Kathy A Smith
Many children all over the world consider Harry Potter a hero, but in God's eyes his works are abominations (literally wickedness). God is not Potter's deliverer when he gets into tight situations. How could he be, when Potter only uses Satan's devices? The works of darkness is behind both the bad and good guys in this story, and since both use forbidden practices, according to God's word, there is no difference between them. Since Harry practices what God has forbidden (see Deuteronomy 18:9-12), then he is also Satan's servant no matter what he appears to do. In the book of Isaiah it says that occult practices cannot save.
"Therefore hear now this, thou that art given to pleasures, that dwellest carelessly, that sayest in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me; I shall not sit as a widow, neither shall I know the loss of children: But these two things shall come to thee in a moment in one day, the loss of children, and widowhood: they shall come upon thee in their perfection for the multitude of thy sorceries, and for the great abundance of thine enchantments. For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness: thou hast said, None seeth me. Thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath perverted thee; and thou hast said in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me. Therefore shall evil come upon thee; thou shalt not know from whence it riseth: and mischief shall fall upon thee; thou shalt not be able to put it off: and desolation shall come upon thee suddenly, which thou shalt not know. Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein thou hast laboured from thy youth; if so be thou shalt be able to profit, if so be thou mayest prevail. Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels. Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee. Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame: there shall not be a coal to warm at, nor fire to sit before it. Thus shall they be unto thee with whom thou hast laboured, even thy merchants, from thy youth: they shall wander every one to his quarter; none shall save thee" (Isaiah 47:8-15).
God is warning us that evil will come on those who practice their sorceries and witchcraft.
Berit Kjos writes that it is misleading to call Harry Potter's world "a delightsafe, inoffensive, and non-occult" :
. . . the primary rule of the occult is that Satan doesn't offer free and easy favors for long. He may indulge seekers in a free ride for a while, but as soon as his victims become captivated by his lures-all of which are counterfeits of what God offers those who follow Him-he begins to demand his payback. Suddenly the bright side of evil turns dark, indeed. Attempts to resist or turn back usually lead to spiritual terrors and oppression. (2)
THE WORLD OF MAGIC
J.K Rowling, author of the Potter series says; "Magic has a universal appeal". She also goes on to say that magic works because it's exciting. (1)
Many children's wildest dream is to become just like Harry Potter. Many children will desire to have what Harry Potter has and their search for popularity, fame, and, power will begin as they plunge into the dark world of the occult. If a young boy like Harry Potter can do it, Satan will surely whisper to other children, "why not you, too?". Occult forces become irresistible to children with each step they take into the world of magic, desensitizing them to what is evil, but only leaves them wanting more.
For example, what if this Harry Potter was a good Christian, a moral, and kind kid who carried his bible around, (instead of books on witchcraft and spells) this kid would probably be insulted and considered uncool regarding his desire to please God. Society has changed so much into an anti-Christian system, but one thing is for sure, God's word will never change!
DEADLY POISON
To allow a child to dwell on Harry Potter books and other occult influences is like feeding them a little bit of spiritual poison each time they read, until they become numb to the things of God. In our day and age a child needs to be protected by discerning parents.
For example, think about how a naive mouse nibbles away at the cheese in a mousetrap. As he goes closer and closer to the danger, he is completely unaware of it, because it just tastes SO GOOD. Without warning he quickly falls to his fate. Evil is the same way; if not avoided at all costs, it will begin to look and feel good. Inch by inch and step by step, Satan will subtly draw the innocent children down a path of spiritual devastation. To avoid this from happening to our precious children, they must be taught the truth of God's word by their parents.
THE WICKED SCHOOL
Harry attends a school called "Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry". This school teaches no normal courses (such as English or Math), but strictly teaches magic and occult courses. The class curriculum is divination, defense of black arts, transfiguration, history of magic, potions, herbology, flying lessons, charms, and so on. When a child is finished reading a Harry Potter book, they have had a wide education about witchcraft. How opposite these books are to what God desires for parents and their children; "And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up" (Deuteronomy 6:5-7)
God has entrusted us as parents to teach our children about Him and His truth, not the ways of the occult. This must be very grieving to a God who has warned us over and over in His word to avoid the occult. We must remember that He warns us so much because He loves us and wants to keep us under His care. How it grieves Him when his children ignore Him and go their own way (Proverb 14:12), and end up getting pulled into witchcraft and physical despair. God in His great love has given everyone freedom of choice. Will you listen to what God is saying now, or will you wait until it is to late for your children?
GOD CONDEMNS WITCHCRAFT
As we have learned, God is very serious about witchcraft. He condemns it over and over in scripture after scripture. He warns us to have nothing to do with it, whether in involvement or pleasure. God promises to protect our children and us when we are obedient to Him. When a person is disobedient by allowing occult sins into their life, they are giving place to the devil and will become desensitized to Satan's works while growing further away from God's truths. Just because society has changed over the years and has become desensitized to witchcraft, Christians must not allow this to happen in their own families. Remember what happened to God's chosen people, the Israelities? Their enemies took them into captivity, and many were destroyed and killed because they had fallen into Satan's trap of witchcraft.
Almighty God in His compassionate love for us has given us these writings in His holy scriptures so we could learn from them and not fall into the same awful fate. The Prophet Nahum wrote "Because of the multitude of the whoredoms of the well favoured harlot, the mistress of witchcrafts, that selleth nations through her whoredoms, and families through her witchcrafts. Behold, I am against thee, saith the LORD of hosts; (Nahum 3:4-5b).
If a person is sold into witchcraft, God is against them! If you have accepted witchcraft through popular entertainment, or any other avenue, you have been sold into it and have fallen into the trap that Satan has planned for the destruction of mankind. We must all honestly ask ourselves if we have been sold into witchcraft by allowing our self or our children to partake in it? If you think that Harry Potter is a good book to read just because children have had a renewed interest in reading, you have been seriously misled. Not because I said it, but because God has said it.
The Bible warned us that magic is not to be messed around with. If anyone should know this, it is God our creator, who has clearly warned His people not to touch these abominable things. When God says something, he means it! He desires for His children to safely dwell in His presence. Jesus Christ will forgive and give eternal life to all those who will repent and call upon His name.
INCREASING POPULARITY
Do not expect Harry Potter to go away anytime soon, it has become a bestseller with three more books on the way. Instead of buying these books for children you know, buy them a Bible or books so that they can learn more about Jesus Christ. I also want to encourage Christians to pray for the children in their lives to receive the precious gift of eternal life that only comes by having a personal relationship with the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Notes:
(1). Reader's Digest January 2001, p. 96
(2). Berit Kjos, "Harry Potter Lures Kids to Witchcraft", www. Crossword.to
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