The Bible clearly forbids the practice of witchcraft and those who participate in such are considered an abomination to God. The primary passage among many that condemns this practice is found in Deuteronomy 18:9-12:
When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.
There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,
Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.
For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord: and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee.
In the King James Version of the Bible, this is the clearest passage that directly refers to the practice of witchcraft. In it, we clearly see the Lord’s prohibition against those that practice occultic activities such as divination, enchanting, and necromancy. The passage not only condemns those activities as an abomination, but also that those who participate in such are to be driven out.
Other passages also indicate God’s severe judgment upon those who practice witchcraft. In Exodus 22:18, God’s punishment upon witches is death while Leviticus 20:27 explicitly states that those who participate in such must be put to death. In both passages, God’s justice is without mercy. Clearly then, the Bible condemns the practice of witchcraft and those who participate in it face severe judgment.
Though the Bible is clear in its condemnation of such practices, many have argued that such a prohibition is outdated and has lost its relevance in modern society. They argue that what was once an abomination must be allowed since it is no longer practiced by many people, or that the rules laid down by the Bible do not apply in today’s world. Some, however, have argued the opposite, noting that the Bible’s rules and prohibitions remain applicable in the 21st century and those that participate in occultic activities are still under the condemnation of God.
In terms of providing a proper interpretation of what the Bible says about witchcraft, it is important to remember that the rules laid down in Scripture are immutable and remain in force as long as there is life in this world. Therefore, what the Bible says about witchcraft is still very much relevant and applicable in our present day and age. The clear prohibition of such activities and the severe punishment that would follow should be remembered and heeded.
What Does The Bible Say About Sorcery?
The Bible does not mention the practice of sorcery specifically in the Old Testament, but the word itself appears in the New Testament on several occasions. In Acts 8:11, the sorcerer Simon is mentioned and in Revelation 21:8, sorcerers will receive the same punishment as all liars and unbelievers. Other passages that mention sorcery are Acts 13:8-11, Galatians 5:20 and Revelation 21:27.
In general, the Bible strongly condemns the use of magic, enchantment and other forms of sorcery, which it often refers to as “seducing spirits,” such as those mentioned in 1 Timothy 4:1. The Bible emphasizes the fact that those who seek the power of occultic forces are forsaking the true power of God. In Isaiah 8:19, it is stated that these people will be like “chaff that the wind driveth away.” In other passages, sorcery is related to idolatry, as seen in Revelation 9:21.
From these passages, it is made clear that sorcery and other forms of magic are clearly condemned by the Bible. This is because such activities are believed to involve engaging with evil supernatural powers, which go against the will of God.
What Does the Bible Say About Tarot Cards?
The Bible does not address the use of tarot cards directly, yet its condemnation of occultic activities still applies to them. Since tarot cards often have a spiritual or supernatural aspect to them, they would be considered as activities that God does not approve of, as mentioned in passages such as Galatians 5:20, Deuteronomy 18:10-12, and Leviticus 20:27.
In addition, engaging in activities such as tarot reading would be a form of divination, which is forbidden in Scripture. Divination is defined as “an attempt to foresee or foretell the future,” which goes against the teachings of the Bible. Thus, while tarot cards are often seen as a harmless form of entertainment, they should be avoided due to their occultic and superstitious nature.
What Does the Bible Say About Astrology?
The practice of astrology is clearly condemned by the Bible. This is because astrology goes against the idea of God being in full control, and suggests that astrological forces can control and influence a person’s life. Thus, Scripture states in Isaiah 47:13: “Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee.” This passage clearly condemns the practice of astrology, as it indicates that only God has control over a person’s life and destiny.
In addition, passages such as Deuteronomy 4:19 and Isaiah 47:13 further confirm the notion that astrologers are practitioners of divination and occultic activities, which are considered an abomination to God. Other passages condemning the practice of astrology include Jeremiah 10:2 and Daniel 1:20.
What Does the Bible Say About Necromancy?
Necromancy is a form of witchcraft that is specifically focused on communicating with the dead. It is a practice that is clearly forbidden by the Bible. This is due to the fact that the practice of necromancy involves engaging with evil spiritual forces, which go against the will of God as expressed in passages such Exodus 22:18 and Leviticus 19:31.
Furthermore, passages such as Deuteronomy 18:9-12, Isaiah 8:19, and 1 Timothy 4:1 make it clear that such activities are to be regarded as an abomination and anyone who participates in them is deserving of severe judgement. From these passages, it is clear that any form of necromancy mentioned in the Bible is strongly condemned.
What Does the Bible Say About Spells and Charms?
The Bible does not address the specific practice of spells and charms in the Old Testament, but it does offer its condemnation of such activities in passages such as Galatians 5:20 and Exodus 22:18. In these passages, it is clearly stated that using spells and charms is considered an abomination to God and those who practice such things are deserving of God’s judgement.
In particular, charms and spells that involve the use of charms and incantations to summon the powers of occultic forces are considered an abomination and should be avoided. Additionally, engaging in such activities is also associated with engaging in idolatry, which is also an abomination to God and should be avoided (Exodus 20:1-5).
What Does the Bible Say About Fortune Telling?
The Bible clearly states that participating in activities such as fortune telling is an abomination. In Deuteronomy 18:9-12, fortune telling is mentioned in the same passage that mentions witchcraft and other occultic activities. In this passage, it is made clear that those who practice such activities are an abomination to God and will be severely judged.
Similarly, passages such as Leviticus 19:31, Leviticus 20:27, Isaiah 47:13, and Jeremiah 27:9 specifically condemn the practice of fortune telling. In these verses, it is made clear that those who seek to know the future or control their destiny through occultic practices are an abomination to God.
In addition, the Bible clearly states that seeking knowledge or truth from occultic forces is one of the most vile forms of idolatry. Thus, those who participate in fortune telling go against the will of God and should be avoided.
