The start of mankind's "fall" was when Eve accepted an invitation to analyze what God had said. "Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, "Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?" (Genesis 3:1)

        As Christians we have a blueprint and guidebook that clearly mandates how we are to live our lives. The Bible must be viewed as absolute Truth and as the standard for our Christian life.

        With the Bible as our standard, how are we, as Christians, to analyze Harry Potter and other types of literature that continually confront our children and ourselves? "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction." (Proverbs 1:7 NKJV) As Christians, our "worldview" of literature and entertainment endeavors must come from a biblical foundation.

        A person's "worldview" is the way they interpret all of reality. It answers such questions as how our universe is governed, how we got here, what is our purpose, how we define right and wrong. Worldviews are defined by belief systems, and everyone has a worldview whether they acknowledge it or not. A book reflects the worldview given to it by its author. A Christian worldview is defined by God and His word. The author, J. K. Rowling, has created, within her highly successful Harry Potter series, a "worldview" that revolves around potions, spells, transformation (turning something into something else) and divination. It is a new worldview where humans posses great magical powers. Although it is fictional literature, Rowling does a brilliant job of disposing a biblical worldview and re-establishing a new worldview. Within this new worldview there is a dynamic of good and evil, however, this good and evil is based on the concept of white and black witchcraft. In the neo-reality of the books, the reader is made to feel very comfortable in identifying elements of their own known worldview. Skillfully, the author then shifts to portray a world in which witchcraft is the lifestyle of choice. In this setting there is power to transcend God’s created order, and good and evil distinctions are blurred as the story line sees fit. For example, Harry Potter values loyalty, honesty and courage as do Christians, but in Potter, these attributes promote white witchcraft practices. The characters in Harry Potter regularly exercise such powers and invite us to be entertained in their world.  "Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character." (1 Corinthians 15:33 NIV) As the young Christian reads Potter, they subconsciously analyze and weigh the different elements in the story. The reader can easily be drawn into an acceptance of a worldview that is undeniably attractive and yet so deeply anti-Christian. The deception is subtle and may cause us to re-analyze our biblical worldview.

        Let's again look at that first deception, back in the Garden of Eden. We're told that the serpent was "more cunning than any beast". It would not have served his purpose to say to "Eve, Go ahead and eat the fruit, your disobedience will then lead to your spiritual death, banishment from the garden and separation from God." He did, however, entice Eve to analyze God's warning and focus on the seemingly "positive" qualities of the tree. "Then the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate." (Genesis 3:4-6 NKJV)

        The understanding of good and evil was never programmed into Eve. As she analyzed what the serpent said, her eye gate was opened and she is visually caught up in the beauty of the fruit (it was pleasant to the eyes). Upon closer inspection, she realizes the nutritional value of such a fruit (good for food) and, her desire for empowerment asserts itself (and you will be like God). Adam soon joins her and their joint desire for empowerment leads to their ultimate fall. This empowerment is exactly the enticement of the Harry Potters story line. Empowerment is every child’s desire. To overcome all obstacles set before them, having the ability to control not only their immediate life, but to control the lives of others around them. "Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child;" (Proverbs 22:15a KJV) As Christian parents we are to lead them to a God-centered biblical worldview. "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6 KJV)

        Now, let's take a biblical look at witchcraft. We know that it is the main theme interlaced throughout the Harry Potter books, but what does God say? In the Old Testament it is quite clear. "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. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you." (Deuteronomy 18:10-12 NIV) We find it equally clear within the passages of the New Testament. St. Paul lists witchcraft on the list of sinful acts. "The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: ... and witchcraft;..., and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God." (Galatians 5:19-21 NIV) In both the original Hebrew and Greek, a practicing witch and witchcraft means, "to whisper a spell, that is, to enchant or practice magic and sorcery". It sounds like Harry's first semester at Hogwarts' School of Witchcraft and Wizardry! There is one thing we must remember when we are enticed to "analyze" witchcraft and other curious occult practices; God never said that these practices lacked power or were devoid of intrinsic attraction, what God did say was DO NOT DO IT! In Revelations 22:14-15a, Christ speaks of his final return to earth, and states, "Blessed are those who wash their robes that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates onto the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts" (NIV) The occult is a direct challenge to God’s spiritual dominion. No matter what Harry Potter’s good qualities might be, no matter how much it "turns children on to reading" on Judgment Day, according to scripture, little Harry Potter would not merit Christ’s heavenly reward.

        It is our desire that we all would know God’s will for our lives. How do we as parents and grandparents recognize the assault on our children? How can we learn to combat the wiles of the enemy in a productive way that will ultimately transform our mind and our actions?

Gary DeVeau/executive director