It would be better to miss it than to be a partaker of it.....

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It would be better to miss it than to be a partaker of it.....

Forum: Messageboard
Re:

"MAGIC OF LOVE" I missed it.. have anyone seen it.. (Wahshing)
Date: 2001, Oct 21
From: Joe Joe

....., for what does light has to do with darkness, and truth with deception?
Since my last thread 497 met no opponent, except our retired Frank, I would like to highlight the nature of Illusion with regard to "Magic of Love". It is not difficult to find out from the Bible if God would approve the use of Illusion to win souls. We have one particular figure, Simon of Acts 8 whose character is very much in question.
Firstly, let us see who is Simon?
In the Bible commentary of “The Book Of The Acts” by F. F. Bruce, he directly points out that he is Simon Magus as mentioned in the post-apostolic Christian writings “First Apology” by Justin Martyr (died c.165). In this writing, Simon was revered by his countrymen as the highest god, which renders the same meaning as the great power of God in Acts 8:10. Simon is also depicted in the post-apostolic writings as the father of all Gnostic heresies. Justin Martyr tells how he secured a following of devotees not only in Samaria but also in Rome, to which he went in the time of Claudius. In the apocryphal Acts of Peter, he is said to have corrupted the Christians in Rome by his false teaching and made the authorities ill-disposed toward them, but to have been worsted at last in a magical contest with Peter.
Based on the above data, we can safely come to a conclusion that Simon did not repent of his sin. Although the Bible bids farewell to Simon’s lips that by the apostles’ intercession he may escape the judgment pronounced on his crooked heart. Later records of his activity give the impression that either they did not intercede for him or else their intercession was ineffective. Therefore, we can say that Simon’s salvation was in question. Simon himself was impressed by the actions and words of Philip, like the magicians of Egypt in the presence of Moses, he recognized that the messenger of the true God had access to a source of power that outstripped his own. The proclamation heralded by such an envoy must be accepted with respect, and Simon “believed”. However, the nature of his belief must remain uncertain. No doubt it was sincere as far as it went, but it was superficial and inadequate. Jesus himself, we are told in John 2:23-24, attached little value to the faith that rests on miracles alone.
Secondly, why did Peter rebuke Simon for buying the Holy Spirit with money and say that he saw him “full of bitterness and captive to sin”?
Whether the external signs which accompanied the reception of the Holy Spirit on this occasion were identical with the Pentecostal signs or not, they were at any rate of so impressive a nature that Simon craved the power to reproduce them at will. Now he felt he was getting near the heart of these mysteries and he wanted so badly that he offered to buy from the apostles a share in their secret power. On an earlier occasion Peter and John were unable to give silver or gold (Acts 3:6); now they refused to accept any, and were shocked that it should have been offered to them. Simon’s idea that God’s free gift could be bought and sold showed that he either was ignorant or he had no appreciation at all of the inward character of the gospel or the operation of the Spirit. Simon had believed Philip’s message and been baptized, but he still manifested the signs of his old unregenerate nature. The poisonous root of self-seeking and self-glorifying had not been eradicated from his heart. It was doubtful, in Peter’s eyes, if Simon had experienced the grace of God in any real sense. Simon interpreted all that he saw and heard in his own standards, but the gospel belonged to a completely new dimension, to which he remained a stranger, No wonder Peter said to Simon: “You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God.”
Peter continued saying to Simon: “Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps He will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart.” Peter was surely doubtful of Simon would repent and he deliberately uttered the word “Perhaps”. His doubt was later confirmed by the post-apostolic writings about Simon. Peter knew what was Simon’s trade before his “conversion”, at least from Philip. And he told Simon: “For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”
The bitterness of Simon is nothing more than his ill feeling against Philip who took away all his followers to his magic trade. As we can see how Luke tells us in the Scripture that it was Simon’s followers who believed and were baptized first in Acts 8-12. Eventually, Simon himself believed and was baptized as the great signs and miracles he saw astonished him. Simon had no choice but was forced to follow Philip. May be he thought that by doing so he could copy the trade secret of Philip and one day he could win back his followers after mastering the trade secret. Peter knew the intent of Simon’s heart and saw his motive. This was why Peter said to Simon that he was still full of bitterness (against Philip) and captive to sin (magic practice). Peter’s statement could have been prophetic as Simon sinned as an illusionist moved one step further to become a leading magician in his day.
With regard to Simon’s magic practice, it is clear from the Scripture that he did not content with Philip with his magic because he knew he was nothing but only an illusionist. Yet He boasted that he was someone great (Acts 8:9). If Simon was really a black magic practitioner, he could have challenged Philip like the magicians of Egypt did to Moses, who was used of God to show Pharaoh his miraculous sign (not magic; for God is not a magical God but a miracle working God). He needed not have to boast himself, he could have used black magic to retain his followers if he was really one. However, we know from the post-apostolic writings, Simon later became an enemy of the Church. He was everything but good.
In conclusion, Simon or Simon Magus was an illusionist; he lived by magic trade to amaze his countrymen and boasted that he was someone great. But when his followers saw Philip’s real power, they left him. After rejecting by Peter, Philip turned to satanic forces in order to win back his followers and this is confirmed by Justin Martyr’s writings in the post-apostolic days. Not only Simon progressed from an illusionist to a black magician, but also became a father of all Gnostic heresies.
Therefore, magic is magic, whether black or white, witchcraft or illusion. The Bible condemns both. Even if the Bible is silent about illusion, the deceptive nature of illusion should have nothing to do with us unless we are not walking in truth. Since the Lord Jesus and His apostles did not resort to magic practice to present the gospel, who are we to challenge God's Word and offer strange fire to the Lord?
May God have mercy on us!
Joe