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I Like Harry Potter

I was wondering about the Harry Potter movies. If I don't practice what is in the movies, is it OK to watch them just as entertainment?

Nothing can divide a roomful of Christians like the Harry Potter debate. Here's my quick take on the controversy over these popular books and films.

Real-world witchcraft is evil. The Bible commands us to avoid it (Deuteronomy 18:9-11). Real supernatural power comes from only two sources—God and Satan. The lie of paganism and modern witchcraft is that you can get power from nature. But if supernatural power isn't from God, it's from Satan and his demons. Period.

So should Christians watch movies or read fiction that show supernatural power coming from an ungodly source? That's the heart of the debate. Movies that do this include the Harry Potter series, as well as the Star Wars series, the Lord of the Rings series, and nearly every Disney toon made.

The short answer, in my opinion, is that since the Bible doesn't specifically address this issue, God leaves the choice up to you and your parents. Ask God for wisdom about it. Talk to your pastor or youth pastor. If you're convinced watching Harry Potter and those other movies is wrong, you should not see them. If you believe it is OK because you know God, understand the lie of witchcraft, and can find some value in the story, then you should enjoy it freely.

However, entertainment is a lousy reason to split a group of believers. Read 1 Corinthians 8 carefully, especially verses 9-13. If you're convinced Harry Potter is wrong for everyone, avoid the temptation to be judgmental and unkind. If you think Harry is OK, these verses say you should be willing to walk away from it if it might cause other Christians to violate their beliefs (1 Corinthians 8:13). Being "right" about Harry Potter is not as important as loving each other.

Too Delirious?

I really like the Christian band Delirious. I've got their posters in my room. But my mom thinks I'm idolizing them. I just think they're good role models. Is it wrong to be passionate about a band?

Feeling passionate about a band is normal. We connect with them through their energy or their lyrics. And it's normal to want to get to know the people behind the music that touches us.

Your mom knows you pretty well. Maybe she's seen your passion move beyond a healthy connection to an unhealthy obsession. Are you idolizing them? Only you can answer that. An idol is anything that becomes more important than God, stealing our time and attention from him. But even if your mom is wrong, God tells us to obey our parents (Ephesians 6:1). If mom says the posters have to come down, there's no God-honoring way around that. If she lets you keep listening to the music, great. But try to balance your passion for the band with your passion for the truth they sing about.

Eliminate elimiDATE?

My friends and I get a kick out of the dating shows on TV, like elimiDATE, Blind Date, The 5th Wheel, and Dismissed. We think they're harmless fun. What do you think?

To be honest, I don't think they're harmless fun. These shows seem to focus on three things: shallow people, lust, and cruel rejection. You know the premise. Put two people (or a group) together on a reality-TV date, and then watch to see if any of them click. But these shows get their ratings from barely dressed and undressing women, lots of sex jokes, occasional implied sex between the daters (not shown), and really unkind rejection of most of the participants. Even if the daters are in on the joke, it hurts to watch them treat themselves and each other that way.

On these shows, the standards for a good date are hotness, coolness, and how far the person is willing to go sexually. The Bible encourages much higher standards when evaluating people: commitment to God, kindness, honesty, purity and self-sacrifice.

Read more from 'Media Q&A'

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