In my last post, I answered the question I’m sure was on everyone’s mind: Why do I write about secular movies instead of more traditional Christian subjects? In this post, I would like to answer another question that some of my Christian friends may have asked: Why do I write about Harry Potter?
I believe it’s important to keep our mind focused on the things of God even when we’re engaged in non-religious activities. Even when we’re engaged in secular activities. Even we’re engaged in what could otherwise be mind-numbing entertainment like watching movies and TV, reading books, listening to music, and playing games.
As I said last week, “If we watch or read these stories with our Christian worldview glasses on, we can find meaning that is invisible to others.” We can find things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and worthy of praise, to borrow the list from Philippians 4:8. But, as I also said last week, “If a story you’re watching or reading has none of these things, turn it off, close the book, or walk out of the theater.”
For many Christians, the Harry Potter stories fall in the category of books we should keep closed and movies we shouldn’t see. So, I think it’s important for me to share what I see in them through my Christian worldview glasses.
Just so you know, there will be some spoilers in the remainder of this post.
Platform 9 3/4
Harry is a lot like us
Harry Potter is told at the age of 11 that he is a wizard. Suddenly, he can see a whole world of magic that exists right alongside the ordinary, non-magical world of “muggles” that he grew up in. He discovers his own magical abilities and learns how to use them. He also learns that some magic is good and some magic is dark.
Harry was born as a wizard. It’s not something you can choose to become or something you can learn. You see, J.K. Rowling never encouraged kids to become witches and wizards by saying spells or following some man-made false religion. The witches and wizards in her books gained their identity through birth.
In the same way, you can’t become a true Christian by following certain rules, living a certain way, or joining a certain church. We are born into it. As Jesus told Nicodemus, “No one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again” (John 3:3 NIV). We were given a new life and we each became a new creature (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV).
In this new life, we begin to understand that the supernatural is real. Jesus and his followers performed miracles. Jesus rose from the dead with a new body, and we will too someday. We are indwelt with the Holy Spirit who provides conviction, teaching, and comfort. There is great power moving the affairs of the world, and not all of it is good.
The Sorting Hat
We have an enemy
As Hagrid tells Harry in the first movie, “Not all wizards are good.” There is a dark side to magic that some choose to embrace. “The Dark Arts” as described by Professor Snape in the sixth book, “are many, varied, every-changing, and eternal. Fighting them is like fighting a many-headed monster, which, each time a neck is severed, sprouts a head even fiercer and cleverer than before. You are fighting that which is unfixed, mutating, indestructible.”
Defense Against the Dark Arts was a required class at Hogwarts for all students. It was important to understand how to protect oneself against evil attacks. Professor Dumbledore also thought it was important to understand the nature of our enemy—why he is the way he is, why he does what he does. In book four, Professor Moody reminded his students that the most important thing they needed was “CONTANT VIGILANCE!”
In the end, Harry learns that he can’t defeat his enemy until Harry defeats the little part of his enemy that dwells inside himself. And to do that, Harry must—die.
Stained glass window in Hogwarts
What was that again?
Yes. Harry dies in the seventh and final book of the series. But that’s not the end of his story.
In a complicated passage in Romans, Paul reminds us that we also have a piece of our enemy living inside us:
“I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do…. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.” (Romans 7:15, 17-20).
But Paul also knew the solution. Because Jesus died for us, we have the power to live for him. But we can only do so if we die to ourselves—day after day after day.
“For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—because anyone who has died has been set free from sin” (Romans 6:6-7).
“For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God…. Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry (Colossians 3:3, 5).
Like Harry, we have a bit of the enemy inside us. We call it our sin nature. Also like Harry, we can choose to die to self so we can gain victory over that enemy. We can call on the supernatural power inside of us thanks to the new birth we have in Jesus. And we can be a force for good in a dark world.
So, you see, we aren’t so different from Harry Potter, if we really think about it. You can read the books or not. You can watch the movies or not. But if you do enter Harry’s world, keep your Christian Worldview glasses on. You might be surprised what you see.
Learn more about seeing through a Christian Worldview in Finding Your Part in God’s Master Story: An Exploration of Christian Worldviews, in which I might quote Harry Potter books once or twice.
Hogwarts Castle (Universal Studios California)
In my last post, I answered the question I’m sure was on everyone’s mind: Why do I write about secular movies instead of more traditional Christian subjects? In this post, I would like to answer another question that some of my Christian friends may have asked: Why do I write about Harry Potter?
I believe it’s important to keep our mind focused on the things of God even when we’re engaged in non-religious activities. Even when we’re engaged in secular activities. Even we’re engaged in what could otherwise be mind-numbing entertainment like watching movies and TV, reading books, listening to music, and playing games.
As I said last week, “If we watch or read these stories with our Christian worldview glasses on, we can find meaning that is invisible to others.” We can find things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and worthy of praise, to borrow the list from Philippians 4:8. But, as I also said last week, “If a story you’re watching or reading has none of these things, turn it off, close the book, or walk out of the theater.”
For many Christians, the Harry Potter stories fall in the category of books we should keep closed and movies we shouldn’t see. So, I think it’s important for me to share what I see in them through my Christian worldview glasses.
Just so you know, there will be some spoilers in the remainder of this post.
Platform 9 3/4
Harry is a lot like us
Harry Potter is told at the age of 11 that he is a wizard. Suddenly, he can see a whole world of magic that exists right alongside the ordinary, non-magical world of “muggles” that he grew up in. He discovers his own magical abilities and learns how to use them. He also learns that some magic is good and some magic is dark.
Harry was born as a wizard. It’s not something you can choose to become or something you can learn. You see, J.K. Rowling never encouraged kids to become witches and wizards by saying spells or following some man-made false religion. The witches and wizards in her books gained their identity through birth.
In the same way, you can’t become a true Christian by following certain rules, living a certain way, or joining a certain church. We are born into it. As Jesus told Nicodemus, “No one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again” (John 3:3 NIV). We were given a new life and we each became a new creature (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV).
In this new life, we begin to understand that the supernatural is real. Jesus and his followers performed miracles. Jesus rose from the dead with a new body, and we will too someday. We are indwelt with the Holy Spirit who provides conviction, teaching, and comfort. There is great power moving the affairs of the world, and not all of it is good.
The Sorting Hat
We have an enemy
As Hagrid tells Harry in the first movie, “Not all wizards are good.” There is a dark side to magic that some choose to embrace. “The Dark Arts” as described by Professor Snape in the sixth book, “are many, varied, every-changing, and eternal. Fighting them is like fighting a many-headed monster, which, each time a neck is severed, sprouts a head even fiercer and cleverer than before. You are fighting that which is unfixed, mutating, indestructible.”
Defense Against the Dark Arts was a required class at Hogwarts for all students. It was important to understand how to protect oneself against evil attacks. Professor Dumbledore also thought it was important to understand the nature of our enemy—why he is the way he is, why he does what he does. In book four, Professor Moody reminded his students that the most important thing they needed was “CONTANT VIGILANCE!”
In the end, Harry learns that he can’t defeat his enemy until Harry defeats the little part of his enemy that dwells inside himself. And to do that, Harry must—die.
Stained glass window in Hogwarts
What was that again?
Yes. Harry dies in the seventh and final book of the series. But that’s not the end of his story.
In a complicated passage in Romans, Paul reminds us that we also have a piece of our enemy living inside us:
“I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do…. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.” (Romans 7:15, 17-20).
But Paul also knew the solution. Because Jesus died for us, we have the power to live for him. But we can only do so if we die to ourselves—day after day after day.
“For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—because anyone who has died has been set free from sin” (Romans 6:6-7).
“For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God…. Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry (Colossians 3:3, 5).
Like Harry, we have a bit of the enemy inside us. We call it our sin nature. Also like Harry, we can choose to die to self so we can gain victory over that enemy. We can call on the supernatural power inside of us thanks to the new birth we have in Jesus. And we can be a force for good in a dark world.
So, you see, we aren’t so different from Harry Potter, if we really think about it. You can read the books or not. You can watch the movies or not. But if you do enter Harry’s world, keep your Christian Worldview glasses on. You might be surprised what you see.
Learn more about seeing through a Christian Worldview in Finding Your Part in God’s Master Story: An Exploration of Christian Worldviews, in which I might quote Harry Potter books once or twice.
Hogwarts Castle (Universal Studios California)
I watched one of the movies some years ago and it didn’t really appeal to me. Thanks for giving me your observations to use in conversations with people I know who enjoy this series.
Thank you for sharing these prescient parallels between HP and the Gospel, Janet.
Thank you for your comment!
I’ve felt this way about not only Harry Potter but most entertainment. It should be filtered through the word, even Christian books and talks. We must always be vigilant.
Thank you for this necessary reminder, Janet.
I agree completely.
I think it is essential to know about these types of movies so we can discuss them with everyone and possibly open doors to direct the talk to Christ. Thanks for sharing.
Interesting post. I never read them because my kids never were interested. I too love to see a biblical message in the secular.