Exploring Jezebel's Family Tree: Daughter Witchcraft, Part II
This is Part II of Exploring Jezebel's Family Tree: Witchcraft. If you missed Part I, you can catch it here! To catch the whole series, see here.
All forms of magic and witchcraft, whether socially acceptable or not, whether white or black, whether helping a cop find a missing child or cursing a woman to barrenness are all undoubtedly wicked in the eyes of God and a snare that keeps people from knowing Him and or growing deeper in Him. It will deceive you if you let it, and sometimes, even when you don’t.
Formal Witchcraft
Now there are two distinctive types or levels of Witchcraft: formal, which we will discuss now, and informal, which we will discuss next. Formal witchcraft is cauldrons and spells, broomsticks and rituals, orgies and sacrifices. Okay, I’m being a tad dramatic, but you get the idea. These are (professing) witches and warlocks, wizards and sorcerers, Satanists and black magicians, psychics, mediums, and necromancers. Basically, anyone who formally practices the art. These witches may be part of a coven like the late Doreen Irvine was before she was saved or a solitary witch like Carol Kornacki before salvation.
Now allow me to park here for a moment. When viewing my own family tree, it was always easy for me to associate witchcraft with my African, Haitian, and Native American (First People) ancestors. When I got a little older and started to pray against and break (potential) generational curses over my own life, my attention was focused on unknown sins committed by those ancestors. But I was wrong to only address my ancestors with more melanin than others. My white Irish ancestors were just as guilty of witchcraft as my brown ancestors. It may be easy to focus on African and Haitian Voodoo, but Celtic Druidry is just as bad. No culture is better than another: every one has its own faults and giftings. Derek Prince, a British deliverance minister, guestimated that 9 out of every 10 Brits has ties to the Occult. I think we could fairly apply that guestimation to all of the British Isles and even their Germanic cousins in the high and low Germanic countries (Scandinavia, Iceland, Greenland, Friesland, Germany, Austria, etc.). Prince further stated--and I believe firmly--that Witchcraft is the natural religion of fallen man.
All of our ancestors, at some point, were guilty of witchcraft and paganism. Every people group possesses a spirituality that is an alternative to Christianity. Even the Jews. Some of these beliefs such as Wicca and Buddhism, never ceased. Some of the modern witchcraft-religions such as New Age and Satanism are based on older versions of the Occult. And some pagan religions are experiencing revivals such as Forn Siðr (Norse for “Old Custom”) also known as Astaru (“belief in the gods”). Iceland is building its first Norse temple for the first time in 1,000 years. (VERY interesting to note the linguistic similarities between “Astaru” and, say, “Astarte,” “Ashtar,” and “Ishtar.”)
But back to the topic at hand...formal witches are well aware that they practice witchcraft. They may not necessarily admit it openly because of the understandable stigma attached to the title, but they practice unapologetically. Whether they practice every day or just every now and then, whether they have familiars or not, whether they are kind or evil, whether they stick to “healing” potions and love spells or black magic, whether they sacrifice food or living beings (animal or human), whether they attend church happily or do so as a demonic infiltrator, they are all witches.
Informal Witchcraft
This is where things get a tad trickier. There are no proverbial broomsticks, cauldrons, and black cats to be found here. (I’m actually rather partial to black cats! I don’t believe the bad press. *wink, wink*) This is also where it is practically indistinguishable to tell the Spirit of Jezebel from the Spirit of Witchcraft. By definition, a Jezebel is one who practices Witchcraft. She manipulates, dominates, and intimidates as it suits her purposes. And while the occasional formal witch may infiltrate an unsuspecting church, an informal witch is much more likely to do so (knowingly or unknowingly). We call this evangelical or charismatic witchcraft. I’ve written on this topic thoroughly in my book, Faith and the Imagination.
They utilize the means of prayer and prophecy to accomplish their desires. Prayer and prophecy meetings turn into unidentified witch covens. Prophecy goes from being a word from the Lord to a word from the person’s own soul (soulish prophecy). A word of knowledge meant to encourage becomes a tool to manipulate. I can’t tell you at what point a Jezebel goes from being unaware to aware of what they are doing, but I would venture to say that only the most developed Jezebel understands why she is doing what she is doing and how it affects those around her. And then there is another type of informal, Jezebel-witch.
It could be your mother(-in-law). Your sister. Your boss. Your best friend. This person isn’t trying to gather a following or dominate a church, they, perhaps, just want you to stay in their life. Perhaps, they are the most extreme version of a control freak or maybe they’re a guilt-tripper. It might even be an abusive father or husband. The actions aren’t spiritual in nature, but they do have spiritual roots and implications. Some identifiable phrases they might say are:
“You’ll never succeed without me.”
“Everything you have/achieved is because of me.”
“But I just got here! You don’t really want to leave me do you?”*
“I’ve given you so much! You owe me.”
“If you don’t ________, then I won’t _______.”**
*This could be a parent, a spouse, roommate, etc. who you already spend large amounts of time with, but they almost never want/allow you to spend time with others--without them. They want you all to themself in a way that is not healthy, nor romantic, but possessive/obsessive.
**An example of this could be sex. Many wives (and some husbands) use sex as a tool through which to control their spouse. Many husbands (and some wives) may use money as a means to control their spouse. If-then clauses aren’t bad in general, but when they are used to manipulate someone, they are.
People who say things like this, while they may very well be aware that they are guilting/manipulating you or someone else into doing something, they are most likely not aware that they are operating in witchcraft.
And then, there is the most common type of informal witch. The person who doesn’t cast spells, practice rituals, or doesn’t manipulate others, but does speak wickedly and negatively of them self or others. I won’t even say their words aren’t always true, but they can certainly have damaging effects on the recipient of those words. Some examples are:
“You’re a false prophet/false teacher.” (when the person isn’t)
“You’re just like your father/mother/uncle/aunt/sister/brother.”
“You’re stupid/dumb.”
“You make me sick.”
“You’ll never succeed.”
Basically, anything that places a negative “reality” or “fact” on that person. Especially, if it’s repeated often. This may be internalized and the recipient of the words may give into the words or they may make an inner vow to never be like that, only to grow up and find them self helplessly fulfilling the prophecy. And sometimes, the recipient of the words allows sin in their own life that empowers the witchcraft words to come to past.
Example 1: Years ago, a certain Jezebel made it her mission in life to snag my dad as a son-in-law. But alas, my dad married my mom instead of this woman’s very young daughter. Yet when my parents moved from California to Iowa as newlyweds, they attended Jezebel and Ahab’s church. From that point onward, Jezebel upped her game with a second mission in life: to make my mother look crazy. She would treat her (and me, and my siblings) one way, when my father was at work and another when he was able to attend service. That way, when my mother spoke of the mistreatment she received to my dad, he would have no reference point to believe her. Thus, making her look crazy. And, of course, if she appeared crazy to my father, then OF COURSE, he would leave her, and marry Jezebel’s daughter. Well, thankfully, that woman Jezebel’s daughter did NOT become my stepmother and her plans were eventually uncovered. But through later rebellions in my mother’s life, she empowered the words of Jezebel and in the end, has allowed both of those prophecies to come to past. You see, you cannot bind or cast out what you tolerate and operate in. My father is now remarried.
Example 2: I once had a boyfriend who would CONSTANTLY speak negatively of himself. He often said things like, “I am SO stupid!” and I would always counter it and tell him that he wasn’t (he’s actually brilliant) and that he had to stop saying things like that about himself. He wound up getting doubts and pulling out of the relationship and I didn’t understand why until he said, “I’m never gonna be God’s best [for you]. I have too many issues.” I was NOT trying to hear that and it seemed like a ridiculous reason to pull out of a relationship, so I told him I wasn’t buying it and I stuck with him. But at the end of it all, he proved, once and for all, that he wasn’t worthy. His behaviour really took a left turn and his final actions caused me to finally believe him. But I can’t shake the feeling it was a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Like a person who’s been rejected so many times that they try to prevent rejection by beginning to reject people themself and in turn, start operating in a spirit of rejection. If you speak/hear something and believe something for long enough, you’ll believe it. The wisest man to ever live stated:
For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he… (Proverbs 23:7)
Words are VERY important. Some types of witchcraft words are:
curses (i.e. “I curse you to be barren forever.” “You will miscarry every baby.” “You will have lots of money in life, but never enjoy it.”)
demonic prayers/petitions (to Satan or another spirit, even to God)
thoughtless/negative words
gossip/rumours
tale bearers (tattle tells)
slander/character assassination
false accusations/false witnesses
Throughout Scripture, evil words are often compared to swords, knives, daggers, javelins/spears, and fangs.
There is a generation whose teeth are like swords, and whose fangs are like knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men. (Proverbs 30:14)
He has put forth his hands against those who were at peace with him; He has broken his covenant. The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords. (Psalm 55:20, 21)
Hide me from the secret plots of the wicked, from the rebellion of the workers of iniquity, Who sharpen their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows—bitter words, that they may shoot in secret at the blameless; Suddenly they shoot at him and do not fear. (Psalm 64:2-4)
Indeed, they belch with their mouth; Swords are in their lips; for they say, “Who hears?” (Psalm 59:7)
My soul is among lions; I lie among the sons of men who are set on fire, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword. (Psalm 57:4)
Also, notice that in Scripture those affiliated with the wicked one: Satan, false prophets, and false teachers are referred to as a lion (I Peter 5:8) and wolves (John 10:11-13; Matthew 7:15, 10:16; Acts 20:28-30), both of which have fangs; both of which has their power in their mouth.
Just as the Word of God is a double-edged sword, so are Satan’s words a sword and a dagger. Just as the roar and teeth of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah scares off His enemies, so the devil walks about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. Just as words can build up and plant, so wicked words can attack and tear down. Just as godly words can produce blessings, so can wicked, thoughtless words produce curses. It’s a spiritual law. Words always operate the same way: it is the bearer, the tone, and the intent of the words that makes the difference.
Words are the foundation of Witchcraft.
For more on Witchcraft, see here. And stay tuned for my next installment of this series which will deal with homosexuality and the eunuch spirit!
