Magick or Prayer with Props?
November 11, 2009 by kristinemac
Filed under Christians & The Occult
One of the arguments I've heard…and made myself in the past…is that practicing magick is no different than prayer. In fact, a popular saying among mystics and Christian Witch's is that magick is "prayer with props". The question…is this a proper understanding of magick or prayer?
Prayer…from a Christian standpoint…is intimate communication with God. A part of the relationship we have through knowing Jesus Christ as our Savior. Rather than being a session of "this is what I want so make it happen", prayer is a private time of worship, expression of faith, confession, lifting up concerns for yourself and others. A Christian most certainly can ask God for help, to provide for our needs, etc. However, prayer is not about making a list of wants…or at least it shouldn't be. Prayer is asking for God's will to be done rather than our own.
Magick can best be understood as a neutral system designed to tap into "universal" energy. A practitioner of magick attempts to shape or bend this energy to their will or desire. In this regard, spellcraft…what some are calling "prayer with props"…using incantations with crystals, candles, oils, etc., invoking the power of gods to assist or empower their spells…is a far cry from true prayer. Especially prayer as modeled by Jesus.
In Luke 11:1-4 Jesus is asked by his disciples how to pray.
One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples." He said to them,
"When you pray, say: 'Father,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins,
for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
And lead us not into temptation.
The Lord's Prayer is a model of how we as Christians are to pray. Saying that spell craft is the same as prayer is an inaccurate representation of what prayer is truly meant to be and reduces God to nothing more than a cosmic vending machine. This is why false teaching…such as the "prosperity gospel"…cause such harm. It can lead people to misunderstanding the purpose of prayer. Causing confusion in those who practice magick as well.
Prayer can be personal or corporate but either way it's about relationship with God. Communicating with Him on a personal, intimate level. So much more than "prayer with props" can ever hope to be.
200x300-30days.gif)
