“Clean Fiction” as Evangelical White Magic

Evangelical readers’ objection to fictional magic — i.e., Harry Potter-like spells and witchery — is far less evil than the actual incantations and “spiritual formulas” wielded by many believers. At least, that’s the going thesis in E. Stephen Burnett’s article, Six Christian White Magic Spells Worse Than Fantasy Magic. What are those “magic spells” evangelicals naively employ? According to Burnett, they are:

1. ‘Health and wealth’ prosperity spells
2. Magic circles, symbols, and verse spells
3. Personal guidance divination spells
4. Sorcerous ‘spiritual warfare’ spells
5. Romance prosperity gospel spells
6. ‘If only’: prayer and program spells

Burnett concludes:

The fact is, God never establishes a magic system.

God never promised us that if we do X, we’ll achieve some reward—health or wealth, protection from evil influence, personal guidance, romance, or popularity in the world.

Instead He promises something better: Himself, with grace to meet every challenge.

It’s an important article, addressing a subject that every evangelical should consider. While I have a couple nits with the post, my main gripe is for what it does NOT include. So may I add a “seventh spell”?

7. ‘Clean media’ spells

What are “clean media spells”? They are practices that stem from the belief that G-rated, “family-friendly” content — films and fiction without sex, profanity, excessive violence, occult themes, etc. — is inherently “pure” (or, at least, purer than other fare), imparts a protective covering, cultivates holiness, does not morally corrupt, brings one closer to God (or, rather, keeps the devil and evil spirits away), and is ultimately “safer” than art with mature content.

While there’s much to commend such a stance, there’s also a great potential for “magic” in this thinking. The belief that reading THIS as opposed to THAT, reading THIS word as opposed to THAT word, including THIS description as opposed to THAT description, makes a story more or less worldly or other-worldly, holy or unholy, is patently mystical. Nevertheless, such a belief is foundational to contemporary evangelical fiction. It’s why even a cursory investigation into the genre will reveal one defining trademark — if Christian fiction is anything, it is “clean.”

At this stage, most Christians will take offense. And believe me, they do! For example, I was once accused of being on a “crusade” to include profanity in Christian fiction. In most instances, I’m inclined to give my opponents the benefit of the doubt, seeing that they’ve probably misunderstood my perspective. So let me quickly elaborate: There’s plenty of Scriptures that command Christians to think pure thoughts, meditate on what is good, and turn our eyes and ears away from evil, sensual, and blasphemous content. Furthermore, as a grandfather of (soon-to-be) nine grandchildren, I can attest to desiring media fare that does not require me to constantly monitor the kiddos. But is this a sufficient basis to conclude that reading profanity, or watching sex and/or violence onscreen is categorically evil?

How do you theologically justify watching only “clean media”?

Of course, the most compelling ground is that of “personal preference.” I mean, who can argue with that? So you don’t want to see filthy, violent images and hear people cuss? Fine. More power to you. Problem is when you seek to moor such preferences in a universal standard (for saints, that is), and conversely make them blanket condemnations against family “un-friendly” fare and label folks like me as enemies of all that is pure and good. But the truth is, when the question above is posed, such defenders typically have few hard and fast Scriptures to defend their position.

Philippians 4:8 is the most common proof-text for “clean fiction.”

Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. (Phil. 4:8 NLT)

But if this verse is an argument in favor of reading only family-friendly fare, then someone should tell the authors of Scripture. The Bible contains scenes of gore, torment, sodomy, rape, incest, adultery, destruction, demons, plagues, catastrophe, divine judgment and eternal anguish. The reader who wants to think only on what is “right and pure” may want to avoid such biblical stories as the Fall of Man (Gen. 3), Noah’s Flood (Gen. 7), David’s adultery with Bathsheba (II Sam. 11), Lot offering his daughters to be raped (Gen. 19:4-8), the Slaughter of the Firstborn (Ex. 11), 42 kids are mauled by a bear after calling Elisha a name (II Kings 2:23-24), the Destruction of Sodom (Gen. 19), the Great White Throne Judgment (Rev. 20), the Crucifixion of Christ, etc., etc.  In fact, it could be argued that thinking about what is “true” means confronting such troubling tales without flinching. Of course, disseminating such biblical fare to the less mature can be touchy. But the fact that these stories are included in God’s Holy Word leads me to believe that knee-jerk reactions against ANY story involving rape, adultery, decapitations, and judgment via she-bear should be avoided.

You see, the only way the “clean fiction” argument works is if it appeals to white magic.

For example, defining “clean fiction” as “profanity free” fiction invests words with a sort of magical power. We see the correct combination of words, or the exclusion of specific words, as possessing an inherent power for good or evil. Not hearing/reading a certain word is good. Hearing/ reading / speaking a certain word is bad. Which makes R-rated stuff inherently bad. As such, Christian fiction is like “white magic” that counters the spell of secular fiction, which is “black magic.” Which is why I want to suggest that, consuming only “clean media” can be an evangelical divination method.

Here’s the problem: Cuss words don’t have magical powers.

The belief that keeping THAT word out of my story makes it intrinsically less worldly and more holy, is akin to white magic. It’s not much different from the sorceress who believes that uttering THIS word invokes THAT power and refraining from speaking THAT word leads to THIS blessing. Like the sons of Sceva, itinerant Jewish exorcists, who believed that the name “Jesus” was a magic wand to wave over the bedeviled (Acts 19:11-20), we “sanctify” our stories by adding or subtracting words to up the holiness quotient. The same is true of images or rituals depicted in film. Unless we want to argue that the human body is inherently sinful and that glimpsing naked actors or actresses is ALWAYS wrong under EVERY circumstance (which some definitely do!), we must allow for discernment, artistic license, and personal preference. Of course, lusting is a sin. But unless the naked body has a power to magically corrupt all who glimpse it, we must allow a bit of jiggle room.

There is a legitimate biblical basis for avoiding crap, and taking heed to what we read, listen to, and view. But just because someone reads Christian fiction, watches only “family friendly” films, or doesn’t curse, does not automatically make them any more holy, healthy, or happy than someone who doesn’t. In fact, the Bible warns that there may be a subtle danger in consigning ourselves only to what is “clean” (see: Pharisees).

In other words, reading “clean fiction” does not cast a protective spell over ones mind and heart. You still need discernment! In fact, the notion that “clean fiction” is actually safer and better for us  might actually deceive us and distance us from God!

The desire to keep our minds focused on what is “true, and honorable, and right, and pure” is a great thing. Heck, it’s biblical! Nevertheless, that same Bible says that Satan disguises himself as an “angel of light” (II Cor. 11:14). In other words, Satan is more likely to deceive us with something that looks good (“clean”), than something that looks evil. Just because some stories are free of profanity, violence, and nudity, does not make them impervious to spiritual deception. In fact, the desire to read only what is “free of profanity, violence, and nudity” may itself be a spiritual deception.

And that’s the problem I have with the aforementioned article. Yes, there are many “magic spells” that evangelicals use. However, the “clean media spell” may be one of the most deceptive and pervasive. Burnett is right, “God never establishes a magic system.” So let’s not make one for how we approach art and entertainment either.