Wicca

[Karen]

Kenya,

I do believe that Rambo and Pastor Bill have given you the best advice on this.

Before this person will talk to you about it so you can listen, you have to be a trusted person, "friend". Before they will listen to you so that you can point all things to Jesus, again, you must be a trusted confidant, friend.

The only other advice I would offer is to prepare for this battle spiritually by knowing all of God's words about this subject and most importantly of all, be an intercessor in prayer, not by yourself, have other intercessors join you in prayer about this daily. And, pray for God's protection for yourself and your family against the evil forces that are at work in this situation.

[RamboPreacher]

Kenya,

I do believe that Rambo and Pastor Bill have given you the best advice on this.

Before this person will talk to you about it so you can listen, you have to be a trusted person, "friend". Before they will listen to you so that you can point all things to Jesus, again, you must be a trusted confidant, friend.

The only other advice I would offer is to prepare for this battle spiritually by knowing all of God's words about this subject and most importantly of all, be an intercessor in prayer, not by yourself, have other intercessors join you in prayer about this daily. And, pray for God's protection for yourself and your family against the evil forces that are at work in this situation.

agreed!!!

[Kenya]

the approach I would take is one of listening and questioning (sincerely, not with rhetoric in order to "catch them up" on something or another) them and trying to discover what it is that they believe, in order to best present the free-gift of Christ's salvation.

Thanks guys. Rambo, this is where we are right now. We are getting to know this 18 year old. He was in a serious accident in 6th grade and lost his memory prior to 6th grade and has a problem with speech. So partly he deals with ridicule from peers. He also has had a great deal of death in his family so I can relate to him there. He isn't a Christian but believes there is a God - just is questioning other beliefs also and right now Wicca is the current area of his curiousity. Christians have judged him and hurled scriptures at him so we want to be careful NOT to do that. We are building a relationship with him and Joey has offered to look at wicca and the Bible and compare the two with him. First though we have to establish the authority of the scripture. Be in prayer for us and for TJ.

[RamboPreacher]

prayer is happening.

[Billy n NC]

Here is an article concerning Wicca.

Wicca experts encourage Christians to engage America's 'fastest-growing' religion

http://www.churchexecutive.com/news.asp?N_ID=1502

[Kenya]

Here is an article concerning Wicca.

Wicca experts encourage Christians to engage America's 'fastest-growing' religion

http://www.churchexecutive.com/news.asp?N_ID=1502

I read that article Billy. All I can say is wow. I guess we all need to learn more about this stuff.

[RamboPreacher]

“Many Wiccans/pagans had a specific triggering experience that caused them to turn toward Wicca or paganism. You could ask, ‘What led you to embrace Wicca? What do you like about it?’ and use that as a steppingstone to talk about your own faith.

“Most people love to talk about themselves,” she added. “Why not ask them to share a bit about themselves with you?”

zactly what I had been saying.

though the article makes out that these folk are into witchcraft, and while I don't disagree, the experience I have with them, they do not call it that. though the more "advanced" may consider themselves a "witch" (don't make the assumption that a male, is a warlock and a female is a witch - that is incorrect, and a stereotypical assumption.).

In fact, the ones I know (and witness to), don't like the sabrina, charmed, harry potter stuff, themselves! they say those hollywoodizations are proponents of incorrect "theology/beliefs", and they promote the incorrect generalizations and stereotypes, etc... In fact, I have an acquaintance, that is a witch, and he shuns those movies, as if he was a conservative Christian. he says they are "evil".

Their god (or goddes, as the more predominant case, may be) isn't the Christian representation of satan, as is so generally accepted among Christian circles. Even the pagans that practice the "dark majik", do so with an understanding that they are "controlling" darkness - they don't believe they are part of it, or proponents/condoning it. it is a fine line that they draw for themselves (though, we as Christians consider it all "over the line"!)

All the pagans I know (really only a handful, though they represent a much larger set of groups/"denominations"), have a common theme. they believe that (as the above article mentions) their religion (lifestyle, in orthopraxy, more that orthodoxy) is "the oldest"; definitely older than Islam, more ancient than Christianity, and even older than monotheistic Judaism.

In their mind, the more ancient, the more authoritative. though their historicity is based in modern sciences interpretation of religion as (again) interpreted from archaeological evidences. (these archaeologists that haven't a clue about religion and tend to think of anything they don't understand as "sacred" or for use in their religious practices.

a semi-off topic example is of a "altar" that was discovered in a dig in the middle east. this "sacred alter" was a large stone with an indentation, like a huge bowl. they thought it was used to catch the blood of the sacrifice. later it was discovered that this "altar" was really a sheep-dip trough, and the "holy place/building" in front of it was a sheep/goat shelter.

in any case, the point is that many think/believe that Christianity is a "modern fad", and based in "their" religion.

prayer covering is a necessity, and listening and non-offensive/aggressive discussion (to start) is a good direction.

[Kenya]

That's right Rambo. This guy says that they don't like to be affliated with the show "Charmed" because it gives them a bad connotation - that they are evil. The don't want to be associated with the devil because the rule is to do no harm. He says that Mother Nature has powers that work for good - kind of alongside God to heal and various things. And that possibly Jesus was using wicca when he performed miracles and what the people from wicca want to do is to perform those miracles today to help people. The question I wanted to ask is "Whose name are the miracles performed in?" but decided to save that until he is more comfortable with us. For now, we just listened while he talked.

[Pastor Bill]

Actually the inclusion of Christ as practicing Wiccan "miracles" is fairly common and promoted. It's one of the ways it's being mainstreamed and promoted as inclusive of other religions. This is probably the main point of contention and it's a sticky one, most Christians try to combat Wicca and are seen as narrow-minded, because Wicca doesn't attack their beliefs, but tries to include them, the problem is Christ is the ONLY way to salvation, and that is not inclusive of Wicca. This is a difficult subject to touch on, and you must really be careful on that both not to compromise, while also not to come across as combatant. It's good you are building a relationship first, then letting him see Christ in you. In that God will bring him to a decision point where he realizes the Christ that is drawing him and that he sees in you doesn't line up with the Christ-image Wicca presents. Unfortunately if you also are dealing with past church hurt in him, there's another poor reflection of Christ you're dealing with.

The most important thing is the reflection of Christ he sees in you, that will speak more than anything else.

[Kenya]

Just an update. T.J. has been spotted in our church for the last two Sundays. Sharita broke up with his best friend (who was our connection to him), but we have heard through the grapevine that T.J. has made the decision to give his heart to Jesus and for that we are thankful.

[one love]

Just an update. T.J. has been spotted in our church for the last two Sundays. Sharita broke up with his best friend (who was our connection to him), but we have heard through the grapevine that T.J. has made the decision to give his heart to Jesus and for that we are thankful.

Praise the lord that is wonderful!!!! So good to hear, the angels of God are rejoicing

[RamboPreacher]

Just an update. T.J. has been spotted in our church for the last two Sundays. Sharita broke up with his best friend (who was our connection to him), but we have heard through the grapevine that T.J. has made the decision to give his heart to Jesus and for that we are thankful.

awesomenessest!

[Pianoman]

I guess we all need to learn more about this stuff.

Speaking of such - didn't know if any of you use the One
Accord Sunday School material - but they are doing a unit
that evaluates other religious systems in the Young Teen
class right now.

Lessons include Mormonism, Jehovah's Witnesses,
Islam, and Wicca. I was a bit surprised (in a good way)
as these are certainly not the traditional lessons that
I've been used to teaching.

Seems very timely after reading this post!

[Chosen_Generation]

hey kenya...
i actually purchased a book on clearance at the local christian bookstore, its called "Wicca's Charm" its pretty good.. what u desrcibed bout this young man is not uncommon amoung practioners of wiccan rituals, from what i've read, its pretty good and informative. I originally bought it to help glean some stuff for material i am writing for a Youth Camp Setting.
maybe you could locate a copy on ebay.. i'm sure it wouldn't hurt to have it round.