(SIU stands for Scripture in use)
During the following days of February 28th – March 3rd 2000 an SIU workshop was held at Kanvilli GILLBT training centre. There was a good attendance of people from the various GILLBT projects and some other visitors who work with the indigenous people of Ghana. Every morning the session commenced with devotions followed by the main seminar.
Dr. Alison Howell, who is a Doctor of anthropology, gave a very clear presentation that was received very attentively by the floor. She started the day’s proceedings provocatively with three questions requiring a response:
1) Have you ever seen lights at the top of trees at night?
2) Have you ever seen someone flying?
3) And have you ever seen anyone eating human flesh?
These three things are often associated here with witchcraft or some similar spiritual activity. Alison directed us to various scripture references, which clearly state, that God does not condone these practices. In the old covenant people had to be stoned. These days we live in the new covenant. It was reported that certain people throughout the country are using the Old Testament scriptures as a basis to persecute alleged witches without really investigating the matter thoroughly. Before a previous workshop, the pastors who were to be present at the workshop were asked independently to say what their response would be these days to a witch? Each of them responded with the same scripture reference relating to the woman caught in adultery. Jesus says, “Who of you will cast the first stone?” Likewise, our response should be the same.
We were exhorted not to seek revenge, as this is purely God’s prerogative. If we do, we are allowing the enemy access into our lives. As we are fallen beings it is hard for us to wait and see God work on our behalf but it is necessary for his glory and our good. Here, Alison stated a personal testimony, of having to wait 9 months when someone had wronged her. After this time had elapsed the offending person made a public apology without being prompted by Alison.
The kind of actions listed in Galatians 5:20 were relevant to the talk. They are associated and are a response from the heart especially to be in control. The question at the beginning of the seminar was asked relating to the eating of human flesh. This can refer to a spiritual act and not just the physical act of cannibalism. Eating of human flesh is often (as is ‘flying’) associated with witchcraft and is more often seen ‘spiritually’ by the people involved. No wonder the Pharisee’s were deeply shocked when Jesus said, “… eat of my flesh and drink of my blood”. It sounded to them like witch talk and was abhorrent to them because of the law, which forbade such practices. Jesus was talking about an act of faith, thereby destroying the enemy’s power. He showed that He had the ultimate power by asking us to ‘eat of him’; what witch would ask you to eat of them?
Various scriptures were highlighted and written on the flipchart for the benefit of the hearers. Much of the stigma relating to witchcraft is fear. It is a very current topic for people here in Ghana and many people come into fear because of it. Alison reported an example of a lady who had seen one of these lights mentioned earlier. The woman was frightened and came to Alison for help. When she saw the light she was so afraid that she backed away and couldn’t turn around and run. (This is due to the belief that if you run forwards, in the normal way you will leave your soul behind and the witch will eat it). On reaching her home she told her husband who went outside to check with a torch. It disappeared when he got close to it and on searching the spot there was nothing there. The woman thought she might be going mad. She visited Alison who told her about not being afraid and referred her to scripture. The next time it happened she was backing away with the memory of the previous time still fresh in her mind, when she remembered Alison’s words and shouted “Jesus talk to the light to go away”. Immediately it went.
References were given relating to the fact that no one can steal your spirit, as the Bible says when this happens you will die immediately. God owns every soul (Matthew 10:28) and only he has power to kill the soul. Fear is a deception of Satan and we should be careful not to perpetrate stories about witches. Alison suggests that we should ask a person who tells us a story whether they witnessed it with their own eyes. If they say that they were told the story did they also ask that person the same question?
It was interesting to note about horns. In many parts of Africa including Ghana people wear the tips of animal horns for protection around their necks. It’s usually not just the horn but also include some herbs or specially prepared substance. Animals use their horns for protection of themselves and their young and for fighting; people wear horns for similar reasons. Alison sited an incident to do with a Hausa man (Nigerian) who read the new Hausa Bible. When he came to passages about Jesus being the horn it was translated as Mighty Saviour. He found the old translation and read about ‘the horn of salvation’. He stood up in church to testify. At first he said he was angry that the translation had missed this out. Since he had read that Jesus was his Horn he didn’t need to wear his horn under his garment any more, and he took it off from around his neck, and with a few friends they destroyed it at the front of the church.
The Lord being The Rock of Our Salvation also exemplifies protection. This is very significant for people here as big rocks are seen as special places imbibed with spiritual power. Surrounding Chiana where Alison has spent some time, are a number of high hills. The people there believe that it was due to these hills or one in particular that the slave trade was halted, so it became a revered place. An example of the church there was sited. The people required a place to meet so asked the chief and the local important men for a piece of land. They were given a site and began to have times where they met to pray, read the Word, clap and sing. A while later the local soothsayer asked that each person bring a chicken to him as he had something important to say. Some of the fearful Christians came with their chickens. The soothsayer was saying they needed to sacrifice a chicken as there were some people making noise and blocking the route to the sacred hill. The church heard about it and went to the chief and complained that they had been insulted as they had asked for the land. So the chief being in agreement rebuked the soothsayer and his helpers and ordered that they each pay with a sheep, and if they wanted them to move they should just ask and not try by devious means to move them!
Witchcraft of any kind is a counterfeit work, replacing the work of the Holy Spirit and is an affront to God. It says we don’t need God when he is actually the one who is in control. The Book of Revelation talks of those who practice such things that they have no place in the Kingdom of God. These people are under God’s judgement, but we have a responsibility as servants of God to show love to these people as “God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” We should not be afraid of them, as God has given us a Spirit of power of love and a sound mind (2 Tim 1:7). When such people as elderly ladies are accused of being witches, even in churches, the pastors or elders should prove that there is nothing to fear and go and sit next to such people.
Alison stressed that the majority of people accused of being witches are completely innocent. The accusation comes from the need to blame someone, from such thoughts of jealousy and hatred as well as fear.
What has been described above are just some of the examples of what was stated at the workshop. Time was also available for the participants to study the various passages of scripture for themselves, discuss issues relevant to them and create their own relevant Bible studies for their people back home.
POSTSCRIPT
Here I include a message from Creation Care Pollinator about the passing of Dr. Allison Howell