Is doing magic tricks a sin?

redknight942 · 2020-10-18T19:45:55+00:00

All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.

1 Corinthians 10:23

Magic tricks are not a sin. The intent behind the deception is one of entertainment and amusement, not to deceive someone to gain their money/ time/ body. People pay money for this exact thing-- they want to see the craft--you are not deceiving them by doing what they wanted.

Think of how the skills you have gained (you said confidence, logic, public speaking) and how they will help in God's mission. He can use those for His good--all of those go hand in hand with evangelism.

God knows your heart--if you deceive your friends with the intent to swindle them; then it is sinful. If it's to glorify you, it's sinful. But if you use your talents to glorify God, then it is edifying. If this causes another believer to stumble, fellowship and pray with them about it, and if it causes more to stumble in their faith then I would reconsider it. That does not make it a sin, it just makes it a stumbling block for those who are not as strong in their faith. But God works through the secular realm just as much (if not more) than he does in the Church.

Tl;dr, don't worry about it as long as your heart and mind and soul is focused on God. He can use your talents to his ability no matter what they are.

DeChef2 · 2020-10-18T21:37:01+00:00

Don't worry, it's not a sin. You're not deceiving people, you're impressing and entertaining them.

Now, I started to be careful just for the fact that sometimes (especially Christians friends) kept asking me how did I do that? ... I had to ensure them it was an illusion ... [it] made two friends concerned.

I would think that most people these days don't actually believe in magic, so this seems weird. Yes, you might not understand how it works, but we don't think our phones are magic just because we don't understand how they work.

Explain to them that it's just sleight of hand or card counting or whatever it is. Reassure them that it's not magic or witchcraft.

If after that you would consider that you are placing a stumbling block to their faith, don't do it around them.

All that said, I want to encourage you in this! It looks like learning card tricks has been really beneficial to you, improving your

Confidence
Logical thinking
Public speaking

It shouldn't be hard to see how these can help you better spread the gospel.

Additionally, you could even use the card tricks themselves as a segue to sharing the gospel:

*"Wow! How'd you do that? That's magic!"

"Well, no, it's not magic but it sure does look like it! But I do know someone who can do the impossible ..."

Datanami · 2020-10-18T20:17:22+00:00

100% not a sin.

NoFaithInThisSub · 2020-10-19T09:08:29+00:00

Look bro, it's technically not a sin, but God does say "abstain from the APPEARANCE of sin." 1 Thessalonians 5:22.

I mean, would you play computer games that gave awards and progression for mass genocide, rape, torture and kidnapping? you wouldn't, even if its just a game.

CrispyBrian · 2020-10-18T21:49:34+00:00

[removed]

jack-is-male · 2020-10-23T12:58:25+00:00

Wait guys I need to know, this subreddit is like, a joke right?

JadedByEntropy · 2020-10-19T00:15:38+00:00

No, but..

Ive always had a special hatred for magicians as they abuse the trust of children and then call the victim a fool for being deceived. If you play for adults, you are fine. They're old enough to grasp it's a trick. You should know your audience. You might be learning social skills, but you can crush a child/teen's budding social skills.

It's not evil, but i dont know many magicians who dont live by "i fool you-youre the fool. I can't fool you-youre a no fun jerk." I run into a lot of magicians in circus arts, and maybe one didn't think of himself as some god because he was all-knowing and manipulative of the idiots who fall for his tricks.

Make sure you're not going down a power trip and genuinely doing it for the right reasons.

doodles58 · 2020-10-18T19:43:29+00:00

I personally don't think there is anything wrong with it. Just don't make money off of it because in some ways... It is deceit.

BUT your just having fun with it. Just be open with your friends that it's an illusion and I'm sure your fine. I think magic TRICKS are really neat. But there are those that actually gain a powers to do magic that is not a trick.

Just know where you align and it's all cool

Title	Is doing magic tricks a sin?
Author	CrispyBrian
Upvotes	10
Comments	22
Date	October 18, 2020 7:34 PM UTC (5 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/RPChristians
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/RPChristians/comments/jdmnng/is_doing_magic_tricks_a_sin/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/RPChristians/is-doing-magic-tricks-a-sin.320450 https://theredarchive.com/post/320450

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