I honestly don’t know much about this new craze going on today called Pokemon Go. However, I know enough to realize that it is not of God and it seems the whole world is wrapped up in it. Lowell has read a few articles on it and believes it to be demonic.
What has completely astounded me is that mainstream churches and pastors are now using this game to lure the “unchurched” through their doors!
Elliott Nesch from Holy Bible Prophecy has written an excellent article on this. I am putting an excerpt here, but please go to his website to read the whole article >>> Pokemon Go Lures Unbelievers to Church.
Since the release of Pokémon Go on July 6, churches are now capitalizing on the augmented reality game to lure unbelievers to church. Local businesses are luring customers, putting Pokemon to work, and small businesses are “enticing” shoppers with Pokemon Go. It should come as no surprise that worldly churches also follow these business practices to “lure” unbelievers to church.
Apparently Pokémon Go “has sent millions of people to church” according to Christianity Today. Many people are complaining about the fact that many PokéStops and PokéGyms are located in church buildings. The CT article continues:
The game’s popularity is unprecedented. After only a few weeks, it already has more downloads than the popular dating app Tinder and is on track to surpass Twitter in total users. If you’ve spent much time outside lately, you can tell: PokéStops, where players gather supplies and can lure pokémon, and PokéGyms, where players battle and train their pokémon, are associated with public buildings and landmarks of historic or architectural significance, and they’re attracting players in droves. These sites include sculptures, murals, libraries, post offices, memorials—but many more, it seems, are church buildings.
In seeking to please the world, apostate churches often mimic the world, even its debauched practices. For instance, the Harlem Shake was a perverted Internet craze in the form of a video which went viral in early 2013. Many people from all over the world uploaded their own similar performances of people lasciviously dancing to the song “Harlem Shake.” Apostate churches such as Saddleback’s High School Ministry uploaded its own Harlem Shake video. Now Saddleback is capitalizing on the latest mobile game craze. On his Facebook page, Rick Warren said,
All Pokemon Trainers are welcome at Saddleback Church Lake Forest this weekend! We have 6 Pokestops & 4 Trainer Gyms on our 120 acres. Check us out!
Services are 4 pm and 6 pm on Saturday and 9 am and 11 am on Sunday.
My first comment on Warren’s FB page was deleted, possibly by Rick Warren himself. In my second comment (which has not yet been deleted) I wrote, “Looks like my previous comment was deleted. I was pointing out how the Purpose Driven and Seeker Driven ‘churches’ use the ways of the world like Harlem Shake and Pokémon to draw unbelievers. ‘They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them’ (1 John 4:5). Does Rick Warren not want you to know about this video? https://youtu.be/R9y9ly6YvCw [a link to our video Church of Tares].”
I agree with the statement from Church Watch Central:
With the release of the Pokemon GO! phenomena sweeping the globe, we anticipated that sooner or later there would be seeker-driven churches once again relying on worldly methods to try and draw a crowd of people to church. Rather than “contend earnestly for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3), their latest approach as usual, will be entirely man-centered rather than Christ-centered.
One of the foundational flaws within the megachurch methodology is that the church exists for unbelievers. But the New Testament church is “for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12). The church is not for entertainment and playing games like Pokémon Go. By definition, the Church does not exist for unbelievers, let alone for playing unbelievers’ games like Pokémon Go. In the book of Acts, the church sent evangelists out into the world rather than changing the church service to lure the Romans. . . . . {emphasis added}
(end of excerpt)
Read full article here>>>> Holy Bible Prophecy.
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Regina Shea says
I refuse to be part of any church that is using worldly means to get unbelievers in the church.
Kendra says
It is incredibly sad what some churches are doing – I think it taints the purity of the Gospel message.
Ruth says
I am part of a church who,in hope of drawing people to church is becoming more and more seeker friendly. The result is not convincing at all. Less popular events like prayer meeting or friday night church are only visited by the leß popular conservative members. It is sad to see this happen and we pray for a new real spiritual awakening. I dont know how long we keep staying. We dont feel the Lord gives us a ok to go yet. What it does to us on positive side it draws us very close to our Lord and makes us firm in any unpopular convictions that we have. Not because it is a church rule that is expected to observe but bible study clearly shows it as the will of God. It helps me to overcome fear of man. And to si ncearly pray for others that might be in danger of building their house on sand
Kendra says
How I love your testimony! That God can still use the faithful few He has placed in these churches is amazing. Thank you for drawing strength from Him! I am not saying I wouldn’t understand the need to leave it someday, should you choose (which is probably what we would do with a young family eventually) . . . but I am thankful God is using you while you are there.
Ruth says
We have a young family too six tree of them are teenagers. It makes decisions so much more sensitive. We trust that our great God will show them who he is as he did to us. We are encouraged to see him at work in our childrens hearts. Pokemon will fade Jesus our Lord will reign. Eternally❤
Kendra says
SO true!! Sounds like you are doing good with your little family. 🙂 Keep it up!
Grandma G says
Thank you, Kendra, for pointing out this danger!
Kendra says
You’re welcome, Mom!
Kim W says
One of the most friendly and inviting churches I have ever been to was a Bethel Conference Mennonite Church. They preach the Gospel purely and simply. The members demonstrate a love of Christ and each other. No gimmicks needed.
Kendra says
That is awesome, Kim!