Even though Harry Potter is a fictional book, it does lead people, even children, into the new age, witchcraft, sorcery, and selfism. It glorifies sorcery by wrapping it up in an illusion of “cute and fun self-exaltation and power.” There are no spiritual disclaimers warning people of the consequences that come when practicing witchcraft.
Selfism, the new age, and witchcraft falsely claim, “I don’t need God because I am a god.”
As Christians, it is essential not to forget that a movie that revolves around witchcraft glorifies selfism and the devil’s ways, which are opposed to God’s ways. Although it appears wrapped in a veneer of “cute and fun self-exaltation and manipulation,” nothing is cute in the real world of witchcraft.
I say this as a person who dabbled into the new age myself before I came to Jesus Christ. People can ignorantly or knowingly dabble into this craft that involves the use of demons to control self, others, and circumstances.
However, if we are Christians, we know that God created and gave us life! We know that He owns our souls, and only He can bring life into this world! We know that only Jesus Christ can fight the devil! Witchcraft cannot fight demons or the devil – it only may appear to do so at times, but that is a deception, it only brings much more bondage.
We know that we cannot prevent physical death or create new life without Him. Though we may have fears, God possesses more power than anything or anyone else in existence, so the little wand is just crumbs to God, but the born-again Christian imploring or using it (in heart or otherwise) is engaging in or being entertained by it with the Holy Spirit inside of them. And while an adult may feel they can handle this type of entertainment without sinning, in thought or heart, or otherwise, it will influence their thoughts and behavior to some degree, like all ungodly media does.
Children in Christian Homes Learning Occultism and Taking That Information to Christian Children
Additionally, it would be much more difficult for an unregenerate child, who does not have the Holy Spirit, and who is learning about Jesus Christ at church, to reject the movies and those ways when their parents watch and allow their children, too, as well.
Jesus Christ does not want us causing children to stumble, in any way, and this is a stumbling block for many children, whether we admit it or not it is an actual fact, so if we are a parent who does allow this type of entertainment and we are concerned about sinning, we can ask God what He thinks about it.
God can show our hearts why we are stumbling in a particular area. We can confess being attracted to occultism and repent – turn away from it (throw out books on the occult and reject the entertainment), and follow the Lord Jesus Christ as Lord in our homes, Lord in our churches, Lord in our workplaces, and Lord in our social lives. Would Apostle Paul watch Harry Potter as entertainment? There is no way. Would Jesus Christ? Absolutely not. Apostle Peter would probably ask who has bewitched us!
Witchcraft is everywhere. Our children are bombarded with it, so why applaud and lead little ones into learning only about secularism and the dark arts without a Christian narrator explaining the harm or providing disclaimers?
My personal testimony involves a severe bondage that came about when I fell into new age practices. I am not asking anyone to condemn those in the occult – we are not to condemn them, as we were saved by grace through faith, and are no better. We are to share the gospel in love and humility knowing we are no better.
While we are no better, we are still allowed to call sin a sin. We born-again Christians were regenerated and are in different spiritual places in our walks. Many of us have been delivered from watching movies of those ways, so we do not rely on them anymore to accomplish anything, even entertainment because what does darkness have in common with light? Do we have other sins we need to acknowledge and work on? Yes, you bet we do, but we are to keep with repentance. This is something that is close to my heart because I came from that dark place and I know its deception and darkness.
Come all the way into the light of Jesus Christ is what I say to myself and others!
Walk out of the dirty spiritual film that can plague our hearts and our children’s minds! We do not belong there anymore! We have a new residence in Jesus Christ and we are in holy spiritual places and can be washed free of this sin, and others, by the Word of Truth!
How can we become upset when our children do not obey us when we do not obey the Lord?
We are no better than one another, I know, as I struggle with certain sins, too, at times. I also seek to keep with repentance, but the first step is admitting something is a sin and a stumbling block to a child.
We are supposed to train children in the way of the Lord.
Jesus Christ said,
“And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me: but whoso shall cause one of these little ones that believe on me to stumble, it is profitable for him that a great millstone should be hanged about his neck, and that he should be sunk in the depth of the sea. Woe unto the world because of occasions of stumbling! for it must needs be that the occasions come; but woe to that man through whom the occasion cometh!” Matthew 18:5-7
I plead with my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ to prayerfully seek Jesus Christ’s will in this, as we are teaching our children how to rebel against God by exposing and promoting Harry Potter and other occultism in our Christian homes.
Engaging in witchcraft opposes the very nature of God and replaces it with the deception of self-exaltation and submission to evil forces. All forms of occultism defy God and invite harmful demonic influences and sometimes possession.
A Christian’s Applause of Witchcraft Confuses Everyone
Furthermore, we contribute to the confusion of the world, new Christians, older Christians, our friends and families, and our children when we financially support and applaud movies that glorify witchcraft. Some people believe “if it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, then it is a duck.” We are not to give an appearance of evil.
“Abstain from all appearance of evil.”
1 Thessalonians 5:22 KJV
Now, if Jesus Christ were in the movie, and is about to come and deliver and save Harry Potter, his friends, or enemies, that is different, to an extent, as long as the darkness is not too dark. But, it does not glorify the Lord – it does the opposite – it glorifies the devil’s ways. It is not okay with God for Harry Potter not to repent from the craft, no matter how likable Harry is.
It can become difficult to discern right from wrong when we are continually exposed to something and forget what God’s Word says about it. We also forget the influence we have on our children at times. Sometimes, we try to justify our sins. I have justified sin before, and confessed that, and I know that I am not perfect by any means, but consider how much more difficult it will be for an unregenerate child to discern and not be influenced? Occultism is fundamentally oppositional to God.
It teaches children to sin against God by trying to be their own little god. It mocks God, seduces the flesh, and many in the real world use it to try and harm us, so why turn our children to it to be desensitized, attracted, and entertained by it?
Not a Good Witness to Those in the Occult
It also does not aid in witnessing to those in the occult. How can we say it is a sin when we have the books, watch the movies, and call it family entertainment?
By supporting and enjoying movies that, as a whole, are centered on and glorify witchcraft, we are facilitating rebellion and self-exaltation.
We are funding and sharing movies that have not only lured more people into witchcraft but also promote the satanic concept of “do what thou wilt” through sorcery.
Occultism in the Church
This detrimental ideology has been infiltrating our churches and directly opposes Jesus Christ’s ways.
How can we complain about occult practices in our churches and then go home and feed our family’s minds with the exact same thing?
Before giving my life to follow Jesus Christ, I used to take my children to see Harry Potter movies on their opening days, perceiving them as “just movies.” That was right before I fell into new age practices myself, and if you know my story, you know that led to pure horror.
I praise Jesus Christ for delivering and saving me!
Fortunately, the world and witchcraft holds no power over God, although some mistakenly perceives His patience as passivity. For the born-again Christians, we are called and chosen to discern and keep with repentance. We are to help children follow Jesus Christ and never be ashamed of doing so!
As Christ said, “The thief comes to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:10-11 ESV).
