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As a Pastor I have received many questions over the past few years about Harry Potter and his
shenanigans. With the popularity of Potter continuing to soar Christian parents need to be
informed so as to make the right choices. God has not left us in the dark concerning what is, and
what is not acceptable for His people. As in all matters of faith and practice, the Word of God is
our final authority. We will not look at the Word of God in light of Harry Potter, but rather,
Harry Potter in light of the Word of God. God’s Word does have quite a bit to say about Harry
Potter and his practices.
“And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards,
to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will
cut him off from among his people. Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye
holy: for I am the LORD your God” (Leviticus 20:6-7).
“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 because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out
from before thee” (Deuteronomy 18:9-12).
America’s kids have gone wild over Harry Potter. Everywhere you go—grocery stores,
department stores, book stores, and other retail places, you will find Harry Potter books. These
books have infiltrated homes, school libraries, public libraries, along with the minds of
America’s young people. It seems that the world cannot get enough of this kind of entertainment.
The market has been flooded with the witchcraft and wizardry of Harry Potter. The BBC News
agency recently reported:
“Bloomsbury has now sold more than 110 million copies of the books in several
languages around the world. The company has also cashed in on the phenomenon
through a range of Harry Potter merchandise. It is now preparing for the launch of
the film in November and says its printers are poised for a ‘wide range of possible
reprint figures.’”
Think about that! One hundred and ten million copies. A recent Potter movie broke all box office
records to the tune of over ninety million dollars during its first weekend. It is obvious that sin
and wickedness is popular in this depraved world.
While there seems to be lot of controversy about whether or not these books are suitable for the
young reader, such need not be the case for Christians. A casual reading of these books will
quickly expose their dangerous and destructive content. The Christian is to be separated from the
wicked things of this world. We are commanded to, “… have no fellowship with the unfruitful
works of darkness, but rather reprove them” (Ephesians 5:11). If Christians would obey this verse
alone, there would be no question about Harry Potter. Our place is not to get mixed up in the
darkness, but as the light of the world, we are to expose the darkness. Paul said, “Ye cannot
drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils” (1 Corinthians 10:21). There is no middle
ground here. Reading Harry Potter is drinking from the devil’s cup. The pursuits and activities of
Harry Potter are enough to discern that these writings are dangerous and should not be accepted
by anyone—let alone Christians.
However, during the past several months numerous “Christian leaders” have accepted and
promoted Harry Potter as harmless and helpful for young people. Here are a few quotes from
these so called leaders:
Recently the popular and new evangelical, radio commentator, Chuck Colson, in his
Breakpoint broadcast, praised Potter and his friends for their:
“Courage, loyalty, and a willingness to sacrifice for one another—even at the risk
of their lives.” i[i]
During the same broadcast Colson went on to brush Potter’s satanic practices off as:
“Purely mechanical, as opposed to occultic. That is, Harry and his friends cast
spells, read crystal balls, and turn themselves into animals—but they don't make
contact with a supernatural world.”
Roy Maynard, author for highly circulated World Magazine praised Harry Potter and the
Sorcerer's Stone as:
“A delight—with a surprising bit of depth … Rowling … keeps it safe,
inoffensive, and non-occult. This is the realm of Gandalf and the Wizard of Id,
not witchcraft. There is a fairy-tale order to it all in which, as Chesterton and
Tolkien pointed out, magic must have rules, and good does not—cannot—mix
with bad.”ii[ii]
Wheaton College professor Alan Jacobs said that Harry Potter promotes:
“A kind of spiritual warfare…. A struggle between good and evil…. There is in
books like this the possibility for serious moral reflection … the question of what
to do with magic powers is explored in an appropriate and morally serious
way.”iii[iii]
The popular Christianity Today magazine published the following comment:
“We think you should read the Harry Potter books to our kids. The literary
witchcraft of the series has almost no resemblance to the I-am-God mumbo jumbo
of Wiccan circles. Author Rowling has created a world with real good and evil,
and Harry is definitely on the side of light fighting the 'dark powers'... Among the
laugh-out-loud scenes are wonderful examples of compassion, loyalty, courage,
friendship and self-sacrifice.”iv[iv]
Earlier James Dobson’s Focus on the Family made the following comment:
“Harry Potter is a standard tale of good vs. evil, and good always wins in the end.
Harry, the hero, often triumphs because of his upright character and pure motives.
Unconditional love and courage are held as ideals of great importance. By
following Harry and his best friend Ron, the reader gets a glimpse of true loyalty
and friendship, as well as self-sacrifice.”v[v]
These are just a few sad remarks by undiscerning Christian leaders who will not take a stand.
How one can read the Bible, believe what God has said, and promote Harry Potter is beyond me.
That these books are demonic and dangerous can hardly be denied. “Woe unto them that call
evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for
sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20).
“Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils” (1 Corinthians
10:21).
iSources Quoted
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