In response to a recent post on a dearly beloved friends blog(feel free to read it here)....I am going to voice my OPINION on the whole Harry Potter debate. I have held my tongue for a very long time, because I really felt it was up to each parent....and though I might not agree with their choice, I was not going to condemn them . This is an area that I have struggled with for a LLLOOONNNGG time. Not only with Harry Potter...but....dare I say it?? Narnia....Lord of the Rings......the list goes on......and I will admit that I have justified the Narnia and Lord of the Rings for years......but I am finding more and more...that I don't feel right about that.
Harry Potter has brought all of this to a head for me. I guess it comes down to this:
"When you come into the land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who:
* practices witchcraft
* is a soothsayer or a sorcerer
* interprets omens
* conjures spells
* is a medium or a spiritist
* calls up the dead
For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord…." (Deuteronomy 18:9-13)
All "these things" are demonstrated in the Harry Potter books. These stories are every bit as spiritual as Christian literature, but the spiritual power they promote comes from other gods. If you treasure God's truth, may I suggest you encourage your children not to read these books? I know such parental intervention sounds grossly offensive, in fact, downright muggleish, to children who love Harry’s magical world and reject Biblical absolutes. Yet, just as "progressive" leaders fear the influence of Biblical truth on budding world citizens, so Christians parents need to guard their children against all kinds of occult "counsel:"
Either we believe the Bible for what it says or we don't.......There are so many other books that my child can read that involve or encourage-"relationships, laying your life down for those you love, choosing the hard road, doing the right thing even when it is painful, trust, discipline, faith, failing and then getting up again and becoming a better person, in a word, redemption. This book is about finding out your purpose and then fulfilling it, even when you don't have all the answers and allowing others to walk along side of you because none of us can do this thing called "life" alone.
PLEASE DO NOT GET OFFENDED HERE:
I wish parents would read the Bible with their kids with the same enthusiasm and passion as they have the Harry Potter books! Then maybe our kids would be running around praying for people instead of casting spells on them!!! Maybe our kids would be just as excited about the fact that the KING of KINGS lives in their heart and wants to use them to do even more powerful things that Harry Potter could even dream of doing!!! Maybe their kids would want to emulate real hero's !!
Our kids see enough and hear enough of things that they shouldn't without me adding to it with things that "aren't that bad"
"Everything is permissible- but not everything is beneficial" 1Cor 10:23
Remember, this is spiritual warfare. God's enemy fights as hard as ever to win the hearts and loyalties of our children -- and he has added all kinds of high-tech tools to his armory.
To resist his strategies, they first need to understand the Biblical world view. That's why God told His people long ago to base all conversation -- day and night -- on His unchanging truth:
"These words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit... walk... lie down, and when you rise up." Deut. 6:6-7
Everything we say must reflect the reality of God, His love and sovereignty, His promises and His warnings. To prove that our God is far greater than the pantheon of alternatives, our lives must demonstrate faith in the midst of difficulties and His triumph in the midst of turmoil. This is possible, not by our own strength, but by His power and grace. Then, seeing His greatness, children learn to trust His promises.
P.S. Just for the record, I told Tawni when she turned 13 that the choice was up to her if she wanted to read it, and the Lord the Rings she still has yet to see or read as well. I gave her the facts as I saw them and told her she can make this decision for herself. Many people that I know, love and respect do not feel there is anything wrong with the book.....but I have to stick with my convictions.
Harry Potter has brought all of this to a head for me. I guess it comes down to this:
"When you come into the land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who:
* practices witchcraft
* is a soothsayer or a sorcerer
* interprets omens
* conjures spells
* is a medium or a spiritist
* calls up the dead
For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord…." (Deuteronomy 18:9-13)
All "these things" are demonstrated in the Harry Potter books. These stories are every bit as spiritual as Christian literature, but the spiritual power they promote comes from other gods. If you treasure God's truth, may I suggest you encourage your children not to read these books? I know such parental intervention sounds grossly offensive, in fact, downright muggleish, to children who love Harry’s magical world and reject Biblical absolutes. Yet, just as "progressive" leaders fear the influence of Biblical truth on budding world citizens, so Christians parents need to guard their children against all kinds of occult "counsel:"
Either we believe the Bible for what it says or we don't.......There are so many other books that my child can read that involve or encourage-"relationships, laying your life down for those you love, choosing the hard road, doing the right thing even when it is painful, trust, discipline, faith, failing and then getting up again and becoming a better person, in a word, redemption. This book is about finding out your purpose and then fulfilling it, even when you don't have all the answers and allowing others to walk along side of you because none of us can do this thing called "life" alone.
PLEASE DO NOT GET OFFENDED HERE:
I wish parents would read the Bible with their kids with the same enthusiasm and passion as they have the Harry Potter books! Then maybe our kids would be running around praying for people instead of casting spells on them!!! Maybe our kids would be just as excited about the fact that the KING of KINGS lives in their heart and wants to use them to do even more powerful things that Harry Potter could even dream of doing!!! Maybe their kids would want to emulate real hero's !!
Our kids see enough and hear enough of things that they shouldn't without me adding to it with things that "aren't that bad"
"Everything is permissible- but not everything is beneficial" 1Cor 10:23
Remember, this is spiritual warfare. God's enemy fights as hard as ever to win the hearts and loyalties of our children -- and he has added all kinds of high-tech tools to his armory.
To resist his strategies, they first need to understand the Biblical world view. That's why God told His people long ago to base all conversation -- day and night -- on His unchanging truth:
"These words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit... walk... lie down, and when you rise up." Deut. 6:6-7
Everything we say must reflect the reality of God, His love and sovereignty, His promises and His warnings. To prove that our God is far greater than the pantheon of alternatives, our lives must demonstrate faith in the midst of difficulties and His triumph in the midst of turmoil. This is possible, not by our own strength, but by His power and grace. Then, seeing His greatness, children learn to trust His promises.
P.S. Just for the record, I told Tawni when she turned 13 that the choice was up to her if she wanted to read it, and the Lord the Rings she still has yet to see or read as well. I gave her the facts as I saw them and told her she can make this decision for herself. Many people that I know, love and respect do not feel there is anything wrong with the book.....but I have to stick with my convictions.
