What's wrong with liking Wizards?
Being a Christian teen, this question has entered quite a few conversations I have had. With all of the fuss over the new Harry Potter movie, it revives the question, what’s the problem with being a Christian and liking wizards? Or is there even a problem with liking wizards?
I have struggled back and forth on this issue, the one side of me says its fine, after all Harry Potter and like books are listed as “Fiction” books because they are just that, fiction, a make believe story that never happened and never will. And if you keep in mind that it is just a story, its fine to read books about wizards and stuff. By keeping this thought in your mind you are keeping yourself from becoming obsessed with wizards, so there should not be a problem with it, right? The other side says that we should not be reading anything that makes wizards/witches look good. Even though it is just a story, it will now be logged in my memory bank and I can’t help but think of it. The Bible never speaks good of them, so I shouldn’t either.
After several years of undecided debate, and being the co-author of a fantasy book myself (Seven Candles: The Reclaiming of Haven), I knew that there must be a clear answer to this question that all Christian teens will ask or be asked at some time. Then one day while I was in church listening to the pastor preach, he read a verse that answered this question.
“But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murders, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” -Revelations 21:8
Sorcerers will have their part in the lake of fire. Notice the things wizards are listed with, murders, sexually immoral people, idol worshipers, liars, apparently being a wizard is NOT a good thing, it’s a sin; in fact this verse in Revelations is giving special mention to the kinds of wicked people who will NOT be in on eternal life, but are condemned to eternal death, indicating God really hates these forms of sin. So here is a question for you, should we be reading books that make sin a good thing? How about a book that makes murders out to be heroes? How about idolaters? Sexually immoral? Wizards? Murdering is a sin, and so is being a wizard, if you should not read a book that makes a murderer out to be a hero, why should wizards be any different? So then comes the “But its just a story, I am not taking it seriously.” To that a wise old preacher responded with two verses, that I will leave you with, then you make your own decision on weather or not you should be reading books, watching movies, or wishing you could do stuff like wizards.
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever thing are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of a good report, if there be any virtue and if there be anything praiseworthy - think on these things.” Philippians 4:8
“Do not be envious of evil men, nor desire to be with them; for their hearts devises violence and their lips talk of troublemaking” Proverbs 24:1-2
