In the Old Testament, witchcraft was punishable by death. Though this may seem like cruel and unusual punishment, it shows the attitude of God toward the sin of witchcraft. God hates it. Certainly, God loves all sinners; not their sin, but the people themselves. Jesus died for all mankind because God loves all mankind. Even the vilest sinner is offered a pardon for their sins if they'll simply come by way of the cross of Jesus Christ for forgiveness.
In the Old Testament, king Saul had rebelled against the Lord, time after time. God's patience had been pushed to the limit. The prophet, Samuel, said to Saul, "For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king...for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD hath rejected thee from being king over Israel" (1st Samuel 15:23-26). Saul was a rebel; i.e., he had to do everything his way instead of Gods. This is so characteristic of many Christians today.
Saul was a pretentious person, he would deliberately sin and then outwardly apologize for his actions, but his heart was against the Lord. Saul was never sorry for his sins, only that he got caught. God does offer unlimited forgiveness through Christ's blood, but don't think for one moment that you can fool God with false repentance. America's churches are filled with people who have come to religion through so-called "Christian" rock-n-roll music, but they've never come to Jesus Christ for salvation. Many people join a church to socialize, or to ease their guilt; but they have never been born-again in Christ Jesus. Saul we a phony, he was guilty false repentance. God didn't accept it.
So what did Saul do? In desperation, he went to employ the help of a witch who lived in Endor (1st Samuel 28:7). Today, this would be likened to psychics, tarots, horoscopes, astrology, and yes, even psychiatrists. We read in 2nd Corinthians 10:5, "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." You'll never hear this in a psychiatrist's office. If you did, they could lose their license. Do you think the horoscopes or a tarot's cards are going to speak of the Blessed Savior? No! Saul committed a wicked sin by seeking guidance from a Satanic source. A "familiar spirit" as we read in 1st Samuel 28:7 is a spirit that is not the Holy Spirit of God.
Apart from the Holy Spirit of God, there can only be the spirit of Satan. Hence, all forms of witchcraft are Satanic. Wiccan witches vehemently deny the existence of Satan; yet, ironically, have no problem believing in Lucifer, the god of light. But just because Wiccans deny Satan's existence doesn't mean that it is true. The Word of God teaches that Satan is alive and well (2nd Corinthians 4:4; 1st peter 5:8). Wiccans can deny the truth, but it doesn't change the truth. Those who follow Wiccan teachings are either greatly deceived or willingly ignorant of the truth.
Saul sinned greatly in consulting a witch. The Bible plainly teaches that witchcraft is a sin (1st Samuel 15:23). Witchcraft is listed as one of the works of the flesh in Galatians 5:19-20, "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft..." Exodus 22:18 pronounced death as the sentence for witches in the Old Testament. Witchcraft is serious business with God, and He hates it with a passion. Why? Because God wants us to come to Him, not the Devil.
God created mankind to please Him (Revelation 4:11). Hebrews 11:6 declares that God CANNOT be pleased without FAITH, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (John 14:6). To go to a demonic source for power, guidance, or information is rebellion against God Almighty. Wiccan websites all sell potions, spells, magic books, etc. These are works of darkness and should be destroyed if you have them. There were witches in the New Testament who became born again Christians, and then BURNED their "curious arts," as the Bible calls them...
"Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver." -Acts 19:19
It is interesting that the Bible refers to these items as "curious arts" because that is exactly what witchcraft is to many people--something very curious and interesting. People are infatuated with anything dealing with the supernatural. The danger of this is that most people are ignorant of the Word of God and are; therefore, vulnerable to Satanic influences and doctrines. After Simon, a former sorcerer, became a Christian, he actually thought he could buy the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:18). Peter, who hadn't been saved for very long, sharply rebuked Simon because he didn't understand that Simon had been taught his whole life, by witches, that power could be purchased (spells, charms, potions, etc). Look at any Wiccan website today and you'll see all sorts of "curious arts" for sale. In the world of Satanism and witchcraft, you have to pay if you want to play (money = power).
Thank God that Simon found the Lord Jesus and repented of his wicked ways. Any witch can be saved, if they'll simply turn from their unbelief and come to Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins. Although Wicca teaches the "law of return" (that if you hurt someone it'll come back four-fold), Wicca FAILS to acknowledge wrongdoing as SIN. The Bible calls wrongdoing SIN. Hence, Wiccans have no way of getting their sins forgiven apart from their own efforts and desire to make things better.
But the Word of God teaches that we are woefully wicked and without any righteousness of our own (Isaiah 64:6; Romans 3:10,23). Every human being needs salvation, which is freely available only through Christ Jesus, because of the blood which He willingly shed for our sins (Colossians 1:14). Oh listen friend, I beg of you, forsake witchcraft if you're a witch. Don't let Satan claim your soul in Hell. If you're just reading this article out of curiosity about witchcraft, then I plead with you to EXPOSE witchcraft for what it is...SIN (1st Samuel 15:23). Ephesians 5:11 reads, "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. END
