Posted on 07/23/2007 7:04:00 PM PDT by Mr. Silverback
If there’s a child in your house, then you probably know what’s going to happen when the clock strikes 12 tonight. The final Harry Potter book—Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows—will be unleashed on the world.
The big question that has millions of kids on edge: Will Harry live—or will he die?
But the big question many parents have is: Should their kids be reading novels about wizards and witches and magic?
A Christian expert on Potter mania says, “It depends.”
Connie Neal, a veteran youth pastor and mother of three, is the author of a book titled What’s a Christian To Do with Harry Potter? Neal says parents must use discernment in deciding whether to allow their kids to read Harry Potter. For example, kids with an unhealthy interest in the occult should probably not read these books. Other Christians believe their kids benefit from the moral lessons the Potter books teach.
Neal’s belief that it’s okay for Christians to read secular novels comes from her reading of the biblical book of Daniel. Daniel, you will remember, was a teenager when he was taken away from Jerusalem to live in exile in Babylon. There, he was taught the language and literature of the pagan culture. He studied at a school that trained Babylon’s magicians, astrologers, and sorcerers. The actual practice of sorcery and astrology was, of course, forbidden by God. But Daniel studied it well to understand it.
One day King Nebuchadnezzer called on his magicians and astrologers to interpret a dream; none could do it. In a rage, the king ordered that all of his wise men be put to death. Daniel asked to see the king, who then asked him, “Are you able to make known to me the dream that I have seen and its interpretation?” Daniel responded: “No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or astrologers can show to the king the mystery which the king has asked, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days.”
Daniel had immersed himself in his culture’s pagan literature in order to understand it. But, because of his deep devotion to God, he didn’t defile himself. As Connie Neal told BreakPoint, “God put Daniel in Babylon to be a light in the darkness—and he was. He was not afraid to read literature that resounded in the hearts of the people with whom he lived. He used his familiarity with this pagan literature to reveal the true and living God.” And Neal knows some kids who have done the same in our own post-Christian culture.
Now personally, I don’t recommend the Potter books. I’d rather Christian kids not read them. But with some 325 million of them in print, your kids will probably see them and hear others talk about them, and they’re probably going to read them anyway. So use this occasion to teach them to be discerning—like Daniel. Dare them to have Daniel as their role model, not Harry Potter.
And if your kids do enjoy Harry’s magical world, you should give them copies of C.S. Lewis’s Narnia books and Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy.
These books also feature wizards and witches and magic, but in addition, they inspire the imagination within a Christian framework—and prepare the hearts of readers for the real-life story of Jesus Christ.
How do you know that Corin Stormhands doesn’t believe in God? It was only a question of practioner. I bet you believe that witches worship Satan. Well, I’m not a witch, but I can tell you that they don’t. And since my faith in God is strong, and I have enough knowledge of their beliefs, I don’t fear them. Potter is pretend. Is fantasy. He defeats evil. If you had read any of the books you would know that. But ignorance is bliss, or so I’ve heard.
The difference with HP is that it makes the occult into something that is neutral - it is only good or evil depending on your motives. This is the lie that is packaged in HP.
God’s Word does speak of witches. The Old Testament was clear about avoiding the occult. Part of the reason was God said to avoid it. The practical implications is that fallen angels (demons) who still have certain powers and abilities (for now) are the sources of the things that are occultic.
Spend a little time in the Bible reading up on what God says about things occult:
Do not pass your children through the fire (child sacrifice). Do not practice divination (see the future) or sorcery. Do not turn to mediums (who can speak/conjure the dead)or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. A man or woman who is a medium or spiritist (aka wizard) among you must be put to death.
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GG-L-O-R-I-A GLOOOOOOOORIIIIIIAAAA!
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I was thinking the same thing. I read it in college, not exactly book of the week on the summer reading program.
I was thinking the same thing. I read it in college, not exactly book of the week on the summer reading program.
No offense but you're kidding right? I read C.S. Lewis as a child and I saw the Christian connection. Course I had read Tolkien as a child too and I don't think I saw the Christian tie-ins until I was an early teenager. That took a little time to ruminate to catch that one (and about the third or fourth time through). But the Lewis books are (and this is a very good thing) rather blatant about it.
“. . . and they’re probably going to read them anyway.”
Lost me there, Mr. Colson. Lukewarmness- Mr. Colson should be better versed on the effect of that character trait, as a self proclaimed Christian, that is.
Leviticus 19:26 (Whole Chapter) You shall not eat anything with the blood; neither shall you use magic, omens, or witchcraft [or predict events by horoscope or signs and lucky days].
Micah 5:12 (Whole Chapter) And I will cut off witchcrafts and sorceries from your hand, and you shall have no more soothsayers.
2 Chronicles 33:6 (Whole Chapter) He sacrificed his sons in [ Or He made his sons pass through ] the fire in the Valley of Ben Hinnom, practiced sorcery, divination and witchcraft, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the eyes of the LORD, provoking him to anger.
Micah 5:12 (Whole Chapter) I will destroy your witchcraft and you will no longer cast spells.
Nahum 3:4 (Whole Chapter) all because of the wanton lust of a harlot, alluring, the mistress of sorceries, who enslaved nations by her prostitution and peoples by her witchcraft.
Galatians 5:20 (Whole Chapter) idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions
I’m somewhat surprised that she is a liberal. Although you are correct that they judge what they don’t know. But to be fair, there are those on our side that do the same. More on the left, I think.
I’m with you that it is great to see the kids reading! And I hope that they take to heart the great values in Potter!
Hermione does rock!
I take it you haven't read them either?
There is a clear distinction between good and evil in HP. Yes, some of the "spells" are used by both sides. At the same time there are "unforgiveable" curses that are clearly evil.
And there are always consequences for your behavior.
Good people have to make hard choices sometimes.
God says that there is good and evil and consequences for your behavior too.
My daughter turned me into a newt. But I got better.
I know that quite well.
But I was merely pointing out that you obviously could not speak with the authority of actually having ~read~ the books.
Lesson two, broom stick light saber hurts like a SOB, oops, I mean a wookie... May the farce be with you...
Nope. No kidding. Never knew that LOTR and C.S. Lewis had anything to do with Christianity.
I had no interest in Harry Potter at all. I was "hard core LotR," but one night I was bored, and the first movie was coming on TV, so I figured, "what the heck," and I really enjoyed it. So, I started reading the books, and I was hooked! The movies are good (and the latest movie, "Order of the Phoenix" is, IMHO the closest to the books of any of the movies) but the books are far better. There's a lot of subtle humor in the books that you just can't get in a movie.
Mark
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