Do You Believe in

Magick?

No. Magick is not misspelled. Some modern devotees of the occult arts prefer that spelling in order to distinguish their craft from the parlor tricks of the professional illusionist.

Both serious and titillating use of Magick is on the rise. That should not surprise us. As G.K. Chesterson has reminded us, when people stop believing in Christianity they don’t believe in nothing. They believe in anything. The same phenomenon occurred during the 18^th century--the “Age of the Enlightenment.” The worldly-wise philosophers and scientists of that period were skeptical of Christianity and so opened themselves up to an uncritical acceptance of occult phenomena and practices.

In this brief tract I explore, from a biblical perspective, what is right and what is wrong with Magick.

What is right with Magick?

Magick--along with its supernatural and paranormal relatives—testifies to the fact that much more is going on around us than our eyes and instruments can see. Materialism does not present a complete picture of our world. For example, evidence suggests that some individuals can sense events that are happening at a distance. It is even clearer that our world is inhabited by spirit beings that are not detectable by scientific means. The Bible speaks of angels and demons, and on one occasion a dead man spoke to the living (1 Samuel 28).

What is wrong with Magick?

The Bible clearly forbids God’s people to practice magick.

When you enter the land which the LORD your God gives you, you shall not learn to imitate the detestable things of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD; and because of these detestable things the LORD your God will drive them out before you. You shall be blameless before the LORD your God. For those nations, which you shall dispossess, listen to those who practice witchcraft and to diviners, but as for you, the LORD your God has not allowed you to do so (Deuteronomy 18:9-14).

One striking feature of this and similar passages is that the Bible nowhere claims that Magick never works. Even when we eliminate all of the quackery (of which there is plenty), we are left with a small core of events that are inexplicable in strictly materialistic terms. So what is wrong with Magick?

1. Magick has a false world view.

The Bible teaches that the world was created by an almighty, independent, personal God. He spoke it into existence out of nothing (Psalm 33:6). Every other being, whether spiritual or material, owes its continued existence to the will and power of God. In place of the Biblical view, Magick offers two alternatives (which may be combined).

¨ The first alternative is a form of pantheism in which divine powers are somehow identified with the material world. Wiccans invoke the powers of Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Spirit. These powers are basically impersonal, but they may also be seen as manifestations of the Goddess Diana. We see a fictionalized version of this pantheistic world view in the Star Wars conception of “The Force.” The Force is the combined energy of all living things, which may be used for good or for evil.

¨ The second alternative to the Biblical picture is a form of dualism. The independent powers of good and evil are engaged in a perpetual warfare. White Magick summons good spirits. Black Magick bargains with evil ones. God, the almighty Creator, does not figure significantly into the picture.

Pantheism and dualism are philosophical, theological and ethical failures, but in this tract I bypass standard criticisms of those systems in order to focus on Magick. It is possible that some human beings may have unusual abilities--for example, sensing distant events--that do not involve drawing on the impersonal powers of nature or subduing invisible spirit beings. Such abilities are not normally considered to be magickal. A few theologians have suggested that they are faint remnants of gifts that God gave to Adam. If so, they have been largely lost by the fall. Since many people who become entranced by paranormal possibilities do not have a biblical world view, the devil may use their fascination to suck them down the drain into the sewer of occult practices.

2. Magick employs a false technique.

The heart of Magick is its desire for control. It assumes that human beings can manipulate invisible powers or invisible beings with spells, pentagrams, magickal devices and rituals. Acts 19:11-20 reports a humorous incident in which some Jewish magicians tried to cast out demons by using the name of Christ. The demon possessed man leaped on them, overpowered them and sent them running from the house naked. Demons were subject to the apostles through faith in Christ, but the name of Christ without faith did no good at all.

Modern followers of the occult believe that Magick can be learned, but also that some people are naturally stronger than others in magickal ability. The idea that Magick can control spirits or powers is subject to two major criticisms. The first is biblical, the second logical.

¨ First, the risen Christ says, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18). There is no independent and impersonal power in the universe which human beings are able to manipulate as they please. Not only that, but Jesus Christ has conquered every foe arrayed against Him: For by Him [Christ] all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him (Colossians 1:16; 2:15).

¨ Second, consider the foolishness of supposing that you can control beings who have far greater power and intelligence than you. God will not allow His angels to engage in activities contrary to His will. God may answer humble prayer, but He never responds to attempted coercion, except to crush it. The Devil, on the other hand, may bargain with you for a while, but only to degrade and destroy you in the end—as the histories of Charles Manson and Aleister Crowley clearly demonstrate.

3. Magick encourages a false focus.

If the world was created and is sustained by an almighty, personal God, then He is the rightful focus for our devotion. For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen (Romans 11:36).

Magick attempts to push God from His proper place in several ways.

¨ It encourages the exaltation of self.

Whenever the true Supreme Being is dethroned, the individual self becomes supreme. Self cries out, “I am the captain of my fate; I am the master of my soul. I alone determine what is right for me.” Some even claim that the self is infinite.

¨ It enjoys a fascination with the hidden.

The word occult means hidden. Magick appeals to a desire for hidden knowledge. God’s word, however, is not hidden. It is open for all to read, and its basic message is clear. God commands us to seek understanding from His word rather from hidden mystical sources.

When they say to you, "Consult the mediums and the spiritists who whisper and mutter," should not a people consult their God? Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living? To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn (Isaiah 8:18-19).

¨ It eagerly grasps for power.

There are legitimate desires for and uses of power, but Magick’s exaltation of self and its desire to control are contrary to humble dependence on God.

God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you (1 Peter 5:6-7).

I urge you to turn to Christ from the darkness that lurks even in “white” magick.

Magic attempts to explore the dark tunnels of secret knowledge. Its devotees search for hidden treasures, but those who wander in unlighted caves are apt to fall into the unseen pit of destruction. Jesus Christ said, “I am the light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life” (John 8:12).

This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God (John 3:19-21).