VampireBite
Sep 16, 2003
looking for any scriptual belefis against or for fantasy and fiction. post anything you can think of. thanks.
looking for any scriptual belefis against or for fantasy and fiction. post anything you can think of. thanks.
Don't really have anything to say either way accept that time in the presence of the Lord is so much better. In Christ,Jeremy Hulsey
looking for any scriptual belefis against These arent scriptural reasons primarly against fantasy and fiction but it is a good balanced view of a seasoned man of God, Horatious Bonar, who lived in the 1800's."Beware, not merely of falling, but of stumbling. 'Walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise'; like men in an enemy's country, or like travellers climbing a hill, slippery with ice, and terrible with precipices, where every step may be a fall, and every fall a plunge into a chasm. Beware of little slips, slight inconsistencies, as they are called; they are the beginning of all backsliding, and they are in themselves evil, as well as hateful to God.Remember the Lord's words to His Church, 'Thou hast a few names, even in Sardis, which have not defiled their garments, and they shall walk with me in white, for they are worthy.' Stand aloof from the world's gaiety, and be jealous of what are called 'harmless amusements.' I do not condemn all amusements, but I ask that they should be useful and profitable, not merely harmless. Dancing and card playing are the world's devices for killing time. They are bits of the world and the world's ways which will ensnare your feet and lead you away from the cross. Let them alone. Keep away from the ballroom, the opera, the oratorio, the theatre. Dress, finery, and display, are deadly snares. Put away levity and frivolity; all silly conversation, or gossip; remembering the apostle's words, 'Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting which are not convenient' (Eph 5:4); and, 'Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace to the hearers; and grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption' (Eph 4:29,30).'Flee youthful lusts,' if you be young men or women; flee all lusts, whether you be young or old. Shun light company, and take no pleasure in the conversation of 'vain persons.' 'Abstain from all appearance of evil.' Be thou a Christian in little things as well as great. Dread little sins, little errors, little omissions of duty. Beware of false steps; and if betrayed into one, retrace it soon as discovered. If persevered in, the consequences may be months of sorrow." (taken from: "Follow the Lamb" by Horatious Bonar)I love this book which has simple advice to those who are called after the Christian name. What a responsiblity and authority we have, let us live up to that family name by the grace of God.
Building upon what Jeremy's stated, I reference Psalm 16:11, "You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand."Psalm 23:5..."You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows."I would rather have my mind constantly set on the Lord, than be in a fantasy world. Here, I reference Colossians 3:1-2..."Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things."The other thing that troubles me about sci-fi and fantasy is the content matter than most seem to share. Magic and spell-casting, witchcraft and sorcery are things that are detestable in God's sight. I do know that not all sci-fi and fantasy contain these elements, but quite a lot does. (I know because I took great interest in these things B.C.) There are many Biblical references to this that can be found throughout the Bible, from Isaiah to Acts and so forth. I'll list them if asked, but I think they're relatively easy to find on one's own.Again, hope I helped. :-)
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. (Philippians 4:8 NASB)(emphasis mine)In Christ,Ron
so basically, ya'll all find nothing wrong with it if it has a Biblical Message? cool. that's what i needed to hear. thanks ya'll
Signed, Will
No, we did find a lot wrong with it. Reread those verses and what we've put forth on it. Why live in a fantasy world when the life we have in Christ is amazingly pleasing and fulfilling?
looking for any scriptual belefis against or for fantasy and fiction. post anything you can think of. thanks.Yes and no. Keep in mind, many (if not most or all) of Jesus's parables were fictional stories... fantasy. Though, consider 1 Tim 1:4 which says to stay away from myths. However, I believe that to be speaking of false religions, where their myths are portrayed as truth.But, maybe you have something more specific in mind?
If I'm not mistaken, I think VampireBite is speaking more along the lines of the popular genres of fantasy and science fiction.
As a young Christian one has to get the mind as well as the heart off of anything not belonging to Christ to be able to grow in Christ.A maturing Christian is not keen on leaving his position in Christ for anything that looks like gold.Lars
This topic is reminding me of two differing questions:"How close to the world can I get and still be a Christian?" as opposed to, "How close can I get to Jesus and still be on the Earth?"Wich group do you fall into?In Christ,Jeremy Hulsey
Certainly one of the most pregnant and provoking questions that need to find a strictly personalized answer. This is what maturity, renewal and revival is all about.Lars
"How close to the world can I get and still be a Christian?" as opposed to, "How close can I get to Jesus and still be on the Earth?"Amen brother! When we start to get so close to the sweet communion of Jesus Christ all earthly things will grow dim.
Certainly God included the ability to fantasize into our creation. The problem however is that if you have fantasy without morality, you throw off any restraint that would keep this gift from becoming distorted by sin.If you look at early Disney movies in the end the evil person always was destroyed. Now the line between the good guy and the bad is blurred and at times we feel compassionate for the evil character. And this without any blemish on our own character.On the other hand when you look at Tokien's "Lord of the Rings" you see an example of the idea of ultimate evil confronted by that which is good. In the end of course, evil is defeated and that without remedy. Few of a right mind would find any attraction to the evil characters. No one questions Tolkien's Christian background is reflected in his writing.Finally, if we live our life without the restraints of morality (that is to say right and wrong) where do you ever decide that some things must be taboo. And if never taboo are we not become a world of iniquity. Who could quench such a fire!Tony Phillips
Very very good point, Tony. Tolkien didn't come to mind at first, but I definitely agree with you.
How does this apply?"He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad." Matthew 12 :30Leonard Ravenhill said that to be the Bride of Christ we must be divorced from the world. Things have one of two fathers. If God is not the father of the fantasy that we are looking at, then the father must be the devil. "He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap." Ecc 11:4This text discusses laziness and futility of thought.Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, [and] not out of the mouth of the LORD. They say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you. Jer 23:16-17I would say we need to be very careful with our imaginations. The occultic references in fanatasies such as the Lord of the Rings definitly point out there origins. We also need to ask ourselves why do we want the fantasy over the Word of God? Fantasy appeals to the flesh, not to the spirit. We can have the world as long as we dress it up in Christian clothes. Be cautious and beware that no man decieves you... ponder the scripture from Jeremiah 23. Read the whole chapter.Seeking truth,PhilipMal 3:16
Quote:"Things have one of two fathers." Do you think this applies to all things? Who is the "father" of the computer you are using? Who is the father of books? Who is the father of guitars? THe internet? How about painting?It is my understanding that these things, like the broad category of fantasy, are morally neutral. Categorically, they don't have God or the devil as thier father. And they are manipulated for both good and evil. This just made me wonder. Who would you say is the "father" of the cross? How about parables (which was explained as a type of fantasy or use of the imagination earlier)?
If any would to read more of H Bonar's Follow the Lamb click here. If you would like a pdf version with table of contents drop me an email I will send you one.
There is an interesting verse in Isaiah 26, which is much loved by Christians.Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind (03336) is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. {perfect…: Heb. peace, peace} {mind: or, thought, or, imagination} KJVThis word 'mind' (03336) is usually translated 'imagination' in the KJV. Young's Literal renders it : "An imagination supported Thou fortifiest peace—peace! For in Thee it is confident. Youngs"If you look up Strongs Word 03336 you will find it used 9 times. There are some powerful Bible statements on this topic e.g.Genesis 6:5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination (03336) of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. continually.This is imagination gone wrong.1 Chronicles 29:18 O LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this for ever in the imagination (03336) of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and prepare their heart unto thee:This is a prayer for imagination to be kept true.Isaiah 29:16 Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter’s clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed (03336) say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?This is God's imagination at work.This last reference says that God 'imagined' us. As part of our 'likeness to God' we have a God-given imagination. In this case the English word can give us some clues; the root of imagination is image. Without God's imagination there would have been no creation; with human imagination there would be no creativity. As with all the best gifts, imagination can become powerfully corrupted, but the cure for abuse is not non-use but right-use.
There is an interesting verse in Isaiah 26, which is much loved by Christians.It's my background wallpaper!Thanks for the study as well as the link, great stuff! Also inadvertently you were used of the Lord (Ebenezer) to cause me to go mining into 1 Samuel, the types and shadows, parallels....!Much thanks for being amongst us and for all your contributions.Mike
This discussion is locked.