Question regarding "magic"

[menegroth]

Hi there,

Not really sure where to start exactly so I am just going to kind of wing it, I am an avid gameplayer I have always found it to be a fun hobby but make sure I dedicate my time to reading Gods word first before I play anything. My problem is this, this evening at church someone had said that "magic" was a bad thign/evil or whatever, I am kind of stuck, I myself have never read anywhere in scripture that "magic" is even real but I havea general understanding that it is of a bad nature (witchcraft etc) so anyways i did a search and on magic as well as spell and didn't find anythign on them on biblegateway.com tho i did get a lot of hits on magician in the old testement (think about 25) my concern is simply that I play EverQuest among many other games, and there are spells in it both with " good and bad" effects. now would playign a game like that be unbiblical? the bible says to abstain from all appereance of evil but i also know what one person considers evil someone else may not but we should stay away from what we think is evil and let god convict us on the things he wants us to change that we may not consider wrong. To me at this present time I don't consider games evil, but i also dont cross that line of " wow i bet i could find a spellbook" kind of thing i understand for me its just entertainment, and not reall some people take it off the deep end if you want to call it that, just curious if anyone else has had this same problem at all, any info would be great, I don't want this hindering my realtionship with my God.

Thanks!

Josh

P.S. - dunno if this is the right spot to post this hehe, sorry =)

[nebula]

Hey!

The number one danger of these games is addiction and distraction.

Sure, you have disciplined yourself to read the Bible first - but do you spend your time on these games when you should be spending time on other things?

And what is it that your are filling your mind with all this time while playing these games?

I would be honest with myself about those questions first and then proceed with there.

[Dad Ernie]

now would playign a game like that be unbiblical?

Greetings Menegroth,

I agree with Neb, but here are some additional thoughts:

Romans 14:23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

A friend of mine a few years ago was told by God in prayer that he had to quit playing cards. Now this friend played cards solely for enjoyment, never money, but he had a passion for it and enjoyed it immensely. But as he came to understand the will of the Father, cards had become an idol of sorts and was taking up his time that could be better devoted to more Godly activities. So for him, by faith, he laid down that activity for higher pursuits. Now as for me, I too enjoy playing cards, but I have never been brought under the power of them so that they distract me from my mission in life. So by faith I continue to play cards, yet by faith my friend no longer plays.

1 Corinthians 6:12 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

Blessings,

Dad Ernie

[Remnantrob]

Basically we need to feed our spirit as much as we do our flesh(better yet more).

[Trust & Obey]

Brother Josh, I know exactly where you are. I used to play online games quite extensively. I played UO for about a year back in 2001-2002 era and have played Counter Strike for about 4 years.

I do not play these games anymore for a variety of reasons which I will explain... But, first to the "magic question."

The Bible does have something to say about this.

Deu 18:9 When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.

Deu 18:10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,

Deu 18:11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.

Deu 18:12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.

The Bible is clear that "wizards and wizardry" are abominations to the Lord.

Wizardly/sorcery is the harnessing of the powers of darkness. There is real power in wizardry/sorcery and it is found in the spirits of evil. These are fallen angels that people are summoning to do their bidding.

A wizard or sorcerer... a caster of spells is a person who appeals to the demonic realm. This is absolutely NOT something a believer should be doing.

Now, a quick correction on the "abstain from all appearances of evil" passage. The word "appearance" there does not mean "something that may look like evil." Rather, it means "every form of evil." So, the passage is really saying, "avoid every form of evil."

Magic, wizardry and sorcery are most certainly evil according to the Bible.

I am familiar with EverQuest and other RPGs. UO is very similar.

So, based on the above I would say that it is not a wise thing to entertain ourselves with something that God calls an abomination.

Next... what about games that do not involve magic (like Counter Strike).

As I've gotten a bit older I've also matured a bit and have realized that these are not profitable for a variety of reasons.

a) They waste a whole lot of time:

Col 4:5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.

To me, quitting video games redeemed a whole lot of time in my life for more worthy pursuits.

b) Video games sow to the flesh and not to the spirit. Video games will diminish your hunger for the Word of God and prayer.

Gal 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Gal 6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

c) Video games are highly addictive.

1Co 6:12 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

It is not uncommon to sit in front of the computer for 3, 4, 5 hours at a time playing these games... especially games like EverQuest where there are objectives to accomplish and if you're not online... others are and they will be advancing their characters while you're character is not advancing. Hence, there is a desire to always be on so that you're not "falling behind."

d) Finally, it is simply immature.

1Co 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

We only have a limited amount of time on this earth and we shouldn't be wasting our free time on childish things... we do not own ourselves, we are bond-slaves of Jesus Christ. We should be redeeming the time for the furtherance of His kingdom.

We are told not to love the world or the things that are in the world. That would most certainly include video games and, as I'm sure you'll agree, those who are hooked on these video games would typically agree that "they love them."

We need to detach ourselves from the lust of the flesh... and video games incite the flesh. This is the opposite of what we need to be doing.

That's my opinion on the matter and that is why I no longer play online video games. There are important things to do in this life and this is not a dress rehearsal.

God bless you in whatever you do.

[gypc]

Rev 22: 12"Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. 13I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

14"Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. 15Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

16"I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star

Rev 9:21Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.

Rev 21:8But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars

[menegroth]

Well,

thank you all veyr veyr much for those who replied and read and prayed, Trust & obey I found your information very insightful as it really addresses a great many of my kind of questions/concerns so thank you very much for the info, my next question would be what do you do with the free time? I don't really find anythign else all that interesting, I can't stand sports ( they bore me and seem pointless) and in tghe little country town where I live it seems that is really all there is. any suggestions? not sure what to do, TV is not overly interesting to me either not that I would consider that a very good option. I have considered reading the bible more but I find that, as much as I may get shot down for this, I get very tired of reading it after the first horu or so, so hope ya don't hate me on that one btu that seems to be the truth of it heh. any info would be great thanks =)

Josh

[jesussaves]

Josh, this is in the book of Exodus 7:9-12

"When Pharoah shall speak to you saying, show a miracle for you: then thou shalt say unto Aaron, take thy rod and cast it before Pharoah, and it shall become a serpent. And Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did as the Lord had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh and before his servants and it becaome a serpent. Then Pharaoh aslo called the wise men and sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments, for they cast down every man his rod and they became serpents, BUT AARON'S ROD SWALLOWED UP THEIR RODS."

In these verses we learn that certain magic does exist...however, #1 the devil immitates certain miracles of God. #2 They have no power over anything that belongs to the Lord #3 Everything the devil devises to deceive is swallowed up by calvary's cross(Isaiah 25:8 He will swallow up death in victory:)

Josh, also, anything that has to do with witch craft, horoscopes, sorceries and the like, are an abomination to the Lord: sin.

Get yourself a One Year Bible and try reading it through. If you miss a day, don't give up, keep on pressing through until you have read the entire Bible. If you don't have one get one of the most valuable tools I can think of to go with your Bible; get a Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. If you want to look up anything in the Bible, such as withcraft, just look under that word and you will find every place it is in the Bible and you can study it through.

Piece of advice...get as far away from anything that has to do with sorcery, witchcraft and the like as you can. It is sin and if anyone thinks they can use a scripture like, "whatever is not of faith is sin," to dabble in sin they will be in for a rude awakening if they don't repent. If you sow to the flesh you will reap to the flesh, you will reap corruption and death. If you sow to the Spirit you will reap peace and life....here is where the rubber meets the road where the sowing and reaping principle comes into effect.

Be blessed :-)

[nebula]

my next question would be what do you do with the free time? I don't really find anythign else all that interesting, I can't stand sports ( they bore me and seem pointless) and in tghe little country town where I live it seems that is really all there is.

Well, I live in the suburb, and there ain't much here, either!

Reading is a good activity. There are lots of Christian fiction books, if that's what you are interested in.

Then there's snipe hunting and cow tipping.

(Ok, maybe not. )

Anyone else have some good ideas?

[menegroth]

that seems to be the difficulty atm, i love gods word but i can honestly say i get really bored reading it for the extra horus i have maybe thats wrong but i do. just not sure what to do really =/

Josh