Why are books like these so popular? Because as the world grows more evil as fascination with things that are evil will abound.
Pastor Mark Driscoll shares his thoughts on popular titles such as Twilight, Eclipse, The Nacromancer, Spirit Bound, Dead Flame, The Sorceress, Hells Heroes, Spells and the many other popular witchcraft books sold on Amazon aimed at your children that you ABSOLUTELY MUST WATCH:
(Note: please turn of the red music player in the lower sidebar before viewing)
Parents, are you aware of what your children are reading?
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32 comments:
Oh, yes! It is very scary how kids are getting sucked into it as well as adults and then claiming it is ok. :(
This was an excellent truth-filled sermon from Pastor Driscoll, thanks for sharing.
I have never read these books and never will, nor will my children. I love how Mark says some are "blind to their blindness" and goes on to say how some Christian's glamorize this book by pointing out the characters "waited until marriage". Sadly, I've heard that very point from some of my own friends who have read this book. I can't wait to share this video with them.
Thank you again for sharing.
Erin Bishop
http://homeswheremyheartis.blogspot.com
I shared this video last week on my Facebook. I think everything the pastor says is so true. The most important thing he says, in my opinion, is that these books and movies show an afterlife and "salvation" apart from Christ. I don't want my daughter to think like that!!!
Thanks for sharing this! I posted the video on FB. I don't have daughters (2 boys age 2 and 4) but I have always had a problem with hearing Christian women allowing their daughters to be involved with the whole Twilight scene. Why do we as Christians just dismiss things like this like it's no big deal! We need to wake up!
O man dont I know this. My husband and I are shutting are cable off, not only in the bookstore is this happening, but TV. My daughter came in and told me about witches and casting a spell she learned about on NOGGIN. O we were fuming.. It is everywhere..
so true!
I was shocked to hear a bunch of 7 & 8 year olds talking about vampires (in a positive light at that!) recently. It amazes me the number of young girls (talking under 10 yrs) who are allowed to watch these movies.
I was trying to find books for my 10 yr old boy to read recently and found it really hard. He reads a few years older than his age but he's definately not ready to be reading books that are aimed at teens (goodness, some of them I dont want to read!).
I agree with you 100%. Our families are being attacked from every possible side and we are being told that this is innocent stuff. I have heard people argue that the Chronicles of Narnia are no different than Harry Potter. I would disagree. It's the message. Garbage in, Garbage out.
I agree with you 100%. Garbage in, Garbage out.
Fall is fast approaching. As I listened and was watching the Mark Driscoll video about Twilight, I could not help but be reminded of that horrid holiday ~ halloween ~ that occurs when Fall is here. Sadly so many Christians participate in this event and don't have any convictions or discernment that it is so bad. All one has to do is a look up on the origins of this holiday.
If one is celebrating, dressing their kids up (whether it be "Christian" themed costumes or evil costumes) one is compromising God's Word. Christians seem to think that they have to exchange halloween for something else for their children to enjoy. Even the churches over the years have compromised with Fall events, Fall harvests, harvest gatherings etc...
My thoughts are in agreement with the video about Twilight, but it doesn't stop there.
Just something to think about.
Mrs. Fuentes, I got on your blog today with the intention of emailing you about this very thing. I just linked off of another blog to one of the commenter and her profile was all about God-lovin, etc. With the Bible under favorite books, as well as the Twilight series, and your blog was listed on ones that she read. I thought, "I don't think June Fuentes would ever agree, support, or condone the Twilight books." I wasn't able to watch the Driscoll presentation because of my slow internet connection, but I did want to comment on this. The Bible and the Twilight series seem to be very conflicting in my mind.....for a minute I thought that maybe I was missing something or making a big deal out of nothing, until I got to your blog. This is only one area of apostasy that is being embraced in the modern "church", and I've found myself becoming angry and frustrated with people and their blindness and unwillingness to take Scripture seriously. However, that is causing me to wonder whether that is really my place to focus my efforts or thoughts on. I am pretty sure that it is the men's responsibility to admonish and hold the other men accountable to the Word in their beliefs, and also in how they are leading their families, and what they are allowing their children and wives to do. It is easy for me to become upset over all of this and quite vocal, but I know that that is not developing in me a meek and quiet spirit. Please help me to understand what my place is in all of this. Also, one example of the effects of Twilight is my family's church in my hometown. The youth pastor's wife and daughter are enamored with those books, and my recently graduated sister, too. It is hard to make anyone believe that they are evil when these leaders in churches are supporting them. Thank you for the ministry that you do on this website.
My husband were just discussing this the other day. We watched the Princess and the Frog just us -our grandkids had already seen it at home.
I was shock at the demonic focus and central theme of a children's show.
I told my husband it seems not a children's movie now a days doesn't have some time of demonic theme. So very sad, Satan is very busy.
Thank you for posting this. I have been wanting to blog about this. I posted the video on my blog as well. I hope this gets people thinking especially those in the church.
Great post!! The pastor in that sermon said it very well! I really liked what he said at the end about satan doing things during Jesus' time and why don't we think he is doing that in our time, too. Of course he is, but we are blinded to it. It's so sad. I know many of my Christian friends read the books and watch the movies. I am so thankful I never read a page or have seen one of the movies. When this whole Twilight series first came out and I found out it was about vampires, that didn't sit right in my spirit and I felt it was evil.
Thanks for sharing truth with us!
I have to say, Mrs. Fuentes, I was very disturbed by all the laughing going on during the first part of his sermon. I REALIZE he was being sort of funny at times, but I found laughing going on when things were really not funny. Goodness sake I hope some eyes were opened during that sermon and also for those who watch the clip. I will say that your commenters all seem to agree with you/Mark Driscoll on this matter and that is VERY RARE!! Most of what I have heard is coming from those laughing....
I work a couple hours a week at our small town library and I'm not pleased with the occultic books that the children and teens enjoy. They tend to overlook books of quality to focus on the evil ones.
I wrote about this very thing here:
http://ordinaryinspirations.blogspot.com/2010/06/twilight-and-vampire-obsession.html
The Twilight stuff is everywhere! Your basically assaulted with it in windows of book store, grocery stored, etc. We need to be so vigilant on what we read, even fairy tales...sigh...
Thank you for speaking out about this. I had the same realization while visiting my local public library.
The shelves are loaded with witchcraft, vampires, darkness and evil.
I wonder who is requesting these books and just how many books can cover same material and who is reading it?
Suzanne, you bring up a very good point. A friend and I have discussed Disney movies and fairy tales a lot b/c they all involve magic. Where do you draw the line?
That was very interesting - in particular the part where mums are reading these books and going crazy over the young males.
excellent! I shared on Facebook!
ditto Lisa! Just at the library digging up classics for my highschooler...can't even go in the "teen" section, TONs of death, vampires, witchcraft,etc... or kissy girly stuff- my young man wasn't interested in neither... many were in the children's section also...sigh...
Great post for such a dark world...keep shining His light! =)
Thank you for sharing this!
Thank you so much for sharing this video. I admit I was a Twilight fan, although God has been convicting me quite some time now on this very issue. I can truthfully say that the desire to delve back into that world comes much more infrequently now.
I've shared this on my FB in hope that some of my friends will pay attention to what Mark has to say.
While I agree with his intentions and his oppinions on the books, it must be made clear that Stephanie Meyer is not a prime example of Mormons. We cannot judge an entire culture or religion off of one person. The LDS church has infact removed support of her literature. Having said that, I love this website and appreciate the focus and strength it adds to my life.
First off, I have no idea what he means by "cougar mothers" during his sermon. I do not watch TV so I believe I'm lost there. But I agree that going to the book store is a land mine of books aimed at gripping the hearts of our youth, and manipulating them away from what is true. It is a battle for hearts and minds. This is why I have stopped going to places such as Barnes & Noble or Borders, and go to a Christian book store instead. I can let my children wander safely around knowing they won't be finding these things. There's a great one in my area in fact that keeps everything questionable out, regardless of the public opinion of those Christians who feel vampires are OK.
I am a walking testimony as to how a simple demonic book can get it's grip on a child. When I was a teen I found myself in an occult section of the local book chain and began delving into some very nasty things. I found out the hard way of my mistakes. So yes, these books can be dangerous to our youth.
Ever since we shut down the cable I cannot express how peaceful my life is now. I don't have to spend my time locking out shows and channels. It has saved me alot of money too. We rent movies, but even then one has to be really careful. I made the mistake of renting "Sense and Sensibiity" the 2008 BBC version. Usually, Masterpiece Theater is safe. I sat down with my 16 year to watch this film and the beginning was a horrible display. I realize we cannot shut out the entire world, and that most moments can be teachable but I want my daughter's heart and mind to be pure.
I don't know how long he goes on talking (the video posted) but I REALLY wish that he had some specific scriptures sited. At the very end he said something about Luke but I didn't catch the reference or what he exactly was talking about. People who are FOR this type of stuff need to know EXACTLY what God's word says in opposition to what the world says.
Surely you should also be refusing to read C.S.Lewis stories which are full of Paganism and magic as well as things like Tolkien (Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit)- also full of magic. Lewis himself said his Narnia stories were not allegories and they have been shown to be linked to astrology as are the Pagan gods he loved and included in his literature. Tolkien's work involves whole mythologies based on ancient gods and demons. Let's not be inconsistent here!
I don't disagree with the general idea that Driscoll is trying to make about Twilight. In fact, his rundown of the trashy Twilight-wannabe books was pretty funny. But I think that an important point is missed, and fingers are pointing in the wrong direction.
The Twilight series isn't bad because it promotes "witchcraft" or would encourage a teenage girl to dabble in occult practices. (NOTE: Witches and vampires are different things, people.) It is bad because it is poor literature with vapid themes and characters.
In the Twilight world, bad decisions (usually selfishly-made on the spur of the moment) by the central characters are OK and celebrated, as long as it is motivated by "following your heart" or whatever, rather than resulting in a painful learning experience to grow from. The mythic character of a vampire has been converted into something to be admired, something cool, rather than damned or feared as traditional vampires in literature are. While I'm all for subverting mythic archetypes in literature, it's just not well done here, or have any basis in our collective psyche. In literature, a wizard can be good or evil; a vampire is usually always EVIL. If the vampire isn't evil, then there better be a really compelling story or reason why he isn't, other than he's just really good-looking or he sparkles in the sun. That leads to an inherent issue with Twilight: there is no central conflict of good vs. evil (other than a conflicted vampire not wanting to bite his girlfriend.) There is nothing to morally or spiritually to latch on to, as opposed to Tolkien's books, the Narnia series, and, yes, the Harry Potter series.
I'm not concerned about my daughter reading Twilight and dabbling into magic or the occult, I'm concerned about her reading these books and emulating the poor decisions made by the heroine in regards to her relationships with men.
I believe that it is prudent to avoid certain literature where possible, but we also need to be avid in teaching our children to be selective and comfortable making choices using Bible principals. We cant wrap our children in cotton wool, so we must therefor strengthen our childrens relationships with God and encourage them to reject things which are unrighteous. This begins with the adults in a household setting an example!
Rose, you asked for specific Scriptures to support Pastor Driscoll's remarks. I've got the Scriptures!
I'm in my late 20s and unmarried. I watched the first 3 Twilight movies, at the invitation of a Christian friend and with other Christian friends (all young women). I greatly enjoyed the movies. Then I was challenged to reevaluate. These are the verses I discovered which led to my choice not to watch any more Twilight movies or buy DVDs or read the books.
Deuteronomy 18:9-13 (NKJV) “When you come into the land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things are an abomination to the LORD, and because of these abominations the LORD your God drives them out from before you. You shall be blameless before the LORD your God."
I didn't question whether vampires (who are the walking dead and who can see the future, read thoughts, and perform other supernatural deeds) were evil, though imaginary, beings. I questioned whether learning about vampires and hearing stories about them was wrong. According to this passage, God does not even want His children to be exposed to instruction in how these abominable practices are accomplished.
Deuteronomy 13:1-3 addresses the means by which Twilight's author got her inspiration: “If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, ‘Let us go after other gods’—which you have not known—‘and let us serve them,’ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the LORD your God is testing you to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul."
I was temporarily deceived into thinking that Edward and the other "good" vampires were admirable heroes because they control their lust for human blood and only drink animal blood. Then I remembered God's unchanging rule: "Only be sure that you do not eat the blood, for the blood is the life; you may not eat the life with the meat" (Deuteronomy 12:23). "For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well" (Acts 15:28-29).
Edward the vampire and Jacob the werewolf have the classic characteristics of idols:
1. They have supernatural powers.
2. Without being real, they have captivated thousands of people's allegiance.
3. The image they present is their main drawing card.
I'm thinking there was a reason John, the apostle Jesus loved, addressed his closing remarks in I John to little children. "Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen" (I John 5:21).
Oh thank you for this video! I just posted it to my Facebook page. Sadly, I have family members who are CHRISTIANS who are buying into this whole thing, and have no idea why it's wrong! It's a horrible thing that even now has Christians captivated by it.
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