
by
GoodSam » Mon Jun 04, 2001 8:42 am
Gungir,<BR><BR>I have seen this response from Christians in regard to all sorts of things. You wouldn't believe the number of churches that have split over the kind of music that is played in worship. Some people say that music with a rock beat, regardless of the content of the lyrics, is from the devil. The same sort of thing happens in regard to literature.<BR><BR>I think you mother is trying to live up to certain scriptures like:<BR><BR><b>Romans 12:2</b> <i>Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.</i> or<BR><b>James 4:4</b> <i>You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.</i> or<BR><b>1 John 2:15</b> <i>Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.</i><BR><BR>But to be more specific have here look at what things are "of the world." Galatians 5:19-21 describes the things of the world:<BR><i>The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions <BR>and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. </i> and these are contrasted with the Fruit of the Spirit in the next 2 verses: <i>But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.</i><BR><BR>Witchcraft or sorcery is certainly one of the things that are "of the world". It should be noted that reading about these things is different than practicing them.<BR><BR>Another important thing to bring up with your mother is how to establish common ground with people she intends to reach out to with the Gospel. I have found that overemphasizing the "do not be comformed by the things of the world" scriptures at the expense of other scripture leads to a cloistered lifestyle where Christians only mix with Christians because it is "safe". This is not what Jesus intends! Consider what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9:19-23:<BR><i>Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.</i><BR><BR>Others have made the point that LOTR is filled with good Christian principles like selflessness, sacrifice, faithfulness, and self-control. We as Christians are directed to meditate on these things:<BR><b>Pilippians 4:8</b> <i>Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.</i><BR><BR>I hope these arguments can start you convincing your mother that the Lord of the Rings is not specifically a tool of the devil. Rather, it is the the heart of the reader that can twist it to corrupt purposes. If someone is under the control of the Holy Spirit, LOTR can be a very encouraging read. To those not under control of the Spirit, it can get them thinking about Godly virtues and possibly open a door to spiritual discussions.<BR><BR>