WITCHCRAFT AND DEMONS

Witchcraft is still practised in some parts of South Asia. For example, in Nepal, a witch doctor (faith healer, shaman or lama) is called a jhankri. One jhankri claimed he learnt his trade when a “god” invited him to a cave for a few days. After the training, the jhankri returned to his village to practise his trade.

A witch doctor acts when someone comes to him with a complaint about sickness, theft or misfortune. For a fee and/ or the offering of a chicken or a goat, the jhankri calls upon his god. He beats a drum, goes into a trance, and while in this state he identifies a woman such as a poor widow as the “witch” causing the sickness. Then, the villagers start persecuting the “witch”, usually an innocent wretch.

For example, in July 2001, villagers force-fed human excreta to 62- year-old Marani Devi from Simardahi village in southern Nepal, mercilessly beat her, and left her for dead. A faith healer from India had identified her as a “witch”. Similarly, a shaman identified another unfortunate lady, Bukshya Devi, 56, a resident of Lakshmaniya village in Nepal, as a “witch”. She committed suicide after the villagers threatened to parade her naked.

One thing stands out. Witch doctors almost never accuse a man of practising witchcraft. They single out women, usually helpless widows. Thus “witches” emerge from the imagination of a maledominated, patriarchal society. This oppression of the vulnerable is one reason why witchcraft is abhorrent to God, who cares for the powerless (Lev 19:15).

But there is also another reason why witchcraft is abhorrent to God. That is because it involves relying on Satan, who is God’s opponent and his subordinate (Job 1:6-12). Satan works against God by tempting people to sin, as he did when he persuaded David to take a census of Israel (1 Chr 21:1). David fell into the sin of pride, assuming that the increase in the number of Israelites was due to his fighting skills, whereas in fact it was God who had blessed and prospered David. Satan also tried to accuse Joshua the high priest of sin (Zech 3:1). To turn to God’s enemy for help is an insult to God.

No one who practises witchcraft can claim to be blameless. God specially states, “Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practises divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD” (Deut 18:10-13).

The above command holds true regardless of whether we appeal to Satan or to one of the evil spirits or demons who are his assistants.

These lying spirits can cause even prophets to speak falsehood (1 Kgs 21:22; 2 Chr 18:21). They are not to be worshipped (Lev 17:7), and no one should seek to use their power for evil purposes. Those who do so, like King Saul who consulted the witch (medium) of Endor, bring disaster on themselves (1 Sam 28:15; 1 Chr 10:13). Thus, Christians, be warned! Have nothing to do with witchcraft!

But we can also say, Christians, take courage! Christ has been given all authority in heaven and in earth (Matt 28:18). His power is far greater than that of any witch or demon. Our task is to put on the armour of God and stand firm for him (Eph 6:10-18).

Ramesh Khatry