Members rudywoofs (Pam) Posted June 11, 2006 Members Share Posted June 11, 2006 I know that most everyone would say that a church should be welcoming to anybody who walks in. But what would you REALLY be thinking if you knew that the person sitting next to your child on the other side in the pew was a professed witch? []http://img.inkfrog.com/pix/Rudywoofs/icon_confused.gif[/] I know, when I attend church, I still get *the LOOK* from folks, even though they are aware that I'm no longer practicing the Craft. It's particularly poignant when the preacher gives a Bible text where it calls for *suffer not a witch to live* - and all heads swivel towards me. []http://img.inkfrog.com/pix/Rudywoofs/icon_rolleyes.gif[/] The reason, though, that I ask about what the reactions might be to a *currently* practicing witch, is that I know of a situation where the high priestess of a rather notorious coven in Oz attends an SDA church on Saturdays, and a Catholic church on Sundays, all the while practicing her Craft/magick inbetween. What would your true reaction be? []http://img.inkfrog.com/pix/Rudywoofs/icon_confused.gif[/] Quote Pam Meddle Not In the Affairs of Dragons; for You Are Crunchy and Taste Good with Ketchup. If we all sang the same note in the choir, there'd never be any harmony. Funny, isn't it, how we accept Grace for ourselves and demand justice for others? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators LynnDel Posted June 11, 2006 Moderators Share Posted June 11, 2006 I'd want to know why she was there. Is she a true seeker, or is she looking for something else? I guess only God would know her heart. LD Quote LD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clio Posted June 11, 2006 Share Posted June 11, 2006 I'd be delighted she was there... but I have to admit I'd wonder about her motives a bit. But it's not up to me to make those judgements/determinations of another's heart. Its up to the Holy Spirit. Therefore, I'd do my part, sow the seeds of the Gospel and love, and pray for her. And try to be her friend. Quote A heart where He alone has first place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parade Orange Posted June 11, 2006 Share Posted June 11, 2006 I would wonder about her <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/1poke.gif" alt="" /> h<img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/163860-EmoticonPrayer.gif" alt="" /> Quote All progress in the Spiritual Life is knowing and Loving GOD"there is non upon earth that I desire besides YOU" PS 73:25That perspective changes EVERYTHING-suffering and adversity are the means that makes us hungry for GOD. Disapointments will wean us away wordly occupations. Even sin(when repented of) becomes a mechanism to push us closer to HIM as we experience His Love and Forgiveness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil D Posted June 11, 2006 Share Posted June 11, 2006 Bah! Who the heck cares???? She's another child of God who came to worship Him at His calling.... Treat her as such and quit worrying about her motives..... Quote Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve. George Bernard Shaw Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 11, 2006 Share Posted June 11, 2006 the reaction should be no different than having a liar, adulterer, thief, etc attend services.... and those folks are there every week.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Gregory Matthews Posted June 11, 2006 Moderators Share Posted June 11, 2006 I would wonder what she was like. Most people wonder about peole who are outside of their daily experience. Some months back, a man and wife appeared in the church I attend from an island in the S. Pacific. People wondered about their lives on that island, and the status of the SDA (he was a SDA) church on that island. We found out, as the preached that Sabbath. Humans are simply courious. We wonder about people who are outside of our typical experience. As to your question about a practicing witch: I would be glad that she was there. I would not be afraid of her. Quote Gregory Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olger Posted June 11, 2006 Share Posted June 11, 2006 I would like to speak with her, and ask about her life. In that, her motive for being there would manifest itself. Neil, your cavalier indifference regarding her motives could be just what the enemy likes. In Jesus we don't have to fear such people, but the enemy wants to destroy our children, and we do well to be aware of that. The Bible says rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft. In the occult, a person gives ground to the enemy in order to gain power. So it is with rebellion. A person in witchcraft is in bondage to the enemy, and may wish to get free. We should be available to help them. rejoice always, gcw Quote "Please don't feed the drama queens.." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morning Glory Posted June 11, 2006 Share Posted June 11, 2006 I would not be afraid to have a practicing witch sit next to my child in church! (I would, however, take issue if that same person were teaching my child's sabbath school class.) What would I REALLY be thinking? Is she really seeking or is she coming for a different reason, and why? What would someone like that be doing in a SDA church?? CURIOUS!! I would pray that the preacher says something that would speak to her heart, and I would want to go out of my way to be friendly and invite her to come back. You never know how God works on people's hearts!! I also wonder at the people who all look at you whenever a text is read about witchcraft in church? And, I wonder why your pastor brings this up? Is he not convinced that you are cleansed and living a new life? If he isn't, then it behooves him as your pastor to visit with you if for no other reason then to encourage you and to pray with you for God's protection as you continue to grow as a new Christian. Otherwise, shame on him. Curious again: Do you know why she visits these churches all the while still practicing witchcraft? It surely makes me wonder!! I wonder if she is trying to find out ways to bring harm to these churches, or is she secretly wondering if there is a better way? Quote Kindness is the oil that takes the friction out of life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rudywoofs (Pam) Posted June 11, 2006 Author Members Share Posted June 11, 2006 I haven't spoken with her directly, just to her ex-boyfriend who used to be the high priest of the same coven. It's a matter of seeing Christ as another deity to worship and the Adventist church (and catholicism) as having different theology to tinker with.... sorta like keeping all bases covered just in case your particular deity isn't truly the one *in charge*.. Not all pagans think this way. I didn't. Quote Pam Meddle Not In the Affairs of Dragons; for You Are Crunchy and Taste Good with Ketchup. If we all sang the same note in the choir, there'd never be any harmony. Funny, isn't it, how we accept Grace for ourselves and demand justice for others? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Gail Posted June 11, 2006 Administrators Share Posted June 11, 2006 </font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr /> rudywoofs said: I haven't spoken with her directly, just to her ex-boyfriend who used to be the high priest of the same coven. It's a matter of seeing Christ as another deity to worship and the Adventist church (and catholicism) as having different theology to tinker with.... sorta like keeping all bases covered just in case your particular deity isn't truly the one *in charge*.. Not all pagans think this way. I didn't. <hr /></blockquote><font class="post"> Interesting... I wonder what one in that position would do with the Scriptures that proclaim God as Savior and Lord of all, The Way, the Truth and the Life, etc. The Bible is adamant that there is only one way to Heaven and life eternal, and that is through faith in Christ and His shed blood for us. Sooner or later that would call for a decision to be made Also, Pam, I think that there are those who are quite "in a box" in their experience and just don't know how to behave around someone from a different background, as Gregory mentioned Quote Isaiah 32:17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rudywoofs (Pam) Posted June 11, 2006 Author Members Share Posted June 11, 2006 Many pagans probably know the Bible better than a lot of Christians. []http://img.inkfrog.com/pix/Rudywoofs/faint2.gif[/] They have BIG questions about the seeming discrepancies in what is claimed to be the inerrant Word of God. You can argue/debate with some of the questions, but what a lot of things boil down to is that the Christian MUST rely on faith to believe in Christian theology. To a certain point, too, a pagan must rely on faith, but it is (or seems to be) much more experiential in nature. To have a deity appear and interact with you in person is very convincing. <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> just fyi.... the idea that witches are interested in putting curses or evil spells on churches or Christians is a fallacy perpetuated usually by .... Christians. In all my years of witchcraft, neither I nor anyone I knew did such a thing. I didn't think it was worth the time nor energy. <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> Quote Pam Meddle Not In the Affairs of Dragons; for You Are Crunchy and Taste Good with Ketchup. If we all sang the same note in the choir, there'd never be any harmony. Funny, isn't it, how we accept Grace for ourselves and demand justice for others? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olger Posted June 12, 2006 Share Posted June 12, 2006 </font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr /> rudywoofs said: just fyi.... the idea that witches are interested in putting curses or evil spells on churches or Christians is a fallacy perpetuated usually by .... Christians. In all my years of witchcraft, neither I nor anyone I knew did such a thing. I didn't think it was worth the time nor energy. <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <hr /></blockquote><font class="post"> Ron Halverson has rather vivid proof otherwise. all the best, olger Quote "Please don't feed the drama queens.." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil D Posted June 12, 2006 Share Posted June 12, 2006 </font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr /> Neil, your cavalier indifference regarding her motives could be just what the enemy likes. In Jesus we don't have to fear such people, but the enemy wants to destroy our children, and we do well to be aware of that. <hr /></blockquote><font class="post"> It is not HER MOTIVES that I am indifferent at. It is other peoples suspeciions. In the overall scheme of things, she is at the church. She is worshiping just like we are. Treat her as a child of God. Be friendly, and enjoy her. Find out what she is like, invite her to potluck or to your home for Sabbath Lunch, and you might find out how she came to be at the church in the first place.... <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif" alt="" /> Jesus said that any who come to Him, He would not cast out...Why should His church treat a stranger any different?So, if you go in suspecious of her motives, she will pick up on that and she will leave....giving evidence that WE are the disfunctional church...again... <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/oops.gif" alt="" /> Quote Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve. George Bernard Shaw Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rudywoofs (Pam) Posted June 12, 2006 Author Members Share Posted June 12, 2006 </font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr /> olger said: </font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr /> rudywoofs said: just fyi.... the idea that witches are interested in putting curses or evil spells on churches or Christians is a fallacy perpetuated usually by .... Christians. In all my years of witchcraft, neither I nor anyone I knew did such a thing. I didn't think it was worth the time nor energy. <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <hr /></blockquote><font class="post"> Ron Halverson has rather vivid proof otherwise. all the best, olger <hr /></blockquote><font class="post"> Who is Ron Halverson? ::shrugs:: I will concede that there are fools in every group. Quote Pam Meddle Not In the Affairs of Dragons; for You Are Crunchy and Taste Good with Ketchup. If we all sang the same note in the choir, there'd never be any harmony. Funny, isn't it, how we accept Grace for ourselves and demand justice for others? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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