Magic or Faith - Choose
In our temporary thinking, we can fall prey to magic. But Faith requires a commitment to reality.
Christ is risen!
OK, it’s time for an honest assessment of our too-small thinking! Hang on, this may be brutal!
We prefer magic over faith!
We want instant relief, quick fixes, and even shortcuts to power and “happiness.” And that shortcut mentality translates into a preference for magic or easy answers.
We observe this in the rapidity with which a delusion spreads through society. The symptom of immaturity and affluent boredom gives us the narcissistic indulgence of our ideological whims and escapes from reality. Just look at the perpetual victimhood mentality that feeds all sorts of silly societal fads!
Faith requires consistent trust. All magic needs is that we say the “magic words” (I was born “in the wrong body,” I am a “victim,” I am “the solution to all problems…”). Faith, on the other hand, demands I confront reality! This confrontation invites me to view reality from an eternal perspective, rather than just the temporary perspective of my immediate comfort.
But that takes a genuine act of my will. Exercising my will requires purpose and direction.
Look at our lesson today in Acts 8:5-17:
IN THOSE DAYS, Philip went down to a city of Samaria, and proclaimed to them the Christ. And the multitudes with one accord gave heed to what was said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs which he did. For unclean spirits came out of many who were possessed, crying with a loud voice; and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. So there was much joy in the city.
But there was a man named Simon who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the nation of Samaria, saying that he himself was somebody great. They all gave heed to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is that power of God which is called Great.” And they gave heed to him, because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic. But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed.
Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit; for it had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.
So, Simon was famous in the area for his magic tricks he passed off as miracles. This guy is going to be trouble!
And yet, he is moved by St. Philip’s preaching. The remarkable thing is that a Jew, Philip, is in Samaria at all. You see this part of the world was a place of half-breeds, strange religions, weird beliefs, and some shady religious characters.
Sounds familiar.
And yet, here is this Jewish man, a follower of Christ, proclaiming that this Risen Savior is for the Samaritans as well.
He’s for everybody, regardless of your ethnic background, your economic situation, or your education level.
There is only one barrier that will keep you from this loving Lord: your lack of desire to know Him!
So, what was the result of Philip’s preaching? The age-old and timeless response to the timeless Christian Gospel: Believing and Baptism. Even Simon himself, that old magician and con man, believed and was baptized. St. Philip, obeying Christ’s command to continue His ministry to the world, preached and healed the people, and Simon could tell these weren’t just magic tricks, but real lives were being transformed by the Holy Spirit present in the Church.
Even though Simon was a local celebrity and had the nickname “the power of God, which is called great,” he believed in the preaching of Philip and entered the Church through baptism.
Now, please don’t get too excited because Simon isn’t finished causing trouble, and he isn’t quite getting what he needs to get to escape some of his old ways, but that’s for later. It’s hard to break the addiction to magic.
Suffice it to say that we stumble when we get caught up in the flash of celebrity, thinking that popularity equals maturity or even insight. No, all of us, no matter who we are, all need the healing grace of Jesus Christ to do the internal work of maturing us, and our popularity isn’t a shortcut to maturity.
We struggle to break free from the temptation of the “magic” of instant solutions or immediate relief. But we must struggle against this escape from reality if we ever hope to mature as Normal Orthodox Christians.
We remember the ancient Prophet Job today. And in this Season of Padcha, this is so appropriate. Reading about the struggles of this hero of the Faith invites me to confront reality, even when that reality is harsh and frightening. St. Job doesn’t hide his confusion over the troubles that confront him. He also refuses to blame God for his troubles. He holds his faith even in the middle of his pain and confusion because he knows that this temporary moment isn’t eternal. God is eternal, and Job trusts Him!
Today, are you tempted by the escape from reality of relying on magic? Are you tempted to reduce, even the beauty of the Faith, to mere “magic words” that get God to give you stuff? It’s time to put away the childish ways of being dazzled by magic and become a mature follower of Jesus who trusts in Faith. Make being a Normal Orthodox Christian your only claim to fame!
P.S. On beholding the riches of Job's virtues, the enemy of the righteous contrived to despoil them; and though he cast down the tower of the Saint's body, he could not plunder the wealth of his spirit, for he found the soul of that blameless one to be fully armed; but as for me, he hath stripped me and led me captive away. Hasten, then, before the end, rescue me from the wily one, O Saviour, and save me.
Fr. Barnabas Powell is the parish priest at Sts. Raphael, Nicholas, and Irene Greek Orthodox Church in Cumming, GA. He is also the founder of Faith Encouraged Ministries and produces the Faith Encouraged Daily Devotional on Substack. Watch the Faith Encouraged YouTube Channel here - https://www.youtube.com/@FaithEncouraged
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There is something deeply true, and deeply dangerous, about our hunger for magic. You name it so well, Father. The craving for shortcuts, for signs, for “power” dressed in spiritual garb but untouched by the Cross. It’s no coincidence that Simon the magician believed but still clung to the shine of control. Magic is about manipulation, faith is about surrender. One speaks to the ego, the other crucifies it.
I recently posted an essay on my Substack Desert and Fire (https://steveherrmann.substack.com/p/the-veil-and-the-trespass), where I reflect on this very hunger. Not in terms of sorcery, but the temptation by many, even Christians, to experiment with psychedelics.
The deeper invitation, whether to Simon in Samaria or to us in our age of spectacle, is to let go of magic and meet the living God. To allow ourselves, as you always say, to be matured into “Normal Orthodox Christians,” which is to say cruciform people Grounded, obedient, lit by trust not trickery. Magic wants control. Faith walks blind.
There is no enchantment that can carry us through the desert. Only the cross, and the God who walks ahead of us, wounded. Thank you for this sharp, necessary reminder. It’s one we all need in this season of resurrection.