I was a cheerleader for four years when I was young. And at heart, I'm still a cheerleader; I'm always looking for something to get excited about.
During our lock down months, I started watching the Harry Potter movies. There's a lot of story in these movies, and I was confused. So I gave up trying to watch the movies and started reading the books.
When these stories first came out, several Christian writers and radio hosts said the books were evil and anti-Christian. I don't recall the reasoning behind this, other than that the story's setting is Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry - a school for young witches and wizards to learn how to use magic and spells.
When I was reading the books, I kept it in mind that they might have an anti-Christian message.
So I thought it odd that part way through the first book, the students celebrate Christmas.
Then later in the story, the students have an Easter break.
Now Christmas and Easter are both Christian holy days, but they're also holidays that are observed by non-Christians - think Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny.
However at this point, I got excited. And I started to deliberately look for Christian references.
- Harry has a godfather, and Harry's godfather is mentioned as singing Christmas carols.
- "O Come, All Ye Faithful" is sung at Hogwarts.
- An angel is placed on top of a Christmas tree.
- Harry's parents are buried in a church cemetery.
- A wand maker's shop was built in 382 B.C.
I think that's a decent list, especially the church cemetery and Harry's godfather. But still, these references could be considered as cultural and aren't necessarily any indication of the Christian faith.
But then, in the final book, I got really excited.
One of Harry's teachers and protectors is tragically killed. Later in the story, Harry finds this man's famous, magical eye. And Harry buries the eye and marks the spot...
...by gouging a small cross in the bark with his wand.
Harry marks the grave with a cross.
Now I know that Harry Potter is a fictional character, and that his eternal destiny doesn't rest with me finding out that he's actually a Christian.
And I know that our culture is saturated with Christian references, traditions, and symbols.
But I keep pondering, "Why did the author have Harry mark the grave with a cross?"
In Christianity, the cross says it all. It's at the cross that Jesus died for the sins of the world. It's at the cross that Satan and death are defeated. When we tell someone about our faith, it's the cross that takes center stage.
But when Christ appeared as a high priest he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. Hebrews 9:11-12
I'm cheering because these references to Christianity, along with the major theme of the book, that loving and dying for those you love, can defeat evil - these ideas encourage me in my faith, and even possibly introduce others to this faith.
Whatever the author's intent in mentioning the cross...
Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice. Philippians 1:18
