Do you or don't you know about it? Are you aware of the Twilight hype? I wasn't until a few weeks ago. As of last Wednesday I've been swimming in the sea of it. To get you up to speed in case you're wondering---Twilight is the first book in a series about vampires. It's written by a Mormon. Yeah. Me too. I was hesitant to waste my time on this book for those two facts alone. Originally this post was going to gush all over Twilight. I was preparing to be land-blasted by a few people who would comment in the negative about a Christian "promoting" a book about vampires. However, since I first turned the pages of the fiction book last week many thoughts have flooded my mind. The first being this--reading about a vampire isn't going to compromise my faith.
Lots--and I do mean lots--of teenagers at my church and those I know from Facebook from other places we have lived as well as several of my peers were just giddy about this book. My first thoughts were unfortunately judgmental. Come on--how could I justify a vampire book? For whatever reason, I chose to borrow book 1 last Wednesday. By Thursday morning I was sucked into the vortex of Edward & Bella. My friend brought by books 2,3, & 4 for my next fix. Had I become a sick-o? No. Twilight was just so alluring. Mysterious. Ethereal. Intriguing. I found myself entranced by the character of Edward--the vampire.
He was beautiful beyond description. He adored Bella as if no one else existed. He was always there for her. Bella found someone whom she couldn't quite figure out, but Edward seemed to woo her to himself. She found comfort in his presence.
Now, I'm not by any means making a vampire into a picture of Jesus. Wait. Maybe I am. Uh-oh...here it comes.
Reread those things I just said about Edward and then how Bella responded. I do believe Jesus fits that description. Don't you know we were created to long for God? To be in fellowship with Him?
There is that empty space in our heart that searches for something to fill it. You know you have it. Even if you are already a Believer, there is that place you can't quite articulate, but it is none-the-less insatiable when filled with the wrong thing leaving you still searching. It is meant to be filled by Jesus. It is the whisper you hear calling you to Himself. It could be the scream in your head telling you "NO!" when you are filling up that space with something other than the desires of God.
What lures you?
It's supposed to be the Presence of Christ.
He is beautiful beyond description. He adores me as if no one else exists. He's always there for me. I can't quite figure Him out, but He woos me. He is alluring. Mysterious. Ethereal. Intriguing.
THAT'S what happened when I read Twilight.
I found myself deeper in love with my Jesus. Believing He is right here beside me. Watching me just because I'm His and He thinks I'm beautiful. Watching after me when I don't even know what He's protecting me from.
I didn't get lost in the vampire world. For Pete's sake---they aren't even real!!!
I loved the book and am glad I read it. However, my deeper love of Jesus isn't the only reason I'm glad I read it. I have already had an opportunity to talk about it with some young girls. The author wrote this series geared towards teenagers. Did I mention the book is very sensual? Though Edward is a "good" vampire he is very much attracted to Bella yet he chooses to remain pure around her--BUT the electrifying sensuality is evident when they are together. Too much for teenagers to be reading. Believe me, I know teens see, hear and experience far worse with the media available to them today, but I just can't imagine WHY on earth the Mormon author wrote it FOR teenagers!!! I just don't get it. I guess she saw a money bath and wanted to jump in. Millions of these books have sold. The 4th book sold 1.3 million copies on the first day--BUT many of the books were returned due to the fact that the fan base disliked the author's ridiculous spin. I must agree. I drank (no pun intended...yes, it is!) the first book in two nights. I plowed through book 2 and didn't like it at all so I skimmed book 3 hating it and G*oogle*d 4 finding out that I wish the author would have called it a day at the end of Twilight. Total waste of my time.
Here's the cool part: yesterday when I was teaching my 6th grade girls in Bible study I was 100% able to connect--for the 1st time--with two Gothic wanna-be girls. They were trying to be sly by saying they dressed up as Alice & Rosalie Cullen for Halloween. The other adult asking them about it had no clue--not to slight her in any way--but I was instantly able to say, "I totally know who they are!" Those girls were now going to let me "in". By the grace of God, I have a connection to their world. That could be a different post entirely about how these affluent girls are being left solely to the influence of their computers to direct their paths...but I digress.
This whole issue over these books and their lure to think about "other" worlds has stirred me to seek out the mysteries in the Bible. Ever read Revelation? Talk about being from another world! Little ol' vampires have got NOTHING on those creatures! Except that they are REAL! Now, let's not debate the literal or figurative here of Revelation. Let's just agree that whatever God has planned for us as Believers in Jesus Christ on the other side is too great for words of a mere mortal being. I count it a privilege to belong to Him and all He has waiting for me.
Perhaps it's time to look at the intriguing, mysterious, ethereal, heavenly beings and proclaim like them, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty who was and is and is to come." Revelation 4:8
As for the book? It's just a book. Fun read. The midnight showing on opening night with my girlfriends will be lots of fun. Is the book appropriate for teens? NO WAY. Will I pray for the very lost author? You bet. She's still searching for something to fill that empty space. Lord, let me be light in this dark world and bring glory to You.
15 comments:
I'm going to have to look into these. I'm always looking for a fun new read.
Like you, I'm always hesitant to discuss my love of literature....to be precise...Harry Potter.
First off, just like you said, I love to be able to connect with the younger generation.
secondly, the Harry Potter series will no more send me to hell than reading the Bible will turn me into a Christian. I have to DO something with what I take in. and if you are strong in your faith, a little entertainment is not going to get you. :D
I was going to read Golden Compass to see what the fuss was. I prayed about it at first...that God would somehow let me know if I didn't need to read it. Well, I usually consume books (like you) but I FORCED myself through 5 chapters and was so board...couldn't get into it at all...I took it as a sign that nope....shouldn't read it.
OH well...didn't mean to write a novel.
Sounds to me like God had a purpose for you to read those books! Reading Twilight for His glory ... who would've thought! :)
just a thought ... could the fact that edward & bella thought about sex & chose to remain pure until after they were married not be a GOOD message to send teens ... because as much as we want to say abstaining is easy - it's not. when you're in love & hormones are raging, saying no can be hard. so i think this message from 2 people who love each other, yet still decide to wait is a good thing.
I like the book. I totally agree alot of the teens at church have read them and they told me to so i did. It has really helped me connect with some of them that i have not been able to. I also have the same thought of that it i fiction and we need to understand that. I tell the teens that too.
I had never heard of the books till my sister introduced me this summer. She had been introduced by her nieces. I devoured them all (and got little sleep until they were finished, I might add ;) Anyway, loved them too and I like the analogies you got out of it!
Great post!! I am half way through... maybe a little more. I plan on finishing tonight. I am really enjoying the book. Doubt I'll read the others...which really bums me out because I love reading series of books.
Never even heard of this series. But I do love the title of your post. Cute, very cute.
Hi...
First time to your blog...can't even remember exactly how I got her...I was "blog-hopping". :o)
I so love this post! As a mother of two girls who were interested in this book (one is reading, the other just not interested after trying to read) and who have countless friends who are reading it, I decided that I needed to read it myself. I love the analogy and was thinking the very same thing as I read it!
Would you mind terribly if I posted your post and linked to your blog on mine? I'll give you total credit! I was going to write about this book and have found your writing to be exactly what I've wanted to say!! If you'd rather me not, I totally understand! :o)
Blessings,
Jenn
I never saw it that way!! I read all the books, loved them - just an easy fun, intriguing read that brought me back to the kinds of books I loved as a teenager myself. But wow, interesting twist on perception!
:) Just bought Twilight...I'll start it as soon as I finish the other 2 books I'm reading. Hmmmm....that will be 3 series that I'm in the middle of. Hope I don't get the Amish and the vampires mixed up! LOL!
I completely agree...of course. I would like to steal your post...do I recall you saying you weren't eloquent?
How do you get your cool graphics?! I try and it never works. I know...not the words you wanted. How about email me your number and I'll call you? Because I will.
C is into these books right now. She's almost done with the first one and we just got it.
Found out the author wrote the book for herself, 29 at the time. She never planned on it being published. I actually loved all of them the third and fourth prop the best. I do love that they wait till they are married. I also like the fact that even though she started out as the weakest "link" she became strong in her abilities to protect those she cared about. I think most women have that need in them. And to have a man beside you to encourage you and believe in you is just a plus that I believe the Lord wants us to have when he gives us our soul mates. I read the part of the book that is Edwards point of view and he fights the need to kill her as much as the need to kiss her. But his love for her is so real and genuine that he over powers those urges for her. wow! I still see the comparrision you made. His love for her is so powerful that it overcomes all else.
Absolutely LOVED your take on this!! Pretty much exactly what I thought the entire time I was sucked into it... You and I really do think alike. I know we would so be buddies in REaL life!! :)
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