The Little Devils
Posted on January 22nd, 2007 by Samaritan into the Uncategorized categoryThe George Barna web site is a wealth of information about current church trends. In the linked article, Barna writes these conclusions based on surveys conducted in 2006:
"Three out of every four teenagers have engaged in at least one type of psychic or witchcraft-related activity. Among the most common of those endeavors are using a Ouija board, reading books about witchcraft or Wicca, playing games involving sorcery or witchcraft, having a "professional" do a palm reading or having their fortune told. Conversely, during the past year fewer than three out of every ten churched teenagers had received any teaching from their church about elements of the supernatural."
…
"Most Americans have a period of time during their teen years when they are actively engaged in a church youth group. However, Barna’s tracking of young people showed that most of them had disengaged from organized religion during their twenties."
When I first moved to Hooterville, I remember seeing grade school children trading Pokemon cards during a worship service and I expressed concern to the minister about it. My concerns were met with indifference as I suspect the minister knew the likely outcome of addressing the issue with parents. The cards were wildly popular and to suggest a child leave them at home, or not play with them at all because of their occultish influence, would be to incite a riot with children and their parents. Instead, the minister had an "ignore it, and it will go away" type of attitude. Pokemon is a fleeting memory now, however, an even darker influence has moved in to fill the void: the Harry Potter series of books and games.
This isn't a Pokemon or Harry Potter rant, rather, it is a lamenting of what Barna observed above - that less than 1 in 4 churched teenagers receives any teaching concerning the supernatural, and, by their 20's, most teens have left organized religion.
In the church I last attended, there was a time I was involved in the 'worship committee' and the subject of youth came up. The church was rigidly traditional, driven by an iron-fisted pastor who was in turn controlled by the 'old money' in the church, who threatened to cut him off if he ever changed from a traditional to contemporary format. In one meeting where the subject of youth came up, the pastor scoffed "I don't care about the youth, they will learn to love tradition just like everyone else." Several of us thought the youth should be surveyed, so I devised a questionaire which was distrubuted by the high school Sunday school teachers. Among the questions were "are you born again" and "have you ever heard from God"?
Now many of the high school kids had completed confirmation and joined the church when they were 14. Several of them marked the survey "NO" for both questions. Reaction to the survey was frenzied - the Sunday school teachers panicked and spent several weeks reciting the 4 spiritual laws, etc., and lead the class in the 'Sinners Prayer' several times, while the family of one teen was so incensed by the survey, they quit the church. After all, they were members of the church and therefore saved; what's this 'born again' stuff all about? And 'hearing from God', isn't that what we pay a minister for?!?
All too often, the institutional church faults people who leave as lacking faith or being back-slidden, etc. The truth however seems to be that the insitutional church fails to present the real Jesus, and often discourages members from seeking God directly and stands in the way of the supernatural (the moving of the Holy Spirit).
If children and teens aren't encouraged to seek the real living Jesus, and the fullness of the Holy Spirit who brings gifts and actively teaches us, is it any wonder they turn to the occult just to experience something spiritual?
Sam
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January 22nd, 2007 at 8:55 am
I know this is missing the point of your article (the final paragraph) however there’s one thing I can’t understand.
Why is Harry Potter “witchcraft”, but Narnia, the Lord of the Ring series, Star Wars, Wizard of Oz, most Disney movies, etc. are not?
This came up with a coworker, a wonderful lady, who had allowed her son to invite several friends over to watch the latest Harry Potter DVD. One of the moms called my coworker and not only said “my son can’t come” but proceeded to lecture on how evil it was… weeks later the same lady calls to offer to take my coworker’s son to see Narnia.
From the perspective of my non-religious coworker, this “Christian” is insane.
January 22nd, 2007 at 9:15 am
Good point, WTFWJD. Could it be the latter all have “happy endings”?!?
Sam
January 22nd, 2007 at 9:35 am
Please tell me that was a joke
January 22nd, 2007 at 9:44 am
Me? Joke?!? Never!!!
I’ve been trying to imagine the difference and really can’t figure it WTFWJD, unless of course there is some warped view of good magic and bad magic, benevolent spirits vs. evil spirits, good vs. evil, light vs. darkness stuff in people’s heads … or perhaps the difference is the one is marketed at kids, the others at adults …
The logic people use to justify such distinctions doesn’t have to make sense, you know.
Sam
January 22nd, 2007 at 11:00 am
Kinda like the logic I use to justify watching “Charmed” is because Alyssa Milano is HOT!
January 22nd, 2007 at 12:58 pm
Since I was little, I’ve been an avid reader of fantasy and scifi lit. As I grew in my relationship with the Lord, He put some things off limits. Why?
I think because the Holy Spirit is the giver of discernment. And He uses the tools provided in the Bible so that we do not get led away by our own imaginations. (Believe me, fantasy readers have strong imaginations!)
Some Biblical tools are: source, focus and fruit.
What do I know about the author? Does the author have a mindset or agenda? Authors are persuasive, even if the piece is narrative. Sometimes the author’s fictional world is just great imagination and it’s fun to visit. Sometimes the author’s fictional world has just too much demonic reality in it, and it’s not a nice place to go.
What is the focus, the underlying paradigm, of the story? Is the magic the focus of the story, or a means to an end? Is it part of the operating laws of the land, and therefore background? Or is it the focus of the story? As a metaphor: Is the magic a picture frame/a pedestal, or is it THE picture, the statue (or even idol)?
When you are done reading/watching the story, what has it left you with (fruit)? Has it stirred imagination or desire to emulate a character or copy their actions? If so, is it compatible with being a Christian?
So using these criteria, this is my personal .02 on Narnia vs. Harry Potter:
Author/mindset:
Narnia — Christian author, story purpose is allegory of Jesus
Potter — nonChristian author, Hogwarts reality has many occult elements
Focus:
Narnia — Focus is on Aslan; being with Aslan is the highlight of the books. Aslan is the source of the the “good” and good triumphs over evil through his strength and through the faith of his creatures.
Potter — Focus seems to be on the magic; learning stronger magic is continually sought. Good triumphs over evil sort of. The “good” is blurred to me, and the evil is downright demonic.
Fruit:
Narnia — I was encouraged to get to know God. CS Lewis does a decent job of describing the character of God through Aslan. Narnia opens the door for the Gospel.
Potter — I felt vaguely empty and kind of “slimed.” If I were really young and had read this, I might be tempted to see if magic could make my life more “real,” because in Harry Potter, life without magic is almost worthless. Potter opens the door for the occult.
And after all that, sometimes it’s just discernment and obedience to the Holy Spirit. Why is Zelazny OK for me and Lackey is not? Why was it OK to read the first 4 books of Card’s Alvin Maker series, but I felt downright convicted not to read the 5th? Why is Tepper off limits as well (I think I know, but still)? But StarTrek is fine.
OK, I know many will disagree with me. I await the tomato pelting.
January 22nd, 2007 at 1:26 pm
Then permit me to be the first, Anna: SPLAT!!!
January 22nd, 2007 at 1:28 pm
Anna,
I have to say that I am truly impressed with your discernment paradigm. I think it rings true to the heart of the issue of determining if our actions and hearts are in line with the Gospel. It is obviously a slippery slope and takes quite a deal of time to adequately explain, but I honestly believe that you’re following the Spirit in this area and I plan on apply your Author/Focus/Fruit concept on my own entertainment life (or at least try to). The answers to the questions will obviously be subjective and thus require listening to the Spirit and seem confusing to non-believers, but I appreciate your post.
January 22nd, 2007 at 1:37 pm
No splat here.
I dig your 3-prong analysis.
Just requires me to be a bit less lazy than I usually am, what with having to know the agenda of the author and all. Crap, half the time I have no idea who the author even is!
But on the surface, it’s a nice breakdown of what we should be looking at to see if it’s a good idea or not.
Ironically…
This whole blog is an “Author/Focus/Fruit” analysis of CBC and IC churches like it. And what has the conclusion been?
January 22nd, 2007 at 2:12 pm
Interesting. So what are your views on the Lord Of The Rings and Star Wars series? By your standard can you watch them? Just curious.
January 22nd, 2007 at 6:44 pm
Star Wars, episodes 4-6 versus 1-3
Author/Mindset:
4-6 - Young, hungry film maker with a fantastic story to tell.
1-3 - Old, bloated movie maker with merchandise to sell.
Focus:
4-6 - Triumph of good over evil.
1-3 - How can I most tarnish my legacy.
Fruit:
4-6 - Three of the greatest movies of all time.
1-3 - Jar-Jar Binks.
And for those who don’t remember, BT was VERY anti-Star Wars. They preached how it was evil, evil, evil and was leading the youth of the world into eastern philosophy. Whatever. I’ve got to go tend my zen garden now.
January 22nd, 2007 at 6:59 pm
I heard someone talking about this once in regards to why they are OK with watching/reading Lord of the Rings but not Harry Potter. They said the focus on LotR was on getting rid of or destroying the power whereas Harry Potter is all about seeking and attaining the power.
If I look at it that way, it makes sense to me. Frodo (and his friends) spent the whole series trying to destroy the ring and Harry (and his friends) have spent the whole time trying to become better wizards and such.
Some would argue that Harry and his friends are trying to attain a “good” power. To them I pose the questions that my friends mom would always pose to him as a kid when he wanted to watch He-Man (or many other cartoon series):
Friends Mother: “There are ultimately two sources of power…who are they?”
Friend: “God and Satan.”
Friends Mother: “Did God give He-Man his power?”
Friend: “No.”
Friends Mother: “So if God didn’t give him his power, who did?”
Friend: “Satan.”
That was typically the end of the conversation.
January 23rd, 2007 at 7:16 am
Too bad your friend didn’t go right back to his mom with…
Friend: “But Mom, who gave Satan his power?”
January 23rd, 2007 at 7:20 am
— C.S. Lewis
But I find it interesting the Lewis also borrowed heavily from Greek and Roman mythology for his stories. Including characters like fauns, satyrs, and even the pagan god Bacchus and Maenads (the god of wine and his female worshippers who were known for getting plowed). For all the uptight Christians who prohibit alcohol they seem OK allowing their children to read about fantasy creatures getting their party on.
January 23rd, 2007 at 8:27 am
Anna,
The author/focus/fruit approach is a good one. In the early 80’s, my band played for a youth retreat, and the pastor asked me to present a talk with the teens about rock vs. secular music. I’d already heard the narrow-minded attitudes towards drums, electric guitars, etc., common among churchy folk back then - CCM was still in infancy. I wasn’t comfortable giving the typical ‘rock is evil’ message, so with a month to prepare, read several books on the subject.
One I recall was by Bob Larson “Rock & roll: The devil’s diversion”. Umpteen pages of the same ignorant blather I’d heard since first playing a guitar in church. There were books and pamphlets from several authors expressing the same ignorant views …
Finally there was a book, from an author who took a historical, cultural and spirit-led approach to the subject. Among the highlights, he went on to demonstrate that many of the prejudices against rock music were in fact rooted in prejudices against blacks - in that many claim the heavy beat of rock music came from ‘blacks playing jungle music’ in Africa (someone watched to many old Tarzan movies). Digging into history / culture, the area from which most black slaves came in Africa, it turns out they played a stringed instrument, somewhat like a banjo. The heavy beat most people cited as ‘evil’, more than likely came from the Carribean islands. (Note my memory is hazy on all this).
What made the most impression however, was the discussion of song lyrics - that Christians and non-Christians have much in common in life - we all experience love, hurt, loss, nature, frustration, etc., and so songs about the human experience are common to all of us regardless of faith. The author simply recommended using discernment (the brain ‘the good Lord gave ya’) to decide for ourselves what is clean for us, and not clean for us to listen to.
He suggested knowing something about the band / singer, evaluating the lyrics (message) in the song, and how it makes us feel. And that is the essential message I delivered to the kids at the retreat. I remember talking to the pastor a few times before the retreat, to advise him of my study progress, and to my surprise, he was pleased to present the kids with a message of using discernment, rather than outrightly condemning an entire genre.
In hindsight though, the method doesn’t always work - I remember as a kid loving ‘Peter Paul and Mary’ - who sang a variety of folk songs, anti-war songs, etc., because I loved folk music and playing finger-style acoustic guitar. One song the kids loved when I was in youth group and we sang several times, was “Puff the Magic Dragon” - which I now know is full of drug references - ‘puff’, Jackie ‘paper’ loved that rascal ‘puff’ … as kids, we didn’t know what we were singing, only that we liked that song … I’m just trying to imagine how we’d have felt back then, if The Church Lady has said “you’re singing about reefer - mary jane - mary-j-wanna” … we thought we were singing about a mythical creature that existed in the dreams of Jackie’s youth … gone away now that he was an adult …
Hmmm … maybe it was that song that screwed me up so bad … those insidious satanic lyrics …
Jack
January 23rd, 2007 at 9:28 am
Wow. Thanks. Not as many tomatoes as I expected!
John said:
That’s why kids have parents. My son (11) heard a song he liked, so he started to sing parts of it. I decided to look up the lyrics and sat at the computer with my mouth agape and eyes wide. I asked my husband if the song was saying what I thought it was saying. He had the same reaction. The song is “Smack That.” Oh my.
And when we’re older, I think the Holy Spirit will warn us when something isn’t right for us.
Someone asked my opinion of Lord of the Ring and Star Wars. I have to admit that I am biased toward LOTR. I read the trilogy about once a year from ages 11-20, and a couple of times since then. When the movie came out, I knew ahead of time what the characters were going to say, lol.
From what I know of Tolkien, he was a professor who loved linguistics and mythology. He devised a story as a vehicle for his languages. As not-anonymous said, the focus of LOTR was to destroy the power. Also included is the message that power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
The LOTR wizards were like a race, as were the elves and it was not possible for another race to become a wizard or an elf for the sake of the magic. Even though the elves had a magic of their own, when given the chance to possess power, they rejected it (Elrond and Galadriel). That closes off the “fruit” of kids wanting to obtain magic/power such as there is in Potter.
Star Wars has a definite theology behind it. The actual story was fairly standard, and the cinematography was fun to watch. The problem comes when kids decide that they want to be jedi knights or learn to handle the force. If they try to do that with real spiritual power, there’s the bad fruit.
January 23rd, 2007 at 4:38 pm
Jack,
If you look up the origin of the song Puff the Magic Dragon and read the lyricist’s comments on it, it was not meant to be about drugs at all. It was talking about the end of childhood, missing childhood.
I know because I’m teaching the song to my 2nd graders and wanted to make sure the rumors about the song weren’t true. Maybe a generation interpreted the song that way because it’s what they were “into”, but the author did not mean that when he wrote it.
KM
January 23rd, 2007 at 5:16 pm
Thanks, KariMichelle. That song evokes an emotion in me about like Cat’s in the Cradle does …
Sam (Jack)
January 29th, 2007 at 6:52 pm
ok, i’m a pagan, and i’d like to say something.
as a practitioner of witchcraft, i’d like you to know that harry potter RARELY refers to real life occult. the only thing i can possibly think of is the clairvoyant teacher who reads tea leaves and palms.
when the students use their wands, its to direct a magic spell which they chant. in real witchcraft, we use wands to direct energy.
any teen/child who would try magic would notice that results don’t come unless you KNOW what you’re doing. mandy people don’t.
harry potter triumphs over evil. it doesn’t open the doors to occult, or magic. it lets children all over the world fantasize about how life would be if you could point a stick and say some words and things would happen.
hasn’t every child wanted to make things change? mum won’t buy them a new toy, and they wish they could have it. when reading the harry potter books, you imagine what it could be like. but you know it could never happen.
in the book, students are selected at age 12.
they are sent off to a school.
after age 12, most children realize they aren’t “wizards or witches.”
they give up hope for hogwarts.
thats my opinion, whether you value it or not.
but there are some great views on here.
almost every opinion was well thought out and brilliant.
even for a silly little christian.
:D
January 30th, 2007 at 9:15 am
:P
So how’d you end up here?
-Best thing about Pagan friends? They worship the ground you walk on…
January 30th, 2007 at 9:53 am
Rebecca,
I would tend to agree with you…except I haven’t read any of the Harry Potter books.
My parents wouldn’t let me watch He-Man because there was magic involved but it never stopped me from pretending I that I could “call on the power of grayskull” and turn into He-Man myself (a Homeschool He-Man…imagine that).
Now I’m faced with the decision of what to let my kids watch and I realize why there is such a debate. Parenting is hard and I really don’t have any idea what is going to screw my kids up…letting the watch/read things or sheltering them? Oh well, to each his own I guess.
Anyway I’m curious to hear more about:
Have you seen the power of magic? I’d like to hear about that…most Christians claim they see the power of Jesus when they manipulate a few teens to go cry at the alter…what goes on in the pagan world?
January 30th, 2007 at 9:57 am
Never underestimate the power of “eye of newt” with a dash of witch hazel, RP.