Wolf in Sheep's Clothing: Harmful or Benign?
About a month ago a parent of my friend told me this harrowing account of evil and the way it played out with her teenage daughter.
One day three girls were walking carelessly home from school. It was a beautiful, late spring day with the sun resplendently shining, the trees alive and vibrant, the flowers peaking in bloom. The three girls were made up of two sisters one 12, one 7, and friend 12. As they were making their way home a group of three boys began following the girls. As the girls made their way home they were approached by the boys who were trespassing on the property the sisters. The girls were trapped, until one of the girls took one of the boys and threatened them. Fortunately through this action the girls were able to finally get home, but as they made their way home the boys did not leave yet they stayed on their property, just quietly staring at the home. What made this strange was the fact that these boys did not shout anything at the girls they just stared at them with a dreadful discipline.
Now for the weird part: as she told me this story the mother told me another diabolic twist that usually would be overlooked, but in this case it was totally relevant. She told me how a priest friend of the family uncovered that two of these girls were participating in activities with the occult. She related how these girls and their friends would routinely use the Ouija board and seek to provoke and to channel spirits. She explained in great detail how the girl specifically asked during one of these Ouija board encounters for the spirit to manifest itself. After several tries nothing came about as only silence accompanied their persistent inquiries. So the girl left, thinking that the spirit they had been seeking was hiding, not revealing itself, being weak. The mother related to me that this incident occurred about a week before the mysterious episode of the boys following them. She also recounted that the priest told her that those boys were not just merely bullies; they were acting, and willfully carrying out the desires of the demons that these girls were trying to channel during their Ouija board session. The priest also warned for the girl to cease this occultist activity at once since her life might be in jeopardy. I’m not sure at this point if the priest’s exhortation was heeded.
I know that this story might seem farfetched, and even a bit superstitious, but I firmly believe that this is not so. Parents must realize that evil is real; there is such a thing as demonic realities. Parental ignorance is troubling. Occultic realities might be indirectly or directly placing the lives of their children in serious jeopardy. King Saul in the first book of Samuel encounters this dangerous demonic reality when he channels the spirit of the deceased prophet Samuel,
“When Saul saw the army of the Philistines he was afraid and his heart trembled greatly. And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him either through dreams, or by Urium or by prophets. Then Saul said to his servants, “Seek out for me a woman who is a medium that I may go to her and inquire of her.” And his servants said to him, “Behold there is a medium at Endor. So Saul disguised himself and put on other garments, and went, he and two men with him; and they came to a woman by night. And he said, “Divine for me by a spirit, and bring up for me whomever I shall name to you.” The woman said to him, “Surely you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off the mediums and the wizards from the land. Why then are you laying a snare for my life to bring about my death?” But Saul swore to her by the Lord. “As the Lord lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this thing.” Then the woman said, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” He said “Bring Samuel for me.”…Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?”…moreover the Lord will give Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines; and tomorrow you and your sons shall be with me.” 1 Samuel 28:5-18
The passage continues on with the eventual death and disgrace of the formerly great king Saul. This fall from grace should serve as a cautionary tale to all people especially parents of children and teenagers that messing with evil even in its most innocuous forms can be dangerous and even deadly.
The truth is that we are living in a post Christian society, which is concentrated on deliberately belittling the faith. We also live in a time where there is a pervading interest in the occult. This is manifested in such tales as Harry Potter, Twilight, and other such novels. The danger with these works is the fact that they might generate particularly in teens an unhealthy curiosity in the occult, making them perfect, unassuming victims.
What makes this present reality so chilling is the fact that there are two forces here working in perfect tandem. On the one side you have the part of culture that romanticizes the occult and on the other side you have side that consistently and routinely belittles the Christian faith. The obvious danger is that once a child is not steeped in the faith, then it makes it that much easier for demonic forces or entities to possess or control that person. Author CS Lewis in his work the "The Screwtape Letters" warns about this dangerous dichotomy,
“There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors.”
If you look at statistics over the past 40 years teenage suicide rates have increased almost a hundred fold. School shootings have become almost commonplace headlines in the news. Sadly if parents do not heed this call and become more vigilant in the spiritual development of their children, many teens will become the unwitting victims of the lukewarmness of their parent’s faith. It is not intrusive, but rather it is loving act when parents take a healthy interest in their children’s interests and ultimately can wind up saving the whole family from harm.
One day three girls were walking carelessly home from school. It was a beautiful, late spring day with the sun resplendently shining, the trees alive and vibrant, the flowers peaking in bloom. The three girls were made up of two sisters one 12, one 7, and friend 12. As they were making their way home a group of three boys began following the girls. As the girls made their way home they were approached by the boys who were trespassing on the property the sisters. The girls were trapped, until one of the girls took one of the boys and threatened them. Fortunately through this action the girls were able to finally get home, but as they made their way home the boys did not leave yet they stayed on their property, just quietly staring at the home. What made this strange was the fact that these boys did not shout anything at the girls they just stared at them with a dreadful discipline.
Now for the weird part: as she told me this story the mother told me another diabolic twist that usually would be overlooked, but in this case it was totally relevant. She told me how a priest friend of the family uncovered that two of these girls were participating in activities with the occult. She related how these girls and their friends would routinely use the Ouija board and seek to provoke and to channel spirits. She explained in great detail how the girl specifically asked during one of these Ouija board encounters for the spirit to manifest itself. After several tries nothing came about as only silence accompanied their persistent inquiries. So the girl left, thinking that the spirit they had been seeking was hiding, not revealing itself, being weak. The mother related to me that this incident occurred about a week before the mysterious episode of the boys following them. She also recounted that the priest told her that those boys were not just merely bullies; they were acting, and willfully carrying out the desires of the demons that these girls were trying to channel during their Ouija board session. The priest also warned for the girl to cease this occultist activity at once since her life might be in jeopardy. I’m not sure at this point if the priest’s exhortation was heeded.
I know that this story might seem farfetched, and even a bit superstitious, but I firmly believe that this is not so. Parents must realize that evil is real; there is such a thing as demonic realities. Parental ignorance is troubling. Occultic realities might be indirectly or directly placing the lives of their children in serious jeopardy. King Saul in the first book of Samuel encounters this dangerous demonic reality when he channels the spirit of the deceased prophet Samuel,
“When Saul saw the army of the Philistines he was afraid and his heart trembled greatly. And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him either through dreams, or by Urium or by prophets. Then Saul said to his servants, “Seek out for me a woman who is a medium that I may go to her and inquire of her.” And his servants said to him, “Behold there is a medium at Endor. So Saul disguised himself and put on other garments, and went, he and two men with him; and they came to a woman by night. And he said, “Divine for me by a spirit, and bring up for me whomever I shall name to you.” The woman said to him, “Surely you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off the mediums and the wizards from the land. Why then are you laying a snare for my life to bring about my death?” But Saul swore to her by the Lord. “As the Lord lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this thing.” Then the woman said, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” He said “Bring Samuel for me.”…Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?”…moreover the Lord will give Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines; and tomorrow you and your sons shall be with me.” 1 Samuel 28:5-18
The passage continues on with the eventual death and disgrace of the formerly great king Saul. This fall from grace should serve as a cautionary tale to all people especially parents of children and teenagers that messing with evil even in its most innocuous forms can be dangerous and even deadly.
The truth is that we are living in a post Christian society, which is concentrated on deliberately belittling the faith. We also live in a time where there is a pervading interest in the occult. This is manifested in such tales as Harry Potter, Twilight, and other such novels. The danger with these works is the fact that they might generate particularly in teens an unhealthy curiosity in the occult, making them perfect, unassuming victims.
What makes this present reality so chilling is the fact that there are two forces here working in perfect tandem. On the one side you have the part of culture that romanticizes the occult and on the other side you have side that consistently and routinely belittles the Christian faith. The obvious danger is that once a child is not steeped in the faith, then it makes it that much easier for demonic forces or entities to possess or control that person. Author CS Lewis in his work the "The Screwtape Letters" warns about this dangerous dichotomy,
“There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors.”
If you look at statistics over the past 40 years teenage suicide rates have increased almost a hundred fold. School shootings have become almost commonplace headlines in the news. Sadly if parents do not heed this call and become more vigilant in the spiritual development of their children, many teens will become the unwitting victims of the lukewarmness of their parent’s faith. It is not intrusive, but rather it is loving act when parents take a healthy interest in their children’s interests and ultimately can wind up saving the whole family from harm.
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