Why I Rebranded

If you're reading this, it's because you are interested in my rebranding from "Magic MayHeim" to "Brandon Heim the Mystery Guy. While it's probably not that interesting, perhaps it will bring some clarity to why I'm so weird.

I did not grow up in a Christian home, nor around Christianity. My father and mother both expressed agnostic and atheistic beliefs, while never pressing me to believe in anything. It wasn't until my sophomore year of college that God would call me out of the my sin and the darkness and into the forgiveness and light of Jesus Christ. Christ didn't come for good people, He came for evil, dirty, selfish, poor, helpless, and wretched worms like me. I didn't do anything to deserve or earn the grace given to me, and I was truly dead in my sins -- I could not, and would never choose God unless He first chose me. By His grace, Christ's perfect life paid the debt for me, and I know I am secure because "...this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day" (John 6:39, ESV).

My faith is my identity (Matt 10:39), and because I'm a Reformed Baptist Christian, I want to be very careful with my language. This careful desire is also magnified because of my Bachelors in English Literature! I love God, I love words, and I love theology.

So, this brings us to the term: Magic. Why do I prefer to not use this term?

Well, the Bible is clear on the sin of magic/sorcery/witchcraft (Lev 19:31; Rev 21:8; Acts 19:19; Gal 5:19-21; Deut. 18:10-12). I certainly do not want to make my career something that is evil in the sight of the Lord. And I 100% agree with all 5 Solas. I must submit to the authoritative Word of God, and that word ALONE.

However, my education in English reminds me of the etymological fallacy. The terms for "magic" in the modern day is NOT understood as something supernatural actually taking place. I 100% agree with this. I am not committing sin because I call myself a magician or that I perform magic. Nor do I believe that others are committing sin if they call themselves that.

So, again, why would I still rebrand? Why do I still not want to use the term?

Well, it's because I recognize that there are teachings in scripture that are heavily dependent on culture (such as head coverings), therefore I don't have a problem necessarily with the modern definition of magic. But there is also a degree of transparency and honesty in the terms that are used. Magic claims to be done AS IF it was supernatural. Of course, we know magic done by a magician isn't actually supernatural. Most magicians that claim it's done by the supernatural, do so knowing it's just acting. And for someone who isn't a Christian, the supernatural doesn't exist, therefore, the term magic could never be something that's actually supernatural.

But, as a Christian myself, I do believe in the supernatural realm. I believe in a virgin birth, the resurrection of the dead, angels and demons, miracles and healings, giants and nephilim. And while I know that the term magic today doesn't refer to anything supernatural, I do think it's not as honest as other terms like illusions, mysteries, prestidigitation. Illusions claim to be done BY TRICKING YOU WITH SKILL. Mysteries are something that is concealed and can be revealed. That's what these words claims to be.

In conclusion, I don't think the word "Magic" or "Magician" is bad nor sinful. I'll still probably use the terms. But I do have a conviction, with full understanding of the modern meaning of the word "magic", that "illusionist", "mystery", "trickery", is a bit more honest. The former words at their core claim to "lie" about the mode by which the trick is performed: supernatural sorcery that the performer conjures for entertainment. The latter words at their core claim to be what they are: tricks via the skill of the performer that he or she conceals for entertainment. While this is definitely much ado about nothing, and literally nobody thinks this way, I'm just a weird guy who loves God, loves theology, and loves language.

TL;DR - I'm a Reformed Baptist Christian who likes the words "Mystery and Illusionist" more than the words "Magic and Magician".