From: hudson@athena.cs.uga.edu (Paul Hudson Jr)
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.christia,alt.athiesm,talk.religion.misc
Subject: Re: Faith in the Word (was: Drinking & christian living)
Date: 22 Jul 92 22:45:20 GMT
Organization: University of Georgia, Athens

In article <nyarko.711815655@ee.ualberta.ca> nyarko@ee.ualberta.ca (David Nyarko) writes:

>I have no idea of the age of the child when these words were spoken. 
>Regarding children and the age at which they could be used by the Devil,
>I have personally known an 11 year old girl and her 10 year old brother,
>who were a witch and a wizard. The girl actually being the head (queen-
>witch) of a gathering of witches and wizards far older that her. They
>were obviously demonic possessed. In parts of the world where Fetish
>worship and vodoo practices are very common, these are also common.
>However, the power of God breaks all these.

I don't even know what evidence there is that a Satan worshipper who
calls out a curse has any power on a believer, unless it is accompanied
by demonic attack.  What evidence is there to believe that Balaam's curse
would have head an effect if it had been given.  God told Abraham that
He would bless those who bless him and curse those who curse him.  If you
curse someone, you tend to risk hurting yourself.  I could probably dig up
out of kings examples of people who cursed other people, perhaps even
foolishly invoking the name of the LORD, and the person did not fall under
the curse.  I can think of how Saul swore in the LORD's name that whoever
ate anything before a certain battle would die.   Jonathon did not hear and
ate.  Saul almost killed his son, but did not.  Jonathon was not killed,
but Saul had used the name of the LORD in vain.  He was the one guilty
of sin.

Think of how many people have cursed Christ, for example on the cross,
and Christ is not cursed.

>>over another person.  I think maybe some Charismatic teaching overemphaises
>>the power of human speech.  I could understand if the woman repented, or
>>forgave the other girl, or just prayed and believed God that this would be the
>>catalyst, so to speak, for a healing.  James writes that we are to confess
>>our faults one to another and pray one for another that we may be healed.
>>What I do not understand is the Scriptural justification for the idea that
>>the power of the words of mere humans have this kind of power.  of course
>>they can hurt others, and they can get us into trouble.  What is Scriptures
>>are there to support this?
>
>The few I can get hold of are: James 3:9-10, Noah cursing Canaan (Somewhere
>in Genesis).

I believe that in the case of Noah, it was prophecy.  If you look at the
rest of the passage, he goes on to prophecy about Japeth and Shem.

True, from James, we can curse one another, but that does not mean that
the one we curse has a curse or a hex on him.  I can say that Jim Smith
has a wooden leg everywhere I go.  But if Jim does not have a wooden leg,
my speaking will not give him one.  I would only be a liar.  The one who
curses his brother hursts himself by sinning.  Of course, he may hurt his
brother's feelings as well.  If a curse comes from God, I would guessthat
there are many examples in the Old Testament, and is spoken through a prophet,
then the person would really be cursed.  We have the power to curse someone
but I don't think this is the same as putting a curse on someone.

Link Hudson.




>
>>Link
>-- 
>-------- David Nyarko   |  Internet: nyarko@bode.ee.ualberta.ca -----
>"A result of GOD's love for mankind was the giving of his only Son
>Jesus Christ so that anyone who believes in his Son would instead of
>perishing as GOD's justice demands, rather have eternal life."
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