Pensamientos para hoy (afterthought for today)
Book Burning Today (12/7/07) a new movie hits the theaters. It's called: "The Golden Compass" starring Nicole Kidman. This movie is based on a book by Philip Pullman. Pullman, who is vehemently anti-Christian, wrote a trilogy called: "His Dark Materials" in these books which are a parallel to C.S. Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia, Pullman attacks religion and Judeo-Christian teachings. Because Pullman has disguised his anti-Christian ideas in a children's fantasy book, some prominent Christian organizations are advocating a boycott of the movie and Pullman's books. Throughout history various political and religious authorities have destroyed books usually by burning them. Political leaders have ordered the destruction of books that they believed were contrary to their policies. Pagan rulers have destroyed sacred writings in fear that they fostered rebellion, and religious authorities have destroyed heretical writings. In addition to these "book-burning" authorities, common people have destroyed books on moral or religious grounds. They burned books that they believed undermined morality or faith. An incident of such book burning took place in the early church. When the message about Jesus spread to Asia Minor many people turned to the Lord and were converted. Among these early converts were those who practiced "magic" and they brought their books together and burned them.This became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, who lived in Ephesus; and fear fell upon them all and the name of the Lord Jesus was being magnified. Many also of those who had believed kept coming, confessing and disclosing their practices. And many of those who practiced magic brought their books together and began burning them in the sight of everyone; and they counted up the price of them and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the word of the Lord was growing mightily and prevailing (Acts 19:17-20).1The word here translated "magic" can pertain to any subject that would be beyond the realm of proper investigation or inquiry. Curiosity not only killed the cat but it can also do harm to the best of us. Some books, ideas, movies, etc. are simply too evil for us to know. The Bible clearly says: "I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil (Romans 16:19)." Again the Bible warns us: "Do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature (1 Corinthians 14:20)." And "Avoid every kind of evil (l Thessalonians 5:22)."2 I'm not advocating a boycott of The Golden Compass. But I would caution that some of Pullman's ideas could be harmful to your children and, therefore, I urge you to use spiritual discretion in this matter. I would also suggest that you consider not taking your young and impressionable children to see the movie or buy Pullman's books for them. If you have teen-agers who want to see the movie or read the book, I suggest that you explain to them who Philip Pullman is and tell them about his anti-Christian beliefs. According to Pluggedinonline.com Pullman has said: "I hate the Narnia books, and I hate them with a deep and bitter passion."3 You can read more about this controversy at: http://www.pluggedinonline.com/thisweekonly/a0003516.cfm. Trying to protect the flock, Pastor Steve December 7, 2007
Footnotes1 Acts 19:17-20, NASB (New American Standard Bible). Unless otherwise noted all Scripture quotations taken from the NASB. 2 l Thessalonians 5:22 NIV (New International Version). 3 Adam R. Holz, Sympathy for the Devil, [web-page] Pluggedinonline.com available at: http://www.pluggedinonline.com/thisweekonly/a0003516.cfm. Focus on the Family, 1999-2007. Internet accessed on December 7, 2007.
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