I’m reading Harry Potter for the first time, finally, and of course, it’s amazing. And that fact has left me wondering just what exactly the point of being a Christian is.
Because it seems to me that everything I was taught growing up in church was just a big exercise in isolationism.
My faith was shaped by fear.
There were the lists of dos and don’ts, the restrictions that we all file under the section called fundamentalism. But what does any of that have to do with a Jesus-shaped way of life? What do rules and restrictions rooted in fear have to do with living the kind of life that Jesus showed us how to live?
My faith and my life were shaped by fear. Fear of what people thought, fear of what people would say, fear of reactions and over-reactions, fear of bad influences.
We humans are so fearful.
We don’t know what they’ll say or do. We don’t know what words will fall out of their mouths, what beliefs or thoughts will corrupt us, influence us.
So we must guard against it. We must create the rules, and by the virtue of our creating them, they are good and true and godly. We are the ones with the power, the acceptability, we are both the gates and the keys.
Fear isolates us. What does it do to us when we cut ourselves off from the world? What bits of ourselves do we lose when we think that certain people, certain things are contaminants?
When we shutter our imaginations and board up the windows that open to time and space, we miss out on the mystery and magic of it all.
I was sheltered from so many ways of interacting with the world in creative ways.
And even now, you have to know who you’re talking to – which church people you shouldn’t mention Harry Potter or Beyoncé to, or who you shouldn’t swear around.
What are we so afraid of? I mean, I know Jesus said over and over and over again, ‘Be Afraid’.
Which leads me to wonder what the point of being a Christian is?
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How did I not know that you are reading Harry for the first time?
These are deeply spiritual books for me.
I can’t wait to see what insights you draw from them.
xo
HOW ARE YOU JUST NOW READING HARRY POTTER?! I agree with my twin (obviously): There’s a lot of good stuff for your spirit in these books. Also, they’re just fun. They’re so great to escape into.
I’ve wondered about the point of being a Christian, too. I don’t really have any answers, but I think God created us to live in communion with Him and with others, and so that’s what I strive for. I trust He will work out the details. I’d be interested to hear your thoughts on this as they evolve.
Yeah I’m going to have to sit with this question for awhile, but I was *really* pissed about 2 pages in to book 1 when I realized I’d been fed a giant lie. And I’m really struggling to find anything good I was taught – and also trying to sort out the fundamentalism I was raised with at home, vs the evangelicalness I had at church, and where they overlap and are separate.
I would have read them a couple of years ago but really thought b/c it was fantasy, I wouldn’t like them at all, and only read them now to ‘discuss’ them with the kids, haha, and so I know the plotline since it’s such a cultural icon now. And it’s not even ‘fantasy’ like I was thinking. I don’t really like Narnia and hate LOTR, so I was thinking HP was like that, and it’s not. ahhhhh I’m so in love.
I can totally see that. I’m so excited to finish it off and then reread them, lol. We’re watching the first movie tonight and I’m so giddy!
Great insight, Caris. That tendency toward line-drawing really is based on fear of what would happen if we didn’t have rules and lists to help us. When a person realizes that there is no need to fear because the Spirit is already within us forever, the need for drawing lines and making lists goes away. It’s Jesus’ perfect love that drives out fear. (1 John 4:18.)
“I’m reading Harry Potter for the first time, finally, and of course, it’s amazing. And that fact has left me wondering just what exactly the point of being a Christian is.” Boom. We should be friends. Because one time I used these words in a blog post, “One of the things that helps me know Who God is more is Harry Potter.”
Also, one of my all-time favorite words is “fearless” and it’s only because of Christ that I ever feel fearless. I think fearless and freedom go together and Jesus it the King and Ultimate Giver of both.
Oh hai there’s a typo on your page Jesus said “Do not be afraid” again and again okay I love you bye bye!