All the hype about the movie Black Panther.

Don't think there would be much left if that was cut back.

 

The Bible is a tricky beast to understand without proper study. Context is extremely important, yet it's never really studied within churches.

The reason why magic is banned in the Bible is because of what it used to entail. In the Middle Eastern cultures of the day, magic was a rite through which a particular god could be manipulated. If you do X, then Y god would be bound to do Z. God forbade the use of magic to show that he was sovereign from man, that it was a sin to try to manipulate Him.

Christians are called to use our intellect to judge right from wrong. The Law doesn't bind people, but is used as a tool to guide them towards God. The modern fantasy model of magic isn't necessarily sinful because it's so far removed from the classical method of religious practices. In addition, the primary calling of the Christian is to love one another. Love comes from understanding, and this should include a willingness to understand the religious practices of other cultures. Engaging with the sinful does not constitute sin itself. Remember that Jesus himself spent a lot of time understanding and showing love to liars, cheats, and prostitutes.

 

Okay, this thread is about that overrated Black Panther movie, not god or Jesus or bible.