top of page

What Does the Bible Say About Witchcraft? - Why “Good” Witches Don’t Exist

Writer: Guest Writer
Guest Writer
9 hours ago
6 min read

NOTE: For the purposes of this article magic, witchcraft, divination, root work/root magic, necromancy, alchemy, voodoo, hoo doo, sorcery, and any other ‘dark arts’ are all lumped into one category.


Bad reputation

There was a time when witches and sorcerers got a bad rap. They didn’t get the benefit of the doubt. Witches and sorcerers did the work of their father, Satan. So, the practice of witchcraft was considered to be a heresy. It was against God. It was evil.


The bleak and atmospheric 2016 movie The Witch focused on that inherent evil. It depicted the horrific decimation of an isolated, 17th century family by a coven of witches. [The family had other serious issues going on, but the presence of the witches didn’t help the situation).

SPOILER ALERT: In the tragic ending, the eldest daughter willingly submits to Lucifer and joins the coven hidden deep within the woods. She cackles as she levitates while surrounded by the coven in the bone-chilling last frame of the movie.


It’s clear that the witches are the bad guys.


Good reputation

But that movie is an outlier.


The witch, sorcerer, necromancer, and all practitioners of magic, spells, alchemy, and root work have been glamorized, romanticized, and popularized on the big and little screens for decades. Here’s a small sample of movies that have showcased the ‘dark arts’ for the last 90 years:


  • Angel Heart (1987)

  • Bewitched tv show (1964)

  • Bewitched movie (2005)

  • Necromancer (1988)

  • I Married a Witch (1942)

  • I Dream of Jeannie (1965)

  • the Harry Potter movie franchise and books (1990s-2000's)

  • Agatha All Along (2024)

  • Pumpkinhead (1988)

  • The Wizard of Oz (1939)

  • A Discovery of Witches (2018)

  • The Craft (1996)

  • The Craft: Legacy (2020)

  • The Skeleton Key (2005)

  • Practical Magic (1998)

  • Mary Poppins (1964)

  • Mary Poppins Returns (2018)

  • Supernatural (2005)

  • American Horror Story: Coven (2013)

  • The Witches of Eastwick (1987)

  • Charmed (1998)

  • Sabrina the Teen-age Witch (1996)

  • Bell, Book, and Candle (1958)

  • Hocus Pocus (1993)

  • Hocus Pocus 2 (2022)

  • The Coven (2015)

  • the Vampire Diaries spinoff The Originals (2013)

  • Twitches (2005)

  • Wizards of Waverly Place (2007)

  • The Good Witch movie (2008)

  • The Good Witch tv show (2015)

  • The Dresden Files (2007)


Here’s but a sliver of what the anime, comic book, and animation world has contributed:


  • Scarlet Witch (Marvel comics)

  • Witch Hazel from the Bugs Bunny cartoons

  • Brother Voodoo, voodoo practitioner (Marvel)

  • Doctor Strange, the Sorcerer Supreme (Marvel)

  • Morgan Le Fay, witch (DC comics)

  • Klarion the Witch Boy, sorcerer (DC)

  • Zatanna, magician and sorceress (DC)

  • Black Clover anime, witches and mages

  • Doctor Fate, sorcerer (DC)

  • Constantine, necromancer and sorcerer (DC)

  • the Enchantress, witch (DC)

  • Agatha Harkness, witch (Marvel)

  • Emerald Witch arc of Black Butler anime

  • Full Metal Alchemist anime, sorcerers (especially with the creation of the homunculi)


There are many, many, MANY more examples — waaaay too many to list. But you get the picture. [Music of all genres is also notoriously loaded with topics pertaining to sorcery, witchcraft, and the like.]


But, they are the good guys, right?

The common thread in many of those mentioned above is that the witches, sorcerers, necromancers, alchemists, and practitioners can be the good guys.


And they are often portrayed as such.


For instance, Doctor Strange, the Sorcerer Supreme, has saved the Marvel universe countless times from the evil entity Dormammu. And Scarlet Witch chipped in to save the world as a member of the Avengers.


While over in the DC universe, Zatanna has used her magic to help Batman solve cases. John Constatine has assisted both Batman and the Justice League to save the world from supernatural and magical threats numerous times.


Then there’s Samantha from the classic 60’s tv show Bewitched who is characterized as an obedient, suburban housewife who constantly restrains her witchcraft (or does only good things with it) just to please her husband.


In the Fullmetal Alchemist anime, the tragic Elric brothers perform a forbidden ritual to resurrect their mother [huge red flag] and pay the consequences with their body parts. The duo then begins a quest to find the Philosopher’s Stone which will help them repair their bodies while doing good works along the way.


So see, good guys all around. Right?


Nope.


The 411

It doesn’t matter how much the media or the world glazes witchcraft and sorcery and any other off- limits practices.


The Bible makes it crystal clear that the acts are evil; and that indulging in those practices is evil as well.


Ultimately, people use magic, spells, root work, necromancy, and alchemy to get something they want but don’t have. By practicing those arts, one tries to take the power from God and harness it for self.


It’s prideful and reeks of idolatry and greed. It shows a lack of restraint and zero confidence in God. Practitioners rely on self (and Satan) for results — instead of trusting that God will give us what we want or need when it’s the right time — if we need it at all.


As believers and followers of Jesus Christ, we have to accept that He gets to decide. We don’t.


What Does the Bible Say About Witchcraft?

In the Old Testament, the Lord warned the Israelites multiple times about fooling around with witchcraft and all other related practices.


Let’s take a look at what the Bible has to say about witchcraft, sorcery, and everything in between:


“For example, never sacrifice your son or daughter as a burnt offering. And do not let your people practice fortune-telling, or use sorcery, or interpret omens, or engage in witchcraft, or cast spells, or function as mediums or psychics, or call forth the spirits of the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord. It is because the other nations have done these detestable things that the Lord your God will drive them out ahead of you. But you must be blameless before the Lord your God. The nations you are about to displace consult sorcerers and fortune-tellers, but the Lord your God forbids you to do such things.” — Deuteronomy 18:10–14, New Living Translation

and

“I will also turn against those who commit spiritual prostitution by putting their trust in mediums or in those who consult the spirits of the dead. I will cut them off from the community.” — Leviticus 20:6, New Living Translation

and

“Men and women among you who act as mediums or who consult the spirits of the dead must be put to death by stoning. They are guilty of a capital offense.” — Leviticus 20:27, New Living Translation

and

“Do not defile yourselves by turning to mediums or to those who consult the spirits of the dead. I am the Lord your God.” — Leviticus 19:31, New Living Translation

and

“You must not allow a sorceress to live.” — Exodus 22:18, New Living Translation

and

“Do not practice fortune-telling or witchcraft.” — Leviticus 19:26, New Living Translation

Go to Jesus, not witchcraft

Prayer isn’t a magical incantation that twists God’s arm.


We can’t make Him do anything. We don’t control Him and He can’t be manipulated. Period. He’s God. [Anyway, why would anyone want a puny god that can be manipulated?]

Sometimes the Lord will give us what we pray for. Other times not. But, it’s not because He doesn’t want us to have things.


Sometimes we don’t get what we ask for because we’re not spiritually or emotionally mature enough to handle what we want. Or, what we want could destroy us…or others. Or, maybe it’s not what God wants for us.


And look — it’s rough when we don’t get what we pray for. Disappointment isn’t fun.

But we have to trust God.


Jesus loves us and died for us. He isn’t going to lie about anything; or, steer us into situations that could drive us away from His love and protection.


Satan on the other hand promises that you can have whatever you want, when you want it, the way you want it. That’s what makes witchcraft and sorcery appealing — they both give the illusion of being in control. But you’re not. Satan is a liar and always has been:


[Jesus said]: For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies. — John 8:44, New Living Translation

The Holy Spirit will give you the truth you need to hear.


Satan will give you a lie or a partial-truth you want to hear. He yearns to harm us in any way he can and luring folks into the ‘dark arts’ is one way he does it.


Don’t fall for it.


Check out my other articles: Reality Show and Soap Opera Vibes in the Bible here and Judas: The Man Who Betrayed Jesus here.


Thanks for your time.



Comments

bottom of page