Opinion
By Judge John Marshall Meisburg, Jr., 9-15-25
An important issue facing the Church is whether Christians, especially Christian young people, should read books about magic, sorcery and witchcraft? What is God’s perspective on this issue?
First, we look at the Word of God. God says in Scripture to “have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.” Ephesians 5:11. And there is no doubt that magic, sorcery and witchcraft are dark and sinful. God says many times in Scripture that those who practice magic arts, sorcery and witchcraft will end up in the Lake of Fire. Revelation 21:8. This is very serious. So Christians should have nothing to do with books that focus upon magic, sorcery and witchcraft!
Second, some people say that books about magic, sorcery, witchcraft (like “Harry Potter”) are “fantasy” and good for our kids because they are stories that have some good moral lessons and can teach them to choose good over evil. I disagree. The Holy Bible, the Word of God, is all they need to know the difference between good and evil. “The Word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of the soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12.
In addition, “All Scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” Timothy 3:16-17. King David said: “Thy Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee.” Psalm 119.11. No secular book can compare to the Holy Bible! We certainly do not need to read a secular book to know what is good and what is evil. That is the thinking of the world that has infiltrated the Church. It sounds reasonable but it is not. The Bible says to be very careful what we think about: “Whatsoever things are true, things that are just, whatsoever things that are pure, lovely, and of good report, if there be any virtue, it here be any praise, think on these things.” Philippians 4:8. Reading and focusing the mind upon sinful things will only result in sinful thinking. We need to renew our mind, not focus upon sin. Romans 12:2; Ephesians 4:22-24. Books about magic and witchcraft do nothing to renew your mind! As a matter of fact, “fantasy” is the root cause of all sin! Jesus said if you even look at a woman with lust (and fantasize about her) you have committed adultery. Matthew 5:28. Jesus did use parables or stories to teach moral lessons, but his stories were all grounded in real life not fantasy. In the early days of America, the only book that young people read in school was the Bible. We need to get back to that mindset. The Bible is the best-selling book of all time, and should be used as a textbook in our schools (and the Supreme Court said this is Constitutional), especially Christian schools. The Psalms of David are better than the sonnets of Shakespeare!
Third, reading about sin is a terrible waste of time and spiritually dangerous. I put magic, sorcery and witchcraft in the same category with murder and pornography. Murder mysteries and romance novels are unacceptable for Christians. We should not read about murder and pornography in order to know that they are sinful; we already know they are sinful and we should stay as far away from them as possible. Likewise, we should not read stories about magic, sorcery and witchcraft to know that they are sinful. Some people (and courts) say that a book is OK for schools as long as the book as a whole has redeeming literary value, even if 20 pages in the middle of a 200 page book contain horrendous profanity and pornography. I totally disagree, especially in regard to schools and children. The same is true for magic, sorcery and witchcraft. Simply because a book as a whole might contain some good morals (about love or loyalty etc.) the fact that it contains a major focus about sin makes it highly objectionable for Christians in my view. There is an evil spirit lurking in these books that is addictive and very dangerous to the soul. The Bible says that “You become what you behold” and Christians should never focus upon evil, in books or media or movies in any way. 2 Corinthians 2:18; Psalm 115:8.
Fourth, there are millions of great books that our kids could and should read instead of books about magic, sorcery and witchcraft. Let’s go back to the Bible, biographies of great men and women, and great classics like Pilgrim’s Progress and The Cost of Discipleship. For example, biographies of great American Presidents (like George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Ronald Reagan, and Donald Trump), and great Christian leaders and missionaries like Billy Graham, Albert Schweizer, Oral Roberts and Helen Keller. Our liberal culture including Walt Disney has focused upon magic, and that has infiltrated the Church and Christian thinking. Our education in America has been “dumbed down” with worthless books about low class, trashy subjects. We need to get back to world class and first class literature with uplifting themes that comport with our great Judeo-Christian values! C.S. Lewis books like “Chronicles of Narnia” and “Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe” are accepted by many Christians because they contain allegories that may teach good moral lessons. However, these books contain many references to Purgatory, pagan gods, Greek mythology, heresies, praying for the dead, evolution, white magic, mysticism, and themes about magic and witchcraft that are unacceptable. As a Catholic, Lewis believed in “Purgatory” or a “second chance” for the soul after death. This belief has no support in the Bible, and is totally opposed to Protestant Christianity. The Bible teaches that the only pathway to eternal life is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ in this lifetime. Christians should not read C.S. Lewis books. Tolkein’s book “The Lord of the Rings” is read by many Christians. While it uses a Catholic worldview, it is not a Christian book or allegory and contains a foundation of mythology and pagan influences. Let’s raise our standard for books to a higher level of holiness.
Fifth, magic is Satan’s counterfeit for the supernatural power of God. Moses and the snakes in Egypt are a good example. Exodus 7:8-13. Pharo’s magicians tried to copy the miracles of God, but failed. God’s snakes ate Pharo’s snakes. Young people hunger for the supernatural and miraculous and when they do not see it in the Church, they look for it in the world. The whole genre of “superstars” like Batman, Spiderman and Superman, are good examples. Kids idolize these imaginary creatures because of their imaginary supernatural power. But that is not the power of God or the Holy Spirit and is counterfeit and unreal and sinful idolatry. Christians should only emulate Jesus Christ, who is the only true Super Star with real supernatural, Holy Ghost power. All others are counterfeits. Once again, reality is much better than fiction.
Sixth, fantasy is dangerous, and is the breeding ground for sin. The Bible says that fantasy and thinking is actually the primary reason for sin! God and reality are the main thing. Our role model is Jesus Christ and the Saints of the Bible. Jesus constantly focused upon God and Holy Scripture, and so did the Apostle Paul. Never did they focus upon sin or evil in any way. Would Jesus and Paul have anything to do with books about magic, sorcery and witchcraft? No. “What would Jesus do?” is our standard in every circumstance.
Six, fantasy books about magic, sorcery and witchcraft take the reader into an unreal demonic world that is very selfish and addictive. Kids who read these books often become so obsessed with this fantasy world that they have no time for anything else, which is very troubling. Kids must have time to play and form social relationships with friends and family and with their parents to insure a healthy emotional life. They also need time for outdoor physical activity and sports to insure a healthy body and mind. Bobby Kennedy, the new Secretary of Health and Human Services says that we now have the most unhealthy children in the world in America, and that one in five are obese and 40% have a chronic disease, which is unbelievable. One reason for this health crisis epidemic is the inordinate time that kids spend inside the home reading books about fantasy and watching similar video games. Such activities are also inherently selfish because they usually only involve the reader or the viewer.
Seventh, America is facing a terrible spiritual crisis. Less that half of all Americans now attend church, and we had a President who even alleged that we are no longer a Christian nation. Some say that America may be headed the way of Europe, which some say is “post-Christian”. In the 1950’s and 60’s, America was clearly a Christian nation, and few children read books about magic, sorcery or witchcraft. Maybe there is a connection. In addition, America is facing a terrible education crisis. We now rank about 61st among the nations of the world in terms of educational achievement. Maybe we need to get back to the basics of classical education, and jettison all the books about fantasy, magic, sorcery and witchcraft. They are a major waste of time, when the students could be learning English, Mathematics, Social Studies, Civics, History of the World and America, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Foreign languages, Speech and Debate, and Physical Education, so they can prepare for college and careers, and compete with the kids of the world.
Finally, “O the depths and richness of the wisdom and glory of God.” Romans 11:33-36. If you were on a desert island and only read the Bible your whole life, you would only scratch the surface of the great glory and wisdom of God. We need nothing else but to focus upon God and His glorious Word! This is especially true in Christian schools and in regard to Christian young people. Children are very impressionable, and the most important formative years are ages 1 to 12. What our children read and see is very important to the rest of their life. Let us challenge our young people to get excited about the God of miracles, the Word of God, and about the Lord Jesus Christ, and His supernatural power! God parted the Red Sea and the Jordan River so the Children of Israel could come into the Promised Land, an amazing miracle. Jesus healed hundreds of people, and raised people from the dead. And, the Resurrection of Christ from the dead is the greatest historical example of the supernatural power of God; that is the power that provides us all with the forgiveness of sin, and the amazing promise of eternal life with God. This is the supernatural power that our young people should learn about and emulate! The same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead will quicken or make alive your mortal body. Romans 8:11. And, the greatest miracle of all is spiritual rebirth and eternal life with God in Heaven through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. John 3:16. Selah and Amen.
John Marshall Meisburg, Jr. is a retired judge and practicing attorney in Nassau County
The views expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position of Citizens Journal Florida
