Witchcraft in the Church?

I have to be honest when it comes to the topic of witchcraft most of us think of it as something that has to do with the Occult or with Halloween or a Harry Potter movie, but the truth of the matter is that the spirit of witchcraft is something that can also infiltrate a body of believers.  How you may ask?

Witchcraft is a spiritual power that seeks to control those it can by manipulating situations and or people that may not recognize its influence.  How do Christians fall under its influence in either using it or submitting to it?  What Christians do that use the spirit of witchcraft is they will try to manipulate those they are trying to control to either submit to their ideas or beliefs on a topic that forces the other person or group involved to be like them.  The Spirit of Christ is never one to force one to do anything.  Christ will draw a person and will offer them the opportunity to do what the Spirit is leading them to do, but it still is the individual's choice.  Some believers I have encountered have tried to say that if someone doesn't what they are wanting them to do that they are being disobedient and need to be disciplined for not acting on what they perceive is the best path for them.  This is witchcraft in operation.  

In the story of the prodigal son the Father knows that the son who becomes the prodigal knows that the choice that they are making is the wrong one, but does He discipline the son, does He try to stop them from doing what they want to do with their life? No.  Because the Father knows that for the son to understand what he is doing is wrong he has to travel that path on his own.  Did the Father disown the son when the son realizes that he can come back to work for his Father?  No the Father actually runs to his son and greets him and throws a huge party for him, because the Father has a love for his son that goes beyond what he has done, he loves him because he is a part of the Father's family.  

The lesson we need to learn here is that we should not let the spirit of witchcraft run our lives whether we are on the giving or receiving side of it.  We need to make sure our motives are pure and let us influence others by showing them the love of God which is truly the best way to help influence those we care most about.  For I rather have people respect me and listen to me and know that I truly care about them and their life choices than to be an individual who dictates to them how things should be and have them turn their back on me with very little hope of reconciliation.   As the Bible states in Deuteronomy 30:19,  I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.  Choose life Church.