Can a sorcerer inherit the Kingdom of God?  The World English Dictionary defines sorcery as: “the art, practices, or spells of magic, esp black magic, by which it is sought to harness occult forces or evil spirits in order to produce preternatural effects in the world.”  In God’s Word there are many things forbidden and for those who practice these things, their’s is not the Kingdom of Heaven.  In Revelation 21:8 it says, “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” 

When examining the subject of sorcery there are four quick questions that will hopefully be helpful in growing in discernment and understanding.   To better understand a thing, it’s often best to go back to its roots.  So the first question asked is who was the very first sorcerer? Before answering this it might be needful to add another couple definitions here.  In painting a broad brush one could say that generally sorcery is the ritualistic practice which attempts to discover and use certain phrases and actions which allows a person to tap into the power supposedly available to them.  Sorcery might also be defined as:  seeking to use physical objects along with certain discovered spiritual laws to attain spiritual power and enlightenment. For example, let’s look at the sorcerer’s wand.  To the sorcerer, the wand is a physical tool that can help channel or direct certain spiritual energy to and from the sorcerer.  So most simply stated, sorcery is the act of using something physical to attain something spiritual.

Okay, so with all this said, who was the first sorcerer?  See if you can figure it out.  Who was the first person to seek wisdom by eating something physical?  If you are thinking Eve you’re correct.  Even though Eve never went to Hogwarts School of Wizardry, she was taught by the top professor himself- The Serpent.  “And when the woman saw that the fruit was…to be desired to make one wise she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat…” Genesis 3:6  Wisdom is not a physical item, yet Eve sincerely believed that by eating the physical fruit that she would magically attain wisdom.  This act of reaching out to something physical to tap into the spiritual is not new age, rather the oldest lie in human history.  Satan’s promise to Eve was not subtile, but extremely enticing.  “You shall surely not die.  For God does know that in the day you eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be as gods…”  Genesis 3:4-5  Here Eve’s heart is revealed.  She desired to be as one of the gods.  This is the heart of all sorcery. 

The next question: “Isn’t it just make-believe?”  There are many books, movies and video games that are designed to both entice many into magic and also make it seem like harmless fun.  But a simple Google search reveals that sorcery is not designed to be harmless and for many it is much more than fun.  For many, even in today’s technological society, sorcery and witchcraft are a way of life.  We might never question if adultery, fornication, or murder is harmless, and go to great lengths to keep young children from these actions. Nor do we tell our children it’s okay to watch these things as long as we know they’re just pretend.  Yet too often we let our guard down when it comes to the subject of sorcery.  However the Word of God does not separate them.  The Bible puts them all together and has nothing good to say about any.  See: Galatians 5:19-21.

Thirdly, why does God forbid the practice of sorcery?  Hopefully it should be obvious by now why God forbids sorcery and witchcraft.  To God these practices are not make-believe, fantasy, nor fun.  Sorcery enslaves and binds just as any sin, but even more so, it opens doors to demonic teachings and an unseen world bent on destroying mankind.  Whether intentional or not, doors can be opened, ones that are very difficult to close.  God has never winked at such actions.  Before Israel even entered their land, God clearly forbade them from practicing such things.  See: Deuteronomy 18:10-11. 

The final question: So now what?  The answer is simple.  In fact, God made sure He gave us a crystal clear example from His Holy Word.  In Acts 19:19 it says, “Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.”   May we all be willing to say goodbye to those curious things in our lives that only lead to destruction.  

If you had to choose between sorcery or the Savior, which would you choose?  As for me, I choose the Savior!