text: Hi Kristy,\n\nI understand that Wicca does not actively serve the devil. \n\n(To be honest, I doubt anyone really actively serves diabolical forces. Who in their right mind would? )\n\nAnd I know a lot of motivation of Wicca is good -- my guess is that it wants to preserve nature, it wants to free people from destructive emotions, it offers a sense of peace and aesthetic beauty, it tries to remedy society's negative views of women, and so forth. \n\n(Please excuse my ignorance if I mistated something... or feel free to clarify something I missed.)\n\nI think most of the people here are simply thinking that a person either serves "God" or they don't, just as a person either serves Wicca or they don't. And by not actively serving the purposes of one, a person is automatically serving the purposes of the other.\n\nI think the distinction is extremely important, though, in how we relate to each other; and telling someone they "serve the devil" is a pretty lousy way to build relationships, or show concern for and interest in each other. I know I'd be turned off if someone said that about me, especially if my intentions were good.\n\nAs far as the verse you refer to ("Judge, lest ye not be judged..."), the context isn't saying that a person cannot come to an opinion about someone else and their behavior. People always come to conclusions, it's part of life. \n\n(After all, you yourself have just made a judgment: You've judged other people as wrong because you perceive they're judging YOU, right? My point is that it's impossible to live life without constantly "judging" other things at that level. We HAVE to make some judgements just in order to live.) \n\nJesus IS saying (very specifically) that, before I worry about fixing someone else, I need to look even harder at myself and see what needs fixing in ME. \n\n("Why focus on the speck of dust in your brother's eye, while you have a beam sticking out of yours?" That's one of Jesus' hyperbole's here. "You goofball, take the beam out of your own eye, so that you can see clearly on how to help your brother fix his.")\n\nThe person who evaluates someone else as needing help has to first evaluate himself and at least acknowledge (if not deal with) his own issues first. Otherwise our intentions are in the wrong place.