Kids around the globe dressed in wizard hats and Hogwarts school uniforms complete with capes and scarves got their hands on the final book in the Harry Potter series Saturday morning at 12:01 a.m.
"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" is the seventh and final installment in J.K. Rowling's hugely popular series and critics and fans are calling it possibly the best with action-packed drama from the start. With 325 million copies sold worldwide, it's a Harry Potter phenomenon that booksellers have never seen before and may possibly never see again.
But it's a series some Christian parents are still trying to avoid.
Rodney Redmond, owner of The Sanctuary Christian Store in Columbus, Ga., told the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer that his three young girls haven't read the books or seen the movies, the latest ("Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix") of which broke several box office records quickly after its release this month and marked the strongest five-day performance in the movie franchise's history.
"They're selective and discerning and they chose not to read them," said Redmond, who attends Cascade Hills Church with his family.
The big question parents have is: "Should ... kids be reading novels about wizards and witches and magic?" noted conservative evangelical Chuck Colson of Prison Fellowship Ministries.
Many evangelicals are saying “yes,” but with caution.
For kids with an unhealthy interest in the occult, they probably shouldn't read the books, as suggested by Connie Neal, a veteran youth pastor and mother of three, in her book What's a Christian to do with Harry Potter? Others kids, however, could benefit from the moral lessons the Potter books teach, some Christians believe.
While parents should be concerned about modern witchcraft – a seductive false religion that they should protect their children from – "the literary witchcraft of the Harry Potter series has almost no resemblance to the I-am-God mumbo jumbo of Wiccan circles,'" stated a past review by Christianity Today magazine. “Author J.K. Rowling has created a world with real good and evil, and Harry is definitely on the side of light fighting the 'dark powers.’”
Colson personally doesn't recommend the Harry Potter books for Christian kids to read. He, however, acknowledged that kids will probably see them and hear others talk about them and that they're probably going to read them anyway.
So the key to keep children from becoming immersed and influenced by the Harry Potter world is teaching them discernment, Colson pointed out.
To illustrate this, the ministry leader pointed to the biblical story of the prophet Daniel, where author Neal’s belief that it’s okay for Christians to read secular novels comes from. Daniel – who had studied the language and literature of the pagan culture at a school that trained Babylon's magicians, astrologers, and sorcerers – studied it well to understand it.
"But, because of his deep devotion to God, he didn’t defile himself," said Colson, citing Neal.
“God put Daniel in Babylon to be a light in the darkness – and he was," Neal had said. "He was not afraid to read literature that resounded in the hearts of the people with whom he lived. He used his familiarity with this pagan literature to reveal the true and living God."
So how do kids share their faith using Harry Potter?
"Use it to turn the conversation toward Jesus," says Jane Dratz of Dare 2 Share youth ministries.
Ask your friends if they believe there is a spiritual battle raging in the real world and talk about the spiritual weapons the Bible describes are available to followers of Jesus, Dratz suggested.
"Harry is a topic every follower of Jesus should be ready to discuss thoughtfully – whether you love him or hate him, he can be a springboard to talk about your faith with your friends," she stressed.
Comments
I think that Harry Potter promotes witchcraft as ok. Harry Potter is a brave, clever boy - and he's a wizard after all! The bible says, 'woe to those who call darkness light, and light darkenss', also he told us not to touch or go near the unclean thing or to associate with spiritual darkness. If it's not light it's darkenss. If it's not a book Jesus would read then perhaps we shouldn't bother! My daughter read a couple of the books, I didn't want her to read them at all - but she found them at a jumble sale at a Christian School - so I allowed her to read them, thinking it must be ok if it was for sale at a christian school, how wrong I was....not long after that, things moved in my daughters room - and her guitar played by itself (a few stings), my hubby heard it as well as my daughter. My daughter very sensibly for a 11 year old, decided she wasn't ever going to read another Harry Potter book again!!! Laugh if you like, read the books if you like, but in a home that loves the Lord, perhaps we should be reading the bible more and junk less.
Ircory we need more people like you on this site, someone who speaks sense!
I agree with both sides. I don't feel that the Lord has put it on my heart though to watch these movies so I can have a discussion with someone who's confused about the Lord & can relate on a Harry Potter or Narnia level. My discernment is telling me to stay away & leave it alone. I did watch Narnia because of all of the good things I heard about it. I feel like the Lord has been tellling me that was the wrong decision because I didn't seek His council for me first. I watched based on other Christian opinions. That wasn't God's plan for me.
Narnia
Amen to that Art
Art, I understand why you think there is a reason for concern. However, the emphasis in these books are not about the witchcraft at all. Harry is portrayed as a strong wizard for his courage and his love, and not his wizarding abilities.
The morals in the book are solid, and no where have I seen anything that would seem to strike out at christians.
Like it was suggested in the article, it would be a great door opener to the spiritual battle raging around us, and the need for Jesus.
Just spend some time in prayer with God, really seeking after his Heart with this book series. That is the most we can do for any matter isn't it?
Your brother in Christ,
ircory
dear cmcassel, some are saying that harry potter has been a secret christian message. " it is not." I mean no harm in the things I will say, but feel I must in order to stay true to Gods command to declare the truth of His Word.
If I adhere to your reasoning I should attend a seance, so that I understand it better. Or, attend a wican service so God can use me better to talk about it
While I beleive you mean well I have made the choice not to read harry potter, and I have made that choice based on Gods Word.
It is never Gods will to dabble in sin so that you can discuss it better. The Bible is as clear on the subject of witchcraft as it is on adultry.
in the case of harry potter,that is one baby that you would do well to throw out with the bath water. Art.
Art, I don't think the authors of this article are saying that this is a Christian novel at all, what they are sayng is that in order to speak intelligently about Harry Potter and turn the discussion into a conversation about Christ that it is necessary to read the books.
Now, whether that is God's purpose for you, is between you and God.
It is also between you and God whether you allow any children you have to read the books. If you would it would be prudent to read them yourself first so that you could discuss them with your children and point them ultimately toward Christ, rather than making Harry and his friends Christ-like figures in the novel, if that's what they are intended to be. I, personally, have made the choice to not read them, or see the movies. I don't feel that it is my calling, I have never had the desire to read them. I take that as a big hint that it is not part of my God-Purpose to discuss those issues with people. He has not gifted me in that way. I accept that and move on.
Bottom line, seek Him in the matter and go from there. All things are possible in Christ.... He can take anything and turn it to His Glory. Don't throw that baby out with the bath water, you never know how God can use something to His purpose.
Food for thought...... cmcassel
what does a christian expect their child to glean from harry potter.? why is it so important for them to read about witches and warlocks ? why do they need to learn about potions and casting of evil spells. ?
Why are there so many christians who are determined to disobey the Word of God concerning these things.?
We are told in the Word of God that " In the last days many will depart from the Faith giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils."
doctrines of devils actually mean, they will listen to the teachings of demons rather than the Word of God.
It seems as though that no matter how much one says the Bible is against witches,warlocks and the casting of spells, many christians are determined to press on in these things just the same.
Why, Why is it so important to read harry potter.? If one wants to read a book,isn't there anything out there beside harry potter.? its not wrong to read a book, But why a book on witchcraft.?
Aren"t there other books for our children to read, why harry potter.?
Something is very wrong. I think God knows best. He said stay away from these evil things. harry potter is a book about evil. Now they are saying that it is a christian novel.? I don't think so. God help us. Art