Truth and Myth are antithesis. Myths try to make Truth a memory and make believe. This is the danger of myth, it has enough truth to deceive and yet it castes doubt and unbelief on Truth. We are living in a renaissance or resurgence of myths. Stories that once were from antiquity now are making a comeback. From The Lord of the Rings (J.R.R. Tolkien) which is simply The Ring Saga of the Nordic People, to Superman who is Hercules in Kyptonian form, and to even Egyptian mythos in the recent Gods of Egypt starring Gerald Butler, the entire entertainment industry is flooded with the mythos, the pythons that try to choke the word of God (Mark 4:19, Matt 13:22). Many believe myths and legends are harmless, that because they are preported to be based on fact, they have relevance, but in truth they are danger to Truth. They sharpen their spears, put shells in their cannons, and use their sorcery to drown out Scripture and lead people astray.
More people today are zealous and devout enough ot stand in lines to see Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, or Star Wars: The Force Awakens than they are to get up and read Scripture with the same zeal or to attend a service or support group for their Faith. This translates to the purpose of myths which are so mingled in our culture, societies, and even souls; that we are being pulled from the Prince of Peace to the Prince of This World. Mythology makes it slithering path into our lives through works like "The Iliad" "Beowulf" "Le Morte de Arthur" and more in school. Many mythologies like Tithonyius and Oedipus the King are recquired reads. Beyond academia, there is love affair with myths in Hollywood, particularly peddled by Disney through the Brother Grimme Tales like "Cinderella" and "Rapunzel." Disney and many other companies like New Line of Cinema revive the old fables, legend, and mythologies giving them twenty first century appeal and yet not yielding the potency of their paganisms.
The Iliad promotes Greek Mythology and Religion. Star Wars Force Awakens promotes Wiccan and New Age beliefs. Arabian Nights or Aladdin as Disney renamed it, promotes thievery, sorcery, made Gin (Jinns) or Genies seem good, when in Arabian mythology they are evil spirits and demons. Every literary work and film has a religious bent, and this revival of ancient tales is part of greater goal of leading people from Jesus Christ, the One True God and the Holy Bible. Children find themselves more interested n Achilles than the Alpha and Omega, more enthralled by Superman than the Savior, and more devoted to their knowledge of Star Wars characters than seeking to know Jesus Christ and the people who served the One True God in the Bible. Mythos is Python, it seeks to choke out the word of God, and make people crave the works of unbelievers and antichrists. The Apostles speak of days when people will turn to myths, and how myths are enemies of the Truth. The Apostles say, " For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths." (2 Timothy 4:3-4), "But reject irreverent and silly myths. Instead, train yourself for godliness," (1 Timothy 4:7), "Don't let them waste their time in endless discussion of myths and spiritual pedigrees. These things only lead to meaningless speculations, which don't help people live a life of faith in God." (1 Timothy 1:4, NLT), "They must stop listening to Jewish myths and the commands of people who have turned away from the truth," (Titus 1:14), and, "For we did not follow cleverly devised fables (myths ESV) when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty." (2 Peter 1:16). Today we see how generations are disinterested in the truth who is Jesus Christ, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life." (John 14:6).According to research done by CBN.NEWs, 89% of Millennials have no religious beliefs, and have abandoned the Church. This trend interestingly coincides with the culture of mythology and its rise. I once wrote in another post, that children are less excited about Christ walking on Water (Matthew 14:22-23), because they've seen Sonic the Hedgehog (SEGA) and Dash from Pixar's The Incredibles run on water. Even though Jesus Christ is God and He really did walk on water, it happened and was not made up, the children are content to be wowed by the make believe and imaginings of Disney companies like Pixar. This is a disturbing in everyway.
In fact, should you describe Jesus in Revelation, "The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters.In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance." (Revelation 1:14-16), children and teens today would be intrigued, but argue their favorites heroes like Superman, Iron Man, Wolverine, Thor, The Hulk, Batman, Kylo Ren, Darth Vader, and more look cooler and do just as incredible of displays of power and spectacular outfits and design. But those characters from MARVEL, DC, Star Wars, Star Trek, X-Men, and more are not real!!! Their only connection to something real is the fallen angels and their children, "The sons of god left their proper abode and had sex with women, and from them came Nephilim, the giants, the men of renown and heroes of old." (Genesis 6:2-6, Jude). In this case, children to adults who are obsessed with superheroes and legends are actually are identifying with, loving, and worshipping the fallen angels of whom Jesus says, "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels." (Matthew 25:41). Thus, children to adults are enthralled, in love, and worshipping the fallen in mythological form, and consider the True, All Powerful, All Knowing, and Loving God who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as boring and not as cool?! Paul's words are thus already fulfilled, "will reject the truth and chase after myths." (2 Timothy 4:3).
The Apostle Paul and the Apostle Peter teach us how to defeat these pythons and lions of lies that use mythology. In response to earlier verse of people rejecting the truth and following myths, the Apostle Paul urges us to do this instead, "But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you." (2 Timothy 4:5). Notice Paul says "keep a clear mind in every situation." This means to be drunk with alcohol, but I believe it could relate to how myths cloud people's minds. Then pay attention to his following sentence, "Don't be afraid of suffering for the Lord (Jesus, Romans 10:9)." You will suffer in this society if you reject the mythologies and refuse to feed yourself and your family the lies in the latest installment in the superhero, Star Wars, and other mythologies on the big screen. Then Paul tells you what to be busy doing instead of being entertained by mythologies, He says, "Work at telling others the Good news (Gospel of Jesus), and fully carry out the ministry God has given you." The apostle Paul is showing us how we fight back against the mythos and cease from being entangled in the pythons' coils; by sharing the Gospel (evangelism) and doing ministry God has given us. Earlier in same chapter Paul urges us to preach the Gospel in and out of season, " solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he comes to set up his Kingdom: 2 Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching." (2 Timothy 4:1-2). The Apostle Peter affirms Paul's works about keeping a clear mind and suffering for the Lord, "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are." (1 Peter 5:8-9). Again this being sober of mind is not just about avoiding drunkenness, but I believe Cephas is alluding to that these myths make the mind numb with lies and sway people from the Truth who is Christ (John 14:6). Peter even identifies this as the devil, a lion who wants to devour us Christians with mythologies and other devices at his deposil (his teeth and claws), and the way you avoid being devoured is to "Stand firm against him," don't give devil a foothold, the myths are one of his footholds, and "be strong in the Faith." How do you be strong in faith? Paul says it earlier, "Work at telling people the Good News of the Gospel, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you." (2 Timothy 4:5).
Many believers will argue that mythologies are harmless, that they cannot hinder your faith or hurt your zeal for Jesus. Well to that I propose these questions:
1) Why then do children yawn and dread going to church, but come alive playing a superhero or going to the movie like Captain America: Civil War?
2) Why then do people spend tons of time and money on these mythological worlds and dress up like Star Wars characters and Superheroes, but have no time for their Savior, even on Sunday?
3) I witnessed two brothers in Christ, one a man in his forties and his son, both come alive talking about the Halo Video Games, The Hobbit Movies, and superheroes, but when we were in Church reading the Bible, they became drowsy and had disinterested look on their face, tell me how that is not evidence?
4) Why do children to adults talk with joy about movies and their favorite heroes and stories of mythology, but at Bible Study or talking about Jesus they seem like robots and joyless?
5) Why do churches feel they have to appeal to the masses by encouraging people to go and see these mythos? Is not the Message as Paul said earlier enough?
6) Why if these mythologies that are in school in form of books, in their favorite movies, in their video games, social media, and more are so harmless is this generation, Millennials the most godless generation to date, especially since they have had more access to these mythologies than any generation prior!
7) If mythologies are harmless, then why after being an incredible Apologist, Theologian, and Author did C.S. Lewis after writing his mythology, The Chronicles of Narnia, write a universalism message in the final chronicle of Narnia, The Last Battle? Lewis had been a devout Christian giving us wonderful books like "The Problem of Pain" and "Mere Christianity." The same happened to J.R.R. Tolkein, who was devout Catholic, but by bringing back Norse Mythology, "The Hobbit", "The Lord of the Rings," "The Silmarillion," has immortalized gods and mythologies that were almost forgotten, and leaving us no legacy of his Christianity at all!
8) George Lucas worked with Joseph Campbell, a philosopher and mythology expert to create Star Wars and the Force to create universal message, but after being involved in this, Lucas, a Jew, ended up infusing Hinduism, Paganism, Wiccan, New Age, and other mysticisms starting in The Empire Strikes Back and ending in Revenge of the Sith.
9) Stephen Spielberg the genius of suspense, the Hitchcock of our time who gave us Jurassic Park and other classics, got involved in mythology of aliens, particularly "Chariots of the gods" and so has been obsessed with aliens ever since; you can see transformation with two films, Indiana Jones and Raiders of Lost Ark which is about Jones seeking the Ark of the Covenant which is in our Bible, and then Indiana Jones and Crystal Skull which is "Chariots of the gods" and how aliens made everything. So did mythology hurt Stephen Spielberg? Yes, it led him away from Jehovah, and his craft or gift was destroyed! Spielberg use to make movies that touched you, made you nostalgic, full of suspense, wonder, and danger; but after his alien mythology take over, it became all poltical and promoting Chariots of the gods mythology and theology. A direct result is that Speliberg no longer made the best movies, his films became one failure after another, and the charm, and legacy he once had was lost; all because of mythology.
See a trend? Mythology is myth and theology in one. Thus it seeks to ensnare people with the myth, the amazing story, but teaches a theology that is not in Bible! Mythology teaches theology of the fallen angels and the devil, making people inevitably worship creation instead of Creator, "Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them," (Romans 1:22-24) and "Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons. (cross references to 2 Timothy 4:3, "They will abandon the Truth and seek myths")" (1 Timothy 4:2). People today profess they are enlighten and they do not worship idols and gods anymore, but O yes they do! But instead of a temple, they have television, instead of going into a sanctuary they go to silver screen, and instead of images that are hollow or made of stone, metal, clay, and dirt, they have pixels and images that are digital and that move. Today, people have golden calf and gods that speak on the big screen, smartphones, tablets, and social media. It is same thing, just a different medium, and the goal is always to usurp the One True Triune God.
Are we going to be lovers of Jesus Christ, and His Message or are we going to keep being polluted by mythologies that seek like pythons to choke out His Message and make us slaves of devils? The time for choosing is upon us church, these mythologies are making your children servants of Kal-El (Superman) rather than Elohim (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). You make think they are harmless, but the mythologies in the make believe of superheroes, Star Wars, and Medieval Norse tales like Lord of the Rings are theologies teachings and captivating the hearts of those who watch, listen, participate, and more! On Sunday your children hear the theology of Bible, but all week in school, in their free time, and even after Sunday school they are being schooled in theology of mythology which is other religions and gods (fallen angels)! Jesus said, "God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God." (Matthew 5:8). You heart cannot be pure when you fill it with other gods, and theologies (mythologies)! Jesus says of the Lukewarm, "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!" (Revelation 3:15-16). I believe the cold are those fully given over to the gods of mythology, and those who hot are fully given over to Holy Trinity and True God. I believe it is possible that those who think they can serve Jesus and other mythological gods will get this answer, "Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws" (Matthew 7:21-23); those laws are these, "Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses? Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments," (Matthew 22:36-40), and ""You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me.." (Exodus 20:4).
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