My Wiccan Friend

Most witches (often called Wiccans) are part of the contemporary neo-pagan movement which is rooted in the ancient god and goddess worship of several pre-Christian cults and religions (Greek, Celtic, Egyptian, Roman and Sumerian). While there is much diversity of beliefs among witches (because it, like the New Age movement, is not one centrally organized religion with a set creed or belief system) there are several common beliefs widely held among witches.

Some common beliefs among witches:

1. Rejection of absolute truth.
Witches believe that experience and mysticism are the final authority not some book or creed. Each person must find and define their own reality and belief system.

Biblical View:
"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus...I give you this charge: Preach the Word, be prepared in season and out of season....For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths." 2 Timothy 3:16-4:4

2. Tolerance
Witches believe that acceptance of other belief systems and religions (as long as those religions and belief systems are tolerant of theirs) is a must. Diversity is a virtue, dogmatism a sin.

Biblical View:
There is right and wrong. "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil...." Isaiah 5:20

Some things should not be tolerated. "I will set before my eyes no vile thing. The deeds of faithless men I hate; they will not cling to me. Men of perverse heart shall be far from me; I will have nothing to do with evil." Psalm 101:3,4

3. Polytheism or Pantheism
Polytheism is the belief that there are many gods and goddesses. Pantheism is the belief that all is god and god is all. Everything and everyone is divine.

Biblical View:
"I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me." Isaiah 46:9

4. Life Force
Most witches believe that there is an energy or life force that is ever-present throughout the entire universe. Therefore, the entire creation is a living organism.

Biblical View:
"For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together." Colossians 1:16,17

5. Goddess worship
Most witches worship the Goddess. The Mother Goddess is mother, maiden and crone (destroyer). She is eternal, associated with the moon and earth and can be invoked under many names. Many witches also believe in and worship the male counterpart to the Mother Goddess, the Horned God.

Biblical View:
"...Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me. I, even I, am the LORD, and apart from me there is no savior." Isaiah 43:10,11

6. Magic/Sorcery
Most witches believe that they can cause changes in people and circumstances through invoking spirits, forces or gods in the unseen world. This is usually done through some prescribed ritual or incantation.

Biblical View:
"Let no one be found among you who...practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells....Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD...." Deuteronomy 18:10-12

What do they believe?

About sin?
They believe that morality is personal and that the Biblical view of sin is guilt inducing and an unhealthy concept to accept.

Biblical view:
Men are held responsible for their sin (Romans 3:23; 6:23)

About the Trinity?
Witches do not believe in the Trinity. They are either polytheistic (belief in many gods) or pantheistic (all is god and god is all).

Biblical view:
There is one God and yet three Persons (Isaiah 45:5; Deuteronomy 6:4; James 2:19)

About Jesus?
Many witches believe that Jesus was a witch due to his supernatural power. Others believe that he was just a man and not God himself.

Biblical view:
Jesus is fully God and fully man. He is the Creator, Ruler, Judge and Savior of the entire universe (John 1:1,14,18; 8:58; 10:30; Titus 2:13; Colossians 1:15-17)

About salvation?
Witches don't believe that salvation from sin is possible because the only sin there really is is that of intolerance. As Valerie Voigt wrote in her book Being a Pagan in a 9-5 World, "We don't have a Devil to blame our mistakes on and we need no Savior to save us from a non-existent hell."

Biblical view:
Only through salvation do we have true happiness. Jesus said, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." John 10:10

About the Bible?
Witches don't believe in absolute truth. Therefore, while some witches may consider the Bible a good book, none hold it to be absolutely true in every area.

Biblical view:
The Bible alone is the word of God. It is without error. It cannot be added to or subtracted from (2 Timothy 3:16-4:4; Revelation 22:18-20)

How to witness to them

• Focus on the literal claims of Christ. Not only did he claim to be God (John 8:57, 58) but he also claimed to be the only way to God (John 14:6).
• Various questions to ask witches:

• "How do you know that neo-paganism (witchcraft) is true?"

• "What if you are wrong?"

• "If there are such things as gods and goddesses why have they not revealed themselves physically
like Jesus Christ has?"

• "If Jesus is not absolutely God and only a good man then why did he claim to be God over
and over?"

Recommended reading

A Ready Defense, Josh McDowell. San Bernardino, CA: Here's Life Publishers, Inc., 1990.

Goddess Worship, Witchcraft and Neo-Paganism, Craig S. Hawkins. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1998.

Don't Check Your Brains At The Door, Josh McDowell and Bob Hostetler. Dallas, TX: Word Publishing, 1992.