It is amazing how easily the devil deceives people into having a favorable attitude toward books and movies that promote sorcery, witchcraft, and the occult. Of course it is carefully packaged into fun and entertainment that appeals to children and even adults. It is time for Bible-believing Christians to stand up and expose something that goes against the strong teaching of the Word of God.
In both the Old and New Testaments, sorcery, witchcraft, and the occult are condemned over and over again. Let us look at a few of these Scriptures.
I. WITCHCRAFT CONDEMNED IN O. T.
God's people were commanded to destroy witches. "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.(Ex. 22:18)" "A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them.(Lev. 20:27)" This does not mean that we should kill witches today, but it is a sin to promote this evil. When wicked Pharaoh wanted to keep Israel as slaves, he called for the sorcerers and magicians to help him. "Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.(Ex. 7:11)"
God instructed His people not to allow those involved in the occult to live among them. "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, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.(Deut. 18:10-11)"
Here is a brief description of the occult professions and practices mentioned in the above verses of the Bible. A witch is someone that practices witchcraft and practices sorcery and enchantment. One who has a familiar spirit attempts to communicate with the dead and participates in witchcraft. A wizard practices sorcery and witchcraft. A sorcerer practices witchcraft, wizardry, magic, divination and enchanting. A magician was a diviner, astrologer, and used magic. The use of enchantments involved spell casting, charms and communication with the spirits. Those who used divination were fortune tellers, and who claimed to divine into the unknown. The observer of times consulted the stars because they believed that the heavenly bodies had a ruling influence over the world. A charmer was one who cast spells and used sorcery. A necromancer was a person who revealed future events by communication with the dead. All of these practices are the work of Satan and fall under the occult practices.
No Christian or any sane person should have anything to do with any of these practices. They are evil and should never be used for entertainment, amusement, or education.
God has never changed, and cannot change, in His condemnation of sorcery, and witchcraft. We do not say that every child who watches the Harry Potter movie will engage in witchcraft. What the devil is doing is instilling a favorable attitude toward this evil practice.
They try to tell us that these books and the movie will never induce anyone to take up witchcraft. Right! Neither will the advertisements of the Ford Motor Company on television ever induce anyone to buy a Ford automobile. They just spend all of those millions of dollars because they don't have anything else to do with their money. When the Super Bowl airs, companies will spend millions of dollars for a few seconds of time to advertise their products. Of course they know it will not influence anyone to buy their product. Right? Wrong! They believe that their advertising dollars will pay off. Then we are supposed to believe that movies that portray and demonstrate sorcery and witchcraft will not influence anyone to look with favor upon these occult practices. How gullible do they think we are? We may not be very smart, but we are not stupid!
Witchcraft was one of the great peace-destroying sins of Jezebel. "...What peace, so long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many?(2 Kings 9:22)"
God's judgment came upon Babylon because of their "...sorceries, and for the great abundance of...enchantments.(Isa 47:9)" They were deeply involved in enchantments, sorceries, astrology, etc. (See Isa. 47:12-13). None of these evil practices could save them from destruction.
King Manasseh brought judgment upon Jerusalem by tolerating and practicing the very things that Harry Potter promotes. "And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.(2 Kings 21:6)"
The Old Testament prophets were united in their condemnation of all of these evil practices. "And I will cut off witchcrafts out of thine hand; and thou shalt have no more soothsayers.(Mic 5:12)" "They have seen vanity and lying divination...(Ezek. 13:6)"
When King Saul was trying to do right, he ordered all those who practiced witchcraft out of the land. "...And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land.(1 Sam. 28:3)" Then when he had turned against God and judgment was impending, he turned to a woman with a familiar spirit. "Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor.(1 Sam. 28:7)" (Familiar spirit means a necromancer, one who romances the dead).
One of the reasons why King Saul died in disgrace, was his appealing to a woman who practiced the occult. "So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD, even against the word of the LORD, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to enquire of it.(1 Chron. 10:13)"
II. WITCHCRAFT CONDEMNED IN N. T.
God did not change when we come to the New Testament. Witchcraft is placed in the same class of sins as idolatry and murder. God never has approved of any kind of occult practices, and He never will. I find it very strange that some Christians try to justify this awful sin when God so severely condemns it. "Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.(Gal. 5:20-21)"
In the city of Ephesus, Paul encountered the forces of darkness. This city was given over to idolatry, exorcism and many other forms of the occult. The power of God intervened and these workers of darkness were completely defeated. This resulted in people being saved and turning their backs upon evil. "And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds. Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.(Acts 19:18-19)"
John Gill comments on the "curious arts" by saying, "Many also of them which used curious arts, &c., Magic arts, soothsaying, necromancy, conjuration, and the like, being convinced of the folly and wickedness of them: brought their books together; by which they had learned these arts. Ephesus was famous for this sort of learning . . . " In commenting on this verse, G. Campbell Morgan said that this city was "full of magic . . . incantations and excorcism . . . " He further said that the books that were burned belonged to the Church members who burned their books teaching the black arts.
The Pulpit Commentary says that the "curious arts" refers to "that which is forbidden, and specially magic arts and occult sciences." This is how Christians reacted to the occult in the days of the Bible. Christians today should reject Harry Potter and all forms of witchcraft, sorcery, and the evil works of darkness.
In the city of Philippi, Paul encountered a girl who was indwelt by an evil spirit. She made a lot of money for her owners by divination and soothsaying. "And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying.(Acts 16:16)" When God used Paul to deliver her from this bondage, angry people beat him and cast him into prison. It is always dangerous to oppose the evil forces of darkness, but we thank God for those who dare to stand for the truth.
One of the things that points to the end of the age is sorcery, witchcraft and all kinds of magic arts. The Tribulation period described in Revelation 6-19, will feature widespread use of various forms of magic. "Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.(Rev 9:21)"
The "sorceries" referred to in Revelation refers to "witchcraft, sorcery, magical arts, often found in connection with idolatry and fostered by it." We are told that "by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.(Rev. 18:23)"
Recently we read a church ad saying, "Harry Potter Is Going to Hell." If Harry Potter was a real person, instead, of a fictional character, that would certainly be true. Certainly those that practice witchcraft, wizardry, sorcery and the occult are going to hell. The only hope they have is to repent of this wickedness and turn to Jesus Christ for salvation. "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.(Rev. 21:8)"
The Bible plainly states that sorcerers will be shut out from the presence of God. "For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.(Rev. 22:15)" The above scripture in Revelation reveals that God puts "sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters," all under the same classification. Why? It is because they are all wicked and abominable sins in the sight of God, and will receive the same judgment.
III. WITCHCRAFT A REAL DANGER TODAY
Other voices have been raised against Harry Potter books and the movie. In the remaining part of this article, we shall give some quotations from some of these. The following quotations are taken from a Baptist Press release by Tobin Perry.
Millions of children strolling into the new Harry Potter movie will get a crash course in occultism, said Richard Abanes, author of "Harry Potter and the Bible," released last January by Horizon Books. "We will have millions and millions of kids getting their first look at the occult" at what otherwise may seem to be a "very endearing, fun and stimulating movie," Abanes said. Abanes has been studying the occult for much of the past decade, writing almost a dozen books on the subject.
Besides getting kids hooked on the occult, Abanes has two other major concerns about the Harry Potter series: the series teaches children moral relativism and desensitizes children to profanity and off-color humor.
The following was taken from an article by Phil Boatwright in BP.
The live-action Warner Brothers adventure tells the story of a boy who learns on his 11th birthday that he is the orphaned son of two powerful wizards and possesses unique magical powers of his own. Invited to attend "Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry," Harry embarks on the adventure of a lifetime. At Hogwarts, he finds the home and the family he has never had.
While studying how to develop his powers as a wizard, Harry and his pals have several adventures. Some of these escapades are amusing, such as a rugby match on flying broomsticks, while others are a bit more scary, such as a final confrontation with the villain, a snake-like demon who once killed Harry's parents and now wants to destroy him.
Many, including this reviewer, believe that Harry Potter is far more than mere children's fantasy. In truth, there are millions of practicing witches worldwide. Members of Wicca teach a philosophy that embraces no absolute truth or sin, replacing the patriarchal male creator God of the Bible with a belief in both male and female gods. It instructs its members to embrace spirits and how to use spells and curses to control their lives and the lives of others.
If Harry Potter were only a fantasy novel that conveyed the positive character traits of bravery, loyalty, and friendship it would be one thing. However, that Rowling mixes witchcraft and occult practices with her fantasy is what many find disturbing. The occult symbols and practices found in Rowling's writings were not birthed in her imagination. Her knowledge of such things had to come from research or experience. (BP)
Robert McGee wrote the following concerning Harry Potter in BP.
After having seen a pre-release screening of the first Harry Potter movie, I left wondering what it was going to take for the church to wake up. The movie appears to be directed to children 13 and younger. For those Christian parents and pastors who have wanted to believe that the Harry Potter books are really not about witchcraft, they are going to be disappointed. Using witchcraft is the way Harry, a child who grew up in an abusive situation, gains power and fame.
Harry and his friends communicate with spirits of dead people. The book explains death as just the next great adventure, a direct allusion to reincarnation, which is a tenant of witchcraft.
Those who want Harry to be a role figure for our children may be concerned that Harry breaks the rules, goes against authority, lies and yet suffers no negative consequences and in fact is often rewarded for rebellious behavior. Those who are not witches are called Muggles, which is a variation of an English slang term Mug that corresponds to a fool. Muggles do not live lives worth anything, are stupid and mean and show gross ignorance because they reject witchcraft.
If you think that we will somehow weather this and it will be a distant memory, you do not understand the plan. There will be three more Harry Potter books, six more movies after this one and a video game that is supposed to become the most popular game ever.
Phil Boatwright writes again in BP and voices some of the concerns of a person well acquainted with the evils of witchcraft.
Marcia Montenegro, once a renowned astrologer and now a Christian author and speaker, understandably is concerned about the new movie "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone." She is uneasy that the movie's preoccupation with sorcery may cause children and teenagers to nonchalantly experiment with mystical arts.
"Although Harry Potter attends the `Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry,' what is really being described in the book is sorcery," Montenegro said in an interview. And what exactly is sorcery? "Contemporary sorcery is based on a belief of accessing and manipulating energy through various methods, such as the use of potions, incantations, rituals and communing with spirits," Montenegro explained. "Sorcery is nothing less than the attempt to replace God, since it is one's will that is primary in practicing sorcery."
Montenegro certainly is more sensitive than others to occult issues after spending years studying astrology, channeling, reincarnation and other such beliefs. While Harry Potter defenders -- including a few church leaders -- find the symbolism of names, the actions and the allegorical use of the Harry Potter character merely a representation of good versus evil, Montenegro said it is more than harmless fantasy. The occult is real, she stated, and the books present an occult worldview and some practices that are approximate to real occult techniques.
Montenegro is not alone in her assessment. Christian film reviewer Holly McClure notes in her book, "Death by Entertainment," "Although Harry represents good, he uses lies and deception and magic to triumph over evil, so the roles of good and bad are blurred."
"Anytime the dark side of the supernatural world is presented as harmless or even imaginary, there is the danger that children will become curious and find too late that witchcraft is neither harmless nor imaginary." Their concerns reflect the warnings from Scripture, such as Deuteronomy 18:10, Leviticus 19:26 and Galatians 5:20.
And of Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling, Montenegro said, "Much is made of the fact that the author wrote while on welfare on scraps of paper at a cafe. This makes it sound like everything is totally from her imagination; however, she did not imagine alchemy, charms, astrology, the dark side or many other occult concepts and information represented in the books and film. Harry Potter, far from teaching against the occult, gives a rousing cheer for it."
The above quotations are given to show that opposition to Harry Potter books and movies is widespread. If God condemns something as strongly as He condemns the occult, we should beware! The devil will use the glorification of sorcery to induce some to enter into this darkness. At the very least it will produce a tolerant attitude toward something that God has promised the severest judgment upon.