Torn Soul

If you have read Harry Potter books, especially the last two, you will be familiar with the idea of horcruxes. The idea is that one can divide one's soul and hide it in an object to prevent the death of the one who divided the soul. However, dividing the soul requires a heinous act, namely murder. In Rowling's explanation it tears the soul in two. She may have gotten the idea for this partially from Psalm 41:4.

The psalmist cries out to God to heal his soul, which is wounded as a result of sin. There are other passages that tell us that sin impacts us negatively take a look at 1 Corinthians 6:18. We damage not only our relationship with The Lord and others but also our own soul and body when we sin.

In the Potterverse the cure for a divided soul was real remorse, read repentance. Rowling got it mostly right. Read Psalm 54:1, 4. Note that along with Psalm 41:4 captures the same notion. I am remorseful, repentant, disgusted with my sin. But helpless to deal with it. The psalmist cries to God to save him by His name acknowledging that God is the sustainer of the psalmist's soul. In the climax of the Potter books Harry pleads with Voldemort to show remorse, repent.

There are two things that strike me from this. First, I am powerless to deal with my sin apart from God, which Christ reinforces with John 15:5. Second, I need to read what my kids are reading. Ready to point out the truth or the error that lies within those pages.