A coven, in case you didn't know, is a group of witches. Why do I say that? Well, through the course of my studies, one of the materials that found its way into the hands of my searching heart was called, "Demons In The World Today ", by Merrill F. Unger. When I first read this book, many parts of it were hard for me to grasp, but other's were clearer for me. The terminology the author used was one hurdle to overcome, and the still clinging spiritual fog was another. In other words, I wasn't completely set free yet; there were still some things that I had to let go of. This process dear reader, has taken around four years now, to accomplish. That may sound like a long time, but remember, I had been in this false theology for 20 plus years, and was a dedicated Word of Faith minion. So, comparatively speaking, four years is pretty good. Anyway, within the pages of this book lay the final cutting tool that Jesus would use to remove the final link, or lynch pin, in the chain of lies that I had allowed to bind me. Yes dear reader, little did I know that the truth that would aide in my full release from the chains of bondage to the Word of Faith, which I had helped forge, was only moments away from being revealed. A little less than half way through the book I read this caption: "White magic verses biblical faith and prayer." on page 86. This caught my attention big time and I'll tell you why....
There is someone in my life who I discovered, through a series of events, to be a student and practitioner of Wicca. Someone I love dearly and thought was a Christian, turned out to be a witch, and well, as you can imagine, this knowledge just devastated me. And through another series of miraculous events, I read a passage from their diary where they called me a hypocrite. Me? A hypocrite? Well, I was, to say the least, hurt. However, I knew this person didn't say such things without cause, so in my mind, as painful as it was, it must have been true to some extent. But in what way? I was too chicken to ask what they meant, as that would mean I obviously read their private diary. So instead, I asked my husband if he thought I was a hypocrite. He asked me regarding what, and since I didn't know, I dropped it. However, I did ask God to show me what this person meant. That was years and years ago. Little did I know that very question was finally about to be answered at the same time I was to be set free. This is why God's time is the best time, ya know? This is what I read in Mr. Unger's book, and I will bold what jumped out at me on that fateful day.
"In biblical faith, trust is placed solely in the Lord Jesus. In white magic it [trust]is deflected to someone else (the human agent) or to something else (one's own faith, etc.). In the biblical prayer of faith, the praying person subjects himself to the will of God. In white magic the help of God is DEMANDED[emphasis mine] under the assumption that exercising such power is in accordance with God's will. In white magic the Christian markings are mere decorations that camouflage the magical means for knowledge or power."
Well, that did it! I was completely undone, laid bare, with my root sin exposed in the blinding light of truth! My heart was totally rent. Once more my head fell against my chest in shame of the conviction upon my heart. Once more hot tears blurred the page I had just read. Jesus showed me that the Word of Faith doctrine was witchcraft that was thinly veiled with glittering Christian garb. I had been a "white" witch the whole time I thought I was saved, and that is why that person rightly called me a hypocrite. Oh the pain and the agony - why oh why does the truth have to hurt so much? I couldn't even mouth the words, "I'm so sorry, Lord" I was too ashamed and anyway its hard to speak when your sobbing. All I could do was moan in despair, but thankfully God understands the language of a broken heart! That is when the final chains fell from my soul and Jesus completely set me free! I was finally, really and truly, born again! And in that small yet huge moment, I completely identified with the tax collector in Luke 18:13!
That is when I began to notice a completely different atmosphere whenever I went to my Bible study, I mean, The Coven. I had been going to the Bible study for about a year even after my mom died, and that was while I started to search for answers. And the more truth I learned, the more uncomfortable I got. After my final release from the bondage of witchcraft, I found I couldn't even think straight when I sat in my usual chair, and at times I even found it hard to breath. Before I was set free from "white" witch craft, I couldn't wait for Monday night with "The Peeps!" I mean you could count on one hand all the times I missed a meeting during the 4 or 5 years of my attendance. Now? Well, now I actually dreaded going! But I made myself go, because I had to face The Coven, and let them know what I knew. I somehow, without sending twenty or so fanatical Word of Faith minions into a murderous rage, had to say something. Former W.O.F. minions know what I mean by that. First, I refused to attend their mini Rick Warren seminar that was held in the leader's home. That got the attention of some of them.
I even got a rebuking phone call from one of the more vocal and staunchly militant minions, the same one who berated me regarding my Kyle's physical condition months earlier. The ensuing confrontation didn't go very well as you can well imagine. When I was finally able to get a word in edgewise, I started to relate to her what I had learned about Rick Warren's connections with the godless C.F.R. [Council on Foreign Relations] as a reason for my non-attendance, among other things. Ignoring my valuable information as it were a bee-bee hitting steel, she pushed harder, mentioning Kenneth Copeland and some of his teachings to rebuke me. I pushed back by exposing Kenneth Copeland's false Ransom Theory teachings (something I'll touch on later). The atmosphere was charged and our voices escalated into near shouts. Finally, she pushed me too far with her rebukes, so I pushed back and lowered the boom by answering her final question, which was that if Kenneth Copeland was really a false teacher like I said he was, then how could he claim that Jesus is Lord. It's a good question, and lucky for her, I had an answer. I explained that Kenneth Copeland was able to say, "Jesus is Lord" because as a Freemason, he is encouraged to lie by using double meanings. So when he says, "Jesus is Lord" on the outside, what he really means is "Lucifer is Lord" on the inside. Well that did it, she growled something and exclaimed that she was going to hang up, and she did.
My older brother, who was sitting at my dining table when I took her call, assured me that what he heard (how could he not help over hearing, we were both shouting?!) coming from my end was sound and truthful. Understandably emotional, but nevertheless, sound. That made me feel a little bit better, but I wasn't sure I handled it well. I was shaking like a leaf from the battle, but I strangely felt - - taller. Look, I loved these ladies, and I still do. I just couldn't figure out how in the world I was going to reach them with the truth, so I kept at it. I kept going, and when I heard something out of line, I interjected my objections and redirected with Scripture, but I was beginning to feel like a fish out of water, and the resistance to what I had to say was mounting. I would always leave that former place of safe refuge tearful, and thinking I could have done more, or said more. Then one night, one of the ladies shared that her family was being attacked spiritually, and I knew why, but after months of being rebuffed, I refused to say anything. I felt an uncomfortable pressure build in the middle of my chest. I knew the Lord wanted me to say something. I resisted and whined, "Lord, you know she won't listen to me anyway, so why bother?" More pressure was applied, - "Alright, alright! I'll talk!" The pressure lifted. Oooo, I hate it when he does that!
I reluctantly told her I had something to say to her from the Lord, and that I didn't want to say it, but I had to. Well, that got her attention. I sighed heavily, in anticipation for the battle that was about to start. Then I began telling her that her current favorite teacher - Lance Wallnau, was really a New Age guru. She looked at me like she wanted to kill me. Expected, yet disconcerting nevertheless. During that uncomfortable moment, I was waiting for the protest of the lady who had gotten her into his teachings, and I wasn't disappointed. After I shouted her down, and she yielded, then I continued to minister to my friend sitting in what we called the "hot seat." But I could see that I would have been more effective if I had talked to the wall. I showed her where many of his teachings were parallel with New Age ideology, including many of the key words and phrases, which he used in the teachings that we were being exposed to. I even got an affirmation from one of the other ladies- finally! She said that she had also heard these words and phrases and was leery of his use of New Age terms. She was a former Mormon, so she'd know.
Then I mentioned a dream my friend had shared with me and I explained how it related to her current situation. I won't share the dream she had, but really, it gives me some hope that the Lord will help her come out of this coven and all the false teachings she was currently under at that time. Then, I asked her if she had ever practiced yoga. She nodded. I told her that yoga was invented and is used by Hindus to worship their demon gods. When you ask an honest yogi, they will tell you that you cannot separate yoga's moves and breathing techniques from their idolatrous worship, because they go hand in hand. And so, when you practice yoga, whether you know it or not, you are worshiping demons and so that gives those demons the right to mess with you. Now, in hind sight (which is always 20/20) I wish I had read 2 Timothy 3 to them as it fits perfectly, and completely describes what was going on in that coven, and probably still is. Weeks after my divinely inspired counsel, she stubbornly continued to listen to Lance Wallnau, and even passed on his filth to other members who were not present during her hot seat session, where I exposed him as a false teacher. To my shame I didn't rebuke her and warn the other lady.
Finally, I stopped going altogether after a few months, or so of speaking the truth. The dynamic of the group was changing anyway, new ladies I didn't know and frankly didn't care about were attending, and the group as a whole was meeting less frequently. I finally decided to write a long letter (more like a novella) to the leader of The Peeps, detailing much of what I have shared here, and in even more detail. Did I get a reply? No. I didn't even get an angry threatening letter and not one angry threatening phone call.
My husband wasn't surprised, but I was hurt. I was such a faithful and an ardent supporter to that group of ladies, but apparently faithfulness accounts for little with false teachers and leaders of false faiths, and even their followers, especially when you start to question their teachings. I still pray for them, and I plead with the Lord to open their eyes to the truth. I plead with him to please cause them to see their error before he has to apply more of his four sore judgments on them, but really he knows best. I just have to let go and trust God that he will do what is necessary to save and separate his lost sheep from the goats, like he did for me. I often think what would have happened if I had stood up and boldly declared this "positive confession" in their midst:
"Jesus in his infinite mercy and love, wounded and killed my mother to save us both from the white witchcraft of Word of Faith and impending eternal damnation." I'd probably have been hard pressed to get out of there with my life! It would have been awesome!
My husband wasn't surprised, but I was hurt. I was such a faithful and an ardent supporter to that group of ladies, but apparently faithfulness accounts for little with false teachers and leaders of false faiths, and even their followers, especially when you start to question their teachings. I still pray for them, and I plead with the Lord to open their eyes to the truth. I plead with him to please cause them to see their error before he has to apply more of his four sore judgments on them, but really he knows best. I just have to let go and trust God that he will do what is necessary to save and separate his lost sheep from the goats, like he did for me. I often think what would have happened if I had stood up and boldly declared this "positive confession" in their midst:
"Jesus in his infinite mercy and love, wounded and killed my mother to save us both from the white witchcraft of Word of Faith and impending eternal damnation." I'd probably have been hard pressed to get out of there with my life! It would have been awesome!