Astrology & the Zodiac

Is it weird that everyone is trying to predict their future by looking at the stars? Or is it a place of common knowledge?

Then God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and they shall serve as signs and for seasons, and for days and years; Genesis 1:14 NASB

Most people are familiar with Western astrology, some know about the Chinese zodiac, but did you know almost every culture has some kind of Zodiac tradition? Caution: the Bible warns against worshiping the stars or believing the stars are controlling events—but the Bible also says that they are for signs (and seasons)

Relevant Verses

A few relevant verses on the topic:

• Genesis 1:14
• Deuteronomy 4:19
• Judges 5:20
• Ezekiel 32:7
• Psalm 97:6
• Revelation 6:13
• Revelation 8:12

In Other Cultures

The following is a list of a few cultural astrology traditions.

• Agricultural astrology
• Arab and Persian astrology
• Babylonian astrology
• Burmese Astrology
• Celtic astrology
• Chinese Astrology
• Egyptian astrology
• Hellenistic astrology
• Mayan astrology
• Indian astrology
• Islamic astrology
• Sri Lankan Astrology
• Tibetan astrology
• Western astrology

References

1. "List of Astrological Traditions, Types, and Systems". Wikipedia; visited September 2021
2. "Zodiac". Encyclopedia Britannica; visited September 2021
3. Dadhichi. "Astrology in Different Cultures". Astrology.com. February 19, 2018

Christian Fantasy: Magic vs. Miracles

I've always been a fan of the fantasy genre, but it seems to always include things that go against God's Word. Then I really confused myself because really, what's the difference between turning your staff into a snake and magic? So today we're diving into the topic of magic vs. miracles.

PSALMS to God · Christian Fantasy: Magic Vs Miracles

¹⁰There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, ¹¹or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. ¹²For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord, and because of these abominations the Lord your God drives them out from before you. Deuteronomy 18:10-12 NKJV

What is the difference between magic and a miracle?
By modern definition, the difference is that a miracle is improbable, but not impossible. Magic is usually something that is impossible (or an illusion).

There are lots of things that we could be worried about right now, and with good reason. However, now is the time to focus on the good, focus on our relationship with God, and not cling to the world.

Bible Verses

Here are a few verses on sorcery and magic versus miracles in the Bible. This is not a complete list.
on Sorcery and Magic

• Leviticus 19:31; 20:6 — necromancy and mediums
• Exodus 22:18; Galatians 5:19-21; Revelation 21:8 — sorcerers
• Acts 19:19 — magic or curious arts
• Leviticus 19:26; Micah 5:12 — omens and fortune telling
• Deuteronomy 18:10 — divination, fortune tellers, interpreting omens
• James 3:18

on Miracles

• 1 Kings 17:17-24; 2 Kings 4:18-37; Luke 7:11-17; Acts 9:36-42; Acts 20:7-12 — raising people from the dead
• Matthew 14:22-33 — walking on water
• Judges 13-16 — super strength
• Matthew 1:18-25 — virgin
• Luke 9:1; Mark 16:18 — healing
• Mark 5:1-20; Luke 9:1; Mark 16:17; Matthew 17:19-21 — casting out demons
• Exodus 7:17-22 — water to blood
• Exodus 7:8-12 — staff to snake
• Matthew 14:13-21 — feeding the multitude
• 2 Kings 4:1-6 &mdahs; oil overflowing

²⁰And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: ²¹For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. ²²But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour. Matthew 9:20-22 KJV

Common Threads

Many of the words translated to magic or sorcery reference necromancy and potions or spells (see definitions below).

• φαρμακεύς (pharmakeus) is often translated to sorcery and basically means drugs (this is where we get the word pharmacy)
• communication with the dead oversteps Christ's earned victory over death

Every miracle is attributed God

• nothing is done of a human's own doing
• prayer and fasting are usually involved

So, what's the difference?

• From the beginning God established a boundary concerning knowledge
• This type of knowledge is taking matters in to your own hand attempting to do things without God
• Satan tempted mankind to take of the fruit from the tree of knowledge to "be like God"
• Receiving vision from God (e.g., Joseph) is different than relying on a crystal ball or a drug induced state
• Healing in the name of God is different than supersitious remedies (or "potions")

Definitions About Magic and Sorcery

definition

[1] אוֹב

noun

1. water skin bottle
2. necromancer
   a: necromancer, one who evokes the dead
   b: ghost, spirit of a dead one
   c: practice of necromancy
3. one that has a familiar spirit

definition

[2] יִדְעֹנִי

noun

1. a knower, one who has a familiar spirit
   a: a familiar spirit, soothsayer, necromancer (meton)
2. (by implication) a ghost:—wizard

definition

[3] כָּשַׁף

verb

1. to practice witchcraft or sorcery, use witchcraft
   a: sorcerer, sorceress (participle)

definition

[4] עָנַן

verb

1. to make appear, produce, bring (clouds)
2. to practise soothsaying, conjure
   a: to observe times, practice soothsaying or spiritism or magic or augury or witchcraft
   b: soothsayer, enchanter, sorceress, diviner, fortuneteller, barbarian, Meonenim (participle)

definition

[5] עָנָחַשׁ

verb

1. to practice divination, divine, observe signs, learn by experience, diligently observe, practice fortunetelling, take as an omen
   a: to practice divination
   b: to observe the signs or omens

definition

[6] קֶסֶם

noun

1. divination, witchcraft
   a: of the nations, Balaam
   b: of false prophets
   c: in a good sense (king's lips as oracles)

definition

περίεργος[7]

noun

1. busy about trifles and neglectful of important matters
   a: esp. busy about other folks' affairs, a busybody
       i. of things: impertinent and superfluous
       ii. of magic arts

definition

φαρμακεύς[8]

noun

1. one who prepares or uses magical remedies
2. sorcerer
3. (a drug, i.e. spell-giving potion); a druggist ("pharmacist") or poisoner, i.e. (by extension) a magician:—sorcerer.

References & Footnotes

1. "Strong's H178: אוֹב". Blue Letter Bible; August 31, 2020
2. "Strong's H3049: יִדְעֹנִי". Blue Letter Bible; August 31, 2020
3. "Strong's H3784: כָּשַׁף". Blue Letter Bible; August 31, 2020
4. "Strong's H6049: עָנַן". Blue Letter Bible; August 31, 2020
5. "Strong's H5172: עָנָחַשׁ". Blue Letter Bible; August 31, 2020
6. "Strong's H7081: קֶסֶם". Blue Letter Bible; August 31, 2020
7. "Strong's G4021: περίεργος". Blue Letter Bible; August 31, 2020
8. "Strong's G5332: φαρμακεύς". Blue Letter Bible; August 31, 2020

The "Wonderful" World of Disney

Disney is a powerhouse. There's no doubt it has a major influence over children. What is in doubt is whether that a good thing or not.

Introduction

Photocredit: Walt Disney

I wrote a post about Disney 5 years ago, but when I revamped the blog I realized my views on the movies I discussed had changed significantly so I tucked it away for revising. I kept putting it off, but someone inspired my to get it back up, so now is the time. When it comes to Disney movies, be it the original movies that air on the channel or the animated movies, it's not really a question of have I seen the movie so much as how many times have I seen the movie. Like most little girls, I grew up on a steady—and possibly unhealthy—stream of Disney movies. Disney is problematic for so many reason, and as I got older, I realized there are spiritual problems with the movies as well.

It's Just Entertainment

If you aren't a feminist and/or you've never been convicted by the Holy Spirit to be cautious of what you consume, you're initial reaction will probably be that it's just entertainment. My question for you is what does it mean that you find these things entertaining? If you think a racist joke is funny (or entertaining), does that mean you support racism? If you think violence is entertaining, does that mean you enjoy violence? If you think the behaviors God condemned and Jesus died on the cross to save us from, are fun to watch, does that mean you think they're ok?

Magic

I'm not going to touch on magic or witchcraft for any of these because we all know magic is a major theme in pretty much all of Disney's movies and the Bible clearly tells us to stay away from witches and witchcraft (Leviticus 19:31; Deuteronomy 18:10-12; Isaiah 8:19; Revelation 21:8). There is no such thing as "good witches" or "good magic." This is obviously a problematic point spiritually for most Disney movies.

The Series

I realized I had more than a quick paragraph about many of the movies and there are so many movies. Once you read a few, you may be able to guess what I'll say about the others, but people tend to ask me about specific movies so, I decided to go ahead and do a post for each movie I felt compelled to talk about. As I finish them I'll link them below. You can also find the series here. In this series, I'm going to tell you how I feel about these movies. I'm not saying you should or shouldn't watch them. For all things you do, you should consult God, and let the Holy Spirit guide your conscience. I've been asked a few times about this subject, so I'm just sharing how the Spirit had led me concerning some of my old favorites.

Isaiah 8: Concluding the Message to Ahaz

Isaiah 8 concludes the prophecy given in Isaiah 7 and provides us with more insight on the plight of Israel. Although much of it is specific to the coming temporary victory and eventual captivity, the chapter does provide insight to our lives today. There are also verses that seem to parallel verses in Daniel and Revelation.

Mahersalahashbaz

Isaiah 8 starts off with a prophecy concerning Mahersalahashbaz. I talked a bit about him and this prophecy in Isaiah 7: Born of a Virgin. Mahersalahashbaz is this son of Isaiah and fulfills the prophecy given in Isaiah 7:14-16.

The Meaning of Mahersalahashbaz

When God gives names to people, they always have a special meaning and this case is no different! Mahersalahashbaz means "plunder speedeth; booty hasteth."[1] This was quite appropriate since he was a sign of the fall of Syria and the northern kingdom of Israel. Assyria would plunder and spoil (i.e., take booty from) both kingdoms in a short time after his birth.

A Man's Pen

Photocredit: Unsplash.com/John Jennings

An interesting part of God's instructions to Isaiah is the command to write with "a man's pen." Was there some other type of pen Isaiah could have used? If you remember, during the Exodus, Moses wrote some of the law with God's supervision, but God Himself wrote the 10 Commandments (Exodus 31:18). A major difference between God's 10 Commandments and Moses' law is that the commandments speak of moral rights and wrongs, whereas Moses' law says more about what to do in the even of a moral wrong. For example, God tells us not to commit adultery, Moses tells us the penalty for committing adultery. The prophecy Isaiah gives is about a consequence—the northern kingdom of Israel was in rebellion against God and the prophecy was Ahaz's sign that God would dismantle their kingdom. Perhaps this is why God specifies "a man's pen." Of course, the dreamer in me wants to believe there's an angel's pen or something that is quite different than a man's pen. Alas, this is but fantasy.

Most commentaries assert that this was in reference to commonality.[2] God wanted everyone to understand the prophecy so Isaiah was to write in a common script. This may sound odd to us today, but up until modern times, the common tongue of the poor was vastly different than that of the elite. For many years, the Bible was only written in Latin so in countries that spoke English, or German, there was no way to read the text unless they learned Latin.[3] This still happens today in countries like India and Haiti, where the official languages are English and French respectively, but the majority of the population speak a different language as their first language. There's also the tendency of specialists to use jargon, preventing the average person from understanding what is said. God wanted His message to be plain and understandable to as many people as possible.

Who is Zechariah

When God gives more details about Isaiah's son whom is to fulfill the prophecy, Isaiah brings two other men with him to witness (2 Corinthians 13:1). The two men he chooses are Uriah the priest and Zechariah. We can all agree that the priest seems like a logical choice, but who is Zechariah and why was he chosen?

If you're somewhat familiar with the Bible, you already know of a man in the Old Testament named Zechariah, and you know that he was a prophet too. My first question was if this Zechariah is the same as the prophet Zechariah who has his own book. The book of Zechariah tells us that the prophet Zechariah is the son of Berechiah, while Isaiah tells us that the Zechariah he chose to witness is the son of Jeberechiah. Names in the Bible aren't alway consistent with spelling. On top of that, many people either had their names changed by God or went by nicknames; even many of the kings are referenced by multiple names. When you look at some of those examples, Berechiah and Jeberechiah seem even more likely to be the same person. However, I couldn't find a prophecy about Mahersalahashbaz by name in Zechariah, but I would have to reread the entire book to see if anything looked like it could be a prophecy.

Thanks to the internet and the amount of time that has passed since the book was written, I can actually research the connection (or lack thereof) before I reread Zechariah. I didn't find concrete evidence that the Zechariah of Isaiah is Zechariah the prophet, but I did confirm that I'm not the only one who had that thought. According to the Jewish Virtual Library, Zechariah is more likely to be the father in law of king Ahaz than the prophet.[1] References to this Zechariah can be found in 2 Kings 18:2 and 2 Chronicles 29:1.

Rivers and Armies

In the next section of Isaiah 8 (Isaiah 8:6-8), Isaiah starts talking about the waters of Shiloah, but it's unlikely God is talking about literal water.

First, God says that the people reject the water of Shiloah in favor of Rezin and Remaliah's son. Rezin was the king of Syria, while Remaliah's son was Pekah, the king of the northern kingdom of Israel (also known as Samaria). This juxtaposition alone makes it obvious that the water spoken of is not literal water—why would you replace real, drinkable water with two kings?

Second, God describes the water of the river to be "strong and many." While water can be powerful and plentiful, the context of passage makes it hard to believe that God was bringing a literal river of water to destroy the nation. Instead, these waters are lumped in with the king of Assyria.

In the Bible, waters often symbolize peoples or nations (Revelation 17:15), and most commentaries I've read associate the waters with peoples or armies. When we consider that Shiloah is a place in Judah, this interpretation speaks to the lack of trust in their own nation (and thus, God). They didn't have confidence in their own army, but instead feared that of their enemies. I have also read interpretations suggesting that the rejoicing the people did for their enemies was for their defeat. The first part of the verse about refusing the waters of Shiloah seems to paint a different picture, to me.Either way, I think it's safe to say the waters are meant to represent people.

One thing that stood out to me, however, is that waters which are rejected come from Shiloah, which looks a lot like "Shiloh." Why do I bring this up? Shiloh is the place in which the Israelites set the tabernacle until the Temple was completed (Joshua 18:1). Shiloh is also used to reference the coming of Jesus in Genesis 49:10. I was curious if "Shiloah" was actually "Shiloh" and thus tied to the symbolism of Shiloh, representing the Temple and the Messiah. It turns out that the Hebrew word used in passages that read "Shiloh" verses the word used in Isaiah 8:6 is not the same.[4][5][6][7] Outside of that, I couldn't find anything relating the two words.

The conclusion of this passage contains the second and final reference to Immanuel (also spelled Emmanuel), which means "God is with us." Unlike in Isaiah 7 where Immanuel appears to be a specific name, in Isaiah 8:8, it seems that Isaiah is literally saying "God is with us."

Coming Together

Isaiah 8:9-10 talks about the people associating with nations that were not of God and the consequences that come with it. Israel had a bad habit of tethering themselves to countries that didn't believe in, or respect God, instead of just trusting God to handle the situation. We still do this today, whether with friends and cliques, in school, or at work. We're often afraid to stand on our own with just God. What we fail to realize is that we are much stronger with just God than backed by the most powerful army in the world.

Verses 9 and 10 actually remind me of the Tower of Babel from Genesis. Back then, all the people came together and tried to outdo God. In Isaiah 8:9-10, the people are warned about creating unholy networks. God is essentially calling them to remain set apart from the other nations of the world, which is how we are called to walk in Christ.

Stand Out in a Crowd

Growing up, we all heard the phrase "if your friends jumped off a bridge would you do it too?" Most of us already learned that lesson, and we know that we should think for ourselves, but sometimes we get caught up in the world. Our thoughts seem like our own, but they're actually heavily influenced by what we see. This is especially true for us today with all the forms of media we have.

¹⁴And he shall be for a sanctuary;
but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel,
for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
¹⁵And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken,
and be snared, and be taken.Isaiah 8:14-15 KJV

God warns Isaiah not to follow the ways of Israel, but follow God instead. Following God isn't easy though. Many of Isaiah's fellow Israelites would stumble, and fall. These people would eventually be taken. This applies directly to the Israelites in that they were taken into captivity, but we can also see an application to us today. When we don't cling to God, we too will stumble, and if we aren't careful, we may be taken by the devil.

Seal Up the Law & Testimony

Photocredit: Unsplash.com/Adi Ulici

Isaiah 16-18 is one of those passages you have to read multiple times to really appreciate. The first time, I didn't really pay it any attention, and the second time, I wondered why the law and testimony was being kept from people (i.e., "sealed"). It wasn't until the third reading that I started connecting the dots. The complicated thing about the Bible is that sometimes you need later passages get the full depth of earlier passages! This is one of those times.

Hidden Knowledge

Isaiah is not the only prophet to be told to hide away knowledge. Both Daniel and John (the one who wrote Revelation) are given similar instructions in Daniel 12 and Revelation 5, respectively.

We'll talk in detail about Daniel's vision when we actually get to Daniel 12, but for now lets focus in on Daniel 12:4,9. In both verses Daniel is told that the knowledge of the prophecy is sealed or hidden until some specified time. Daniel's job was to record information, but it wasn't meant to be understood just yet. Although it feels like God showing Daniel a locked door without the key, it can also be seen as God handing His people a key to a door He has yet to reveal to them.

In Revelation 5, John is witnessing the opening of a previously sealed book by the Lamb of God. We won't worry about what that book is in this post, because we're focusing on the fact that it existed and it was sealed. I just want to point out that there are clear examples of God giving a preview of knowledge that will not be revealed until a later time.

A Different Kind of Seal

What really floored me, however, was how much this seems to relate to a different end time prophecy. The word "seal" has many meanings. Obviously we aren't talking about the animal, but are we talking about a seal, like an insignia or special mark, or a seal like a method of closing (e.g., sealed bag, sealed envelope). Of course, there's also the possibility that we're talking about both; back in the day, high ranking official sealed their messages with their seal.[8][9][10] We already confirmed that the Bible talks about closing up messages until a specific time, but the Bible also talks about seals and marks as identifiers.

The same passage in Revelation (Revelation 5) shows that the book is kept closed with 7 seals. The seals keep the book shut, but when they are released they become signs to us that the end is near. We aren't told what the seals look like, but the Lamb is said to have 7 horns which represent the 7 Spirits of God. Is it possible each seal is a mark of a Spirit of God?

The most important seals discussed in the Bible are the seal of God and the mark (i.e., seal) of the beast. There are many parallels between these two seals—too many to get into right now—but let's focus on one major similarity: both are taken in the head and hand (Exodus 13:9, Deuteronomy 6:8, Deuteronomy 11:18, Revelation 13:16-17, and Revelation 20:4). Remember the significance of the head and hand are thoughts and actions, respectively. The mark of God is believing in and exercising His law and testimony. Those who reject God and accept the law and testimony of the beast will receive the mark of the beast. Thus, God's people will think and act according to God, whereas the others will think and act according to the beast (i.e, Satan).

When we look at the passage in Isaiah, it sounds closer to establishing this mark than hiding knowledge away. Isaiah is told that the law and testimony are to sealed among the disciples. Thus the information would be known, but only those who believed would take note. The disciples who were sealed with law and testimony, however, would continue to spread the word of God and live trying to please God. As such they would serve as signs to those around them.

Be Wary of the Occult

One thing I've found is that a lot of people just don't understand God. Most people learn everything they know from haphazard teachings at their church, and thus they approve of and indulge in behaviors God clearly condemns. When you refuse to partake in such behaviors, they become confused. God warns Isaiah that he would have to deal with this kind of pressure as well. The people wanted him to consult with spirits of darkness, like wizards or soothsayers.

It's always been interesting to me that people are so easily swayed to believe in pagan superstitions but have trouble with God and His laws. You have people who won't put their purse on the floor or can't sleep without a Bible under their pillow, but they're content to break all of God's laws... Why? If I had to guess, I'd say it's for two reasons. One, the devil wants us to believe we can do everything on our own without God, and practices like this make us feel like we can get answers or effect change. Two, they're often easier than the actions God asks of us. Medium and soothsayers often include theatrics to appear as though spirits are communicating with them, whereas God speaks in a still small voice to us. For some reason, it's much harder to believe you've heard God speak than to believe you saw something move on an Ouija board. Thus people flock to the occult for answers rather than relying on God.

To the law and to the testimony:
if they speak not according to this word,
it is because there is no light in them.Isaiah 8:20 KJV

I don't know how it was in Isaiah's day, but today, we have so many cultures and beliefs mangled into our society that it's hard to tell when we're dabbling in ungodly forms of entertainment, relaxation, communication, etc. I've even had Christian friends say they've consulted mediums or psychics for answers. In Isaiah 8:20, God gives us the tell-tale sign of whether something is safe or not: if it's not according to His law and testimony it's not safe. I use this test on everything, from actions to what I watch on TV. It helps keep my frame of reference centered around God. Remember, God clearly tells us in His word that we aren't to consult the dead, witches, or wizards.

Consequences

Now that God has told us a cut and dry rule to determine if we're participating in things of light (i.e., things in accordance with the law and testimony of God) or of darkness (i.e., anything not in accordance with the law and testimony of God), He tells us the consequences for choosing darkness over light. Choosing darkness only leads to more darkness. God proclaims that the people would experience hunger and anguish due to their decisions.

The hunger that God speaks of in this passage could be literal hunger and the affect of a famine, but it could also reference spiritual hunger. The Bible tells us that we don't live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4). Thus, if we are not feeding ourselves spiritual food, our soul becomes malnourished. Just as we have physical consequences for not eating or eating improperly, there are spiritual consequences for not feeding the soul properly.

Not surprisingly, Isaiah 8:21-22 also seems to parallel Revelation 16:10-11, which discusses a time of spiritual darkness. While Isaiah is probably talking about the immediate troubles of Israel and Revelation speaks to our troubles today, both are relevant for us to learn from and show how little we have changed over time. In both cases there is darkness from the lack of spiritual truth within the kingdom, and God punishes the people with plagues and illnesses. Instead of the people realizing the errors of their ways and repenting, they curse God, blaming Him for their own sins. This is a common thread among us; from the very beginning Adam blamed Eve and Eve blamed the serpent. It is very rare that we take responsibility for our own actions. We should be mindful of this in our daily lives because admitting fault is a crucial part of repentance!

References

1. American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise. Zechariah". Jewish Virtual Library; visited April 2018
2. "Isaiah 8:1 Commentaries". Bible Hub; visited April 2108
3. Brian Kelly. "Why Does (Did) the Roman Catholic Church Make Latin Her Language?". Catholicism.org. September 18, 2014
4. "7975b. Shiloach". Bible Hub; visited April 2018
5. "Isaiah 8:6". Bible Hub; visited April 2018
6. "Joshua 18". Bible Hub; visited April 2018
7. "7887. Shiloh". Bible Hub; visited April 2018
8. "The History and Resurgence of Wax Seals". Stamps Direct. August 2, 2013
9. "Sealing Wax". Wikipedia; visited April 2018
10. "Seal (emblem)". Wikipedia; visited April 2018

Book Review: A Wrinkle In Time

A Wrinkle In Time is a Science Fiction/Fantasy novel for young teens. One of the first of it's kind to feature a female protagonist, it is a classic and marks the beginning of a new era for Sci-Fi.

A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L'Engle

A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L'Engle tells the story of a teenage girl, her little brother, and their friend traveling the galaxy to save the world. It's a grand adventure that culminates in a battle between good and evil.

Back in grade school, I had a friend who loved the book, and despite the fact that we were both avid readers, I never took her love for the book as motivation to read it. When I saw the trailer for the movie, I knew it was now or never. I'm one of those people who prefers to read the book first (and typically I enjoy the book more). So, I rummaged through the bookstore until I found a copy and began to read...

After completing the novel, I found myself with mixed feelings—did I like it, did I not? I'm not sure I can fully answer whether I enjoyed the book or not. One thing that's important to remember is that it was written for young teens (~11-15 years old).[1] At 29, I'm not exactly the book's target audience. Although, I have read books from my youth as an adult and still been drawn in to the pages, I believe this one is better for it's intended age range.

Let's start with what I do like about the book. The overall concept is pretty cool—there's a touch of mystery, a touch of science, and a touch of fantasy. My imagination definitely ran wild as I drifted into the world Ms. L'Engle crafted. Further, the overall message of embracing different styles of learning is definitely one of importance. The novel reminds us if people behave differently or fail standardized tests, it doesn't mean they aren't smart or capable; it just makes them unique.

While the concept and the overall message were solid, the execution was questionable (at least, in the eyes of an adult). The novel was extremely predictable and the climax was pretty anti-climactic. Assuming the movie closely follows the book, I'm not surprised it has a low score from Rotten Tomatoes.[2] On top of a predictable storyline, the book adds an overly precocious child as one of the main characters. By making the child so articulate and intelligent at such a young age, the hope is that we understand how remarkable and special this child really is. Instead, it seemed gimmicky and much less realistic than traveling to far off planets. I feel as though the plot would have made much more sense if the age of the main character and her younger brother had been flipped.

For the Christian reader, the theology in the book may be off putting as well. Interestingly, it has appeared on the banned books list for both being anti-Christian and too Christian. Although Ms. L'Engle is Christian and weaves Bible verses into the story, there seems to be a bit of blurring between New Age philosophies and Christianity.[3] At one point, the book lowers Jesus to the level of Ghandi and Einstein. Unlike The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe from the Chronicles of Narnia series, A Wrinkle In Time mixes science and religion to the point Christian specific theology is lost. In fact, since Jesus is placed on par with human inventors and activists, the god mentioned by the characters is clearly not representing the God of Abraham whose Son died on the cross for us and whose angels would never steal.

Overall, I have no regrets about failing to read this as a child and I'll probably catch the movie on Netflix.

References

1. "A Wrinkle In Time: Product Details". Barnes & Noble; visited March 2018
2. "A Wrinkle In Time". Rotten Tomatoes; visited March 2018
3. Becky Little. "‘A Wrinkle in Time’s’ Long Religious Controversy". History. March 7, 2018

A Wrestling In My Soul

The struggle is real when deciding what is and isn't appropriate for entertainment value. These past few months I've been struggling to walk away from two of my favorite franchises and a childhood favorite.

Introduction

If you read my posts regularly you know I have/had a deep love for Transformers and The Fast and the Furious. This year, 3 movies came out in theaters, that not too long ago I probably would have knocked people down to see as early as possible: Beauty and the Beast, The Fate of the Furious, and Transformers: The Last Knight. Yet, I haven't seen any of them!
Top

Hear No Evil, See No Evil, Speak No Evil

I've been trying to cut out entertainment that should not be entertaining. You wouldn't put spaghetti in your car and you wouldn't eat gasoline. What you feed your mind and spirit, is crucial to your spiritual wellbeing. Watching violence, wizardry, and other ungodly behaviors/concepts, is not good for you; not to mention, I can hardly see God finding it entertaining. There are several proverbs that suggest enjoying—enjoying, not just committing—violence is a trait of the wicked.

So I started testing everything I watch, read, and listen to. I apply the questions employed in Philippians 4:8 when determining if I should watch something. It's hard to break away from things you've always done, particularly things that make you happy. The devil knows what to tempt you with and this year he's been at my door for every single one of these movie releases!

The Movies

Beauty and the Beast

Beauty and the Beast was easily top 5 of my all time favorite Disney movies. Belle is a little nerdy, she loves to read, and she's basically an outcast in society. Despite being a young girl during a time period when girls were supposed to be dainty flowers, she rides off into the terrifying forest to find her missing father and then sacrifices herself to protect him. When the villagers attempt to attack the misunderstood beast, Belle rushes off to save the day. The transformation of the beast into Belle's prince charming is top notch animation, which allows us to forgive the reuse of Sleeping Beauty's dance scene to close the film. Let's not forget the epic soundtrack! These are the things I loved about the movie. What completely passed over my head was the amount of wrong in the movie.

The Plot is Absurd

The entire plot of the movie is about a human girl falling in love with a beast. Yes, we know he's really a man, but she doesn't. Not only is this one step away from bestiality, but it falls under magic and wizardry. On top of that, it doesn't even make sense! The prince places emphasis on physical appearances, so the witch (called an enchantress in the movie to sound more pleasant and less ungodly, though remaining the same thing) curses the man to live in a hideous form. Yet, he still gets to fall in love with a beautiful girl. The fact that the prince changes his tune when the witch changes from an old woman to a beautiful one proves that he was always prepared to woo a beautiful woman—what man isn't? Shouldn't the idea have been to make him fall in love with a woman who wasn't beautiful? Did the beast really learn anything from all of this?

Stockholm Syndrome

If we ignore the absurdity of the plot and pretend that he's a man the whole time, we still have a story glorifying Stockholm Syndrome. Let's not forget that he held her hostage! The turning point of Belle and the Beast's relationship is when he saves her from the wolves after she flees the castle. Belle is thankful that he saved her, but she never should have been in danger. If the Beast hadn't taken her father prisoner, or had let both of them go, she wouldn't have been out at night with no preparation in the first place. If he hadn't been berating her—verbal abuse—she wouldn't have fled. The fact that Belle saw it as "above and beyond" behavior worthy of thanking is classic Stockholm Syndrome. By the time the Beast lets her go, Belle has basically convinced herself that she's there because she wants to be rather than because she's a prisoner.

Prostitutes

Photocredit: Disney's Beauty and the Beast

Oh, and did anyone notice the triplets who fawn over Gaston look like prostitutes? Everyone in the town claims Belle is the most beautiful girl in town, but the triplets actually fit the European standard of beauty—blonde, blue eyed, fair, etc. What's with that? Of course, for the time period and the fact that it's a kids movie they're over-sexualized. Also, if you try to google them, they're referred to as "the Bimbettes." From the images I've seen, they appear toned down for the movie, but since I haven't seen the movie, I can't really say how this played out.

Homosexuality

Most people were ok with the aforementioned problems, and the push back on the 2017 live action film stemmed from the inclusion of an openly gay character. To be honest, it's actually pretty fitting that Disney debut an openly gay character for a remake of Beauty and the Beast. The 1991 original animated feature was the first animated movie to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. It won a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy) and won the Academy Award for Best Original Score.^[1] It was a highly successful film, and part of the reason I loved it so much as a child is the music. The music makes the movie. From "Be Our Guest" to the theme song, even Gaston's ode to himself, the music gets stuck in your head for days. You know who composed it? Howard Ashman and Alan Menken (they also did The Little Mermaid and a few songs for Aladdin). Mr. Ashman died of complications from AIDS about 8 months before the movie was released. If you watch the original through the credits, you'll notice that the film was dedicated to him. Mr. Ashman was openly gay. From a secular perspective, it's quite poetic that Disney chose that movie to debut a gay character.

I don't know how it was handled in the movie, so I can't really comment on it. If I hadn't had reservations about the message of the movie as a whole (via the points I mentioned earlier), I probably would have still gone to see it and made up my mind about the introduction of a gay character after I saw it. However, with the list of strange and unusual things already brewing beneath the surface, I didn't bother.

The Fate of the Furious

I was disappointed when they announced a Fast and Furious 8. Paul Walker is dead, the seventh movie gave him a nice send off, it's done. Of course, Hollywood wants to make as much money as possible so they had no problem keeping the franchise going. I may not have been so apprehensive if the movies weren't getting more and more ridiculous. WARNING, SPOILERS AHEAD for those who haven't seen the movies. The main characters go from average street racing criminals to taking down the crime lord of Brazil to a top notch team of agents working for the government. If pulling a multi-ton safe through the streets of Rio with a set of Dodge Chargers is do able, surely they can take down an entire plane with a couple cars and a never ending runway. In Furious 7 they parachute cars out of a plane and jump a car through several skyscrapers! What happens in Fate of the Furious? Do they conquer aliens!? It's just too much!

But I like cars that go fast, so no matter how ridiculous, I found myself entertained. I love the diversity of the cast and the seamlessness at which they bond. So, what really stopped me from seeing Fate of the Furious (mind you I saw Fast Five, Fast & Furious 6 and Furious 7 in theaters twice each!)? I asked myself what made the movie entertaining to me. Although Dominic Toretto and crew call themselves a family and show loyalty to each other, they're still criminals living off stolen money. Whether they're out to get vengeance or just doing something to clear their name, they're not exactly "good" guys. Plus, if you take away the fighting and violence, the movies wouldn't be the same. Fast and Furious (the 4th movie) opens with an epic scene where a gasoline truck explodes. The scene in Fast Five where they're dragging the safe behind them is what makes the movie, no matter how outlandish. Of course, they destroyed a large part of the city to do it and probably injured people in the process. The reveal that they tricked (re: lied to) Hobbs and managed to get away with (re: steal) all the money is definitely the highlight of the film. I don't remember much about the 6th movie, except Letty being found and the never ending runway. Now the 7th film, I liked because it was tech heavy and it featured a black woman (like myself) being a mastermind of technology. I also liked the Dom and Letty are actually married reveal; which also means that when Dom left Elena after founding out Letty was still alive, he was being truly faithful.

There's definitely some good in the movies, that's why I like them. However, I can't say everything I like about them would be approved by God. So I'm hesitant to watch the 8th installment.

Transformers: The Last Knight

I can describe my experience in the computer science world through the Transformers series. Uncanny, right? I used the movies in the statement of purpose that launched my graduate school experience. When the first movie came out, I was a computer science newbie; I knew nothing about programing or CGI. When the second movie came out (on my 21st birthday at that), I was prepping to go to graduate school to study Computer Graphics. When the third movie came out, I was in graduate school hating life, and I hated the movie. When the fourth movie came out, I had changed schools and advisors and was a lot happier with where I was going; I thought the fourth movie was an improvement and getting back to what I liked about the first 2 movies. The Last Knight, which is the fifth movie of the franchise, debuted the same week I defended my dissertation. Uncanny...

Once again, I asked myself: why do I like Transformers. Sure, Optimus Prime's desire to always take the moral high ground makes him an admirable super hero, but 90% of the movie is gunfire and missile launches. That scorpion thing that attacks in the desert in the first movie is epic. The entire plot is giant alien robots fighting... It's pure violence. I can say I don't watch it because of that, but if you cut out the violence there would be like 10 seconds of screen time. So at the end of the day, I don't think it makes the cut.

The Wrestling In My Soul

The conviction is there, but this is one of those decisions that you constantly second guess. Now that the movies are appearing on iTunes and at RedBox, I find myself thinking, well, what if I just start watching it? If it starts to be too this or too that, then I'll cut it off. Except I already know the movies are violent. I already know what will happen in Beauty and the Beast. It's taking a lot to refrain from watching these movies, but I know it's the right thing.

Are you struggling with a conviction? When God places it upon your heart to do something (or not do something), it isn't alway easy to follow through. Even Moses was afraid to stand before Pharaoh and speak. We have to pray for strength to follow through and we have to surround ourself with friends who will inspire us to maintain our convictions!

References

1. "Beauty and the Beast (1991 Film)". Wikipedia; visited July 2017

2 Chronicles 33: Manasseh & Amon

Judah's best king was followed by it's worst: Manasseh.

Introduction

After experiencing a power revival in Judah from the leadership of King Hezekiah, Judah plummeted back into idolatry under the reign of his son, Manasseh. Manasseh is described as one of the worst kings in the history of Judah.
Top

Manasseh

Photocredit: Unsplash.com/Frantzou Fleurine

Manasseh takes the throne at 12 years old, which is still a bit young by modern standards but not the youngest Judah had seen. His reign lasted for 55 years but was the complete opposite of Hezekiah's. Where Hezekiah inspired Judah to return to God, Manasseh drove them to idols. He turns the people against their covenant with God and takes part in pagan practices, including witchcraft and child sacrifice. Manasseh re-erects the false altars Hezekiah had destroyed, going so far as to place on inside the Temple of God.

As we would expect, God is not pleased with Manasseh's behavior. However, God never acts without giving us a chance to repent, so He sends a warning to the people. Unfortunately, the Israelites (and ourselves) don't usually heed is warnings because we are so preoccupied with our own interests. When the people refuse to listen, God allows Assyria to attack.
During the attack, Manasseh is taken captive into Babylon. It is only in this time of need that Manasseh repents. Nonetheless, God hears Manasseh's repentance and delivers him back to Judah safely. The key take away from God's mercy, however, is that Manasseh's repentance was sincere. When Manasseh returns to Judah, he doesn't return to pagan practices or forget that God has spared his life; he come back a changed man and we are given evidence of this. He has repairs made to the Temple and gets rid of the false altars he construction within God's Temple.

As with many things in life, however, our bad behavior may speak louder than the good we do and become our legacy and greatest influence. Manasseh's sudden change of heart was too late in terms of his influence over the people of Judah. The were now accustomed to worshipping at the false altars and continued to practice sinful traditions Manasseh had introduced earlier in his reign.
Top

Relating to Today

African American's are well acquainted with this unfortunate cat and mouse game of good and evil. Just when the Union won the war and freed the slaves, Jim Crow became the law of the South. Similarly, the US went from electing its first Black president to elected Donald Trump, who ran a campaign that did nothing but incite racial hatred. In the Bible we see this same tug of war with Manasseh taking the throne after Hezekiah. Are we just destined for evil?

It's not that we're destined for evil, so much as the devil trying to trick us down that path. The last thing the devil wants to see is God's people worshipping God and behaving the way God wants us to behave. Once a revival begins, the devil is going to seek to squelch interest. He's going to do everything in his power to find a weak link and bring that progress to a halt. Anytime there is a shift in focus to maintaining a serious relationship with God, you can bet the devil is going to try to throw a monkey wrench in the plan. That could be on a large scale, like with the kingdom of Judah, or on a personal scale, like when we make changes in our personal lives. The only way to guard against such attacks is to expect them.
Top

Amon

When Manasseh dies, his son Amon takes the throne. Amon is 22 when he becomes king and only reigns for 2 years. He, too, does much bad while reigning as king. Possibly responding to Manasseh's change of heart, the people do not appreciate Amon's step back toward paganism and ungodliness. This leads them to conspire against him and have him assassinated. Upon his death, his son Josiah takes over as king.
Top

References

2 Kings 21-23: Manasseh & Josiah

These chapters follow the evil king Manasseh and the Godly king Josiah. The difference in their leadership is not only a testimony of what God expects from us, but also a testimony that our fate is not bound to those who raise us. We are free to choose (or reject) God regardless of our parentage.

Introduction

Manasseh (not to be confused with the son of Joseph), was one of the worst kings in the history of Judah, but his grandson Josiah was one of the best. The difference in their leadership is not only a testimony of what God expects from us, but also a testimony that our fate is not bound to those who raise us. We are free to choose (or reject) God regardless of our parentage.
Top

Manasseh Takes the Throne

After the wonderful leadership of Hezekiah, Judah falls to poor leadership once again in Hezekiah's son Manasseh, followed by his grandson Amon. Both kings stray from Hezekiah's Godly leadership.

Manasseh's sin are so great they are actually listed out. From pagan worship and idolatry to dealing with witchcraft and enchantments, Manasseh does much to incite God's wrath. In these sins, Manasseh leads Israel to do the same. He rebuilds the pagan altars and illegal altars for God, allowing the Israelites to return to their old habits. Manasseh is also a violent king as he is described as filling Jerusalem with innocent blood. Surprisingly, God allows him to reign for 55 years. However his reign is the tipping point for God's people in Judah. In 2 Kings 23:26 and 2 Kings 24:3, the blame for Israel's punishment falls on the sins that took place during Manasseh's rule.

When Manasseh dies, his son Amon picks up where he left off. Amon is just as evil as his father and continues to lead Israel down a sinful path. During Amon's reign, his servants rise up against him. Thus Amon on reigns for two years before he is assassinated. The people punish those who conspired against Amon and place his son Josiah on the throne. Unlike the northern kingdom, where assassinators often took the throne after successfully killing the king, the scepter never leaves the House of David in Judah (Genesis 49:10).
Top

Josiah

Josiah is placed on the throne at a very young age, like King Jehoash (also spelled Joash); he is only 8 when takes over the throne. Josiah reigns for 31 years and brings Godliness back to the throne. I find it interesting that Josiah takes up where his great grandfather left off despite having an ungodly father and grandfather. Josiah would never have met Hezekiah. This proves that though our parents may shape our views on God based on how they raise us, they aren't the ultimate factor in our relationship with God. Josiah was able to find his way to God despite the bad examples around him. The Bible doesn't tell us if this came from the influence of advisors, priests, or a call from God Himself, but it does show us that we aren't lost just because our parents are.
Top

Fix the Temple

Once again, the Temple needs repairs. Since the Israelites had been using the wealth of the Temple to pay off enemies, it isn't surprising that it was deteriorating. While ungodly kings would have prioritized their resources elsewhere, Josiah orders that the money in the Temple be used to pay workers for repairs to the Temple. When the scribe speaks with the priest, he learns that they have found the book of law (i.e. the books of Moses).
Top

The Book of Law

Photocredit: FreeImages.com/Pellinni

It is unclear at what point the Israelites stopped using the Book of Law, but God had instructed them to read the law aloud every year and apparently they had not been doing so. Scholars believe that the actual book of law had not been lost but had been hid from idolatrous kings. Likely some of the law had been preserved in the nation while other parts had been lost, and the reopening of the book shed light on this fact.^[5]

When Josiah reads the book, he humbles himself before the LORD and makes haste to get Israel on the right track. Josiah knows that God must be angry at them for forsaking the laws, so they consult a prophetess of the Lord to hear God's thoughts. Note that this is proof a woman can receive messages from God.

God shows mercy towards Josiah because he has heeded God's Word. Josiah had been doing his best, but was ignorant of parts of God's law. When he learned the truth he was quick to restructure his life to please God. For this, God promised that judgment and destruction would not come during Josiah's lifetime. We should remember this example. When we don't know any better, God is not pleased, but he is not as angry as He would be had we known we were in the wrong. Once we learn the truth, however, it is up to us to align ourselves with God.

Josiah has the law read to the people and the nation is quick to renew their covenant with God. It isn't just enough to say the words, however. We see a real change in Josiah's heart as he works to rid Judah of ungodliness. Josiah disbands pagan priests, defiles illegal altars, and evicts the sodomites. When we truly come to God, our actions will mirror the confession we've made with out heart.
Top

Cleansing the Nation

Josiah doesn't stop at cleansing Judah; he travels into the northern kingdom's territory and begins to cleanse cities there as well. He defiles the pagan altars there with human remains. While doing this, he discovers that a prophet had already prophesied these actions. Recognizing the holiness of such a person, Josiah orders that the prophet's bones not be disturbed.

A major difference in Josiah's handling of this cleansing and the cleansing that occurred in the northern kingdom under Elijah is the lack of slaughter. Josiah recognized that the people had been led astray and that was as much the fault of leadership as it was their own doing. Instead of killing everyone, Josiah works to bring everyone back to God. Similarly, when we proclaim the word of God, we should be careful not to push people away with harsh judgments. Elijah was a great leader, and while God did not condemn Elijah's act of murdering pagan priests, Elijah himself felt bad. God did not create us to delight in tearing others down. Our primary mission is to bring others to God in love.
Top

The Name Josiah

Josiah is also a popular name in the US today; it ranks at #57 in popularity, which means you probably know at least 1 person named Josiah. The name means "YHWH supports."^[1] Famous Josiah's of today include R&B singer Josiah Bell, and reality TV star Josiah Duggar.^[2][3] Minister and activist Josiah Henson was also named for the Biblical king.^[4]
Top

More Bad Kings

God was pleased with Josiah's actions, but Judah still had to be punished for the actions it had taken up until that point. Each action we take has consequences, and although God may forgive us, that doesn't mean we won't endure those consequences. Israel never fully repented and those tribes were scattered forever. Judah, on the other hand, was able to regroup after their exile. It is also likely that the people of Israel did not share the same zeal Josiah did. This would explain why they were so easily swayed back to idolatry under the next set of kings. God knew that the hearts of the people where still drenched in idolatry.
Top

Jehoahaz

Josiah dies in battle with Egypt and his son Jehoahaz is crowned king (there had previously been a king named Jehoahaz in the northern kingdom, as well). Jehoahaz takes the throne when he is 23, but only reigns for 3 months. Unlike Josiah, he does evil. He is captured by the pharaoh of Egypt and forced to pay tribute. The king of Egypt places Jehoahaz's brother Eliakim on the throne and renames him Jehoiakim.

Jehoiakim / Eliakim

Jehoiakim was actually the elder brother and begins his reign at the age of 25. It is unclear why he wasn't made king first. Although the pharaoh allowed Jehoiakim to take the throne, he was still only a vassal king and forced to pay tribute to Egypt. Josiah's son's were clearly unable to hold on to the zeal Josiah had introduced for following God. Nonetheless, Jehoiakim reigns for 11 years.
Top

References

1. Mike Campbell. "Josiah". Behind the Name. 1996
2. LeeAnn Chisolm. "5 Reasons to Fall in Love with Josiah Bell". Blavity. October 2016
3. "19 Kids and Counting". Wikipedia; visited February 2017
4. Biography.com Editors. "Josiah Henson". Bio. April 13, 2016
5. Holman Bible Publishers. Holman KJV Study Bible, pg. 674. 2014