When Moses wrought miracles in Pharaoh’s presence, two sorcerers by the name of Jannes and Jambres tried to withstand him with their miracles (2 Timothy 3:8, Exodus 7:11,22; 8:7). By their witchcraft, they were able to turn their rods into serpents. They were also able to turn water into blood and bring frogs up from the river Nile. Today there are shamans and sorcerers like that who are able to perform some amazing feats by dabbling in the occult to give them supernatural power.

Another instance of witchcraft mentioned in the Old Testament is that of a witch at Endor who was consulted by King Saul. Saul wanted her to invoke the spirit of Samuel for advice. The fact that he was severely punished by the Lord for this demonstrates divine disapproval of such occult practices (1 Samuel 28:8-20). Today there are still mediums who practice necromancy. This is a variety of witchcraft.

The Book of Daniel records that when King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream that troubled him, he called for four kinds of fortune tellers (v.2) – The magicians (chartummim - a diviner, one who had occult knowledge); the astrologers (ashaphim - astrologers, conjurers, enchanters, snake charmers.); the sorcerers (mekashphim - those who practice witchcraft, the word is derived from the verb "cut" referring to their practice of cutting herbs for brewing drugs, charms and spells.) and the Chaldeans (kasdim - an elite group of learned Babylonian priests who maintained the ancient traditions of astrology and philosophy).

All of these were often attached to temples or connected in some way with the worship of the gods of Babylon. Babylonian religion was full of witchcraft, sorcery and divination. Each class had its own unique method of invoking the gods to foretell future events: Calling up spirits of the dead, looking at the stars, changes in the weather, the flight of birds, and reading the entrails of an animal that was sacrificed at the temple. But in Daniel chapter 2 all these proved to be useless. Only Daniel, the Lord’s prophet, was able to grant the king’s request. Once again this showed God’s utter hatred for witchcraft.

In the New Testament we see the existence of the occult at Ephesus. Acts 19:18,19 – "And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds. Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver." The word ‘curious arts’ here means magical arts or magic. And the books mentioned here were either manuals on sorcery or magical papyrus scrolls used as charms to ward off evil, which contained spells and formulas. These were very costly. The burning of these things shows us what those who practice witchcraft should do when they are converted – they must destroy all their objects of witchcraft.

Since New Testament times, witchcraft has continued to exist and develop. It is recorded in historical annals that in south-western Germany alone, more than 3,000 witches were executed between 1560 and 1680. It is interesting to note that about 80% of all accused witches were women. Traditional theology assumed that women were weaker than men and more likely to succumb to the Devil. It may in fact be true that, having few legal rights, they were more inclined to settle quarrels by resorting to magic rather than law. New England became famous in the 17th century for the Salem witch trials. Although 160 people were accused of witchcraft, 25 were eventually executed for witchcraft.

It is admitted that many of such witch hunts resulted from hysteria or malicious motives and personal vendettas, but genuine cases of witchcraft and dabbling into such occult practices existed. Whereas much of this remained secret for fear of civil punishment during that era, there was a time in history when it was practised without fear. In the post-Enlightenment Era, beginning in the 1920s, witchcraft was revived in Europe and America by groups that considered it a survival of pre-Christian pagan practices and could be practised as any other legitimate religion.

Many get into witchcraft today out of curiosity. There seems to be a great interest today about the supernatural realm and paranormal phenomena, like haunted places, the appearance of ghosts, out-of-body experiences, and psychic healing. All of these can ultimately be traced to one source: the schemes and wiles of the Devil.

In recent years, witchcraft has been marketed aggressively in the media, e.g. TV shows and cartoons, websites, videogames, interactive CD-ROMs, plus the very popular Harry Potter books and movies. The occult is now recast as "entertainment". These include glamorised accounts and images of practices that are closely connected to nearly every dimension of the occult world: alchemy, astrology, spell-casting, clairvoyance, crystal ball gazing, reincarnation, wizardry and mediumship. The Harry Potter books are so influential that many young teenagers have written to Rowling, the author of the books, to enrol in the imaginary Hogwarts School of Wizards!

During an interview in 1999, Rowling admitted that she had studied mythology and witchcraft in order to write the books more accurately. Rowling went on to say that about a third of the sorcery material appearing in her books are things that some people genuinely used to believe in Britain. She has been commended by modern witches for her extremely well-developed and sophisticated knowledge of the occult world, its legend, history and nuances. The world could not have got a better promoter of witchcraft than one who has dabbled with it before and popularised it to the world with about 100 million books sold and translated into 46 languages.

While curiosity may get many people interested in witchcraft, the main reason why many have become witches and wizards is that they lusted after power.

Not being contented with using normal means to get things done, they craved for supernatural power – power over objects (alchemy), power over nature (to change the weather, to fly or become invisible), power over spirits (to invoke them for consultation), power over ailments (either to heal or to inflict diseases on those whom they hate), power over people (to induce them to obey them and carry out their will).

As they seek to possess such power, they become very susceptible to the suggestions of Satan, and willingly accept his terms and conditions for such power. This power comes with a price – they have to pledge allegiance to the Devil and be willing to carry out his will. But they do not mind the cost, because all that they want is unlimited power.

One example of this desire for power can be found in Simon the sorcerer (Acts 8:9-11). Initially, this sorcerer seemed to repent and sincerely believe in Christ, and so Philip the evangelist baptized him. But later on we learn that he actually had ulterior motives for becoming a Christian. Simon was greatly impressed by the signs and wonders he saw Philip and the apostles performing. These wonders were apparently more spectacular than his own magic which he, as a sorcerer had been using to gain respect and honour from the people. He was therefore interested in getting the power to do what they did and to bestow the Holy Spirit on whoever he wills. Because of this, Peter rebuked him and Simon begged Peter not to let God’s judgment fall upon him.

This desire for power causes people to transgress the limits of power that God has given to us, and to usurp prerogatives that belong to God alone. For example, God’s prerogative to disclose the future or secrets of the spiritual realm is usurped by astrology, fortune-telling, palmistry, Ouija boards, tarot cards, crystal ball gazing, etc. God’s prerogative to protect and to save is usurped by the use of lucky charms and talismans used to ward off evil.

Witchcraft appeals to the sinful nature of man, which longs to become like God Himself. This was the sin of Satan when he fell from being the highest archangel in heaven – "I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High." (Isaiah 14:14). This was also the appeal that Satan used to tempt Eve in the Garden of Eden – "ye shall be as gods" (Genesis 3:5).

It is sometimes claimed by those who take part in contemporary witchcraft that the power they seek is only used for good rather than for harmful use, e.g. to help those who are sick. They claim that the powerful forces involved in witchcraft are neutral and can either be harnessed for good or evil. And they claim that they are not worshipping the Devil, but a particular goddess, or a god who has horns, based on a pagan cult that existed before Christianity (we know that this is Satan in disguise). However, the end does not justify the means. No matter how good one’s intentions may be, the power and means to do it are Satanic and therefore hated by God.

Listen to what God said in Deuteronomy 18:10-13 – "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." Micah 5:12 "And I will cut off witchcrafts out of thine hand; and thou shalt have no more soothsayers.’’ (see also: Jeremiah 27:9 and Isaiah 47:13-15)

Therefore Christians should have absolutely nothing to do with witchcraft. Some may then ask: Can Christians perform magic? Many magic tricks use agility, sleight of hand or optical illusion and there is nothing occult about them (e.g. pulling a rabbit out of a hat). They are meant merely for amusement and entertainment. However a professional magician may be tempted to dabble in occult practices in order to accomplish greater feats and increase his own popularity. Sometimes the line between non-occult and occult magic is a very fine one.

If someone has dabbled in the occult or witchcraft and wants to be delivered, what should he do? He must completely stop his practices and renounce them by destroying whatever books on witchcraft or items he may have. He must of course receive Christ as His Saviour, and trust God’s promises to deliver him, particularly the promise that is found in 1 John 4:4 – "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world."