Christians Aware

Satan is seeking any opportunity to create a doorway into his world. It doesn’t have to be through a Seance or Satanic ritual - these are obvious doorways to many people. Satan often uses the ‘back door approach’. He will use any way he can to stimulate young people’s interest and knowledge in the occult and these things are all becoming mainstream in our society. We need to be more on our guard now than ever before. Not just with Harry Potter - but with all things that take our eyes off of God. It means taking a stand against what is becoming the norm in our society and unless our young people have a firm grounding in God’s word, occultic practices will begin to appear the norm to them too. We need to be encouraging our children to seek a healthy balance in their life - teaching them discernment and helping them to make Godly decisions for themselves.

Children do not have the emotional and spiritual maturity to distinguish clearly between real life and fantasy - and this is where danger lies. In an interview with Newsweek, the author admitted that she gets letters from children wanting to be the first on the list to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry (the fictitious school in the novels) as one child wrote: “I was eager to get to Hogwarts first because I like what they learned there and I want to be a witch” Gioia Bishop, age 10 (San Francisco Chronicle). If children are hoping places like this exist - where do they go from here? Across the world Witchcraft is on the rise. The Pagan federation has reported a flood of inquires from young people, since the release of the Harry Potter books and T.V shows such as “Charmed” and “Sabrina the Teenage Witch.” This is something we can’t afford to ignore!

With a sense of ‘warm fuzzies’ Rowling’s novels cleverly indoctrinate the reader into a relaxed perception of the practices of Witchcraft. The books blatantly make you ‘appreciate’ Witchcraft as something that is just ‘misunderstood’ by most people. It is portrayed as people having harmless fun, with ‘good magic’. The novels, along with T.V shows like ‘Charmed’, convince you that witches are the ‘good guys’ fighting against ‘evil. Such deception! There is no ‘good’ magic or ‘good witches’. Either you are for God or against him. There is no middle road. Let us not turn a blind eye to Satan’s schemes for we are to have “nothing to do with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them” Ephesians 5:11. We at Torrens Valley Christian school ask you to prayerfully consider this information in making your decision about the Harry Potter books.

Lord Voldermort was then able to control her into to doing things like killing all of the school’s roosters, attacking a cat and hanging it on a wall next to a morbid message in the school hallway.

In book 3 the Dementors make an appearance

“Dementors are among the foulest creatures that walk this earth. They infest the darkest, filthiest places, they glory in decay and despair, they drain peace, hope and happiness out of the air around them… get too near a Dementor and every good feeling, every happy memory, will be sucked out of you. If it can, the Dementor will feed on you long enough to reduce you to something like itself - soulless and evil. You’ll be left with nothing but the worst experiences of your life…” (p 140). Later the Dementor’s kiss is described; “they clamp their jaws upon the mouth of the victim and suck out his soul.” (p 183)

Again and again the books cleverly present counterfeits of God’s workings. In book 1 Harry comes across a mirror that “shows us nothing more or less than the deepest, most desperate desire of our hearts.” (p 157) surely a counterfeit of Psalm 37 “Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Later in book 3, a cheering charm learnt in charms class leaves Harry and his friends “with a feeling of great contentment.” (p 217) another counterfeit of God’s intentions that we learn to rely on him for our happiness and contentment (Philippians 4:12). More and more examples are found on each page.

The Harry Potter books certainly provide the reader with ample knowledge of witchcraft practices. At school, Harry attends classes that teach him everything about witchcraft - nothing is held back with detailed descriptions of making potions, spells, curses, transformations, crystal ball reading, charms- all of the practices God says to have nothing to do with! In Deuteronomy God says “Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or a spiritist or who consults the dead.” (Det 18:10). God can’t be much clearer than that can he? Yet nearly all of these things listed here is represented in the Harry Potter books - for example, one of Harry’s school subjects is “Divination” class” (the practise of predicting the future) - see School Subjects.

The author states that she believes that her books are moral - but that is only so if witchcraft itself is moral. Wicca (the religion of Witchcraft) has a sovereign law that states that “If it harm none, then do as you will.” This focus is portrayed subtly again and again in the books as Harry defies authority by repeatedly breaking the rules to battle the ‘evil one’ (and yet he is continually rewarded for it by his teachers and made to be a hero). Harry is supposedly a ‘nice guy’ (as stated by many avid readers) yet he demonstrates behaviours such as seeking revenge, thinking hateful and murderous thoughts, lying, cheating, blackmailing and stealing - these behaviours are continually justified in the book as okay because Harry is seen as working for ‘good’ - the message that comes across is it’s okay to do immoral things if you are working for a ‘good’ cause.

The reason these books are so popular is because, our society, including our children are hungry for spiritual answers. God created us all with an inbuilt desire to worship - it is just the object of our desire that we make a choice. In our own way we are all searching, hungry for the truth. 2 Corinthians 11:14 tells us that Satan “masquerades as an angel of light.”. He is very clever. He likes to package his deception in ‘trendy, seductive and appealing packages’. He knows just what to do to attract people to him and away from God. Especially our children. If children are so eagerly soaking up books like Harry Potter and watching T.V shows, films and video games about the occult - what does this reveal to us about their spiritual hunger? Reading one Harry Potter book isn’t necessarily going to lead a child or teenager into the occult - but a constant feeding on all of these things can surely harden your heart and leave no room for God to speak into your life.

Everybody’s wild about Harry Potter. Or so it seems. Hundreds of children, teenagers and even adults are buying up the novels written by British author J.K Rowling. With a mass marketing scheme and a willing media to promote the novel, children in Australia are now taken in with the hype that has already engulfed Britain and America. Unfortunately, right amongst the hype are Christian parents who don’t have time to read these novels and are unwittingly succumbing to the pressure from their children to keep up with the latest craze. While browsing in a bookshop recently, I overheard some parents talking near a display of Harry Potter books. One mother said “I can’t believe that children are reading books this thick” holding up a 636 page novel. That certainly seems to be the selling factor among many parents “Well anything that gets children reading again must be a good thing…”

Joanne Rowling, a single mother from Britain was riding in a train one day when the idea for the Harry Potter books just suddenly “dropped into her head.” Before the trip was over she had planned the basic outline of the first novel - “The Sorcerer’s Stone.” The book introduces Harry as a baby who is orphaned when the ‘evil’ Voldemort kills his mother and father (a witch and wizard). For some reason Voldemort looses his power when he tries to kill Harry and he survives - left only with a lightening bolt scar on his forehead (which is an occultic symbol representing your ability to have power or control over someone else - many children are emblazoning this symbol on their forehead in support of Harry).

Harry is left on the doorstep of his aunt and uncle who are ‘muggles’ - that is non-witch/wizards. His aunt and uncle are portrayed as uncouth, heartless and selfish people who spoil their own slobbish son but leave ‘poor’ Harry to sleep in a cupboard. They deliberately withhold the information to Harry that he is actually a wizard - because they don’t like ‘talking’ about such things. The impression is that if you don’t agree with or accept witches and wizards (or are not one yourself) you are ignorant, mean and boring. The novels continually highlight the differences between “magic and non-magic people.” Certainly the secret world of the witches and wizards is made out to be fun, exciting and certainly more preferable than living a mundane ‘muggle’ lifestyle. The author’s ability to capture the reader in vivid detail and emotion makes you despise these ‘non witch/wizard’ people to such an extent that when Harry is ‘rescued’ on his 11th birthday to be taken to “Hogwarts - School of Witchcraft and Wizardry” to study to become a wizard, you are relieved.

Harry is portrayed as some kind of saviour in the Wizarding world. This theme is continually built upon throughout the four books as Harry - represented as the underdog, overcomes his ‘troubled past’ to conquer ‘evil’. The reader can’t help but idolise him as he defies the odds to solve dark mysteries in each novel. Harry quickly makes friends at the school who he is able to relate to more than those awful ‘muggles’. In my opinion, this is a very dangerous message to send to the depressed teenager whose parents don’t understand him or the rebellious child who doesn’t have any friends. What better way to attract children to the world of Witchcraft by making them seem it is where they will really be understood, and find happiness and true friendship?

The author doesn’t seem to shy away from any topic. In book 3 Harry comes close to murdering a man named Sirius Black “He was going to kill Black. He had to kill Black. This was his chance…” (p 251). A girl is possessed by the evil Lord Voldermort in book 3 when she begins to write all her feelings in an old, empty diary. The ‘evil’ Lord Voldermort was able to take control of this girl as he explains on page 228

“she poured out her soul, and her soul happened to be exactly what I wanted. I grew stronger and stronger on a diet of her deepest fears, her darkest secrets. I grew powerful… powerful enough … to start pouring a little of my soul back into her..”

Why would Satan influence a game like Pokemon? Well for one it opens up players to the demonic realm of channelling (a power some of the Pokemon characters have) and possession. Pokemon is not the enemy - Satan is. Pokemon is a tool the enemy can use to build a false foundation and plant seeds of deception in a child.

As Christians we are aware of the ‘big’ evil things in our world like violence, drugs etc. but we can become a little oblivious to the fact that Satan will also use ‘good’ things like education, music, sport and hobbies to take our hearts off of God. Children brought up in Christian homes are a prime target by the devil who is using fads and entertainment to get their minds off God and onto worldly and even Satanic activities.

“The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.” 1 Timothy 4:1

Some Christian authors are telling parents “even though there is a little evil, it’s OK” A game that even hints at occultic practice is dangerous! We are to flee the appearance of evil. We need to be aware of what we are allowing our children to be exposed to.

Did you know that…

1. Pokemon was created in Japan and is influenced by Japanese mysticism.
2. Pokemon is short for “Pocket Monsters”.
3. Pokemon has grossed more than 5 billion dollars in the last three years, through it’s computer games, animated cartoon series, trading card game and novelty products.
4. The company that created the Pokemon trading card game is Wizards of the Coast Inc.
5. Wizards of the Coast also created Magic: The Gathering and the Dungeons and Dragons adventure game.
6. It can take months to complete a whole Pokemon computer game.
7. All Pokemon creatures receive their strength by 5 elements - fire, water, air/wind, soil and the void - these are the energy cards in the trading card game and are also the core elements of Pagan religion.
8. Hundreds of people have had seizures while watching the Pokemon cartoon - some simultaneously.
9. Many parents have reported their children having had nightmares associated with Pokemon.
10. In the ‘Pokemon Tower’ portion of the game, Pokemon creatures cannot fight with the game’s characters because they are possessed. The text I can’t fight now, I’m possessed appears on the Game Boy Screen.

When I first heard about Pokemon I thought “Oh no, not another craze.” Being a teacher I like to keep up with what all of these crazes are about - especially in regards to their underlying influences. It was after visiting an Internet site written by a Pastor from California that I learned more about this children’s game. Pastor Brett Peterson began to research Pokemon after observing his son and friends play, all who were into Pokemon. On one occasion during their play time he heard the children say phrases such as “Freeze, you’re possessed”, “I destiny bind you”, and “You’re hypnotised”. This greatly concerned him and he proceeded in prayer and fasting to seek God’s leading into this matter. His subsequent research has produced some startling facts about the influences in Pokemon.

Pokemon was created in Japan and is influenced by Japanese mysticism. Pokemon consists of a large number of ‘cute’ characters all of which have special powers to battle each other. Each Pokemon die to their old self and EVOLVE into another new, more powerful creature. For example Abra evolves to a creature called Kadabra, this creature “can send out waves of mental energy that can cause headaches at close range in the game.” Delightful huh? The creatures take on the appearance of dragons, ghosts, wizards etc. Many creatures have ‘psychic powers.’ Each creature has it’s own powers which they use in ‘battle’. Click here to read further about these creatures.

It would seem that Pokemon has surprising similarities with occult activities. In the game, Pokemon ‘trainers’ must go through a lot of training and ritual type actions to become “Master trainers’ with the ability to control the Pokemon creatures and their powers. A trainer ’summons’ one of their Pokemon, to battle other monsters and they use them as guardians. This technique is not dissimilar to Witchcraft whereby guardians, known as ‘watchtowers’ are called to protect the witches from ‘evil’ spirits during rituals. The circle in witchcraft, provides a ’safe’ area to practice. In Pokemon, the monsters are held in a “Pokeball” until the trainer summons them. Can we ignore these satanic influences? God has told us not to have anything to do with these occultic activities.

Pokemon creatures can only say their own name, so when they talk, they are actually chanting their name. Pastor Peterson observed that children often do the same thing when they are playing. He comments that “What we may not realise is that the children are actually opening their selves up to personality modification - an occult practice” he observed, “one three year old was chasing another boy almost trance like in expression, saying in a deep raspy voice, “Bulbasaur attack, bulbasaur, bulbasaur.” The children, it would seem are, in a very conservative and innocent way, doing what members deep into the occult practice regularly - meditating and chanting.” Can we afford to underestimate the potential influence of this game?

While it isn’t likely that the writers of the game intended to indoctrinate children into mysticism, new age belief systems or the occult - the fact remains that the Pokemon game seems to be doing just that. As parents, teachers and as Christians we need to be aware of what influence these things can have on our children. The fact that children spend hours playing these games and that most children seem to become obsessed with Pokemon - may be another reason to avoid it? We need to be encouraging our children to have a passion for the Lord not for Pokemon!

“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him… The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.” 1 John 2:15

From my reading on the topic I have come to the same conclusion as Pastor Peterson. I believe that Pokemon is a tool being used by Satan to influence our children! Please prayerfully consider if you want to allow your child to be influenced by this game.

Jesus loves you - He loves you enough to die for you. Jesus’ death and resurrection are the core of the Christian faith. No other events in world history have inspired (or offended) as many people as those that took place in Jerusalem in about 30AD. There is no denying that Jesus’ death and resurrection were the most significant events in world history. But why would Jesus die? He went to the cross willingly, despite the agony and shame that faced him. What is it about Jesus’ death that is so important?

Jesus’ death was God’s way of dealing with mankind’s wrongdoings that have separated us from God. God has always said that the penalty for these wrongdoings is death, yet every person falls short of the standards God has set. It would seem that God had two choices - accept that no person would be able to enjoy relationship with Him or contradict His own law and waive the death penalty for sin.

God is a loving God. In His Word, the Bible, He states that He desires mercy, not sacrifice. And God is also a God of justice, ever faithful - if He says it, He does it. So His desire has always been to restore relationship between ourselves and Him, but a death had to occur for that to happen - that death is the one of Jesus on the cross.

Jesus says, “God so loved the world that he gave [me], so that whoever believes in [me] will not actually die but live forever”.

Jesus’ death restores our relationship with God, and over and above that Jesus’ resurrection life allows us to live eternally with God. The God of the Universe desires to be our friend! He has done all that is necessary to allow us to choose whether or not we will accept His gift.

The gift of relationship with God and eternal life are not anything we can earn. They are the desires of every human (even if we don’t know it) because these gifts of God lead to complete fulfillment and peace, and a joy that just can’t be attained anywhere else. The religions of the world strive to reach the eternal God, hoping that their efforts will win them an eternal life. Sadly for them, the gifts of God are just that - gifts, not wages. They cannot be earned. They can be accepted though, and God offers this wonderful life to everybody.

So what do you have to do to accept this gift of life from God? You simply need to make a decision in your heart to accept Jesus’ sacrifice as being for you. There is nothing that you could ever do to earn the gift of a forever friendship with God, and there is nothing you could do to make God withdraw his offer from you. You cannot have done enough wrong things in your life to make God stop loving you.

To become a Christian, which is all it means to accept Christ’s life into your own, is simply a matter of inviting God’s Holy Spirit to live in your heart. If this is a decision you want to make, why not pray to God (prayer is simply talking to God). A suggested prayer is:

Father, I know that there is nothing I could ever do to earn Your love, and I know that nothing I have ever done that will make You love me any less. I want the peace and joy that comes from a relationship with You. I want You to be a part of my life every day, and I want to have a friendship with You forever. I accept the relationship I now have with You, by identifying with Christ’s death on the cross. And I accept the life You have for me, by identifying with Christ’s resurrection. Thank You that You loved me enough to give Your only Son to reconcile me to You.

If you prayed that prayer and meant it in your heart, God now lives inside of you. He says in His Word that He will never leave you or forsake you. You can now talk plainly to Him whenever you like, and He will guide and direct you into all the great things He has in store for your life.

An important thing to do is to read and understand the Bible. Start with the New Testament, and ask God to help reveal His plan for you as you read it. There is no better way of getting to know God better than by reading His Word.

You will also benefit greatly by joining a local, Bible-believing church. You will find other people who have made the same decision as you and you will be able to relate well with them because of your common experience and your common relationship with God. They will be able to help you grow in the faith and you will also be able to help them. Ask God to direct you to a church that is committed to the truth of the Bible, where you can grow in relationship with Him.