by Carlos Garbiras, a former Santero

These are some basic facts that you can use with this “santero.”

First, one of the best approaches is telling the Santero that the animals sacrificed in Santería to “clean” through the blood his bad behavior, wrong decisions, etc., is already done by Jesus Christ on the cross.  Even though they like to say that the sacrifices are effective today, they’re wrong, because Jesus Christ already did clean our sins, and He did it once by His perfect sacrifice.  Heb. 9:26, “For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself,” (KJV).  So, we do not need any more blood sacrifices coming from animals today.

Second, according to them their god, known as Olurun u Olodumare, is the spiritual energy of the universe.  He is in everything alive (including humans, animals, insects, etc.) and other material things.  On the other hand, the one and only God of Christianity is a Spirit (Jn. 4:24).  He is not energy.  He is not part of any animals in the world since He created the animals (Gen. 1-2); and, of course, He is not part of energy or the material things.  Even though Adam was created in His image (with a spirit), the Holy Spirit does not dwell in us until we are born again (Jn. 3:3-5; Eph. 1:13).  Then, after we are born again by faith (Jn. 1:12-13), His Spirit dwells in us (Eph. 1:13).  1 Cor. 3:16, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” (KJV).

Third, we do not need Orishas or emissaries.  We have one God who rules the entire universe, and One Mediator, “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Tim. 2:5).  So, I ask: Do we need orishas to help us to guide or lead our lives?  Do we need them in order to have a better spiritual life?  No.  Jesus is more than enough, and the only one.