WARNING: Christian leaders say social media 'Charlie, Charlie' invokes demons
HOUSTON (Christian Examiner) -- Pastors and spiritual leaders issued warnings to Christian parents last week after an online craze to summons demons went viral on social media.
"Charlie Charlie," the modern spin to a supernatural game that combines Ouija board-type play with games like 'Bloody Mary' and 'Candy Man,' surfaced online and became a youth sensation when tweets, vines and videos showed players invoking a Mexican spirit named "Charlie."
To play the game, an individual places two pencils or pens in the shape of a cross on a piece of paper with the words "yes" and "no" written on either side of the writing instruments. Once set, players call out a question to "Charlie, Charlie " in attempts to conjure the demon and answer the questions by moving the pencils to the "yes" or "no" answers.
According to the Inquisitr, many players claim to see a demon spirit after participating in the challenge, though descriptions of the ghost-like figure often vary.
Still, it is that type of lingering spirit that has some pastors cautioning people to consider the greater impact of playing such a game.
The pastor of First Baptist Dallas, Robert Jeffress, pointed to Deuteronomy 18:10 for Biblical guidance on dealing with the social media phenomenon. The verse reads, "Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft."
"The Bible is clear that Christians should run — not walk — away from any attempt to contact or harness demonic powers through games like 'Charlie, Charlie,' "Jeffress told the Christian Post.
The Catholic News Agency reported a Vatican approved exorcist and Spanish Priest, Father Jose Antonio Fortea, claimed that participating in the game could lead an individual to have interest in other occult practices.
Florida Pastor Carl Gallups, who authored a book on the end times, agreed with Fortea and called the game a "trick" that could have serious repercussions.
]"This is the Ouija board of our time in the sense that it is a trick, but also a gateway drug," Gallups told WND News. "This is a gateway to the occult."
"It's like candy cigarettes," Gallups continued. "In and of itself, it is harmless. But look at what you are actually doing. With candy cigarettes, you are walking around pretending to smoke. With this, you are literally praying to a supposed demon, calling out to 'Charlie,' asking for a gateway to be opened. So it is a trick, but it can set people on a path to something darker."
The origins of the game are reportedly tied to Mexican roots but the link to any cultural folklore are unfounded.