Making Evil Attractive

According to a recent study published in the Hollywood Reporter, the “latest obsession” in Hollywood is programs that focus on serial killers. For the fall 2013 television season, seven new shows “glamorizing serial killers” were added to TV schedules, bringing the total to 20 programs with this theme.

One program features “a serial killer who kills serial killers,” featuring many “gruesome” actions. Another popular program was known to have “featured more than 100 serial killers.”

This pattern continues Hollywood’s long-standing focus on evil. Consider how many programs and films focus on vampires and witches, demons and ghosts. Why do so many people find this content appealing? What makes such dark and satanic behavior so attractive?

The Bible tells us that Satan himself can appear as an “angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14). He and his demons specialize in deceiving people, making their evil deeds appear to be innocent and harmless. In fact, they can make evil seem attractive. Meanwhile, those who seek to obey God often face ridicule.

We see this very pattern in the opening pages of the Bible, where Satan, in the form of the serpent, convinced Eve to disobey God. Satan was able to make the fruit seem so appealing that she was overwhelmed by the attraction, in spite of God’s warnings.

In your life, remember that temptation is all around you. You need to realize that Satan will seek to deceive you, often in very subtle ways.

Stay on guard. Be sure that you know God’s Word and make it the standard for your life. Line up your life with the principles of the Word. And stay sensitive to the leading of the Spirit, alert to every warning.