Comments on: Harry Potter : Order of the Phoenix http://XboxDad.com/2009/05/harry-potter-order-of-the-phoenix/ Family Friendly Gaming - and techno tips for 21st century parents ... not affiliated with Microsoft or Xbox Live (just a fan site) Thu, 08 Dec 2011 02:51:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Jason http://XboxDad.com/2009/05/harry-potter-order-of-the-phoenix/comment-page-1/#comment-85 Jason Thu, 31 Dec 2009 20:56:50 +0000 http://ChristianGamerDad.com/index.php/2009/05/harry-potter-order-of-the-phoenix/#comment-85 AMEN !! I absolutely respect your position, thank you for your feedback and admire your fervor. But this is one of the reasons that I run this blog, to offer insight into one of this cultures more popular distractions to young people ... and offer one Christian father's perspective who has hands-on experience with the material. My oldest son and I have visited the Hogwarts series together. With me staying a book ahead, a movie ahead and a game ahead of him. It has offered us some great conversation opportunities between God's wonder and the ficticious magic that written about - not only in the Harry Potter series, but in Greek Mythology and even the "Force" in Star Wars. But for my own purposes, I would rather expose him to these things while I can shepherd and council him on how to discern what is exciting and popular in this world -- and teach him to compartmentalize those things from the reality of his priorities and his relationship with the one true God. Otherwise, I risk him being sheltered and overly-exposed & under-prepared when other shinier and inviting opportunities are given to him later (when I am not nearby to counsel and teach). While we may have some differences of opinion, I hope that you will keep reading and find other game recommendations useful to you and your young gamers. AMEN !!

I absolutely respect your position, thank you for your feedback and admire your fervor. But this is one of the reasons that I run this blog, to offer insight into one of this cultures more popular distractions to young people … and offer one Christian father’s perspective who has hands-on experience with the material.

My oldest son and I have visited the Hogwarts series together. With me staying a book ahead, a movie ahead and a game ahead of him. It has offered us some great conversation opportunities between God’s wonder and the ficticious magic that written about – not only in the Harry Potter series, but in Greek Mythology and even the “Force” in Star Wars.

But for my own purposes, I would rather expose him to these things while I can shepherd and council him on how to discern what is exciting and popular in this world — and teach him to compartmentalize those things from the reality of his priorities and his relationship with the one true God. Otherwise, I risk him being sheltered and overly-exposed & under-prepared when other shinier and inviting opportunities are given to him later (when I am not nearby to counsel and teach).

While we may have some differences of opinion, I hope that you will keep reading and find other game recommendations useful to you and your young gamers.

]]> By: I Know God Is http://XboxDad.com/2009/05/harry-potter-order-of-the-phoenix/comment-page-1/#comment-59 I Know God Is Sun, 20 Dec 2009 17:22:59 +0000 http://ChristianGamerDad.com/index.php/2009/05/harry-potter-order-of-the-phoenix/#comment-59 My Father says to flee from evil. The world in which we live offers a grand assortment of entertainment for which the devil has purposed to draw man unto himself. Harry Potter is one such attraction. I have read countless the comparisons of the Narnia series to other fantasy games that include magic. I can understand where this might be confusing; however, Narnia cannot be compared to Harry Potter. The Narnia series was written with direct application and representation of Christ and the salvation He brings to believers through His resurrection! The fantasy C.S. Lewis imagined was a "what if" for the sole purpose of drawing man to Christ. Narnia takes man out of his natural environment and allows him to see the fruit of Christ's nature separate from our world that is so full of secular thought and tradition. That said, none of the Harry Potters or Zeldas or any of the other fantasy games (so far) that involve magic and false gods offer a picture of God Almighty and His Truth. They are counterfeit to truth. Those who choose Christ must also choose to walk in His LIGHT. That means putting away false gods and any other material things or actions whose purpose is NOT set in the light of Messiah. We are to flee from evil, not entertain it. I know it is difficult to carry that cross, but there is a world watching and waiting to see what we will do. If you believe Christ is Messiah, choose to follow Him with all of your heart and lean not to your own understanding. Don't be fooled for the sake of entertainment. When our eyes drift from Jesus to worldly distractions, the devil slips in unnoticed. The devil finagles his way into our lives; he comes for one purpose: to kill, steal, and destroy. Is it worth it to compromise; or shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world and lose his soul? My Father says to flee from evil. The world in which we live offers a grand assortment of entertainment for which the devil has purposed to draw man unto himself. Harry Potter is one such attraction. I have read countless the comparisons of the Narnia series to other fantasy games that include magic. I can understand where this might be confusing; however, Narnia cannot be compared to Harry Potter. The Narnia series was written with direct application and representation of Christ and the salvation He brings to believers through His resurrection! The fantasy C.S. Lewis imagined was a “what if” for the sole purpose of drawing man to Christ. Narnia takes man out of his natural environment and allows him to see the fruit of Christ’s nature separate from our world that is so full of secular thought and tradition. That said, none of the Harry Potters or Zeldas or any of the other fantasy games (so far) that involve magic and false gods offer a picture of God Almighty and His Truth. They are counterfeit to truth. Those who choose Christ must also choose to walk in His LIGHT. That means putting away false gods and any other material things or actions whose purpose is NOT set in the light of Messiah. We are to flee from evil, not entertain it. I know it is difficult to carry that cross, but there is a world watching and waiting to see what we will do. If you believe Christ is Messiah, choose to follow Him with all of your heart and lean not to your own understanding. Don’t be fooled for the sake of entertainment. When our eyes drift from Jesus to worldly distractions, the devil slips in unnoticed. The devil finagles his way into our lives; he comes for one purpose: to kill, steal, and destroy. Is it worth it to compromise; or shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world and lose his soul?

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