Greetings John and Doves,

       There was a recent post from Frank M:

http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/july2013/frankm723-4.htm

and I want to start by saying how much I enjoy Frank M's posts and frankly let me be frank, no your frank, but I need to be frank....just a little humor, not that you haven't heard that before. Seriously though I have to say I was grieved and concerned about the above post I put a link to. I've come here for 14 years and I haven't seen John let even 1 web site get referenced here that was run by witches. You go on to describes five actions that in only your opinion describes someone operating in witchcraft " I would have to says a bewitched person is anyone who has a hatred for church, fellowshipping, tries to tear down basic biblical truths, refuses to participate in supporting the church,and has a hatred towards Israel" while omitting the only real ways as described in Scripture, the first being rebellion:

1Sa_15:23  For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king. 

and the second is just anyone involved directly in the occult:

2Ch_33:6  And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.

We get attacked from unbelievers enough without turning on our own brothers and sisters in Christ. We really need to guard ourselves against vilifying fellow Christians just because we have a difference of opinion. We are to let the tares grow as hard as it is to do. 

There is a place though for discernment, but we need to do it in the only two ways the Scripture tells us. It doesn't give a way to test, that litmus test is posted above, but it is a way to help us stay away from confessing Christians.  The first one  of coarse is:

1Jn 4:1  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
1Jn 4:2  Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
1Jn 4:3  And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. 

 

and the other is to be a fruit inspector:

Gal 5:22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Gal 5:24  And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Gal 5:25  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Gal 5:26  Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

I hope you maybe then take a second look at these Christian web sites that you vilifyed

and see if they pass the Scripture test and even go the second mile....Do they confess Jesus is Lord? Do they say the Holy Bible is the inerrant Word of God? I'm going to go out on a limb now and assume you just chose the wrong word "bewitching" but if not please tell us who they are. Jesus told us to not accuse the Brethren of this  by His own example:

Mat 12:24  But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.
Mat 12:25  And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:
Mat 12:26  And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?
Mat 12:27  And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges. 

Could these web sites maybe just have doctrinal differences? Or are they operating in the flesh?

al 5:19  Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Gal 5:20  Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
Gal 5:21  Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 

Even though we are to be fruit inspectors and test the spirits let us remember what our Lord Jesus said about this:

Mat 13:29  But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
Mat 13:30a  Let both grow together until the harvest:

and Paul followed His example in Philippians by saying that even if ones motives are not in love and they preach Christ for other reasons like envy or financial gain, Paul even rejoiced that the preach it:

Php 1:14  And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
Php 1:15  Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:
Php 1:16  The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:
Php 1:17  But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.
Php 1:18  What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice. 

Frank, I once again stress brother that I enjoy your posts and I pray my tongue was not to sharp here but a day is coming brother and it is sooner than we think and ALL Christians will be persecuted by the world for our most simple doctrinal beliefs and when we stand up against same sex marriage the way we tried to stand against abortion, they will come at us with both barrel's blazing. We won't be coming against teenage girls and house wives like abortion but a well organized group who has beaten down every opponent of the homosexual movement including our own government and won and now the only ones left are the Church and we are in their cross hairs.

May The Lord Jesus have mercy on us and give us the strength to stand against this onslaught and the Love to come together with fellow believers as the lines are being drawn now and compromise could cost one their very soul.

Agape,

Charles Holler Sr