by Garner Ted Armstrong
“There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 16:25).
Is it all just harmless “fun?” Or is there something sinister, evil, and even dangerous about it?
It’s all about wizardry, séances, potions, seers, necromancy, witchcraft, and all elements of the so-called “black arts.” And, chances are, your children love it!
The vast majority of nominal, Christ–professing, church-going “Christians” eagerly lap up such tripe, like so many hogs at a slop trough.
Halloween is utterly pagan; the most important day of the year to Satanists and those who indulge in witchcraft. “Moms Online” argues from the accepted point of view that all such holidays and associated practices are perfectly normal, and perhaps even “Christian,” and that Halloween without candy for kids would be like the second grade without Harry Potter.
A teacher’s letter said: “…Recently I have been asked to STOP reading Harry Potter to one of the second grade classes at my son’s school… As most of you know, I have been reading stories to your child’s class since the beginning of the school year. This is an exercise that I consider a privilege and an honor. I believe that reading stories out loud to a child helps to promote their creativity and sense of imagination. These are very important, yet undervalued, skills they will need throughout their lives. It is a persons’ imagination and sense of creativity that enable them (sic) to solve problems and create new ideas in all occupations, from parenthood to profes-sional fields such as medicine, construction, and leadership. In addition to creativity and imagination, reading out loud helps to teach children grammar skills, vocabulary, and writing skills (the use of similies and imagery, etc.).
“The book I have been reading to your child’s class is Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, by J. K. Rowling. Rowling is a British author with a talent for writing and a fertile imagination. As many of you know, this book has recently been challenged in the state of South Carolina and has been much in the news the past few weeks. Coincidentally, with the intense media coverage, I have been asked to stop reading this book, due to protests from several parents.
“I have chosen to honor this request with a little protest of my own. I understand the religious concerns that people often have regarding the material that their children are exposed to. However, I must admit to being faced with a new problem. I now find myself perusing my own home library for books that I read, not only to your child’s class but to children in the Montessori school (three-year-olds), Kindergarten, and First Grade classes. My newest dilemma is in choosing a new ‘appropriate’ book.
“My understanding is that the objection to Harry Potter generally comes from its focus on magic, sorcery, and fantastical creatures (goblins, unicorns, etc.). Some parents may be concerned from a religious standpoint; others may be afraid that it is too frightening a tale. This is a story of your standard good vs. evil (with good triumphing, as usual). There are undesirable characters who are portrayed in an exaggerated manner so that the reader will instantly dislike them. These characters have qualities about them that even children recognize as rude, mean, or intolerant. There are evil characters who commit evil deeds, and there are benevolent characters who seek to overcome evil. These are struggles that occur in our everyday life, and by reading and hearing stories about such struggles, I believe that our children will become more empowered to challenge that which is wrong or evil in the name of that which is right, or good. I also chose this particular tale because it seems to have a magical quality of its own in interesting children in reading.
“On the attached page, I have listed some books that I have read to children of all ages, or that I have considered reading. You will surely recognize many of the titles as ‘classics,’ and have possibly seen their corresponding movies. I have chosen these from my own library as samples of books and stories that also have magic at their core. At this point, I feel a little confused as to where the line is drawn and where the fantasy and magic is considered ‘okay’ and where it is considered inappropriate. I recognize that it is possible that some parents may be concerned that ‘Harry Potter’ is a bit ‘dark’ and are more concerned with the age issue than a religious one…”
A PARTIAL LIST OF HER BOOKS:
• A Wrinkle in Time
• Aladdin
• American Folk Tales
(Paul Bunyan, etc.)
• Any Santa Claus Stories
• Babuska’s Doll
• Cinderella
• Goosebumps
• Peter Pan
• Hansel And Gretel
• Jack and the Beanstalk
• Snow White
• The Magic School Bus
• The Wizard of Oz
• The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and many others…
The young teacher misses the point entirely. By lining up all the mystical, mythical, imaginary “fairy tales” of her own childhood –– and a very recognizable list it is –– she indulges in the sophistry of saying, in essence, “let’s not throw out the baby with the bath water,” or “taking Harry Potter out of the classroom is like taking candy from Halloween, or taking Santa Claus out of Christmas.”
Very persuasive arguments indeed to those who believe children should be brought up with the traditional fairy tales of witchcraft, magic, cannibalism, dismemberment, wizardry, necro-mancy, talking animals and boiling wolves. Hansel and Gretel boil and eat the witch. The “big bad wolf” eats grandma and then takes her place in bed. The fairy tales can indeed be “Grimm.”
But it’s all just so much innocent “tradition” isn’t it? Do not millions of parents treasure their memories of childhood fables and fantasies; of Jack who killed the giant and stole his treasure; of Little Red Riding Hood’s grandmother, who was gulped down in a bite?
Question: Does any Christian professing person honestly believe Mary and Joseph taught Jesus Christ all the “fairy tales” and myths common to their time? Did Jesus Christ spend one moment of His time in fantasy, sorcery, witchcraft, necromancy, or wild imagination?
Do not blaspheme the name of Christ by assuming He did. Jesus Christ was also a little boy of eight years of age once; the age of a second grader in our modern school systems.
Only four years later, when He was the age of our average 6th graders, notice what He did: “And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon Him.
“Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover.
“And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.
“And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and His mother knew not of it.
“But they, supposing Him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey; and they sought Him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.
“And when they found Him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking Him.
“And it came to pass, that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.
“And all that heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers.
“And when they saw Him, they were amazed: and His mother said unto Him, ‘Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.’
“And He said unto them, ‘How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about My Father’s business?’
“And they understood not the saying which He spake unto them.
“And He went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but His mother kept all these sayings in her heart.
“And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:40-52).
There is much to be read between the lines. Obviously, Jesus was a boy of great character; a young lad upon whom His parents could rely. That they did not even look for Him until having traveled a full day’s journey shows they trusted His self-reliance completely. Further, it is a comment on the society of the time. Parents today would be immediately concerned; would ensure their 12-year old boy was right there with them, under their own observation, before leaving on an arduous trip. Modern parents would have been worried about child molesters and kidnappers.
Their lack of concern for an entire day proves there were no such fears; that they lived in a comparatively crime-free society. Could that be because the penalty was death for so many capital infractions?
Christ’s actions also prove that, even from the age of twelve, He was a sober, intelligent, thoughtful, observant young lad –– one gifted with knowledge and wisdom beyond His years. Yet, He had to gradually LEARN through study and experience. He did not yet possess the degree of knowledge as a boy of twelve that He would as a man of twenty.
Jesus Christ was imbued with the Spirit of God from birth; even from the womb. He was perfect as a baby; perfect as a young lad; perfect as a man. Yet, He had to gradually LEARN as He grew. Notice, “Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered;
“And being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him” (Hebrews 5:8, 9). Jesus Christ was perfect as a boy, but when a boy, He was not yet a man. He was perfect at age six, but did not yet know all He would know by age 10.
Can boys and girls of twelve sit with theologians, philosophers, doctors and scientists, asking them piercing, cogent questions, and giving wise and intelligent answers?
Children whose minds are chock full of garbage spew forth garbage. Children whose minds have been allowed to absorb countless hours of idiocy on television (witness the “Saturday morning children’s shows”) are usually incapable of rational thought or action. Many will still be making idiotic noises, fantasizing, “playing” in a child’s dream world of wild imagination, even up into the middle elementary grades.
But Jesus Christ would have been a SIXTH- GRADER when He challenged the doctors in the Temple!
In the Hebrew society of His day, a lad of twelve was received into society as an “adult” by his elders and his peers. What a contrast between those today who waste their time reading trash such as comic books, playing bloody, violent, weird and demonic video games, and watching thousands of hours of explosions, shootings, mass death and unrelenting violence on television.
Long ago, it was determined that the average child will have watched more hours of television by the time he or she toddles off to the first grade than the child will spend sitting in a classroom in formal education. Many studies indicate that children watch up to five hours of television per day! Throw in the “Saturday morning kiddie shows” and the Sunday TV hours, and you have a formula for a wasted life.
Look around our society, at the casualness with which sorcery, witchcraft, Satanism, soothsaying, and fortune telling are accepted.
Look in your local newspaper near or on the “funnies” page. There, you will likely find the daily “Astrology” section, where you can look up your “horoscope” in the section with your “sign” in it. This will allegedly tell you which actions are propitious for that day. The word “horoscope” comes from two Greek words which mean “time watch.” In other words, an “observer of times.”
Somewhere in your town or city or one nearby you might see a hand-painted billboard outside an old house with a picture of a human palm on it. The sign might read “Fortunes told,” or “Palmistry,” or “Madame LaZonga tells your future.” Most circuses and carnivals feature such “fortune tellers” or “soothsayers.” Have you noticed the TV ads, usually in connection with fake wrestling or boxing, which present women who claim that if you call them (for an expensive telephone charge) they will tell your “fortune?”
Tarot cards, crystal balls, magicians, haunted houses and Halloween –– our nations are saturated with commonly accepted accouter-ments of the black arts. All of this is taken for granted. And because it is, we should be horribly afraid of the consequences to befall us!
God commands His people, “Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live” (Exodus 22:18). Whether we want to believe it or not, God Almighty says society should impose the DEATH penalty for anyone practicing witchcraft! God instructed Moses to say to Israel, “When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.
“There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times [horoscopes, or an enchanter, or a witch],
“Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer [one who claims to communicate with the dead].
“For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abomina-tions the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.
“Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God.
“For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not suffered thee so to do” (Deuteronomy 18:14).
Notice what Samuel told Saul after Saul had disobeyed God in leaving the pagan king Agag alive, and saving alive the best of his sheep and cattle: “And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
“For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, He hath also rejected thee from being king” (1 Sam. 15:22-23).
Suppose the parents were to return home from dinner, and discover that the babysitter and their children were sitting in a darkened room, with only candles burning; a bleached skull in the middle of their circle on the floor, muttering incantations, as a strange-smelling incense filled the house? Would the parents be shocked, outraged? Of course!
But when their children REBEL against them, sass them, talk back, say “no” to parental suggestions or commands, the parents are not shocked at all. After all, they have been told by the child psychologists, “It is NORMAL” for a two-year-old to shout “NO!” at his parents!
One of the great sins of our peoples is the sin of abandoning our children to television, peers, schools, and society –– failing to rear them according to the laws of God! It is because of this that God says, “As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths” (Isaiah 3:12).
Contrast the example of Jesus Christ as a boy of twelve with that of another boy of twelve, King Manasseh of Judah: “Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem:
“But did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, like unto the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel.
“For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he reared up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven [such as the “signs of the Zodiac”], and served them.
“Also he built altars in the house of the LORD, whereof the LORD had said, in Jerusalem shall my name be for ever.
“And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD.
“And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger” (2 Chronicles 33:1-6). Manasseh’s sins ultimately caused the captivity of his people, and his own captivity. He bitterly repented, and was allowed to return to Jerusalem.
Human Nature Tends To Evil
Human nature is a collection of vanity, jealousy, lust and greed. It is entirely concerned with SELF. It is selfish, conceited, egocentric, grasping, cunning, and consists of three major agendas: (1) Self preservation; (2) Self determi-nation; (3) Self perpetuation.
God shows that the human “…heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” He answers, “I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings” (Jeremiah 17:9-10).
Paul wrote of the human heart; human nature: “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
“For to be carnally [fleshly; physically; bereft of the Holy Spirit] minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
“Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
“So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
“But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his” (Romans 8:5-9). The only way one can receive the Spirit of Christ is by REPENTANCE of sin, water baptism, and the receiving of God’s Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands of the ministry (Acts 2:38).
Human nature expresses itself in satisfying the lusts of the flesh; fulfilling inordinate human, physical appetites. Paul wrote, “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
“Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emula-tions, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
“Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19-21).
God sent His prophets to warn our forefathers repeatedly to repent of their dabbling in sorcery and witchcraft! The prophet Micah, writing of eventual vengeance against those who would destroy our peoples, said, “And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in the midst of many people as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep: who, if he go through, both treadeth down, and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver.
“Thine hand shall be lifted up upon thine adversaries, and all thine enemies shall be cut off.
“And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD, that I will cut off thy horses out of the midst of thee, and I will destroy thy chariots:
“And I will cut off the cities of thy land, and throw down all thy strong holds:
“And I will cut off witchcrafts out of thine hand; and thou shalt have no more soothsayers:
“Thy graven images also will I cut off, and thy standing images out of the midst of thee; and thou shalt no more worship the work of thine hands.
“And I will pluck up thy groves out of the midst of thee: so will I destroy thy cities.
“And I will execute vengeance in anger and fury upon the heathen, such as they have not heard” (Micah 5:8-15).
Millions of professing, church-going nominal Christians believe God’s LAWS are “done away!” This is a lie. There is a massive amount of evidence in your Bible that God NEVER abrogated His law; that the Jesus Christ of the New Testament IS THE GOD of the Old; that the One who became Christ is the member of Divine Elohim who wrote the Ten Commandments WITH HIS OWN FINGER!
If you have not read my book about “The Ten Commandments” or “Was The Law In Force BEFORE Sinai?” look them up on our web site, or call (903) 561-7070 for your free copies.
God commands us, “Ye shall keep my Sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the LORD.
“Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God” (Leviticus 19:30, 31).
God warns us, “And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people.
“A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: – their blood shall be upon them” (Leviticus 20:6, 27).
Yet millions of Britons, Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders, South Africans and Americans consider sorcery, witchcraft, soothsaying, and delving into the “black magic” of demonism as merely harmless “fun.” It is about the same kind of “fun” as discovering your children playing with lighted matches in front of a hissing gas jet!
Here is God’s view from heaven:
“And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when ye entered, ye defiled My land, and made Mine heritage an abomination.
“The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law knew Me not [those in the -FOREFRONT of preaching AGAINST God’s Ten Commandments are the ministers of the mainstream churches!]: the pastors also trans-gressed against Me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.
“Wherefore I will yet plead with you, saith the LORD, and with your children’s children will I plead.
“For pass over the isles of Chittim [Cyprus], and see; and send unto Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there be such a thing.
“Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but My people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit [The Buddhists have not abandoned Buddha. The Hindus have never changed their religion. The Muslims have not abandoned Muhammad – but God’s people have abandoned the true God!]
“Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the LORD.
“For My people have committed two evils; they have forsaken Me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water” (Jeremiah 2:7-13).
It is the parents who shall bear the responsibility.
Be wise! Get wisdom! God inspired Solomon to write, “Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:
“She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying,
“How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?
“Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.
“Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;
“But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:
“I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;
“When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.
“Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:
“For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:
“They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.
“Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
“For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.
“But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil” (Proverbs 1:20-33).
Today, IT IS AGAINST THE LAW for teachers to read the BIBLE to their students. Thus, if children are to learn about Creation; about Adam and Eve; about Noah and the Ark; about David and Goliath; about Daniel in the lion’s den, they will have to learn it at home, or perhaps in their church, for it is not allowed in school. The Bible is filled with truthful stories about good overcoming evil; about courage in the face of danger; about human nature being overcome with God’s help. But our teachers are banned from reading the Bible to their students.
It is foolish to allow your children to become enamored with sorcery and witchcraft! Do not reject God’s commands. Resist the vile tempta-tions of Satan and his evil world.
