Articles, Questions, & Answers

By Eddie Smith

[Before I begin, thanks to each of you who have written, prayed, and committed to support us through June as I obey God's call to a sabbatical. Today was the first day I've been totally off pain meds. Some of you have given online at our website; others have called our office and given; and others have mailed their gifts. We glorify God, and thank you so much for your loving kindness. I pray this word will bless you.]

I met a pastor in a northern state who learned that a local college professor, who was teaching a class on the occult, was cursing him. The pastor retaliated by preaching a message against the occult and in it, mentioned the professor and his class. The pastor then led his people to pray that God would multiply the professor’s curses and return them to him sevenfold. I’m amazed at how many Christians pray, as they call it, "to reverse the curses" spoken against them.

A number of years ago, on the day before Halloween, dozens of churches in the Houston area hosted a large gathering to worship, to repent for the sins of the city, to be reconciled with each other, and to make a proclamation against darkness. We called it "Breakthrough Houston."

I was leading worship that night and was busy with the last minute pre-service details as thousands of excited and energetic Christians flooded into the auditorium. Dozens of cooperating pastors were meeting and greeting each other onstage.

In the space of a few minutes, three unrelated individuals spoke to me or handed me notes suggesting an infiltration of witches or Satanists at the event, which had been advertised throughout the city as an alternative to Halloween. One said, "Pastor Eddie, I believe the Lord has told me that there is a group of witches here tonight. What should we do?" My natural inclination might have been to pray for God’s hedge of protection around us, or to attempt to bind spirits of darkness. Instead, the Spirit of God led me to do something different.

After the opening praise song and welcome, I took the microphone and said, "Before you are seated, I’m told that there are witches or Satanists with us tonight. If that describes you, we want to take a moment now and welcome you to this event. Be assured that you are surrounded by people who care for you and want nothing less than God’s best for you. In fact, you are in the safest place in town. And I want to take a moment to pray for God to bless you." With that, I prayed a sincere prayer for Christ to bless them. Then we continued the program. The night was an awesome success.

At the conclusion of the service, one lady told me, "There was a rather strange looking woman sitting beside me in the balcony. She didn’t stand to sing the first praise song with us. Instead, she sat with her head bowed as if she were praying. On her lap she had arranged a large bronze cross, some other religious-looking icons, and what appeared to be small fetishes. When you welcomed the witches, blessed them, and prayed for them, she grabbed up her paraphernalia and threw it into her large purse and never pulled it out again."

Several participating pastors approached me about this at the conclusion of the service. They all shared the sentiments of one who said, "Wow! What an unusual way to start a service; and what a unique way to deal with such a serious problem. I don’t think I would have thought to do what you did. Thank you. That taught me a lot tonight."

I suppose it was an odd approach. In the Old Testament (Exodus 22:18, KJV) they were told not to "suffer a witch to live." God instructed them to kill witches. Personally, I’m grateful to be under the new covenant, because I’ve led some witches and warlocks to Christ. Today their lives are impacting many others for Jesus.

It’s not likely you’ve focused prayer on the destruction of those who’ve offended you. But are you asking God to bless them? "Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing" (1 Peter 3:9). And, are you loving your enemies?