Twilight and Voluntary Demonization

Another Twilight movie, New Moon, is set to release tomorrow and nearly every teenage girl (and some guys) I know is all geeked out about it. A few are even planning to attend midnight showings this evening, in some cases with their parents, in order to be among the first to set their eyes on the next theatrical installment in this series. So how should parents and pastors react to these movies and others like them? With indifference? With caution? Should we view them simply as an educational opportunity?

I believe, and admittedly I take some flack about this from the youth I serve, these movies can be a pathway to occultic activity and idolatry. How? While most teens know that these stories are fictional, but they also often refer to the main character in the series, Edward, as being "perfect" and talk about him in ways that make you wonder if what's intended to be fictional hasn't taken on the role of a very real idol in their hearts.

I think Dr. Sam Storms makes some interesting points in his article, Doors to Demonization, about the possible spiritual danger posed by movies like Twilight and other forms of entertainment which contain an element of the supernatural. Here are some of Dr. Storms' thoughts:

Voluntary Demonization

Voluntary demonization can occur in two ways, by what we neglect to do and by what we do voluntarily.

1. What we neglect to do. The word "neglect" is possibly a poor choice of terms. It isn't that one little, inadvertent, slip-up will lead to demonization, but rather that persistent and unrepentant refusal to do what the Bible says to do may open the door.

a. Failure or refusal to resist the devil (Js. 4; 1 Pt. 5). Is Satan required to flee from us if we don't resist him? No.

b. Failure or refusal to wear the armor of God (Eph. 6). What happens if we engage the enemy unadorned?

c. Failure or refusal to put on Jesus (Rom. 13:14).

d. Failure or refusal to pray for protection from the power of temptation (Mt. 6:13).

2. What we deliberately do

a. Occultic activity (Deut. 18:9-14) For example: astrology, palm reading, any form of fortune telling such as reading tea leaves, using a crystal ball, etc.; Ouija board, tarot cards, witchcraft, sorcery, magic (not sleight of hand or illusion but appeal to supernatural power to effect miraculous events), table lifting, Dungeons & Dragons, automatic writing, hypnosis, séances, incantations, good-luck charms, amulets, water-witching or dowsing, pendulum, etc.

b. Idolatry (Deut. 7:25; Acts 19:18-19; Lev. 17:7; Deut. 32:17; Ps. 106:34-39; 1 Cor. 10:19-21). "When objects are made for occult purposes, or when people look to an object with the anticipation that it has power, demons will meet their expectation quite apart from any qualities inherent in the object itself. Or, in other cases, a person engaging in occult practices may invite demons to empower an object, and in this way the demons may become associated with that object" (Warner, 94).

c. Willful, unrepentant, unresolved sin (1 Tim. 3:7; 1 Pt. 5:8; 2 Cor. 2:11; Eph. 4:26-27).

Read more here.