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First and foremost…be a fruit inspector looking for true doctrine.
I like to think discernment starts with one’s self. You do have to be right with God. Not just a believer but totally surrendered to Him. 24/7. I also learned that Christians can be deceived. How is it that Christians can be deceived? It is because they may not love the truth or that they are not familiar with the Word of God.
Self-examination is difficult but this must be first dealt with. If you will not discern what is wrong with your own life, then you will never be able to discern the spirit of another.
We are to test all teachings, prophecies, and prophets. People who speak for the Lord… should bear the fruit of the spirit. The fruit is not just good works. Look for the fruit of true doctrine. If you only look at good works, then you may be open to deception because even non-Christians can do many good works.
Many have told me that they were misled because they got lazy and no longer checked what they were being taught by their leaders or the books they were reading, against the Bible. So this is imperative.
Discernment is also one of the spiritual gifts. This spiritual gift of the Holy Spirit is the ability to distinguish between the spirit of truth and the spirit of error, between holiness and evil. It can be a sense you have about someone or the Holy Spirit will give you a warning about a situation or a person.
I have had the experience of discernment especially when needed. Not long ago when a so-called “prophet” began to criticize and persecute me, the Lord let me “sense” his spirit which was cruel and dark, and then let me “see” his hatred in a dream. It took awhile to shake-off this evil from me, but i have been praying for this man ever since.
As you walk with the Lord he will guide you through all things. By his Word, you can test all things. As your relationship with the Lord deepens and matures so will your discernment because his Holy Spirit will bear witness to these things.
When you face a certain situation, pray about it and ask the Lord to grant you discernment. Spend time with Him in prayer and worship.
The Bible is the key to truth..Read it and read it again.. It is the manual for how to live. It comforts and ministers to you. It is protection against deception, as all things are to be tested against the Bible.
It is essential in these times of spiritual deception that we ask the Lord for the spiritual gifts and put-on the spiritual armor of God. The Word is both an offensive (sword) and defensive (armor) weapon.
II Corinthians 6:7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and the left.
Ephesians 6:17 …and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
The purpose of the gifts of the Holy Spirit such as discernment is meant for the good of the body of Christ. We are to use our gifts to edify and strengthen others.
I Corinthians 14:12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.
So it is okay to want these gifts and to pray for them. Just remember that the power of these gifts is not of yourself, but it is the power of the Holy Spirit. Do not touch this power. The power is God’s glory… not man’s.
So to discern man’s truth against God’s truth:
Pray for the gift and guidance of the Holy Spirit and then compare what man says and does against the Word of God in the Bible.
I like this prayer by A.W. Tozer:
“Lord, may I be one of those ‘whose souls have been illuminated by the Holy Ghost.’ Grant to me ‘the blessed gift of knowing.’ Then be pleased to use me for Your glory today. Amen.”
kim
Since we have been researching occult channelers let us now take a look at Helen Schucman. Born 1909, she wrote “A Course of Miracles” over a period of 7 years which was dictated to her from an inner voice who identified itself as “Jesus”. This Jesus said he was going to correct errors in the Bible. The “Course” says sin does not exist so there is not a need for forgiveness which entice those who want to be called Christians but do not want to give up their sin. How convenient. The Course teaches that fear is an illusion and that all is love..
Jesus is according to this book “an elder brother entitled to respect for his greater experience, but he is one of many Christs, and we all have the ability to become as Gods.”
This pattern always develops. There are many ways to God, God is in us, we are God. This basic message is the same as the other channeled messages received from various entities from the spirit world. The world needs to be enlightened and more spiritually evolved to progress to the next plane. When there is contact with the spirit world the content is always anti-christian. The Christian terminology can be deceiving so one has to compare these messages with the Word of God.
Here are some quotes from “A Course in Miracles” by this “Jesus”.
“There is no sin; it has no consequence.” workbook pg 183
“The Atonement (at-one-ment) is the final lesson he (man) need learn, for it teaches him that, never having sinned, he has no need of salvation.” text pg.237
“Do not make the pathetic error of ‘clinging to the old rugged cross’. The only message of the crucifixion is that you can overcome the cross. Until then you are free to crucify yourself as often as you choose. This is not the Gospel I intended to offer you.” text pg.52
“The mind can make the belief in separation very real and very fearful, and this belief is the devil.” text pg.50
“Atoning means undoing. The undoing of fear is an essential part of the atonement value of miracles.” text p.5
I selected a few quotes regarding fear which I will address later.
“A Course in Miracles” according to Warren Smith in “Reinventing Jesus Christ”:
“During the 1980’s the Course gained a grassroots following of dedicated believers…and interest grew in the Course and it became a cult classic for those in the know. Yet even as word spread, the Course still remained relatively unknown to the general public.”
Enter Marianne Williamson. After reading her story, she seemed to be quite troubled. She then wrote her book “A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles”. She appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show in 1992, and Williamson’s book soared to the top of The New York Times bestseller list. The miracle was reawakened.
Here is are some quotes from “A Return to Love”:
“Jesus and other enlightened masters are our evolutionary elder brothers” pg.42
“We are who God created us to be. We are all one, we are love itself. ‘Accepting the Christ’ is merely a shift in self-perception.”
It has long been known that Oprah constantly features New Age promoters on her show. This has exposed millions of women (and men), to New Age philosophy. New Age philosophy is Theosophy which translates Divine Wisdom. This has caused extreme damage to the true Church of Christ. Many women just automatically believe what Oprah has to offer up without question. When Oprah had Williamson on her show neither suggested that the “Jesus” they were referring was a different Jesus than we know of in the Bible. When Williamson was asked: Was Jesus the only Son of God?, her answer was “Hogwash”.
http://beliefnet.com/story/120/story_12052_1.html
I want to go back to the statements that Schucman’s “Jesus” made about fear. I have noticed that many messages channeled to mediums, concern the overcoming of fear. I was reading about a women’s journey going through the 7 chakras (levels) of yoga and her “spirit guide” (demon). At every level she faced extreme fear and anxiety, but her demon guide led her through the fear, saying it was evil, so she would advance to the next phase of enlightenment. I have to believe that this fear was her conscious telling her to stop. But she didn’t. The compulsion of wanting to become enlightened or to have special knowledge is a heady pull into mysticism.
What a sad day it will be for those who find out too late that they are not embracing the Holy Spirit but the fallen angels from the dark side, bent on deceiving them. They are listening to the lies of the serpent, which can be traced back to the Garden of Eden…that lie is that you can be like God…
Remember the song Aquarius/Let the sunshine in? – Recorded by the 5th Dimension released in 1969
When the Moon is in the Seventh House, and Jupiter aligns with Mars
Then peace shall guide the planets, and love will steer the stars
This is the dawning of the Age of Aquarius ….
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Harmony and understanding
Sympathy and trust abounding
No more forces of derision
Golden living dreams of visions
Mystic crystal revelations
And the mind’s true liberation
This is the dawning of the Age of Aquarius
Aquarius Aquarius
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Years ago, I remember driving down the highway, me and my girlfriends singing the verses to this song loudly along with the radio. Little did we know that these lyrics of yesterday were to be tied into the New Age movement of today. Now…..just so you won’t think that we were 16 year-old New Agers in the late 60’s, I have to admit that we also sang the lyrics, “Hey, Hey, we’re the Monkees”, with equal relish.
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OCCULT NETWORKING
Networking was conceived of as a way to expedite human evolution and it was championed by the Luciferian Theosophists. This fact is well-documented throughout their literature, particularly in the many books written about the New Age or New World Order by leaders of this cult. These networking philosophies have rapidly become mainstream by being merged into various “scientific” disciplines such as sociology, psychology, marketing, and even medicine.
Marilyn Ferguson identified networks as “A TOOL OF TRANSFORMATION” in her pivotal book, The Aquarian Conspiracy (J.P. Tarcher, 1980), which “outed” occult Theosophy and helped to propel it into a full-blown New Age Movement. Ferguson identified “networking” as “a tool for the next step in human evolution” (p. 213). The rapid proliferation of networks was seized upon as a method to rapidly diffuse the esoteric ideas of this obscure Luciferian cult into the mainstream of American and global society. One of the mantras of the New Age “Aquarian” movement is “think globally, act locally.” As previous posts in this series have described, the purpose of networking was to transform the world. It would happen by restructuring the world from the tiny cellular all the way up to global governance.
The full article can be found here:
http://www.discernment-ministries.org/HerescopeFebruary2007.htm
OCCULT NETWORKING IN THE BUSINESS WORLD
Now I want to take a look at Ray Yungen’s book “For Many Shall Come in My Name”, and see how networking is effectively spreading New Age ideas into the business world.
Ray says, “The way New Age thought has crept into corporations is simple to understand….management trainers and human resource developers hold positions where they can incorporate metaphysics into business under such titles as Intuition Development and Superlearning….Once while attending a New Age convention, I was told by one of these new breeds that resistance to New Age concepts in business was being replaced by a new openness, that if you barge in with occult lingo it turns them off right away. You have to tell them how you can make their employees happier and get more productivity out of them..then they will listen. You are really teaching them metaphysics, but you present it as human development.” (pgs 58-59)
“This approach has tremendous appeal because companies naturally want to get the most out of their people. In one interview, New Age writer Marilyn Ferguson echoes the same theme:”
Business leaders have, by and large, exhausted materialistic values and are often open to spiritual values…What’s more, top-level business people are not afraid of the transformative process, and typically, after i speak to them, they say, “I didn’t know that such things were possible. I don’t understand everything you’re saying, but I”m going to find out about it.” Whereas most people who don’t understand new concepts automatically reject them, business people, who by nature are trained in risk taking, go after them.
“It is absolutely amazing how unabashed Creativity in Business is in recommending its source of creativity. In one section we find the heading, Getting in Touch with your Inner Guide. It reads:”
In this exercise you meet your wisdom-keeper or spirit guide–an inner person who can be with you in life, someone to whom you can turn to for guidance. (pgs 59-61)
Wow…what a predicament for the Christian who would be required to take one of these courses for purposes of their employment.
OCCULT NETWORKING IN THE SCHOOLS
Ray also talks about New Age in Education. This really shook me up.
“The field of education presents an ideal setting for transformation. In virtually every area of education and instruction from kindergarten to universities…the Ancient Wisdom is being taught either up front or covertly…Marilyn Ferguson acknowledges:”
Of the Aquarian Conspirators surveyed, more were involved in education than in any other single category of work.
“These people, according to Ferguson, had already begun to attempt significant changes in the educational system. She states:”
Subtle forces are at work, factors you are not likely to see in banner headlines. For example, tens of thousands of classroom teachers, educational consultants and psychologists, counselors, administrators, researchers, and faculty members in colleges of education have been among the millions engaged in personal transformations. They have only recently begun to link regionally and nationally, to share strategies, to conspire for the teaching of all they most value: freedom, high expectations, awareness, patterns, connections, creativity. They are eager to share their discoveries with those colleagues ready to listen. (pgs. 66-67)
Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In – The “Let the sunshine in” portion of this medley has taken on a whole new meaning for me just while writing this.
II Cor 11:14 “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.”
Okay! Anyone care to join me in a rousing rendition of “Hey, I Think i Love You” by the Partridge Family?
kim
In 1875 Helena Petrovona Blavatsky founded the Theosophical Society in New York. What is Theosophy? Theosophy translates into Divine Wisdom. Theosophy holds that man is evolving spiritually and that someday will be as one with God. Blavatsky wrote “Isis Unveiled” and “The Secret Doctrine” which were channeled to her by an Ascended Master Kuthumi who lived in the 19th century. Djwal Khul also called the “Tibetan” was also an Acsended Master who channeled to HPB. She introduced Buddhism and Hinduism into the West .
“Blavatsky saw her mission as sublimely messianic: to save the world…Theosophy had been associated with the Gnostics and the Kabbalists. Madame Blavatsky’s Theosophy was nothing less than an attempt to synthesize Brahmanism, Buddhism, and Occultism into a new religion. The plan was to introduce these occult teachings throughout the West, and this in turn has created what we now know as the New Age. It advocated a universal brotherhood of humankind, wise men of superhuman knowledge who lived in the Himalayas. It was her conviction that these men had trained her and then sent her out into the world with permission to disclose some the secret knowledge that could light up a pitiless and incomprehensible universe” (Meade).
Madame Blavatsky wrote:
“I was the first in the United States to bring the existence of our Masters into publicity; and . . . exposed the holy names of two members of a Brotherhood hitherto unknown to Europe and America (save to a few mystics and Initiates of every age), yet sacred and revered throughout the East, and especially India.”
If you have read any of my previous articles you know who i think Spirit Guides, Ascended Masters, deceased relatives, and inner voices are. They are truly fallen angels or demons who are stepping in to deceive those who think they are in commune with some higher being. The allure is gaining some kind of secret knowledge, and who doesn’t want to be in on a “secret”, but if you use occult methods, expect occult results. As you may see, the plan that was put in effect so long ago is coming to pass. More and more people are accepting yoga and meditation as a way to improve their life, improve spirituality, and come closer to God. But in truth, deception is taking place as predicted in the Bible. Even Christians are buying into Contemplative Spirituality which can lead to communion with the pit.
Alice Bailey
After the death of HP Blavatsky…. enter Alice Bailey who claimed that her teachings came from the same Occult Brotherhood that taught HP Blavatsky . . . . Bailey’s guide professed to be the same Djual Khool that was one of HPB’s teachers. Bailey also declared that her guru was the same Master Kuthumi that Blavatsky knew.
After misfortune in Alice Bailey’s life she and her three children settled in California where she met two women who introduced her to Theosophy. She had her first contact with a master calling himself the “Tibetan” in 1919. He wanted her to take dictation. Alice states:
I heard a voice which said, “There are some books which it is desired to be written for the public. You can write them. Will you do so?”
She wrote 19 books that were channeled directly to her between the years 1919-1949.
Here is an excerpt from “For Many Shall Come in My Name” by Ray Yungen
To occultists, the significance of the Alice Bailey writings was that they foretold that in the coming Aquarian Age “the teachings of the East and West must be fused and blended before the true and universal religion–for which the world waits–could appear on earth.”* There also would be a “Coming one”, whom she called “the Christ”, who would not be the Lord Jesus Christ whom Christians await the return of, but an entirely different individual. This man would embody all the great principles of occultism, chiefly the divinity and perfectibility of man, and consequently expect recognition and honor as to his own lordship and divinity. (page 32)
The Lucis Trust
“The Lucis Trust is the Publishing House which prints and disseminates United Nations material. It is a devastating indictment of the New Age and Pagan nature of the UN. Lucis Trust was established in 1922 as Lucifer Trust by Alice Bailey as the publishing company to disseminate the books of Bailey and Blavatsky and the Theosophical Society. The title page of Alice Bailey’s book, ‘Initiation, Human and Solar’ was originally printed in 1922, and clearly shows the publishing house as ‘Lucifer Publishing CoIn 1923. Bailey changed the name to Lucis Trust, because Lucifer Trust revealed the true nature of the New Age Movement too clearly. (Constance Cumbey, The Hidden Dangers of the Rainbow, p. 49). A quick trip to any New Age bookstore will reveal that many of the hard-core New Age books are published by Lucis Trust.”
This quote can be found here:
http://freemasonrywatch.org/lucistrust.html
Those who are unaware of the New World Order influence on the United Nations need to open the above link. It is truly frightening.
*this sentence sums up the entire theme of “A Time of Departing”
Here is a photo of a Taize service…..I finally remembered that i had found information about Taize on the Lighthouse Trails Research website. Taize is a prime example of how contemplative spirituality is compromising the church. It appeals to the youth and is Buddist oriented with a Catholic flavoring.
Taize – Another Avenue Through Which Contemplative is Entering the Church
Taize Community is an international, ecumenical communityin France. Taize Worship is practicing the silence with icons, candles, incense and prayer stations, and is a very contemplative/Buddist oriented community attracting young people from around the world.
As an article on Taize worship explains:
Short chants, repeated again and again, give it a meditative character,” the brothers explain in a brief introduction printed in the paperback songbook. “Using just a few words, [the chants] express a basic reality of faith, quickly grasped by the mind. As the words are sung over many times, this reality gradually penetrates the whole being.
While it is apparent that Taize is rooted in Eastern mysticism, it is equally apparent that it is being incorporated more and more into Christendom. Below are some examples of Christian ministries and schools that are introducing people to Taize worship.
Columbia Bible College (BC, Canada)
Eastern Mennonite University (Virginia)
Calvin Institute of Christian Worship
Seattle Pacific University (Washington)
Renovare (Richard Foster) – page 2
Here is a link to the newsletter containing this article
http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/newsletter020507.htm
Here is the link to my orginal article about Taize
https://kimolsen.wordpress.com/2007/07/30/crisis-in-the-church-taize-what-is-it/
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
DiscernIt 
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