Word Magic Born Again Word magic, the power and influence of words, has long been recognized and revered throughout history. From ancient civilizations to modern societies, the ability to craft words that inspire, motivate, and captivate has been held in high regard. However, there is a deeper level to word magic that goes beyond mere rhetoric and aesthetic appeal. In recent years, the concept of word magic has experienced a renaissance - a rebirth, if you will. This rebirth is not merely a resurgence in the use of eloquent and persuasive language, but rather a revelation of the transformative power that words possess. It is the understanding that the words we speak and write have the ability to shape our reality, both individually and collectively.
Why is magic bad? Is writing fantasy a sin?
I ve seen, like, one episode of that, and that s only because it was on at my grandparents house and I switched it to a show I liked better afterward , and as far as I can tell it didn t have much of the religion stuff, although I wasn t paying attention enough to point it out. I ve used it in my daydreams, mostly like what if this character from such and such book met these from this other book , but I haven t used it for my acual stories.
It is the understanding that the words we speak and write have the ability to shape our reality, both individually and collectively. Words have the power to influence our thoughts, feelings, and actions. They can inspire us to reach new heights, or they can crush us with their weight.
The “Line” in Christian Fantasy: Is writing fantasy a sin?
They're usually amazing, right? They have action, magic, plot twists, romance, dragons, and all those wonderful things that inspire our imagination.
But how much is too much? Should a Christian writer even write Fantasy? When should we be worried that we’re going to lure teens into witchcraft?
-- That, Dear Writer, is why I wrote this article.
Keep in mind, my convictions are going to be different from yours, so this article may not answer your questions at all, but I really hope it does. It makes me sad when people are afraid to write something that they really want to write.
I have been in your shoes before. I know the struggle you’re battling. You want to write a Christian fantasy novel or just a clean fantasy novel. You have all these AMAZING ideas swirling inside your head, but one question is stopping you:
What is "the line" for magic in Christian fantasy?
Let’s delve into that.
Why is it important to draw a line?
We, as Christians, live in a world where we have to stay awake and alert to the enemy’s tools. There is a world of darkness out there and there is a world of light.
We are the light, and as children of the light, we should always strive to keep ourselves in line with what is Light.
This includes checking not only what is in our own Fantasy novels, but whatever we read and write. What you feed your mind on, your heart will speak -- and this is especially true in writing.
Satan uses things like magic to lure people into the darkness, but that doesn't mean that we can't use the concept of ‘magic’ for the reverse effect. Just like there is good music and bad music, good movies and bad movies, or good books and bad books, we can use fictional implements of magic, as long as we take care to avoid the real stuff.
There are real spells used by real witches.
This is part of why it is so important to take care of what we portray as good and evil, and what we write as being magic. We don't want to lead anyone astray, but the same rule can be applied to any theme or plot idea in general. Not just Fantasy. Heavy themes should be used with the same cautiousness.
The Root of Magic
Why is magic bad? Is writing fantasy a sin?
Sure, it’s from the devil. Sure, God says not to use it, but why is it really bad?
Ask yourself why Satan fell from Heaven in the first place. Satan is the ultimate evil being, so let’s go back and look at where he goofed.
When Satan (who was called Lucifer at the time) messed up, it was because of one thing: Greed. The devil was over all of Heaven’s worship, and yet he wanted more. He wanted to become like God, so that he could have the ultimate Power. What he had wasn’t enough.
God, in His greatness, gave mankind the power of free will. We have the choice to worship any time we wish. We have the choice to come and go as we please. We aren’t dictated by God.
Satan does the opposite. He seeks to devour. He wants to lure and trap those who seek power, just like he did. He dictates and torments those who choose to follow him.
God’s ultimate plan is for us to have free will and to choose Him anyway, in spite of it. So shouldn’t it be wrong if we seek to control the lives of others? That’s what people who actively seek magic out do. Magic is a tool used by the devil to control and manipulate people, and those who want that power are following in Satan’s footsteps. Even the people that claim they only use it for ‘good’.
When the Bible tells us not to desire these things, it’s for a reason. Turning to Magic as our source of power instead of turning to God means that we are rejecting God’s ultimate Payment for our sins. We are rejecting His plan, His son, and His ways.
It then becomes Idolatry.
The quest for magic starts with greed. In fact, I think most wrong things start out because of greed. It’s what caused the fall of Lucifer, and even Mankind.
Satan was a creation of Light at one time. He had extraordinary powers given to him by God, but he wanted more than that, and in the end, all of the world had to pay.
However, Satan isn’t the only one who has powers. God also has power, and His is more fantastic than anything Satan has to offer.
When we become greedy, or impatient, and stray from the path God has set before us, we are closing ourselves off from the power that God freely offers and we begin seeking a path that seems right to our flesh, but in reality, is a lie.
All sin should be handled with wisdom when writing about it--not just magic. Perhaps your character is not a wizard, but a thief. Even then, we must still keep our balances in check. That which is wrong is wrong, and that which is right is right.
Positive magic vs negative magic
Just being creative and coming up with things to fill a plot hole is fine. There’s nothing wrong with that.
But when you take evil things and give them the appearance of being good, you are twisting what is wrong to make it seem right.
The Bible warns against that in Isaiah 5:20,
"Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who turn darkness to light and light to darkness. "
We should never show evil as good, or good as evil. The world does enough of that without us trying to do it too. We can have a morally gray character and still show that what they’re doing is wrong.
Witches, wizards, necromancers, etc. are bad things (Leviticus 19:31) and should always be shown as such.
We wouldn’t say a murderer is a good person. Maybe the murderer takes a journey from being evil to being a born again Christian, but while the murderer is in sin, he/she shouldn’t be shown as good. This same logic is what we apply with witches, or anything else. These things can be shown, but they must be shown as bad until they change.
But enough about people. What about powers?
Well, here on Earth, there are two things concerning the supernatural. There are God’s Miracles, and there is Satan’s magic.
When someone does something supernatural, it is either because God is giving them the ability, or Satan is.
We know that God sends prophets (who are also called the Two Witnesses) in the last days with the ability to burn people with fire from their mouths. This is a prime example of God giving someone supernatural abilities to accomplish something.
If God can take prophets, bring them back from the dead, and give them supernatural, fire-breathing powers, doesn’t that mean we can write the same things?
The problem comes when the devil is responsible for the powers gifted to our character. The origin of your character’s powers can be as vague or as detailed as you’d like it to be, but if you decide to show it, keep your Line in check. Remember, is what they’re doing good, or evil?
Having a magic doorway in the bottom of your cellar that takes you to a magical land where you fight a dragon and save a princess is fine. You are using that to tell a story that could not be told otherwise, and you’re not intending to take what is evil and call it good. It’s simply something you came up with to fill the gap of how your protagonist stumbled into an alternate universe.
In contrast, 1 Samuel 28 talks about a woman that used demons to “show” people the spirits of those who were dead. The Bible talks adamantly about avoiding wizards, necromancy, and witchcraft, which means that these things are not okay to show positively in our books.
That being said, let’s look at the positives of what we can do with Fantasy.
Positives of Using ‘Magic’ in Fantasy
I have a friend who wanted to write. I was so happy to finally have a friend who wanted to write with me, but she was so afraid of writing her story because it had a magical cave that transported people to other places. She never finished it because of that fear.
She could have been a great writer for the Kingdom of God. She wanted to write for God--but she was so afraid of that line and what others would think, that she couldn’t finish it.
Yes, Fantasy can be used for evil. But we can also use it to draw people to Christ through themes that we have, just like C. S. Lewis did in Narnia.
Putting magic in your book isn’t always bad, sometimes it can be really good! It can carry the reader’s imagination into the truth we’re trying to show them, whether it is the Gospel or a message you’ve placed in your writing.
While we should be cautious about what to show positively and negatively, don't let it completely limit your imagination either. I can’t tell you how many stories I threw away as a new writer simply because I thought they were "evil" for having a character with fire powers, or a race of elves.
(I now really wish I had a time machine to stop myself from trashing a few things 🙃)
Magic can be a positive tool to hook your readers and draw them into your world, where you can show them whatever message God has placed on your heart. Just like themes, or characters, or anything else you write, it can be bad or good. It’s up to you and God to decide if you’re using it correctly.
I hope this has helped you! Keep writing for God and never give up. He’s taking our words somewhere, we just have to be patient on our journey.
What is another fear about Christian Fantasy that you’ve had? Do you have any input on what I’ve said? I’d love to hear it!
Daisy Torres used to be afraid to write Fantasy. She wrote boring things instead, which was why she used to hate writing. However, ever since she became infatuated with writing down her daydreams, she decided she needed to dig deeper and find out what was safe and what wasn’t. Now she loves writing Fantasy. You can find more of her on her blog at https://daisytorres15.wixsite.com/writingdaisies/my-blog And if you’re curious about her most recent novel, that can be found here: https://www.amazon.com/kindle-vella/story/B097NSN7PY
Become an Unstoppable Writer!
Keep On Reading.
Through the careful selection and arrangement of words, we can create a narrative that empowers us to overcome obstacles, ignite change, and manifest our desires. Moreover, word magic born again is about recognizing the inherent magic within ourselves. Each of us has the power to create our own reality through the words we choose to express. By shifting our internal dialogue and focusing on positive affirmations, we can harness the full potential of word magic and transform our lives for the better. This concept extends beyond the individual level and into the collective consciousness. Words have the ability to connect people, bridge divides, and foster understanding. Through the power of language, we can plant seeds of compassion, empathy, and unity, and ultimately create a more harmonious and compassionate world. Word magic born again is a reminder of the profound impact our words can have on ourselves and others. It encourages us to choose our words carefully, to use them as a tool for creating positive change, and to recognize the limitless power within the realm of language. Through word magic, we have the ability to shape our reality and bring about a world that is more compassionate, connected, and vibrant..
Reviews for "Awakening the Magic Within Word: Elevate Your Document Skills"
1. John - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Word Magic Born Again". The story felt disjointed and lacked a clear direction. The characters were underdeveloped and I couldn't connect with any of them. The writing style was also quite confusing, with too many unnecessary descriptions and a lack of cohesive narrative. Overall, I found it difficult to stay engaged with the book and wouldn't recommend it.
2. Sarah - 1 star - "Word Magic Born Again" was a complete letdown. The plot was predictable and unoriginal, offering nothing new or exciting. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it hard for me to believe in the characters' interactions. The pacing was also off, with certain parts dragging on while others were rushed. I had high hopes for this book, but unfortunately, it fell flat for me.
3. David - 2 stars - I struggled to get through "Word Magic Born Again". The writing style was overly verbose and pretentious, making it difficult to follow the story. The excessive use of flowery language detracted from the plot and overshadowed any potential character development. I found myself skipping paragraphs just to get to the point, which made the reading experience tedious. Overall, I was not impressed with this book and wouldn't recommend it to others.
4. Emily - 2 stars - "Word Magic Born Again" had an intriguing premise, but it failed to deliver. The world-building was confusing and inconsistent, leaving me with more questions than answers. The pacing was slow, and the plot lacked depth and complexity. The main character felt one-dimensional, and I couldn't invest in their journey. Ultimately, this book fell short of my expectations and I was left feeling unsatisfied.