What are we doing? Really, church. What are we doing? We are the salt of the earth, but what good is salt if it's lost its savor? Why have we gone back to the snares that God once delivered us from? Why have we turned back to the sin that Jesus already freed us from? We've placed our candles underneath bushels in hopes of avoiding persecution. Our spirit has grown deprived while our flesh is yet to still be satisfied. We've been filled with everything but the Spirit and lulled to sleep in the comfort of our own sin. We are the light of the world, saints. It's time that we start walking in this truth.

I just read your post about Christian Disney animators, and... I never knew. I never knew that anyone in Disney was Christian, or that they were trying to portray Christian values.

I came from a, um... not a good home, very legalistic in some ways, but both my parents call themselves Christians (not my place to judge them, I just pray for them). My mom would point at Disney movies and say, "I'm letting you watch this, but all this magic is Satanic" (she did the same thing with Star Wars). I was convinced that Ariel was nothing but a spoiled brat who abandoned her family to run off with some guy, and my mom would remind me over and over that "Beauty and the Beast was just a story- people don't change."

So I basically grew up believing that Disney is just a bunch of cute fairy tales at best, and Satanic at worst. And this is one of the things that has contributed to my confusion as an adult. I love fantasy and sci-fi, I love video games, but I also feel guilty about loving things with so much magic in them. But at the same time, it occurred to me a few years ago that the world stopped believing in God when they stopped believing in magic. "God is dead" coincided with "love at first sight isn't real."

And then, just... certain things I've been thinking, ideas I get sometimes, things I want to write and draw- I've been afraid to share anything because I thought I was crazy and heretical and leaning towards Satanism. But....

Anyway, thx for your post. I need to rewatch some of the old Disney movies.

My mom taught me some similar things—especially that all “magic” is evil. And that is true: all magic out here in the real world IS evil.

But then she’d turn right around and tell me to read the Chronicles of Narnia and Lord of the Rings, where magic is very prominent. So I was confused and asked her, and eventually she told me—“magic,” as the Bible describes it, is real. It’s just humans playing with demonic, spiritual stuff that they were created not to play with, and it is always bad, in the real world.

But. “Magic” in stories can be whatever the storyteller wants it to be. Magic is obviously, usually, something super-powerful that can change reality. So storytellers in stories like Narnia and LOTR (and in Star Wars!) started using “magic” as a symbol for a higher power, or something good. Because Who is powerful enough to alter reality, and is good? God. Like I said in my post. Basically:

“Magic” when the Bible says it = real sorcery, where humans try to contact or use the “power” of spirits and planets and whatever else they find that seems “supernatural” in the real world. Always evil. God made us to have a perfect relationship with one spirit—and it’s Him. When we step outside of that, it’s like a fish trying to breathe oxygen. It destroys us.

But

“Magic” when a storyteller says it = anything they want it to be. They could be referring to the evil, heretical thing your mom was talking about. They could have spiritualists and heretics in their story, BUT…more often, in popular stories, magic isn’t magic at all. It’s just a superpower, and it’s made-up, and it symbolizes something. The Bible doesn’t say anything against making up superpowers in a story!

Anyway. There’s that. If your mom was anything life my mom, she was trying to teach you something that would protect you. (To brag on my mother, not all moms can be literature teaching geniuses with a gift for growing a critical-thinking muscle in their kids.)

But I will say exactly what I think your mom is wrong about if that’s okay with you. (I totally respect your decision to pray for your family; I’ll join you.)

Anywho. The thing I think your mom and a lot of (not all of) the previous generation of Christian parents get wrong is that there’s not supposed to be any such thing as “that’s just a story.” Stories are meant to point to something true. The Beast changes because he repented from who he used to be, and Belle’s sacrificial love gave him the option to do that. Just like Christ’s sacrificial love is the only thing that can turn us from monsters to princes and princesses.

After all. Reality is a story. It’s made up. God made it up. There was nothing, and then He spoke it into existence. There was a blank slate, and then He made a world, populated it with characters, and ordered the events in it. He wrote in a hero, and that hero saves the day. The bad guys lose, the good guys win. There’s a beginning, a conflict, a darkest hour, a “eucatastrophe,” and now we’re racing toward the conclusion. It’s a happy ending. That’s reality. Reality is a story.

But the previous generation of Christians (some, not all) forgot that God invented storytelling. They let the secular culture tell them that stories are somehow just for entertainment, and therefore, they are almost all wastes of a good Christian’s time. When in actuality, God invented stories. And he made us as creatures that love a good story, love to create good stories. Stories are supposed to use fantastical things to point to truth.

After all, God does that in His own story (reality.) He made rules for His world, like, “humans sink in water,” and “sickness can’t be cured from a touch” and “when a person is dead they can’t come back to life.” And then He intentionally broke those rules. He let something amazing happen—all of Jesus’ miracles—because He knew we would need to believe that Jesus came from, and is, the hero. The storyteller, coming into the story, to save the day.

Just like how, when George Lucas sets up Star Wars, he made certain rules. Yeah, it’s an alien world, but a lot of it has rules like our own reality—if a human jumps, they can only go a few feet in the air. People can’t read minds. But then he breaks those rules with the Jedi—space magic—and the Force.

Christians called what Jesus did “miracles,” and we should have, because that’s what the Bible calls it. But we could just as easily call it “fantasy magic.” It’s something supernatural, and wonderful, and powerful, and it inspires belief in anyone who sees it.

Anyway. Christians should remember that God invented reality as a story to point to this truth: “This is Who God is.” And God used what we would call “magic” in His own story. We’re allowed to do that to. As long as it points to truth.

I’ll just tell you what my mom told me. When you watch a movie or enjoy a story of any kind, ask yourself questions. Ask, “why did I like that? What was the magic in the story? Were humans communicating with demons or spirits to get power or knowledge? Did the story act like that was a good thing to do, or not? If the magic didn’t have anything to do with what the Bible calls magic, then it isn’t the kind of thing the Bible says to stay away from.”

Or feel guilty about. Feel guilty if it’s something God says not to do—don’t feel guilty if it’s not something God says not to do. 🤷‍♀️ In all honesty, the only reason my mom could teach me some of these things is because God taught it to her, in the Bible. And the only reason I believe these things that she taught me is because I read the Bible and He taught it to me, too. Best piece of advice anybody can give is “read the Bible and get to know who God is.” In any scenario.

Thank you for this ask. It was very kind of you to share that personal stuff, and encourage me!

When someone offends us, it is easy to dwell on our hurts and justify an ungodly response of anger or bitterness. However, just as God has forgiven us of our sins through His son Jesus Christ, we are to forgive others. To forgive means to send the offense completely away from our hearts and mind. We no longer dwell on the offense or keep a record of it in our hearts. It also means that we respond to the offender in grace, returning an offense with a blessing, even if the offender does not deserve it. Who do you need to forgive and show grace to today?

The preaching of the gospel, the good news, God's word is the only antidote that God has prescribed regarding this world. He gave his Son. The Son gave his life. By way of our belief in the gospel of Christ, he save and deliver us from this present evil world.

The Son did not come starting programs, beginning a political party, or any other thing. He came preaching and teaching the kingdom. He came preaching and teaching the time to come. He came preaching hope, belief, and faith in God; that if we believe and receive the kingdom of God, we will be there in that world to come. (He's going to destroy this one.)

The gospel is for the purpose of calling people out of this world. The gospel, good news, or God's word is for the purpose of stopping the the works of Satan. The preaching of the Word of God torments devils. The preaching of the Word has become my hope.

However, despite the supremacy of God's word, in this age of the Church, the word of God is not going to appeal to the Church. 📜 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; [4] and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. - II Timothy 4:3-4 It is therefore going to take for us to INDIVIDUALLY respond to God. In this age of the Church, it will not be a corporate turning unto God to take heed to, believe in, and for the hearing of God's word. 📜‭‭Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. - Revelation 3:20

📖 ‭‭Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught. [22] And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. [23] Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, [24] saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!” [25] But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” [26] And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him. - Mark 1:21-26

📖 ‭‭You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. - I John 4:4

📖 ‭‭He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. - I John 3:8

📖 ‭‭To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. [22] “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’ ” - Revelation 3:21-22

📖 ‭‭Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. - Revelation 21:1

Evolution is simply the latest means our fallen race has devised in order to suppress our innate knowledge and the biblical testimony that there is a God and that we are accountable to Him (cf. Romans 1:28). By embracing evolution, modern society aims to do away with morality, responsibility, and guilt. Society has embraced evolution with such enthusiasm because people imagine that it eliminates the Judge and leaves them free to do whatever they want without guilt and without consequences.

John MacArthur

Truth & accountability shouldn’t be as offensive as it is today.

Isn't the Church a family? Don't we ask other believers, particular righteous and mature ones, to pray to God for us? Why can't we ask our older brothers and sisters, who are now free of sin, to pray to God for us? Put that way, there does not seem to be much wrong with it, and indeed I don't think God is furiously angry with individual Christians in these churches who engage in this practice. It is not idolatry. The question rather, is whether this practice is biblical, and whether it is healthy for the life of the people. The answer is that there are no Biblical grounds for this practice and thus that it is unhealthy. The development of the cult of the saints is understandable. When those we love die, we hold their memory precious. We keep as relics some of their possessions, a lock of their hair, or a photo of their smile. Perhaps we might even imagine ourselves telling them we're sorry for not being a better son or daughter. These are understandable human reactions, and it is understandable also that early missionaries who brought sinners into the Kingdom of Light were much loved and their relic much prized. When these human emotions are transmuted into acts of veneration toward the dead, and/or into the belief that the dead are to be consulted, then we have stepped over the line. If you want to tell your mother that you wish you had been a better son, tell it to Jesus and He'll pass it on.

-James Jordan, The Liturgy Trap

A new friend on a discord server posted this, and it really helped me understand this practice. 

Biblically only Jesus and The Holy Spirit intercedes our prayers, no one else. And seeing the emotions guiding these things, I can now understand and feel less troubled by it now, however is still urge those in these secs of Christianity who practice it to seek God and open your hearts to His voice, and to His truth, through His Word. I say this with love and concern. 

“Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.“  -Romans 8:34

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.  And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. -Romans 8:8:26-27

The devil is a LIAR!

A Few Things For Us All To Think About ( #1533 )

A Few Things For Us All To Think About ( #1533 )   1.) We the people must learn that there are some people in this world who only seek to do evil! 2.) Sometimes even a spouse will truly hate us and only want evil things for us, I experienced this, I know that this is true! 3.) For us to have a meaningful life we need to understand the ways of the word that is around us! 4.) If we live our life…

View On WordPress

Worry and anxiety are unbelief. They focuses on trusting in self, rather than trusting the sovereignty of God. Worry and anxiety dwell on what God teaches us not to dwell on [Phil 4:8]. They lead to complaining and grumbling, which God hates [Phil 2:14]. Worry and anxiety encourage us to take control over our own situations instead of trusting God, fooling us to think that we are wiser than God. The opposite of worry and anxiety is to trust God. Trusting God shifts our attention from self to God’s love, wisdom, and power. We recognize that God is in control and that He is worthy to be trusted during our trials. Trusting God gives us the strength to love and serve others, even when things are challenging for ourselves. 🙏 If you are worried or anxious today, repent and pray to God with thanksgiving, making your requests known to Him, and He will guard your heart and mind with His peace [Phil 4:4-7].

This past Wednesday night, after Bible Study I stopped at a gas station to purchase some chips I told my cousin I'd get for her to try. While in there, I also desired to get some blue sour straws with the sugar on them. Apparently, they don't sell them anymore. Them had been on my mind for a while. Haven't had in years.

While searching, this brother began checking out and asked for some black and milds or something. He remarked, , ,"I'm trying let these %%% go, but . . . stressful." I heard that while searching and it then came before me to ask him has he tried God.

I then shortly got behind him in line and asked, "Have you tried God?"  He gave his response, confessing this and that and upon him saying "it's difficult. . . I mean it's really not. . ." I began and told him, "It is difficult," and carried on. I intended to recite "Straight is the gate and narrow (or "difficult" according to NKJV) is the way that leads to life." I didn't want to sell that brother short.

But what came out of my mouth was: "The word says ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find . . . If you be sincere and diligent towards God, God will come in and help you. But yea, it is difficult." I finished my purchase. He said, "Thanks. I needed that."

My mind goes to Matthew 11:28-30 this morning regarding that exchange: ‭‭

📜"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  [29] Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  [30] For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

💡There is yet a yolk. A believer in Christ is not scotch-free. However, the more we come to believing, trusting, and knowing him,  "The yoke is easy and the burden is light." ☝️

#4 A Comet of 5 BC?

The article, ‘The Star of Bethlehem’ in Science and Christian Belief written by Colin Humphreys was a great find.  It supplies most of the facts upon which this article is based.  He recommends that rather than thinking that the Bible is untrue, as many people think today, or surmising that the Biblical authors were using literary devices to make stories more exciting for their readers, we should…

View On WordPress

Compassion does not mean compromising biblical truth. But sexual identity must be for us more than an abstract social issue. Real souls have endured real anguish over it. We must seek to understand their painful stories before we speak into their struggles. The more we know, the more compassionate will be our truthful response.

Jon Bloom