Crosstalk: August 31, 2016

David Brown is pastor of the First Baptist Church of Oak Creek, WI. He holds a Masters Degree in Theology and PhD in History, specializing in the history of the English Bible.  He is also the President of Logos Communication Consortium, a research organization that produces a large variety of materials warning Christians of present dangers in our culture.

Since the late 1990’s the first Harry Potter book was released and immediately began to lure young and old alike.  There is a whole new generation being drawn into Harry Potter, with people of all ages being caught up in it.  There are even Harry Potter Legos for children ages 1-4, plus lures for toddlers, teens and adults.  More than 50 apps are available for smart phones.  Through the years many books were written followed by movie releases.  The 8th book was released in July, 2016, “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” a play based on a story that J.K. Rowling helped write.  Not only are non-Christians being lured by the Harry Potter phenomena, but even Christians are being totally absorbed into its clutches.  Is this just harmless fantasy?

Pastor Brown issues a warning, because even after all these years, Harry Potter is luring young people into the exploration of witchcraft, sorcery and the occult.  He points out that each new book becomes “darker”, which means that it delves more and more into the demonic activities of the occult world.  He gives many examples of the kinds of depravity that are being depicted--and thus promoted--in these books and movies.  The author, J.K. Rowling, apparently has researched the occult extensively, as the occult aspects of the Harry Potter stories are accurate.  Rowling admits that two thirds of the content of these books come directly from the occult.  Potions, deadly curses, spells, divination, and communicating with the dead are just a few of the areas that are now being explored by Harry Potter fans around the world--many of them young children!

Many claim that it is just fiction, much like fairy tales, science fiction, or fantasy stories, and that at least it gets children reading.  But the question is not “are they reading”, but “what are they reading”.

As the program continues, the Harry Potter belief systems and doctrines are compared with Scripture, which warns believers to have no fellowship with the works of darkness.  Both the Old and New Testaments warn against demonic practices--and when people came to faith in Christ, they destroyed their occult books and paraphernalia.  In the New Testament, when demon-possessed people were confronted by Christ, and later by the Apostles, the demons were cast out, rescuing those people from such possession.

But Harry Potter fails the test of Scripture.  Instead of condemning that which is evil, Harry Potter, according to Pastor Brown, could serve as a primer for learning the occult.  While Christians can no longer be possessed by demons, there is are clear warnings to believers who try to include occult practices in their Christian life, to abstain from even the appearance of evil, and to give no place to the Devil.

Pastor Brown says that wrong is wrong, no matter how attractively it is packaged in cartoons, games, apps, books, movies, etc., and the only proper response for Christians is the same as that described in the Book of Acts, to destroy anything associated with it.

The guest has written a research booklet on Harry Potter, with nine principles on determining what is acceptable and what should be avoided.

Callers had questions not only on Harry Potter, but on other aspects of the occult such as Ouija Boards, Native American ceremonies, the Hunger Games, among others.