Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling and The Prayer of Jabez by Bruce Wilkinson both hit the bookstores at the dawn of the new millenium (2000 A.D.). Both books were brought to the attention of Christians. One, The Prayer of Jabez was heartily endorsed. That year, The Christian Booksellers Association was decorated with Jabez banners. I still have souvenirs with the phrase 'Got Jabez?' on them. Harry Potter on the other hand was attacked as writing from the pit of hell. Rowling was leading children to depths of evil where only Pokemon had gone before.
The Regent College Bookstore, my employer, stocks both of these books. We are a Christian bookstore. We sold plenty of Jabez and took plenty of heat for selling Harry Potter. I read both of these books. I read Jabez because of the number of copies we were selling. I read Harry Potter because of the controversy. Could I recommend Jabez to customers? Could I defend our decision to carry Harry?
After reading both books, I was struck by the irony of the popular Christian response to Harry Potter in light of what The Prayer of Jabez was asking me to do.
Now, as everyone knows, Harry Potter is a wizard. Therefore, the story takes place in a world of magic and makes magic seem fun. For Christians, the practice of magic is forbidden. Magic is forbidden because magic is essentially a means of manipulating the spirit world. God, the Father of Jesus Christ, will not be so moved. The spirits who will appear to be manipulated are demons. So, of course anything that promotes magic is to be shunned.
Now, having read Harry Potter and having had some experience of modern magic in its various New Age forms. I remain convinced that few children who have read Harry Potter will have the patience for actual magical practices. By analogy, few children born in the age of e-mail will have the patience to correspond by mail. Practical magic is not the point and click of Harry Potter but the continued repetition of actions, phrases and rituals.
Practical magic requires patience and endurance. For instance, one might repeat an incantation over and over again in the hopes that the spirit world will respond and the desired effect will come to pass in this world. "As above, so below."
In other words, magic looks alot like The Prayer of Jabez. Pray this prayer for 30 days and see the results. The irony of the attitude toward Harry Potter and the phenomenal sales of The Prayer of Jabez struck me then as it does now.
Harry Potter lived because someone loved him and died for him. If praying Jabez's prayer did not improve your life and increase your evangelistic conquests, it was because of some sin in your life that needs to be rooted out. Now, one of these books reflects Christian theology. And now we know where Harry's story ends...
