LET GOD’S SPIRIT BE YOUR GUIDE!
Pastor Larry Gatlin, So Oregon
Wow! I never would have thought that there would be
so much controversy over a book or movie among Christians as there has been
over the "Harry
Potter" series. I belong to a couple of great on-line Ministry
groups that have been burning up with articles on this issue. I have an opinion
on the subject and will share it with you. I believe that it is based on
scripture and thought provoking.
First our enemy the devil is like a roaring lion, he's not
the roaring lion, he's like one. Going about seeking whom he may devour. (1Pet. 5:8) We know that Jesus is the
true Lion, "THE LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH."
We
know that our enemy is subtle and deceptive. He uses any and all the tricks he
can to deceive. I believe that one of his tricks is to come as the Angel of
Light. Emphasis on ‘AS’ - because he is not.
2 Cor 11:13-14 For such are false
apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of
Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
Years
ago when I was young, a T.V. show called "Bewitched" was very popular.
As a young person I followed the program every week. But as I grew in the Lord
and became more sensitive to the Holy Spirit I became less and less
involved in watching it. Until I finally quit watching altogether. Why, you
ask? Because in my spirit I felt that there was a deception going on. A
false angel of light with a cute little nose twitching witch was invading our
society. In fact I wouldn't be surprised to find that witch craft and the
occult actually began it's rise in the USA on the shirt tails of this program.
Now we have Harry Potter. A cute, but not quit accepted young man, who
according to the T.V. trailers, his main goal in life is to become a
wizard/warlock. I find it interesting that there are similarities in the
way it is presented just like with Bewitched. As well as nation wide acceptance.
Oh I've heard all of the defenses for accepting the books and movie. It has
awakened our children to reading. It has awakened their imaginations, and more.
But at what cost, the souls of many of our children? I heard an interview on
the radio and saw one on a T.V. news program where the young persons being
interviewed both said that they wanted to become witches or warlocks so that
they could cast spells on people they didn't like. I don't know about you, but
that brought a loud warning to my spirit.
In
1Cor.12 Paul by the inspiration of
the Holy Spirit gave us a list of Spiritual gifts to aid us in our Christian
walk. One of those gifts is the Gift of Discernment. Certainly it is not to
become the gift of suspicion, but it is to lead us into recognizing people and
things that are opposed to the Kingdom of God as well as those who are in
harmony with Gods Kingdom. We are to be in touch with the Holy spirit to such a
degree that this gift and the others can direct and lead us into all truth.
John
16:13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all
truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he
will tell you what is yet to come.
I
know that there are those who will say, Pastor Larry is "Too Heavenly
Minded to be of any Earthly Good." Well, the truth of that statement
is, we can be too Religious minded to be of earthly good. But, if we are truly
heavenly minded and lead by the Holy Spirit, we will be of great earthly good.
Let
me finish with this thought. There will always be those who feel that we must
show tolerance. Some cry that we must be tolerant of sins of the flesh. Some
cry for tolerance with those who teach and perpetuate false doctrine. But the
truth is, Jesus was never tolerant towards sin or false religion. In fact he
wasn't tolerant of the Scribes, Sadducees, or the Pharisees. He confronted them
with the truth. Jesus said that the truth would make you free.
John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth
shall make you free.
The
trouble with tolerating evil is that tolerance opens the door to compromise.
Compromise opens the door to acceptance. And acceptance opens the door to sin.
That then puts us in neutral and we will no longer be affective for the Kingdom
of God.
Do
I feel that the Harry Potter series fits this category, YES! We need to be as wise as serpents and as
harmless as doves.
Matt
10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye
therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
So we must continue to walk in the Spirit
and allow the Gift of discernment guide us in these and all matters. If we do,
we'll never be deceived by the enemy. The one who, walks about seeking to
devour, to steal, kill, and destroy.
Pastor Larry
