. Jesus set the example for us. 1 Peter 2:23 reads, “When they hurled insults at Him He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats. Instead He entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.”
Can you imagine the ethical implications of a belief that teaches someone to retaliate three times over? Our society would be in a constantly escalating series of physical battles. If someone rear-ended my car, I would have the right to total their car? If you kick my dog, I can kick your dog three times? This not only goes against the Bible’s teaching, it goes against a commonly held sense of decency and morality of Western society.
The Biblical solution of turning the other cheek goes against the grain of how we WANT to react, but it illustrates a powerful principle that must be taken seriously when we are wronged. Even when we are wrongfully abused, our course of action must always be governed by the higher principles of the Kingdom, not the mere satisfaction of personal rights.
B. Satanic Worship
It is a fact that followers of Wicca often call themselves “witches.” However, Laurie Cabot, an “official witch” from the Witches’ League for Public Awareness, says that witches do not worship Satan.
There is a name for all of this rhetoric from the Wiccan society – “Ostrich Theology.” Ostriches are believed to bury their heads in the sand to avoid trouble. It’s the old, “If I can’t see it, it’s not there” way of thinking.
Ms. Cabot claims that witches do not believe in Satan. But, sadly, Satan is an incorrigible party crasher. He will take worship any way he can get it. 2 Corinthians 11:14 says that Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. Mark 4:15 speaks of how Satan likes to come along and steal all hope from the believer. He is a deceitful liar who will stop at nothing to lead people into an eternal hell. Peter writes in 1 Peter 5:8, “Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for victim to devour.”
There just happens to be some major similarities between the typical Wiccan “god” and Satan himself. 1. Both are lords of death – and the source of death. 2. Both rule in an “underworld” kingdom of some sort. 3. Both are known as Lucifer in some circles. 4. Both are believed to be the source of light. 5. Both demand commitment by oaths and covenants. 6. Both seek to draw their followers away from the God of the Bible.
It seems to me that if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it’s a duck – a very satanic duck.
C. Science
Witchcraft is often presented as a science. It is through this clever façade of science that witchcraft is often thrust upon our young people in public schools.
But witchcraft is not a science. Science requires repeatability. For example, electrical engineering is a science because we know that every time we turn on a light switch a light will come on. A true scientific hypothesis must be able to be repeated as often as necessary and produce the same results.
Withchcraft is not like that. A former Wiccan high priest turned Christian once said, “I could never do any of the craft magic with even a 50% confidence that it would work.”
One might wonder why if Wicca is so dangerous and it is run by Satan himself, why doesn’t it work all the time? Well, very simply because there is another game in town. Jesus Christ is infinitely more powerful than any of the “gods” of Wicca and He can intervene whenever He sees fit.
For example, this former Wiccan high priest says, “If a witch tries to cast a spell on a Christian, it will often fail to work, simply because the Lord watches over His children carefully. God will not allow Satan to touch His people unless He has some higher purpose in mind.
Jesus Christ said, "I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t be stumbling through the darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life." (John 8:12). The light of Jesus Christ is the true light. It is a light that cannot be overcome by darkness.
III. The Battle for Souls
We are involved in a battle everyday. Ephesians 6:12 reads, “For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms.” You know how it is… You know the right thing to do but your mind tries to convince you to do what you know you shouldn’t. Satan is always trying to get his hands on us. But God’s Word promises us that if we will submit ourselves to God and resist the devil, he will flee from us (Quote James 4:7 on screen). Paul also warns us in Ephesians 4:27 not to give the devil a foothold… How do we do that? We cling to Jesus like our lives depend upon Him – because they do depend upon Him. He is the only way we can win this war that wages for our very souls. Get into His Word, know what it says and do what it says.
Do you remember when Jesus was being tempted in the wilderness? Do you remember how Jesus fought off Satan at that time? He quoted Scripture. (Look at Luke 4:1-13, Read).
Do you know what? We have the ability to do the same thing! Jesus was quoting Deuteronomy to the Devil and the Devil left Him alone when he realized he was in over his head.
So What? This stuff is not pretend – it is not a fairy tale. It is real. It is a real life battle between the forces of holiness and evil and our eternal souls are at stake.
There are some of you here today who knows someone who is involved in Wicca – I know because many of you have spoken to me about it. And you may still be asking, “What can I do?” Well, I am glad you asked.
Wicca is a religion. Religion is man’s feeble attempts to do something that will please his “god”. Christianity is a relationship with the Lord of the Universe, Jesus Christ. These people who are engulfed in the grips of Wicca need to know that Jesus Christ loves them. They do not need our scorn; they need the love of our Savior.
Fortunately, these people have not wandered too far away from God’s grace. If they can hear the message of Jesus Christ either through you, this tape or a combination of ways then they are off to a great start. Isaiah 55:11 says, “My Word will not return to me void, it will accomplish the purpose for which I sent it.” God will not let His Word fall on deaf ears and be trampled underfoot. He will plant it in the heart of the hearer and allow it to spring forth in His time. When that Word does take root the person will be convicted to believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God. When Jesus Christ takes root in their life, they will feel the need to repent. Repentance simply means to turn away from sin and turn to Jesus Christ for salvation. Acts 17:30 says that God commands all people everywhere to repent. After repentance comes confession. Paul wrote in Romans 10: 9-10, “For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.” Jesus said in Matthew 10:32, "If anyone acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will openly acknowledge that person before my Father in heaven.” Now, the person is ready to be immersed in baptism for the washing away of their sins, the gift if the Holy Spirit and a rebirth into a new life in Christ. Acts 2:38 tells us, “Repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of your sin and the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Conclusion: A follower of the Wiccan sect once said, “If you take the Bible and put it out in the wind and the rain, soon the paper on which the words are printed will disintegrate and the words will be gone. Our bible IS the wind and the rain.”
Even after the words fade and the paper disintegrates the Word of God will still be alive and active and sharper than any two-edged sword. Jesus said in Matthew 24:35, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” To my Wiccan friend I would say, “The wind and the rain are eventually going to disappear, but God’s Word will live forever.”
