A Contentious Faith?

With the last Harry Potter movie this year I would like to think this has been settled, but I find quite the opposite.  Over time more Christians have decided that the books and movies are okay, even really good.  Now the question is this, are they really good because they are entertaining or are they really good because of their message?  Is our judgement of them based on our own perspective or that of The Lord God as expressed in the Bible?

Let's cut straight to it, God declares witchraft as evil, a work of the flesh.  In Galatians 5:19-21 it is abundantly clear, witchcraft is named among a list of sins, the practice and habit of which disqualify a person from their inheritance in Heaven.  

• "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told [you] in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God."
  

This isn't some obscure passage from the Old Testament, nor is it speaking in allegory or symbolism.  The language is plain and strong, written by the Apostle Paul to the Believers in Galatia, it is a warning to those who have accepted Christ as their saviour, doing these things have severe consequences.

Nor is this passage the only one like it, Manasseh was a king in Israel who did much evil.  In the Second Book of Chronicles, chapter 33 his evil deeds are recorded.  He built altars and performed the same abominations as the heathen did and in verse 6 it also indites him of witchcraft.  This is listed among being an observer of times (astrology), enchantments (spells) and the use of familiar spirits (spirit guides, mediums, seances, etc).  God makes it very clear that He stands against witchcraft and all of it's related practices.

God goes on to exlain in 1 Samuel chapter 15 as the prophet lays out the reasons why Saul will no longer be king.  Samuel delivers that message that:

• "And Samuel said, Hath the LORD [as great] delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey [is] better than sacrifice, [and] to hearken than the fat of rams.  For rebellion [is as] the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness [is as] iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from [being] king." (Verses 22-23)
  

King Saul rebelled against God by rejecting His Holy Word, this rebellion was just like witchcraft because witchcraft is founded upon rebellion; looking at God and saying 'I will not follow You but I choose my own way and will use a power other than Yours.'

At this time as a Christian you have a decision to make, either God is Immutable and does not change and therefore participating in Harry Potter and similar materials is still a sin and abhored by God, or God changes like the seasons and our fashions and you can do as you please.  I for one take God at His Word and believe Christ when He says in Mathew 24:35 "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away."  God does not change and His Word is true forever.  To answer the question we started with, No, there is nothing good about Harry Potter and similar stories.

Please consider the evil of witchcraft, even the "good withcraft" of Harry Potter and Bewitched and leave it behind.