In writing for www.gotquestions.org, I was asked to comment on Criss Angel’s magic tricks.
It’s important to realize that much of what Criss Angel does in his acts are illusions…sleight of hand. Merely looking at his website, he has a magic kit you can order which will help you learn slight of hand. I belonged to a Magic Club when I was in junior high school. A teacher’s husband was a performance magician and mentored us showing us many sleight of hand techniques.
His website is troubling because the image he portrays is certainly not one of wholesomeness. His appearance is one of foreboding, intimidation and in my opinion he is intentionally trying to portray an evil aura. For those acts of his that aren’t simple sleight of hand or illusions, I suggest that they are being powered by Satanic forces. In II Corinthians 11:12-14, Paul warns about false apostles, deceitful workers, etc. Here is the passage:
“And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about. For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.”
If you read the three chapters of Exodus 7, 8 and 9 you will see that Egyptian magicians were able to recreate some of the miracles that God was performing through Moses. But, they couldn’t protect themselves from the boils or the gnats.
The key question you have to ask of Criss Angel or any other performer…are they performing to bring glory to God or to themselves? As a Christian, my entertainment should pass the Philippians 4:8 test, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.” If the program or performance doesn’t meet those criteria, we really need to think twice before taking in that form of entertainment.
After all, I Thessalonians 5:22 warns us to “Abstain from all appearance of evil.” It doesn’t have to be evil, for the Christian we are commanded to stay away even if it looks evil. Again taking even a casual look at Criss Angel’s website would be enough to cause a Christian to certainly reconsider his form of entertainment.