Evangelicals and Harry Potter

I've done it. I finished the Harry Potter series a few days ago. I first picked up Harry Potter many years ago because may daughter was a fan and I wanted to see if it was OK to let her read the books. At that time there was a great deal of passion from some Evangelical circles condemning the books because they were about wizards and witches.

After reading the first book I was convinced that if one were to be consistent in condemning the Potter books, that individual should also condemn the Wizard of Oz, I dream of Genie, Bewitched, The Chronicles of Narnia and the Lord of the Rings, all of which contain witches, wizards and/or magic. Anti-Potter Evangelicals came out of that looking like goofs. I am sure most of those that condemned these books had never picked up a copy, much less read it.

I am happy to say that I know many conservative Christians, like me, who have greatly enjoyed J.K. Rowling's books in this series. I thing Rowling's is a great writer and the books are lots of fun. The first books are clearly children's books, but the books mature with the characters in the books as they grow into adults.

I don't read much fiction. Works of history, theology science, etc... are more to my tastes, but I did throughly enjoy these seven books. Evangelicals need to stop being lemmings and use their brains and check things out before condemning books like Potter.

Coram Deo,

Kenith

To Live There

Q: What kind of religious liberty do Christians, or other non-Muslims, have in nations that are predominantly Muslim?

A: Not very many.

Did you know that it is against the law in many (most?) Islamic countries to leave Islam. It is punishable by death in some Islamic countries to convert and become a Christian (or any thing else). It is a crime to witness to a Muslim in these Muslim countries. These laws are not new, they are simply a continuation of the teaching of Muhammad who said, "Who ever changed his Islamic religion, then kill him."

It is not just the states duty to put converts from Islam to death,it the duty of all devout Muslims to live by this rule.

Christians and Jews in Islamic lands have from the beginning been treated legally as second class citizens, called Dhimmis. Living under Dhimmitude is like living under Jim Crow on steroids, except Jim Crow has not lasted 1400 years. Dhimmis status has existed in Islamic lands for about that long.

Christians are commanded by our Lord to love Muslims. Islam is an oppressive, violent religion and Muslims suffer under it is rule. Muslims need to know the love of Christ, and we are not to hate them. We are to pray for them,do good to them and work for their conversion to Jesus Christ.

Coram Deo,

Kenith

Audio: Lincoln's Tariff War

Deo Vindice,
Kenith

Death and Faith

Jesus Christ set the tone for the Christian faith - He suffered mockery and humiliation. He also gave his life to save others. Jesus spread His Gospel by preaching and discussion and love. His early followers were also non violent. They, like their Lord spread His Gospel through preaching and teaching. Christians did not take up the sword to promote the faith of Christ, instead they willingly suffered terrible agonizing cruelty and death because they believed Christ to be Lord and Saviour.

Muhammad started peacefully in Mecca, but when those he preached to mocked him willingly took up the sword to raid, rob and kill those who had mocked him and refused to follow him. His followers likewise killed non-believers at their prophets bidding.

Christian martyrs were humble believers who were willing to die for what they believed. They believed and taught the Gospel of Christ even when they were threatened with torture and death if they claimed the Lordship of Christ and denied Caesar was lord.

Christian martyrs were willing to humbly give their lives for the Faith.

The followers of Muhammad were, from the beginning willing to kill and assassinate the enemies of their prophet. A Muslim martyr is one who dies killing the enemies of Islam. Muslim Martyrs died with bloody swords in their hands.

That is a small part of the difference between Christ and Muhammad and Christianity and Islam.

Coram Deo,

Kenith