6th book came out.. school's coming

[yomotalking]

Just tell them that it's a personal conviction, don't judge them or tell them it's wrong for them also. Read Romans 14, it talks about how some things are convictions to some (such as eating meat) but for others it isn't wrong. If your friends are believers just challenge them to pray about it and do what God convicts them to do for themselves.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Good idea!

Great post!!!

Yomo

[other one]

kittylover0991, for me it is that most people take the subject matter as totally fiction and that would make it harmless. I personally do take the subject matter serious and this is where most of my friends think I am a bit off. I think this is the crux of the matter.

There are bible verses that tell people not to use sorcery:

Gal 5:19-21

19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

NASB

Rev 9:19-21

20 And the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, so as not to worship demons, and the idols of gold and of silver and of brass and of stone and of wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk; 21 and they did not repent of their murders nor of their sorceries nor of their immorality nor of their thefts.

NASB

This is two places where the bible talks about people who practice sorcery, and it does not take the art lightly and has a very bad opinion of it.

I think this is where you might be able to tell people that the bible frowns upon this kind of thing and you just don't want to expose yourself to it.

Being a Christian, it is sometimes a bother to explain to non Christians why we do and don't do things. If your friends are Christians then use these and a few other bible verses to explain to them that the bible does not take these things lightly and neither do you.

Sam

[kittylover0991]

Just to say it, my "friends" (as I previously called them) are not christians. I don't normally consider them friends, but more of people that I hang around at school because they are in almostall my classes and i deal with them day to day at school(we are all in teh same program with very diverse religions... unitarian universlaist, buddist, wiccan, gypsy, athiest, unitarian, universalist, calvanist, JW;s, muslim, catholic, methodists, lutherans, pentacostals(the differnt denoms make for very interesting debates), satanist(only one), and undecided). Because I am around them all day at school, and praise the Lord, they know I am a Christian, they bring up a lot of the controversial questions that are brought up in here... and then they use it against me if i can't answer them... especially if i say.. i think the bible says this... so...

[other one]

It would take scripture memorization that I have not been able to do to be good at that kind of thing. I think it is one of the reasons I like worthy so much. One can take time to look things up and check out context's to make sure it fits within the discussions.

[mikado5001]

I would suggest that you talk to your Pastor, or trusted adult, about this.

For myself. I read the Potter books and have seen the Potter films for what I take them to be. Pure escapist entertainment with a positive message. Read the books with that in mind and pray that the Lord will allow you to see those messages in them. Perhaps it will allow you to relate to your non-believeing friends. And even bring them to know Christ. Check out books relating to The Gospel and, Harry Potter, Tolkien(Lord of the Rings), The Matrix, Star Wars and so many more. Go to Barnes and Nobles Christian, and Christian inspiration, Section and look around. Movies, literature, music and movies. They are, some not all, filled to bursting with Christian truths, and spiritual messages, just waiting to be discovered. As a jumping off point. Just google, or whatever search engine you choose , The Matrix and Christianity. And see that the word of G-d abounds within. For myself, I believe that G-d is using almost any means to bring people closer to him. Even CS Lewis, a Christian, and author of Mere Christianity and The Screwtape Letter. He wrote a series of books containing Sorcery and such. The Chronicles of Narnia. I can't wait to see that movie for the messages. I would also venture to say this. Most positive messages that I have found in books, film and song. They pertain mostly to a better relationship between people, animals and other living beings on Earth. As opposed to Man and G-d. Church, of course, having the opposite ratio. Although the best contain both.

And to those who think Sorcery and the like are evil:

"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, and because of these abominations the LORD your God drives them out from before you. You shall be blameless before the LORD your God. For these nations which you will dispossess listened to soothsayers and diviners; but as for you, the LORD your God has not appointed such for you."

-Deut. 18:10-14

Jesus and a whole host of Biblical persons did what the above passage forbids. So How do we know what is right?

kittylover0991: May G-d bless you and strengthen you. As you, maybe, embark on a journey that might, as Romans says. Transform you by the renewing of your mind. And may G-d bless you with, a valueable commodity, Common Sense. So that you will always know right from wrong. And that you will never practice the wrong. And that the light of the LORD, and all good things will shine for you, in you, and through you. In the mighty name of Jesus!! AMEN!!!

I accepted Christ on 1/21/05. And let me tell you kittylover0991. That my eyes are seeing things through such different eyes. My mind, and my heart, have both been renewed. PRAISE G-D!!!!

Edited July 23, 2005 by mikado5001

[Matthitjah]

Grace to you,

First off I want to address the last post.

Mikado;

"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, and because of these abominations the LORD your God drives them out from before you. You shall be blameless before the LORD your God. For these nations which you will dispossess listened to soothsayers and diviners; but as for you, the LORD your God has not appointed such for you."

-Deut. 18:10-14

Jesus and a whole host of Biblical persons did what the above passage forbids. So How do we know what is right?

Our Lord Jesus Christ did not practice any such thing. The only major Biblical person you will see doing such a thing was Saul, King of Israel. He also was a disobedient King whose blessing was removed.

Jesus Christ did not conjure, nor interpret omens, neither did He practice witchcraft.

Please be careful what you lay at the feet of our Lord.

Now Kitty,

You are the child who stands as a beacon of light at the school you attend in MD. I remember you. You wanted to wear a Jesus T-Shirt during the day of gay silence. Your principle wouldn't let you.

Listen, the Lord takes great delight in you. That is where your self worth springs from. It doesn't really matter if people think you are weird or not. The Lord delights in you. ADEAN mentioned above what the witness of a child like yourself did to him. It convicted him. You never know the end result of your stand for Jesus.

Yes, standing for Jesus is costly at times. He said if they hated me? They will certainly hate you.

Joh

[yomotalking]

One says "Yes!"

One says "No!"

Soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Which one is it?????????????????????????????????????????????

Yomo

[mikado5001]

Good points Luke. Truth spoken, for the most part. And well spoken at that. But, Jesus did raise Lazarus from the dead.

Yomo: I guess some things we just don't know. That's what prayer is for.

This great and, more so, wonderfull discourse goes on. Thank the LORD for good peacefull conversation.

[yomotalking]

Yomo: I guess some things we just don't know. That's what prayer is for.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I guess that you're right!

Yomo

[other one]

Mikado, there is a very big difference in Jesus raising him from the dead, and King Saul using a medium to call up Samuel for his own personal gain.

Jesus raised him from the dead to show you that he has the power over life and death. If you read closely he actually cried before he did, and I truly believe it was because he needed to bring him back into this world to show hard hearted people that he was who he said he was.

Think about what you are saying about our Lord.... for your own sake study and ponder what was going on with Him while he was here in the flesh.

Sam