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