Repentance and the Witch Doctor

On our mission trip to Kenya, some of our team members encountered witch doctors. They are common in the Makindu area and considered powerful and feared by many of the people. They are called in by locals for healing, casting spells, etc...your basic witch doctor job description.

Much like the demon possessed individuals Jesus encountered in the gospel accounts, the witch doctors were confrontational and angry toward the Christians out sharing the gospel message. Some refused to listen to the story of Jesus but a few did and their lives were forever changed.

One of the Americans on our trip encountered a witch doctor (which he quickly said was way beyond his experience but not beyond the experience of some of the African believers who were with him). They had opportunity to share the story of Jesus who died on the cross for their sins and was raised from the dead. They invited this witch doctor (a woman) to turn from sin and give her life to the Savior. The transformation was dramatic when she prayed inviting Christ to be her Savior and Lord.

Immediately she asked her visitors to go with her into the small structures around her home. She came out with several things my friend described as trinkets, junk, stuff. He learned they were part of her practice of witchcraft. She understood that giving her life to Jesus meant giving up her old life and taking on a new life. They gathered her occult possessions and piled them together and burned them. Then, they dug and hole and buried the ashes and everyone came by and stomped on the site.

Repentance is a key element in salvation according to the Bible. It means that we go in the opposite direction. We are to turn away from sin and turn fully to God. I fear that too many people in America are willing to accept Jesus...so long as they can carry along their favorite sins as well. Such a shallow view of repentance falls short of a saving faith. We are called on my our Lord to love Him with "all our heart, soul, mind, and strength." What do you need to burn and bury for real repentance to be reality in your life?