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PROGRAM SUCCESS
VOODOO CHRISTIANITY
If one looks at the dictionary, Voodoo is likely to be defi ned as an
ancient religion from Africa that involves the cult of Ancestors, of
various animistic spirits, and the use of trances to communicate
with such spirits. It is true that Voodoo did originate in Africa, but
today it is practiced by millions throughout the world, in Africa, the
Caribbean, Central, North and South America, in various forms,
oft en with elements of Catholicism mixed in.
More common to us today is the Voodoo that cast spells. If you want
to cause harm to someone… cast a spell. If you want to be healed…
cast a spell. If you want good luck… cast a spell. If you want money…
cast a spell. A Spell is a word or words that when uttered have magical
power, and can give us infl uence over somebody or something.
Already, your mind is getting ahead of me and you are seeing where
I’m going with this. We as Christians must be careful in our attempts
to please God not to let outside doctrines creep in from pagan
religions. Our Chants – “Repeat aft er me”, “Turn to your neighbor”
(Simon Says). Our Dance – gyrating, running, jumping. Our Music
– the drum beat, the chant. Our religious jargon (language that is
used by a particular group, profession, or culture, especially when the
words and phrases are not understood or used by other people) “I’m
blessed and highly favored.” None of these
things am I saying is wrong, however, fi re in the wrong hand can be
destructive.
By the mere fact that we are descendants of Africa makes us
susceptible to the practice of Voodoo. Christianity has no roots in
Voodoo. We are followers of Christ and his teachings. Th e Bible is
our guide and our reference to doctrine. If Jesus did not say it and it’s
not in the Bible, we shouldn’t be doing it. Simple enough right?
In the Catholic Church they practice idol worship to statues even
though the Ten Commandments state “you shall have no other gods
before me. You shall not make for yourself an image, whether in form
of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or
that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them
or worship them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God (Exodus
20: 3-5). Th e Catholic Church also, through its practice of Penance,
requires a believer to perform a deed or chant a quote in order to
be forgiven for a sin. Needless to say, neither of these rituals were
initiated by Jesus nor recorded in the Bible.
Truly we all want forgiveness. Th e Bible tells us that we receive
forgiveness – atonement (at-one-ness) through the blood of Jesus.
He died on the cross and His shed blood is suffi cient to wash away
our sins by grace our entire lifetime. Nothing to buy. Nothing to wear.
No place to go. Just accept Christ and ask for forgiveness.
We all want to be blessed. Th erefore, we do as we are told; even if it’s standing
on our heads, buying something (book, prayer cloth, key chain, tape, etc.),
attending a conference, or dressing a certain way. We tread the border line
of Voodoo… a chant or ritual done to gain infl uence (favor) over something
or somebody.
Even the Tithe is not sacred any more. When you give your tithe to gain
something in return – that’s Voodoo! Give and you will see that you will
be blessed 10 times over… the windows of heaven will be open and will
pour you out a blessing that there won’t be room enough to receive. Yes the
Bible states this, but in content and with purpose... Bring ye all the tithes,
purpose – that there may be meat in my house…those things the church
needs to bless the people (money to feed the hungry, shelter the homeless,
keep children of drugs, prevent teenage pregnancy, etc.). I will pour you out
a blessing, in content, further explained in the Malachi 3:11, the blessing of
the crops, and further in the 12th verse, you will be called blessed because of
your delightsome land.
Anything you do, say, or pay expecting a returning (blessing) is in vain and is
Voodoo Christianity. Jesus dispels all the ritual and traditions
of men in giving, praying, and fasting in the 6th chapter of
Matthew. Jesus states there that the treasures of our
prosperity are laid up in heaven.
Th e days that Jesus walked this earth, his fame went
throughout the land and people fl ocked to him
for various reasons. Th ey were the early
church, if you may. On one occasion as Jesus
found himself surrounded by these various
people, he told a parable of a Sower
(Luke 8:5-15) who sowed seeds and some
fell by the wayside, upon the rocks,
among thorn, and on good soil. Only the
seeds in the good soil sprang up. Th e seeds
by the wayside was trodden down and eaten
by the birds, the seeds upon the rocks
withered from lack of water, and the seeds
among the thorns were choked by the thorns.
In Jesus’ later explanation to his disciples
concerning the meaning of this parable (in
other words - Jesus how do you get blessed?),
he explains that many of us are choked with the
cares and riches
and pleasures of the world that we bring forth
no fruit. And those of us that is on good ground
and produces much fruit, is because we have an
honest and good heart. God knows your heart.
Th e reason you give, the reason you do, and
blesses you accordingly.
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