A Girl's Movie Review - The Twilight Saga: New Moon

Starring Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner
Rated PG-13 for some violence and action

Finally, it’s here. After months of anticipation and a media blitz ad nauseum, The Twilight Saga: New Moon has finally hit theaters. Thousands of women will flock to cinemas across the globe this weekend to gather an early Christmas present for themselves. Thousands have already been intoxicated by the film with midnight showings earlier today. I am one of those. With little sleep and much needed coffee, I offer my review on The Twilight Saga: New Moon.

New Moon follows the ongoing story of Bella Swan and Edward Cullen. After Bella's birthday party turns into a near death experience for her, Edward and his family decide to leave Bella and the community of Forks, WA. Bella is left behind to face a crushing hole in her heart and start over - yet again. Cue the new boy in the picture - Jacob Black. In the Twilight movie, we only saw a glimpse of Jacob, but his story is critical to the entire Twilight saga. Jacob helps Bella recover from her devastating loss, and a new relationship buds between them. New Moon takes the Twilight audience into a darker portion of this teenage love story. It is filled with hopelessness. Bella thinks she will never recover from Edward leaving her. Bella cannot figure out how to reconcile what she thought was real with this new supernatural world she now knows. And Bella knows that she is using her best friend Jacob to occupy her time until her own death.

The Twilight Saga: New Moon takes its liberties with the original storyline in the book. Unlike its predecessor, the changes made for this movie make sense for the portrayal of the story on screen. The dialogue is edgier and sounds more like real-life teenagers. The sexual tension between Bella and Jacob is increased significantly. (I can’t tell you how many times I thought they would kiss.) Some favored scenes from the book are left out, but it seems forgivable in the film. And The Twilight Saga: New Moon blows its predecessor away when it comes to special effects and action. The after-school special feel is gone and replaced with a solid film.

While New Moon is a story about hopelessness, The Twilight Saga: New Moon gives a light and almost logical appeal to the darkness of depression. The movie reminded me that everyone interprets stories differently. While I thought Bella was suicidal through most of the book, many of my friends thought she was just acting a like a teenager. That is how Bella is portrayed in The Twilight Saga: New Moon. In the movie, her overwhelming depression is covered at lightning speed. In the book, Bella has a miserable existence. She feels hopeless and powerless to change.

Like Bella, we all feel powerless at times. No matter how hard we try to control our circumstances, we fail. We don’t have any control over people. This realization can send us into a search for meaning in life. Like Bella, we can walk around like zombies, not knowing how to function. As a Christian, I know that every human has hope in this dark and sometimes weary world. The Bible has a lot to say about feeling powerless. In Ephesians 2:1-10, the writer describes the hopelessness of human life and how God jumps into the water to save us.

It wasn't so long ago that you were mired in that old stagnant life of sin. You let the world, which doesn't know the first thing about living, tell you how to live. You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience. We all did it, all of us doing what we felt like doing, when we felt like doing it, all of us in the same boat. It's a wonder God didn't lose His temper and do away with the whole lot of us. Instead, immense in mercy and with an incredible love, He embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on His own, with no help from us! Then He picked us up and set us down in highest heaven in company with Jesus, our Messiah.

Now God has us where He wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all His idea, and all His work. All we do is trust Him enough to let him do it. It's God's gift from start to finish! Ephesians 2:1-7, The Message

God has given us a gift of everlasting hope. We can have joy and real life in Christ. You know, the Twilight books have caught a large amount of slack for Bella’s unhealthy dependence on Edward. I will agree with the “unhealthy” assessment of that relationship, but I think that Bella is a good representation of humanity. We all seek to put our happiness and hope into Someone bigger than us, and we feel defeated when that person fails us. Hope can only exist in God. Outside of Him, we are left to our own devices and limited abilities.

My own hopes for The Twilight Saga: New Moon were tempered after my ongoing disappointment with the first movie. But I think that most Twilighters will be pleased with the second installment. Plus, the guys will like it as well. The one major downer in the movie is Taylor Lautner’s acting as Jacob. Once Edward leaves Bella, the movie slows down and almost leaves its exciting pace. The introduction of the wolf pack keeps the story moving, but Lautner’s poor acting was distracting to me. All becomes well in the Twilight universe when Edward returns at the end of the movie, and we are left with a cliffhanger to be solved in the third installment, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (coming June 2010). While the New Moon book and movie may differ at points, they both leave us with a solid message – hope changes us.

Rating: Thumbs Up

Twilight Bible Study: Small Group Discussion Questions

These are some questions that our small group used as we walked through our own Bible study based on the Twilight book. I taught this class twice over the summer. One class was focused more on the youth group audience. The second group was open to anyone of any age. We had women of all ages and walks of life, and we had a few mother-daughter combos in the class. It was an engaging way of using the Bible to view the culture and stories around us.

We reviewed about six chapters of the Twilight book and then connected those chapters to some biblical themes. These questions are broken up into four parts based on the twenty-four chapters in Twilight. In order to save space, I have included only the page numbers of passages we read.

Part 1 - Bella

How would you describe Bella? Read the preface of Twilight. What does this entry tell us about Bella? Read page 10 of Twilight. How does Bella describe herself? Is it an accurate description?

Read pages 4-5 of Twilight. Describe Bella's parents and her relationship with them.

Read pages 23-24 of Twilight. Describe Edward's first reaction to Bella in biology class. What does Bella think? What would you think? How does their relationship change after the parking lot crash?

Bella becomes overwhelmed with information after her trip to La Push and her internet search on vampires. She takes a walk in the forest to clear her thoughts. Read pages 137-139 of Twilight. How could she feel so strongly at this point about someone she barely knew? Did she have a choice in her feelings for Edward? Can we control who we love? Can we control who we are attracted to? How does fate play into our lives?

Read Ephesians 1:3-14. What are God's actions in these verses? (Look at the verbs.) Because of these actions, what does God offer us? How do we take God up on His offer?

While Bella is overwhelmed with her feelings, she still makes a choice to love Edward and enter into a relationship with Him. Our loving Father lets us have a choice. In Genesis 3 and in the beginning of the Twilight book, we find that humanity was destined for immortality but was separated from God by sin. He has given us a plan for reconciliation. He has pursued us in various ways, but we still have a choice in how we respond to Him.

Part 2 - Edward

How would you describe Edward? As Bella searches for answers and Edward eventually gives them, what do we learn about the vampires in the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer?

Read pages 173-174 of Twilight. Edward follows Bella on her girls' trip to Port Angeles. Is that appropriate? How would that make you feel to know someone was following you without your permission?

Read pages 187-188 of Twilight. Edward sees himself as a monster. Why is that? How can we sometimes feel like monsters ourselves? How does God see us?

Read pages 244-245 of Twilight. Edward heavily pursues Bella after the Port Angeles trip. Do you think this was appropriate on his part? Do you think he is using his powers to "dazzle" Bella in the wrong way? Do you think his warnings to Bella are fair? Why or why not?

Read page 251 of Twilight. Bella puts her faith in Edward when she hardly knows him. At what point in a relationship can we put faith in someone?

In the Port Angeles scene in Twilight, Edward lets his anger spiral to almost out of control. Anger is a real issue for him throughout the Twilight series. Read Ephesians 4:25-32. Is anger a sinful emotion? What does anger tell us? When does anger cross the line? How do we stop anger from becoming a problem in our lives?

Part 3 - The Relationship

As we move into the middle of the book, how would you describe Bella and Edward's relationship at this point?

Read page 248 of Twilight. The day in the meadow is a pivotal moment for their relationship. While the feelings are strong, both still make a choice to continue see each other. How does reveal his true identity in the meadow? Do you think he was showing off? How does Bella respond?

Read page 306-307 of Twilight. What is the reasoning behind the Cullen family's decision to keep a "vegetarian" diet? How does this same reasoning play out in our lives?

As Bella and Edward progress through that weekend together, they come into a new understanding of each other by revealing their real hearts (no masks allowed). In fact, Edward is almost giddy over the newfound freedom of being fully known. The same is true for our relationship with God. Read Ephesians 1:17-18. How has God revealed Himself to us? How can we reveal ourselves to Him?

Edward shares the reasoning behind his choice to protect human life when possible. He uses the term "rise above." Read Ephesians 4:17-24. Can we overcome any sin? How can we live without being driven just by our feelings? What are some things that are difficult to rise above in your life?

Part 4 - The Fight

Bella and Edward have faced opposition already in Twilight. Billy Black has warned Bella about the dangers of dating Edward. Rosalie has vowed to make things as difficult for Bella as possible in the Cullen house. And the couple is always fighting Edward's temptation to kill Bella. In the last chapters of Twilight, Bella and Edward face a new opponent. Read pages 375-376 of Twilight. How are the nomadic vampires different from the Cullens?

How does Edward's fury cloud his vision while trying to protect Bella?

The Cullens outnumber the trio of nomadic vampires. Besides numbers, in what other ways do the Cullens have the advantage in this fight?

Read page 430 of Twilight. Why is Bella so willing to die for what she sees as right? How has Edward's love changed her?

As Christians, we have an enemy in our lives who is catlike and tracks us like the nomadic vampires of Twilight. His name is Satan. Read Ephesians 6:10-18. What weapons do we have to fight our enemy? How do we obtain this armor?

Bella is changed by Edward's love, and this love drives her into action with James. Read Ephesians 3:16-19. How big is God's love for us? How can we grasp it? What is your response to God's all-encompassing love for you?

You can find the answers to most of these discussion questions within the entries about Twilight on this website. If you need more information or want to share your ideas with me, then please feel free to contact me at celebrate1976@yahoo.com. I pray that God will guide you into a deeper understanding of His love for you.

A Biblical Look into Twilight: The Fight

They emerged one by one from the forest edge, ranging a dozen meters apart. The first male into the clearing fell back immediately, allowing the other male to take the front, orienting himself around the tall, dark-haired man in a manner that clearly displayed who led the pack. The third was a woman; from this distance, all I could see of her was that her hair was a startling shade of red.
They closed ranks before they continued cautiously toward Edward's family, exhibiting the natural respect of a troop of predators as it encounters a larger, unfamiliar group of its own kind.
As they approached, I could see how different they were from the Cullens. Their walk was catlike, a gait that seemed constantly on the edge of shifting into a crouch. They dressed in the ordinary gear of backpackers: jeans and casual button-down shirts in heavy, weatherproof fabrics. The clothes were frayed, though, with wear, and they were barefoot. Both men had cropped hair, but the woman's brilliant orange hair was filled with leaves and debris from the woods.
Taken from chapter 18 of Twilight

As we move into the final chapters of Twilight, we see that Bella and Edward have moved into a more serious relationship. They have confessed their love to each other, met each other's families and publicly announced their relationship in Forks. Their relationship seems to be clicking until the opposition arrives. Bella and Edward came together with a well-established problem in the beginning - Edward's desire to kill or leave Bella. But this Twilight couple begins to face other conflicts as well.

With Bella going public about her relationship with Edward, she is confronted by Billy Black, a local Quileute leader and close friend of her dad. Billy's character seems to always bring a sensibility and calm into every interaction. We see this same approach as he warns Bella about Edward and his family. With Edward going public about his relationship with Bella, he is confronted by Rosalie, his gorgeous and powerful sister. Rosalie works hard to make things as difficult as possible for Bella as she integrates into the Cullen family. And, of course, Bella and Edward must face another enemy - the nomadic vampires.

We see a trio of nomadic vampires enter the story at Bella's first baseball game in the clearing. This trio is described quite differently than the Cullen family. They have a different diet. They look disheveled, almost uncivilized. They walk like animals with deception and the hunt in their eyes. As this trio interacts with the Cullens, we understand that the nomadic vampire's life driven by animal-like desire drives away any committed relationship. The nomadic vampires live by desires of what they want with no direction or purpose to guide them.

A fight ensues between the trio and the Cullen family after one nomadic vampire (James) expresses his interest in killing Bella. The two groups of vampires seem paired with the same weapons, but the Cullens have the upper hand in this battle. From a physical perspective, the Cullens have more people, special gifts and an insider (Laurents) to share the secrets of the enemy. From a greater perspective, the Cullens are driven by an everlasting purpose - love. Their love for each other and Bella guides them into an undying commitment to each other. And the Cullens' love for human life presses them in a direction of protecting and mentoring other vampires who want a more fulfilling life.

As humans in the real world, we have an enemy in our lives who is catlike and tracks us like the nomadic vampires in Twilight. Our enemy's name is Satan, and the Bible says that he hunts like a lion looking for prey (I Peter 5:8). Yet we have the upper hand in our battle against him. In Ephesians 6:10-18, Paul describes the armor that God puts on us. It is a physical description of our spiritual transformation in Christ through the Spirit. Here are our weapons according to Ephesians 6:10-18:

• The belt of truth - We live in truth, so there is no need to hide our real identities.
• The breastplate of righteousness - Our hearts have been perfected by God, which protects them from the enemy.
• The peace-filled shoes - We are rooted in God's plan of reconciliation, which we offer as we look to bridge the gap in our relationships.
• The shield of faith - We have a firm belief in who God says He is and will do what He says He will do.
• The helmet of salvation - Much of our battle lies in the mind, and we are protected from lies by having a mental assurance of our eternal placement.
• The sword of the Spirit - We combat Satan's lies with the truth of God as found in His word.
• The prayer - We can communicate anytime and anywhere with the Creator of the universe. His plans and presence are clear.

God the Father puts this armor on His children when we come into a relationship with Him (John 3:16). God doesn't promise to provide a perfect life on earth for His children. He promises to be faithful, loving and good while we wait to live with Him forever. And He puts us into His family so we can fight Satan like the Cullens fight together against the nomadic vampires in Twilight. We fight together because we are bonded by love.

Bella is changed by experiencing the love of the Cullen family. Her outlook is turned from self-centeredness to gratitude as she faces certain death. She expresses this transformation beautifully in the preface of Twilight:

I knew that if I'd never gone to Forks, I wouldn't be facing death now. But, terrified as I was, I couldn't bring myself to regret the decision. When life offers you a dream so far beyond any of your expectations, it's not reasonable to grieve when it comes to an end.

Bella knew that this greater love was a gift, and her life became defined by gratitude for it. I have to admit that her gratitude manifests in unhealthy ways. Yet our gratitude becomes healthy when we express it to our Maker, our Defender and our Deliverer.

A Biblical Look into Twilight: The Meadow

I intuitively knew - and sensed he did, too - that tomorrow would be pivotal. Our relationship couldn't continue to balance, as it did, on the point of a knife. We would fall off one edge or the other, depending entirely upon his decision, or his instincts. My decision was made, made before I'd ever consciously chosen, and I was committed to seeing it through. Because there was nothing more terrifying to me, more excruciating, than the thought of turning away from him. It was an impossibility.
Bella in Chapter 12 of Twilight

We have explored Bella and Edward separately, so it is time to explore their relationship together. I would describe their relationship, at this point, as exciting, consuming, unequal, alive and fresh. They have spent a few weeks getting know each other through endless conversations at school. (I love that their relationship is being developed through face-to-face interactions and not via technology.) Bella now knows the truth about Edward's existence, and she has made the choice to pursue this relationship - despite the cost. Edward has also made his choice, but his internal struggle with the decision seems weightier for him than Bella.

The most famous scene in the Twilight book happens in chapter 13 (Confessions). Edward takes Bella to his favorite place in Forks, and they spend the entire day together. As Bella stated in chapter 12, the day in the meadow would dramatically change their relationship. They progress on several levels. First, the physical aspects of their relationship progress to skin touch and kiss. Before this time, Edward had been very hesitant to touch Bella because of his cold skin. And kissing seemed impossible because the physical chemistry between them seemed to only fuel Edward's animal thirst for Bella.

Second, Edward reveals himself in his true physical form. He shows his skin in the sunlight, his speed in running, and his strength in the woods. Edward has lived a life of being ostracized from humans, yet he offers his vulnerability to Bella. It is a beautiful thing. Lastly, Edward attempts to reveal his mental struggle with the relationship. He tries to explain the severity of his temptation to Bella and shares how he tried to fight off his feelings for her in the beginning. While explaining his own personal hell, Bella likens herself to heroin for an addict. And Edward responds, "Yes, you are exactly my brand of heroin."

In the real world, I believe that most girls would run for their lives at this point in a relationship with a vampire. But Twilight is not the real world, and that's why we enjoy it. Bella receives Edward's gift of vulnerability and returns with her own simple confessions of love to him. Stephenie Meyer accurately captures the physically charged atmosphere of a budding romance. Bella and Edward seem to move at a snail's pace in the physical department, but the reader is able to understand the power and intensity of physical contact. When we move too fast through that process, we miss out on enjoying the simple process of it.

Bella and Edward are able to move their relationship to the next level in the meadow by revealing their hidden selves and understanding the true identities of the other person. Relationships built on the surface don't survive the bumps and twists in the road, and Bella and Edward need to dive deep into this relationship to survive what lies ahead in the Twilight saga. Building a relationship on true identities is a real concept for us as Twilight fans. Any relationship - whether family, friend, romantic or spiritual - can only survive when the two people are speaking the language of their hearts. That requires time and a lot of communication.

When we look at our relationship with God, He has also spent time revealing Himself to us through His creation, His Word and His Spirit. God pursues a relationship with us, not because He needs it. The Creator of the universe wants a relationship with us. Yet He asks that we offer Him our vulnerability. He already knows everything about us (Psalm 139), and God still loves us. He wants us to be honest with Him about our true selves, warts and all. This is foundational in building a healthy relationship with God. Otherwise, we will spend our time with Him trying to hide who we are rather than letting Him change our hearts. In the Twilight book, we see how the relationship between Bella and Edward changes after the meadow, a time of truth and revelation. Imagine how much more our relationships will change if we take off the masks in front of our Immortal Love.

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better. Ephesians 1:17, New International Version

A Girl's Movie Review: Twilight

Starring Edward Pattinson and Kristen Stewart
Rated PG-13

You might have heard that vampires are all the rage these days. With the frenzy over the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer and television's success with True Blood and The Vampire Diaries, vampires seem to be invading our landscape at every turn. The Twilight movie is based on the first book in this four-book series. The story follows Bella Swan, a teenage girl who has moved to Washington to live with her dad. Bella is a quiet girl who has trouble connecting with other teenagers. Bella's perspective on life changes in her first few weeks of school, as she meets another "different" group of teenagers - the Cullen kids.

Twilight follows the beginning of a romance between Bella and the eldest Cullen boy - Edward. Bella must confront the strange realities of Edward's behavior - his speed, strength and ability to read other's thoughts. While exploring the possibilities, Bella also realizes her own love - really complete infatuation - with this teenage boy. Bella and Edward both share the truth of their backgrounds and starting building on this foundation in a romantic relationship. Like any good Hollywood romance, this seemingly doomed couple must overcome impossible odds to stay together.

The Twilight movie falls short in many ways. The key interaction places within the book are reduced or completely eliminated. For example, Bella cooks dinner every night for her dad and they eat together at home. This nightly ritual gives the reader a sense of Bella and her father's relationship. In the Twilight movie, they eat at a local restaurant, which diminishes some of the tenderness between Bella and her dad. Also, the Twilight movie skips over key dialogue that is essential for setting up future movies based on the series. The entire meadow scene is portrayed almost like a cheesy after-school special. I think the actors aptly portray what was written. I just think the screenplay writing and directing were poorly done.

While the stories may differ, the Twilight book and movie have a central theme - the truth of a greater reality. Bella has no idea that a greater world exists outside of humanity. When she is confronted with this truth, she is prompted to respond. Her life is forever changed by knowing something greater exists than what humans can see. As a Christian, it doesn't take you long to see the parallel to a similar theme in the Bible. When we come into a relationship with God, our existence is expanded into Christ. He is greater than this world. He is greater than our reality. He is greater than anything or anyone. Christ connects us back into relationship with a holy God. When we know this truth, we are also prompted to respond. As Bella makes a choice to love Edward after contemplating the consequences, we must also choose how to respond to God's love. He doesn't force us into a relationship with Him. We always have the choice. One of my favorite passages about greater realities can be found in the book of Ephesians. I love how Eugene Peterson interprets the apostle Paul's words about this topic:

How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He's the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.

Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we're a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the plans he took such delight in making. He set it all out before us in Christ, a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth. Ephesians 1:3-10, The Message

While I certainly made the choice to see the Twilight movie, I think my better choice was reading the actual book. Although, the Twilight movie does reflect some of the positive aspects of the book series. Bella and Edward have some strict physical boundaries in their relationship. Their primary form of communication and relationship-building comes through face-to-face dialogue (versus texting or getting to know each other on social websites). Also, Edward's family have chosen a life of helping people versus destroying them through murder. I would highly encourage you to read the Twilight book series if you are interested in this story. The more I watch the Twilight movie, the more I don't like it. This movie just doesn't adequately portray the deep theme of love as Stephenie Meyer wrote it. Although, I have high hopes for the next film in the series, New Moon. Maybe the next movie won't disappoint.

Rating: Thumbs Down

(This entry is taken from my personal blog, where I write about Bible studies, movies, books and television shows. You can see more at http://sallyloftis.blogspot.com/.)

A Biblical Look into Twilight: Exploring Edward

“What if I’m not a superhero? What if I’m the bad guy?” He smiled playfully, but his eyes were impenetrable.
“Oh,” I said, as several things he’d hinted fell suddenly into place. “I see.”
“Do you?” His face was abruptly severe, as if he were afraid that he’d accidentally said too much.
“You’re dangerous?” I guessed, my pulse quickening as I intuitively realized the truth of my own words. He was dangerous. He’d been trying to tell me that all along.
He just looked at me, eyes full of some emotion I couldn’t comprehend.
“But not bad,” I whispered, shaking my head. “No, I don’t believe that you’re bad.”Edward and Bella, Chapter 5 of Twilight
We have looked into the heart of Bella. Now it’s time for us to explore her object of fascination – Edward Cullen. The weeks pass in a matter of paragraphs in Twilight, but the time is dragging for Bella until something changes. A plethora of boys ask Bella to the spring dance. These boys seem to spur the aloof Edward into action. The next day Edward asks Bella if he can give her a ride to Seattle on the day of the spring dance. Everything changes. Edward is engaging in dialogue with Bella, but he keeps a distance through his verbal warnings. He discourages her from being friends with him and states his addict-like draw to her. He pursues her and pushes her away. OK, timeout here. I know he is a vampire, but Edward is acting like such a teenage boy right here! He appears to be conflicted but enjoying himself all at the same time. Ugh!!

Edward asks Bella to sit with him at lunch the next day. Their in-depth conversation gives us as the readers some insight into Edward. Bella shares her frustration and even one theory on his crazy demeanor. Edward chuckles at Bella's worship of him because he doesn't see himself in that way at all. Edward’s own perception of himself is full of self-loathing. That’s how it goes with those who seem arrogant. The people who seem to think the most of themselves are usually the ones who hate themselves the most. Edward is no different. Bella sees him as a “god.” Edward can see nothing but evil in himself. As the Twilight story continues, we learn that Edward also struggles with anger. Did you know that anger can be a symptom of self-hate? Interesting.

We learn that Edward’s birth parents died when he was young, and he was adopted by a young doctor and his wife, Carlisle and Esme. I love that Carlisle and Esme have adopted children. The love of a parent for an adopted child is beautiful to me. We choose who we love and bring into our lives. Adopting a child is a lifelong commitment to raise someone else in your household. It is a deliberate act. While a pregnancy can be unexpected, adoptions are planned. Throughout the Twilight saga, Edward’s adopted parents will become an attractive picture of compassion and love.

We have been chosen by a loving Father. Read Ephesians 1:3-12. Write down the actions of God in these verses.

God has acted powerfully in bridging the gap of sin to build a redeeming relationship with us. We were created by God, but our ancestors chose to disobey Him. (See Genesis 1-3.) That choice brought sin into this world, which brought complete separation from our Creator God. Our God is love, and He always provides a way back. This passage in Ephesians gives us some insight into our heavenly Pursuer. He is always working in our lives, even when we can't see Him or can't imagine that He wants to be involved with us. Unlike humans, our God never gives up on us. I love that!

A Biblical Look into Twilight: Bella Moves to Forks

"I knew that if I'd never gone to Forks, I wouldn't be facing death now. But, terrified as I was, I couldn't bring myself to regret the decision. When life offers you a dream so far beyond any of your expectations, it's not reasonable to grieve when it comes to an end."
Bella in the preface of Twilight

As we read the first few pages of Twilight, the reader is introduced to a teenage girl named Bella Swan. Bella has lived most of her life with her mother in Phoenix, AZ. When her mother remarries, Bella decides to move to Forks, WA, to live with her dad. The book opens as Bella is making her way to Forks with her father, Charlie. Charlie is the police chief of this small town. He is a quiet and reserved man. This is a contrast from Bella's mother, Renee, who Bella describes in chapter 1 as "my loving, erratic, hair-brained mother."

Bella is preparing herself for a very different experience in Forks. She is moving from a crowded, sunny metropolis to a clouded, sparse town. We learn a lot about Bella in the preface and first chapter of Twilight. How would you describe her?

I see Bella as a quiet, perceptive girl whose intelligence and maturity measure beyond her age. She is also a clumsy and awkward girl. Bella sees herself as different as everyone else. She has a hard time relating to other people her age. This has impacted her friendships and dating life. While no religious background for Bella is mentioned in Twilight, her remarks in the preface show a respect for a Higher Being who is giving. She is also a girl who lies a lot. That character flaw will certainly come into play in Twilight and the following books.

Bella bases her identity on her own perception of herself. When we view our identity through our own internal lenses, we can have faulty assumptions and logic. An identity based on internal evaluations or even external comments can fluctuate depending on the feelings of that day, the time of the month or even our current lifestage. A Higher Being - the Creator God - offers us an identity based on eternal love.

Review the following passages in the Bible. Note how the children of God are identified. Do you fall into this category?

Ephesians 2:10

2 Corinthians 5:17

1 Peter 2:4-5, 9-10

Ephesians 1:3-6

Should Christians Read Twilight?

Should Christians read the Twilight series? It's a question being asked in a lot of evangelical circles these days. Some Christian schools have banned the Twilight series from their bookshelves. Anyone can find websites managed by Christians who claim this book series is demonic and treacherous. Goodness, I have even had members in my own congregation express concern over my writing a Bible study that involves the Twilight series. Why are these books causing such a fuss among Christians?

The Twilight series tells the story of a teenage girl who falls in love with a teenage vampire. The story is told through the eyes of the girl, Bella Swan. The teenage vampire, Edward Cullen, and his family have chosen a life of animal blood versus human blood. The duo face impossible odds in being together and even encounter a few werewolves along the way. Over 70 million books have been sold in the Twilight series, which is labeled as teen fiction. The first movie based on the books, Twilight, earned more than $240 million at the box office. You can find hundreds of websites dedicated to the Twilight series. Fans are called "Twilighters" and range in age from nine years old to ninety.

I believe that most people who denounce the Twilight series from a Christian perspective are acting out of ignorance and fear. These books have started a feeding frenzy in our culture - similar to Elvis and the Beatles, and some Christians are scared of it. Honestly, the fear doesn't come from the Twilight books. It is based on a fear of how to engage our culture. Each Christian is called to live in this world without planting spiritual roots here. Some people define that life in Christ as staying as far away as possible from anything that gains popularity in contemporary life. These people will denounce certain TV shows, political parties or even reading options that supposedly promote a "sinful" lifestyle.

I certainly understand why every person should exhibit caution in what he or she consumes from our culture. Yet sometimes these groups only promote hypocrisy and dissension by their actions. If one TV show is not appropriate for a Christian, then how can any TV show be appropriate if all sins are really equal? I have yet to find any TV show that doesn't involve some kind of sin. The same is true of our music, books, art and anything else produced in this world. The Twilight series is based on vampires and werewolves - fictional characters not found in the Bible. If one actually reads the story, then he or she will see that the Twilight series encourages morality, sexual abstinence and connected family relationships. How many so-called Christian book series have sold more than 70 million books, promoted these values and caused an absolute craze in our country?

The real issue here is cultural engagement. How we as Christians engage our culture can either increase or diminish our testimony. For too long, Christians have been sitting on the sidelines of cultural conversations and letting other people answer the questions in our world. We CANNOT do this anymore. If we don't participate in these conversations, then people without a biblical context will provide the answers to searching people. We Christians need to put our brains back into our heads and use them for good. We can't always control the direction of our country's culture, but we can sit at the table and provide life-giving solutions to the complex problems in this world.

Millions of people are infatuated with a story about love and immortality right now, and Christians have an amazing perspective on these themes. So, let's get back to our original question. Should Christians read the Twilight series? I believe that is a personal choice. I don't think anybody is going to hell or less of a Christian for reading these books. The Twilight series is simply a choice among millions of cultural options in our world. The real danger in these books is the same for anything besides the Bible. When we elevate anything or anyone above God or to the level of God's Word, then we have delved into sin - the sin of idolatry. Outside of that, God gives us grace as we move through this temporary life into an eternity with Him. Let's take this opportunity to share the story of our Immortal Love with the world.

A Biblical Look into Eclipse: The Boys Are Back in Town

As we return to Forks in the beginning of Eclipse, we see that Bella is reaping some serious consequences for her actions in Italy and thereafter. Charlie has grounded her for life. Jacob will not speak to Bella. And Edward has become a little overprotective. Well, that may be an understatement. Edward has almost gone wild in trying to protect Bella from the wolf pack. We see a few glimpses of Edward's guilt, as he shares his disdain about Bella having to turn to anyone but him after he left. Yet Edward continues to overstep his bounds in the first pages of Eclipse. The following is an exchange between Bella and Edward after Edward tells Charlie that they are going to Florida to see Renee.

I turned to glower at him. 'Yes. I think I'd like to speak to you alone.'

He didn't look as apprehensive as I thought he should.

I waited to begin until we were safely in his car.

'What was that?' I demanded.

'I know you want to see your mother, Bella - you've been talking about her in your sleep. Worrying actually.'

'I have?'

He nodded. 'But, clearly, you were too much of a coward to deal with Charlie, so I interceded on your behalf.'

Excerpt taken from Eclipse, p. 56

I don't know about you, but that comment by Edward about being a coward just burned me. I guess that is my teenage heart bearing itself. Edward seems to be towing a fine line between overprotective and controlling. Even Jacob kids her about teenage girls being involved with controlling and abusive boys. But is Edward overstepping the boundaries in this scenario?

Everybody has an opinion, but I think we lose the overall vision of the relationship because we are only hearing Bella's side of the story. She is being a true teenager in Eclipse, which means her focus is primarily on herself. We certainly have a choice in how we respond to the opposite sex. Sometimes we can be silent. Sometimes we can be manipulating. And sometimes we can be wise. (I like the wise option.)

A wise lady in the Bible had to deal with a controlling husband. Her name was Abigail, and her story is found in 2 Samuel 25. Abigail was married to a wealthy man named Nabal. The Bible describes Nabal as "mean and dishonest," yet his wife Abigail seems very different. She is described as "sensible and beautiful." Abigail finds herself in quite a predicament from her husband's controlling actions. A visiting hero, David, has asked for some food during his travels. Nabal has declined the request, and David has rounded up his army for an attack on Nabal. But Abigail steps into the middle of the heated event.

Read 2 Samuel 25:23-31. What does Abigail say to David?

Abigail accepts the responsibility for her husband and even extends blessings to David.

Read 2 Samuel 25:32-35. How does David respond to Abigail's sincerity?

Because of her quick thinking and strength, Abigail saved her own life and those in her household. While Bella's insecurities seem to override her sensibility in Eclipse, I can't help but see some of Abigail's strength in Bella. Both women rose to the occasion and were willing to give their own lives for the ones they loved - people that we might think are questionable characters. It's amazing what love will do.

Read 2 Samuel 25:36-42. How does the story end for Abigail?

A Biblical Look at New Moon: Turning Inward

After her birthday party in the beginning of New Moon, Bella realizes that change is coming her way, but she never expects Edward to leave her. Yet he thinks it is the only way to save her and love her at the same time. Bella is crushed to the very core of her being. A hole has been carved into her heart that seems beyond repair. While Bella’s friendship with Jacob helps her survive, the aching pain of loss will not subside.

Bella figures out a way to connect with Edward again. It involves risky behavior. She approaches dangerous men on a dark street. She begins to ride a motorcycle. She pushes Jacob’s anger beyond what seems safe to her. And she hears Edward’s voice every time. Like a drug, one moment with his voice is never enough for her. She wants more, and she knows how to get it. Bella decides to risk her life to hear Edward’s voice. She jumps off a cliff into the roaring ocean.

“I didn’t want to fight anymore. And it wasn’t the light-headedness, or the cold, or the failure of my arms as the muscles gave out to exhaustion, that made me content to stay where I was. I was almost happy it was over. This was an easier death than others I’d faced. Oddly peaceful.

I thought briefly of the clichés, about how you were suppose to see your life flash before your eyes. I was so much luckier. Who wanted to see a rerun, anyway?

I saw him, and I had no will to fight. It was so clear, so much more defined than any memory. My subconscious had stored Edward away in flawless detail, saving him for this final moment. I could see his perfect face as if he were really there; the exact shade of his icy skin, the shape of his lips, the line of the jaw, the gold glinting in his furious eyes. He was angry, naturally, that I was giving up. His teeth were clenched and his nostrils flared with rage.

‘No! Bella, no!’

My ears were flooded with the freezing water, but his voice was clearer than ever. I ignored his words and concentrated on the sound of his voice. Why would I fight when I was so happy where I was? Even as my lungs burned for more air and my legs cramped in the icy cold, I was content. I’d forgotten what real happiness felt like.

Happiness. It made the whole dying thing pretty bearable.” Excerpt taken from New Moon, p. 361

People disagree on Bella’s mental state here. Many of my friends think Bella doesn’t intend to kill herself; they conclude Bella just didn’t think through her plan. But I have to disagree. I really think Bella is suicidal here. I realize that Bella’s inner dialogue may justify her behavior, but that’s how real depression works. Depression can cloud your vision, cut off your hearing and clog your thoughts. The voice of depression can call from unheard places. Bella’s actions seem detached from her mind. She isn’t herself, and she can’t stop it.

No matter what you think about Bella’s jump, depression and suicide are real problems in our world. As our lives become more stressful, the depression and suicide rates will only increase. Yet these problems are not new to us. In fact, some characters in the Bible struggled with the same. Let's look briefly at some of their stories.

Read the following verses and record in a journal or online document what you find. Why did these people suffer from depression? Which ones wanted to die? Why?

Jonah
Jonah 3:1-4:3 Why did Jonah want to die?
Jonah 4:4-11 What was God's response?

Elijah
I Kings 19:1-4 Why did Elijah want to die?
I Kings 19:5-13 What was God's response?

David
2 Samuel 12:1-12 Why was David upset?
2 Samuel 12:13-23 What was God's response?

Hagar
Genesis 21:8-16 Why was Hagar upset?
Genesis 21:17-21 What was God's response?

The prophet Jonah of the famous whale story wanted to die after the people of Nineveh looked to God. His bitterness overrode the joy of success. The prophet Elijah won a great battle for God and still wanted to die. His fear overrode his faith in God. King David suffered a deep depression when he realized the consequences of his actions with Bathsheba. His guilt overrode his reality. And Hagar, sweet Hagar, slave of Abraham and mother of his child Ishmael, sought death for her son and herself after being sent away by Abraham's wife Sarah. Her grief overrode the possibility of being loved. Yet God responded with love and truth for each one of them. Doesn't He offer us the same?

A Twilight Bible Study

Bella and Edward. Edward and Bella. Bella and Jacob. Jacob and Bella. These are the scenarios that burst into my thought process for months after reading the Twilight saga. For a literary work that has been classified as teen fiction, my adult brain and heart were certainly drawn to this love story. Reading the books become an emotional experience for me. The story challenged me to believe in love again - real love. A love that overcomes. A love that is worth the sacrifice and pain. A love that lasts forever.

This kind of love is possible for every human being. We are mortal, but the Immortal One has chosen to love us in our worst places. And He offers immortality to each one of us in a relationship with Him. You can find these facts in many places within the Bible, but the book of Ephesians may be the boldest love letter of all. The author of Ephesians beautifully expresses the overwhelming love of God and His pursuit of all mankind. As you read this New Testament book, it doesn't take long to see some similarity with the Twilight saga. It is death and new birth. It is choice and being chosen. It is darkness and enlightenment. It is hopeless and everlasting hope. Above all, it is eternal love for us.

Our congregation offered a six-week class on the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer. The study used the book of Ephesians as the backdrop. Most of the material is housed on this website. If you have any questions or need more information, then please contact Sally Loftis at celebrate1976@yahoo.com. I am planning to publish this material in the near future, so please keep me in your prayers.

A Biblical Look into New Moon: Turning to Jacob

Bella spends months like a zombie after Edward leaves her. Much of New Moon is dedicated to the pain of separation. But we have a ray of light in it - Jacob Black. Bella awakes from her emotional stupor and walks into a friendship with this Quilete teenager. Jacob's light-hearted spirit and free approach to life become infectious to Bella. Of course, no boy or girl can spend much time together without confronting the reality of romance. It doesn't take long for Bella to become wary of her own physical reactions to Jake. She hugs Jake out of concern, but his reaction is more than gratitude for her.

"We stood like that for a moment, and it didn't upset me; in fact, I felt comforted by the contact. This didn't feel anything like the last time someone had embraced me this way. This was friendship. And Jacob was very warm.

It was strange for me, being this close - emotionally rather than physically, though the physical was strange for me, too - to another human being. It wasn't my usual style. I didn't normally relate to people so easily, on such a basic level.

Not human beings.

'If this is how you're going to react, I'll freak out more often.' Jacob's voice was light, normal again, and his laughter rumbled against my ear. His fingers touched my hair, soft and tentative.


Well, it was friendship for me." Excerpt taken from New Moon, pgs. 178-79

The relationship between Bella and Jacob has been the basis for much discussion amongst the Twilight community. It seems that Bella continues to use Jacob for her own comfort without really considering his needs. Is that the current model of friendship for our world?

One of the best models for friendship can be found in I Samuel 20. The two friends are Jonathan and David. Jonathan is the son of the king and supposed heir to the throne. David is the musician for the king and anointed by God to be king. They should be against one another, but they are completely devoted to each other in friendship. It's the first "bro-mance" in the Bible.

Read the following passages. Write down in your Bible how Jonathan and David treated each other.

I Samuel 18:1-4

I Samuel 19:1-7

I Samuel 20:32-42 (Just for fun, check v. 24. What festival was being celebrated during this time?)

I Samuel 23:15-18

2 Samuel 1:11-12

2 Samuel 9:1-13

The friendship of Jonathan and David even went beyond the grave. After the tragic death of Jonathan, David continues to honor his friend by taking care of his son, Mephibosheth. Unfortunately, this kind of friendship is hard to find these days. Real friendship takes so much hard work and time. In a busy world, we struggle to build real relationships with other people. When we sacrifice our friendships for other things or people, we lose the opportunity to encourage and build up one another.

Pastor James MacDonald of Harvest Bible Chapel gives five phrases of real friendship, based on Jonathan and David. Reflect on your own friendships and evaluate which of these phrases deserve recommitment in your life.

1. I will be there for you in times of hardship.
2. I will help you depend on God and not me.
3. I will seek to be a source of emotional stability for you.
4. I will be self-effacing and unashamed in my loyalty to you.
5. I will verbalize my commitment to you.

A Biblical Look into New Moon: Carlisle's Perspective

Bella’s birthday party at the Cullen house turns into a disaster. She cuts her finger. Jasper attacks. And all the Cullens must leave, except Carlisle. The exchange between Bella and Carlisle in chapter 2 of New Moon is packed full of theology (thoughts about God). Carlisle explains that his father was a pastor who practiced his faith in a “harsh” way. Carlisle falls to a vampire on a hunt for his father, and Carlisle turns into the thing that his father hates the most. We already know that Carlisle tried to kill himself for years, but his efforts were useless. Yet Carlisle didn’t give up. He looked for a better way. Even Bella as a human is perplexed by Carlisle’s philosophy. She doesn’t understand why anyone would endure such struggle and agony for living different than his peers.

Carlisle’s reply is the essence of his being. He shares his desire for living above his desires – to use his talents for the benefit of others. Carlisle believes that God must still love him and hopes that God will see Carlisle’s desire to follow Him in some way. Some readers may think that Carlisle is promoting a faith based on a person’s good deeds, but I don’t see it that way. Carlisle had already started to question his father’s rigid following of religion. I believe Carlisle knew that judgment fell into the hands of a powerful and graceful God. He didn’t limit God in His abilities to save people or other things.

Carlisle’s explanation for his lifestyle has similar language to a passage in the Bible. It is found in Ephesians 4:17-24. The apostle Paul is continuing his plunge into a contrasting view of the world. On the one hand, the world contains people who have jumped off the fence into a desert of selfishness and death. On the other hand, the world contains people who have jumped off the fence into a pasture of freedom and life in Christ. Paul clearly challenges everyone to get off the fence in the book of Ephesians.

Read Ephesians 4:17-24 as if Paul is addressing Carlisle with the human blood–eating vampires as the Gentiles. How does Paul describe the Gentiles? How does he describe those who live in Christ?

A Biblical Look into New Moon: Bella's Birthday

As New Moon opens, Bella is dreaming about Edward. This isn’t a new experience for her. She has been dreaming of Edward since her first interaction with him at Forks High School. If you look at Bella’s dreams throughout the Twilight saga, you will notice that her dreams often predict the moods of the book. Bella's dreams in Twilight were a mixture of light (understanding) and protection (love). The tone changes in the second book.

In this first scene, Bella looks into a wonderful memory of her grandmother, only later to realize it is her own face in the mirror. Bella is fearful of getting old.

“All through the perfect summer – the happiest summer I had ever had, the happiest summer anyone anywhere had ever had, and the rainiest summer in the history of the Olympic Peninsula – this bleak date had lurked in ambush, waiting to spring.

And now that it had hit, it was even worse than I’d feared it would be. I could feel it – I was older. Every day I got older, but this was different, worse, quantifiable. I was eighteen.

And Edward never would be.

When I went to brush my teeth, I was almost surprised that the face in the mirror hadn’t changed. I stared at myself, looking for some sign of impending wrinkles in my ivory skin. The only creases were the ones on my forehead, though, and I knew that if I could manage to relax, they would disappear. I couldn’t. My eyebrows stayed lodged in a worried line over my anxious brown eyes.

It was just a dream, I reminded myself again. Just a dream…but also my worst nightmare.” Excerpt taken from New Moon, p. 6-7

We enter New Moon with a sense of dread. Everything seems too perfect for Bella. She keeps waiting for the other shoe to drop, but she can’t see how it will happen. For Bella, she thinks Edward will finally awake from his supposed stupor and see the normalcy and senseless boredom of loving a human. Bella can’t fathom herself as an equal partner to Edward unless she becomes a vampire. It’s not long before we see her fear turn into reality. Edward leaves her. She is alone.

Fear can drive an entire life. Do you remember the story of Chicken Little? This little chicken was a character who kept saying, “The sky is falling, the sky is falling.” His mantra wouldn’t have seemed so awkward except for the fact of the sky being perfectly intact. Chicken Little wasn’t living in fear based on evidence. He was living in fear of what could happen – the worst possibilities in life. While we laugh at Chicken Little now or even reduce this literary character to a cartoon, his story is quite powerful today. What we fear will become our reality, if we let it.

You may have heard the saying, “As a man thinks, so he is.” This phrase is actually taken from Proverbs 23:7 in the King James translation of the Bible. What lies in our hearts drives our actions and ultimately, our reality. King Solomon wrote the book of Proverbs. He is known as the wisest man to have ever lived. What else does he say about the outlook of the heart?

Read the following verses and record the actions of a person’s heart. Note how the outlook impacts these actions.

Proverbs 12:23

Proverbs 12:25

Proverbs 16:23

Proverbs 18:12

Proverbs 27:19

A Biblical Look into Twilight: Worship or Relationship?

Bella Swan is the main character and main perspective of the Twilight saga. In the Twilight book, we see Bella as a quiet and introspective teenage girl. She is approaching the close of her adolescent years, yet she exhibits a maturity well beyond a normal high school student. Her life approach moves between two extremes - insecurity and confidence, even though she consistently moves clumsily through life in a physical way. Bella sees herself as different from those around her, using the language of a "brain glitch."

Her entire disposition prepares her for meeting the love of her life - Edward Cullen. From her very first sighting, she notices something different about this teenager, too. He seems above everyone else. She doesn't seem as superior from his own egotistical tendencies; she sees him as supreme for his spectacular beauty. Bella's view of Edward is encompassed by perfection. She sees Edward as perfect, almost like a heavenly or spiritual being. On multiple occasions, Bella describes Edward as looking like a god or some figure taken from Greek mythology. It seems like she worships him.

Worship, as used in the English language, usually denotes a deep reverence or adoration for something sacred. I don't think Edward could be described as sacred because he wasn't a religious figure or holy in any way. He was just different, more than what Bella saw in herself. In some ways Bella's worship of Edward shapes him into her own personal idol. She fantasizes about becoming like him. She overlooks the downfalls of earthly immortality to only see forever with Edward. Could that be the original basis of her love for him - an idolization of Edward?

Bella's relational view seems unequal, yet it doesn't seem to matter in the end. Do you think Bella was able to overcome these feelings and feel equality with Edward?

Looking for more Twilight discussion?

The Twilight saga has taken the world by storm. At least the feminine world, that is. This series of books has launched an ordinary housewife named Stephenie Meyer into a mega-millionaire with some even calling her the next J. K. Rowling. Women are flocking to Twilight proms, creating clubs and swooning over the Twilight movie cast. Why are millions of people in near hysteria over a story between a teenage girl and her vampire lover?

Bella and Edward are the reasons for this worldwide phenomenon. Their love story has spoken fresh hope into the hearts of the readers. While it has aspects of action, science fiction and fantasy, every page of the Twilight saga involves an intense love story between two teenagers. You could say it is the Romeo and Juliet of our time. Bella and Edward were not supposed to be together, but their love will not accept defeat. It aims for victory amidst the worst of odds and possible endings. Every action, risk, thought and change is for love. And you wonder why these books are so popular! In days where relationships seem fragile and temporary, the Twilight saga has given us a vibrant picture of love that is everlasting and possible in our lives.

While I found completion as I read the final pages of Breaking Dawn, I also found a sense of sadness that this transformational story was ending for me. That’s why I am writing a Bible study based on these books. I want to continue the experience for Twilight fans. Second, I want to conduct a deeper analysis of the spiritual themes in the books. The spiritual themes in these books are like ribbons of bright color on a beautiful canvas. No single character represents God fully in this saga, yet God is the force behind the entire story. He is moving behind the scenes, and His actions are questioned by different characters when it relates to Fate. Lastly, I do not want to project some great message of Christianity that Meyer had in mind when writing these books. As she has said on multiple occasions, her intent was adventure and fun for herself. Meyer didn’t write these books to teach moral lessons, yet her beliefs in God are evident throughout her writing. Any messages that have spiritual undertones purely come from Meyer’s faith being such a central part of her life.

This site contains some of the material for a book that I planning to publish in the near future. If you reside in the Charlotte area and would like to offer this class at your congregation, then please contact me at celebrate1976@yahoo.com. I pray that this material will guide you into deeper discussions with your friends and family members about a worldwide phenomenon and an immortal God.