I know I'm probably going to get hammered for this one - but I'm going to post it anyway. If you are easily offended by someone disagreeing with you on popular movies or societal obsessions - you may want to stop now.
OK ... If you are still reading - you've been warned.
How can people who call themselves Christians be so enthralled by things that are clearly anti-Christian? For the past decade, the whole Harry Potter craze has amazed me. Black Magic, Sorcery and Witchcraft ... and we ENCOURAGE our children to read the books and see the movies? Most recently the craze is all about Twilight. Vampires. Hmmm. Another great thing for us to encourage our children to become obsessed with.
Before you get all defensive and say to me that these are only fantasy, and that they are only showing good-vs-evil ... I've heard these excuses - and don't buy them. There is no reason that we have to embrace anti-Christian values of witchcraft and vampires in order to show how good can overcome evil. (In truth - it's evil-vs-more evil.)
We have been created by God to worship Him. According to Philippians 4:8, "whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." How can these books/movies fall into the above categories?
We have been created by God to have a relationship with Him. Jesus Christ gave His life so that we could have life, and have it more abundantly. John 3:16 tells us that God loved us so much that He gave us His son - and that when we accept Him, we inherit eternal life. This is what we call being born-again.
Twilight has a totally different message. After Bella’s “rebirth” as a vampire in Breaking Dawn, she says, ”I was amazing now - to them and to myself. It was like I had been born to be a vampire. The idea made me want to laugh, but it also made me want to sing. I had found my true place in the world, the place I fit, the place I shined.”
So what does Bella experience by becoming a vampire? A greater ability to enjoy the “forbidden fruit” that is Edward: ”I could really appreciate him now… He was all new, a different person as our bodies tangled gracefully into one on the sand-pale floor. No caution, no restraint. No fear - especially not that. We could love together - both active participants now. Finally equals… I was never going to get tired, and neither was he. We didn’t have to catch our breath or rest or eat or even use the bathroom; we had no more mundane human needs."
Evil is evil. This is a basic premise from the beginning of creation. Satan has tried to sway humans from the truth. Remember Eve and the apple? Apparently Stephanie Meyer, the author of Twilight, at least has an idea of it - as is apparent from her use of the apple on the cover of Twilight and the introductory quote from the book of Genesis, of which the author states: “The apple on the cover of Twilight represents ‘forbidden fruit.’ I used the scripture from Genesis (located just after the table of contents) because I loved the phrase ‘the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil.’ Isn’t this exactly what Bella ends up with? A working knowledge of what good is, and what evil is.” She is clearly taking the scripture out of context in order to justify her perverse writing.
2 Timothy 4:3-4 addresses these books/movies: "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables."
I will not allow my children to read these books nor see these movies. I will not read them nor see them. They are not permitted in my house ... and if I had my way - we wouldn't allow any of the merchandise (shirts, books, binders, etc ...) in any of our Children's ministries at church.
I understand that I can't make other parents see things the way I do - but I would hope that people would not just take the world's opinion that this type of garbage is acceptable.
Like I said, if you were offended by what I've posted - you were warned before you got this far. You are entitled to your own opinion - but as a Christian, I really don't see how there could be one different than the one I've laid out here.
Ooooohhhhh Derick, Yes you may have gotten you self in a heap this time, but I honestly could not agree with you more! Phil. 4:8 has been kicking around in my head ever since they Harry Potter series and again with this Twilight craze. You hit the nail on the head!!!
ReplyDeleteLexi
Well, have not been here in a while, interesting. You make some good points that I can't disagree with.
ReplyDeleteOne point I will make is that we are called to in the world and not of the world. Of course as Chritians where we meet the world is some what different for each individual.
It is important to teach children what is real and what is imaginary. Too much of what the world calls real is really not real, but the worlds attempt at changing our thinking progress.
I know of only book that is true, all others are an attempt to clarify that one or not.
Take care, statesman
I think you are a wonderful father for looking after your children and trying your best to guard their hearts from deception and evil. It really takes a lot of strength and courage to write a blog like this and I truly wish others could be as investigative of pop cultural icons as you are.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I am a part of the Harry Potter generation and my dad was much like you when it came to that and I was not allowed to read the books. In all honesty, it did not devastate me and I don't feel like I missed out on anything. In fact, it wasn't until last year in college as a class assignment that I saw the first Harry Potter movie. This class was a Worldview class and in essence I was learning how to analyze things of this world including those pop culture things. Since then I have learned not to shy away from things like Harry Potter and Twilight(of which I have read all the books), but to enjoy them while knowing what the truth is and not letting those things deceive me. I don't believe that allowing some of those things into my life will hurt my witness or my relationship with God. I have learned what I can handle and what I should stay away from.
I guess what I am trying to say is that I wish I would have learned how to do this when I was growing up. I love my parents and they always had my best interest at heart, but being able to view these things and know what the truth is in them, should there be any in them, helps me understand others who aren't believers a little better. It gives me a ground to start on with them and to relate with them.
Someday, when I have kids, I hope I can instill the value of seeking truth into them like you have yours. The Church as a whole really needs more father figures like you. I pray that your children will one day realize, if they haven’t already, what a blessing it is to have a loving dad as you.
Your Sister in Christ,
Melissa Peters