Do You Believe in Magic

Yes, it's a line from the group, The Lovin' Spoonful, from a song about love. But magic, as it turns out, is a problem. You see, in a world ruled by science to the exclusion of the supernatural, magic (along with a lot of other things) is bunk. Do you believe in magic? Well, then, we can settle the question about you being a fool, can't we? So some of the key "proofs" that Christianity is false rotate around this premise. If you believe in prayer, if you believe in the Resurrection, if you believe in Jesus's miracles, if you believe in anything outside of scientific fact, you're deluded.

Not so fast. I've been told that I believe that a magician can heal blindness by rubbing mud in the blind man's eyes. Thus, I'm a fool. Do you see a problem with the claim? I do. Even without mud in my eyes. The Bible does not teach that Jesus magically healed the blind man with mud. The Bible teaches that Jesus healed the blind man. And lots of other people.

Our materialism-based world today starts with the denial of the supernatural. The media wants you to believe that everyone with any intelligence knows that God is a myth. Thus, if you believe in the supernatural, well, we know your lack of intelligence. But it just isn't so. Like they say in the courtroom, "Your Honor, I object! Assuming facts not in evidence."

There is no evidence that God does not exist. The claim that He does not exist is not supported by evidence or logic. Indeed, those who make the claim typically argue that they don't have to prove it. So the claim that the supernatural does not exist as the premise that the supernatural cannot occur is assuming facts not in evidence.

Still, am I arguing that magic is real? The dictionary defines "magic" as (first) "illusions", but goes on to include "the art of producing a desired effect or result through the use of incantation or various other techniques that presumably assure human control of supernatural agencies or the forces of nature." The notion is that it is "the power of apparently influencing the course of events by using mysterious or supernatural forces." And I would suggest that the Bible does not claim that this exists. A primary component of "magic" under the dictionary definition is "human control". It requires the use of supernatural forces. And I would argue that only the supernatural can use supernatural forces.

The Bible is clear that supernatural events have occurred throughout history. Sometimes they were done by God's hand. Sometimes they were done by God's power through an intermediary. But at no time were they done under "human control". It was not mud that healed the blind man. It was the power of God in the flesh. It was not Moses that divided the Red Sea. It was the power of God with Moses as a focal point, a show, a visual aid (Exo 14:1-31). Not human-directed "magic"; supernatural powers.

And, you see, this itself isn't nonsense. If there is a God--if there is any supernatural being(s)--then there would be supernatural powers. It isn't a question. It isn't a "faith". It's sheer logic. If supernatural, then supernatural powers. If you can see your way clear to believe that there is a God, then it is a given that supernatural powers exist as well.

They would like to ridicule believers on the basis of "magic". "You believe in magic? What a fool!" Technically, no, we don't. But we do believe in the supernatural, and, as such, would assume the existence of supernatural powers. Why not? "Do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil." (Rom 14:16) New Atheism today is not simply opposed to theism. It is opposed to allowing you to believe. What are you going to do? (Hint: 1 Peter 3:15.)