Christians and Magic
Aug 1, 2019 21:00:38 GMT -5
Post by Radrook Admin on Aug 1, 2019 21:00:38 GMT -5
Christians and Magic
Should a Christian avoid being a magician or being entertained by what is called magic? Is there anything really wrong in watching persons seemingly doing impossible things with what might or might not be supernatural help? Is there some negative message being subtly conveyed to the audience and to those who claim to be Christians? Here are several crucial questions .
1. What does the Bible say about practicing magic and magicians?
2. Does the magic attempt to imitate a biblical miracle?
3. Is the magic impossible to explain via practice of a technique?
What does the Bible say about practicing magic and magicians?
Whenever magic is mentioned in the Bible it is always in a negative way. For example, Exodus mentions that the Pharaoh's magicians imitated all the plagues that God would bring on Egypt. For example the staff into a snake or some of the plagues.
Magicians, referred to as sorcerers and magic referred to as sorcery is mentioned repeatedly and listed as one reason why people will not be allowed to enter the kingdom of God.
Witches, who are also associated with magic and in reference to whom it is called witchcraft are also condemned under the Law of Moses. In fact, the practice of witchcraft was punishable by death.
Exodus 22:18
King James Version
Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.
King James Version
Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.
Early Christians considered it wrong:
Acts 19:19 A number who had practiced sorcery brought their ...
... And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books togetherand burned them in the sight of all. And they counted ...
Magicians are described as outside of God's heavenly kingdom:
Revelation 22:15 Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic ...
Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the
murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. ...
Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the
murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. ...
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Does the magic attempt to imitate a biblical miracle?
Also, by appearing to be reading a person's mind, magicians are claiming powers that the Bible only associates with God. He is the only one who reads the human heart and knows a person't inner thoughts. Yet these magicians appear to contradict that statement and in that way are calling God a liar.
“Thou knowest . . . my thought afar off. . . . For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether” (Psalm 139:2-4 0
Job Chapter 41
1 Then Job answered the LORD, and said,
2 I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.
David Blain appears to resurrect a dead animal. Once more this is claiming a power only attributed to God who is the source of all life.
Psalm 36:9 For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.
Psalm 104 : 30
When You hide Your face, they panic; when You take away their breath, they die and return to dust. 30When You send Your Spirit, they are created, and You renew the face of the earth.
John 11:25 NIV
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;
This is the same mimicry practiced by the magic practicing priests of Egypt when trying to devalue or denigrate what God was doing via Moses. In short, whether it is or isn't a trick is irrelevant if it's effect is to cast doubt on the Bible.
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Does the performance defy all possible explanations?
If it does then obviously a power other than God's is involved. That other power is identified in the Bible as Satanic.
1 John 5:19 ESV
We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
Even those claiming to be of God might be performing similar things due to evil forces:
www.gotquestions.org/Matthew-7-21-23.html