Choose Whom You Will Serve

Jesus Christ Savior and William Shakespeare
 

I am astounded by how much required reading in High School and College is pagan. We are taught to read Plato, Aristotle, Socrates. Then their philosophies are reinforced by Shakespeare, Utopia, The Faire Queen, and plethora of famous literature. In fact, the Renaissance itself is a return to classicalism which is really a return to Greek and Roman philosophy, gods, pagan beliefs, and etc. As Christians we are commanded to not love this world; the scriptures say, "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, then the love of the Father is not in them," (1 John 2:15) and yet people follow the doctrines and philosophies of demons: "The Spirit of the Lord says in later times  some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons (1 Timothy 4:1). I argue that what is taught in Shakespeare and many of the great literary authors is exactly what St. Paul said, "deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons." We are convinced by professors and publishers that we must known the works of Shakespeare and Socrates. They assure us that we shall not have well developed minds without the mythos of the Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, and Norsemen. And yet those stories of satyrs and sadistic peoples are in complete opposition to our faith and what the Lord instructs us to do in the Bible.
The equation basically works out this way, on Sundays your children are taught about Christ, but Mon thru Friday they are taught the mythos and magic of other religions in literature. What do you think is going to be the outcome? This is where two points of view diverge. One group of Christians believes that you can do as C.S. Lewis and Tolkien did; that is use the mythos and incorporate Christ somewhere so that those who would never read the Bible or go to Church will read the Truth in allegory and be drawn to Jesus. I know a friend who became a Christian because the Lord Jesus used The Lords of the Rings. He read the stories and was so effected by them, that he decided to look up what the author believed. He thus learned that Tolkien was Catholic Christian and came to accept Jesus as his Savior. This example is what believers use to say that knowing mythologies and about other gods cannot harm your faith and by contrast can even can spread the faith.

Here is where my point of contention and the other point of view comes in. While I agree that books like The Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings can be used to reach people who would otherwise never investigate Christianity; the problem comes from the keeping of the mythos after it has lead them to the Messiah. In the case of my friend, now that he knows Christ, why does he need Tolkien's mythos? The Holy Spirit used the texts of Tolkien to reach my friend, but he no longer needs the texts. Additionally, within the deep well of Tolkien's Legenderium is glorification of Norse gods and Norse mythology. So the problem is that after someone like my friend becomes a Christian because Christ used the book to reach them in their disposition, then it can become a stumbling block with stories that draw them to the things of the fallen angels, demons, and devils who gave inspiration to the Norse, Roman, and Greek gods.

I am thankful my friend is in the family of Christ and I acknowledge that Tolkien because he did believe in Christ played a part. But I also acknowledge that Tolkien's works took too much from the Norse legends and actually revived them! People had forgotten the Nordic Sagas or at least were not really drawn to them until J.R.R. resurrected them! As a result Tolkien has giving glory and honor to gods who are very real enemies of Christians like the Prince of Tyre, who is Thor (Tyre is another name for Thor) and a fallen angel (Ezekiel 28:1-10).

As a result mythologies began to mold the minds of people. Christians believe they are safe and can read them with impunity. But truthfully there is an effect. An example is Star Wars. The Force is mystical power in the story the Jedi and Sith use. For kids it is fun to pretend to throw someone, choke, or even move super fast with a lightsaber. However, Wiccans and warlocks use powers that look like the Force and deceive people into their sorcery. Potentially, children and teenagers especially who grew up watching Star Wars will think it is cool to try something that gives them similar powers and in actuality makes them possessed with demons and doomed to hell if they do not turn from it and back to Jesus Christ.

The two arguments simplified is that on one hand you can learn about these mythologies and even mingle them with Biblical truths to reach the lost and the other argument is that being desensitized to these mythos and magic will make people less aware and accepting of evil practices done by witches and other magic users of the devil.

As I have laid out the case for both sides, I lean towards the latter of danger and how these stories can shape the curious minds of people and subject them to the very real supernatural evils. It is an unpopular view to say forget Shakespeare, Socrates, and Star Wars. To abandon literature that teaches about other gods and beliefs. Some will claim, how can you know is a lie without studying it? I say, if you read the Bible and know the Spirit of Christ you do not need to study the lies to known they are lies or to look at something and know it is evil for it will be evident in your soul. Most children when they first see an ugly demon creature scream or cry. But over time movies, books, and education desensitizes them to these things. Something I believe is a deliberate and sinister practice to wash the minds of impressionable youths with the yokes and learning of antichrist.

Obviously I cannot call for a ban of the plethora for texts and televisions shows that contain these doctrines of the devil. But I do ask, do you want your children to know Christ or Calypso? The price for letting publishers and professors teach your children to embrace these mythologies and literature singing the praises of pagan gods could be the very souls of your children. Joshua said it best, "But if serving the LORD is undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve., wither the gods your ancestors served across the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are leaving. But as for me and my house, we shall serve the LORD (who is Jehovah, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit)." (Joshua 24:15). To serve the Lord means to be different. We cannot be friends of the world and friends of Jesus Christ. (James 4:4). The time will come when you must choose and for many it will be to fit in and relate  through the literary lies.

Choose today to stand apart and champion Christ! Read the Bible, and books that affirm and support your faith! Stop honoring the fallen angels in the guises of Norse, Greek, Egyptian, and Roman gods & mythologies! Choose today to battle for your children and teach them to love the Lord Jesus Christ alone! (Luke 4:8).