Part 2 of a series exploring practical applications of the Harry Potter series in a Christian youth formation context. Introduction here.
Watching the film version of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone again after many years, one scene that leapt out at me was a very short clip when Quirrell bursts in on the Hallowe’en Feast to announce there’s a troll in the dungeon. But it’s the end of the scene that really struck me:
The following is the introduction to Session 11 of the Confirm not Conform program. The session is called The Issue of Power and directly the addresses the question of what power is and how it can be used and abused. This may sound like a strange topic for a confirmation program, but we think it's crucial. Because we believe strongly in empowering youth, we think it's very important for youth to understand power dymanics (and it does no harm for adults to understand them either). This session explores a topic we have rarely seen addressed in our churches.
I’ve been thinking about discipleship recently, and what it means to form disciples. But as I’ve been looking once again at the gospels, I’m starting to wonder if we’re missing the point. Maybe we don’t need to form disciples ourselves. Maybe it’s more about inviting people to be disciples, and then letting them be formed by Jesus.