Understanding Sorcery and Its Consequences

1. Much assistance from an outline by Ethan Longhenry A Closer Look at Sorcery

2. Introduction • With all the excitement generated around movies such as Harry Potter people are once again looking into the idea of magic and sorcery in greater numbers • Given this new interest, we as Christians need to be able talk about this subject not only amongst ourselves but with the world around us

3. Introduction • Some of the questions I would like us to consider this morning are • What is sorcery? • What does it have to do with me? • Why is it sinful? • It is my goal to look into these questions through the use of scripture

4. What is Sorcery? • Sorcery is not a word that we hear every day! • Sorcery: Magic; enchantment; witchcraft; divination be the assistance of evil spirits, or the power of commanding evil spirits (Webster's) • Sorcery, therefore, is the reliance on black arts or other forms of supernatural insight or ability, and not a reliance on God • How does this compare to the following scriptures? • Prov 3:5 & Jer 17:5-9

5. What is Sorcery? • Magic tricks, which generally involve illusion but not substance, are not really under discussion here (although it is a form of deception) • What is under consideration is anything involving other forces • Voodoo • Magic spells • Witchcraft of any kind • Tarot card reading • Psychic readings • Seances • Astrology • Horoscopes

6. What is Sorcery? • So what’s the big deal? • What’s the harm in having “a little fun” with psychics and reading horoscopes • The bible clearly teaches us sorcery is sin • Gal 5:19-21; Rev 9:21 & 18:23 • The bible teaches that we are to abstain from evil and bad company corrupts good morals • 1 Thess 5:22; 1 Cor 15:33; Ex 22:18

7. Why is Sorcery Wrong? • From the beginning, God has sought to be the spiritual power to whom people should turn • Ex 20:3-5 (cf Jer 25:6 & 35:15); Ex 34:14; Col 2:6-10 • The Bible makes it clear that our trust and confidence is to be in God alone • Acts 26:17-18; Rom 1:16-17; 1 Thess 1:8-10; Heb 11:6

8. Why is Sorcery Wrong? • If our trust and confidence is in God, we have no reason to turn to forces of darkness! • Consider Ephesians 6:10-13 • Why would we turn to that which is against what is good and holy? • Why seek psychics when we can pray to God? • Why look to the stars for guidance in horoscopes when we can commune with their Creator (Gen 1) • Why tinker with magic and witchcraft when we could do good and obtain eternal life? • How can we fight on the Lord's side while using powers of darkness? • Sorcery, therefore, is no light matter, and is to be thoroughly avoided!

9. Another Dimension to Sorcery • The English concept of "sorcery" involves the matters we have described, and as we have seen, they are sinful • The Greek word provides an additional concept we should consider • Greek pharmakeia (pharmacy) (Gal 5:20) • "the use or the administering of drugs; poisoning; sorcery, magical arts" (Thayer's)

10. Another Dimension to Sorcery • How do drugs fit into sorcery? • We must consider the medical profession in the ancient world • While we today would separate the scientific study of medicine from the black arts practices of "witch doctors", that distinction was not kept in the ancient world • The same doctor who would perform surgeries or give out medicine would also make incantations to various gods or use magic or other black arts to effect a cure!

11. Another Dimension to Sorcery • Does this mean, then, that the entire medical establishment is sinful? • Are we sinning by taking Tylenol or antibiotics or some other such thing? • The Scriptures do not indicate as much • 1 Timothy 5:23: when Timothy has some stomach problems, Paul tells him to use some wine-- a medical prescription of sorts • Luke is called the "beloved physician" in Colossians 4:14, without any hint of condemnation of his occupation • The medical profession, therefore, is not condemned entirely under the idea of pharmakeia

12. Another Dimension to Sorcery • Nevertheless, there is much that is condemned under that heading • As is well known, many drugs are consumed not for medical benefit but for recreational purposes • Most use of marijuana, cocaine, heroin, PCP, methamphetamines, crystal methadone, LSD, ecstasy, opium, and abuse of prescription medications fit this concept • The drugs are enjoyed for "highs" and the ability to escape from the problems of life

13. Another Dimension to Sorcery • Such is indeed sorcery-- it is a trust or enjoyment in powers and forces other than God! • Such drugs do not lead to sobriety and self-control • 1 Pet 4:7 & 5:8 • Many such drugs are illegal, and such is sufficient to condemn them (Romans 13:1-7) • Most such drugs become your master, and end up being your idol, for it is the drug whom you now serve (cf. Galatians 5:19-20, Matthew 6:21-24)

14. Another Dimension to Sorcery • As Christians, therefore, we must think soberly about drugs and their use • Are we using them to get well or are we abusing them, thus committing sorcery? • Do we always remember to put our confidence in God and only secondarily trust in medicine and other such things? • Who is in control, us or the medication? • Let us avoid committing sorcery by drug use or abuse!

15. Conclusion • While the word sorcery is not often used, what it represents is quite devastating to society • We should never participate with the forces of darkness, and thus reliance on astrology, alchemy, black arts, psychics, and other such things ought not be named among us! • Likewise, we should avoid recreational drug use and keep medicine in its proper place! • In all things let us put our trust in God and in Him alone (Mt 6:33) • The powers of darkness cannot save us; drugs cannot really help us escape! • Let us instead lean on the Creator of all things, He who can heal us and see us through (1 Peter 2:24)!