A few weeks ago, Charlene Fite of West Plains, MO, handed me several pages of research that she had done on the subject of puppets -- because of a conviction she had that there was something wrong with the use of them. Can Peter Rabbit talk? Does he say, "Jesus loves you," or is this a form of deceit?

Ah, now you say, "You really have gone off the deep end."   But have you considered the matter?  I wonder?  Have you looked it up in the Bible, Bible Dictionaries, Concordance or Webster’s dictionary?  Have you?   I wonder, are you taken in by tradition?  "Everybody is using them."   "Surely, if there was any harm in them, my Pastor would not allow them."   "Everyone enjoys them."  "Why, they are a great tool in daily vacation Bible school.  The Sunday school uses them and the young people’s department."  "Why, everybody can’t be wrong, even if the Word of God says different."  This is the exact, attitude we have taken about many things.   It is time to look into the Word and see what it really says.

Puppet or puppetry:  (Webster says) marionette, mummery.

Marionette: a small, jointed figure used in shows.

Mummery:  a pretentious or hypocritical ritual, a dumb show or play acting. Puppets are referred to as caricatures, used in cartoons.

Cartoon:  satire, sarcasm, irony, railery, banter

Caricatures: distorted or exaggerated features, to produce an absurd effect. Synonyms of caricatures: travesty and parody.

Travesty:  a burlesque treatment-of a subject.

Burlesque:  mockery, strip tease.

Parody: a humorous imitation of a serious literary work.

Genesis 20:4 says, "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth."

"Oh, now you are narrow minded."

Romans 1:22-23 says, "Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things."   Does this describe puppets?

Jeremiah 48:10 says, "Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully." Puppetry is deceit, man-made imagery and jesting. God, not satan, places a curse on those that use deceit.

Proverbs 6:12-13 says, "A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth. He winketh with the eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers."

Habakkuk 2:18-20 asks, "What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols? Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the midst of it. But the Lord is in His Holy Temple; let all the earth keep silence before Him."

Ephesians 5:4 tells us that, "Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient but rather giving of thanks."

In Psalm 101, David makes a vow and profession of godliness, and in verse 3 says, "I hate the work of them that turn aside, it shall not cleave to me."

I wonder, are we turning aside? Are we turning our children aside, with pageantry and light-heartedness of the seriousness of God’s eternal Word? Are we pleasing God? Is the Bible really your guide?

Is God your source, and His Word your source-book?

(Reprinted from October 1979 edition, Voices From His Excellent Glory)

NOTE: LHBC distributes a tract written by Charlene Fite entitled, "Puppets - Are They A Snare To Idolatry?" Donation of 25 cents. Write for a copy and send a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

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