Witchcraft

thrives in Fayette/Clayton Counties. Now, don't go

looking for an old woman scattering some bones on the

ground with incantations. Believe me. You can see that

sort of thing in many third world countries. Our

witchcraft, however, subtly operates almost legitimately.

First, get

hold of what God's Word says about the matter in Fayette

County. The Prophet Samuel, in reproving King Saul for

disobedience, declared: "For rebellion is as the sin

of divination, and insubordination is as iniquity and

idolatry" (1 Samuel 15:23). King Saul had simply

tried to usurp the authority of God. God told Saul to

utterly destroy the Amalekites and all their possessions.

Saul thought he had a better idea: he would keep some of

the spoil of battle and spare the life of Agag, the king

of the Amalekites. Bad idea. It's the idea that cost Saul

his throne.

Why would

the God-inspired prophet say that Saul's rebellion

against God's authority was as the sin of witchcraft?

Because witchcraft or divination attempts to control a

set of circumstances rather than submit to established,

legitimate authority.

The good

news in all this mess in which Saul found himself was

that he did not question the Prophet Samuel's authority

to rebuke him. Listen to Saul's confession: "I have

sinned; I have indeed transgressed the command of the

Lord and your words, because I feared the people and

listened to their voice" (V. 24).

Do you know

what's happening in church after church after church in

our community and its environs? God called and God

appointed pastors are being forced to listen to the

people and conjure up "church" the way the

people want it or be forced out of town. I know! There is

a systemic rebellion that's pervasive in our community.

This witchcraft-like rebellion has silenced pastors from

speaking on controversial subjects; it has limited many

churches to smallness due to control of a few; it has

hindered the progress of unity by keeping members inside

the four walls of the church hut.

Mark

Rutland, now president of Southeaster College in

Lakeland, Fla., served as missionary in Africa. When

asked if he was afraid because of all the witches and

warlords, he responded, "It's more frightening to

pastor an American church because in Africa you can tell

the witches by their feathers but in America it's not as

easy to identify them."

Yet, many

believers in the south metro are discovering the

blessedness of unity in the name of our Lord and Savior

Jesus Christ. More and more churches are also honoring

the God-called leader and are moving mightily into the

devil's territory.

There's no

doubt in my mind, influenced by the Word, that one of the

chief strongholds that must be uncovered and defeated in

our community is rebellion. Let's unite more to cast down

this mighty stronghold.

The Rev. Dr. John

Hatcher is pastor of River's Edge Community Church in

Fayetteville.

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