Every parent’s nightmare right now is something called a Labubu. It’s a type of doll, actually a hideously ugly little thing and also hideously expensive. Its price seems to be down to demand availability and this seems to be because done K-Pop star was sporting one as an accessory. Now, they are a must have.
There is a good chance that your child has been pestering you for one. You’ve gone online and you have discovered three things. First that the if you want to get a genuine version of the doll, you have to go directly to the supplier’s website where you will find that they have been sold out.
Second, that there are lots of warnings about imitation or counterfeit models which look a little like the original dolls but much cheaper and with all kinds of risks from poor quality through to use if hazardous substances in manufacture. Counterfeiters will go to extreme lengths to deceive, even to the extent of reboxing the fakes in genuine packaging. There are some side lessons to learn there.
Thirdly, especially for Christians, you will find disturbing stories about the origins of the toy. One claim (not true according to fact checkers) is that it is based on an Indian demon. The second (true as far as I can tell) is that the creator based the idea in Norse mythology and attempted to create their own little Scandinavian monster.
Now some people will immediately be concerned that if they get one of these toys for their kid, then they will be at risk of importing demons into the home with them. There has a history of such fears, think of the book “Turmoil in the Toy box”.
However, I don’t believe that is the real danger. I’ve got some articles coming out soon about the devil and demons. The Bible doesn’t talk in terms of evil spirits, as a matter of habit, attaching themselves to ugly dolls. Your kid isn’t going to end up demon possessed because they play with their friend’s Labubu at break time. Your toy cupboard is not going to start displaying signs of poltergeist activities if you gave in and got one of the Lafufus (the nickname for the imitations).
However, I believe that there is a way in which this does play into the enemy’s strategy so that we bring something of the darkness in. It’s this. First, the pressure to desire something whether it’s a bottle of water, branded clothing or a popular toy, not due to its real value but simply because it is popular is very much part and parcel of what the Spirit of this age offers.
Secondly, when people go to such lengths to deceive, when society accepts this as okay and when children are under such pressure to confirm with that, we see something more of the darkness that the enemy brings.
So, I’m less worried about demons hiding in ugly dolls and much more concerned about the devil’s agenda to conform our children to his ways.
Faithroots 