Nicole L Rivera - Finding Unauthorized Faith in Harry Potter & The Goblet of Fire

Copyright 2014

by Nicole L Rivera
Smashwords Edition

ISBN: 9781311636645

BISAC:

REL012020 RELIGION / Christian Living /Devotional

REL013000 RELIGION / Christianity /Literature & the Arts

Published by

HICKEYS BOOKS

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Works Cited

All references and page numbers quoted fromHarry Potter & the Goblet of Fire and Harry Potter& the Sorcerers Stone by J.K. Rowling, are from theDigital Edition, published in 2012 by Pottermore Limited.

Citations from the Holy Bible are fromthe following versions:

(MSG) The Message, published byNavPress

(NIV) The New International Version,published by Biblica

(NLT) The New Living Translation,published by Tyndale House Foundation

(GNT) The Good News Translation,published by American Bible Society

(ESV) TheEnglish StandardVersion, published by Crossway, a division of Good NewsPublishers

Acknowledgements

First of all, I would like to thank God, whoin my darkest hour gave my life purpose and meaning. I do this foryou.

Then, of course, my husband who has loved me,encouraged me, and sacrificed to make my dreams a reality.

I would like to thank you, the reader, forgiving my writing a purpose beyond myself. Without readers wewriters are merely people who scribble thoughts down on paper. Youmight even call us slightly mad.

And, to the first of those readers, myfriend, teacher, and publisher Ken Kuhlken for believing in thisbook, coaching me through the writing, and giving me an opportunityto publish when no one else would. Thank you.

I would also like to thank my mom, who whenmy second grade teacher told me I was too far behind in spelling,grammar, and reading to pass, didnt give up on me. You have alwaysbelieved in and sacrificed for me, and if it werent for yourendless hours of spelling drills I probably never would havewritten at all.

Dad, thanks for being there for me even whenI rebelliously chose a career you did not agree with, and forloving me despite my (sometimes poor) choices.

To my friends and family. The ones who havepulled for me and supported me through the many years of my life.The ones who have seen me at my worst and still loved me. You giveme hope. You give me joy. You are my Hermione and Ron.

To MuggleNet, for giving me an opportunitybeyond my wildest imaginationsyou are my Hagrid with my letterfrom Hogwarts.

Lastly, to Joanne Rowling. Thank you forliving your dream.

Table of Contents

A Note onParables

I originally entitled this book TheParable of Harry Potter & The Goblet of Fire because Ibelieve the Harry Potter story is a parable of Christian values andof the Christ-story, whether intended by the author or not.

The Telegraph quoted J.K. Rowling inan American interview saying, To me, the religious parallels havealways been obvious, but I never wanted to talk too openly about itbecause I thought it might show people who just wanted the storywhere we were going.

Chuck Colson, founder of Prison FellowshipMinistries, in an interview with Christian Post said, Thesebooks also feature wizards and witches and magic, but in addition,they inspire the imagination within a Christian frameworkandprepare the hearts of readers for the real-life story of JesusChrist. He advises parents, in reference to Harry Potter, to teachtheir kids to be discerning like Daniel, who read pagan literaturebut didnt defile himself.

The authors intentions aside, I believe Godhad a hand in directing this powerful story, for through stories hecan reach the world with the love and message of his son, JesusChrist.

In Matthew 13 (MSG), the disciples ask Jesuswhy he spoke in parables to the people instead of speaking theTruth plainly to them, and Jesus replied:

Youve been given insight into Godskingdom. You know how it works. Not everybody has this gift, thisinsight; it hasnt been given to them. Whenever someone has a readyheart for this, the insights and understandings flow freely. But ifthere is no readiness, any trace of receptivity soon disappears.Thats why I tell stories: to create readiness, to nudge the peopletoward receptive insight. In their present state they can staretill doomsday and not see it, listen till theyre blue in the faceand not get it.

The world today has a hardened heart towardChristianity and the Good News of Christ. Many wont so much ascrack open a Bible. So how do we convey Christs message to thisworld? Just as Christ modeled for us: through stories that relateto the things that the world can understand. Many of us cancomprehend the desire to be part of the world of Harry Potter, notto become a wizard but to belong to something special and uniqueand powerful. However, most of the world doesnt realize that theycan find that world in Christ, by becoming one of hisfollowers.

I wrote this book as a once self-proclaimedatheist and fan of the series who is now a believing child of God.I'm convinced that God spoke to my heart, where I was ten yearsago, through the parable of Harry Potter. This boy's story, riddledwith godly values and insights, chipped away at the wall I hadbuilt around my heart and made me ready for the day when I walkedinto a church, invited by a co-worker who had challenged me toprove God doesnt exist. I went seeking to refute every argumentmy friend could make, but I couldnt. After just three visits, Iwalked to the front with my co-worker by my side and, trembling,welcomed God into my heart.

I know what it islike to be on the other side of the believers fence. I know how Ithought. I know how I felt. And, now, Im here to share theinsights God has put on my heart in hopes that they will be toolsfor all who read this book to reach the unreachable. To reach themes of this world.

Question: Who do you know that is along way from God? Who do you know that is so far away from God youfear they will never find him? Maybe you have a list of loved onesyou are praying for daily, or maybe you are the one being prayedfor daily.

Challenge: If you are the one prayingfor others, use stories to reach those you feel are unreachable.Show them God in a way they can understand him. Show them love.

If you are the one searching for Gods love,read this book, and read or reread the Harry Potter story with eyeswide open searching for him. Choose to have open eyes and an openmind and to seek, and you will find.

Verse: Thats why I tell stories: tocreate readiness, to nudge the people toward receptive insight. Matthew 13:13 (MSG)

Prayer: Lord, please open my eyes andunclog my ears. Please show me you and your ways in the parable ofHarry Potter. Please give me insight and understanding so that Imay grow toward you. Help me to understand this story and yourinsights in it so that I may use stories, and the Harry Potterstory in particular, to reach the unreachable. I love you, Lord.Amen.