Using Witchcraft and Spiritism (Pasche)
"There shall not be found among you a witch or a charmer or a consulter with familiar spirits." Deut. 18,10.11.
Using witchcraft means to “use God’s name or Word without His command and to promise to perform supernatural things, such as conjuring, fortune-telling, consulting the dead, and similar satanic arts.” Witchcraft, or “curious arts,” as it is also called in the Scriptures, therefore is a heathenish art, practised by those who cannot or will not pray to God as their dear Father. No, they resort to secret arts and the power of darkness when natural means do not accomplish what they desire. The world is full of witch craft. It is practised, or at least resorted to, even by many of those who call themselves Christians. But using witchcraft in any form is employing the devil’s help, and this is a sin against God and, if done under cover of His sacred name, is taking that name in vain to adorn the sin of doing the devil service.
Christians, true children of God, who have renounced the devil and all his works, withdraw from such iniquity. They know that “all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord.”
When King Saul had fallen away from the living God, he stole to the witch of Endor. And in our enlightened age men and women still throng about mediums, clairvoyants, and fortune tellers. Spiritism is rampant in our modern large cities. Spiritism is a special branch of witchcraft. It objects to this name, however, and presents itself to the public as modern science and full-fledged truth, yea, as religion and a religious society; and it has millions of members. Spiritism claims to be able to associate with the spirits of the dead. Spiritists contend that departed spirits can speak to the living, help them in many ways, and teach them higher knowledge. But the truth is, that whatever we cannot find out by searching the Scriptures and by natural means is not for us to know, and we should not try to ascertain it, least of all by con sulting the devil, our arch-enemy.
O Father of all mercies, defend Thy Church against all the gates of hell, against all the raging and raving of Satan, and let it stand firm and immovable upon the foundation rock on which it is built. Look down from heaven and behold and visit Thy vine and vineyard which Thy right hand hath planted, and the branch which Thou madest strong for Thyself, that it may send out its boughs and that its branches may become large; hedge it round about with Thy shield. Be Thou the Defense of Thy sheep that no man may pluck us out of Thy hand. Amen.
