Curses and being cursed

Introduction

In today’s commercialised society, you can even shop online and buy a curse or hex against someone

Many people today ask questions about the different ways people can act with evil intent towards others. Those questions are often about casting spells, ill-wishing, black magic, hexes, jinxes, or focused harm. That harm might be achieved through supernatural means, like getting demons or evil spirits to act on a person’s behalf. Much of this is simply called ‘cursing’. In today’s commercialised society, you can even shop online and buy a curse or hex against someone, or you can pay someone to do it for you.

Of course, there are non-supernatural and non-magical ways of doing physical, psychological and spiritual harm to people, like scamming, trolling, cancelling, ghosting, getting revenge and spreading lies about people. So, sadly, the internet, which offers so many good things, can also be a source of ‘cursing’ through all the different ways it is possible to hurt others.

But what does cursing really mean and how can people get help if they feel they have been cursed or live under a curse? And what protection and help might Christian faith offer?

A History of Cursing

‘Cursed, cursed, you will surely die; Cursed, cursed, you will surely die; Governor of the City, you will surely die’

Cursing is a very ancient practice. The curse above refers to the Governor of Jerusalem, and was found in a Canaanite Temple by archaeologists. It is thought to be over 3,300 years old.

What cursing has meant and how it has taken place has varied over time. For example, the earliest known curses, like the one above, were written on tablets. Their purpose was to ‘fix’ or ‘nail down’ particular persons or events and stop them acting in particular ways. In this sense, ancient curses are protective – asking the gods to act to keep the person doing the cursing safe. So, it’s not always clear whether curse tablets were just part of prayers to ancient gods for protection and safety.

Cursing in the Old Testament

In the Bible, similarly, cursing tends to ask God’s judgement on a person, a people, or a situation. So it is not a personal act of ill-will, but a plea to God to act against violence and wickedness. A good example is Psalm 109 in which the psalmist prays to God to act against those who curse him and concludes:

‘Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest’ (Proverbs 26:2)

Help me, Lord my God;

save me according to your unfailing love.

Let them know that it is your hand,

that you, Lord, have done it.

While they curse, may you bless;

may those who attack me be put to shame,

but may your servant rejoice.

May my accusers be clothed with disgrace

and wrapped in shame as in a cloak. (Psalm 109.26-29 NRSV)

This kind of prayer is called an ‘imprecatory’ prayer and is often found in the Psalms as a way of naming trouble and asking God for help to overcome evil and obtain justice.

Another kind of cursing in the Old Testament, is the ‘prophetic’ curse – a pronouncement about God’s justice.

Just as the psalmist believes God will act against evildoers, so there is an interesting story in the Old Testament Book of Numbers. Balak, King of Moab, tries to get the prophet Balaam to curse the Israelites, to disable their army so that he could win a battle against them. ‘Come now, curse this people for me, since they are stronger than I; perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them from the land; for I know that whomsoever you bless is blessed, and whomsoever you curse is cursed.’ (Numbers 22.6). But God tells Balaam that the Israelites are not to be cursed and instead turns the intended curse into a blessing (Numbers 23.7-11). So this tells us that while God hears the pleas of those who ask for justice, God refuses those who seek to manipulate divine power for their own evil ends. Elsewhere, we find that spiteful words which do not invoke God’s justice don’t work at all. ‘Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest’ (Proverbs 26:2).

in the ending of the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus tells his followers to ask God to be delivered (or rescued) from evil

Cursing in the New Testament

Jesus famously cursed a fig tree (Mark 11.12-25) so that it withered, but that was an illustration for his disciples about spiritual unfruitfulness. Instead, he tells people to bless, not to curse: ‘bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you’ (Luke 6.28) and do to others as you would have them do to you (Luke 6.28). The Apostle Paul repeats this command to Christians in his letter to the Romans (12.14). The Christian way is to think and say good things, not wish ill, and to ask God to bring good things to others. In the letter of James, the writer says that if as Christians we praise God and bless others, then this goodness should be precious. It should not be sullied by evil talk and cursing against others, who are also human beings made by God (James 3). Christians are to guard their tongues and speak with generosity and love.

In a powerful moment in the Gospel of John, chapter 17, Jesus prays to his Father that his disciples might be spiritually protected and kept safe, and extends this prayer for protection to everyone who believes in him: ‘I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word’ (John 17.20). Famously, in the ending of the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus tells his followers to ask God to be delivered (or rescued) from evil.

St Paul does make it clear that a person can bring evil results upon themselves if they try to preach false gospel or try to break the faith (Acts 13.8-11; Galatians 1.8-9), echoing the Old Testament idea that God’s justice falls upon those who would do evil – a kind of self-cursing. So we find that God will turn cursing into blessing, will protect those who believe, and rescue people from evil.

Continued below...

Can Spiritual Cursing work?

Christians are told in Scripture to bless rather than curse

Christians are told in Scripture to bless rather than curse, but in other religions and spiritualities, cursing can be a particular spiritual tool. When that happens, the power of suggestion and the force of a person’s ill-will can have profound effects on other people’s mental and spiritual well-being. For some, it is part of their belief that a spiritual curse can hurt them and so they must work hard to avoid such evil.

So, some people believe that a spell to cause misfortune; the making of a ‘poppet’ or object to ill-wish an enemy; the performance of a ritual or black magic or raising of an evil spirit or demon, can directly result in harm. This could be physical suffering, mental collapse, bad luck, illness or death. Some malicious spiritual rituals can be focussed on objects rather than people, such as performing a ceremony to cause a fire or a car to crash. Yet others believe that curses upon them can come from the actions of people within their family, either in their immediate circle or in previous generations. These beliefs can be very powerful, disabling and frightening. It is a terrible thing to believe that another human being or group actively wishes you physical or mental harm or has the power to damage your soul. If something bad happens, it may be tempting to think that it has happened because someone else wanted you to come to harm, and that too can be very frightening. Some people also believe that they can be cursed by a dead person or evil spirit, and the sense of this kind of supernatural evil will can be very disturbing and distressing. They may have to work very hard to offset the evil curse sent against them or get a practitioner to work an even more powerful counter-curse.

Some people have become so frightened by curses against them that they spend a lot of time and money performing rituals or saying prayers given by spiritual advisers. Sometimes the cursed person cannot go out, or function in ordinary day-to-day life, as they are too afraid.

people who mean spiritual harm cannot break through the defences of faith

It is worth saying that some spiritualities which have cursing spells or rituals as an option make it very clear that to do so is a dangerous and potentially fatal thing to do. While many people are frightened of malevolent ‘witchcraft’, the Pagan traditions often impress on followers the ’Rule of Three’ or ‘Law of Threefold Return’. If you will ill on someone, or curse them, it will rebound on you with even more serious consequences, whereas doing good will reward you. Other religious traditions have similar warnings about trying to use supernatural means to hurt others or to do evil things. Concepts such as ‘karma’ invoke moral law about good and evil actions.

Christian attitudes to curses

There are different opinions about how being cursed can affect Christian believers. For some Christians, the understanding that they are baptised, and in baptism have renounced all evil and been placed in the family of Christ, makes them really resilient. For example, some Christians have been repeatedly cursed by people who wish them ill, even to the extent of being sent curse-letters, cursed objects, and outright death threats. But we also know that many of those Christians have simply trusted in Jesus, ignored the curses, and have never been harmed.

Some Christians might feel that curses could harm them. This might be because just knowing that a person or group wishes ill on you will mess with your head. But others might be afraid that an evil will of this kind could form a spiritual or psychological attack on them that could lead to harmful consequences. One of those consequences might be to make your friends and family worry that you are a source of danger to them until the curse is lifted, so you are treated as polluted in some way. Some Christians are afraid that falling into sin could make them vulnerable to spiritual attack from those who want them to suffer by a curse. This is especially true in those Christian communities worldwide who have a strong sense of supernatural evil operating in the world and understand that they are in battle against it.

Sources of Comfort and Help

In the UK, people who believe they have been cursed or that there is family evil to get rid of, can be helped in various ways. For some, just talking to, or praying with, a member of the clergy or a Christian friend, and seeking the support of a local church, might be enough reassurance to help them put aside worry about the fear of being cursed.

For others, who might feel a need to experience a spiritual cleansing, build up confidence and develop resilience to the evil designs of others, a more focussed prayer ministry from the Church can help, or you could ask in your local church about the ministry of deliverance. In the latter, particular prayers can be used to bring peace to a person or family. Deliverance ministry actively works against evil, whatever its source, and emphasises that Jesus is sovereign over all, and that God’s protection is absolute. This means that people who mean spiritual harm cannot break through the defences of faith.

'There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.’

A comforting prayer for you to use at any time is the prayer called St Patrick’s Breastplate, which brings a sense of Christ’s protection surrounding us completely, like a shield of God’s love which keeps out any evil intention. Similarly, if you have been involved in cursing, using spells or rituals, or have tried occult means to hurt others, you can be helped through the ministry of deliverance to renounce these practices and turn to Jesus Christ for love, safety and protection.

Conclusion

Many people are afraid of being cursed or feel that they have been cursed in some way and this is a very frightening and oppressive experience. The Christian faith, however, teaches us to bless, rather than curse, and to reassure those who feel afflicted by evil that trust in Jesus Christ can release everyone from any affliction or fear. The First Letter of Peter in the New Testament says:

Now who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good? But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated, but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. 1 Peter 3.13-15

And in the Letter of James, it says: (15; 18).

'Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God…. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.’