I remember growing up in the 80’s, before remote controls and cable TV, before we even had a VCR, and there were only certain times of day a kid could watch cartoons. Of course, as a child, I practically lived for cartoons. It was the one time I could watch something on television I could relate to.
Even more exciting than Saturday morning cartoons, were the cartoons and movies specials that only came once a year. The Peanuts specials for Halloween and Christmas, Garfield specials, and other beloved Christmas and holiday specials were a highlight in my small world. Other movies that rarely came on and were a treat were movies like The Wizard of Oz and Alice In Wonderland. I absolutely loved those movies.
It wasn’t until the late 80’s that my family finally got a VCR, and even later when we got cable TV. It was then I began to find more popular movies of the time in which to love. Movies such as The Labyrinth, The Princess Bride, The Never Ending Story and other such movies that are still endearing hearts today. Little did I know that my great love for these movies exceeded more than just a childish innocence.
When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.
1 Corinthians 13:11
Pop culture is a huge part of what shapes our lives here in the U.S., as well as so many other places all over the world. We do not even think twice about it when we say phrases like “Go ahead, make my day,” “You can’t handle the truth”, or “May the force be with you”. These are all commonly used phrases from some of the most popular movies over the past few decades. They are such popular phrases, even people who didn’t grow up watching them, know them. That is just extent of the influences pop culture has on us.
Music is another vehicle in which we develop timeless connections in pop culture. Icons such as The Beatles, Elvis Presley, Pink Floyd, Mariah Carey, Lady Gaga, and many more, have influenced us as a culture to the point of becoming household names. Whether you like them or not, most know who they are. Their songs are played in movies, television shows, concerts, games, etc, and will seemingly live on forever.
I myself had many connections to all these things while growing up, whether I liked them or not. If I did not like a particular pop culture icon, I liked to hate them. Pop culture is pervasive in the way it gets into our system. We have never stopped to question why things are popular and have so much influence in our lives, we just accept them as is. As a matter of fact, we want more pop culture in our lives because it helps us to fit in with everyone around us. It becomes a relatable topic that becomes the common denominator even in the most diverse settings.
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
1 Peter 2:9
Is it possible that pop culture has become so endearing because it has been completely contrived to specifically provoke certain levels of emotional and mental stimulation? As I have been exploring the depths of the mind control programming that has been instilled into me over the years of my childhood, I have come to find there is one common factor used when implementing it. Popular culture.
The most popular method of instilling mind control programming has always been one of torture. You take an innocent and vulnerable mind and bring it to a place where it completely shuts down from intense levels of physical and emotional pain. This leaves the brain unable to defend itself from the onslaught of information that is then driven into it.
Mind control programming is basically creating a new world or reality for the person they are engaging. The programmer takes the subject in their broken down and susceptible state and begins to program in a new world or reality with words, images, and music/sound. This usually involves integrating some of the most well known and well loved popular movies, songs and phrases of the time. For me, movies like The Labyrinth, The Princess Bride, and The Never Ending Story, became devices in to create alternate personalities and alternate realities within my fractured mind.
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 27:1
These pop culture favorites are used because once the programming is set up, it can be reinforced time and time again over a span of many years. As you can see, movies like Alice In Wonderland, Cinderella, The Beauty and The Beast, Star Wars, Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, etc. are remade so they stay fresh and relevant for the times. And even when they are not remade, they are re-released classics, giving us renewed chances to own copies and continue to watch them.
Phrases or scenes from popular or iconic movies are then used over and over again in other movies, song references, jokes (memes), etc. How many times have you seen reference to things like “the yellow brick road”, or “there’s no place like home”, from The Wizard of Oz. These are what programmers call “triggers”. These triggers are set up with the programming to trigger a certain program to run inside the brain.
These popular references that perpetuate themselves are woven into the fabric of pop culture for this very reason. Mind control programming is something that is so prevalent today, that it has even become a pop culture joke. Think of Men In Black and how they used a “Neuralyzer” to wipe out whole crowds memories, implanting false memories in its place. What about the beloved “Doctor Who”, who can control peoples minds with a form of hypnosis? And then there is the “Jedi mind trick” from Star Wars, one of the most popular movie franchises of all time. This “trick” is said to be able to influence others thoughts and actions through a type of mind control.
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
1 Corinthians 10:13
There are those who would like to brush of mind control as some sort of ridiculous joke, and there are others who are living with it as a reality like I am. Mind control programming is not a laughing matter, and those who brush it off as something impossible in this world are only doing so out of fear. If we believe that mind control programming is not only real but pervasive in this world, then it raises giant questions about who God is and why is this happening.
Every person has to explore these questions for themselves, and they are very important questions that need to be answered by God. Yet the answers are all very simple when you get down to it. The devil is evil and we agreed to allow him to have direct influence over us starting in the Garden of Eden. God does not assert His will over our free will, yet He does protect our spirits and our souls because Salvation is His number one priority. The devil wants us to go to hell, and Jesus wants to save us.
Do not be fooled into thinking that God is just sitting back and watching the devil play. If that were true, I would not be writing these words right now. It was because I desperately sought after Jesus and the truth of why I was in pain and suffering that led me to deep levels of spiritual freedom and emotional healing. A person who has undergone these levels of deep trauma and mind control should not be able to openly talk about it.
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and burst their bonds apart. Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!
Psalms 107:13-15
If a person with this level of programming normally found out the truth, they would most likely go crazy and end up institutionalized, or worse. It is not normal for me to be able to find this level of freedom and testify to the power of Jesus Christ over the occult and mind control programming that tried to shape my life. I am only able to do this because of the amazing love of Christ over my life.
This love is not exclusively reserved for me but is given freely for all mankind. The devil only has as much power as we give him over our lives. If we choose to walk in freedom and trust that the power of the love of God is bigger than all of this that God can move mountains on our behalves. That is not to say God is not moving mountains to protect our spirit and soul now, but when we give Him permission to storm the castle and chase out the invading armies, God not only moves mountains but raises the dead places inside of us to life.
Do not fear the devil or the truths of this world. Fear the impact that the denial you have been living in has on you, and all the generations to come after you. You are not just living for yourself, but for everyone, you love in this world. When we take a step to find freedom and healing from these things, we begin to bring freedom to those around us. The freedom that flows from the Spirit of God, flows freely through us and we become a light to others.
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
2 Corinthians 3:17
God has never planned for evil or for harm. What He has planned is for all the good He will do in the midst of the outpouring of evil. God is making all things new, and He is not afraid of what the devil can do. God has no fear, He has only hope, trust, and love. Our God knows that His love will far surpass and outlast the evils of this world, and one day soon, it will all be gone. Not even a distant memory in our minds.
But for today, we need to focus on the truth of His love. You are dearly loved, made whole and righteous by that love. Wherever you are broken or missing that vital link to love is where the devil has made a way. You are not stuck in that place and you do not have to live that way. Give your fear and your life to Jesus Christ and seek Him for the truth. It is only in His hands that we can forge a new path in this dark world; one that brings His light and His glory in.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
John 1:5
