Sound The Trumpet

Over the last year, a movie has become increasingly popular.  While it is true that there are extremely few Hollywood movies that a Christian should watch, this one has become extremely popular among Christian teen girls.  In fact, it is infectious creating a cult-like following.  The movie “Twilight” is basically about Bella and Edward.  Bella moves from her sunny Phoenix home to dismal, dreary Forks, Washington.  As she tries to get accustomed to her new life and settled into her new high school, she is drawn to her Biology lab partner Edward.  As she becomes increasingly attracted to Edward, she also becomes increasingly involved in Edward’s family – all of whom are vampires.  The basic plot of the four books is the love story of Edward and Bella and the complications of interacting with Edward’s vampire family and other demonic creatures.
One notable point in the series is a theme of abstinence in the midst of a love story between two young adults.  However, despite the apparant abstinence, there are parts of the story where the characters are involved in an inappropriate physical relationship and are alone together.  Despite this one positive theme, this series is very dangerous.  Sadly, this series of books (and now the movies) are also extremely popular among Christians.

Gen 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

As we see in Genesis 3, Satan was more subtle than any other creature.  It is the devil’s very nature to be subtle, to be deceptive.  When sin began on the face of the earth, Satan used his subtle nature to add a little here and leave a little out there.  In short, he made the sin seem to be not so bad.  He is doing the very same thing with this series of books and movies.  Through his subtlety, Satan is conning a generation of young women and even little girls into believing there is such a thing as a good vampire or that a vampire can be a hero.   Consider the following quote from a “Rolling Stone” interview with the lead character Robert Patterson in which he says, “It's weird that you get 8-year-old girls coming up to you saying, ‘Can you just bite me? I want you to bite me.’”  In this interview, he also alluded to how girls as young as eight are drawn to the sexuality of the movie even though abstinence is one of the themes proclaimed by those who promote the movie as wholesome!
Even though abstinence is supposedly promoted, the sexuality of the love story is still there.  This sexuality promotes feelings and desires in teen girls which cannot legitimately be fulfilled outside of marriage.  This creates an immoral desire in these young girls for more of the illegitimate “Hollywood” style dating that is perverting the morals and lives of an entire generation.
Aside from the immoral sexuality generated by the “love story” aspect of the novels, there is a far more dangerous aspect of the series: the blatantly demonic aspect of the series.  The entire plot revolves around the two singular themes of teenage love and vampires.  Sure, the plot portrays supposed good vampires and evil ones but is there really a “good” vampire?
There are very clear dangers in this series which should cause the Christian to flee from these books and movies, not partake in them or even, God forbid, promote them!  We can see the end result of both of the dangers in this series (Hollywood dating and dabbling in the occult) in Bella’s own actions.  As the plot develops, she ultimately gives up her own soul to become a vampire in her quest to secure the love of Edward and her own immortality.
First, she gives her soul to secure the love of the vampire Edward.  By doing this, she proves that she is willing to do anything including rejecting the one true God.  This is true of most of the teen girls we see walking around today.  This is typical of so many teens.  No matter what it takes, they will sacrifice anything for a boyfriend or girlfriend.  In almost every case, the first thing a teen will do is sacrifice their walk with God.  This is the first step a teen can take in the wrong direction.  Once the relationship with God is broken and the teen is backslidden, it is only a short hop to physical contact and a destroyed testimony.  Hopefully, this will not happen to you or your teen but if you follow the Hollywood style of dating, it is all too likely.
Hollywood style dating creates an attitude of sacrificing everything on the altar of obtaining a guy.  Teen girls feel incomplete if they do not have a boyfriend.  Too many girls, the guy on her arm is almost like an accessory like her purse or shoes.  And just as many would spend any amount, not truly realizing the cost, to get the perfect purse or shoes, many girls would also sacrifice whatever needs to be sacrificed to get and keep what they think is the perfect guy.  Just look at the way many girls dress.  They are using their bodies and immodest dress to attract guys.  Then when they have a guy, the guy becomes an idol in their lives and quickly replaces the Lord and the father.
Second, while seeking Edward’s love, she gives up her very soul to accomplish her other goal, immortality.  Satan’s deception to Bella is the same style of subtle deception he used in the Garden of Eden with Eve.  It is even the same lie that you can be a god.  This is the exact same lie Satan told Eve in the Garden of Eden, “Ye shall not surely die” Gen 3:4.  This is also the same lie told by the modern humanist.  You can be whatever you want to be.  The entire plot of this series of novels is based on a lie from Satan that is as old as the creation itself.

Deut 18:9-12 When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.  (10) There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,  (11) Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.  (12) For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.

Finally, Deut 18:9-12 clearly teaches us that we should not even learn the ways of the underworld. It is an abomination and it should not be found anywhere near the child of God.  God commands that those who participate in these actions should be driven out of the congregation.  If the Lord thinks so strongly of these things, then why are so many Christians bringing it into their homes?  I can think of many dangers but I am sure there are dangers we cannot even imagine. I simply cannot understand how someone could love God and literally invite the devil into their home by watching or reading this trash.

Phil 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

We are commanded to avoid pagan trash such as this but along with the warning, the Lord gives us instruction on what we should be thinking and meditating on.  Is there anything true about this series of books?  Is there anything honest in them? Is there anything just about these pagan books? Is there anything pure in them? Lovely? Of good report? Any virtue? Any praise toward God?  NO, there is not.  As a Christian teen you should flee from this trash.  As a Christian parent, you should take these books and movies from your teen and destroy them!