Having just recently spent two awesome days at the amazing fantasy land called Disneyland with two of my grandchildren, I have been thinking about what it must have been like through their eyes. They just witnessed cartoon and movie characters they have seen come to life and speak to them and interact with them "in real life".
So, to all the hundreds of thousands of children that pass through the Magic Kingdom gates each year, these characters must seem to be as real as you and me. Obviously, at some point in life, children grow up and realize that these are fictional characters portrayed by costumed role players and actors. As adults, we are capable of making the distinction between fact and fiction.
Computer Generated (CG) technology involved in film production today makes everything incredibly realistic. The Marvel and DC movies that have been coming out in droves, that I admittedly love, have brought to life dozens of comic book characters to the big screen. I hear children talk about characters that I can't even remember!
The big warning flag, the biggest caution... especially for our children... that I want to hold up and wave is this: Are the superheroes and the fictional Disney characters becoming more real to your children or you than Jesus Christ? Who is being worshiped in your home? Is it Thor, Spiderman, Hulk, Ariel, Wonder Woman... or is it Jesus?
Kids should be kids and playing superheroes and having fun with role playing is fine, but do they know who Jesus is? Do they know he is real? Do they love him and worship him? That is vital to their spiritual growth and health. Let them know the difference between fact and fiction. Jesus is real... Disney characters are not.
2 Kings 17:39 (NLT) - "You must worship only the LORD your God. He is the one who will rescue you from all your enemies."