Harry Potter: Devil or Saint?
First and foremost, I’d like to make something clear: I am a Christian. I love Jesus. I’ve been saved by grace through faith in Him alone. I’ve accepted that unworthy as I am, He died to pay the price of my sin, and that no amount of my works can bring me eternal life.
Now that I’ve made that clear, I’d like to ask this question: Does this mean that if I read and endorse Harry Potter books, I will be condemned to hell?
I came across this article that lashed out at the Harry Potter series, stated that it is of the devil, and that Christians who think that it is harmless are stupid.
OK, here are my two thoughts on it: one, I am not saying that Harry Potter is completely harmless, and two, I am not saying that it is completely evil either. I do not agree with the article that states Harry Potter promotes Christian values, and I dont agree that "Harry Potter is evil and we should
not endorse such wickedness."
On point number one, I know that J.K. Rowling’s work has had a profound effect on children, mainly because they become so enthralled by witchcraft at a very young age. Wicca has indeed become more and more popular in recent years than ever before.
I DON’T agree that the Harry Potter series is for kids. And not just because of the witchcraft, but because of the slight violence and teenaged themes, that should not be exposed to children. I think it should be a PG-13 book, and that parents should talk to their kids before, during and after they read it, to monitor their thoughts on the subject. Just like any PG-13 movie, right?
Think about it…does this mean then that all Christian dads should stop watching those brainless action flicks with mindless killing and bold karate moves for fear that they should become violent? I’m sure they’d love to hear that. How about soap operas? Should Christian moms stop watching them to prevent them from being unfaithful and running around with their husbands’ brothers’?
And also, on the note of magic and witchcraft, should we then not watch films like Wizard of Oz, Beauty and the Beast, Kazaam, Barbie and the Magic of the Rainbow, or let kids watch Dora the Explorer because she has a magic map or tell kids about Santa Claus and the tooth fairy? Can’t kids read the beautiful books of Enid Blyton or The Little Prince anymore because they are full of stories of magic and enchantment? Even C.S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia had magic in it, and C.S. Lewis was a Christian!
If you say that real Christians should avoid all of the above, then I respect your beliefs. But I pray that just because you feel that you would be tempted by such things, you won’t just go ahead and judge others. We all have our different ways of fleeing temptation. There are some who are tempted by food, by the flesh, by money. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t nibble on chocolate once in a while, or smile at a pretty girl, or feel blessed when you receive your salary.
Harry Potter, for me, is just what it is…a fun piece of fiction. I admit it, I love the books. They are an enjoyable experience, almost like being a kid again in a land full of nonsense and, yes, magic. Isn’t that what being a kid is all about? If these people who are so quick to judge even bothered to read one of the books, they would see that the protagonists don’t even perform spells that in any way resemble real witchcraft…they wave wands and say magic words, ride broomsticks and eat Chocolate Frogs and pumpkin juice. They do not cut themselves for blood and disembowel cats — the antagonists do those horrible things.
I do not enjoy Harry Potter "for fear of persecution." I do not read it because I am "unholy" and that I want to dabble in the dark arts.
"There is NOTHING "holy" about Harry
Potter. Holiness is "moral perfection." Though we cannot live
perfect at all times (because we are human beings prone to disobedience and
anger), we are commanded by God to try to live righteously."
Did it make my mother evil to give me those Enid Blyton books, which were my favorites as a kid, then? There’s nothing holy about those. There’s nothing holy about My Little Pony and Sesame Street either. Seriously, in my opinion, they’re making too big of a deal about it.
Christians…I agree, holiness IS moral perfection. Guide your kids, let them grow in the Word of God so that they will know what is good and righteous in His eyes, and that they will not be swayed by the ways of the world. Your kids will always, always be exposed to things that are not of God. Your role is to encourage them to have a relationship with Jesus Christ, to grow in love with Him.
All other things are secondary. Some things, even irrelevant.
My reading Harry Potter does not affect my love of Christ in any way. To this day, I am still forever grateful for the grace that set me free.
