Harry Potter series

Recently, I went to a movie and the trailer for the new Harry Potter movie came up on the screen. I sat there watching the horrific images of imagined beasts and spirits swirling through magical air as the boy-wizard attempted to evade their attacks or return an attack, sometimes while whooshing around the air on a broomstick. I could not help but wonder how much darker this trailer was from the prior Harry Potters (although, I missed the last episode's trailer, so this is new to me). I wondered to myself, "Parents would let their young children watch this??" Talk about having bad dreams! And the thought came to me that these parents who permitted their children to watch the first few episodes would be in a bind if they forbade their children from watching THIS one. I could hear the arguments from the children already. "You let me watch the first three/four!That's no fair!"

I mean really - how could you, in good conscience, prevent your child from watching this one if you permitted them the first ones? Would it not be a bit hypocritical to reason to your children, "Well - I was never really for you going to see Harry Potter to begin with and this movie just looks scarier than the first few."? Yes, you could argue this one is much darker. But the point is: You already let them go to the first few episodes. So really - what's the diff?

Where is my reasoning coming from?

The fact that anyone would sit in front of a Harry Potter movie already opens up this discussion. A "christian" co-worker of mine justified her reason for reading the books/seeing the movies: "It's about good versus evil!"

It's about good versus evil? I'm sorry - did I miss the kiosk that was handing out wools to pull over our eyes down the road somewhere?

Are you not aware that the so-called "good" versus the obvious "evil" is made up of a cast of WIZARDS, WARLOCKS, AND WITCHES?!!! Since when did those who practice these dark arts consider themselves GOOD?

Dark arts.
Do you know that the Ministry of Dark Arts is taught to these "good" wizards, warlocks, & witches in the story? *nod, nod* yeah. At least the author was telling the truth.

"But, but, white witches aren't bad witches. They're good witches. They use their magic to heal and to ward off bad spirits and.. and.." blah blah blah blah blah blahblah blaaaaah-dee-dee blaaaah.

I dont know what your bible says, but mine says:
(Exo 22:18 KJV) Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.

Deu 18:10-14 KJV
(10) There shall not be found among you [any one] that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, [or] that useth divination, [or] an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,
(11) Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.
(12) For all that do these things [are] an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.
(13) Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God.
(14) For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not suffered thee so [to do].

Here it is again in plain terms:

Deu 18:10-14 MSG
(10) Don't you dare sacrifice your son or daughter in the fire. Don't practice divination, sorcery, fortunetelling, witchery,
(11) casting spells, holding seances, or channeling with the dead.
(12) People who do these things are an abomination to GOD. It's because of just such abominable practices that GOD, your God, is driving these nations out before you.
(13) Be completely loyal to GOD, your God.
(14) These nations that you're about to run out of the country consort with sorcerers and witches. But not you. GOD, your God, forbids it.

WAKE UP, CHRISTIAN WORLD!!! Are you so comfortable with your stinking thinking that you cannot SEE what's really going on, Private?!
Last time I checked, the Word of God said of the church (the body of believers that are usually labeled "Christian"): "...as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of the water by the word," {Ephesians 5:25b,26}

He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of the water by the word.
The word. Every word that proceeds from God's mouth. The word cleanses and renews your mind. Are you reading it??

"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." {Romans 12:2}
"And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;" {Ephesians 4:23}

Now why would God want us to be renewed in our minds? For one, Romans 12:2 says so that we may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. But a strong reason is: "Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." {Romans 8:7}

We cannot rightly discern or approve what is good for our children, our selves, our brothers & sisters in Christ, or anyone for that matter, if we are not reading the Word daily and obeying God. In order to teach others, we must first be taught. How can a Christian teach anyone anything that they have not already learned for their own self? "Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15) Look up the words "familiar spirit" in the bible. Grab yourself a concordanceand start studying. Look up the word "familiar" and be sure it is followed by the word "spirit". Then see what the Word says regarding those with familiar spirits. Become familiar with what those who have a familiar spirit do & how they were treated by those who followed Christ or God. For example, the sorcerer in Acts 8 who begged Peter to have the ability to lay hands on others to impart the Holy Ghost. Or in Acts 13, the sorcerer whom Paul encountered and was trying to turn the deputy away from the faith. Or how about the damsel with the spirit of divination in Acts 16 who grieved Paul by crying out after him, then when the spirit was cast out of her - she was useless to her masters because she couldn't (read tarot cards, read chicken gizzards/liver, read blood, read tea leaves, read palms, read the stars, read lines in your forehead, look into her crystal ball, create voodoo dolls, tell your future, consult with images/the dead) soothsay anymore. Or the King Saul in the Old Testament (1 Samuel 28:7; 1 Chronicles 10:13).

That's another one: divination. Look it up in the concordance. Become familiar with these things. So you can approve what is acceptable and pleasing to the Lord first and foremost in your lives.

These movies & books & games & such appear harmless. "Hollywood glam" we say. But don't be deceived. Garbage in, garbage out. Monitor what your children -- and you -- watch. Cut out some of this garbage hocus-pocus crap that teaches the wrong spirit. Edify yourselves with good wholesome movies.