When I was growing up, my reference for the word "bewitched" was a television show of the same name. It was a light hearted comedy about a witch named Samantha who was married to a mortal (Darrin), and trying to live the life of a typical suburban housewife in America. Samantha's relatives, both witches and warlocks, along with Darrin and Samantha's neighbors, the Kravits and Darrin's employer, McMann and Tate are just some of the characters that contributed to the laughs and entertainment of the show. As a much older man, and member of the body of Christ, I now have a very different reference for the word "bewitched". And this one is no laughing matter at all. It is about something that I pray more Christians become aware of and develop a greater concern for. It is about the bewitching of the Christian church.
In Galatians 3:1, in response to a perversion of the gospel of grace that was occurring in the churches throughout Galatia, the Apostle Paul was inspired to pose the following question to them in his letter.
"You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?" The question itself was simply this; "who has bewitched you?" There is no doubt that this question was specific to the matter being addressed by the apostle. The gospel of grace, found wholly and only in Christ, was being deserted for "another gospel", which Paul had unashamedly proclaimed was not another gospel at all.
As I considered the word "bewitched" and the question asked by the Apostle Paul, I became convinced that this issue was not limited to the gospel of grace. On the contrary, I concluded that "bewitching" has so affected Christ's church that one might say that nothing has had a more negative impact on it. Perhaps you may think I'm exaggerating when I say this. It is the meaning of the word that is translated "bewitched" in the Galatian passage that has brought me to this conclusion.
The word translated "bewitched" is the Greek word "baskaino". It's meaning is "to fascinate by false representation". Some of you who are reading this are saying to yourselves, "Oh my gosh, I know exactly what he means about the impact this has had on the Church." Let me repeat the definition one more time. "To fascinate by false representation." There are a multitude of believers who are being fascinated by false representations in the day that you and I live. Oh, how I could only wish it was contained in the churches of Galatia.
What was it that had caused these Galatian believers to
"desert the One who had called them by the grace of God for another gospel"? I'm not setting aside the responsibility to be Berean-like and examine what people say in light of God's inspired and infallible word of truth. The Galatian believers were apparently lacking in doing this as they ought to have. But Paul is clearly inspired to write about something else that was occurring. They had been "bewitched". Certainly there were those who had been the instrument of the bewitching. In this case, those composing the churches in Galatia had been fascinated by false representation regarding righteousness coming through the works of the law.
There is a reason that Paul purposed to preach Christ and Him crucified. He admonished against the use of smooth and flattering speech, clever speech and superiority of speech. On more than one occasion he warned of those who would use the same. We have not headed these warnings well. It has leavened the whole lump and has spread like gangrene. In part it is because we have not contended earnestly for the faith. We have neglected to take up the shield of faith. We have failed to take the helmet of salvation and all too often we have left the sword of the Spirit, the word of God, idly in its sheath. We have not rightly divided the word of truth. Many have failed to be on the alert, to exercise discernment and to fix their eyes on Jesus. We have forsaken the assembling together with brothers and sisters in Christ. We have filled our lives with so much busyness that we have no time to consider Jesus, to dwell on the things that are true, honorable, right, pure, etc. We have failed to be serious minded about spiritual matters. We have allowed our minds to be lead astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. We have not gone to the throne of grace as He has welcomed us and bid us come. We have not set our minds on the Spirit as we ought. We have spent too much time walking in the flesh and not the Spirit. We have lacked a passion to know Him and the power of His resurrection; to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Too often we are concerned with what we can get instead of what we can give. Although it is not an exhaustive list, I mention all of these only to say that they have contributed to our susceptibility to be bewitched.
Why is it that many believe in the "health, wealth, and prosperity gospel"? Because many have been fascinated by it through false representation.
How can so many believe in regeneration through water baptism? Because many have been fascinated by it through false representation.
Why have so many believed in the doctrine of holiness or sinless perfection? Because many have been fascinated by it through false representation.
How can so many who claim to be students of the Bible endeavor to use books like "The Shack" through false representation.
How can so many Christian churches have women participating in roles outside the parameters of the inspired word of God? Because many have been fascinated by it through false representation.
How can so many Christians express acceptance for or be ambivalent about the matter of homosexuality? Because many have been fascinated to do so through false representation.
How can so many pastors, elders and other's in positions of leadership and influence be so quick to jettison our pulpits, box up our hymnals and even remove the cross from our churches? Because many have been fascinated to do so through false representation.
Why are so many churches watering down their statement of faith, if they have one at all, and treating "doctrine" as a word to be feared and despised? Because many have been fascinated to do so through false representation.
How can there be so little difference between a rock concert and a Sunday morning song service at many churches? Because many have been fascinated to accept it through false representation.
Why have so many evangelical believers embraced movements to unite and declare commonality with those whose religions reject the precious truths of Christ? Because many have been fascinated to do so through false representation.
And how can so many Christians, like the recipients of Paul's letter to the Galatians, still be ready to abandoned the gospel of grace for another gospel? Because many are still fascinated by it through false representation.
I could go on but I suppose I have said enough. I hope that any reader of this article will now understand why I consider this matter of "bewitching" so serious for the church today. Oh that we might remember the words written by the Apostle Peter and stand firm in the truth
"that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness." Praise the Lord that we do not have to be "bewitched"! We need to be humble recipients of all that God has provide us. His word. The Helper. Brothers and sisters in Christ. Gifted men. We need to take Him at His word. We need to be obedient from the heart. Lord, may you work mightily in the lives of your people. Help me. Help my brothers and sisters in Christ. Help us to cling to the Truth, our best defense in our desire to not be bewitched.
