You are currently browsing the category archive for the ‘spiritual growth’ category.
NOTE: OCTOBER 30, 2007 The link to the video was changed. When i watched the new video it was evident that it had been heavily edited and no longer contained some of the quotes below. The video is now about 3:00 minutes instead of 5:23.
I have been wondering what the youth’s emerging church really entails. The description i have been hearing, is this: a dark room, sofas, and candles. One can imagine that easily enough, but what about their beliefs. Disenchanted with the church, young people are creating their own churches. One has to ask…if people are creating their own churches and tailoring it to their own liking, what will they come up with? I saw this video on another blog and watched it with interest. This church is called Solomon’s Porch and it is youth orientated. So please watch this video called “A Spiritual Revolution”. Read the quotes i took from the video first and be listening for them while you watch.
I am sorry i could not embed the code for this video but it loads fast. Please watch.. it only lasts 5:23 minutes.
A Spiritual Revolution
http://current.com/items/76386062_solomon_s_porch note: (this is the edited version, the original no longer exists)
Here are some quotes from these young people.
******************
” We just knew that the way we had done Christianity all of our lives was no longer a viable option anymore.”
“The issues Jesus would deal with today would be …racism, the environment, it would be globalization, and it would be feeding the masses….it would be these sorts of things.”
“I see the Bible changing…i do not see it stagnant and so for us, as a community of Christians to say, we need to believe this one thing and hold it tightly and make sure that it is never questioned?…That is a real waste of energy with all the things we could be doing in the world.”
“I have no agenda to go around and convince people of things they don’t want to be convinced of. That seems to be the least gracious, kind and loving thing you can do…is go and disturb someone who chooses not to be disturbed. I think places like ours are hope producing for people who are already disturbed and gives them another option.”
“There is no…like..statement of belief at this church or statement of faith..is not like a set in stone theology that everyone in this church has to adhere to.”
“I have heard that the kingdom of god is supposed to be like a party house so let’s do communion like a house party.”
***********
While the video did not exhibit any disrespect during their communion, an attitude that diminishes the holy sacrament of communion is definitely a negative. Insinuating that communion is part of a “house party” is degrading to God.
Basically we are seeing a common trend of removing Jesus Christ from the church. Here at this church they seem to be removing or rejecting authority. But in this process are they removing God’s authority? I think so. The young woman who commented that making sure the Bible was never questioned was a waste of energy… this hurt my very soul.
The church wants to make its own rules because they do not like the rules set forth in scripture. What a convenient belief system. If you do not like what scripture says, do not want to change your life, do not want to give up sin…well, just say that the Bible is not true or is not relevant today, or how about this…it was written by men.
I would love to have the stone tablets with the Ten Commandments written by God’s finger, but this is a little impractical for lugging to Bible study.
All scripture is God breathed. The Holy Spirit inspired the writers to write about God’s Word with perfect accuracy. God only speaks the truth, it is impossible for God to lie. (Hebrews 6:18) The Bible is inerrant, free from error. When in doubt about versions always go to the KJV.
Brian Flynn in his book “Running Against the Wind”, was prepared to stump Dr. Don Bierle who was speaking about his becoming “a Christian after examining the evidence that supports the historical accuracy of the Bible.”
Here is what Brian says on page 81. “At the end of the class, I was impressed but disturbed. I had no idea this type of information existed. I could hardly believe that historical evidence supported the authenticity of the Bible. I had entered this class so confident that I could challenge Dr. Bierle, and he would fold with the well-you-just-have-to-believe line. But I was wrong. He had the evidence, and all I had was my arrogance.”
*****************
[suggested reading]
Surprised by Faith – Dr. Donald A. Bierle
http://www.amazon.com/Surprised-Faith-Don-Bierle/dp/0971410089
The New Testament Documents: Are They Reliable? – F. F. Bruce
Evidence That Demands a Verdict – Josh McDowell
*****************
Anyway watch this video and check to see if you are exhibiting any of the same attitudes of these young people.
Are you trying to change the Word of God to your liking?
Do you choose not to believe the Holy Bible is truly from God?
Would you like to see the Bible changing to fit your needs?
Do you think it is kinder to not share the Gospel because it may disturb someone?
Do you think there is another way besides repentence of sin and faith in Jesus Christ?
Are you ashamed of the Gospel?
The Apostle Paul says in Romans 1:16 “I am not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.”
Do not be ashamed of God’s Word. Glory in every word. Pray that His Word will speak to your heart and convict you of your sin. Yes…ask…ask for the conviction of your sin and that the Lord will show you what areas in your life need changing. The Holy Bible is your Owner’s Manual for everything you need to live a life pleasing to the Lord.
kim
Because of a special program broadcast in Brazil November 13, 2011 featuring Paul Gowdy, two new translations of his article are available.
https://kimolsen.wordpress.com/2011/11/16/a-decepcao-toronto-pelo-pastor-paul-gowdy/
Portuguese Version link above
https://kimolsen.wordpress.com/2011/11/16/el-engano-de-toronto-por-el-pastor-pablo-gowdy/
Spanish Version link above
*Update*
The Toronto Deception
By a former Toronto Vineyard Pastor
It has taken me nine years to actually come to the place where I would write this story. Part of the reason was because I was not fully convinced that it is appropriate to speak out against weaknesses in the body of Christ publicly. Another reason is because it has taken years of soul searching to become convinced that what happened in the Toronto Airport Church was actually all bad or at least more bad than good!
For the past number of years I have called it a mixed blessing. I think James A. Beverly called it this in his book Holy Laughter and the Toronto Blessing 1994. Today I would call it a mixed curse concluding that any individual good that came from this experience is far outweighed by much harm and satanic deception. I suppose that therein has been my dilemma. I have tried to live my life in the fear of the Lord and Jesus told us that the unforgivable sin was the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. Attributing to Satan what was in fact a work of God. If pressed as to whether or not the Toronto blessing is all God or all Devil I will still be hedgy, but I am convinced that Satan has used this experience to blind people to the historical doctrines of God, to produce fruit in keeping with repentance, to failing to test and discern the spirits and failing to test prophecy.
After three years of being in the thick of the Toronto blessing our Vineyard assembly in Scarborough ( East Toronto) just about self destructed. We devoured one another, with gossip, backstabbing, division, sects criticism etc. After three years of ‘soaking,’ praying for people, shaking, rolling, laughing, roaring, ministering at TACF on their prayer team, leading worship at TACF, preaching at TACF, basically living at TACF we were the most carnal, immature and deceived Christians that I know. I remember saying to my friend and senior pastor at Scarborough Vineyard Church in 1997 that ever since the Toronto Blessing came we have just about fallen to bits! He agreed!
My experience has been that the manifestation of spiritual gifts mentioned in 1st Corinthians 12 was much more common in our assembly, before January 1994 (when the Toronto blessing started.) than during this period of supposed Holy Spirit visitation.
During 1992-1993 when praying for people we would experience what I believe was genuine prophesy, deliverance and much grace and favour from the Lord. After the Toronto Blessing started, all ministry time changed, the only prayers were ‘More Lord MORE ’, the shouting of ‘Fire’ the jerky shaking of the body with the ‘ooh ooh OOH WOOOAAH’ prayer. (I kid you not!)
On January 20th 1994 about 15 people from our church traveled over to Toronto Airport Vineyard in order to listen to Randy Clark, a Vineyard pastor from the USA. John Arnott had called our senior pastor to invite us. He communicated that Randy had been to the Rodney Howard Browne meetings and that the stuff had broke out in his church in the following weeks. John was hoping that something might break out with us too. We were only too happy to travel over. We were a church plant out of the Toronto Airport and we started in 1992. In those days there were three Vineyard Churches in Toronto. One Down Town church, Scarborough vineyard church to the east and the Airport Church. We were one big happy family. Because we were small in number we did special meetings, conferences etc, together.
The year before most of our leadership teams joined and had headed to Nicaragua for a short term missions trip. We had genuine love and fellowship with each other. Since leaving the Vineyard churches I have read a fair bit of analysis from the critics.
Some make out that the Toronto Blessing was one huge conspiracy to lead the body of Christ into heresy. Heresy and apostasy I suspect may well be the result, but none of these destinations were intentional. I am honestly convinced that the leaders in the Vineyard churches are genuine born-again Christians who love the Lord, but have fallen into deception. They have not loved the Lord enough to keep His commandments. They have failed to obey the scriptures and have been led astray by our longing for something bigger and brighter and more exciting and dynamic. I am guilty of this sin also. I have preached renewal in Korea, the United Kingdom, the USA and here in Canada. I am genuinely repentant and in writing this story I would ask you the bride and body of Christ to forgive me. Especially the Pentecostal / Charismatic Christians among you, for you are my immediate family theologically. I am an evangelical Christian, I always have been but I do not believe in the cessation of the spiritual gifts at the end of the apostolic era. I believe that it was my evangelical roots (my family are Baptists and I was born again in the Presbyterian Church.) that started to open my eyes to problems with this so called renewal.
In hind sight I look back and think how could I have been so blind? I laughed at people acting like dogs and pretending to urinate on the columns of the TACF building. I watched people pretend to be animals, bark, roar, cluck, pretend to fly as if they had wings, perpetually act drunk and sing silly songs. How I thought that any of this was from the Holy Spirit of God amazes me today. It was loud irreverent and blasphemous to the Holy God of the Bible. I suppose in my mind I reasoned that as long as they did not teach any thing in direct violation to scripture then it was what we called the exotic. This is a buzz word for manifestations that could not be justified from a biblical perspective. I was taught from the pulpit that we had two options. The order of the nursery full of life and messy or the order of the graveyard, very orderly but dead!
As a young immature pastor I wanted life with mess. I failed to remember that God wants us to become mature and grow up in him. I became disconcerted by the prophetic words that came forth especially one by Carol Arnott in which she had her bride experience where she was taken into the very presence of Jesus and said that the love that she experienced was even better than sex! I was shocked in my spirit and thought how can one compare the love of God with sex? When we suspected that demons were running riot in our services John Arnott would teach that we should ask are they coming or going. If they are leaving then that is ok! John would defend the chaos by saying that we ought not be afraid of being deceived, if we have asked the Holy Spirit to come and fill us then how could Satan come and deceive us? This would make Satan very strong and God very weak! He said that we needed to have more faith in a Big God to protect us than in a Big Devil to deceive us. This sounded very convincing but was totally contrary to scripture for Jesus and Paul and Peter and John all warn us about the power of deceiving spirits and especially so in the last days. Again we did not love God enough to obey His Word and the result was that we opened ourselves up to lying spirits. May God have mercy upon us!
Finally the penny dropped for me as I was rolling around one night ‘drunk in the Spirit’ as we would say. I started singing and as I rolled around the floor the Nursery Rhyme ‘Mary had a little lamb its fleece was white as snow.’ came to mind. I sang this in a mocking spirit and instantly my heart told me this was a demon. Instantly I repented and was in total shock. How could a demon get into me? Did I not love God? Was I not zealous for the things of God? Was I not nuts about Jesus? I knew that an unclean spirit had just manifested through me and I was guilty of great sin. After this experience I stayed away from TACF. I did not go back there any more. I did not possess the conviction to denounce the whole experience but thought that we where failing to pastor the Blessing well enough.
Even after I stopped going over to TACF, I had to pastor the fruit of it. One example was when some of our people returned from a meeting there asking us if we had all received the golden sword of the Lord? I asked them what they were talking about thinking that it was some prophetic reference to the Holy Scriptures but they said, ‘no, its not the Bible, it’s an invisible golden sword that only the really pure can receive. If taken in an unrighteous fashion then the Lord would kill you. But if you are holy enough to receive it then you can wield this sword and it will heal aids, Cancer etc. and bring salvation. How one wielded this sword was by pretending to have this invisible sword in your hand and motioning to strike people with it when in prayer! I thought while even in deception at this time that the TACF had become Looney bins! This was purportedly first received by Carol Arnott and then given to the ones holy enough to receive it!
Another thing was the golden fillings in the teeth. We had people in our assembly peeping down one another’s throats looking for the gold fillings that God had placed there to show how much he loved them! In all my time there I only heard one message on repentance given by a visiting speaker from Hong Kong named Jackie Pullinger. It went over like a lead balloon. We were not there to repent, we were there to party in the Lord! After one year into the blessing I spoke out at a pastors meeting and said ‘guys we have shaken, rattled, rolled, laughed cried and bought the tee-shirt. But we have no revival, no salvation, no fruit and no increased evangelism so what’s the deal?’ I was soundly rebuked – who was I to expect to see fruit when the Lord was healing his broken people? We had been legalistic long enough and God was spending this time restoring his wounded and freeing us from legalism I was told not to push the Lord and the harvest would come in his time.’
I knew this was wrong because the Lord had commanded us to go into all the earth and make disciples! Not, that everyone should take a sabbatical for who knows how long, while God does some strange new thing! Ultimately I left over something as controversial as the ordination of women. Personally I believe from scripture that women should not be pastors/ elders in a local assembly. I could be wrong on this and there is much debate in the Church today but that is my conviction and in the Vineyard churches they were ordaining all the pastors wives to co pastor with them. I am certainly for women in ministry but believe that the Elder/ pastor role in a local assembly has been reserved for men. I did not write scripture but God willing I will have the grace from now on to obey it.
So there is my story. I could go on and document much excess, folly, sin and latter day reign teaching that manifest from the prophetic end of this Blessing but others have already done that. We sang about Joel’s army and the billion soul revival as if it were one of the Ten Commandments, and as always it was just around the corner. Next month, next year etc. Jesus said that when the son of man returns will he find faith upon the earth? And if he does not return when he does no flesh would be saved but for the sake of the elect he comes. This is a far cry from the dominionism that is being taught all through the vineyard / prophetic/ spiritual warfare movement. I honestly think that they think they are going to take over the whole world! While in the Vineyard I embraced a life verse from the Apostle Paul the phrase do not go beyond what is written!
To finish I just want to say sorry for the damage, that I have personally done by teaching things that are not correct biblically. I repent before men as I already have before God. I will not excuse my falling into deception. I did not bother to test things when the scriptures commanded us to do so. Everyone who was there when this thing started knows that what I write is true, they would just come to different conclusions especially if they are still promoting the ‘river!’
To those in the river I would say swim out, there are things living in the water that will bite you real good! I love the people of TACF and the Vineyard movement but I think that we have much to answer for and may the Lord open your eyes sooner rather than later. I suspect that when this letter goes online I will get bombarded by emails from both camps, some damning me for still believing in the ministry of the Holy Spirit and still walking in deception and some old friends damning me for exposing dirt or being negative about the Lords anointed! Well, the Lord knows my heart and by his grace he will guide me into all truth as I seek to know Christ and him crucified! If you believe that I walk in sin and error please pray for me that the Lord would forgive me and open my eyes. I will study the word to show my self a work man approved! I would call on all who read this to pray that the Lord would open the eyes of all who have been involved in this deception. Whether leader or follower, we are loved and the Lord is a forgiving God. He says if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. I believe we are like the church in Laodicea, we think that we are rich, have prospered and need nothing, we do not realise that we are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind and naked. We must take the Counsel of Jesus and buy gold refined in the fire (which is his suffering, not a false spirit!), white garments to clothe our shameful nakedness and salve for our eyes that we might see again. Jesus is calling us to repentance and thank the Lord that he is, for it will lead us to true restoration with our Father! If God has forgiven me and opened my eyes then he can do it for all those caught in deception too. I will finish with a warning from Paul, he says if you think you are standing firm be careful lest you fall.
Sincerely Paul Gowdy.
UPDATE
March 28th, 2011
I no longer teach in the BSF program but I was very blessed to be part of this wonderful program for three years.The BSF children’s program strived to teach truth to the children about biblical concepts and did not try to merely entertain them. I have never met a more dedicated and godly group of women.
I did leave BSF for other reasons, which is discussed in some of the other articles. The executive branch would not publicly address the issued raised by others concerned about new age and emergent books recommended in their newsletter and the scripture taken from “The Message.” “The Message” is not a bible but a paraphrase written by universalist Eugene Peterson who has alarmed many in discernment circles by his unbiblical writings and endorsement of the heretical book, “The Shack.”
**************
I am a children’s leader in BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) and this will be my third year teaching, and my seventh year overall. This year we will be studying The Book of John. September 2009 – May 2010.
The extent of this program to teach the Bible to the children is quite amazing. The children’s BSF program consists of 5 parts. We start in assembly for hymns and prayer. First in the class we have the discussion of questions and answers of the Bible passage we are studying, then we have Discovery or Homiletics which is a fun way of learning Bible truths and applying them. Next we give the the Bible lesson itself from scripture. The last activity varies according to the age group. The younger children are usually playing a verse memorization game. For the older children, we have Basic Truths or The Atttributes of God.
I am amazed at the quality of the lessons that are provided for these children. If you have ever participated in BSF then you may know that the lessons for the children are almost the same as the adults. The only difference is that the lesson is age appropriate. The basic principles that are taught for the Bible passage are the same as the adults.
The goal of the children’s program is to bring families together through mutual study of the Bible, to teach children the Word of God and encourage them to love and serve Him, and apply the principles in their daily lives. BSF is meant to supplement Christian teaching in the home and the church, not replace it. A parent cannot drop off the child on class night. Both have to be in attendance.
We spent a lot of time just on the safety of the children. There are ALWAYS two adults with the children. The same person who dropped off the child has to pick him/her up. This is the same procedure for all age groups, 1st grade through high school. So you can see the importance that is placed on your child’s safety while they are in our care.
I previously attended BSF as an enrolled participant and have been amazed at the wonderful staff and the dedicated discussion leaders who head up each group of ladies when they separate for the discussion groups. Every year my love grows for our teaching leader and know her as a true and loving servant of the Lord.
What an honor and joy it is to be able to work with these women whom I highly appreciate. Surely, I am not worthy….so I am extremely humbled to be offered such an opportunity to serve my Maker and teach children the Word of God.
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
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 ….
******************
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
******************
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.
*******************************
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.
*****************************************************
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.
*********************************************************
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.
DiscernIt 
Recent Comments