Christian views on magic or magick[1] vary widely among Christian denominations and individuals. Many Christians actively condemn magic as satanic, holding that it opens the way for demonic possession while other Christians simply view it as entertainment. For many, discussing magic in a Christian context feels contradictory, perhaps even dangerous.
The church's historical stance on this topic reveals a legacy of fear, condemnation, and restriction intended to keep believers from practices often labeled as "pagan." But as history unfolds and research evolves, we're uncovering a more nuanced truth: the presence and use of magic have always. Within Christianity, the view of magicians is often steeped in caution. Many believers perceive magic as a gateway to spiritual deception.
This stems from scriptural teachings that warn against practices deemed occult or manipulative. Let's open the Bible and see. What Does the Bible Say about Magic? Is magic truly evil? Scripture reveals that magic - referred to in Scripture under a variety of names, namely divination and/or witchcraft - encompasses a wide-ranging variety of activity that includes astrology, necromancy, soothsaying, sorcery, enchanters, and the like.
In the first centuries of Christianity, Church authorities already disapproved of magic and amulets. Yet amulets, oracles, and magic among Christians survived well into the. Magic is the use of symbols, rituals, or actions to control supernatural forces, but it is not from God or His miracles.
The Bible condemns magic as sinful and warns of God's judgment on those who practice it. Magic, sorcery, and the occult, oh my! Fantasy-the oldest of genres-is a human rite. The earliest recorded stories are ripe with magic and wonder.
At the same time, few storytelling elements produce as much angst, concern, and passionate opinions amongst Christians as magic does. We've experienced these debates firsthand at The Collision. All other magic is child's play by comparison, the stuff of Harry Potter books.
It will be argued, of course, that Christian redemption is the opposite of magic. If Adam were a magician, he would have climbed out of the pit by his own might, adjuring the demons to assist him. And yet magic and magicians have often been misunderstood in Christian contexts.
I am conscious of the confusion and connotations that the term 'magician' or 'magic' has for some people of faith. But throughout my own journey as a Christian magician, I have realised that magic, like any form of art, is a tool and a means of expression. Can the miracles of Jesus be explained as magic? Since magic is forbidden in the Bible, can a Christian be a magician? What are some principles we can learn from the practice of magic to help be more discerning in our age of fake news? These are just a.