During the last three centuries, Americans have enjoyed relative freedom from the occult forces that have tormented many other parts of the world. From the beginning, the pilgrims and a significant number of other believers trusted God and built this nation on the foundation of His Word. Therefore God protected their land. Few were exposed to words and actions that led to the occult.

But times have changed and God's actual truth is rarely heard in public places. We can no longer shut out the well-marketed forces of evil that press into our lives -- even in churches. Therefore, we must prepare for the spiritual warfare ahead.

"There shall not be found among you anyone who... practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead.... For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord..." Deuteronomy 18:10-12

Witchcraft, soothsaying, omens, sorcery, spells -- all have found their way into the final Harry Potter movie Deathly Hallows, Harry's Last Battles.

Days before the release of the seventh and final novel in the series, and now the blockbuster movie, youth leaders are being told they could use the popularity of the Potter books and films as a 'launch pad' for exploring Christian themes.

Designed to stir feelings and produce strong emotional responses, a well-planned myth with likeable characters can be far more memorable than the less exciting daily reality -- especially when reinforced through books, toys,  games and movies. Small wonder Harry's fans have been counting the days until their next fantastic journey into Hogwarts' classes on sorcery, divination, potions and spells.

Children identifying with their favorite Harry Potter characters,  learn to see wizards and witches from a popular peer perspective rather than from God's perspective. Christian children can easily learn to conform truth to multicultural ideals and turn God's values upside down - just as did God's people in Old Testament days.

writes one young fan:   "I have been encouraged by my pastor at my CHRISTIAN church to read the Harry Potter books, because even though they have references to magic and sorcery, they can teach us more about the values of Friendship and Bravery than he can.... I am no longer Christian. Somewhere along the way my beliefs changed. Now, I practice Wicca."

"But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward." Jeremiah 7:24

The story of Harry Potter is an allegory: written and packaged to look like fantasy when, in truth, it is a carefully written true description of the training and work of an initiate in an occult order. The author, J. K. Rowling, is very successful in evoking strong sympathy and empathy for Harry in her readers. The books teach situation ethics rather than absolute values of right and wrong that are taught in the scriptures.

suggestions at the bottom of well-distributed Harry Potter magazines read:

"CAST A SPELL, MIX A POTION, TRY A TRICK!

As commentator Berit Kjos says in her movie review, "In a world that despises God's Word and moral guidelines, it's not surprising that a series of books based on witchcraft and wizardry has won the hearts of the people. Occult themes, whether in books, movies, or computer games, have become one of today's most effective tools for social transformation. Even churches are promoting the change. The 'light' side of evil could hardly be more deceptive!"

As God's Word tells us, "the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one." (1 John 5:19) That's reality today! But the consequences for those who believe his lies will be severe:

"Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness.... Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight!" Isaiah 5:2-21

If you are a parent, talk to your children about the dangers of Harry Potter and the occult, read scripture with them, pray with them, pray for them, but please do not take them or allow them to go with their friends to see the movie nor to buy the books and magazines - and explain to them why!  

"Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6

Many thanks goes to Kjos Ministries for their wealth of information on the dangers of Harry Potter.  To read more, please visit their website.