I feel it is important to explain my feelings about magic and illusions. When dealing with churches and Christian people I use the term illusion or mystery object lessons. This is because of the confusion some Christians have concerning these matters. There is a vast difference between slight of hand or illusion and occult ritual magic (often spelled magick). I believe the Bible condemns any dabbling in the occult. Some modern examples of these forbidden practices are ouija, tarot, wicca. horoscopes, psychics, and mediumship. Satan is real and is working overtime pushing his agenda. Have you noticed the fascination the media has with the occult? What about the popularity of the Harry Potter books? I believe there is grave danger in demonic involvement. Therefore, I make it perfectly clear that nothing I do is through supernatural means.
I use mental and visual puzzles to reinforce biblical truths. People remember less than 20% of what they hear and about 60% of what they see. Jesus often used object lessons. By surprising the eyes, I provide a hook to connect the truth. When they think of the strange thing they have seen, they remember the teaching. My favorite theme is salvation. God has greatly blessed this work.
Do I ever use the term "magic?" Yes, sometimes I do Gospel shows at festivals and public outreach situations. Most lost people understand what magic entertainment is. They do not equate it with demonic powers like many Christians do. The lost understand what I am doing is simply fooling their senses for their enjoyment. They have a favorable opinion and curiosity toward what they may see in a program like this. They come to the show and see ,for example, an escape from shackles and hear how Jesus came to set them free. It is a powerful tool as I use it and God blesses it.
The gospel magic that I do is not the "good God, good devil, Kumbaya - be nice to people and puppy dogs warm fuzzies that you see in some creative ministries. I actually preach God's simple plan of salvation without compromise through the shed blood of Christ. I teach on separation from the world, godly living, missions, tithing and victory over sin. My magic (or illusion shows) are actually sermons with the various effects illustrating the points. I do not do a few tricks and then preach. I preach my way through the whole show. We need to understand that we Christians have made preachers and evangelists our celebrities in place of the rock stars and Hellywood crowd. We love preaching, but think of your lost friend or co-worker. You may be thrilled that Dr. Shoutnsnort is preaching at your church. Do they share your excitement? What if you invited them to a magic show? They just might come. I am not downplaying the importance of preaching. It is a God chosen and blessed method. I am not offering an alternative to the preaching of God's Word. I am offering a unique outreach opportunity and if you have been to one of my shows, you know just how much preaching is mixed in with the magic. I would love to discuss how we can help your ministry.
