(please email your questions to Caryl here)
Pro. 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof [are] the ways of death.
A TWILIGHT fan writes....
”I just need to take
exception...I am a Christian woman, I also work for a church in the
Youth Ministry Division. I've read the first 3 of the Twightlight
Saga, and my 15 year old daughter has read them all....multiple times.
Your concern, is noted...but I think a bit extreme. there is no wicca,
no demon possession. Edward, the main character Vampire, worries about
his soul...whether he has one, whether God will forgive him. He does
not sleep with Bella because he wants to remain virtous in this way,
and he wants her to mostly, because she definitely still has a soul.
He is not the selfish evil being you portray him to be. And finally,
vampires do not exist, therefore the Bible does not address them as you
inidicate. This is a "FANTASY" such as bewitched or I dream of Jeannie
were in the 60s and 70s. My mother the car...the incredible Hulk.
Seriously, you need to step back, take a breath, and try to see things,
not just through the Bible, but through the eyes of the most creative
of all beings...GOD, who was the first "artist" who show infinite
creativity. He revels in our creativity and I don't think he would be
angry at Stephanie's or J.K. Rowlings use of their creativeness.”
Answer(excerpts from question in blue):
“Edward, the main character Vampire, worries about his soul...whether he has one, whether God will forgive him.” (see insights at end from THE MOVIE)
At http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vampire there is detailed description of the history of the vampire folklore. Just a cursory read will convince the reader that vampires come from occult origins and are not part of the Godly character.
Regarding why a vampire like Edward would be concerned about his soul and forgiveness, Wikipedia writes, “Most cases, vampires are revenants of evil beings, suicide victims, or witches, but they can also be created by a malevolent spirit possessing a corpse or by being bitten by a vampire.”
Of course Edward’s character would worry, he is part of the dark evil world of Satan. His worrying about his soul does not make him a “good vampire,” only one that needs salvation.
Of course the Twilight vampire is re-packaged. He is a young handsome young man with seemingly good character and love. Edward looks nothing like historic vampire folkflore, but yet he is still the same vampire creature as the evil hideous creatures feared by almost every culture throughout history. Why? Because Satan comes as an “angel of light” (2Corinthians 11:14).
Christians are warned, “Adulterers and adulteressess! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (James 4:4). And James continues to chastise those Christians who refuse to believe the Word of God. “Or do you think that the Scriptures say in vain, ‘The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously’” (4:5).
“He (Edward the Vampire) is not the selfish evil being you portray him to be.” (see the end for insights from THE MOVIE)
Romans 3:10-18 declares, “There is NONE righteous, no, not one; there is NONE who understands; there is NONE who seeks after God, they have ALL turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; there is NONE who does good, no, not one.”
The character of Edward is an unregenerate sinner, and that makes him by default a selfish and evil being. It is God who portrays Edward the vampire as selfish evil being in Romans chapters five and six.
In 2 Corinthians 5:17, the Apostle Paul proclaims the truth that “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new.” The character of Edward the vampire is certainly not a new creation in Christ. The plain facts in the fictionalized story of Twilight do not hint at the slightest idea that Edward is a born again regenerated and saved Biblical Christian who also just happens to be a blood-eating vampire.
“And finally, vampires do not exist, therefore the Bible does not address them as you indicate. This is a "FANTASY" such as bewitched or I dream of Jeannie were in the 60s and 70s. My mother the car...the incredible Hulk.”
Scripture is full of the concept of “gods that are not gods” as it refers to idols, real or imagined, which replace the only true Creator God. A Christian so engrossed, so in love, so dedicated, so defensive for, so in tune with a book or movie series about the undead lost soul of a blood-drinking vampire certainly replaces the true God who commands precedent in their lives.
Idols. These gods did not really exist either, yet apostate Israel went after them and adored the wood, stone, gold, silver, and in this case the image of a vampire.
Paul says that these non-gods, which do not exist, are really deceiving demons (1Cor 10:20). The idol can be real (the sun, the moon, the stars of heaven), made with hands (wood, stone, gold, silver, object of worship, image), or can be imagined (Tammuz, Dagon, Ra, Baal, Asteroth, Molech). But, idolatry is idolatry whether one creates or “fantasizes” or imagines the adoration of something even if it really does not exist. (Ezekiel 8 explains).
God says about these “fantasies”, “Is it a trivial thing to the house of Judah to commit the abominations which they commit here?”
Fairies, elfs, UFO, aliens, ghosts, hauntings are not addressed in the Bible, but all have their foundation in the occult (hidden in supernatural ideas): themes of supernatural darkness are inspired by demonic thoughts and imaginations. Are these things the language of God or of devils?
Even though vampires are omitted in Scripture, it is clear the image is one of darkness and evil, and not from God Who personifies Light and Goodness. Should a Christian idolise such ideas packaged as "fantasy"? “If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.”
"...try to see things, not just through the Bible, but through the eyes of the most creative of all beings...GOD"
The Bible is written from the inspiration of Truth. Why would I not choose to fully see all things through His filter? "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (2 Tit 3: 16) The Creator God Himself has given us this unique "Way" of seeing things to result in choices pertaining to His Righteousness, why would I not choose to view from His perspective? Jesus said, "I am the Truth and Way" (Jn.14:16), therefore I choose to be led and guided by His Truth and in His Way concerning the supernatural world of the powers of darkness, that I can't possibly comprehend, but God fully does. "The Devil, the father of Lies" (Jn. 8:44) through worldly lusts puts those who follow him into his bondage. "The Father of Lights" (James 1:17) desires to set us free from the bondage of sin through His Truth.
Why would I choose to disobey and "walk after my own devices" and succumb to the "imagination of my evil heart" (Jer.18:12) which would surely result in my being deceived by the "Angel of Light". He was capable of deluding Eve, a perfect being without sin, how could I a sinner, escape his subtle manipulation and beguiling? (2 Cor. 11:3)
No, the ONLY sure method to sift through the world's misinformation is to go through the discernment (wisdom) offered by Our Father in His "Manufacture's" Handbook, the Holy Scripture, aided by His Spirit of Truth. His Truths in the Bible are there for our sake to help illuminate spiritual lies and darkness. Through His Words our Creator God wishes to guide us by His superior knowledge. "His thoughts are not ours, and our Ways are not His" (Isa. 55:8). Unfortunately many, who call themselves Christians, reject God's thoughts and ways justifying "their own ways which seem right" (Prov. 14:12). Refusing to heed God's warnings regarding association with "principalities, powers, rulers of darkness of this world and spiritual wickedness in high places"
(Eph. 6:12) will lead to spiritual death.
Pro 16:2 All the ways of a man [are] clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.
TWILIGHT THE MOVIE
FACTS THAT SUPPORT EDWARD IS AN EVIL CREATURE
During the movie, the main character Bella who falls in love with Edward, the vampire, suspects Edward of being more than human, and so she researches his characteristics on the Internet. Using Google, she types in “Cold Ones.” She gets this phrase from a book in which she was researching Edward’s character. She is reminded of his very cold touch. What the search reveals on Google are names like “demons,” undead,” and drank blood.” The film actually shows these names.
She hits on a website which reads, “Mask depicting the cold one, a terrifying native artifact.” Other Internet hits reveal various names for these “cold ones” in various cultures around the world. The film shows the words “Demons of the night – origins.” Bella concludes that Edward is a vampire, also known by the term “cold one,” “undead,” and “demon.”
The facts of the Twilight movie show that Edward is considered a “demon”. The movie does not hide this demonic origin of a vampire. It is a ridiculous and non-factual assumption made by some Christian viewers that Edward is not an evil being. Neither Stephenie Meyer nor the film producers claim that Edward is anything other than a demon, undead, cold one, known as a vampire. It takes an undiscerning at best and disobedient at worst Christian to attempt to twist Biblical teaching in order to suit their own propensity of wrong-thinking.
In the movie after Edward reveals himself as a vampire to Bella, he says to her, “I am the world’s most dangerous predator. Everything about me invites you in, my voice, face, and even my smell. I am designed to kill.”
Does this sound like Biblically moral, virtuous language? And why do those calling themselves Christian support this anti-Biblical view? And why do some fans of Twilight want Christians to believe in its so-called Christian benefits? A redefining of values is in process as it is in the character of the young witch, Harry Potter. Any philosophy contrary to Biblical thinking says evil contains both a good side and a bad side, a dark and light side, a black and white aspect. But the Bible teaches only Satan (and his legion) have both these traits in his "appearance" as "an angel of light" and his wickedness of pure evil as seen in the dragon, the serpent of old, the Devil, and Satan who deceives the whole world." (Rev. 12:9) His character covers the whole complex range and gamut from a darkness that appears to be light to blackness itself. But God the Father of Lights has "no variableness or shadow of turning" in His purity. (James 1:17)
Defenders of good and evil coming from the same source, in Twilight's case focus on the morality of Edward based on his not engaging in sexual activity, but fail to mention his demonic connection in his admission to be “the world’s most dangerous predator.”
Edward continues, “I’ve killed people Bella.” He admits he's a murderer, yet many adult Christians find this story appropriate reading for themselves and their children. Many defend the movie (and books) as being just "fantasy" which brings God's character into question. God doesn't call the demonic realm fantasy, He states "witchcaft is sin" (1Sam. 15:23) and Jesus saw Satan "as lightning falls from heaven" (Lk. 10:18) The satanic supernatural realm with all its powers and principalities and abilities of decieiving and deluding is not fantasy according to the Bible but a reality that Jesus died to save us from.
Bella answers Edward’s admission to murder with, “It doesn’t matter.” Is this an attitude and direction Christians (or anyone of any religious background) want nurtured in youth?
Edward replies, “I wanted to kill you. I’ve never wanted a human’s blood so much in my life.”
Bella moans, “I trust you.” “Don’t,” Edward warns.
Some Christians who choose to see moral value in this story will insist that Edward is good and loving. That he abstains from sexual contact with Bella because he is moral, but here by his own admission he declares, “I wanted to kill you.”
If Christians choose to see good in the demonic they fall prey to Biblical warning.
Isa 5:20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
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