The Celestine Prophecy

Having read your article http://www.crossroad.to/articles2/05/rising-religion.htm , I'd like to add my own experience and thoughts to help you reach out to others.

The people whose sorties you examine said that they didn't think that witchcraft, magic, or fantasy was wrong. Yet, the evidences via Tolkien and C.S. Lewis show this to be false, and the experiences of many others shed additional light on the truth. I do believe that it is possible of those who have never gotten into fantasy to see the darkness of it; rather I think they might even be more apt to see the corruption of it who have not been corrupted by it.

From my own experience, I know that paganism of any sort, be it witchcraft, false philosophy, false morality, UnGodly “tolerance”, or love without justice, or ungodly ideas of “love” in their respective applications directly result in harm and degradation in a believer and a pagan; in the world and the church in general.

At one time, I watched pagan TV shows, worldly movies, listened to all kinds of music, didn’t think that God cared about cursing or playing videogames or reading about mythology. As I felt I was drawing closer to God, (and I was truly far away), I had imagined making my own fantasy world. Not only that, but I planned to take the stories I wrote when I disregarded what God had done and had told me, when I didn’t care for His truth, clean them up, and make it into a series.

I envision making movies, a popular series, and then allowing them to be shown. This would’ve involved several ungodly things, and witchcraft would’ve been in it, though the character wouldn’t have been practicing spells, himself. This makes no difference, though, as all the other popular themes in animation and TV have pagan roots, as well.

I planned to explain later on what the movie meant to those who did not understand, at one point, and later decided to have the character be openly Christian. But I encountered several problems, that largest of which was that Christianity can not exist in a fantasy world, and the character would look stupid speaking of Jesus resurrecting in a world full of open magic, sorcery, and other pagan ideas. As well, no one had to regard the message. To them, it could simply be another action movie, another Matrix or technological film. The content means little to nothing to the average viewer of “entertainment”, be they Christian or not, in many cases.

And “Christians”, for the sake of entertainment, put aside their morals, put aside what they know is right, and go on for entertainment, tradition, and “fun”, despite what God says.

This is not only “deviating”, and not only is it twisting God’s gift of salvation and acceptance (You CAN lose your salvation. Those Christians who are reading this and listen or watch or participate in worldly things need to read Matthew 7 and Romans 11:19-22.), but they are saying “It doesn’t matter what I do, God will forgive me. God’s loving and tolerates. He’s longsuffering.

While God may be longsuffering, God has wrath. And while God is loving, he has Justice. And how can he love if he doesn’t chastise? God says that paganism and worldly things are bad for you. I can testify to this. Does a parent love their child if they don’t discipline them to keep them from burning their hands on stoves or flames repeatedly?

In the same way, God disciplines us to keep our hands out of the fire. And those who like the look of the fire, like the heat, and want to keep playing in it, who Ignore God’s rules and warning, get what’s coming to them. And despite the bad allegory, because humankind can see easily that burning oneself is bad, but have a harder time seeing, or can deny, that the things God says are bad are bad, the point should be made here.

Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin [is] death;

But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

To all of those who do not understand, the gift of God is free, but We must Choose to accept His Gift, and With his Gift, come his Commandments, and His Commandments come from His Love. With Jesus or without Jesus, He loves us, but must reward us according to our works, and will do so. And with God or without, He gives us His commandments and truth, and chastises us, so that we would Not perish, because God doesn’t want Anyone to, and Because He loves us, to save us from Sin and ourselves, our bad decisions.

1Ti 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

Mat 16:27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

God has the best preventative measures.

I can say assuredly that no paganism is good, and neither watching, listening to, or participating in any of it is good, nor is being near it, but those who follow Jesus and God do so for His sake, that we can be here to tell the truth to those who are caught up in the torture that they may not even realize they subject themselves to, being this world, paganism, and lack of Jesus and Truth. As Paul says, be ye separate, sanctified (set aside, reserved for God, not of the world), and holy, acceptable to God. God regards all pagan things as abominations.

(Rom 11:19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in.

Rom 11:20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:

Rom 11:21 For if God spared not the natural branches, [take heed] lest he also spare not thee.

Rom 11:22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in [his] goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. )

(Mat 7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

Mat 7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither [can] a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

Mat 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Mat 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.)

I can see some serious flaws, fatal ones, in the thinking of those who accept these forms of entertainment.

Part of the problem is this concept of being a “good Christian”. Being a true follow of Jesus has nothing to do with simply works, going to church, reading your bible, or Even speaking to God. No, being a true follower of Jesus involves giving your all over to Him, being in truth, Yes, studying his word, but, more importantly, having a true, honest, and Responsible relationship with Him.

Many claim to believe in Jesus and God, but mistake believe to mean “think he exists”. When you have a belief in an ideology, a belief in a plan to help others, a belief in a group of people, or a belief in what’s Right, it’s more than just believing it exists. Belief of this sort involves Trust, Assurance, Following, Working For.

When Paul said he Believed in the Lord to help the Philippians or those at Ephesus, he wasn’t thinking that God existed and that God could help out, he was sure, he Trusted, and he responded to God in Faith. That’s Belief in God and Jesus; an active relationship in which trust, reliance, security, strength, and relationship with love and obedience are present, not merely like one has with a friend or a parent, but further beyond even that. That is belief in Jesus and God, and if they say to not listen to, watch, or be a part of paganism, further yet, if they say it’s harmful to you, you should have that trust in what they’re saying to Believe in Them, and, thus, do what they have said or asked. And it won’t always be asked.

It isn't good Christian behavior to mix light and darkness, 2 Corinthians 6:14 (Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? ), this refers not only to associating with people, but also to everything in general. Refer to 1Cr 5:6, "Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?".

Truly, this is a case of concern to all Christians; leaving God for lusts. Lusts, obviously, are not merely sexual, and you don't have to entirely forget God in order to leave Him. Israel, many times, simply set up gods Next to God, and left Him.

Apply the same sort of concept, if you will, a little leaven, a little fornication.

And what does God say fornication is? Accepting anything unholy. Obviously, such paganism is unholy.

Deu 18:10 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,

Deu 18:11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.

Deu 18:12 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.

Now, we can see that those who Do these things are obviously evil, but what of those who are friends with these? Refer to 2 Corinthians. What about those who Watch these things? Again, Refer to 2nd Corinthians.

How is entering a pagan temple at Rome different from watching a pagan movie or pagan rituals? It was clear that the only reason the church was near paganism was to condemn it and teach the pagans the UNCORRUPTED truth. Rome, Ephesus, and Corinth were failing these ideas; adding legalism and paganism to "Christianity", resulting in lack of truth, resulting in corruption. Hence "Ye shall not mix light with darkness" was preached.

Notice, as well, that Paul included witchcraft and such ideas in with murder, hatred, adultery, etc. No discerning Christian would watch violence, hatred, idolatry, murder, or adultery on TV, why would they think witchcraft was ok?

Gal 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

Gal 5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
Gal 5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told [you] in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

Paul makes clear that what goes in comes out. So, we should be mindful to bring good things in.

Phl 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.

Phl 4:9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

So then what is the conclusion?

First Cr 5:7 says, "Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us: "

We must get rid of the old man and old nature. The things which we did before, our lusts from youth (2Ti 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.), must be put aside. This includes fairytales, dreams of splendor, power, and grandeur.

Not only that, but we must continue in this new truth. (1Cr 5:8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened [bread] of sincerity and truth.)

As Paul says, it is our Reasonable service (Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service.), considering that God has done all he has for us.

Namely, in all, there are two things regarding witchcraft, aside of to not do it and the condemnation.

Jer 10:2 Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.
Jer 10:3 For the customs of the people [are] vain:

All of the ways of paganism, heathenism, anything not of God, are vain, deceitful, and harmful to ourselves and others. Those who do not think that paganism affects them negatively are either ignoring it, denying it, or need to read more scripture and think more on it, because it is truth that it is harmful. I speak from personal experience.

Gal 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

That is simply truth. Truth is truth, and if we are to walk in truth, let's do so. If we are to walk Only in God, lets do so.

What, then, is truth regarding paganism? We are in the world, around paganism, but not part of paganism. We do not view it out of pleasure, but in disgust of what it is. This does not mean that we do not go near paganism, that we hole ourselves up in a tunnel of dirt, or that we regard pagans as worthless and beyond hope. It means that we do not learnt eh way of the heather, or entertain ideas of it. We are not to entertain ourselves with pagan ideas at all, either in movies, texts, songs, culture, philosophy, religion, marriage, or anything else.

1Cr 5:9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: (pagans, or Christians who are not being Christian)

1Cr 5:10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.

(We can't leave the world, and shouldn't; that's not our purpose. Our purpose is to be here so that we can reach out to others and take Them away from paganism, too, by bringing them to truth.)

1Cr 5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

(Again, anyone who is following unChristian ideas we must admonish, we must exhort to (meaning show them the whole truth in a caring way), but if they will not hear the truth, we must put them away from us. We must not be their friend.)

Jam 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

And we should not expect the world to be happy about who we are, or to gladly hear the truth. Jesus suffered violence and persecution, so will we; he said so. The word of God is offensive to the world, we can not and must not compromise. Truth is truth, and by compromising we add lies to truth, and make the world worse off for all. Again, a little leaven leavens the whole lump. Any bad inside of good makes the whole work bad. (Poison in a cup of water makes the whole glass undrinkable.)

To sum up, why are true followers of Jesus hated?

Jhn 15:18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before [it hated] you.
Jhn 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
Jhn 15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
Jhn 15:21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.

Therefore, if you are hated or persecuted, be glad, as Paul was, that you are suffering for Jesus's sake. Do not compromise. The fact that you are persecuted can be evidence that you are right.

When you tell someone that what they are doing is evil, and they refuse to hear it, anger and violence often result.

So when you see people upset that you condemn watching Harry Potter, The Lord of The Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, or supporting Wars, Reletivism, Crimes, and Lust, don't be surprised, but be glad and rejoice in that you have the truth, and that the truth is being made manifest through you.