The Danger of Claiming Scriptures

Can we really claim scriptures for ourselves, especially those which promise wealth and health? Many charismatics believe they can. But they don't realize that they're practicing witchcraft.

How is this so? Magic is the human attempt to control the supernatural.  We see this in Exodus 7:9-12 (BBE) when the Egyptian magicians tried to imitate God's miracle. "'If Pharaoh says to you, Let me see a wonder: then say to Aaron, Take your rod and put it down on the earth before Pharaoh so that it may become a snake.' Then Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh and they did as the Lord had said: and Aaron put his rod down on the earth before Pharaoh and his servants, and it became a snake. Then Pharaoh sent for the wise men and the wonder-workers, and they, the wonder-workers of Egypt, did the same with their secret arts. For every one of them put down his rod on the earth, and they became snakes: but Aaron's rod made a meal of their rods."

But we read in Exodus 8:16-18 (BBE) that the magicians couldn't reproduce the signs God showed after a time. "And the Lord said to Moses, 'Say to Aaron, Let your rod be stretched out over the dust of the earth so that it may become insects through all the land of Egypt.' And they did so; and Aaron, stretching out the rod in his hand, gave a touch to the dust of the earth, and insects came on man and on beast; all the dust of the earth was changed into insects through all the land of Egypt. And the wonder-workers with their secret arts, attempting to make insects, were unable to do so: and there were insects on man and on beast."

And though the magicians of Egypt tried, they couldn't interpret Pharaoh's two dreams. Only Joseph could do so because of God. Genesis 41:15 and 16 (BBE) says, "And Pharaoh said to Joseph, 'I have had a dream, and no one is able to give me the sense of it; now it has come to my ears that you are able to give the sense of a dream when it is put before you.' Then Joseph said, 'Without God there will be no answer of peace for Pharaoh.'"

Claiming scripture passages in order to make God do something is blasphemy because it robs him of his glory. As Deuteronomy 32:39 (BBE) points out, "See now, I myself am he; there is no other god but me: giver of death and life, wounding and making well: and no one has power to make you free from my hand."

We also read in 1 Corinthians 10:6 (BBE) that the holy scriptures were written to warn us away from sin, not to give us what we want. "Now these things were for an example to us, so that our hearts might not go after evil things, as they did."

Paul said the same thing in Romans 15:4 (BBE). "Now those things which were put down in writing before our time were for our learning, so that through quiet waiting and through the comfort of the holy Writings we might have hope."

Using scriptures to claim supposed promises is what Satan tried when he tempted Jesus. He told him to jump off the temple and quoted scripture. Luke 4:12 (BBE) reads, "And Jesus made answer and said to him, 'It is said in the Writings, You may not put the Lord your God to the test.'"

This wickedness is one sin I'll discuss in my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? Even I was led astray with that magical thinking while attending a cultic house church. I know better now and I accept God's sovereignty over my life.

On Saturday, I'll post about why it isn't a sin to feel chronically depressed.