This week I was informed of the following Facebook post: “I keep seeing ads for the Marvel series WandaVision and have heard about a bunch of young people who are watching it. These stories are based on demonic material that is not suitable for Christian kids. It is straight up demonic/witchcraft material. If, as a Christian, you can be entertained by demonism and witchcraft, you really need to do some self-examination.” When I inquired further about this, the author (an Independent Baptist) replied, “Yes, definitely a lot of church kids watching that and all of that Marvel comic stuff.” This is a reference to occult comics, books, and videos produced by Marvel Comics. A fictional book called Darkhold, also known as The Book of Sins, is the focus of a Marvel Comic book series, the Marvel television series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Runways, and the live-action miniseries WandaVision (2021). The author of Darkhold is supposed to be Chthon, “a demonic Elder God who was Earth’s first practitioner of black magic.” Pages of Darkhold are said to be scattered across the earth and can summon massive dark powers. Darkhold mythology is filled with wizards, sorcerers, incantations, spell casting, curses, demons, vampires, werewolves, zombies, necromancy, super powers, magic healing, astral projection, teleporting, dimension travel, “high evolution,” deceit, theft, torture, murder, not to speak of nakedness. One character even sacrifices her soul to Chthon. Another popular Marvel Comic occult character is Scarlet Witch. Appearing in Marvel comics since 1964, her superhuman traits are a product of magic and scientific experimentation. She is a member of the Avengers superhero team. By magic, she impregnated herself and bore twin sons, Wiccan and Speed. Between 2015 and 2017, Scarlet Witch was featured in her own comic series. She also appears in Marvel animated films, television series, arcade and video games, including Captain America. She is the main character in WandaVision and is scheduled to appear in the forthcoming Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022). There is nothing innocent about this. Church youth who are involved with the occult and do not repent in sincere and open repentance should be put under discipline. Their salvation should be deeply questioned. “He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him” (1 John 2:4). It is impossible to imagine the apostle Paul ignoring such a gross spiritual wickedness in the house of God. Where are the pastors? Where are the teachers? Where are the parents? Where are the grandparents? A friend commented on this as follows: “Most IFB pastors don’t even know this stuff is going on or are watching it themselves.” Why should an institution countenancing such things have the audacity to call itself a New Testament church? What good is it to be a “King James” church, so called, when we grossly ignore the King James Bible? Do they really only care about some warm bodies filling the pews and some tithes in the offering plate? Are they that apostate? Here are just three passages of the KJV that speak directly to this issue: Deuteronomy 18:10-12–“There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.” Ephesians 5:11-15–“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise.” 2 Corinthians 6:14-18–“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”
(Friday Church News Notes, March 5, 2021, www.wayoflife.org, fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143)