Under His Construction
• Nov. 12, 2007 - Thoughts on Harry Potter, Halloween, and other occultic influences in our present culture
There has been an interesting debate going on over at For the Sake of the Call sparked by a post (http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/EEEEMommy/418764/) EEEEEMommy wrote about Harry Potter (HP), a new movie out called 'The Golden Compass'(please if you have not done so educate yourself about the agenda behind this movie), and Halloween. Boy are these hot topics within the Christian community! I found the responses to be indicative of the following thinking found within many believers today:
1. A drive to be entertained trumps a drive to keep our hearts pure.
Blessed ate the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Matt. 5:8
When I hear of Christians raving about Harry Potter I always find myself wondering what would be the desire to read these books. It seems that when one hears that it is a book about kids going to a school to learn occult magic that would be enough to say "no thanks". But there is so much hype over how good they are in the secular world then we don't want to miss out on something 'good'. We tend to dismiss the idea that we are easily influenced and need to guard our hearts (and our children for that matter) from such things.
Do not be deceived; bad company corrupts good morals. 1 Cor. 15:33
God has never told us to use 'fun' and 'entertaining' as factors for making decisions.
2. A lack of knowledge of Scripture and a lack of belief that it is true. When God warns about the evils of witchcraft and sorcery do we believe Him? How many Christians know what God says on this matter?
The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. Gal. 5:19-21
When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Deut. 18:9-11
Wow! What word did God use here to describe these practices? Detestable! Do you think He wants us to read and enjoy books where these detestable practices are glorified? How many sought to find this out before reading Harry Potter or celebrating Halloween? When God tells us to guard our hearts and minds from evil things do we act on that?
Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do. Prov. 4:23
When God sets a standard for the things that we are to think on do we measure everything we place before us on this standard?
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
3. A lack of understanding between subjective and objective truth. Subjective truth is that which is based on opinion (which changes very easily like shifting sand where the foolish man builds his house) while objective truth is that which is based on fact (this does not ever change - it is like the rock that the wise man built his house upon). God's Word is the objective truth that we use to measure all our decisions by. When we use this as our measure and make decisions accordingly then we are walking in the Spirit, but when we make decisions based on what we like or want to do then we are walking in the flesh.
But I say to you, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. Gal. 5:16
so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:4
I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances. Eze. 36:37
The reasons given at EEEEMommy's blog for celebrating Halloween were that it is fun and they did not want to come across the wrong way to their neighbors. So really the deciding factors were entertainment (ahh back to my first point) and seeing it as being a witness for Jesus (this is of course according to their own standards because we know that God has warned us against having anything to do with the occult- so we are making decisions based on subjective thinking - what others might think - decisions based on opinion). Don't forget that God has and still uses a single individual standing alone for truth to affect the hearts of a multitude of others. Study history - it is full of amazing stories where God did this!
This brings me to my forth and final point.
4. We think that God's ways are our ways placing our human wisdom on God. We think that He acts according to how we would do things. I have a friend that after she gave her life to Christ felt that she needed to continue to go to the bar because she was sure it would make Christianity more palatable to others if they saw that she was a Christian and still hung out at the bar. Where was she getting this idea? From Scripture? No she was applying her own understanding to how God works.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. Prov.3:5
There is a way [that seems] right to a man, But its end [is] the way of death. Prov. 14:12 and 16:25
Gods ways are not our ways (For My thoughts are not your thoughts,Nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD.For as the heavens are higher than the earth,So are My ways higher than your ways,And My thoughts than your thoughts. Isa. 55:8-9) and He has never placed sacrifice above obedience (So Samuel said: "Has the LORD [as great] delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, [And] to heed than the fat of rams. 1 Sam. 15:22)
so when we do something in the name of the Lord in disobedience it is still disobedience. Remember what God asked of Joshua and the Israelite's? Did God want them to look at how it might look to others? No. Do you think that they were understanding God's ways? No. Did He want them to obey anyways? Yes
Please Christians I encourage you to read God's Word. Know it and use it to guide you in governing yourself everyday and in every decision. One of the commenters from EEEEMommy's post asked sarcastically "Why stop there?" but this is exactly what God wants from us. Of course don't stop there! God wants us to take every thought captive to the obedience of Jesus Christ.
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Cr. 10:5 |
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• Nov. 12, 2007 - Harry Potter, Witchcraft and Halloween