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
DiscernIt 
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April 22, 2008 at 8:29 pm
Lee
I wasn’t exactly sure where to post this; so, here it is.
World renowned author Max Lucado is senior pastor at Oak Hills Church here in San Antonio where I live. I used to attend, but I no longer do (long story not having anything to do with Lucado). Anyway, a friend of mine who is a member called me Sunday to tell me she bought a cd copy of that weekend’s (April 19-20) sermon for me knowing my interest in false teaching. To my surprise he spoke out against false teaching! This may have to do with the recent exposure of Oprah and Eckhart Tolle; but, he went even further.
Max’s sermon was mostly from Matthew 24:4-14:
4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. 10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” [NKJV as used in the sermon]
Here I’ll quote excerpts of his sermon:
“…Be ready for heresy… ‘…Take heed that no one deceives you…’ …Many will come deceiving and “many” will be deceived…”
And, I love this one:
“You’ve probably noticed that churches are Petri dishes for self-serving egomaniacs who masquerade as ministers of the Gospel.”
Did Max really say that?! WOW!
“’Deceivers will come in My Name’ …They boast of insider information” “God told me, God led me to say to you” “Heaven has told me to say”
“They position themselves as religious gurus …codebreakers or members of an inner circle” [gnosticism]
After these statements, Lucado speaks of Jesus Luis de Jesus Miranda of Puerto Rico who claims to be Christ incarnate saying. Then he goes on to speak of Oprah and Eckhard Tolle’s A New Earth.
The Max goes on to say:
“Satan can counterfeit signs & wonders” [Matthew 24:24]
“Filter through one question: Do they regard Jesus as God’s only Son – they one only Saviour? …Don’t be enamored by large crowds, great television productions, good looks. Be doctrinally diligent – listen carefully to what they’re saying…”
“…False prophets will always minimize the role of Christ and maximize the role of people… …Stick stubbornly to the question: are these people pointing people to Jesus or pointing people to themselves. If they’re pointing people to themselves, get out while you still can!”
Later, he says:
“A great many church attenders will be disclosed in that day as faith pretenders. They will not only leave the faith; but, they will make the lives of the faithful miserable.”
I applaud Max Lucado who has the guts to talk about the coming (and now here) heresy and apostasy “prophesied by Jesus.” I spend so much time (rightfully) criticizing the many false teachers/prophets that it feels great to give kudos to a Christian leader who speaks out. I sent an email to the church thanking him for doing this. May even more step up to the plate!
April 24, 2008 at 8:48 am
Kim
It is my understanding that Max Lucado has left Oak Hills which is a COC. (church of Christ).
I have always thought of Lucado as kind of a Joel Osteen. A feel good preacher and writer. I was dismayed at one of our church council meetings when someone pulled out a Max Lucado book for the devotional and read to us something odd about finances. Usually we read a passage from the Bible.
The problems is that he has aligned himself by endorsing emergents, especially Ken Blanchard. Ken Blanchard was scheduled to speak at Oak Hills promoting his Lead like Jesus conference although i do not know if it ever happened because of the hurricane.
I hope that he no longer is endorsing New Agers.
http://lighthousetrailsresearch.com/blog/index.php?p=71&more=1&c=1
April 24, 2008 at 10:22 am
Lee
Max Lucado is still pastor at Oak Hills Church which dropped its Church of Christ affiliation a few years ago because of their strict denominational beliefs such as not allowing music in ‘worship.’ The church still offers (last I knew anyway) a no-music worship service while also offering a with-music worship.
It is important to note that the church is run by elders and not Lucado [I know a former elder over there through another friend of mine.]; but, I’m sure he has some say so. Additionally, if I’m understanding this correctly, Max does not receive a salary from the church. His own books are in the church bookstore and he makes his money from book sales there as, of course, anywhere else.
Max is certainly a ‘feel good’ preacher and writer. I can’t say that I’ve really ever liked his preaching style — not that I disliked it particularly. However, when I used to attend, Lucado would speak out on sin and usually offered an altar call. He did actually preach the Gospel! And, he never took scripture out of context that I knew of. He’s certainly in a class above and apart from Osteen.
I must say I’m disappointed that Oak Hills has brought in a Willow Creek pastor (Max’s health is not 100%), however. I did not know there was a Lead like Jesus conference planned there; and, I’m not sure if it actually came to pass. Perhaps I should find out. Frankly, it’s been only in the last year that I’ve learned about all the false teachings out there in Christendom. And, I’m still learning.
I looked at the link you provided above. Obviously, I’m disappointed. I’ve never cared for Lucado’s books myself; so, I’m certainly no avid reader. I own two, both of which were given to me. I have and have never read The Cure for the Common Life. Perhaps I should give it a critical read.
In the email I sent to Lucado via the church (no response yet) I mentioned how I really became aware of some of the false teachings. This was through a new ‘friend’ who was caught up on IHOP/Bickle, etc. I also mentioned the modern prophetic/Elijah List; the ICA/NAR; Word-of-Faith (and names of some who professed to be “little gods”); Rick Warren and his association with Ken Blanchard [that could raise his eyebrows, eh?] and ecunemism among other things; and the New Age leanings of Eugene Peterson’s The Message ‘translation’ specifically its translation of the The Lord’s Prayer. I could be wrong, but I do believe Max had quoted The Message in past sermons.
Perhaps Max is unaware of the New Age leanings he has aligned himself with(?). I dunno. I can say at least he’s a truly humble guy by all appearances. I’m pretty much a nobody within the San Antonio church body; but, one time I was out with friends at a casual dining spot and he –while with his family — made a point to talk to me as I “looked familiar to him.” I had been going to the church at the time; but, never previously had a conversation with him.
However, all that said, I will not align myself with any man ahead of Jesus Christ! I just wish to set the record straight (or as straight as I can based on my limited knowledge).
April 24, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Kim
Sometimes people will say to me, Hey!…I am reading such and such book, and i have to be a wet blanket, and say Oh, Uh…did you know that book by Tolle is a new-age book? Some appreciate it…some think i am overly critical. (and then never talk to me anymore!!!)
Anyway….
You get used to looking for nuances after awhile. It is really kind of sad, because we have to analyze everything, but that is what we are instructed to do in the Bible. The Bereans did.
I took a look at Lucado’s website.
Here is today’s entry.
***********
Love Protects
Thursday, April 24, 2008
“The LORD God made clothes from animal skins for the man and his wife and dressed them.”
Genesis 3:21
That simple sentence suggests three powerful scenes.
Scene 1: God slays an animal. For the first time in the history of the earth, dirt is stained with blood. Innocent blood. The beast committed no sin. The creature did not deserve to die.
Adam and Eve did. The couple deserve to die, but they live…
Scene 2: Clothing is made. The shaper of the stars now become a tailor.
And in Scene 3: God dresses them. “The Lord …dressed them.”
Adam and Eve are on their way out of the garden. They’ve been told to leave, but now God tells them to stop. “Those fig leaves,” he says, shaking his head, “will never do.” And he produces some clothing. But he doesn’t tell them to get dressed. He dresses them himself. As a father would zip up the jacket of a preschooler. God covers them.
*************
When i read this interpretation, i may walk away thinking…wow…no matter what i do God will love me and clothe me. He shakes his head at rags. He will provide something better. God is my tailor? Good grief…God will always love us but provision is not the main point here.
There is a deeper interpretation. Lucado misses the point that this is foreshadowing the death of Jesus for our sin. Instead he says, the beast/creature did not deserve to die.
The result of disobedience and sin bared them cringing, naked and hiding before God.
A teaching i like better than being clothed by God using a sinless beast, is what Jesus says in Matthew 6.
Mat 6:30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
Mat 6:31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
Mat 6:32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
Mat 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
April 25, 2008 at 12:46 pm
Lee
Coincidentally, I have very recently either heard on the radio or read somewhere about this passage and that the beast/creature’s death prefigured Jesus. I had never thought of that before. And, Kim, I understand your thoughts on Lucado’s take on this passage. I won’t defend Lucado on this one as it was never my intention to just defend him to begin with (I ain’t no apologist a la Abanez lol!).
I tend to see/hear subtleties I would’ve never thought about a year ago. Just today I heard something; and, while not blatantly false, this teacher took a verse out of context to make a point. He drew a conclusion I would not have drawn. In fact, in my opinion his message would have been just fine without it (it was on living out our faith by example rather than merely words).
On a side note, I heard another teacher today speak of another false teacher which, of course, he did not identify by name. He spoke in general terms about this (false) teacher’s assertion that God wants us to be rich (He became poor so we could be rich). Yeah, the “prosperity” gospel.
I just wish these guys would point ’em out! What’s really wrong with saying, “I heard Pastor Joe Falsespeak [insert real name here] on ___________________________ [fill in actual false teaching]; and, I want to point out that this is not biblically correct…” then go on and provide scripture which refutes the false teaching? The true teacher surely wouldn’t be popular with said false teacher; however, false teacher would not be able to sue for slander since true teacher did not spread any lies regarding the false teachers actual words. Or am I just asking for too much?
November 13, 2012 at 7:53 pm
gracetruthblog
Reblogged this on Grace & Truth and commented:
Great book reviews (on the New Age Movement in the Modern Christian Church)!