The Salem Witch Trials, 1692-1693
THE SALEM WITCH TRIALS, 1692-1693
Yeow Chin Kiong
The Salem Witch Trials were a series of court proceedings, criminal convictions and consequential executions carried out in colonial Massachusetts, America, from February 1692 to May 1693. These trials followed an intense period of mass hysteria and religious paranoia among people of the village of Salem blamed upon practitioners of witchcraft. In total, 19 persons ( mainly women) were hung and some others died while under detention for the charge of "witchcraft" brought upon them by their neighbors in Salem Village, Massachusetts colony. Eventually, all of these unfortunate individuals were exonerated or pardoned, among the reasons being they had been found guilty based on untenable (because irrefutable)
"spectral evidence" of purported victims of witchcraft!
The saddest part of the history of the Salem Witch Trials, similar trials in the rest of colonial America and their predecessors in England and various places in Europe in the 16th century AD until the late 18th century AD was the use of Bible scriptures to justify all forms of punishment,- including capital punishment,- for convicted "witches." God's word was thoroughly mishandled for this misguided purpose.
The enabling law upon which the crime of witchcraft was tried and punished in Salem in 17th century colonial America was, among other legislation, the 1641 statute of the General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The relevent part of the law read, "If any man ir woman be a witch, that is, hath or consulteth a familiar spirit, they shall be put to death. Exod.
22:18, Levit.20:27, Deut.18:10-11"
There are three reasons why the use of these scriptures on modern societies is incorrect handling of God's word. Firstly, these are portions of the Law of Moses in the Old Testament and only applied to God's chosen people or nation of Israel which He brought out of Egyptian bondage and their descendants (and non-Israelites who lived with them) (Exodus 20:2,10; Leviticus 20:2; 24:16)
until Christ removed the Law by "nailing it on the Cross" (Colossians 2:14). No other nation had a Law like the Law of Moses (Deuteronomy 4:8) but had the "law written in their hearts" instead (Romans 2:14-16). The Law of Moses was never universal legislation for all mankind to obey all of it.
Secondly, the Christian's treatment of those who differ from them in doctrine or practice is altogether different from what is required under the Law of Moses. Our approach is persuasive and not coercive. 2 Timothy 2:24-26 reads, "And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will." Indeed, even if our opponent is under the devil's spell, the appropriate steps are laid out in scripture (and they do NOT include capital punishment!). There is also the advice and warning of Galatians 6:1 and the encouragement of James 5:19-20, to correct those in error,- pnot kill them!
Thirdly, there are ample evidence that God's word, particularly the Gospel which Christians are to share with the world (1 Corinthians 15:1-8; Mark 16:15-16), can completely change those who practised witchcraft, magic and sorcery before they were born again. There was Simon the Sorcerer (Acts 8:9-24) and converts to Christianity in Ephesus who had practised sorcery before being obedient to the Gospel (Acts 19:18-19).
The Salem Witch Trials were the unfortunate relic and result of human unexplained fears at a time when the Bible was taken seriously but badly handled. As a result, innocents lost their lives and reputation. A sad incident in history when "... untaught and unstable people twist (the scriotures) to theur own destruction ..." (2 Peter 3:16).
Read up further about the Salem Witch Trials in Jess Blumberg's "A Brief History Of The Salem Witch Trial"; article updated October 2, 2022 wiťh