Thursday, January 24, 2008

Pastor's Gone Wild - Case 012: The Hocus-Pocus Pastor

A new series highlighting the odd, bizarre, funny, or perhaps even heretical behavior of those who claim the title "pastor".
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Case #012 - The Case of the hocus-pocus pastor

In our age of tolerance we are taught the importance of embracing many different ideas. That old concept that certain things are exclusive by nature is seen as passé. After all, why choose either vanilla or chocolate when you can get a twisty-cone?

A vicar [an Anglican pastor] from Yatton, England seems to take a "twisty-cone" approach to religion. The Rev. Chris Horseman (he is not one of the four horseman of the apocalypse, it seems) recently decided it would be neat to become a white witch.

Gender issues notwithstanding (aren't witch's female?), Horseman became intrigued with "good magic", which he believes will aid in counteracting the evil around him. Of course, this could come in handy. Yes, yes. It's nice to have a pastor pray with you in the hospital--but think how much better it would be if he could make cool smoke rings, utter awesome-sounding incantations, and dance around in your room naked holding a pot of burning incense (ok, that last one might not be so great).

Apparently being able to talk to the sovereign Lord of the Universe isn't enough for the Yatton vicar, though one would question if such conversations have ever taken place (other than God saying, "repent sinner"). Why go to all the trouble of having to believe on Jesus and live a life of holiness, and be loving to people, and compassionate, and long-suffering, and self-controlled, yada, yada, yada. That's a lot of work, man! Seriously, Christianity actually wants you to give your entire life to Jesus. Geeesh! Horseman apparently sees the occult as a precious time saver, since it requires little more than an occasional lunch-break for most parishioners to get some incantation uttered. Keep in mind that we Westerners are busy people. This decision does have Biblical precedent--Saul had his witch of Endor (and we know that turned out so well).

In a non-typical move, the Anglican church actually decided the occult was incompatible with Christianity. Of course, the Diocese "communication officer" was very polite and referred to Horseman's sorcery in a very nice way. He said, "Mr Horseman agreed his activities as a ceremonialist were incompatible with his Anglican Orders". I would have thought a stronger stance would have been called for. After all, the Bible does command "do not allow a witch to live" (Exodus 22:18). Deuteronomy records Moses as telling the people of Israel that "when you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you" (18:11-12). Galatians informs us that "the acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft..." (Gal 5:19-20). Revelations 21:8 indicates that "those who practice magical arts" will be put into the "fiery lake of burning sulfur". 22:14-15 tells us that those who practice witchcraft will not be allowed in the "Celestial City". I only wish the Bible was more clear on this issue (tongue firmly pressed into cheek).......

The Anglican church does have a little wiggle room here, and we must be understanding. We should applaud their decision that the Christian/Occult twisty cone is (currently) not available in their movement. Their politeness is also understandable. Mr. Horseman isn't one of those nasty occult leaders, he is simply a "ceremonialist". Gee....that clarifies everything.

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Posted by at 9:50 AM
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5 comments:

  1. Hi!

    Thanks for such a sweet, reasoned, balanced, charitable commentary. Wonderful journalism! NOT. A little digging around in not very obscure places would supply you with a little of the true story.

    I am the man. I'll begin seven years ago, with the Bishop of Taunton, who had the wonderful reputation of bringing all his priests to tears. In an interview I was told that caring for my MS disabled wife was not compatible with my full time Anglican Ministry.

    Okay. A soul destroying moment. Have you been there? So, partly to make ends meet, and partly because it IS my vocation, I began an independant Ceremonialist practice. YES CEREMONIALIST. It really IS a word. I began working with people of all denominations, all faiths, no faith, fitting Rites and Ceremonies around their own life journey, rather than fitting them to a "one-size fits all" solution. This led me into some unusal places.

    During the last seven years I have also led Sunday worship in many parishes around the Diocese, at cost to myself, taking several long interegna, as well as holiday cover. A ministry, I will say, that has been greatly appreciated. I have made many, many friends.

    Desiring to know more about some of those unusual places, I began to study. I discovered (oh dear this may come as a shock to you) that Pagans do NOT have horns and a twisty tail. In fact a more open, loving community it would be hard to find. I have recieved NO condemnation from them for being a Christian priest. Look and learn.

    On my recent dealings with the church, I was told, not that I was worshipping the devil, but that I had, by leading ceremonials other than those allowed for in Canon Law, breached my oaths. I can understand the point.

    I must say, had the roles been reversed, I think I would have "charged" to be a Christian ambassador in these unusual and unknown places, and given my blessings.

    But, sadly, it wasn't to be. Indeed, the Bishop,on being asked what direction I should have taken 7 years ago, replied, "Ummmm, become a bus-driver". I remain a priest, both in the Anglican order sense, but also, and perhaps more importantly in what I AM and do.

    My company, "Rent-a-Rev-uk", not only has a high reputation, but will soon be expanding.

    Please try to refrain from sensationalism. One of these days the "witch hunt" may be against you. Charity at all times.

    In love and light and laughter

    Chris Horseman
    ReplyDelete
  2. Our hearts go out to you as you care for your wife. Your devotion to her is an amazing testimony of love and for that you truly have my respect. I only hope, that if I find myself in a similar circumstance, that I will show (by God's grace) the same level of love, devotion, and commitment that you have shown to your wife.

    As to the other issues you mentioned, I can only choose to stand with Scripture and my Lord. "Cermonialist" and/or Occultic practices are incompatible with a truly Biblical faith. An honest reading of Biblical Christianity confirms this.

    There was another witch I know of who performed ceremonies for a profit. The account is recorded in Acts 8, and the person's name was Simon the Socerer. Verse 20 states:

    Peter answered: "May your money perish with you...".

    Peter goes on to say in vv. 21-23:

    You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin."

    Verse 24 is also very telling:

    "Then Simon answered, "Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me."
    ReplyDelete
  3. This conversation brings to mind Luke 14:26

    "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.

    Certainly the point here is not to hate your wife, but rather to place Christ above all, even your wife and children. I would do almost anything for my wife, but I simply cannot deny my Lord. I understand the need to financially support your family, but to take on a "vocation" that denies Christ and reduces the Gospel to one of many options in a "life journey"? Couldn't you have gotten a part-time job at Kentucky Fried Chicken or something?

    At least they Anglican church raised a minor fuss about the issue, which puts them ahead of the Episcopal church which tolerates homosexuals, gender confused individuals and converts to Islam in the ranks of their priests.
    ReplyDelete
  4. Who said Chris has denied his Lord. He can take a ceremony for someone using a form of words that acknowledges their spirituality. They may not worship Christ as you guys do but they understand that there is a divine force behind life. Paul started preaching in athens about the unknown God - It wasn't Yahweh honoured by that statue and it certainly wasn't Jesus. Perhaps we should excommunicate the Apostle for egaging in syncretism. Speaking of which I'm sure both of you are pure in your worship and are not tainted by your culture, or underlying theological ideas and certainly not by any of that USA 'everyone has a right to be happy' nonsense - where exactly is that in the Bible? ow about trying to understand Chris before condemning him. Just be thankful that you are so wonderful and leave the work of engaging with real life people to people like Chris and I
    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous,

    You mention the account of Paul at Athens where he referenced the statue of the unknown God. True enough.

    Yet Paul refused to allow the "unknown" God to stay unknown. God has revealed himself in Jesus Christ. Paul was not saying, "there is some fantastic divine force behind everything". Nor was he saying "any form of spirituality is ok because it acknowledges this force". He was saying that Jesus is God, and the only way to the Father is through Christ.

    Paul was making an exclusive statement, as Scripture does over and over. The Old Testament commanded the Israelites to put away false (non-Yahweh) gods. The New Testament commands mankind to put off all pretended paths to God except through Christ. Hardly the idea that "all spiritual paths are good".

    I'm sure your method makes you more popular - but let's not pretend its biblical.
    ReplyDelete

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