“CHARLIE, CHARLIE?”
The Charlie Charlie Challenge is a recent Internet sensation which has gripped many teenagers worldwide (The Straits Times, May 27, 2015). It is an Ouija-inspired game which involves connecting with a dead Mexican child spirit named “Charlie”. A conventional challenge involves balancing two pencils in the shape of a cross on a piece of paper written with the words “Yes” and “No”. Participants will then attempt to connect with the demon by saying, “Charlie, Charlie, are you there?” and wait for the pencils to move. They will then ask a question for the spirit to answer who will then move the pencils to either “Yes” or “No”. If the pencils point in opposite directions, then it means that the question cannot be answered at that point of time. The players must then chant, “Charlie, Charlie, can we stop?” and hope for the spirit will permit for contact to be broken.
Some are sceptical of the practice, claiming that it is just some weird teen meme, or viral marketing campaign. The website Gizmodo proclaims that there is no demon named “Charlie” in Mexican folklore. Even if such a spirit exists, it would have been called “Carlitos”, which is the Spanish equivalent of “Charlie”. Nevertheless, despite such scepticism, the Charlie Charlie Challenge continues to take the Internet by storm and captures the hearts of youth globally, including Singapore.
Considering its popularity, it is no surprise that many Christian youth would have witnessed their friends engaged in this demon-summoning game. Some of them have spoken of being overcome by fear when they see the game in action.
The Scripture tells us that Christians are engaged in a spiritual warfare with Satan and the fallen angels, of which Paul described as “spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12). To fight this spiritual warfare, the Christian must put on the whole armour of God. A Christian will never be demon-possessed for he is indwelled by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9), and “greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4). Therefore, a true believer has no need to fear demon-possession. On the other hand, a demon-possessed person is a sure sign that he has yet to experience the salvation of God.
A professing Christian should never engage in an activity that involves the dead or the spirits. God warns the children of Israel in Leviticus 19:31, “Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.” Here the expression “them that have familiar spirits” (haovoth) refers to those who practice necromancy and connects with the dead. “Wizards” describes those who are “wise” in the art of divination and the spirit world. It is a sin to seek such men, for they are an abomination unto the LORD. “There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, 11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. 12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee. 13 Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God” (Deuteronomy 18:10-13).
The seriousness of those who engage in such occult practice is highlighted in Leviticus 20:27 – “A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them.” Revelation 21:7 and 22:15 add that sorcerers will not enter into the kingdom of heaven. There is therefore no reason for professing believers to engage themselves with the spirit or demonic world.
Isaiah 8:19 exposes the foolishness of engaging in soothsaying and divination. “And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?” (Isaiah 8:19) The children of Israel have the forever and inerrant Word of everlasting life. As the covenant people of God, they can always seek the one living and true God for wisdom and help. Why then should they turn to witchcraft and necromancy? That is tantamount to asking the dead to help the living! This is the foolishness of man who engage in demonic enquiry.
There is no need for a true believer to fear the demon of the “Charlie Charlie Challenge”, for the Holy Ghost who indwells the Christian will keep and protect him. However, this does not mean that he should participate in such occult-themed activity. Christians must avoid any form of engagement in witchcraft, sorcery, divination or necromancy. This includes activities like observing the horoscope (which should in fact be called “horrorscope”), consulting mediums, participating in the Charlie Charlie Challenge, or playing computer games which involve sorcery and magic. Let us flee from all appearances of evil, and keep ourselves pure for the Lord. Amen.
Lovingly in Christ,
Preacher Clement Chew