I (Eve) was privileged to see New Moon at an early preview and absolutely loved the movie. It sticks very close to Stephenie Meyer’s book and it was impressive how well such a long book was condensed into a movie of comfortable length.

If you haven’t read them yet, please check out the Are You Just Reading? blog posts on the Twilight Saga where I have extensively covered all of the books from a Christian, critical-thinking angle. I hope to have one more post on the saga up before the end of the year.

• The Twilight Saga: Vampires, Demons, and Angels
• The Twilight Saga: Origins and Ultimate Destinations
• The Twilight Saga: Marriage, the Sanctity of Life, and Religion
• The Twilight Saga: Spiritual Truths, Part 1

Growing old

The beginning of New Moon introduces Bella on that most horrible of days for any woman—her birthday. She is officially one year older than Edward—who became a vampire at age 17.

And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment. (Hebrews 9:27)

Genesis records that man was not originally created to die and that death is a result of the curse on sin. Aging comes with that curse. It was a mercy that God did not allow us to live forever.

Damnation

Carlisle’s desiring to help people because he “enjoys” it, regardless of whether he is damned. Bella thinks he is too good to be damned.

So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.” (Luke 18:19)

For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.( James 2:10–13, NKJV)

It doesn’t matter how good you are, if you have failed to
be good in one thing, you are out of chances. Like with the Volturi—the vampire law-givers and enforcers,
there are no second chances. Thankfully, God does not require us to be good enough for heaven—we
are saved from that onerous burden through His grace and the blood of Jesus Christ.

Souls

Edward is worried about changing Bella because he is concerned about her soul.
Bella says, “If you’re worried about my soul, I don’t want it without you.”
I believe the soul and spirit define who we are.

For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what
will a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matthew 16:26, cross-reference Mark 8:36–37)

This is the message
in the books that bothers me the most, that Bella is willing “to give up her soul” for
a physical relationship with a man.  Our souls are so much more important than that.  We should always
put our relationship with God before relationships with man because people will always let you down.

People fail you

Edward fails Bella’s expectations by leaving her.
Jacob promises not to hurt her the way that Edward does but then does hurt her. He keeps saying “I
broke my promise again, didn’t I?”

It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. (Psalm 118:8)

Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble Is like a bad tooth and a foot out of joint. (Proverbs
25:19)

We shouldn’t invest so much of ourselves in people because they will always fail.

Closing

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Are You Just Watching?™ is produced and sponsored by D.Joseph Design. The opening vocal talent is thanks to Mariah. Our theme song is used courtesy of Answers in Genesis, from their exciting vacation Bible school curriculum, Operation Space.