ANIME CHRISTIANITY

Anime is Japanese for Animation. Animation has gained tremendous popularity recently and it is changing the way we define and view life.

Animation is an art form that combines imagination and creativity to make lifeless things appear to have life. It takes the make-believe and presents it as though it were real-to-life people in real-life situations.

The genius of animation is that it creates the illusion of movement by simply simulating life through a sequence of still images.

Here’s how: Animators know that the human eye only retains a single image for just a fraction of a second, then it moves on to the next thing.

So, when images appear one after another, or repeatedly, the brain automatically stitches those images together into a continuous motion movie picture and then interprets those actions as a consistent event.

It will take one single scene or snapshot in time and then re-present that action or behavior as though it is happening all the time.

We’ve witnessed great animation in a mouse named Mickey, a groovy dog named Scooby Doo, and a talking baby named Stewie.

Anime, like so many other elements of pop culture, is increasingly being emulated by real life. One such area of animated life is Reality TV.

It’s not surprising to encounter Anime in the entertainment industry, but unfortunately, it has also found its way into the Christian community.

Some of us have tried the concept of faking it, until we made it. But when the Fake becomes the reality that’s a problem.

I use the word “us”, because I previously faked the role as a Christian, without living the Life. I became an actor with no accountability!

I was very proficient in my animation. I used all the right “Christian-ease words and greetings, I went to church, I ministered at church, took communion, gave offerings, read my Bible, and prayed, but I still didn’t have the love and peace in my heart that I told others they should have.

I judged, hated, didn’t forgive, all while maintaining church attendance.

Quite simply, I had become a hypocrite. A hypocrite is someone who pretends to have something that they don’t actually possess.

I acted like the Character of Christ was alive and active in me, though it wasn’t. Sadly, I became an Anime Christian.

In an effort to help you not to go down that same path, I want to share with you how Anime works.

The Art of Anime is comprised of 3 Core Concepts.

First, it begins with The Illusion of Motion

In Anime, the Illusion of Motion means making a series of still images, scenes, and instances that look like continual movement is taking place. It involves manipulating optics and appearances with words and gestures between frames of scenes. They call it using “PROPS”

Anime Christians do things when they know people are watching. They appear to be living the Christian Life when in fact there are no real practices being put in motion. Activity doesn’t mean Achievement!

Next, you add to that the Illusion of Depth

In Anime, the Illusion of Depth: Involves appearing to be deep or have depth. Much like what 3D Animation does by usings computer-generated imagery to create depth and volume, making it appear like real and complex movements are taking place.

Anime Christians act like they are scholarly or professorial in their study and knowledge of God and his word in front of others. They appear to receive deep revelations regularly. Reading a book about an individual does mean that there is personal knowledge about that individual.

Lastly, the biggest Illusion of all, is the Illusion of Humanity

Skilled animators frequently utilize poses and gestures to convey that the intermediary frames are authentically expressing a particular sentiment of caring, kindness and humanity, through simulating emotions.

Anime Christians act like they care for everyone, but in reality, they are only concerned with their own interests. You play a character but never develop character.

Each of these illusions strongly goes against the very nature of Christ and His Character.

Animation is an illusion created for entertainment. We serve a living God who wants us to have true abundant life, not an imaginary one.

We shouldn’t settle for an illusion of peace when we can have real authentic peace. A Cartoon Christian is never funny.

Next time, we’ll talk more about what defines a Living Faith.

 This is a Thompson Truth