Is Green Lantern Going To Hell?

[ToBeInChrist]

The issue with Harry Potter, as I heard one fundy put it, was that watching witchcraft for entertainment purposes was equivalent to watching pornography for entertainment.

...

So, if all we are doing is seeing the "magic" vocabulary and screaming "hell-bound," I personal believe we've missed the point of what the Scriptures are really trying to tell us when they speak of witchcraft being evil.

I appreciate that you gave some thought to the concerns mentioned.

I agree with you that seeing 'magic' vocabulary and screaming 'hell-bound' misses the point.

My point has been to raise my own concern to steer myself more and more towards what God loves, and not to encourage my heart to find entertainment in things which have been identified as sinful, so that I love my Lord and Savior better.

 

[LinuxUser]

They haven't been identified as sinful overall. If a work of fiction is sinful for you that is fine so avoid it, but to try to tell everyone else it's bad and sinful for them is going over the line. We are all to be convinced in our own mind

 

[ToBeInChrist]

It is appropriate to urge other Christians to take care to guard their hearts, and to explain how and why one tries to handle being 'in the world but not of the world', which is what I've been trying to do.

I appreciate it if someone responds to the concerns that are brought up, instead of simply dismissing them and then arguing against things that weren't argued.

 

[LinuxUser]

No you been trying to say how bad others are. Instead of saying there is a problem for you with a work of fiction. We are not alike and more spiritually mature people can handle and understand that a story is just that and nothing more and less mature ones are not able to.

You shouldn't say something is wrong for everyone but that you feel it's wrong for you. The problem comes in when people try to interpret passages as they see in English instead of understand that it may mean something different originally.

We have freedom in Christ to watch the Green lantern, read potter, and do other things. We don't have the freedom to bind other souls because we don't care for something.

 

[ToBeInChrist]

No you been trying to say how bad others are. Instead of saying there is a problem for you with a work of fiction.

What do you mean I say how bad others are? I don't know what you are referring to.

We are not alike and more spiritually mature people can handle and understand that a story is just that and nothing more and less mature ones are not able to.

As I think has been mentioned and agreed upon by people with varying opinions on these matters, children and people who are unstable, may be more vulnerable, and then there are people who are particularly tempted or have a history of caving into temptation in a particular area, and there are issues about not being a bad influence upon others.

You seem to imply that people are spiritually immature if they do not see Harry Potter or Desperate Housewives or Queer Eye for the Strait guy as 'just entertainment' -- I disagree with such a judgment.

You shouldn't say something is wrong for everyone but that you feel it's wrong for you.

I don't particularly care about my own opinion or what just happens to feel right or work for me.

I don't say that homosexuality or fornication or blasphemy is 'just something I feel is wrong for me', and likewise sorcery, muttering incantations, isn't 'just something I feel is wrong for me' -- these are things God hates.

Now, being entertained by what God hates: I raised Scriptural concerns about the heart. You can respond thoughtfully about such Scriptural concerns, or not.

 

[LinuxUser]

What do you mean I say how bad others are? I don't know what you are referring to.

By fiat your trying to say how much better you are because you don't do these things

As has been mentioned and agreed upon, children and people who are unstable, may be more vulnerable, and then there are people who are particularly tempted or have a history of caving into temptation in a particular area, and there are issues about not being a bad influence upon others.

I never agreed, just because some agrees with you doesn't mean everyone does. I do agree just don't assume everyone does.

I disagree with your implication people are spiritually immature if they do not see Harry Potter or Desperate Housewives or Queer Eye for the Strait guy as 'just entertainment'.

I never said that and you have an remarkable propensity to link things together that have nothing to do with each other. Once again your putting your spin on what was said as you have done with Scripture.

I don't particularly care about my own opinion or what just happens to feel right or work for me.

I don't say that homosexuality or blasphemy is 'just something I feel is wrong for me', and likewise sorcery, muttering incantations, isn't 'just something I feel is wrong for me' -- these are things God hates.

Now, being entertained by what God hates: I raised Scriptural concerns about the heart. You can respond thoughtfully about such Scriptural concerns, or not.

It's all been your opinion, instead of trying to find out what Scripture means originally you came in the other thread blasting us with opinion. When others tried to show how wrong you were by showing you that some verses did not mean what they look like in English, you just kept up the same old spiel.

You raised your concerns not Scriptural ones. Instead of saying such and such are wrong for everyone you should say that such and such are wrong for me.

 

[ToBeInChrist]

By fiat your trying to say how much better you are because you don't do these things

So someone who wants to guard their heart and encourage others to do so on a Christian forum is by fiat trying to say how much better they are? Do you think that is reasonable?

It's all been your opinion, instead of trying to find out what Scripture means originally you came in the other thread blasting us with opinion. When others tried to show how wrong you were by showing you that some verses did not mean what they look like in English, you just kept up the same old spiel.

Are you arguing that chanting incantations, reading tea leaves and horoscopes are ok, or are you arguing that Christians shouldn't bother to guard their hearts, I'm not sure what you are arguing.

 

[CyberPaladin]

Also, the Green Lantern clearly teaches young people that if they wear green and a ring they can project green energy. Clearly diabolical here. After all, isn't green the color of envy?

-CryptoLutheran

Nah the Orange Lantern's the one who's power is centered around the emotions of greed and envy.

 

[LinuxUser]

So someone who wants to guard their heart and encourage others to do so on a Christian forum is by fiat trying to say how much better they are? Do you think that is reasonable?

The way your doing it yes. Honestly are you that gullible that a bit of fiction will hurt you.

Are you arguing that chanting incantations, reading tea leaves and horoscopes are ok, or are you arguing that Christians shouldn't bother to guard their hearts, I'm not sure what you are arguing.

I'm arguing that people should be smart enough to see fiction when it's in front of them and not to cowar as if they will follow satan

 

[cubinity]

I have, throughout my life, seen Christians make a big deal over fiction:

Negative reactions: Da Vinci Code, The Shack, Harry Potter...
Positive reactions: The Left Behind Series, The Passion of the Christ...

These are just the big one's I can remember from my own lifetime.
It is not uncommon for people in a culture dominated by the subtle influence of fiction-driven media to take the content of fiction quite seriously. For example, cigarette smoking is not allowed for characters in network television shows because seeing fictional characters smoke is an encouragement for the audience to smoke.
I don't believe it is a negative for authorities to make choices concerning the censoring fiction (just as they did with smoking on network TV) when that censorship is in line with the direction the culture is moving.

 

[ToBeInChrist]

The way your doing it yes. Honestly are you that gullible that a bit of fiction will hurt you.

It might help if you pointed out something in particular that you think I am doing wrongly.

Also, I want to clarify, yet again, my concern is that I want to love what God loves and I just don't want to be entertained by sin.

I have said in some posts that yes there are concerned about people being tempted, unstable people who aren't good at determining reality from fiction, etc., but I've tried to steer this all towards heart issues, and moving towards having a heart that loves God's righteousness.

I'm arguing that people should be smart enough to see fiction when it's in front of them and not to cowar as if they will follow satan

I'm again pointing out that my main concern is that God tells us He hates it when we consult astrologers or follow after omens or chant incantations to attempt magic -- so I don't want to be entertained by Harry Potter, just as I do not want to be entertained by Desperate Housewives (adultery, fornication), or Queer Eye for the Strait Guy (homosexuality).

 

[LinuxUser]

It might help if you pointed out something in particular that you think I am doing wrongly.

Also, I want to clarify, yet again, my concern is that I want to love what God loves and I just don't want to be entertained by sin.

I have said in some posts that yes there are concerned about people being tempted, unstable people who aren't good at determining reality from fiction, etc., but I've tried to steer this all towards heart issues, and moving towards having a heart that loves God's righteousness.



I'm again pointing out that my main concern is that God tells us He hates it when we consult astrologers or follow after omens or chant incantations to attempt magic -- so I don't want to be entertained by Harry Potter, just as I do not want to be entertained by Desperate Housewives (adultery, fornication), or Queer Eye for the Strait Guy (homosexuality).

No, your pointing out what you think that God wants. To honestly know what was referenced in Holy Writ you have to abandon your preconceived notions and find out the language and the culture. There are those that even have shown in the other thread that what you think is not what was happening and tried to show what was really meant.

 

[ToBeInChrist]

No, your pointing out what you think that God wants. To honestly know what was referenced in Holy Writ you have to abandon your preconceived notions and find out the language and the culture. There are those that even have shown in the other thread that what you think is not what was happening and tried to show what was really meant.

Are you arguing that God does not hate sorcery and homosexual acts, that God does not consider fornication or adultery to be sinful, or are you saying you do not believe God cares whether we are entertained by sin, or what?

In the past I have used incantations, spells. Various incantions/spells muttered in horror and sci-fi fiction may be different incantations, may be different in various ways, ok. Regardless, using incantations, muttering spells, is condemned in Scripture. I don't see any good thing in being entertained by sin, I don't see any good in being entertained by the training of sorcerers as to how to harness their powers by muttering incantatons/spells.

 

[cubinity]

Are you arguing that God does not hate sorcery and homosexual acts, that God does not consider fornication or adultery to be sinful, or are you saying you do not believe God cares whether we are entertained by sin, or what?

In the past I have used incantations, spells. Various incantions/spells muttered in horror and sci-fi fiction may be different incantations, may be different in various ways, ok. Regardless, using incantations, muttering spells, is condemned in Scripture. I don't see any good thing in being entertained by sin, I don't see any good in being entertained by the training of sorcerers as to how to harness their powers by muttering incantatons/spells.

If I may...

LinuxUser has already addressed repeatedly that there is no problem with your personal convictions about being entertained by things you perceive as sin.

The problem arrises when you universalize your convictions to apply to everyone else.

It is when you (or any of us) take something we are personally convicted about and say it is wrong for everyone to do.

I, too, am okay with you not exposing yourself to forms of entertainment based on personal conviction.

However, I too agree with LinuxUser that it is inappropriate to universalize your personal convictions on this matter.

I believe that Paul, when he wrote Romans 14, had a situation very much like this one in mind. Sure, in the specific context of his letter, the matter revolved around diet. But, the principle is still the same.

You are convinced that doing something is a sin, so you shouldn't do it, because for you, it is a sin. However, to those who are okay doing it, it is okay for them to do, just so long as them doing it is not a stumbling block for you.

The reason I believe the principle is communicable to this issue is because the dietary argument was that the Scriptures called eating those foods a sin, and yet there were Christians eating those foods and sure that they weren't sinning. Debates like this one sprouted up, and those Christians who were once confident they were not sinning now weren't so sure. Those arguing that they were sinning were creating confusion and guilt where there was no need. So, Paul wrote this part of the letter to restore confidence to those who did not believe they were sinning.

Likewise, I believe LinuxUser is continuing to discuss this matter with you because he is sure, in agreement with you, that it is not okay for you to view these things as entertainment, but is also sure, in contrast to some of your arguments, that it is also totally okay for others to view these things as entertainment.

As Paul writes in Romans 14:14, "I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean."

I believe this is true.

 

[ToBeInChrist]

If I may...

LinuxUser has already addressed repeatedly that there is no problem with your personal convictions about being entertained by things you perceive as sin.

Yes, which is why I asked, if there was disagreement about spell incantation being sinful, fornication and homosexuality being sinful, not just for me, and not just on the basis of my perception that these are sins.

The problem arrises when you universalize your convictions to apply to everyone else. It is when you (or any of us) take something we are personally convicted about and say it is wrong for everyone to do.

Again, is this particular to the case of me encouraging all of us to guard our hearts and discouraging all from being entertained with sin, or is it generally an issue with saying that some things are wrong for everyone?

You are convinced that doing something is a sin, so you shouldn't do it, because for you, it is a sin. However, to those who are okay doing it, it is okay for them to do, just so long as them doing it is not a stumbling block for you.

That others find entertainment in Harry Potter, Desperate Housewives, or Queer Eye for the Strait Guy, is not a stumbling block for me.

I wonder why anyone would think it wrong for someone to ask them to consider why they choose to be entertained by such things.

 

[cubinity]

Yes, which is why I asked, if there was disagreement about spell incantation being sinful, fornication and homosexuality being sinful, not just for me, and not just on the basis of my perception that these are sins.

This is not about whether the things themselves are sinful, but whether watching others do them as a form of entertainment is sinful. At least, that's what I understand this discussion to be about. Correct me if I am wrong.

Again, is this particular to the case of me encouraging all of us to guard our hearts and discouraging all from being entertained with sin, or is it generally an issue with saying that some things are wrong for everyone?

As long as you and I both know the difference between encouragement/discouragement and saying things are right/wrong for everyone, I don't see a problem.

That others find entertainment in Harry Potter, Desperate Housewives, or Queer Eye for the Strait Guy, is not a stumbling block for me.

I wonder why anyone would think it wrong for someone to ask them to consider why they choose to be entertained by such things.

There is no harm in asking.