We are seeing an ever
increasing, overt promotion of witchcraft, sorcery, and the occult in our society. One of the
latest media-hyped examples is the Harry Potter book series by a woman named J. K. Rowling. And as
usual, whatever the world's media is hyping, that is what the Evangelical subculture is soon
hyping.
I believe that followers of Jesus have the freedom to read whatever they want.
No one has the right to create a list of do's and don'ts that other Christians must follow.
Christians are accountable to the Lord to pursue what is edifying. Often, it is disputable as to how
to be in the world but not of the world. While followers of Jesus have the freedom to read Harry
Potter books, it is another thing altogether to endorse them or promote them. Rather we ought to
warn against what they promote: infatuation with the occult.
Incredibly, there are those in the Evangelical subculture who endorse and
promote Harry Potter books. Others are rightly taking a stand against Harry Potter, but in their
writings they try to show a distinction between Harry Potter and the Chronicles of Narnia by
C.S. Lewis, and they attempt to justify the Narnia series.
Definitely I agree that Harry Potter books are pagan and occult. But so are
the Chronicles of Narnia.
Christianity
Today & Charles Colson
The apostate magazine, "Christianity Today" writes, in a January,
2000 editorial, titled: "Why We Like Harry Potter", "Third, and this is why we
recommend the books, Rowling's series is a Book of Virtues with a preadolescent funny bone. Amid the
laugh-out-loud scenes are wonderful examples of compassion, loyalty, courage, friendship, and even
self-sacrifice. No wonder young readers want to be like these believable characters. That is a
Christmas present we can be grateful for." (http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2000/001/29.37.html
)
Chuck Colson, who endorses Roman
Catholicism, Amway, and advocates "culture wars" and crusades for
morality, also endorses the Harry Potter series: "Take this occasion to introduce [your
children] to C. S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia, J. R. R. Tolkien's Lord of the
Rings, and George MacDonald's The Princess and the Goblin. These books not only recognize
this yearning for wonder and magic, they also reflect a well-developed understanding of the majesty
and mystery of God." From a "BreakPoint" commentary with Chuck Colson entitled:
"Harry Potter and the Existence of God" ( http://cbn.org/SpiritualLife/HarryPotter/CharlesColsonHarryPotter.asp)
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Warnings Against
the Occult
God's Word clearly teaches against followers of Jesus having anything to do
with the occult. For example in Deuteronomy 18:9-12, our Lord speaks to the children of Israel:
"When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee,
thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among
you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth
divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer, or a consulter
with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an
abomination unto the LORD..."
And in the New Testament in Galatians 5:19-21:
"Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery,
fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations,
wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of
the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things
shall not inherit the kingdom of God."
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Taking A Stand
I appreciate that many Christians are taking a stand against the Harry Potter
series which promotes the occult in a most blatant manner.
But I want to also point out that C.S. Lewis' books, The Chronicles of
Narnia are also Occult Fantasy dealing with witches and spells and so-called white magic and
black magic and even ascribing the "deeper magic" to the "Emperor Across the
Sea" who some believe that C.S Lewis meant to represent God the Father. It is blasphemous to
ascribe to our miracle working God a "deeper magic". The deception within the Evangelical
Church is more dangerous than the deception in the world at large.
Our only hope in these last days is to trust in our Lord Jesus, be Acts 17:11
Bereans, and Love the Truth of God's Word more than the fads and bandwagons both inside and outside
the Church.
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Multi-billion dollar Lewis estate, registered in Singapore, as
"Prince Caspian,"
vs. a Family in Scotland
