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comes increasingly powerful through learning the complex arts of the
Craft.
As a parent, one of my core convictions is that if we take something
away from a child because it isn t good for them, we should replace it
with something better. We shouldn t just condemn, resist, and avoid the
negative, but should embrace, highlight, and promote the positive. In
this light we inquire: Is there a wholesome and uplifting alternative to
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Hou r of the Witch
both Harry Potter and real witchcraft that can capture the attention of
young people, provide dynamic power to cope with life s stresses, and
above all, satisfy the human heart s deepest longings for love and affec-
tion? Yes, there is, and it s been around for centuries. Correction: Eter-
nity. It s not a thing, a book, or a fairy tale although the most fantastic
stories have been written but a Person. His name is Jesus Christ.
Immediately after commanding Israel not to learn abominable
occult practices (see Deut. 18:9-14), Moses predicted:
The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me
from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear
(Deuteronomy 18:15).
In Acts 3:19-26 Peter specifically applied the above prediction to
Jesus Christ, through whom all the families of the earth shall be
blessed (Acts 3:25). Therefore, when we compare Deuteronomy 18:9-15
with Acts 3:19-26, we discover that Jesus Christ is Heaven s alternative
to witchcraft, sorcery, spells, and potions.
Scott Cunningham, author of The Truth About Witchcraft, contends:
Perhaps it s not too strong to say that the highest form of
human vanity is the assumption that your religion is the only
way to the Deity, that everyone will find it as fulfilling as you
do, and that those with different beliefs are deluded, misled,
1
or ignorant.
Mr. Cunningham s statement is true when applied to man-made
religions but not to real Christianity. The true religion of Jesus Christ
doesn t spring from man, and it certainly doesn t cater to human vani-
ty (for it sinks man s pride in the dust). Instead, it comes from God
Himself. The Bible says:
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten
Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have
eternal life (John 3:16).
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THE ALTERNATIVE : The Man With Scars
Notice: God so loved the world, God gave His Son, and God now
promises everlasting life to believers in Jesus. Is this really true? That s
the question.
Biblical Christianity has something no other religion can offer
proof of its claims through credible, historical, prophetic fulfillment.
Wicca witchcraft can t touch this. Neither can Islam, Hinduism, or
Buddhism. There simply aren t any prophecies in the Koran, Vedas,
Buddhist writings, or New Age works predicting definite events that
have literally been fulfilled in real history. But Christianity has them.
Here s some evidence:
" 1451 B.C. Moses predicted the arrival of a Prophet
(Deut. 18:15). Fulfilled in Acts 3:19-26.
" 771 B.C. Isaiah predicted this Promised One would
live in the vicinity of Galilee of the Gentiles and
would bring great light to those who dwell in the
land of the shadow of death (Isa. 9:1-2). Fulfilled in
Matthew 4:12-17.
" 710 B.C. Micah predicted this Coming One would be
born in Bethlehem, a tiny town among the thousands
[of cities] of Judah (Mic. 5:2). Fulfilled in Matthew
2:1.
" 538 B.C. Daniel predicted this long-awaited Messiah
the Prince would appear publicly near the close of a
490-year prophecy (Dan. 9:24-27). Fulfilled in Mark
1:14-15.
" 487 B.C. Zechariah predicted this future King would
humbly ride into Jerusalem on a donkey (see Zech. 9:9).
Fulfilled in Matthew 21:1-11.
" 487 B.C. Zechariah also predicted He would be be-
trayed for thirty pieces of silver (Zech. 11:12-13).
Fulfilled in Matthew 27:3-10.
" 1020 B.C. David predicted this Divine Sufferer would
be rejected, would have His hands and feet pierced
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Hou r of the Witch
(which is what happens when a man is executed by cru-
cifixion), and that wicked men would cast lots for His
clothes (see Ps. 22:16-18). Fulfilled in Matthew 27:35.
" 712 B.C. Isaiah predicted this Suffering Servant would
be despised, rejected, would become a prisoner, would
bear the world s sin, suffer, die, be buried in the tomb of
a rich man, and then rise again from the dead (see Isa.
53:3,6,8-11). Fulfilled in Matthew 16:23; 27:57; 28:1-8.
Hundreds of years after these prophecies were originally given
they were perfectly fulfilled by Jesus Christ in His birth, sinless life,
intense sufferings, prophesied death, and glorious resurrection. The
risen One declared to eyewitnesses of these events:
O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the
prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered
these things and to enter into His glory? And beginning at
Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the
Scriptures the things concerning Himself. Thus it is written,
and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise
from the dead the third day, and that repentance and forgive-
ness of sins should be preached in His name to all nations,
beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these
things. Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you;
but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with
power from on high (Luke 24:25-26; 46-49).
The Good News of Jesus Christ s suffering, death, and resurrec-
tion (in perfect fulfillment of biblical prophecies) is to be preached to
all nations by His followers. This is Operation Rescue Sinners. When
we respond to God s love and forsake our sins, Jesus Christ freely for-
gives us by His grace. Then comes the power not the power of nature,
self, gods, the goddess, or spirits but the power of the Holy Spirit
(Acts 1:8; 2:1-14; Rom. 15:13) to counteract error and advance God s
cause.
Jesus Christ tenderly speaks to each of us, pleading:
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THE ALTERNATIVE : The Man With Scars
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I
will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from
Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest
for your souls (Matthew 11:28-29).
Jesus invites us to learn from Him, which also means learning
about Him in order to become like Him in character pure, meek and
lowly in heart. When children read Harry Potter and watch those
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