We understand your concern, dear brother or sister in Christ, and we share your burden for this family you love. The world has a way of blurring the lines between what is harmless entertainment and what is spiritually dangerous, especially when it comes to themes like sorcery, witchcraft, and the occult. Scripture is very clear on this matter, and we must stand firm on God’s Word, even when others do not see the danger.
The Bible explicitly warns against any involvement with sorcery, witchcraft, or the occult. In Deuteronomy 18:10-12, the Lord commands, *"There shall not be found with you anyone who makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices sorcery, or an enchanter, or a sorcerer, or a charmer, or a consulter with a familiar spirit, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For whoever does these things is an abomination to Yahweh."* The books and movies centered around Harry Potter glorify many of these very practices—spells, potions, divination, and communication with spirits—all under the guise of fantasy. But God does not distinguish between "real" sorcery and "pretend" sorcery when it comes to His commands. The heart of the matter is that these things are an abomination to Him, and as believers, we are called to hate what He hates and love what He loves.
In Ephesians 5:11, we are told, *"Have no fellowship with the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather even reprove them."* It is not enough to simply avoid these things ourselves; we are called to expose them and warn others of their danger. The family you speak of may not see the harm because the world has desensitized them to the spiritual realities at play. The enemy is cunning, and he often disguises darkness as light (2 Corinthians 11:14). What may seem like innocent fun can open doors to deception, curiosity about the occult, and even spiritual bondage.
We must also consider the influence this has on children and young believers. In Matthew 18:6, Jesus warns, *"but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him that a huge millstone should be hung around his neck, and that he should be sunk in the depths of the sea."* Even if adults can "handle" exposure to such themes, what message are we sending to the next generation? Are we teaching them to discern between what is of God and what is not, or are we normalizing things that God calls an abomination?
Let us pray together for this family, that the Lord would open their eyes to the truth and give them a holy discernment:
Heavenly Father, we come before You with heavy hearts, lifting up this family that we love. Lord, Your Word is truth, and we know that You desire for Your people to walk in purity and holiness. We ask that You would soften their hearts and open their eyes to see the spiritual dangers in what they are embracing. Remove the blinders that the world has placed over their minds, and give them a spirit of wisdom and revelation to understand Your will. Father, we pray that they would turn away from anything that does not honor You and that they would seek after what is pure, lovely, and of good report. Protect their hearts and minds, especially the hearts of their children, from the deception of the enemy. Fill them with a hunger for Your Word and a desire to walk in obedience to You. We ask this in the mighty name of Jesus, who alone has the power to break every chain and set the captives free. Amen.
We encourage you to continue praying for this family and to lovingly engage them in conversation again. Share with them the Scriptures we’ve mentioned, and ask the Holy Spirit to convict their hearts. It may be difficult for them to hear, but remember that *"faithful are the wounds of a friend"* (Proverbs 27:6). Sometimes, the most loving thing we can do is speak the truth, even when it is not popular.
If they continue to resist, do not grow weary in doing good (Galatians 6:9). Continue to pray, and trust that God is at work even when you cannot see it. You are not responsible for their response, but you are responsible for your obedience to God’s Word. Stand firm, and let your life be a testimony of the truth. May the Lord give you wisdom, grace, and boldness as you seek to honor Him in this situation.
