What does the Bible say about magic in movies?
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The Bible condemns the practice of magic, divination, sorcery, and seeking spiritual power apart from God, while calling believers to exercise wisdom about entertainment that portrays such things. Deuteronomy 18:10-12 and Leviticus 19:31 forbid occult practices because they turn people from the Lord. Acts 19:19 shows new believers renouncing magical arts, and Galatians 5:19-21 counts sorcery among works of the flesh. The Bible does not specifically address movies, so Christians should distinguish fictional depiction from participation or approval. They should avoid entertainment that invites fascination with evil, dulls conscience, or tempts them toward occult involvement, and seek what is true, pure, and honoring to Christ.
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Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible
- Deuteronomy 18:10-12
[10] 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, [11] or a charmer, or a consulter with a familiar spirit, or a wizard, or a necromancer. [12] For whoever does these things is an abomination to Yahweh: and because of these abominations Yahweh your God does drive them out from before you.
- Acts 19:19
Many of those who practiced magical arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. They counted the price of them, and found it to be fifty thousand pieces of silver.
- Leviticus 19:31
"'Don't turn to those who are mediums, nor to the wizards. Don't seek them out, to be defiled by them. I am Yahweh your God.
- Exodus 22:18
"You shall not allow a sorceress to live.
- Revelation 21:8
But for the cowardly, unbelieving, sinners, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their part is in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death."
- Galatians 5:19-21
[19] Now the works of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness, [20] idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies, [21] envyings, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these; of which I forewarn you, even as I also forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
- 2 Kings 21:6
He made his son to pass through the fire, and practiced sorcery, and used enchantments, and dealt with those who had familiar spirits, and with wizards: he worked much evil in the sight of Yahweh, to provoke him to anger.
- 2 Chronicles 33:6
He also made his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom; and he practiced sorcery, and used enchantments, and practiced sorcery, and dealt with those who had familiar spirits, and with wizards: he worked much evil in the sight of Yahweh, to provoke him to anger.
- Micah 5:12
I will destroy witchcraft from your hand; And you shall have no soothsayers.
- Revelation 22:15
Outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
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