Today is Halloween, a date that has long been known as "The Festival of the Dead"--a celebration usually performed by adherents of witchcraft who use the date for their rituals. Today is the first feast of the witchcraft year.
Last week I talked about Halloween and its significance. Today I would like to talk about witchcraft. This year we have heard a lot about the church of Wicca and the practice of witchcraft. There was a prayer before the Dallas City Council by a member of the church of Wicca. There have been various demonstrations around the country and even at army bases by Wiccans. It seems the visibility of witches has increased dramatically.
And there has been the promotion of witchcraft in the media. Just a few years ago, about the only TV program on witches was "Bewitched." Now the airwaves are filled with programs like "Sabrina: The Teenage Witch" and "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."
The most popular children's books are the Harry Potter series. Children all over this country delight in learning at the feet of the teachers at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. And it's certain that the only book that will be more popular than the current fourth book in the series, will be the fifth book scheduled to be out sometime next year.
But in the midst of all this promotion of witchcraft, I think it is important for Christians to remember that the Bible warns against the dangers of witchcraft in Deuteronomy 18 and repeats those warnings in Galatians 5:20. Dabbling in divination and witchcraft is not an option for Christians. So be careful today. This is a day of celebration for witches. not for Christians.
I'm Kerby Anderson of Probe Ministries, and that's my opinion.