Salem Witch Trials
Carson Allen at Destroying Strongholds asked me this question:Have you studied much about the Salem Which Trials, and if so, what are your thoughts?
My Answer
Briefly, I have read a bit but not enough to be an expert. From what I gather the Salem Witch Trials are where a lot of people get their definition of a puritan.
They would say that their over zealous beliefs (eg Calvinism and quest for holiness) lead them to kill and persecute anyone that was not like them (eg a Witch). Hence the trials of the late 1600's.
Some use this to say we christians should be balanced in our belief systems and not get too fundamentalist.
I am of the opinion that fundamentalism is the only way to be. By this I mean a fundamentalist to the gospel and the truth therein.
What most people don't realise is that when we are like this it is the Christian's that are persecuted. To relate it back to John Bunyan's pilgrims progress where "Faithful" became a martyr for the gospel I would like to pick out this discourse:
(Envy is accusing Faithful before the court to put Faithful to death which he was.)
Envy: ... That Christianity and the customs of our town of Vanity were diametrically opposite, and could not be reconciled ... meaning ... not only do they condemn all our laudable doings, but us in the doing of them.
......
Faithful:
... That what rule, or laws, or custom, or people, were flat against the Word of God, are diametrically opposite to Christianity.
I used this to show that everything the christian says and does is in opposition to the world and thus the world hates us for it first hated Jesus. The world rightly calls Christians fundamentalist.
Now in all the NEW TESTAMENT I can not see anyone being put to death for their beliefs save the Christians. Therefore I do not think that a christian should put to death anyone for what they believe even if they did hold a position in Parliament such as the "puritans" did in Salem.
I would like to point out the the "so called puritans" who put to death these Witches are our brothers in law. Not our brothers. I say this because they wanted to bring everyone to Mount Sinai and not to Mount Zion the heavenly Jerusalem.
Perhaps if you wanted to comment you could say what you would do with a Witch and you were in power from a Christian perspective.
Add Your Comment(12)
Salem Witch TrialsPosted by Correy Wednesday, February 15, 2006
After reading many creeds and belief statements
I decided to stick to my own
12 Comments:
This is a well-balanced perspective on this. We must also remember that the Puritans in that era were not only extreme legalists but were also very superstitious.
As far as your question as to what I would do with a witch were I in power, I would get Benny Hinn to cast the demons out of her and then I would continually baptize her until she repented.
Seriously, I don't know.
There's also the possibility that they were on to something and the 21th century modern critic doesn't look very kindly at the supernatural.
Hey PB,
Good Post. My opinion about the Salem Witch Trials is that there were some men who claimed they were Christians but really didn't act in a Christian manner as they killed people who disagreed with them.
I'm sure that what they did is not in line with the Puritan belief and I don't hold all Puritans accountable for what they did.
Anyhow, regarding witches, my opinion is to TREAD CAREFULLY when dealing with witches. We are talking about people who have not only fully turned away from God but opened their heart and invited demons in. These demons hate them and want to send them to eternal damnation. If we approach them, the demons will attack us wholeheartedly unless we are fully conformed to Christ. If you have a weakness, they will know it and attack it.
Of course, we still have to love them and turn them to God. To do that, I would ask God to reveal His love for them and I would ask Christ to lead me to help them with their conversion and then trust Him.
Well said!
Doug
well said theden.
the salem witch trials is another example of the Lords name being taken in vain ie, the authority of His name being abused.
"In the name of God I declare you a witch! Let the judgment be Hanging!" - not a very Godly approach.
Salem fits in a long History of tragdies in the name of God. the inquisition, the crusades etc.
also it should be noted that a recent theory is that these 'witches' may not have been witches at all but people suffering the effects of Ergot poisoning, a fungus which grows on Rye and can produces LSD-like hallucinations.
church weddings are another example of this.
ever wondered why people who are not christian get married in a church?
this tradition started in medieval Europe, where the children of a couple (regardless of if they were married under any other religous ceremony or had been a couple for any number of years) not married in a 'christian church' would be considerred illegitemate and thus unable to inherit upon the deaths of their parents.
Who then got the estate? yep, the church would take control of the land, crops, livestock, wealth etc.
If you wanted to pass on your stuff to your kids, you needed a church wedding. no matter how pagan you were.
I believe those folks who killed those "witches" were no Christians at all!
I've met up with a few new age witches in my day and I've kept the situation in prayer to Christ Jesus and he has caused them to run away. My prayer is that their black hearts be turned.
http://battlegroundjesus.blogspot.com/2005/09/new-age-neighbors.html
I think there are no witchs at all in salnam just that the girls were board
I think there are no witchs at all in salnam just that the girls were board
I think there are no witchs at all in salnam just that the girls were board
I think there are no witchs at all in salnam just that the girls were board
I think there are no witchs at all in salnam just that the girls were board
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