Harry Potter Evil?

Is Harry Potter Evil?
Judy Blume - New York Times, Oct. 22, 1999

"...I knew this was coming. The only surprise is that it took so long -- as long as it took for the zealots who claim they're protecting children from evil (and evil can be found lurking everywhere these days) to discover that children actually like these books. If children are excited about a book, it must be suspect.
[I suppose that was an attempt at sarcasm. editor]

With Harry Potter, the perceived danger is fantasy. After all, Harry and his classmates attend the celebrated Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. According to certain adults, these stories teach witchcraft, sorcery and satanism. But hey, if it's not one "ism," it's another..." [Not exactly a glowing endorsement, is it? editor]

EDITORIAL

That title, "Is Harry Potter Evil" comes from an article I read sometime back (partly quoted above). The final answer of the author is, NO! Why? Because... well, because Christians don't like it.

That's right! If Christian parents don't want their children to read a book, that automatically makes the book GOOD to some people. Mind you now, SOME Christians think Harry Potter is okay. Hmmm.... What then do we do?

Well, let's put aside the concerned parents and anti-censorship folks for a second. What's really important isn't my opinion or your opinion of a book, movie, or anything for that matter. It's God's opinion or TRUTH that should concern us. "God is my creator, and I am His creation" these are the first words of the Creation Kids Club pledge. If it is true (and it is) then we must be obedient to HIM and what HE says. So............ WHAT DOES HE SAY?

Satan is REAL and wants to trick and destroy you.
Ephesians 6:11 "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil."
I Peter 5:8 "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:"

The practices of witchcraft and sorcery are REAL and God CONDEMNS them STRONGLY
Leviticus 19:31 "Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God."
Leviticus 20:27 "A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them."
Deuteronomy 18:10-13 "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.
Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God.

God warns His children about playing with evil as entertainment.
1 Thessalonians 5:22 "Abstain from all appearance of evil."
Ephesians 4:27 "...and do not give the devil a foothold."
2 Cor. 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

We are to use our brains as we live for God.
Romans 12:2 "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
1 Thessalonians 5:21,22 "Test everything. Hold on to the good.
Avoid every kind of evil. NIV

Okay, is Harry Potter evil? Well, YOU do the math! :) God tells us to avoid witchcraft, wizardry, sorcery! He is VERY CLEAR about it. You can't read the Bible and think anything different! Sorcery, witchcraft and wizardry are HATED by God.

Someone just wrote me and among many hateful words suggested,
"Reading a fictional tale about a magical world is one thing. Practicing the Dark Arts is something else entirely."

Christ taught that sin is sin on all levels - even just thinking of doing something is also sinful.

Matthew 5:27-28, "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart."

This letter was written by someone I consider a friend. He is especially angry that I could condemn a book I haven't fully read. So, I asked those who have read (and enjoyed) the book if it presented witchcraft and sorcery in a positive way - as if I didn't know... and they all said yes. I KNEW I didn't miss all the hype surrounding these books!

That IS the concern... why would I need to enjoy the fluff around it (and I'm sure I would) when I know the very basis of the book is contrary to God's wisdom?

I'll quickly admit that the Harry Potter stories are certainly well written, full of exciting characters and even have some good moral outcomes... BUT, is that enough to declare a book GOOD, when it presents the use of witchcraft - by a child, no less? Isn't that like saying a Vanilla milkshake is still good to drink even though it has a teaspoon of deadly poison in it? The shake may still TASTE good and be sweet, BUT it still contains POISON, and it will still HURT YOU!

UPDATE:
Some of you have written letters saying that the witches in Harry Potter books are not like "real" witches. They don't worship Satan by name in the books at all. And this makes the witches in the book very tame and fictional - and therefore okay for children to read...

Well, did you know that witches (Practitioners of the religion Wicca) do not claim to perform sacrifices? In fact, one major book on Wicca states "Do what thou wilst, but harm none." Also, witches DO NOT claim to worship the Devil or Satan. Nor do they call themselves Satanists - frankly, they don't believe he exists. They don't claim to worship ANY being... Check it out for yourself...
It certainly sounds close to the witchcraft in the Harry Potter books, doesn't it?

Here's a fun challenge... Can you name one nation in the Old Testament that God condemned for worshipping Satan by name? No? You see, Satan isn't really BIG on getting full credit or having organized religions. All he cares to do is confuse the issue and make people comfortable with themselves apart from God's Word and Salvation from sin. Whatever crutches it takes to achieve that goal is fine with him - organized religion, false personal beliefs, or just vague doubts - it's all the same.

At BEST wicca is just another false religion, and as such it is something to stay away from, not be entertained by.

Did you know there was a REAL 12 year old boy who was kinda like the fictitious Harry Potter. His name was Manasseh, this is HIS story.

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