"Christians Who Defend the Occult

"Christians" Who Defend the Occult

Taken from your emails at www.ericbarger.com.

On November 29, 2002 someone identifying themselves as "Concerned Christians" from Rome, Georgia wrote to me concerning the following comment found in my website on a page titled "Harry Potter and Christians."

"It is my hope and prayer you decide to follow Christ completely and break the grip that Harry Potter seems to have on your life. As I said in my book, "Entertaining Spirits Unaware" Harry Potter may be one of <if not> the most attractive tool Satan has EVER USED to induce an entire generation to view the occult in an acceptable light."

<<<"Hello, just wanted to comment on one of your quotes concerning Mr. Harry Potter. We are all Christians in our home and enjoy reading and watching the wonderful books J.K. Rowling has presented the world.

Before my husband and I graduated from a Baptist College, all students are required to take world religion and bible classes. In both classes we learned about all religions including Wicca (the Old Religion) and Satanism. Our doctors taught us that to better understand your own religion, you should know and understand the other religions.

I found it interesting that the only two religions (major) that believe in the devil (Satan) are Christians and Satanists. NOT WITCHES OR followers of the Old Religion. You have quoted that Harry Potter is the work of the Devil (Satan) and you are misleading others with this doctorine/philosophy. Harry Potter is NOT based on Wicca or Satanism. No reference is given to alude to this behaviour.

If we want to educate our little ones about good and evil, the facts need to be set straight. Wicca believes in God and a Goddess who worships ONLY nature and the spirit of the human being and WORSHIPPING the environment. Very similar to what the native Americans worshipped.

ALSO we were told by our professors to give our King Jame's Bibles away...as to many of King Jame's interpretations and his own thoughts were written into the Bible incorrectly. History states that King Jame's later "took back" his mis-interpretations 30 years later about witches but it was never removed from the original transcripts.

We DO know what we are talking about on this matter. AND there are numerous other Preachers who feel the same. My husband was in the seminary and he sees both points of view from the Wiccans (who DO NOT APPROVE OF HARRY POTTER EITHER) and the Christians). Also, Christian parents should not fret over the matter of Harry Potter as it is only a fad and the more you make of it the more curious the littles ones are. It is human nature to question. If not, one becomes ignorant.

If you are to ban this book and movie, then you should also ban the following movies as well...Beauty and the Beast (Beastiality), Cinderella (child abuse and neglect), Tarzan & Jane (unwed couple), Mother Goose Rhymes such as Rub a Dub-Dub, 3 Men in a Tub???(Gay tendencies)....and the list goes on and on....

We love our Christian and Wiccan friends that we encounter each day and all have wonderful traits to share with one another! So much of the Bible has been misinterpretated and this has caused so much heartache for those who believed and have fallen from the church. Only attacking issues such as Harry Potter only weakens the church. And if you ask any intelligent child whose parents have read and watched the movie with them, you will find that they all KNOW it's NOT REAL!!!

If you want to attract members who will stay with the church, do away with the scare tactics and teach the wonders of the Bible as we have found with our church. Everyone knows our God is an almighty one and we all know his strength. This society is full of so much negatives and hardships, so make going to Church and worshipping a positive experience.

PLEASE GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT ABOUT WITCHES AND WITCHCRAFT-they do not worship satan. If you believe this then you are behind 250 years...IF YOU NEED MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE EMAIL ME and I will get you the correct information.

~sincerely,
Concerned Christian>>>

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ERIC RESPONDS...

Dear "Concerned",

Though I get dozens of letters like yours, let me try and answer your concerns and appeal to you to wake up about what has happened to the church. It is shocking how many people claiming to be Christians have been snared into this compromise.

you wrote:
<<<I found it interesting that the only two religions (major) that believe in the devil (Satan) are Christians and Satanists. NOT WITCHES OR followers of the Old Religion. You have quoted that Harry Potter is the work of the Devil (Satan) and you are misleading others with this doctorine/philosophy. Harry Potter is NOT based on Wicca or Satanism. No reference is given to alude to this behaviour.>>>

I assume that what you read online is the single chapter from my book, "Entertaining Spirits Unaware" or perhaps some email I've answered and then posted. In the book I spent 100+ pages BEFORE the chaper on Potter setting up why I am saying what I am about Potter. I contend that Potter IS indeed the work of Satan, but nowhere do I ever say that Wiccans believe in the devil. They do not.

How do you square the strongest admonition in the entire Bible against anything which is found in Duet. 18:9-12 which shows God's strongest disdain for witchcraft? How can someone who claims to believe in Bible believe it is right to be entertained by books that clearly glorify witchcraft? But more so...have you thought about the fact that Potter glorifies relative standards for morals among the heroes in the story? FORGET THE WITCHCRAFT ELEMENT...The relative (or non absolute) standards for morals in the books should mark them as "off limits" for Believers.

Read more on this at: http://www.ericbarger.com/potter-christians.htm

You said:
<<<"ALSO we were told by our professors to give our King Jame's Bibles away...as to many of King Jame's interpretations and his own thoughts were written into the Bible incorrectly.">>>

Is attacking the version of the Bible I happen to use supposed to be fuel for your argument?

Though I use the King James version, I am not legalistically adamant on "King James Only" (WHEN IN QUESTION, ONE SHOULD ALWAYS CONSULT THE ORIGINAL GREEK AND HEBREW RATHER THAN ANY ENGLISH VERSION). However, from what you've said I think its safe to assume that your professors may have turned the corner into the mire of liberalism in their statements.

Among biblical scholars, the King James and the Greek/Hebrew it was extracted from still stand as the most accurate version of the Scriptures.

You stated:
<<<"History states that King Jame's later "took back" his mis-interpretations 30 years later about witches but it was never removed from the original transcripts.">>>

Give me some proof. (Note: As of 12/24/02 I have received none from "Concerned Christians".)

You stated:
<<<"Also, Christian parents should not fret over the matter of Harry Potter as it is only a fad and the more you make of it the more curious the littles ones are. It is human nature to question. If not, one becomes ignorant.">>>

The argument isn't whether its a fad or not...how can you expect God to bless you, protect you, empower you, if you are bent on entertaining yourself and your family with things which His Word so clearly cry out against?

You stated:
<<<"If you are to ban this book and movie, then you should also ban the following movies as well...Beauty and the Beast (Beastiality), Cinderella (child abuse and neglect), Tarzan & Jane (unwed couple), Mother Goose Rhymes such as Rub a Dub-Dub, 3 Men in a Tub???(Gay tendencies)....and the list goes on and on....">>>

Who said anything about banning Potter?

Speaking out in warning is my aim.

You stated:
<<<"We love our Christian and Wiccan friends that we encounter each day and all have wonderful traits to share with one another! So much of the Bible has been misinterpretated and this has caused so much heartache for those who believed and have fallen from the church. Only attacking issues such as Harry Potter only weakens the church. And if you ask any intelligent child whose parents have read and watched the movie with them, you will find that they all KNOW it's NOT REAL!!!>>>

If you want to attract members who will stay with the church, do away with the scare tactics and teach the wonders of the Bible as we have found with our church. Everyone knows our God is an almighty one and we all know his strength. This society is full of so much negatives and hardships, so make going to Church and worshipping a positive experience.

PLEASE GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT ABOUT WITCHES AND WITCHCRAFT."

As I read more of your letter it is clear that I am not the one who is confused. After 20 years in this ministry, I KNOW witchcraft. Have you read any of my books...or just my single chapters available online?

I am a very positive person that has been called into the ministry of defending the faith and giving people answers on hard issues (Jude 3, I Peter 3:15).

Jesus did NOT teach a rose colored gospel...we MUST NOT either. People need His love and compassion and need to be warned of His standards and the resulting judgment that is sure to follow if they ignore His absolutes. To teach or accept anything less than the ENTIRE gospel is to embrace "another" gospel.

Doubt was first cast on the validity of Scripture, what God meant in what He said and what our responsibility to Him is by Lucifer in the Garden (Genesis 3). Today, countless denominations that once stood for and preached the Word of God, now see how close to the world they can align themselves. It sounds as if this is your goal...i.e., "don't offend anyone with the Bible." Please find that taught in the Bible by Christ or the apostles for me if you will? Its not that I want to offend anyone, it is just that by standing for truth and doing as Scripture clearly commands in Ephesians 5 - exposing the unfruitful deeds of darkness - people become offended. Our job is to stand for truth. It is His job to save them and "attract members who will stay with the church" as you put it. Large numbers may mean that someone attracted a crowd, but it doesn't always mean that people have been really converted or been made true disciples of Christ.

In 20 years of speaking some 200-300 times a year across our country I have seen witches, Satanists, drug addicts, sexual perverts, homosexuals and people with a myriad of other problems saved and delivered by the power of God...NOT by compromising, but by standing on the wonderful, complete and errorless Word of God. I suggest that if you REALLY care about your Wiccan friends that you present the majestic, powerful Savior to them who has absolute standards and the TRUTH in His Bible. For if they do not surrender their lives to Christ in this life, there is no second chance to escape an eternity in Hell.

Eric

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