Pr Stuckwisch was interviewed on Issues Etc last night. Although I could not listen, the rest of my family did. My husband also told me that Pastor S mentioned on his blog the number of people who called in to the show and claimed that it is evil to read Harry Potter books. (I haven't looked at Pastor's recent blog posts, seeing as how I'm not done with the books yet.)
This is what I decided yesterday morning. You can argue with certain Christians till you're blue in the face about whether Harry Potter books are good or bad. But the problem isn't the books. The problem isn't magic. The problem isn't sanctification. The problem has nothing to do with the philosophy of literature. The problem doesn't even have anything to do with whether we're feeding lovely and pure things into our minds (Philippians 4:8). The problem is that they have a different Gospel, a different Jesus (2 Corinthians 11:4).
Of course, there are people who don't like Harry Potter because they're not fans of that style of fiction. No problem. But it's no use arguing about Harry Potter books with those who say it contradicts Christianity. Because we're starting with different definitions of what Christianity is.
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Mormon have a different Jesus. Liberals who say that the Bible is not the Word of God have a different Jesus. These people are confused about the role of the law and about Christian Freedom.
ReplyDeleteTo say they have a different Jesus is to say that who they say Jesus is and who I say He is is different. Most of the people who are adamantly against Harry Potter because they believe it glorifies satanic practices still believe in the Triune God and that Jesus died and rose again for their sins. They just focus strongly on sanctification (and most of them wouldn't say that they do good works to save themselves, either. They'd say they do good works and avoid evil because they love God).
It is more akin to avoiding meat sacrificed for idols than it is with a different gospel.
It might be pietism, but it is not a different Christ. It is another sin that Christ died for.
RPW,
ReplyDeletethe sinful nature IS an unbeliever. The sinful nature has a different Jesus, a "lawgiver" Jesus.
Christians have a sinful nature and a believing New Man. Any adherance to false doctrine, any love of the lawgiver Jesus, IS a "different Jesus."
There are Christians who believe Christianity is about moralism. Does that mean they are damned to hell? Can they believe and not believe? Of course they can. The Gospels are replete with examples of the apostles being believers and unbelievers at the same time, of their trust in Jesus while at the same time they loved the "kick Roman butt" Jesus.
Even with Christians, we must start our conversations with an agreement on whether Christianity is about moralism or about mercy. Even with Christians, we must all be called to repentance for our trust in the religion of moralism. But just because a person is a Christian does NOT mean they DON'T have a "different Jesus." They have two Jesuses until they assume room temperature.