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The things we love ~ and how they change us ~ By Berit Kjos, July 12, 2003 |
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Home - Articles - The Power of Suggestion - Unconscious Learning |
"Christians are very loving. There's probably more love than ever in the churches today.... Paul prophesied that during the perilous times of the last days... men would be 'lovers of themselves' and 'lovers of money.' He even said that men would be 'lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God.' So the problem in the Church today is not that men do not have love; it is rather the things they are loving." Alan Martin, "There's Plenty of Love in the Churches"
“They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues...." Matthew 23:6-7
"I believe in GOD. I go to church, I pray. I love Harry Potter." Laura
"I have been playing RPGs since I was little, and I love them!" A high school student
We all look at the world from our own particular point of view. Years ago, that personal perspective would tended to be similar to the wordview of our parents and grandparents. As a family, we loved to swim in the lake, hike in the woods, pick flowers and read books with old-fashioned values. We loved our family Bible study and sharing time and we played lots of games. We had fun together!.
But our times have brought new things to love. From the time they first watch the Teletubbies or read the Lion King, children enter a world with a competing set of values -- and discover a whole new list of "fun" things. If Christian parents want to join in their contemporary "fun", they may have to adapt beliefs and affections of that new youth culture.
What does that culture look like? The letters sent to our website have flung open the window into that new culture, and it is changing churches as well as families across the country. Consider these:
"I am a strong Christian and love the Lord with all my heart. The problem is I really enjoy reading the [Harry Potter] books and nothing about them conflicts with my spirit.... " A youth pastor
"I am a Catholic teenager and a very large Dragon Ball Z fan... I love snakes." King Cobra
"I have been encouraged by my pastor at my CHRISTIAN church to read the Harry Potter books, because even though they have references to magic and sorcery, they can teach us more about the values of Friendship and Bravery then he can.... I am no longer Christian. Somewhere along the way my beliefs changed. I practice Wicca...." A.
"I love anime," wrote Jeff Recco. "I believe it has taught me things I never could have learned in church, or anywhere else for that matter."
No doubt it has. Anime -- with its fast-action thrills, psychic energies, heart-breaking psychological conflicts and characters "like us" who model supernatural strength and seductive sassiness -- introduce fans to all sorts of new visions, values, wants and ways. Those who have learned to LOVE occult games, movies or anime rarely question the long-term consequences of their obsessions -- especially when the fantasy world feels so much better than reality.
Take a look at some of their lessons. They fit the blinding visions and utopian mission of the globalist change agents behind today's global education, the liberal church and the United Nations:
Lesson 1: All that matters is love
"The bottom line is that Harry Potter makes children, teenagers like myself and even adults HAPPY," wrote 17 year old M.L. "I've read the books to several children that I babysit for, and watched all of them laugh, smile, and cry happily." M. L., age 17
"Hermione," who borrowed her Internet name her favorite Harry Potter character, would agree. She wrote, "I love the adventures of the brave Harry Potter, the cunning Ron Wesley and the brainy Hermione Granger. In the end isn't that all that matters -- that we love it?" Hermione J.
For those who see reality through the filter of God's Word, the answer would be "no." But from the perspective of the new global paradigm, the answer becomes a resounding "yes!" Fun is equated with happiness, and the quest for momentary happiness is justified by a self-made vision of a counterfeit god whose aim is to gratify human wants. And if he doesn't? Then just forget Christianity. There are plenty of other gods and forces out there who promise greater thrills.
"I have learned that an obsession can be a great thing," wrote Jon. " A few years back, my life was very troubled. Well, I got into anime, and yes, it became a true passion. I love this, it is an obsession, but when I watched it, it took away from the pain of my life for a short while."
Rick, who loves a show called Neon Genesis Evangelion, wrote, "NGE is a wonderful series in so far as that is does offer up an interesting story based on religion. The series is no doubt offensive to many christians, but not to me. I love God and Jesus. Indeed I love mankind as well. I can see things in a different light than most."
That "different light" -- or new insight -- has redefined God and conformed their understanding of reality to the new global and pluralistic paradigm. Justifying their affections, millions of "Christians" are reinterpreting the Bible. "Loving pleasure more than God," they rationalize their fantasies and distort the truth. And they don't even know what they are doing.
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But God says: "You love evil more than good...." Ps 52:3-4
"How long, O you
sons of men, will you turn my glory to shame? |
Lesson 2: I am in control
Many visitors to our website share their feelings but not their names. "I love Sailor Moon," wrote one such visitor. "Sailor Moon gives encouragement to young girls to be strong for themselves."
Indeed it does. And her strength is drawn from occult forces and pagan philosophies. Like Superman, Sailor Moon and her companions change from ordinary people into mighty superhuman master.
Over a year ago, a Pokemon fan named Shellie learned a lesson that drives many children into every darker forms of fantasies. "There are 150 pocket monsters," she told her concerned Christian aunt. "You need to get all of them to have all the power... I just love them!"
"How do you get the power?" asked her aunt.
"Well you have pocket monsters that you have already won. They live in poke' balls."
"What are Poke' balls?"
"That is where they stay when they aren't helping you. Whenever you need their assistance you call them and they roll out of their balls and become full size and help you."
"How do you call them?"
"By their name, silly." She laughed.
"Like how?" I inquired.
"Well, like 'Ginkachu', I need you, come and help me?"
"How do they help you?"
"They use their magic powers to do things to help you. Like for example, 'Blahblahchu' has the power to turn into a ball of fire and burn for you. And they fight the bad ones. Oh yeah, and they evolve. They can change and evolve into other things to give you more power. So you say 'Blahblahchu' help me and they come and help you, they're really cool."
"What are you called? I mean, are you just a little girl or what is your name when you play this?"
"The Master. I am the master. I call them and they do what I ask. They have to obey me."
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But God says: “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." Matthew 6:24 |
Lesson 3: There are many gods
"I am a Christian, and I love my religion, but I also love other religions," wrote a young man who called himself "Smirnoff."
"I love Star Wars, I have loved it since it first came out at the movies. It was my own choice, and will continue to love it.... I don't see any conflict between me liking Star Wars and being a Christian."
"Sailor Moon, you will forever be immortal. For all eternity, you will be the most beautiful, brilliant light.... All hail Usagi Tsukino! Sailor Moon! Neo-Queen Selenity! ... Heero no mane nanka shitaku wa nai ga... ore to issho ni jigoku e ikou ze! ... I LOVE YOU!" Jenna (TenshiWings)
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But God says: "Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things..." 2 Timothy 4:2-5
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Lesson 4: No one has the right to offend me with truth
"I love anime. I will always love it. I will not let anyone tell me that the things I hold dear are evil. .... I love to think, and RPGs make me think. Thinking is good. (From Berit: Actually "thinking" is neutral. What counts is what you think about.) ... Jenna (TenshiWings) - Proud supporter of Shounen-ai:
"You guys need to get it together! I can't believe there are actually idiots like you on this planet! I have to say, that quite frankly, you people REALLY scare me... This is complete #$%&! I LOVE the Harry Potter books!" anomymous
"I am a devout christian, and i love the lord with all my heart, and also read harry potter. ... We live in America, why don't you read the document that layed down the foundation for it's people; i don't know if you've ever heard of it, it's called the Constitution." Stephen
"I have absouloutely NOTHING against God. I love him and I pray every nigh... I cannot believe you. I am a christian and I love Harry Potter. ... ASK YOUR CHILDREN NOT TO HANG WITH US "WIZARDS" AND STAY OUT OF OUR BUISINESS!" Hedwig
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But God says:
"How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? |
Lesson 5: Hatred for contrary views
"I love God, I love Jesus, and I hate your stupid comments saying that if we read Harry Potter we're going to go to hell!" Anonymous
"I AM FURIOUS WITH THIS SITE. I am a Catholic, a Christian, and
full-heartedly believe in my religion. My fave musical is Godspell, about Jesus,
and I altarserve, pray everyday, and sing songs from my religion. Also, my fave
books are the Harry Potter series.... They're
not leading us to sin; the people who believe the books are evil...they're the
ones that are leading us to sin!... I'm not going to let people destroy the
books children love!
Jocelyn,
You say you are a Christian, Jocelyn, so you may appreciate this reminder of what it means to follow Jesus and bear His name:
"If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.... If they persecuted Me they will persecute you... for they do not know the One who sent Me." John 15:20-21
Jocelyn, please read what God tells us about witchcraft, divination, magic or sorcery and necromancy in Deut 18:9-12. Notice that He refers to such practices as an "abomination." In other words, He despises it.
Then read Rom 12:2-9. Here He tells us to "abhor what is evil" and "cling to what is good." If, in your imagination, you delight in what God abhors, you are not following Him. Jesus gives us an example of the importance of the imagination when He tells us, "everyone who looks at a woman to lust for her has committed adultery with her already in his heart." Matt. 5:28 It's a good reminder to girls not to dress as living temptations to the guys, making it more difficult for them to follow God's ways.
"Cripes, you make me sick. if you hate fantasy, harry potter, who cares? just hate it! I love it! ... everyone knows, that even The Old Testament is fake. it didn't happen. it's made up. so IT'S FANTASY!!!" Anonymous
They do and they can. But their brains need to be instructed and led by good values, not the capricious feelings that are natural our human nature. And their thoughts need -- according to age -- the wise guidance of facts and truth. Otherwise children and teenagers never learn true wisdom. See Proverbs 12-15.
...you and I see both God and reality from different perspectives. Therefore even our words take on different meanings. For example, "to be" a Christian -- someone who loves and follows Jesus -- I simply had to trust in the freedom and salvation He won for me by dying on the cross and bearing the judgment for my sins. I am not sure what your "to Be" means. Could you explain it?
"Any pile of stunted growth unaware that entertainment is just that, and nothing more, deserves to doom themselves to some dank cell somewhere for having been so stupid! ... I have friends who are DEVOUT Catholics and Christians of other denominations who love the Harry Potter books, the Lord of the Rings books, Dragonball Z, the Yu-Gi-Oh! game, and are involved in RPG's. ... Your obsession with keeping everything but the Bible in people's minds in sickening. That's almost idol-worship.... Keep your religion to yourself, and everyone will be better for it." Anonymous
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But God says: "Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you. "1 Jn 3:10 "...
we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being
saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the
aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma
of life leading to life." 2 Corinthians 2:15-16 |
Lesson 4: The occult becomes more "normal" and "right" than God's ways
"I am a strong Christian and love the Lord with all my heart. The problem is I really enjoy reading the books and nothing about them conflicts with my spirit.... " A youth pastor
"...many aspects of DB/DBZ [DragonBall Z] ... embody a more 'occult' or 'unchristian' feel. Of course. It comes from an unchristian (note that I didn't say ANTI-christian...) culture. The christian god gave his creations the ability to choose for themselves, and every aspect of those creations to whom he gave intelligence turned away from him. His own angels, his own beloved humans, CHOSE to disobey him, by the very will he gave to them. What does this say about God? .... I love DBZ more than any show/art form on the planet, and I plan on getting inked [tatooed[ with a couple of DBZ characters this week, encasing them and their qualities forever in my own flawed, free-will driven human flesh. I will even go as far as to say that the entire DB/DBZ system of gods/deities/guardians/OtherWorlds makes more sense to me as a person than christianity." Anonymous
"I have been encouraged by my pastor at my CHRISTIAN church to read the Harry Potter books, because even though they have references to magic and sorcery, they can teach us more about the values of Friendship and Bravery then he can.... I am no longer Christian. Somewhere along the way my beliefs changed. I practice Wicca...." A.
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But God says:
"The prophets prophesy falsely, "The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness." 2 Th 2:9-12
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Ashman
The way back
“...many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And
because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this
gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a
witness to all the nations, and then the end will come."
Matthew 24:11-14
"The Protestant Ethic will atrophy as more and more enjoy varied leisure and guaranteed sustenance.... Most people will tend to be hedonistic..." [2] Feasibility Study, Behavioral Science Teacher Education Program (B-STEP), Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Bureau of Research, 1969
"...absolute behavior control is imminent.... The critical point of behavior control, in effect, is sneaking up on mankind without his self-conscious realization that a crisis is at hand. Man will... never self-consciously know that it has happened." [1] Raymond Houghton, To Nurture Humaneness, ASCD (curriculum arm of the NEA), 1970
"Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. "Jas 1:12-15
“...many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And
because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this
gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a
witness to all the nations, and then the end will come."
Matthew 24:11-14
“They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the
synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by
men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’"
Matthew 23:6-7
From Lisa Class: I was a D&D player in college. What Ioved about it was the intellectual stimulation that it gave me. It took my mind and pulled it to its outer limits. However, I started to notice that my friends were taking this as more then just a game. It became their God. It is in that I find danger. I quit playing D&D.
From Don M.: I Love Jesus and He is My Shepherd, and I reject experience as a measure or standard of TRUTH...
“...you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. " Re 2:3-6 |
From Don M.: I Love Jesus and He is My Shepherd, and I reject experience as a measure or standard of TRUTH...
Your love for Harry Potter doesn't prove his goodness. Nor did I say you or anyone was worshiping Satan. And if you were to look in the section on victory and "Fun for the Family" you would see a small portion of the things I love and recommend. Or would you prefer to silence my opinion and outlaw my views. That doesn't sound very American - or Christian.
Don't hate what I love!
I see more clearly than you do.
Your summary leaves out much of what really happened and shows a very human view of the God who cannot be defined or explained apart from His Word and Spirit. Even so, it says that,
- God didn't want to make us mindless puppets
- He allowed us to see what we (and the world) are like apart from Him, so that we would all the more delight in the hope, freedom and abundant, eternal life we have in Christ.
- His patience and mercy toward those who turn to Him far exceeds our understanding.
- His judgment on those who continue in rebellion and refuse to acknowledge His answers and provision for all our needs is justified.
Ash Man: through my belief, my senses have been hightened. so many things give me pleasure, that did not before, like the brighter the colour, the louder the noise the more arousing and pleasurable it is. Chaos acolytes and followers do not like satanism because they are single minded and do things not for themselves but for their god. Chaos rewards those that do things for themselves, and to bring its influence onto others. but chaos is in its nature chaotic everything about chaos changes all the time constantly
"But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation
and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown
men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a
root of all kinds of evil...." 1 Ti 6:9-10
18“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it
hated you. 19“If you were of the world, the world would love its
own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of
the world, therefore the world hates you. 20“Remember the word
that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If
they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My
word, they will keep yours also. 21“But all these things they
will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him
who sent Me."
John 15:18-21
"Their heart is divided; now they are held guilty." Hosea 10:2
"Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever!" Deuteronomy 5:29
“But My people would not heed My voice, and Israel would have none of Me. So I gave them over to their own stubborn heart, to walk in their own counsels.
“Oh, that My people would listen to Me, that Israel would walk in My ways! I would soon subdue their enemies...." Psalm 81:11-14
"And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God." Philippians 1:9-11
"...the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." Romans 5:5
"Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love,
peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart." 2 Ti 2:22-23
Lust is called passion,