Saturday, December 20, 2008

_Twilight_ of Loyalty to God?


What do you think about the books and movie, Twilight?

(Click here:) Should Christian Teens Be Reading "Twilight?"

As with
Harry Potter ( 7-17-07 and 10-20-07) and The
Shack
, there are mixed emotions about Twilight, as this article above attests.

It concludes:

So, What's the Verdict?

There really is no verdict here, just a conscious choice. Like anything we see in the world today, you have to make a choice you can live with. As Christians, we need to be mindful of what we put in our minds and hearts.

Some Christians have read and seen a lot of books on witchcraft, sex, violence, and more without it ever even denting their faith. However, a lot of other Christians are more vulnerable, and the smallest mention of something tempting can lure them away. You have to know where you are and what you can handle in order to choose wisely.


Well--how about--choose wisely NOT to go there, to things God hates, in the first place.

The article does mention Deuteronomy 18:9-14. We should take that passage seriously.

To me, it's a matter of obedience. It's a matter of holding God in awe and reverence and holy fear of His loving discipline.

And even more, it's a matter of love and loyalty to the One who loves and protects us and gave His life for us--and to us.

I wish I could say I never do anything wrong and that my faith is therefore perfect and strong. I pray for more love, more power to obey and to minister, and more faith. I wish I were a perfect example to emulate. I'm not. But we can all learn from each other, can't we? And this is something that I think is important to share.

It's hard for me to imagine the First Century Christians who had walked with Jesus and/or with the eyewitnesses of His amazing, giving life on earth, and the power of the Holy Spirit poured out at Pentecost, finding their entertainment in things God hates.

I just read in a book of John Wesley's sermons, The Holy Spirit and Power, that in Augustine of Hippo's church, SIX people were raised from the dead.

This was over two hundred years after the death of the last apostle.

His power did not diminish with the death of the last apostle, as some traditions teach.

The power of God through the Holy Spirit was never intended to diminish. If it has diminished, we can recall that Jesus could do few miracles in Nazareth because of *their* unbelief. He did manage to heal a few!

Wouldn't we love to see a few healings!

I submit that if we had more belief, we'd probably have more loyalty. And that if we practiced more loyalty, we'd also find ourselves filled with more belief.

I suspect we are in the Laodicean Church Age. That's the last church named in Revelation before the trumpet says "Come up here." That's a whole 'nother topic.

But if so, we have a challenge all around us. Jesus questions whether He would find faith on the earth when He returns.

I think the solution to less faith on the earth is to surround ourselves with friends and teachers who bring out that faith, to practice loyalty, and to pray to be (continually) filled with the Spirit.

And this plays out in part by not turning for entertainment to books about things God hates and tells us so for our own well-being.

Again, I'm no great example.

But given the choice, rather than read a "good" book, I'd rather see some loved ones healed....

9 comments:

Robin Jansen said...

I agree with you margo & like you I go a step further...it does matter if Christians see violent movies..it does matter what they read...the Bible says we are to think on those things that are lovely and good and pure. It is disturbing to hear of Christians not ony watching vampire movies and reading those books, but then turning around and even writing them...adding to the evil. I think they do it to jump on the bandwagon (and make some cash) when we need to be running from it. God's word is clear on this. God also asked if He will find faith in the world. I want to win souls for Jesus not put obstacles in their way.

Margo Carmichael said...

Thanks for stopping by, Robin.

Yes, and not only violence. But also being amused by powers not from God.

Dawn Michelle Michals said...

Hey, Margo!

Great post. I have so many thoughts and emotions on this matter. Yes, I guess there are Christians who can read secular books, see violent movies and listen to questionable lyrics without even phasing their faith, but why would we even want to open the door? Coming from this background, I know how greatly veering from my new path even slightly has on me. The only choice I have is to not open the door.

Living for that narrow gate...

Dawn Michelle Michals

Matthew 7:14
But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Robin Jansen said...

I keep thinking about this. We expect bad things to come through people who do not know God. The sting is when Christians try to cash in on this dangerous fad.

Patricia PacJac Carroll said...

It is amazing to me to see that we are truly in the times where evil is called 'good' and good evil. There are no 'nice' demons. < and that is a period!

Anonymous said...

This is the most sensible laying-out of the principals involved that I have ever read. I used to be fascinated with vampires (late teens, I think) because I was one of those budding writers who killed everybody off in the end. What a way to kill somebody off--have him become a vampire! Later, I learned that death is the enemy of God, and that Jesus Christ overcame the last enemy, death. Such a realization changes one's outlook considerably.

Margo Carmichael said...

Thank you for good thoughts, y'all. Thing is, it's so much more fun to see God's hand in your life--wonderful little "coincidences" and things that let you know the Creator of the Universe is watching out for you and loving you....

Rachel Leigh Smith said...

There is a "hidden" message in Twilight, so to speak. And a very good one. One of sexual purity and waiting for marriage. Edward will not have sex with Bella because it isn't right and he doesn't want to hurt her in any way. That's something that teens today need to hear, and Stephanie Meyer has a captive audience for the message.

My sister just finished all of them and I plan to listen to at least the first one. IMO vampires with clear cut right and wrong and no magic is a far better choice than Harry Potter.

Margo Carmichael said...

>>IMO vampires with clear cut right and wrong and no magic is a far better choice than Harry Potter.<<

Even so, I think the better choice is neither. There are better ways to read about right and wrong, I think, than dwelling on the darkness.

Thanks for your thoughts, Rachel.