| Have you seen the Campbell soup commercial | | | | Poke'Mon cards, it got too out of control." |
| about the two brothers playing a video game. | | | | |
| The one where their mom calls them to eat. | | | | On the Poke'mon website, you will find tips, |
| One video game monster says to the other, | | | | explanations and ads that encourage you to |
| "Don't worry. They'll be back. They need us." | | | | express the darker side of human nature. You |
| Then the monster whispers, "I hear | | | | will be able to link onto other occult games, |
| footsteps," obviously convinced it was the | | | | such as Dungeons and Dragons. "The children's |
| kids coming to finish their game. As the mom | | | | pastors at our local church sent some |
| turns off the video game, you hear "Oh no! | | | | information home about 'Poke'mon' and their |
| It's the mom!" | | | | concern as to what these little creatures |
| | | | represented. They had pulled descriptions of |
| Most find this commercial amusing, maybe | | | | the different characters off of the Poke'mon |
| enough to write "Campbell's soup" on their | | | | website and I was shocked to read some of the |
| grocery list. Seeing nothing odd about it. | | | | alarming names and functions of these pocket |
| After all, kids playing video games are | | | | monsters," Joni Lamb comments. |
| commonplace scenes in our society. | | | | |
| | | | In these types of games, you become the |
| Now consider this next scene: children, maybe | | | | master. Similar to contemporary witchcraft, |
| your younger brothers or sisters, are playing | | | | you wield your power. Your arm, mind, |
| in the school yard. They are running around, | | | | Poke'mon or other action figures are the |
| waving sticks in the air. Summoning spirits | | | | channel for spiritual forces. Christians are |
| by screaming, "Spirits enter me." Across the | | | | taught to say, "Thy will be done" whereas in |
| nation, this scene too is commonplace. | | | | these types of games, the player is taught to |
| | | | say "My will be done." |
| Why would kids do that? Where were they | | | | |
| taught this? | | | | To win, the player must follow the rules. |
| | | | Obedience is mandatory and is validated by |
| According to Berit Kjos website ( government | | | | instant rewards or positive reinforcement. |
| schools from the Pacific to the Atlantic are | | | | After repetitive practice, the player now |
| teaching students pagan formulas for invoking | | | | knows that if he obeys, he will be rewarded. |
| "angelic" or "demonic" spirits through | | | | He develops new habits and eventually the |
| multi-cultural education, popular books, | | | | player learns to de-value life and will think |
| movies and television shows. But video and | | | | of murder, robbery and assault as normal |
| role-playing games, such as Poke'mon, have | | | | behavior. |
| only attributed to the problem. | | | | |
| | | | Joni Lamb warns "Poke'mon deceives and |
| Since the release of the Poke'mon trading | | | | distorts clear cut issues of what is right |
| cards, children have been stabbed and beat up | | | | and wrong. Poke'mon takes seemingly innocent |
| by classmates, demanding Poke'mon cards. | | | | creatures and gives them power to give you |
| Young adults have stolen money from their | | | | power and delve into a spiritual realm full |
| mothers' purses and others have broken into | | | | of darkness." |
| houses. All to collect the Poke'mon trading | | | | |
| cards. | | | | As Christians, how should we determine |
| | | | whether a game is occult? First, what does |
| "Once we realized the demonic force involved | | | | the game teach you? About power? About magic? |
| with Poke'mon, we banned everything from our | | | | About God? About yourself? Look for obvious |
| home. At first, the kids were resistant, but | | | | and subtle messages. Second, does it have |
| after we flooded them with information | | | | anything to do with supernatural power? What |
| concerning how and where Poke'mon derived | | | | is the source of that power? Does it agree or |
| they were very open to doing what was right | | | | oppose with God says in the Bible? Third, |
| in the sight of the Lord," Joni Lamb, mother | | | | what does it teach about violence or |
| of three children,. says. | | | | immorality and their consequences? Fourth, |
| | | | does the game have symbols or characteristics |
| As you log onto the Poke'mon website, you | | | | that link it to New Age or occult powers? |
| find the objective of the game spelled out | | | | Fifth, does it build godly character? |
| for you. "Welcome to the world of Poke'mon, a | | | | |
| special place where people just like you | | | | Remember that God tells us in Phillipians |
| train to become the Number-One Poke'mon | | | | 4:7-8, "And the peace of God, which |
| Master in the world." | | | | transcends all understanding, will guard your |
| | | | hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. |
| What is a Poke'mon? A Poke'mon is an | | | | Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever |
| unbelievable creature that its own unique | | | | is noble, whatever is right, whatever is |
| fighting abilities. One of these creatures | | | | pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is |
| can grow and transform into an even more | | | | admirable--if anything is excellent or |
| forceful creature. There are currently 150 | | | | praiseworthy--think about such things." |
| types of Poke'mon. | | | | |
| | | | Once you've been involved with Poke'mon or |
| How do you become the Number-One Poke'mon | | | | occult role-playing games, you must do the |
| Master in the world? In an episode, the boy | | | | following: |
| hero, Ash, had seized his fifth Poke'mon. | | | | |
| According to his mentor, he had to catch a | | | | 1) get rid of the trading cards, video games, |
| lot more Poke'mon if he wanted be a Poke'mon | | | | taped episodes--anything with Poke'mon on it. |
| master. The mentor told him that the more Ash | | | | |
| caught and trained, the more power Ash would | | | | 2) you must repent of your involvement in the |
| have for future battles. From this, clearly | | | | occult. God says in I John 1:9 "If we confess |
| you have to catch all 150 Poke'mon to gain | | | | our sins, he is faithful and just and will |
| number-one status. | | | | forgive us our sins and purify us from all |
| | | | unrighteousness." Ask God to wash you in |
| How does Poke'mon and other video and | | | | Jesus' blood that was shed on the cross and |
| role-playing games affect your mind? By | | | | cleanse your from your sin. |
| giving you a seductive vision to become a | | | | |
| Poke'mon master. As a Poke'mon master, you | | | | 3) you must not become involved in the occult |
| are guaranteed supernatural powers. Just as | | | | again. Don't start watching the Poke'mon |
| an addict, the more you get, the more you | | | | television series again or hang out with |
| need. To top it off, after every episode of | | | | people who are Poke'mon traders. |
| the Poke'mon television series, you are | | | | |
| commanded "gotta catch 'em all." | | | | Don't take my word for it, research Poke'mon |
| | | | for yourself and ask God for wisdom |
| On the Berit Kjos website, Susan Gavano, also | | | | concerning it. James 1:5 says "If any of you |
| a mother of three children, states "From what | | | | lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives |
| I hear, he [her son] and two other out of the | | | | generously to all without finding fault, and |
| 23 children in his class are the only ones | | | | it will be given to him." Pray for God's |
| who aren't addicted to it. No one at his | | | | guidance. He will never steer you wrong. |
| school now is allowed to bring in their | | | | |