I believe Christian authors are a valuable source of good literature -- as are many classics, such as tales by Shakespeare. Geoffrey Chaucer also was a terrific writer who definitely wrote about "sinners" (Most surveys of his Canterbury Tales leave out the conclusion--which is a good place to start --Hey - maybe I'll do a little research project for you -- but I digress)

Again, and again, I say: praying about what lessons God wants us to present to our children -- and when -- is important. Asking God specific questions about novels is OK! Presenting all our material in such a way as to direct our kids to consider what they are learning about the LORD is important. Ever thought about asking your child what they learned about God from math, today?

A child who is intrigued by the occult might profit from knowing FIRST what Scripture says and then how Christians have portrayed dabbling with witchcraft has wrought.

Just like if a child was prone to lying, stealing or covetousness -- I would show them what God's words says on the matter -- and then perhaps a fiction story might make some tough points. I mean F. Peretti described some amazing fruit for the young woman who got snared by a New Age guru!

We *should* spend as much time studying the authors who have professed Christ as we do the "famous" authors who spur the Savior. We may disagree with some of their confessions -- (read The Eaton's Statement of Faith -- if you want to double check a baseline definition.) Who was C.S. Lewis -- what did he believe -- what did he try do with his work -- which is quite extensive? Again delve into Tolkien -- who was he? What were the places and times in which these men lived? How did their times impact their confession and art -- and work? These are questions that we can adapt and apply to "secular" authors too!

Does any Christian author -- who includes questionable devices -- like witchcraft or fantasy or divination -- or murder and adultery -- *PROMOTE* or advocate the practice? This also works for Frank Peretti and Francine Rivers, who wrote a modern-day "Hosea."

Now the Bible forbids our fooling with witchcraft -- but told a story about one man who conjured up a witch -- When we confront the occult we need to know what the Bible says -- I wouldn't skip MacBeth because of the witch but I'd be real careful about how I present "murder" and lust for power!

BWSmith

See: Deut 18:10-12
"There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead.
"For whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD; and because of these detestable things the LORD your God will drive them out before you.

Deut 18:14
"For those nations, which you shall dispossess, listen to those who practice witchcraft and to diviners, but as for you, the LORD your God has not allowed you {to do} so.

II Ki 21:6
And he made his son pass through the fire, practiced witchcraft and used divination, and dealt with mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the sight of the LORD provoking {Him to anger.}

2 Chr 33:6
And he made his sons pass through the fire in the valley of Ben-hinnom; and he practiced witchcraft, used divination, practiced sorcery, and dealt with mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him {to anger.}

1 Sam 28:3
Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him and buried him in Ramah his own city. And Saul had removed from the land those who were mediums and spiritists.

1 Sam 28:7
Then Saul said to his servants, "Seek for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her." And his servants said to him, "Behold, there is a woman who is a medium at En-dor."

© Barbara W. Smith 1998, all rights reserved
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