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Some years ago a debate over adult coloring books ensued on Facebook.
In the article the writer reveals how many adult coloring books contain Mandalas, which is a symbol connected to Indian ritualism and Buddhism as a way to merge with deities.
I’ll admit, I love coloring.
I’ll often drag out a pile of my kids’ coloring books and color with them. I actually think it is a healthy thing to do.
It is not only relaxing and fun, it is creative and a wonderful bonding time with my kids.
Plus, it encourages creativity in them and helps them to exercise their small motor skills.
So, I want to preface this post by saying that I do not believe that all adult coloring books are wrong. Some of them are wonderful.
What I do feel we need to take away from this article is the fact that there has grown a huge interest in adult coloring books for a very dangerous reason.
Zen coloring books that advertise mandalas, meditation, and stress-relief have flooded the market and are a dangerous trap for the believer.
What concerned me in reading the comments on Facebook was the number of Christians who essentially said:
Calm down. God is big enough to protect you from evil. If you have faith in God, He wont let something like a stupid coloring book harm you.
Others said that they color in these adult coloring books and pray or worship as a way to relax at the end of the day.
The question is this:
If Christians buy into these Zen coloring books, if they use them for relaxation and stress relief, will God protect them from any evil associated with them?
Does God really protect us from evil?
I believe the answer to the second question is that it depends on in which form we encounter evil.
The Bible says, “No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the Lord.
It is one thing when the enemy comes at us with an evil plan to destroy us. When we are living by the Word of God, standing firm on it, and the enemy attacks us with a demonic strategy to take us out.
In that case, God has promised that the plan of the enemy will not succeed, because God is fighting for us on our behalf! Indeed, He has already thwarted the plan of the enemy!
However, when we are willing participants in those things that are inspired by the enemy something very dangerous occurs.
You see, when we have centered our lives on God’s Word, when we have made God’s Word the handbook by which we live every second of our lives, we enjoy God’s divine protection.
Yet, when we choose to engage in practices that God’s Word condemns, we remove ourselves from that protection and leave ourselves an open target for the enemy!
God’s Word says over and over again that we are to reject witchcraft and that we are not to engage in the religious practices of the nations around us.
God told His people over and over that engaging in the religious practices of the nations around them was an abomination!
But sadly, the nation of Israel chose to disobey God’s command and removed herself from His protection.
As a result they were taken captive by the nations around them.
The same applies to us today.
It is no different now than it was then other than that the types of religious practices are different; such as horoscopes, yoga, transcendental meditation, dream catchers, and other items and activities connected to other religions.
I know that many churches offer alternate forms of yoga, but check out the passage below:
When the LORD your God cuts off from before you the nations which you go to dispossess, and you displace them and dwell in their land, take heed to yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed from before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise.’ You shall not worship the LORD your God in that way; for every abomination to the LORD which He hates they have done to their gods; for they burn even their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods.Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it.
Deuteronomy 12:29-32
God strictly forbids us to worship Him using the practices other religions use to worship their gods!
He has already told us how we can worship Him, and to mingle worship of God with the worship of other religious is an abomination to Him.
Can God protect us from evil?
Yes, when we are living by the principles of His Word and the enemy combats us with his evil agenda, God has promised to defeat the enemy.
However, when we willingly engage in those things that God’s has strictly prohibited, when we mingle worship of God with the worship of other gods, when we knowingly engage in those things that invite evil into our homes we have chosen to remove ourselves from God’s divine protection over our lives.
It’s not that God can’t protect us, it’s that we have, in disobedience, walked out from under that protection.
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29 Comments
Still not feeling well enough to read and study everything here and on your page earlier. I will read everything and study it well. As soon as possible.
Yes! This has been my concern with many of the colouring books I see in the stores – thank you for addressing this! I love colouring, but I have been very careful about the types of books and pictures I choose to colour. PS In a similar vein, this is the reason why I won’t participate in anything like a “Colour Run”, no matter who’s hosting it or what charity it’s in aid of – the fact that these runs began as an off-shoot the Hindu festival of Holi make them an absolute no-go area for me. Thanks again for tackling issues head-on in your posts – I really appreciate your willingness to not hide the truth!!
Thank you for this. I just saw the other article you were talking about right before Church yesterday so I haven’t had time to research. Now I have more to go on. I LOVE to color and my kids color with me. I actually bought a cheaper adult coloring book and colored in it once. I guess I will throw it out and get a new one. One that my kids and I can color together. There are several beautiful ones with scripture in them (and none of that other stuff). Thanks again!
Have you looked into Darlene Schacht’s coloring books (Time Warp Wife)? She has lovely ones that are very uplifting! You can find them here at my affiliate link: http://amzn.to/1VYnqVi
Thank you for sending me this article. Yesterday I was helping my daughter move and ran across a coloring book that had Mandalas on the cover. Later that night on Facebook I saw your comment on Charisma News. You mentioned Mandalas. Not a coincidence whatsoever. Now I know when I need to do. Thank you so much.
I’m so glad you added your voice to the conversation, Rosilind! I personally am not a huge fan of the adult coloring books – they actually stress me more than relax me. The mandala type mediation of many has made me uncomfortable and I do think we should testing even our choice of leisure activities, asking how they stand up to scripture. Thank you for giving us some things to think on.
There are times when I simply cannot stand by and be silent. I know what I said may not be very popular, but, you said, we sometimes need to question even our leisure activities, because I believe even they matter to God!
Please give the notation for the scripture you quoted. I was taught to read every scripture for myself for my own interpretation. No offense, I just study the Word before and after the quote. Thanks for the thoughts.
I love this article! I agree 100%. Tolerance in Christianity is on the rise and at a rapid speed. So many Christians are trying to find excuses to join in with what the world is doing. We need to be aware and awake in the times we are living in. We are called to be holy. To be in the world but not of the world. Thanks so much for your post!
Yes, sadly, many try to live as close to the world as they can without completely denying Christ. But they don’t understand that sometimes by their actions they come dangerously close to doing just that.
So is it bad to do yoga? I just do poses from a book and they help my back? Also after 9/11 Pat Boone used the term that we were stepping out from under the umbrella of God’s protection. I love that representation of God’s protection.
Isn’t it a great illustration? I love it, too! I do think that it unwise for believers to do any yoga poses, only because each pose represents a Hindu god. I would encourage you to do some research to find other exercises to help your back.
This is an excellent post and I think you made very strong, biblical arguments here! Thank you for being a voice of truth! There are also Scripture based adult coloring books. Ones that have pretty flowery deigns and pictures with Bible verses in them. Those make an excellent alternative!
It’s a coloring book! Good grief. God cares about everything in our lives, He also is wise enough to know if we are coloring a stupid pattern or worshiping a Hindu religious practice. God created color and gave some women the joy of using color, even in a coloring book. There are much bigger issues in life…even in the perfect Christian women’s bubble, surely more important issues trip us up. Like adultery, vanity, judging, coveting, pride, gossip, slander. We need to stop living in a sandbox, with our safe bible study buddies, and realize that there are people going to Hell, or just hurting, who need Jesus. And realize that for the most part, we lie to even each other so we can fit into that sandbox with those ‘ godly’ women we idolize. Oops another issue women have, idolatry. Stop looking for Satan behind every bush, and let’s find ourselves worthy of the calling Christ has placed on those who belong to Him. Whether or not you have colored pencils, markers, pages of sparkly unicorns or patterns with a title colored….this matters not when Jesus returns and looks into our hearts….be dressed, ready and waiting….for Our Savior is coming for His bride. Still really distracted by a stupid coloring book, or has the Holy Spirit tugged at our priorities? Lord Jesus, give Your vision and wisdom for what truly breaks Your heart…and bring us to our knees. Amen. ( I have awesome markers and pencils, right after we visit the shutins and feed a few hungry families, come over, I’ll make coffee, we’ll talk….and color a few unicorns. ☺️)
I thank you for posting this. As a born again who was once involved in occult practices, I can tell you from experience that it is little subtle things (like silly coloring books) that give footholds and opens doors. Since I had a lot of doors to close up, haha, I avoid the things that represent any form of the demonic (certain books and movies, yoga, coloring mandalas) because when you go from an occult lifestyle to a Jesus-loving lifestyle, you tick off those you left behind. It is a battle we fight and only by the grace of God am I alive today. It is a battle we fight, but Satan likes to keep us Christians blind to it. Subtlety is his tactic. What harm is there in coloring mandalas? Good grief!
The battle is real and this is coming from me – the farthest thing from a perfect, plastic, bubble-living Christian. I’m the first female in many generations of my family (on both sides) to give up the occult lifestyle so you could say my head isn’t in the sand. And I appreciate that there are other Christians who get it, and are willing to address it.
BEWARE ! These apparently subtle things are the ones opening doors to the realm of darkness !! These aren’t just any “stupid” coloring books ! You’re walking on treacherous dangerous paths of darkness. I know what I’m talking about. I’ve been studying this subject for decades, now. Please, talk with someone with an AUTHENTIC – PROVEN !! – ministry, meaning NOT just a ministry some well meaning acquaintance decides to recommend to you nor one you just read about online . Blessings.
Christmas is not pagan, yule is pagan. Same day, vastly different holidays with vastly different purposes. Pagans did not bring pine trees into their homes to remind them of Jesus resurrection. Yule symbolized the begining of winter. It had vastly different practices associated with it then Christmas.
So, no christmas isnt pagan. Im an archeologist. I study germanic indo-european peoples cultures and beliefs. The day is what is similiar, nothing more.
Still not feeling well enough to read and study everything here and on your page earlier.
I will read everything and study it well. As soon as possible.
Yes! This has been my concern with many of the colouring books I see in the stores – thank you for addressing this! I love colouring, but I have been very careful about the types of books and pictures I choose to colour.
PS In a similar vein, this is the reason why I won’t participate in anything like a “Colour Run”, no matter who’s hosting it or what charity it’s in aid of – the fact that these runs began as an off-shoot the Hindu festival of Holi make them an absolute no-go area for me.
Thanks again for tackling issues head-on in your posts – I really appreciate your willingness to not hide the truth!!
I had no idea about the color runs. I have done them several times. I actually enjoy them. I guess that ends. Thanks for the information!
I didn’t know about the color runs either. Thank you for that information!
Thank you for this. I just saw the other article you were talking about right before Church yesterday so I haven’t had time to research. Now I have more to go on. I LOVE to color and my kids color with me. I actually bought a cheaper adult coloring book and colored in it once. I guess I will throw it out and get a new one. One that my kids and I can color together. There are several beautiful ones with scripture in them (and none of that other stuff). Thanks again!
Have you looked into Darlene Schacht’s coloring books (Time Warp Wife)? She has lovely ones that are very uplifting! You can find them here at my affiliate link: http://amzn.to/1VYnqVi
Very interesting take! I was curious about the recent interest in adult coloring books but didn’t realize the dangers past just the fun aspect of it.
I believe many do not. I pray that this will help open our eyes to some of the dangers around us.
Thank you for sending me this article. Yesterday I was helping my daughter move and ran across a coloring book that had Mandalas on the cover. Later that night on Facebook I saw your comment on Charisma News. You mentioned Mandalas. Not a coincidence whatsoever. Now I know when I need to do. Thank you so much.
I’m so glad you added your voice to the conversation, Rosilind! I personally am not a huge fan of the adult coloring books – they actually stress me more than relax me. The mandala type mediation of many has made me uncomfortable and I do think we should testing even our choice of leisure activities, asking how they stand up to scripture. Thank you for giving us some things to think on.
There are times when I simply cannot stand by and be silent. I know what I said may not be very popular, but, you said, we sometimes need to question even our leisure activities, because I believe even they matter to God!
Thanks for your comment !!
Please give the notation for the scripture you quoted. I was taught to read every scripture for myself for my own interpretation. No offense, I just study the Word before and after the quote. Thanks for the thoughts.
Thank you, Barbara. It is good that we all do this as wise Bereans. It is Isaiah 54:17
Very well said, Rosalind. God can’t protect us when we willfully step out from under his protection.
Amen!
I love this article! I agree 100%. Tolerance in Christianity is on the rise and at a rapid speed. So many Christians are trying to find excuses to join in with what the world is doing. We need to be aware and awake in the times we are living in. We are called to be holy. To be in the world but not of the world. Thanks so much for your post!
Yes, sadly, many try to live as close to the world as they can without completely denying Christ. But they don’t understand that sometimes by their actions they come dangerously close to doing just that.
So is it bad to do yoga? I just do poses from a book and they help my back? Also after 9/11 Pat Boone used the term that we were stepping out from under the umbrella of God’s protection. I love that representation of God’s protection.
Isn’t it a great illustration? I love it, too! I do think that it unwise for believers to do any yoga poses, only because each pose represents a Hindu god. I would encourage you to do some research to find other exercises to help your back.
This is an excellent post and I think you made very strong, biblical arguments here! Thank you for being a voice of truth! There are also Scripture based adult coloring books. Ones that have pretty flowery deigns and pictures with Bible verses in them. Those make an excellent alternative!
God bless,
Patty
Thank YOU for your encouragement. Yes – I love the scripture coloring books!!
It’s a coloring book! Good grief. God cares about everything in our lives, He also is wise enough to know if we are coloring a stupid pattern or worshiping a Hindu religious practice. God created color and gave some women the joy of using color, even in a coloring book. There are much bigger issues in life…even in the perfect Christian women’s bubble, surely more important issues trip us up. Like adultery, vanity, judging, coveting, pride, gossip, slander. We need to stop living in a sandbox, with our safe bible study buddies, and realize that there are people going to Hell, or just hurting, who need Jesus. And realize that for the most part, we lie to even each other so we can fit into that sandbox with those ‘ godly’ women we idolize. Oops another issue women have, idolatry. Stop looking for Satan behind every bush, and let’s find ourselves worthy of the calling Christ has placed on those who belong to Him. Whether or not you have colored pencils, markers, pages of sparkly unicorns or patterns with a title colored….this matters not when Jesus returns and looks into our hearts….be dressed, ready and waiting….for Our Savior is coming for His bride. Still really distracted by a stupid coloring book, or has the Holy Spirit tugged at our priorities? Lord Jesus, give Your vision and wisdom for what truly breaks Your heart…and bring us to our knees. Amen. ( I have awesome markers and pencils, right after we visit the shutins and feed a few hungry families, come over, I’ll make coffee, we’ll talk….and color a few unicorns. ☺️)
I thank you for posting this. As a born again who was once involved in occult practices, I can tell you from experience that it is little subtle things (like silly coloring books) that give footholds and opens doors. Since I had a lot of doors to close up, haha, I avoid the things that represent any form of the demonic (certain books and movies, yoga, coloring mandalas) because when you go from an occult lifestyle to a Jesus-loving lifestyle, you tick off those you left behind. It is a battle we fight and only by the grace of God am I alive today. It is a battle we fight, but Satan likes to keep us Christians blind to it. Subtlety is his tactic. What harm is there in coloring mandalas? Good grief!
The battle is real and this is coming from me – the farthest thing from a perfect, plastic, bubble-living Christian. I’m the first female in many generations of my family (on both sides) to give up the occult lifestyle so you could say my head isn’t in the sand. And I appreciate that there are other Christians who get it, and are willing to address it.
You have a wonderful testimony. Praise God that He saved you and set you free!!
BEWARE ! These apparently subtle things are the ones opening doors to the realm of darkness !! These aren’t just any “stupid” coloring books ! You’re walking on treacherous dangerous paths of darkness. I know what I’m talking about. I’ve been studying this subject for decades, now. Please, talk with someone with an AUTHENTIC – PROVEN !! – ministry, meaning NOT just a ministry some well meaning acquaintance decides to recommend to you nor one you just read about online . Blessings.
However you all celebrate Christmas and other pagan holidays?
Christmas is not pagan, yule is pagan. Same day, vastly different holidays with vastly different purposes.
Pagans did not bring pine trees into their homes to remind them of Jesus resurrection.
Yule symbolized the begining of winter. It had vastly different practices associated with it then Christmas.
So, no christmas isnt pagan.
Im an archeologist. I study germanic indo-european peoples cultures and beliefs.
The day is what is similiar, nothing more.
Thanks for your comment !!