Harry Potter Mania

I’ve been amazed at the number of adults who have been going crazy with the recent release of the last Harry Potter book. One of my friends was very excited to receive her copy and devoured it in a few nights. At her church, however, some made negative comments about the book series and some made positive comments. She was a little confused to say the least about what was the right thing to do — what was the Godly thing to do. Here’s my advice for her and for all of you.

Everything in life is a choice. You may not feel like that in some situations, but you always have a choice. You may not choose to have cancer, but how you react to the fact you have cancer is a choice. Just look at Especially Heather for a honest look at a great choice she made in dealing with her brain tumor.

Some choices are bad (murder). Some choices are ok (slapping someone instead of killing them). Some choices are better (yelling at them). Some choices are the best (talking to them instead of yelling, slapping or killing). All choices are forgiven as long as you choose to ask for forgiveness.

So let’s look at this in light of the Harry Potter release. You may instantly think there are only 2 choices — read the book or don’t read the book. While some have made the choice it’s ok to read these books, others have made the choice that it’s not ok to read these books. For them, they’ve already made their choice.

Let’s look at it from a little different perspective — your time. It will take time to read the book. Let’s say it takes 13 hours to read it. What are you *not* doing by reading that one? What other books are you *not* reading by reading that one?

Some say it’s a sin to read the Harry Potter books. We are constantly moving — either away from God or to God. Sin is anything that comes in between us and God. So does reading Harry Potter move you away from God or towards God? It’s not for me to judge anyone and it’s not for you to judge someone else. These are questions to ask yourself, so you can make the best choice for you.

As I was writing this, I realized I needed to use it for my own life. I’ve been really bad about reading my Bible. I’ve gotten away from my quiet time — reading at least one scripture a day. Yet I went to the library and checked out “Inside Delta Force” because I got into watching the tv series The Unit. Is it a sin to read that book? Maybe not to read it, but to read it before I do my Bible, that would be a sin for me.

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” — Matthew 6:33 (KJV)