The New York Times, riding the cultural moment, has been advertising in the New York Subway with the following statement:
‘Lianna is Imagining Harry Potter Without Its Creator’
Lianna looks like a black woman but is, we are told, “Breaking the Binary”. Because of this, Lianna is not happy with J. K. Rowling’s beliefs about sex and gender.
J. K. Rowling disagrees with Lianna and so Lianna imagines her out of the picture altogether.
Let’s be clear: Harry Potter has a creator. The stories have an author. The plots have an architect. And, it would seem, Lianna has enjoyed the Harry Potter stories and wants to continue to do so.
However, Lianna wants to enjoy J. K. Rowling’s creation without acknowledging J. K. Rowling.
Let’s just imagine the creator away . . .
Often people use the same technique when it comes to God. Knowing that creation demands a Creator we determinedly refuse to “glorify Him as God” (Romans 1:21).
We want to enjoy His creation – love, meaning, purpose, value – every aspect of it. However, we have a problem with this Creator. Some of His ideas challenge us. We feel threatened. He puts limits upon our actions. He “created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” (Genesis 1:26). He calls our resistance to His commands, and our denial of His truth, sin. He warns us that our sinful actions have consequences.
Let’s just imagine Him away . . .
The problem is that imagination doesn’t remove anything. It’s a flight of fancy and, sooner or later, we bump into reality again. Far better to face the reality of God now than to pretend He doesn’t exist, only to be rudely awakened in the future.
God knows us best and He knows what is best for us. He knows who we are and He knows what we have done. Our value is real, because He made us in His image. Our sin is serious, because we have rebelled against Him. His righteousness demands that our sins be punished. But, in His love, He has provided for our redemption.
This Creator we are so anxious to dispense with “so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
Though you have sinned against God, you are loved by Him. Though you have lived in rebellion against His authority, He has planned for, and paid for, your salvation. “Christ died for our sins . . . He was buried . . . He rose again the third day” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).
I would urge you to acknowledge God’s existence, bow to His authority, appreciate His love for you in spite of your sins, and accept the only means of salvation, which He Himself has provided. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31).
