Why I Believe Christians Should have Nothing to do With Witchcraft and Sorcery

Is this even an issue of our day? We would like to think that it isn't (at least I would) but it is!! Book after book in the juvenile section of the Library have messages about witchcraft and/or sorcery. Movies for both adults and children (Disney movies seem to be heavily influenced by it) are filled with magic and witchcraft. Over 400 million Harry Potter books have sold world wide and a U.S. consumer research survey reported that "over half of all children between the ages of six and seventeen have read at least one Harry Potter book." I know many Christians let their children read Harry Potter but I would question why when the books talk about demons, magic, spell casting, levitation, animal sacrifices, astral projection, crystal gazing and communing with dead souls. There is actually much more in the Harry Potter books than even that list there. I have not actually read them but I have read enough about them that I am extremely leery of them. But they are not the only books or entertainment like that by any means.

  But does it really matter?

What does the Bible say about this subject?

Galatians 5:19-24 "Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealously, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like there, of which I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires."

In the Old Testament God spoke out against sorcery very strongly saying in Exodus 22:18 "You shall not allow a sorceress to live." Also in the Old Testament law God said: "You shall not eat anything with the blood, nor practice divination or soothsaying." Leviticus 19:26 and "Do not turn to mediums or spiritists; do not seek them out to be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God." Leviticus 19:31

"He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. But or the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral person and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone which is the second death." Revelation 21:7 and 8

When we simply read or watch things that dwell on sorcery and things like that - that isn't a problem is it? After all we aren't truly doing those things.

There are some verses that make me think differently then that....

Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things."

Romans 1:28-32 "And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them."
My thoughts on this verse is that not only should we not do what is wrong but we also shouldn't give hearty approval of others that choose to do wrong.

"For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness." 2 Thess. 2:11 &12

I don't think we ever want to take pleasure in what is wicked.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this subject. Is this something you have thought on and studied before or is this something new for you to think about?