Stumbling Blocks

Ok. This is a HUGE issue for some people in the Christian community. I honestly hadn't really thought anything much about it until recently. There was a furor years ago, it died down, only to be rekindled with the most recent and last movie in the Harry Potter series.

My kids like Harry Potter and so do I. I have read all of the books. My oldest two sons have read all of the books. My youngest son is just beginning to read the books. Here is something some people don't think about. They READ the books. They don't BELIEVE the books. Why did I read the books? To protect my children. I knew that they would be exposed in some way. The movies are on TV all the time. What happens if I leave them with a sitter who lets them watch it? Who is to blame when they have questions I can't answer? Me. At least with the way I have done it, I can CONTROL the situation.

I read the books so I could discuss them with my kids. We talked about how fiction and fantasy are different from the real world. We discussed how Christians don't use magic nor do we believe in magic. They also know that going to see a "magician" means sleight of hand and illusions. NOT casting spells and creating potions. They know that there are people who do those things and believe in it. They also know, without a doubt, that to do so is sin. We also discussed that there is no such thing as "white" magic or "good" magic. So, why would I deliberately expose them to this fantasy world? Because it is FANTASY. Plain and simple. It is adventure, it is interesting, it is exciting, and it is fun. I also am quite often liable to read anything that is causing controversy in order to be able to knowledgeably speak from either side of the issue.

I am hearing all kinds of things from people who disagree with this point of view. I am ok with people who disagree. If we all agreed on everything, life would be boring. However, what I am not ok with is people who take things out of context and try to impose their opinions on me and my beliefs. I will listen to anyone's side of an issue presented respectfully and in love. I will not be told that I didn't "find God right the first time so I need to try again" because I have read something I find amusing. I also disagree with people who do not verify their facts before running off at the mouth. I have seen comments such as "drinking blood is an abomination, a sin worthy of hell!" Ummm, does that even APPLY to unicorns? They are fictional, right?

Having said this, I must say, I would never want to be a stumbling block. We are admonished in Philippians 2:12 to "work out your salvation with fear and trembling" and in v.13 "For it is GOD who works in you to will and act in order to fulfill his good purpose." My salvation does not depend on someone else's convictions. My salvation depends on MY relationship with God. I HAVE worked this out. I know without a doubt that this issue does not affect my salvation nor my relationship with God, nor my children's. I Corinthians 8:9 says, " Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak." I have two perspectives on this.

The first one that sticks in my head is the way some Christians come across as, "I have all the answers, you are wrong, if you do this, you will go to hell." When you come at an individual, particularly a person who is not strong in such a manner, you can easily cause that person to turn away. By making someone feel as if the only way to God is to give up EVERYTHING that can be enjoyable causes people to not want to have a relationship with God. By the same token, if my watching Harry Potter (or Lord of the Rings, or Bewitched, or Chronicles of Narnia) causes a weak person to stumble, it is my duty to NOT talk about, watch, read, or embrace those things with that person. There again, we lead to working out our own salvations.

Do I expect everyone to agree with me? No. If you are offended or feel that these books, movies, stories are not for you. I am totally ok with that. I would never presume to tell a person that he or she HAD to agree with me because this is the way God and I see it. I would be willing to explain my point of view, however, many people will shut down and shut off their ears. Liking fantasy does not make me a bad person. It makes me different, even interesting to some. I will not apologize for being confident enough in who I am and in my relationship with God that I can and have seen and read something that is a pure work of fiction.