Divination for children--made easy....
Ever play with a Ouija Board? In college, I lived in a big old house off campus from the U of Florida, in a student area, and on an inside door someone had painted a design that included a cross and XPI.
This was before computers and xpi Zip drives. It was Chi Rho Iota, the first three Greek letters of Christ.
This was before computers and xpi Zip drives. It was Chi Rho Iota, the first three Greek letters of Christ.
One summer night between semesters, back home at my parents' house, my mom and I were playing with a neighbor's Ouija Board, and the planchette moved to X, then P. I was very careful to be sure I wasn't guiding it in any way. My mom and I had decided not to tell each other our respective questions for the board so the other person wouldn't influence it. And she didn't know what I was thinking, so she wasn't unconsciously guiding it. And it slowly moved to I.
I threw up my hands and gasped. "Something is trying to deceive us!"
I had never been warned or taught about the occult and that God hates it. But the Holy Spirit let me know in my baby-Christian spirit that it was not Jesus writing the familiar letters.
We gave the board back to the owner and never played with it again.
Some will say I had to be guiding it without realizing it, by what I was expecting.
Maybe, maybe not. I believe not.
Point is, years later, I read in the Bible how God hates dabbling in any powers not from Him.
Now, Hasboro Toys is selling pretty pink and glow-in-the-dark Ouija Boards in big chain toy stores and marketing them for little children!
What a convenient way for young ones to learn to do what God hates and calls an abomination or detestable--divination--going to a supernatural source for hidden or future knowledge.
What a convenient way for young ones to learn to do what God hates and calls an abomination or detestable--divination--going to a supernatural source for hidden or future knowledge.
I just now read about these new "toys" in a wonderful newsletter by Jan Markell.
Please visit her website and see: Playtime for Kids and It's Called Divination
She has a novel, Gone the Golden Dream, and lot of pertinent information on many topics.
So, is the Ouija Board just harmless fun? Or does it open a door to demonic powers as some believe?
Jesus does give His people power and authority over evil spirits:
Luke 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
But I suspect we make them feel quite welcome to hang around and hassle us when we play with powers not from God, powers He says he hates in Deuteronomy 18 and Galatians 5*
Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.
Yes, Christians are under grace in this New Testament era.
But, We know that the Lord disciplines those He loves, Hebrews 12:6. By lifting His protection and allowing natural consequences? The enemy is like a roaring lion who would love to cause us problems.
In my WIP, fun-loving Maggie is at war with God. In New Orleans, she turns to the occult
This photo reminds me of my heinous villain taking an early morning, innocent stroll outside his French Quarter apartment, no doubt ruminating on some scheme to win Maggie's heart as he leads her farther into the dark side. Does she ever get her fun-lovin' self back and find peace with God?
You'll learn what happens when some savvy editor recognizes the sterling qualities in this story and publishes it. : )
My friends do not have to agree with me about all this, of course.
Everyone has to do as they are led. It's just that I commit enough sins without choosing to be entertained by something God hates. He tells us He does:
Deuteronomy. 18:9 When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. 10 Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in [a] the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, 11 or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. 12 Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you. 13 You must be blameless before the LORD your God.
14 The nations you will dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery or divination. But as for you, the LORD your God has not permitted you to do so.
Galatians 5:19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
We say, If God be for us, who can be against us?
And if we be for God, can we be for occult entertainment if He hates it? That must hurt him when He loves us much, He died for us.
And I hate to think of little children who have never been taught better playing with this "toy."
It's the edge of a slippery slope toward spiritual porn--seeking an illicit spiritual experience. And maybe getting more of one than they expect.
The Holy Spirit is a lot more fun than this, when we get to know Him and see His hand in our lives.
John 14:21 Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.
A concise an interesting book on all this is Don't Buy the Lie: Discerning Truth in a World of Deception by Mark Matlock.
Again, here's that great promise:
John 14:21Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.
And maybe heal our land. But that's a subject for another day.
So--let's pray. Lord, please forgive us for looking for spiritual experiences in the wrong places. Please give us a fresh--or brand-new--infilling of the Holy Spirit and love, joy, peace, power, all that you have for us--from YOU. Thank You. In the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.
f you don't know Jesus, scroll down and push the red button on the side of this blog for more information about a personal relationship with God! That relationship includes the assurance of forgiveness for dabbling and other sins, the inheritance of everlasting life with God in Heaven, and the promise, the seal, the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives here and now!
God bless.
Cece Winans- Holy Spirit Come Fill This Place
4 comments:
Margo, thank you for a thoughtful essay on playing with ouija boards. I remember they were de rigeur for slumber parties, and by the grace of God I didn't use one more than a few times -- they were fun, and eerily accurate. So sad that there's an update for a new generation.
And BTW, your WIP sounds great! I'd love to read it, so I hope your writing is going well :-)
Thank you for your thoughts and encouragement, Amy. And I'll let you know when the book comes out.
Awesome post, Margo. I did play with a Ouija board as a young girl - at slumber parties, especially. And, I have seen bizarre and true things happen with them that had to be power from somewhere and I doubt it was heavenly powers! Stay away from them is right. It's not worth it. How dreadfully sad about these pink boards being marketed. I'm about to have my first granddaughter in June and her mama is not a Christian. I'm going to have to do a lot of praying so she isn't deceived by stuff like this.
Thanks for sharing, Kath
I join my prayer to yours, Kath. Thanks so much for sharing.
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