The Bible, especially the Old Testament, prohibits the use of
magic: specifically witchcraft, soothsaying, sorcery, conjuring and
wizardry.
But today there is an international Christian organization
devoted to the practice of magic
– the Fellowship of Christian Magicians.
The Bible, especially the Old Testament, prohibits the use of magic: specifically witchcraft, soothsaying, sorcery, conjuring and wizardry.
But today there is an international Christian organization devoted to the practice of magic – the Fellowship of Christian Magicians. Its membership consists of more than 13,000 members who practice such crafts as magic, ventriloquism, clowning and juggling.
“Magic,” especially as translated in the various English translations of the Bible, can mean many things, from the use of supernatural powers for evil to simple tricks of illusion.
Christian magicians explain that they are in no way involved with the supernatural; they simply use illusion, sleight-of-hand and tricks to dramatically “present some very powerful messages in a visual way.”
Their performances get the audiences’ attention and help them remember the lessons being taught. Like other magicians, they usually go to a magic shop, buy a trick and practice it.
Unlike other magicians, though, they then pray about how they can use that trick in their ministry. Sensitive to the negative connotation of the term “magic,” many Christians substitute the word “illusionist” when referring to themselves.
“A person will only retain a small percentage of what they hear, but if you give them visual illustrations along with the lesson, their retention factor increases greatly,” said Del Wilson, president of Fellowship of Christian Magicians International. “Add to the illustration a mystery or surprise ending, and you lock in on their curiosity, and they will long remember what you’ve taught.”
Sacramento resident Stan Adair is one of the founders of the FCM. He was at the original organizational meeting in 1953 at St. Paul Methodist Church in San Francisco where 19 people (pastors, Sunday school teachers, lay people) were in attendance and became charter members. Adair was issued card No. 1. Soon chapters were formed in San Jose, Los Angeles and as far away as Toronto, Canada. By 1958 the organization had grown so much that they could hold the first national convention in Pennsylvania.
Adair points out that all Christians have gifts. Rather than teaching or preaching, his spiritual gift has been the ability to evangelize through performing magic tricks to spread the Gospel.
Using manual dexterity, common tricks used in the field of magic and his knowledge of the Bible, Adair has entertained and educated thousands of people over some 45 years, a part-time ministry he engaged in while operating a large furniture store in San Francisco.
One example of his method relates to the well-known story in I Kings about the prophet Elijah visiting a poor widow.
The lady is about to use her last drops of cooking oil and bit of flour to prepare a final meal. Afterwards, she and her son will starve to death.
As he told the story to the audience, Adair would empty a “lota bowl” – a common magician’s prop.
Each time he would turn it upside down to empty the water from it, and yet there would still be more to pour out, representing the miraculous way the widow and her son were able to find still more oil and meal left after each meal.
Adair is grateful for the successes he has achieved during his performing career in which he helped develop the faith of hundreds of Christians. One story he tells to illustrate this concerns an appearance at San Quentin State Prison.
After completing his message, he invited members of the incarcerated audience to come up to the front to pray with him for God to change their lives. That day 122 men came forward, “sinners who discovered Jesus was the solution to their problems.”
Currently there are three chapters of the FCM in California: Sacramento, Los Angeles and Orange County. The organization’s Web site, www.fcm.org, lists e-mail addresses and phone numbers of members who are available for performances.
They have appeared in churches representing almost all Christian denominations. They have led worship services and have performed before youth groups and have appeared at several other events.
