lissy wrote:bluesman, i see your point, sort of, but the bible says nothing about those things being wrong, dancing (i love swing!) and such, and i agree, but it does say a lot about witchcraft... why do people think if it is wrong in real life, which the bible clearly states, then why if it is labled fantasy, it's ok? are watching things that glorify sex and violence ok too if they are labled "just fantasy"? is GOD realy ok with that? why would he say it's very wrong in real life, but if you make believe it, it's ok when the contex is not right? why do we agree that sex before marriage is wrong, and watching movies with sex in them is wrong too, and then say witchcraft is wrong, but harry potter, which involves witchcraft, is ok?
I think you have to distinguish between fantasy and reality.
You ought to do a word study or topical study on witchcraft throughout the Bible. It's an interesting and enlightening use of time. The most commonly translated word for witchcraft actually has its roots in the Greek word that gives rise to the english word "pharmacy." The idea based in the culture of the time tied into practices within idolatry of using mind altering substances to reach different states of "enlightenment" or for the dropping of inhibitions which led to sexual excesses, to name just two.
Our idea of witchcraft is a little different and finds its roots in celtic and druidic type practices.
Regardless of that distinction, I think the question you are asking is good and valid. Where do we draw the line?
I think many times, Scripture is not always clear on that and the reason is, particulary in the New Testement, that the dynamic God wants his people to operate by, is not legalism but rather a close walk with Christ where the Holy Spirit is guiding our choices from a primary motivation of wanting to please God and from a heart motivated to do what is right because we love God.
I'll admit, having a cut and dried set of rules does make the answers easier, but then it also provided us with the temptation to just follow the rules without embracing the Spirit's role in our lives to be sensitive to His leading and guiding. Jesus had some things to say about that condition to the Pharisees, if you'll remember.
That means that there are times when equally sincere and committed Christians may have differing opinions as to what is appropriate for a Christian and even strong opinions that something maybe sin.
When there is no clear Scriptural prohibition on something (adultary for instance is not open for discussion) and there is no underlying Scriptural prinicipal or premise involved, then I think God gives us the freedom to pray, seek guidance from Him and then follow the course that our conscience dictates.
Keep in mind too, that just because something may be allowable, doesn't mean it is advisable or beneficial. Alchohol is an example of this. Clearly, Scripture does not ban the use of alcohol. Many Christians chose not to partake even though they may see it as permissable because they see no need and no benefit. Some even may have been alcholics or come from families where they were exposed to alcholism and so they are very passionate about the evils of abuse of alcohol almost to (and for some beyond) to where they absolutely abstain and think everyone else should as well. The challenge for them is to follow their own conscience and allow others to follow theirs.
If someone has a background in Witchcraft or feels very strongly that even the hint of it in fantasy literature is wrong to feed on, then clearly that person should follow the dictates of their conscience and to violate that becomes in effect doing that which is wrong and for them it is sin.
There was a time when I felt very strongly about issues like this and frankly I would have been launching into this topic with full righteous indignation that anyone who thought otherwise was clealy violating God's Word. I've since mellowed. I'd like to think that mellowing is a result of age, study and wisdom and not just compromise. Others may feel differently.
Does that help?
Dogmatism is the comfortable intellectual framework of self-righteousness. Self-righteousness is more decadent than the worst sexual sin. ~ Dan Allender
