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Scanning the Religion section in our local newpaper a couple months ago I came across an article inviting people to come to a Taize (pronounced teh-ZAY) outdoor worship service for music and chanting… Huh? What is this all about?..I wondered. I kinda forgot about it till yesterday when I ran across a church web-site promoting a Taize service.
A google episode revealed that Taize started in the little village of Taize in the heart of the Burgundy region of France. Taize was founded by Brother Roger Schutz (murdered by a worshipper in 2005)and was established in 1949. In this monastic community the brothers sought to awaken spirituality, promote peace and unity by ecumenism.
The worship service consists only of music, chanting, and silence. There are no sermons, programs, announcements, etc. I never did find out if they took an offering but I will assume probably so. (They light lots and lots of candles) On the Taize web-site in France there were some snippets of a CD to listen to. This music was extraordinarily beautiful, monastic in nature. When I got to the videos on YouTube though the music sounded more like the strained uncertain singing in my own church. The lyrics are most commonly Latin. This is so everyone will have a tough time learning the words, I guess. Actually it was stated that the phrases were easier to sing in Latin. I looked at alot of videos and they only showed the singing and not the chanting. No one filmed the silence. Not good viewing material I suppose.
I found many churches are using the Taize services including, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian and other non-descript denominations. This makes me very nervous. Below are a few excerpts of the web-sites I found among many. I included the web address for verification.
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Good Friday – SERVICE
LIGHTS: Scene 1. The Worship Leaders enter the sanctuary from the side doors. In silence they reverence the altar, then sit in their regular chairs. The Lector reads the lessons from the ambo, but the Pastor may deliver the sermon while seated. All stand for the bidding prayer.
As the cross is carried to the altar and during the reverencing of the cross, the tower bell may toll with at least 30 seconds of silence between each ring. Tolling may continue until the beginning of the final hymn. Alternatively, the bell may be tolled three times.
Members of the congregation who wish, come forward singly or in small groups to reverence the cross or pray, while the congregation sings Taizé chants. At the end of the Adoration, LIGHTS: Scene 3, (dim, Jesus window off). The congregation sings a hymn, a final sentence is said, and the Pastor and Worship Leaders leave in silence through the double doors at the side. Members of the congregation may remain in the sanctuary for prayers and meditation.
Taize service brings peace, healing to congregation
in Bethel Park
Thursday, July 26, 2007
By Margaret Smykla
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07207/804283-55.stm
Of the Taize Sung Prayers service at Christ United Methodist Church, Linda Williams, minister of music and worship, said “we like to think of it as an oasis from the hustle and bustle of our lives.”
Taize is a peaceful service of quiet prayer, songs, meditation, anointing of oils and prayers for healing and reconciliation. The prayer songs are often sung over and over again like a mantra, and are sometimes drawn from holy scripture.
The songs are frequently sung in different languages. There are no sermons or announcements.
The Bethel Park church, 44 Highland Road, holds the roughly 40-minute service at 7 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month in its sanctuary.
The next Taize service will be on Wednesday. It is open to the public.
http://www.ctkelc.org/worship/TaizeWorship.html
A meditative service in the tradition of the ecumenical community of Taizé, France is held every Saturday at 6:00 pm. The services are centered around the silent meditation on Holy Scripture and the celebration of the Eucharist. The songs which have become the hallmark of Taizé spirituality are woven through the entire service.
Taizé Service to Include Prayer Around the Cross on the first Saturday of each month.
.A wooden cross on the floor of the altar sanctuary confronts worshipers with the suffering of Christ on behalf of humanity. In its presence the suffering of the world and our own burdens come to light. Christ gave salvation to all on the tree of the cross. It is the tree where life might be restored. Worshipers may choose to meditate on the cross from the pew or may enter the altar sanctuary and kneel at the cross.
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What bothered me was the chanting and the silence which can fall into contemplative spirituality. This is definitely a red-flag area so I am not endorsing Taize. I didn’t find any teaching from the Bible. There is no call to repentance, no praying for forgiveness, no preaching of the cross and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. No anything really, except the presence of a cross.
How can people come to know Christ without the preaching of the Gospel? But this is becoming more common in the churches of today, a spirituality with no Holy Spirit. No message of sin. People don’t want to hear about sin anymore. They just want to go to a church, sing, meditate, and feel good about how “spiritual” they are. I guess that’s fine if that is all you want, but I pray that you long and thirst for the Word of God.
Look here for more information about Taize:
https://kimolsen.wordpress.com/2007/08/02/crisis-in-the-church-more-about-taize/
kim
I have been studying discernment issues for awhile now, but posting these issues have put me in touch with real people having real problems and real people who have totally turned away from unbiblical practices. I want to thank those who have taken the time to speak up for Christ because previously their eyes had been opened by the Lord and have left false ministries and have denounced mysticism. Many have completely “come-out” of new age practices but unfortunately, there are others who retain a blend.
The seduction of new age pratices can truly have a hold on Christians because they think they are exempt from deception. This is a very dangerous stance to take because it removes discernment. Jesus told us over and over again to beware, that the end times will be filled with false prophets and the doctrines of demons.
What courage these folks have that have turned away from apostate teachings and practices and then share their experience with others. What humility and love for Christ they have to want to help others who may be in the same situation they found themselves in. This is truly surrendering all to Christ.
Some of the greatest teachers against new age practices have been deeply involved with them. Some well-known examples are Warren Smith who wrote “Reinventing Jesus Christ”, (his e-book is available on the blogroll or below), Ray Yungen who has two great books out, ” A Time of Departing”, and “For Many Shall Come In My Name”, and Kevin Reeves who wrote “The Other Side of the River”. I am currently reading “Spellbound”, The Paranormal Seduction of Today’s Kids, by Marcia Montenegro. Every parent or anyone involved with children should read this book. There is a huge assortment of occultism available to kids today and this is a must read that will help you protect them.
Here is how to find these books:
Anything from Warren Smith – “Another Jesus Calling”
“A Time of Departing” &
“For Many Shall Come in my Name” http://lighthousetrails.com
“Spellbound – The Paranormal Seduction of Today’s Kids”
Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/kdqz4
Barnes & Noble: http://tinyurl.com/escjy
The Other Side of the River http://lighthousetrails.com
Kevin Reeves in the “The Other Side of the River” bravely tells of his own experience about the movement called the “The River” which claims to be spreading the kingdom of God through signs and wonders. Other names for this counterfeit “revival” is the Third Wave or the Latter Rain.
He covers issues he experienced in his church such as being “slain” in the spirit, holy laughter, visions of angels and “messages” from God?, word of faith, and experience over scripture. What I found very interesting was the compulsion he felt to stay within a church that felt it was on “the cutting edge” and the resistance he received whenever he questioned any of the practices. His story is amazing and if you have any questions about practices in your church you should read this book.
Lately I have been talking with a woman who has come out of a false ministry. It has been three years and she is still recovering. She is so very worried about the others still involved because she knows those still there are being deceived. Later she told me that even though she memorized scripture, did bible studies, she was still deceived. Others there who have mental problems seem to only fall deeper into their sin.
Another friend is totally out of the new age practices and she is walking only with the Lord now. She had a blend of Christianity and mysticism, (visions, meditation, altered states) for awhile but now holds true to the faith.
Another woman wrote to say that she had been deceived by the many false teachings on TBN but came to the truth. (I believe that there a few good people on TBN but they do not correct the false teachings so they can stay on air)
I get so discouraged at times, but then the Lord brings to mind those who He has brought out of deception, those whose eyes He has opened, and I am encouraged again.
kim
I had the opportunity to listen to Sarah Leslie speak at a discernment seminar in SpringHill, Florida February 2007 . Here is an article covering much of what she taught.
What is the New Age Movement?
A brief synopsis
By Sarah Leslie
See to it that no one makes a prey of you by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ. (Col. 2:8)
During the 1970s America underwent a rapid and profound transformation from a culture that was primarily Christian to one that is now mostly pagan. In the 1960s the Beatles rock group had imported eastern religion via their guru Marharishi Mahesh Yogi and popularized drug use. Eastern mysticism believes that each man determines his own truth – a very subjective way of looking at reality. In eastern religions Jesus isn’t THE way, THE truth, THE life, he is just an ascended spiritual “master” who is but one of many truths about spirituality. Jesus is not seen as the Son of God who died for our sins on the cross and was resurrected. Rather, in eastern and pagan religions, Jesus is put on a par with other deities who are worshipped, and in some case even called by the names of these other idols.
It is important to understand the roots of what is now called the “New Age” movement. Constance Cumbey, a Christian attorney from Michigan, was the first one to alert evangelicals to this movement in her landmark book, The Hidden Dangers of the Rainbow (Huntington House, 1983). She discovered that the modern move towards pagan religions and occult practices was actually initiated in 1875 by an organized group of Satanists who called themselves the Theosophical Society, headed up by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky. Their goal was to unite all world religions. From channeled demonic transmissions the Theosophists wrote extensively about how they would destroy Christianity and replace it with the occult. Alice Bailey, another Theosophist leader, wrote two dozen books laying out the specific instructions for creating a “New Age” on the Earth. The Lucifer Publishing Company (now Lucis Trust) published her writings which are still available for purchase and can be found on the Internet. Constance Cumbey warned:
“Plans for religious war, forced redistribution of the world’s resources, Luciferic initiations, mass planetary initiations, theology for the New World Religion, disarmament campaign, and elimination or sealing away of obstinate religious orthodoxies – all were covered extensively in the Alice Bailey writings.” (p. 50)
The Theosophists believed that they could best achieve their goals by remaining underground for a period of years and by infiltrating the world’s religious, educational, medical and governmental establishments. Their conspiracy surfaced to public view in 1976 when a modern disciple of Alice Bailey, Marilyn Ferguson, published a bestselling book called The Aquarian Conspiracy: Personal and Social Transformation in the 1980s (J.P. Tarcher, Inc.). This book had a prominently displayed “666” logo on the cover, representing the Theosophical belief that this number would invite the “Christ” to their New Age. Ferguson divulged the “Plan” and bragged about how it had already become an integral part of American society.
A foundational doctrine for the New Age movement is the belief that humanity is evolving, and that we will attain a higher level of consciousness and emerge as a new species (homo noeticus or homo universalis). A corollary doctrine teaches that truth itself is evolving, and that our understanding of spiritual things is becoming enhanced as we work collectively for a common good on the planet. Perpetual change is seen as a method to constantly accelerate this evolution. Visioning techniques, borrowed straight from the occult, are also used. Other occult methods have been mainstreamed into medicine, education, social sciences, business, and even the church. Marilyn Ferguson even ominously suggested, “Evolution may be speeded up by certain genetic mechanisms.” (p. 160)
Disunity with this Plan is seen as a hindrance to this coming “paradigm shift” in which a benevolent “New Age” of peace will transform the planet. The New Agers expectantly await their own messiah, a New Age “Christ” figure (also known as Maitreya) who will institute peace on earth.
Constance Cumbey’s original warnings went unheeded by evangelical leadership. Over the past three decades Christians began to rapidly replace the Scriptures with this mystical “New Age” worldview. These new doctrines didn’t come into the church all at once, but in small doses of leaven, often placed in books and teachings by key evangelical leaders. The effect of this leaven has been disastrous in the church.
What fun and fellowship I am having since I started this little blog. I didn’t know what I was doing when I started and I still don’t but that’s OK.
When I started studying discernment and apologetics I found that there was no one in my church who was really interested in starting a discernment group. I have a few friends that I always talk to but I have been worried about wearing out my welcome with them. Then I found a blog on wordpress that was very interesting and was soaking it up. Then I found that I could start my own blog in a few seconds. They weren’t kidding.
I have really discovered that there are many who feel the same way as I do, that the church is in deep trouble. Mysticism has crept in by various forms, there is no longer repentance, sin is an inconvenient term, and church leaders are more concerned about attendance than saving souls.
I just wanted to take a few minutes to thank those who have welcomed and encouraged me to be bold and to stand-up for Jesus Christ. He is what it is all about. I know that I cannot change anyone’s mind and I don’t want to try to win an argument with anyone, because it is God only, who can intervene and open someone’s eyes and show them the truth.
There surely is a remnant. I am so grateful to the Lord for my new friends.
kim
Recommended blog sites
http://thegreatapostasy.wordpress.com
http://riderforjc.wordpress.com
http://earthquakeresurrection.blogspot.com
This woman kept e-mailing me because I had been searching online for other Christians who have had an earthquake warning similar to mine and she was answering my inquiry. I felt bad because I had initiated contact with her group, but I felt I was being told, “STAY AWAY FROM THEM.” So…I asked myself…..who are “them”?
Dominionism was one of the first end-time deceptions that I became acquainted with. I still really don’t understand all of it because it involves so many different groups of people and it is a system based on change and networking. Yes, change. Chaos even. In fact the more chaos the better. Why? It bands people together, just like 9/11. It makes the people cry, “Do something”. When you see or hear the terms restoration or reformation used in reference to create some kind of change in the church there usually is dominionism behind it.
Here are the names of some movements that need to be questioned and this is an extremely shortened version.
Latter Rain
Joel’s Army/The Manifest Sons of God
The New Apostolic Reformation
The Elijah List
Here is a good description of the Latter Rain movement by Orrel Steinkamp.
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This is from www.ditc.com
Deception in the Church
COMMENTS
by Orrel Steinkamp
The Plumbline contends that the original seedbed of spiritual warfare evangelism can be found in the fertile soil of the Latter Rain. From this seed plot of 50 years ago, many hybrids and mutations have developed.
The Latter Rain originated in a series of revival meetings in 1948 at the Sharon Orphanage and Schools in North Battelford, Sask., Canada. By late 1949 the AOG, in the USA and Canada, declared this movement to be heretical and false.
– A Summary of Latter Rain Teaching –
1. The purpose of the church is to establish on the earth the kingdom of God. The reason the church has failed its mandate, is that early on it lost the offices of Apostle and prophets.
2. In the last days God will restore these offices to lead the church in an endtime holy war and all evil will be defeated.
3. A worldwide revival will break out and the majority of the world will be won to Christ. Signs and wonders will include blessings upon those whom the apostles and prophets bless and cursing upon those whom they curse. Through intense worship and praise (Tabernacle of David) accompanied by prayer, fasting and spiritual warfare the church will defeat all demonic strongholds and territorial spirits upon the earth and in the heavens.
4. Some adherents of the Latter Rain (though by no means all) believe that the second coming of Jesus will occur with a spiritual experience of believers in which believers are incarnated into the body of Christ upon the earth. This body of Christ will rule the nations. Others in the movement saw the church taking dominion over the earth as a prelude to the return of Jesus from heaven to earth.
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The above summary covers a huge arena of false teachings and practices.
JOEL’S ARMY (The Prophetic Message) : “God is raising up an army in the last days to execute judgment and dominion on the Earth”. This is what the false prophets are saying, that the church will become Christ, giving them supernatural abilities (The Manifest Sons of God), to hand out judgment. When this is done then Christ can return to Earth. This completely eliminates the literal “catching away” or “rapture”. Much of this teaching was taken up by present day “apostles” Paul Cain, (who has been disgraced of late by counts of alcoholism and homosexuality), and Mike Bickle, who are continuing in the tradition of the Kansas City Fellowship movement. Bickle is now head of IHOP, International House of Prayer in Kansas City. I have been told that Bickle’s church has been marginalized and is considered a cult by the locals, but he has a program on GOD TV.
Again we see that man is taking on God-like qualities and that man will have to “take over” for Jesus. This is the same Dominion/Kingdom Now error being taught.
THE NEW APOSTOLIC REFORMATION
From a brochure advertising a C. Peter Wagner’s conference.
“The New Apostolic Reformation is an extraordinary work of the Holy Spirit that is changing the shape of Christianity globally. It is truly a new day! The Church is changing. New names! New methods! New worship expressions! The Lord is establishing the foundation of the Church for the new Millennium. This foundation is built upon apostles and prophets. Apostles execute and establish God’s plan on the earth”.
Wagner has also been an aggressive promoter of the Spiritual Warfare movement. The terms “strategic-level intercession”, “territorial spirits and mapping”, “prayerwalking” and “demon power encounter”, can be traced back to Wagner.
Giving the current-day so-called apostles and prophets (the foundation of the new church) the importance of the early apostles, allows them to create a new gospel. Their revelations are pumped out on a regular basis on the Eijah list. Chuck Pierce, Kim Clement, Ryan Wyatt, Bob Jones, Francis Frangipane, and Cindy Jacobs are all contributors and are considered false prophets.
The proposed five-fold ministry is quite interesting. The offices are Apostle – Prophet – Evangelist – Pastor – Teacher. Of course the latter 3 offices are totally controlled by the Apostle – Prophet offices. We are already hearing current leaders referring to each other as “apostles” and “prophets”. It is by this means that the church will be controlled. The church will be told what to believe by the evangelists, pastors, and teachers, who will be dominated by those in authority, who of course will be receiving new “revelations”. Add to this, the concept of small cell churches all reporting and tithing to a “mother” church and you will have a pretty good idea of what the new “spiritual” leaders of the future have in the works for total control and manipulation.
A quote from C. Peter Wagner of Global Harvest Ministries
“Since 2001, the body of Christ has been in the Second Apostolic Age. The apostolic/prophetic goverment of the church is now in place….We began to build our base by locating and identifying with the intercessory prayer movements. This time, however, we feel that God want us to start governmentally, connecting with the apostles of the region. God has already raised up for us a key apostle in one of the strategic nations of the Middle East, and other apostles are already coming on board. Once we have the apostles in place, we will then bring the intercessors and the prophets into the inner circle and we will end up with the spiritual core we need to move ahead for retaking the dominion that is rightfully ours. (11/01/05, Global Link newsletter Global Harvest Ministries, Colorado Springs, Colorado)
Okay….. so who was the “them” that I was warned about?
I was contacted by a regional director of www.latterglory.com a Latter Rain ministry, full of signs and wonders manifestations. Take a look at their website.
Their featured writer is usually Dutch Sheets who partners with C. Peter Wagner
| Dutch Sheets is the Senior Pastor of Springs Harvest Fellowship in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where he has pastored for twelve years. He has served on the faculty of Christ for the Nations Institute, now serves as an instructor for Christian Life School of Theology and is a guest lecturer for Wagner Leadership Institute. He serves on many ministry boards and is a best selling author with Regal Books (a division of Gospel Light). He has traveled extensively throughout the United States, Canada, Central America, Africa, Australia, and much of Europe teaching and ministering to the Body of Christ. He is now traveling across America challenging believers for passionate prayer and world-changing revival. |
So as usual, Dominionism falls into the same category as spiritual mysticism and the practice of making oneself a God. This pattern repeats itself over and over again in many false movements today. Man will not live by faith alone like the Bible instructs, so he feels he has to try to change God’s will or change circumstances here on earth to his liking, just to satisfy his own self-inflated ego.
kim
PS… There is something I would like to add. This article is so short that is really does not do the subject matter any justice at all. All I want to do is warn Christians about false ministries and then they can do further research. I met two amazing women at a Discernment-Ministries seminar in February. They are Jewel Grewe and Sarah Leslie. They have been researching dominionism since the 80’s.
Check out these two sites for their imput and their great service to the Lord.
http://discernment-ministries.org
Have you ever prayed yourself into a corner? What I mean is ..have you wanted something so badly that you have asked the Lord over and over again for it? Have you ever been told that if you speak out your wishes outloud that they will come true?
Oh, how wonderful it would be if this would only be true…or would it?
There are many preachers out there, especially on Christian TV that are promoting word of faith, health/wealth prosperity teachings.
“Give us your money and you will be blessed 100 fold”. “Speak out your words of faith and you will be healed”…If you have read the statistics of negative results stemming from these practices I would have to say that the beliefs are truly biblically unfounded, promote greed and are self-serving.
Do I believe that God still does miracles today? Yes, most definitely. But are there many Christians out there who are willing to lay out everything, give up their lives, their possessions to serve him? Are there still those who daily seek to live in righteousness and give Him glory?
People are seeking riches, signs and wonders, and desire “experiences”, and wonder why God is withholding the miracles in their lives. Truly, the miracle is that God in his patience and love is witholding his judgment.
Consider these statements from Word of Faith promoters and preachers….
Kenneth Copeland “You’re all God. You don’t have a God living in you; you are one!..”(“The Force of Love.” Tape BBC-56)
Paul Crouch “I am a little God!…I have his name. I’m one with Him. I’m in covenant relation. I am a little god!. Critics, be gone!” (Praise the Lord, TBN July 7 1986)
Benny Hinn “When you say I am a Christian, you are saying, I am mashiach in the Hebrew. I am a little messiah walking on earth, in other words, that is a shocking revelation ..May i say it like this? You are a little god on earth running around. (Praise-a-thon TBN Nov 6 1990)
Whenever one inflates oneself to God’s level, one is in dangerous territory and this is truly delusional. Leading others to do the same is shameful.
There are harmful consequences for those who believe they can speak forth their words to gain prosperity/wealth/ health. When the believer falls ill, loses their job, never seems to have any “victories” in their life, that person may wonder “what have I done wrong?”, “is my faith not strong enough?”,” am I not positive enough?”. The Copeland’s teach that any negativity is a lack of faith. When troubles come, and it always does, the believer is defeated and depressed by the lack of blessings. These disillusioned ones may turn away from God completely because of these false teachings and of discouragement.
A good example of suffering in the Bible is the story of Joseph. He went through 13 years of loneliness and humiliation, all of it undeserved. Joseph never complained (which is astounding), but notice that God did not change his circumstances. Instead, because Joseph knew that God was always with him, even in the worst of times, he was finally triumphant and became Pharoah’s #1 guy. Even then, Joseph gave God all the Glory. The truth is that the Lord allows suffering to train us, mold us, and lead us for his purposes.
Suffering is one of the Lord’s greatest tools for strengthening our faith. God wants to bless us but not with the things that the world desires.
Mat 6:20-21 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
In March my husband and I were vacationing and doing the tourist thing with the local shops, and we went into a jewelry store. I happened to see a beautiful gold band with an opal and it looked just like a ring I saw years ago and wanted very badly. It also had a man’s matching ring. We looked and looked and thought this would be a great new set of wedding rings for us. I said, let’s think about it. As we walked out of the store I heard in the spirit, “Store up your treasures in Heaven”. I told my husband that “The Lord wants us to store up our treasures in heaven, so we can’t buy the rings”.. “Oh, okay” he said, and I forget all about them. When I knew that the Lord did not want us to have these rings, my desire for them vanished.
Do not listen to man’s unbiblical words but instead know the Bible and the Lord will speak His words and guide you.
If you are seeking or praying for POWER..instead ask for HUMILITY and that the Lord will use you as He sees fit.
If you are seeking PROSPERITY/WEALTH…instead ask God what He wants you to GIVE UP.
If you want HEALING , instead ask the Lord in His mercy to give you or someone else ENDURANCE and STRENGTH while suffering, like Paul who endured the “thorn in his flesh”.
These things are not bad in themselves, and He will bless us and answer prayer as He sees fit, but we are not to love the world and we are to deny ourselves.
Philippians 4:11-13 “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and i know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengthened me”.
kim
articles on the Word of Faith teachings can be found here:
The body of Christ is on a collision course. The day will come when the fact will be realized that the church has completely fallen away from faith. A day of apostasy, truly a day of sorrow. But the Lord always keeps a remnant which is good news indeed.
Many will ask, what do you mean the church has fallen away? Look at all the church goers. l go to church every Sunday, pray and believe in God. But you know what? This is not enough. The reason being is that a great deception is infiltrating the church of today. Yes, people do go to church every Sunday, but what happens the rest of the week? Work, play, eat, sleep, work, eat, play and so on it goes. Back to church on Sunday to pay your respects to God making you appear respectable, and back to the old same routine, back to your same old self.
So, one has to ask himself… Can one be devoted to the Lord only one day a week? Is one day a week of righteousness really pleasing to the Lord? I know..I know.. I will say it for you….I am a good person what more does God want?
What God wants is your total surrender….
I desperately want to be always in God’s will. When i feel that i am, i am so humbled in the realization of His mighty greatness. That He would even consider using me to glorify Him, instantly bows me down to his feet to be his servant forever. How is that when He uses me i feel so humbled? It is the only way that He can truly use me or you. Daily i ask Him, “Lord, please use me to do your will. I want to please and serve only you. Open doors that you want me to walk through, close doors i am not to enter”.
I encountered a woman who was buying a cross for a friend who she said was “spiritual”. I know another woman who says that she is not religious but “spiritual”. I know not what she means, but i know that she does not confess Jesus Christ as her Saviour, and i know that she does not read the Bible. I dare not try to know the heart of others, it is not my place, but it makes me wonder who will be deceived in the end times. Many Christians do not know the word of God anymore and have no discernment whatsoever.
Mat: 24: 4-5 says “…Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.”
Luke 18:8 “…Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?”
What a horrible question to ponder… when Jesus returns, will he find any believers? Christians who do not know the word of God or who do not have a personal relationship with Him will be deceived. Listen to a description of the last generation…
II Tim 3:1-2 “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers…despisers of those that are good…lovers of pleasures more than God, ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
Sound familiar? Men shall be lovers of their own selves. This is what is happening in the Word of Faith teaching with the well-known advocates calling themselves, “little gods” and with contemplative spirituality seeking the “god within”.
Mystical spiritualism, Word of Faith/Prosperity/Health teachings, the blending of paganism with Christianity, Mega churches that do not teach the gospel anymore are all concerns for the church today.
It is a cruel joke that Satan plays…making people believe his lies..that they can have material wealth… heal and save themselves by speaking forth the words, being saved by a religious system devised by man. What a cruel ending there will be when one gives in to these deceptions. Do not let Satan reign supreme instead of letting the Supreme reign in your life.
Going to church on Sundays is not enough. You need to read and study the Bible daily for yourself. If you are truly seeking Him and are interacting with the Holy Spirit, the Word will come alive and thrill you, speak to you and give you instruction on how to live for the Lord Jesus Christ. Live each and every moment for Him. Allow the Lord to direct every facet of your life. Let His living gospel change you EVERY DAY and compel you to share this joy and good news with others.
If you do not study the Bible, and hear his word, you may fall asleep at the wheel, and what will your fate be?
kim
I had fun with this little quiz about demons. Try it and see how you do!
Continued from:
Part 3 Contemplative Spirituality
Contemplative Spirituality – A belief system thatuses ancient mystical practices to induce altered states of consciousness (the silence), and is rooted in mysticism and the occult, but often is wrapped in Christian terminology. The premise of Contemplative Spirituality is Pantheistic (God is All) and Panentheistic (God is in All). – Lighthouse Trails Research
On my last post I went over Yoga, Meditation, Contemplative Prayer, Channeling and Visualization. The post was getting way too long so I decided to split it up.
Now onto:
Reiki/Therapeutic Massage
When I first started researching Reiki, I realized that I had seen this word somewhere before but I couldn’t put my finger on it.
It didn’t take long before it came to me. I saw it on of a wall of a massage therapist. Because of an auto injury, massage therapy was recommended and I went about 4 times. On the fourth visit I was witnessing to the therapist. It was at this time that she told me that she was going to “try something new” on me. Well I didn’t know it at the time but I guess she was going to try a reiki treatment on me. As soon as she started to lay her hand on me, she jerked her hand away. Startled, she told me that she had just received a shock. ” I won’t be trying that again” she joked. The bad part is that she was not going to tell me of her intention to try an alternative treatment besides the basic massage approved by my insurance company, and I would not have known the difference.
The Lord was protecting me, and He let me experience this situation so i could relate this incident. That is what I believe anyway.
Reiki was developed by a Japanese Buddhist, Dr. Mikau Usai. The word translates REI (universe), KI (life-energy). The two Japanese characters together express the unification of body and soul. It is pronounced ray’-kee.
After fasting for 21 days on Mt. Kurama in 1914, Usai was “enlightened”. He said “When I fasted I touched an intense energy and in a mysterious manner I was inspired (I received the reiki energy).”
Apparently, the reiki energy enters the body of the master at the chakra at the base of the skull just above the neck and it is released into the other person with the hands. It is believed that the patient is taking in the energy as it passes through the chakras, meridians and the nervous system along the spine. The reiki practitioner uses rituals to pass the universal energy to the patient. It seems that the origins of this healing energy power is unknown or unexplained except that it comes from the Source, God, spirit, or the Force.
Christians who are using reiki say that Jesus used this power to heal. I do not believe this to be true in any sense. When Jesus healed the sick all the glory was given to God. This healing method does not point to Jesus at all and is similar to occult methods.
I like what Marcia Montenegro says about reiki and Jesus.
“Jesus being the Son of God, did not need a technique, but healed because His nature was the same as God’s (which is what being the “Son of God” signifies), and God is the Healer and Giver of Life. Jesus’ miracles of healing were not just to cure, however, but were a sign that He was the promised Messiah.”
To find out more there is a website by Marcia Montenegro that i recommend.
http://cana.userworld.com/cana_reiki1.html
Now there is nothing wrong with a good massage because it can be an effective stress reducer, such as a Swedish, deep tissue, or sports massage. But if the practitioner makes any comments as to chakras, kundalini, energy fields, or anything close to these terms, then you need to rethink your decision to accept such treatment. Do not expose yourself to any occult methods.
Therapeutic Touch is a form of psychic healing by the channeling of the therapist’s prana into the patient, which induces healing from the process. Again we see a practice that is occult in nature and Christian’s need to be aware and careful.
kim
Next: Goddess Worship
Contemplative Spirituality – A belief system that uses ancient mystical practices to induce altered states of consciousness (the silence), and is rooted in mysticism and the occult, but often is wrapped in Christian terminology. The premise of Contemplative Spirituality is Pantheistic (God is All) and Panentheistic (God is in All). – Lighthouse Trails Research
YOGA/MEDITATION
I have already written about Yoga in “Is Yoga Occult?”. Well it is and here’s why. Yoga is based on Hinduism no matter what others may say. It’s main goal is ‘union” with Brahman a Hindu god. The names of the asansas (positions) are Hindu goddesses and were named as worship to them. The positions that one holds, were developed to force the Kundalini Power up the spine through the Chakras (wheels) with the ultimate goal of reaching the Crown Chakra. This causes an “enlightenment”. I have read that few ever are able to reach this final state, but in the process you are involving yourself in Hinduism. There are two dangerous aspects.
Meditation, used in many other practices other than Yoga, empties your mind of thought. What happens when you meditate is that you alter your consciousness. Many religions worldwide use meditation as a tool for spiritual growth and now it is being advertised today in the West as a form of relaxation.
Kundalini Yoga. Serpent Power. I wonder how many Yoga teachers bring to their students attention, that Kundalini translates into Serpent Power. In “Is Yoga Occult?” I quoted the many manifestations that can occur. I was criticized for using the extreme manifestations but the words that people have been using in their search engines to find my blog, are….demons, occult, insanity, serpent power, etc. I found that I could not downplay the worst that could happen, just as a drug company would not leave out the extreme side effects of a medication, (ha… sorry …bad example).
Warning: Yoga is not for Christians. It will initiate you into a worldview and practices that may separate you from Christ.
CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER
CP is just a step beyond meditation. Basically it is repeating a biblical phrase till you become “Still”. Even though it is a biblical phrase it still becomes a “mantra” because when a phrase is repeated over and over again it becomes meaningless suspending you into an altered state of consciousness. Eastern pagan religions such as Buddhism and Hinduism have always used mystical meditation. Buddhist call this state Nirvana, New Agers call it unity with the universe or oneness with God, Christians call it contemplative prayer.
Other names that may be used for CP is centering prayer, listening prayer, breath prayer, or prayer of the heart. But it is all the same, part of the mystical movement called Contemplative Spirituality.
Here is a list of those who promote CP. Alice Bailey…Jack Canfield…Richard Foster…Matthew Fox…Barbara Hubbard Marx…Brian Mclaren…Thomas Merton…Henri Nouwen…Robert Schuller…Marianne Williamson…Bill Hybels…David Jeremiah…Max Lucado…Eugene Peterson…Michael W. Smith…Watchman Nee
This list is far from complete. Two that surprised me were David Jeremiah and Michael W. Smith. I used to watch David Jeremiah on TBN ( I never watch TBN anymore) and I used to listen to Michael W. Smith all the time. But I found out Smith is a promoter of Brennan Manning’s book “Above All” which advocates CP . Now I have to toss the CD’s I have because now I can hear how hypnotic some of his songs are and to stay true to the findings of my research, have to abandon this artist.
I like what Ray Yungen has to say about CP, in his book, “A Time of Departing: How a universal spirituality is changing the face of Christianity”. (a necessary read for every Christian)
“The premise is that God can never be really known in a conventional non-mystical way. Therefore the mind has to be shut-down, turned-off so one can enter the cloud of unknowing where the presence of God awaits. The practitioners of this method believe if the sacreds words are Christian, you will get Christ–it is simple a matter of intent. Contemplative Prayer may sound exotic and appealing, but it is Biblically groundless.” (pg39)
Mat: 6:7 “But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do…”
Warning: If a church leader or anyone recommends anything that resembles meditation with repetitions, do not do it!
CHANNELING
Have you heard of spirit guides? Well, this is another bonus of CP and channeling. While you are repeating your biblical phrase (chanting) someone may talk back to you. This is the case of Barbara Hubbard Marx, one of most well-known NewAgers who heard an “inner voice”. This inner voice Of Marx’s actually dictated a “new” book of Revelation.
Here are a few quotes from her “inner voice”:
“Behold, I am writing anew, through scribes on Earth who are willing to listen to me again with new ears, in the light of the present crises on planet Earth” (p.265)
“I did not suffer on the cross and rise again on the third day to show you what i could do, but what you can do. Yours is the power. Yours is the glory. That is my message to you.” (p.100)
“I did not intend for you to deify me, but to deify yourselves as being at the same stage of evolution as I am.” (p.231)
(Quotes taken from Warren Smith’s—Reinventing Jesus Christ)
Obviously these quotes show that Marx’s “Christ” is a false Christ, a spirit merely masquerading. Those who get involved with these New Age techniques become deceived because the experiences seem to be real, pure, and uplifting. This new gospel is nothing but deceit and rubbish.
J.Z. Knight is a channeler of the 35,000 year old warrior Ramtha here in my home state of Washington. A quick look at Ramtha’s web site is pretty revealing and predictably follows the New Age mantras.
Ramtha has “The School of Enlightenment, the School of Ancient Wisdom”. His four cornerstone philosophy is:
You are God. (no surprise here)
To make known the unknown.
The concept that consciousness and energy create the nature of reality.
The challenge to conquer yourself.
These are the same New Age goals you will collectively find in all New Age definitions. The same glorification of self, the desire to learn the esoteric unknown, and that an altered consciousness is the way to these truths.
Christian’s should not involve themselves in any practice that eliminates Jesus Christ, makes oneself a God, and searches for unknown truths outside of scripture.
Warning: Deut 18:10-12
“Let no one be found….who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchdraft, or cast spells, or who is a medium or spiritualist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord…” (NIV)
VISUALIZATION
I have read so much about visualization the last couple of weeks that my eyes are all glazed over. This being the case, I have decided to use a summary from Brian Flynn’s “Running Against the Wind”.
Creative Visualization is the practice of creating mental images for the purpose of self-improvement or personal gain. The underlying belief is that if someone can ceate a mental picture of a desired outcome…let’s say more confidence in social and business settings, or a physical healing…then that outcome can be achieved by mentally picturing it into existence. Here again is the underlying philosophy that every human being has a higher self or the God within who can, like God, virtually speak things into existence.
Coupled with the practice of creative visualization is the use of spirit guides. According to Shakti Gawain, creative visualization can easily introduce the practitioner to “spirit guides, the like of which would be thrilled to meet us.”
Guided Imagery is in the same category as creative visualization. Some guided imagery programs actually suggest meeting a being in your mind to assist you. This is dangerous because it opens the door to spirits that are not of God. Sadly countless Christians have jumped into this trend by creating their own version of guided imagery where they suggest meeting Jesus to act as a guide. This is problematic in that it creates a false belief that you are actually meeting and talking with Jesus in a mystical sense. There is no scriptual support that God chooses to communicate with us in this way.
This summary truly reminds me of all aspects of meditation and yoga. The deification of self, the necessity for the altered state of consciousness, the desire for power, the possibility of contacting the spirit world and the deception that can follow by thinking this contact is godly.
This is just another New Age occult practice that is spreading from the secular world to the church. It suggests that we are divine and can create our own reality when we should be bowing to Jesus, seeking Him only and doing his will.
Do not look inside yourself, to try to visualize an inner “Jesus”. The real Jesus is found in the words of the Bible.
kim
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Reiki/Therapeutic Massage
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