But the image abstracted by this photograph captures her expression and personality very honestly. The issue is whether the Gospel magician conveys the impression that he is doing supernatural things, or whether he honestly acknowledges its trickery. After all is said and done, most people acknowledge that magical entertainers do not actually have supernatural powers. If the total presentation is an accurate representation of Biblical truth, the audience will be impressed with the message, and not dazzled by the possibility of humans doing superhuman feats. Sleight of hand and illusion provide a way of presenting some very powerful spiritual messages in a visual way.
Magic tricks have power to gain and maintain attention.
The second part of a Biblical basis for Gospel magic is God's own use of the spectacular as an attention-getting device. He wrote on the wall with a giant hand. Many of the prophets used spectacular attention-getting devices, such as shaving their head, wearing a rotten garment, making a model of Jerusalem. And what a sight Jonah must have been, bleached from the digestive juices of the great sea monster, as he paraded through Nineveh proclaiming the judgment of God. But perhaps most spectacular of all are the descriptions of the events surrounding the death and resurrection of Jesus.