Muthi, Spells and Greed: Why Harming Others Is Sin

This article is written from a Christian faith perspective as part of Khwalo Production’s conversation about faith and culture. It is not an attack on any person or family; many traditional healers mean well, and many families hold both church and custom. Our aim is to help readers think, pray and choose with understanding.

Every community has stories of jealousy turned dark: a neighbour whose business suddenly fails, a relative who falls ill after an argument, someone who becomes rich overnight in a way nobody can explain. In our culture these stories are often linked to muthi used to harm, the tokoloshe, and the spirits of the dead used for gain. Here is why Scripture calls these things sin.

The tokoloshe

In Xhosa and Zulu belief, the tikoloshe is a small, dangerous spirit-being said to be sent by a witch (igqwira) to frighten, sicken or harm people at night. Many families still raise their beds on bricks to keep it away. The belief describes something the Bible recognises: evil spirits sent with malice. Ephesians 6:12 says our struggle is “against spiritual wickedness in high places.” The Christian answer is not bricks or counter-charms but the authority of Christ (Luke 10:19).

Using the dead to gain riches

Stories of ukuthwala, gaining wealth through a pact with a spirit that later demands a price such as a relative’s health, fertility or life, are told across South Africa. Jesus asked: “What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36). Proverbs 28:20 warns that “he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.”

Why harming others with muthi is sin

• It breaks the command to love. “Love thy neighbour as thyself” (Leviticus 19:18). Sending sickness is the opposite of love.
• It is murder of the heart. Jesus taught that hatred is judged like murder (Matthew 5:21–22).
• It is sorcery. Galatians 5:20 lists witchcraft (pharmakeia, potions used for spiritual power) among the works of the flesh.
• It takes God’s place. Vengeance belongs to God (Romans 12:19).
• It enslaves the user. Many testimonies describe spirits that keep demanding more rituals, more blood, more money.

Spells for love, luck and control

Some muthi is sold to make a lover stay, win a court case, attract customers or silence a rival. These may sound harmless, but they all try to override another person’s free will through spirits. Scripture places charmers in the same list as mediums (Deuteronomy 18:11).

Greed: the open door

Behind most of these practices sit greed and envy. “The love of money is the root of all evil” (1 Timothy 6:10). The healthy alternative is the old way of ubuntu: hard work, sharing, and rejoicing when a neighbour prospers.

Freedom is possible

Many who have used or received muthi live in fear. Colossians 2:15 says Christ “spoiled principalities and powers.” Confession, prayer, renouncing charms and burning them as the believers in Ephesus did (Acts 19:19), and the support of a caring church family have brought freedom to many.

Khwalo! Mzangwa! Ncuthu! Mlanjana! Culture is a gift worth keeping. Our prayer is that we keep what is beautiful – ubuntu, respect, language and family – and test every spirit by the Word (1 John 4:1).