The Day is Darkest at Twilight

Recently, the pop culture society has been super-charged by the upcoming latest installment of the Twilight movies – movies centered on the romance of a girl and a vampire.  As I write this, hundreds of thousands of movie-goers flocked to the theaters to see the very first midnight showing. The Los Angeles Times reported that this movie broke the single day ticket sales records, and it is expected to be among the five top-grossing weekends overall.  Even a local fast-food restaurant gave me my food in a bag advertising the movie, encouraging me to "devour" my meal.

The recent interest in vampires reflects an ancient fascination with similar creatures. Most ancient cultures have had tales involving demons or gods that consumed human blood. The actual term "vampire" has only been in existence since the 18th century, derived from an Albanian term: dhёmp-pirё (teeth-sucking). Through a few landmark novels, namely The Vampyre by John Polidori and then the well-known Dracula by Bram Stoker, the concept of the vampire and the basis for most of the modern vampire lore, was born. Vampires famously must drink blood in order to survive. This characteristic eerily echoes God's command to the Israelites in the wilderness, "Only be sure that you do not eat the blood; for the blood is the life" (Deuteronomy 12:23).

But recently these dark figures have taken on a different light. They are cool, suave characters. A number of the vampires in Twilight have put away the practice of drinking human blood and are merely "victims" of fate – using this demonic power to escape death from disease. And the hero (?) of the story is a handsome young man (who is immortal and doesn't age, thus keeping his handsome features) with whom the heroine falls in love, further romanticizing and softening the image of these demons.

Perhaps you consider such entertainment as innocent fun. However, it is important to recognize the danger in having such an attitude because the line between what is acceptable and what is not is becoming more blurred all the time. Isaiah was inspired to write, "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness…" (Isaiah 5:20). In these movies, we are made to feel sympathetic for these vampires. However, God told Israel, "And the person who turns to mediums and familiar spirits, to prostitute himself with them, I will set my face against that person and cut him off from his people. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am the LORD your God" (Leviticus 20:6-7).

For those who claim to follow God, Paul admonishes in Ephesians 5:8, 10-11, "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light... finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them." We cannot have it both ways, because James 4:4 tells us that friendship with the world is enmity against God! But sometimes we are pulled in because it is difficult to see where the line is between right and wrong. Even Satan, the master deceiver, transforms himself into an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14)! We have to ask God for His guidance to be totally aware of what is put in front of us and especially to be honest with ourselves concerning its true fruits. Ask yourself: is this spiritually edifying? Does God approve? The answer should be clear to those who want to please God.

For more material relating to this subject, please take a look at the Tomorrow's World articles Dangers of the Occult by Richard F. Ames and The Pagan Revival by Douglas Winnail. Always think first, "Is this something that pleases God?" Let us strive to become holy, as God is Holy (Leviticus 11:44).