What you see in this picture are the remains of my Twilight books and movies. Tonight I did something that I've been putting off for a long time. I did some research.Let me back up a bit...
Ever since I read the first book, I immediately noticed the power these books had. Ask any girl who has read the books and she'll tell you that they're extremely addicting. I quite literally couldn't put the thing down. In fact, the first time through I finished the book within a few short hours. As if that wasn't bad enough, I HAD to read the rest of the series--I couldn't leave it alone. I started trying to write stories like Stephanie Meyer, to find other books that gave me the same thrill, and I even had my hair styled similarly to one of the characters on the movie, Alice Cullen.
Unlike a lot of fans, I wasn't proud of my obsession. I tried to hide the fact that I was interested in Twilight from almost everyone I knew, even from my friends who enjoyed the books. I knew reading them was wrong. Although the series is immersed in the occult, I managed to justify reading it by telling myself that I knew the truth--they could never convince me to start practicing Wicca or anything of the sort. I could not, however, ignore the blatant sexual immorality the book contained. It starts so subtly and innocently that I hardly noticed. The further I read in the books, the more I blushed. The scary part is how real Bella's experiences feel to the reader.
I was raised in a godly home. I've gone to church all my life, I attended a Christian school, and most importantly I surrendered my life to Jesus Christ at the age of thirteen. My point is that I've been taught the difference between right and wrong since I was born. There is something about those books that causes young women like me to lay aside our convictions and moral standards long enough to indulge in these things that we know to be wrong. It lets or minds wander into places they have no business being. Our Heavenly Father calls us to be pure!
Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Philippians 4:8
When I moved out of my parent's house seven months ago, I put those books on my shelf (I used to keep them hidden) as a statement that I'm old enough to make my own decisions when it comes to what I read, watch, listen to, etc., but whenever someone would come into my room and look at that bookshelf, I felt so ashamed. It bothered me to think that in reading those books, I was setting an example for others, particularly girls younger than me. I was telling other believers that reading garbage and justifying sin is okay. It is absolutely not okay, as God tells us as believers to be separate from the world. Allowing such darkness into our heart causes us to be hardened, to be desensitized to the point where evil looks like good, and good bores us. Even if we don't think the things we read, watch, and listen to affect us, they do. Because I made a habit of hiding these books from my parents, I learned to hide other things from them as well. I also found myself desiring human "love" (romance) over the all-satisfying love of our Savior.
As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects the man. Proverbs 27:19
I've gotten rid of the books before, believe it or not. I used to own the entire series. One day I tossed all of them in the trash (as I mentioned earlier, I knew that reading them was wrong). About a year later, I bought the first book again and I checked out the rest at the library. Believe me when I tell you these books are nearly impossible to get rid of. There's something unnatural about them. Once you read one, your thirst for them becomes insatiable. After reading several different accounts online, I found that many other Christian girls have experienced the same struggles with the Twilight books. Although it's terrifying to realize just what an impact these books have on young women, it's comforting to know that we are not alone in our fleshly struggles (see Meag's Blog, an account from another girl who has struggled with Twilight).
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13
Tonight, however, I did something crazy. I tore up the pages of my Twilight books and shattered my DVDs. I don't want to allow any room for temptation.
So, my friends, I ask you to pray for me. I'm just as human as anybody else, but God is greater than my sinful heart AND He is greater than the lies of the enemy!
But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? Galatians 4:9
