As a Christian writer who writes in fantasy settings, is it okay for me to include magic in my world-building? If so, when and how can we incorporate magic into our universes that honor God?
I’ve been mulling over this question for a while. I think it deserves a really good answer.
I think it’s obvious that magic can be OK. I’m not going to throw Tolkien and C.S. Lewis under the bus by any means. So the question becomes, what are the guiderails to do it well?
I’ll try to keep it brief here, but I think there are two things that should be concerning.
- Moral relativism. We see this a lot in modern fantasy–nobody’s really good or bad, everyone’s gray. If we take a Biblical view of supernatural power, nothing is gray. There are two possible sources of spiritual power–the Holy Spirit and the demonic. What Tolkien and Lewis did well was to use magic as a way of reinforcing a worldview that takes good and evil seriously. Magic is a vehicle that helps us to understand the reality and mechanism of good good and bad bad.
- “Natural” magic. This is not that different from the previous point, but a lot of modern fantasy includes magic as a reality of the universe. There’s really no gravity to it and no specified origin. A character might use magic to heat up a soup, for instance, no big deal. There’s simply magic available to everyone in the universe. As before, there are two sources of supernatural power in the real universe. Good power comes from God, the cost of us using that power was paid by Jesus Christ on the cross. Bad power comes from the demonic, and there is ALWAYS A COST FOR USING IT. In real life, the cost is usually hidden, payment to be demanded at a future date. I think there should be real caution taken about creating a worldview in which magic is sort of naturally available with no cost. A lot of people in real life think they can mess around with neutral spiritual power, no big deal, and we should be really cautious about reinforcing those ideas.
So if the magic is a vehicle to reinforce a Biblical worldview of good and evil and the nature of supernatural power–it seems like it can be a really effective tool. But it has to do that. There is no neutral ground, to not reinforce the truth is to partner with the enemy in this regard. So many of our neighbors are on slippery ground in real life, I think we have to be extra cautious to love them well.
I love that you’re asking this question! I think the first and most important step is to do exactly what you’re doing–consider it well, invite the Holy Spirit to speak to you on the topic, and invite Spirit-filled Christians into that conversation.
Thanks, Brad! This might make an excellent workshop topic sometime.
I’m writing a short story right now based on a Bible story. It’s the story in the Old Testament about Elisha making the iron axe handle float in the water. He also dreams a prophetic dream about the king of Syria plotting war against Israel. But all of his ‘power’ is from God, it is not even his. I think if you could incorporate the idea that the ‘magic’ is God’s it would really help it feel sincere and honoring to God. If you think about it, tons of stories in the Bible have ‘magic’ in them, people transported from city to city, axe heads floating, prophetic dreams, and so much more.
Sorry I answered a little late, I just saw your question in my email and thought I’d give my experience! 🙂
I would say absolutely! But it also depends on the story you are writing and the job the magic is going to accomplish. C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien both wrote magic into their fantasy stories, but it accomplished a goal and it had limitations, almost like a science. I would recommend also checking out a Brandon Sanderson book such as Elantris or Warbreaker. Even though he isn’t a Christian (he’s Mormon), he integrates his magic system into the worldbuilding and plot really well.
Hi, Daniel!
I prayed about this exact question for a long time before putting a magic system into my in-progress fantasy series. It’s a difficult line to tow, for sure. Remember that power has sources.
In my universe, there are two sets of “magic-users” (I use different terminology for the “good” and “bad” ones. Those who got their powers from God — or Elyon as He’s called in my universe — are called “seers”. Those who get their power from elsewhere are called “sorcerers”. )
As far as when and how to put it in, that should be a “you and God” discussion. Proverbs 3:6 applies here: “In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” I’d recommend checking out Christian authors who write fantasy and are similar to what you wish to write, and then pray on it.
Hope this helps!