The words of the Apostle Paul in II Timothy 3:5-6 become the culminating words of the end-time description of apostates and apostasy. The description includes the possibility of a "form of godliness," but denying "the power thereof." Paul exhorts us "from such turn away....For of this sort are they which creep into houses..." How often the things which "creep into our houses" are as subtle as a little mouse.

But there is a mouse which has crept into our homes, and, in recent years has mutated into a "rat" of great proportion, taking our hearts and affections little by little. It has become the largest private enterprise company in the world: commonly known as the Disney Enterprises. Who would have thought back in the 1920's and 30's, when Walt Disney presented to the world his cartoon film characters of Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and the family oriented productions, that these symbols would become the powerful pied piper of our children's affections and the acceptable "babysitter" for their parents. But the years have given staggering evidence of the subtle, increasing Disney power in America. The Disney enterprises in its studio accomplishments have amassed well over 60 academy awards for animated films and documentaries. Its educational films for the United States government during World War II (1939-45) were part of America's daily intake. Its "True-Life Adventures" in the 1950's showed scenes of animal life rarely seen by human beings. Yet Mr. Disney's evolutionary presuppositions were evident in those "seemingly" innocent documentaries. Disneyland was opened in Anaheim, California in 1955, with most of the exhibits, rides, and shows at the park based on Disney film characters. When Mr. Disney opened Disneyland on July 17th of that year he stated, "This will be dedicated to the ideals, the dreams and hard facts that have created America....with the hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration to all the world." Annette Funicello, one of the original "Mouseketeers," stated some years later when writing of the Disney programs that "viewers were familiar with the Disney style and expected a high level of quality in any Disney-produced children's program." In 1971 it made its appearance on the East Coast of America near Orlando, Florida with Disney World Resort. In 1982 the company opened a permanent world's fair called EPCOT Center there in Orlando (Disney himself had named the center). EPCOT is a word made from the first letters of Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. In 1983, a Disneyland opened in Tokyo with Japanese sponsors. The parks account for most of the money earned by Walt Disney Productions. Yet, the rest of the huge profits come from movies, sale of publications, videocassettes, videodiscs, and the massive volumes of merchandise based on Disney film characters (its Disney Stores now are at 530 outlets). Its studios boast of Miramax Films, Touchstone Pictures (started in order to produced the more risqué and R-rated films), Buena Vista Home Video, Hollywood Pictures & Records, Caravan Pictures, and Wonderland Music. U.S. News & World Report recently listed its publishing power with the Lost Angeles Magazine, Women's Wear Daily, Institutional Investor, the Kansas City Star, the Discover magazine, and Hyperion Press. It also includes ownership of ABC Entertainment, ESPN (80% ownership), Lifetime Channel, the Disney Channel, A & E Television Networks, KABC Radio, and a number of local TV stations. Yes, they are even into sports ownership: the California Anaheim Angels, Anaheim Mighty Ducks Hockey League franchise, and other business such as Celebration (real estate), UNOCO, Reedy Creek Energy services, Vista Insurance Services, and the list goes on. Revenues just for this year alone will peak some $22 billion. Whether we are talking about movie theaters, Disney stores in the malls across our country, jewelry, clothing, toys, videos, fast food companies using the marketing symbols of the Disney paraphernalia to help sell their food, etc., it truly has become a part of the fabric of American culture, and no doubt, a part of the natural upbringing of children in the Christian home. Disney is now the world's number 2 entertainment company behind Time Warner.

But in recent years the Disney empire has come forth with very overt moves to certainly tarnish its "good and wholesome" image as well as the "American Dream." In fact, it has been a calculated move to destroy the moral principles of our country and the honorable integrity of the family (for which it says its supports). We have seen the mouse unmasked in its full support of "Gay Day" since 1991. This year it lengthened the sodomite holiday to three days calling it "Gay Days." The first weekend in June saw the attendance of some 60,000 sodomites taking over Disney World in Orlando with the wearing of their red T-shirts so they could recognize one another. Public and private homosexual-themed parties were abundant, on and off the Disney property, and signs pointed the way to "Lesbo-a-go-go" and "Muscle Beach." Lara Anderson, head of central Florida's Gay and Lesbian Community Services, stated, "Most gays and lesbians are singles, or couples without children, so there's more money to spend on vacations and travel." It is evident that Universal studios and Disney have chosen to promote a homosexual lifestyle over the traditional family simply because they can make money doing it. Even the strong sexual overtones (both in the animation and the music composed and sung by members of the homosexual community) found in The Lion King, Pocahontas, and the new Hercules movie (along with sexual overtones cryptically found in these recent animations), indicate that Disney is becoming more powerful in its aggressive attack on American society. Recently its Miramax Films unit released "Priest," a film about a gay Roman Catholic cleric, and "Trainspotting," about heroin addiction. When it took over ABC, the sitcom "Ellen" was presented as a "lesbian-coming-out-party." Yes, Mickey Mouse has become Mickey Rat, taking its viewers down into the sewers of pornographic filth.

Its was somewhat surprising but refreshing to read recently of the Southern Baptist Convention voting overwhelmingly on June 18th to boycott all Disney enterprises, including ABC, condemning the entertainment conglomerate's "immoral ideologies" and "gay friendly" actions including same-sex partner benefits and TV's "Ellen." The resolution passed on a show of hands by the SBC's 12,000 delegates, urging the 15.6 million members of the nation's largest Protestant denomination to take action against Disney. The Southern Baptist Convention has certainly fallen away over the years from its early principles of doctrine, and liberalism is becoming more of the mark of its seminaries and most of its pulpits. Yet, it causes one to wonder why other evangelical denominations, more conservative ones, have not taken such a stand as SBC have? The entire "professing" Christian community should be rising up against this metamorphosed "rat" infecting our youth culture with demoralizing philosophy. It must be acknowledged: Disney is no longer what it used to be; and we cannot tolerate the present distress of the company's sin, hoping its past "wholesomeness" will return. When Touchstone Films was started a number of years ago, we should have realized then, by the R-rated movies coming from their studios, that Disney was changing and looking more to the risqué for its future revenue. But now, too much has gone forth from the pens and drawings of Disney for it to return to its wholesome character. Even its CEO Michael Eisner has implied the engine is full speed ahead, and stated that perhaps as much as 20-30% of its employees are homosexual in lifestyle. He dared to state recently, "The Disney name is only good because we keep making products that are excellent." He must be speaking of toys or clothing for the "product" of its films and music is as destructive as a needle with Heroin.

But it is sad to realize that most professing Christians will think nothing of boycotting or taking some stand against the Disney system. Several SBC pastors from Southern California and Central Florida, where the Disneyland and Disney World theme parks generate millions to the local economy, argued against the boycott. But it was refreshing to read of one who pastors near Orlando give comment that it was "hard to take families" to the theme park. "Disneyland is pushing the homosexual lifestyle as normal and will not allow religious music to be used in any of its entertainment facilities." Another pastor in the area went on to state, "We have a moral obligation to return home and cancel our ESPN coverage, get rid of the A&E channel, stop watching Lifetime Television and never turn your television to ABC." One lady from Largo, Florida stated, "Do I think this will change them? No, I do not, but I know it has changed me. We must affirm our love for Jesus Christ, more than our love for entertainment. If we must completely turn off our TVs, no great loss!"

As we near the year 2000 we are pressed to become more "Christian" conscious of how to deal with our age, in order that we will not be "squeezed into its mold." No Christian can afford to be spiritually and philosophically manipulated by the media of entertainment even in the form of seemingly innocent "animation." All of us must make some decision about this matter. Perhaps one may reason that the Disney Goliath is too big to bring down, especially in the influence of our children. After all, Disney has cornered much of the video market for children and family entertainment. No, we probably will not be able to bankrupt them by denying our providential dollars to be spent on furthering the revenue of their perverted organization. But our conscience will be free from subsidizing them, and certainly our Lord will be pleased with our choice. We will need to pray for God to show us honorable alternatives for our children's proper entertainment.

We may not be able to change the world, or our nation, or perhaps even our community; but there is one thing for which we truly are accountable before God, and that is what finds its way into our Christian homes. May God help us to both discern and withstand those things which "creep into our houses," because the innocent house mouse may become the subtle, infectious rat for inevitable moral and spiritual destruction.