Why Does the Bible Warn against Witchcraft?

“Do not turn to mediums or necromancers; do not seek them out, and so make yourselves unclean by them: I am the Lord your God." ~ Leviticus 19:31

Witchcraft has had an influence in cultures of old and in our culture now. It is very easy to look past it because it is not always evident, and many times it gets dressed up to be something that it’s not. Yet we need to be on guard and sound the alarm concerning what the Bible says about witchcraft.

If you are not familiar with this topic, then use this as an introduction to what witchcraft is and why you must guard against it. You will discover that you can be infected by this in ways you may not think about.

What Exactly Is Witchcraft?

While this word may have different meanings in different cultures, at its core witchcraft is the attempt to manipulate the environment, circumstances, or situations through mystical or spiritual means. In Bible times this was done using what was often called mediums or spiritists. Within this definition, there are two words I want you to focus on regarding witchcraft.

Manipulation – This is all about influence, usually in an unfair manner.  

Spiritual means – When you call on assistance that steps outside of your realm of ability. In the case of spiritists and mediums, this is demonic assistance.

When you put it all together, witchcraft is trying to insert influence with demonic assistance into a situation. This is the danger of witchcraft.

Are There Harmless Forms of Witchcraft?

The answer is flat out no. Anything that has demonic influence is not harmless. Unfortunately, the way witchcraft is often presented to the world can mistakenly be seen as harmless. Think of the many children’s cartoons that incorporate magic and witchcraft into them, making them seem perfectly innocent and normal.

There is no such thing as a harmless form of witchcraft. This includes tarot cards, horoscopes, Ouija boards, or anything else that aligns with witchcraft, regardless of how unassuming it may seem. There is no harmless form of witchcraft. It is a deception that Satan uses to draw the unsuspecting in. Remember Satan disguises himself as an angel of light (2 Cor. 11:14).

What Does the Bible Say about Witchcraft?

Witchcraft is nothing new; it has been around for centuries. The Bible is clear about its position on witchcraft, and you will find many warnings in the scriptures against it. Here are two.

“Do not practice divination or seek omens” (Leviticus 19:26).

“When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord; because of these same detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you” (Deuteronomy 18:9-12).

God’s opinion about these things is quite evident – they are detestable to him. In case you were wondering, this word detestable can also mean abomination, which is something that God loathes or hates.

Photo credit: Unsplash/Dan Farrell

Is Practicing Witchcraft a Sin?

I am sure you know that the answer to this question is yes, but I want you to understand why. Look at what God told the people of Israel.

“Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God” (Leviticus 19:31).

The reason God wants you to stay away from these things is that they will defile you. If you practice witchcraft, it will taint you, pollute you and if you allow it to continue in your life it will ultimately destroy you. God took this very seriously and so should you. Consider how God dealt with those who practiced witchcraft.

“I will set my face against anyone who turns to mediums and spiritists to prostitute themselves by following them, and I will cut them off from their people” (Leviticus 20:6).

“A man or woman who is a medium or spiritist among you must be put to death. You are to stone them; their blood will be on their own heads” (Leviticus 20:27).

God understands the danger of witchcraft, and He also knows the threat it poses to you and his strong warning is to stay far away for your own good.

Is This Still Relevant for Us Today?

People may wonder if this is still a concern for today, leading them to ask should we be worried about witchcraft now? While there are blatant forms of witchcraft still being practiced today, many times it can be more subtle. This causes many not to recognize the danger or pay attention to the forms that witchcraft takes in our modern society such as horoscopes, tarot cards, etc. 

There are two things about witchcraft that we don’t think about that can potentially affect us.

1. Rebellion is witchcraft

“For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry” (1 Samuel 15:23).

The greatest example of witchcraft we see currently comes through rebellion. Remember witchcraft is when you seek to manipulate through spiritual means. Rebellion is like witchcraft because in essence, you are following another spirit to do or get what you want. When you are engaged in rebellion, you are following after your own spirit to pursue your own desires. The Bible says this is witchcraft. 

2. Witchcraft dwells in your sinful nature

“The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19-21, emphasis added).

According to Scripture, witchcraft can potentially live within your sinful nature. This means that there is a part of us that could potentially be drawn to this because – even though we are Christians – our sinful nature still lives inside of us.

Remember witchcraft is seeking assistance through spiritual means that don’t include God. Often those who want to bypass seeking assistance from God do so because they don’t want to live up to his standard. To receive God’s help, you must do things God’s way. When you don’t want to do that, then you seek help from another source, which is a form of rebellion and is also witchcraft. If this is an act of sinful nature, then we must guard our hearts because we can all be susceptible to following these things. 

We Don’t Need to Pursue Witchcraft

There is one more Scripture I want you to consider as we talk about this topic. Many people have a desire to know about spiritual things, which makes sense because we are spiritual beings. What we must understand is as Christians, we don’t have to seek spiritual assistance from anyone other than God himself. Look at this verse in Isaiah.

“When someone tells you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? Consult God’s instruction and the testimony of warning. If anyone does not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn” (Isaiah 8:19-20).

The reason you should never seek after spiritists, mediums, sorcerers, or witches is that you have the Spirit of God living inside of you. When you need any type of assistance or answers you can go directly to him. You don’t have to run after these things which are destructive, you can consult your heavenly Father who has your best interests at heart.

Witchcraft is deceptive, dangerous, and deadly. God has warned us throughout the Bible to stay away from it. Let’s heed his warning and dive into being filled with more and more of the Holy Spirit. This is not only the best help you will ever receive, it is the only spiritual assistance you will ever need.

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Who Was the Witch of Endor?
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Clarence L. Haynes Jr. is a speaker, Bible teacher, and co-founder of The Bible Study Club.  He is the author of The Pursuit of Purpose which will help you understand how God leads you into his will. His most recent book is The Pursuit of Victory: How To Conquer Your Greatest Challenges and Win In Your Christian Life. This book will teach you how to put the pieces together so you can live a victorious Christian life and finally become the man or woman of God that you truly desire to be. Clarence is also committed to helping 10,000 people learn how to study the Bible and has just released his first Bible study course called Bible Study Basics. To learn more about his ministry please visit clarencehaynes.com.