Ted Bundy. Jeffery Dahmer. John Wayne Gacy.
Serial killers. In this day and age, there is no denying that there is a strange and unusual fascination with criminals and killers. And I’m no exception. I’ve spent time reading about the cruel and vicious acts of those mentioned above.
Over the weekend, I was scrolling through my social media pages, just like always. But I noticed several controversial posts surrounding the serial killer, Jeffery Dahmer.
On September 21st, Netflix dropped a new thriller series Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story. And to be honest, I can’t give you a review of the show because I refused to let that type of content cross the threshold of my home. Nevertheless, many of my Facebook friends have commented on it for the last few weeks.
So, I decided to look at the actual life of Dahmer, and what I found made me sick to my stomach. Jeffrey Dahmer was known as the Milwaukee Cannibal. In the late 70s and early 80s, he gruesomely killed 17 men. But, hey, here we are with a new Netflix special series dramatizing horrendous murder and forcing victims’ families to relive the horrors!
But it gets worse.
Costume masks were being sold on eBay for individuals to dress up as the popularized serial killer for Halloween! The seller had created a mask mimicking the actor from the TV series and posted an image of an orange prison jumpsuit next to it. Shortly after criticism, the retailer banned the sale.
I thought, “Whew. Crisis averted.”
But apparently, I have a problem with leaving well enough alone and wanted to see if Amazon carried anything similar. While they don’t have masks, if you type in “Jeffrey Dahmer costumes,” instant results show orange jumpsuits, wigs, and glasses that resemble the murderer. But I was most taken aback by their Jeffrey Dahmer graphic T-shirt selection.
Of the two most repulsive, there was an image of Dahmer and differing quotes. One said, “I eat guys like you for breakfast.” The other? “If you can’t beat ‘em, eat ‘em.”
I almost fell to the floor from shock and disgust.
A convicted cannibalistic murderer of 17 men has T-shirts making jokes about eating his victims? On a shopping website? There were also cutting boards, mugs, and other merchandise referencing similar repulsive humor.
Then I realized… They’ve done it.
They have reached a new level of disgust. Because instead of focusing on and fearing make-believe monsters, individuals in our society are glorifying and dressing up as real ones.
We’re far from the days of the boogie man. Now, it’s accepted to praise, adore, and dress as someone who murdered 17 sons, friends, and co-workers. And you know where it started? Netflix.
They saw the opportunity to profit and exploit a murderer, so they did it. They chose to re-victimize these families, all for the sake of a buck, and labeled it “entertainment.” And after reading reviews of the show, some felt sorry for Dahmer when he was murdered in prison.
Evil is prevailing.
Darkness is coming in through our TV sets.
Wickedness can be found with just a touch on our phones.
Sinful sights are everywhere.
And while I know that someday Jesus will return and defeat the enemy once and for all, I believe it is a copout to stand by and let this type of filth fill our homes. We as believers must step up and push this filth out of our homes and lives, or it will remain the same.
Often, there is a clear-cut line on what we deem appropriate for children to watch. But what about content we, as mamas, daddies, and older siblings, let into our homes? Little ears listen, but so do Satan and his demons. Are we opening doors for temptation and wickedness to enter?
For someone, somewhere, that Dahmer T-shirt was a hoot. And I can’t help but wonder, why we are allowing sick humor or dark shows to air inside, across our thresholds. Maybe it’s not a graphic T-shirt, but perhaps it’s a TV show, movie, or even TikTok.
I don’t know about you, but I want to do everything I can to ensure that Satan is not welcome in my home. And I believe that starts with what my family sees and hears. Someday, Jesus will come and make everything pure again. But until then, may we guard our hearts and minds against the prevailing darkness.
The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! (Matthew 6:22-23).
