Witchcraft and the Undermining of the Virgin Birth of Christ

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I had noticed through the years that many Liberians who claimed to be Christians seemed under-impressed by the virgin birth of Jesus. While I never felt that they were rejecting the teaching itself, their lack of either questions or serious discussion about this absolutely amazing miracle had surprised me. Then something happened that cleared up the mystery.

Several years ago we met a Liberian man who had been well trained in the various ways the moringa tree could be used to improve health. He had studied his subject well and was seeing great success treating illnesses of various sorts. 

Dried moringa leaves

When a friend of ours, Pastor Maxwell, had a debilitating stroke and traditional medicine was doing little to restore him back to health, we invited Samson to go with us to Pastor Maxwell's house in the hopes that he would be able to offer some advise. We figured Pastor Maxwell had nothing to lose and everything to gain by trying a natural remedy.

On our way Samson regaled us with stories of people who had been helped with what ailed them by adding moringa to their diets. In passing Samson mentioned that he did not believe in using any kind of witchcraft to heal people. Knowing the temptation  Liberians in any kind of medical field were under to combine Western medicine or natural remedies with superstitious practices, this impressed us.

We arrived at the house, excited to be offering help and happy to introduce Samson. As we sat in a small circle of chairs, Samson talked of his successes in treating people. He also reiterated what he had already said to us about his disdain for witchcraft. However, this time he elaborated.

Pastor Maxwell Magbinne and his wife Martha - 2002

Witchcraft was bad, he said. In fact, it had caused a lot of problems in his church. A woman had actually come and confessed that the reason the church was so troubled was because of her. She was a witch. Proof? She had, she claimed, given birth to seven children—all without a man. And they were all born under water. 

What??? Mark and I were stunned. We had assumed that when Samson said he didn't practice witchcraft that he meant he didn't believe in witchcraft. Not so! He totally believed in witchcraft! So much so that this man, who minutes before had been telling us what happens to the human brain when deprived of sufficient oxygen for even a few minutes, told us of a woman who not only lived under water, but had given birth to seven children there. And obviously, since she was standing in his church telling the story, she had not suffered any lasting brain damage. 

Our friend Samson had no idea that by accepting as true a totally unbelievable story, one that flew in the face of natural law and one which he, of all people, should be able to refute, he was undermining the Christianity he claimed to uphold. 

John 8:44 records what Jesus said to the Pharisees and in this passage we can learn something very important about the devil. 

You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.

While a cynic may suspect the story-telling woman found it worth it to play the part of the "witch" for the pleasure of the spotlight, in the greater scheme of things does it really make a difference if Samson and other Liberians believe her? 

Yes, I believe it does. While every lie carries a danger, some are more clearly dangerous. Satan, the father of lies, delights in undermining the miraculous nature of Christ's birth. In a culture where stories such as this are believed—a virgin giving birth seven times under water—why would one virgin giving birth above water be impressive? 

Please join us in prayer that God would allow us to be a part of breaking the bondage to witchcraft and spiritism under which the Liberians live.

See "The Devil Made Me Do It."
See Breaking Out of the Hate Cycle.