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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Religious Television Programs and Pentecostalism	Crystal	Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Question: Dear Brother, I wanted your opinion about some Religious Television Programs that offer things that appear to be occultic. For example, I have watched Christian Programs where the Pastors and/or Reverends offer "miracle water" "miracle soaps" and oils to bring healing, good fortune, and for deliverance. I was watching a program called "The Universal Church" (Not The Unity Church or The Universal Life Church) which is a deliverance ministry that helps people be delivered from curses. The host of the program is a Bishop I believe of the Pentecostal faith. He told the audience about an upcoming deliverance service, where he suggest everyone attending bring a black colored piece of clothing and put a knot in it, prior to the service. Once those attending arrive for the service; to untie the article of clothing and God will free them of any curse placed upon them. I found this to be somewhat strange, however I have never been to a deliverance ministry and I'm not familiar with the Pentecostal religion or their beliefs and practices. Could you please give me your opinion on this, as I feel that if you truly are a believer in Christ, you do not need things such as "miracle water, soaps, or oils" for deliverance or have to do things that seem ritualistic. As by seeking the Lord, He will delivered you from things and situations by believing in Him and standing on His word, in which transformation will come into your life. As I too, have felt that someone cursed me. However, I have read the prayers offered on this site, read my bible regularly, pray daily, and I'm currently seeking a Church to attend services; and most of all, when it comes to curses, no one is more powerful than God. Therefore, He will heal, cure, and remove anything that is not Holy. I do feel somewhat better and I realize that things do not happen instantly, but my faith has improved and has become much stronger. If you could please answer this for me, I would really appreciate it. Thank you, God Bless, Crystal
Question Answered by Dear Crystal: Merry Christmas. The practices you are describing are not occultic, but they are unmitigated superstitions. The Church condemns superstition. The superstitions of these T.V. preachers is not much different than a superstition very common among Catholics — burying a St. Joseph statue upside down on a property one wishes to sell. This is a most ridicules superstition among Catholics and should be avoided. If one is demonized God has given us many tools to use. There are appropriate rituals, prayers, relics, and sacramentals that are available to us. Blessed Oil and Holy Water are legitimate sacramentals to use. But, the problem with the prayer cloths and whatnot of these TV preachers is that they do not have the power to create a genuine sacramentals as they are not valid priests; and they use these objects like talismans. Catholics, too, need to be careful not to use legitimate relics, sacramentals, or prayers in a magical fashion. These items have no power in themselves; the power comes from the faith of the person using them. I praise God that our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog has been useful in your own struggles with curses and other things. Yes, God is stronger than any demon, than any curses, but we make a mistake in thinking God will just snap his fingers and the curse is gone. For example, God may delay in freeing someone from a curse in order to teach them something. It is a little more complected sometimes than expecting an immediate result from our prayers. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Religious Television Programs and Pentecostalism

Crystal

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Question:

Dear Brother,

I wanted your opinion about some Religious Television Programs that offer things that appear to be occultic.

For example, I have watched Christian Programs where the Pastors and/or Reverends offer "miracle water" "miracle soaps" and oils to bring healing, good fortune, and for deliverance.

I was watching a program called "The Universal Church" (Not The Unity Church or The Universal Life Church) which is a deliverance ministry that helps people be delivered from curses.

The host of the program is a Bishop I believe of the Pentecostal faith. He told the audience about an upcoming deliverance service, where he suggest everyone attending bring a black colored piece of clothing and put a knot in it, prior to the service. Once those attending arrive for the service; to untie the article of clothing and God will free them of any curse placed upon them.

I found this to be somewhat strange, however I have never been to a deliverance ministry and I'm not familiar with the Pentecostal religion or their beliefs and practices.

Could you please give me your opinion on this, as I feel that if you truly are a believer in Christ, you do not need things such as "miracle water, soaps, or oils" for deliverance or have to do things that seem ritualistic. As by seeking the Lord, He will delivered you from things and situations by believing in Him and standing on His word, in which transformation will come into your life.

As I too, have felt that someone cursed me. However, I have read the prayers offered on this site, read my bible regularly, pray daily, and I'm currently seeking a Church to attend services; and most of all, when it comes to curses, no one is more powerful than God. Therefore, He will heal, cure, and remove anything that is not Holy.

I do feel somewhat better and I realize that things do not happen instantly, but my faith has improved and has become much stronger.

If you could please answer this for me, I would really appreciate it.

Thank you,
God Bless,
Crystal

Question Answered by

Dear Crystal:

Merry Christmas.

The practices you are describing are not occultic, but they are unmitigated superstitions. The Church condemns superstition.

The superstitions of these T.V. preachers is not much different than a superstition very common among Catholics — burying a St. Joseph statue upside down on a property one wishes to sell. This is a most ridicules superstition among Catholics and should be avoided.

If one is demonized God has given us many tools to use. There are appropriate rituals, prayers, relics, and sacramentals that are available to us. Blessed Oil and Holy Water are legitimate sacramentals to use. But, the problem with the prayer cloths and whatnot of these TV preachers is that they do not have the power to create a genuine sacramentals as they are not valid priests; and they use these objects like talismans.

Catholics, too, need to be careful not to use legitimate relics, sacramentals, or prayers in a magical fashion. These items have no power in themselves; the power comes from the faith of the person using them.

I praise God that our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog has been useful in your own struggles with curses and other things. Yes, God is stronger than any demon, than any curses, but we make a mistake in thinking God will just snap his fingers and the curse is gone. For example, God may delay in freeing someone from a curse in order to teach them something. It is a little more complected sometimes than expecting an immediate result from our prayers.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.