As a teen I got really into fantasy/romance novels. Even in my adult years I’ll have periods where I’ll allow myself to indulge in a mystical/fantasy tv show or movie. I love the magic of Disney just like any other millennial that grew up on everything in the vault.
But I don’t know if it was because of how I was being raised, and/or because of the level of understanding I had of who God is but I always followed the thought that magic while entertaining, was not something I would practice.
Even in the movies and tv shows, there is good magic, then there is bad magic. There are some storylines that say that there is no bad or good magic, there’s only magic that is used for good or evil. It is this idea that everyone has access to the same power, it’s your intent in using the power that makes the difference.
The big thing though is that magic always has consequences.
There’s a sacrifice that comes with using magic, no matter which side of the moral compass you landed on. A popular practice displayed in entertainment regarding magic is this idea of a “fair trade”.
For your first born cow you can be guaranteed a successful harvest.
If you shave your head three times before the next full moon your true love will find you.
Only babies born on a blue moon can be king.
The witch, warlock, genie, oracle, or sage would need something in exchange to perform magic for you, and it may work. And it wouldn’t work if you broke some arbitrary rule or called the witch an old hag or something equal parts entertaining and ridiculous.
This was always a non-starter for me, because Jesus only asks us to love Him in return, if we want to. The Bible gives us all the ways to know and love Him better. There’s no guesswork involved.
Why would I trade a relationship with the Creator of the Universe to maybe please some random keeper of some mystical power that may or may not demand some sort of painful compensation on my part.
The plot to most supernatural horror films involve awakening or invoking some deceitfully benevolent or decidedly evil being.
In the Christian faith there is one God. There is one way to that God and all other ways lead away from Him.
“And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.”
John 6:65 KJV
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
John 14:6 KJV
“All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.”
Matthew 11:27 KJV
All that is needed to successfully find Christ and to effectively be the best follower of Christ it found in the Bible. Anything that contradicts the Bible will not bring you closer to Christ.
Anything that claims power that has not been given by God is not of God.
As a Christian, if instead of reading your Bible and praying to God you are supplementing with literally anything that does the work of relationship for you, you are setting yourself up to fall.
If you are having a hard time believing that God can hear your prayers, you haven’t read your Bible in six weeks, but you know what yesterday’s horoscope said....you might have found your issue.
“Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.”
James 4:3 KJV
If you go to God and ask Him to fulfill things outside of His will for you life, it is the spiritual equivalent of going to McDonald’s and demanding a Whopper.
They don’t make those there.
God’s will for us is for us to be the best versions of ourselves. He knows what’s best for us in every aspect of our lives. He has provided a blueprint for us to live our best lives found only in His Bible and communion with Him.
If, as Christian we are practicing anything contrary it will frustrate our faith. It adds unnecessary pit stops and put falls that could be avoided by simply following God’s Word.
This is why I don’t follow my horoscope.
It’s why I don’t keep track of lunar cycles.
It’s why I don’t burn sage.
It’s why I don’t keep crystals.
I don’t believe that the Christian faith needs to be supplemented with mythical or mystical practices.
I believe that knowing Jesus Christ and Him crucified is all that is needed to have a fulfilling faith.
Finally,
“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;”
1 Timothy 4:1 KJV
I am also not trying to do anything contrary that could keep me from meeting Jesus in the end.
Because isn’t that ultimately the point?