We were about to leave the coffeehouse when they came over to the table in front of our couch and asked if they could use it. Jokingly I said I’d just stay there and join their conversation. They hesitantly laughed (sometimes my sarcasm can be hard to detect, I’ll admit), then answered, “Welllllll it’s kind of a strange thing to have a conversation about...” I have a lot of bizarre conversations and at this point just embrace the awkwardness. “What are you guys planning to talk about?” *Looking back and forth at each other* “Witchcraft. We study it.”
I’m fascinated by why people believe what they believe and why people act like they act. So I asked them what they were discovering and what drew them to witchcraft (at this point, I was internally screaming JESUS TAKE THE WHEEL WHAT DO I SAY). They told me they were in search of power in their own lives. They wanted to be able to control and manifest things - even good things on earth. They wanted to be influencers. They told me they believe that by aligning our mind, will, and actions, we have the power to manifest and influence what we want to see happen on earth.
They compared this to other religions, saying that every religion contains rituals for you to get what you want (I believe the search for power and significance often leads us to seek control of what we cannot understand). They compared this to Christianity - but their idea of Christianity was misconstrued. They had been told (even by pastors) that being a Christian is about WHAT YOU DO.
“THEY HAD BEEN TOLD CHRISTIANITY IS ABOUT WHAT YOU DO.
THE TRUTH IS, CHRISTIANITY IS ABOUT WHAT GOD DID.”
The truth is, Christianity is not about what you do. Christianity is about WHAT GOD DID - not because we appeased him, but because he loves us. I don’t have to try to manipulate God to do what I want him to. He is a good Father, absolutely in control, who wants to (and does) give good gifts.
He GIVES out of love.
My new friends were missing the point of what they were searching for. At the core, they were searching for love. If only they knew the LOVE that is in control and has already begun His reign! Jesus told me not to say anything or question them or correct them. He told me simply to listen to them and love these new friends.
We have a tendency to think what we’re missing is something within our grasp that we can earn if we just BELIEVE enough, BEHAVE enough, and TRY hard enough. But that’s not Good News.
The Good News is that we already have access to what we’re missing! My best friend, my King, willingly died to give it to me - with no conditions. We have access to this infinite love! And we who have it, have a call on our lives to LOVE infinitely, so that others can see what they are missing is Jesus. Jesus, who is himself, love.